fandomhigh | Retail 101, Monday morning, All and Sundries

The shop is closed for the duration of the workshop and Edmund has assumed without checking that the students would have figured out that they would be going to a retail establishment for a course titled Retail 101.

If they didn't? Well, he's in a good mood, perhaps he'll consider detention rather than making students hose Baldrick down and scrub him off with a broom. Clothed of course - even Edmund wasn't so cruel as to expect anyone to see Baldrick sans trousers.

"My name," he said, "is Edmund Blackadder the Third. This workshop is Retail 101: The Tongue is Mightier than the Sword. If you are not here for this workshop, now would be the time for you to piss off."

Edmund waited for any potential off pissing before continuing. "The key to retail is interacting with customers. But none of this touchy feely 21st century 'the customer is always right' rot. The customer is not only not always right - the customer is quite often completely wrong and stupid as well.

"This workshop is to teach you to deal with those customers without losing your mind - how to put them in their places, how to amuse yourself when you cannot, and how, upon occasion, to do the appropriate kowtowing for a well-heeled, or well-armed client.

"Today, I will be assessing your current skill level. I want each of you to pair up with another student." Edmund smiled the sort of smile you might expect to see in a dark alley on the wrong side of something shiny and very, very sharp. "As we have an odd number of students on the roster, one of you lucky souls will get to pair up with me.

"You will each take a turn behind the register as Clerk, while the other student takes a turn as Customer. Customer, your job is to attempt to pay for your purchase with these," he held up a stack of poker chips. "Clerk, your job is to explain, in whatever manner you find appropriate, that All and Sundries only accepts valid currency."

Edmund stood up and moved aside to allow the first pair to take their turn. "While you are waiting your turn, feel free to get some practice in, chat up the student of the gender of your preference, or familiarize yourself with the store's inventory - there will be a test."

[ooc: No, Edmund won't actually make anyone bathe Baldrick, although volunteers would never be turned away.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Talk here, pick your partner, linger 'til the end in order to have a chance to annoy Blackadder as his partner.

Zack looked around for a partner.

Cedric walks over to Zack. "Would you like to partner up for this exercise?"

"Sure," Zack replied with a grin. "Do you want to be the customer or clerk?"

"I'll be...the clerk (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhigh/932117.html?thread=47427605#t47427605)".

Willow looked around for a partner. In the meanwhile she took detailed notes on the store's inventory since Mr. Blackadder had said there would be a test.

"Psst...Willow!" Blair mock whispered at her. "Wanna be partners?"

Willow smiled at him. "Sure! Would you like to be the clerk, or the customer?"

"I think we have to do both, but I'll be the customer first." Blair said with a sigh. "Might as well ease my way into the consumer driven lifestyle."

Willow reached over to pat him on the arm. "Okay. Then I shall try to be the best clerk I can be! You know, to start."

"Thanks, Willow." Blair smiled at her and headed over to the counter. "I shall try my best to cheat you out of merchandise in a peaceful and karmacially sound way."

"My karma and I thank you," Willow replied. "Shall we (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhigh/932117.html?thread=47471893#t47471893)?"

Jaye tries not to look too excited about getting a partner. What, she's in character.

Peter eyes Jaye from across the room. "OOOOH! Jaye! Wanna be my partner?!"

Ackomgit'stheguyshesawnaked. "Um," she says. "Sure?"

"Sweet!" said Peter "You wanna be the clerk or the customer?"

"I think I can be the clerk," says Jaye, who thinks this could be really good practice, actually.

"Alrighty. I think I can manage playing a dimwitted customer." says Peter "I've got acting in my blood. Let's do this (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhigh/932117.html?thread=47424533#t47424533)!"

Dawn waited patiently for a partner.

"You, my dear girl, have me as a partner," Edmund said with a smile. "Show me your skill as a clerk."

Dawn went behind the counter and gave him her sunniest smile. "Good afternoon, sir. May I help you find anything?"

"Yes, I want a left handed screwdriver and I don't have time to wait."

Even Dawn knew there was no such thing as a left-handed screwdriver. "Of course, sir. Let me get that for you. Cross-tipped or straight-tipped?"

"Hex. And I'm sick of your prattle. I have other places to be. Now."

"Of course." Dawn nodded and walked down the aisle, trying to stop her eye from twitching. She returned with a selection of three screwdrivers of different sizes, laying them on the counter in front of Blackadder. Notably, she didn't stake the instructor with any of them.

"These are the only left-handed screwdrivers we have in stock."