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

[wasthemaster]

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

[horlogerie]

[He shrugs a shoulder]

None of my father's customers ever asked to sit and watch while he made their clocks.

[wasthemaster]

How did your father gain customers?

[horlogerie]

I...I don't know...

[Hugo's brow furrows]

He always had them.

[wasthemaster]

So what makes you think his methods were different?

[horlogerie]

Because he wouldn't have to demonstrate them. People always needed clocks.

[wasthemaster]

Clocks, someday, are going to become obsolete. You need to be ahead of that, don't you?

[horlogerie]

They will not.

[wasthemaster]

Technology moves.

[horlogerie]

Clocks are technology and art.

[wasthemaster]

All the more reason for you to demonstrate why your clocks are better than clocks people can buy in other stores, correct?

[horlogerie]

....

[A frown.]

...I could make a desk clock in a half hour...but only if I already had a frame ready for the mechanism to be put into.

[wasthemaster]

Fair enough. I'd take it into consideration if I were you.

[horlogerie]

Where would I do the demonstration?

[wasthemaster]

What house are you in?

[horlogerie]

Heimdall.

[wasthemaster]

I suppose you could just do it there in the main lobby, couldn't you?

omg that icon.

[horlogerie]

[Now there's an idea]

...I guess so.

accurate isn't it.

[wasthemaster]

[Sometimes when he's not being a dick, Draco has good ideas.] There's enough room and people don't have to stay in the hall too terribly long. And, of course, when you set up shop in your room people will already know what building to go to.

most definitely

[horlogerie]

Then...when I have enough parts, I will do a demonstration there.

[He nods, though mostly to himself]

[wasthemaster]

Perfect. That is how you start a business.

[horlogerie]

Does your business do well?

[wasthemaster]

My partner and I sell the most successful sleeping potions in the city. I'd say we're doing quite well for ourselves.

[horlogerie]

...potions?

[wasthemaster]

Yes, potions. You know what potions are, don't you?