It's alright Mitsu, it's the dice that failed us, not you. I'm sure you'll do better in the future. (Which reminds me, how is the sword training going to interact with the whole passive skill point gain mechanic? Do we need the Mitsu actions to "unlock" tiers to then pour skill points into, or do you have something else planned?)
Hm, let's see, the traditional uniforms are basically out for me. At that point, we'd be too much of just a LycoReco rip off in style for my taste and given the whole point of Yuuki setting out on her own, I'd rather have a more unique flair.
The professional attire has a draw, but I feel like we passed the chance when we didn't pick the bar counter.
Merchandise shirts are too tacky for my tastes.
Service uniforms might be worth it for Mitsu's reaction alone. Say whatever else you want about them, but I can see it leading to some fun stuff. (Although, one shouldn't completely overlook the buttler suits just because of the maid attires.)
And then casual is casual. A bit plain, but that also makes them homey and if we want to go for a more grounded feel as opposed to something more fantastically striking, I think I'd prefer them over traditional attire.
It's alright Mitsu, it's the dice that failed us, not you. I'm sure you'll do better in the future. (Which reminds me, how is the sword training going to interact with the whole passive skill point gain mechanic? Do we need the Mitsu actions to "unlock" tiers to then pour skill points into, or do you have something else planned?)
She can train you up for free via dice rolls to a certain point, then you'll actually be on par with Mitsu and have to improve further together. Given that it's also a way to spend time with her to bond and improve your standing with her, it's enough to be a full action.
I think the service uniforms or traditional wear would be best. I also like professional attire, but I think the middle class corporate grunts, who will be our core demographic, would like a bit of a disconnect between the cafe and the rest of their (most likely) somewhat miserable lives.
Also, I like the idea of putting cybernetically enhanced supersoldier assassins in maid uniforms.
Well, looks like the service uniforms actually have some backing, so I suppose that makes the choice out of my two picks for me. Be sure to enjoy, Mitsu.
She can train you up for free via dice rolls to a certain point, then you'll actually be on par with Mitsu and have to improve further together. Given that it's also a way to spend time with her to bond and improve your standing with her, it's enough to be a full action.
[X] [Uniform] Casual Outfits. There won't be an actual uniform to the cafe other than perhaps a simple apron with some simple lettering. The workers are free to wear whatever they so pleased so long as they keep it appropriate, allowing them to easily slip into the job without even worrying if they are up to uniform code. Such casualness will hopefully encourage a very free atmosphere to the setting as well.
[X] [Uniform] Traditional Wear. Colorful yukatas and kimonos are always stylish uniforms even in the present age. It's normally a bad idea considering the subtropical climate, but advancements in fabrics make it possible to make it trap less heat while not sacrificing any of the texture itself. These same improvements can also feature customized color shifting for every wearer to tailor however they like.
No Shinobi wear options? Ninja Cafe life!!! I demand shinobi and kunoichi wear! /jk XP. I'll take traditional wear then it's just as good and you can fit quite a few weapons in the voluminous-ness of them.
[X] [Uniform] Traditional Wear. Colorful yukatas and kimonos are always stylish uniforms even in the present age. It's normally a bad idea considering the subtropical climate, but advancements in fabrics make it possible to make it trap less heat while not sacrificing any of the texture itself. These same improvements can also feature customized color shifting for every wearer to tailor however they like.
[X] [Uniform] Traditional Wear. Colorful yukatas and kimonos are always stylish uniforms even in the present age. It's normally a bad idea considering the subtropical climate, but advancements in fabrics make it possible to make it trap less heat while not sacrificing any of the texture itself. These same improvements can also feature customized color shifting for every wearer to tailor however they like.
[X] [Uniform] Service Costume.
Whoops, looks like I had forgotten to set the vote. But it looks like it'll still work, so go ahead and cast your preferences. Looks like it's either color coded traditional garbs or color coded maid uniforms huh. If the latter wins, I'm half tempted for more style customization, but it'll probably just be more practical Japanese style of the dress instead of going full French.
Whoops, looks like I had forgotten to set the vote. But it looks like it'll still work, so go ahead and cast your preferences. Looks like it's either color coded traditional garbs or color coded maid uniforms huh. If the latter wins, I'm half tempted for more style customization, but it'll probably just be more practical Japanese style of the dress instead of going full French.
Allow our staff to customize their outfits and then watch as it results in some mercs getting attached to it to the point where they make it their official Edgerunner outfit.
[X] [Uniform] Casual Outfits. There won't be an actual uniform to the cafe other than perhaps a simple apron with some simple lettering. The workers are free to wear whatever they so pleased so long as they keep it appropriate, allowing them to easily slip into the job without even worrying if they are up to uniform code. Such casualness will hopefully encourage a very free atmosphere to the setting as well.
[X] [Uniform] Traditional Wear. Colorful yukatas and kimonos are always stylish uniforms even in the present age. It's normally a bad idea considering the subtropical climate, but advancements in fabrics make it possible to make it trap less heat while not sacrificing any of the texture itself. These same improvements can also feature customized color shifting for every wearer to tailor however they like.
[X] [Uniform] Traditional Wear. Colorful yukatas and kimonos are always stylish uniforms even in the present age. It's normally a bad idea considering the subtropical climate, but advancements in fabrics make it possible to make it trap less heat while not sacrificing any of the texture itself. These same improvements can also feature customized color shifting for every wearer to tailor however they like.
[X] [Uniform] Casual Outfits. There won't be an actual uniform to the cafe other than perhaps a simple apron with some simple lettering. The workers are free to wear whatever they so pleased so long as they keep it appropriate, allowing them to easily slip into the job without even worrying if they are up to uniform code. Such casualness will hopefully encourage a very free atmosphere to the setting as well.
Wow, what a close vote! Looks like in the end, your cafe is going to definitely be more like a cousin to LycoReco instead of a estranged sibling. Maid and butler costumes it is, with both available to whoever you hire to help run the place, and ones that can be custom styled/tailored to whatever preference the wearer has. That's honestly one of the cooler bits of Cyberpunk tabletop lore (color changing clothes) that didn't make it into the video game.
One thing's for sure though, Mitsu's going to be slightly mortified.
You carefully hung up the last of your new employee uniforms up on a clothing rack, and then stepped back with an appraising eye and pleased expression. You had been rather lucky in finding a good deal on these new outfits with your careful budgeting and had gotten a number of them via bulk order. You likely wouldn't have to order anymore in the immediate future for now, thought that might change if your staff ballooned one day.
As it was, you had your pick of the lot. You hardly were going to be the shop owner that stuck out like a sore thumb by not wearing one of the uniforms. But now came a critical question: which one did you prefer? The dress, or the suit? You took one of each off the rack and hummed in thought, holding each to your body and checking out the appearance in the mirror. Both honestly looked rather good on you, now being a debate of cute versus cool.
You caught movement in the corner of your eye and inspiration struck. You carefully tucked both outfits behind your back and stepped out of the backrooms to address Mitsu, who had apparently just returned home from a ride around the city. "Welcome back, partner. Good ride?"
"Indeed! I feel like I have a better grasp of the local neighborhood now." She showed off a grin when her helmet came off. "Soon, I shall be seeking ways to protect the innocent and deliver righteous justice!" Mitsu happily declared, clearly excited to be pursuing a part of her dream now.
Idly, and slightly selfishly, you wondered if it could be enough to sate the other part, to wander the world. You shook that off for now and focused your attention at her beaming face. "I'm glad to hear. I've also got good news to share: my new work uniforms have come in."
"Oh! That is indeed exciting news!" Then her eyes narrowed and you couldn't help the cheeky grin on your face. "Hold on, what have you ordered-"
"Only what I promised," You gleefully revealed and showed off your newest acquisitions. You teasingly held up both to drape over your form, clearly trying them out. "So, what do you think? Which one do you think suits me better?"
Unfortunately, you never got a response to that question. The moment you unveiled your new uniform, Mitsu let out a strangled choke and stumbled backwards, face glowing red in a near-mirror of the cyberware on her back. Then the back of her legs hit one of the chairs and she fell back with a panicked cry, just in time for her cyberware to activate.
You weren't quite sure what happened when you blinked, but suddenly what was once a clean table set with chairs became suddenly knocked over in a loud clatter that echoed through the cafe. The furniture hit the ground and rolled about on their round surfaces, one eventually coming to a stop when it hit a body on the ground. The body in question was of course Mitsu, whose face was planted firmly against the floor that was rapidly turning red.
You swore and tossed the uniforms to the side to fetch the first-aid kit. Thankfully, it was just a broken nose that didn't become misaligned, so some ice was all that was needed to help ease the pain. Mitsu waved aside your frantic apologies with a sigh and long look at the uniforms. "Tis fine," She mumbled and left for her room, clearly wanting some alone time.
You watched her go and bit your lip, hoping that her mood would be restored later. Hopefully, you hadn't actually upset her. For now, perhaps it was best to respect her wishes while you tried to figure out what you wanted to do in the last week of the month.
Choose up to four (4) actions you'll carry out through the week
Kagoshima Fragrance (Kaori) -[ ] [Kagoshima Fragrance] Fix up the Shophouse: This place is an absolute mess, between the poor maintenance over time and the firefight to reclaim it. You'll need to put in some serious time to try and put things back together from the upstairs living area to the underground basement.
-[ ] [Kagoshima Fragrance] Fix the Van: The Scavs had a cheap utility van that's gotten shot up pretty badly, but you think you could maybe fix it back up. It could be handy for either an infusion of cash to your new business or an asset for the business itself. Try your hand at being a mechanic for a bit.
-[ ] [Kagoshima Fragrance] Grand Opening: All the preparations are finished, and you're ready! Formally open the doors to your newest venture and behold the results of your labors. Then get to work to try and begin making some revenue.
-[ ] [Kagoshima Fragrance] Hire Employees: While you could run the place by yourself for a time, the lack of coverage in areas you're not well-versed in can eventually be telling. Try to fix this by putting out ads for new hires. --[ ] Cooking
-[ ] [Kagoshima Fragrance] Advertise Word: Go spreading fliers and putting up posters of the soon-to-be-opened Kagoshima Fragrance around the neighborhood to try and drum up interest for the eventual grand opening. The more buzz you create, the more attention could be drawn to the big moment.
-[ ] [Kagoshima Fragrance] Ocha Plantation: A tea plantation that supplies your cafe with seasonal flowers in bulk, one of your shop's main products. Take a visit to see if you can buy some new flower seeds from them.
-[ ] [Kagoshima Fragrance] International Standard: To provide high quality authentic coffee, you've turned to rely on purchasing your beverage ingredients from a well-known corporation that specializes in imports. They surely should have an expert when it comes to picking specific ingredients, so pay them a visit to see if you can perhaps improve your blends.
Flower Cultivation -[ ] [Flower Cultivation] Ocha Plantation: A tea plantation that supplies your cafe with seasonal flowers in bulk, one of your shop's main products. Take a visit to see if you can buy some new flower seeds from them.
-[ ] [Flower Cultivation] Sow Seeds: You've got your hands on some seeds that you want to begin growing! Take some time to till the soil, plant the gardens, and watch new life being to sprout. --[ ] Red Spider Lily
[ ] [Flower Cultivation] Tend to Gardens: Devote a part of your week entirely to making sure you tend to the gardens as diligently as possible, plucking out weeds and making sure each sprout gets just the right amount of water and conditions to grow splendidly.
None
Shinohara Securities -[ ] [Shinohara Securities] Visit the Office: You've made a contact in the form of Security Chief Azumi, the leader of an elite corporate police task force. Pay her a visit to chat and see what opportunities she can offer you.
-[ ] [Shinohara Securities] Part-Time Patrol: As Shinohara Securities was perpetually shorthanded, they didn't have enough security patrols going around to keep the neighborhood safe. They've offered to pay you a fair sum to do so in their place. It'd be like a Lycoris patrol, but this time, you get paid!
Secondborn Ronin -[ ] [Secondborn Ronin] Visit the Pauper: The Pauper is the Fixer of the Secondborn Ronin and is a bridge between the corporate world and streets. Go to the public library to chat with them about what opportunities they can offer you.
The Vendetta -[ ] [The Vendetta] Schedule a Ripper: La Peste is a mysterious but talented RipperDoc who has offered their expertise if you wish to see them for a health checkup or discrete cyberware surgery. See if they have an opening in their schedule to meet them.
Lycoris Graduate -[ ] [Lycoris Graduate] Call a Lycoris: There's times where you miss the organization, as unbelievable as that might sound given their grim task. You certainly don't hold it against any of the other Lycoris and want to have a chat with them to see how they're doing. --[ ] The Commander
--[ ] Misaki Arisu
--[ ] Nakaiji Momiji
Living Life -[ ] [Living Life] Browse the Library: The public library in your neighborhood has a wide selection of information datashards covering a variety of topics. You can read them to your heart's content in the facility, or you could pay a fee to make a copy and take it home to study.
-[ ] [Living Life] Find a Black Market: As so many things are restricted from sale or possession in Japan, you can only find these prohibited items at a black market somewhere. They're surprisingly common enough if you know where to look, though having some caution about the quality of their myriad of wares is a smart idea.
-[ ] [Living Life] Go Clubbing: Risk the nightlife of the city and visit one of the many neon hangouts around the city to experience something new, maybe even meet some new folks or have magical encounters.
-[ ] [Living Life] The Way: Mitsu's offered to take some time out of her week to help train you in the sword and by extension, other melee weapons. You did have a rather nice katana that you didn't want to go to waste...
Miscellaneous -[ ] [Miscellaneous] Scrap the Van: It's not worth your time or effort to patch it up. Rip it apart and find a seller for the parts.
- If you choose to do a grand opening, there will be an initial roll to see how much your place draws attention, based on how much effort you've put into advertising it. Unfortunately, your current bonus to that roll is a +0 at the moment. Up to you to decide if you want to risk the die there.
- For those worried/wanting to press what's up with Mitsu about the outfits, just spend time with her with what you know she'll not turn down. - Consider that at the start of your next turn, you will have to pay your monthly bills.
[] Plan: Seeds -[ ] [Kagoshima Fragrance] Advertise Word
-[ ] [Flower Cultivation] Sow Seeds
--[ ] Red Spider Lily
-[ ] [Shinohara Securities] Part-Time Patrol
-[ ] [Living Life] The Way
I'm torn between Mitsu's reaction being absolutely worth the choice on its own and slightly worried we might have caused her brain to overheat... or maybe we're operating on anime conventions and she just really had to cover up a nosebleed for seperate reasons. (On which note, unless Mitsu professes a preference after all, I'm leaning towards the buttler suit, but not by that much.)
Jokes aside, it's not like I really need an excuse to consider another set of lessons from her, but now I especially want to check up on Mitsu.
As for the other actions, we don't really have to rush on the finish line, so we might as well take some more time advertizing before the grand opening. The idea of timing that with the spider lilies was already floated in front of us, which would at least give us time to considering someone for the cooking and finishing cleaning up the basement, maybe even fix the van.
Still, while the monthly bills aren't going to run us dry just yet, some of the other things might cut into our budget, so, unless someone has something they want to get out of the way this turn, we might as well take a bit of a side gig to make sure we've got more of a buffer. That and it'll give us a better idea of what the pay actually looks like for future budgeting.
Well, we've had someone speak up about getting the shophouse done, so we might as well.
[X] Plan: Fix Seeds -[X] [Kagoshima Fragrance] Fix up the Shophouse
-[X] [Kagoshima Fragrance] Advertise Word
-[X] [Flower Cultivation] Sow Seeds
--[X] Red Spider Lily
-[X] [Living Life] The Way
(On which note, unless Mitsu professes a preference after all, I'm leaning towards the buttler suit, but not by that much.)
