Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Well, don't be shy," the merchant said spoke. "If you're going to in the area, you might as well come closer. No use in me having such a lovely booth on display if no one is going to come by and admire it."

He kept his keen little smile in place, watching intently.

"You look as though you have something on your mind. Want me to lend an ear while you browse?"

"Mind family drama? No, I love it, actually. It's the most raw of all drama and emotions," he answered easily. He seemed to enjoy gossip, but there was something earnest about his interest, at least. "Secrets can break even the strongest relationships. I think you're right to be upset. Family secrets," he shrugged. "Those are the sorts of things that can affect you for generations to come. And, if you can't trust your family, who can you trust?"

He watched her eyes upon his table and gestured to a few pretty trinkets--though, perhaps, the most interesting was a compass. It was clearly old, and the metal was a bit tarnished, but it was a gorgeous piece that still seemed to work. At the very least, the needle was pointing North. The backing of the compass was a piece of art; rather than just a standard four letter indication of the correct direction, an ornate octopus had been painted in rich colors, and gold lines accented it beautifully. Even the compass needle seemed to have been styled to mimic one of the eight legs of the octopus.

He tapped it with a long finger, almost contemplatively. "Why not treat yourself to something nice? I like trades. For shiny things. One of mine for one of yours?"

He nodded as he listened; his eyes immediately went to the little gem she carried. "What would you like to know? It's old. I found it a while back. At the bottom of the ocean, nearly. Very far away. You won't find anything quite like it here on Earth. Not like that little stone you're holding. Apparently there are plenty of those lying around. But," he reached out for the compass and plucked it up before holding it out as an offering to her. "I'll trade you, anyway. Do you do a lot of sailing, or just like the design?"

Any words for her family were momentarily forgotten; he could give out sympathy after the exchange he was now so desperate to make.

The merchant hummed, like he was considering how much information he wanted to share on the topic. The star she traded disappeared from sigh before he began speaking, safely tucked away somewhere else.

"Well," he said, and it seemed like the word lingered on his tongue before he spoke again. "I can say, those little stones aren't really very common. They aren't native to Earth. If we're being completely honest, I've followed the meteor shower here to collect them. Falling stars and all that," he waved his hand and kept his tightly pressed smile perfectly in place.

"You'd be surprised what gets lost to time. People lose treasures regularly. Misplaced, stored for safe keeping," he shrugged. "All I know is that no one was coming back for it, so it's up for grabs. And in good hands, it seems. You really care for it. Ah, good. A treasure once, a treasure again."

"So I've heard, treasures just lying on the ground. But, I don't have time to look for them and protect my wares, so that is where the trading comes in. I've been quite fortunate, and I've as much pleasure from a good trade as knowing my wares are going to a good home. I hope the next time I visit everyone will be as friendly as before. It's not often I go about giving such good deals. But, then again, it's not every day that the stars fall from the sky like this. Are you not well-traveled, yourself? This planet is bursting with life. Have you been off of it?"

The man's smile was unwavering. "Ah, well you have time," he insisted. "You're still young. I'm sure there are many opportunities for you in the future. I wouldn't trust everything you see in pictures--the only way to really experience something is to go out and see it for yourself. A lot of worlds out there are," he exhaled, a pleasant sigh, "wonderful.

He seemed to be daydreaming, if only for a few seconds. "Perhaps by the time I return, you'll have stories to share with me. Maybe you'll be the one giving me tips on where to visit next, hm?"

The merchant nodded and smiled. "I suppose. I've managed just fine. I hope you get the opportunity to as well. Perhaps if I find something to help travel, I'll be back to see what Earth can trade for it. They aren't as common as they used to be, either aged into disrepair or broken altogether. And it isn't as if there's anyone out there still making them. We'll see. I have a bit of luck up my sleeve, perhaps I'll find something, yet. At the very least, I will most certainly be back."