The Medicine Seller (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kinko) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxaslogs2021-12-10 12:26 am
kinko) wrote in abraxaslogs2021-12-10 12:26 am
Curiosity Killed the Cat [OPEN]
WHO: The Medicine Seller and anyone in Cadens.
WHAT: He's good and rested, and now it's time to get into reestablishing business as usual, exploration, acclimation, and bothering people.
WHEN: Throughout December.
WARNINGS: None for now!
[Hall of Natural Relics/Museum of Medicine]
[He'd headed for the Hall of Natural Relics first. More really as a precaution, just to see precisely what 'natural relics' might exactly entail here. ... Nothing too surprising, as it turned out. A natural history museum and, for the moment at least, little more than that. He'd show some particular interest in the preserved plants, and even more for whatever oddities that were on display, milling about those for far longer, but eventually his attention would wander elsewhere.
The Museum of Medicine would particularly captivate him, with no small amount of questions posed in regards to almost every exhibit on display. Once more however, his attention would zero in upon specifics: some rather direct and probing questions centered squarely around more gruesome matters; histories of unethical practices, past and present superstitions regarding illnesses, and less than pleasant natural cures. He didn't seem particularly shy about asking them either, though a respectful, neutral, almost coldly clinical tone was steadfastly maintained. Though that might have done very little to reduce the intensity of the questions themselves.]
[Tavern]
[Though the outfit he wore now was far plainer than what he'd normally have, that might not make him stand out any less. At least all that wild hair had been bound back and pinned up again, though there was really no fully taming it; flax colored curls and locks still finding a way to slip out here and there. He'd really have to get a proper bandanna back later... Nothing to be done, nor would be done ever, about the markings on his face though, and he made no effort at all to conceal them. Nor would anything be done about those long and pointed ears, apparently his method of working around his appearance was just plain and blunt apathy.
He'd arrived at the noisiest hour, at this particular tavern's absolute fullest, making pains to seek out a table that might give him a full and mostly uninterrupted view of the area. If it was empty? Well he'd just settle down then, no drink, no food, no attempt to blend in or look subtle. And if it was occupied? Well things became a bit more complicated, because he wasn't keen on finding a different spot. Rather, the occupant would find themselves no longer alone over here, the presence of the Medicine Seller pointedly... difficult to ignore, as he paused by the table.]
Excuse me... You aren't waiting for anyone, are you? [The tone just loud enough to be audible over the din, but otherwise soft, almost monotone in its sound.]
WHAT: He's good and rested, and now it's time to get into reestablishing business as usual, exploration, acclimation, and bothering people.
WHEN: Throughout December.
WARNINGS: None for now!
[Hall of Natural Relics/Museum of Medicine]
[He'd headed for the Hall of Natural Relics first. More really as a precaution, just to see precisely what 'natural relics' might exactly entail here. ... Nothing too surprising, as it turned out. A natural history museum and, for the moment at least, little more than that. He'd show some particular interest in the preserved plants, and even more for whatever oddities that were on display, milling about those for far longer, but eventually his attention would wander elsewhere.
The Museum of Medicine would particularly captivate him, with no small amount of questions posed in regards to almost every exhibit on display. Once more however, his attention would zero in upon specifics: some rather direct and probing questions centered squarely around more gruesome matters; histories of unethical practices, past and present superstitions regarding illnesses, and less than pleasant natural cures. He didn't seem particularly shy about asking them either, though a respectful, neutral, almost coldly clinical tone was steadfastly maintained. Though that might have done very little to reduce the intensity of the questions themselves.]
[Tavern]
[Though the outfit he wore now was far plainer than what he'd normally have, that might not make him stand out any less. At least all that wild hair had been bound back and pinned up again, though there was really no fully taming it; flax colored curls and locks still finding a way to slip out here and there. He'd really have to get a proper bandanna back later... Nothing to be done, nor would be done ever, about the markings on his face though, and he made no effort at all to conceal them. Nor would anything be done about those long and pointed ears, apparently his method of working around his appearance was just plain and blunt apathy.
He'd arrived at the noisiest hour, at this particular tavern's absolute fullest, making pains to seek out a table that might give him a full and mostly uninterrupted view of the area. If it was empty? Well he'd just settle down then, no drink, no food, no attempt to blend in or look subtle. And if it was occupied? Well things became a bit more complicated, because he wasn't keen on finding a different spot. Rather, the occupant would find themselves no longer alone over here, the presence of the Medicine Seller pointedly... difficult to ignore, as he paused by the table.]
Excuse me... You aren't waiting for anyone, are you? [The tone just loud enough to be audible over the din, but otherwise soft, almost monotone in its sound.]
no subject
[For all that the word 'apologies' was in there, he didn't even sound vaguely apologetic. Amused, perhaps, but not at all sorry, nor did he seem perplexed or vexed when the other man took a seat beside him. In fact, he did well to move just a little to the side to better accommodate any arm room the other man might need on the table.]
I suppose I have done very little to hide that fact, haven't I? Yes. I've only arrived within the past day.
Then you, I would say, are not? Surely though, not a local.
no subject
At any rate, there is not a trace of challenge in his posture as he relaxes into the space the Medicine Seller makes for him by inching over. He will graciously accept the stranger's enigmatic smile over some kind of scene. ]
What gave it away? Well, you're better off being yourself than pretending to be any different, that's what I always say.
[ He chuckles, confirming the Medicine Seller's suspicions easily enough. A mug of ale arrives at the table soon after him, and his hearty thanks to the server is virtually the only pause in the steady flow of his conversation. ]
Just yesterday, huh? You must be exhausted. I just got here a month ago and believe me, I remember it, heh. So did you dress up for the big occasion or is that -
[ he gestures loosely to the markings on the man's face before reaching for his drink, ]
- your, uh, daily look?
no subject
[The server came and went without any request from the Medicine Seller, who seemed content to sit there and watch the other man drink, with only a cursory and fleeting examination of the drink handed over.] I've a world to adjust to, after all... It seems fairly busy here, it might do well for me to stock in drink again, perhaps.
Hm? [He turned his attention away from the drink to focus on Maxwell] Ah... No. I'm a Medicine Seller by trade, you see. It's eye catching, think of it as a way to draw in potential customers.
If I may ask, where are you from? I've never left my country before, let alone arrive in a city with such a collection of far flung visitors. I'll admit, I'm quite curious about everything.
no subject
[ He laughs at his own joke, the sound soon swallowed up by that tankard of ale. He suspects this medicine seller could make a killing in a place like Cadens, selling drink. Soldiers love to drink to forget being soldiers.
He'll keep that thought to himself, for now. He is already acutely aware of the curious stare that lingers on his drink and then on himself. Maxwell doesn't let it bother him.
He will, however, have a hard time forgetting this man. ]
I noticed that. [ His grin remains easy. ] Hard to say I'm from anywhere, but before I wound up here I was livin' on Mars. You heard of Mars?
I ask because, y'know -
[ Maxwell gestures to ears, and then to the Medicine Seller's much more pointy ones. He's already met new arrivals not from Earth, both human-shaped and not, so... ]
no subject
Not something he'd ever personally experienced, merely through observation.]
The planet? I fear I've only heard bits and pieces of it, I'm not in the business of planetology. There were rumors abound that people lived upon it. [But then, at that point in time, there'd been no reaching the planet from earth. Which begged the question,] Were you born there? You appear just as human as our hosts.
[It was enough to cause a gentle break in the usual soft monotone, a slight uptick somewhere, the suggestion of a growing interest in the exact origin of his company... But first-]
I'm of earth, and no where else.
no subject
[ He nods in understanding. So there's some version of Earth out there with pointy-eared folk, then. And sure, why not? That seems just as likely as anything else, given everything that's happened to them so far. ]
Oh, I'm human all right. All we got where I'm from, just boring ol' humans, whether they're from Earth or Mars or the Moon. Anyway, I wasn't born there. Place wasn't even terraformed yet when I was a pipsqueak, y'see. No, I come from a cozy lil' patch of space called L2 V-08744.
[ From the way he draws out 'cozy,' one can easily infer that Maxwell's birthplace wasn't cozy at all.
His expression doesn't sour, however. He's left the bitterness of those days long behind, he'd like to think. ]
Anyway, Mars - [ he bounces off the subject lightly, deliberately ] - that's brand new territory, still pretty wild.
no subject
So mankind has reached the stars, where you have come from. What a fascinating thought... Why have they chosen to reach beyond, I wonder? Simple curiosity, or necessity?
[Ah, no, that didn't sound cozy at all by that tone. The distinct lack of bitterness in his expression was fairly telling, as if the pain had been allowed to dull and heal over like an old scar. Regardless, the Medicine Seller's gaze would, for the moment, become more searching, the silence lingering for a moment as if to see if the other man might expand upon that point.
No, nope, deflected. Something to remember for later then.] It's unlikely that I will ever see it, I could not begin to imagine what it must be like in worlds beyond this one. What is there to do upon Mars, then? What do you do?
no subject
[ Apparently, this part of his story isn't one that Maxwell feels any need to deflect. He doesn't exactly launch into detail about what those 'ways' might be, however, choosing instead to take a long drink from his ale.
He seems to put a lot of thought into the other part of the fellow's question, rolling the drinking vessel between his worn palms for a moment of thought. His brows crease slightly. ]
Hmm... I've been wondering that myself a lot, lately. I think man's just never satisfied with what they've already got, y'know? We never have been, as a species.
no subject
[It was an interesting answer, a lot in there to pick at. While Maxwell shifted and moved, toying with his glass, the Medicine Seller seemed more akin to a statue, his hands still folded in his lap.]
I've always found that quality a blessing, and a curse. It is if nothing else, a powerful motivator. [Motivation wasn't necessarily always a good thing though, highly motivated people have done terrible things.]
Then you do not know. What of earth? You made mention earlier, that there are people still upon it. Is all still well there?
no subject
[ That's not the total truth, but it's true enough for the purposes of this conversation. He can be good with kids, but there were extenuating circumstances surrounding the particular ones at his church.
That isn't a very interesting branch of conversation, however - primarily because Maxwell has very little that he wants to say about it. Earth Sphere politics, on the other hand? ]
Hmmn... oh sure, Earth is doin' just fine. Rich people enjoying their rich people lives, bleeding the colonies dry just like they've always done.