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Post by Trunks on Jun 30, 2008 20:51:10 GMT -5
Rio listened to the girls go on about what they wanted to buy. He didn't really have anything to say because he didn't really plan on buying anything. That was until he saw the giant sign that advertised a local artist shop.
"Sweet! How did I not see this before?"
Rio quickly pushed everyone inside the door of the shop and began browsing the different sized paintings.
"I wonder if that comes in a smaller size?" "I already have a couple of those." "That's... interesting."
Rio scanned the shop like a kid looking through toys. Finally he emerged with two paintings about the size of his book.
As he approached the counter he pulled his coins from his pouch and paid for the two paintings. As soon as the paintings were officially his he began tearing the canvas from the wooden frame. The artist/shop keeper looked as if she were going to faint. Rio fastened them to the inside of his book.
"Alright I'm good for today."
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Post by Sakabatou on Jul 1, 2008 8:23:30 GMT -5
Mio glanced idly around at the artist's offerings, but to be honest, she really wasn't much of an art connoisseur. She leaned over Rio's shoulder to see what he had purchased. As he began to place them into his book, the origin of last night's party returned to the forefront her mind. Of course, with the things her friends and family could do, Rio's abilities came off as more of a fun surprise than a shocking revelation.
She couldn't pass up an opportunity to tease him about the second one, prodding him in the ribs while still hanging over his shoulder. "Now come on, Rio. If you had told me you were that lonely, I would have let you stay with me after all."
Rio's stop out of the way, the group continued on. Unaliari and Honorea's shops were apparently on the other side of the district, as they passed plenty of other local establishments on the way. Mio was sure to stop now and again at different food stands on the way and sample the local flavor. Trying out new foods was quite nearly her favorite part of traveling, and she had a certain affinity for seafood (which island communities like this were naturally specialized in). One stand offered skewered, deep-fried balls of various chopped fishmeat, another a light and tangy squid-and-seaweed salad--Mio was in heaven, forcing the group to take a short stop at nearly every edible offering they came to.
Her eye was also caught at a fine porcelain dealer--something about the maker's style of painting flowers onto the ceramic spoke to her. As soon as she stepped through the small door hefting a fanatically large battleaxe, though, the short, balding, squirrelly owner rushed forward to (very nervously) usher her out of his shop.
Finally, they were nearing the edge of the district, and the bowyer and herbalist's shops were in sight. But before they could quite reach them, Mio stopped in her tracks, turned to the side, and allowed her axehead to slide off of her shoulder. Her eyes glazed up as she stared at the shop. Its wooden door was guarded by two large, black-shafted glaives that stood diagonal so that they crossed over the opening. It was a blacksmith's--and apparently quite a good one.
"Oooooooooh...."
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Post by Dota on Jul 1, 2008 9:25:04 GMT -5
Unaliari eyed up the pieces that Rio had bought for himself. She was aware of his interest in art from their previous endeavorer with a god.
"Not too shabby."
As they continued along, they found themselves frequently pausing at food vendors, which the alchemist didn't mind at all. Though she might not have indulged in the same mass quantities of food as Mio, she still enjoyed an assortment of local dishes.
Unaliari didn't notice Mio stop at the blacksmith because her herbal shop had come into view across the street -- once that was in sight, she was in autopilot mode and on her way over.
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Post by Dota on Jul 1, 2008 9:29:24 GMT -5
Before Rio and Honorea could decide whether to follow Mio or Unaliari into the respective shops, a voice from the side of the building called to them.
"Psst. Hey! You two...I've got some special deals for you..."
It was a shady looking peddler who had opened up a makeshift shop just at the mouth of the alley between the established businesses. He motioned for the two to come over.
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Post by Honorea on Jul 1, 2008 18:31:59 GMT -5
Honorea followed Rio through the art shop, thoroughly interested in the artists renditions of nature and the world around them.
She nodded approvingly at Rio's purchases, although she couldn't help but wonder what on earth they were for. Once they continued to wander down the street, she gladly stopped each time with Mio to sample local food. She didn't like most of it, (she wasn't much for seafood) but she was willing to try anything that was put in front of her, and smile about it too.
"Psst. Hey!.."
Honorea turned to see who it was that was "psst-ing" them. She turned up her nose and took a step closer to Rio.
"...You two...I've got some special deals for you..."
She wasn't one to be particularly scared (she did have her bow and arrow on her still, after all) but she was not easily trusting of people and she was a woman. She had seen and heard about plenty of women getting taken advantage of that she knew not to go towards a strange man in an alley. She looked at Rio questioningly, waiting for him to make the first move.
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Post by Trunks on Jul 1, 2008 21:28:14 GMT -5
"Psst. Hey! You two...I've got some special deals for you..."
Rio turned the same time Honorea did. He put his arm in front of her and pushed her behind him. He didn't trust creepy guys hiding between buildings.
"What exactly is that?"
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Post by Sakabatou on Jul 1, 2008 22:33:26 GMT -5
Mio was inside the display/shopping section of the blacksmith's. She didn't notice Unaliari prance off. She didn't notice Rio and Honorea's distractor. All that filled her eyes were the glorious, beautiful, shiny implements of death hanging from every wall and set in wooden racks in every direction. Here, on this lonely, neglected island, was a man of both immense talent and aesthetic principle.
"Well, you look like a girl who knows what she's looking for."
Mio was rather shocked at the voice, and turned to see a thin, but very toned girl about the same age as her. She wore dirty and slightly charred work overalls and held her hair back with a simple white bandanna. Mio bowed in greeting.
"You must be the blacksmith's daughter. Is your father around?"
The girl laughed in reply.
"Neither of my parents have been around for a good seven years, may their souls sleep calmly. As for the blacksmith, you're looking at her. Name's Tyl."
Mio was unable to hide her surprise. "You... but you're so..."
The girl finished for her. "Female? Well now, aren't you just the fish that asks why its neighbor swims?" She pointed at the great axe slung over Mio's shoulder. "May I?"
When Mio handed her the weapon, Tyl struggled with it a bit, but still handled it better than most grown men would have. She whistled in appreciation. "This is quite a piece--and I've never seen crafting like this. The gold almost seems--melded with the blade, rather than simply set over it."
She handed the weapon back to Mio. "With something like that, I take it you're not here for a sword."
Mio smiled sheepishly. "Honestly, I was just taken in by the glaives in front of the door--I'm guess I'm kind of window shopping. Don't really have much money left at this point anyways."
Tyl silently thought for a moment, then smiled. "I have an idea--something special for another atypical appreciator of fine weapons."
She beckoned Mio to the back--a large stone-set room housing the forge for the actual crafting. "Come with me. And take your shirt off."
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Post by Dota on Jul 1, 2008 23:07:11 GMT -5
It had completely slipped by Unaliari that she was alone. She browsed a shelf containing multiple vials of seeds, picking up one of interest here and there to inspect the label. Of course, the labels didn't come with detailed alchemic instructions (or any for that matter), just the name of the plant.
She was just considering whether price or quantity was more important when it finally dawned on her that she'd lost her companions. She glanced over her shoulder to see if they were nearby. Mio was gone...Rio and Honorea were still on the other side of the street.
She had just convinced herself to finish up quicker than normal when the rare chance of bottled nectars tossed that plan down a flight of stairs.
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Post by Dota on Jul 1, 2008 23:35:08 GMT -5
The peddler seemed to be used to such reactions, taking no visible offense.
"No harm comin' your way there now."
He put up his hands, motioning for the two to ease up.
"Now then, I 'ave some rare treats."
Though a few bits of merchandise were out for sale on his little stand (what looked to be a modified crate), it was from under some tapestries that he drew his hidden 'prized' possessions -- a few vials and some rolled up parchment.
"Le's see 'ere. We have some fine radiant salt. Hard to come by, unless you fancy the middle of the Chuushin Desert. I have the love potion from the mystics of Arden -- they always were awkward with those kinds of situations, but it's guaranteed. And this..." he inspected another vial. "Ah yes! This is powdered mist. Works best over water. Got some honey from the Shungar bees. Good for clearin' out life's daily poisons...and good for the complexion, they say." He winked at the elf. "Even got in the latest map of the Athemuesa forest." He waved a roll of paper.
The bargain prices were still steep, leaving one to wonder what they were usually cost. For Rio, who had already bought his weapons of choice, and Honorea, who had equipment of her own still waiting on her list, a purchase of any one of these items would be enough to leave the customer with the problem of figuring out how to acquire any food for the remainder of the trip.
The merchant awaited their response.
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Post by Honorea on Jul 2, 2008 17:25:47 GMT -5
Honorea listened to the man speak, still a step behind Rio. Then, glancing at what he was holding and Rio, she answered him back.
"Well, I apologize. But none of those items are useful to someone like me. Please accept my apologies."
She turned towards Rio, waiting for him to also decline the man. She glaced around the street to see if Unaliari or Mio had come out of their shops yet. When she looked again at Rio, she gave him a look that said, "can we go now?"
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