NationStates Jolt Archive

After Kaigan completes the shopping, Mae is stunned and says a simple, "Wow."

Kaigan just shrugs his shoulders and says "my mother trained us well. You could always ask for a personal shopper to go round with you. Each big food hall has a few and they could help you as well"

They then make their way to the checkout and while they wait he says "that should last you about a week"

"Okay," Mae responds.

"Also are these personal shoppers free, or do the cost?"

"Usually its a 2% surcharge on top of the total cost of the food" Kaigan replies "which isn't that much. They'll also deliver these as well"

their turn comes round after a few more minutes and the young check out girl scans through the items working quickly and efficently.

"madam, that will be 100 Obans" she declares

Mae answers that the price is okay and hands the check out girl her bank card.

the card is returned after another printed slip being signed and compared and Kaigan explains where the food needs delivered to. Another young girl loads the food into two cardboard boxes ready for its journey to the embassy.

"where do you want to go next?" Kaigan asks Mae now the food shopping is completed.

Mae answered, "I would like to find a bookstore, where I can find a book on all of the things to do in your nation."

"Lets go look then" Kaigan says and they leave the department store.

Kaigan finds a small book store not far from the department store and the owner, a middle aged man bows to Mae and asks "how may i help you?"

Mae states that she wants books on the local attractions that she, and her younger 19-year old cousin Jason would enjoy.

The man leaves them to look for Kirisuban travel guides in english and returns with a few.

"Madam, this one goes into details on Edo, has photos and also includes useful phrases in our language"

he gives it to her and shows her another one which covers the Empire as a whole but is a fatter book.

Lastly he shows her a smaller book that can fit into a pocket.

"this one is the compact version of the first one I showed you"

"I want all three," Mae responded.

the man rings the prices into his small till and an old fashioned paper tape receipt is printed out.

"that will be 100 Oban" he says as he puts the books into a paper bag.

Mae turns to Kaigan and asks, "will that till take my bank card? It is so old. I don't have any Oban, but I do have some Golden Honeycombs."

"Don't worry Mae" Kaigan says and asks the owner in Kirisuban about sending the bill to the embassy.

The man nods and says "Hai" happy to be doing business the traditional way without having to worry about credit cards.

Kaigan recieves a piece of A4 paper and in Kanji writes the adress of the Empress Miyu building. he then writes the names of the books in english and the prices in obans totaling them up and showing Mae.

"this gentleman likes doing business the old way that served us well for centuries. He'll send this bill to the Embassy and he'll expect payment in a months time" Kaigan says

He also writes the name and address of the shop owner in english on the bill and after asking, the phone number of the shop.

The owner bows and Kaigan nods his head presenting the books to Mae.

"Thank you," Mae tells the shopkeeper.

the man smiles and says "please call again. I hope I can continue to enjoy the business of the Northern Sushi embassy"

Mae answers, "you will. I will push my husband to make you an offical merchant of the embassy."

"Wakarimas" he simply replies and bows as another customer enters and the owner bows and goes over to talk to the female student after the books she needs.

Kaigan lifts a business card before Mae and himself leave and gives it to her. Its in Kirisuban and English. Kaigan asks "are you sure you're not the ambassador? That was a very astute move you did there."

Mae quickly snaps her head towards Kaigan and replies, "Me... the ambassador? I'm just a simple housewife," in a nervous manner.

Kaigan smiles and says "thats what my mother would say and she's even smarter and better organised than I am. You're husbands lucky to have such an intelligent woman for a wife. Make sure he understands that"

he looks at his watch and says "we've got 45 minutes so what else do you want to do?"

Mae replies, "I need to make a call, is there a phone booth near here? I cannot use my cell phone."

"lets see" Kaigan says.

They soon locate a phone booth and Kaigan gives Mae a few oban coins to use since the phone dosen't take cards.

He looks after the books and waits while Mae makes her call..

Mae makes the call, it is hard to hear from outside the booth, but Kaigan tries to listen, only able to hear what Mae says.

"Hello, is this reception?"
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"Access code E826H03."
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"I am being watched, we have a code blackbird."
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"Thanks, Central"

Mae hangs the phone up and steps out.

Kaigan gives Mae back the books and suggests that they spend the time remaining getting to know the area better.

"Mae i'm sure you'll find this all out for yourself but a good walk round here now while you've got a guide will help you in the long run" he offers happily

Mae responds happily, "show me around."

Kaigan spends their remaining time showing Mae where the big department stores are, some useful smaller shops and an indoor food market where they only sell fresh local food.

He also tries to tell her the names of the food in Kirisuban so she can ask for them again.

They arrive back at Anjin Street on time and wait for Caresse and her cousins.

"Thanks for teaching me all of that," Mae answers, "now I guess we just wait."

"it was nothing" Kaigan replies "everyone in Kirisubo speaks some standard of english but knowing some Kirisuban is always advantageous. It also means you get what you're asking for.

If you don't understand what someones saying to you just say 'Wakarimasen' and they'll know that. if you change the -en to ka you turn it into the question 'do you understand?'. Kirisuban isn't that difficult to learn"

"I understand," Mae says waitind anxiously for Caresse and her cousins to return back to Anjin Street.

Actually, Caresse and her cousins finished early and were already there, patiently and silently waiting.

"Oh, there you are. Why were you standing on the other side of the corner," Mae asked and wondered.

Kaigan smiles when he sees Caresse and asks "how did your shopping go?"

Caresse smiled at Mae. "Why, because that was our best vantage point, of course. Why else?" she said sweetly, and nodded to Kaigan. "Fine, thank you Ambassador. We're quite finished now... we need to be rested for our early flight tomorrow anyway."

Kaigan nods and says "Caresse san, we can return to the Imperial palace now if you desire it."

Mae asks Kaigan, "well does this mean it is time to return to the embassy for me then?"

"That would be for the best, I think," She said simply.

"Ok," Mae said sadly, "but Kaigan can I have the number of the lady for the appointment with the birthday boy. I have to give him his puppy."

Kaigan explains the change of plans to the driver and once everyone gets in he drives off heading back to the palace.

While they make the diversion to the Empress Miyu building Kaigan writes out a telephone number and an e-mail address and gives the piece of paper to Mae.

"you'll be able to contact her with this number and e-mail address" Kaigan says softly when they arrive at the waterfront embassy building. If you've any other questions about Edo or the building the building management can help out"

(OOC: Can we finish this up???)

(( OOC: We're just waiting for your ambassador to leave, so I suppose that's up to YOU.))