socialcapital | [ JACKSON HEART ]

The street is as you left it, full of the poor and starving, practically lifeless for such a big city.

[Loosens the Blessing so that his sound can get through, but he remains invisible. He will take another pass through the market, paying a bit more attention to anything else that seems out of place.]

There's a little bird, a Japanese Waxwing, fluttering from the tent to the sleepy merchant's stall and back again. It wouldn't seem especially out of place except for... well, little birds don't tend to stick around long in famine cities.

[Huh. Following the bird to the merchant's stall. What's he even selling?]

It looks like various tea leaves today, which, while they all look and smell honestly pretty good? Are not food. The quality is there, but the demand (and the customer money) is simply not around to make up for it. He doesn't seem to mind though.

Just to get it out of the way: he doesn't look like Jackson. He's about three inches shorter, with brown hair, grey eyes and freckles.

As Loren approaches he blinks sleepily.

"Good mornin'... ... afternoon, sir. You from outta town?"

[didn’t drop invisibility yet, but answers] Way way outta town.

He is sleeby enough that he hasn't fully opened his eyes!!!

"Figures. You got money?"

Nope. Though this maybe isn’t the town ta set up in if ya planned ta be makin' money.

Edited 2026-01-30 20:46 (UTC)

"Yeah, well, it all went to shit after I got here, and I'd set everything up already. I'm moving out as soon as there's a calm day."

[Crossing his arms on the counter of the stall, expanding the field so the merchant is inside and can see him. Bird is outside tho.]

Oh, I caught ya just in time then!

He looks up and wakes up the rest of the way, stretching.

"Yeah?"

Well, I’m not planning’ ta be here long myself if I can help it. I was told if I went pokin' around Mr. Asp might come find me, but it really didn’t sound like there was a lot I’d want ta see here, considerin’ the state of things, so…

Ya think there’s any chance I’ll be able ta cross paths with him?

"Mr. Asp of the wanted posters? That Mr. Asp?"

That one!

"Beggin' your pardon, but that sounds like a mighty good way to end up enthralled or some such thing."

Would he do that? Just enthrall a guy with literally no money?

"Who can tell how a demon thinks?"

Hmm...

You're a tea merchant, right? Do ya know anything about makin' tea from flowers?

"Depends on the flower, but I know a bit. Why?"

I was given a flower that I dunno how ta use. I was told whatever it's put in has ta be made fresh so it's only available ta have at the place it's from, but is it good for a day or two after it's picked, or is it gone if ya don't use it right after it's picked? Some teas are like that too, right?

"...

Some teas are like that, yeah. It's possible you could still get use out of your flower for a couple of days."

Oh, then the one I've got might still be good. I'm from way way way outta town, and the window on this flower sounds pretty short, so this is probably the only chance I'll have ta pass it along ta someone who can use it.

"Yeah? Let's see the flower."

You wanna trade me for it? I was aimin' ta give it to a certain mysterious demon.

"How am I supposed to tell you if it's good or not if I can't see it?"

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