[ WP ] In a world where people can buy and sell skills , you work at a skill pawn shop and someone is trying to pawn a skill that you ca n't value or appraise .

Biaz was bored. Another slow day at the workshop. People seldom visited his small pawn shop. Could n't blame them really. The most exciting skill he offered was fly swatting. 
 
 The door bell chimed as someone entered. Surprised, Biaz looked up in half-stupor. The visitor was a strange man. Sixty-ish with short white hair, dressed in a poncho. 
 
 *An impala. That's rare. * Impalas seldom came down from the mountains. It also meant they often possessed rare, never before seen skills. 
 
 *This may be lucky day. * He grinned impishly as the man reached the counter. Biaz noticed some slight bruising on his hands and a slight limp 
 
 `` You hurt friend?'' he said, trying to interject sympathy in his voice. Rule no. 1 of selling: Be their friends. 
 
 The old man sighed. `` A bit. Its nothing much. Used to it.'' 
 
 `` Local lads give you trouble. I know the marshal if you need help.'' Only reason he knew the Marshal was on account of being brought in twice for fraudulent trading. 
 
 `` Nah. Its not that. Its.... my skill. Its why I am here.'' He was fidgeting nervously. 
 
 Biaz grandly spread his hands. `` Then you are in the right place. This is Biaz's Skill Emporium. All kinds of skills brought and sold. Our clients includes the like of the old King Mercer and the Count Darwer of the silent sword'' 
 
 The old man did n't seem impressed. 
 
 `` Uhm.. uh so, what kind of skill you possess? Hunting, Drum play, Archery. Impala skills are not in much demand, but I'll try to give you a good price'' 
 
 He looked at the man expectantly. *C'mon make my day. * 
 
 `` Yes well I have a skill.'' 
 
 *Please let it be valuable* 
 
 `` Its served me well as a youngster. Had an interesting life because of it.'' 
 
 *Get to the skill, old toad. * 
 
 `` But I am old now. Its hard to live like that anymore.'' The man tiredly sighed `` Its time to move on.'' 
 
 *God let it be a Ward Skill. An actual old magic talent. I could be a rich m-* 
 
 `` I cause trouble'' 
 
 *what the F # # K! * 
 
 `` Excuse me. What do you mean you cause trouble?'' Was the guy trolling him? 
 
 `` I am a walking time bomb. Where ever I go unrest follows.'' he answered softly. 
 
 `` I am sure you are exaggerating. I mean.. a lot of people think they cause strife-'' 
 
 The man grabbed the counter, hard. `` On my way here, I passed a wedding. Just as I passed by, the best man in a drunken stupor pronounced proudly how he was having a double affair with the groom's sister and his bride.'' 
 
 Biaz blinked twice, trying to process that. `` Well, I am sure you had nothing -'' 
 
 `` I was caught amidst the ensuing riot. Someone punched me and I fell on the bride. As I clutched her dress for balance, the groom, perhaps thinking of me as another suitor, threw me on the wedding flames. I was still holding on to the dress'' 
 
 Butterflies were fluttering in Biaz's stomach. Could this guy be- 
 
 `` With her dress on fire, she proceeded to run around the hall like a frightened chicken.'' The man had closed his eyes. `` She set fire to half the hall in 5 minutes. Of course we had to cut her out of the dress.'' 
 
 A small laughter escaped out of Biaz. 
 
 `` So in summary, within 10 minutes of my passing, over 50 family members and friends were trying to murder each other, the 500 year old wedding hall was on fire, and a naked bride was standing in the middle; trying to convince her husband that she was not my harlot. Of course the groom was still trying to bash my head in.'' 
 
 He opened his eyes slowly and looked straight at Biaz. `` And that, was just my Monday.'' 
 
 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
 
 The bell chimed as the old man exited the tiny shop. He held a big bag. Tightly bound, it seemed to be brimming with coin. He was smiling and whistling, as if a weight was off his shoulders. 
 
 Back in the shop, Biaz looked down at the black vial. In his hands he held the most potent form of reality manipulation he had ever seen. He grinned maniacally. 
 
 Things certainly would n't be boring now.
