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 Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 2:08 pm
Well, now that he'd shot up to 6'2" while in Fire Nation to train with his Aunt, Tsai Shen needed new clothing. He hadn't worn much previously, considering the only thing that had really fit were pants, and he trained topless anyways. Before leaving for home, he'd purchased a few outfits, but now he needed to replace his entire wardrobe. Jewelry too. He loved his jade and silver!
The tanned youth wandered a crowded marketplace looking for a-AH! There we go. Approaching the large cart, Tsai Shen carefully fingered a vest, testing the cloth. Good quality.
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Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 2:44 pm
Business had been good today, once people had gotten done with breakfast. Well, reasonably good.
Chen Shing had decided to become part of the marketplace of this town today, and was currently sitting cross legged on a fair sized spread of cloth he kept tightly folded in his pack for just such an occasion. In front of the boy, his wares were spread in as tasteful an array as he could manage. He didn't really specialize in any particular thing, finding that he was more likely to attract buyers than browsers that way. So, there was a decent collection there. Some jewelery- jade, semiprecious stones like quartz, a small amount of metals- some clothing- but only the sort that could fit many, like vests and scarves. He didn't have room in his pack (or strength in his shoulders!) to carry an array of sizes.
Currently, he was attempting to charm a middle aged woman into buying one of his pricer bracelets.
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Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 2:57 pm
Tsai Shen, noticing that the merchant was currently occupied with a woman who may or may not buy something, wanted attention on him. So he solved things his own way by digging into his pouch, and moving into the conversation, grinning his laid-back smile.
"A beautiful woman like you has to get something as gorgeous as that! Here, my pleasure."
Raising his brows at the other teenage boy, he inquired about the cost without words, flattering the woman, hopefully, so she'd go away. Tsai Shen loved jade especially, and that, along with one of the prettier scarves, was what he was after. Money was never an issue to him, and seemed to make other people happy, so why not spend it liberally?
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Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:25 pm
Pausing a moment in surprise- it wasn't often that a complete stranger offered to buy something for another stranger, if the surprised look on the woman's face was anything to go buy. Chen stretched his smile and repeated much the same thing as the stranger had, watching the woman blush and titter at the taller boy's compliment. (The man has a good eye, ma'am, he's right. The bracelet will match well with you.) She was probably married, too, he thought absently.
He glanced over the stranger, taking in his appearance and most importantly, the size of his moneypouch. After a small hesitation, calculating original cost, profit, and the like, the earthbender quoted a price. In a normal person's pocket, the price was dear (it was a fine bracelet, after all, and the stones in it were only a little flawed) but for one of the richer class, it should be nothing important.
((This is my little way of getting out of naming an exact price, as I quite suck at it. ninja ))
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Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:38 pm
The woman was easily sent away, although she flirted with Tsai Shen, who smiled politely, before raising an eyebrow at Chen Shing, and laughing out loud after she'd disappeared.
"A very fair price, my friend! However, I'm interested in your jade products, hence my willingness to part with a nominal fee for your attention, as I don't have much time."
After all, he had to go meet Avani, and was hoping to purchase another gift for her, as well. A tan hand was held out to shake in greeting.
"I'm Tsai Shen."
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Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 5:49 pm
Chen Shing, who did not laugh normally when he was not selling things and reportedly had a very stunted sense of humor (though this was only on the word of his sisters), surprised himself with letting out an answering chuckle and a real grin. Apparently, Tsai Shen's laugh was more contagious than others.
Upon hearing about Tsai Shen's interest in his products, the ends of Chen Shing's mouth curled a little more. He stretched his hand out to meet the other, shaking it firmly but briefly. Drawn out handshakes had always seemed a little pointless to the merchant.
"I thought that would be it. Not a lot of people go to the trouble of buying things for strangers. I'm Chen Shing." So saying, he swept the air above his wares with spread hands, wordlessly inviting Tsai Shen to look through his things. "What do you have in mind?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 10:57 am
"I'm looking for a trinket for a small girl... Perhaps a little statue...? A pair of earings for myself and... Something striking, for a young Fire Nation woman, who is more comfortable acting in a masculine manner."
His voice held no judgement on that last statement, and tapping the surface the wares were on, looked thoughtful, before blinking, and meeting Chen Shing's eyes again.
"I'm assuming you either have the perfect items, or, being a skilled merchant, you will convince me that you do."
This was said goodnaturedly, and he laughed again, reaching out to feel some cloth.
"So please, have you got anything for me?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:01 pm
"You seem to know the way of merchants." Chen Shing was surprised; most people didn't know the first thing about merchanting, besides haggling.
"As you can see, I have several pieces of jewelery, odds, and ends. These are my best earrings," He selected a pair from the array: small jade studs that trailed a thin amount of silver meant to hook snugly under the earlobe. Of course, neither was of the very best quality, for he was still only fifteen and not much respected as a merchant outside of his hometown.
"I have small statues of Badgermoles, and other unique beasts. I also have one or two decorative combs, if she'd like that better. As for that striking thing.." He quirked another grin. "Everything I have is striking, of course." As close to joking as Chen Shing got, of course.
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