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[Ladies' Man]

Gabriel stepped slowly through the open doors of a large shop, his eyes roving before his feet had even hit the wooden floor. His expression was thoughtful, his hands hooked in the sides of his silver-studded belt as he strolled in. He stopped at a table displaying a number of fine rings, then moved on to look at a shelf covered in ornate jewelry boxes of varying size and material.

Pursing his lips, Gabriel stepped on, making a slow round through the shop, pausing often to listlessly view one fine piece of work or another before moving on. His hands never left his belt, but his expression grew increasingly despondant as he went on, his eyebrows drawing together beneath the shaggy locks of his bangs.

"What to buy, what to buy," he murmured to himself, his eyes resting on a pair of gilded boots before sliding away to a set of lacquered tea cups. The coins in his purse were weighing heavily on both mind and body, and traveling only a few miles had already alerted him to the sad truththat despite their intrinsic attractability, the time had come to part with the shining collection. It was either them or his equally-heavy current novel, and he wasn't even halfway through with the latter.

There has to be SOMETHING I want, he thought restlessly. It seemed almost a travesty that a man of his taste and fine blood could wander through a store of pricey treasure without laying eye on a single item worthy of his purchase. It was almost disgraceful!

Gabriel let out a long-suffering sigh and moved to look at a display of gold-threaded gloves without interest. Superfluous wealth was such a trial.

[Moonlit Raven]

I watched the man drift aimlessly through the store and wondered if I should call for my helpers to cast the man out. He didn't look the type to steal items, but you could never truly tell. I sighed quietly as I stood, automatically smoothing the red silk of my dress and headed for the gentleman.

"Greetings sir, I am Elena. Is there anything I can help you find?"

[Ladies' Man]

Gabriel’s eyes flicked to the petite beauty that had appeared at his side, his eyes sparkling with interest for the first time all day. She was short and delicately pale with hair that sang a fascinating duet of crimson and coal, and her eyes were large enough to drown it, swimming bowls of thick, sweet syrup.

It seemed to have been ages since he’d seen anyone so beautiful, so flawlessly formed and dignified. The gold and gems of the store were instantly forgotten, his attention fixed fully on the stunning creature that stood so confidently before him.

Gabriel smiled and inclined his head slightly, his eyes never leaving the woman’s. “My lady, it is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he said smoothly. “I am called Gabriel, but you may use any term of endearment for me that you find apt.”

[Moonlit Raven]

Quirking a brow at the man, Elena looked him over from leather boots to his black hair Elena gave him a amused smile. Not bad, but the Moontae have far better specimens of the male species. Nice, but unusual eyes though.

"A pleasure meeting you Gabriel. Is there anything in particular you have seen that you like? As you can see this shop carries pretty much everything and what I don't have here I'm certain I can get for you." Elena stepped forward to link her arm with Gabriel's as she showed him around the shop.

[Ladies' Man]

Gabriel's smile grew. "The pleasure of your graces is far greater than any material goods that any store in the world could offer, but I have come with a mission."

He had always preferred to send servants out to purchase the things he needed, never having much of a penchant for the toils of shopping, but Gabriel was finding that moving around the store with a beautiful lady on his arm was quite to his liking. He could almost feel the jealous hatred of the store's other occupants who walking solitarily among the treasures on display.

"The truth is, Lady Elena, that I seem to have a surplus of gold that is proving itself to be a more cumbersome burden than I am inclined to bear." He spoke self-deprecatingly, his voice rueful at his own silliness. "It never occured to me that something as useful as gold would end needing to be discarded, but . . . such is the sparing way of a traveling adventurer."

He sighed regretfully and used his free arm to pick up and examine a golden armband, then set it back down and looked at the woman beside him. "Everything in your store is of the highest quality and almost as beautiful as their seller, and yet I can find nothing that would make me hasten my parting from your company. Perhaps there is something here that you would fancy for yourself, a token that I may leave with you to remember me by?"

[Moonlit Raven]

Elena smiled slightly, a small curving of her lips, and slanted a looked at Gabriel.

"You could wear your gold. Have the coins punctured and wear them as jangly jewelry." Elena said in a almost teasing tone.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted one of her two guardians leaning out from the back room to watch her. Elena narrowed her eyes at the smug expression on Serraphiel's face. Discreetly she motioned for the Moontae woman to go back before her customers spotted her.

Gabriel's offer to purchase some bauble by which to remember him by caught her off guard. For a moment she stared up into Gabriel's silver eyes. Firmly, she suppressed the heat that began to flood her cheeks.

"That's a very generous offer Gabriel. You shouldn't spend your gold on someone you just met."

[Ladies' Man]

"A moment is all it takes to convince me of your worthiness," Gabriel declared, inspired by the delicate pinkness that was beginning to show in her porcelain cheeks. "A mere moment in your company is more preferable to all the jewels in the world. Besides," he touched the tiny hoop in his left ear and smiled at her winningly, "I'm more partial to silver, myself."

He stepped with renewed enthusiasm, his eyes roaming over the treasures of the shop in search of the perfect token to leave with the young beauty. He turned and faced her in front of a stand, gesturing towards the jewels with an inviting wave.

"Please, my lady," he encourged grandly, "grace me with the honor of your selection. I can think of no greater way to spend excess funds than ensuring that I don't fade from the memory of such an exalted lady."

He might have been laying it on a bit thick, but it honestly had been a while since he'd had the opportunity to interact with a woman who wasn't selling him food or glaring at him warily as he walked by her house. And women of her caliber didn't exactly come a dime a dozen. Even if he didn't stay in town long enough to really get to know the illustrious Elena, her beauty alone made being in her presence worth her weight in gold. What was a couple hundred gold in exchange for even a brief dalliance with such a flawless example of femininity?

[Moonlit Raven]

Elena found herself looking over her jeweled wares as a customer would for a moment. She shook her head slightly. What are you thinking? Elena opened her mouth to protest his offer once more, a glance at Gabriel slowly began to change her mind.

"I'll be right back." Elena smiled at the man then hurried for the back room and different display case. A hand on her elbow stopped her. Turning Elena looked at the slender hand that gripped her elbow. Looking up, she sent Serraphiel a questioning glance.

"Avery would not be pleased." Elena quietly snorted in a very non lady like manner.

"While we are separated what would and what would not please Avery is not in question. Remove your hand, now.' Elena smiled tightly at the woman. 'Consider it a order from your Queen." Elena softened the smile when the hand was moved and Serraphiel looked away, anger etched in her pretty features.

"Serraphiel, I have no intentions of claiming this man or letting him claim me. Consider it flirting." Holding the heavy locked case in one hand she patted the woman's shoulder and headed back for the main floor of her shop.

"Here we are, I received these about a week ago. I held them back while I decided if I would purchase the set or just one or two of them." Elena set the case in a empty spot on a near by shelf.

Pulling a small key, strung on a fine silver chain from within her bodice she unlocked the chest. Within a modest size decorative comb, a pair of slender bracelets, a clever necklace made of interlocking scales, a elaborate ring. All of the items were made of ivory inlaid with silver filigree and garnet chips. From a silk pouch Elena drew out a silver filament chain, hanging from it was a small ivory cage the size of a coin. Within the cage three tiny garnet orbs rested.

"Everything but the ivory cage is 280. The cage and its necklace is 350. I will leave the choice up to you." Elena studied the items laying on the plush navy silk before smiling at Gabriel.

[Ladies' Man]

Gabriel held back a small wince. There was no way he’d be able to live with himself if he purchased for the lady anything but that which she most desired, and he had learned from past experience that when left with the miserable task of deciding for a woman, it was best to go with the most expensive item available and hope that good intentions made up for bad taste. Unfortunately, he had only been intending to spend the three hundred gold that he had decided was beyond his carrying capacity.

He might have considered going for the ring if she hadn’t chosen that moment to look up at him with a heart-melting smile.

“My lady Elena,” he murmured, all objections fading instantly from his mind. “As my heart is now firmly captured by the blissful prison of your beauty, so only this cage pendant will suffice to represent my undying adoration of your matchless perfection.”

He lifted the pendant and chain and stepped around Elena to gently rest the jewelry against her skin, connecting the latch at the nape of her pale neck before moving to stand again before her to take in the whole picture. The glittering stones within the necklace accented the red tints of her hair, the silver working a perfect compliment to her luminous skin.

“Oh, if only I have a thousand years to spend basking in your company,” he said mournfully, reaching discreetly into his bag to supplement the pouch of three hundred coins that was strung from his belt. He was pretty certain that the moment would be ruined if he just caustically handed her the gold, so he waited for her response to his pick.

[Moonlit Raven]

"If you continue with words like that I just might keep you around in a gilded cage. Your words are enough to make even the most complement jaded Queen blush like a maiden." Lightly she tapped his arm, a small partly embarassed smile curving her lips once more.

Elena was more than a little surprised the Gabriel choose the most expensive item in the collection. She lightly touched slowly warming pendant, lifting it to examine it for a moment. Within the ivory cage, the garnet balls shifted with a quiet tinkling sound as they threw off ruby colored light.

"Gabriel, I am honored by your gift. I must admit, I thought you would choose the comb or the bracelets." Elena rose up on tiptoe and lightly placed a kiss at the corner of Gabriel's mouth.

"I'll take fifty gold off of the price of this lovely necklace. When ever you come into my shop in the future we'll discuss discounts. Those whom I consider my friends I treat well."

[Ladies' Man]

Gabriel couldn’t keep a silly grin off his face, his eyes bright as the feel of her lips lingered on his skin. It seemed he had chosen wisely - very wisely. “Madame, it doesn’t do you justice.”

He wouldn’t have minded sticking around for a few days, spending more time with the glorious woman who had so speedily stolen his heart. Not only was the woman beautiful beyond description, but she was generous and eloquent as well! And to be called her friend . . . if only limited time didn’t demand a timely exit.

“And I see that your beauty is surpassed only by your benevolence,” he said, trying to contain his elation. “Tell me, if you please, where I should lay this gold that is now going to the most noble exchange of its existence. I wouldn’t want to soil your hands with the course leather of this bag.”

He was talking practicalities, but his mind was racing, trying to commit every nuance of the woman’s appearance and behavior to memory before he had to leave her presence. Women like her really did only come once in a blue moon. What couldn’t a man do with an Elena like her at his side?

[Moonlit Raven]

"My hands have been soiled by more things than mere gold, Gabriel. If you caught me outside of the shop you would fine me a much different person. The silk and jewelry are set aside for leather and cold steel." Elena chuckled and waved a hand towards the counter.

"Still, you can place the gold on the counter. No one would dare steal from me, not while I'm here at any rate." Elena held out a hand to Gabriel. She had a fair idea that he would kiss it than shake it but either was fine with her. After all, displays of respect and friendship were priceless.

[Ladies' Man]

Gabriel's ears practically perked up. She was more than just a storekeeper? She knew how to use a sword? She wore leather? He was almost physically in pain. There were so many facets to this beauty! Why did he have to be cursed with an obligatory quest that prevented him from staying to peel back the layers and layers of intrigue and mystery, from finding the whole truth about the woman before him? And here he thought he had good luck . . .

His eyes dropped from her unblemished face to the ivory white hand extended charmingly towards him. The gentile gesture was like a rush of fresh air, a reminder of the culture and aristocracy that he had missed since leaving his home. If he had heard even a whisper of music, he would not have hesitated to take her hand and lead her in one of the complicated and stylish dances that a noble like she was sure to know.

Now that he was aware of her clandestine double life, he noticed that she held herself with a grace that only a fighter possessed; she bent her fingers with form that showed a strength only a talented knife-wielder possessed. Bringing his eyes back to meet her gaze, Gabriel took her hand gently with his own and brought it to his lips, brushing the back of her hand with lips quirked in a wondering smile.

“Had I the time to fully make your acquaintance, dear Elena, I am quite certain that you would never cease to amaze me,” he murmured, releasing her hand and stepping back to give her a slight bow, his gaze never leaving her face. “As it is, however, time flees, and I really must fly if I am to catch it.”

He broke eye contact unwillingly, turning away from her to go to the counter and set the bag of coins onto it with a flourishing clink. Then, granting himself a final view of the lovely Elena, he made his way reluctantly towards the door, poorer and happier than he had been when entering.

[Moonlit Raven]

Elena shook her head, amused, as the door swung shut after Gabriel. Stopping by the counter she moved the coins into the store's locked box and headed for the back room and her awaiting guradians.

As soon as she was out of view from any customer within the shop both Serraphiel and Illianiel pounced up her.

"Well?"Serraphiel demanded as she crossed her arms. Elena laughed at the expressions on their faces.

"Well, what?"

"He gave you that." Illaniel pointed at the ivory and garnet necklace hanging from Elena's throat. Lightly Elena touched it.

"Yes, he did purchase it for me. It was a gift.' Elena shook her head slightly. 'I think you two have been with me for too long. You are beginning to think like a human." Elena smiled at the disdainful expressions that crossed their faces and turning, went to help those still out front.

Transaction Complete. Ladies' Man loses 300 gp and gains 100 EXP for good IC interactions.