Three-second scope

[Janick Beauchamp]

Now to find out what the deposit he paid back at Caupona Station will get him; hopefully he won't be drinking anything at the Castle if he did, in fact, come to get a piece of equipment alchemized, she thought, while expecting [member="Noatyr Moldmerr"] to try to hit on her again, based on her last run in with him onboard Caupona Station. Deposits were usually paid for booking slots in expectation of future business, so maybe she would like the actual business done so as to get rid of that liability, and turn it into equity. Of course, what effects she would provide on whatever he would like alchemized would depend on the specific object. But she knew that, in the world of alchemy, 50 credits are a pittance for a deposit, so she would expect the journal entry to look as follows: Dr. Cash X, Dr. Unearned revenue 50, Cr. Sales revenue X+50, Dr. Cost of goods sold Y, Cr. Inventory Y. Four different accounts are affected (five if there was a deposit or financing) in any given sale, and FIFO (first-in, first-out) is the costing method used by the Utai Magic Circle. She then wrote to Noatyr on her datapad:

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ATTN: Noatyr Moldmerr

Back on Caupona Station you paid a deposit to me in expectation of future business, so perhaps you would like to come to the Utapau Alchemy Castle to get a key piece of your equipment alchemized. Please let me know what works for you.

Janick Beauchamp
Owner, Utai Magic Circle

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[Noatyr Moldmerr]

Making his way through the halls, Noatyr couldn't help but be impressed. It was a rather large building, and wasn't hard on the eyes either. This place was where [member="Janick Beauchamp"] had told him to be, and he had made sure to grab his most used possessions before he had left his ship.

There was no doubt that this would be a rather interesting experience, for he had never seen something alchemized before. He had read a bit about such things, but to witness it first hand would be a real treat.

Not to mention, seeing Janick again would be a welcome sight. She had mostly turned down his advancements when they had first met, but that didn't mean he had given up. Well, not entirely to say the least. Janick was rather bewitching, excluding the fact that she was indeed a witch, but the way she dressed, he could only wonder what went on in her head.

Probably business and alchemy. Those seemed to be her forte. Another question that came to mind, was why she had decided to start giving him all of that Asobi 95% tihaar. He had forgotten to get a direct answer from her. He was also at fault for not paying attention, but of all the drinks, she had to have given him the strongest?

​''Well, not going to get any answers in my own head, let's see...where's Janick...''

His focus intensified, and his thoughts cleared, as he began to search for any sign of where exactly she was in the castle. Noatyr could sense many things, but thankfully, sensing Janick due to contact with her before made her location stand out, even if only a little, and he headed in that direction.

His rifle bobbed a bit on his back as he moved, and his right hand moved to grip the sling, while the left moved to his pockets. He looked out of place, a tall hooded figure totting a rifle through a castle, but he doubted anyone would try and stop him. He wasn't there to make trouble after all. Still, he probably should've left his cloak back in the Z-10 Seeker, but it was to late for that, sides, he got sick of others staring at his eyes.

 

[Janick Beauchamp]

"I'm here, Noatyr..."

So [member="Noatyr Moldmerr"] would, in fact, find her in the storefront at the ground floor of the main tower, sensing that his heart was pounding, but it would do him no good to brew him a love potion. She could readily recognize the BL-28, a relic that is still in production because the components are still in production, even though this one seemed to have a collapsible bipod that could be stashed inside the receiver. The most obvious two things in her mind that could be useful to a BL-28's user are the following: battle precognition and lightsaber resistance, in that order, even though she knew that, if lightsaber resistance becomes a factor, the user is too close to be effective against a lightsaber wielder. Also, she had to be ready to be alchemizing whatever piece of equipment he would like alchemized, and hence she fetched a venipuncture kit, which was, in fact, the only real cost of alchemizing the BL-28 that would be counted against the Circle's books. And yet, if he wanted something other than the BL-28 alchemized, she would have to think of different effects to be applied on that new item, based on what effects are desirable on it.

"So, before we begin, I have a few questions for you. First, let's begin by what piece of equipment you would like alchemized; I suggest something you will use regularly"

 

[Noatyr Moldmerr]

Unslinging the rifle, Noatyr held out the BL-28.

​''I've always thought this weapon needed a bit of an upgrade. So I figure this is the most worthy of being alchemized for a witch.''

The weapon was in itself a fine piece of equipment, but all blasters had always felt just...well, wrong to him. He was happy that [member="Janick Beauchamp"] was going to mess around with it, he was looking forward to seeing the results.

​''So, how have you been since our last meeting? I'll assume you've been busy.''​ He smiled at her as he threw his hood off.

 

[Janick Beauchamp]

"Let's see: it would give you the ability to use battle precognition so that you can predict the target's moves for up to the time it takes to the bolt to travel to it, in the thick of battle, and, of course, lightsaber resistance"

Well, I didn't get around to write the journal entry for the second deposit Noatyr paid, but the second deposit he paid back on the station will be counted against this item for the next journal entry pertaining to this item, she thought, while realizing that it wouldn't be a big deal to just recognize that cash as collected from [member="Noatyr Moldmerr"] now, not one that could cause an external audit opinion for the Circle to go from unqualified to qualified at year-end. Often it was easier to use precognition in a calm environment or for much longer-range predictions than mere seconds, so Janick stood ready to work her magic on the BL-28, while realizing that lightsaber resistance applied on a blaster means that it will not overheat from a high intensity of use in a firefight. And, if the weapon somehow became heavier as a result, less recoil. Her old particle rifle, whose stopping power is similar to a BL-28's, can kick like mules, but that's as far as her experience with recoil goes. For now anyway, she is preparing the venipuncture kit so that she would be able to even get the show on the road.

"Alchemy is a thing that requires blood that isn't contaminated unless you want to impart toxic properties; if you would please allow me to draw some blood for the purpose of testing against contaminants..."

 

[Noatyr Moldmerr]

''Oh uh, alright, sure...''

Noatyr figured he was clean, but with all the places he visited, he may have gotten contaminated simply stepping off his ship at some point. He figured that he'd find out eventually anyway, plus, [member="Janick Beauchamp"] had said it was a necessary step, and she was already getting prepared, so he rolled up one of his sleeves.

For a second he was reminded of visiting a medical droid when his side had been cut open in a fight. It was a rather pleasant memory.

 

[Janick Beauchamp]

Now that [member="Noatyr Moldmerr"] got his blood drawn through the venipuncture kit, containing a vacutainer that is analyzed before the actual alchemizing could begin, Janick could then put the sample into the blood analyzer, which returned an absence of pathogens capable of contaminating an alchemical products. Good news: the alchemizing process can then proceed without risk of him being sick, knowing that some of the less reputable alchemists suffered damage to their business in court because said alchemists sold contaminated products to the plaintiffs, she thought, while fetching a sterile operating table cover, as appropriate for alchemizing operations of that nature, and the vacutainer is now inside a disposable spray. And, once she put on her surgical gloves, Noatyr will likely come to realize just how important hygienic considerations are to alchemize items that the clients will use regularly, as she often suggests prior to commissioning an item. It was then that Janick, as part of the routine in these past few years, laid down the BL-28 onto the sterile surface prior to the alchemizing process getting underway.

"Just stay out of the white carpet until the alchemizing is over, please" she warned Noatyr while she sprayed the client's own blood on one side of the rifle, and then on to the other.

 

[Noatyr Moldmerr]

''You got it.''

Leaning against one of the walls, Noatyr watched with fascination as [member="Janick Beauchamp"] worked her magic on the rifle. It was fascinating process, and it looked rather simple. Simple enough that anyone could do it. He knew though, that such things were never nearly as easy as they first appeared.

The entire feeling of the alchemizing process felt like that of an operating room. Sterile, focused, and serious.

He felt like he was watching another being operated on instead of having his weapon tinkered with. It was an odd feeling, to say the least. Still, his curiosity kept him intrigued as he watched.

 

[Janick Beauchamp]

So [member="Noatyr Moldmerr"] thinks infusing ichor into an item is easy? Easier than crystallography or Sithspawn for sure, but the hard part of talismanic metallurgy is making sure one infused the right amount and varieties of spirit ichor. Yes, they tended to bind to the blood present on the item's surface. Just that alchemizing weapons was a rather routine alchemizing job to her by now... Odd perhaps, but each alchemist has its own recipes, and once the proper amount and varieties of spirit ichor are infused into the BL-28, she took the time to use sterile gauze, imbibed with isopropanol, to wipe off the blood that is still remaining, The one thing she found odd was that he was much more like her early clients than her late clients, since most of her late clients tended to get Force-lessons as well as an alchemized item to show for it, whereas her early clients did not. Now that the residual blood has been wiped off the rifle, she was more than happy to return the rifle back, and then, if there was nothing else Noatyr would like to do, then proceed to the billing, using both installments of the deposit as part of the resulting bill, even though only the first installment of the deposit was recorded at this point.

"It's ready now!" she tells Noatyr while handing his BL-28 back.

 

[Noatyr Moldmerr]

''Perfect. This should make my life much easier.''

He gently took his weapon back from [member="Janick Beauchamp"], and examined it. At first glance it didn't look any different, but the feeling the entire weapon had changed. The process looked simple, but easy, far from it. He could tell that what she had done to his weapon couldn't have been done by any ordinary being.

It was incredible, to say the least. Never once had he seen or laid hands upon a blaster, that not only was lightsaber proof, but also granted him precognition in battle? Fantastic.

''Thank you Janick. It's an honor to have this done by a witch such as yourself.'' He began rummaging through his pockets for the credits. He considered paying her extra, but first he'd have to see how much she wanted from him.

 

[Janick Beauchamp]

"Given the deposits you already paid, That said, if you can't afford 1,900 credits right now, there's still financing, with more details communicated to you then, based on how much you still owe" she told Noatyr when billing arrived.

Because, in fact, 2,000 credits were the base cost that was charged for that sort of work, regardless of whether it's for alchemizing something for which the base materials are already provided (which is the case most of the time, except for products that are proprietary to the Circle) or for something that is proprietary to the Circle. For the first time in months, selling [member="Noatyr Moldmerr"] may as well include an entry into accounts receivable. That might have been the only sale where both deposits and financing were used - all other transactions I've had that had either of those were for one or the other; I had one of each before, and never both, she thought, while drafting the details of the invoice. To be sure, it's best for him to pay as much as he can afford now, while not making any assumptions as to how much he can actually afford to pay, while having already paid 100 credits under the form of deposits. But the invoicing will depend on how much he can afford to pay upfront and how much he will have to pay later, and set a realistic timeframe to pay for the remainder if applicable, if needed to actually go the purchase-on-account route.

 

[Noatyr Moldmerr]

After a quick search through his pockets, Noatyr produced enough credits to pay off about half of the desired amount. He checked his pockets once more just to be certain.

​''That's all I got for now. Although I can pay you back the rest in the next few weeks. Say...300 credits a week?''​ He could've paid more, but then he'd have nothing left to pay for other things.

Setting the credits down on one of the tables currently not being used, he turned back to Janick and smiled. ​''That work for you?''

 

[Janick Beauchamp]

"That would work"

So the journal entry would look as follows: Dr. Cash 1050, Dr. Accounts receivable 900, Dr. Unearned revenue 50, Cr. Sales revenue 2000. Be lucky that there is no interest attached to it. I hope that Griet hasn't made a mistake and kept the allowance for doubtful accounts and, with it, the bad debt expense, steady at 0, she thought, while the final bill is printed for [member="Noatyr Moldmerr"] to receive, on top of an alchemized BL-28 with a clean bill of health, alongside the payment terms for the balance, and the journal entry for this transaction made, with an additional cost for the cost of one venipuncture kit and one sterile carpet debited as cost of goods sold and credited from inventory, since the Utai Magic Circle's inventory was, in fact, perpetual. Unlike business-to-business invoicing, where terms such as 2/15, n/90 were commonly used for deferred payment, for individuals it wasn't usually the case for financing. Now that the business was considered closed, Janick had good hopes that Noatyr would be making good use of the rifle for the next three weeks or so. That is, until he paid in full. And probably beyond the day where he paid the stuff in full.

"Goodbye, then"

 

[Noatyr Moldmerr]

Nodding his goodbye, Noatyr departed. He was a little disappointed in himself for letting several opportunities run from him, but at least he had gotten his rifle alchemized.

''I'll be back soon enough Janick, I look forward to our next meeting.''​ He slung the rifle over his shoulder again, threw up his hood, and made his way back through the castle. Pausing briefly to look back.

The castle was filled with so much knowledge, he'd have to make sure he tried to explore a bit the next time he came to pay off [member="Janick Beauchamp"].

With that thought, he left the building, boarded his ship, and blasted off, leaving the planet behind him.

 

[Janick Beauchamp]

If Noatyr could be made to feel as if the castle was filled with so much knowledge, its occupants would definitely have something to do with that. That's where Griet, Alyssa and, of course, herself all lived. Satisfied with her somewhat unorthodox transaction with Noatyr, Janick went to drink a tablespoon of Asobi 95% tihaar, hoping that he would pay using a money order or some other means that would allow him to pay without coming to the castle again, while realizing that his Force-sensitivity may be limited; battle precognition is rather easy to hide externally, but perhaps he is hoping that Janick trained him in the Force. Or Griet if he preferred someone closer to the light. If his reaction to me on Caupona Station is any indication, he'd pretty much think of training under me as an idyll, a dream come true and then some, and be head-over-heels about me, and maybe make it even easier for me to charm him, she thought, realizing what he said about her onboard that station. Something about beauty, and how she was, to his eyes, the prettiest woman in the galaxy, or at least the prettiest witch at that level of power.