Yokuso, Ore-tachi no Shoppu desu~ [Dragoon, Open]

[Ryoga Zanen]

Ryoga sat at the cash register for the small family ring shop that he had, at this point, called home. He fiddled around with some of the rings at the counter. The family didn't allow him to take out his magic rings in the store, so he played with regular silver-encrusted rings out of boredom. The shop was relatively empty at this time, most people were either working or just didn't feel that they wanted to buy a ring. Ryoga sighed and looked at the door, as if begging for a customer to come in.

[Ryu Maxwell]

Ryu rode his motorbike through town with a sigh, it had been close to a week yet he saw neither heads nor tails of the Majin or the Soul Crystals. He was about to call it quits for the day when his spirit partner Ryujin spoke up,"Ryu, stop!"

The boy brought the bike to a halt,"What is it, partner?"

"This store..it radiates with an ominous energy.." His partner explained.

Ryu glanced up at it,"A ring shop?" He pondered for a bit than shrugged,"Meh, I was bored anyways." He went over and opened the door.

[Ryoga Zanen]

Ryoga's ears perked up as soon as he heard the bell ring and the door open. "Welcome!" he called out, waving Ryu over to the cash register. "And how can I help you today? Let me guess, getting married? We've got a lovely selection of engagement and wedding rings! Even a little suffering!" Ryoga joked, pointing at their selection of rings.

[Ryu Maxwell]

Ryu blinked and waltzed over to the fella,"Um...not really,sorry..I mostly just came in to look around.."

[Ryoga Zanen]

"Well, just so you know, we do financing on the more expensive stuff, we do custom orders, engraving, we take credit and check, and we have other jewelry available, just say the word!" Ryoga ranted, bowing respectfully before adjusting his hat. "If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!"

[Ryu Maxwell]

Ryu nodded and looked around,"I must say, it certainly is a nice shop..do you own all this?"

[Ryoga Zanen]

"I wish I did. My employers are quiet country folk who make these rings by hand," Ryoga answered. "They even taught me how to make rings, some of which are on display."

[Ryu Maxwell]

Ryu tilted his head,"Rings,eh? Interesting...so did you make any of these?"

[Ryoga Zanen]

Ryoga nodded and picked up a small ring, clearly made for a child, that was platinum-encrusted. "I made this for a mother who was going to give it to her daughter on her birthday. Unfortunately, the mother passed away before she could buy it," Ryoga said sadly, putting the ring on the counter.

[Ryu Maxwell]

Ryu lowered his head,"I'm sorry to hear that..it's very beautiful though." He complimented, hoping to raise the man's spirits.

[Ryoga Zanen]

Ryoga smiled and nodded. "It took me a week just to get the platinum to melt," he explained, holding up the ring to the light as it shined. "Apparently, if you try to melt platinum without using really, really intense heat, it just bubbles... That aside, can I interest you in anything? Perhaps some lovely earrings for that girlfriend you've got waiting for you at home?"

[Ryu Maxwell]

Ryu chuckled,"Thanks, but I got no girlfriend at the moment, do you?"

[Ryoga Zanen]

"A strange question to ask a shopkeep, but, no. I'm afraid my way of life would never permit me to have one," he hinted as he put the ring back into a display case.

[Ryu Maxwell]

Ryu rose an eyebrow at that but figured he shouldn't push,"Really? I guess we all got our skeletons in the closet,eh?"

[Ryoga Zanen]

"Indeed, some people just aren't allowed to live as others are," he said, perhaps unnecessarily, with a smile.