[Once Upon a Curious Shoppe -The Curious Curio Part One]
"Only, the most dubious of goods, mademoiselle, I assure you." came the reply in its deep, sonorous tone. The Dukswight merchant stood back to his full height while pulling idly at the lapels of his coat with thumbs and forefingers. For a moment the blonde's blue eyes focused upon the luxuriant threads of his apparel, Ul'dahn no doubt, spun of silk and embroidered linen. Gone were the old threadbare garments of the itinerant.
She gasped softly as he beckoned for her attention with a nod of his high head, "Is everything well, my dear? You seem a touch preoccupied." His voice lingered low upon the final syllable, drawing it out as if to tease a secret from her. Aya's bright eyes looked upward to meet his, a cheerful smile spreading across her features, as sweet and disarming as ever.
Verad deftly maneuvered his fingers to press back into place the loose lock of his bangs that had sprung forth into just the sort of amusing curl that could set a charming young woman giggling. He returned to the pitch, the tone of his voice one of exquisite pride. "As I was saying, you have nothing to worry about, my dear. You shall find only goods of that rigorous quality that attracts my keen eye. Neither nefarious, nor pretentious; only, perfectly, flawlessly, dubious.." Fingers and hands added a confident air-borne flourish to this climactic finish, before once more pulling upon his coat, now about mid-torso.
Behind demure eyes Aya's giggle intermingled with her voice, "I was hoping you might have some trinkets or baubles I could look through! You know, things that are simple but pretty to look at."
With his deep knowledge and experience Verad was certain that he had already augured the purpose of Aya's visit. His fingers had deftly drawn one of several misprinted copies of a certain volume of Val's self-authored tales of sensual adventure. The stories had an, ahem, certain tone that appealed to a young woman of Aya's nature and age. No doubt her curiosity had been piqued when she overheard the discussion Leanne's party the week before, and that had brought her...
Without change in expression Verad let the book fall from his hands. He raised his index finger in an embellishment of inspiration, as if there were no sound of dropped-book striking ground. "Ah-hah, of course! Mademoiselle, I have only the most dubious of baubles, trinkets, bibelots, ornaments, jewelry, and assorted objets d'art."Â
He turned half-around, before raising his index finger once more begging her to wait. He offered such pleased countenance, with a smile that hinted at barely suppressed excitement. He turned, taking several steps toward the back of his stand to the open merchandise-bearing cart behind. With the deftness of a man who knew exactly where everything was, he wasted no time in identifying the desired box on just the eighth effort. He lifted it with great showmanship, before setting it down upon counter at the front of the stand, watched the entire way by Aya and the curious expectation of her eyes.
From the box he withdrew what had once been a fine wooden display case, now worn with the wear of years. The hinges sang their high whining tune as he swung the doors open, beckoning Aya to draw open the drawers and peruse to her heart's content. "Here we are, my dear Mademoiselle, dearest Aya. The most dubious baubles, doodads, and curios to be found anywhere in Eorzea, or her five seas. Indeed, you would have to search all Hydelaen far-and-wide to gather even a fraction of the bounty I present to you here."
Aya tried her best to resist the urge of grin and laugh of amusement that always seemed to lie just beneath her warm, smiling exterior. Only partially successful, she covered her lips with the long, slender fingers of her hand. "May I look?" She cast glancing looks between her friendly merchant, and the box of wondrous dubiousness placed before her.
"Of course, of course, by all means, my dearest! Look, peruse, and shop to your heart's content! I am quite confident you shall find just what you are looking for"
She nodded, her smile now breaking out unbidden, and tamed only by the gentle bite of her front teeth into her lower lip. She pulled at one drawer, taking in the sight of so many items and objects in one place. There was jewelry with broken clasps, rings, earrings, and bracelets that were mere fixtures without benefit of gems, lockets bearing deep inscriptions that must once have bore the deepest meaning to loved ones and family long lost to the memories of time. Some were lovely, others gave pause in their uncomeliness.Â
Eying a particularly fine-appearing time piece, designed with a metal band to fit around wrist or arm, Aya lifted itfrom the drawer with an expression of wonder. "Is this dubious?" she asked eyes fixed upon the Duskwight, her blonde eyebrows lifted in wide-eyed astonishment.
"Can't be fixed!" came his reply, quick and proud, as he slicked back his loose lock once more. "Dubious, indeed!" he added, as if the affirmation were a necessity of duty, "Right twice a day, of course! And if you look carefully you'll find that it also has a feature for tracking the moon phases. Right..." he paused, suddenly unsure of just how often the moon phases were the same, "Some of the time!" he blurted out with the anxious surety of someone who has just stumbled upon the correct answer.
Aya laughed, flashing an amused grin, before returning the watch to its place in the drawer, and continuing her search through the second drawer and then the final. Her fingers rummaged about looking through the curious collection that seemed to bring the value of precious metals into an unusually direct contact with the worthlessness of items no longer of use: an exercise of unique and distinct dubiousness.
Several times she paused, asking about one item or another. After rummaging in the third drawer her eyes paused upon another locket, this one bearing the dark and smokey grime of tarnished silver. The exterior was a fine filigree, intricate and subtly ornate. With the careful attention of searching eyes the pattern revealed a deeper complexity, weaving themes that never seemed to repeat, but instead changed as if by phases as the eyes moved around the locket in clock-wise order.Â
"Ah, yes... a fine piece is it not?" grinned Verad, in a delighted manner. "Here, let me show you the catch!" he reached across the railing of the kiosk, his fingers momentarily joining hers upon the locket. With a gentle urging push he guided her finger along the edge of the locket until it pressed against the nearly hidden catch. With a slight push the locket soundlessly unlocked. She opened it with some trepidation, wondering what sort of ancient personal inscription she would find within... still, she thought, it was so lovely it might do as a gift anyway.
Yet, what her eyes found within was not a locket bearing an old engraving, picture, or inscription, but instead the face of a watch. The face itself was simple, but around the edge it was as intricate within as it was without. Divided into twelve sections, each bearing an inscription of the Twelve integrated with the ever-changing theme of the locket's filigree. Along with the decoration was a special hand sliding through an almost hidden slot, it seemed to indicate the current moon by reference to its relevant god.
Aya stared, transfixed in astonishment at the locket-watch. A quiet gasp followed a hard swallow, it was even better than what she had expected to find. Verad beamed a grin that would more typically have followed a successful sale, "My dearest Aya, you should not worry so. Broken, irreparably! As dubious as everything else in the chest." He laughed and thumped his hand upon the chest for emphasis.
She continued to stare, astonished, at the watch. Only slowly did her surprise become a smile, and she looked up to Verad excitedly, "How much for this?" she asked with the energetic enthusiasm that long ago endeared him to the girl.Â
Of course, no merchant could afford to let his merchandise walk away without a price, even to a dearest friend. Nonetheless, how could his Duskwight heart bear to squeeze the girl for her hard-earned tips? "For you, dearest Mademoiselle, a mere trifling." He furrowed his brow, as if struggling to think of just what he should ask, gesturing continuously with his hands as if the price were on the tip of his tongue. "How... mmmm.." he stuttered, before stumbling upon a moment of inspiration. "How much was that first drink you served me? And perhaps a cookie too." He loosed his broad, teeth-baring, showman's grin upon her as she let out another happy laugh. "Ten gil shall we say?" he added as her laughter seemed to serve as a ready answer to his question.
She fished a 10 gil piece from her purse, setting it upon the counter. "A pleasure doing business with you, as always, mademoiselle." he grinned, lifting the coin between two fingers.
[[A Thank you to Verad for allowing me to use his character ]]