(OTA) Things are pretty, graceful, rich, elegant, handsome, but...

[nightflowering]

[A.]
When looking to buy or sell an unusual item, Kunstkammer is a small, but well respected shop that specializes in ephemera and curiosities. The lights are dimmed to protect the colours of the more delicate pieces, but should one wind their way through the somewhat maze-like cabinets and cases, they will likely find their way to a desk, a few chairs, and a circle of warm lighting. The proprietor, Lan, is most often found here reading or cataloging some new, strange find. She is a petite fae woman with smooth pale pink skin pebbled over with small scales more like a ray than a snake.

Of course, there is a back-of-shop filled with items of a more usual, occasionally salacious or dangerous nature. Should anyone have an interest, Lan is just as happy to sell or trade any piece from her collection. She has a particular weakness for anything that she classifies as 'beautiful', but her definition may not match the standard.

(Or you can continue from the TDM over here.)

[B.] Lan isn't one to be caught out on public transit, not when it's just as easy to slip slideways and walk along a more interesting shortcut. That isn't to say that she's not often seen out and about: there's always a gallery opening, a curious tasting menu, or some flavour of performance that's worth taking in. While she may be Seelie, she's more likely to be spotted at night and she certainly does nothing to hide who or what she is.

Comments

B

[roddy_reinigen]

Roddy was busking again, now that it was one of the rare evenings in London without rain, and he wanted to take advantage of it while he could. He'd been playing, and playing well, until he spotted one particular face nearby. Her scaled appearance was distinctly reptilian, and that, to his rodent brain, was completely terrifying.

He froze.

He stared a moment, nose twitching slightly as he tried to take in any scent that might give him more information about this strange creature.

[nightflowering]

Lan is perfectly content to stop and listen for a short while. He's quite good and the longer she listens, the more likely the colours on her throat will shift and move in time with the music. When he stalls, she cocks her head to one side to try and determine what's gone wrong.

[roddy_reinigen]

The fact that Roddy was staring straight at her in shock might give her an inkling of what went wrong. After a few more moments of hesitation, Roddy started to play again, though he watched her the entire time to see how she'd react.

[nightflowering]

You'd think that more people would be used to the fae in London, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Did she have these troubles in Europe? Occasionally, but not as frequently. Fortunately, she's not offended.

As Roddy finished his piece, she leaves a single, brightly shining coin for him. It's not any common currency, but if he plays while it sits amongst his change more people will stop and listen. They may choose to pay or not, but it gives a little nudge to make Roddy more noticeable.

[roddy_reinigen]

After a bit, Roddy convinced himself that she was not going to eat him. By the end of the song, he was still curious as to why she was walking around without a glamour, and still wary and confused, but still, when she left the coin, he simply nodded and said, "Thanks."

He noticed even without bending down to look that something was strange about the coin, but he wasn't going to investigate it, yet. She was clearly fae, so a normal coin wasn't expected, anyway.

[nightflowering]

Thanks.

Perhaps the people of London don't have much experience with fae. Perhaps she should be more understanding. If she chose to wander about in a false skin and ape the humans, maybe then there'd be some excuse. Even so, thanks.

Lan's expression doesn't change as she walks away, but the coin's sparkle dims until it's as dull as old brass. Odds are, Roddy's violin strings will snap or fray.

[roddy_reinigen]

When Roddy's violin strings snapped, he was startled, and decided to put the violin away. Looking at the coin, which had faded now, he wondered...the timing was a bit suspicious, and that night he'd decide he didn't want to keep it on him and he'd throw it in the river. He had no experience with fae, and had never heard of them walking around without a glamour like that where all sorts of non-supernatural folk could see them, but he was iffy on trusting them.

At least she didn't eat him, though.