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According to my brother, Sands is Gandalf Pony.
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Post by Shifting Sands on Aug 31, 2014 11:31:14 GMT -5
| It was still early morning, the sun barely up over the horizon, its golden rays cast over the few that had risen with it. Farmers were busy unpacking fresh produce, while others had to simply lift the boards from their carts. Even easier were those fortunate enough to have space rented in a shop building, though most all of those would be closed until ponies had woken up in full force.
| A humble little cart was joining the ranks this morning, its four wooden wheels bound with tight metal hoops to add durability. It clattered over the cobbled street, though the body of the cart stayed surprisingly level due to its sophisticated spring system. Roughly the size of four wheelbarrows, its top was tightly shut with a wooden lid, giving no hint as to the goods within. In fact, such a cart would have drawn no notice at all were it not for the earth pony hauling it.
| His hair hung long, dark and wavy, and falling on one side of his neck, while three little braids dropped to the other side of his face. An extra long, thin pipe was clenched in his teeth, the source of a tiny tendril of smoke. A swathe of multicolored cloth wrapped around his body like a robe, draped loosely around his neck in some distant land's fashion. Though it was yet early, it looked as if he'd just recently arrived in town, the dust of the road still clinging to his long legs.
| The humble cart and its curious bearer creaked to a halt in the middle of the crossroads, the stallion's violet eyes sweeping the area. Whatever he was looking for must have been found, for soon enough he was moving again. A small space up against the shops was his chosen place for the day, much too cramped for most other merchants, but a perfect fit for his small load. He unhitched himself with a series of shrugs, and set about making himself ready for the market day.
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Feel free to send me a message if you'd like to chat it up <3
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Post by Claire Dupont on Aug 31, 2014 13:15:10 GMT -5
"It's me!" Claire's usual bravado was unaltered as she exclaimed her trademark entrance quote. Claire looked extra-diva today, sporting a long black scarf and her darkest sunglasses that completely disguised her slate gray eyes. A big black bow fixed itself onto the edge of her bangs, and a black tail wrap differentiated itself from the usual brown one Claire always wore. There was barely anyone here, so Claire's announcement went mostly unnoticed. Claire didn't even seem to mind, continuing down the road with her high-hoofed trot. She had arrived in the market so early as to be right in place when shops opened. She wanted to be the first to see everything, and the first to buy it all. The model's head was held up in the air and not a hint of a smile had drawn itself onto her face. It was impossible for Claire not to notice the large, dark pony setting up a wagon. Claire hadn't seen him yesterday when she had strolled through the market. Claire shuddered at the dust that clung to the pony's powerful legs. Dirt should be a sin. But she noticed the pony's unusual garb and a mane style she had never quite seen before, and was able to deduct that this pony must come from a far ways away. Usually, she would not even grace such a dirty pony with her lovely word, but she cautiously approached the setting up shopkeeper, who looked quite busy and not very interested in talking to a diva. "...Good morning, sweets." She started from a couple of feet behind him, shifting her tiny weight to her right side. Looking the cart up and down, she wondered what sort of wares could be stored inside. Imagine her returning to Canterlot with legitimate, foreign jewelry from a far away land! "I don't recall seeing you around before. I assume you've just recently strolled in?" The phrase wasn't formed as a question, but her voice raised in pitch as if it was. |
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Junior Member
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According to my brother, Sands is Gandalf Pony.
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Post by Shifting Sands on Aug 31, 2014 15:07:58 GMT -5
| A dark ear turned back as the model approached, lifting his head soon after. His attention, at that time, looked to be centered on getting his cart harness unbuckled and tucked away in a front compartment--that feat in itself took some odd degree of skill, as his cloth drapes hadn't moved an inch in the exercise. He smiled in a friendly way, turning and taking the thin pipe from his mouth with his foreleg.
"Good morning, may the sun shine upon you," he greeted. "You would be correct. This is my first day in this city. I've been to many others before, yet somehow, the morning routine remains the same."
| The pipe made its way back into his mouth, this time on the opposite side. He half-turned as he tended to the cart, so as not to be rude.
"Many apologies, but I confess I'm not quite ready for business just yet. If you'd like to wait just a moment, I shouldn't be long."
| A nudge here, a tap there, a righteous kick to something else, and indeed the unassuming cart was beginning to unfold into...well, something.
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Feel free to send me a message if you'd like to chat it up <3
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Post by Claire Dupont on Aug 31, 2014 15:38:14 GMT -5
Looking around, Claire saw that the street was still empty, desolate of life save for the few shopkeepers that were ambling around, preparing for the surely bustling market day.
"Well, that makes two of us that are new to this--Oh!" The process looked seemingly a bit random, but Claire could tell there was organization and experience in this routine. Claire took a cautious step back as the plain cart began to unfold from the big earth pony's taps and kicks. "Goodness, what a contraption!" Claire had never seen anything quite like it before. Well, there were a lot of things she was seeing today that she had never seen the likes of before.
Claire took a seat in the middle of the road to watch.
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Junior Member
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According to my brother, Sands is Gandalf Pony.
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Post by Shifting Sands on Aug 31, 2014 16:04:24 GMT -5
| Making several tedious laps around the cart, eventually it had unfolded into a miniature merchant's stall. Though most everything was either wooden, or metal where it counted, the front counter was glass-topped. Within were a few shining crystals that served as lights, displaying the colorful bottles and decorative chains within. Horn rings for unicorns, earrings, even a collection of tiny gemstones tacked onto a card, proclaiming they were ready to be used as a forehead bindhi. The back of the cart had folded back and rested straight up, forming a modest wall of shelving behind. The doors to this were guarded with a filigree of eastern vines and tiny leaves, keeping everything from falling during the process, and allowing them to be seen once everything was done moving.
| Shifting Sands stepped over one of the wagon axles--the basic framework being one of the few things that didn't move--and into the space between the front and back. Casually he tugged a handled chain on the way in, and with a series of clicks a fabric awning stretched out over the stall. With it came the rich smell of curry and frankincense, scents that clung to the coat of the traveling pony as well. He looked over everything before nodding to himself, placing his pipe in a groove on the front counter most likely carved for that very purpose.
"I think everything has settled now, if you'd like to take a look," he called, politely beckoning her closer.
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Junior Member
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Feel free to send me a message if you'd like to chat it up <3
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Post by Claire Dupont on Aug 31, 2014 16:51:14 GMT -5
"Eep!" Claire squealed and rushed forward, almost tripping over her long mane in the process. She was admittedly a bit fascinated by how the cart had transformed into a (quite pretty) merchant shop. But, the real important things come first. With her face almost touching the glass, she ogled the colorful, glimmering jewels. So unique! Styles like this weren't even imagined in the finest of Canterlot jewelers. The reflections danced in Claire's sunglasses, and she quickly removed them with her magic to get a better look.
"Oh, my..." She breathed. "Where are these from?" She started, but sat up quickly. Her eyes blinked quickly and she looked at the friendly merchant. "I-I mean...er..." She smiled sheepishly. "Where are you from?"
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Junior Member
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According to my brother, Sands is Gandalf Pony.
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Post by Shifting Sands on Aug 31, 2014 17:05:59 GMT -5
 (Rough sketch for now, probably gonna refine it when I get tired of sewing.) | The stallion just smiled again, pleasant enough for both bargaining and conversation alike. "My wares and goods come from many places," he admitted. "I try to keep what I've found closest to home, in hopes that in some city far away, they'll still be here for someone who might appreciate them. There are some, not so far off--" he gestured from one bauble to another, which probably did look a bit more ordinaty than the rest, "--which caught my eye, but I find I'm not so attached to." | The personal question, though not unexpected, quelled his merchant spirit a little. In fact, he even seemed a bit...shy? "Ah! My, ah, my homeland?" he began, not as skilled with plain smalltalk when it wasn't related to business. "The ah, the sands, far away. From this side, I think they're called ah, San Palmunno? No no, Sun Palomo? No..." He busied himself with something (nothing actually) behind the counter, muttering quietly to himself. |
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Feel free to send me a message if you'd like to chat it up <3
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Post by Claire Dupont on Aug 31, 2014 17:31:08 GMT -5
Claire cocked her head to the side. San Polmunno, Sun Palomo...She didn't recognize either of those names. "It must be a very long ways away." The merchant looked a bit put off by the mild conversation's direction, and had turned to fumbling with something behind his counter. Claire looked worried for a moment. Did she say something wrong? She hadn't meant to insult anypony...Her eyes flitted back to the wares, in which she had started to narrow down to 5 pairs of sparkling earrings, 3 glimmering horn rings and 2 small bindis, which she had never gotten the opportunity to wear before.
"Well, I'm from a long ways away as well." She said, half of her brain occupied with decisions. "Jumping into a different culture is difficult, especially when it's so different from your own." Purple or gold? "I've never heard of Sun Palomo before, but the name sounds very pretty."
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Junior Member
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According to my brother, Sands is Gandalf Pony.
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Post by Shifting Sands on Aug 31, 2014 17:42:45 GMT -5
| Finding something to actually occupy his fussing, he gradually grew more at ease, and less self-conscious. He reappeared with a flat box in his teeth, setting it out on the counter just so before he opened it.
"It has been very different from what I grew up with, if only for the fact that everyone is a stranger to everyone else."
| A soft click popped the top of the box up, revealing a less exciting pile of chains, mostly of dull metals and varying sized links.
"We only ever called it the Sand Sea. Seems that places and things have different names depending on who you ask." He shrugged lightly, tossing an errant bit of bi-colored mane out of his eye. "Have you seen anything you like? I can take out a piece if you would like to look closer." Those little light crystals served another purpose than giving light; a unicorn would find it nearly impossible to levitate the merchant's wares while they were nearby, which was certainly a boon to a merchant in an unknown city. Never could be too careful, though this mare seemed pleasant enough.
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Feel free to send me a message if you'd like to chat it up <3
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Post by Claire Dupont on Aug 31, 2014 18:12:55 GMT -5
"Oh, yes, I've decided." Claire snapped back to reality. Deciding was never easy, so Claire never did it. "I'd like those gold and ruby earrings, the silver and emeralds, that pair underneath that one." She gestured to a pair of simple gold earrings with her cream colored hoof. "And...the solid silver dangles to the right of those, the large pearl earrings over there." Another gesture by her hoof. "And, how about...The silver and sapphires there?" That was it for earrings. An impressive loot by itself, but Claire wasn't quite finished.
"I'd also like the solid gold horn ring and the gold and amethyst horn ring" Though she had a shorter-than-average horn she was sure those would fit. "And also...That pretty rose quartz necklace down towards the bottom, the chunky one..." Another gesture. Rose quartz was her stone, after all. "And...that gold necklace with the garnets, over there. Also, can I get all three of the bracelets? They're very nice."
"And I'd like both the solid gold bindi and that big silver jeweled bindi." Well, Claire wanted to try everything once. That seemed to be all for the cotton-candy mare's large order.
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Junior Member
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According to my brother, Sands is Gandalf Pony.
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Post by Shifting Sands on Aug 31, 2014 18:28:25 GMT -5
| To say that he was surprised would have been an understatement, the stallion fighting off a surprised stagger. Merchants' nerve ruled over any visual cues, his shock shown by little more than a slight widening of the eyes (and even that was easily swallowed up in his eyebrows).
"You...are certain?" he asked, with the vaguest hesitation. She hadn't even asked the price of anything, and if this wasn't some sort of joke or trick, he could very well rest on this one transaction all week. He reached under the counter and pulled out a worn abacus, his dark hoof click-clacking beads at a rapid pace. "That is...twenty, eighteen, fifteen, twelve....thirty, thirty-two...." His lips barely moved as he added up the figures, and with a final clack... "If that will be...all for you," he said, still not entirely sure this mare wasn't pulling his leg, "the total will be two-hundred and eighty-five bits, though for the bulk order of bangles I can bring it to two-hundred and fifty-five." He blinked and looked back at her, waiting.
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Junior Member
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Finally got my posts well posted!
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Post by Cherry Flip on Aug 31, 2014 19:20:08 GMT -5
Cherry usually only wanted one thing this early in the morning. And she had gotten it, taking a sip of Cocoa on the go from Pumpkins as she trotted along the street. She enjoyed this early morning time, it was quiet and not to busy with only few pony scattering the street. Having to place her cocoa carefully in her back in a spot it wouldn't spill she wished times like this to be a unicorn. Though remembering Claire would make her retract that statement in a heartbeat.
Hoping for a peaceful day of shopping as she needed to get grocerys. Waiting patiently for the farmers to set up their wares. She couldn't help notice though a new stand. It wasn't much by first glance just a humble cart being pulled by a rather odd stallion. He was tall and seemed like a older man with a thin pipe and robe. He looked far from here, in a small town like this. Watching as he took a spot to settle. Curiously watching him as she leaned against wall in the shadows. She could feel her own stomache sink though when she heard that voice. Eyes narrowing as she took note of the flamboyant Claire make her entrance when none cared that she did. Even more divaish today as of course the Mare steered straight to the shop. Great.
Watching the interatction before she too watched the cart come to life. It wasn't something like she had seen either. Her eyes weren't catching on the jewlerry when he opened finally. It was to the cloths and veils he had. Noting the shine of a particular blue one as her eyes couldn't help but shine. The struggle to deal with claire or deal with the crowd that would surrond the cart later on in curiousity made her debate to even go at all. But she couldnt help but want to see, deciding claire was easier to ignore than a group as she slowly came up. Being sure to stay clear of Claire as she took a few steps away from the stall. Staring up simply at the cloths to admire them. Letting him deal with claire who seemed to well...want everything in that glass case.
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Feel free to send me a message if you'd like to chat it up <3
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Post by Claire Dupont on Aug 31, 2014 19:38:56 GMT -5
"Goodness, thank you! Two hundred and fifty five? Of course!" Claire's magic pulled a bulging, bright pink bit purse out of the folds of her large scarf. It fell on the counter with a healthy jingle. She clicked the purse open. "Let's see..." Out floated a 50-bit coin, large and gold, onto the counter. "There's 50..." Claire counted out the 50-bit coins as she laid them on the counter. "One hundred, one fifty, two hundred, two fifty..."And with a short pause, she laid another 50-bit coin on the table. "Three hundred. You can keep that."
She was about to close up her purse when, out of the corner of her eyes, she saw a distant blue figure. She'd recognize that hat anywhere. Okay, so maybe Claire felt a tiny bit crappy at her and the pegasus' last meeting. Claire didn't mean for things to get so out of hoof. Without turning her head to look at Cherry, she said "Hey, er..." She got very quiet and leaned in close to the shopkeeper. "If that little blue pegasus over there with the hat wants something..." She lifted another 50-bit coin out of her purse and laid it on the counter. "I'll help out. Okay?"
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Junior Member
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According to my brother, Sands is Gandalf Pony.
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Post by Shifting Sands on Aug 31, 2014 19:53:19 GMT -5
| Visibly, his tune never changed; inwardly, Sands was reeling with his good fortune. If everyone around here was so loose with their bits-! Then, a streak of anxiety--had he been under charging all this time? He broke from this train of thought when Claire mentioned the extra for himself, as well as the rest for someone he assumed was a friend of well-kempt unicorn. He dipped his head politely and proceeded to wrap everything up, passing Claire a colorful sewn bag full of her purchases.
"Thank you very much for your business, miss," he said, and very well meant it. It wasn't every day he had such profits, let alone in one transaction. "As you wish," he added, putting the majority of the bit coins in the cashbox, presumably, and tucking the extra into the scarf portion of his robes. "I'll make sure your friend is well taken care of." He smiled genially. "If you find yourself needing anything else, I shall be here until the end of the week."
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Junior Member
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Finally got my posts well posted!
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Post by Cherry Flip on Aug 31, 2014 20:13:10 GMT -5
Sweet Luna that was a lot of bits. Twice as much as Cherry would ever spend on just jewlery. Though if it came to snowglobes she couldn't say the same thing. Simply looking away back at the trinkets and cloths in her seperate space as she let them purchase whatever it was. Still caught on a particular blue cloth that just seemed to shine to her. But there were a few odd trinkets she would love for her knick knacky collection at home too looking down at the few trinkets that layed across one of the shelves. She wasn't really paying attention to what exactly Claire and Shifting were talking about. Just that she finished her buisness and yet it still deterred her a little to walk over and get a better look at his wares.
Walking over finaly when at least there was some more space between her and the taller pony. Quietly coming up as she still stared at the particular corner of the cart with cloth and trinkets. Not uttering a word as she simply examined things without touching...she wasn't sure how delicate some of this was.
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