[Color=darkgray] [Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/pBcrYFH.png[/img][/center] [center][h1][color=peru]Minerva[/color] [Color=7DBC89]Meiyu[/color][/h1][/center] [Center][B]Location:[/b]Odds & Ends Stall, Point Verge[/center][hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/aSwv9pE.png[/img][/center] [Color=peru]“Hey Meiyu, I don't know if you have any experience with these kinds of shops, but it's always good to let them do their little intro. It doesn't matter how bad it is, just… Just don't interrupt him.”[/color] Minerva instructed. Meiyu’s serpentine golden eyes tracked Minerva's profile for a beat, the flicker of a cruel dismissal crossing her face. [Color=7DBC89]“I am familiar with the necessary forms of theater, Minerva.”[/color] [Color=peru][i]Oooeeeh! She said my name! Such a good girl![/i][/color] Minerva had silently beamed to herself, but what was more important, was that the two were on the same page. However, their shared goal didn't seem apparent for the few eyes that glossed over the pair. They walked side by side, yet their gaits were oh so different. For once, the refined and the wild moved parallel. Then, about ten paces from the stall, Meiyu stopped and turned to face Minerva. The change was immediate and absolute, a flawless piece of emotional camouflage executed solely for Minerva's benefit. The cold, rigid posture of the analytical operative instantly vanished, replaced by the magnetic swagger of a seasoned pirate queen. Her spine softened into a liquid grace, her hands falling to her hips in a confident, possessive stance. Her golden eyes, once sharp and intellectual, now held a bright, challenging mischief, and her lips curled into a playful, reckless smirk. She even seemed to grow a fraction taller, commanding the space. The greatest shift was her voice. It went from its normal dry, precise tone, like silk over steel, to a deep, smooth contralto–smoky and husky, suggesting long nights and whispered deals. She spoke with a port city blend of quick, rhythmic cadence, shedding her formal diction and adopting the relaxed slurring of someone who calls every rough dock home. Meiyu then reached out, her hand moving with deceptive slowness to gently run a manicured finger along the curve of Minerva's jawline, her golden eyes flashing with mischief. [Color=7DBC89]“See that, little cat?”[/color] She purred, her voice now a low rumble. [Color=7DBC89]“The dagger and the dancer. This port runs on gossip, and the only way to get a secret is to look like you couldn't possibly keep one. Let's go charm this fool.”[/color] Minerva only had the will to nod in agreement with her mouth left agape and her body frozen in place. It was awe that gripped her. Sure, she was also flabbergasted and wanted to scream at the top of her lungs in shock, but the feline gulped it down as if she was doing her best Wendel impression. [Color=peru]“It would do good to warn a girl next time before doing [i]that[/i].”[/color] Minerva shook away her fluster with a headshake and a sigh. [Color=peru]“I like it though! It's definitely more my speed.”[/color] She flashed a toothy grin with a playful wink before the two proceeded toward the Odds & Ends stall. Their approach drew eyes as the duo sauntered over with a comfort that was rarely owned by complete strangers of Port Verge. They did more than just blend in. Within a few paces, the two wore their comfort here that other locals to shame. [color=teal]“Careful where you step, sweethearts,”[/color] Taren “Lucky” Voss, the owner of the stall, initiated with a lazy smile. [color=teal]“Half this lot’s cursed, the other half’s stolen—and I’m not saying which is which.”[/color] He laughed, mischief twinkling in his eyes. [color=teal]“Just kidding... Probably. Anyway, I haven't seen you two before. Just so you know, we receive new stock daily, and most of this merchandise sells out by the end of the day." [/color] He then pushed off the counter and circled them once, half-admiring, half-appraising. And just as the two agreed, they let him go on with his theatrics. [color=teal]“You both got the look of ladies about to make a terrible decision. Lucky for you, I make my living off those.”[/color] He gestures broadly to the shelves. [color=teal]“Everything here’s got a story. Some true, some better when they’re not. What’ll it be today, captains—bargains, beauty, or trouble?”[/color] Meiyu returned his lazy smile with one of her own, but hers was less lazy and far more dangerous. Minerva fought back a snort by feigning a hacking cough to her side, covering her mouth as she did. [Color=peru][i]Who the fuck is this guy? ‘I make my living off those.’[/i][/color] [Color=7DBC89]“You’re quite right. Terrible decisions are the only kind worth making.”[/Color] She took a smooth step closer, maintaining the magnetic intensity of her gaze. [Color=7DBC89]“Bargains are for the cautious, and beauty fades with the tide. My friend and I are here for the goods with a history, the items that ruined the last fool who held them. Because every piece of trouble in this town, be it an item or a Prince, comes with a secret attached.”[/Color] Her eyes swept the cluttered shelves, briefly fixing on the small, dark bottle before settling on the gloves. [Color=7DBC89]“You look like a man who collects those secrets, so then, tell me some stories. Let’s start with what sort of darkness you keep corked up in that little black bottle, and what those worn gloves have touched.”[/Color] [color=peru]“Ehrm…”[/color] Minerva recovered her composure. [color=peru]“Yes, what she said.”[/color] She said with a cross of her arms while eyeing a few wares she considered purchasing.The clothing caught her eye, especially since they could serve as a way to match the environment she found herself in. That, and they fit her style in remaining light and nimble. [color=teal]“Of course, sweethearts. Each item owns its own tale, and I am more than smitten to share them with your lovely lot.”[/color] Taren stepped toward the Nimble Fingers Tonic first, tapping its cork top with his index finger. [color=teal]“The Nimble Fingers Tonic. Black as one’s heart who intends to consume it. Some believe it was brewed by the very shadows assassins and thieves use as refuge, but truth be told, it be a vicious sea hag’s concoction. One that she granted to those who had the deft hands to steal some without getting caught.”[/color] He grinned as he slowly slid the item across the counter. [color=teal]“In some ways, it’s considered a trophy. A testament to one’s skill in stealth… but here, at my stall, it’s an aid that would make you just as good… With your hands, of course. It doesn’t fix footwork and bright colored clothing, sadly, but-”[/color] [color=peru]“That’s what the Chameleon’s Brew is for.”[/color] Minerva piped up while still looking around the stall. Her interruption was something she had told Meiyu not to do, but Taren took no offense and nodded in agreement. [color=teal]“Exactly. The two potions consumed in tandem will surely make one deft as a phantom.”[/color] He nodded at Meiyu while placing the second potion beside the Nimble Fingers Tonic. Meiyu’s golden eyes narrowed slightly, tracing the deep black of the potion with detached interest. She wasn't fooled by the dramatic backstory; she was analyzing the ingredient list it implied. Her voice, however, remained low and alluring. [Color=7DBC89]“A trophy then, or an easy shortcut…depends on who’s drinking it, I suppose. And a vicious sea hag's concoction? Sounds too much like a fairytale you tell the fresh arrivals.”[/Color] She let out a soft, amused sigh. [Color=7DBC89]“Perhaps she meant for it to be stolen. Maybe it was meant as a curse to ruin the hands that hold it. That's what I would do if I were a sea hag. But perhaps it could come in handy, I'll consider it. What about the other half of my choice? Those gloves. Were they cut from a thief’s hand, or worn down by a King’s ransom?”[/Color] [color=teal]“Oh, these? Nooo. There’s much more merit to the gloves.”[/color] He left the two potions on the counter to allow the faint desire to grow with hunger while going toward the gloves. [color=teal]“These were famously worn by the legendary helmsman, Karlen Blue, in his early days.”[/color] He placed them onto the counter and brushed the back of his hand against them. [color=teal]“Who knows if the next to wear them will become legendary, but at the very least, these gloves offer both comfort and dexterity.”[/color] He glanced at Minerva, who silently showed her excitement by flashing him a look of awe. [color=teal]“Interested as well, I see.”[/color] [color=peru]“No, but the rhyme was great. You’re just not my type. Sorry.”[/color] Minerva answered sincerely, while Taren was left slightly confused. Meiyu smiled slowly, her golden eyes fixed on the worn leather of the gloves, ignoring Minerva's strange interaction with the shop owner completely. Taren's tale of a legendary helmsman was exactly the kind of high-stakes tale she enjoyed. [Color=7DBC89]“Karlen Blue, you say? A helmsman who went on to legend. Far more useful than a potion, truly. The hands that guide the ship are the ones that decide the destination, after all.”[/Color] She let her fingers brush the gloves, her attention entirely focused on the implied power they held. [Color=7DBC89]“Perhaps if I buy these, I’ll become the next Princess of Port Verge.”[/Color] She watched Taren's reaction carefully, letting a casual, testing grin stretch across her face. [color=peru]“Princess?”[/color] Minerva raised an eyebrow with an amused smile. Taren averted his gaze to the gloves, knowing damn well they didn’t contain any special properties, but that was what the tales were for. Everything had a story or a legend attached to it, and each element of future possibilities added a degree of worth to those items. [color=teal]“That glint in those eyes of yours tells me you believe you might put better use to those gloves than even Karlen… Only one way to find out, really. But if you do become Princess of Port Verge, make sure to give me a shout”[/color] [color=peru]“And if she doesn’t?”[/color] Minerva brushed the back of her hand on the gliding cloak hanging up. [color=teal]“It would be heartbreaking if she forgot about me,”[/color] Taren replied with a sigh. [color=peru]“No, no, no. What if she doesn’t become Princess of Port Verge? I mean, how can you assume that?”[/color] Minerva lightly pounded her fist on the counter. [color=peru]“You gotta be real with her or she’ll come back here and say your merch is shit. Odd Shit & Shit Ends. You think that’s cute? It ain’t. It’s shit. Shitty. [i]Shitty[/i],”[/color] Minerva emphasized stronger than anyone would think was appropriate. Meiyu gave a smooth, dismissive wave of her hand toward Minerva, though her lips twitched slightly at the "Odd Shit" comment. [Color=7DBC89]“Be still, little cat. The worth isn't in the item, it's in the story he tells to sell it. Don't spoil the trade with your bluntness.”[/color] She let her fingers brush the gloves, her attention entirely focused on Taren. [Color=7DBC89]“But about that destination. My crew and I have an audience with the Prince later today, and I’m not the type to walk blind into an introduction. I need to know what I’m steering into.”[/color] She leaned closer, her smoky voice dropping conspiratorially. [Color=7DBC89]“Is he a cautious man who measures every word, or is he arrogant enough to be flattered by a bold woman? What makes him tick, or better yet, what makes him forget he’s running this coast?”[/color] Taren caught her eye, his own mischief momentarily replaced by a pragmatic understanding that this woman wasn't just flirting, she was gathering intelligence for a high-stakes play. He lowered his voice. [color=teal]“Ah, now that is a better story than any sea hag could conjure. The Prince? Hmm…he’s a pragmatic man. Not some drunken, wild captain, understand? He’s as much a tactician as he is a pirate, and he holds the respect of many here in Port Verge, not just their fear. He can certainly be charmed, and he has an eye for bold women, but the best way into his good graces isn’t flattery.”[/color] Taren tapped the counter twice for emphasis. [color=teal]“It’s utility. Be useful to Prince Dane, and he’ll give you the world.”[/color] Meiyu’s eyes sparkled, and the magnetic grin returned full force. The information was far more valuable than the gloves themselves. [Color=7DBC89]“That story is a price worth paying.”[/color] She pulled the gloves toward her with a decisive, proprietary movement. [Color=7DBC89]“I’ve decided these are necessary.”[/color] She dropped twenty gold onto the counter for the gloves, and then added a glittering pile of ten gold pieces. Her smoky voice was low and appreciative. [Color=7DBC89]“The price for the leather, the extra for the timely advice. Keep those ears open, Handsome.”[/color] Taren caught the gold with the ease of long practice, his lazy smile now genuine and predatory. [color=teal]“Good fortune always favors the generous, Princess. I'll be sure to save the very best stories just for you.”[/color] [Color=peru]“Cute.”[/color] Minerva smiled with just her lips, but her slightly narrowed eyes were incredulous. Taren maintained his charisma, having engaged with plenty like her before. The kind that put you on edge with a smile both parties knew was false— the type who would leave him for dead with that same look upon their face as if they wanted you to believe they've done you a favor. The even alarming part was that the shopkeeper was accustomed to the odd, crazy, and dangerous. This was Port Verge after all. [Color=peru]“Now it's my turn. I'll be quick. I don't need my friend here spending too much time falling in love with such a snake charmer.”[/color] Meiyu rolled her eyes and offered a dry, amused look to Taren, a tiny smirk playing on her lips. Minerva chuckled at her own bad joke as one of her hands dug into her satchel. Taren shook his head with a grin. [Color=Teal]“You two make for quite the interesting pair.”[/color] Taren truly wondered how either of them could stand being beside one another. Meiyu slipped on the gloves, flexing her fingers. She gave Taren a slow, heavy-lidded look. [Color=7DBC89]“You confuse chaos with camaraderie, handsome.”[/color] Taren squinted his eyes, briefly attempting to discern whether Meiyu was replying to what he said or his less filtered thoughts. Not wanting to leave himself left speechless, he directed his attention to the shifter woman whom he’d caught window shopping quite a few instances. [color=teal]”So… what’re you fancying?”[/color] His charming smirk was impeccable. [color=teal]“I caught your eyes lingering on the bird. His tale is quite-”[/color] [Color=peru]“Stop!”[/color] Minerva snapped at Taren with no shame in her hypocrisy. Was it not she who instructed Meiyu to allow the man to spin his tales? Meiyu simply shook her head and sighed as she strapped in for this chaos. Minerva [i]did[/i] manage to catch herself, albeit late. [color=peru]“I-I mean… It's my turn. Yeah! It's my turn to tell a tale… about my… satchel! Yes! Because I'm trying to fetch some coin from it!”[/color] Minerva nodded with a friendly grin and unblinking eyes before wincing as her hand was pricked by something sharp and unsheathed within the bag. [color=peru]“Damn it… Just let me tell my tale, okay.”[/color] [color=peru]“Have either of you ever heard of Darius the Great?”[/color] There was no time to answer before she continued. [color=peru]“You should have, because he is the most dastardly silver-tongued man I’ve ever known. Some say ancient elves found him under the crescent moon and raised him, while others claim he is a god of mischief in the shape of a man, but no one truly knows. No one knows his past or where he’s from, but few strongly believe he originated [i]right here[/i] in the Lhazaar Principalities! He’d deny being anything close to a pirate, but his love of treasure and the sea show otherwise. He can wield any manner of weapon as easily as the fancy wield their special spoons and forks! Dragons are his pets, and magic is child’s play to him as he weaves it in ways that make pointy-hatted wizards gasp in awe!”[/color] Minerva was really getting into it now. Meiyu let a subtle, dry chuckle rumble in her chest, seemingly enjoying Minerva's audacious performance. Her husky voice dropped to a low, carrying whisper for Taren. [Color=7DBC89]“A fine line between ‘dastardly silver-tongued’ and ‘pathological liar.’ She walks it well.”[/color] [color=peru]“He’s untraceable, appearing as quickly as he vanishes! A shadow in the dark! A ghost in the pale moonlight! But I tell you what… he never leaves without indulging in the things he desires. Gold, family heirlooms, booze, and of course, women…”[/color] She locked eyes with Taren, who wasn’t exactly sold on the story, but the name rang a bell. [color=peru]“Your little stall would be left empty if he took a liking to your trinkets… or at least, he [i]would[/i] have…”[/color] Minerva began to giggle in the creepiest way anyone could. With a quick pull from the satchel, she presented a blue robe. [color=peru]“Hahahaha! I, the one and only Peaches Minerva, not only bested Darius the Great, but stole his bottomless satchel… and his clothes!”[/color] Minerva had celebrated with a thunderous voice before she dug into one of the inner pockets of the robe. [color=teal]“A fine tale,”[/color] Taren entertained with a soft clap of his hands. Meiyu simply looked at Minerva, giving a brief, sharp raise of her eyebrows. [Color=7DBC89]“It certainly takes up time, if nothing else.”[/color] Minerva held back a growl toward, but clenched her teeth instead in an effort to control herself. [color=peru]“It isn’t just a fine tale! It’s the finest! The [i]finest[/i]! Come on now, it is a tale you could use yourself. Now be a good boy and fetch me that cloak you have hung up there.”[/color] Minerva tilted her head toward the [i]Skyborn Gliding Cloak[/i] with a confident smirk. [color=peru]“60 pieces and these blue robes, take it or leave it.”[/color] [color=teal]“60? You think I was born yesterday. That cloak is easily over 100 pieces. It’s enchanted and was first used by-”[/color] [color=peru]“No! I don’t want to hear the story. I just want the cloak. 70 pieces, no robe, take it… or leave it.”[/color] Minerva narrowed her eyes at Taren now who scoffed at her manner of intimidation. He glanced at the cloak, considering the offer but shook his head nevertheless. The feline huffed. [color=peru]“85,”[/color] Minerva growled. [color=teal]“90 with the robe, sweetheart,”[/color] Taren offered smugly with a wink. [color=peru]“90 without the robe! I can’t give it to you, but you can use the story on… [i]something else[/i].”[/color] She whispered the last part, her expression more desperate than she had ever looked. The only time Minerva had looked so distraught today was when Phia greeted her hours prior. The wretched soul stealing double-wave. [color=peru]“90… please!”[/color] Minerva was practically begging now as she pouted. Stealing some of Darius’ stashed gold was one thing, but selling off his robe just seemed like an irreparable action toward another member of the [b]First Four[/b]. [color=peru]“Please…”[/color] She persisted, her eyes watering now. Meiyu watched Taren, her expression carefully neutral, to see if Minerva’s sudden desperation would move the shopkeeper. [color=teal]“90 pieces? Without the robe?”[/color] Taren took a theatrical pause, pretending to mull over the offer, knowing he at least had gained a foothold during their haggle. [color=teal]“I’d be doing you one helluva favor with that deal.”[/color] [color=peru]“Mhm! And I would never forget it. I’ll tell all my friends about you. Stella, Menzai, and Phia would love to see this place! And! When I show them my cool cloak, they’ll definitely come running, especially Menzai. He is so adorable when he gets jealous of me! He goes, ‘I am a sophisticated scholarrrly dog-man with the finest flowy clothes in the entirrrety of the worrrld, hmph.’”[/color] She sounded nothing like Menzai and simply spoke with a nasally haughty tone and rolled R’s. [color=peru]“90 and potentially some new customers itching to buy.”[/color] Meiyu clamped down a laugh so violently her golden eyes watered, briefly wondering if Minerva actually believed the ridiculous promises she was making. She gave Taren a look that was equal parts weary and commanding, dropping her voice to a low purr. [Color=7DBC89]“The guarantee of future business is only as valuable as the person backing it, Handsome. You have my word on the traffic as well, and that is worth far more than the last five gold you’re holding out for. End this now.”[/color] [color=teal]“90 pieces… 90 pieces it is, for the Skyborn Gliding Cloak.”[/color] Taren retrieved the cloak from its hanger, placing it on the counter while Minerva placed the required gold down beside it. [color=peru]“Good b-. I mean… Good deal. Mhm, gooood deal.”[/color] Minerva nodded slowly with a smile as she grabbed the cloak and immediately put it on. [color=peru]“How do I look, Meiyu? Awesome, right?”[/color] Meiyu’s smile didn't quite reach her eyes. [Color=7DBC89]“It covers your worst instincts well, little cat. A definite improvement. Now, let’s take our leave. This port has made me ravenous, and if you don't feed me soon, I might start finding the little kittens awfully delicious.”[/color] She smirked and began walking away. [color=peru]“Ay ay, captain!”[/color] [/Color]