Welcome to Gaia! ::

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, even as he leaned forward and laced his fingers 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 table was somehow both simple and overwhelming; it was draped in a dark purple tablecloth, with extravagant embroidery in different designs. Scattered neatly atop the table was 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 when his visitor entered, 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.”
Drew Bones came home to find that Dari, his Bonded Mauvian was not on the steps waiting for him, as usual. If it were any other person or Mauvian (except perhaps Dria his twin sister) he might not have worried. This time, he knew, just knew something was wrong. He could feel it. His heart hurt slightly, and he was tired and depressed.
He too began wandering... lost in the mists of despair. Dari wasn't the only one to separate himself from Drew lately, Dani and especially Dria seemed distant from him lately.
Soon he found him at the Merchant booth. How he had gotten here, he did not know. He nodded the man and spoke softly, "Hello... "

Drew nodded at the Merchant's comment that most people are more excited to see him.

"Well, it's a long story," He wondered how much he could trust this man. "I ... am a Senshi. An Order Senshi, with two sisters are also Senshi (one is also my twin, and the younger is a Chibi) and I also have a Bonded Mauvian.

"Some time ago, I decided to rebuild my Homeworld, and started putting in the work, and of course the Memories came. Some were painful and some were awesome. And then... the Memories of my Death came.

"I expected them to be painful - I did not expect the ... magnitude of guilt."

He paused and allowed that to set in.

"In my past life, I made an, " a tear ran down his face. "Incredibly foolish mistake, and because of that ... my mind was warped, and I destroyed... my own World, my People that I had sworn to protect - and my Friends and Family...

"Including two Senshi that were reborn as my sisters, and the Guardian Cats, who had adopted us as their children, had just helped their one biological Kitten to escape and who would later become my Bonded Mauvian in this life, having lost his Memories..."

"I thought I did the right thing, coming to them and telling them the truth, but it seems to have only made the situation worse.... I wonder ... if I should leave ... if I should go and start a new life... I don't know - would that be any better ... I wonder I ... could ever be anything more than my past life's crimes...

"Oh man, look at me - standing here rambling at you.... I apologize." Drew looked sheepish.

Etamin nodded, solemnly at the man's words. He knew as well that he had to forgive himself sometime.

When the Merchant pulled out the book, Etamin was pulled by it- magnetically and strongly- it was of his World, and when the Merchant opened it - there were very much meditation poses that very much reminded him of Etamazu, his Homeworld's personalized Martial Art.

It was something he needed - even if he couldn't read it. Perhaps doing the stretches on his World would bring back memories of how to do them properly?

Or maybe it would just bring back more memories of destruction.

Either way he had to try,

But it would not come easily. This was a Merchant after all. He frowned at the man - trying to read him.

Etamin nodded and began pulling things out of subspace that he had recently excavated from the ruins of Etamin the world. There were pieces of art, necklaces, bracelets and other things.

One necklace in particular would have been considered rare and valuable as well as elite back in the Silver Millennium - at least on Etamin.

It was gold, inlaid with small Onyx, Sapphire, and Ruby Stones. The main stone (the one in the center) was a large Onyx imbued with the symbol of the World of Etamin - the white outline of a feather.

Etamin put on a expression of stone. "Name your price."

Etamin nodded. "Then it's a deal. Thank you." He picked up the book at last, eying the merchant and his hand. "In Earth's culture and many others, such as Etamainian, we shake hands as one way to seal a deal such as this. However..." Etamin frowned. "I do not know your culture, and I would not wish to offend you, by attempting to do so and discovering only after that was as said, offensive to you or your culture." He frowned in dismay. He was not a diplomat. Not was he a merchant. He was a Librarian-Warrior.

Etamin smiled in thanks and took the man's hand. "Thank you, sir." A firm handshake was made. He released the Merchant's hand, nodded to him and said his goodbye. Picking up the book he had just traded for, he made his leave.