"It doesn't seem like an obviously bad idea. And I can catch you a 'mon to start with, I can spot you the cost of a ball."

"I would definitely appreciate that. Actually, Bar, how much does a ball cost in her money and mine?"

‎¥‎200 or $4.55.

"You won't need to spot me one if I go through with it, I'll just buy it."

"You might want all your cushion though..."

"Hm, okay, don't look a- I already used that idiom today, it's worn out. I will pay you back sooner or later in this hypothetical though."

"Can't scare me. But you will also need to feed your 'mon - I can get you something that grazes so you don't have to spend on chow, but it's hard to train them without treats."

"There's not a desperate unemployment level or anything, right? Miscellaneous unspecialized work I could probably find and get paid for to tide me over until I can make walkers? Or better, mechanic shop work. I know cars too, just maybe not any computers they'd have."

"Most of the really unspecialized work is either done by mon... and you'll have a learning curve training yours... or, uh, requires speaking the language, like if you worked at a store or something. I'm not sure if any of your mechanicking will transfer, the machines are probably all different even if they're both basically cars."

"Uncertain fate either way. Ostracized in an inflation-ridden country, or possibly skill-less and language-less. I taught myself by watching and listening once already... I almost want to hold the door open and shout for anyone to bring me old bills but the street was kinda deserted and I think people will ignore an 'obviously insane redhead' leaning out of a door."

"I mean, if they'll just ignore you, that doesn't sound too bad, you could try it in case."

"Worst case isn't all that bad. Alright."

She solicits a few containers of attractive, relatively rare food from Bar. Jelly, butter, eggs, good crackers. And she leans out the door and shouts that she's selling them all for ten thousand marks.

Most people avoid her. One homeless guy takes her up on it with a small bundle of very ragged bills. He gets a peek into Milliways but shakes his head muttering about visions and moves on. Walta comes back in and presents her spoils to Bar for a valuation of $160. She keeps at it for another ten minutes but doesn't get anyone else. And then two policemen show up and head for her. She ducks back inside.

"Well, that helped but got probably-negative attention outside."

"The guys in uniforms were cops or something?"

"Yeah. But they're the second kind of cop. The kind that looks for foreign spies and rebels and stuff and not street crime."

"...well that's worrying. They won't be able to follow you in here but I guess this makes going home less appealing."

"If I walk out without stuff I'm in for a lecture and maybe trying to figure out where I got the food and very unlikely getting shipped off somewhere on sucpicion of being a rebel. With a bunch of stuff the last two things get more likely. Doesn't help that they chased me out of this hanger where I was watching a military landship getting fixed once... And if there was a chance to do a tech revolution before 's gone with them pawing through my stuff..."

"That sucks, I'm sorry."

"Not the first time doing something impulsive bit me."

"I should probably have asked if you were sure you'd just be ignored before I suggested going ahead. ...You did more than double your money though."

"Yeah, I did. So that's good at least."

"So the alphabet isn't that complicated... and you might be able to learn it without it being translated because there are 'mon that come in all the shapes of the letters and I bet the translation effect won't distort a picture of an Unown as long as it's not actually spelling anything with other Unown? Bar?"

Correct.

"And can I tell her what sounds go with which letters, too?"

To the extent you can make them in isolation, certainly.

"So then you'll have the alphabet and you can write it up however is useful to you to study, and you'll have a phrasebook."

"Oh my god, thank you thank you! You're being so helpful I could hug you."

"I like being helpful!"

"That's a good thing to like. Let's get some Unown pictures."

Bar provides pictures of Unown of various shapes. They are all circles with protrusions.