Bonus: Reveals level 1 basic information.
The blue box with the information on Inspect doesn’t startle me this time. As I read over the text, I’m surprised by the implications. According to the text, something called ‘the System’ is providing these skills. Additionally, my guess that there are higher levels of these skills is also confirmed. Though I wonder how I reach these advanced levels, I try to access the information the same way I did with the skills. I ask in my mind, ‘How do I increase a skill level?’ and ‘What is the System?’ Unfortunately, I don’t get any response this time.
I notice Samantha watching me, and I realize I’ve just been standing in front of the adult magazines for the last 10 minutes reading blue boxes she can’t see. She probably thinks I’ve been staring at the magazines. I awkwardly nod at her and walk away from the section of the store back to the front counter.
Trying not to meet her judging eyes, I tell her, “Uh, store inventory is complete. Everything going ok up here?”
Samantha glances back at the adult magazines, then at me. Her mouth quirks into a smirk and she responds, “Yeah, it seemed like you were taking an extra thorough inventory of the magazine section. Find anything interesting?”
Darn it. Samantha’s not going to let this chance to tease me go. Well, it’s better to tease back then just let her take all the shots. “Why yes, I thought the article on co-worker romances in Chesty Bestie issue #126 was fascinating. It outlined the pitfalls of interpersonal relationships in the workplace.”
While I was hoping to make her blush, Samantha instead just laughs at me. She has a big smile on her face while she pokes me with one finger. “Yeah, you expect me to believe that you were reading the articles in one of those magazines?” She laughs again, and I’m surprised at how pretty she looks when she does so. When she’s actually here, I usually only see her frowning and complaining about people.
Reputation increase with Samantha.
The blue box that appears is a surprise. What in the world did I do to get a reputation increase with Samantha? I was just trying to stop her from teasing me the rest of the night. Before I can consider the topic further, the door chimes and two people walk into the store.
One is a tall white guy with long blond hair tied in a braid. He has a backward baseball cap on his head and is wearing a tank top and jean shorts. The other is Walt, a regular, who is dressed in a faded gray t-shirt with black jean pants. I nod at Walt. The two guys grab some beers and chips from the refrigerated section and bring them to the front counter. We’re required by law to ask for ID whenever we sell alcohol, and Walt already has his out. I give it a cursory check; the guy looks like he’s at least in his late thirties after all. I scan his items, give him his total, and he pays by swiping his phone across a little pad on the counter. The other guy, tall and blond, I don’t know. I look him over and wonder who he is.
Adam Ackerman
Local resident, best known as a Jay Muse impersonator. He travels to conventions making a living taking pictures with fans of the Jay and Silent Bob films. He is also known to deal in black market items.
Well, that is interesting. It looks like I can use Inspect on people too.
I decided to test the validly of the information the blue boxes are providing. As I ring up the guy’s purchases, I ask, “Hey, Adam. How’s the impersonation business going? The conventions treating you well?”
The blond man is taken aback by my casual use of his name for a moment. So, I decided to improvise an explanation, “Sorry. We met once at a convention; I got a picture with you.”
Adam nods as if he remembers taking a picture with me, “Oh, yeah. Sorry. I do so many of those. Yeah, the convention circuit is paying off right now. The fourth Jay and Silent Bob movie just hit theaters. I can’t believe those guys are still working. But hey, we all got to make a living.”
I nod appreciatively as I put his items in a bag. That was a good movie.
You’ve learned the skill Deception, level 1.
I have to stifle a laugh when I read that I learned the skill, deception. Lying is a part of any customer service job. You think every time someone says, ‘You look great in that dress’ Or ‘You deserve this car’ that they mean it?
Adam swipes his phone across the pay pad and takes his items. He’s smiling as he heads for the door, happy at being recognized. Before he leaves, he turns around and yells out, “Snoochie Boochie, brother!”
Now I do laugh. I wave at Adam and yell back, “Snoochie Boochie!”
As the door chimes, letting me know that the customers have left, I hear a rumbling sound somewhere outside. However, I’m too curious about this new skill to pay much attention to it. I wonder what this new skill does, and a new blue box appears.
Deception
Level 1
Whose pants are on fire? Yours are.
Made you look. See, everyone does it. You’re just better at it than most. Now every time you try to deceive someone, you’ll get a little better at it.
Bonus: 25% more likely to be believed when trying to deceive others. The success of deception is based on some factors including the type of deception and whom you’re trying to deceive. Telling a cop you’re an alien from the planet Ork will be harder to pull off than telling your girlfriend that those pants don’t make her look fat.
While I don’t think of myself as a liar, even I can see the usefulness of such a skill.
The door chime rings again, and I look towards the door, thinking that maybe Adam or Walt forgot something. Instead, a group of four twenty-somethings walks through the door. These aren’t our usual customers. Most of the regulars are folks that live in this working-class neighborhood. During the day, people come in to get some groceries or some snacks. The night customers are usually looking for some beer or something to satisfy the munchies. These four, however, look like they could buy most of the neighborhood. The two men are dressed in top of the line clothes. Their jackets appear to be made out of cloned rhino skin or something. The two ladies with them are dressed just as well; their sports tops and skirts look expensive and shiny. I’m not one for fashion trends, but even I can tell they’re expensive. Not to mention the jewelry that the ladies are wearing. Diamond earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. I feel like I have to wear sunglasses just to look at those sparkling rocks.
I look to my left and see Samantha practically drooling over the well-muscled guys in their suits. Ugh. Here I thought she had good taste.
I return my attention to our four new customers and see them casually strolling through the aisles of the small store. I can hear the ladies giggling and laughing as they point to different objects. The guys laugh right along with them. After walking around, the four come up to the front of the store. The tall blonde guy with wavy hair is vaguely familiar, but I can’t quite place where I’ve seen him before. The guy, whoever he is, swaggers up to the counter.
“Hey. You have any real alcohol in this shit hole?”
I can see Samantha tense at his attitude, but I answer, “Yeah, we have some whiskey, vodka, rum, and tequila.”
He looks back at his group, and the four laugh at something before one of the girls says, “We’ll take one of each!”
The blonde guy turns back to me and slams his hand on the counter and says, “You hear my date. We’ll take one of each!” As he speaks, I finally notice that his words are a little slurred and his breath makes the hairs in my nose curl. These guys must be coming back from some party or something and decided they needed even more to drink. If it weren’t for self-driving cars, these idiots would probably kill someone on the road tonight.