While Nabiki began to discuss dragonmarks with Toltiir, Ranma wandered off to look around the store some more. As he quickly browsed through some of the tattoos, heading closer to the piercing selections, Nabiki noticed the samisen player giving his behind the appreciative eye. ‘Can’t take that boy anywhere without some girl going gaga.’
“Dragonmarks are a kind of branding that puts the bearer under the purvey of particular draconic deities.” Toltiir began his explanation.
“How does that differ from tattoos of magical runes and stuff?” Nabiki questioned the gnome.
“Mainly, in how they get applied. Also, dragonmarks do not represent concepts like sigils. They are insignias, names of specific dragons or dragonkind. The powers given are draconic in nature and depend on the type of dragon. Because they tie directly into a sentient being, you would have to be the kind of person the dragon approves of. So it is not like a person could just buy any dragonmark. You may not even be able to buy one at all. Or, you might be eligible for more then one, but a person can only ever have one of them and no more. If a person meets any approval and desires to be marked, then I am honor bound to provide the mark for nominal costs. However, I must warn you that the dragonmark is a binding, unbreakable contract. If you have any doubts, it is better to not get one.”
“How can a person find out if they qualify for any? Is there paperwork and a waiting period involved while the forms make the proper rounds?” Nabiki asked, figuring that the approval process sounded like it would be quite bureaucratic.
Toltiir chuckled at this question. “My lady, what kind of customer service would I be offering if I made you wait to get something?” ‘After all, you might come to your senses in the meantime,’ Toltiir added silently to himself. “You’ll find that the powers that be are more then eager to meddle in the affairs of mortals, especially when you are inviting them to. A quick check at the counter is all it’ll take to determine which marks, if any, you can be branded with.”
Ranma’s voice piped up from where he was standing, “Do not meddle in the affairs of mortals, for you are fictitious and I do not believe in you,” he ad-libbed. Toltiir erupted in a roar of laughter that caused his pointy hat to fall off his head and made Nabiki worry for the little garden gnome.
Wiping tears from his eyes, Toltiir commended Ranma. “Been awhile since someone made me laugh like that.” ‘OK, it was yesterday when Urd decided to play around a bit in that one Love Hina timeline.’ “I think some store credit would be an appropriate reward.” ‘And make it easier for the two of you to acquire one of the more fun items I offer,’ Toltiir thought to himself as he noticed the look of greed once again crossed Nabiki’s face. Walking over to where Ranma was standing, Toltiir once again entered salesman mode. “Looking at our offering of piercings? Not very manly, in my opinion, but maybe you are looking for something to give to your lovely lady friend over there.”
“I’m just amusing myself while thinking about how to convince Nabiki to let me pick out a tattoo for her. Well, got one in mind already. It’s not one you offer though. Do you do custom work?”
“Yes, I do. But, if you just want something like a dragon or a hula girl or ‘MOM’ in a heart, you’d be better off going to a more mainstream parlor, I would think.”
“No, no, nothing like that. More like some of your kanji mischievous markings. Just a little silly saying we can laugh at later.” Ranma tried explaining.
“Ah, I see. If you allow me to add some pictorial beauty that I feel appropriate, I can do that. It is not often I get to do something artistic with the mischievous markings.” Toltiir acquiesced.
“Oh,” Nabiki said without humor as she raised an eyebrow, “and what did you want to paint on me, anyways?”
Ranma just smirked in return. “I think that’ll be my little secret for now. But, I was hoping you’d return the favor and pick one out for me.”
“Well,” Nabiki said as she tapped her finger against the corner of her mouth in mock pensiveness, “I was thinking of getting you a tattoo that said, ‘Loves Pussy’, and had a cat’s head.” Nabiki smirked in triumph at the shiver that ran through Ranma as she said the word cat. “I bet I could probably guess what you would get for me anyways, Saotome.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you know what it’ll be ... being my lovely lady lover and all,” Ranma replied casually with a smirk and a wink.
‘Ranma’s not flirting with me, again, is he?’ Nabiki wondered for a moment before breaking out into a smirk, “Lovers? In your dreams, pal.” Looking into the display case where Ranma stood, a piece of jewelry caught her eye. “What’s up with this one here.” She pointed out to Toltiir.
“Ah, the Piercing of Birth Control. It is, indeed, meant for females. I would have to pierce, uh ... well you would have to strip down so I could put it where it is suppose to go. It is also very expensive. I’m not sure, even with store credit, that you could afford it.”
“Why is that?” Nabiki wondered.
“Supply and demand,” Toltiir answered simply. “You seemed interested in that gem that detects falsehoods. I have a piercing that is almost as good, if you’d like to see it. A lot cheaper too.” Toltiir then directed her sight towards the piece in discussion.
“Cheaper? Is it not that good? Does it not work as well?” Nabiki was immediately suspicious.
“No, no. Oh dear, no. It is just that making those gems require a lot of power and expensive materials. This piece of jewelry is simply made from thin, high gauge silver wire. Not all that expensive to get from jewelers wholesale supply houses. Then, after making the jewelry, I just simply enchant it. This is a much more financially feasible method compared to those gems. This particular piece, while rather showy, allows you to hear only truths.”
“So, she doesn’t hear anyone that lies? She’ll be deaf then, for the most part.” Ranma was also suspicious, this was the exact kind of thing these magical stores and their items were known for.
“Ah, I’m sorry. You misunderstood me.” ‘Drat, guess I’ll have to change the enchantment on it. I didn’t think they’d catch on so quickly.’ “And that is exactly what this earing was meant for. I intended to say that it allows the wearer to hear the truth in one’s words. To, not jump to the wrong conclusions or misunderstand what the person said, but to hear what the person intended and hoped to say. And while it does not detect falsehoods, explicitly, one does get a bit of a sense of the sincerity of what the other person is saying by comparing what they hear to what they know they mean. Not as powerful as the gem, but nearly there for the fraction of the price.” Toltiir explained, making his spiel. After all, he knew he could have more fun with these two if they got the piercing instead of the gem.
“Maybe we should get one for Akane then?” Ranma smirked at Nabiki.
“If the piercings are so cheap and easy to make, why is there a supply and demand issue with the other one?” Nabiki didn’t think this made any sense, especially as the earing was a lot more complex then the simple contraceptive aid.
“I never said it was easier to make, in the sense of being quick. They still take time to make, and time to enchant. Especially that particular one. Just, compared to gems, they are easier to produce. You’ll notice that at most, there is only a couple of each gemstone. Factor in how odious female birth control is, mother nature never intended for those hormonal cycles to be interrupted like that, and you’d understand how high the demand is, the world over. Also, I don’t make that piece, myself. But, rather, buy it from another much more skilled in that sort of area then myself. My understanding is that the enchantment for it requires some hard to get materials, as well.”
“Hormone popsicles?” Ranma whispered into Nabiki’s ear. “What does he mean?”
Nabiki whispered back with a smirk, after rolling her eyes, “He means, it looks like your getting that Amazon gem if you want to have any fun with your lovely lady lover.” The blush that blossomed over Ranma was just what she was aiming for. Before he could begin sputtering like a madman, Nabiki took pity on him. “Oh, relax. I wasn’t serious. Just getting you back for your own joke earlier.”
“Guess I should of seen that one coming then.”
Nabiki turned towards the gnome incarnation of Toltiir, “Before we go much farther, do you think you could find out which dragonmarks we could get? I’m curious to find out what they do, at least any of the ones I qualify to get.”
“Sure, sure, step right this way, then.” Toltiir lead the duo over to the counter where his cash register stood. “If you’ll just sign this liability release form, then I’ll need a drop of your blood.” Toltiir reached down to pull out two forms and a pair of vials half full with a light blue liquid. All of this wasn’t strictly necessary. But Toltiir found the air of officialness that this gave helped to keep people from thinking that the choices were up to his whimsical nature. The actual process was efficient and quickly accomplished, as the gods took notice whenever anyone entered his store. By the time any mortal got to the point of being tested, they were already scryed and those who wish to sponsor them had already sent Toltiir a quick message. As Ranma and Nabiki read and signed the forms and pricked their finger on the tooth of a small, bronze dragon figurine, Toltiir was already making a list of the marks he could give.
“Now what?” Ranma asked, nervous about the whole proceedings.
“Now I put the samples into my scanner and we wait for a printout.” Toltiir placed the vials into a small machine, one hooked up to a computer, and pressed a big, red button. Almost immediately, the printer next to the computer started up and spat out a report. “Ah, interesting Miss Tendo,” Toltiir remarked as he read from the report.
“Oh, what is it?” Nabiki became excited, thinking this was a good sign.
“You must be quite the money maker to have caught the attention of the Jade Dragons. It seems you would be allowed to get the Mark of the Jade Dragon.”
Nabiki smiled at that news. “Does this mean I’ll be able to succeed in the field of business? Am I blessed with luck that pertains to money and wealth?”
“No, oddly enough. While the Jade Dragons do deal with the marketplace and matters of business, their gift is, instead, invulnerability. Those who climb the corporate ladder by stepping on others on their way up, tend to generate less then amiable feelings among their coworkers. Jade Dragons prefer to be patrons of such ruthless people, and reward them with a kind of physical invincibility to protect them from harm.” ‘Of course, her tendencies to hoard is valued by any dragon. And that drive will only get worse with this mark. But, I foresee her needing something like this once I’m done with her,’ Toltiir thought to himself with a silent chuckle.
“So, I can’t get hurt? By anything?” Nabiki thought out loud.
“Nope. Mind you, you won’t be superdense. So hard hits, such as, let us say, getting hit by a speeding mack truck, will send you flying all the same. Or drag you along, stuck in the wheel well, as is more likely. But, you won’t even be scratched. Your skin can’t be broken, you can’t be poisoned or sickened, and you’ll stand up again from attacks that usually leave normal people in pieces ... lots and lots of little pieces. But, you must think about this, before you get anything done. Like I mentioned before. The mark is a binding, unbreakable contract, and sometimes a dragon would consider it an invitation to influence or meddle in your life.”
Looking over to Ranma, now, Toltiir continued. “Now, Mr. Saotome,” Ranma quickly looked around, thinking his father was behind him. He was never used to be addressed so formally. “Looks like the mark with the highest approval rating is one that I don’t think you would find very useful. Mark of Tarre.”
“Tar Dragons?” Ranma wondered as he, for some reason, was reminded of sabertooth tigers and dire wolves.
Toltiir continued as if he wasn’t interrupted, “It would grant you the desire to protect one’s friends, a tendency to constantly try to prove yourself, and some sensitivity to negative comments.”
Nabiki couldn’t help but break in at this point, and said, while smirking, “So, we’d wouldn’t even notice any changes in him, then?”
Ranma just rolled his eyes. “Are their any others? You said that one had the highest approval, doesn’t that mean there is another?”
“Yes, you could get-
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:32)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.