What to do with a shop? 1.18
"What do we have here?" a rasping rattling voice came from the doorway.
"Welcome to Jewel in the Rough Inter-Dimensional pawn and trade; how can I help you?"
"Just browsing..." the man was willowy and old, yet young... a patchwork of a man that reminds me of Stein without Death, one that just would not stop cutting and decided to replace what he cut.
"You!" Sam shutters, disturbed and angry. "Doc Benton, dad killed you he wrote about it in his journal. Tore out your heart."
"A pain to replace that was... now what is this place? And why did it appear near my house?"
"As I said a pawn shop... actually more of an emporium at this point... I sell all manner of things..."
"What! You can't sell to this guy!"
"Why not? I sell to everyone... well, I don't sell specimens to Stein since he would just dissect them, sorry but I don't traffic in living things for test subjects sorry."
"Pity that... though I would need human parts, it might not be worth it."
"But..." Sam almost shouted.
"Sammy, Shush. I think you missed a little memo where I am mostly neutral. Just because you sold yourself into the Eternal Garden doesn't mean you get to enforce your morals on it." Developing this matric for casting little compulsions was difficult a weave of daemon tears and the deafness and blindness seeds forcing the target to be deaf and blind to all alternatives than the one I weave... its not lying if its the only truth they can see is it?
"Mostly? Should I be worried?" Doc Benton asked in humor, still not realizing where he was. Silly monster, science is all well and good, but some things transcend the physical. If only you could sense the teeth hovering above your neck. However, his stolen eyes sharpened at the mention of the Eternal Garden.
"There is no violence in this store. So not particularly."
"Hum... got any surgical equipment? Been in the market for a new set of clamps," I lead him over to a handmade set from Aqua's world. Surprisingly surgery is a big thing over there, something about physical recovery being more lasting than magical in specific situations. The wonder of wonders, the old bat bought a new surgical kit from me, "I haven't bought myself something nice like this in years... you sure a few notes would be worth this is high-quality tools, the things I could do with these."
"Of course, I understand your work is very important and impressive. Your treaties in herbal distilling and remedies would definitely cover this and more."
"I don't know about the more part, perhaps... could I get one of those?" Pointing over to the calming candles, I smile sharply.
"Of course, you can, please help yourself. After all, a brilliant mind should be nurtured, do come back whenever you have time ..." My weave is almost closed soon...soon...he should return.
Doc Benton left smiling, streaking his patchwork face. Sam was stewing yet could not do anything as my control over the shop is absolute. "Why, Why would you encourage that monster? Why not kill it." He was raging internally, doing that silly little smolder look he gets when angry.
"I can not. He has not sold himself to me... he will, though." I snicker and fall back into my upgraded chair. It looks like it hangs from the ceiling when it hovers using a bit of magic Levy helped me with. "You don't get it; I can't kill him, I can't Curse him, I can't even warn that woman he will kill in thirty minutes and six seconds. "
"Let me, I'll call Dean, and he can hunt him down."
"Go ahead, try..." Sam couldn't open the door.
"You would be interfering in the story... as long as the deal binds you, you have to act through the rules I am bound to, no interrupting the story without invitation. Sure, there are ways to work around the restrictions, but none that work right now."
"What?"
"It's like summoning up demons with their names; you need to invite me in. Otherwise, I can't contort the stories of worlds outside my deals or through manipulating the debts individuals owe me."
"So there is nothing we can do..."
"Oh, I never said that. I can contort words and poison minds with the best of demons." I said sharply, "I make honest deals; if the people making the deals don't quite appreciate the value of what they sell, it's not my fault... Besides that, the garden ensured Doc Benton remembered everything I said. He will dream of what he could do if only he Had access to the Garden. If only he could retreat to the Eternal Garden where his studies are valued... where his knowledge is not scorned... so he would need to go collect specimens himself... perhaps he could trade for some surgery... after all, medicine is always pricy..."
"You're luring him in? For what? Even if you make a deal for him to join the garden, he would be stuck like I am now, and the monster could still hurt someone..." Sam tries to argue; it's adorable.
"Sammy, you sold a few months of time and kept your will. Just watch..."
Doc Benton returns pretty soon with a large suitcase looking harried, his eyes dull. I've watched him, poor fellow, another base of operation destroyed, and this time, they got one of his fancy little research bases... Hunters moved in on him quickly; the bad luck I wished upon him didn't do much, just make hunters a little more aware of him. He wandered up and down the east coast for two weeks, tired, worn down... disgusted by the world that would not abide by his genius. Sam sat in the corner reading a book on sidgalry used in Lord Deaths' world while I smiled a kind smile as a greeting.
"Doctor Benton, good to see you; looking to sell?"
"I find myself in need of relocation; you mentioned a garden? Would there be a cottage I could rent within?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Doctor Benton. The Garden is a bit different from an actual garden." I motioned over to one of the walls; it changed to show a part of the garden. The sine was straight out of a fantasy—vivid green willow trees, with bushes of vibrant flowers at the end of an endless meadow, crystals of all the colors of the rainbow dotted the landscape whispering secrets and knowledge. A small cottage rests at the bottom of the valley. "The Garden is a fantasy real; it is not just a place you rent property at. It's like heaven or hell; admission comes at a cost... I heard you liked rivers near your workshop, true?" The scene shifted to add a river flowing through the valley passing by the cottage.
Witnessing the Garden is a dangerous thing for the unprotected mind, but a customer must know what he is buying. I can see Sam mesmerized. "Pluse side once you join the garden, you don't change unless you desire it. Perfection has frozen in a moment..." a little nudge, a push, a whole lot of vibrating my soul to resonate just so within the mind of the monster. He is possessed with greed for the dream I have woven for him.
"What would it cost to be free to research." He rasped dryly.
"It costs is rather simple... Sell yourself. Your services, your mind, your affinity to the garden... In exchange, you can reside in its endless reflection, forever pushing at the bounds of reality."
"Please... Please... I'm tired of the chase. I just wish for somewhere secure..."
"Do you agree to bind yourself to the Garden? Will you be mine?"
"Yessss"
"Deal. Please have fun in the Garden..."
"I...I... refuse to work for anyone that would employ that monster... don't expect me or dean to visit this shop ever again." He said, staring out at the singe of the monster traveling to his dream, the scenery shifting into a gothic woodland with a depressing river flowing behind a quaint cottage. A trio of moons hung overhead behind gloomy clouds framing the scene.
"So dramatic," From the Dark, the head of a massive dragon descended. Its jaws glinted in the moonlight and devoured the monster whole. "After all, a good monster story should have an end."
Gained Soul-Truth-Knolage-The Deathless Thomas Benton
"To the garden, I grant a feast."
The Garden accepts the sacrifice, a piece of a dragon's hoard.
"I wish for a fragment of reality. I wish for whatever truth this vile soul has learned."
The Truth of this soul is monstrous but true - A Thread to be suppun, a truth to be had.
"I accept."
The Garden has granted: Theseus loop thread.
"So Sammy, think this is too good for the good doctor. After all, he will be learning for eternity now..." I said with a sharp gleaming smile. Draconic eyes were phasing in and out.
He swallowed thickly and asked, "What the fuck was that?"
"That was me trading my Hoard to the Garden; all things hold truths of reality and dream. The more powerful, the more true. Look at its sparkle with the mad brilliance of the good Doctor. The fascinating creature somehow used science and alchemy to tie his soul and consciousness to the very ideal of himself, ignoring replaced parts. Welp, not much to do now but organize where to put the docs, treaties,, and knowledge..." I snapped my fingers. All the knowledge that the Garden didn't consume appeared as bound leather stitched tomes, "be a dear and put those away."
Connection Activated: Supernatural
Pov: Dean
"Sammy, you ok? Ya, look a bit peaky."
"...this has been more stressful than I thought it would be. The shopkeeper deals with a lot of weird shit and really depressing stuff. Adding to my stress is the general existence of the shopkeep he is more dangerous than he pretends to be, tricked Doc Benton into letting himself be eaten."
"What? Benton's dead dad took out his heart, remember? It was in the journal."
"Dad was wrong; he just found a new heart. He bound his soul to his nerves. Destroying his entire body would have worked... dad didn't torch the body."
"Fuck, you said that the shopkeep ate him, though?"
"Yes.. it was terrifying, and I found out what the shopkeeper is... some sort of Fae Dragon thing."
"Dam... any chance you figured out..."
"Figure out how to destroy a universe? He is literally bound to a plane of existence..."
"Dam... at least he isn't trying to hurt anyone... People that we wouldn't kill anyway..."
The shopkeep was ignoring the two of us, going over the dozens of old books and manuscripts along with random curse fetishes I retrieved from one of Dad's old storage sites... fucking shopkeep refusing credit cards; what sort of place is this?
"Dean, stop insulting me in your head! Tallying all your stuff up its worth, Five million."
I broke into a coughing fit, "Well dam guess I can fix up my baby now."
"Yup, though if you want, I would be willing to enchant you and your car... for a million each."
"What in the hell would you be doing, to me to enchant me?" I eyed the bastard warily. Some of the voodoo we deal with is fantastic; honestly, if I could use some without selling my soul, I would. Super strength, speed, and just being a little more bulletproof would change everything.
"I would embed bits of dream and reality into your being. Socket Gems. Those will then grant you a fragment of the Gardens power..."
"So now rules, no souls, no extra deals?"
"Nope, as long as I don't get shot in the face again..."
I kicked the ground, "I may have jumped the gun on that.."
The being rolled his eyes and gave me an assessing look, "So, we got a deal?"
"Could we add in a modification for Sam?"
"It would cost a million leaving you two million."
"And the cursed fetishes are going to be destroyed?"
"Yes, destructive testing, if you would. Though a few might survive, those might end up cleansed and sold. "
I let out a tense sigh, "Deal."
"Deal. Let's see... we can make a beautiful weave if I make this right—Drakestone, Demon Tear, Verdant seeds, and Archeanite..." The shopkeep began muttering as I was sent into a sort of daze.
I shimmerd, the bleed, as the shopkeep called it, manifesting into a tattoo all along his back into an attractive, interconnected swirling circle. More noticeable is a slight bleed happening around my iris, giving them a nice little tinge of iridescence. Not that I realized it at the moment.
"That... feels fantastic. Hot dam." I shook out my limbs; everything just felt more!
"Expect superior physical conditioning and resistance to most forms of damage. Most importantly, your spirit—soul/mind—is now resistant to manipulation, damage, theft, corruption, and infection. You can also expect to be more aware of supernatural situations and problems... Oh, and you should heal faster, be able to survive on far less fuel, and have greatly increased stamina."
"Fuck..." Sam said, his eyes wide as he processed the shopkeep's ridiculous list of boons.
"Probably for hours if you don't get too sore." The shopkeeper deadpanned.
I was at a loss for words. Is this why people sell their souls? To have all their problems just not be there anymore?
"Welp, let's get to your brother and car squared away. Witch first?"
"My car."
"Hey!" Sam shouted in the offense.
"Alright, my brother, then you can sup my baby."
"Drakestone, Demon Tear, Verdant seed, Monks Pearl, and Archeanite... you should have similar capabilities as Dean, a bit less stamina and healing but better mental specs."
"Huh, that feels funky..."
"Yeah, mental manipulations are weird."
"So let's get your car taken care of."
The garden beckons Arcanite upgraded to a tier three existence.
One month of Sam's contract remains.
Connection Activated: Supernatural
"Welcome to Jewel in the Rough Inter-Dimensional pawn and trade; how can I help you?"
"Just browsing..." the man was willowy and old, yet young... a patchwork of a man that reminds me of Stein without Death, one that just would not stop cutting and decided to replace what he cut.
"You!" Sam shutters, disturbed and angry. "Doc Benton, dad killed you he wrote about it in his journal. Tore out your heart."
"A pain to replace that was... now what is this place? And why did it appear near my house?"
"As I said a pawn shop... actually more of an emporium at this point... I sell all manner of things..."
"What! You can't sell to this guy!"
"Why not? I sell to everyone... well, I don't sell specimens to Stein since he would just dissect them, sorry but I don't traffic in living things for test subjects sorry."
"Pity that... though I would need human parts, it might not be worth it."
"But..." Sam almost shouted.
"Sammy, Shush. I think you missed a little memo where I am mostly neutral. Just because you sold yourself into the Eternal Garden doesn't mean you get to enforce your morals on it." Developing this matric for casting little compulsions was difficult a weave of daemon tears and the deafness and blindness seeds forcing the target to be deaf and blind to all alternatives than the one I weave... its not lying if its the only truth they can see is it?
"Mostly? Should I be worried?" Doc Benton asked in humor, still not realizing where he was. Silly monster, science is all well and good, but some things transcend the physical. If only you could sense the teeth hovering above your neck. However, his stolen eyes sharpened at the mention of the Eternal Garden.
"There is no violence in this store. So not particularly."
"Hum... got any surgical equipment? Been in the market for a new set of clamps," I lead him over to a handmade set from Aqua's world. Surprisingly surgery is a big thing over there, something about physical recovery being more lasting than magical in specific situations. The wonder of wonders, the old bat bought a new surgical kit from me, "I haven't bought myself something nice like this in years... you sure a few notes would be worth this is high-quality tools, the things I could do with these."
"Of course, I understand your work is very important and impressive. Your treaties in herbal distilling and remedies would definitely cover this and more."
"I don't know about the more part, perhaps... could I get one of those?" Pointing over to the calming candles, I smile sharply.
"Of course, you can, please help yourself. After all, a brilliant mind should be nurtured, do come back whenever you have time ..." My weave is almost closed soon...soon...he should return.
Doc Benton left smiling, streaking his patchwork face. Sam was stewing yet could not do anything as my control over the shop is absolute. "Why, Why would you encourage that monster? Why not kill it." He was raging internally, doing that silly little smolder look he gets when angry.
"I can not. He has not sold himself to me... he will, though." I snicker and fall back into my upgraded chair. It looks like it hangs from the ceiling when it hovers using a bit of magic Levy helped me with. "You don't get it; I can't kill him, I can't Curse him, I can't even warn that woman he will kill in thirty minutes and six seconds. "
"Let me, I'll call Dean, and he can hunt him down."
"Go ahead, try..." Sam couldn't open the door.
"You would be interfering in the story... as long as the deal binds you, you have to act through the rules I am bound to, no interrupting the story without invitation. Sure, there are ways to work around the restrictions, but none that work right now."
"What?"
"It's like summoning up demons with their names; you need to invite me in. Otherwise, I can't contort the stories of worlds outside my deals or through manipulating the debts individuals owe me."
"So there is nothing we can do..."
"Oh, I never said that. I can contort words and poison minds with the best of demons." I said sharply, "I make honest deals; if the people making the deals don't quite appreciate the value of what they sell, it's not my fault... Besides that, the garden ensured Doc Benton remembered everything I said. He will dream of what he could do if only he Had access to the Garden. If only he could retreat to the Eternal Garden where his studies are valued... where his knowledge is not scorned... so he would need to go collect specimens himself... perhaps he could trade for some surgery... after all, medicine is always pricy..."
"You're luring him in? For what? Even if you make a deal for him to join the garden, he would be stuck like I am now, and the monster could still hurt someone..." Sam tries to argue; it's adorable.
"Sammy, you sold a few months of time and kept your will. Just watch..."
Doc Benton returns pretty soon with a large suitcase looking harried, his eyes dull. I've watched him, poor fellow, another base of operation destroyed, and this time, they got one of his fancy little research bases... Hunters moved in on him quickly; the bad luck I wished upon him didn't do much, just make hunters a little more aware of him. He wandered up and down the east coast for two weeks, tired, worn down... disgusted by the world that would not abide by his genius. Sam sat in the corner reading a book on sidgalry used in Lord Deaths' world while I smiled a kind smile as a greeting.
"Doctor Benton, good to see you; looking to sell?"
"I find myself in need of relocation; you mentioned a garden? Would there be a cottage I could rent within?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Doctor Benton. The Garden is a bit different from an actual garden." I motioned over to one of the walls; it changed to show a part of the garden. The sine was straight out of a fantasy—vivid green willow trees, with bushes of vibrant flowers at the end of an endless meadow, crystals of all the colors of the rainbow dotted the landscape whispering secrets and knowledge. A small cottage rests at the bottom of the valley. "The Garden is a fantasy real; it is not just a place you rent property at. It's like heaven or hell; admission comes at a cost... I heard you liked rivers near your workshop, true?" The scene shifted to add a river flowing through the valley passing by the cottage.
Witnessing the Garden is a dangerous thing for the unprotected mind, but a customer must know what he is buying. I can see Sam mesmerized. "Pluse side once you join the garden, you don't change unless you desire it. Perfection has frozen in a moment..." a little nudge, a push, a whole lot of vibrating my soul to resonate just so within the mind of the monster. He is possessed with greed for the dream I have woven for him.
"What would it cost to be free to research." He rasped dryly.
"It costs is rather simple... Sell yourself. Your services, your mind, your affinity to the garden... In exchange, you can reside in its endless reflection, forever pushing at the bounds of reality."
"Please... Please... I'm tired of the chase. I just wish for somewhere secure..."
"Do you agree to bind yourself to the Garden? Will you be mine?"
"Yessss"
"Deal. Please have fun in the Garden..."
"I...I... refuse to work for anyone that would employ that monster... don't expect me or dean to visit this shop ever again." He said, staring out at the singe of the monster traveling to his dream, the scenery shifting into a gothic woodland with a depressing river flowing behind a quaint cottage. A trio of moons hung overhead behind gloomy clouds framing the scene.
"So dramatic," From the Dark, the head of a massive dragon descended. Its jaws glinted in the moonlight and devoured the monster whole. "After all, a good monster story should have an end."
Gained Soul-Truth-Knolage-The Deathless Thomas Benton
"To the garden, I grant a feast."
The Garden accepts the sacrifice, a piece of a dragon's hoard.
"I wish for a fragment of reality. I wish for whatever truth this vile soul has learned."
The Truth of this soul is monstrous but true - A Thread to be suppun, a truth to be had.
"I accept."
The Garden has granted: Theseus loop thread.
"So Sammy, think this is too good for the good doctor. After all, he will be learning for eternity now..." I said with a sharp gleaming smile. Draconic eyes were phasing in and out.
He swallowed thickly and asked, "What the fuck was that?"
"That was me trading my Hoard to the Garden; all things hold truths of reality and dream. The more powerful, the more true. Look at its sparkle with the mad brilliance of the good Doctor. The fascinating creature somehow used science and alchemy to tie his soul and consciousness to the very ideal of himself, ignoring replaced parts. Welp, not much to do now but organize where to put the docs, treaties,, and knowledge..." I snapped my fingers. All the knowledge that the Garden didn't consume appeared as bound leather stitched tomes, "be a dear and put those away."
Connection Activated: Supernatural
Pov: Dean
"Sammy, you ok? Ya, look a bit peaky."
"...this has been more stressful than I thought it would be. The shopkeeper deals with a lot of weird shit and really depressing stuff. Adding to my stress is the general existence of the shopkeep he is more dangerous than he pretends to be, tricked Doc Benton into letting himself be eaten."
"What? Benton's dead dad took out his heart, remember? It was in the journal."
"Dad was wrong; he just found a new heart. He bound his soul to his nerves. Destroying his entire body would have worked... dad didn't torch the body."
"Fuck, you said that the shopkeep ate him, though?"
"Yes.. it was terrifying, and I found out what the shopkeeper is... some sort of Fae Dragon thing."
"Dam... any chance you figured out..."
"Figure out how to destroy a universe? He is literally bound to a plane of existence..."
"Dam... at least he isn't trying to hurt anyone... People that we wouldn't kill anyway..."
The shopkeep was ignoring the two of us, going over the dozens of old books and manuscripts along with random curse fetishes I retrieved from one of Dad's old storage sites... fucking shopkeep refusing credit cards; what sort of place is this?
"Dean, stop insulting me in your head! Tallying all your stuff up its worth, Five million."
I broke into a coughing fit, "Well dam guess I can fix up my baby now."
"Yup, though if you want, I would be willing to enchant you and your car... for a million each."
"What in the hell would you be doing, to me to enchant me?" I eyed the bastard warily. Some of the voodoo we deal with is fantastic; honestly, if I could use some without selling my soul, I would. Super strength, speed, and just being a little more bulletproof would change everything.
"I would embed bits of dream and reality into your being. Socket Gems. Those will then grant you a fragment of the Gardens power..."
"So now rules, no souls, no extra deals?"
"Nope, as long as I don't get shot in the face again..."
I kicked the ground, "I may have jumped the gun on that.."
The being rolled his eyes and gave me an assessing look, "So, we got a deal?"
"Could we add in a modification for Sam?"
"It would cost a million leaving you two million."
"And the cursed fetishes are going to be destroyed?"
"Yes, destructive testing, if you would. Though a few might survive, those might end up cleansed and sold. "
I let out a tense sigh, "Deal."
"Deal. Let's see... we can make a beautiful weave if I make this right—Drakestone, Demon Tear, Verdant seeds, and Archeanite..." The shopkeep began muttering as I was sent into a sort of daze.
I shimmerd, the bleed, as the shopkeep called it, manifesting into a tattoo all along his back into an attractive, interconnected swirling circle. More noticeable is a slight bleed happening around my iris, giving them a nice little tinge of iridescence. Not that I realized it at the moment.
"That... feels fantastic. Hot dam." I shook out my limbs; everything just felt more!
"Expect superior physical conditioning and resistance to most forms of damage. Most importantly, your spirit—soul/mind—is now resistant to manipulation, damage, theft, corruption, and infection. You can also expect to be more aware of supernatural situations and problems... Oh, and you should heal faster, be able to survive on far less fuel, and have greatly increased stamina."
"Fuck..." Sam said, his eyes wide as he processed the shopkeep's ridiculous list of boons.
"Probably for hours if you don't get too sore." The shopkeeper deadpanned.
I was at a loss for words. Is this why people sell their souls? To have all their problems just not be there anymore?
"Welp, let's get to your brother and car squared away. Witch first?"
"My car."
"Hey!" Sam shouted in the offense.
"Alright, my brother, then you can sup my baby."
"Drakestone, Demon Tear, Verdant seed, Monks Pearl, and Archeanite... you should have similar capabilities as Dean, a bit less stamina and healing but better mental specs."
"Huh, that feels funky..."
"Yeah, mental manipulations are weird."
"So let's get your car taken care of."
The garden beckons Arcanite upgraded to a tier three existence.
One month of Sam's contract remains.
Connection Activated: Supernatural
