Serephen

The bell of the tea shop chimed lightly but loudly to alert the presence of a customer.
"Welcome."
"Welcome."
Echoed the twin pearlcatcher ladies from within the shop.

Serephen was busy tidying the desks and shelves, while Tyresia was stocking and clearing some looseleaf tea from the ground. They both keenly saw the imperial dragon carefully stride in, and weren't unaware of his presence, despite not looking directly at the door. Still, something felt off and unnerving.

Tyresia was the first to peer up at him. It was almost as if she could feel he was not just there for tea. This heightened her suspicion. If he was there to kill them, he could not be more sorry should he make the first move. She slid her claws upon her dress where she could easily and quickly ready herself with her hidden weapons.

The white and grey imperial decorated in gold, looked around and smiled over at her. "May I help you find anything?" she politely spoke, though her eyes seemed ready to pounce and shred him to pieces. Her sister, Seraphen eyed him from another corner of the store, approaching silently and delicately, with a similar look.

Crossbones could not be any more exhilarated. He noticed the two pearlcatchers were twins, and he could hardly keep from grinning like a shark. "Besides two darling ladies that could charm the flowers to full bloom, why, I'm sorry, but I forgot what I was looking for.~ It's almost as if I've found something far nicer.~"

Tyresia looked a bit confused while Serephen's expression turned more relaxed and peeved. "Are you looking to hire?" Tyresia asked him, though Serephen spoke up. "He's not. Clearly, he's a philanderer."

"Oh! You wound me miss.~" Crossbones frowned, lowering his head and stoking back a whisker. "I've got a heart too you know. It beats and everything.~"

"Did you come here simply to flirt sir?" Tyresia sighed, a bit irritated, though still polite.

"Oh, there's no need for 'Sir', I'm not nearly old enough for such formality." Crossbones smiled, relaxing more. "I came here to browse your tea. This is a tea shop is it not?"

"Why yes of course!" Seraphen scoffed sweetly. "What sort of tea are you looking to acquire?" She appeared more relaxed, sliding around her sister and patting her arm from her bustle, signaling her to relax more too.

"Hmm," Crossbones glanced around, though it was hard to pull his eyes away from them. He read some of the labels and signs for the many teas and boxes and pouches and sets and accessories for tea-making. He turned and wandered carefully, eyeing some rose-hips and dandelion leaves in a jar. "I'm not too certain."
He appeared at a loss, feigning indecisiveness, though he smiled shadily out of sight. "Would I be correct in assuming you two darling angels hold some, expertise I might, seek guidance from?~" He turned smoothly, snaking around them with a warm smile.

The twin sisters glared at him together softly. If he came any closer, he'd find the ground faster than he could speak another word. Serephen spoke up with pristine properness. "We can certainly point you in the most appropriate direction."
"We have many blends available." added Tyresia.

Crossbones smiled wider, then relaxed his jaws in a most unusual expression, his fiery orange eyes looking deeper. Taking a deep breath, warm and long he did not take his eyes from either of them. "I sensed some lemongrass and chamomile when I walked in, though the blend of all these leaves makes it difficult to tell if that sweetness is dried apple, or peach.~" He returned to a soft, flirty smile again.

"I'm looking for a particular combination of herbs and flowers that aren't so familiar.~ Let's see..." He thought briefly before listing off his ingredients. "Ah, do you happen to have any spearmint, eucalyptus, speckled petunia leaves, peppermint, licorice root, dried fennel seeds, and a generous amount of anubias nana petals? You see, I'm looking to make my own particularly special blend.~"

The two sisters looked at him with even more suspicion now. Though Tyresia nodded. "Yes, I do believe we have those ingredients for a blend, although," she added. "if I might suggest so, I would not include the eucalyptus with the anubias nana, because it might promote some unwanted levels of hydration to line the throat."

"Oh, that's actually why I would include those in the blend." Crossbones smiled less flirtatiously. "You see, my mother has a difficult time at home sometimes getting adequate hydration, and this blend might be just the thing for her." He chuckled lightly, brushing his bearded jaw with his claws. "She's a tea specialist herself, though she is more delicate than she looks. Unlike you two lovelies.~"

He looked them in the eyes, though he looked more at Serephen who seemed to be looking at him more than Tyresia. "Why, I'm afraid I don't know what you're implying, mister...?~" Serephen smiled politely, however slyly.

Crossbones grinned back. "Crossbones." he answered her, bowing his horned head, his golden earrings swaying slightly. "Might I ask your names?"

"Oh, you may call me Seraphen. And my sister, Tyresia.~"

"Charming names.~ Angelic even. I've yet to answer to such equally angelic pet-names the dragonesses I meet might bestow.~" He smirked as Serephen let out a flirty giggle. "Oh, I do hope that head of yours isn't as thick as your scales.~ Tyresia, would you?"

Tyresia understood her sister and circled around Crossbones to gather his ingredients, eyeing him carefully. "Oh-" he added. "And if you have any blue honey, I'd love some of that too.~ Un-melted."
"It seems you know an awful lot about tea." Serephen hummed. "It's almost as if you needed no help at all.~"

Crossbones slid his tail around and smiled, brushing his mane back. "Well, thankfully you both were here to surround me with more sweetness than your entire stock, I might just be a returning customer.~"

"Oh? Do you like tea that much?~"

"Hmm, perhaps I do now.~"

"Well, then I would be inclined to welcome your business again.~"
Serephen smiled, brushing the locket around her neck. Tyresia frowned bitterly, seeing her sister freely flirt with their customer, while she was hardly able to do the same with her own heart's target. She stuffed all the ingredients in pouches and assembled them in a bag for Crossbones, coming around a counter and clearing her throat. "Your purchase?"

"Oh yes." Crossbones chuckled, lowering his head down by Tyresia. "And, what would I owe for your lusciously bountiful products?~"

"8,000 treasure." Tyresia spoke, playing with the bag with her claws.

Crossbones reached into his shirt, and pulled out a satchel of gold treasure, handing it over with a smile. "There's 10 for the both of you.~ I assume you favor an even amount. If I could split myself in half, I would give one half to each of you ladies.~"

Tyresia took the satchel and handed over the bag with coldness in her now brightened smile. "How thoughtful.~"
"Yes," Seraphen smiled identically. "But, we cannot accept. 8,000 was the price."

"Oh, but sis-" whined Tyresia.

"Oh, what's 2,000? Just return the rest to-"

"He's being generous.~"

"There's no need for change, I insist.~" Crossbones smiled, watching the two sisters quietly argue.

"We couldn't possibly." Seraphen frowned softly.

"Keep it." Crossbones smirked, eyeing the both of them with spiced longing. "If there's one thing that ladies hunger for more than love and blood, it's money.~"

The twin sisters looked at each other and then at Crossbones, unable to hide their fluster. Tyresia giggled a bit, hugging the money in her claws, while Seraphen folded her wings back and spoke. "Well, thank you for shopping.~" She giggled, nudging Tyresia before she bushed her sister back playfully. "Please, come back anytime.~"

Crossbones raised a brow and made his way out with his bag. "Perhaps I will.~ You have a pleasant afternoon darlings.~"