There was no such thing as an unusual customer to a Merchant. A surprising one, a weird one, a quirky one — yes, but not unusual. Their entire job was to sell things – it was the usual thing they did day in and day out.
And despite whatever opinions they had of their customers, they kept it mostly to themselves.
So when the buzz cut man in green striped t-shirt and dusty cargo pants walked into his shop, Isaac knew that he was in for a pleasant experience… hopefully.
"Are you Isaac?" The man asked as his eyes darted over the store cautiously.
"That is me, sir. How can I help you today?" Isaac asked as he stood up from his chair and rested his hands on the counter, a movement his new distrusting customer eyed warily.
Instead of proceeding with his business, the suspicion on the man's face increased. "You don't know who I am?"
"Well, you never did introduce yourself, so I'm afraid not, sir." Isaac replied as if he was apologizing for his customer's lacking manners.
"Flint." The man gave his name and Isaac nodded as if everything was now in harmony.
"So what can I help you with today, Flint?" Isaac's question made the man look thoughtful for a second before he likely came to some comprehension and gave Isaac an appreciative nod.
"Right," he began, still cautious but more invested now that he was bringing out his business, "someone directed me here, said you sell all types of stuff, even things off the market."
The man almost sagged in relief when Isaac confirmed his words, as if he was trying to stop himself from being too hopeful.
"Do you have anything that can remove someone's powers?" Flint looked as if he was holding his breath with how intense he was staring at Isaac, like he was trying to read his expression's verdict before the words came out.
"Yeah, I have several." Isaac replied easily.
Flint blinked and deflated as the breath he was holding in started leaving him. "Wha…" he muttered.
"I have several. Some come with side effects, some are temporary, some are permanent with permanent side effects–"
"Permanent. No side effects. Clean. Non-experimental." Flint cut in hoarsely, his voice almost cracking with desperation and faintly threatening.
"Sure," Isaac said casually as he opened the top drawer and brought out a small plastic box.
—Quirk-Destroying Drug (My Hero Academia): A substance capable of damaging the genetic mechanisms that compose someone's Quirk, permanently erasing their superhuman abilities.
Created by Kai Chisaki (Overhaul) using biological material from a child named Eri, whose Quirk "Rewind" could revert living things to a previous state. Once it enters the bloodstream, it destroys the Quirk almost instantly by targeting the Quirk Factor—the biological mechanisms behind Quirk functioning and other preternatural abilities—and returning it to that of a baseline human pre-evolution.
*Under special circumstances, the rewind frame can be pushed even farther.
Price: $1,000,000.
"The effect is instant. No pain, no side effects, no downsides. Perfected permanence when it comes to removing someone's enhanced abilities."
The greed with which Flint was looking at the opened plastic box was highly predictable but that did not mean that Isaac would look down on him or anything similar. He was a Merchant. Inciting greed and desires in his customers was in his job description. The greedier and needy they became, the better the prospects of the trade.
Of course the flip side of that coin was also highly likely.
"Flint, will you be buying this?" Isaac asked tentatively.
"I… I… I…" Flint forced himself to drag his eyes away from the red pill and looked at Isaac. He sighed and whispered painfully. "I don't have that kind of money."
Isaac's brows furrowed. "I know how inconvenient that can be." Flint's eyes couldn't resist and was drawn back to the pill. "While I can't help you with your finances, I can provide an alternative that might help you if you are the one who wants to use the pill."
"What alternatives?" Flint gritted his teeth and stared at Isaac with downcast eyes as if he already knew what Isaac wanted to ask for and hated it in equal measure.
Isaac pushed the pill to the side and looked at Flint with a customer service neutral expression. "If the pill is intended for you, and with your current financial distresses, why don't you sell it to me? Your ability, I mean."
Flint was completely taken aback at the completely unexpected curveball that he didn't even know how to react to it even after understanding what Isaac was saying.
"I can sell my— you can buy my abilities?" Flint asked, disbelief and uncertainty warring across his face.
"Sure. I'll have to appraise it first, and if you're okay with the price then I'll take it off your hands." Isaac explained but he could see Flint's rising suspicion so he quickly placated what he suspected was the man's initial fears. "It's nothing experimental or invasive if that's what you're worried about. I just need your hand for a few seconds, that's all."
"To buy my ability?"
"To appraise your ability." Isaac corrected. "The trade won't start without your explicit consent."
"Okay. But don't try anything funny." Flint warned.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Isaac said as he took Flint's hand, to the latter's wary reluctance. "Just remain calm for a few seconds."
Flint nodded, still unsure about the whole thing, and almost pulled back his hands when he saw the glowing eyes behind the glasses.
It was a tense few minutes—for exactly seven seconds—before Isaac released Flint's hands with an extremely pleased smile on his face. "What a magnificent ability you have, sir."
Isaac took a tag and printed the appraisal into it before handing it to Flint.
—Flint Marko's Psammokinesis: The iconic ability of the popular Sandman who, true to his name, has the ability to control sand.
This enables the user to turn their body into malleable sentient sand, and also allows them to manipulate the density, size, shape and porosity of their sandy body and every particle of sand under their control.
Turning an entire city into a sandy storm depends on whether you want to or not.
*While you're completely immune to any and all forms of physical damage, your natural weaknesses remain water and intense heat.
Price: $126,000,000.
Flint stood silent for over a minute and when he finally decided to break it, his face was devoid of any joy or excitement that would have been expected.
"What is the meaning of this?" He asked slowly, his voice low and steady.
"The price of your ability, if you agree to trade." Isaac answered.
Flint scoffed, but now his voice was sounding like glasses scrapping against each other. "So you're telling me you will give me a hundred million to take my ability? Or that you have a hundred million lying about?"
Isaac nodded his head, completely understanding Flint's reaction. "I'm afraid there's no way to prove the veracity of your trade unless you take it. It will take only a few seconds and you'll confirm the receipt of the transaction before you leave the shop. You can receive it in whatever currency you want, or in any form of valuable goods you prefer."
Isaac's unfazed assurance did its part by taking the edge off Flint and easing him into whatever decision he wanted to make. To sell or not to sell.
While Isaac refrained from making outward boastful claims, he had an eye for understanding his customers. He could clearly see the desperation in Flint's eyes and the cradled hope the man tried to hide. This was a man that was at the end of his rope. This was a man that would be willing to make a last minute gamble.
"You're not fucking with me?"
"Wouldn't dream of it, Flint."
Flint sighed and stretched out his hand with a look of absolute resolve. "Do it."
"Thank you for your trust." Isaac's eyes glowed brightly as he grabbed Flint's hand and started siphoning every trace of the man's sandy metamorphosis.
When he took back his hand, there was an earthy blob of energy coating it. He pulled out a tube and funneled the essence into it before corking it tightly shut. He looked up at Flint who was staring at arm in shock, likely trying and failing to activate his ability.
Flint looked up at Isaac and on his face was the most intense emotion he could show. It was the look of a hollowed man that found grace by the bonfire.
"You… you took it." His voice was the farthest thing from stable and calm.
"I did," Isaac waved the little bottle in his hand. "Now to complete the trade I'll need your preference for your finances. Or would you like to purchase something before that?"
If before Flint looked like a man saved from drowning, now he looked like he had finally found land.
"Yes-yes." He said, trying to get his composure to compose. "My little girl, she's suffering from something terminal. They have experimental opinions but-but no money, I…"
"I understand."
—Panacea(SCP-500) (SCP Foundation): One of the extremely rare pills from the highly coveted limited SCP-500. When ingested, the pill provides an instant, guaranteed cure for all known ailments, diseases and physical trauma.
Price: $2,700,000.
Another plastic box containing a single red pill replaced the former one on the counter.
"Completely safe and it has no age restrictions." Isaac said even as he could see Flint rereading the description tag.
"I'll take it." Flint immediately said as he snatched it off the countertop.
"Will that be all?" Isaac asked and Flint thought about it for a second before asking Isaac a question.
"Can you get us new identities? Something that won't be flagged once we cross the borders."
"Easily enough. Do you need it right now or later?"
"Later." Flint said as he clutched the Panacea tightly to his chest. "I need to make sure my little girl is okay first."
Isaac nodded and started punching some keys, "Do you have an account or do you want me to step up one, or several. Highly secure, of course."
"Three." Flint instantly replied. He gave Isaac his necessary details and before five minutes were up he received a string of messages on his newly purchased device. "Oh… oh…"
"The necessary fees are already deducted. Any query?"
Flint locked his lips and shook his head dumbly. "No. No query at all."
"Wonderful. Have a good day, sir. Hope to see you soon."
Flint looked at Isaac and held out his hand for a strong handshake. "Thank you, Isaac. You have my deepest gratitude."
"Happy to help." Isaac said as he shook Flint's hands and waved the man another goodbye as he left.
Isaac felt extremely pleased with himself at the nature of the deal struck. Without a doubt he was now Flint Marko's number one guy, at least when it came to sourcing important items. He wasn't worried that the man was probably leaving the continent as that was what the home delivery service was all about. The only problem was that his shop was strictly walk-in.
Isaac shrugged. He was sure that someone as smart as Flint could figure something out even if he was half the world away.
Or maybe he was hanging up the metaphorical cowl and was taking his daughter to retire someplace remote and peaceful. Either way, a trade was had and the potential for more has been planted.
He was giving himself a mental pat on the back for a job well done when someone arrived at his counter.
"Oh, what a surprise. It's good to see you again, Ms. Munroe." Isaac greeted the white haired woman with a welcoming smile.
"Likewise Isaac, and please call me Ororo." She said in a reserved show of familiarity.
"Will do." Isaac easily accepted. Well he did figure that the rest of them would be wary of approaching him, so their first repeat appearance in weeks was expected. And from the looks of it, this was for a more personal matter. "And what can I help you with today? There are new arrangements of exotic flowers by the window near the lounge if you're interested."
"I am, thank you very much. I'll be browsing for a while to see which one would fit my garden best." She said, well aware of Isaac's friendliness as well as what he could do. It never hurts to be polite.
Isaac, as expected, was entirely agreeable. "Of course, of course. Take your time."
"Will do."
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