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 Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2021 10:08 am
Quote: It was already late in the evening but the merchant seemed unfazed by the passing of time. He sat, poised and elegant, watching the world around him. He didn’t seem bored but he sat, fingers laced atop the table; below it, he kept his toe tapping to some silent tune in his head. He was tall, by human standards, though while sitting down he didn’t seem particularly threatening. If you didn’t look at his face. He had graceful features--sharp and refined. His chin and nose tapered to a point, giving him an air of sophistication, but that, combined with his slitted eyes and pointed teeth, there was something undeniably predatory about him. He watched with a hungry gaze and a mischievous, nearly sinister smile. His ears were pointed and were prominent despite being tucked behind his vibrant, multi-colored hair. The most intrusive feature that indicated there was something not human about him were the curling horns protruding from his temples and the oil-slick black scales that brushed his cheeks and forehead. He was well dressed, in a fashion obviously otherworldly, and seemed to enjoy dressing himself up in glistening gemstones. His tables were somehow both simple and overwhelming; each table was draped with a dark purple tablecloth, all with extravagant embroidery in different designs. Scattered neatly atop the tables were an array of items that seemed to carry some magical weight to them. He did not seem intimidated in the slightest and, upon noticing that the barrier surrounding him rippled to allow his visitor to pass, he smiled. He did not rise to meet them nor adjust his position in the slightest. He followed them with his fierce eyes and greeted, in a silky voice, “Welcome.”
If they had been smart they would have brought containers with them, but nobody ever said that they were smart.
“Ah...thanks. This is an interesting place you have here um…” She faltered, never very good at speaking to strangers...especially the kind that were really…really strange. Like this guy. “I’m Dinara and this is…” She gave a half worried look at Mourite and shrugged. “This is my friend, Mourite. What...is this place and why did the little wisp orbs...why is that the only way we could get in? We tried earlier tonight but. We fell right through…”
Ah yes. She either talked too much or couldn’t think of what to say...and given the events that had happened thus far tonight...it seemed like babbling was going to be the way things went.
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2021 8:55 pm
Mourite, for his part, stepped slightly in front of Dinara, maroon eyes hard and calculating. The merchant looked normal, except for almost hungry gaze he appraised them with. Scales, horns, sharp teeth and eyes... he looked more like a half youma than a human. Dinara was talking, more at him than with him, and Mourite put a hand on her arm gently.
"You're rambling, Dinny," he said, a pet name falling from his mouth without even a thought. Do with that as you will. Mourite held the small wisp in his hand, in view of the merchant. "That said, who are you? Rather, what are you? You don't feel like Order or Chaos, but you look like a half youma." Was this some sort of... alien?
If that was the case, that through the whole idea that the worlds in space were dead and broken. His brows furrowed, watching the merchant. Besides, where did he even get all of these things?
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2021 2:27 pm
“Oh, yes, I’m so sorry about earlier. I was closed,” he gestured, “To set up, of course. I’m a businessman, it would have been horribly unbecoming to have made a spectacle of myself while I got everything arranged. It takes time for perfection.” His smile was unwavering as he looked from Knight to Negaverse Agent. “What an odd pair you two make. Not that I mind. Come closer, I won’t bite. We’ll chat. Like civilized people.” His fingers steepled before him and he leaned forward eagerly. “I am but a humble merchant, visiting Earth from far away. I came to make a few modest trades, but I’m afraid I’ve lost something very important to me in my travels. I’m sure you saw the sign out front, I’m looking for some wisps. If you two have found any, I hope you’ll consider a trade. I’ll make it very worth your while. The wisps are useless to you as they are now. I just want them to come home.”
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2021 6:06 pm
A humble merchant visiting Earth…Dinara swallowed and glanced to Mourite for a moment. “So...you are and alien? That...what’s that like?” And he was looking for wisps...Mourite had been right about that, no matter how vaguely annoyed it made her...only...it really didn’t now. She was over her anger...this night's adventures had seen to that. “I have one. One of the wisps. We um. Both do. What kind of worth our while are you talking about here?”
She was talking too much again, and she knew it but...this was mind blowing information. Things that she never thought she would encounter…never had hoped to encounter but…
God, Mourite would be all over this. He clearly liked space...what with his whole Star Wars thing and…
“Is it money?”
Money was always worth everyone’s while, after all...but...if it was alien money...that might not...it might not do what she needed it to...hm..
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2021 6:22 pm
Mourite snorted at Dinara's comment of 'is it money' and patted her on the head. Alright, so he was some sort of alien peddling his wares in exchange for wispy things. He still looked like a half youma but he wasn't out here trying to kill them - yet - and it never hurt to at least see what was going on?
Plus the things on the tables around him looked rather particular.
"From space, huh? I thought space was dead. S'been what I've been told, at least," he said, shrugging on shoulder. He pulled out one of the wisps from his tunic, holding it in one hand. "These things, right? Admittedly, they're cute little creatures. How'd you lose 'em, anyway?"
Mourite moved closer, eyeing the baubles around the merchant with curious eyes.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 9:55 am
The merchant’s eyes were on the wisp immediately, longingly. He wanted them--badly. “Oh, well. One question at a time. I lost them when I landed.” He gestured to the crater. “Earth’s atmosphere was giving me a few problems this round, and I didn’t anticipate the resistance. I’m afraid I lost quite a bit of good merchandise, but the wisps can be recovered. Quickly, hopefully. They’re not meant to be separated so I need to get them back as quickly as possible.” He shifted positions and continued, “I’m not after money, dear. Currency fluctuates too much. I think things are a much better investment. So I trade priceless treasures to get what I want. I can’t say space is dead but it’s certainly not thriving. Business is rough,” he sighed. “But there’s no competition, so I’ve got that going for me. Come, come. I’ll show you what I’ve got. Are you in the market for anything particular or shall we play the guessing game where I pick out something and tell you why you want it? Oh, actually. Because I’ve already got some ideas.” He moved a few things on his table and reached for a hairbow, brushed it off, and held it up as if to see how it would look sitting on Dinara’s head. It was a cute little hairbow; the fabric seemed to shine with starlight and glowed faintly, and a beautiful Cosmos star was centered in the middle of it. He pursed his lips and then lowered it, laying it out for her inspection. “I have a lot of Cosmos things, actually. You’re not a Cosmos Knight.” He eyed Mourite. “But you must like them.” He was here with Dinara, after all. He moved a few things over; there were little pieces of jewelry, a sash, a bag--beneath all of it, a palm sized stone with a faded cosmos symbol in the center. He held it up to his ear, shook it, and then held it up again as if he were listening to it. “Yes, it still works. They used to call these ‘soul stones’. The legend was that you could hold it up to your ear and hear messages from a starseed in the Cauldron. It’s not real, of course,” he admitted. “But it replays old messages you’ve heard, from someone you’ve lost. Someone important to you. I mean, who am I to say it doesn’t work, but I spent half a month obsessing over it until I realized that it just says the same things, over and over. Things I already heard. Buuut,” he drew the word out. “It might be of better use to someone else than it has been to me. Do you want to give it a try?”
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 3:52 pm
Dinara’s eyes lit up at the sight of the bow and she reached out for it, admiring the soft glow and the beautiful cosmos symbol in the middle. “Oh, yeah I’m taking this. It’s beautiful!” Without thinking she began braiding up a strand of her hair, fingers twisting rapidly even as she watched the Merchant hand Mourite a rock.
Oh. Oh no it was like the Charlie Brown Halloween special...Mourite wasn’t Jar Jar...he was Charlie Brown! The poor kid.
Oh well...a talking rock was...um…better than a not talking rock she supposed…
She hesitated. “Hey, Mr. Merchant...will it work for me too, if Mourite lets me borrow it for a minute or two? Or is it just his special rock?”
Not that she had anyone that she wanted to hear but...still. If she did, he was standing beside her anyway so she supposed it was a moot point. Finally, the braid was finished and she tied the ribbon onto the end, giving a little twirl and spreading her arms as though her whole outfit had changed by a simple braid and a new ribbon. “What do you think?” The question was obviously directed at Mourite but...if the Merchant said nice things, she would accept them graciously.
“...Can I have money too? I do like money.” She held the Wisp out for the Merchant to take, she had something in exchange now...and it was only fair.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 10:14 pm
Mourite took the rock and held it in his hand. It was somewhat weighty, but there was a Cosmos symbol on it. A soul stone, huh.... He tilted his head to the side and looked at it more. The star of Cosmos was different by the stone itself...
"My mother had one like this... almost the same, except without the symbol," he said quietly, face muted and withdrawn. Someone he lost, huh? Mourite glanced at Dinara and chuckled, distracted by her braiding and the very glittery bow at the end of it.
"It's gorgeous on you, little star," he said, though it lacked it's usual excitement. He brought his attention back to the rock and held it up to his ear.
"...my little stardust...
Marroons when wide and he stared forward as the soft flowing words of his late mother filtered through the stone and into his ear.
His hand trembled and he held the wisp out to the Merchant. "It... thank you, sir." He didn't notice the tears rolling down his cheek, just the soft little phrase over and over.
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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2021 5:32 pm
The merchant wore a knowing smile; even as they inspected the items, he withdrew an extremely ornate chalice that could have easily doubled as an extravagant candy dish, complete with stem and lid. The crystal bowl was cut with many facets that all perfectly seemed to capture and accentuate the light inside. Atop of the clear crystal, an ornate silver lid encrusted with what looked to be a giant diamond in the center. It had a large silver stem and a beautiful, sturdy base with a few more gemstones embedded within it. A few wisps danced around inside already, and he was quick to scoop both of their wisps into it before hiding it back beneath the table. “It looks splendid on you and, no, I don’t carry money, darling. But that bow itself is a treasure you couldn't put a price tag on, anyway. And--theoretically the soul stone should work for whoever holds it. If one is so inclined to share. It can be easy to become protective of them, mind you. But,” he watched Mourite, and though his forked tail twitched just a bit behind him, he didn’t comment on the tears. “I’m glad it’s in good hands, now. With someone who can properly appreciate it. It’s not often I’m glad to part with things, but. I have a good feeling about this. I’m happy you two came by.”
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Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:35 pm
Dinara almost gave a pout as the merchant again denied giving her any money, but then she saw that Mourtie was...he was crying...and she couldn't go having that. Quietly she slipped her hand into his. “I’m...um. I’m happy we came by too! But, I think maybe we should head out now, since it’s getting late and it’s been…” She forced a smile. “It’s been a lot today! Meeting up with old friends and getting presents...you…ah...enjoy your wispy buddies.”
The page squeezed Mourite’s hand. “...Ready to go? I’m ready to go…” She hoped that he was...they should both just get out of here and…
And maybe actually spend five minutes talking instead of jumping from one topic to another...but oh lord, was that ever safer to do...she knew that. And she thought Mourite did too. “Thank you for your presents, Mr. Merchant.”
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Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2021 10:15 pm
Maroon eyes shot over at where their hands were joined. He was still craddling the rock to his ear, slowly lowering it as he sort of snapped back to reality. She was... holding his hand. He blinked a few times before looking back to the merchant.
"Ah, yeh. Thanks, this is... Thanks. And yes, it's been a day. Try not to destroy the city with your wisp friends." Mourite shook himself a little and waved the merchant.
"Yeah, let's go, Dinara," he said with a smile, slipping the rock into his subspace pocket for now.
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