OPEN THREAD PROMPT
[SHOP PURCHASE 1/5]

Azazeal Mysra is gift shopping very indecisively and asks for the help/opinion of the nearest person.

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A

zazeal and Athena had become increasingly inseparable ever since they met - and especially recently. That afternoon was the first time they had really gone their own ways for any significant stretch of time since arriving in Thisbē nearly a week earlier. He was completely enamored with her. And he found it difficult to want to be anywhere else than in her company. Az was behind on collecting gifts for the people he wanted to give to for Solstice, though, and planned to use their time apart to do just that. Athena, meanwhile… well, he was not entirely sure what she was would be up to that afternoon, but looked forward to hearing about it when they rejoined each other’s company for the bonfires. And, with any luck, he will have found the perfect gift for her by then.

His left arm cradled a fair number of things he intended to buy. Even so, Az could tell the shopkeeper was growing impatient with his presence and the way he stood silently scrutinizing, picking up and putting back, second-guessing, and overthinking every little trinket. He shook his head and moved on to another display. Az had spent a great deal of time in this particular shop. It had a wide variety of objects and he had done well finding gifts for the other friends he would be seeing, and he was determined not to have to go anywhere else at that point in the day. Although Athena was not expecting anything, Azazeal had set a high bar for himself. He was generally a very apt gift-giver for things that were both thoughtful and practical. With Athena, he had added additional boxes to tick and so far was finding it difficult to choose one or even three things together that could achieve what he was going for.

“Excuse me,” Azazeal said to the person nearest him, eyes fixed on an item on the table. He waved his free hand a little to get their attention. “Would you mind offering your opinion about something?”

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tag: OPEN (multiple characters/players welcome)

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L

ucas had also been searching for gifts for the Midsummer Solstice, but only for one person: Lilith. His mentor wasn't much of a friend-- don't get him wrong, the old man was a great dude, but sometimes he got on his damn nerves and recently he'd done just that. Lucas hadn't been upset at someone in a long while, so when his mentor managed to do just that it rubbed the herbalist the wrong way. So no Solstice presents for him.

Lucas moved to another display, looking at the assortment of trinkets and baubles that were scattered strategically across the case. It seemed the older gentleman next to him seemed to be having the same issues as him: not being able to make a decision for the life of him. So when the other male turned to him, he wasn't all that surprised by his question. "Yeah, what's up?" He turned fully towards the other, a chuckle nearly bubbling up when he spotted the perplexed look on the mans face.

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tag: Azazeal Mysra

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H

e graciously thanked the younger man for agreeing to help him and heaved a sigh of relief before launching into his conundrum. Azazeal knew it was a silly thing to be so hung up about. Neither could he shake that feeling and just pick something, though. He knew it didn’t have to be anything particularly remarkable. At least not this first Solstice together when they were hardly, if at all, attuned to each others’ tastes, needs, or wants. Still, he did not want it to be entirely impersonal either. (If it could be helped.)

Maybe half a dozen generic gifts could make up for not finding one very fine gift? Or would that overwhelm her?

Azazeal shook his head slightly as if to clear the thoughts away. He was getting distracted and overthinking it all again…

“Uhm, so,” he said after a small delay, not wanting to trespass upon the other customer’s time any more than he would be doing, “I have this… friend?” Az paused, reconsidering the descriptor. ‘Friend’ was not very befitting. They were much more than that now but he wasn’t exactly sure they were officially courting either. Although, if he was being honest with himself, he had every intention of asking for her hand someday, and knew it almost the moment they had met.

He shook his head again, realizing he had trailed off. “Anyway. It’s our first Solstice together and I would love to gift her something quite special, I just cannot seem to decide on anything.”

Az awkwardly rearranged the myriad of objects he was carrying to free up one of his arms - nearly dropping everything in the process - so that he could indicate the latest object of his consideration. “What do you think of this?” It was a fine leather belt with a small, rectangular hip bag on one side and a thigh harness on the other with a place for a dagger. “Is it too…” Practical? Unromantic? Forward? Strangely violent? He raised his brows quizzically in lieu of an all-compassing word to punctuate the unfinished question.

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tag: Lucas Dahl

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H

e examined the piece his newfound comrade had picked out for his lady love. "To be completely honest, I wouldn’t want to piss your lady off if that is the first thing you pick out, mate." The grin on his face gives away the joking manner of his words, but it isn’t like he’d been trying to stop the other man from seeing through it.

"If you’re getting her that, I’d have to reckon she isn’t just some noble woman, despite your own appearance— no offense but you don’t look like a street rat or a peddler, or even a merchant, mate— but she also isn’t just a fling you’ve decided to spoil. I take it she doesn’t appreciate jewels, much to your own chagrin, so you’ve decided something more practical would do the job alright? That’s just my two cents on your relationship but the consensus here is that yes, yes you should get it for her. And I know a grand old smithy who would be happy to make something just right for that holster there." He hadn’t meant to ramble but it happened anyways. Now his face was a bit red at his own bumbling social skills as he glanced back at the holsters the man had been looking at. One caught his eye— it had a spot for a book (one of any size he presumed) to be strapped onto it as well as various loops for what he could only fathom that they were used for herbal pouches and gathering when one is in the forest alone and has somehow run out of room in one’s satchel for anymore plants or specimens. On the left, though, was a holster for a dagger or a sword’s sheath to be strapped onto the harness and he couldn’t help but beam at the sight.

His gaze lights up and he swipes it up before any of his fellow shoppers could see the absolute find he’d managed to locate. It would be perfect for Lilith, since he already had one that was near identical that he’d gone and made by his own hand.

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tag: Azazeal Mysra

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A

zazeal chuckled and nodded his agreement. It was far from his first idea but the lad was not wrong about what it said about Athena. From what little he had seen of her skill with a bow and other combative abilities, she was formidable. That did not even take into account what she might be able to do with her magic. He certainly would not want to cross her.

“No offense taken,” he assured the young man; a lilt of laughter in his voice. It was an interesting assessment that poured out of the lad. Az wondered what it was about him that gave off several of the noted impressions but decided he liked not knowing better. “I think I prefer that she does not have a particular fondness for jewels. I would be even further out of my depth otherwise.”

At the mention of having a good blacksmith connection, he smiled. “Ah, you’re a local then!” Unfortunately for Az, there wasn’t time enough to take him up on the recommendation to have anything custom-made. It was a pity he had not come to this conclusion about her gift sooner, else he might have planned it out better. “Is the shop close by? And, do you know if he sells premade blades? I’m due to meet Athena quite soon, actually, and I'll need enough time to get a place at the bonfires.”

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tag: Lucas Dahl

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H

e would smile, clutching the holster in his hands with a slight nervous shake to his hands. Usually he was quite good with people, and there really wasn't a trigger for his sudden anxiety... but often there is no real threat. He could handle this.

Lucas would take a deep breath, although subtly as to hide it and not give away his anxious demeanor, before answering the man. "Ah, I'm from the countryside in Brelan, not a local," He would put his free hand up behind his head and rub the soft spot between his shoulders. "You go down by the Cluttered Kitchen, y'know, the bar down by the square? He'll be set up over there with whatever wares he has left." Lucas motioned for the man to walk with him to pay for the things they've picked out, smiling. He put the holster on the counter and dug out the coins he would need for it, dropping them into the womans hand with a shy smile. She smiled back before glancing at the man next to him.

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tag: Azazeal Mysra

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A

z gave a friendly smile and shrugged one shoulder. “Well, thanks all the same. I will be sure to stop by there on my way.” He was a little surprised the young man was not local with how freely his recommendation came but supposed that could have been for any number of reasons. In any case, it was to his gain as well as the shopkeeper’s. The latter seemed to be relieved that Azazeal was finally ready to purchase his armful of goods and move on.

The pair exited the shop and parted ways. Az thanked Lucas again for his help. “May your Solstice days be joyful!”

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tag: Lucas Dahl / end thread