LtCmdr Jovenan – Adorable little things are adorable
Jovenan
((Sacred Marketplace, Ferenginar))
The Sacred Marketplace was the physical manifestation of the Great Material Continuum. Like an untameable river, it roared with the force that redistributed resources according to each individual’s needs, capabilities, desires and marketing. Like rafters, the merchants and consumers tested the perilous rapids, some with reckless abandon, some with success. Jovenan didn’t know where to land her eyes; everywhere she looked at, the visual cacophony of blinking lights and colourful posters tried to lure her in.
Munro: We're spoiled for choice. Where would you like to go first?
Jovenan: How about that place? It looks like a toystore, we could buy something for Ms Richards’ children. ::pause, slightly embarrassed:: Also, I have no idea how buying anything here works, and it looks the least intimidating for the first try.
Munro: Perfect.
When they approached the store, an employee came to receive them. Much like the store itself, the salesman was dressed to catch the attention of anyone walking by. Jovenan believed that the alternating white and pink of his outfit and the colourful, whimsical décor inside would appeal to the juvenile locals.
Toystore salesman: ::over-energetic:: Welcome to Tacky Tarog’s Toys Trinkets and Tames, tacky stand for wacky and tames for toys and games! Anything fun and eccentric for you, your child or your pet!
That’s, uh… that’s not how words work. What was the t for in “tacky”, and what is “tames” as a noun? Wouldn’t it work better used as an adjective? Jovenan felt like she could have come up with a better alliterative name, but she wasn’t here to tell anyone how to run a business or market their establishment. She tried to act in the way she believed people behaved when shopping.
Jovenan: Hello, uh, do you have anything for newborn babies?
Toystore salesman: Aww, congratulations! Here at Tarog’s we support all profitable social movements! Do you take baby boys’ or baby girls’ toys!?
What… what did that even mean?
Munro: And dogs. Specifically Earth canines. Something chewy and squeaky.
Luckily Jovenan had not been alone on this trip. Commander Munro navigated the salesman’s talk without confusion, or at least without showing it. Taking advantage of assuming inclusive “or” was something Jovenan would have realised only several days later, going through the discussion in her mind. She was more and more grateful that she had managed to dodge all and every diplomatic talks during the last mission, leaving them to the Commander.
Toy store Salesman: We have just the thing!
The salesman led them inside before leaving them to explore the wares and disappearing to the back of the store. Walking in, the colours and sounds grew only more intense. Everything tried to convince the customers to buy something. The store was filled with shelves, apparently designed to be low enough for the child Ferengi to grasp any item from them and insist their parents to buy it. There was a slide from the mezzanine to the main floor, with a queue of children waiting to use it for a price. Jovenan didn’t know where to start, but Commander Munro was already inspecting something she had found.
Munro: Interesting selection. You think Betazoid-Human babies would like some dry clay? I don't even think I'd let Suzie chew on that.
It was indeed a lump of dry clay. Jovenan would have expected some kind of play modelling clay, but it didn’t seem like the lump was in any way reusable. Did people buy this? Did the white-and-pink suit man somehow ever manage to convince anyone that their children needed this? If so… actually, it would be impressive enough for him to earn his pay.
Jovenan: From what I saw with my younger siblings, small kids will play with anything. Then again, they also eat anything, and I would want to scan that before giving it to anyone.
Munro: Anyone back on Edo you'd like to send a gift too?
Jovenan had to stop to think. She could send a gift to her old family on Rubicun III. They had sent one for her Academy graduation, after all, although almost a year late, to a wrong ship and as their only attempt to communicate during all that time. It had been years and years since she had spoken to them, not out of spite or hatred, but because of just growing apart. Would she want to re-establish communications with them?
Jovenan: I don’t think so. We haven’t been in touch in ages.
They moved on. Further on, they cleared the rows of shelves and instead found themselves surrounded by racks. Line after line of very small clothes hung from them, in all possible colours and styles.
Munro: Is it cultural appropriation to buy these? :: gushes :: Tell me these aren't the cutest things you've ever seen in your life?
There was something unexpected seeing Commander Munro to gush over something. Sure, Jovenan didn’t know her well enough to say if she allowed that side of her to come out now that they were out of their work environment, or if she was just a person who was eager to show their enthusiasm over cute things and that hadn’t just come up before. The juxtaposition didn’t come across in a bad way either, Jovenan just didn’t understand how it could the Ferengi baby clothes that did that. To her, they were just a bit tacky – and not in the way the store got its name.
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 shifted her attention quickly to the series of baby clothes in the neighbouring rack. The onesies made to look like white fur covered most of the body except for the holes for the face, hands and feet. A soft, stuffed replication of a baby mugato horn sat on top of the head. Jovenan pulled one from the racks and showed it to Munro.
Munro: Response
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.
The shopping experience turned out to be somewhat different from just replicating things. It was easier to just select everything on the screen and then replicate it, with the possibility of returning things to the replicator if you changed your mind after careful thinking. Now, she was supposed to know not only if the gift was appreciated, but also what else she might buy and at what cost.
Munro: Response
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?
Munro: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11