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.”
Casablanca was excited as she jogged up to the odd barrier, carefully acquired fruits under her arm. They were both nice, and they'd held up since she grabbed them--a weird little experience, with the other Squire hanging around. but hey, whatever worked. Unblemished, no rattling, and otherwise perfectly to the specs that were requested by the sign.
As casually as she could, she sauntered through the barrier, and she flashed a smile to the handsome man behind the table. He was...definitely not human, but honestly? Casablanca couldn't say that she was upset or uncomfortable with that. He seemed pretty cool, all things considered, and if he was willing to trade for fancy artifacts like what was all over his table, well, that was...awesome, honestly.
"Hi," she said, as she got closer. "I saw your signs, so I thought I'd bring some of those fruits you were asking for. Wow, this is some wild stuff, where'd you even find it all?"
The Space Cauldron
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 12:57 pm
“Oh, you’ve brought so many! Excellent, yes. I have quite the array to trade, and I’ll make it more than worth your while if you’re willing to part with those fruits. Thank you for bringing them, I’m desperate to get my hands on as many as possible before I head out again. Will you let me inspect them? It’s just a formality. It helps me know how to store them. You can browse while I do that. Are you in the market for anything in particular or just here to browse? I think I’ve got quite a collection of Cosmos trinkets. You’d be surprised at the places those things end up. I’ve got some jewelry, if you might be interested. I imagine it would look much nicer on you than it would in the box I’ve been keeping it in.”
He did not immediately reach for said box; he seemed to be waiting for her answer, but he wore a pleased smile all the while.
"Well, you know, it only seemed polite to bring as many as I could," Casablanca said, cheerily. "Here, go ahead, I wouldn't ask you to take them sight unseen. I mean, I check fruit at the grocery store, and I'm exchanging way less valuable stuff for the average apple, y'know."
...Maybe he didn't know. Oh well.
Carefully, she set her fruits on the table, avoiding any of the lovely things laid out there.
"I'd love to see any Cosmos stuff you have! Ah, I'm Casablanca--do you have anything from there? Or is it kinda hard to identify origin, these days?"
The Space Cauldron
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2023 6:25 pm
“Oh, you’re a dear. Thank you,” he said, and reached to begin examining them. He must have done this a thousand times over, because he scrutinized each piece with an intense gaze. His tail twitched as he did so, but he didn’t seem too focused to skimp out on conversation.
“Nearly impossible to identify origin,” he said, with what sounded like a bit of apology in his voice.
Except, he also seemed a bit smug.
His tail twitched again.
“Unless you’ve got a very keen eye.
He set the fruit off to the side, apparently satisfied with its quality. Or, just eager to show off. From across his table, he gathered a few things–some of which seemed marked with the familiar five pointed star of Cosmos, but as he arranged his collection, he moved a stack of book to the side and from behind it produced a gorgeous necklace. In the center, a crystal clear glass circle, with elaborate stained glass and golden swirls framing the sides. It was colored from age, but it seemed to only enhance its beauty.
“Something like this?”
The unique cut of the necklace was brilliant, and it looked like it would have been right at home in a vintage art nouveau collection. It was expertly created, and it seemed like someone had taken great effort to design and create the piece. Light blue diamonds dangled from fixed points as he held it up for her examination.
Casablanca recognized that edge of smugness in his attitude. She knew it from a dozen places, from someone who knew they had the skills you wanted and wanted to show off, but only once you knew how impressive what they could do was.
Honestly, she liked seeing that in someone.
"And I'd bet you've got the keenest eye around, yeah?" There was a wry smile on her face, but it didn't last for all that long, because she was quickly distracted by the wonder of what he was presenting her.
Her eyes flew over all the pieces that seemed to have Cosmos's star on them, and she wondered where they might come form. If the Knights whose Wonders they were from were here, in Destiny City.
And when he held up the necklace, Casablanca gasped.
"Oh," she said, voice soft and full of wonder. "Oh, that's so...amazing...you're really willing to trade me that?"
If the materials were what they looked to be, it was probably worth more than her and Ari's apartment. And yet, Casablanca knew she would never part with it. Not when its actual value was likely far beyond what anyone on Earth could even begin to appraise.
The Space Cauldron
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2023 11:00 pm
“I do have quite the eye, yes.” He didn’t mention that it wasn’t really tough competition because he wanted to bask in his skill and be admired for it.
Her gasp was like gasoline to a fire and he was thriving.
“Everything on this table is up for grabs. I aim to please, after all. Besides, I’m sure that someday I’ll need a favor here or there and maybe you’ll remember me fondly in my time of need. Would you like to try it on?”
He held it out for her to examine as she pleased. He trusted her, probably, or maybe he was just certain that if she loved it now, she’d love it even more when it was around her neck.
Casablanca nodded, mutely. The thought of wearing something so beautiful....she'd only ever had costume jewelry before, cheap plastic junk that she'd gotten at a discount, and so to have the real thing presented to her made her heart sing.
"Of course," she said, softly. "If...if you ever need anything and I can help, just ask." If he was willing to trade some fruit for something like this, then she could only imagine how he might repay kindness.
Carefully, she took the necklace and put it around her neck, and she sighed, in the way of a girl trying on something incredibly pretty for the first time.
"It's perfect. I'll take it, gladly." She ran her fingers over the gems, feeling its weight around her neck, and...ah, yes. This was incredible.
The Space Cauldron
Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2023 6:52 pm
The corner of his lip twitched into a bit more of a smile, like he was very pleased with the arrangement that she would help him if ever he needed anything. It was a good trade.
While she put the necklace on, he found a hand mirror and held it up. The reflection seemed to sparkle, like a thousand little fairy lights were shining behind her.
“It is perfect. You look even lovelier than I imagined.”
Casablanca gasped, at the sight of herself int he mirror. She reached up and ran her fingers over the necklace, taking in the way she seemed to sparkle in the mirror.
"Thank you," she said. "So, so much. It's amazing."
She took one last, long look, and then swept her pretty half-skirt into a curtsey.
"I hope you enjoy your fruits! And that you get lots of them, this year. And thanks again--you're so sweet, and this is really, really special. I'd never be able to find this anywhere else."
