Ainsley felt her "magical line" slack as it was severed by the lanky man, she'd never tried to use it on an experienced mage before, she guessed that her attempt seemed brutish, clumsy, and obvious. The corners of her mouth twinged down slightly at the thought as her eyes followed the mans outstretched arm, her eyes landing on the shining sapphire amulet. She looked back at him and gave him another smile, "No problem mister, I can get you a deal on that no problem." She turned toward the stand and made her way there, a brief trip through the crowd, and she was there.
The stand was in fair condition, the wood was supple and new, The wares glimmered in the sunlight as they sat on quilted displays or dangled off ornate hangers. The shop owner was a shrewd looking old man, quite short and stocky, of Connlathian descent if the rogue had to guess, a taller, younger man wearing leather armor and holding an axe was standing at the side of the stall, asset protection, Ainsely assumed, as the two eyed her carefully. She smiled innocently, as she read their auras, both were mistrustful to a degree, but much more interested if she was going to buy anything, skeptical, considering how she was dressed, but hopeful.
She brushed against their minds with her magic, being more delicate than she was with the tall demon-man, softening their mistrust, strengthening their curiosity, before she even opened her mouth, "Good morning," she started, "I'm interested in your wares, that is to say my master is interested in some of your wares, you can see him there in the square, he's the tall one with the fancy clothes." She paused as the two men scanned the crowd and stifled a giggle when she saw their eyes travel significantly upward, "Yes that's him, he sent me to browse your wares for him, to pick out something worthy of his... stature."
The old man looked away from the man and swallowed, and Ainsley idly wondered if the man got that sort of reaction often, "I-I'm sure I can help you find something suitable for your... master, young miss." the shopkeep said, the guard has turned his attention back to her as well, probably keeping an eye on her hands, the joke was on him, her silver tongue was the real threat. "What is he looking for? Rings perhaps?" The old man offers.
The silvertongue makes a bit of a show of browsing the rings on display, throwing out a little pout of disappointment, "Mmm, no, not rings, perhaps something a little more concealable, we're traveling, you see, we don't want any undue attention from ne'er-do-wells out on the road. Perhaps a pendant of some kind?" she replies, applying more pressure with her magical influence, searching the nooks and crannies to pull on emotions most beneficial to her. She glanced at the sapphire, "Something like this, maybe." she said, pointing at it, "Though I thought I saw another stall with a similar amulet across the way, for a cheaper price." She tenderly manipulated his emotions, jealousy, and pride, a dash of greed so he wouldn't want to lose a customer, so that he would believe her white lie. There was another stand, but they didn't have anything quite like this.
The old man glanced to the amulet then back at her, then back at the demon-man, then back at her, he was thinking. "...How much were they selling it for?" he asked after a moment, the competition must have been a softer spot than she realized, as his voice dripped with contempt.
"About two thirds what you're selling it for." She says, figuring a reasonable price reduction, coaxing him into being more willing by brushing a little more against that contempt, pulling up spite, and further jealousy. His aura was practically fuming.
"I'll give it to you for one fifth off." the old man said, keeping a cool negotiating face, though his aura was seething.
"One fourth off." She countered, suppressing his greed and pride, pulling emotions more favorable to her directly up; trust, confidence.
He chewed his lip for a moment, the wheels turning in his head, as she manipulated their spin, contact points and locations, "Deal. One fourth off. That'll be 75 gold."
She smiled and gave him the money, almost all of what she had. She thanked him as he handed her the amulet wrapped in a thin piece of leather. and slipped back into the crowd towards the mage clutching it tightly, the shopkeep was a miserly old chap, it would have been a major challenge to get the price any lower then she had, and a huge gamble, because now if the demon-man took off as soon as he had the amulet, she was up a creek, and would have to resort to caravaning again, hoping she hadn't overstayed their generosity.
She stepped out of the crowd into the small space where people were steering clear of the man, and held up the amulet, "Got it." she said, "75 gold." she held out her other hand, "I said I'd get you a deal on it, not buy you a gift, I'd like to be compensated if you don't mind. I swear on my life that this is the price I paid for it." No tricks, the told herself, not with him, if she tried to mess with his emotions he'd probably get suspicious, and she wasn't even lying. It occured to her as she stood there making soft demands of a demon-man, swearing on her life might not be the best decision. He may even just kill her and take all her money and the amulet.
Good plan, Ainsely, good plan, bet your money and your life on a stranger who you can't even influence because they're better at magic than you by huge margin.
