Public Bazaar: Oddities Edition

[Kal]

"Shyriiwook." It was somewhat unclear how Kal had overheard their conversation. "The Wookies have several languages, this particular bottle is for Shyriiwook." A flash of pearlescent teeth showing from beneath the hood, he began to explain the wares he had for sale. Oddities aplenty, that was for sure. At the same time, Noelle would hear him in her mind.

<Hello again, Noelle. Enjoying the bazaar with your concubine, I trust?>

Pulling a bottle filled with a wispy whiteness from the collection on the table, he offered it for inspection. "The Echani have a long and proud tradition of martial arts, perhaps a foreign influence might intrigue? This contains a profound understanding of the Chiss technique referred to as the 'Forbelean Defence'. Rather useful, I assure you."

<Oh, Arcturus Dinn sends his regards, by the way.> There was no way Kal was not sensing her disapproval, but he made no move to validate or even acknowledge it. He felt no particular need to seek her permission for a bit of fun.

August Oreno | Noelle Varanin​

 

[Yula Perl]

Yula beamed.

"A dozen of these fellas comes to about 2k creds. Without tax."

Did Eshan have sales tax? She wasn't sure. Either way, she'd already paid for the tablespace. She wasn't about to give them a cut of her profits.

"I'll even give you the lid to the box to keep 'em contained."

Her run-ins with Mandalorians had been interesting. Sometimes they'd shoot at her, but that was usually in an active war zone. Mostly she'd found them to be decent fellows when she'd stayed out of their way.

Fenn Stag

 

[Fenn Stag]

Fenn didn't have the knowledge to debate tax code with the Zeltron.

He did however, know how to haggle. Slightly.

"2 grand is a little steep. 1500?"

Game on, lady.

Yula Perl

 

[Noelle Varanin]

<Hello again, Noelle. Enjoying the bazaar with your concubine, I trust?>

He was not--

Noelle's breath puffed through her nose, the only visible sign of her annoyance as she turned to August Oreno . "It's not likely you'll have need for Shyriiwook at court." Practical as ever, she didn't see that some might like to speak wookie for fun . She eyed the next bottle with some interest. If only she had more time to train lately, she just might have-

<Oh, @Arcturus Dinn sends his regards, by the way.>

Noelle's eyes snapped Kal 's way, softening at the mention of the old... acquaintance? How did Kal even come across him? She hoped he was well. She was left to puzzle this, slightly distracted as August gained the chance to explore the products at his leisure.

Her attention did slowly drift to the furry creatures perched above the table, their curious gaze being matched by her own. The black one gave a little hoot.

"Odd little things," she commented, rubbing bumps from her arms.

 

[Serya Talith]

Vetru stumbled and dropped onto his backside. Those milling about the stands simply picked up their feet and stepped around him.

Vetru was slow to pick himself back up to his feet. He took his time straightening out his jacket to try and regain some dignity. It did not work.

"Three hundred then," he agreed. Vetru decided that this was a personal purchase. He didn't have a way to prove they worked, which might have made smuggling a few off world worthwhile. He fished out some old confederacy credit chits from his jacket.

"Pleasure doin' business with ya." She gave him a small salute and pocketed the old coins. Someone would take them. And maybe now she could afford a little treat for herself...

She craned her neck and looked around.

 

[Kal]

Noelle did not reply to his teasing, per se, but he could read her even better than he could the man on the street. It had not been the best idea to bind him with poorly-understood sorcery if she wanted privacy. <It is not at all uncommon for monarchs to have concubines, Noelle. No need to be shy about it. He ticks all the boxes, does he not?>

At the same time, he would happily answer any questions August had concerning the wares on sale. Including those not at all essential to the inner workings of the court - hobbies were a thing, despite Noelle's insistence to the contrary.

Who knows, maybe he would want to talk to the locals while vacationing on Kashyyyk?

Perhaps he could even pester Noelle into taking a break alongside him.

"Gorgeous, are they not? Created by a rather clever fellow named Kal - they have certain abilities that put them a step above most animals and make lovely pets to boot." Beckoning a hand, a black-feathered Bleakhorn hopped onto his cowled head, giving Noelle another imperious little hoot. In the background, others were watching curiously.

The merchant seemed entirely unconcerned that some of his birds were flying free.

Noelle Varanin | August Oreno​

 

[Noelle Varanin]

<Who taught you that word?> She finally jabbed back, clearly planning to do a number of unpleasant things to them. She held out a hand towards the dark owl, offering him her finger to climb onto, if he wanted it.

"This Kal sounds like trouble." Her whole expression puckered in agreement, but her fixation with the owls countered otherwise. Her attention shifted to the sliver owl, then a gold one besides it. "What do they do?"

Kal

 

[Kal]

<I memorised several dictionaries before I began to interact with organics.> The statement was matter-of-fact, as if it was a completely ordinary preparation step. For all Noelle knew it might be - it was not as if she had interacted with many Shadows, his own Shades notwithstanding. Their habits were somewhat unusual, by organic standards.

Conversely, many aspects of the organic existence still baffled him.

"You would be right. I hear he once considered slipping hair removal chemicals into a noblewoman's shampoo!" Namely Noelle herself; it was a shame he had yet to get around to doing that. He would find the right occasion, hopefully.

"Healing..." He stroked a gold-horned owl, leading to it cooing contently. "... perception ..." A nod towards a silver-antlered bird watching the interaction curiously. "... and a link to death and mortality. Predictive, not causal. If her horn ever turns midnight black, I would strongly advise changing your future." Easier said than done, in some cases.

The owl in question had hopped onto Noelle's hand, her horn a pristine white.

Noelle Varanin​

 

[Noelle Varanin]

The hair comment earned a sharp glance, one that dissipated as the attention shifted back to the owls.

"They are endearing," she admitted, stroking the black owl's feathered head. Did she have the time to take care of a living creature? She barely had time to take care of herself, but--

She glanced at the other two and found her smile growing at their inquisitive expressions. "There, there," came the soft murmur, Noelle taking a chance to pet the other two in turn.

"Oh dear," she sighed, realizing at once that her heart was beyond reason here. "How much?"

And how in the world would she pick.

Kal

 

[Kal]

The owls seemed to like her, which was a good sign - albeit not entirely coincidental. They were by no means forced to find her appealing, but he had made sure to bring along some he felt would be drawn towards her.

Given how long he had been bound to the Echani, he knew her better than most.

"That they are." He gave the silver-antlered owl an affectionate pat, the bird leaning into the gesture. "What do you have to offer?" If she thought he assigned a credit value to the creatures, she would be dead wrong.

Of course, he was hardly inclined to fleece her either.

Noelle Varanin​

 

[Noelle Varanin]

Noelle genuinely began to pat herself down and access how much she had on hand.

How much did an animal cost, anyway? They had certainly brought enough, if not for-- She paused. She looked up to Kal, her lips pursed as she considered him instead.

"...What do you want?" She intoned, well aware of his fondness for barters and debts. She would think he could see the value in coinage but no. All one had to give him for lifeday was a promise and he'd be as chipper as boy under a lifeday tree.

Kal

 

[Kal]

He had hoped for some mercantile banter - a bit of back and forth, her offering and him accepting or rejecting - but it seemed she was not inclined to play along. Shame. That was half the fun of the whole merchant gig.

He had no idea how mortals could stand selling boring items for boringly constant prices.

"Why, a mutually beneficial arrangement, of course." Unseen eyes regarded her from beneath the cowl, the silence stretching on until it almost turned awkward. "I have a project that could use a helping hand or two. Nothing dangerous or political. It would not interfere with your other obligations. Or you could pay with your joyless currency."

Said project would involve her moving rocks back and forth until the brink of exhaustion - or her snapping and refusing to continue. It seemed an excellent way to test her patience in a largely harmless manner.

It would also allow him to collect the Essence of Boredom, among other things.

Noelle Varanin​