Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » The Mystic Yard Sale

[Note: This is an open RP, but I give warning. My RP time can be unreliable, so be patient if I take a few days or more to respond. Other days, I may be able to reply multiple times all at once. Also note: This character is a plane-walker. Sometimes the shop itself is a distortion, borderline-dream. Any character type is welcome to interact, as he is equally eccentric regardless of what era he is in. First come first serve, or openness. Either the first people to come can set the general era or a nexus-style setting can be placed in regards to his location. I tend to prefer the latter.]


A colorful figure whistled on his way down the road, hitting the nearest city square with free space. It mattered not what era he was in; he was known to stumble through many without even realizing it. Something as simple as falling asleep could bring the man to a world of dream, and that dream could be reality--or become on all its own. It explained the spark of madness in his darkly highlighted eyes, which darted to and fro as if he held some secret.


Unclasping his colorful cloak, which was a motley array of patchwork from pastels, shimmering peacock tones and sewings of black if only to highlight it, he snapped it as if hailing a bull. It unfurled--larger than it should have.

Its many colored rags made it visible for some distance as he hung it up on posts that just seemed to emerge from nowhere. Ducking behind the veil, he pulled forward a solid oak table, which scraped loudly; odd, because it hadn't just been there. He aligned it meticulously. Screek. Screek. Screeek. ...Scrik. A few more wiggles and his OCD was sated. From beneath the table came two more rods which he plunked into the ground on either side, tips meeting together. Magically, the back curtain unfurled further, wrapping over the front end and leaving a narrow entrance from which he worked at and leaving an appeal fairly akin to a quiltwork fortune teller's booth. He approached the patchy curtain and, by all lack of logic, began pulling miscellanious goods from it's many fabrics, each folded into a pocket.

Talismans from Daath! Lost enlightenment of the forgotten Sephirot! Fallen Muifee's Divine Bracelet! One item's tag bragged as he settled it on the table. It continued into other odd tokens. It continued into other odd tokens. Authentic Egyptian Stele fragment; plated likeness of Hatshepsut; some bragged. There was also an array of Canoptic jars--a golden owl statuette, and a tall vase detailing Odysseus Hermes and Athena were just the start of his oddities. A few stacks of impressive tomes and scrolls laid to one side. Everything from Ugarit texts to titles from the Ashurbinpal library; astronomical and astrological debates transcribed from lost Alexandria. 'Borrowed' doctrines from Pergamum, and old copies of legends such as Enuma Elis were among them. Less historical doctrines included eclectic presentations of Rosicrucian, Hermetic, Phonecian and older beliefs. Buried in their texts were enough incantations to sink Atlantis (but he kept THAT one in the back). And that? That was only from a few planes of misacquired goods. Various pieces of misappropriated history ranged abroad; have a text that went missing without anyone knowing where it went? Odds are, if he didn't have it, he at least would have wind of where it might be. No guarantees, of course. No one is ever all-seeing or present, even if he tried to will his feet to be.

Foods were even included. A plate of hot Lamb Shawerma, Ful, and a few servings of Falafel simmered to one side, seemingly still fresh. A few bottles were displayed. Greek Fire; Water-free water; fertile ground. More promised in the many curtains behind. He erected a wall within to hang a plethora of jewelry, some enchanted and other pieces mundane. The counter displayed a stand-up book with pages of other inventory not kept forward. The weapons were too dangerous to stock, listing a variety of greek weapons and tools right through the Golden Fleece. Other planar ideas varied through Flaebeath Zebial's spear fragment to curious claims from... what seemed to be video game universes. Cloud's Force Stealer. Yeah, you read it. It looks convincing. Dare to believe it? That is, if anyone even knew to identify it as more than something that might steal nimbus from the sky.

'Stock varies, inquire to the keep over your requested weapon type'. That was just a section, at least. Offered services: Alchemy, custom work; spell breaking. The shopkeep will not afford any spell, potion or concoction that influences an individual's free will. The keep reserves the right to refuse any request that he feels is too dangerous to spread.

It was something like a Magical and Mythical Yard Sale with a few spare boons.

The shopkeep, free of his cape, was still a rainbow affair. A starlit wrap covered a lithe yet strong torso, deep indigo and studded in literally glimmering sparks. It exposed the left arm--defined enough to be masculine, but not so impressive as to seem capable to weild one of the few displayed weapons in the back: a mighty hammer as tall as he was. Not that he was short. Had he been standing, rather than kicking back on his chair, he'd have been barely short of six feet--an average height. That was one of the few average things about him, from his puffy lavender pants to the dark violet boots trimmed in thorough gold, studded in miscellanious gems and ankled with sprays of vibrant feathers. He bore equally detailed bracelets on one hand, a glove on the next, and a scarf of dancing, unsolidified color. To add to the propostorous level was a cap that must have been stolen from Carmen Sandiego by its brim, though clearly it had been dipped in a vat of prismatic cool tones all swirled together; one side was crested in proud feathers: from speckled pheasant, to regal all-seeing peacock eye, to curling plume of bird of paradise and even a potential phoenix pinion amidst it.

He seemed inattentive, considering the slight downturn of the hat. Never assume, however. A thief readily spies another thief, and he was far more alert than his casual posture infered. He played at some eight-sided rubix cube variant in the moment, sides inscribed with different runes. A punishment came from a wrong answer, which apparently resulted in a fish dropping from nowhere onto his head. He curled his lip, picked it up and... threw it up next to the food, writing a new sign of Fresh fish!...I think.";

Gabriel was just flying around looking for something interesting to do while Asa was at work. He was currently in the form of a small bird called a Quetzal. It doesn't take long for Gabriel to spot the odd tent, and since he didn't remember it being there before, he decided to check it out. His brightly colored feathers enable him to blend into the 'tent' when he lands, and soon he's flutter hopping to the entrance, though Luci can probably hear the sound of his little feet on the tent. He'll tilt his head so he can get a good look at the person sitting behind the table, only to realize that he knew said person. He'd flap and hop so he could land on the table in front of Luci, but he didn't say anything. He's wondering if Luci can even recognize him like this, it was a form he'd never used before. He's really not intending to stay long, he would have left as soon as he saw who it was, but he figured the least he could do was say hello.

He's quite for a few moments more, just looking at Luci before his beak parts and Gabriel's voice comes out of it. "...So this is what you do with all that stuff you take." It wasn't a question, more of a statement. If Luci didn't know who the little bird was now, that was just sad. "Anyway, I thought the tent looked interesting, I should have known something this wild looking would belong to you. I know you're busy, I just wanted to say hello." He'd ruffle his feathers and wait for a reply. At least he's...sort of cute in this form?

birdie! He stared with a birdish headtilt back at it, reaching out to try to pluck a feather after several moments, and halting when the voice escaped. Hand still looming, he blinked. "Oh! Gabriel!" he let his hand drop, glancing about. "Well, some of it. I have to make a living somehow, yeah?" his patent grin was brandished shamelessly. "If I'm parked, I'm not too busy to talk. Anything catching your eye? We could make a deeeal." he taunted, waggling his brows.

Gabriel skittered back from the hand some, no feather stealing! "Is that what you do to all birds you see? Try and grab them?" He ruffled his feathers again, and he'd tilt his head so he could look at Luci again, "I dunno..." He hedged, "I read all kinds of stories about making deals with immortals. It's always a real bad idea." He'll shift forms then, to his regular humanoid one, and he's dressed in his typical baggy clothes, with his gauntlet on. He's still sitting on the table though, and will continue to do so unless Luci shoos him off. He's distracted by looking around then, the place looked entirely different in his human eyes than it had in his bird. "It's pretty neat...but what do you do if one of the real owners of this stuff shows up?"

'Luci' curled his fingers back in, glancing to and fro with his dark-outlined eyes. "Well, how do you think I get so many feathers?" He queried, then adjusted before any obvious counters arose; behind him, an array of auric gold-glossed peacock feathers unfurled, spreading through the tent, "Aside from these, of course." It folded like a paper fan, dropped, and left the goods behind exposed.

He folded his arms, puffing up as if offended. "You should know me better than that, Gabe!" He deflated quickly, "Actually, that might be part of the problem." He admitted, face-splitting grin sliding to only one side, becoming awkward and slanted. "Though if you don't use money, which I do in fact take, I can't take much from you that I haven't already." He knit his brows, reviewing that statement. That sounded worse than it was.

As for the owners, he shrugged. Even it hadn't come up yet or he was opting not to say.

Gabriel seemed startled, "Well don't go plucking any of mine. I think that would hurt!" He's wilting and hopping off the table as he's chastised, just to put some distance between him and Luci. "I didn't mean it bad. But you know those same stories..." And that was all he had to go on. Gabe thought for a minute, before he outright giggled at Luci's statement. "That sounds really terrible you know?" As for an item, he'd look around the tent, only to have his eyes settle back on Luci. "What if the thing I want isn't...tangible?" Well, seemed like he decided to take the deal after all, though he was still keeping his distance, and he still seemed a little sad.

"Ahhh..." He drifted at that, glancing back to his wall of pockets. "I've got several things like that. Ever hear of the king's robes?" He hoisted a brow for a moment, though he relieved his obvious joke and crooked grin with some chuckling. "Nah, I wouldn't do you like that." Maybe someone else, but not Gabe.

He hadn't scolded Gabe from the table, but the other had moved. Perfect. It gave 'Luci' somewhere to plop his own butt. He leaned over. "So, what can I do you for?"

Gabriel hadn't been thinking of that, "What like the Emperors New Clothes?" He'd shake his head, "I'm dumb, but not dumb enough to fall for that one." He'd stick his tongue out at Luci, but he's still keeping his distance. "It wasn't something like that...but...have you really ever sold somebody nothing?" The thought shouldn't surprise him, but it does. He seemed a little embarrassed now, and he hunched his shoulders and scuffed one of his raggedy tennis shoes on the ground, and he's not even looking at Luci. "How much for a story?" See? Not tangible. But also not fake clothes either.

His eyes rolled about exaggeratedly, putting on grand facade as if he had no idea what Gabriel was talking about. New Clothes? Sold someone nothing? "...I have water-free water." He pointed out, gesturing to his bottles with reprised serpent's grin. Oddly enough, that was far more useful than he might infer even then.

Gabriel's query was enough to make the grin faulter, but not entirely fade; instead, his brows shot up, depicting earnest surprise. His salesman's gestures dropped as he thought for a moment. "...Actually," He admitted, cocking his head like a bird again and scritching his colorful head. "...stories are a form of accepted payment. One given and inspired being rendered in a scale to... deliver abroad." Gabriel should have vague idea what he's talking about. Still, he didn't think that was exactly what Gabriel was getting at.

He pulled up his knee, wrapped his arms about it, and rested his slightly stubbled chin atop it while leaning forward in interest. "...What kind of story are you looking for?"

Draeval had been sleeping quite fitfully in a barn, next to a stall with a goat and an oracle. It'd been a nice day in Ancient Egypt, well sort of anyway. He wasn't sure how nice Ash thought it was, or Mela for that matter.

But there was a scent wafting to his nose, Lamb Shawerma. He was lulled by it, lulled back to his timeline. He'd phase in with a sort of vibrating orange light before snorting and shifting in his sleep. Just outside the tent. He shifted and stretched, barked softly before blinking about.

"O...diz iz not Egypt..." Oh yes, Drae could easily state the obvious.

Gabriel glanced behind him at the water free water, and he shook his head. Crazy. But to each their own. Luci looks surprised, and Gabriel bites his lip. "No, I want to pay you for a story. You know I'm no good at all that creative stuff." Luci seems to be getting comfortable, and Gabe only more edgy. "You can pick. Anything really...I just want to hear you tell me a story." He's still looking embarrassed, and more childlike than ever with the way he was hunched there. He'll look when he hears Draeval's voice, "Hello? Drae?" Yeah, that accent is kind of hard to confuse for someone else.

The manifesting canine drew a twinkle of amused eyes. "Greece, Egypt, you've been everywhere but when you are, haven't you?" His wording was broken at best, but with due jest, reflected in a merry tone. He could understand that. Draeval drifted times; Luci drifted worlds and universes, which could infer alternate timelines all on its own. And, unsurprisingly, both were touched with a bit of madness. The apple didn't fall very far from the apple tree that didn't fall far from the last few apple trees. ...Whatever.

Still, Gabriel steals his attention again. "You claim to not be good with creative things, but fail to see the art in what you do behind a stove. You're funny." The grin was less smarmy and more earnestly amused for a moment. "Do you want to laugh? Do you want to cry? What do you want? You're the paying customer. We can talk about my payment methods later. I could tell you about the time I was part of convincing Hera to cheat on that era's Zeus. That was a pretty good one."

Draeval gave himself a shake losing bits of hay from his fur. But his nostrils were still going a mile a minute, he had enjoyed that lamb shawerma before and he wouldn't mind getting another bite of that. Not at all.

But then he hears someone, oh and it's familiar! It's Gabe! There is another woof and he's slipping inside the tent to nose at Gabe gently. "'ey!"

Luci noticed him though and he tilted his head, "Welp yez, doug'...I tink part ub me iz ztill dare. I'm all tingly zo I'm mizzin zumtin." He spun in a circle, "I tink iz more zpirit doug' den a body part diz time." Ahem.

Luci is asking questions of Gabe and Drae's looking around, "Ya got zum ub dat lamb ztuff for a 'ungry wolf?" Wag wag wag. Oh yeah, feed the wolf. Wolves like food.

Gabriel shook his head, "That's just cooking. Anybody can do that." Or so he thought. Apparently he'd never been forced to consume anything Chiara had made. He's thinking about what kind of story he wants, "Maybe...a story that will teach me something you think I need to know. Bedtime stories always had like...morals and stuff right?" Draeval is there though, and Gabriel will pat his head when he's nuzzled. He's still not quite looking at Luci, and he's even more embarrassed now that Draeval had heard his ridiculous request.

The spritely thief glanced aside at the hot plate in question. "Of course. For a price." He pondered. "Let's be open about this. I take cash monies of any valid currency, as long as I can be told where it's of use; I take energy tethers for either set periods of time or set amounts of energy; set amounts of energy are more abrupt and can end up removing a negligible amount of time from your natural life span. Usually a year or two, most people don't miss it since a simple accident can make that irrelevent anyway. I take muse work or sexual favors for incubal reasons. Pick your poison, and I'll throw you yours." He nodded aside to the plate that was enticing his great-great-grand...something.

Gabriel earned a snort. "You're that hell-bent on making lesser of yourself, aren't you?" The cooking topic earned a shake of the head. He moved on.

"Aww... my morals are usually... about having fun, and being comfortable with yourself. That's about the only one I ever really push on. ...Then again, Ares was pretty comfortable with himself then!" Apparently, something had him chuckling on that topic. "Let's see... a better moral... a better moral..." He glanced about, as if his memory banks also lined the tent walls. "...Most of the better morals I could teach are ones I had to learn embarassingly, myself." He cringed. "That'll be a price hike." He ascertained, nodding vividly.

"Your choice: Baring your ass even to the gods; knowing when a woman really is claimed; or... stopping while you're ahead."

Draeval chuckled, "Mai wife can't, I tink ya'd be afraid far cookin if ya bizited our kitc'en zumtime. But z'e triez real 'ard." Hey, she was getting better. "An z'e makez Neji cupcakez zumtimez." Gabe is asking about story time and he'll find a wolf leaning into his leg.

Even though as Gabe pats his head he should notice the tingling sensation that Drae is giving off, and the fact that there is a distinct orange shimmer wherever he is physically touching something. Or being touched.

Luci is asking for payment and Drae tilts his head, payment...well sorry Luci he burns through his own lifespan quick enough that he can't spare a year or two. Sexual favors, eh not so much, he's being good lately. If you ignore the goat. Ahem. Money, or time tethering. Well he could do either really. Oh and then there was muse work, "Dezcribe...muze work. It dun make zenze ta me..." He's a wolf Luci, and one that hasn't lived in your world long enough to understand everything. But he was still eyeing the lamb as Luci continued to talk.

Gabriel is just left standing there, with one eyebrow raised. Was Luci whoring himself out? He chooses not to comment. As for making lesser of himself, Gabriel would shrug. He didn't have any talents, unless one counted cleaning, he didn't see anything great about himself. The topic is moved on from and then Luci's mentioning a price hike, "You're going to make me give you like $10,000 aren't you? It doesn't have to like...about you. It can be generic if you want." He didn't care either way, Luci seemed to be kind of missing the point. "But if I have to pick between those two, I'll go with stopping while you're ahead." He's going to continue to pet Drae, even if it was making his hand feel weird. The orange sparks were easier to look at than Luci was at the moment.

He hadn't begun his story, so there was no sin in negotiating with Draeval. He donned a red headband from nowhere, hair already ripe with plentiful jinglies and beads to present an idea that Gabriel was hopefully at least familiar with. "C'mon, mate. Muse-work. You know. You paint, or write, or do music with an entity in mind or as a co-writer. With a central moral presented by the muse, they can spread their state of mind; with a central character, they earn general focus, even if it was less than, say, at a temple. Savvy?" And get a million little fangirls giving their heart-ons for them, yep. He cocked a brow, then cast his crooked grin aside at Gabriel.

"Family discount." He swung his legs over the other side entirely, leaning forward towards Gabe. "Surely you realize that most stories I tell at least to some extent draw upon something I've experienced--as any good author or storyteller does. But let's see. Have you ever heard of Jack and his magic beans?" Well, duh, hopefully Gabe had.

Drae tilted his head, "O." Well hrrrm what would he do, what would he do... "I zuppoze it'd probably be zmarter ta da moniez. Mai work doezn't lend itzelf to muc' muzin. Unlezz ya wanna time tet'er but datz like a two-fer. Ya kno...it'd be tet'erin an gibin time." Well, it was true. Drae couldn't do anything timey whimey without losing something.

He's still getting petted and his tail wags lightly as he leans more into Gabe. He didn't mean to make his friend all tingly, he just kinda was somewhere in between at the moment. But more story talk as him tilting his head this way and that.

Gabriel did recognize the scarf, and he didn't say anything. It was part of Draeval's deal, though it did make him give a faint smile. He's getting the family discount at least, and hopefully Asa wouldn't murder him later for giving Luci a ridiculously large sum of money for a story. "Um...I think so. That's the one with like...the giant and the beanstalk?" Come on Luci, Gabe hadn't exactly grown up under the best circumstances, it wasn't like he was getting bedtime stories. He's pretty sure he's got this one right though. ".......Jack." It's more of him talking to himself than saying anything to the other two. He'll rub behind Drae's ears, "Maybe you should work out the thing for Drae's food first, otherwise he might disappear before he gets it." At least he's trying to be nice!