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It was a bright day. The sun was high in the sky, and the heat was more potent than seemed regular for the late Panamos weather, so that there was a thickness to the air around them. It was simultaneously pleasant and frustrating, for, while more individuals tended to spend their days out and about when the weather was kind, the sticky undertone of the heat did not make them wish to hang around long. It made it difficult to attract customers, but there were always a few stray and inquisitive tourists to the city who were willing to pause and explore the merchant stalls, and those were Planetes's primary targets.
The wares on display at his stall had shifted to suit the new demographic of passersby. Rather than sell useful goods that were desirable to those who lived in the city, he had returned to his vessel that morning during a break in the merchandising, and had chosen a new selection of products: delicately carved figurines, jewels of absolutely questionable quality and trinkets that served no purpose whatsoever. They were the types of thing that were popular among the people, and he had had excellent success with them. Earlier that morning, he had even managed to trade an ugly figure of a donkey for an entire drachma, which was far more than it was worth.
Now, the supply of woodworked figures was diminishing, and the number of patrons from outside the city too had decreased, so that Planetes was left dealing with the citizens who were especially keen on useless trinkets or unnecessary decorative items. The only trouble there lay in the fact that most of those came from the wealthier areas of the city - the rich who had fewer concerns about where they wasted their hard-earned coins - and they were not often generous enough to spend it on a random market stall. They wanted finery and prettiness, and though he could provide plenty that appeared as such, it was riskier to trick one of those noble folk, for all the resources they could call upon to retaliate against the merchant.
But Planetes had never been one for giving up, else he would have been found dead somewhere long ago, and he had displayed the genuine finest of his metallic jewellery front and centre, so that he might appear thoroughly legitimate at first glance. His eyes scanned over the crowds of those walking by, selecting the most fitting targets for his stall, calling out to them. They settled on one girl who surely hailed from either a rich or a noble family (though he had never bothered to learn all their names, finding it too much of a hassle when he likely planned to leave the place soon enough).
"My Lady," the tall man called out, his expression as bright and friendly as if they had known each other for a long while, though they clearly ran in different circles and he had never seen her before in his life. "Could I interest you in some fine jewels? I have something for every occasion, and you surely shan't be disappointed."
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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It was a bright day. The sun was high in the sky, and the heat was more potent than seemed regular for the late Panamos weather, so that there was a thickness to the air around them. It was simultaneously pleasant and frustrating, for, while more individuals tended to spend their days out and about when the weather was kind, the sticky undertone of the heat did not make them wish to hang around long. It made it difficult to attract customers, but there were always a few stray and inquisitive tourists to the city who were willing to pause and explore the merchant stalls, and those were Planetes's primary targets.
The wares on display at his stall had shifted to suit the new demographic of passersby. Rather than sell useful goods that were desirable to those who lived in the city, he had returned to his vessel that morning during a break in the merchandising, and had chosen a new selection of products: delicately carved figurines, jewels of absolutely questionable quality and trinkets that served no purpose whatsoever. They were the types of thing that were popular among the people, and he had had excellent success with them. Earlier that morning, he had even managed to trade an ugly figure of a donkey for an entire drachma, which was far more than it was worth.
Now, the supply of woodworked figures was diminishing, and the number of patrons from outside the city too had decreased, so that Planetes was left dealing with the citizens who were especially keen on useless trinkets or unnecessary decorative items. The only trouble there lay in the fact that most of those came from the wealthier areas of the city - the rich who had fewer concerns about where they wasted their hard-earned coins - and they were not often generous enough to spend it on a random market stall. They wanted finery and prettiness, and though he could provide plenty that appeared as such, it was riskier to trick one of those noble folk, for all the resources they could call upon to retaliate against the merchant.
But Planetes had never been one for giving up, else he would have been found dead somewhere long ago, and he had displayed the genuine finest of his metallic jewellery front and centre, so that he might appear thoroughly legitimate at first glance. His eyes scanned over the crowds of those walking by, selecting the most fitting targets for his stall, calling out to them. They settled on one girl who surely hailed from either a rich or a noble family (though he had never bothered to learn all their names, finding it too much of a hassle when he likely planned to leave the place soon enough).
"My Lady," the tall man called out, his expression as bright and friendly as if they had known each other for a long while, though they clearly ran in different circles and he had never seen her before in his life. "Could I interest you in some fine jewels? I have something for every occasion, and you surely shan't be disappointed."
It was a bright day. The sun was high in the sky, and the heat was more potent than seemed regular for the late Panamos weather, so that there was a thickness to the air around them. It was simultaneously pleasant and frustrating, for, while more individuals tended to spend their days out and about when the weather was kind, the sticky undertone of the heat did not make them wish to hang around long. It made it difficult to attract customers, but there were always a few stray and inquisitive tourists to the city who were willing to pause and explore the merchant stalls, and those were Planetes's primary targets.
The wares on display at his stall had shifted to suit the new demographic of passersby. Rather than sell useful goods that were desirable to those who lived in the city, he had returned to his vessel that morning during a break in the merchandising, and had chosen a new selection of products: delicately carved figurines, jewels of absolutely questionable quality and trinkets that served no purpose whatsoever. They were the types of thing that were popular among the people, and he had had excellent success with them. Earlier that morning, he had even managed to trade an ugly figure of a donkey for an entire drachma, which was far more than it was worth.
Now, the supply of woodworked figures was diminishing, and the number of patrons from outside the city too had decreased, so that Planetes was left dealing with the citizens who were especially keen on useless trinkets or unnecessary decorative items. The only trouble there lay in the fact that most of those came from the wealthier areas of the city - the rich who had fewer concerns about where they wasted their hard-earned coins - and they were not often generous enough to spend it on a random market stall. They wanted finery and prettiness, and though he could provide plenty that appeared as such, it was riskier to trick one of those noble folk, for all the resources they could call upon to retaliate against the merchant.
But Planetes had never been one for giving up, else he would have been found dead somewhere long ago, and he had displayed the genuine finest of his metallic jewellery front and centre, so that he might appear thoroughly legitimate at first glance. His eyes scanned over the crowds of those walking by, selecting the most fitting targets for his stall, calling out to them. They settled on one girl who surely hailed from either a rich or a noble family (though he had never bothered to learn all their names, finding it too much of a hassle when he likely planned to leave the place soon enough).
"My Lady," the tall man called out, his expression as bright and friendly as if they had known each other for a long while, though they clearly ran in different circles and he had never seen her before in his life. "Could I interest you in some fine jewels? I have something for every occasion, and you surely shan't be disappointed."
Melina didn’t much like Agora. When she was a child, she was nearly taken away. It was a terrifying experience that still haunted her to this day. But while she had this fear, or perhaps nervousness was a better word, she still spent ample time here. She did not allow this trauma to keep her from her one true passion: Books.
The Agora was a place to find anything. Spices from Lands Afar, blankets made with a grandmother’s love, glittering silver from Egypt, hand-carved chairs from a nearby province, and most importantly books. This is what always brought Melina back. The desire to learn something new, to find a new story, a new adventure… it could always be found in the Agora.
Melina perused the books to her heart’s content. She could spend ages here, lost as she tried to find the next thrilling tale to dive into. She would have done that today, but then she heard the whispers of gossiping girls.
Look what she’s wearing. From the corner of her eye she could see two lower noble ladies. Melina knew them if by face, not by name. She knew them to be terribly jealous of the Leventi, though Melina never knew why. They were mean, she never wanted to get to know them.
“That necklace. Hideous.” Another whispered.
“Ladies, Ladies, that’s because she’s not wearing one of my works. Might I offer you two beauties one of my works. You won’t find anything like it. Trust me, I’ve looked around the Agora and all there are is crooks. This, this is real, genuine goods. And at prices that won’t rob you, like that embroiderer ov-”
Melina stopped listening. She had enough. She put down the books and with an apologetic smile given to her by the merchant in front of her (who two heard the stupid exchange and looked annoyed enough at the jeweler that he’d probably have words with him later) Melina decided to go off and look for… anything else.
Could I interest you in some fine jewels? She heard the words call out to her. Melina felt her hand flutter to her necklace. Was this a sign? She was just insulted, and now someone was looking to sell to her? Melina was typically not the type to be looking for jewelry. She didn’t trust her own taste and it wouldn’t look good on her anyway. But at the same time… it didn’t hurt to look, did it?
Melina wandered over to the man’s table. She bit her lip before realizing she was still clutching her necklace like it was some sort of lifeline. “What do you have?” Melina peaked at the table. There was one fine necklace, right in the center of his table. It was shiny and metallic. Were the metals special perhaps? Melina did not know, this was not her expertise. Honestly, she almost wished she hadn’t left the books. “Perhaps I might be interested.”
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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Melina didn’t much like Agora. When she was a child, she was nearly taken away. It was a terrifying experience that still haunted her to this day. But while she had this fear, or perhaps nervousness was a better word, she still spent ample time here. She did not allow this trauma to keep her from her one true passion: Books.
The Agora was a place to find anything. Spices from Lands Afar, blankets made with a grandmother’s love, glittering silver from Egypt, hand-carved chairs from a nearby province, and most importantly books. This is what always brought Melina back. The desire to learn something new, to find a new story, a new adventure… it could always be found in the Agora.
Melina perused the books to her heart’s content. She could spend ages here, lost as she tried to find the next thrilling tale to dive into. She would have done that today, but then she heard the whispers of gossiping girls.
Look what she’s wearing. From the corner of her eye she could see two lower noble ladies. Melina knew them if by face, not by name. She knew them to be terribly jealous of the Leventi, though Melina never knew why. They were mean, she never wanted to get to know them.
“That necklace. Hideous.” Another whispered.
“Ladies, Ladies, that’s because she’s not wearing one of my works. Might I offer you two beauties one of my works. You won’t find anything like it. Trust me, I’ve looked around the Agora and all there are is crooks. This, this is real, genuine goods. And at prices that won’t rob you, like that embroiderer ov-”
Melina stopped listening. She had enough. She put down the books and with an apologetic smile given to her by the merchant in front of her (who two heard the stupid exchange and looked annoyed enough at the jeweler that he’d probably have words with him later) Melina decided to go off and look for… anything else.
Could I interest you in some fine jewels? She heard the words call out to her. Melina felt her hand flutter to her necklace. Was this a sign? She was just insulted, and now someone was looking to sell to her? Melina was typically not the type to be looking for jewelry. She didn’t trust her own taste and it wouldn’t look good on her anyway. But at the same time… it didn’t hurt to look, did it?
Melina wandered over to the man’s table. She bit her lip before realizing she was still clutching her necklace like it was some sort of lifeline. “What do you have?” Melina peaked at the table. There was one fine necklace, right in the center of his table. It was shiny and metallic. Were the metals special perhaps? Melina did not know, this was not her expertise. Honestly, she almost wished she hadn’t left the books. “Perhaps I might be interested.”
Melina didn’t much like Agora. When she was a child, she was nearly taken away. It was a terrifying experience that still haunted her to this day. But while she had this fear, or perhaps nervousness was a better word, she still spent ample time here. She did not allow this trauma to keep her from her one true passion: Books.
The Agora was a place to find anything. Spices from Lands Afar, blankets made with a grandmother’s love, glittering silver from Egypt, hand-carved chairs from a nearby province, and most importantly books. This is what always brought Melina back. The desire to learn something new, to find a new story, a new adventure… it could always be found in the Agora.
Melina perused the books to her heart’s content. She could spend ages here, lost as she tried to find the next thrilling tale to dive into. She would have done that today, but then she heard the whispers of gossiping girls.
Look what she’s wearing. From the corner of her eye she could see two lower noble ladies. Melina knew them if by face, not by name. She knew them to be terribly jealous of the Leventi, though Melina never knew why. They were mean, she never wanted to get to know them.
“That necklace. Hideous.” Another whispered.
“Ladies, Ladies, that’s because she’s not wearing one of my works. Might I offer you two beauties one of my works. You won’t find anything like it. Trust me, I’ve looked around the Agora and all there are is crooks. This, this is real, genuine goods. And at prices that won’t rob you, like that embroiderer ov-”
Melina stopped listening. She had enough. She put down the books and with an apologetic smile given to her by the merchant in front of her (who two heard the stupid exchange and looked annoyed enough at the jeweler that he’d probably have words with him later) Melina decided to go off and look for… anything else.
Could I interest you in some fine jewels? She heard the words call out to her. Melina felt her hand flutter to her necklace. Was this a sign? She was just insulted, and now someone was looking to sell to her? Melina was typically not the type to be looking for jewelry. She didn’t trust her own taste and it wouldn’t look good on her anyway. But at the same time… it didn’t hurt to look, did it?
Melina wandered over to the man’s table. She bit her lip before realizing she was still clutching her necklace like it was some sort of lifeline. “What do you have?” Melina peaked at the table. There was one fine necklace, right in the center of his table. It was shiny and metallic. Were the metals special perhaps? Melina did not know, this was not her expertise. Honestly, she almost wished she hadn’t left the books. “Perhaps I might be interested.”
There were many things which made an excellent salesman. Planetes had heard numerous accounts, but the one claim which concurred among each of the men and women who told the story was that charisma was the key to his success. It was lucky, then, that the man had always been a gregarious individual, for a wandering child could not get through life as efficiently as he without the skill of conversation, and he had only since developed the talent to suit his mercantile needs. Now, he put the ability to subtle use, as the noticeably wealthy girl to which he had called turned towards him, half-awkwardly approaching the stand.
This was the type of client he enjoyed most of all: the nervous shopper who appeared to feel uncomfortable enough in their own skin that they would trust any vendor who promised a change. They were the ideal target for a quick and easy deception, and likely offered far more than the required price.
What did he have? It felt a foolish question, for it did nothing but give the man an exciting opportunity to talk. "Oh, plenty of fine, fine wares, I can assure you." Planetes gestured a hand over the selection of jewels on the table before him, although he was careful to linger for only a few split and uncountable seconds on the goods of apparent lower quality, so that she might not acknowledge them. "I have travelled quite far in my life thus far, and I have had the delightful opportunity to witness many extraordinary events and discover hundreds of beautiful goods. Now, I am sure you worry that they must be rather costly for their quality, but I can only promise you further that I would never wish to charge for them anything more than the strictly necessary." He paused, calm gaze flickering upwards to find hers for a moment, gauging the reaction in her eyes. More significant than covering his selection of goods was the need to ensure that he had not lost her in the monologue. There was not much worse than a potential customer whose brief attention had been stolen away by some foolishly chosen words.
Deciding after a quick glance that could not have been more than a few seconds long that she was still on his side, Planetes made the decision to move on with his commentary, though he now focussed the words more clearly on gearing her towards the necklace he had been attempting to shift for a while now. It had not been an excessively successful piece of merchandise thus far, although, where such a failed thought might once have irritated the dark-haired man, he was now rather pleased that it had done so badly, for here was an opportunity to offer it to a more deserving customer.
"This necklace here," he continued, one long finger tapping on the edge of the accessory in question, careful so as not to stain any of the jewels implanted in the piece with an unwanted fingerprint, "this one came from Egypt." That was not a lie in itself, for he had obtained the ornament from another travelling salesman in the African country, but it had not likely been intricately and delicately made by some creative craftsman with only the most elegant metals they possessed and, instead, cobbled together from careful imitations. But it looked better than it was, and not even a trained eye would notice the minuscule differences.
"I think I might be willing to part with it for a fair price: only a few drachmae. I hope you don't think it excessive, but I do have to make a living, and I cannot make any profit on this craftsmanship if I do not insist on a little." Though, in honest truth, Planetes could likely have made a more-than-tidy profit on the falsified product for almost the lowest of prices and the smallest of coins.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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There were many things which made an excellent salesman. Planetes had heard numerous accounts, but the one claim which concurred among each of the men and women who told the story was that charisma was the key to his success. It was lucky, then, that the man had always been a gregarious individual, for a wandering child could not get through life as efficiently as he without the skill of conversation, and he had only since developed the talent to suit his mercantile needs. Now, he put the ability to subtle use, as the noticeably wealthy girl to which he had called turned towards him, half-awkwardly approaching the stand.
This was the type of client he enjoyed most of all: the nervous shopper who appeared to feel uncomfortable enough in their own skin that they would trust any vendor who promised a change. They were the ideal target for a quick and easy deception, and likely offered far more than the required price.
What did he have? It felt a foolish question, for it did nothing but give the man an exciting opportunity to talk. "Oh, plenty of fine, fine wares, I can assure you." Planetes gestured a hand over the selection of jewels on the table before him, although he was careful to linger for only a few split and uncountable seconds on the goods of apparent lower quality, so that she might not acknowledge them. "I have travelled quite far in my life thus far, and I have had the delightful opportunity to witness many extraordinary events and discover hundreds of beautiful goods. Now, I am sure you worry that they must be rather costly for their quality, but I can only promise you further that I would never wish to charge for them anything more than the strictly necessary." He paused, calm gaze flickering upwards to find hers for a moment, gauging the reaction in her eyes. More significant than covering his selection of goods was the need to ensure that he had not lost her in the monologue. There was not much worse than a potential customer whose brief attention had been stolen away by some foolishly chosen words.
Deciding after a quick glance that could not have been more than a few seconds long that she was still on his side, Planetes made the decision to move on with his commentary, though he now focussed the words more clearly on gearing her towards the necklace he had been attempting to shift for a while now. It had not been an excessively successful piece of merchandise thus far, although, where such a failed thought might once have irritated the dark-haired man, he was now rather pleased that it had done so badly, for here was an opportunity to offer it to a more deserving customer.
"This necklace here," he continued, one long finger tapping on the edge of the accessory in question, careful so as not to stain any of the jewels implanted in the piece with an unwanted fingerprint, "this one came from Egypt." That was not a lie in itself, for he had obtained the ornament from another travelling salesman in the African country, but it had not likely been intricately and delicately made by some creative craftsman with only the most elegant metals they possessed and, instead, cobbled together from careful imitations. But it looked better than it was, and not even a trained eye would notice the minuscule differences.
"I think I might be willing to part with it for a fair price: only a few drachmae. I hope you don't think it excessive, but I do have to make a living, and I cannot make any profit on this craftsmanship if I do not insist on a little." Though, in honest truth, Planetes could likely have made a more-than-tidy profit on the falsified product for almost the lowest of prices and the smallest of coins.
There were many things which made an excellent salesman. Planetes had heard numerous accounts, but the one claim which concurred among each of the men and women who told the story was that charisma was the key to his success. It was lucky, then, that the man had always been a gregarious individual, for a wandering child could not get through life as efficiently as he without the skill of conversation, and he had only since developed the talent to suit his mercantile needs. Now, he put the ability to subtle use, as the noticeably wealthy girl to which he had called turned towards him, half-awkwardly approaching the stand.
This was the type of client he enjoyed most of all: the nervous shopper who appeared to feel uncomfortable enough in their own skin that they would trust any vendor who promised a change. They were the ideal target for a quick and easy deception, and likely offered far more than the required price.
What did he have? It felt a foolish question, for it did nothing but give the man an exciting opportunity to talk. "Oh, plenty of fine, fine wares, I can assure you." Planetes gestured a hand over the selection of jewels on the table before him, although he was careful to linger for only a few split and uncountable seconds on the goods of apparent lower quality, so that she might not acknowledge them. "I have travelled quite far in my life thus far, and I have had the delightful opportunity to witness many extraordinary events and discover hundreds of beautiful goods. Now, I am sure you worry that they must be rather costly for their quality, but I can only promise you further that I would never wish to charge for them anything more than the strictly necessary." He paused, calm gaze flickering upwards to find hers for a moment, gauging the reaction in her eyes. More significant than covering his selection of goods was the need to ensure that he had not lost her in the monologue. There was not much worse than a potential customer whose brief attention had been stolen away by some foolishly chosen words.
Deciding after a quick glance that could not have been more than a few seconds long that she was still on his side, Planetes made the decision to move on with his commentary, though he now focussed the words more clearly on gearing her towards the necklace he had been attempting to shift for a while now. It had not been an excessively successful piece of merchandise thus far, although, where such a failed thought might once have irritated the dark-haired man, he was now rather pleased that it had done so badly, for here was an opportunity to offer it to a more deserving customer.
"This necklace here," he continued, one long finger tapping on the edge of the accessory in question, careful so as not to stain any of the jewels implanted in the piece with an unwanted fingerprint, "this one came from Egypt." That was not a lie in itself, for he had obtained the ornament from another travelling salesman in the African country, but it had not likely been intricately and delicately made by some creative craftsman with only the most elegant metals they possessed and, instead, cobbled together from careful imitations. But it looked better than it was, and not even a trained eye would notice the minuscule differences.
"I think I might be willing to part with it for a fair price: only a few drachmae. I hope you don't think it excessive, but I do have to make a living, and I cannot make any profit on this craftsmanship if I do not insist on a little." Though, in honest truth, Planetes could likely have made a more-than-tidy profit on the falsified product for almost the lowest of prices and the smallest of coins.
Melina wasn’t all that impressed, having heard that it came from Egypt. Good silver, really good silver came from there. The necklace did look pretty, though. But Melina had lovely necklaces. She had jewelry that her mother gifted her, and her mother had better taste than anyone in the whole world. If Melina was going to make those rude nobles and the asshole jeweler eat their words, Melina would need something special.
“Do you have something farther than Egypt?” Melina questioned as she chewed her lip thoughtfully. “Something special? I’d be- I’d be appreciative.” She almost said she’d be willing to pay extra, before realizing that this was still the market. She shouldn’t flaunt her wealth, even if it was fairly obvious from a first glance. Melina was a Leventi, a forgotten Leventi, but nonetheless still a Leventi. She didn’t want this man to take advantage of that.
Though he seemed rather polite. He had a nice, trusting smile. He wasn’t like the other jerks at the other table. He wasn’t laughing at her, at least not to her face. Melina honestly couldn’t know what the man was thinking. Perhaps he, too, found her looking utterly ridiculous. Perhaps he sensed how nervous she was, or heard the ridicule of the others. Maybe she was just an easy target.
Whatever he was thinking, Melina chose to think it was polite. If she thought everyone thought ill of her (though, admittedly, most probably did) would make it so this world was a terrible place to live. There had to be good people in here, otherwise, why would Melina bother leaving her bed every morning?
“I read once that there are areas to the North that have special crystals. You don’t so happen to have any jewelry with those, do you?” In truth, Melina wouldn’t know the difference between one crystal or another. She wouldn’t even know good quality jewelry from a very good knockoff. The people with the eye for detail was her little sister or mother. They tried teaching her, but none of it made sense.
There was one thing, however, Melina picked up. Never just be satisfied. She had to ask for something more, something bigger and better. She was a Leventi. They wouldn’t just settle for something that just anyone could buy. The Leventi expected the best, and would only have the best. Anything less than that wouldn’t be worthy of even their gaze.
Remembering that Melina put her chin up in faux confidence. She couldn’t be nervous, a salesman would sense that instantly. She had to pretend she knew exactly what she was talking about. “I am not simply satisfied by metal from Egypt. Any jeweler of proper regard would have pieces from there.” Melina didn’t actually know if that was true, but she did know some of her jewelry did hail from Egypt so maybe that was the case? Either way, she wouldn’t take that back now. “If this is all you have, perhaps I should find myself another stall.” Was that too mean? Gods, why was this so difficult? She just wanted to go back to her books...
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Melina wasn’t all that impressed, having heard that it came from Egypt. Good silver, really good silver came from there. The necklace did look pretty, though. But Melina had lovely necklaces. She had jewelry that her mother gifted her, and her mother had better taste than anyone in the whole world. If Melina was going to make those rude nobles and the asshole jeweler eat their words, Melina would need something special.
“Do you have something farther than Egypt?” Melina questioned as she chewed her lip thoughtfully. “Something special? I’d be- I’d be appreciative.” She almost said she’d be willing to pay extra, before realizing that this was still the market. She shouldn’t flaunt her wealth, even if it was fairly obvious from a first glance. Melina was a Leventi, a forgotten Leventi, but nonetheless still a Leventi. She didn’t want this man to take advantage of that.
Though he seemed rather polite. He had a nice, trusting smile. He wasn’t like the other jerks at the other table. He wasn’t laughing at her, at least not to her face. Melina honestly couldn’t know what the man was thinking. Perhaps he, too, found her looking utterly ridiculous. Perhaps he sensed how nervous she was, or heard the ridicule of the others. Maybe she was just an easy target.
Whatever he was thinking, Melina chose to think it was polite. If she thought everyone thought ill of her (though, admittedly, most probably did) would make it so this world was a terrible place to live. There had to be good people in here, otherwise, why would Melina bother leaving her bed every morning?
“I read once that there are areas to the North that have special crystals. You don’t so happen to have any jewelry with those, do you?” In truth, Melina wouldn’t know the difference between one crystal or another. She wouldn’t even know good quality jewelry from a very good knockoff. The people with the eye for detail was her little sister or mother. They tried teaching her, but none of it made sense.
There was one thing, however, Melina picked up. Never just be satisfied. She had to ask for something more, something bigger and better. She was a Leventi. They wouldn’t just settle for something that just anyone could buy. The Leventi expected the best, and would only have the best. Anything less than that wouldn’t be worthy of even their gaze.
Remembering that Melina put her chin up in faux confidence. She couldn’t be nervous, a salesman would sense that instantly. She had to pretend she knew exactly what she was talking about. “I am not simply satisfied by metal from Egypt. Any jeweler of proper regard would have pieces from there.” Melina didn’t actually know if that was true, but she did know some of her jewelry did hail from Egypt so maybe that was the case? Either way, she wouldn’t take that back now. “If this is all you have, perhaps I should find myself another stall.” Was that too mean? Gods, why was this so difficult? She just wanted to go back to her books...
Melina wasn’t all that impressed, having heard that it came from Egypt. Good silver, really good silver came from there. The necklace did look pretty, though. But Melina had lovely necklaces. She had jewelry that her mother gifted her, and her mother had better taste than anyone in the whole world. If Melina was going to make those rude nobles and the asshole jeweler eat their words, Melina would need something special.
“Do you have something farther than Egypt?” Melina questioned as she chewed her lip thoughtfully. “Something special? I’d be- I’d be appreciative.” She almost said she’d be willing to pay extra, before realizing that this was still the market. She shouldn’t flaunt her wealth, even if it was fairly obvious from a first glance. Melina was a Leventi, a forgotten Leventi, but nonetheless still a Leventi. She didn’t want this man to take advantage of that.
Though he seemed rather polite. He had a nice, trusting smile. He wasn’t like the other jerks at the other table. He wasn’t laughing at her, at least not to her face. Melina honestly couldn’t know what the man was thinking. Perhaps he, too, found her looking utterly ridiculous. Perhaps he sensed how nervous she was, or heard the ridicule of the others. Maybe she was just an easy target.
Whatever he was thinking, Melina chose to think it was polite. If she thought everyone thought ill of her (though, admittedly, most probably did) would make it so this world was a terrible place to live. There had to be good people in here, otherwise, why would Melina bother leaving her bed every morning?
“I read once that there are areas to the North that have special crystals. You don’t so happen to have any jewelry with those, do you?” In truth, Melina wouldn’t know the difference between one crystal or another. She wouldn’t even know good quality jewelry from a very good knockoff. The people with the eye for detail was her little sister or mother. They tried teaching her, but none of it made sense.
There was one thing, however, Melina picked up. Never just be satisfied. She had to ask for something more, something bigger and better. She was a Leventi. They wouldn’t just settle for something that just anyone could buy. The Leventi expected the best, and would only have the best. Anything less than that wouldn’t be worthy of even their gaze.
Remembering that Melina put her chin up in faux confidence. She couldn’t be nervous, a salesman would sense that instantly. She had to pretend she knew exactly what she was talking about. “I am not simply satisfied by metal from Egypt. Any jeweler of proper regard would have pieces from there.” Melina didn’t actually know if that was true, but she did know some of her jewelry did hail from Egypt so maybe that was the case? Either way, she wouldn’t take that back now. “If this is all you have, perhaps I should find myself another stall.” Was that too mean? Gods, why was this so difficult? She just wanted to go back to her books...
Further than Egypt? The request surprised Planetes only in that the vast majority of his clients were satisfied with something from Egypt, though he supposed that most were not of noticeably noble blood. Not that any of that genuinely mattered, because the lanky man's market stall was comprised of pieces from all around the world, and plenty that he could claim did so when they had likely hailed from some other swindler in the nearby area. There were no limits, in truth, so long as he knew how to spin the tale well enough.
His eyes scanned over his wide selection of wares, glancing first at the elaborate piece he had already displayed to the woman and then running his gaze over the rest of those shown on his table. 'Special' was quite a subjective term, he believed, but he couldn't deny the monetary appeal of appreciation, assuming that was what she meant. He was not exactly in the mood to find that all his hard work put into selling something was going to be rewarded with a lower price, and the promise of a good word put out to unknown friends (as so often seemed to be the case with the nobles). He was not inclined to trust customers, but he thought this girl appeared reliable enough.
"Oh, yes. Yes, there are some lovely crystals to the North." Planetes had been there, a long time ago, and his words were genuine on that subject, though a distant memory. "Beautiful colours. In fact, I must..." He trailed off, bending down to examine the wares that were kept in the safer areas of his stall. "Yes, here. There are plenty of pieces which I'm sure will fit your requirements, though you might have to forgive me. Some of them are still designed with Egyptian silver." He chuckled lightly, as if the matter was already some close joke between the pair of them: he liked to build rapport with some of his customers when he had the opportunity. It made many of them feel more at ease with the idea of buying something from a random merchant stall.
A finger tapped on another one of the necklaces that he had brought out, hoping it would suit her suddenly more adamant desires, spreading it out more neatly. It looked to be of great quality, and even a close inspection would not reveal any secrets that might claim it to be of a lower standard. Some of the smaller gemstones that were placed decoratively around the edges were entirely real, but the centrepiece was far from it, precisely designed from a thick blue glass that would not arouse suspicion. The colour — a deep aquamarine — was the sort that could not typically be considered anything but beautiful. Planetes knew for sure that this was the type of jewellery which managed to entrance wealthier women like this.
He flashed a smile, gaze connecting with his customer's dark eyes. "You have gorgeous dark eyes, but something like this should make them all the more captivating, I think you'll find. It'll draw out the gold." The man lifted the necklace carefully so that she could get a better view, holding it out towards her, half-smiling out of one side of his mouth. "Perhaps you should try it on? I do have faith that you're not planning to run away from me with it."
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Further than Egypt? The request surprised Planetes only in that the vast majority of his clients were satisfied with something from Egypt, though he supposed that most were not of noticeably noble blood. Not that any of that genuinely mattered, because the lanky man's market stall was comprised of pieces from all around the world, and plenty that he could claim did so when they had likely hailed from some other swindler in the nearby area. There were no limits, in truth, so long as he knew how to spin the tale well enough.
His eyes scanned over his wide selection of wares, glancing first at the elaborate piece he had already displayed to the woman and then running his gaze over the rest of those shown on his table. 'Special' was quite a subjective term, he believed, but he couldn't deny the monetary appeal of appreciation, assuming that was what she meant. He was not exactly in the mood to find that all his hard work put into selling something was going to be rewarded with a lower price, and the promise of a good word put out to unknown friends (as so often seemed to be the case with the nobles). He was not inclined to trust customers, but he thought this girl appeared reliable enough.
"Oh, yes. Yes, there are some lovely crystals to the North." Planetes had been there, a long time ago, and his words were genuine on that subject, though a distant memory. "Beautiful colours. In fact, I must..." He trailed off, bending down to examine the wares that were kept in the safer areas of his stall. "Yes, here. There are plenty of pieces which I'm sure will fit your requirements, though you might have to forgive me. Some of them are still designed with Egyptian silver." He chuckled lightly, as if the matter was already some close joke between the pair of them: he liked to build rapport with some of his customers when he had the opportunity. It made many of them feel more at ease with the idea of buying something from a random merchant stall.
A finger tapped on another one of the necklaces that he had brought out, hoping it would suit her suddenly more adamant desires, spreading it out more neatly. It looked to be of great quality, and even a close inspection would not reveal any secrets that might claim it to be of a lower standard. Some of the smaller gemstones that were placed decoratively around the edges were entirely real, but the centrepiece was far from it, precisely designed from a thick blue glass that would not arouse suspicion. The colour — a deep aquamarine — was the sort that could not typically be considered anything but beautiful. Planetes knew for sure that this was the type of jewellery which managed to entrance wealthier women like this.
He flashed a smile, gaze connecting with his customer's dark eyes. "You have gorgeous dark eyes, but something like this should make them all the more captivating, I think you'll find. It'll draw out the gold." The man lifted the necklace carefully so that she could get a better view, holding it out towards her, half-smiling out of one side of his mouth. "Perhaps you should try it on? I do have faith that you're not planning to run away from me with it."
Further than Egypt? The request surprised Planetes only in that the vast majority of his clients were satisfied with something from Egypt, though he supposed that most were not of noticeably noble blood. Not that any of that genuinely mattered, because the lanky man's market stall was comprised of pieces from all around the world, and plenty that he could claim did so when they had likely hailed from some other swindler in the nearby area. There were no limits, in truth, so long as he knew how to spin the tale well enough.
His eyes scanned over his wide selection of wares, glancing first at the elaborate piece he had already displayed to the woman and then running his gaze over the rest of those shown on his table. 'Special' was quite a subjective term, he believed, but he couldn't deny the monetary appeal of appreciation, assuming that was what she meant. He was not exactly in the mood to find that all his hard work put into selling something was going to be rewarded with a lower price, and the promise of a good word put out to unknown friends (as so often seemed to be the case with the nobles). He was not inclined to trust customers, but he thought this girl appeared reliable enough.
"Oh, yes. Yes, there are some lovely crystals to the North." Planetes had been there, a long time ago, and his words were genuine on that subject, though a distant memory. "Beautiful colours. In fact, I must..." He trailed off, bending down to examine the wares that were kept in the safer areas of his stall. "Yes, here. There are plenty of pieces which I'm sure will fit your requirements, though you might have to forgive me. Some of them are still designed with Egyptian silver." He chuckled lightly, as if the matter was already some close joke between the pair of them: he liked to build rapport with some of his customers when he had the opportunity. It made many of them feel more at ease with the idea of buying something from a random merchant stall.
A finger tapped on another one of the necklaces that he had brought out, hoping it would suit her suddenly more adamant desires, spreading it out more neatly. It looked to be of great quality, and even a close inspection would not reveal any secrets that might claim it to be of a lower standard. Some of the smaller gemstones that were placed decoratively around the edges were entirely real, but the centrepiece was far from it, precisely designed from a thick blue glass that would not arouse suspicion. The colour — a deep aquamarine — was the sort that could not typically be considered anything but beautiful. Planetes knew for sure that this was the type of jewellery which managed to entrance wealthier women like this.
He flashed a smile, gaze connecting with his customer's dark eyes. "You have gorgeous dark eyes, but something like this should make them all the more captivating, I think you'll find. It'll draw out the gold." The man lifted the necklace carefully so that she could get a better view, holding it out towards her, half-smiling out of one side of his mouth. "Perhaps you should try it on? I do have faith that you're not planning to run away from me with it."
It wasn’t the first time Melina’s eyes were complimented. Of her appearances- that was what most people gravitated towards. Perhaps this was her best feature. My only good feature, Melina thought bitterly, before shoving away those terrible thoughts. You know what… fuck the people who gossip about her. And fuck that stupid jeweller for being such an asshole.
She thought of the time Dafni did her makeup. Melina had reacted so horribly to it. She didn’t have the confidence to pull off a look of Dafni’s creation. But the one thing Melina did notice from that debacle was… her eyes. She never really cared to study them before. They were brown- a dirty color. But with that makeup she saw the subtleties within them. The specs of gold, the beauty in those dark orbs.
Melina wasn’t pretty but at least her eyes were.
Her gaze fell to the necklace in question. It did look quite lovely. To her untrained eye she did not see any flaws. The make was exquisit and the stones glittering. But it didn’t seem… special. There was nothing that screamed that it would stand out amongst the collection in her room. It was nice, but not spectacular. Pretty, but not beautiful.
The necklace was ordinary.
But the words that the man painted tainted Melina. What was a nice necklace of decent quality was instead something alluring. The thought that the color could draw the viewer to her eyes, the best part of her appearance was something Melina very much wanted. Perhaps you should try it on?
Melina could not help but bite her lip but nodded. She removed the necklace that was on her neck, carefully setting it down on the table before her and held the man’s necklace in her hands. It felt almost… heavier than the other ones. That must be because the stones and metals were different, Melina thought as she slipped the necklace around her neck.
The blue centerpiece was beautiful. The color radiant, and unlike any gem Melina had seen before. It was thick, and deep and something Melina could get lost in. It almost reminded her of some of the glassblown pieces she had seen in the market. The pretty arts that Melina marveled and wish she could have the ability to create. To think that the piece came from the Earth, beyond the lands of Greece, was amazing to Melina. She was lucky to have found this stall.
Should I buy it? For a moment Melina doubted her own taste. Was it that lovely, or was her mind wishing it was simply because she wanted it to be true? Would Dafni see this and laugh? Or Agape? Or any of the maids inside the house? Would she be gossiped about? Would she be made fun of?
Can’t I be confident for once in my life? Melina thought frustrated. Why was she always like this? Why couldn’t she just… take a leap of faith?
Fingering the necklace, she looked up at the man. Melina’s teeth dug into her bottom lip nervously. “How much is this?”
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It wasn’t the first time Melina’s eyes were complimented. Of her appearances- that was what most people gravitated towards. Perhaps this was her best feature. My only good feature, Melina thought bitterly, before shoving away those terrible thoughts. You know what… fuck the people who gossip about her. And fuck that stupid jeweller for being such an asshole.
She thought of the time Dafni did her makeup. Melina had reacted so horribly to it. She didn’t have the confidence to pull off a look of Dafni’s creation. But the one thing Melina did notice from that debacle was… her eyes. She never really cared to study them before. They were brown- a dirty color. But with that makeup she saw the subtleties within them. The specs of gold, the beauty in those dark orbs.
Melina wasn’t pretty but at least her eyes were.
Her gaze fell to the necklace in question. It did look quite lovely. To her untrained eye she did not see any flaws. The make was exquisit and the stones glittering. But it didn’t seem… special. There was nothing that screamed that it would stand out amongst the collection in her room. It was nice, but not spectacular. Pretty, but not beautiful.
The necklace was ordinary.
But the words that the man painted tainted Melina. What was a nice necklace of decent quality was instead something alluring. The thought that the color could draw the viewer to her eyes, the best part of her appearance was something Melina very much wanted. Perhaps you should try it on?
Melina could not help but bite her lip but nodded. She removed the necklace that was on her neck, carefully setting it down on the table before her and held the man’s necklace in her hands. It felt almost… heavier than the other ones. That must be because the stones and metals were different, Melina thought as she slipped the necklace around her neck.
The blue centerpiece was beautiful. The color radiant, and unlike any gem Melina had seen before. It was thick, and deep and something Melina could get lost in. It almost reminded her of some of the glassblown pieces she had seen in the market. The pretty arts that Melina marveled and wish she could have the ability to create. To think that the piece came from the Earth, beyond the lands of Greece, was amazing to Melina. She was lucky to have found this stall.
Should I buy it? For a moment Melina doubted her own taste. Was it that lovely, or was her mind wishing it was simply because she wanted it to be true? Would Dafni see this and laugh? Or Agape? Or any of the maids inside the house? Would she be gossiped about? Would she be made fun of?
Can’t I be confident for once in my life? Melina thought frustrated. Why was she always like this? Why couldn’t she just… take a leap of faith?
Fingering the necklace, she looked up at the man. Melina’s teeth dug into her bottom lip nervously. “How much is this?”
It wasn’t the first time Melina’s eyes were complimented. Of her appearances- that was what most people gravitated towards. Perhaps this was her best feature. My only good feature, Melina thought bitterly, before shoving away those terrible thoughts. You know what… fuck the people who gossip about her. And fuck that stupid jeweller for being such an asshole.
She thought of the time Dafni did her makeup. Melina had reacted so horribly to it. She didn’t have the confidence to pull off a look of Dafni’s creation. But the one thing Melina did notice from that debacle was… her eyes. She never really cared to study them before. They were brown- a dirty color. But with that makeup she saw the subtleties within them. The specs of gold, the beauty in those dark orbs.
Melina wasn’t pretty but at least her eyes were.
Her gaze fell to the necklace in question. It did look quite lovely. To her untrained eye she did not see any flaws. The make was exquisit and the stones glittering. But it didn’t seem… special. There was nothing that screamed that it would stand out amongst the collection in her room. It was nice, but not spectacular. Pretty, but not beautiful.
The necklace was ordinary.
But the words that the man painted tainted Melina. What was a nice necklace of decent quality was instead something alluring. The thought that the color could draw the viewer to her eyes, the best part of her appearance was something Melina very much wanted. Perhaps you should try it on?
Melina could not help but bite her lip but nodded. She removed the necklace that was on her neck, carefully setting it down on the table before her and held the man’s necklace in her hands. It felt almost… heavier than the other ones. That must be because the stones and metals were different, Melina thought as she slipped the necklace around her neck.
The blue centerpiece was beautiful. The color radiant, and unlike any gem Melina had seen before. It was thick, and deep and something Melina could get lost in. It almost reminded her of some of the glassblown pieces she had seen in the market. The pretty arts that Melina marveled and wish she could have the ability to create. To think that the piece came from the Earth, beyond the lands of Greece, was amazing to Melina. She was lucky to have found this stall.
Should I buy it? For a moment Melina doubted her own taste. Was it that lovely, or was her mind wishing it was simply because she wanted it to be true? Would Dafni see this and laugh? Or Agape? Or any of the maids inside the house? Would she be gossiped about? Would she be made fun of?
Can’t I be confident for once in my life? Melina thought frustrated. Why was she always like this? Why couldn’t she just… take a leap of faith?
Fingering the necklace, she looked up at the man. Melina’s teeth dug into her bottom lip nervously. “How much is this?”
The sale appeared to be going well. Planetes couldn't be entirely certain, and he did not like to be arrogant about these matters lest things did not go as expected and he ended up with a loss, but he thought he had a right to be confident enough. Her eyes were looking over the necklace in a manner which did not imply distaste, and he thought his story had been enough to start pushing her over the edge.
"Doesn't that look gorgeous," he grinned as she put it around her neck, the words sounding genuine not because of the charisma he put such an effort into using but because, for once, one of his customers did look fine in their selection. "That's just the sort of thing I'm sure all the ladies at court would love, no? Not that I'd know, of course, but I have sold a few trinkets to other fine ladies like yourself." Besides, he quite needed this sale, so Planetes was willing to say most things that seemed as though they would lead things the way he wanted them.
At last, she asked the question that tended to suggest a customer was about to purchase the item in question. His gaze flickered down to the piece of jewellery for a split second, as though he was not quite sure of his answer just yet. "Usually, a piece like that'd go for about fifteen or so drachmae, but I could lower the price for you. We could do ten. Seven if you really must, but I can't go any lower than that." The actual worth of the necklace was probably substantially less, but the increased price tended to make others believe in its value more clearly. Besides, Planetes needed enough for him and Atalanta to survive for some amount of time, and this was supposed to be one of his best sales of the day.
He scanned over the rest of the jewellery on his table, as if he was trying to find something else that might suit her interests, pointing thing fingers at some of the almost-similar but obviously cheaper looking pieces. The ones that he didn't want to try and push on the wealthier customers like the lady before him. Mostly, he used them as an incentive. "Of course, if you think that price absurd, I do have other alternatives, but I don't think you want one of those. Besides, the price only mirrors the quality of the piece." Or something like that. It would have been truthful if the jewels were real, but on this occasion, they were little more than words chosen to convince a customer that looked trickable enough. "Shall we make a deal?"
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The sale appeared to be going well. Planetes couldn't be entirely certain, and he did not like to be arrogant about these matters lest things did not go as expected and he ended up with a loss, but he thought he had a right to be confident enough. Her eyes were looking over the necklace in a manner which did not imply distaste, and he thought his story had been enough to start pushing her over the edge.
"Doesn't that look gorgeous," he grinned as she put it around her neck, the words sounding genuine not because of the charisma he put such an effort into using but because, for once, one of his customers did look fine in their selection. "That's just the sort of thing I'm sure all the ladies at court would love, no? Not that I'd know, of course, but I have sold a few trinkets to other fine ladies like yourself." Besides, he quite needed this sale, so Planetes was willing to say most things that seemed as though they would lead things the way he wanted them.
At last, she asked the question that tended to suggest a customer was about to purchase the item in question. His gaze flickered down to the piece of jewellery for a split second, as though he was not quite sure of his answer just yet. "Usually, a piece like that'd go for about fifteen or so drachmae, but I could lower the price for you. We could do ten. Seven if you really must, but I can't go any lower than that." The actual worth of the necklace was probably substantially less, but the increased price tended to make others believe in its value more clearly. Besides, Planetes needed enough for him and Atalanta to survive for some amount of time, and this was supposed to be one of his best sales of the day.
He scanned over the rest of the jewellery on his table, as if he was trying to find something else that might suit her interests, pointing thing fingers at some of the almost-similar but obviously cheaper looking pieces. The ones that he didn't want to try and push on the wealthier customers like the lady before him. Mostly, he used them as an incentive. "Of course, if you think that price absurd, I do have other alternatives, but I don't think you want one of those. Besides, the price only mirrors the quality of the piece." Or something like that. It would have been truthful if the jewels were real, but on this occasion, they were little more than words chosen to convince a customer that looked trickable enough. "Shall we make a deal?"
The sale appeared to be going well. Planetes couldn't be entirely certain, and he did not like to be arrogant about these matters lest things did not go as expected and he ended up with a loss, but he thought he had a right to be confident enough. Her eyes were looking over the necklace in a manner which did not imply distaste, and he thought his story had been enough to start pushing her over the edge.
"Doesn't that look gorgeous," he grinned as she put it around her neck, the words sounding genuine not because of the charisma he put such an effort into using but because, for once, one of his customers did look fine in their selection. "That's just the sort of thing I'm sure all the ladies at court would love, no? Not that I'd know, of course, but I have sold a few trinkets to other fine ladies like yourself." Besides, he quite needed this sale, so Planetes was willing to say most things that seemed as though they would lead things the way he wanted them.
At last, she asked the question that tended to suggest a customer was about to purchase the item in question. His gaze flickered down to the piece of jewellery for a split second, as though he was not quite sure of his answer just yet. "Usually, a piece like that'd go for about fifteen or so drachmae, but I could lower the price for you. We could do ten. Seven if you really must, but I can't go any lower than that." The actual worth of the necklace was probably substantially less, but the increased price tended to make others believe in its value more clearly. Besides, Planetes needed enough for him and Atalanta to survive for some amount of time, and this was supposed to be one of his best sales of the day.
He scanned over the rest of the jewellery on his table, as if he was trying to find something else that might suit her interests, pointing thing fingers at some of the almost-similar but obviously cheaper looking pieces. The ones that he didn't want to try and push on the wealthier customers like the lady before him. Mostly, he used them as an incentive. "Of course, if you think that price absurd, I do have other alternatives, but I don't think you want one of those. Besides, the price only mirrors the quality of the piece." Or something like that. It would have been truthful if the jewels were real, but on this occasion, they were little more than words chosen to convince a customer that looked trickable enough. "Shall we make a deal?"
Melina was a Leventi, and money really was no object to her. She never once thought about the price when she was buying something. It was never the question of is this too expensive but the question is this too cheap? She did know the higher the price, the better the quality. It was common sense.
Unless she was getting scammed.
For a moment, Melina hesitated. He was being very complimentary towards her. She was used to the empty compliments of merchants. They always wanted to sell, and would be willing to say anything in order to do it. This man certainly was no different. Though he complimented her a lot. Was that suspicious? After just being made fun of, she certainly was sensitive. Could he sense that? Was this… a malicious scam?
Not everyone in this world is bad, Melina. She thought to herself. You should trust people more often. Though growing up with Fotios of Leventi as her father and Erini of Leventi as her mother… it was easy to learn from them that people usually had a dark, hidden side. But this man was just an ordinary merchant. And… well, he was kind.
Perhaps it was naive of Melina. Maybe she just wanted to believe that she did look pretty. Maybe she just wanted to believe that kindness existed. Maybe she just wanted to hold onto hope as long as she possibly could. And what was the worst that would happen? She loses drachma? No one at the Leventi house would lose sleep over that.
Now pride on the other hand? That would be lost. Good thing Melina had none to begin with.
“Ten? That sounds fair,” Melina had no real reason to go down to seven. Besides, he had been so kind to her. He even bartered himself down, despite the fact that Melina would have been more than willing to pay the fair price. Melina reached into her coin purse and counted them all out carefully. That would end her shopping trip early, but it was worth it if she went home with a beautiful necklace. Maybe Dafni might even be impressed and compliment her taste.
“There we go,” She dropped the heavy coins into the man’s hand with a smile on her face. “Thank you.”
With that, Melina closed her coin purse and gave the man a nod. She fingered the necklace around her neck and went on her way. Maybe if Dafni liked it… she could bring her here too. It might be nice to shop together and show for once Melina had good taste.
If only.
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Melina was a Leventi, and money really was no object to her. She never once thought about the price when she was buying something. It was never the question of is this too expensive but the question is this too cheap? She did know the higher the price, the better the quality. It was common sense.
Unless she was getting scammed.
For a moment, Melina hesitated. He was being very complimentary towards her. She was used to the empty compliments of merchants. They always wanted to sell, and would be willing to say anything in order to do it. This man certainly was no different. Though he complimented her a lot. Was that suspicious? After just being made fun of, she certainly was sensitive. Could he sense that? Was this… a malicious scam?
Not everyone in this world is bad, Melina. She thought to herself. You should trust people more often. Though growing up with Fotios of Leventi as her father and Erini of Leventi as her mother… it was easy to learn from them that people usually had a dark, hidden side. But this man was just an ordinary merchant. And… well, he was kind.
Perhaps it was naive of Melina. Maybe she just wanted to believe that she did look pretty. Maybe she just wanted to believe that kindness existed. Maybe she just wanted to hold onto hope as long as she possibly could. And what was the worst that would happen? She loses drachma? No one at the Leventi house would lose sleep over that.
Now pride on the other hand? That would be lost. Good thing Melina had none to begin with.
“Ten? That sounds fair,” Melina had no real reason to go down to seven. Besides, he had been so kind to her. He even bartered himself down, despite the fact that Melina would have been more than willing to pay the fair price. Melina reached into her coin purse and counted them all out carefully. That would end her shopping trip early, but it was worth it if she went home with a beautiful necklace. Maybe Dafni might even be impressed and compliment her taste.
“There we go,” She dropped the heavy coins into the man’s hand with a smile on her face. “Thank you.”
With that, Melina closed her coin purse and gave the man a nod. She fingered the necklace around her neck and went on her way. Maybe if Dafni liked it… she could bring her here too. It might be nice to shop together and show for once Melina had good taste.
If only.
Melina was a Leventi, and money really was no object to her. She never once thought about the price when she was buying something. It was never the question of is this too expensive but the question is this too cheap? She did know the higher the price, the better the quality. It was common sense.
Unless she was getting scammed.
For a moment, Melina hesitated. He was being very complimentary towards her. She was used to the empty compliments of merchants. They always wanted to sell, and would be willing to say anything in order to do it. This man certainly was no different. Though he complimented her a lot. Was that suspicious? After just being made fun of, she certainly was sensitive. Could he sense that? Was this… a malicious scam?
Not everyone in this world is bad, Melina. She thought to herself. You should trust people more often. Though growing up with Fotios of Leventi as her father and Erini of Leventi as her mother… it was easy to learn from them that people usually had a dark, hidden side. But this man was just an ordinary merchant. And… well, he was kind.
Perhaps it was naive of Melina. Maybe she just wanted to believe that she did look pretty. Maybe she just wanted to believe that kindness existed. Maybe she just wanted to hold onto hope as long as she possibly could. And what was the worst that would happen? She loses drachma? No one at the Leventi house would lose sleep over that.
Now pride on the other hand? That would be lost. Good thing Melina had none to begin with.
“Ten? That sounds fair,” Melina had no real reason to go down to seven. Besides, he had been so kind to her. He even bartered himself down, despite the fact that Melina would have been more than willing to pay the fair price. Melina reached into her coin purse and counted them all out carefully. That would end her shopping trip early, but it was worth it if she went home with a beautiful necklace. Maybe Dafni might even be impressed and compliment her taste.
“There we go,” She dropped the heavy coins into the man’s hand with a smile on her face. “Thank you.”
With that, Melina closed her coin purse and gave the man a nod. She fingered the necklace around her neck and went on her way. Maybe if Dafni liked it… she could bring her here too. It might be nice to shop together and show for once Melina had good taste.
