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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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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2026 7:57 am
“Oh, a very generous offer. It would be rude for me to decline such a thoughtful gesture. Naturally, I accept, and I look forward to sampling them.” He would never look a gift horse in the mouth, and he was either born with no shyness or no shame. It benefited him either way. “Talk as much as you like, I enjoy the company. And if you feel guilty, I’m quite susceptible to bribes. A treat or two will most certainly ease my judgement.” In a very good mood–obviously–he was delighted to speak, himself. “I’ve got quite the assortment of things ‘squirreled away’. Look everywhere, you’ll find a thousand things you’ll want to take with you. But your pockets don’t look deep enough to trade for them all, so consider it inspiration for next time.” He smiled sweetly. “It might be easier for you to tell me if you’re in the market for anything than it will be for me to list my wares. But I wonder,” his eyes lowered to her brooch and he leaned back contemplatively. “Do you like jewelry, Iapeteus?”
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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2026 9:50 am
Making a mental note to purchase several boxes of Zebra Cakes once she was back on Earth, Iapetus let herself be amused by Almadel’s antics and words. And she had to admit the man had a point about this place having thousands of things she wouldn’t mind having for herself. She didn’t even feel the offense she normally would when someone told her that she couldn’t afford a thing. In this case, she knew it was a simple fact being stated. There was no bullshit status hunting going on. Armed with that knowledge, her feathers remained blissfully unruffled.
“Inspiration, indeed,” she murmured and then laughed. “Did I even tell you things I liked last time? I can’t remember. I swear you just knew what would appeal.”
Before she could continue along that thread, Almadel leaned back and seemed to study her. And when he asked if she liked jewelry, she arched her brow and nodded cautiously. “I do indeed. To the point that I have more than a few nice pieces at home. Ah, Earth home, I mean. Why? Did inspiration just hit?”
Frankly, as far as she was concerned, inspiration seemed to be how Almadel operated. Nothing but pure vibes and a gut feeling. It was fascinating to witness.
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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2026 10:00 pm
Almadel laughed richly. “Well, I often say that I’m very good at finding just what my customers need. Which is true. But it’s polite to ask, just in case. For example…” He cupped his chin and leaned back contemplatively, looking her up and down before settling on her eyes for a moment. “Yes, I think I’ve got a piece for you. A nice piece, to go with those at home.” He disappeared behind his desk and fished around for a moment, only to rise and place a dark box on the table. It clanked loudly, and when he opened the lid, a few rings nearly fell out. He collected them easily into his hand, moving them one by one until he found what he was looking for– A thick silver ring with a stunning teal arrowhead-shaped gem on a metal backing. Even an untrained eye could find the similarities between it and her outfit, and the symbol of Iapetus. He counted on her recognizing it immediately. “Do you know, I’ve heard that on Iapetus it was quite common for fans to commission pieces to represent their favorite fighters, or to lavish them with gifts. A while back, I acquired a trove of merchandise. I think it came from a personal collection. I wish I knew where to find it now. But someone had quite an affinity for one of your ancient warriors. I wonder, if I could locate that chest, if you would know who it was.” He hummed thoughtfully, passing the ring over for inspection.
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 1:19 pm
Watching the Merchant with some amusement, Iapetus held her tongue for the moment. She'd gone into one of these trades blind the first time she'd met him and come out of it extremely pleased. She was perfectly content to do the same now and see what happened. Though she was a little surprised by the box of rings, it was kind of fun to watch him search because he clearly knew exactly which ring he wanted. The master at work, she thought.
And then, as he found what he was looking for and held it up, she felt herself blink and heard her breath blow out in a soft hiss. She might not recognize the piece itself, but she knew her own colors and symbol. But, unlike the arrowheads she'd gotten last time, this ring felt deeply personal. Still, he listened as he explained and felt a thrill to have one bit bit of knowledge about her world.
"It all sounds a bit like the Roman gladiators," she murmured before taking the ring from him and examining it minutely. Glancing up briefly, she grinned at Almadel and nodded agreeably. "I'm still learning things, but if you find that chest, I'd be happy to take a look and see if I can help. Is this anything like the arrowheads? I remember you saying that that was magic in them, but you hadn't been sure exactly what sort."
Still inspecting the ring, she couldn't help but try ti slip it on her own finger and practically burbled with delight when it slid neatly down and fit her perfectly. "Oh, wow! Perfect fit."
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