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.”
Hela had been curious about all the signs around town, they were all written in the same scrawling script. Each had requested the weird pod things from the tree while giving specific instructions as to what condition they had to be in. She had only followed the signs in hopes they would know what the heck these things were and how long they were gonna stick around and cause s**t in the city.
It took her a bit to figure out where to go but then, after feeling a weird feeling, she was standing in front of a man and his table of wares. He definitely didn't look like he fit in against all the other senshi she had met so far. Cautiously, she stepped closer to the table and looked over all the things that were laid upon it. It kinda reminded her of when they did the little community yard sales in the town nearby where she lived before coming to the city for uni.
Stopping right in front of the merchant, she pulled the big gallon-sized ziplock baggie out of her subspace that contained the pods. "Are you the guy who requested these things? Do you know anything about what they are?" Holding them up to him, not in so much a demanding way but more of a generally worried way. "I really would like to know what the everloving heck is going on with all this weird crap." She gestured kind of vaguely to the air and area around her as she spoke. It would be useful to find out more about all this if she could.
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 9:34 pm
“Oh!” The merchant seemed immediately interested, and sat up a little straighter. “I am he, yes. I know very much about them. They’re fruit. If you were worried that I was up to no good. Which, I’m not. It’s wonderful to meet you, I love Dark Mirror Senshi. So strange and unique. You haven’t been doing this for long, have you? I don’t recognize you. Of course, I’m sure there are plenty of you that I haven’t met, but, ah. How nice it must be, to have access to your Mirrorspace. Oh, but don’t let me ramble.”
He obviously could, even if he did so with as much charm as anyone could muster.
“The fruit, what would you like to know of it? I intend to eat it. I’m very grateful you’ve brought it to me, I’m prepared to make a handsome trade for it. First,” he held out his hand as if to shake. “I’m Almadel. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Tell me about yourself, let me find something good for you to take off my hands in exchange for that fruit.”
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2023 10:04 am
That was... reassuring that he knew about them but the thought of someone eating the things made her stomach churn. It was also slightly unsettling that he knew what she was because he didn't really feel or look like one of the senshi she had met. After a moment she nodded and shook his hand carefully, still not one hundred percent trusting of the odd fellow. She was still going to be at least a little bit polite since she wasn't really in her element with all this still.
"I'm uh Hela and yes I'm new to all this and the area as well. I'm starting to get the feeling that weird crap just thrives here doesn't it? Also, you said you eat these?! They have like acid and stuff in them though that can't be good for you right?" Looking at the pods in the bag and thinking of the way they dripped and burned the sidewalk beneath the tree that they had come from. After the initial confusion started to set in, she looked over the table at all the items and wondered where they had all come from.
The Space Cauldron
Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 7:42 pm
“Oh, well. Not good for humans, I suppose. But you eat acidic things all the time, don’t you? I’ve tried your spicy peppers, and your fermented vegetables. It’s not so different, is it?”
He hummed thoughtfully, mulling it over briefly before he shrugged. “I’m just built a little bit differently.”
But he supposed his diet wasn’t necessary to determine that and he absentmindedly brushed his fingers across one of his horns. “There are certainly odder things, I think. Especially around here, yes. ‘Weird crap’ certainly thrives in these parts. But I’m sure they won’t be too much for you to handle, Hela. Now–let’s talk about me taking these fruits off your hands. They’re better in my stomach, anyway. What shall we trade for them?”
He looked over his table and had such an eclectic array of delightful things, it was hard to settle on just one. But, he liked the novelty of Dark Mirror Senshi, so it was always a pleasure to meet them.
“A pretty girl like you, dresses? Jewelry? Although, it’s a bit uncanny. I’ve got a doll that looks almost just like you. If you won’t think it silly, let me show you.”
He rose from his seat and took a single large step to reach a box tucked under another table. His tail twitched eagerly while he dug through it, and with minimal effort he produced a doll dressed in a black and red gown, whose face and hair shared such likeness to the Dark Mirror Senshi before him.
He hummed thoughtfully and brushed his thumb across her cheek before he fixed her hair. There was something not quite lifelike about the doll, but she was clearly a work of art. Handcrafted, hand painted–someone had spent a lot of time on her. She had such articulation, and the details–from her eyelashes to every stitch in her dress–seemed attentive and deliberate.
“Pity to keep her tucked away as she’s been, she’s beautiful, isn’t she? But I’m so afraid to travel with things of the like. Sometimes my landings are a bit rough. I’d be devastated if something happened to her. Can you imagine, a crack on this skin? Oh, you’d never repair it.”
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2023 10:52 am
The more he talked, it made sense in a way. But only after it hit her that he really wasn't from here. "Oh, you're from like far away as in not just from the countryside." Looking him over a bit more, it made more and more sense that he was definitely an alien or something.
"I guess that's true, even if I'm not one for spicy stuff, I like sour stuff then which is also acidic I guess. But yea, I am up for trading them to you. I just uh.. don't think I wanna see you eat them." Looking over the table again, she noticed as he got up and then pulled something out from under the table.
"I'm not one for fashion or anything but I make dolls myself so that's kinda interesting." Peering over a bit at the doll, it did have sort of a resemblance to her. It was a bit odd but even on Earth there were billions of people and if he was from space there was an unknown possible number of others who could maybe look like her. It was weird but not impossible, right?
"She's gorgeous, someone put a lot of work into her. Where did you find something like that? If I'm allowed to ask of course?" She tried remaining polite but it was super interesting to see something with this level of craftsmanship.
The Space Cauldron
Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2023 11:14 am
Almadel was perfectly fine waiting to eat his fruits, especially given that she’d requested specifically not to watch. They were far more valuable to him than the doll, and he was determined to make a trade.
He didn’t mind the questions, at least.
Maybe he even thrived with them.
“Oh, I get around. This, specifically? Was in a collection. Just gathering dust. There were many beautiful pieces there, I couldn’t take them all. But there’s something about her that caught my eye. I heard a legend once, maybe it’s just pretty words, but I heard that there are some artists who are so skilled they can bring their works to life. I thought, whoever sculpted her, must have poured such love and attention and care into her. When I first picked her up, I thought I felt a heartbeat from her chest. It must have been my imagination, though. Every now and then she winds up somewhere I didn't put her, but I also have quite a collection. Maybe I’m just forgetful.”
He wasn’t, though, and the coy way he said it made it easy to see through him.
“If you’re a doll maker than I think you’ll be able to appreciate her impeccable construct, no?”
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2023 1:39 pm
Oh... he's one of those dramatic types like Malory, was the only thing she could think as he spun his tale to her. Honestly, the idea of a haunted doll was probably the only type of weirdness she would be 100 percent up to deal with. Even if it was a joke, the craftsmanship was apparent and spoke for itself.
Looking closely at the doll, she certainly did appreciate her design and construction as he had said. Trading the pods to him wasn't really a problem for her either since she really didn't want them to begin with. Part of her wished she could see what kind of other weird stuff he had but that was mostly the summer yard sale hunter side of her that was talking.
"I can see you have a lot and I guess I do understand stories like that with how artists bring stuff to life. In the past, it all seemed like hooey but to be honest I think it would be kinda neat to see something real like that. So yes, I'm up for the trade. Pod things for you and a new doll for me." Carefully placing the baggie in a clear space on the table near him, she looked over everything one more time before nodding. This was a good deal, from the little she knew at least.
"I do have another question though, do you come back here often? Just curious because I really like the idea of yard sales, especially if you do have all this weird stuff that's like bonafide weird and not just charlatan-ish."
The Space Cauldron
Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2023 11:18 am
Once she offered the pods, he was quick to move them off of his table and put them somewhere safe. He did so with deft fingers, and his eyes never seemed to leave her. The smile on his face reached his eyes, and he was as glad with his trade as he was with hers.
“Oh, I like to visit fairly often. I have a lot of places to be, a lot of obligations to tend to, but I’m always here for Star Fest. Honestly, I found it completely by accident but I fell in love. You don’t get to find many places in this universe that are safe enough to let your guard down. And humans are such curious, eager creatures. Sometimes I drop in when I’m just passing through,but I don’t have all of my wares with me. I have to do a lot of traveling to stay well stocked. Maybe someday I’ll be able to invite all of my friends here back to my place to see my collection.”
He sighed wistfully but ended with a shrug. “But every Star Festival, most assuredly, I will be here. You’ll have to tell me if there’s anything you’ve been on the look out for, if I find it I’ll bring it back for you next year.”
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 1:28 pm
It was odd to hear someone saying how safe it was here, she had felt the opposite was true. But that was fine, and she was going to have to get used to it. The half-hinted invitation was something she was interested in though especially if there were others going along, just in case something happened. "I think that sounds really awesome, to be honest, I've always wondered what it was like out there. That and traveling sounds really fun." This had really been the first year she had left where she had grown up. Sure, it wasn't what she had expected but, it was still a bit fun to see new things and meet people who didn't know her right off the bat. If she could go to the stars, that would be something amazing too. Not that it was something she had ever thought was in her reach before now.
Looking at the doll and then the table of wares, she thought for a moment. "I like dolls and cameras, if you know about those? Oh, wait! Can I take your photo? If that's ok I mean? Just for like my scrapbook of stuff from the city." There was excitement as she realized that this was a real-life alien but then she bit it back so as not to be too rude. She had her camera and tripod in her subspace as always, ready at a moment's notice to get just the right photos for work or for memory-keeping.
The Space Cauldron
Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2023 7:09 pm
“Oh? A picture of me?” Almadel seemed to consider this for a moment and then batted his eyes before he reached up to straighten out his hair. “Well, I think that can be arranged. I’m rather photogenic, of course. Do you want to take a picture with me? We can make it a selfie. Oh, but I don’t mind modeling.”
He adjusted himself in his seat and sat up straight, and he must have known all of his good angles because he post himself to give her all of his good ones. Not that he’d have said if he thought he had any bad ones, either.
“I wish I had any cameras with me, I’d try to impress you with those. The next time I’m in town, I’ll make sure to bring you something. We can compare your cameras to mine. It’s hard to pack fragile things, but I bet I could find you a nice one. You’ll have to bring me something good to trade.”
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2023 6:44 pm
Oh gosh, he was just like Malory and had a million good sides. Pulling her camera and tripod out of subspace, she set everything up and adjusted for lighting and distance settings. "Oh gosh I've never been in a photo! I usually take them for people, I do it for a living. Portraits and sometimes some of those boudoir calendar idea things." She waved her hands a bit as she got embarrassed, she really didn't feel like she was photogenic at all.
Taking a few shots as he posed, each came out crisp with a good composition. She adjusted things a bit between the poses and thought for a minute. "How about this, next time you come back I'll hop in the picture too if that's ok? Double incentive and I'll try and find something super good to trade yea? I'd love to see cameras from all over, I used to collect them back home. I can bring a few next time too if you'd like."
The Space Cauldron
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 7:51 pm
“Oh, you’re very good at making a bargain, Hela. I like that.”
He was grinning as he spoke, and even if there was a part of him that was teasing or just having fun, there was something equally sincere in his words. For now.
“I’ll hold you to that, next time we’ll take a picture together. You’re too pretty not to have some time in the spotlight too, you know. So, double incentive it is. I’ll remember you, and I’ll hold good on that promise. So, I hope you’ll be ready for show and tell when I’m next in town. And you’ll have to bring me some good stories to exchange, too. Deal?”
