Lemon found after three weeks of being apart of a dragon’s hoard the most difficult part was boredom. Zohar spent most his time in his study library nook area looking through various tomes and texts. Lemon had ventured over a few times to peak at the books. Most of the books though were in languages she even recognized.

  But when the Dragon noticed her searching he’d found her a pile and seemed to enjoy her reading close enough that he could absent mindedly play with her hair while he read. The topics though in languages she knew weren’t very engaging because often they’d already been apart of the studies she’d been required to do under her mother’s care. Sometimes when she found something to do Zohar would walk over and place something next to her.

  It took her a bit to connect they were gifts. He mostly gave her little knickknacks for her room, fabrics with no particular purpose, sweet treat kind of foods, clips for her hair and various cloaks nearly identical to the one she’d come here in and under outfits again nearly identical to the ones she wore. Zohar had frowned when he’d offered her them claiming that he really didn’t really know anything about feminine wears of this form.

  Not that it bothered her she liked her standard uniform.

  Lemon had ventured to ask for a few things. A particular book title, a specific type of food, a better clasp for her cloak. Each time he happily got it for her. He didn’t seem opposed to getting her anything she might desire. That wasn’t the issue it was when she’d asked him for a task or something to do he’d look at her truly confused and admitted that he wasn’t sure what those in this form did except for read and study. Which seeing as most of his living area was basically a personal learnatory it didn’t surprise her.

  “How long have you held this form?” She’d asked him interrupting what ever he was doing. He blinked and gave her attention without any arguments. He hummed and considered.

  “I don’t think it’s been over a decade.” He offered as if time wasn’t really something he considered. Then again he was a fucking dragon. Not that she really had to worry too much about time either.

  “Have you hidden up here the entire time?” Lemon joked but by his blinked confused face she realized he probably had. That’s when she truly noticed that he really didn’t ever pay attention to the shop if it wasn’t specifically to deal someone stupid enough to under pay of steal. He really didn’t seem to care if anyone actually bought anything.

  So, Lemon ventured down to study objects that had only changed a bit since the last time she ventured through.

  “I am so sorry.” A voice breathed and Lemon turned to meet the eyes of a centaur woman looking uncomfortable in the area. “Would you happen to work here?” She asked. Lemon opened her mouth to deny it. Then she paused she knew enough about the products and the art of sales to work here. For shits and giggles she nodded.

  “Yup, what can I help you with.” And with that one grateful woman who didn’t have to navigate the narrow areas started Lemon’s solution for her boredom. Lemon would listen to someone explain what they were looking for and she’d lead them over to something that might help, she’d argue with customers who thought something didn’t do what the card said or she’d admit another card was right but. Customers even ones she was down right rude with liked her. Sales went up and the stagnant feeling eased.

  She happily laid on the bed that was still kind of hers. She used it more as a comfy spot to sit and set out things she was thinking through. Lemon didn’t even react to the fingers that ran through her hair simply turned her attention to Zohar who held out a stack of the cards he put out.

  “Would you like to read through them before I put them out.” Zohar asked with a smirk. “I can tell when you agree with them and when you don’t.” He offered.

  “Oh.” Lemon breathed glancing away, then back at him. He didn’t seem to be offended though. She looked through them quietly and the bed shifted as Zohar sat on the edge of it waiting. Lemon nodded placing ones she approved of next to him. Only one card had her twitching and putting it in a different pile.

  Zohar lifted it.

  “What’s wrong with it?” He asked looking to her. Lemon picked up the correct pile and circulated through it double checking.

  “You wrote that it’s gnomish.” She offered in a breath. “You might have bought it from a gnome but the design and techniques used on it are Dwarven and it doesn’t hum with gnomish magic so it isn’t likely that a Gnome made it.” Lemon offered. Zohar leaned toward her listening to every word she said was important to him.

  “Is it?” He asked her looking delighted in the fact that knew that. Lemon dropped her eyes. “Have you met many Dwarves and Gnomes?” Zohar continued to ask her not even seeming to notice how she was always trying to figure out how to react to his attentions and interest. Always trying to figure out how much to accept and how much to assume is fleeting. Lemon considered turning away from that continuing puzzle.

  “My mother may be a thief and a liar.” Lemon trailed. “But she is one who believes in being well educated and well versed on what is valuable and what isn’t. On appraising, on charming, on all the things to get farther in life. And she insisted I be able to handle everything when ever she was busy.” Lemon admitted and huffed. “I guess I was always aware I was just another pretty piece in her collection.” Lemon offered rolling her eyes. The Dragon stiffed. Lemon realized but didn’t bother brushing away the obvious comparison.

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  “I wouldn’t sell you.” He muttered so low and lines flittered over his skin. Lemon sucked in a breath and venture to lean forward catching his flame eyes and he held her gaze.

  “I don’t know about wouldn’t. But if I ever think you’re boring of me I’ll be long gone before the thought could cross your mind.” Lemon admitted and watched his face for his reaction. Lemon was baffled when her words seemed to ease him. Zohar reached out and threaded his fingers through her hair almost cupping her face.

  “I don’t think I’ll bore of you.” He offered to her looking too fucking gentle for a huge flaming beast. “You have many shades, and I haven’t discovered them all.” He told her. Lemon rolled her eyes at that chuckled and turned into a change of subject.

  “What are you researching?” She asked. He glanced down at the current resident of his constant proximity.

  “I have a new shipment coming in and I like to look into the items that are being sent before they get here.” Zohar explained. Then his eyes lit and he laid the book out in front of her. Lemon looked over his face and chuckled reading the list descriptions.

  “I have experience with these.” She ran a finger over a couple items glancing at him. He lit again and she hissed out a breath.

  “Tell me.” He insisted.

  “Marsh-weed is a plant primarily found in areas where there are a lot of water sprites. It’s not as rare as this description would lead you to believe. I could go out and find it fast enough to get it for you and I wouldn’t change nearly as much.” Lemon weighed but she didn’t think these prices were as crazy as what some of the stores charged here. And to be fair she could see the reason for the heightened price. “Fire root though leads me to believe it’s been geared and set up for spell work and if you combined the two things it becomes a truly affective salve for burns and lacerations.” She explained to him. Zohar blinked and leaned back looking baffled.

  “I’ve never thought of combining any of the things in my shipments.” He admitted to her. Lemon smiled brightly to hide her baffled horror. Then she shrugged it off.

  “Well you mostly get these things because of the oddness, rarity and intrigue correct. Sales aren’t you highest priority.” Or not truly a priority at all. Zohar nodded then narrowed his eyes at the booklet.

  “No but I don’t like the idea I’m being robbed.” He breathed flickers of energy dancing prettily across his skin.

  “Well, I wouldn’t go as far as to say they’re robbing you. They’re just not doing you any favors. They balanced things to look like they might be but in total I’d say your spending about average for what you’re getting. And it could be a good deal for someone who knows about what they’re buying.” Lemon offered running through adding notations and such and things to ask about.

  Lemon considered and added more notations.

  When she looked up she paused at Zohar watching her with a curled grin that looked truly pleased in the moment. Then that smiled flickered with equal amusement and teeth when he leaned in and breathed.

  “I will be sure to negotiate more when the shipment arrives.” His eyes sparkled. Lemon nodded and dropped her eyes again. She shouldn’t let the appreciation affect her. She shouldn’t get comfortable with someone noticing her capability and silent praises.

  He asked her clarifying questions about her notations. She answered, corrected when she could tell he was misunderstanding something. It was comfortable and he seemed to be relaxing into it. Lemon wondered if the Dragon had needed social interaction and that was one of the reasons he took interest in her.

  The idea made her hide a snort and smirk.

  Eventually she stood and stretched sitting there for too long. Lemon noticed the time.

  “Well looks like it might be time for bed.” She chuckled. Zohar blinked then glared at the skylight as if it intentionally went dark to interrupt him. Then he looked almost… disappointed. Lemon paused and glanced away. “If you would prefer it.” Lemon offered taking the objects off of the bed. “I could sleep here and we could keep talking.” She offered. She watched him brighten and he looked all around and he scurried around the room bringing a pile of fabric.

  Lemon blinked but only watched bemused as he shed her clothes to dress her in a sleeping tunic and applies a similar one to himself before offering her thick soft fabrics that weren’t really meant to be blankets but she figured would do. Still she laughed and told him.

  “We are really going to need to find you actual blankets.” She informed him. “Half the fabrics you give me would be better suited for clothing.” She offered shaking her head. Zohar paused and tilted his head looking her over. Then he came back with another fabric and draped it over her.

  “Huh. I never thought of clothing.” He murmured. “I just thought the colors looked nice near you.” He offered his eyes running all over her. “A tailor.” He offered nodding. “I will have to call a tailor.” He decided. Lemon looked down at the very beautiful bright red fabric and thought of the other very nice fabrics he’d leaned toward giving her.

  “And where do you think I could possibly where anything made from the fabrics you gift me?” She asked him half in a grumbled and half in amusement. He was already though waving out the lights and climbing into his bed looking excited, pleased. Lemon sighed deciding that was just apart of accepting being apart of a dragon’s hoard and climbed into her own bed.

  Laying in the dark silence she heard Zohar turn.

  “You care about sales correct?” He asked her. Lemon thought about that the dark feeling safe around her.

  “I enjoy the activity of it. Helping, talking, arguing by necessity I care about I care that something makes money but I do find over pricing things to be annoying. If you raise the price of something there should be a reason. Actually pricing is one of the first things I noticed about your shop. Most your prices are fair and reasonable and the ones that aren’t are usually tipped favorably toward the customer. You underprice a decent amount of things.” Lemon admitted. “Though again I think it’s because you purchase things you have an interest in and when it doesn’t specifically fit what your interest thought it would you don’t think much about it. Though it might do something else entirely.” Lemon thought out loud.

  “Well now you’re here to tell me when I’ve missed something.” Zohar offered a turn of amusement in his tone. There conversation didn’t stay of wears and shop things. It followed a swirling train of thought that was confusing but easing and Lemon drifted to sleep in the swirl of it.