Lacuna

Lacuna’s pawn shop always seems to be out of the corner of one’s eye: just noticeable enough that the memory of it lingers, as though it’s waiting for a chance to strike. Folks ignore it, for the most part. It’s only when they’re badly in need of money that the place finally draws them in.

And the shop’s proprietress is equally opportunistic. She usually works in the back rooms, meticulously going over her wares, most of which are worth far more than whatever she paid for them.

But when a client enters the shop, a bell over the door rings. And, as though it’s a glamor, Lacuna instantly transforms. Her calculating frown vanishes, replaced by a friendly smile. To most dragons, she looks eager to help. And indeed, she is—just not the way they hope.

Lacuna maintains her look of friendly interest as she approaches her client. A few gentle questions from her, and the words come pouring out. Sob stories of dead relatives, crushing debts, predatory creditors—Lacuna’s heard it all. And so she knows exactly how much sympathy to inject into her smile, when to nod or murmur consolingly.

She doesn’t want to hear these stories. But information is valuable; and even if the client says nothing useful, just conversing with them can make them easier to deal with.

Eventually, Lacuna asks about what they’re selling. Her curiosity, at least in this moment, is genuine. Only when she examines an item up close can she confirm if it’s as valuable as the client claims it is...or perhaps worth even more.

A rare and valuable artifact? Fantastic! Then Lacuna allows her expression to become somber, and she quotes a price.

“I was hoping it’d be worth more,” the crestfallen client admits. They say so almost shamefully—clearly, this Spiral is doing her best to help! They’ve heard the rumors, but she’s been nothing but kind and attentive towards them....

“Well...I could perhaps offer a bit more. How about that?” Lacuna says. And it doesn’t matter that she is offering more: It’s still much, much lower than the object’s actual worth.

But if the item in question is actual junk? Even better! It always amuses Lacuna when people try to outwit her.

She lets the mask drop. A few sharp remonstrances, maybe even accusations, and the client, cowed by her anger, lets her have the item for next to nothing. It disappears into the Spiral’s hoard, ready to be sold to another unsuspecting dragon for an outrageously high price.

With how many faces she presents to the world, it’s difficult to discern who the true Lacuna is. Those whom she’s swindled are too humiliated to confront her. Others remain convinced that she was genuinely helpful during their time of need.

Lacuna, however, doesn’t care what people think. Clients can praise or condemn her as much as they want. It doesn’t change the fact that their wealth is now in her grasp, and at the end of the day, that’s really all she needs.

~ written by Disillusionist (254672)
all edits by other users


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