Ennis leaned forward as the caelian approached her stall. Caelians were a rarity around these parts--Dolsian goods were highly valuable--but his crassness took her off-guard. Weren't caelians supposed to be polite? Well, it wasn't as if many human sailors weren't just the same. She listened quietly, mildly intrigued by the jelly. Gelatin was common at home, but it was far more often a savory dish, meant to use up every last part of a kill. The cactus did less than impress her. Another? Yes, Olitskur lacked them, but Ennis was no new merchant; she knew cacti were common to Eniya and littered the deserts. Perhaps a greener merchant would be sold by his pitch, but not her. She smiled thinly. "Delightful."

Rock candy, at least, was a novelty. She eyed him when he mentioned this was a favorite of children. Was he trying to say something? But evidently not, if his boyfriend liked it too. A small flicker in her lumens betrayed her interest in the beer. Beer was a common drink in Eniya--it wouldn't net him any incredible offers--but it was a rarity in Olitskur, so she always loved when someone brought it around. His offerings were improving: that was a hefty offering of pork, and prepared in an unusual way. Cured meats were common, but not this half cooked pickling. She wasn't quite sure what to make of the charcoal. Wood products were rare in Olitskur, yes, but she's not sure she could sell this to anyone. When he was finished with his demonstration, she would have to ask to test it. She eyed the stamp with more interest. A premade design could be very useful indeed. Would the charcoal work on it, she wondered. At least he was indeed offering ink alongside it. Ink-based art tended to have no logevity in Olitskur: ice was everchanging. He answered the next question she had before she could think to ask it: did it work on cloth? She smiled again, genuine this time.

She picked up the feather, handling it delicately and with obvious experience, but she eyed his cloak, trying to see past the darkness. Her eyes flicked through the usual spots as she wondered if it was one of his. She gave up as he pulled out the notebook. As he demonstrated, her lumens lit up, eyes sparkling. Taken individually, she wasn't much of an artist, so the items had little interest. But together, the artist tools, the food: this had the makings of a perfect date night with Nkiru. Her fins flared, just a little, as she tried to imagine all the sweet poetry Nkiru would fill that notebook with.

She smiled up at him. "I never would have taken you for an artist, but color me impressed. Let's talk."

(You've earned a slot upgrade and 5 Memories! They have been added to your inventory!)