noise dept.
NASA
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cherry valley forever
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Jules of Nature
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EXPECTATIONS
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blake kathryn
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@multiversemerchant-blog
HC + Home
Lorena does not speak of her home if she can help it. Sheāll avoid the subject politely. At first. The memory is hers, and hers alone. In her travels she hopes that perhaps sheāll finally have the luck to find a new one, but she knows deep in her heart that she will not.
HC + Wares
Someone once told her that her heart must be stone, to demand such prices. She had merely laughed at them, having long since tired oftheir pleading and desperation. They could either pay or leave, she told them;it mattered little to her since there would always be others. Sometimes itamazed her that people thought everything could be bought with mere money. Itamazed her less when they asked for things she did not trade in, thinking shewould deal in any stock. She had no interest in dealing flesh and contracts, orbothering with souls (except in rare cases). Lorena had learned long ago thatthe best business was in dealing in things that wouldn't be missed.
Send me HC + a word and Iāll write a headcanon about it regarding my character.
Luminescence [Multiversemerchant]
How was it every other creature with an ounce of intelligence and foresight could sense her presence? Then again, the Faun was hardly doing her best to blend in and silence her every footstep. There was necessity in her subtle noises. Every dried leaf crunched underfoot, every rock kicked and sent skittering into the thrush was a small signal no one was ever alone in the forest. Not completely. Ears twitching at the tone, the Faun circled around where she could pinpoint the voice, it being far from the usual wanderers she found this deep in. Theirs usually followed the same pattern of gruff and hearty, too young to be travelling in a forest so ancient they wouldnāt even make it around one ring of a stump. Emerging from behind the wood she kept ducking behind, the Faun was stilled in her tracks, perplexed by the others appearance. How lucky was she, not only was she face to face with someone completely otherworldly, but they had offerings to share. Or something of that nature.
Blinking, the Faun tapped the side of her eye with her finger, cocking her head slightly after. āWhere?ā So childlike in her directness, it could hardly be helped when faced with something so different. The other seemed to have all the usual bits and pieces, limbs and a head and all that was needed inbetween. But if they were out where the sun could reach, filtering in through cracks in the forests crown, why did here eyes match that of a cave dwellers?Ā
Listening carefully now, she could tell that whatever she had addressed was moving. Coming closer. If they were moving to be deliberately heard- which seemed likely, as they had not gone silent after her invitation- it seemed unlikely that would be hostile either. Lorena placed down the small bag she had been carrying, taking care to dust herself off at the same time. While a weapon would have been prudent to some, she preferred to leave her hands free, both for spellwork and to seem peaceful. It often served well to have people initially underestimate her.
But with the arrival of the other, she wondered how well the tactic would work. The faun was a surprise to her, as her experience had often found them more suited to plains and fields than forests. But that was hardly the most important detail to wonder about now. With a smile, Lorena offered a shallow bow from the waist. "A few small items on me, though the larger ones are elsewhere. Would you like to trade?"Ā
Celebornās eyes slip closed again as he takes a shaky breath. Itās easier to adjust to how vague everything looks now in the dark than to look at her and see inky black eyes melt into dark grey skin and her hair a blinding white halo around her head. Heās not sure how heās going to manage adventuring like thisāhis group relies on him so itās not like he can just stay home but how is he supposed to fight when everything looks the sameā
Breathe in. Charge a spell in your fist just to reassure yourself that you can. Breathe out. Let the holy energy dissipate. Calm down. Itās only for a little while. āNo,ā is his blunt reply, sounding far more confident than heās felt all day. āUnless thereās a time limit or anything like that youāve so far failed to mention, Iāll be on my way.ā
When the magic gathers in his hand her own fingers twitch, ready to defend herself. He doesn't seem the type to lash outĀ Ā but then the energy is gone, and she relaxes again. The resolve in Celeborn's voice impresses her, though she wonders how he'll deal with the strain. It's not uncommon for those who make deals like this to beg to break them, though the price for that is steeper than they ever dream of paying.
"You have a moon to bring me the items." She couldn't wait forever, and a month was plenty generous. And time enough to examine what she took from him, though she'd already promised no tampering. But examination and mimicry would certainly be within the allowable realm of her word. "Of course, feel free to contact me anytime before then, as I always have wares to sell."
The Glowworm Caves in New Zealand
impressivemagazine.com
.inflictwounds:
The first thing he feels after he closes his eyes obediently is the pressure. Not outright painful, like heād expected, not his eyes trying to wrench themselves free from their sockets by force, but a sickening feeling of tug-and-war that makes tears well under his eyelids and his fingers clench into too-tight fists. Unpleasant is one word, and it doesnāt do it half as much justice as it needs to.
Then there is the acrid scent of burning steel, and then there is nothing.
Even the darkness behind his closed eyes seems muted. He does not open them for a long time, scrubbing at them fiercely with white knuckles to force feeling back into deadened nerves. Nothing. Visual silence. Itās enough that when his eyes do open the lack of colour, lack of definition to the world around him, barely surprises him at all.
"ā¦Temporary. Just temporary," he whispers, more to himself than anything else, a feeble attempt at reassurance. Then, louder, empty eyes fixed on Lorenaā "Do I get to ask what you intend to do with my eyes, at least?ā He knows that probably falls under customer confidentiality, but heās just on edge enough to ask.
The glow of her magic fades as she waits for him to adjust to what will no doubt be a strangely empty sensation. He reacts well enough, she thinks. No doubt relieved that at least the physical shape of his eyes have remained. Ā But when he finally opens them, it comes as no surprise to see flat white as a foil to her own. But even with the small amount of time he has given himself, she can clearly see his distress, and she offers him a reassuring smile. Kindness will get her farther with this one.
His question is also no surprise, as it's one that is often posed after she demands a higher price for her goods. "Right now they're only collateral. I'll keep them safe for you until you can reclaim them." Ā Were they hers to keep- and they still could be through forfeit- they would have become amulets to aid in scrying. "You needn't worry about any tampering. Is there anything else you need to know?"
Luminescence [Multiversemerchant]
There wasnāt enough glitter and gleam in the world to keep the Faun sated. Every summer when her antlers shed, she could better squeeze through the crevices of fallen rocks and split mountains. Caves because a more viable option for exploring, treasure hidden just under the stone waiting for clever hands to snatch it from its holding place. But you could only go so far without sight. Echolocation was not within her abilities, though her clicks and whistles could lead her further than the average sun creature. She wanted light. Fire stole her air and burned her hands. It clogged the smaller paths with smoke making it more a nuisance than useful. She /needed/ light. One that would never flicker, dull, or spark out without her consent. Where one found this she wasnāt sure, but her thirst for something sparkly couldnāt be quenched by the mere reflection of the sun on rippling tides. Perhaps- She could steal something, or offer her services for a trade.
One would rarely expect to find customers out in the wilderness, save for those worlds where settlements where scare and cities few and far between. And this place was no exception; the Fae was there to gather ingredients to restock her wares. Dealing with sorcerers and alchemists was profitable, but often left her lacking in physical supplies. But even as she inspected trees or turned over stones in her hands, she was careful to remain on guard and aware of her surroundings. There was something strange in the air, a feeling that she would meet something, or possibly even someone. The feeling only grew stronger as time passed, and couldn't be ignored.Ā
"You should know that I can offer you far more if you speak with me, rather than watching." Perhaps there was no one there, and she was foolishly speaking to only the plants. But Lorena was willing to wager that someone was nearby, and if she was lucky they wouldn't be hostile.Ā
"A container that can hold lightning," he repeats in a murmur, mulling it over. That, at least, is something he is sure he can buy or enchant for actual gold, not some strange bargain like this. His group had met storm giants beforeāitād be a simple enough matter to convince one of them to help him with the harvesting part, at least. Convincing his group to run an errand for him, however, would be an entirely different matter.
Celeborn nods after a moment, crossing his arms over his chest. āItās a deal. Now justājust get it over with. Please.ā The sooner she does it, the sooner he can start getting used to his new handicap. And the sooner he can return to her and get his eyes placed back into his skull where they belong.
"This may sting." She raises her hand to his face, letting her fingers hover his eyes. A faint purple glow started around her hand, and spread to his face. The light flickers and she pauses long enough to give him one more warning.Ā
"Close your eyes."
Lorena gives him a moment to prepare himself, before her magic flares and center on his eyes. The spell itself wouldn't take too long. The light glowed brighter around her hand as she slowly closes her open palm, with the sensation of draining something - of pulling. There's a a tension in the air, and the smell of ozone and heated metal, quickly building pressure, and a it suddenly snaps as she closes her fist. There's a small thread of blue in the purple around her hand now, quickly swallowed by the more powerful light.
"The deal is set. It will take time to adjust."
There are shivers moving down his spine with every other beat of his heart by now, less because of what might happen and more because he knows he has no other choice. What else can he do? Thereās nowhere else he can go for this, and no argument he can make to improve his circumstancesāCel knows less than nothing about bartering but he knows that the deal heās been offered is weighed more heavily in his favour than he could have hoped for.
He sighs, screwing his eyes shut tight for a second before opening them and letting his gaze meet hers again. āI haveāme and the rest of my team, we can get the item for you if itās within our meansāfine. Fine. But swear youāll give them backāā not that her word really means anything, āāand that next time you just take the years.ā Adventurers never have a long life span to begin with, anyway.
"You have my word that should you agree to this your eyes will be yours at the end." Her smile returned to its usual grin. "Though I make no promises about other payments. Cost for cost, after all." She gently takes his face in her hands, pulling him close for examination. It only takes moment for her to decide what spell to use.
Loren lets him go and steps back, pleased that she's not only gained a customer, but will now have the means to barter with another. Today will certainly be profitable. "What I need from you is simple. I container that can hold lightning-" she holds up a hand to stall any discussion, "not merely electricity. It needs to be harvested, natural lightning. When you have done that, bring it and an item that you can keep on you at all times. Once you have made payment, I will restore your eyes and make your item. Do we have an accord?"
For a long, painful moment, heās frozen in place. Didādid he hear that right? His eyes? The hand that had been guarding his neck slips away now, moving instead to hover, trembling, by his temple. Itās not really sinking in. She canāt possibly mean that.
Right?
"Thatāsā¦ thatās just a figure of speech, right? Becauseābecause I need those. My eyes." All the spells Celeborn knows run through his mind and the only ones he ever uses are the ones that demand a line of sight, and without those spells he can hardly call himself a clericāheās panicking now, presented with a set of circumstances that he canāt navigate. Heart racing and fearful despite all his efforts to keep himself calm. "There has to be something else. P-please."
With a click of her tongue, she takes a moment to glance at his neck before moving back into his line of sight. It's no surprise that he's balking, after all most would when told of such a price. "You're asking for a powerful enchantment. I could ask for other things, equal in value. Years off of your life, a limb, even a portion of your magic." Her smile is not unkind as she explains. "Any of those would be within my right to claim for what you asked. " Ā Lorena tilts her head to consider him.
"But I do prefer repeat customers, so the terms can be changed." She raised a hand to Celeborn's face, gently touching a finger to his temple. "I'm looking for something for another customer. If you fetch an item for me, I'll only take your eyes as a deposit of sort. Purely temporary, and I will make sure you are still able to see." The terms were more than generous, and she would likely be working at a loss. But treated correctly he could become a regular.
Heāsā¦ hesitant. He knew heād be buying something eventuallyāheās been saving up all the rewards he and his group have been gettingābut this has all progressed a lot faster than he expected all of a sudden and heās not sure where to go next. And thereās the worry playing at the back of his mindāwhat if she asks for something other than money that he canāt afford to give?
Steeling himself, he locks eyes with Lorena when sheās finished her appraisal. No choice but to go for it. āHow muchā¦ how much were you thinking?ā
"Nothing you can't afford, I promise," she laughs, "otherwise I would have no customers." With a tilt to her head, she considers him again, and begins to circle him. This is mostly for show, and for her own amusement. But she wants a better look at her customer. He's determined, which she appreciates. She stops behind him after a few circuits, having come to a decision.
"However, you certainly won't be able to afford it in gold." Her tone becomes more business like, but still with a friendly undercurrent. "While your hair is nice, I have no use for it right now. But your eyes... Yes, those will do."
He canāt deny that she makes him a littleā¦ uncomfortable. Thereās some small part of him that cries unholy whenever his gaze passes over her, but itās not like sheās the strangest person heās ever seen. Still, a shiver crawls up his spine when she takes a hold of his chin, and he has to resist the urge to wrench his face out of her grasp.
"CelebornāCeleborn Anwion." What was with the inspection? Surely all she has to do was find some enchantment for him and he can be on his way. His hand comes up to rub at his neck again, less out of nervousness this time and more an instinct to protect it that he doesnāt think to suppress.
Her smile settles into something sweet as she finishes turning his head about. "Call me Lorena." She likes the look of his eyes, and the light inside of him. She's sure to have something worth the value of what he seeks. Or at least he may be able to find something if he's not prepared to immediately trade.
She doesn't miss the obvious mistrust Celeborn displays, though it doesn't bother her. With a lingering glance at the hand on his neck, she finally lets go and steps back to consider him. "While I don't have anything already prepared, I know what I can do for you. I'll need a down payment though." She pauses, as though attempting to find another solution. "Or collateral."
The idea of having a spell put on him makes him flinch and he shakes his head vehemently. āNo, noājust a talisman or something. I just want to, I donāt know, put an amulet around my neck and be safe from people who want to mess with my brain.ā His words come out harsher than he expects and he takes a moment to breathe in, breathe out, calm himself.
"Please. Whatever the cost, Iāll pay it if Iām able."
She's not phased by the sudden vehemence, being used to harsher mood swings from her clients. "That will be more expensive then, but if you can pay we have a deal. Let me look at at you." The woman approached the man swiftly, taking his chin in one hand and turning his face from side to side. The black shine of her eyes were likely uncomfortably close, and her blue skin made a strange contrast to his.
"What's your name?" she asked, inspecting his face.
Sheās different than he expected. Lessā¦ suspicious-looking, he supposes. Kind of a nice person, actually. Suddenly anxious again, the clericās gaze slides to the floor and sticks there as one hand comes up to rub at the mark on the back of his neck.
"Do you have anythingā¦ anything to defend against brainwashing?" Itās certainly the oddest request heās made of someone in a long time. All the other merchants, he never bothered to ask after anything more than magical items, but heās sick of dancing around the subject. "Anything would work. Even if youāre not sure if itāll do anything. I just need something."
Her black eyes blink less than they should as she watches the customer. His fidgeting doesn't escape her notice, and she wonders what secrets he's hiding. Everyone has secrets of course, but those of her customers tend to interest more than others. Her smiles settles into some more pleased than friendly.
"Protection, is it? I promise that I sell no faulty goods, anything you buy will be worth the price." She placed a finger on her chin. "So let's discuss a price. What are you looking for? A spell? Or something solid?"Ā
multiversemerchant
Heās only heard about her in passing and on any other day wouldnāt even consider such shady dealingsābut heās exhausted every conventional route of finding what he needs and by this point his sense of morality is as exhausted as he is. So he goes to her. Tongue dead in his mouth for too long before he can find the right words.
"Iāve heard you deal in all manner of goods. IāmāIām looking to buy."
Business has been slow lately, but thatās hardly a surprise. In this place sheās usually only visited by the desperate or those dealing in secrets. So when the young man found her little out of the way āshopā, she was pleased.
She smiles kindly at him, waiting for him to work up the courage to make his request.
"Iāll deal in almost anything you can afford. For the right price, Iām sure I can find something to suit your needs."
