The Firecrest General Store (III)

[Elle Kaldres Lothain]

Callai watched the transaction from a corner of the store, dusting dishes as she observed the newest worker in the Firecrest. Everything went smoothly, there was no need for her to have worried. Chex behaved beautifully with the customer, and after he left she approached the young girl.

"An excellent job." Smiling, she brushed idly at the skirts of her dress. "You're going to do very well here, Chex. Keep up the good work."

[Chex Ah'naeri]

Chex brushed off imaginary dust from her hands and nodded. "Thank you." she said smiling. With the approval of callai, she would feel more confident with the transactions. She suspected she would have had her father's approval, and that pleased her immensely. She smiled contently and continued to work around the shop.

[Emiko Rai]

Ghanima walked cautiously into the shoppe, enjoying the little tinkle as the bells jangled against the cool glass window of the door. Being rather tall, she usually would have to duck in shops, and having the rare trait of clumsiness in an elf, Ghanima would usually end up knocking things off shelves, resulting in getting herself thrown out. But this store was somehow different... maybe it was the cheerful greenery that envolped one as they walked in, or maybe it was the nostalgic feeling one gets as they enter a place seemingly untouched by time, but what ever it was, Ghanima knew she liked the feeling of this store. She contented to browse for a while, scanning labels on the assorted jars and baskets. After a few minutes, an attendent popped up behind the counter and smiled cheerily at Ghanima. She nodded in return, and kept looking for something tasty(and cheap) to eat, while all the while sneaking glances at the friendly-looking clerk.

[Chex Ah'naeri]

Chex stood alert as she heard the little bells jingle. They were the signal that there was a customer, and that they would need her personal attention. She put a cheery smile on, happy to be of service. The customer was a female elf, but she wasn't as tense around females as males. "Is there anything you need help with?" Chex asked brightly to the elf from behind the counter. The elf didn't appear to known quite what she was looking for, but the Firecrest had lots to offer, and most people couldn't enter without buying something.

[Emiko Rai]

Ghanima grinned at the clerk, and sautered over to the counter.
"Serale... I was just wondering... do you have any grain? I had a craving for a homemade loaf of bread...and...well..." she trailed off, searching for words. "Actually, I was wondering where you got the plants from. I...er...have taken a liking to green things over the seasons, and, well, yes..." Ghanima flushed and fidgeted on her feet. She really was no good at dialogue.

[Chex Ah'naeri]

Chex looked up a moment remembering prices. Under her breath she mumbled off a few until she reached grain. "Yes. Grain, 50 lbs barrel 30 Crowns," she said brightly after a moment. "But I wouldn't know were they grown it. I just sell it." She spread her hands apologetically. "Sorry I couldn't be or more help. Would you like for me to get the grain for you?"

[Emiko Rai]

Ghanima sighed. She had a sneaking suspicion no one would understand. But... oh well.
"Yes please, thank you."

[Chex Ah'naeri]

Chex nodded and walked out from behind the counter. She motioned with her hand for the elf to follow her. Chex walked to a section of wheat, grain, and rice. She almost picked up the wheat bag. Scolding herself she grabbed the grain bag, slightly falling under it's weight. She turned and gave the bag to Ghanima. "There you go Miss." She placed her left hands on her hip and brushed back her hair with another. She looked expectantly at the elf waiting for the 30 crowns.

[Emiko Rai]

(Sorry for the delay... i was really busy.)

Ghanima smiled and stuffed her hand into her money belt, feeling around for the 30 crowns she now owed to the shop. With an excalmation of satisfaction, she pulled out the money and placed it on the table in front of her. Ghanima then picked up the bag of grain, and smiled at the clerk.
"Um, do you know any...good taverns around here?" Ghanima asked. Really she was hoping for a friend, more than anything.

[Chex Ah'naeri]

Chex took the 30 crowns and walked back behind the counter and placed the crowns with the rest of the profits. She looked up at Emiko smiling. "Taverns? Well I haven't been to any myself, but there's the Crafty Crow down by the docks. Also there's the Dancing Dragon Nightclub down that-a-ways too. I saw one over by the arena, the Elven Graveyard I think it was called." She bit her lips trying to think of others. "I haven't actually been much around the city, but you hear things..." she said, her mouth quirking. "The others ones are the Headless Orc, found more in main Imperia. Oh, there's another one down by the docks, the Tattered Sails. There's one more...umm...the Topless Elf located in our very own Smuggler's Alley." Chex brushed off her hands as she finished the list. "I couldn't tell yo which is best, cause I haven't been to none like I said."

[Emiko Rai]

(OK! Name change!! *happyhappy* so now i'm Emiko)

Emiko smiled at the clerk, noting the way she screwed up her mouth in a distasteful manner as she tried to help the elf. She thanked her, picked up the grain she had just purchased, and walked to the door to let herself out, the tinkling of the bells announcing her departure.

[Keeva Kaldres]

Timestamp: Ioannolia, 3rd brightening of the 1st cycle of Melora, Spring of Era XI in the Age of Darkening

Her first brightening in Imperia had yet go disturbed by the apparent ‘dangers’ the bartender had warned her off at the Headless Orc. Perhaps he had simply been exaggerating about getting herself from protection and not exploring the city after dark, but then she doubted that. He had seemed to be an amiable enough fellow, at least in her eyes, and she did not see him as the type to tell something as anything other than what it truly was. That, however, would simply leave the implausible solution that fortune had favoured her this day, and she doubted that explanation as much as she had doubted the deviousness of the innkeeper.

After having left her inn to explore a little of the city, she had come across the mercantile district of Imperia proper, and so had delighted in seeing what the various shops had to offer. Of course, from what she had experienced of the city so far in the short time she had been here, she doubted that all of the items offered were legal, but then she did not particularly want to think on that.

Out of the plethora of shops present, the Firecrest had even one to draw her eye. She had been thinking about buying some art equipment for some time now, but then the notion had always managed to slip her mind prior to now. Little did she know that this store was in fact owned by her cousin, one member of the family she had only recently discovered.

Entering the general store itself, the smile which manifested itself upon the woman’s wan features was not false or coy this time around. It really did seem like a nice place, especially with all those beautiful pots of plants and flowers positioned within its boundaries. Not that the rest of the city did not have its perks were looks were concerned, of course, but this place simply looked prettier.

Looking about her at the assortment of goods available, Keeva soon came to the conclusion that drawing the notice of an attendant of some description was the best thing to do first. After all, she pretty much knew what she wanted; it was simply a matter of whether or not the store provided some of the desired items. As such, her voice was sounded a little louder than usual, despite the fact that it was still quite demure in its tone, and quite fitting for a petite young lady such as herself.

“…Serale?”

Always a good way to grab someone’s attention.

[Chex Ah'naeri]

Chex looked up at the sound of the jingling bells. The arrival of a new customer. She smiled pleasantly, ready to serve to her best. The woman was human, what a relief. She would serve elves with the same smile, but it wasn't quite as real. Chex walked out from around the counter and approached the woman. "Serale. Welcome to The Firecrest." She would show the woman around the shop if she spoke of what she wished to buy, but Chex stood ready until her customer spoke.

Chex stood confident with experience. Attending the shop almost every brightening a cycle had prepared her for most customers. It was mostly routine, but Chex found pleasure in doing her job well. keeva was a little on the petite side, like Chex herself. Seeing this, Chex felt more relaxed, and suspected she could like the woman. She realized that she was judging someone on their height, something she hated for other people to do. But such hypocrisy was a woman.

[Keeva Kaldres]

The service in this place was certainly good, given the fact that one of the clerk’s wasted no time in making sure she was seen to. Returning the pleasant smile proffered to her with a cordial one of her own, Keeva made no hesitation in responding, alluding the other female as to what she wanted as soon as she was given the opportunity to.

“Oh, serale there. I was wondering if you could help me? I’m looking for some art equipment, you see.”

Pausing there to think, the woman endeavoured to clear her mind before making to speak again. There were quite a few things she wished to purchase, after all, and she didn’t want to accidentally miss out on any of the items on her mental check-list.

“What I would like to buy is…ah…two paintbrushes. One of the thin ones, and also one of the really thick, chunky ones. I’d also like to buy some paints to go with them. Small pots of red, yellow, blue and white. Then I’d also like some paper, and about five sticks of charcoal too, if you have any. I think that’s it…”

She hoped that that was clear enough. Strangely enough, she had never really been that good at one-to-one talks such as this, or even those which took place amidst smaller groups of people. She had, however, found no qualms in ordering about a bunch of burly men clad in armour back when she had held the title of Sergeant in the Abestation militia. Then again, given that men did not choose to listen properly more often than not, anyway, talking to them entailed a great deal less thought on her behalf than it did when conversing with those of her own gender.

The woman serving her now seemed like a pleasant enough sort; she certainly looked like a nice person, for all that that mattered. For some reason, Keeva did not think her to be one of those ’bad people’ that the bartender had mentioned. Still, she supposed that looks could be deceiving, regardless of whether or not her instincts told her otherwise. Looking into the other female’s brown eyes in a fairly inquisitive manner, the young human strived to keep her tone as affable as possible as she voiced her next question, a thing born more of curiosity than anything else.

“Pardon me for asking, but are you from Imperia? It’s only my first brightening in the city, you see, and I don’t really know my way around. Partner that with the fact that I don’t have a head for directions at all, and you end up with a very confused and lost tourist.”

She hoped that her query would not leave Chex feeling too affronted. This was only her first day here, after all, and she did not wish to leave bad impressions trailing after her at every turn.

[Chex Ah'naeri]

Chex nodded and motioned the woman towards the stationary sections. "Yes yes, we have all that here." Chex had taken the liberty of memorizing where things were, so she didn't have to search. She did run her fingers over the goods looking for the specifics she had mentioned. "Paintbrushes. Ah, here we are. You want a Fine and Wide." She took two of the sizes said and held them up. "Now red, yellow, blue...and white." Chex murmured picking up the pots one at a time.

She ran her fingers over the quills, then made a frown. "I'm afraid that we don't have charcoal. Perhaps we can order some, but I would have to speak with Callai." Chex smiled, seeing the woman's confusion. "Callai is the other attendant, and she would know if we can order some charcoal. Would you like a special order, or would you be interested in simply purchasing a quill?" Chex had never done special orders before, or she would have been able to handle them herself.

She went on to the other items Keeva had requested. "Now we have many types of paper here. Let's see..." Chex flipped through the assorted paper. "Ah yes. There's Papyrus, Parchment, Paper, and Vellum. And would you like single sheets or a book?" Chex looked up questioning. She had never met an artist, but neither had she been out in Aelyria much.

"Me? Oh no. I'm from Silrosia. I came here for...well, a change." A change from those putrid pointed ears. "This is my first Era in Imperia too. You certainly can become lost and confused here if you know not where to look." Chex smiled knowingly. The Firecrest was not only a job, but a refuge from the dirty streets of this gang-ridden city. Keeva seemed new, and Chex remembered the feeling. She was happy to help the lady in any way she could.

[OoC: Elle, I need help with special orders. I'll be much abliged if you could send Callai to my rescue. ]