Looking for Pierre

[S'Lon]

S'Lon knew what he was looking for, it was a peddlar that he had passed many times when wandering down the Shvakkim though he previously had any reason to have but the most cursory of glances at his wares. The little wooden cart was a small one with a sign - a piece of wood broken off of who knew what and painted on, read..:
Pierre's Knicknacks and Pennyweights.

The man who pushed the cart wore a large cloak, with obscurely sewn pockets that was over-large for him, probably at least by a size or two. Atop his head was a wound turban of sorts, something a person might have expected more towards the Arkamatian province. Nevertheless, there he was.

Peering around, the man one could only assume was dubbed Pierre would stop at what he thought was a good spot and begin to set up his little movable shop. Glittering items attracted the attention of little children, mothers pulled them close and gave Pierre a cold stare. His voice was rather enchanting, though, and not unlike a person who was a seasoned seller of wares.

This was a special trip for S'Lon, for this brightening he was going to do what he had promised to Robyn in that cramped cabin on the ship. He just hoped that Pierre would have what he was looking for.

As they pushed their way through the crowds that thronged this part of the Street, the voice that he had been hoping for could be heard above the shouts of the other hawkers and the other general sounds of the Street. Gripping Robyns hand tighter in his he pulled her towards the sound.

[Robyn Meiers]

Robyn was a sassy street brat, that much was certain. But she was also a whole pocket full of conundrums. She didn't like being in such a crowded place full of so many people. She held tightly on to S'lon's hand, glad to have him there as a comfort in this jam-packed place. She was not used to such things, and was nowhere near as confident or sassy as she seemed.

So, as S'lon pulled her along, Robyn looked around with wide eyes, and an expression that illustrated her total amazement at the place.

Pierre was there, as S'lon followed the voice and finally saw the man himself.

His small cart sported said sign, and beside it was Pierre himself.
His large cloak sported a number of pockets, sewn apparently randomnly, perhaps to hide the fact that it was at least two sizes too large for him. Perched on his head was the strange turban that he sported as a fashion item, it seemed.

His voice, unusually smooth like velvet, called out to them, young lovers out on a walk, perfect...

Now, how can I help you today? Pierre can cater to your needs, should you desire something beautiful to please your beautiful lady, sir! How may I help?

His cart was gleaming with the myriad jewels and knick knacks that he peddled. And this man looked like a man in love. Always a good sign, he thought, the smile on his face widening.

He could feel a sale coming on.

[S'Lon]

S'Lon grinned to himself as the familiar and somewhat comical figure of Pierre came into view. He approached a little closer to the cart and drawing his gaze away from the turban and tugged Robyn up level with him. The cart was a treasure trove and it was just what S'Lon was looking for, though it was odd that there was nowhere else in a city as large as Narim that sold what he was looking for.

A glance over the cart however, did not really show too much of what he was looking for and he was a little disappointed. He looked up at the man once more. ”Well, actually you are right, I was looking for something, and I want it to be beautiful enough for my lady here. I’m looking for a ring, and it is to be a ring that I want her to be proud of, but I don’t see anything here that leaps out at me. Do you have anything that you think would be of interest to us?”

S'Lon knew the answer would be yes, but the question was whether or not he and Robyn agreed with him.

[Robyn Meiers]

As they moved forward, Robyn practically skipped to keep up. And as S'lon described her as his "lady", were he paying attention, S'lon could see her practically double in size with pride. She knew that he was happy to be with her, but that he would tell other people was something that amazed her.

So she held on to his hand, and when he spoke to Pierre, she squeezed his hand gently, caressing his fingers with her thumb as she tried to let him know just how grateful to him she was. She could never tell him, of course. She simply didn't have the words

Meanwhile, Pierre grinned at S'lon and pulled out a selection of rings from one of the many pockets that he had. Most of them were beautiful, all of them were expensive. There were about twenty rings in total.

Robyn saw one of them particularly, and wondered whether S'lon would pick that one. The one that made her think that he meant it. Strange, really. She believed him, but worried that she was simply presenting a side of herself that wasn't real and as such meant that when he saw the real her, he would fall out of love.

Now then, lets consider something beautiful for the lady. Sparkling, like her eyes, and green, too, perhaps. What did you have in mind?

The rings were all different stones, garnet to ameythist, and ranging from clusters of ten or more stones, to one simple stone sitting in a plain setting.

S'lon must surely realise that both Robyn and Pierre were watching him with interest.

[S'Lon]

The words of the seller washed over S'Lon as he watched Pierre produce the rings from his pockets like some sorcerer. They glittered at him in an impressive display and he was indeed impressed but he was also daunted for in truth he knew little about jewellery and he certainly did not know what Robyns taste was in rings.

Perspiration sprang out on his forehead as he started to panic. Robyn and Pierre were both standing there expecting him to say something intelligent, loving, and witty and to know what he wanted. They seemed to expect him to be in control and to confidently point to what he wanted and to then smilingly present it to Robyn and to have chosen just the one that she would have chosen for herself.

In reality he had no idea what to choose and the rings all seemed to blur together into a glittering mass of colour and sparkle. Get a grip, he told himself.


”Something beautiful indeed,” he said playing for time and hoping for some form of divine intervention. ”Its an impressive display to be sure but this is a ring that my lady here will wear for a long time I hope so it needs to be well made and not something that looks good but won’t take more than the occasional wear. On the other hand it will show my love for her so it needs to be something special too. So what would you recommend?”

S'Lon hoped that he had covered himself well enough to give himself time to think.

[Robyn Meiers]

It seemed that the gods themselves were smiling on S'lon that brightening. Robyn looked at the collection and gasped. She breathed in deeply, looking at the glittering array of jewels and gleaming metals with a look of total amazement on her face.

But it wasn't that which meant that S'lon was in luck. No, it was something quite different.

She moved her hand, stretching it out and reaching for one particular ring. It was not the biggest, nor the one that shone the most, but it was small and delicate and remarkably intricate. The gold twisted together, as though it were three bands of gold plaited together, and at the centre was a single stone. The stone was set in a mount that looked like two hands clasping together. The stone sat on the two hands, which twisted around it delicately.

Robyn looked at that ring, and she looked at S'lon with an expression of delight. Showing a complete lack of business skills and / or a complete lack of care, she spoke, her voice hushed.

That one. I want that one, S'lon. It's beautiful. It's pretty and delicate and beautiful. That one.... she gasped, amazed that anything so beautiful might be hers.

[S'Lon]

It seemed that indeed the gods were listening to his prayers for Robyn came to his aid even before Pierre had time to gather himself and answer the halfwit in front of him. He looked closer and as the panic receeded so did the rings come back into clear focus, revealing the one that had caught Robyns eye. He glanced quickly over the other rings but none seemed quite so special as this one.

”That one is beautiful indeed,” he agreed, also ignoring the fact that it was going to cost him more money in the bargaining. Bargaining over money when Robyns feelings were at stake was a lesson that he had learnt hard and he had no intention of repeating the experience just yet. Truly this was just a ring, but it wasn’t just a ring for it was the embodiment of his feelings for her and a promise between them. In those terms, a few crowns saved on the price was a meaningless sum, so it seemed that Pierre was in for a better day than he might have expected.

The ring was indeed beautiful, and with a nod of permission from Pierre, S'Lon picked it up and examined it closely and carefully, looking to see any flaws or poor workmanship that would impair its life. The bands of gold were plaited with skill and the emergence of the hands was flawless. The hands clasped the stone and put him in mind of how he would himself hold something rare and beautiful.

He raised his eyes from examining the ring and looked over it to Robyns excited face. He smiled and held the ring out to her for her approval. ”Well, what do you think? Is it the one?” he asked, trying not to wince at the expression that crossed Pierres face at his words.

[Robyn Meiers]

Robyn realised suddenly that this "Pierre bloke" was selling these goods, and she was doubling the price.

Well, it's aright, I guess, but I'm not sure whether we really want absolutely that one, really.

Pierre looked at Robyn, smugly. He was sure of a sale, here, after all. This man was smitten with the woman, quite blatently, and there was no way that he was going to not buy her what she wanted, he reckoned. So as Pierre notched the price up a little, Robyn continued. And she knew people like Pierre. So she ignored him completely and turned to S'lon

I think mebbe we should look around, you know. If there isn't anything here, we can go somewhere else. This is almost right, but not 100%... but then, we don't know 'ow much this costs. I think that we should price em all and then go from there....

Robyn looked at S'lon innocently, as though this were something that had just occured to her. Pierre had an expression across his face, briefly, that meant that he knew he was now going to have to drop the price..... although he did have one hope...

Both Robyn and Pierre looked at S'lon with expressions that were remarkably similar.

[S'Lon]

S'Lon looked back at Robyn and shrugged. He wasn’t quite sure about what Robyn was doing; a moment ago, the ring had seemed to be exactly what she wanted and now suddenly she wasn’t sure. His gaze examined her face as she watched him and he did not fail to see the way her eyes sometimes drifted over to catch Pierre out of the corners of her eyes.

”Well, if you aren’t sure, then it would be wrong to buy it. I’m sure that we can find something that would suit you better. We certainly shouldn’t spend good coin on something that isn’t right, we would just regret it every time that you see the ring, and I want you to look at that ring often and to think of my promise to you.”

Suddenly, S'Lon was a little overcome and he took her into his arms and held her, while the tears threatened to form in his eyes. By the gods, he thought, what is coming over me?.

He looked over at Pierre once more. ”So, this is all that you have to offer? If so then I’m sorry but it seems that we will need to go elsewhere this brightening.

[Robyn Meiers]

It was all slipping away from him. But a moment ago, he had been sure of a sale and now? Well now it seemed less likely.

But he was sure that this little madam was fleecing him. He looked at her and he knew her sort. SHe was brash and arrogant, and he knew that she thought she knew better than him.

Oh no, it wasn't her, it was this fool of a man with her. After all, youth and skill (which she undoubtedly had) would never defeat age and trechery (which she hadn't even begun to see yet!). But htis man was blatently a man in love. And they were the worst kind to deal with when they didn't think that their beloved was getting the best deal.

So Pierre frowned and Robyn, rather surprised as S'lon held her looked up at him and saw the tears threaten him. She herself felt rather overwhelmed as she experienced the emotions washing over her, also, and she wondered whether she could hold it together long enough to maintain her semblance of control.

Pierre frowned, this was not quite how it was going for him, but he thought for a moment that he was going to call the bluff of the sassy red-head in front of him. After all, she wanted that ring, he was sure of it. But then, he decided in a rare fit of charity, who was he to stand in the way of love.

I tell you what he said, his voice calm and careful as he spoke you go look around. You find another ring you like as much cheaper, and I'll match you for the price. Do we have a deal?

That last bit he aimed at S'lon. Somehow, he didnt think that a deal would bother the feisty young thing that he had ended up with.

[S'Lon]

S'Lon was distracted from his absorption in Robyn by Pierre speaking, and he looked at him for a moment before nodding. So the price was too high he thought to himself and wondered if they would be able to negotiate the price down without going away and coming back, but it probably wouldn’t be the best idea he guessed.

They at least needed to appear to start to leave, and probably should go away altogether, before coming back later. It wasn’t exactly dishonest because it was all part of the game, but it was close enough to make S'Lon uneasy.

Looking back at Robyn, he said come on then, lets go and see what we can find elsewhere.” He took a step away and made to move away from the stall and Pierre and go elsewhere, though in truth he knew of nowhere else that sold such things. Perhaps Pierre knew it too and expected them to come back with their tails between their legs.

”Thanks,” he said to Pierre, ”we’ll see what we can find, thanks for showing us your wares.”

[Robyn Meiers]

Robyn nodded at S'lon as Pierre fumed quietly. Still, he realised that there were no other people who sold what he did in this place, and the red head had really wanted that ring, he was sure of it.

I tell you what he said, his voice as sweet as honey. I'm about to pack up for the day myself, so I'll make you an end of day offer. I will give you the ring for the cut price of a mere five hundred crowns.

But this is a one time only deal. I leave now, and all bets are off. What do you say? If you want it, mi'lady, then you will not get a better price from me, or any other trader in our fair city.

He looked at S'lon and smiled.

So, what will it be? Yay or nay?

[S'Lon]

S'Lon glanced back at Pierre as he spoke. ”Five hundred crowns” he asked quizzically and glanced back at Robyn. ”Well if you aren’t going to be here later if we come back then we will just have to take the chance of catching you another day. With a ring of that quality and price I don’t imagine that you sell them every day so we will just have to take the chance that you will still have it, if we come back.”

He smiled at Robyn. ”Well it’s a pity that we couldn’t find what we wanted here. I had been told that Pierre would have what we needed but it seems that it was wrong.” He shrugged and kissed her on the lips in apology.

[Robyn Meiers]

Robyn nodded, and returned his kiss. He caught sight of the glance that she gave him, easily enough. She tried to hide it, but she was disappointed. She liked that ring, really liked it. It was pretty and unusual, delicate and yet intricate, and she liked that about it.

Still, she knew that S'lon was right to call Pierre's bluff so she returned his kiss and nodded.

Course. There's not no rush, is there?

She asked, her voice sounded like she even meant it. Pierre was now caught, if he backed out now, he would lose face, and would force the price below what he wanted. Since that was not something that he was willing to do, he kept quiet, wondering whether they would, in fact, leave.

[S'Lon]

S'Lon felt like a rat; he knew that this ring had caught Robyns attention and he guessed that if they didn’t buy it then she was going to be disappointed and the last thing that he wanted was for her to associate disappointment with the ring. The ring after all was the symbol of his love for her and his promise to marry her and make her his equal in every way. He wanted her to be able to look at this ring, perhaps when he was away doing his duties as a ranger and to know that it was a link directly to his heart. What he didn’t want was there to be any other associations with it. He didn’t want another ring, that every time she looked at it would remind her of the ring that he didn’t buy. A little haggling over it was one thing, but to be denied it was quite another.

He knew that they would never be able to walk away and come back another brightening, especially if Pierre really was about to pack up for the brightening. And for them to walk away and then have to turn around and come back with their tails between their legs was something else he would prefer to avoid, though he would do it if need be.

”No, not really, shall we go then?” It was a rhetorical question, for he was already turning away and taking Robyn with him. With his back to Pierre and taking the first steps away, he just prayed to Carmelya that Pierre would call them back.