action: when life gives you lemons

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

[The first thing to notice? The sign Mindy made. There wasn't much effort put into it except to cross out a word at someone's insistence. But even that was half-assed.]







[And there's Mindy, seated at a table with a bunch of home made lemonade. It took too long to get it right but she can guarantee there is nothing bad in it. This is just what happens when there are suddenly a ton of lemons in her room and nothing to do with them. No big deal. Just buy the god damn lemonade. There's stuff she wants to purchase.]

Comments

action;

[beifongbandit]

[ Toph probably shouldn't put her feet up on the table, should she? She's thinking about it, though. ]

I think we should raise the price.

action;

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

No way. Then everyone else would lower theirs.

[It would be bad for business, Toph. Both the feet and the price increase.]

action;

[beifongbandit]

But people would think everyone wanted some and that was why the price was so high.

[ She'll have a glass, then. She's thirsty talking about it. ]

action;

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

[It's a good thing Mindy put extra in the jar. She glances up the sidewalk and smirks.] Here comes someone. Big guy with a briefcase.

action;

[beifongbandit]

I'm on it. [ She grinned briefly and then got up, blinking and putting her arms out in front of her, almost a mockery of blindness. In a sad voice, she says: ] Excuse me? Excuse me? Won't you buy my lemonade? So I can earn a seeing-eye dog?

action;

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

[And Mindy has to quickly turn a snort of laughter into a coughing fit, turning her head away from the product so she didn't cough all over it. The looks on those people's faces...shit. Why didn't she think of this sooner?]

Her old one died and she can't afford a new one. She really needs it. Any help would be appreciated.


[The customers hesitate briefly, looking from Mindy to Toph before deciding that yes, they will buy some lemonade. And tip well.

Suckers]

action;

[beifongbandit]

[ Once the customers have gone, Toph sinks back into her chair with an air of accomplishment. ]

Now that's how you do it. People will do anything for a sob story.

Action

[doeswhathewants]

That sign is hideous.

Just FYI. [He ain't even sorry.]

Action

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

And? It's working. [If only because people think she needs the money to make a new sign that doesn't have a rude word on it. It's what she's been telling people.]

Action

[doeswhathewants]

Really? [Arches an eyebrow skeptically at her.] Seems like an awful lot of work for such a small return, anyway. Or are you upselling them something else along with it? Ahh charging extra for the cup, maybe?

Re: Action

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

Nope! Keeping it honest. [Mostly. Toph occasionally uses earthbending to trip people and then pushes the whole "I'm blind and trying to buy a dog!" thing.]

Besides, everyone else around here is selling their lemonade at a jacked up rate. It's good for business.

[Her business. Not theirs.]

Action

[doeswhathewants]

And very little overhead, I imagine. [Decent enough racket.]

[child_radical]

I think you're supposed to smile more if you're trying to fleece people out of money.

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

Who says I'm trying to fleece people out of money? That implies dishonesty.

[child_radical]

You're a girl, the mere ghost of a smile from you is already foul play in swaying people into giving you their finances.

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

That's your opinion. [She doesn't think it's a good one.]

[child_radical]

One supported with cold hard facts and examples.

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

If I promise to not smile at you, you going to buy some lemonade?

[child_radical]

I make no promises. I have things I need to get.

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

I won't smile. I'll make an effort to keep straight-faced and you get half off. How's that?

[child_radical]

Works for me.

action;

[aperfectthird]

Only two cents? Isn't that a bit low to make a profit?

[But he's still setting two pennies on the table.]

action;

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

What? For two oranges? I don't think so. [She holds up the already full jar.] See?

[And then pours and hands over a cup of lemonade.] Here. On the house because I like you.

action;

[aperfectthird]

Thank you, Miss Mindy, that's very kind of you. Do you have a tip jar?

action;

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

Some jackass stole it. That's why I have the money under the table.

action;

[aperfectthird]

Who would steal from a child's lemonade stand?

[Answer: Someone in the City. Obviously.]

Here's some seed money for the next one, then.

[And here's two dollars.]

[candothat]

Let's negotiate. I will give you four oranges if you do not insist on giving me lemonade in return.

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

What? Really?

[candothat]

Yes, really. I do not like lemonade, but I also think that it is important to support to small businesses.

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

I think this sounds like a deal.

[candothat]

[He hands her four oranges.]

Thank you for your time.