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 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 stall was somehow both simple and overwhelming; it was only a table with a deep purple cloth over it, but scattered neatly atop it 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 a customer approaching, he smiled.

He did not rise to meet them nor adjust his position in the slightest. He followed them with his fierce eyes.

In a silky voice, he greeted, “Welcome.”

The man watched her, eyes following her every move. He was quick to take in everything he could, quick to find anything interesting on her attire. Whatever purchases she had recently made interested him but he wasn't about to ask for her grocery list.

He didn't know how long he had with each visitor and he didn't want to rush her.

He just wanted to make a trade.

"A lovely evening," he commented. "Have you come to make a trade? I've brought my finest wares. I'm sure you can appreciate them," he gestured to his display; there were a variety of items--a few strange trinkets, jewelry, a few daggers. A strange, golden item rested longways on the table; it was curved, and roughly five feet long. A closer inspection might reveal a bow--unstrung, and looking a bit tarnished with age. Still, it was a beautiful piece, crafted from what looked like beautiful gold swirls and mimicked melting wax. A teal blue gemstone was embedded in an ornate hold on both the top and bottom of the bow.

Tiny flowers that looked like stained glass peppered the bow in shades of purple and orange and yellow. They looked fragile but something about the bow indicated it was anything but.

His fingers, perhaps deliberately, grazed it.

"But I don't take currency. I take trade. Have you anything worthwhile to part with?"

“It is! You have a good eye,” the merchant said easily, little smile on his face still. “I’ve had this old thing for, oh. A long while. But it’s so big, it’s a bit difficult to cart around. I’m afraid that if I do it too often I’m going to damage it. But really, it takes up so much space. I’d rather exchange it for something smaller.”

He watched her eyes for a few seconds and then lifted up the bow with what seemed to be extreme ease despite its size and weight.

“Would you like to hold it? I don’t normally let people touch something if they haven’t presented me something interesting, but. I suppose there’s no harm. You have brought something to trade, haven’t you?”

His eyes immediately trained on the little gem she offered. Though he seemed to consider for just a bit, it was clear that the second his eyes landed upon it, he wanted it. Trying to pretend like he wasn’t that interested in it was a short lived farce and he nodded quickly.

“All right,” he finally agreed. “I think that is a good trade, then. I’d like that.”

He held out his hand to complete the trade. “You have a good eye. That bow is better quality than most I possess. But. It takes up so much space. I need it gone. I would be happy to part with it. The way you hold it makes me suppose it is going to a good home.”

The man seemed positively delighted with the exchange and when his fingers wrapped around the gem, it disappeared from sight immediately. By the time he unfurled his hand and placed his palm flat on the counter, the item was long gone.

“Then, the transaction is complete. I’m very grateful. This was a very good exchange, I think.”

He watched the way she held onto it, the way she seemed so tender with it. He may have claimed to be a simple merchant but it was obvious by the way that he admired the bow even now that he seemed to care at least somewhat for its well-being.

“...If you find any more of those, do come back. I’ll find something else to exchange with you. And tell your friends, too. Otherwise,” he smiled at her, little fangs glinting just slightly. “...I’ll leave you to your night. Thank you, again. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I can’t guarantee I’ll be in the same place twice.”

The merchant smiled politely at her and bowed his head gratefully. "Of course. It was my pleasure. Have a good evening. And, be safe. Things on Earth seem to be rather feisty these days. I have a feeling I'll be back. Hopefully before this planet tears itself apart." He laughed, good-natured, like he wasn't talking about the end of the world.

"Let us hope it is in good hands."