Zi'da 10 717, Late Afternoon
Location: The Commercial District
OOC: Picking up from here at a later date
A great margin of his time had been spent avoiding any suspicious guards throughout the city, insofar Toan remained a wanted criminal but only thanks to one man's own vendetta. He had perhaps gone overboard with exposing the Black Guard for the asshole he truly was, shaming him and therefore costing him both reputation and career within the citadel. That was always the greater part of his job that the thief enjoyed though, seeing who he got to knock down along the way. And while he spent many Trials avoiding that he also had other things to attend to, there was after all the nature of business left for him to attend.
Dallen still required his cut of the cash and in order to get it, Toan had to see about getting a full payload as well. While Gangui didn't necessarily come through on that end, he did still uphold the bargain with something just as substantial. The only problem was getting the full appraisal value for them, and that wouldn't be easy since a lot of jewelers were cunning with prices. When he stopped at one such place earlier he found it ridiculous really, the chiseled guy there definitely wanted to buy them but for a sum outrageously lower than their initial value. Once Toan found another jewelers to stop at, he went inside with hands in pockets and head down to avoid direct eye contact with anybody.
This jeweler looked quite older compared to Toan's first stop so that could've very well meant something. Good or bad would be left to determine in a little bit, since the jeweler seemed engrossed with helping a couple shop for an accessory. Toan moved about the store to pretend he were browsing, while listening to the pitch of the jeweler as he complimented the pair. Evidently the lady liked the look and feel of her brooch, a possible gift for the mistress from one of the aristocrats in Etzos. Once their transaction took place and the pair left a little happier, Toan glanced over his shoulder to the jeweler. "Can I help you?" The older gentleman called out with his chin slightly elevated, Toan cracked a brief grin as he turned to approach the man at the counter.
"Yes actually, I was just at a fellow competitor of yours. Barker's Gem's I think it were?"
"Barker eh? How'd that turn out?" The jeweler's eyebrows folded a little as he didn't seem surprised, and even a little expectant of the answer to come.
"Interesting actually, he was interested in some of jewels and accessories I'd like to sell." Toan responded with a cross over of his arms, the grin on his face remained when he saw surprise in the jeweler's eyes.
"Really?! A lot'a people aren't fond of his prices, particularly when it comes to buying pre-owned jewels and accessories."
"True. But when he examined these he knew sure enough they were the quite real, and a valuable profit worth investing in considering the jewels." Toan watched as the jeweler's eyebrows rose even higher, undoubtedly curious about what sort of gems were in Toan's possession.
"No kidding." He checked with a short scoff. "You're obviously still in possession of them, otherwise you wouldn't be here telling me about it."
"I am," Toan assured him, "as promising as it was hearing his interest in these jewels; I felt it best to get a second opinion from someone with more... refined taste."
The jeweler laughed then with a shake of his head, undoubtedly in disbelief over Toan's story. "As much as I'd like to believe that tale friend, I know Barker too well quite honestly. A scrooge like him wouldn't be so easily impressed."
"Perhaps." Toan trailed off with his attention spent on some of the jewelry put on display.
"But that's what you have though isn't it, that little box you're carrying has the jewels? I'd like to see them for myself it you don't mind."
"I'd be happy to allow you," the thief continued as he still browsed, "just know that in deciding on whether you want what's inside the box; it's either the whole package or nothing at all."
"Heh, quite the confident attitude you're showing." The jeweler 'graciously' complimented with a smug grin.
"I'd before the term cocky really, but confident is a better approach." Toan mused to the older man as he rested the box on the counter between them. "Have a look." The jeweler eyed him with the grin still present, hesitation seen in his hands as he reached for the lock box. Sure enough when he opened the lid to see the contents, the grin very well drooped into an open awe expression when his eyes fell upon the jewels within.
"My word!" He looked from the jewels and the accessories to Toan, his face suddenly paled when he watched the thief hard for a couple of Trills. Complete disbelief was in his eyes and as he watched Toan merely shrug, the jeweler immediately grabbed a pair of spectacles to closely inspect a couple gems. "You weren't kidding when you meant cocky... How the sodding hell did you come across all these?"
"Payment from a friend, I did him a favor and this was all he had to pay me back." He plainly explained with arms folded on the counter, as he leaned in close to personally discuss business with the jeweler. "He's a very influential fellow, running things in Foster's Landing these days."
"Influential you say? Certainly has a lofty wallet if he's throwing these around."
"You could say that," Toan chuckled in amusement as he pointed down within the box, "the gems themselves are a fairly reasonable sum of eighteen hundred gold. Or so I had been told, we agreed that'd be the payment for his favor."
"A lofty favor then." The jeweler complimented as he continued to examine some of the jewels, namely a larger sapphire that managed to catch his eye.
"Now you see why I'm eager to just sell it all in one place."
"I do indeed." The jeweler muttered as he replaced the sapphire back into the box, his eyes now upon Toan once more with newfound excitement. "Barker's a scrooge who wouldn't understand the value in investing, particularly in something like this because he's too stubborn and prideful."
"But you aren't." Toan mused with the corner of his lip upturned into a wicked grin.
"Well you did refer to me as a man of 'refined' taste. You say the jewels alone are worth eighteen hundred? What of the accessories within? These necklaces don't appear quite as valuable in comparison."
"I'm certain they don't," Toan agreed as he stood tall with a sigh, "old trinkets I'd rather just have sold and be done with. Remind me too much of this gal I once spent time with."
"Say no more." The jeweler chuckled as he looked back down at the accessories, which were nothing more than a few separate necklaces. "Clearly the... jewelry inside won't be worth much, but my money's on the mother-load you actually came in here to sell me." The thief confirmed this with only a nod. "This is... quite honestly an astonishing lot of nel. Are you sure this is what you came here for?"
"Quite." He promised with a wry grin shot to the jeweler. The older gentleman seemed to drum his thumbs a few times as he quietly thought to himself, already half convinced that this was indeed an opportunity best not left to waste. He seemed to chew on the lingering thought as Toan started to reach for the box, a large and rough hand hovered over his own as he looked back up to the jeweler before him.
"You've got a deal." He agreed with his face beaming excitedly. "eighteen-hundred you said? I can buy them and the extra accessories inside, for an additional twenty nel but nothing more."
"My friend," Toan's grin widened greedily as he shut the box quietly and slid it toward the jeweler, "you have yourself a deal there."