Day 63: T&M Electronics (Early Afternoon)

[lighthearted]

It had been strangely relieving to finally run into someone else who was sick the same way that he was. Sora knew it was wrong to want someone to be in the same situation as him, but at the same time it meant that he didn't feel so isolated. It wasn't like he'd picked for any of them to get sick, after all. He really hoped that he and Snow and anyone else in their position would end up okay in the end, but it wasn't looking good so far.

The day was getting later, and Sora realized that he really should have eaten by now, but he just couldn't work up any sort of appetite. He knew that it was because he wasn't feeling well. If he was home now, his mother would have forced him into bed and made him eat some soup, but he hadn't lived that way in a long time now.

The wind that was starting to blow made any upside to staying outside disappear, and so Sora ended up trying to find a place to hole up as quick as he could. He wanted it to be somewhere interesting, though, which was how he ended up ducking into the electronics store. He'd never been here before, and he wanted to look around. Maybe he could even find something to buy!

It would have been better to get himself some medicine, but it sounded like they wouldn't be able to get any in town, which meant searching the institute once they got back. With how drained he was, that sounded like a huge task, but Sora was going to push through this fever and do what he had to do to keep the people around him safe.

In all honesty, Sora had been hoping that this store would have one of those Game Boys so he could buy one and have it for himself, but he didn't see any as he wandered around. That was a shame...

[For Facilier.]

Comments

[doctor_voodoo]

T&M Electronics... Facilier stood in front of the aforementioned store with an apprehensive frown on his face. He was still in a state of culture shock over the fact that this world was possibly decades, or even centuries ahead of his own time back in New Orleans. His introduction to the "See Dee" player was nerve-wrecking enough as it is! Would going into a store full to the brim with these machines of the future be too much?

In the end, the cold breeze outside was what ultimately influenced the Bokor's decision to enter the store. He had to get a good grip of this new world anyways, and where else would be better than a store which displayed samples of the time's current technology?

As soon as he stepped inside and the door closed behind him, Facilier immediately felt surrounded by walls upon walls of intimidating gadgetry, like a small animal cornered by snarling predators. At first all he wanted was to step back outside and forget the whole thing, but once his eyes began to adjust just enough to see past the overwhelming glowing and flickering, it was then that he could see the immense value of the store's futuristic goods.

There he found glass boxes containing clear moving images, tiny music players, and phones with outer-worldly designs! The more he discovered, the more his fear was replaced by awe and excitement. What he'd give to have such machines back in New Orleans -- and sell them for mountains of riches at the same time!

Despite it all, he was careful to keep his fascination with the technology from showing up too much, by now he was aware of the fact that not everyone here was from 1928, nor would they understand why these "televised visions" and "compact disk players" were so amazing to him. He wasn't terribly comfortable with the obvious opinions the townspeople had towards those trapped under Landel's "care" either, so the less attention he got from the store keeper, the better. It was a bit of a shame though, Facilier would have loved to purchase a "walkman" of his own, but he doubted his card had enough money, nor would he be met with any friendliness on the matter. He would just have to get someone else to acquire one from the music room at night for him sometime...

Browsing through the amazing display of how far technology had advanced in this seemingly timeless limbo, Facilier strolled down the aisle until his eyes were dragged away from an impressively small radio towards a familiar, spiky-headed lad standing a few feet away. Facilier quickly recognized the boy to be Sora, the one who placed too much value on useless friendships. Compared to the last time Facilier saw him, the fellow didn't look so bright-eyed and chipper, but fatigued and under the weather. Facilier perked an eye brow at the sight. Had Sora fallen to Doctor Landel's virus as well?

"Good afternoon, Mr. Sora," Facilier greeted with a cordial nod of his head, "Been doing alright lately? You look a little pale there..."

[lighthearted]

Sora had been distracted by something that was apparently called a cell phone and was in the middle of tinkering with the buttons to see what they could do when someone spoke up behind him.

"Huh?" The first thing that stood out was that he was being called Mister Sora. No one ever called him that! You were only supposed to call adults stuff like that, right? No, he was way too young to be addressed that way as far as he was concerned. (Now he knew why Kratos had always told him to not call him Mr. Kratos...)

As he turned around, Sora realized that it was the man who had talked to him by the bulletin board a few days ago. Doctor Facilier, right? He hadn't been the friendliest person, and yet here he was showing concern for Sora. The boy felt embarrassed at the realization that his sickness showed so easily, and he also wasn't sure how he felt about admitting it to this man.

"Oh, hi, Dr. Facilier," he said first by way of greeting. "Uhh, I'm all right! The wind kind of came suddenly, didn't it? How have you been?" In the end, it was easier to the turn the subject away from him.

[doctor_voodoo]

Heh. Facilier smirked knowingly to himself and pretended to move his focus on one of the tiny phones put up for display. It was obvious to him that the boy was yet another unfortunate number to Landel's recent plague; for denial was always the first stage of contacting a deadly illness...

"Ah yes, the weather out there ain't too friendly..." Facilier nonchalantly remarked, bending over to get a closer look at the petite phones, which according to the price tag, were called "Cell Phones". Remarkable...! "I'm not too used to it myself, it was often warm and humid back in New Orleans. Just the way I like it," he added, glancing at Sora with a single purple eye. "I could care less for this more northern climate."

"Anyways, I've seen better days, but I'm unharmed." Facilier straightened up, tilting his head to the side to gaze down at Sora with both eyes. "I am however, concerned 'bout this 'bug' that's been spreading about the place. Doesn't help with my worrying when I'm a doctor and all too!" He then gave the boy a rather unpleasant smile, "Gotta look out for my fellow man, if y'all get my drift?"

[lighthearted]

When it became clear that Dr. Facilier was interested in looking at the cell phones as well, Sora made sure to move to the side, giving him room so that he could inspect them. If he understood this right, you could use a cell phone to call anyone else who had one. That sort of thing definitely would have been useful during his travels!

He glanced over at Facilier when he brought up the place he was from. It wasn't a name that Sora recognized, which only made him more curious. "New Orleans?" he asked with a tilt of his head. "I've never heard of it. What's it like? Besides warm, anyway." Sora was also used to warm weather, but journeying through places like the Land of Dragons had accustomed him to the cold. If he wasn't sick right now, he wouldn't have even minded the weather that much.

While Sora didn't know too much about this Facilier, and was even a bit wary of the man based off their first conversation, he couldn't help but feel relieved when it turned out that he wasn't experiencing any weird symptoms. Although the boy's interest was really piqued when Facilier pointed out that he was a doctor. Of course! "Right! You are a doctor. Do you know what would be a good way to try and get rid of that sickness, then?" He'd already been given a list of the sort of medicine to look for back in the institute, but at this point any bit of information would help.

[doctor_voodoo]

Sora's question brought out a little homesick sigh from Facilier. "Ah, it's all but the shining coastal jewel of Louisiana! The birth place of Jazz! Capital of Mardi Gras!" he fondly replied, "Lots of good stuff there, even with all them swamps around it. I suppose y'all haven't traveled much before?"

Facilier caught that glint of interest in Sora's eye like frog spotting a bright firefly just within its tongue's reach; his smug smirk grew into a satisfied grin. The Shadow Man always knew a potential customer when he saw one. "Indeed I am, and I mean that in the most humble manner of course!" he answered.

"However, I'm not like the institute's 'doctors', what with all them pointy syringes and techno mumbo-jumbo; my practice is more centered around holistic and magical realms," he explained, the disgust he had towards the institute came out plainly in his tone. "Considering how Landel's professional establishment has been set against us than the other way 'round, my kind of medicine is far more natural and trustworthy in comparison. My magical connection gives me a leg up over their so-called 'medical' science too."

Ah, the boy was such a little gentlemen, and so trusting too; Facilier sensed he would make a perfect first step to profiting from this tragedy in the making, whether as a 'customer' or a source of more fellow 'customers' after him. The Bokor swooped into the next phase of his sales pitch: his classic feigned "I Need Charity to Help Others" step.

"So I'd be no more than happy to whip up a couple o' spells and potions for everyone, but... Sadly, I am somewhat out of commission at the moment..." he said with a saddened shrug of his thin shoulders, "Losing all my belongings and a good chunk of my abilities sure doesn't help!"

Now it was time to subtly add in the price without actually saying how much it all cost.

"You see, I do have some ideas on how to treat this mystery bug of Landel's, but I don't have the supplies or full power to pull it off," Facilier said, pursing out his lips into a helpless pout. "I'm afraid I'll need help and donations of any kind. I already have a meager amount of things I've found during the night, but you know how dangerous the place can be. I'll need whatever extra hands I can get..."

[lighthearted]

It was clear from how Facilier talked about the place he came from that he really loved it there and that it was a sight to see, and once again Sora found himself struck by that need to travel, to see more worlds and meet the people there and help them. "I've traveled a lot before!" he explained. "I've just never been to a place called Louisiana, that's all. But who knows, maybe I'll get my chance!"

As much as Sora wished that he could learn about this place Facilier came from and hear all about it, he knew that there were more important things to deal with right now. If the doctor had some idea for how to get rid of this illness that him and Snow and who knew who else was infected with, then he had to hear him out about it.

Facilier explained the sort of healing that he was capable of, and it wasn't anything that Sora wasn't familiar with. Magic and potions were the ways he was used to healing. The medicine they had here was far more foreign to him in a lot of ways, and so he had no problem following him there, nodding along as he explained.

It was really no surprise that Facilier was having a harder time with things here, since everyone's powers were limited. But it sounded like he might actually have a shot at helping out if he was able to get his hands on some supplies. That was always what it came down to, wasn't it? Sora had been planning to go searching for medicine too, after all.

"What kind of stuff are you looking for?" he asked with a tilt of his head once the man had finished. He didn't know if he'd be able to find what the man needed or if it was even available within the institute's walls, but he wanted to at least hear the details first.

[doctor_voodoo]

Never been to a place called Louisiana... This Sora boy must be from outside the United States -- or the planet earth for that matter. Most people in America should know that Louisiana is a state, not just some place in another continent somewhere. ...Then again, some folk who live out in the bayou wouldn't be able to point out their own home on the map! Still, at this point Facilier was willing to believe Sora's claims of being a traveler -- he just hoped the youth wasn't some space-faring alien who ate grass through its hoofs before...

Facilier's smile broadened at Sora's question. Bingo. The customer had just been bought.

"Why, anything that can help me create talismans and concoct potions of course!" he jovially answered, "As I said before, all donations would be welcome! Information about where the institute stashes its loot would just be grand as well!"

Facilier unclasped his boney hands from behind his back and began to count off each long finger as he read out his mental "grocery list" to Sora. "It would be wonderful if anyone brought things like plants, crafting materials, containers, bottles, mixing tools, anything that could be of use to our cause..."

With each finger down, Facilier gestured towards one of the nurses outside through the store window. "Heck, maybe some of them pill bottles will do fine as well if you can find any. The institute could be using some recognizable ingredients that I could use for our benefit. Can't hurt to try, right?"

[lighthearted]

The problem was that while Sora had used potions and ethers plenty of times in the past, he had no idea how to make one. He'd always just bought them in stores and hadn't thought too much about it until right now. Luckily, Dr. Facilier moved on to offer him a list of different items that could be helpful.

He really didn't know what crafting materials had to do with a potion, but maybe that was to make the talismans. Facilier's magic was clearly different from the kind that Sora was used to, but he wasn't going to get hung up on that now. He couldn't afford to be picky with the situation he was in.

"All right, well... you can go to the greenhouse for plant stuff, and crafting supplies would be in Arts and Crafts. The medical wing should have stuff like pill bottles." None of it sounded like it would be too tough to find. If anything, it was just time consuming.

"I'll be heading to the medical wing tonight, so I'll try to grab some stuff for you if I see anything that might look helpful." Sora wasn't sure how exactly he'd been recruited into helping this man he barely knew, but beggars couldn't be choosers and he had to try all the avenues that were opened up to him if he wanted to try and stop this infection from progressing.

"Sound good?" he finished, smiling briefly, though it wasn't nearly as bright or enthusiastic as it would have been normally.

[doctor_voodoo]

Unfortunately, the information Sora gave wasn't new to Facilier, but his offer to search the medical wing was satisfactory for the time being. The less time Facilier spent outside of his room at night and the more people he had doing the hard work for him, the better.

"It sure does!" Facilier grinned, clasping his hands together with a soft clap. "Thank you so much! Any contribution will mean a lot to our struggle!"

Seeing no further use in talking with the boy, Facilier bowed his head and turned towards the store entrance. "Y'all be careful now, ya hear? I don't want you getting yourself hurt over some medicine!" he said with a dismissive wave of his hand, not looking back as he made his way out. "Let me know how it all goes on the bulletin tomorrow, alright?"