Circe's Shop of Magical Wonders

[Ookalf]

What, you think I'd go into something like this unprepared? Obviously, I'd be sure to bring the proper equipment.

[AmbushCat]

Cynth: Just saying, just saying... don't need you entering half-Blue and exiting all-Blue.

*One of the shop's employees, "Joni Caitlyn" printed on her nametag, stumbles close enough to join the conversation. She stands at least a foot higher than almost everyone else in the store.*

Joni: You said there's "nth metal" down there? Someone told me those were meant to be dragon scales.

[Ookalf]

Relax, Cynth. I'm not exactly in a hurry to see that either.... *Circe looks to Joni as she cimes in.* Wait, dragon scales? That seems like a hard mistake to make...

[AmbushCat]

Joni: It's actually pretty easy, Lady Circe. Some dragons are known for having a very high resistance to magic, while nth is able to do something similar (amongst other abilities). Depending on the species, dragons may even have the same coloration.

Cynth: *confused* Uh... how do you know any of this?

Joni: There's a lot of gossipers at the Manor, Cynth, and at least a few of them are part dragon. Word gets around.

[Ookalf]

...I see. Well, whichever one it is, I'm sure I can find some use for it.

[AmbushCat]

*Joni smiles, nods, and returns to her duties, almost faceplanting against the floor but managing to catch herself as she goes.*

Cynth: *nibbles on some food in-between sentences* Personally, I'm more interested in how it got there to begin with. I mean... sure, this is the Muffin-verse, but there has to be some sort of backstory behind it.

Ellen: *from elsewhere in the shop* ...Give me a few minutes. I'm not done yet.

Cynth: *brief pause* Okay, I was right. And it's a good one.

[Ookalf]

*Circe shakes her head at Joni, then looks back to Cynth.* Oh? So what do you think happened?

[AmbushCat]

Cynth: Something involving either Ellen's mother, a meteor, a rogue vacuum cleaner, or a satellite dish shaped like a scaled-up dot matrix printer.

[Ookalf]

Uh-huh. Personally, I'd put my bets on Ellen being involved.

[AmbushCat]

Cynth: If I had anything to bet... I'm going to say the vacuum cleaner.

[Ookalf]

Yeah... Somehow, I doubt it's that one.

[AmbushCat]

*Cynth decides to keep her comments to herself.*

----

*A little bit of time passes before Ellen returns to the counter, carrying eight scrolls (four under each arm). She seems at a loss as to how to get them onto the counter without letting go of any of them.*

Ellen: ...So, how much?

Cynth: Do you even have enough money to pay for all those, Ellen?

Ellen: ...I'll figure something out. Circe, how much?

[Ookalf]

Let's see. You have eight there, right? That'll add up to $1,600, or the equivalent in a currency of your choice. ...I can also give you something to carry them in, if you want.

[AmbushCat]

Cynth: Yeeeaahhh, that's a ton of...

Ellen: *interrupts* ...I don't have enough cash, so I'll improvise. *steps nearer to the counter and bows her head a little* ...Circe, could you do me a favor and get my Alice band off? I have something concealed there.

[Ookalf]

All right... *Circe goes ahead and pulls off Ellen's headband.* So, do I have to do anything with this?