Work Text:
Somewhat roughly pushing through the mass of people in the Crossroads, Rogue arrived at Fedulian's storefront. Taking out his favorite golden shuriken and stabbing it neatly into the door, he turned to wait. Almost immediately, it opened behind him and serpent eyes glowered at him, hissing, before sighing as he recognized Rogue.
"What bringss you to my esstablishment?" Fedulian asked, the hiss in his voice made more prominent by his annoyance.
Rogue did his best to look forceful. "I need something."
"And what would that be?" Fedulian narrowed his eyes. "It better not be more shurikens, we have a new ssstore policy," he said before gesturing to the metal plate on the front door, reading 'SERVICE WILL ONLY BE GRANTED UPON RINGING THE BELL' in big, blocky text. Rogue stared at Fedulian blankly for a few seconds, before staring back at the sign. Eyes not leaving the serpent's, his arm reached up to choke the bell in his palm, letting it rest in his firm grip. He released the bell, grinning, when he was sure Fedulian took notice, letting its harmonious notes jingle in the bustling square.
"Ah, but of coursse, my most valuable cusstomersss are exempted." Fedulian hissed the valuable out while glaring at the spared bell before composing himself, resuming his facade of kindly shopkeeper. "What did you say you needed again?"
"I don't know," Rogue shrugged.
Fedulian's expression changed into mild irritation. "How do you even need something without knowing what you need?"
Rogue clarified, "I need something for someone else."
"And you came to me?" Fedulian laughed. "You must be desperate." His expression grew thoughtful. "Wait, has this got something to do with those ninja you've been hanging out with lately?" At Rogue's quick glance at the street Fedulian shook his head. "It's not that hard to assume - the mailman was gossiping with one of my couriers about delivering a letter to the Monastery of Spinjitzu the same day you bring in a letter bearing a remarkable likeness to their description of it."
Rogue tried not to react, brushing this off as a 'Future Rogue' problem. "Anyway," he dismissed, "I need something for someone as an apology for...something."
"How specific," Fedulian drawled, before stopping. "You? Apologizing? I've never seen you apologize..." he trailed off before looking off into the distance, neck craning upwards.
As Rogue was starting to regret coming, Fedulian's neck darted downward to look at him again face to face, his forked tongue flicking out in intrigue. "I see," he chuckled. "May I suggest flowers. Or chocolate?"
"Why would I need flowers o-or chocolate?" Rogue said defensively.
Fedulian gave him a pointed look, before his eyes caught on the crowd outside. "Of course! How did I never notice? The resemblance is uncanny! Oh just wait until I tell Glark that I've had a-" His eyes caught Rogue's confused look. "Oh never mind, just an argument I had in the store this morning, none of your concern," Fedulian said, waving it off. He quickly continued, taking on a conspiring tone, "If the 'someone' is who I think you're referring to, then I think she'd quite like the perfume. A good smell never hurt anyone!" he chuckled at an inside joke, before ushering Rogue inside. "Come in, come in. I've got quite the selection."
Fedulian led him to a selection of lavender perfumes, gesturing over the various brands. "If you want to be extra romantic- now now don't give me that look, you aren't subtle. Never subtle really. Well, if you want to be romantic, I can personally vouch that these are to die for." Gesturing to the citric scents, he continued his pitch, "Now these? Smell divine, and would suit your hidden side well."
Rogue frowned at that, but feeling lost, distractedly followed Fedulian as he stopped in front of a small display near the back of the perfume section of his store. Why did he even have a perfume section? Fedulian sells antiques. Shaking his head, he continued listening.
"And this one? My personal favorite to use. The base note is a special variant of Sandalwood from the Never-Realm. Very rare, very exclusive. I guarantee it'll knock her lights out."
"Could I take one of each?" Rogue asked hesitantly.
"Yes yes of course, anything for my favorite patron," Fedulian enthusiastically said. "Free of charge. Think of it as an advance payment on a job I'm going to give you later. I'll be in touch."
Rogue wasn't one to look a gift horse - serpent, in the mouth, thanking the shopkeeper as he placed them in a bag. "I hope things work out Rogue," Fedulian said as he passed the bag back to him. "You'll give Nya my regards, right?"
"Of course," Rogue said as he left with a wave, before realizing what he'd said. "Just...ah, forget I said that," he said gruffly as he watched the serpent grin - apparently she was the 'someone' he'd suspected. "And get rid of that sign, anyone who cares is just going to break your door down."
Fedulian muttered as he left. The ninja were too close to him. If Jay was here he'd need to invest in some insulated clothing. At least he had the plausible deniability of getting the mystery woman wrong - Jay'd be too lost in grief to correct him. Nya. Some of the ninja were difficult to plan for, but she was by far the easiest. It was a very little-known fact, but if you got the right karaoke club owner drunk enough - on alcohol or compliments, he'd be able to tell you a few things about the ninja that no one in the public had ever heard. If he were another serpent he'd be there with popcorn to watch that buffoon give her his 'gift'. But, he had a business to run. The vengestone cuffs inventory was running low again...