Peddler

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Location: Dula: Docks

September 15th, Open to anyone, about 9AM

"Come one, come all, the finest star charts money can buy!" Cepheid shouted, under the guise of The Star Man. He was always a bit more careful with his charts while in Dula, simply because their culture was a bit less disciplined and he didn't want his precious wares walking off.

"Lost at sea nevermore! Guaranteed accurate or your money back, if you can find me anyway. I'm pretty sure if it wasn't I don't think you'd be seeing much of anyone." A small chuckle from the crowd, and to entertain the onlookers, and a few of the children that had come by to watch, he decided to do a few illusions, making a person's wristwatch disappear and then reappear in the owner's pocket; pulling a rose from his hat, which he then gifted to a little girl in the front row; and a few other little tricks as he slowly made sales and buffered his already low cash supply. Dula was a great place to sell charts, because they were primarily naval, however it was dangerous.

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<sub>Nerys chose to go along with Cepheid to peddle various star charts and even trying to learn a little bit about stars and constellations along the way, immersing herself like any curious young lady would.

However it's 9 AM, and Narys didn't go well in the mornings, yawning consistently and handing out charts to people, rubbing her eyes carefully so as not to smear the makeup on her pretty face. She was careful, though, trying her hair back and wearing a shawl over her so to keep herself disguised, as well as a dark long sleeved dress that fell to her ankles. She was Nerys after all.

Amongst the throes of jealous women that were looking at Nerys, she didn't mind. She was lucky enough to guise as an assistant to Cepheid as he pulled off his magic tricks and she'd help him if she could.

Despite the fact she was pretty tired.</sub>

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Ceph was worried at first about Nery's choice to come with him, but eventually relented, knowing she'd go no matter what he said.

The Star Man noticed the dirty looks that the women were giving her, and he had a thought; what if he made Nerys a permanent fixture on his side? A kind of assistant or sidekick to The Star Man? It might make the rabid fangirls back off a little. Who knew, it might boost sales, as the charm he had on women might be translated with a charm on men with a feminine companion.

He'd talk to her later on that, and focused on a few illusions, his thoughts gearing towards more elaborate illusions she could help him with. He could teach her how to do them too!

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<sub>Nerys herself didn't care what the other girls thought about her, so she just went on, peddling charts as her boyfriend went ahead and attempted his elaborate tricks. Any questions about the maps she would direct to Cepheid, though she still managed to stay shy and quiet.

Even amongst the Navymen that she wouldn't associate with for anything. They were crude people and they usually worked with the government of Dula, which was about as corrupt as a drug dealer.

She glanced over to Cepheid as he continued, yawning as well, and probably looking outright adorable.</sub>

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"Star charts...?" a easterner women with almost white hair asked, as she walked over with her. She was taller then most women, more butch the most women, she stuck out like a sore thumb and her son by her side clinging to her hand was amazed at the illusions the strange man before them was creating.

"Do it again!" the little boy giggled in a tone like he was still trying to figure out his words.

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When the Star man heard a woman comment on the charts, he turned to her in the hopes of a sale, and bowed with a flourish. "Yes, milady. The best around." He said, pulling an illusion of turning a random stick into a rose and holding it.

Then the little boy giggled and asked him to repeat the illusion, and he smiled slightly from under the mask. "Alrighty then." He said, tossing the rose aside and into the crowd.

He set his feet and, in one controlled and cape flourishing spin, came to a poised stop with a large bouquet of thornless roses. "Voila~" He bowed deeply and handed a few of the roses to the child.

He'd then turn to the mother. "A darling child, and a pretty face. Always a combination that deserves a few roses, no?" With that, he'd tuck one of the thornless roses behind Scarlet's ear before returning to his routine, handing the remaining roses gently to Nerys with a small pat on her arm.

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<sub>Nerys would look over to see another Easterner with a child, and the one thing she automatically assumed, especially from her own masculine features was that she was single, and did a lot of heavy work. And that she might be single. Whomever the father of the child was wouldn't be around any time soon.

She'd smile as Cepheid spun and pulled roses out from his cape and she would clap along with the audience, happy to be an assistant to The Star Man.

"O-oh thanks..." She'd blush and smile as the roses were handed to her, and she would hold them as she peddled some more star charts. The sailors seemed happy about them.</sub>

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"...May I see a few? My work requires me to travel a lot at times." she asked stoically, glancing down at her son every now and then with a faint smile as he giggled. The young boy more then enjoyed the illusions and flowers. "Thawnk youw." The young boy smiled before being patted by his mother. "That's right Raz. " she praised, She seemed a bit taken back when he complemented her, but it was not exactly the good type ether.

"Er...Thank you..I suppose." she replied seeming to hid something of a cold and disgusted mixed tone, but remained to keep her stoic composer.

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"Of course, mi'lady!" The Star Man assented, picking up one of the charts and unrolling it before the woman so she could examine it. He was in Dula, and child or no, he wasn't going to let anyone hold them unless money changed hands first. He had been forced to watch a few too many charts run away unpurchased.

Ceph smiled warmly at the boy, Raz, as he said thank you. "Think nothing of it, little one." He'd look up to the mother, and he'd notice her tone. Peh, Dulans. Still, The Star Man was a friendly man to all, regardless, so he'd not comment on it and simply get down to business, showing her the chart. It was very well made, accurate, and even had the dates of some predicted eclipses and a couple meteors.

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<sub>Nerys certainly made sure not to let anybody hold those maps too, only opening them to show other people with her own hands. She would politely refuse anybody who asked to hold any. She'd glance over to Cepheid and gave him a small smile, before focusing on the lady and the child in the front.

Single, looks like it, the mother definitely worked hard to support the child, she seemed to have an odd connection with him. Nerys could sense the slight bitterness in her voice when Cepheid complimented her. Hm, maybe she didn't take compliments well? She was an Easterner, so anything could be it.

That and she's in Dula. They weren't naturally very friendly people. Either way, she would keep her facade of friendliness to anybody.

"All these Star Charts are accurately predicted to each day." She'd make a note. At least the sailors and fishermen were interested in them.</sub>

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Raz smiled up at them and stood close to his mother, keeping a grip on her pants leg as she looked over the charts.

Scarlet nodded seeing the charts, these work nicely for navigating at night. She got into her bag and took out an older looking chart with a few dark red stains on it that could be assumed to be food. "Mine are rather out of date...What do they cost?" she simply spoke. It wasn't that she disliked him, she just didn't trust any male she didn't know, she felt fine with Nerys around though, less chance of things happening with another lady around.

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Ceph would pause and look at the particular map that Scarlet was inspecting, and name his price. It was slightly more expensive than the astronomer down the street, but this was The Star Man's chart, those things were worth the price.

As much as he wanted to help the woman out, she was Dulan, and there were Dulan sailors all around who would all demand the same discount if he gave her one, so he'd wind up losing money. Sorry Scarlet, business!

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<sub>After the naming of the prince, Nerys would keep showing off the charts to the others. Honestly she wasn't sure why someone would use an old chart, since the starts did change in the sky every season. It was a bit messy anyway. Either way, she would glance over to Cepheid, wondering what to do.

She didn't have much to say, though catching that woman's attitude around Cepheid got her quite defensive. Yeup, she was getting defensive over the taller and stronger man.</sub>

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"Sounds fair enough." She calmly replied as she pulled a pouch wallet from the pocket of her bag, money wasn't to big of an issue for her, her main job paid well enough compared to her public job, though it might have been strange to see someone with eastern colored with that amount of money. As long as Cephied didn't show his face Nerys had nothing to worry. Scarlet prefers red heads anyway.

The young boy yawned as the adults talked, someone was sleepy.

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Ceph noticed Nerys looking at him, and with a gentle wave, tilted his head in the way of encouragement.

The woman wasn't the first one to be rude before him while doing business, and he had long ago become adept at defending himself while wearing the mask, from attacks both verbal and physical. He didn't realize how defensive his assistant was getting; hopefully things didn't escalate.

Once she paid for the chart, Ceph would gently set the chart on the table and, in a predesignated corner where he specifically left blank, embossed the corner with The Star Man's seal to mark it's authenticity, and passed it to Scarlet. "Always a pleasure." He said.

He glanced to the yawning child and chuckled softly. It was early.