Jace woke up the next morning, ready for another day. "Patchwork, how does going down to the corner and setting up a stall to repair items sound as a starting point? The walk-in units were not really planned.
Patchwork: That could work really well. So could not walking in traffic to avoid being hit.
Jace: "I have to start somewhere." Jace looks around his apartment. Let's see what I have around here that will help make a good launch. I know, I'll clear that area by the door and use that for a staging area.
Patchwork: Oh, a staging area. Are we prepping for a Broadway debut or just trying to delay the inevitable disaster by pretending there's a system? Because nothing screams "I have no idea what I'm doing" quite like carefully arranging chaos into neat little piles. Bravo. Truly, organizational delusion at its finest.
Jace: "Yes, I admit my apartment isn't the cleanest. I have to have some sort of a method to figure out what I have and what I can use."
Patchwork: That's the understatement of the century...
Jace: Let's see... Obviously need my tool bag.
Patchwork: You have a bag of yourself?
Jace: "Now that was uncalled for."
Patchwork: Uncalled for, maybe. Necessary though? Absolutely!
Jace: "Ah! There's my folding table! I can use that as a workbench!"
Patchwork: We have to have a folding table, because nothing says "I've got my life together" like furniture that collapses under mild pressure. Just don't lean on it too hard unless you want your dignity to fold with it.
Jace: I don't have a cash box, I'll have to see if Riley has something for that. I don't have any service tickets, but for now I can use paper.
Patchwork: Yes, let's start a business and cut out every option that make it look professional.
Jace: "It's not like you're being helpful at the moment."
Patchwork: I am too, I'm being the comedy relief for the train wreck that is your life.
Jace: "Well, I'm trying to straighten out that train wreck." I should check in with Riley
Jace pulls out his phone and calls Riley.
Riley: "Hey Jace, what's up?"
Jace: "Just thought I would see if you had plans today. I was going to go set up a stall and start doing some repairs. Needed to know if my manager was available!"
Riley: "I can come down for a little bit. I have a hair appointment this afternoon though."
Jace: "No worries, I don't think I'll be down there all day today anyway. Just maybe a few hours to get a feel of how to run this."
Riley: "Sounds great! I'll be ready in a half hour. I still need to take a shower anyway."
Jace: "Ok. Just come on down when you're ready. I'll be down at the corner of the block where the street market is."
Riley: "Will do, handsome! See you there!"
Jace: "See you there!" He hangs up the phone.
Gathering up everything he needs for the day, Jace heads out the door and goes to the market. He finds an open spot and sets up his table. Pulling out a large piece of cardboard he had brought, he starts to make a sign.
Jace's Ace Repair
Patchwork: That's the name you're choosing? You might as well have chosen Wrench Master or something else stupid. That's up to you though. As long as you repair things like you are supposed to so I can upgrade more, I'll only judge you. You tick me off though, and I'll be taking control of your body again.
Jace: "Oh, at least you will ONLY be judging me." He looks at his sign and sighs. Admittedly it does look pretty bland and sad, but it's the only thing I had to work with right now.
He sets his tools behind him as he sets his sign up on the table, beginning to wait. Riley comes down shortly after.
Jace: "Hey Riley! You look lovely this morning!"
Riley: "Oh stop it, I just freshened up a little before coming out. It's nothing big."
Jace: "So anyway, what do you think of the setup?"
Riley: "If I'm honest, not the best but it works for a start."
Jace: "Figured for day one, I'll use what I have to make a basic setup. I did neglect to bring down repair materials, but I have some stuff in my tool bag. I might have to have you watch things here while I run back to the apartment if there is something I need."
Riley: "Not a problem there. I would say that falls into my managerial duties."
Jace: "You're enjoying being my manager, aren't you?"
Riley: "I am!" What can I say, you're slowly becoming everything to me.
Jace: "So there is something a little serious we need to talk about."
Riley: "I didn't do it, it was the man downstairs... Seriously though, continue."
Jace: "You will never guess who had the nerve to call me last night."
Riley: "The apartment manager?"
Jace: "Thankfully no, but I will have to pay rent soon. It was Rick."
Riley: "He didn't get embarrassed enough to leave you alone the other day?
Jace: "No, apparently not. He was actually having the nerve to try threatening me to leave town or he was going to being things up again about me getting fired. Long story short, we need to make sure we pay all the taxes we need to on doing this business. It looks like the IRS will end up getting involved if he doesn't leave me alone."
Riley: "That's the best way to do it anyway."
Jace: "So the walk-in work, I was splitting the money with you on that. That comes up to $1750 for the both of us. Then I had another $500 from doing work for a couple people around the complex. Although that wasn't me doing it as much as Patchwork.
Patchwork: You're welcome by the way
Riley: "Ok, let me figure this out for you real quick. We will claim those ones as just labor income to make life easier. Last I checked we would need to hold back 25-27 percent to cover income taxes under self employment. Let's just round that to $600 so far.
Patchwork: I will add that to your character panel for you so you can keep track of how much to send in. Next week is the end of the quarter anyway, so that will need to be done soon. That is heat we do not need.
Riley: "I feel so official doing this! Lol!"
Jace: "I knew having you as my manager was a good idea!"
Riley: "I think I see a customer coming up."
A man walks over carrying a smartwatch that looks like it has seen better days. He looks at the stall setup and walks over.
Jace: "Hello sir! How can I help you today?"
Man: "Hello, my name is Sterling Vent. I was wondering what you repair and how much your rates are."
Jace: "As far as what I can repair for you, probably just about anything. Rates right now are between $50 to $500 depending on the item and what needs to be done. What would you be needing to have repaired?"
Sterling: "It's my smartwatch. It works when it wants to, but some days it will just stop telling the local time. Fortunately it's doing it today, so I can show you." He hand Jace a Galaxy watch that looks like it's seen better days.
Jace: "I think I see what you mean on this watch. It looks like it currently showing GMT. There are several scratches on the face and a couple chips on the glass. I don' think it will be a very complicated repair for the time issue. How does $50 to repair it sound?
Sterling: "That sounds like a very fair deal to me!"
Jace: "Wonderful! Riley, can you help our new friend Mr. Vent out with the paperwork before I get started on it?"
Riley: "Of course, that's what I'm here for! Mr. Vent, if I can have a moment of your time." Riley pulls out a repair form that looks very professional. "We just need this filled out so we can track our repairs. We will worry about collecting after it is repaired obviously, but I prefer to make sure everything is known up front. After taxes your total would be $56.50. Unfortunately I don't have things set up yet to take any digital payment other than Venmo."
Sterling starts to fill out the paperwork
Jace sees another man walking over, carrying a badly damaged blender.
Jace: "Hello sir, what can I do for you today?
Man: "Hello, my name is Dorian Slint. My blender seems to be having some issues... you know, blending. I was wondering if you can take a look at it."
Jace: "Certainly, sir." Jace takes the blender and inspects it. The lid is deformed, and it looks like a blade is bent out of shape. He plugs it in to a nearby power cord to test it and turns it on. Vrrrgg...gggr....grrr...
Patchwork: The smartwatch shouldn't be a big issue to fix. The blender not so much. Tell him the blades and lid are damaged, and the motor is starting to fail. Quote him $500 to repair and suggest he replace it
Jace: "Alright, Mr. Slint. Looking over your blender, it would technically be repairable, but I wouldn't suggest it. Your lid is damaged on here, and it looks like there is a bent blade. When I tried to turn it on though, the motor doesn't sound good at all. I think the motor will need to be replaced. I would quote this one at $500 to repair it, but I would suggest replacing it instead."
Dorian: "You repair people are all the same, always wanting to sell a new piece of equipment instead of fixing them. I wouldn't mind if I could find one that would blend a rack of ribs for me without breaking. I will just go replace this one though. I can buy a new one for $75."
Jace: "I understand sir, have a good day!"
Riley comes back over. "Mr. Vent's paperwork is all ready to go whenever you are free to start on it!"
Jace: "That's great news, Mr. Vent. Give me about an hour or so and I should be done with it."
Sterling: "That works out, I was going to go grab a bite to eat anyway. I will be back soon!" Sterling goes deeper into the market.