A nice-looking pawn shop with a large and varied assortment of antiques, collectibles, and used items still in good condition. The owner, Indigo Cobalt, has a reputation of buying almost anything in any condition, as well as offering "unorthodox" prices for some of his more expensive or exotic wares.
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"And HERE..." Indigo spoke, "Is my pride and joy! Take a look around; if you see something you like, just let me know."
Gwen entered the shop and just started looking around the displays.
"This is so cool, you have every antique piece here. Where do you get it from?" She asked looking at him standing next to her as she goes from one display counter to the other.
Continuing his stroll down Main Street, Nox approached another shop, also new, similar to Key Key’s Keys, only this place had more to look at. He wanted to go in, he really did, but he knew if he stepped foot inside that place he’d wind up buying something he didn’t need - yet.
Nox walked away from the pawnshop, unprepared to go inside. He was thirsty. Maybe a latte was just what he needed to quench his thirst.
Indigo smiled. "Thank you so much, my dear! Oh...let's just say I get them from 'here and there;' though they do mostly come from other collectors and such...after all, I don't just accept cash for my artifacts, I'll make other deals as well..."
He suddenly held a hand beside his mouth as if to amplify his voice, except his voice was instead suddenly in a different spot, closer to where Nox stood, "Did you hear that, friend? I don't just accept money, make me an offer!"
“I’ll think about it!” Nox called back to the shop owner with a grin.
He had to give the man credit, it took a good salesman to run a successful business. One day Nox would find himself inside the pawnshop buying items that interested him, or even selling something of value - until then, he remained outside and planned to walk by each morning, glancing in the window to see if anything caught his eye.
After a moment of admiring the pawnshop’s display, Nox wandered down the street, disappearing for the day.
Gwen smiles and just stood there looking at other anitques out there while Indigo strikes a feal with Nox.
Her eyes were more set on a clock with golden rim. She liked it and and thought would look like a good decoration for the wall in her bedroom.
Key Key passed the shop on his way in to his shop, and the curiosities in the front windows never failed to catch his eye. Today, his sights rested on a small, red, antique safe that sat on a shelf, something he'd not noticed before. It managed to stop him in his tracks for a moment before he realized the time and continued on, making a mental note to stop by again to investigate further.
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Indigo was suddenly beside Gwen, observing the clock. "You have an eye for quality, Gwen! This one is a vintage Seth Thomas, signed by the man himself, Victorian period, made in 1880. Typically valued at around $425...but I value things other than money, so of course, the price is negotiable."
He looked at Gwen with a wink. "So...would you like to make me an offer?"
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At the same time, Indigo seemed to appear beside Key Key, "An excellent choice, friend. A vintage bank from the 1920's; literally a dime a dozen back then, but worth a bit more today, of course. This particular one is very special, however..."
With a sigh of remembrance, Indigo explained, "The one who first brought me this was...desperate, I could tell...disheveled clothing, hopeless expression, not knowing or not caring what was inside this safe...they found something that looked valuable and were willing to take anything for it. They weren't a criminal or a junkie...just someone down on their luck. I purchased this from them for $20,000 dollars, weaving a fantastic yarn about this quaint little thing belonging to some legendary person or another. They would take the money, and change their life for the better."
He turned to face Key Key. "The truth? It's only worth $10...but that's not what makes it special." He jiggled the safe handle, "Still locked. Never opened since who knows when, with who knows what inside. I could find out what's inside, of course...but I chose not to, because I wanted to prolong the feeling of suspense...to share the experience of finding out with whoever bought it! Is it something good? Something bad? Something completely unexpected? I have no idea!" He chuckled excitedly. "So...would you like to make an offer?"
Monday morning and Nox was on his daily stroll. He peered inside the pawnshop and noticed a couple of items that were new, sitting on the shelves and calling out to him - such as a rusty, old lamp that seemed ancient. He considered wandering inside to buy it, then after a moment, slowly changed his mind.
Instead, he gave a single wave to Indigo from outside the shop, since they were neighbors, and offered the man a friendly smile. Nox continued down the street with his hands in his pockets and the lantern in his mind.
Indigo waved at Nox as he walked by with a friendly smile. A few seconds later, there Indigo suddenly was, walking nonchalantly beside Nox, "Quite a fascinating piece, that lamp...circa 1754, it began life as the property of one Benjamin Franklin. Despite it's plain appearance, it's believed to be no ordinary lamp...that Franklin made certain 'alterations' to it."
He chuckled, "Of course, rumors about Ben Franklin are many, but an undeniable fact is that he was a man of many talents, who wore many hats in life; not the least of which is as a man of science. As such, for every invention we know about, there's most likely a hundred other inventions that we don't. Not only that, but what if MORE than science were involved in these inventions? For all the interests he had, all the secret societies he founded and joined, how do we know he wasn't a magician on top of everything else?"
"As for what the lantern actually does..." He continued after a moment's pause, "When I purchased this, the previous owner claimed that the light 'showed him things.' They spoke of seeing ghosts in the light, creatures in the dark that the light seemingly burned, people appearing differently than how they looked outside of the light. Understandably, this frightened them, and they sought to get rid of the lantern. I bought it for what I knew it to be worth, and sent them on their way. I truly hope their life is better now...but once the veil is lifted, it is difficult to un-see what is seen, and forget what is unforgettable."
A sigh, then his face lit up to it's usual smile. "So! would you like to make me an offer?"
Key Key's eyes turned wide as he heard Indigo utter the phrase "twenty thousand dollars", then chucked as Indigo told the rest of the tale. There was no denying he was a shrewd salesman. "Hmmm..." The whole thing seemed a bit silly, but something about the safe....almost like it was calling to him. It, or whatever was inside. "Let me think about it. I need to get to the shop, but I may stop by for this later. Something about it....." Cieran trailed off, lost in thought, but then suddenly returned to the present when thought came to him. "Out of curiosity, do you barter? Or cash only. Lots of curiosities in the locksmith business."
Gwen realized she had to be somewhere else for time being for her shop to be setup in this new place and decided to take a leave from Indigo.
She walked up to him and just asked for a moment.
"Hey, I'll leave now actually. I have to also work on setting up my gym nearby. So will catch you up at the park by evening in case the date is still on" She asked curling a stray strand of her hair over and over again.
Indigo smiled. "A gym, you say? An excellent addition to the town!" He then took Gwen's hand and gently kissed it. "Evening at the park it is; the date is most definitely still on."
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Indigo could tell that Key Key wanted this safe. "I can wait as long as you need, my friend." He spoke with a smile. "It's sat there for five years, what's another day or so?"
At Key's question, Indigo beamed. "Absolutely! In fact, I do indeed have a proposition for you; if I remember correctly, you specialize in locks and keys, yes? I have something I'd like to commission to you: A key made to very precise specifications. Of course I'll pay handsomely for the commission, BUT In exchange for prioritizing that commission over all others, I'll allow you to have the safe and all it contains free of charge...on the added condition that we open it together to see what's inside. Deal?"
He held out his hand to shake on the proposal.
If it was possible for Key Key's ears to perk up, they would have when Indigo told him he had a very special key to make. "A key, eh? You've found the right person in town, you know," he said with a smile. "Happy to help another business owner on main street." Key Key extended his own hand to meet Indigo's, and they shook on the matter. "What kind of key are we talking about here?"
"Funny you should ask!" Indigo said, reaching into his pocket, pulling out a fold of paper that seemed too long to have fit in his pocket. He opened it to show a diagram:
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"I know it looks a bit intimidating, but just follow the specifications to the letter, and it'll be fine! Just bill me when it's done." He said with a reassuring smile.
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Clapping and rubbing his hands together, he grinned, "Now, let's see what's inside our mystery box!" He rapped on the red safe twice in succession, making it open instantly. As Indigo opened the door, the other side of said door looked modified; far more complex and secure than it's outer appearance belied.
Inside the safe, there was a small assortment of items inside, most prominent of which was a vial of glowing blue fluid...
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Indigo gasped. "Do you know what this is!?" He reached in, past the blue fluid, to pick up a baseball card. "A Lou Gehrig rookie card, signed by the entire 1927 Yankees' 'Murderer's Row' lineup! UNBELIEVABLE!"
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He then pointed at the glowing vial, "Oh, and uh, that's a vial of experimental super-soldier serum. Given the other contents here, I'd say this once belonged to a high-ranking government scientist who apparently loved baseball." He placed the rookie card back inside. "Let's see...strange watch, very high-tech for the 1930's...more baseball cards, an actual baseball, aaaaannnd this thing!"
He pulled out a small, pen-sized device, twirling it in his fingers. "If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say this is a multi-tool disguised as a pen..." He pushed some of the small buttons on the pen. "Hmm...stiletto, lockpick, laser, gas sprayer...oh! It's an actual pen, too!"
He made sure everything was back in the safe before closing it back. He handed the safe to Key Key. "Here you are, sir! I must say, it was well worth the wait!"
To say Indigo had startled him would have been an understatement. He didn’t expect the shop owner to leave the store and accompany him down the street. It was a nice surprise. Nox respectively stopped walking and turned to face the gentleman with a half-grin. As Indigo spoke, Nox’s left eyebrow steadily rose into the center of his forehead, listening to the description of the lantern and its unusual history was worth every minute of his time.
Once his friend had finished telling him everything he needed to know, well, now he had to have the lantern. Or so he thought. After that story who could refuse? Nox nodded his head and folded both arms. He was debating how he wanted to go about this. It was fun to consider everything Indigo had told him. Spooky. How much of it was truth versus how much of it was bullshit he’d never know - that was the beauty of a good salesman.
“Man…you speak to my soul, you know that. It reminds me of a time when I was lost within the darkness and needed a light to guide me home. If I’d only had a lantern like this one, I could have saved myself hours of time wandering that forsaken forest. Good times, though. Met a cute girl who helped me find my way back. Have to say it was worth it, if you know what I mean.”
There was a pause, and of course, another grin - but this one was different. It offered mystery to the conversation since the emotions Nox reserved did not seem to register on his countenance.
“I’ll tell you what. I’m going to think about it, and if it feels right, I’ll come back and buy it from you at double the price. Simply because you’re a great storyteller and I believe anything that shines as brightly as I’m sure that lantern does, is worth the cost. Got a question for you, though…I’m headed to the bakery for a honey latte, would you like me to pick you up one and bring it back? It would be my pleasure, in fact I insist - what do you say?”
️ Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue Curiosities
