Happily Ever After

[viceofvoices]

[Troubadour and Krichevskoy walk along the market stalls of a sprawling bazaar. Items and goods from many different dimensions have all gathered here, at a sort of multidimensional marketplace]

Ah! Krichevskoy! Look at this!

[he pulls the other man to a shop full of flowers, exotic and fantastical]

Comments

[beautifulrondo]

[he nearly stumbles from the sudden change in direction, but anything he might say against the sudden tug immediately disappears at the sight of the flowers]

Oh...! These are quite beautiful.

[he debates the merits of buying seeds for a few of them, or even a pot of a few, but he has a feeling he'll just end up killing them. A green thumb he has not.]

[musicalplum]

Yes...if I had a single residence, I might consider getting some. [he sighs wistfully, having quite the green thumb himself due to the dominion of his powers, but after one final, longing glance, he moves away]

Is there anything you might be looking for specifically while we're here?

[beautifulrondo]

Nothing in particular, but I imagine in a place as varied as this, it should not be too terribly hard for something to catch my eye.

[it's been difficult enough not buying about half the things here already]

[musicalplum]

Of course, we must be careful. [he leans towards Krichevskoy, slanting suspicious eyes at the crowd around them] These places are notorious for people pawning cursed items on unsuspecting folk.

[beautifulrondo]

That is not too surprising. I would suggest staying away from anyone from any Netherworlds if you worry about that. [they'd do it for a laugh as much as for profit]

At least all we need do is check the items for magic. [he's about to say more when they pass in front of a booth displaying all sorts of expertly crafted jewelry.] Oho...?

[musicalplum]

Hm? [he stops, his eye caught as well. So many glittering gems and lustrous precious metals! All crafted in a variety of styles. Troubadour smiles and picks up a tiara]

My...I don't believe this stone is from any world I know. Glorious!

[beautifulrondo]

[he eyes the chokers with a small smile of his own. He could use a new one. God knows where his old one is now. ...Actually, it's probably better not to think about that too much.]

And what quality! I have not seen craftsmanship like this in some time.

[musicalplum]

[the shopkeeper seems to be soaking up their rather vocal praise with glee. Troubadour pauses, something catching his eye. He sets the tiara down and leans closer -- there, among all the glittering and dazzling jewelry, there is a set of rings. They are plain, dulled with age and neglect, without a single stone or decoration, but for some reason, they pull his gaze from the rest of the items]

How...how strange...

[beautifulrondo]

Hm? [Krichevskoy looks over at Troubadour, then follows the other man's gaze to the rings. Normally he would find them much too plain for his tastes, but there is something about these aged, simple rings that speaks to him. A beauty waiting to be brought out?]

You seem to have had those for awhile... How much are they?

[at the very least, he can see how they look cleaned]

[musicalplum]

Huh? Uhhh... [for a moment, the shopkeeper looks shocked that the rings are even there, but he IS a businessman, so he quickly plasters on a smile. If these two rubes want to buy some junk from him that he's never even seen before, who is he to say no?]

They are a set, as you can see, and at a bargain for only 50,000 gold, or the equivalent exchange from your dimension.

[Troubadour elbows his way into view] Ah, but I was going to buy them, Krichevskoy!

[beautifulrondo]

Eh? But...! [but he saw them first! ...But there are two.] I suppose we could always have one each.

[he looks over at the shopkeeper again] But... Only if some of that price is cut. They still need to be cleaned, after all. [he always wanted to try haggling. Not that a "no" is going to stop him from getting them anyway]

[musicalplum]

...hmph. [you liar, TROUBADOUR saw them first and you know it! But he comes to the same realization -- there are two. Ah, and sharing a set of rings with Krichevskoy...? He falls back, turning red as various romantic visions pop up unbidden in his mind.

Meanwhile, the merchant snorts indelicately]

I got mouths to feed, pal! Cleaning would ruin the exquisite patina on these priceless heirlooms! But...well, I suppose I can let them go for 45. I can tell they're goin' to a pair that'll appreciate them, unlike the rest of these mooks.

[beautifulrondo]

[He'd question it, but with the other pieces in the stall, Krichevskoy supposes it's not too far out of the realm of possibility that the aged look of the rings could be an aesthetic choice... Would he be ruining it by cleaning it? He hums softly, but nods in the end.]

Very well. 45,000 it is.

[he can always find more spectacular chokers elsewhere, but something about these rings just feels one of a kind. Or maybe that's just the feel of a successful haggle?]

[musicalplum]

Ah! [Troubadour suddenly comes back down to reality and pokes his head over Krichevskoy's shoulder] Y-You're not paying the fee for both, are you? I should pay for half!

[beautifulrondo]

[he waves a hand dismissively] It is no trouble at all. I planned to buy them from the beginning, after all.

[musicalplum]

So...this is a gift you're sharing with me?

[are flowers and shoujo bubbles popping out all around his head? Meanwhile the merchant glances between the two men with interest]

[beautifulrondo]

Th, That's... [what? It... maybe? KRICHEVSKOY DOESN'T KNOW. He lowers his head and shoves the money at the merchant]

[musicalplum]

[the merchant smiles happily, having received a profit for something he never even bought, and bids them both a farewell. Troubadour seems very excited and happy, peeking at the rings from any angle he can get while they walk]

Ah, let's put them on now! I cannot wait a moment longer!

[beautifulrondo]

{Krichevskoy nods dumbly, still not entirely sure what happened with the stall at the end there. Was it a present?

Not wanting to think about it any more, he pushes the thoughts out of his mind and holds the box out between the two of them.

Well... As long as he gets to wear one of these charming rings, it doesn't really matter in the end, does it?

An inscription on the inside of the lid of the wooden box catches his eye]

"For the adventurous?"

[musicalplum]

[he leans over to get a closer look. After a moment, he chuckles, plucking one ring from the box] Well, there is surely none more adventurous than we.

[beautifulrondo]

[he laughs a little] That is true.

[he takes the other ring out, tucks the box away in a dimensional pocket, and then puts the ring on.

It bites at the skin near the base and he shakes his hand with a hiss of pain. He frowns and wipes away a bit of blood near the base of his finger] How...?

[he turns his hand over, but doesn't see anything that would pierce the skin, so he assumes it's just an unlucky coincidence. Besides, it looks nice on his finger, doesn't it? And it fits perfectly.]

[musicalplum]

Hmm? Are you alr --ah! [he winces, staring down at his hand where he put the ring on. Lifting the hand to his mouth to lick away the blood, he frowns] Hmph. How odd. My skin is hardly easy to cut or puncture...what could have done it?

[beautifulrondo]

Same... I suppose it just pinched the skin in the right way. I did not see anything on the ring that could have done it.

[he sighs] Honestly, if it runs the risk of doing that, they should at least warn for it.

[musicalplum]

I agree. [he sighs, looking down at his hand again] I suppose if they did, they would run the risk of losing profit, though. Hmm...it does look good on my hand, doesn't it?

[beautifulrondo]

[Krichevskoy nods] If it was for the case of a perfect fit, I suppose I cannot complain too much. Worse things are done for fashion's sake than a mere pinch.