Sturdy weapons… / The ideal professor… / Dreamy knights…
“Oh! You’re Anna, aren’t you?” Laylea clasps her hands together and beams at her teatime partner. “Never thought I’d see you in a place like this. I’ve treasured that sword you gifted me - it’s been so useful, I always wanted to thank you!”
“Oh, and how is Jake doing?”
Teatime - No longer accepting
Anna lightly frowns, eyes looking beyond her guest. She sounds so happy to see her again, but this was the first time they had met. And hearing her go on about a stranger, who should be familiar to her, did hurt. Not in the way that she wanted this "Jake", but rather the longing for someone who maybe understands her situation.
Still, she cannot beat around the bush. One day the truth will come out, and she'd rather it today than later on. "Yes, I'm Anna. No, not your Anna, and I don't know anybody called Jake. There's a lot of us Annas and Jakes out there though, so hopefully you'll be able to yours again."
Her face brightens, the frown turning to a satiated smile. "I'm glad you enjoyed the sword, though! Providing weaponry is one of us Anna's specialties. We'd love for you to visit one of our shops once again, whenever you need it."
I heard some gossip… / The existence of crests… / A new gambit…
"I have heard from some students that there are apparently treasures throughout the monastery, if one has the eyes to find them." Mitama, eyes or not, has no interest in such a thing. "I imagine anything that the church deems necessary to covet behind its walls would be quite valuable."
Teatime - No longer accepting
"Really?" Anna's curiousity piqued. A treaure, somewhere within the walls of Garreg Mach? Imagine all those riches locked away, a secret to everyone but a select few. Any person guided solely by money would leap at the opportunity to snatch it up, but for Anna, was it really something she was interested in?
Sure, the profit would be amazing if she were to find it, and that was tempting, but would it be too high? Who would be willing to buy it? Only the richest, surely, but do the rich attend Garreg Mach regularly? And what if the monestary found out and she had to pay reparations? Parting with the potential profit, perhaps even generating a loss! Anna shuddered at the thought
Sure, it was tempting, but...
"I'll pass." she says, her tone definite. "Sounds interesting, but it's rather risky from my business perspective. I'm trying to run an honest business here, can't sell something I took without permission, you know? It;s just not right." Anna's tone softened, her eyes fill with not greed, but intrigue. "That said, I would like to see them in person though, thank you for telling me miss."
Food in the dining hall...
Potential training partners...
Reliable allies...
"You—?"
He stops himself, giving the woman across from him a curious glance. She bore a strong resemblance to Anna, the little Elusian merchant girl who fought with the Divine Dragon's army. Though most of Diamant's encounters with her consisted of transactions at the Somniel's flea market, whenever Timerra wasn't manning the storefront.
Except this woman was much older. It was... odd.
Still, Diamant shakes his head. If an entire alternate universe of Elyos could exist, doppelgangers in other reaches of the world shouldn't be too far fetched. "Pardon me, you simply remind me of someone I know."
Teatime - No longer accepting
"Me?"
The gentleman in front of her pauses, as Anna braced herself. Did she flicker someone else's familiarity? The beat is very telling, as is the head tilt. The penny drops, and the question asked. Anna couldn't help the nose exhale of dissapointment, which she quickly fixed into a smile and a laugh.
"Aha, I bet she's called Anna, right?" This Anna sets down her teacup, eyes rest upon his face. "Seems like you've met my sister. Kind of. It's complicated, but nearly everywhere in this world, you can meet an Anna. I do hope she gave you a good service, at least."
She leans forward, head tilting in turn, her finger moving from her cheek to under her chin. "If not, you can stop by my shop for anything you may need. It's in the local town, you can't miss it!" she advertised with a wink. May as well use this to get a little more business.
A popular pastime in Garreg Mach is sharing tea and sweets with someone you wish to get closer to. Tables set up a short walk away from the student dormitories, semi-hidden away in picturesque little scenes, it's easy to while away the time with a bit of conversation on the side. However, beware. Just as it's easy to bond with someone, it's just as easy to make things awkward...
A group of students organize a little blind meet-and-greet, ushering all participants to assigned tables, preparing all the drink and food you might require. The stage is set, so get talking! Send a numbered prompt from the list below to have your muse initiate a conversation with someone. For an extra bit of fun to simulate the game, randomize three numbers to send and bold the one your muse actually chooses.
THE TOWN SQUARE HAS AN INTERESTING AMBIENCE TODAY. Tsubaki heard down the grapevine that a few of his colleagues had set up games at town to boost morale and, whilst he’d been preoccupied with all the formal procedures necessary to settle in the monastery, it’s amazing to see everyone in high spirits. With the town square bustling with activity, it’s easy to forget the odd, eerie tension lurking in the academy’s crevices. The start of a brand new academic year has always been a joyous one and Tsubaki’s determined to appreciate everything Garreg Mach offers to the fullest!
Even this odd, one-man tank spectacle.
“Won’t you catch a cold…?” Tsubaki asks as he approaches the stall. “I’d like to exercise my archery skills, but I don’t know why I should be angry at the Anna?”
Still, he undoes the drawstrings of his coin purse and takes out a single gold coin. He purchases a ticket and takes one of the training bows, testing out the feel of it in his hands. It doesn’t quite match his build, but that’s to be expected for a weapon whittled for the general public.
“Now, will you step off the platform so that I can take my shot? You’re going to get drenched.” Tsubaki softly frowns. The girl does seem vaguely familiar, but he’s probably seen her roaming around the monastery before. “If not, then give me a reason to be angry… If you can, anyhow.”
It was fun to watch everyone moving around from up high, everyone down below weaving through each other. Tracking their motion could come in handy when next setting up shop, seeing where high traffic naturally cumulated. Anna watched in amusement as everyone went about their business, as one parted to grab a bow and partake in the game.
Then he asks her to step off.
Her eyes widen in surprise. A charming gesture, clearly well-intended for her sake. In another place, it was an offer she would take easily, but here was not the right time nor place. "My good friend, if I were to step off, but I'm afraid it would ruin the whole point of the game! Everyone's here to see someone dunked, not rescued."
A smile played upon her lips. Anna's finger rested perfectly on her cheek, her eyes glimmered as they resettled on the stranger below. "Though if you need the extra incentive, I can gladly tell you I am a greedy old merchant worthy of the dunk. I love nothing more than business and money, and have no place in my rotten little heart for anything else."
The irony of this being charity work was not lost on Anna.
Ashe politely lowered his head while accepting the new garb, and then held it up to take a good, loooong look at it. Red, quite eye-catching… And completely the opposite of mysterious! Which, ironically, made it perfect for the job.
"Let's see…"
A glance around, making sure no one was looking, and he changed into the shirt first, using Anna's other merchandise as his cover. Glancing down, checking his sleeves and abdomen, it fit quite nicely! She got the size just right, huh? Coincidence, or a merchant's keen eye?
Then, the cloak, with the hood down, and… Not bad at all! Looked quite new, but hey, who wouldn't want to wear something clean around here? Have to make a good impression on fancy folks somehow.
"This is good, yeah! Very good, actually. You know, I almost look like I work for you like this. Someone who helps you deliver things to your customer's manor, or something like that. That's convincing!"
He ducked his head after he said that, realizing maybe he should not speak of cover stories so loud.
Anna let out a small chuckle from the mix of customer satisfaction and amusement. "What are you talking about? Right now, you do work for me." It was only temporary, but having an assistant might be nice for future ventures. Someone to work with, bounce ideas off, get a new perspective. However, their revenue would need to be shared, and was she really willing to part with her well-earned keep?
Maybe once or twice, just to mix things up and stave off loneliness.
Now with her assistant ready and matching, everything was set to order. A final check of her wares done, a final final organisation to enticingly frame the dearest gems, a final final final check to see that everything was in order. And with the results positive, Anna saw no more reason to delay.
"So, are you ready for our business?" she asked, the door creaking open as though it was uncertain to welcome them. Maybe it was deserved, but hey! Business was business, after all. Anna has hers to do; so did her partner.
As Anna is unaffiliated, she will need someone from the Black Eagles to accompany her in Mission Board prompts:
Mission Board:
Heavy Armour +1. Anna's following along out of curiousity about this Menja lady. Who is she? Where does she get her wares? And what are these ships like? It's the least she can do, pitching in in order to get furhter information on potential new items for her own stall.
Non-Mission Board:
Merchants in foreign wares. She's the merchant. Anna has items from across her travels in Aytolis and Gristonne, and while they may not be hotshot names she's still trying to sell them off for the highest price. Hey, a girl's gotta strike while the iron is hot!
Shadows. The world of Shadows really intrigues me, and I'd love to explore a "what-if" reality where she did succumb to Fenris and turn to the dark side. Or on the other hand, fight against it, wondering what sort of worlds are out there beyond the ones she's aware of,
And also, my open starter is still open! If you need a Bow +1, feel free to hit it up! And I'm fully open to trying out other prompts, just ping/dm me on either tumblr or discord!
"Dealing in something as luxurious as that, it's no wonder the people there live as decadently as they do." Rarely was it easy to tell how much of that was built in an earnest way. "I recall hearing of such focus in the Leicester Alliance, I suppose it's not odd that such behaviors would show up elsewhere."
The more he learned of Fodlan's history, the muddier the picture of it all got. At the suggestion of more helping hands, he quietly shakes his head. "We'd need to do so in a way that didn't reveal our reasons for prying. I don't imagine anyone living there would be so open about the methods of a place intent on hiding them..."
All that said, they needed to get somewhere somehow. A small smile crosses his lips. "My apologies, I forgot myself for a moment." This was Anna who he was with. If anyone could get them the information they needed, it'd be her.
Darios leans a bit forward to scan the page. "Nothing immediately, but it might be better if we work our way up. If we just go straight for those at the top, no doubt we'll find ourselves in a bad way."
A wave of giddy satisfactory pride washed over Anna. Darios, her kingdom's ruler, recognising her, a mere humble(ish) merchant, for her achievements and prowess. She couldn't help the grin that burst upon her face, though she soon straightened it back up. Happy squees can wait for private hours, but for now, even outside her stall, they had business to attend to.
"Agreed," Anna nodded, finger resting on her chin. "Even if nobody here is a master merchant quite like myself, there should be someone who can help us map out some form of trade route." And from there, she could properly establish herself within Pearl Shoals, and earn her fair share of profits. Brilliant!
Anna craned her neck over to where she had picked the books up, eyeing the merchants still there. Someone who was particularly high-up or affluent would not be present, relying on their own connections and notes rather than public information. Meanwhile, novice merchants would be much more engrossed in the books, forsaking potential practical connections for fixed academic studying. Useful to know, but that approach was limited.
Motioning for Darios to follow, Anna swept up the books and wandered back to the shelves. She slotted the unnessecary books back into place, keeping her ears open for anything they could potentially use. Most of the merchants were in deep conversation about irrelevant topics, prattling on about problem customers and precious families. One, however, was standing a little away, intent on listening but not speaking. A potential good target. Anna gave a nod, and approached.
"Hello there, would you happen to know anything about Pearl Shoals' trade routes with the Leicester Alliance?" She asked, a calm smile affixed neatly on her face. "It caught my eye recently, and we were hoping you'd have some more information on it."
TOA Activity Check + Housekeeping: September + October 2025
Status: Passed
Skill Point Total: 7 -> 10
Skill Point Allocations: Sword (D -> D+); Bow (D+ -> C (1/2))
New Rewards: Close Counter
New Classes: Archer
Classes Mastered: None
Mun Status: Ah, completely forgot to do these last month, I was just not feeling up to them. I've got some stuff due here, so I'll get around to those asap! Otherwise, Arena's coming up and I'm excited to see what goes down there. I've got a future in mind for her going off of it, but no matter what I'm just happy to thread and have fun!
Halloween Drabble.
Content Warning: discussions of derealisation, personal cosmic horror, and a lot of imposter syndrone
So, imagine if you are told that one day, your life is not your own.
All your achievements, every single accomplishment, your struggles and successes and cherished moments? All replicated. Duplicated across dimensions, scattered fragments of yourself constantly reliving the same experience over and over, ignorant to the greater picture. You are a copy, entirely replicable, easily replaceable. And your work? Worthless.
It was a truth Anna knew all too well, ultimately. A simple "Hey, Anna!" from a stranger who shouldn't know her name, that sent her spiralling down a path none of the others had travelled. Everyone knew her. Everyone had a story about her. Those foreign eyes looking towards her, seeing the image of a friend where she stood. She swallowed it all, rose above and carried on as though she didn't care.
She did care, of course. How could she not?
Every Anna, every single one, they were so much interesting than her. Army members rising up the ranks, large grand stalls filled with all sorts of wonders, working from young ages to establish their own name and occupation, happy lives with duplicate boyfriends. Everyone else had a story, a legacy worthy of a name that until now she thought she was the only one to have. Now, knowing that Anna was a collective rather than an individual, she looked to her own life.
She looked to the self in her mirror. She could point out the details that made her a part of them. Light skin, red hair pulled back into a ponytail, a finger resting on her cheek oh so familiarly. Her face shows no expression.
Her face is gone.
Replaced with the idea of what the others look like. An uncanny visage, an amalgam of salesman smiles and eyes hungry for business, warping and twisting. Her mouth opened in shock. Its maw stretched wider, wider, swallowing her within the hivemind she shouldn't have looked at. It's just business, after all. A good face goes a long way, and you don't have one anymore. It was taken. You were taken.
Who are you?
How old are you?
When's your birthday?
What do you do for a living?
No, go back. Who are you? ...no way, that's unreal! You're joking! I know a girl just like you! And what a coincidence, her name is Anna too! Anna, you look just like her! You could be twins! Or even stranger,
the same person.
But that's impossible, isn't it?! People are meant to exist in one place at one point in time. Coincidences exist, of course. Trends come and go with everything, even baby names. But sometimes the connection goes beyond a simple uptick, a growing preference. Sometimes, there's no coincidence at all.
You stare back up at yourself. Everyone who has lived a richer, more fulfilling existence. Everyone who is so much further ahead than you, than you can ever dream to be. And it's you. You are not alone. Because you look to yourself, doing better than you at everything. Not worrying, not caring, not knowing. They don't know you, but you know them. And it's heavy. You want to give up, destroy your life and start anew with a new name, new identity. But you love yourself in spite of everything. You can't give up, you can't reset your life back to the first day. You simply catch a glimpse of the universe, and all the yous out there. You weren't meant to see it, and it's terrifying.
You are the worst you, and you cannot go back.
...
Anna wakes up. The same dream again. It's been recurring for a while. Back in Aytolis, upon meeting heroes from other worlds. In Gristonne, in the chaotic political aftermath. Here in Fódlan, where everyone seems to know her. But they don't. But they do. It's all too confusing, and she hates to think further on it. She'd hate to start her day crying her eyes out over silly little things like that. Besides, she has to put her best foot forward first! For the customers.
Anna rises, and gets dressed. Brushes her hair back. Adjusts her beret. A familiar, grounding routine. She looks to her reflection in the mirror.
Even before coming to the Academy, Anna knew she wasn’t alone. Not in the sense of “everyone gets along and gets through everything together”, but the sense of “oh hey, I know you!”. And knowing herself better than anyone else (mostly because of all the mistaken identities), she had formed a plan.
“Has an Anna ever wronged you?”
All sorts of mischief and madness went into her art, and she had stirred up quite the reputation if not here, then somewhere. And a lot of those people would be looking for an opportunity to let out some frustration. So upon seeing a water tank installed and an opportunity for some money, her mind had been set.
“Aren’t you feeling enraged?”
Of course, it wasn’t for her. It was for charity work. A form of work she had become somewhat fonder of participating in. After all the scheming and sidestepping of legalities that went on in Pearl Shoals, honest money had been her admiration. And how do you get people to spend money in earnest?
“Well then, join in! Play Dunk the Anna today!”
Spite. Pure spite. Sure, she may not necessarily be their Anna, but an opportunity for them to let out some frustration, for the academy to gain some much needed funding, and for her to gain a sense of control over the multiple versions of herself out in the world seemed like a win-win-win situation. And you can’t argue with three big wins!
This flaunting... how sickening, how nauseating. Amidst the mocking noise of chatter and empty laughter, frustration blooms within Bruno, sparks alighting fuel from his past to create an all-consuming blaze that craved action — not for the sake of their fellow workers, but in some pursuit of selfish revenge for injustices that should have been left in the recesses of memory.
The more he thought about it, the worse the memory plagued him: the humiliation as he bowed his head in front of the court, in apology for wrongful accusations against his mother. Taking advantage of the weak, of the workers at this event, of those who had no capacity to fight back — and for what?
"It's a good idea. We should go," he resolved, lifting his heavy head from his hands. "Once we arm ourselves with knowledge of what they aim to hide, we can determine how best to strike from there."
"And," he managed an unsteady smile, "a break would be pleasant. Shall we, then?"
If the noise around the reception was considered loud, then the booming sound that Bruno was greeted with when he opened the grand doors was suffocating. He flinched, freezing in his own steps at the music rumbling through tile, at the sheer stench of tightly-packed bodies and alcohol and perfume to cover it all up. Shadows of dancers flickered in front of lanterns, their silhouettes blurred through silken curtains.
Go. Discipline would find itself overpowering his hesitancies: he needed to find what this gala hid. He spun back to turn towards Anna, lips pulled into a thin line at his own unease.
"After you." — just to buy himself some more time, before diving into the belly of the beast.
Anna didn't want to be the first to see. An archer is much better suited for the second line, but she's not saying no. A commander, like Bruno's Anna, would've surely stepped through with more bravery and conviction, right? Of course, she's no commander. Instead, her drive is more flimsey and and shakey, as she pulls the door open a crack hoping for the best but imagining the worst.
Compared to the rest of the event, it's dark and dull inside. The decor is more spaced out, reserved and fleeting. A private room, for deeds to be done, secrets to be spilled... and collaborators to chat. Two voices. A polite conversation. Anna pushed the door open a little more, craning her neck to hear what lies inside.
"So, how much are they estimating?"
Anna's ears immediately pricked up. A smile blossomed on her face. The tesnion in her body dissipated. Business talk.
"Not sure yet, appraiser hasn't come back yet. Could be anywhere from 1000g to 10 million. And by the sounds of it, those idiots at Garreg Mach want their hands on it. Dunno about you, but I've heard them banging on about 'prisoners' or whatnot. Them tired rumours." The second voice chokes back a laugh. "Don't tell me you're gonna bid seriously for them, solely based on rumours."
"Why do you think I'm holding this event?" The first voice was cold and clinical. "No matter if the rumours are true or not, it's a treasured atrefact. It will be divine in my collection. I simply must have it, you know that."
Oh right, it's all built on a lie. Anna looked to Bruno as she closed the door, taking care to not make any more sound than necessary. "Well, that's our big lead of the evening. All of this was just funding for a business venture, an auction at that. Genius, in the worst way possible."
His initial assumption about the young lady being the originator of the masks was fervently denied. Shows how much he knows about business. Dimitri sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck as he stammered some lame excuse for his ignorance.
“Ah I see. I saw all the masks and with your questions I just presumed… not that I’m saying you couldn’t have started the masquerade … I’m sure your persuasion skills are very advanced, just …
The crowned prince trails off before he digs himself a deeper hole. Shutting his mouth, Dimitri listened to her plan for outselling the mysterious travelling salesman. The nuances of markets and consumers was a little over his head but he grasped the main concept. A snide voice in his head commented that he should have payed more attention to his lessons on commerce.
“What sort of masks are we talking about?” He queries. Vainly he hoped they didn’t look too silly or would at least conceal his identity. “Is there a patter or something you want me to say or do while wearing them?”
"Not a problem at all, good sir." And a compliment to boot! Such a charming young man. He would definitely make the perfect business partner for this venture. A good lure for the easily smitten.
As for her masks, she holds one up. It's an ornate domino mask, golden intricate patterns set against porcelein. "Saw some of these on my way to Fódlan. They were absolutely gorgeous, and I wanted to introduce them to everyone here." She carefully pulls a box from underneath her stall, setting it on the table with a soft thud, a cloud of worry forming over her. "Shame the material was rather dear, now with competition I doubt we can move as much profit as I'd hoped."
Her expression brightens as she turns towards her colleague, shoving the mask into his hand. "But hey! We can't knock it 'til we try it." It would be a waste otherwise, and she's on no obvious time crunch.
"No need for any mantra. Just a simple flourish to your face should do the trick." She demonstrated, one hand against her tilted face, the other framing it underneath. "However, if you do think of one, go for it! A little catchphrase never hurt anyone."
bold what applies to your muse. italicize what sometimes applies. ( repost, don’t reblog! )
𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄
cloudless sky / ocean waves / winter dusk / deserted rest stops / dust filled book jackets / sea salt in your lungs / open space lofts / mountainside meditation / empty ski lodges / calm before storms / electric charged air / lighthouses / road trips with no destination / desert skies / summer breeze through a cottage window / cool air against water soaked skin / seaside towns during off season / wind-chimes / big bed with lots of blankets / coming home after a long time away / a wolf howling in the distance / fingers dancing along spine / a hug from an old friend / afternoon tea / wild flowers off abandoned highways
𝐑𝐄𝐃
wine soaked lips / internalized rage / blood on knuckles / four poster beds / barefoot on marble floor / velvet drapes / lipstick marks / murder mysteries / old barns with hay lofts / mouth full of weapons / possessive love / dark chocolate / apple orchard visits / handwritten letters / fresh strawberry fields / cherry flavored chapstick / soft candlelight / vintage pumps / tingles over your body / strong but gentle hand around your throat / scarf tied over your eyes / fog on a rainy night / intimate bar settings / complete destruction / kiss swollen lips / scratches against flesh / sitting by a fireplace / blood orange sunsets
𝐘𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖
community gardens / sunflower seeds / open fields / blowing dandelion fluffs / bubbles in spring / warm champagne / drafty cottages opened after winter / soft buzzing near your ear / loose braids / flaxen sundresses / handmade straw hats / warm butter on fresh toast / daisy chains / drum circles / sun on your face / maypoles / outdoor festivals / street food / car shows / pop art drawings / fruity flavors / mist on produce / running through sprinklers / cucumber water / wrap around porches / worn pages of a book / honey in tea / yard sales / freckled skin / tarnished gold lockets / angel food cake / windmills / flashlight beams
𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐍
marshy swamps / cajun recipes / haunted graveyards / old road signs / the house people tell stories about / lights flickering / jazz music / twig snapping / campfires / ghost stories / urban exploration / vines creeping up brick / wooden flutes / quiet forests / labored breaths / hiking trails / rain on leaves / bonfires / fresh smoothies / water logged grottos / painful whispers from jealous lovers / successful business ventures / leaky cellars / park theater productions / mint scented lotions / ambitious promises / pine needle covered floors / oil lanterns / aloe on warmed skin / crushing floral foam / forgotten towns
𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊
crinkle of leather jacket / midnight walks / bulbs burning out / black lacquered nails / the sound of bats screeching / distant marching band music / noises when you’re home alone / blood soaked knife / dark lipstick on pale skin / scent of sulfur / soot on boots / slasher movies / glint of cat eyes in the dark / oil slicks on dark asphalt / basement bedrooms / investigating a noise / grainy camera footage / black and white photos / dust filled attics / empty theaters / whistling in the middle of the night / scratches at your window / wrought iron gates / lace neck ruffles / long floor sweeping skirts / broken music boxes / needle scratching on vinyl / lost memories / disembodied voices / forgotten faces
𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐄
crisp scents / laundry on a line / fleece blankets / brightly lit hospital rooms / empty train stations / genuine laughter / feathers against skin / new life / cotton dresses / log cabins in winter / swan gliding through water / harp music floating through the air / plane rides for fun / mountain tops / ice sculptures / first snowflake of winter / linen freshly pressed / the scent of a running dryer / vanilla and cinnamon milk / a smile from a stranger / letters in the mail / a longing finally satiated / kiss of moonlight on skin / fresh canvas / snow glittering like diamonds / paint strokes / pretty lie told from a kind mouth / sparklers / coffee foam art
A cloak! Well, it was serviceable. It seemed plain enough that it'd go unnoticed in any old town, in a crowd. But, on second thought: this wasn't any old town, right?
No, this was a vacation spot for nobles, where their estates were located. It was, explicitly, walled off to keep outsiders... well, out. So maybe, this wasn't... the best look?
After a few seconds of pondering it, a sheepish smile made it to his face. "This *could* work, but, I don't know... I think someone in a cloak might actually stand out to guards and staff more? I was thinking more like... Something to fit in with the other house staff, maybe? If I look the part, then most people won't think twice, if that makes sense."
It's as they say, the best way to not be questioned is looking like you belong! Not that Ashe had ever done something quite so elaborate back in his thieving days. Baby him would've definitely gone for the cloak.
(Not sure if he was proud that he could get into this mindset so easily...)
Ah, well. Can't be right all the time. Sometimes guesswork doesn't always work out, especially when collaborating with new people. A field Anna was new to, so any experience would be good experience. "Of course! I'll check if I have something else in stock for you."
It was, in hindsight, a little silly. Obvious customer feedback can really help tighten her loose gaps, and thievery was one of them. Anna's experience with thieves was... limited, on her end. And negatively skewed. Her own bases and biases were clearly off for the task at hand.
Instead, she focused on what she would've given a potential aid if she had set off with one instead. Pulling out a red cloak, near identical to the one she was wearing save for the clasp, and a black shirt, she handed them over with a flourish. "... and here we go! I hope these are more to your taste. Terms and Conditions apply, as per always."
[ 🌒 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a dream or goal they have given up on ?
From: Ask Meme
No. Anna is very straightforward with her goals - she wants to be a merchant, and she wants to travel the world. She's combined them into being a travelling merchant, never tied down too long to one place at a time but never prioritising travel over an invested market.
However, she isn't above sidequests. Anything to diversify her portfolio of skills and abilities is welcome, though she never commits full time. The allure of travelling business is one she can never ignore, hence why she continues to follow it even with the knowledge that it isn't unique to her. It's something she enjoys too much to give up. Giving up selling and travel would mean to give up a part of herself.
Anna didn’t blame Tine for ‘looking miserable’. The perfume was bitter as anything, and she didn’t personally notice any change in expression. She usually had a keen eye for that sort of tell, so if she didn’t see anything then it was nothing a regular person could pick up on. Alas, seems like this customer was not only firm but had a keen eye for scams. Good for sorting out the genuine from the phony, bad for them.
Not that this was unsalvagable. This customer may be stubborn, but so is Anna. “Of course, it’s not immediate. Miracles come to those who wait. Though I will say, it only takes a short amount of time for the effects to occur. This lovely lady will see her fortune take a dramatic swing in her favour!” She gave Tine a gentle pat. To the crowd, it’s a showcase of her promise. To Tine, she hoped it came across as a comfort.
The man continued to grumble and grouch to himself. Unconvinced, clearly. And spiteful. Spiteful people can only be convinced with spite.
“Of course, if you’re not bothered enough for this potion to kick in, guess you’re not worth the bother from the-”
“Hold it!”
And there it is. The break.
His voice is bitter, yet firm, and the words are clear.
