when the seams start wearing thin

hey mr. trailblazer, spare you a joint paper
it's strange how the days layer, and weigh on you years later

It’s before the start of the event that All Knowing Kusund has announced, with enough time for Uldren to hopefully manage to finagle himself a few extra lasti by selling these cheap cut gems that are certainly knock offs but with enough tender attention given to the metal surrounding the enclosure of the necklaces and earrings that he’s managed to be somewhat successful.

He sits in the heart of Neon Alley, midday to avoid the Enforcer dogs, with a little makeshift booth to show all his trinkets, sitting behind it with a boot up against the sturdy wood box he uses to display his work, with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

There hasn’t been a Plater down here in a little while, but his green gaze scans for them all the same. Though he wouldn’t say no to any potential Drencher, either, the better quality trinkets for his fellow rats sit in a box easily within his reach and never out of sight, hidden away from any passing eyes.

Uldren

She was tired and not in a hurry at all. After working the whole night, Ira had come home to get some sleep, only to get woken up by her father after too few hours. To pick up groceries. At least she had no day job today and would not have to go to work afterwards.One would think she would be in a hurry to get back home to her bed, but it was almost out of spite that she walked as slow as she could. As slow as she could without looking like a complete weirdo. She loved her father, but right now he would get the groceries when she felt like it.

With her bag over her shoulder and hugging two bags in her arms, Ira shuffles her way along the street, taking her time window shopping. One booth along the street catches her attention. One with many trinkets. She stops and watch it from a distant for a brief moment, then makes her way over. Peeking around the grocery bags, she offers the young man tending the booth a small, awkward smile.

"Brave to have all this on display... They are pretty, though." Ira mumbles while looking at the display. Not that she is someone who would steal, but she had seen many times people snatching things from stalls and store fronts and making a run for it.

IRA

hey mr. trailblazer, spare you a joint paper
it's strange how the days layer, and weigh on you years later

Someone approaches – he can tell that she’s not a Plater the second she speaks, but it sparks a bright Cheshire smile to cross his face as she offers him an awkward smile. The boot slips down as he leans forward in his chair, plucking the cigarette from his lips to scan her over a moment. “Brave of you to think I’ve got the real good shit out for display.” He comments offhandedly, perhaps a bit playfully, before he shifts to stand, leaning over his display as he sets the cigarette in the ash tray nearby.

“Anything perking your interest?” He asks, a calloused hand gesturing to the box of trinkets before he plucks out a lilac stone set in a fine gold. “Lepidolite’ll be a good match, I think.” It’s a fake one, of course, the real one hidden deep below in the box by his foot that he keeps within reach (knowing just as well as she does how likely thieves are to snatch things up).

Uldren

Ira sets down the bags at her feet, quickly rubs a tired eye with one hand and makes a general gesture at the display. "Yeah? M'sure this not real good shit is what's making you the money, isn't it?" She tenses her lips in a try to keep more neutral, but her eyes narrows at him as if she is grinning.

She leans forward a bit to have a look at the collection. Real or not, they look both pretty and expensive. She can maybe afford a piece. Not that she should buy accessories, but she did not own anything like this. Maybe something extra would help in her jobs. People always gave extra tip if you looked pretty, she had quickly learned. She is not very interested in dressing up, but perhaps something could match her work uniforms.

"You've got anything small? Like... A necklace?" A simpler small stone for a thin necklace chain could be fitting. "In blue? Or maybe green?"

IRA

hey mr. trailblazer, spare you a joint paper
it's strange how the days layer, and weigh on you years later

He can see somewhat through her façade, a small amused smile blooming on his face as he regards her, moving to stand to show off his wares. “Maybe it is, maybe it ain’t.” He flashes a wink, pulling out the lilac stone to show her and while she has some intrigue for it, he isn’t anticipating her to continue on – usually people just tolerate him enough to look at the one he’s offered before they move on.

So he obliges, halfway out of surprise and halfway out of wanting to make a sale, setting the purple stone back into the box as he rummages through the drawers for a few options in blue or green. While he does so, his other hand reaches out for a felt scrap of fabric, setting it out in front of the box he searches in – giving some nice backing for the pieces he’ll pull out. “Got a few options. First one’s a blue opal.” He sets this one out, set in a fine silver material on a delicate chain. Next he adds another set in a similar silver chain, a small gemstone of tanzanite for a darker blue tone. “Tanzanite, next.”

Then spacing a few more paces over to not mix the greens and the blues too much, he adds two more options. “Now’ve got an emerald and if you’re lookin’ for a lighter one, some peridot.” Both are set in a similar fine chain as the first two, but rather than silver these are set in gold. And once theyre all laid out, his hands spread on the table and he lifts his head at a slight angle, watching her curiously to see which ones she’s more drawn to.

Uldren

Another small smile shows on her face before she lets some strands of hair hang down for her to hide behind. As the options appear in front of her, she leans even closer for a good look. Her hands are kept by her side, then tuck into the pockets of her baggy cargo pants. Not a single move is made to reach out to pick anything up for a closer look. She knew well how paranoid some people could be over others starting to pick around with their merchandise.

Ira's eyes move back and forth over the four options in front of her. A small voice in her head probably tried to tell her that this is not something she should spend her money on, but she ignores it. She had worked hard lately. She deserves something pretty for herself for once. This probably would not be something that would eat a big hole in her savings. And if it was truly that expensive, she would just have to politely decline.

After a short moment of pondering, she nods towards the peridot. "I think I like that one the most... Or... Maybe..." She bites her lip and looks over them all. "No, that green one I think. The lighter one." Ira nods a couple of times, but still glances at the rest. It was very difficult to choose, but she feels more sure over the peridot. Just go with the first option, right? What comes to mind first often works.

IRA

hey mr. trailblazer, spare you a joint paper
it's strange how the days layer, and weigh on you years later

Uldren’s the type of vendor where he doesn’t mind too much if someone runs off with one of these displays, mainly because they weren’t the best he has to offer. So when it comes down to it, if they were to run off and take it somewhere in the hopes they’d get rich off of it, they’d be terribly mistaken. Still, there is some semblance of appreciation for how she looks at the detail of the pieces, inspecting them as much as she could without handling them.

He leans back to grab his cigarette, dragging off of it while he waits for her to choose and when she does eventually decide on the peridot, Uldren places the cigarette back down, grinning brightly through a plume of smoke at her choice. “That’s a good choice.” He agrees, before he starts to get his bargaining underway. He shifts on his feet to grab his little piece of paper, laminated and detailed out with the prices over the variety of pieces he has. A tattooed finger lowers to the price of peridot with three varying prices, a cheap option, a middle priced option, and the most expensive option.

And after he’s explained the differences (the material of the metal and certainly not the gemstone), his bright green gaze lifts to her face, awaiting her choice.

Uldren

The little voice continued to nag. This is very much an impulse buy, but she does not care. Other people bought nice things for themselves, so why not her? Besides, it was too late to back out now even if she wanted to. Or, it was not too late for as long as she had not given the money, but it would be very rude of her. She does not really want to change her mind either. This is her own money to do with as she pleased.

After looking over the price options, she eventually pointed at the middle option. "That one." She had first wanted to go with the cheapest option, but the middle one was still within a reasonable price range for her. Her father did not need to know. This could be a piece for the work uniforms only.

"Did you see the posters about that masquerade festival they will be having up top?" Ira decides to make an attempt at smalltalk, instead of just standing there and stare in silence. "That talk about how we all struggle together and all that... As if the Platers know what that is."

IRA

hey mr. trailblazer, spare you a joint paper
it's strange how the days layer, and weigh on you years later

With the choice made, Uldren quickly makes work of the process after involving the payment – little things here and there like a brilliant little velvet box to set the piece in, alongside a little handwritten card of care instructions, all wrapped up into a nice set that he hands over the second that payment is complete, and with his side of the work done he picks up his cigarette again, regarding her question with a crooked tilt of his lips.

“I diiiid,” he starts around a mouthful of smoke, tilting his head slightly in a way that has his shaggy, layered hair falling half over his face. He brushes it away quickly. “S’all bullshit if you ask me. They’re gonna try and say ‘we’re the same’ without actually ever getting their boots wet. ‘Least where I’m from there’s no Plate situation looming above us.” His nose wrinkles, gaze lifting to barely see the clouded edges of the plates above them from where he’s placed his little booth. “Are you thinkin’ about going?” He asks, glad to have the conversation now that he’s got some lasti in his pocket.

Uldren

Ira hands over the money and receives the little velvet box. She looks it over curiously while holding it safely in her hands. There is still no feelings of regret over the purchase, so all good on that end. This is fine. All fine. Her money, her choice. Smiling faintly, she packs the box down into her bag and turns her attention back to the vendor.

"No, I am not going. Was thinking of it, but I think my father would be unhappy. Says it would be too risky to go up there. Some talk about maybe they will round up all the Drenchers and give us all the blame for the bombing." She shrugs and seems unsure if she believes her father's small paranoia over the festival. She turns her gaze up towards the Plates for a moment when he mentions them. "Where are you from then and how bad was it there to make you move to here of all places." Her voice has a curious tone to it, but her brows are pulled together in a small frown when she looks back to him.

IRA