Just what was needed.

Posted on Sat Aug 18th, 2018 @ 6:43pm by Jacaranda

1,161 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 96 - A Visitor From the Past
Location: Starbase 400, Promenade, Curious Goods
Timeline: MD10 (Late Afternoon)

ON:

The day was seeming fine for Curious Goods, a few sales on some figurines, and Jaca had managed to send a shoplifter running in terror when he thought she was distracted only to have her twist her head backwards with eyes flashing flames asking if wished to make a deal with a positively demented needle toothed grin. It still had her chuckling as she composed herself back to normal with some force of will.

She walked among the shelves, giving people space, but ready to answer questions if they had them.

Lai'lira had needed time to get her head together. She decided, after work, to visit a new shop that had opened. She'd heard some of Sage's clients talk about the odd objects and had wanted to see things for herself. As of late she'd taken to collecting lapel pins. She smiled and she walked though the shop. It certainly had items to hold her interest.

Jaca noticed the newcomer. She didn’t have the vibe/aura of a shoplifter, so there was that. Still giving the newcomer some space to casually take note where her eyes went to have an idea what she might be interested in, once Jaca felt she had an idea, she moved.

With a smile Jaca hoped was welcoming and not coming across like she was ready to start feasting on blood and souls, she greeted the newcomer, “Welcome to Curious Goods, what is your desire?”

Lai'lira smiled as she turned to the woman before her. "Hello. You have a lovely shop! There is so much to look at. I was wondering ... do you by chance sell these?" She pulled out a couple of lapel pins that a Vulcan client of Splendora's had given her. "Also do you sell leather bound paper notebooks?" That one she wanted for Splendora's special day.

Not for the first time, Jaca wished fleshbooks had been approved in the trade agreement because a leather bound notebook was nice, one of living skin was clearly better. “What we don’t have, I can make.”, she said as she led the way to a variety of pins and clothing clasps ranging from a dozen worlds and eras, “Notebooks depends on the specifics. Something old, something recent, one of a particular leather?”

Lai'lira smiled. "Oh my! Look at these!" She picked out five pins right off the bat and handed them to Jaca. "The notebook would be something from Earth maybe early two thousands, soft leather...faux leather come to think of it and maybe in lavender colour with parchment blank pages?" She had seen that very notebook on Splendora's list of must haves.

Jaca had no clue what faux leather was. Probably like that pleather material Maria described. “Let’s see what we have in notebooks.”, she said as she led the way to some shelves with a large bin underneath, “Unused ones are a bit hard to find, but not impossible.” The notebooks and sketch pads were displayed much like books in an old bookstore, neatly organized by era, and culture of origin. The oldest was from 1940s Earth with spiral binding. “If you don’t see what you’re looking for, I’ll open the bin.”

Lai'lira looked around. There were some lovely ones but nothing like the image Splendora had. "None of these, I'm afraid, are the ones. Let's look at the bin," she said enthusiastically.

“Bin it is.”, Jaca said as she pulled the bin drawer out. It creaked from the weight and her muscles rippled as she opened it wide enough to dig through. The variety ranged from simple colors to still vivid Lisa Frank designs. If they couldn’t find the particular type wanted, Jaca was ready to dye a cover if need be.

Lai'lira looked through it noting catching her attention, She had been about to give up when something lavender and emerald got her eyes. She pulled it up and her delight showed. She practically squealed. "This is it! It even has the emerald leaf design. This is the one."

Jaca grinned widely. She had been ready to end up in dye to her elbows if that was what it took. “Excellent.”, she said, “Is there anything else you desire?”

Lai'lira thought a moment. "Do you have any Romulan artifacts?" She was hopeful that the woman did.

“We have some.”, Jaca said, “Hoping for more next freighter in.” She led the way over to a free standing set of shelves with a clothes rack. A vibrant shawl of emerald gemweave with a border of cloth of silver. The pattern was one popular on Romulus 200 years ago. There was also a set of figurines for a house shrine, celebrating the Elements, along with a festive tablecloth emblazoned with various depictions of the Great Bird of the Galaxy.

Lai'lira felt a sudden wave of sadness. She missed home yet it was the place she wanted to leave the most. "I will take the cloth, and the figurines and the shawl." She would be back of course. This was a start to exploring herself and her background and all that was lost.

"Of course.", Jaca said, a bit surprised in a good way with how much the woman was snapping up. Not that she was complaining, but more to let Maria know they had someone interested in Rihansucatl items. "Was there anything else you desire?", she asked as she carefully gathered the items to carry to the front register.

Lia'lira followed her. "No this is good for now but I will be back." There was a sadness to her as the walked up. Transferred the credits needed to the woman. "When will you be getting the Romulan items in? Do you know what they are?"

"We've got the Shepard coming in soon claiming they've got Vulcan items but their captain wouldn't know the difference between Vulcan and Romulan if you pointed it out, rubbed his nose in it, and backed it up with a hook spider biting him in the danglies when he gets it wrong. There's likely some Romulan items there. In a couple days we'll have the Terenzi brothers swinging by, they'll likely have clothes and jewelry. That's not counting whoever comes in looking to sell something interesting.", Jaca said. While she'd never been to Romulus, she did have some shared memories from the Linefounder. "I'll leave a note to contact you first when we get anything in so you have first look."

Lai'lira brightened. "Thank you so much!" She paid for her purchases. "I will be back soon then." She smiled warmly at the woman. "Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it."

Jaca wrapped the purchases with a flourish. "I'm happy we could satisfy your desire.", she said with a needle toothed grin, "I do hope we continue to do so."

Picking up her purchases she headed out. There were a few more things on her to do list to finish.

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