1866 replies and 21 files omitted.
>>159266Dark Star reenters the car.
There is now 900 bits, plus the 1760 bits from earlier, minus the 500 bits from the surgery.
There is still the gold coins, the meteorite, the jade dog, and the vials, a watch, handcuffs, a telescope, the two pistols, pistol magazines, shotgun shells, the notebooks, and the map.
>>159265>>159266Silver looks at his companions.
"Did it all go well? Any other place we need to go?"
>>159268See
>>159267 for the accounting of the goods.
>>159268>>159267Dark Star Steps back into the car smiling from ear to ear
"I Out haggled a griffin."
He sets the bits pouch down on the console of the car,between the 3 of them
>>159270>>159267Silver considers what else is left.
"Know of any other places that would take what else we got?"
>>159271"Well, he said we might try an antiques dealer."
>>159271>>159272"You want to sell everything?" Blue Skies asks
>>159272>>159273"Well, is there anything you would rather keep?"
>>159274Dark Star Takes out the Meteorite
"This Rock looks neat."
>>159274"I'm not really sentimental about that whole experience." She answers
>>159276Silver nods in agreement.
>>159275"It does look very unusual. I have never seen rock like that before."
>>159277"Want to take a look? Theres also this."
He Takes out the Jade dog
>>159278Silver does inspect the mysterious rock, but also comments on the dog.
"Hmm...it looks like it is made of jade. It must come from East Zebrica near Kirin lands. Very valuable."
>>159278>>159279"That is kind of pretty" Blue Skies says
"I don't know what it is." She says
>>159279"The Griffin said it might be an Artifact from Equestria"
>>159280>>159281"Maybe, but I have never heard of any jade in Equestria before. I think it is not from here."
Silver gives the rock back to Dark Star.
"There are ponies who study rocks at college, right? If we can not or do not want to sell it, maybe one of them will know what this is."
>>159282Dark Star touches his hoof to his chin in thought
"I Think there are some ponies that study rocks."
>>159280>>159283"Anyways, we can go to antiques for jade dog if we want to."
>>159284"Fine by me, i'm curious about it now. Seems much more mysterious."
>>159280>>159285Time to drive to the antique store, then!
>>159286>>159287Is this a trip specifically to sell the jade dog?
>>159286>>159287There are multiple possible antiquities stores, but one is recommended for discretion: Curio's Corner. Over on Westhaven.
>>159296The shop can be found not that far from the waterfront in Cowtown. The location is a one-and-a-half story building with a high, sloped roof, and a wooden board exterior. The name appears in white letters over the entrance.
>>159297>>159298Anytime a shop has "Curio" in the name, it sounds fancy. Silver parks in front.
"You want to go in on your own, Dark Star, or everyone go in?"
>>159300>>159297"I guess I will go. You stay here."
Silver grabs the jade dog (as well as any other possibly antiqued item) and goes inside the shop.
>>159301Inside are a number of shelves with... well, curios. A porcelain carousel. A taxidemied wild cat. A vintage lamp. A zebrican shield. A pulley from a sailing ship. Some kind of... Saddle Arabian(?) cap. There is a counter at the far end that is unattended, but nearby, looking down at something obscured from view by the counter, is an adolescent unicorn filly, white in coat and with a burnt orange mane.
>>159303The filly turns her head and looks over to Silver. She has wide, bright purple eyes.
“Yes?”
>>159304Silver thinks she will one day grow into a beautiful mare. For now, he wonders about the filly's position in the store.
"Do you own this place?"
>>159305She is old enough to be sexually mature, but young enough to be a felony, and will remain so for several years.
“No.” She answers.
>>159306gaspSilver wouldn't dare do that with her! Fillies are for pure!
"Who does?"
>>159300Dark Star is left alone in the car with Blue Skies
>>159307Uh huh
"The owner is in the back" She says
"Why do you ask?"
>>159308"I have something to have appraised, and maybe sell."
He pulls the jade dog out of his bags, and shows it.
>>159309The filly moves away from her position, and walks over towards the counter. She places her hooves on the counter, and leans over to look at the jade dog.
"What is it?"
>>159310"I do not know, not entirely, but I believe it is artifact made in far East Zebrica. It is only place I know of where jade is mined."
>>159311She moves in more closely, with her muzzle leaning over the counter, looking at the artifact.
"I see..." She says. She adds, "I guess I can ask the owner to look at it." She says
>>159308Dark Star looks out the window if the car
"Do you really think those two diamond dogs are together?"
>>159313"Kind of... yes, I think so. Or in the same realm, at least. Floating about."
>>159314"Why do you believe that?"
He asks with curiosity in his voice, still looking out the window
>>159315"It's the wisdom our ancestors gave to us." She says. "We know that what we are, is something unlike what we see. And though what we see is corruptible and destructible, what we are can never perish."
>>159316He turns and looks at her
"That sounds interesting. i don't think i've ever heard anypony think something like that before."
>>159317The filly moves away. She says, "I'll see if she's available." And moves away from the counter, into the backroom, although she looks back towards Silver first. "Just a minute."
A little time elapses before the filly appears in the room. She looks at Silver, and the way she looks at his side and what he's wearing makes it clear she is afraid that he stole something. After more time, maybe 30 seconds, a unicorn mare enters the room. She is peach in color, and with a bright blue mane that she wears long and straight.
"There's something you want me to look at?" She asks
>>159318She tilts her head
"Really? No one has ever spoken to you about these things?"