LtCmdr Jovenan – Time to put those diplomatic skills in test
Jovenan
((Tacky Tarog’s Toys Trinkets and Tames, Sacred Marketplace, Ferenginar))
Command was a role. Not only as a personal status in the administrative game of snakes and ladders, but also in the sense that it required one to don a mask and play along with their expectations. Professionality, courage, steadiness, certainty, all the virtues of a Starfleet Commander enforced trust among the crew but also worked to distance the officer from her subordinates. Letting that mask slip at a wrong time could plant the seeds for failure, but doing so might also work better than the mask ever could. What was the trust to a distant idol compared to the trust to a friend?
Seeing Commander Munro gush over some Ferengi baby clothes was something Jovenan hadn’t expected when their new XO had taken command of the ship. Jovenan didn’t disapprove – it could be seen as a sign of trust and budding friendship for Munro to show her real personality and be just a tad more vulnerable with her. Jovenan hadn’t always been the one to stick to keeping on the mask, anyway. However, she did question her taste in style. The clothes she was obsessed with were a mismatch of colours and patterns that didn’t fit into Jovenan’s fashion sense.
Jovenan: Erh, sure, they’re adorable. But I’m not certain if they’re exactly the sty— oh my goodness, it’s a mugato!
Jovenan’s attention had shifted towards a set of white onesies. The fur-like piece of clothing had a hoodie with a stuffed horn coming over the head, like that of a very small, very cute mugato. Jovenan pulled one from the rack and presented it to Munro. She struggled to read the curious expression on Munro’s face, but she interpreted it as approval.
Jovenan: They’re very warm and soft. I think Richards would like something this adowable for her children. And we can just… hmm. Right, we need to figure out how much we’re willing to spend here before all the other shops.
She had come to Ferenginar with the objective of learning how the culture handled resource management, but the complexity of was beginning to dawn on her. Was she supposed to know how much she was going to spend on each gift before even seeing what else she was going to buy? How was she supposed to make the decision? She didn’t like the idea of giving everyone gifts of different value, or valuing her relationships with each of them in monetary terms.
Munro: I think it's customary to haggle. Something that I'm not that great at.
Haggle? Oh no. Jovenan feared that she might end up paying more.
Jovenan: If we’re going to pay for something, we might at least get the right size. Um, do you happen to know anything about children’s clothes?
Not only were the clothes costly – as in, they had a cost of any kind – they were very different from any of the baby clothes Jovenan had ever seen this close. There had been very few babies on the Artemis or the Excalibur, or in the Academy or University, so her latest interaction besides Richards’ newborns was on her homeworld. The Edo fashion and sizing was too different from the Ferengi ones for her to even beginning to guess what they were supposed to buy.
Munro: It's been a while but I am not unfamiliar with baby clothes :: she lifts up one of the outfits :: Humanoid babies tend to outgrow clothing quite fast in the first few months. We should get some larger sizes so that they can grow into them?
Jovenan: Makes sense. This one looks like the size the babies would be right now, so I guess I should get something like—
Munro: Watch out here he comes…
Ferengi Salesman: Ooh!
The salesman dropped the load of toy boxes and instead joined Jovenan and Munro.
Ferengi Salesman: I see you've found our baby clothes section! :: picks up several outfits to showcase :: Woven from the finest Tholian silks, these will have a baby ready to negotiate their first trade deal :: lifts up the Mugato suit :: Isn't this the cutest, we have it in 20 different colours. Ethically sourced faux Mugato furs.
“Ethically sourced faux Mugato furs”. The expression made Jovenan uncomfortable for some reason. It was nice to know that the suit she was enthusiastic about and that she was holding had not been ripped off from some poor animal’s body, but the fact that it could have been unnerved her. Did some other stores sell “unethically sourced real Mugato furs”? The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind; who would do such a thing?
Jovenan: I see. Good to hear they’re ethical, they are very cute.
Munro picked a pair of suits from the racks. She had apparently made her decision. Jovenan turned to observe and learn from the interaction between the Commander and the salesman.
Munro: I'll take these. How many slips of latinum?
Ferengi Salesman: :: smiles politely and a little nervously :: Slips? These are 2 bars of gold pressed latinum. Each.
Bars? Uh oh. That was something like dozens of strips, or… an enormous amount of slips if Jovenan’s understanding of the different denominations was correct. Jovenan had severely underestimated the amount of money they needed to buy things. She looked at the pair of mugato suits in the racks and wondered if she would be able to buy many more gifts besides them. Whom would she drop from the recipient list?
Munro: :: blank stare :: Let me work that out.
Ferengi Salesman: And yourself ma'am? A Mugato for you?
Jovenan: Uh… No, I’d like two of these Mugato suits, please. For the babies.
The salesman clasped his hands together in apparent excitement.
Ferengi Salesman: Excellent choice! They are very high quality, all your business partners will be jealous of how cute and well-dressed your offspring will be! We could say… a bar of gold pressed latinum for both.
Jovenan looked at Munro for confirmation. It was less than the price the other suits were for, so she didn’t know if haggling was expected. She didn’t want to make the salesman feel bad about the offer. However, she turned to the salesman then and tested her negotiation skills. Now, if only she knew how haggling worked…
Jovenan: How about, um, two strips each?
Munro: Response
The corner of the salesman’s lips twitched, but his uncannily friendly smile persisted.
Ferengi Salesman: Very good offer, ma’am, I can see that you are an experienced negotiator! However, I can’t come that low. You have to understand, the Mugato fur merchants control the markets and are very persistent on using their unethical products. It is very expensive to acquire faux furs of this quality behind their backs. Surely you would want to support such an ethical product in that competition!
That was fair, or at least Jovenan supposed so. She glanced at Munro for help, but quickly turned to the salesman.
Jovenan: Three strips each?
Ferengi Salesman: And the employees! Employment is very expensive right now. If the profits stay the same, what will happen to our dental plans?
Jovenan: Four strips each.
The salesman grasped Jovenan’s hand and shook it.
Ferengi Salesman: Deal! Now, anything else for the two of you? We have a great selection of all kinds of toys, trinkets, games and more, and for such good negotiators, I can offer a generous personal discount of 5 percent for the rest of your stay!
Munro: Response
Jovenan: Should we get something for Suzie? And… ::looks around:: Well. Do you think we can find something for our other friends here, or if we should try somewhere else?
Munro: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11