dirtyfanny | BULMA'S REPAIR CAFE

[ There comes a knock at the door--quieter than most. Maurice is always afraid of being too loud, too in the way, too much at all times. He waits outside Bulma's door, a tear-away tag from one of her posters between his fingers. His tail coils close to his boots so nobody steps on it as they make their way through the Hotel's halls. ]

[Well Bulma's NOT worried about being too loud, so that covers the both of them; that's on math. Charitably, however, Bulma is relaxing today and minding her own business. It's a stroke of good luck that she just so happens that she's passing by the door when Maurice comes gently knocking. Probably nothing but- she peaks out the peephole anyway.

Oh. Hm. She inches the door open, the hotel room chain lock visually bisecting the top from the bottom of her face when she squints into the hall at him.]

Can I [A blink-and-you'll-miss-it judgmental once-over.] help you?

[ Maurice's fuzzy cow ears flip backwards when Bulma appears in the crack in the door. Luckily he misses that little once-over, otherwise he might have just left. ]

Oh-uuh! Hi, is this the tech repair shop? I got a--uh--Walkman second hand and wondered if you could take a look at it.

[She's quiet and wide-eyed for a minute, processing and clicking the pieces together in her mind. Oh that's right, the flyers. Has no one heard of calling before coming over? House-calls are far too normal these days (she thinks, having just made a no-notice house call yesterday).]

[Bulma smiles politely, her expression having grown more friendly by the second. The heart of a kind host or the opportunistic joy at seeing someone she can squeeze some money out of? You decide.]

Oh yeah, that's right! Why didn't you say so? Just a-- [She shuts the door and there's a scratch of the chain lock being taken off. The door swings open more widely and she gestures further into her room.] C'mon, let's look at your Walkman.

[ Maurice nods and follows Bulma into her room slash workshop. It's when he sees all the gizmos and mechanical paraphernalia scattered about that his face lights up. He thinks he can smell motor oil. Oh, that's so nice... ]

Thank you. I knew it might not be in the best shape, but the problem is kinda weird.

[ He fishes his Walkman out of his big deep cargo pockets and presents it to Bulma. It's old, but clearly someone loved it before it fell into Maurice's hands. ]

It plays tapes at like...hyper speed. I thought I mighta put the wrong kinda batteries in it, but I tried a few different ones and it's all the same. I aint opened it--my, uh, claws get in the way.

[ He's in serious need of a manicure. ]

That's not so weird. [Bulma takes the Walkman into her hand, turning it around in her palm.] Speed issues happen all the time.

[She's quiet for a second as she pushes the open button with her thumb, confirming if there's a tape to test it with-- check.]

Should be a simple fix. The annoying part is just getting into it and re-calibrating the circuit board and play speed. It doesn't take too long, but enough where I wouldn't want you hanging around here. No offense, I just need my "me" time.

[She rests her chin in her hand.]

Where was it that you picked up my info?

[ The end of Maurice's tail starts to swish a little when Bulma reveals that the fix should be simple. ]

Oh, don't worry, I get you. When I was still working at the garage, I liked being on my own too. It's just...easier to focus.

[ He gives her a small smile. ]

I found a flyer in the lobby.

[Bulma perks up a bit at being understood so easily-- of course everyone needs their alone time! Finally no pushback! Though she tends to see car mechanics on a different level from her, even though she does literally the same thing in addition to her "inventing a treasure-tracking radar" gig. Just a little girlish self-importance!]

Good to know! I put them everywhere so I'm a little glad I wasn't just giving it all away for free.

Now.

[She turns slowly to face Maurice in her chair, blue hand locked around the Walkman on the table. Her tail curls around behind her as a reminder: we're all demons here.]

I can quote you in cash or you can offer me up something of your own. Skills, info, favors, you know-- things I'd want. [As if anyone but her would know what that is.]

[ His ears perk in something like surprise when money isn't the only thing she's willing to take. He scratches his arm as he thinks. He doesn't know a lot about her--other than she's a fellow tinkerer--so he decides to just lay out his skills for her to pick from like a buffet. ]

Well...I can lift. If you need anything moved or delivered or whatever, I'm happy t'do that. I can clean. Uhhh...I like t'think I can cook pretty good.

[ He tries to think of literally anything else he can do and his mind just goes blank. He forgets about his guitar skills completely. And probably for the best. What was an inventor going to do with a guitar solo? ]

[Now she was hoping for something exciting but, to be honest, the practicality and-- more importantly the weight off of her-- is too appealing.]

Y'know, I actually do need someone big and strong to lift things for me! Tell you what, I'll fix this up for free if you haul stuff around the next couple times I need it. Sound fair?

[Boldly assuming he has nothing better to do.]

[ Maurice nods quickly. ]

Okay! I mean--that sounds fair to me. I sure do appreciate it. I found a whole collection of Meat Loaf and can't wait to listen to the non-chipmunk version.

A wha- huh?

[None of these words permeate.]

Meat Loaf? Oh, uh...I guess that does sound kinda weird. He's a singer where I'm from. You should check him out!

Oh, uh, sure! Totally! [She smiles with absolutely no intention of listening to Meated Loaf.] Is that what's on this tape?

[Bulma wiggles the Walkman around for emphasis.]

Edited 2024-08-05 22:01 (UTC)

Yeah! I found Bat Out of Hell 2 at a used music store.

[ His tail wags a little. This boy loves Meat Loaf. ]

[She laughs, not quite genuine but just enough. What a weird guy.]

Lucky you. I bet not everyone can find stuff from home here.

Oh, huh, yeah...I guess I didn't think about that. There's so much here that's so much like home but...not. But there's all this music I never seen in my life and I gotta try that out too!

What d'you like to listen to?

BULMA'S REPAIR CAFE

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