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."
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."
Mel made a point of finding the man this year, rather than just hoping to happen upon his sign as she'd done the past couple of years. After the events involving the Calamitous Hollow, and knowing his involvement in their efforts to save Earth from it, she'd been wanting to try and properly thank Almadel ever since she left the scene that night. There was no way anything she did could be enough, but she certainly wanted to do something! So she leaned on her skills in the kitchen–because what else could she really offer besides food, she realized–and cooked up a storm once she confirmed he was there this year.
It'd taken all morning and a bit of the afternoon, but she finished! Soon enough she had loaded up her wagon with two large baskets of assorted goodies–one sweet and one savory–that might make one wonder if she was trying to feed a little league baseball team, and was on her way. Thankfully it wasn't a very long trip to where she wanted to go, and before long she stepped into a familiar space and eventually spotted the man behind his table.
"Almadel!" she called as she hurried over, expression as bright and beaming as it almost always was. Emphasis on almost, considering everything in recent months, but she was keeping things together pretty well thanks to some really good friends.
"It's so good to see you! I hope you've been doing okay since…" she gave a vague gesture, as if she expected him to understand that she wanted to refer to the whole world-ending entity situation just a couple of months ago, but didn't actually want to say anything.
The urge to ask for a hug was strong, but as he was still seated behind the table she forced it down.
"Well, y'know." At least her smile was steady. "Anyway, how are you? Still in the trade business?"
The Space Cauldron
