#bergen_county

"Morning! That's quite a selection you have here. Where do you source your instruments? Resale, vintage, new?" Curious

"Young lady, all you see before you is the remnant of the closed music programs from two different schools. They are used and used again, but at least were well maintained. "

"Oh...." Her expression goes sad, even as she reaches to lightly touch the bow of a violin. "Why did they close down?"

"Budget cuts" a shrug

"It's the way of the world, darling" The man says sadly "Money is a an agreed upon concept, less real than music by far, but music is the one that's not seen as 'practical', it's seen as disposable. Me? I'd rather be blind than deaf. Blind I could still hear the tunes"

She fidgets a bit, then, "Do you think I could get a discount if I buy the whole lot of it?"

"Shoot honey, I ain't too proud to take a deal." He says interested

"With an addendum that any of the students from those programs can have..." Her brain works, how to manage this... "Rentals! They can come and play the instrument, studio space provided, for a small rental fee to cover equipment maintenance. I'll even include a free trial of a class, with the option to continue at a discounted rate?"

Her time is already split between her current students, but... "Do you play at all, sir?"

"I used to teach. WHen they cut the program, they didn't need me anymore." He says "They told me to scrap it or sell it. I gave them a dollar each on paper, which they won't check for two years anyway, lazy bastards... took my severence, and here I am." He takes out the trombone and yes, plays the sad trombone sound

"...would you be interested in a job? I mean, an opportunity. I'll need to run it by the boss, but... I help run a music and recording studio. It's called Goldfinch..."

"Goldfinch? I heard that was up again" He says surprised "Small but local, right?"

"That's right! We're still getting set up, but I run regular music tutoring sessions, and we also host and rent out recording space."

"Well shoot darling... I'd be interested. I don't have my resume handy"

"I see a dozen different resumes sitting on velvet right here." She grins.

"I hear that. You want to buy one?"

She clarifies, "If you'd like, you can play something for me now." A smile. "Call it a pre-interview screening?"

He breaks out the trumpet, dusts it off, and plays flight of the bumblebee, his cheeks puff and swell at times, but damn, his fingers dance

She can't help a foot tapping along, and claps a little at the end. "You've sold me. How much would you ask for the instruments?" Suddenly wondering if what she has in her meager bank account will cover the impulsive purchase.

"I'm looking for..>" And he names the lower end of standard prices

She does some quick math, eyes flicking over the selection... times a dozen, carry the two...

Looks like she could lose 700 bucks fast

She swallows, but then straightens up. It might mean Ramen for a while, but... "You have yourself a deal, Mister..." Realizing she didn't catch his name, even as she offers a hand to shake.

"Dunnly" he offers his hand

"McCormick. Piper, that is." She shakes. "I don't have that much cash, but can get you a personal check, or... do you have Venmo?"

"Personal check will be fine." He offers "Give you time to make sure you got the money am I right? "

Her cheeks color a bit. "It'll be there when you cash it. And I won't ask to pick up and of the instruments until it clears? Um... maybe give it to Friday." Writing out and offering it over, and noting her contact details on a Goldfinch card as well.

"And I'll be in touch about the tutoring gig. Like I said, gotta clear it with the boss, but I'm sold as far as my word goes."

"Well, looks like I better box this up then and close up" A smile "Thank you for the offer of tutoring. Be nice to teach again"

"Pleasure, Mister Dunnly." Then, belatedly, she looks around for Rikki...

Oh she turned her back on a pooka

She listens for a kerfuffle, a shanda, a bruhaha or a scuffle.

(Perception plus Kefluffle sense..err Alertness)

/roll 4

It takes a bit, in fact, it takes longer when Rikki shows up and takes her arm "All ready to go now? OH you are yay. Boring conversation anyway let's move" She seems to be in a hurry

“But I haven’t found a gift for Siv yet…” she protests

"Give her a flute, very piratey"

“I don’t think that’s her style. Didn’t we pass a jewelry booth? I was thinking a bracelet or something!”

"OOo the things I do... " SHe says and mutters something "Fade in fade out, love is what it's all about. Do I believe it, you'll never know. I'm gone. I'm caspar, I'm a no show" And a veiling magic fades over Rikki "Make it quick?" Only the mortals seem to ignore her

"Whuh-oh. What did you do?"

Now Piper is craning her neck, looking around.

Screams... as dozens, nay hundreds of Roaches flood a corner where MAGA gear is being sold.

"Making America Gross again?" Sheepish

"You know, I'll pick her up a frostee. Go, go go!" Hustling to the car!

They scramble... into Siv's they slide. Others are also fleeing

"Is that what you came here for, or was that just icing on the cake?"

"One hand on Six, One hand half a dozened," SHe says "Besides, if guys like that can say 'did you see the way she was dressed' they got nothing to defend em when they wave a red cape ..er cap in my face"

Piper is listening, but then suddenly sneezes, and gets a cold chill all at once. She rubs at her nose, "Ugh, felt like someone walked on my grave for a second there."

"Whatever, let's get frostees.

"My treat."

"Frosties sure.. you okay?"