Riddle's Bazaar (Open! For Business!)

[~Silly CC~]

Bubbles watched with eagerness the hilariosity that unfurled before her, and soon she was laughing again. Even as she tried to accept the offer, giggles and snorts weaned themselves into her speech. Yes—hee—yes, that'd be—*snort*—wonder—ha—wonderful. Hoofmade potions?—heh—Yes ma'am I can do that. I—hah—I think that'd be a wonderful idea.

The sniggering had about stopped, and the potion mare was inching the hidden potion from under her long locks of radioactive hair. She brought the first one out into the open, letting its sparkling clarity glitter in the sunlight, and she kept the second one by her side. Uncorking both, she left the clear one up for taking, and brought the other up to her eye level. Ah, this one is fun. Would you like to try another? This one's effects are just as fun, and are even quicker to wear off. I—oh! There goes the ears... She peered at the now shrinking ears of the basil-colored pony, though she giggled at how they still flickered to and fro. She could never get the flicking to stop immediately, and flick they would for no more than a few hours.

She sloshed the contents of the second potion, whose contents were a blotchy grey color. Out of her saddlebag came a single hair, one of a bright cerulean color, and the unicorn winked. Ah, this'n's a work in progress. But it's still quite amazing! Dropping the hair into the vial, the potion took on a hue that shimmered with the colors of the rainbow. Bubbles grimaced as the rank scent drifted into her nostrils, and she coughed a little. Yes, I found this on the ground after hearing quite the explosion. That rainbow pegasus Rainbow Dash had been booming off a Rainboom! Figured out this was her hair mighty quick, and thought to m'self, What if I could take on the appearance of another pony? Well, after a month's hard work, I tested it out with my mom's hair. Didn't exactly work out. But here's what it really did... And with that, she gulped the rancid potion down quickly, spitting into the ground a little.

Smacking her lips in mock tastefulness, she grimaced a little. Yecch, always tastes different. This one tastes like a dragon with morning breath threw up on a fart. She chuckled a little, though she coughed more than that. Suddenly, something sprouted from her mane. Though, once one truly took a closer look, it was only the color that was changing in her hair! Soon the electric lime mane had been concealed by a vibrant rainbow of colors, and Bubbles was grinning. She shook her mane and tail, showing it was not dye and was completely as before, and then focused her eyes back on the basil mare.

One thing was different, though. And not just the mane. Bubbles had done something different, and little did she know that the eyes staring back at Riddle Bits were bright fuschia.

[waxworks]

There was soft, semi-audible 'fwoop' sound as Riddle's ears retracted back to their normal size. Her bowler hat was lightly bathed in her magic as it lifted back towards her head for a moment, but she hesitated as another potion was introduced.

"Perhaps I should leave this off until we're done sampling, mam."

Her hat gently floated back down, and a moment later the little bands she wore in her ears fell neatly into the hat as well, just in case. She magically grasped the other potion Bubbly offered her, wondering exactly what sort of interesting change this one would bring about, and what flavor this one would be. The last had a surprisingly fizzy, minty taste that would've worked well as a soft drink if not for the expanding ears. She brought the glass beaker to her lips, anticipating the newest series of changes and then froze as her nostrils knit buttonholes at a sudden foul scent.

"What is..."

It took but a moment to realize the source of the smell was in the beaker before the other unicorn, and her description of the scent was more than apt. However Riddle Bits could not verify this information, and for once was very grateful of that fact. She winced at Bubbly Beaker, watching her bravely swig down the noxious concoction. The smell was bad enough, but the idea of swallowing down a bit of somepony else's mane made it seem even worse in the long run.

The effect, on the other hoof, was much more stunning, as the unicorn's mane turned to a lustrous rainbow sensation, even though she retained her own style. Riddle's eyes widened at the sight, even more so upon seeing the change in Beaker's eye color. Looking at her own beaker she sniffed at it tenuously, decided she'd gotten the lucky end of the stick, and swigged it back with little trepidation.

(( Okeydoke CC! Thanks for the heads up ))

[~Silly CC~]

((I will be posting, but it is too late for me to make a good post. I just want to say I was way too influenced by Harry Potter in that potion. XD And Bubbles' mane is just rainbow colored, she's not too far in the potion yet))

[Sun Riser]

   Robo Sentry creeped through the bustling marketplace in Ponyville. As usual, she was trying to be as invisible as possible, aside from the few bumps for small talk from other ponies around her. On her back she carried a small, shining white bag, full of her pay from her job. Deciding to finally go shopping when she never liked to be around the masses. All the shops looked nice to her, yet there was one that caught her eye. But it's wasn't a stand or a building, it was a tent! The tent happened to be a dull grey color, yet caught her eye as easily as a giant dragon would. Interesting.... Robo thought.

   Interested, Rob trotted up to the bland, grey tent. With a quick gaze at all of the product that shrouded the tent, Robo felt a bit claustrophobic. She was answered by a interesting green unicorn. "H-Hello..." Robbie started, then took another look at the goods, "M-May I have a..." Rob froze up, as it had been awhile since she had ordered anything. She took another gaze at the goods, "May I get an alfalfa sandwich? A-And a few candied fruit peels?" Rob then gazed at the prices and dropped an amount of bits on the counter. She counted them out and pushed forwards five bits. "I-I think this should be enough?" 

   Robo flinched at how much she stuttered, be strong Robbie! If you're ever gonna get over your timidness, you need to talk to mare ponies!

[waxworks]

Riddle's eyes went wide at Robo's voice. Another customer. Under normal circumstances this would of course have been a welcomed sight, but at this particular moment she had just downed one of Bubbly Beaker's potions with absolutely no idea of exactly what effect it was meant to produce. The last one had shot her ears out like a bunny, the one Bubbly herself had downed turned her mane in a rainbow, and this one...? She glanced over at Robo and flashed her best smile. Were her eyes about to change color? Was she about to shoot up a meter in height? Would this put off a potential customer? She gloomily realized that her drawer of 'customer responses to metamorphic shopkeepers' information was completely bare. Well if nothing else she was about to fill it up.

"Yes mam, hello mam," she said, trying to keep her chatter up, bobbling slightly and feeling a slight draft as she remembered that her hat and bangles were now sitting on the counter in front of her. "A sandwich, very good, right away mam."

She pivoted neatly and quickly trotted to the carefully lined up row of paper-wrapped sandwiches, magically plucking out an alfalfa one and then filling a small (yet somehow strangely charming) paper bag with a variety of lime and orange candied peels. She caught sight of her reflection in the glass of the magic scroll jar and winced for a brief second, mistaking her bent reflection on the rounded glass as indicating she'd suddenly gone all narrow and wobbly. With a quick sigh of relief she turned back to the front, holding her breath as she trotted towards silvery earth pony, unsure if the potion's effect was biding its time or had overcome her in some way she couldn't see.

"Yes, five bits, ah, thank you very much mam, er, will there be anything else mam?"

(( Robo's so cute! She makes me think of Portal :3 ))

[Sun Riser]

   Robo twitched as she thought she saw a few whiskers appearing on the unicorn's face. No silly, that's not possible! Robbie mused. Exchanging the coins for the sandwich and candies. Robbie smiled courteously then put the good in her bag. "T-Thank you!" Robbie stammered, feeling a flicker in the back of her mind, Robbie suddenly yelped, "I think there are whiskers on your face!" Rob recoiled, Whoops, Robo, what have you gotten yourself into this time? Robbie chuckled nervously, trying to cover up what she had just said.

   Gah! Robbie! You idiot! Pointing out something like whiskers is something big! Robbie'e eye twitched. For a few moments, Robbie stared into space, yet if looked at, it would seem if she was staring at a purple mare in the distance. Blinking once or twice, Robbie raw a stallion leaning close to her to see what she was looking at. Robbie flinched, "W-What are you looking at?!" she gasped.

   Robbie flushed into a deep red color, biting her lip. That could have been pretty rude. Robbie declared silently. Robbie quickly turned away and put her face in her left hoof, That was pretty rude. With that, Robbie turned and apologized to the stallion and turned back to the minty green unicorn. With a nervous chuckle, Robbie thanked the unicorn for the goods. Yet she didn't back away, with all the bravery in her heart, Robbie asked, "Where did those whiskers come from, may I ask?" Robbie tried to imagine having whiskers, Do they tickle? Are they sensitive? How do they work? Which caused her to zone out again, but this time she quickly snapped back.

[~Silly CC~]

((Was that the potion, Sun Riser? Because I can't respond unless I know. I was gonna make it something else, but...I'd really honestly like to post, and was hoping I could get one in before too many posts came in. I was gone for a good bit of the day))

[waxworks]

((OOC: Woop! Sorry CC, I didn't know you were posting while I was writing this ^.^ Want to describe what's happening to Riddle from this latest tasty potion, and then Sun can have Robo react to it? ))

The minty mare blanked. Whiskers? Were there really whiskers on her face? She kept her hooves on the ground. It would give away far too much if she were to curiously paw at her face in an attempt to verify it. She had no idea what the potion was doing to her, but she suddenly imagined turning into a bunny or a squirrel. What was that Bubbly had said about short-lasting but more amusing than the first potion? Would a sales-pitch giving basil colored bunny be as effective as her normal appearance?

Of course she was looking at this from the wrong angle. What they had here was a little free advertising for a new and exciting product. That's what this was, advertising.

"It may very well be mam," said Riddle, flashing a knowing look to the earth pony. "We are preparing to introduce a new and exciting line of magical potions into the bazaar, with effects ranging from changing your mane, growing your ears, and even what's about to happen to me. I beg you mam, dear customer, please stay and observe these changes and tell your friends that they can purchase such wonders themselves from Riddle's Bazaar here in Ponyville's Marketplace!"

She gestured a hoof towards the unicorn with the magically rainbow-colored mane, "and if what we show here is not what you are seeking, then we have a professional mixer who can dazzle and delight you with any other concoction that may come to mind. It is all about what the customer wants, mam. I am Riddle Bits, and I thank you for your business!"

[Sun Riser]

Jan 21, 2014 0:28:42 GMT ~Silly CC~ said:

((Was that the potion, Sun Riser? Because I can't respond unless I know. I was gonna make it something else, but...I'd really honestly like to post, and was hoping I could get one in before too many posts came in. I was gone for a good bit of the day))

((... I guess you can decide, it could be just that Robbie was hallucinating. I originally thought that it was the potion.))

[Sun Riser]

   I... I must be seeing things, Robbie thought. Musing over that for awhile, Robbie snapped back to reality as the unicorn started explaining something about potions. Through all of the chatter around Robbie and the bazaar, she could still manage to catch the name of the vendor. "W-Well nice to meet you Riddle, and once again, thanks for the goods!" With another flicker in the deep recesses of her mind, Robo then said, "W-Wait, did you say p-potions?" Robbie had no reason to stammer when she said "potions" yet she did. Why? Was there a reason? She put these thought aside.

   Potions... Interesting, could they effect mechanical things in any way? Robbie pondered deeply, making her stare into space and stop in her tracks. Robo started mumbling to herself then stamping one hoof, dragging the other hoof in the ground. "If a mechanical being were to ingest one... no no no... that'll never do..." Robbie felt nothing, just staring into space relaxed her, even with all of the piercing eyes staring at her strange condition.

   Snapping back from her thoughts, Robie saw all of the eyes on her, belittling her and making her want to disappear. How long was I zoned out for? Robbie thought, once again flushing into a deep red color. "Well, that sure was s-strange wasn't it?" With another nervous chuckle, Robbie fiddled at the ground with her hooves. Her mouth suddenly watered when she remembered that she had the sandwich in her bag. The scent tickled her nose. Better wait... Robo thought as she smiled warmly and tried to forget about the sandwich.

[~Silly CC~]

((Whoops, you might want to edit those into one post there also, not wanting to sound like a mini mod, but our posts need to be 250 words long as well))

Bubbles chuckled, glad that the potion was kicking in right now. Most ponies wouldn't've been so quick to jump upon the fact of the growing whiskers, but this pony seemed very observant. Sure are! No need for embarrassment here. This potion, my dear, is another big seller! Big seller, hah, if you call three out of ten ponies buying it a big seller. But, that was the average per day, and that was thirty percent, so perhaps looking at the figures helped a little. She giggled as the whiskers kept growing, now reaching the grassy floor, almost as if Riddle Bits was a mustache version of Rapunzel. Soon, Riddle would be pleased to notice the hair cease growing, and then a simple snip of the scissors would probably come.

Not the best idea, if it were to happen.

Bubbles had added a regeneration potion into the mix, so for five minutes, a stressed pony could be frantically snipping at a growing 'stache, though not all had ever done so. Some burst into fits of laughter, others swore never to come again (they still did), and some others asked for a few more bottles! She could vary the length of the facial hair as well, from regular to lengthy, and some customers had come back with their mothers, who were complaining of their foal's newfound facial hair. Bubbles could only apologize, then sometimes offer a glass of "sparkling water" to the mother. Heh, that chased away some customers...but others came instead! It was a brutal game, that of trading goods.

As Riddle Bits explained the potion brewing to the robo-pony, she grinned widely. Just as the conversation came to a lull, an audible *shwoop!* could be heard! along with the quickly retreating rainbow colors. Seconds later, Bubbles' mane was the same radioactive green it had been before. Her eyes began to fade to their electric purple as well, and the mare nodded her head furiously. Yup! Potions are my specialty, as you can see by my cutie mark... and with that, she wiggled her leg, bubbles almost seeming to pop and fizz down her leg. Perhaps that could be a new potion, one that could animate your cutie mark!

[waxworks]

For a brief, strange moment, there was a pony version of Fu Manchu sitting behind Riddle's stall as the long mustache bloomed from her muzzle. While the little basil unicorn had been rather fond of the long ears, she was most certain that a mustache was most unbecoming for her. She gingerly lifted up the long strands of black hair, trying her best to let her salespony nature overcome her urge to properly freak out on the ground like a lunatic. She compensated.

"Ah yes, very good, very good, if you would both excuse me for just a moment."

Riddle quietly turned and cautiously made her way into the tiny gray tent, and when she was sure she couldn't be observed, had a proper silent freak-out, flailing her hooves and batting madly at the mustache like a cat batting at curtain cords. She came back out of the tent looking refreshed and relaxed, wearing a smile with the long Fu Manchu mustache neatly above it.

"Such a restorative, mam, would most certainly be pleasing to customers. Especially those looking for..." Her mind ran a few words around. Lip-warmers. Soup-catchers. Things that made you look like your Uncle. She shook those words out quickly as she suddenly realized with some aghast sensation that she did quite resemble her Uncle Waning with the mustache. "...a novel new style. Yes."

Her horn flared for a moment and with a cautious snip-snip she severed the offending mustache from her muzzle and eyed it warily as though it would attack. For a moment her brain suggested using such a potion to harvest hair for knitting and sewing projects, but she dismissed that with a disturbed shudder.

She smiled at Bubbly Beaker, nodding. "I am most impressed, mam, Bubbly Beaker." Her head turned towards one stack of barrels and planks in her bazaar. "I think... a magic section, yes. A section where ponies can buy those magical things. Spells. Potions." Her brain added quietly, enchanted artifacts, but she didn't want to share too much. "Well, Bubbly Beaker, I think we are in business!"

[Deleted]

Whilst casually wandering around the marketplace, still a little uncertain of what there was on offer, Jitters noticed something nestled away among the other more flashy and noticeable stalls situated around the open market, there was a rather bland and standalone tent. However, it seemed as though there was a whole store set up around its vicinity.

"Oh my... how ridiculously curious... Does someone live at this stall?"

Jitters internally suggested to himself. A preposterous idea! Nopony could live a comfortable life here, especially with all the hustle and bustle of the busy marketplace on a significantly quiet day. As he approached, he realised there were already a small crowd of ponies gathered around the small stand and its heaving set of odd artifacts and supplies. They all seemed to be rather engaged in their own conversation, and Jitters, wearing a bright green bowtie, black waistcoat and brown and white checkered shirt, fixed his outfit accordingly before trotting softly towards it.

It reminded him of the old theatre back in his hometown, one that had been more or less taken over by vendors, cleared out of chairs and such, and replaced with makeshift stalls, always being quaint and charming in their own little kitschy way. Notably, there was a strange jar of jellybeans situated quite clearly within his range of sight, and it seemed to be one of those typical "guess the quantity" type of competitions. Grinning softly to himself, he enjoyed the simple wonder of the basic competition, and looked around the store some more. One of the more notably points were the boxed lunches towards the back, and he trotted over softly, looking at the genuine and hand-crafted beauty of the simple design and he admired the elegance in it. The extraordinary little store also had a small row of terracotta pots with a promise of being easy to raise and Jitters considered to himself buying one. Perhaps they could make his rather artificial-looking home have a little bit more life to it?

He looked towards the group of ponies, but they all seemed to be fairly caught up in their conversation and he watched them keenly, trying to work out which one actually ran the store.

[waxworks]

Despite dealing with multiple customers, the basil-colored unicorn seemed to have a most unnerving ability. For a pony with only two eyes and several customers, she seemed to be keeping her eyes on them all. Of course she was just wrapping up business with two of them so that was all fine and well. As they made their way away from her, she moved towards Jitters quietly. Coupled with her habit of bobbling her head and the way she moved, she'd begun to be described as 'serpentine' by some of the other merchants. It didn't help that she was as green as a snake and had such a bushy long tail, but she was fine with such a comparison. If it made her more memorable, that meant she'd be more quickly recognized. Couple that with sound business practice and a reputable image, then so be it.

She eyed this new customer eagerly, although did her best not to show it. Her skill at reading ponies was still rudimentary at best, but she was taking a stab at it. He was well dressed, she could see that. It was a smart suit, clean, well kept. She reasoned that that meant he was either wealthy enough to have it cleaned often, or meticulous enough to clean it himself. Either way, such a pony investigating her shop would certainly be tempted by something she had to offer.

"Yes sir, hello sir." She bobbled at him amiably, "welcome to my bazaar sir, is there something that has caught sir's eye? Perhaps a box lunch, prepared fresh today! Fresh sweet candies sir, boiled in honey! Perhaps sir is looking for a way to start a garden? We have both flowers and vegetables, or perhaps sir craves more excitement? We have a wide collection of inventions and potions that promise sir an exciting experience!"

[Deleted]

"Why hello there Ma'am, am I to assume that you are the owner of this fine establishment? I'd like to make a point of saying it's a very well-kept place you have here, and I really do think it's quite wonderful. But I do wonder for your safety... you don't live here, do you Miss? I'm sorry for being quite so personal... anyhow, I was looking at your little plants here and I was hoping that I buy one or two to take home. I live in a windmill/watermill mix, so it's fairly artificial feeling, and it'd be nice to bring some life to my home, I just wonder how does one take care of such organisms?"

There was a genuine look of worry in Jitters' eyes as he looked at the pony. It was only at this point that his eyes travelled over her entire persona, and realised what a unique sense of style she had. It was apparent to him that she seemed to lack any distinguishable mane, but her very well-set bowler hat made sure that her head was covered, and so appropriately. Glancing over her accessories, he made note that they had a significance, maybe not to him or any other pony, but they were certainly important to her. And what with her strangely small physique, she must certainly be older than she looks. And the most curious part was her tail, it seemed as though her tail was busy and propped upright against her body, looking more akin to something like a fox. He could already tell that she was a very distinctive pony and was very much unusual as on par with his usual circle of ponies he had met, and he realised that she almost looked a little bit like a cute little bunny, and he chuckled to himself softly before fixing himself accordingly, awaiting her response with eager anticipation.