For many citizens of Sango Reef, as the day winds to a close, so too do the constants of their lives. Anemone once more passes through her wares and displays, making sure that there is no accessory left askew, and no mannequin left haggard. She dims the lights slightly so no one will be enticed to enter, before continuing to close up shop.
Anemone stiffens while locking up her more valuable items, suddenly hyper-aware of the presence in the surroundings behind her. She turns, and after squinting at the back of the stranger who has entered her shop — well, speaking of haggard, wow — she glances pointedly, not that the new presence would notice, at the clock on the wall. It’s a little difficult to see from where she stands, with this lighting, but she’s trying to let on that she’s not pleased. Anemone tears her eyes and ears away from the ticking of the clock and watches the stranger in complete silence. Correction: almost complete silence.
“...such fine whipstitching, and my, the material is so lightweight,” the stranger murmurs, both delighted and awestruck. Never one to distance herself from anyone’s praise, Anemone inches ever closer. She supposes that maybe the stranger makes ‘haggard’ as a style, work. Lost in her thoughts and maybe having come a little bit too close, Anemone almost falls victim to the stranger, who turns abruptly to address her.
“I’d like -- oh, my, are you alright?” The stranger sheepishly glances up at Anemone from beneath their fringe; their eyes are bright and shining with laughter, but Anemone feels no animosity. She nods and clears her throat before finding her voice.
“That’s an excellent choice.” Anemone gestures towards the simple pouch, a deep blue accentuated by gold embroidering, in the stranger’s grasp. She notices that their fingers are elegant but calloused, though doesn’t let her mind wander again; somehow, she finds it easy to relax around her would-be assailant.
“I’ll,” she glances towards the locked door of the shop’s backroom, where her register is stored. She can still feel irritation bubbling deep in her belly that someone would come in while she was closing.
“You know what? It’s on the house. Don’t worry about it.” By no means is it good business sense, but this is Anemone’s storefront, and it’s fine by her.
“You’re sure?” The stranger’s eyebrows disappear behind their fringe, and Anemone nods, a smile tugging at her lips.
“Oh, thank you, that’s very -- thank you.”
“Yes, I am. Thank you for your business, please come back soon!” She waves, timidly, as the stranger exits, and then finds herself meeting their gaze. The brightness in their eyes seemed to have traveled throughout their whole body. She’s pleased.
“I do. I will! I plan on it.” The stranger salutes Anemone, and though she felt irritation before, she felt fond laughter softly bubbling out of her.
~Mistic Team
(The Pit is now linked in the Sango Reef Area, below the circling Caribyss!)