(But it definitely wasn't my fault. Know when to shut up, he thinks to himself.)

Yes.

"Mall's that big one with the flags and garlands."

Looks like I can fit inside! Good.

"You might not be able to get into every shop individually."

He mentally shrugs and goes inside, doing his best to ignore the crowds.

People stare at him and take many photos and whisper and elbow each other. Everybody with a kid takes very firm hold of the kid lest there be a repeat of the well-publicized incident with Bloom that one time. Here is a pretzel shop, here a clothing store, here a walk-in brothel; there is the sign for the food court, a jewelry shop, a bookstore mostly aimed at children; ahead, an escalator to the next floor, a shopful of houseplants, a shoe shop, a furniture store, a store full of baby clothes, a specialty candle shop, a candy store.

He peers into the jewelry shop.

Ooh, many shinies. How much money do I have after reserving some for a TV and puzzle games?

"Uh, depends how many puzzle games. You could get four things yea pricey." He points at a ring. "Won't fit you, I don't know if you care."

The head feathers puff up at this.

I'm not sure if jewelry is more expensive than I thought or my advance is smaller than I thought.

He peers at the staff inside.

Purples, staring at him! Also a yellow customer and an orange one.

He looks at the entrance to the shop, decides it's better not to try to squeeze into it with so many delicate things and Amentans around, and says to the closer purple:

Hello! I want to buy shiny things. Do you have some that are cheaper than those rings?

"- yeah, the - you don't even really have ears, do you - the earrings on this rack are pretty cheap, the cut glass stuff over there is cheap -"

I have ears, I just listen to what you mean with your brain instead of the words you say with your mouth. I can't wear rings either! I want jewelry because it's shiny and intricate and decorative and to a Draak that means it is just obviously good to have.

He peers at the two specified things.

Please bring some out, I can't see them too well from here?

The purple grabs some earrings in gold-filled and agate, and a green glass pendant.

He ever-so-gently takes them and turns them over between a blunt part of two claws, then returns them.

I like the rock-like ones, but the pendant seems a lot sturdier... Do you have agate and other stone pendants?

"Uh, let me check." He can turn up amethyst, malachite, and snowflake obsidian in pendant form.

He will buy about one ring's worth of these after agonizing over the display a bit, carefully trading off prettiness and price, massive tail wagging.

The obsidian remembers its birth in fire...

"...it's a volcanic rock," says the purple tentatively, though mentally he's going why did we wind up with superstitious aliens.

That purple wasn't intending to say that second part so he doesn't hear it, though some of the tone comes through. (Sigh.)

Do you sell display cases?

"Uh, little ones, not whole shelves but I can get you a plastic box."

Hmm, do you have metal or wood boxes?

"Not... around. We have fabric ones intended for surprise presents but they're not see-through so they're not intended for display but maybe I'm not clear what you mean by display if metal or wood would do. Uh, you might be happier with the selection at our competitor Corundum Fancies -"

"Dude!" says the other shoppurple.

"- but their stuff is more expensive."

I was thinking something I could hang them on little hooks with, like you have in here, it's neat. And then I could open it to look at them and close it and carry it around easily. I don't know what to think of plastic is why I asked about wood and metal.

"I don't think I can sell you a rack with the little hooks, sorry. I can find the brand of ours if you like."

Tail-flick.

Tell Temnin and maybe I'll get one from somewhere later. I still want all the pendants. If you are cheaper, that means I get more shiny for the same money.