Conversation · Tare Machine

The tare machine stands in the corner. A sign says: "ONE BOTTLE = TEN CENTS".

Insert your bottles.

Your bottles clunk into the machine and the money appears with a satisfying jingle. You're a richer man now!

D'you know what you should do with that money, kiddo? You should buy more alcohol! Enter the endless cycle of consumption!

You're 100% sure you got special Hobocop money for that tare. At least +100% extra tare money. If the numbers on the machine told you otherwise, it's a lie.

Your bottles clunk into the machine and the money appears with a satisfying jingle. You're a richer man now!

"What is this machine?"

"Hm?" The clerk looks up, out of her magazine. "Oh. That's the tare machine."

"I understand now. Thank you."

"Mh." She looks down, back into her magazine.

"Yes, but what is it?"

She knits her brow, confused. "It's... a machine for tare? You know. You find tare outside -- like, bottles or whatever -- and put it in the machine. Then it gives you money."

Cool. Let's do this swindle. This tare swindle.

"I see. And how do I pick up tare for the tare machine?"

"You need a bag I guess? We used to have some but we gave them all out, so..." She shrugs awkwardly.

"Feel free to use it if you find a bag, though. I'm sure there are some... out there." She points outside. "Somewhere..."

[Leave.]

"Excuse me -- I have the tare bag but no tare. Can I still use the tare machine?"

"No." She doesn't even bother looking up out of her magazine. "You need tare to use the tare machine."