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Species Sphinx
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![Cleo, collector of antiques [SOLD]](http://d.furaffinity.net/art/prostap/1718737380/1718737380.prostap_cleo.png "Click to change the View")
You’re walking through the market, gazing at the various stands and their goods on display, hoping to see something of interest. Something nice for you and your significant other’s anniversary; and yet, despite the market’s lively and colourful atmosphere, you navigate aimlessly from stand to stand, unable to find something interesting or appropriate enough…
But just when you were about to lose all hope, you notice the entrance to an antique shop on the corner of the street leading out the market, almost hidden by the rest of the stands crowding the square. Might be worth a look at this point.
As you step inside, you feel the smell of old books and carpets, and are surprised by the absolute silence the moment the door closes behind you, shutting off the entirety of the noisy market outside. Such a nice, balanced contrast… It’s almost as if this place is suspended out of time, which seems appropriate after all.
Around you, all sorts of wares of different countries and different ages are laid all over the place, in a manner that manages to look tidy, yet chaotic, as the spatial order of things is incomprehensible to you. There is for example a pile of books of all genres and time periods judging by the different state of their discoloration, but perfectly laid on the floor in the shape of a pyramid, surmounted by an elaborately chiselled wooden stool, which in turn supports a fine alabaster chessboard, on top of which rest some ivory statuettes, unrelated to chess pieces though. Curious… but odd. You should speak to the shop keeper to avoid navigating aimlessly through their collection.
Speaking of, the shop keeper is nowhere to be seen! You feel rude to call out for them and break the peaceful quiet of the shop, but as you move through their wares, the shop seems to open up more and more into a labyrinth of books, rolled up carpets, statuettes, old furniture and other stuff… in your search, it didn’t occur to you to look above your eye-level, until by pure chance you finally notice a creature that has probably been studying your movements from above all this time with its cold, icy blue stare!
With the large body of a lioness sitting on all fours and her paws curled inwards like cats do, a wingless sphinx silently watches you from atop a tall, antique cupboard. The cream colour of her well-groomed fur contrasts nicely and elegantly with the dark complexion of her lady-like face, adorned by blue lipstick and makeup, plus golden earrings and a large collar befitting of a Pharaoh.
“Ah! The shop keeper… I presume?” you ask, slightly intimidated by her gaze.
“Yes, the name is Cleo, welcome to my shop” she politely replies with a barely noticeable bow of her head.
Of course the enigmatically organized shop belongs to a sphinx no less… hopefully you won’t have to solve riddles to find what you’re looking for.
“I was hoping to find something… like a little, uhm… novelty item or gadget? As a present to a special person in my life…”
“Hmm. Vague, broad description. I’m sure you can find a something worthy of a present here though if you keep looking”
An awkward silence follows as she simply resumes staring at you.
“That wasn’t very helpful…” you complain.
“I’m sorry, perhaps try to be more… specific? I’ll gladly give you what you search, if you know what you’re looking for… Otherwise, I don’t mind if you simply want a tour of the shop. In fact, many of my customers enjoy visiting, even if they don’t have anything buy or sell. And sometimes, it’s the items who find their owners, not the other way around~”
“Objects can’t find people, they’re… just objects?” you say, slightly confused. The sphinx is beginning to speak in riddles it seems… maybe it’s just best if you go while you still can!
“Let’s see if I can narrow your search down to a few items for you then…” she says, finally jumping off the cupboard, her paws barely making any noise as they land on the floor and walk towards you.
Coming to sit on her hind legs in front of you, Cleo begins to make question after question, ranging from how much you’re willing to spend, who is the recipient, your bond with them, and all the way down to small details like colour, size, purpose… She even asks if you’d like a magic item no less!
You try your best to answer every question, although you feel uncomfortable to open up to her like this. Cleo on the other hand, is extremely patient, to prove herself…
“Very well, I think I have enough elements to narrow it down to a single item” she finally declares, which you assume to be an extremely bold statement.
However, she confidently begins to escort you through that labyrinthine shop of hers, the goal clear in her mind. And when in front of a painting, your mouth drops in stupor as she flicks her tail like a magic wand, making the painting ‘hollow out’ into a corridor, opening up a whole new area of the shop, which you enter. There she finally leads you to a most beautiful desert rose, almost resembling a bouquet of stone.
“Enchanted desert rose from Tunisia, dating 3rd or 2nd Century BC, probably used as magical beacon. Currently, it shines whenever pointed towards its original location…” she explains, demonstrating its magical property by moving the rotating pedestal with her paw; “…with the proper incantation however, it can be set to shine in response to a different, specific trigger. For example, the recurrence of a particular date…” she suggests with a smile.
You contemplate the desert rose and it’s unnatural, almost alluring glow for a while. You never saw an actual magic item with your own eyes!
“Woah… it’s… it’s just perfect…” you finally admit in awe.
Story and OC design by me
Character now belongs to ArtieArtyArt on Toyhouse!
Base by
estellar
Posted using PostyBirb
But just when you were about to lose all hope, you notice the entrance to an antique shop on the corner of the street leading out the market, almost hidden by the rest of the stands crowding the square. Might be worth a look at this point.
As you step inside, you feel the smell of old books and carpets, and are surprised by the absolute silence the moment the door closes behind you, shutting off the entirety of the noisy market outside. Such a nice, balanced contrast… It’s almost as if this place is suspended out of time, which seems appropriate after all.
Around you, all sorts of wares of different countries and different ages are laid all over the place, in a manner that manages to look tidy, yet chaotic, as the spatial order of things is incomprehensible to you. There is for example a pile of books of all genres and time periods judging by the different state of their discoloration, but perfectly laid on the floor in the shape of a pyramid, surmounted by an elaborately chiselled wooden stool, which in turn supports a fine alabaster chessboard, on top of which rest some ivory statuettes, unrelated to chess pieces though. Curious… but odd. You should speak to the shop keeper to avoid navigating aimlessly through their collection.
Speaking of, the shop keeper is nowhere to be seen! You feel rude to call out for them and break the peaceful quiet of the shop, but as you move through their wares, the shop seems to open up more and more into a labyrinth of books, rolled up carpets, statuettes, old furniture and other stuff… in your search, it didn’t occur to you to look above your eye-level, until by pure chance you finally notice a creature that has probably been studying your movements from above all this time with its cold, icy blue stare!
With the large body of a lioness sitting on all fours and her paws curled inwards like cats do, a wingless sphinx silently watches you from atop a tall, antique cupboard. The cream colour of her well-groomed fur contrasts nicely and elegantly with the dark complexion of her lady-like face, adorned by blue lipstick and makeup, plus golden earrings and a large collar befitting of a Pharaoh.
“Ah! The shop keeper… I presume?” you ask, slightly intimidated by her gaze.
“Yes, the name is Cleo, welcome to my shop” she politely replies with a barely noticeable bow of her head.
Of course the enigmatically organized shop belongs to a sphinx no less… hopefully you won’t have to solve riddles to find what you’re looking for.
“I was hoping to find something… like a little, uhm… novelty item or gadget? As a present to a special person in my life…”
“Hmm. Vague, broad description. I’m sure you can find a something worthy of a present here though if you keep looking”
An awkward silence follows as she simply resumes staring at you.
“That wasn’t very helpful…” you complain.
“I’m sorry, perhaps try to be more… specific? I’ll gladly give you what you search, if you know what you’re looking for… Otherwise, I don’t mind if you simply want a tour of the shop. In fact, many of my customers enjoy visiting, even if they don’t have anything buy or sell. And sometimes, it’s the items who find their owners, not the other way around~”
“Objects can’t find people, they’re… just objects?” you say, slightly confused. The sphinx is beginning to speak in riddles it seems… maybe it’s just best if you go while you still can!
“Let’s see if I can narrow your search down to a few items for you then…” she says, finally jumping off the cupboard, her paws barely making any noise as they land on the floor and walk towards you.
Coming to sit on her hind legs in front of you, Cleo begins to make question after question, ranging from how much you’re willing to spend, who is the recipient, your bond with them, and all the way down to small details like colour, size, purpose… She even asks if you’d like a magic item no less!
You try your best to answer every question, although you feel uncomfortable to open up to her like this. Cleo on the other hand, is extremely patient, to prove herself…
“Very well, I think I have enough elements to narrow it down to a single item” she finally declares, which you assume to be an extremely bold statement.
However, she confidently begins to escort you through that labyrinthine shop of hers, the goal clear in her mind. And when in front of a painting, your mouth drops in stupor as she flicks her tail like a magic wand, making the painting ‘hollow out’ into a corridor, opening up a whole new area of the shop, which you enter. There she finally leads you to a most beautiful desert rose, almost resembling a bouquet of stone.
“Enchanted desert rose from Tunisia, dating 3rd or 2nd Century BC, probably used as magical beacon. Currently, it shines whenever pointed towards its original location…” she explains, demonstrating its magical property by moving the rotating pedestal with her paw; “…with the proper incantation however, it can be set to shine in response to a different, specific trigger. For example, the recurrence of a particular date…” she suggests with a smile.
You contemplate the desert rose and it’s unnatural, almost alluring glow for a while. You never saw an actual magic item with your own eyes!
“Woah… it’s… it’s just perfect…” you finally admit in awe.
Story and OC design by me
Character now belongs to ArtieArtyArt on Toyhouse!
Base by
estellarPosted using PostyBirb
Category Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Sphinx
Size 2413 x 1527px
File Size 3.26 MB
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