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 Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2026 6:40 pm
Quote: Room 5: The Giftshop - A large room that looks as much like an exhibit of miscellaneous treasures as it does a well-organized giftshop. There are no prices, and while there doesn't seem to be any true organization system, the room doesn't appear the least bit cluttered. Shelves climb toward the ceiling, each crowded with objects ranging from beautiful to baffling. There is no shortage of curiosities--trinkets, jewelry, instruments, tools, books, stones, toys--just about anything can be found here in some form. Nothing here was meant to stay for long, and visitors who came early in the evening might find a very different stock by the end of the evening. At the front of the room, and within perfect sight of both the door and every aisle, Almadel stands watch behind a gorgeous desk. The room is well lit and has a large window along the back wall, allowing an extensive view of deep space. Unlike the other exhibits, there doesn't seem to be a ban on snacks, as Almadel has a bowl of strange candy, and a tray of individually wrapped pastries that look oddly similar to Cosmic Brownies.
After the emotional wallop provided by the Reflecting Pool room, Iapetus was more than ready to look at something that would let her turn her brain off. Which, to her, meant gift shop. She could peruse the goods as it were and see if anything caught her eye. As she entered the shop area, she eyed the snacks with a mild amusement. "Huh," she said in a soft, voice, clearly thinking she was alone. "Never figured the guy for a Little Debbie fan."
At least the candy looked interesting, though she wasn't at all sure what it actually was.
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2026 1:41 pm
"Why not?" Almadel asked, popping up from behind the desk. He was holding a wooden box in his hands and, now standing, set it down on the desk. He brushed his hands off, dismissing invisible dust from whatever he'd been rummaging through. "I've got quite the extensive palate. Would you like to try one?" He smiled, and the faintest hint of impishness crept in. Tail dancing behind him, he said, "You look a little pale, some sugar might do you good. I've had them made with Earth ingredients, so it won't introduce anything strange to your system. Of course, they have my own special twist to it. But I think they're delicious."
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Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2026 6:07 pm
Okay, she had not seen him behind the desk! How he managed to hide in plain sight was a skill she wished she possessed. As it stood, she arched an eyebrow at being told that she looked pale. Well, that Reflection Room had been pretty intense. And no one liked reliving their failures, or in this case, what might have not been a failure had she held her tongue. Giving herself a purely internal shake, Iapetus smiled and actually laughed a little. "Because you seem fairly refined and above what is, essentially, redneck garbage food. And I'll pass on the brownies, thanks. The earth version is not something I enjoy and yours look too much like them. The candy looks good, though. What's in that?"
Even the thought of the weirdly dense and gluey brownies sold on Earth was enough to make her stomach give her a little warning churn.
"So, Cosmic Brownies, huh? What're your thoughts on Zebra Cakes?" it was inconsequential chatter, really. But it would help her relax and really enjoy this little chat.
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2026 12:32 am
Almadel laughed richly. “Sugar, in the candy. It’s got a rich, caramel flavor, with a bit of a coffee undertone. I haven’t snuck anything fun into those, it’s just a nice little treat. They’re a bit sticky, so sometimes I offer them to people who talk too much.” He probably should have had one himself, but this thought was lost on him. “I’ve never eaten a zebra before, but I’d like to. I can’t imagine what a cake would taste like. Yet. Will you bring me some next time? I’ll compensate you, of course. I am a connoisseur of fine food. Well, and apparently redneck garbage food as well. But I can’t help it, it’s in my nature.” She might not have wanted a brownie, but it didn’t stop him from unwrapping one and helping himself to a bite. He made eating the brownies look easy; they were light and airy, and his teeth stayed surprisingly clean while he nibbled. “It takes a lot of energy to keep me going. I’m a very busy man.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2026 10:04 am
Looking bemused by the answer, Iapetus opened her mouth to protest that, no, the cakes weren’t made with actual zebras, but no sound came out. Shaking her head a little, she tried again and managed to weakly say, “It’s just a name, dude. They look stripey like zebras, that’s all.” Feeling unaccountably embarrassed (a most unusual sensation!), Iapetus went for the candy dish and popped one into her mouth to steady her nerves. Soon enough, she could see the funny side of things and she began to laugh quietly. Looking up into the Merchant’s smiling face, she managed to smile back. “I’ll bring you a box, if you want. No compensation needed. Hell, I’ll bring you two if it’ll make you happy and to make up for the fact that no zebras were harmed in the making of that confection.” She almost asked him if he regularly ate the endangered animals of a planet before common sense and a desire to not be launched into space seized her. Instead, she focused on the candy she’d tried and aimed to flatter. “This candy is good. I wasn’t sure about the coffee undertones, but they don’t overpower anything. It’s nice. Though I hope you don’t think I talk too much.” She didn’t think she did but someone else might think something altogether different! Deciding it was high time to switch subjects, she glanced around the gift shop and let her curiosity shine on her face. “So, what sort of interesting things have you got squirreled away in here? I hardly know where to start looking!”
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