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[b]Level:[/b] 1 [i](2/10)[/i]
[b]Word Count:[/b] 861
[b]Location:[/b] Sandswept Sky - Al Mamoon Marketplace
[b]EXP:[/b] +2
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A man, looking rather out of place in his layered jacket, shirt, and hoodie combo, strode through the dry streets of the crowded marketplace. The sweltering heat that blanketed the area on account of the blistering sun blazing its way through the deep blue sky above, didn't seem to bother or even hinder the enigmatic figure as he continued his march, deftly weaving through and around the various crowds of people until at last he had reached his destination. That being a small ramshackle stall with an L-shaped clay counter of sorts that had a wooden gate built into its right side which separated the amphibian-looking merchant from their customers. As for the counter itself, its surface was covered in what appeared to be various raw foods and spices, along with the occasional bit of produce or two. These things did not interest the man however, who simply tucked his hands into the pockets of his jacket as he drew close. Lifting his gaze, Alex locked eyes with the vendor, his expression and tone as stoic as ever.

[color=red]"I'm looking for someone,"[/color] he said bluntly. [color=red]"A woman to be specific. She's kind of thin, has silver blue eyes, and short spikey brown hair. Goes by the name Dana. You see anyone like that around anywhere?"[/color]

The merchant gave Mercer a blank stare, its expression twisting from unreadable to unamused, before finally settling into pure annoyance. Maybe even rage, although it was kind of hard to tell.

"Listen pal, I ain't a sightseer alright? And I sure as hell don't have the time to waste being one! Now if you're not going to buy somethin..."

The creature crossed its stubby arms, its froglike body rippling as it did so.

"Then beat it! I don't come here for the conversation, understand?"

A corner of Mercer's mouth twitched slightly as he leaned forward, removing his hands from his pockets to plant them squarely on the counter, cracking it with the smallest application of pressure. He flashed the vendor a friendly smile even as chips of clay flaked free to clatter against the sandstone beneath their feet.

[color=red]"Look, I don't want any trouble alright? I just want some information, that's all."[/color]

Alex leaned in even closer, until the two were mere inches apart, his friendly smile ever-present. It didn't reach his eyes however, and his tone was anything but pleasant, sounding as though it had been laced with steel. Although he hadn't made any overt threats, aside from his encroachment a few seconds prior, Mercer's message was crystal clear. Talk, or else there'd be trouble, and not the kind the froglike creature sitting before him would want. He didn't plan on killing the guy of course, there wasn't a need for that after all, but Alex wasn't above roughing him up a bit either. Especially if he didn't want to talk. He'd spent the last couple of months wandering this damn topsy-turvy clusterfuck of a world in search of his sister, with next to no luck as far as leads or clues to her current whereabouts were concerned. To say he was worried was an understatement of the highest degree, for Mercer passed the point of mere worry a long time ago, and as such he didn't mind taking a more intimidation based approach when it came to uncovering information regarding his sister's current location, moral scruples aside. Hell, even knowing her current status would be enough, but most of the people he'd questioned on his way here hadn't seen head or tail of anyone matching her description, and that bothered him greatly. It was one thing to not know where Dana was, but to not know [i]how[/i] she was, or if she was even still alive or not... that truly was hell.

Thinking back on it now of course, he hadn't been sure what he'd expected. It's not as if anyone in the other cities actually went anywhere after all. Certainly not as far afield as he had anyway. Merchants however, now they did tend to get around. At least, that's what he hoped anyway. While it made the most sense as far as logic was concerned, Mercer had to remind himself that [i]nothing[/i] he'd seen in this world had been logical thus far, least of all himself. He was himself a sentient pile of viral biomass, which hadn't exactly been thought possible in the field of genetic engineering before. Looping back round to the topic of merchants however...

"Are you threatening me pal?" the amphibian asked incredulously, its face settling into an expression of pure rage, though the nearly imperceptible warble in its otherwise steady voice was all Mercer needed to hear to know his message had been received loud and clear. "Get away from my stall before I call the guards!"

[color=red]"[i]Tsk.[/i] I didn't want it to come to this, but if you insist..."[/color]

Mercer let out a quiet sigh, the muscles in his hands twitching as the smile left his face. It seemed as though things were about to escalate into a full on brawl at this point, one that would surely end in someone spilling blood if no one intervened...