Definitely Art
Posted on 29 Dec 2022 @ 9:16am by Brek - Timeless Treasures Art Gallery
Mission:
M3 - Into the Deep
Location: Timeless Treasure Gallery
Timeline: MD 7
1349 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure
The moment Brek said goodbye to a happy customer who had purchased a painting (an interesting depiction of Romulus, by night, with a few blades glistening under the moonlight) , two Ferengi - one of them dragging a suitcase - entered his gallery. They planted themselves in front of a canvas showing a breathtaking heavy sea - an easy allegory for the turpitude of life - in apparent admiration.
“Can I help you, gentlemen?” Brek asked. Today he was wearing a green suit with light silver patterns on the sleeves. This provided a sharp contrast to the tired brown garments that the two Ferengi were wearing. Those were, in Brek’s opinion, advertising their lack of luck. That is to say, economic fortitude, and he almost winced.
“I feel pretty sure you can,” said the first Ferengi. Fairly tall and lanky, this specimen from Ferenginar had a perpetual grin on his face. Ten years ago it might have looked spontaneous and enticing, these days the smirk looked contrived. A habitual tic, no more.
“What remains to be seen is whether you will...” his companion added. This one had the air of a worrier about him, with the shifty eyes of someone who’s been defeated many times.
“I see...” Brek didn’t move any closer, the way he would normally greet a new client. Those two were not here to buy art. They wanted something different and, frankly, the more he observed them, the more he was convinced that they were mobsters. They could have weapons hidden under their waistcoats. He put his hands in his pockets, searching for his PADD, but it wasn’t there. A pity. He could have done with calling his friend Glutik, who was supposed to be his bodyguard. Now, if those two ‘customers’ were here to mug him... Well, being robbed by his own people, he would be reaching a new sad low.
“You haven’t seen anything yet, my dear Sir,” the smirking Ferengi said. “Lesh, if you would care to show what we’ve got?”
“With absolute pleasure!”
In no time, the case, which looked heavy - one of those large metal suitcases with wheels - was swiftly presented to him, opened. Inside were a collection of figurines (toys?) of all sorts.
“What am I looking at?” Brek asked, making an effort not to use the word ‘junk’. One would have thought that travelling peddlers, those old tired animals, had gone extinct centuries ago. But by the look of it, some rare specimens had survived. Still, bric-a-brac was better than knives and cudgels.
“You are looking, my dear Sir, at a fine collection of metaphorical idioms. Most of them are from Earth. Fleeters in particular, are very fond of them.” Smirker added. “Take this one.” He took a blue moon. “It sends a message: ‘Once in a blue moon’, without saying a word. Quiet and efficient. What about this one?” He now produced a white elephant. “The elephant in the room.”
“I had one of those, once,” Brek admitted. It’s not that he was under their spell, but a certain curiosity had surfaced, and looking at the contents of the suitcase, he wondered what some of the figurines represented. One item, set aside, consisted only of one word: Tomorrow. “What about this one?” He asked, taking the word.
“Ah! Tomorrow: The busiest day of the week. Not a tremendous seller, I’m afraid. This one, here, is more popular,” The Ferengi merchant presented the figurine of a fisherman. At first Brek didn’t notice what it was, all he had seen was the state of Smirker’s nails: yellow and often broken. “There is hope as long as your fishing line is in the water. Good, innit?”
“It is certainly unusual,” Brek managed, taking a step away from them. He needed his precious PADD. Asap. “You do realize, of course, that you are in an art gallery. A refined one at that. This is no bargain hunter venue where you can find all kinds of curios.”
“I like that one,” Lesh continued, “showing a little mustard-colored frog(?) with its tongue out, and on the tip of it, a tiny black dot. A fly, presumably. “It’s for: Eat a small toad in the morning, and it will be the worst thing you do all day.”
“The point being,” Smirker gave an odd look to his partner. “What we sell, it definitely is art. Literary Art, if you must put a label on everything. Surely, you could find a little corner for us in your splendid gallery?” Brek was starting to feel, and no doubt look, bored, and the seller went on. “I’m told you’re a newcomer to these shores. You will want to get on the good side of those who run this station. And nothing does it better than a fine gift.”
“Obviously,” Brek agreed, albeit with a sigh. “A bottle of wine usually works wonderfully and shows that I have fine tastes. Your little gadgets, I regret to say, could easily be misunderstood. What, for instance if I were to offer this here.” He indicated an object that looked like an antiquated alarm clock.
“Keep the dream alive. Hit the snooze button?” Smirker said, puzzled. “Why would you offer an alarm clock to a big Kahuna? One mustn’t live too dangerously... I’d rather recommend something like this nifty little piece here.” He picked up what appeared to be a sun, with a face on it. “Turn your face toward the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Isn’t it just wise and deep? It would make a great decorative item on a desk.”
“Hmm... yes, but no.” Brek added, borrowing a phrase from his old chum Mrs Moreau. “When in doubt, take another road. That’s what my instincts are telling me about your trinkets. They are actually best given to one’s enemies. It’s a very odd concept. I can’t wrap my mind around it...”
“The road to success, anyone?” The second Ferengi asked as if Brek had not spoken. He then proffered a little sculpture showing a road made of some yellow stuff. Was it tacky enough to represent latinum bars? Brek didn’t want to know, so he walked to the reception desk. There he found his PADD and he sent a quick missive to Glutik. [“Where R U?? Need you here. NOW!”] “It doubles as the Yellow Brick Road.” The Ferengi seller continued, unabated. “Terrans, the pale variety, absolutely love that one. This is, by far, our best seller.”
For a wild minute, Brek considered sending those two goons to Surrat Art Gallery, but he decided against it. Ferengi, he thought, should be protected from their lack of judgement. And so he felt a bit sorry for the two sellers. Besides, given time, he might be able to use Smirker and Worrier for different things. After all it was important to always create opportunities.
“Right. I’ll make one offer. It will be the first one and the last one.” Brek announced. “I’ll take ten of those trinkets and I will sell them at your RRP. My commission will be 70%. Not the best bargain in the quadrant, but an offer, all the same.”
Would they leave, offended by his words? Not quite. The sellers stood their ground and whispered to each other for several minutes. During that time, Brek kept his eyes on the doors, hoping for Glutik to appear, but the Tellarite never materialized.
“Yes indeed,” Smirker ventured, pursing his lips.”Not the best offer at all. And yet... The real risk is doing nothing. So your proposition, we’ll take it. We have a deal!”
“Excellent,” Brek concluded, businesslike. “It won’t take ten minutes to draft your contract...”
The gallery’s doors opened a few minutes later. Sadly, the bulky frame of Gutik remained absent. It was instead Mrs Novikov who presented herself. But with three Ferengi on the premises, she looked indecisive, like she might change her mind and walk away.
