Mécanisme 003 [Video]

[horlogerie]

 [Hugo sits on the floor of his room, his steam engine on the ground in front of him as well as his father's broad silver pocket watch that always keeps perfect time both sitting amongst a few odds and ends the likes of screws, gears, springs, and rudimentary tools like hammers.]

I make things and I fix things... [He gestures to the stuff in front of him, the train in particular which sits gleaming the length of a man's arm now that he's just finished polishing and painting it.] Back home- Back where I am from I fix clocks and I know how to make them. 

I want to do that here. I can make or fix almost anything if it is a machine, if it's got parts like these [He holds up a gear and a spring] But right now I don't have any money, so I can't buy more parts. I guess that means I can't really make things so much as fix them until I can afford to make them. Unless there's something you want and you've got the parts for it. 

[He swallows awkwardly, frowning at his things. He's not used to talking this much or this...publicly]

So...how do you start a business? 

Comments

video;

[wasthemaster]

Find a building, first of all. [Normally Draco wouldn't even attempt to be helpful...but he's bored today, and this could prove to be a little more interesting.]

Re: video;

[horlogerie]

But...Wouldn't that have to come after I got money?

[Stealing toys and croissants in Paris was one thing but he's pretty sure he can't just steal a building.]

[wasthemaster]

Oh. Well, yes. [Someone's just used to always having money.] Start a business out of your room then. Advertise, print flyers, that sort of thing. How did businesses crop up in your world? It can't be that hard. [How the hell did he and Euri get started with their apothecary in Asgard...]

[horlogerie]

Adults did it in my world.

[Adults who had finished their times out as schoolboys and had gotten the lessons they needed. Not boys like Hugo who got yanked out of his home, left his schooling unfinished, and no longer had parents to speak of to teach him about things like business. Before, with his father in the clock shop, it had all seemed so simple. His father was a clockmaker and ran a shop, so one day he too would be a clockmaker and run the same shop.

Thats why the sign had said "Cabret et Fils" ...Cabret and Son.... his future had been included.

Now...well, now the best example he has for a businessman is a man he steals toys from and rarely sees sell anything.]

If I knew about it, I wouldn't be asking.

[wasthemaster]

It just seems as though you're putting far too much thought into this, that's all. You first have to make sure your product is sellable, which, apparently, you've put thought into. What you really need is a good customer to vouch for your services.

[horlogerie]

I have people who have seen my train work...?

[Does that count]

[wasthemaster]

All right. And would you say that they would say it's good work?

[horlogerie]

That is what they told me.

[wasthemaster]

You should have them prepare testimonials about you. Something you can share with other people. People need proof that a product works.

[horlogerie]

Do they...write it down?

[wasthemaster]

Yes. Write them down and make mass copies. Or just have them proclaim it over the network. When we started our business we were offering people free demonstrations.

[horlogerie]

I could do that. A demonstration.

[wasthemaster]

And how would you go about your demonstration?

[horlogerie]

...Make things and prove that they work. Like the train.

[wasthemaster]

How long do you suppose it takes you to build things?

[horlogerie]

That depends on what it is. The train took a few days, but it is big..and some things have fewer parts.

[wasthemaster]

What's the largest thing you could build the fastest?

[horlogerie]

A clock.

[wasthemaster]

Yes, but how big of a clock?

[horlogerie]

Why?

[wasthemaster]

Curiosity's sake.

[horlogerie]

...Well..how much time would I have to make it?

[wasthemaster]

Half an hour perhaps. People's attention spans are quite short these days.

[horlogerie]

....

[Then it clicks and Hugo rolls his eyes]

I wasn't going to make it in front of them. I would make things beforehand...then show them how they work.

[wasthemaster]

You don't think it'd be more effective if people saw the craftsmanship at work?