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#Post#: 172--------------------------------------------------
Nobles and their Gemstones
By: Lapis Lazuli Date: December 24, 2013, 10:21 am
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It was hot in Canterlot when Lapis arrived, her bright
ultramarine and slightly transparent coat (or the parts of it
not covered by her azure jacket) sparkling almost painfully (for
any who might have been looking her direction) in the midday
sun, as she made her way through the city's gates, her
ornate-but-sturdy looking wooden cart following her every
hoofstep. Fair enough, since she was yoked to it, and seemed to
drag it along behind her with relative ease, despite the shop
and humble home contained within.
With a satisfied grunt, the tall, toned, crystal mare finally
detached from her cart, leaving it in the shadow of nearby
buildings, in the area she usually resided whilst visiting the
city of Canterlot. It was a nice place, if a little too posh for
her tastes, but the most important feature of the grand city was
the wealth of its residents; the bits your customers could rub
together, being something rather important when it came to the
sale of valuable gems, and jewellery as well.
Stretching out her back and shoulders after today's long trek,
the bright-blue mare then busied herself with setting up her
business. The ornate, yet also humble cart quickly transformed
into a small, but tasteful shop. Displays of rare and strange
gemstones were set all around the shop, along with a few ornate
pieces of jewellery, the less expensive and slightly less
impressive gemstones on display in places of slightly less
importance, with her most prised and well-carved gems in places
of pride and importance, twinkling brightly and beautifully in
the light from the cart's windows.
After everything was set out, and the most important pieces were
given a little extra polish, the crystal pony moved to sit by
the stall's entrance, her smile friendly and welcoming, as she
leaned back against her cart and waited. The sign above her
home/shop announced proudly to all that passed, that Lapis
Lazuli's Fine Gemstones, was open and ready for business.
#Post#: 187--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nobles and their Gemstones
By: Sero Date: December 24, 2013, 10:33 pm
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Would have probably been a good idea to bring his hat today,
Sero thought, raising a hoof to shield his face from the sun as
he trotted his way down Canterlot's busy streets, shop after
shop passing by as he either felt no reason to visit or saw
nothing of interest. His white coat and fading blue mane and
tail were doing an alright job on their own of reflecting some
of the heat bearing down on him from above, but he'd have most
likely still benefited from a nice wide brim granting shade,
something the unicorn was now having trouble not dwelling on as
yet another store was passed up, his having no need for a new
barbecue causing Sero to leave it behind with nothing more than
a glance of mild interest.
What he really needed, was an expert to consult over a certain
neat little shiny he'd picked up while out of town. Certain
events had... "encouraged" the unicorn to head home quickly
rather than stick around further up north through the last legs
of his recent trip. He had a few ideas on who to hit up for a
fresh take, as well as his own theories and such as to its
purpose based on what he'd learned while away, but sometimes he
found that the best ponies to ask for an opinion can be found
after a simple walk down a street should you pay attention
enough to notice them.
Like that jewellery shop cart thing-ama-bob... Hmm...
"Afternoon, ma'am." Sero greeted the mare standing at the
entrance with a friendly smile, reaching a hoof up as if to tip
the hat he'd so foolishly left behind, him then getting a closer
look at her now that he was standing at her door step before
having his attention go over the more easy to see items on
display within her shop/cart. "I think you may have just made my
day."
#Post#: 190--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nobles and their Gemstones
By: Lapis Lazuli Date: December 25, 2013, 12:47 am
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Seeing an interested-looking white stallion approach her shop,
Lapis stood, stretching her powerful shoulders, and returned his
imaginary doffing of a hat, by flicking him a mock salute. The
crystal mare grinned a little, at the thought of having her
first customer within minutes of her arrival in the grand city
of Canterlot. It certainly boded well for the trip, and made the
lengthy walk seem more worthwhile.
"Afternoon." She replied to his greeting, earnestly and simply,
before raising an eyebrow in interest at his follow-up
statement, the ultramarine mare now moving to the shop's
doorway. It was more visible from this angle that she herself
was a crystal pony, her coat, near flawlessly shiny, but for an
impressive scar beneath her eye, which looked rather like a
scratch on an otherwise perfect gemstone.
"How so, exactly? If you're looking to buy or sell gems, or have
them appraised, cut or shaped, then yeah, a visit to my shop
Will have made your day. Cmon in." Lapis replied, voice at first
questioning, before becoming a little more salespony-like, and
she ended her description of her shop's services, by walking
into the cramped-yet-comfortable shop, her long, faded-brown
tail beckoning him to follow after her.
#Post#: 191--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nobles and their Gemstones
By: Sero Date: December 25, 2013, 2:08 am
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"Perhaps a little bit of each." Sero claimed, following the
mare, and her tail, into her shop and taking in the sight of her
inventory with a careful eye. It was rather impressive for such
a small shop, the gemstones on display earning an impressed look
as Sero spent a few moments silently identifying most while
making note of the ones he wasn't so sure about. Seeing that the
more important ones were in view towards the front of the shop,
Sero actually gravitated more towards the back to examine the
rougher less impressive pieces, him taking one relatively dull
red gem in his hoof and holding it up to the light of one of the
windows before again speaking to the mare.
"If you don't mind me saying, ma'am, your coat carries a rather
pleasant shine, it being the kind I've grown used to seeing
during my recent travels. This is probably a silly question, but
you are a visitor from the Empire, yes? Beautiful place."
Setting the gem back down on its place of display, Sero gave
another sweep of his eyes over the gems and jewelry before
finding the crystal mare again as he put on a mock look of
challenge, "You know, I've always considered myself to be almost
an expert on gems myself, mostly book learning I'll admit, and
there's a little game I like to play with the shops I come
across specializing in such things. My name is Sero, by the way,
and I was just now, after seeing what you have in stock,
beginning to wonder if you would like to play, Miss...?"
#Post#: 193--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nobles and their Gemstones
By: Lapis Lazuli Date: December 25, 2013, 9:18 am
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"A little of each? Do explain." Lapis responded bluntly,
standing aside to observe the pale stallion, as he in turn
observed her less-valuable wares (still masterfully crafted,
mind you), her own expression one of clear curiosity.
Her only response to his compliment was an audible snort of mild
irritation, the bright mare actually rather irritated by the
Shine of her own coat, which, in direct sunlight, was known to
have caused accidents in the past.
"Yep. It's pretty alright, but the real beauty of the Empire is
underground. You think the crystals used to build the cities are
incredible? Try taking a trip through the caverns and mines
where they were taken from. And nah, I'm no tourist. I live here
in Equestria, just travel around the place when I feel business
slowing." The ultramarine mare replied, voice initially
dismissive, but growing just a tad in enthusiasm as she talked
of the mines and tunnels of her home.
"Book learning? Heh, sorry if I offend you, but there's no way
to become an Expert on gemstones, with books alone. You ever
even been in a mine before? Every gem you see here was found,
dug up, prepared, cut and polished by yours truly; I think I can
probably play your game. And the name's Lapis. Lapis Lazuli."
The sparkly mare responded, leaning back against a nearby wall
as she waited for him to continue, her pride in her work, and
mildly antisocial/impolite tendencies, totally obvious.
#Post#: 195--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nobles and their Gemstones
By: Sero Date: December 25, 2013, 9:47 am
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Caverns and mines? "Hmm... I've seen a few, I suppose." Sero
answered, the truth taking a bit of a twist for the moment as
he... downplayed some things, "being a bit of a tourist myself
up in the Empire on a few occasions, I simply couldn't help but
peek into a couple of mines while I was around." Like pebbles
against a helmet, the mares attitude bounced harmlessly off of
Sero, the unicorn not appearing to have minded it in the least
as he simply smiled at her confidence. "The game is simple, Miss
Lazuli, and there is only one goal. I want to see proof of just
how good you are at what you do. All you need to do is show me
one of your best pieces and demonstrate your skills in appraisal
and show off your knowledge in this field, something that should
be a breeze if what I've already seen is any sign. The reward
for winning, and penalty for me if I lose, is that I need to
find a way to impress you back."
#Post#: 196--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nobles and their Gemstones
By: Lapis Lazuli Date: December 25, 2013, 10:13 am
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Lazuli listened thoughtfully for a moment, smiling a little as
he explained his experiences with the Empire's mines, and then
raising an eyebrow in a mixture of confusion and suspicion, in
response to his challenge.
"Sounds interesting, if a bit odd.. This isn't some bizarrely
elaborate way of attempting to rob me or hit on me, is it; Sero?
Or whatever you said your name was?" Lazuli replied, tone
bluntly questioning, the powerful-looking mare eying the pale
stallion with a little suspicion, as she stood and made her way
over to a nearby display, awaiting his response before she
divulged the whereabouts of her rarest and most valuable gems.
#Post#: 198--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nobles and their Gemstones
By: Sero Date: December 25, 2013, 10:27 am
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"Ah," Sero mildly faked as though he'd been stabbed in the
heart, hoof going to just beneath the closed compass hanging
from his neck as he pretended to wear a pained grimace, "please,
Miss Lazuli, to suspect me of planning petty theft wounds me. I
assure you that I am a gentlecolt of honor whenever it comes to
this game of mine. As for that second thing.. well.. I think
I'll leave that up for you to decide."
#Post#: 203--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nobles and their Gemstones
By: Lapis Lazuli Date: December 25, 2013, 10:59 am
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Lapis' only response to his mock-injury and subsequent words,
was a faint snort of exasperation and the rolling of her
dull-golden eyes, although it wasn't too hard to tell it was
just a little forced, the blue mare actually slightly flattered
by his attentions, although not enough to comment or think about
it further.
"Well, how do we start this game, then?" Lapis spoke up, moving
to rifle through a display case of her more valuable gems, which
would apparently be needed for this little game.
#Post#: 204--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nobles and their Gemstones
By: Sero Date: December 25, 2013, 11:33 am
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"Simple. First I sit down," Sero explained, taking a seat where
he stood and straightening his back, "then I patiently wait for
you to take all the time you need to decide on something of
yours that you believe will really 'wow' me. Something that
would make a stallion who has everything walk on in here and say
'boy, I really would like to have that...'All you do then is
present it, explain why its so special, and show off how you
really know your stuff. Should you successfully impress me, you
win. Then its my turn to hopefully return the favor."
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