" A diamond is a girl's best friend and here
you can make her your best friend as well by finding her just the
right stone to show your love."
TorrinMcGlynne@aol.com,
Nikolettex@aol.com
Bamby:
House
McGlynne was a large farm house just outside of RoseHaven. There
were tent out in the fields, a barn where The Lukina Stables was
now located gardens of flowers and fields of vegetables
surrounding the location. The owner of the farm and his daughter
were sitting on the porch swing this day waiting for a visitor
from the QCoins to arrive. There was a wolf and two white tigers
nearby as well.
QCC:
The Crow had
received Bamby's correspondence and sailed on The Swallowtail with
Maha and her small crew, docking in the bay of RoseHaven and
making his way inland. He remembered making a delivery here once
or twice in his past life, and the scenery was just as beautiful
as he recalled, silently taking in his surroundings. Madje was
dressed casually, disdaining formal attire when it was such an
informal affair, really - a shirt of cream over navy trousers,
which were tucked into knee-high boots. A sash of wine-red cinched
his waist, while a matching scarf tied his hair back from smiling
features.
Seeing the
pair sitting out on the swing, he raised his hand as he walked
toward the porch - and then he saw the tigers and halted abruptly,
a dozen yards or so away, cawing out, "Au.....eu....Hello there!
Madje Askavinge with the QCC Merchant Interviews?"
Bamby:
She gave a
little wave from her seat. The rose brushing down the length of
her dress to make sure it was straight. She walked to the edge of
the porch smiling.
"Come on up.
They won't hurt you unless you try to hurt me. "
QCC:
"Au, all
right!"
He was still
a little more than wary as he approached, trying his best not to
appear as if he were going to hurt Bamby in any way, shape, or
form! The Crow was rather scrawny and un-intimidating as it was,
but you could never be too careful! Tipping forward in a bow, he
smiled to both of them on the middle step and peeked up at the
wolf before glancing back to them, "I hope you're both doing good
tonight! Are you prepared for the little interview?"
Bamby:
The wolf came
to sit next to the swing and the two tigers relaxed in setting sun
not moving as he went by. She retook her seat on the swing giving
her daddy a smile before looking back at the visitor.
"I guess. I
never did an interview before."
QCC:
"Nice
animals, I'm not going to hurt her," murmuring to the creature
companions and taking a seat on the top step with a sheepish
smile. A pad of paper was brought out from a satchel at his side,
along with a bit of charcoal to take notes with; he grinned up at
Bamby and Torrin, "Au, it's not hard at all! I'm just going to ask
you some questions! Everyone in the QCC is interested to learn
about the merchants, and it tends to generate more business, too!"
Torrin:
Torrin was
only here to make his presence known. Nikolette would be answering
the questions about the businesses - she ran them - and it was
time for her to begin learning things of this nature that Torrin
just could not teach her.
Bamby:
"Okay then
ask the questions and I will try to answer them."
QCC:
"All right!"
Madje was
enthusiastic and energetic as he usually was as he glanced over
his notes with a smile, trying to calm the excitement in his voice
as he spoke.
"Could you
tell me how A Girl's Best Friend came to be? It's an amazing shop,
and there is such a wide selection - but it must have been so very
expensive to start, and please don't be offended, but I think you
must be the youngest merchant I've ever met."
Grinning a
little sheepishly, he ducked his head and glanced at Torrin for a
second, chirping, "But you deserve kudos for that!"
Bamby:
"How it got
started? Oh ummm."
She gave a
gaze to her daddy so he could correct her if she was wrong.
"It was
started by Katherine de Largierre. She was the Queen of Draco Myst
and the store was first opened there. If I remember history
correctly she gave the store to my daddy who was her step son and
his new bride as a wedding present.
Oh wait she
gave the store here in RoseHaven to you didn't she daddy. I think
the store on Draco Myst closed with her death."
QCC:
"Ahh, I don't
think I've ever been to Draco Myst before," thinking to himself
and tapping the charcoal against his lips, leaving a little black
smudge, "That's still quite a gift to receive! Did it come fully
stocked? I meant to ask you how you went about selecting your high
quality stock, also! Is there a particular aspect you look for in
what you decide to put out for customers?"
Bamby:
"I guess it
came fully stocked. That was like before I was born."
She gave a
smile.
"I know from
past inventory list that the items were and still are custom made.
So in truth no two items are alike and some items there are only 1
ever made. And when I say no two is alike I mean there may be two
heart necklaces and they may seem the same but when you look close
you would find what is different. Does that make sense?"
QCC:
The Crow
laughed softly with a smile, trying to keep from asking how old
Bamby was - it just wasn't polite to ask a female her age during
any stage of life! Jotting down notes, his eyes were a little
wide, "Quoa, there must have been quite a bit of stock - it's
amazing that each of your offerings is an original custom piece!
I'll bet a lot of people would be interested in your jewelry in
that there'll never be another like it again!
Yes, I
understand, and I'll bet the discerning eyes of your customers
would be able to tell, too. Could you tell me about the various
occasions that you have rings for? I've never been engaged,
never-mind married, so I'm really ignorant over that - what are
'wraps' for, exactly?"
Bamby:
"Katherine
had a note in her journal about the store saying that...
'No woman
wants to go to a party and see someone
else wearing her jewelry....'
That is why
she opened the store. When you get engaged tradition has it
marked by the giving of something. Most have turned to giving of a
ring. Normally a diamond ring.... That is followed by the wedding
ring. Which can be simple or decorated depending on the person's
taste....
Then there
are those that want what is called a wrap set. Where a normal
wedding ring and engagement ring are separate pieces. A wrap will
represent your wedding ring and become one with your engagement
ring. I even noticed that people get married a lot here and in
the adjoining kingdoms so one would need to have something that
would suite anyone's needs to make a good store."
QCC:
Madje's mouth
gaped open a little further every time he marked down a new note
about rings that he'd had absolutely no clue about before hand,
mouthing the details as she spoke them with wide eyes.
"Qua, I'm so
glad that you know all of this! It's really all so amazing - and
takka, I agree with not wanting to have the same jewelry as
another person! So, a wrap can be combined with your engagement
ring, that's really neat! And it looks like you can interchange
them, too? There were so many colors when I looked through your
catalogue! Do the various gemstones mean or symbolize anything in
particular?"
Bamby:
"Stones can
represent many different things it just depends on where you come
from and what you believe. Some say that stones have healing
powers. So if you were sick it would make you feel better to be
adorn in a piece that has stones to help you heal."
QCC:
"Au, so it's
not just to match your clothing! Do you think you'll ever carry
jewelry that have special enchantments like that, maybe?"
He thought
that was a neat idea, scribbling down a few more things with a
smile.
"Do you have
any jewelry in your shop that are your favorites? And do you own
any of the jewelry from A Girl's Best Friend yourself? I usually
get kicked out of jewelry stores, they seem to think I'm going to
rob them...or something," snickering a little, he coughed and
raked his hand through his hair to clear it from his eyes.
"Au, do you
do modifications, too? I meant to ask - like if you wanted to
solder your engagement ring and wrap together?"
Bamby:
"I'm not
strong enough to enchant anything yet and I wouldn't risk my
customers to the magic of someone else. Besides there is so much
magic in the world sometimes it is just nice to have something
that is simple and normal.
Sizing and
alterations such as fussing the rings together are part of your
purchase. We also have include some extension in sizes in the cost
of the item. It has to be within reason. We aren't going to take a
normal pearl necklace and expand it to change the fit for a human
neck to that of a dragon who is a pet or something like that.
At this time,
I don't have any department that is truly a favorite and I don't
own anything just yet for myself. I am only eight so I don't want
to lose something that is so nice. But I am sure when I am older I
will love that store more then I do now."
She gave a
cute little smile with a nose wrinkle and a giggle.
QCC:
"Au, that's a
very, very good point! If someone had a magic that reacted badly
with the enchantment, they might explode or something!"
The Crow's
eyes widened just thinking of what might happen, blinking back to
himself and laughing when he thought about wanting to have jewelry
resized for pets. Scratching his head he looked over at the wolf
and tigers with a grin, wondering if they were adorned with
anything. It was natural to reciprocate smiles - they were
contagious! - and Madje was smiling along with her, "All your
services that go along with your jewelry pieces are wonderful, you
really do care about your customer's needs!"
Leaning
forward just a little, he whispered, "And, well, if you see
something that you really, really like, I'd say put it some place
where people wouldn't see it, then when you feel you won't lose
it, buy it for yourself!"
Snickering
quietly, he nodded and peered down at his list, "Au! Do you do
gift wrapping services, also?"
Bamby:
None of the
animals had collars of any sort. They were wild animals and she
wasn't going to confine them in that manner. She gave Madje a
smile when he mentioned putting something aside but let it go.
"All items
come in a box. It is
normally made of wood and custom sized to fit the jewelry. That is
wrapped further if desired. When the seasons are right, that will
be accompanied with some sort of flower assortment. That is my
signature for all my stores. The flowers."
QCC:
"That's very
nice, I'm used to seeing the inexpensive little velvet boxes -
wood seems so much more tasteful and elegant," he grinned and
thought aloud, a strange habit of his, "she's so mature for her
age!"
Scratching at
his elbow, he brushed off an ant that'd bit him and glanced around
at her garden, "Do your flowers come from your very own gardens?
It's just so beautiful here, and I wish I had a porch swing, too."
Bamby:
She gave a
giggle.
"Yes they do.
I grow them with some help from different people that live here on
the farm."
QCC:
"What a
beautiful idea, it really adds a special touch!"
Madje giggled
after she did, glancing at her father and coughing, straightening
up and trying to seem a bit more....masculine?
"Au, eu...that
is, do you also engrave pieces with names, dates, messages and the
like? What if something breaks on accident, would you be able to
fix them - is there a warrantee on your jewelry?"
Bamby:
She had to
think for a moment to make sure she answered this one correctly.
"Yes, we can
engrave items. It makes delivery take a bit longer but it can be
done. If an item breaks we will work to have it repaired. There is
a warrantee on the craftsmanship, but if you take your beautiful
ring and wear it while stringing a fence and you smash it up there
could be a charge for repairs."
QCC:
"Au,
wonderful," jotting down the notes about the extra service with a
grin, he dotted the end and a smilie face, "Qua, I hope that
people wouldn't wear their precious jewelry while doing manual
labor like that!"
Wincing, he
wrinkled his nose a little, "I trust that all your jewelry is made
with gold or silver so there won't be any allergic reactions, but
how would someone go about caring for their jewelry so it lasts
many lifetimes?"
Bamby:
"We use
yellow and white gold, silver, and platinum for our jewelry. One
would need to treat the piece with respect. Just like anything
else it would need to be cleaned and inspected to watch for
anything that may look worn so it can be fixed before it causes
real damage."
QCC:
"Yellow and
white gold, silver, platinum," mumbling as he took more notes
down, nodding his head in agreement when she described the care
and peeking up at her, "Do you re-plate rings when they start to
get a little older and to polish out any little scratches or
dents? I know when I had one of my rings, it was so scratched, I
just buried it in my knick-knack box, because I thought I couldn't
wear it any more."
Bamby:
"we can
polish a ring up and make needed repairs to fill in weak spots if
needed."
QCC:
"Au,
wonderful! All right, so I don't keep you too much longer, I have
one last question! Why are diamonds a girl's best friend?"
Madje pouted
just a little, pushing his lower lip out and wondering why women
would choose jewelry over their male counterparts.
Bamby:
She is eight,
she didn't name the store, she is being raised by a male. Heck if
she truly knew why the name was given. So she looked to her daddy
then gave a bit of a shrug.
"Because they
can stick around when counterparts can go away."
Torrin:
Torrin gave
Nikolette a thumbs up at her answer.
QCC:
The Crow
looked a little defeated, but he laughed when he saw her father's
reaction and shrugged too, "I suppose that's true enough! I'd
better let you get back inside before the mosquitoes start coming
around! Thank you both so much for having me at your house for an
interview, it was so informative, and I'm certain everyone with
the QCC will enjoy reading about your shop!" Pushing up from the
steps, he rubbed at his numbed hindquarters with a grin, "Please
have a pleasant evening, and I look forward to shopping with you
soon!"
Bamby:
"Thank you
for coming by to see us. We enjoyed your company." The girl
slipped off the swing and walked toward Madje, one wolf in tow.
"You have a very safe journey back to your home.
QCC:
The Crow
bowed again and wished them farewell, though he didn't dare pet
the wolf! He liked his hands just the way they were, without bite
marks, and went off back down the path with a smile and his notes!
