|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 5:41 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, 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.”
It hadn’t been too far from where they’d been attacked, and it wasn’t until they entered the strange barrier (that had previously pushed her to the other side when she’d tried going through with her sister), that she turned to fuss over Meninx and try to check him for injuries.
“Oh hello. We have your coconuts, but we got into a fight on the way here. Not with each other. Some others attacked us. Can we just sit down for a moment? Okay sorry, just give us a moment,” she quickly said to the smiling dragon man (he really had horns! Maybe they were a cool prop?) as she went back to trying to get Meninx to show her his side.
“Did anything break? Did he hit you hard? I can’t believe they just attacked us, we didn’t do anything!” It was very distressing.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 6:50 am
Meninx was still a bit sour from the attack with the Dark Mirror Senshi, after they’d already had to deal with that bear thing, and–
He heard bad things came in threes, so he was really hoping that he wasn’t going to have to fight this guy now, too.” He did his best not to give any indication that his back hurt, or his stomach, though he'd absentmindedly rubbed at the tender skin a few times on the walk over. Now that they had an audience, he stood a little taller and did his best not to seem weak.
The man across from them seemed ready to indulge them, but it was still a bit embarrassing to have Connie eager to check in on him now.
“I’m fine,” he muttered under his breath, and tried not to make a big deal out of any of it. “He didn’t hit me hard, he just got me by surprise. I don’t need to sit down or anything. Are you okay?” he asked, because even if he’d asked her right after it happened, he wanted to make sure she was okay now that her adrenaline might have run out a bit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 6:55 am
Almadel looked between the two with a patient, although amused expression. “Oh, by all means. Take whatever time you need. I’ve got all night. You got into some sort of scuffle on the way over here?” he prompted, and leaned over a bit in his seat as if he expected said trouble to come through the barrier. In the end, he shrugged it off; he wasn’t really worried. He just liked a good story. “I wish I had something to help. Do you want some ice cream? I’ve got,” he paused, leaned over to shuffle around in what must have been a cooler, and announced, “Sandwiches, chocolate covered bars, and strawberry cake flavored. I’m afraid I’m out of caramel. If you were so inclined.” He shrugged, and then added, “I overestimated my ability to consume frozen goods. I’ve been shivering all night. Offered, of course, as a courtesy. I won’t make you trade for them.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 7:14 am
Connie frowned worriedly at Meninx for a few moments, but he was so good at insisting that he was okay that of course she was going to trust him. Besides, the dragon salesman said--
“Ice cream? Really?” she gasped and perked right up, completely forgetting how mean those Dark Mirror Senshi were to them.
“Oh, you have fire magic, don’t you? Maybe you could help warm things up?” she chirped enthusiastically up at Meninx as she approached the man behind the table with absolutely no hesitation.
“Wow, your hair is so pretty, do you get it done locally? Or do you do it yourself?” she gasped at how shiny it was. There was no way it was natural, was there? He did have a very elaborate outfit, and magic did exist, so maybe??”
“I wouldn’t mind a sandwich. But yes, these mean Senshi jumped out at us. It was horrible. They ran away pretty fast, though.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 7:20 am
Meninx's eyes flashed when Connie was so easily distracted by the Merchant, and he thought that if she was a child, she most certainly would have been the sort to be lured into some strange van with promises of ice cream or puppies.
He smoothed out his uniform and followed her to the table, less interested in ice cream and more interested in her well-being. The merchant didn't seem particularly nefarious, but still. He was on edge. Even if this guy did have a slew of interesting assorted items.
He wanted to tell Connie that his magic didn't exactly work like that, but maybe talking about that in front of a stranger wasn't the best idea. He could save it for later. While she made friends with the man, he glanced over the tables to see if there was anything he recognized.
...And what were these fruit pod things worth if he was willing to trade so much for them?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 9:36 pm
The merchant immediately recovered an ice cream sandwich and held it out for her. "Nothing for you?" he asked the Mars Squire, but when he got no response, he decided to take matters into his own hands and he pulled out one for each of them. "We'll all have one, and we can talk business on the side. I suppose I'm warm enough to have a bit more. I've got a sweet tooth, I can't help myself. And you both deserve something nice after that awful encounter. Let's see if I can't make it a little better." He turned in such a way that his hair flipped a bit, maybe to show off after Connie's praise. "This is all natural though, thank you for noticing. I'm due for a trim one of these days, but it's hard to find someone who can get it just right. I might have to do it myself, again. Unless you know a good hair cutter? Oh, but you shouldn't let me talk about myself. I'll go on forever and we'll never get any business done. You'll have to tell me if you're in the market for anything or if you're just browsing."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2023 8:54 am
Connie graciously took the ice cream sandwich with a cheerful thanks, and made sure that Meninx got his as well. They deserved something nice after all of that, the dragon salesman was right!
“Oh! I’m so sorry. I’m Connie. This is Meninx,” she introduced with another bright smile, and then she stuck the ice cream sandwich between her teeth so she could fish out the coconut she stored inside her subspace. She would have just carried hers around if Meninx hadn’t been smart and put his away before her.
“I don’t think I know any good hair cutters. I haven’t gone to one in a while,” she frowned thoughtfully as she tried to remember the last time she even got her hair trimmed. She touched up the dyed part of her hair every so often, but that was about it.
“So are you really a dragon? Like, are your horns real? Can I touch them? Is that weird?” she asked excitedly. If he said his hair was natural, then everything else must have been, right? That was pretty cool, especially since she knew aliens were definitely a thing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2023 12:40 pm
Meninx looked a bit perplexed still, maybe in awe that Connie could so enthusiastically take ice cream off of a stranger's hand. He didn't reject the ice cream sandwich though. It wasn't like there was peer pressure here or anything, but as she ate hers, he felt compelled to do the same with his.
Maybe it was some desperate effort to assure there was some sort of trust between them and the dragon merchant.
The plastic seemed to be sealed, and it was a brand he recognized, so--
How could he criticize Connie for accepting ice cream from a stranger when he was doing the same.
He took a small bite but it tasted normal, and though he was reluctant to admit it, it was honestly a little nice to have a sweet snack after how chaotic the rest of their evening had been so far. When she introduced him, he nodded. It was an attempt at being polite, but he had little to add. His eyes trailed from the strange merchant to his table of wares, and while Connie did the networking, he couldn't help but glanced over the strange collection.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2023 11:09 pm
The merchant seemed pleased that they’d decided to share, and it was probably a bit obvious that he was more biased for Connie than Meninx. She was far chattier, and far friendlier, so it just seemed natural. “It’s very nice to meet the two of you. I don’t think I’m quite a ‘dragon’, but I suppose that would depend on how you’re defining it these days. My horns are real. You can touch them.” He was most certainly proud of them, and tipped his head so that they were within easy reach for her. He unwrapped his ice cream as he did so, and took a small bite between sentences. “You seem like you’ve got an eye for fine things, Connie. Have either of you come here to trade with anything in mind, or shall I sort through my collection and make suggestions?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2023 7:14 pm
It wasn’t lost on Connie how quiet Meninx was being. He hadn’t said anything since asking if she was okay, but she also knew that her attention had quickly turned to the dragon salesman. And how could it not when he was offering them ice cream and offered to let her touch his horns?
She couldn’t refuse an offer like that, and gasped with excitement as she reached up to gently touch a horn. “Oh, they’re so smooth. And they are beautifully colored,” she gushed, and while she would have liked to touch more, she didn’t want to be too annoying about it.
“Oh, I don’t know, Mr. Dragon,” she frowned then took a bite of her ice cream as she thought about what she might want to trade. “Do you have anything you want, Meninx?” she asked with a smile and step closer to him so he knew she wasn’t just going to ignore him, even if he was being quiet. That was fine! She just didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable or like he couldn’t say anything.
“What do people usually trade for?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2023 10:07 pm
Before Meninx could open his mouth to protest, Connie had her hand on his horn. She hadn’t forgotten that he was there, she’d stepped next to him and aksed a question, and–
“No,” he answered shortly.
Well, no. There was plenty that he wanted, he just didn’t think he was going to find ‘his mother’s praise’ sitting on some alien’s garage sale.
Although…if they had some of these pods…
It wasn’t like he had anything he wanted to do with the fruits. He was curious about some of the oddities, but the strangeness of the situation made it hard to focus on any of it. A horned stranger had given them ice cream, wanted abnormal fruit, and was trading for–some of these things looked really expensive.
…So what was the catch?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 6:38 pm
Almadel seemed delighted with Connie's praise for his horns, and his tail twitched with no effort to hide this emotion. "You can call me Almadel. Or Alma, if you like. Since we're friends. Do you know, it's hard to say what anyone chooses to trade for--it's different for everyone. Mostly, I think, they just pick something that catches their eye. Or, they let me make recommendations. For example." He leaned back in his chair thoughtfully and cupped his chin in his hand. Though he hmm'd, it seemed more for dramatic effect, because only a few seconds later he was leaning forward and sifting through things on his table. "You two seem like flower people. And it's not an insult." He looked at Meninx and his sour face, and maybe briefly let his eyes flick to the flower embroidered onto his uniform. In front of Connie, he placed a dogwood flower charm with a very visible Chronos symbol. In front of Meninx, a purple lotus with gilded accents. Though it wasn't immediately obvious what was special about them, it was clear that there was something unique. They hummed with a soft, latent sort of energy. They felt familiar, like an old family heirloom. Almadel withdrew his hands so they could get a good view of the two items. "I think they'd match you both nicely. And I've got quite an eye. I'm very good at finding things people need."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 9:31 am
Connie was still a little frazzled from their run in with the very angry Dark Mirror Senshi, but with Alma being so nice it was hard to worry about mean Senshi running around. And Meninx didn’t seem like he was in too much pain. He seemed like he was being cautious and Connie appreciated that about him since she often forgot that she probably should be more careful.
She gasped excitedly when Alma pulled out the flower charms. “Oh, they’re both so beautiful,” she sighed, gently picking up the dogwood charm. “I would like this very much, please!” she smiled cheerfully at Almadel, and when it was clear that she was welcome to take it, she turned to Meninx to hold it up to him.
“I want to give this to you, if that’s okay? Look, it matches my outfit,” she gestured vaguely to the dogwood flowers and Chronos symbols. “As a thank you for helping me. And, well, if you ever wanted to meet up again, I would like that. We don’t have to fight any crazy things or people! I like talking to you and listening to you.”
Oh, maybe that was too much. But he seemed as lonely and she felt, so maybe he wouldn’t mind meeting up every now and then.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2023 8:37 pm
It was hard to match Connie’s enthusiasm, but Meninx was glad that she was there so he didn’t have to try. He felt a bit unnerved and couldn’t really explain why. Maybe it was the alien with strange wares talking to them like they were old friends. Even if he didn’t want the fruits, he still felt like he was being swindled. Or, at least, pressured to make an exchange.
…But he wanted what the Merchant was offering.
Connie was–wait, what?
He was startled from his own thoughts; he’d lifted the lotus and was examining it when she presented her flower. A selfish part of him didn’t want to give up the flower that had caught his eye. He didn’t even know why he’d been attracted to it, except that it felt familiar.
“I’ll bring you a present when we meet up again,” he blurted, maybe a bit too fast, maybe a bit too desperately. He didn’t want her to think he was shirking on an equal friendship.
Oh, if that’s what this was. It seemed like it? She wanted to meet up again, she liked talking. And listening to him? No, he preferred to listen to her; she talked a lot more than he did. She seemed to enjoy it more than he did, too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2023 8:40 pm
“Oh, that’s so sweet,” Almadel hummed. He was a bit intrusive, he knew, but it was hard not to be an audience when they were having a conversation right in front of him. He was happy enough to make the exchange; he’d get what he wanted out of this–the fruits for the flowers. There wasn’t much that he could do with the ornaments, and if it made the knights happy, all the better for all of them. He wasn’t in any rush to shoo them off, he didn’t have other customers. He did have his ice cream, though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
