"The Shopkeeper politely explains their business: they create dreams of lasting love, for sale during the Feast of the Exceptional Rose. 'Not the same as a true wedding, of course. But a comfort to some.'"[1]
The Shopkeeper in Viric is an elusive businessperson known for their trademark viric suit.
"'All our Phantasies are made to measure,' they say. 'We can do you a shared home life, either peaceful or otherwise. Or you can also share matters of business. Though in that case I can't control whether it will be blissful or the reverse. External pressures make it hard to predict. You understand.'"[2]
The Shopkeeper's principal business endeavor is the creation and sale of dreams of marriage. Every year, during the Feast of the Exceptional Rose, they set up shop in Veilgarden to offer bespoke "trance-dreams" involving a selection of consenting celebrities; these dreams construct an illusion of what it would be like to have each of them as a spouse.[3] Each customer can even specify the nature of their dream-marriage: harmonious or strained, domestic or business partnership.[4] All one must do to induce the trance is place one of the three green tablets under their tongue, and gaze at a green pendant before sleep.[5]
During the rest of the year, the Shopkeeper’s business is hidden away in the Viric Jungle,[6] where they gather ingredients[7] in preparation for the next Feast; they also pay occasional visits to the real world to conduct market research.[8] They are coy about their financial backers while in public,[9] but the Masters of the Bazaar are included among them.[10][11] Their viric suit allows them to blend into any social situation,[12] and smooths over any irregularities one might notice about them,[9] aiding them in their out-of-season endeavors.
"There are some things we were not meant to know, they say. But you wouldn't be down here if you took that seriously."
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"'The Shopkeeper found their way here through the Viric Jungle. They shattered one of the mirrors. Freed of my reflections, clarity returned. I effected my escape, with the Shopkeeper at my side.' The Viscountess sighs. 'Or part of them, at least.'"[13]
The Shopkeeper was already familiar with Parabola and the use of mirrors at a young age. It is strongly implied that they were taught glasswork by the Ophidian Gentleman, a henchman of the Fingerkings, in exchange for a favor that has not yet been repaid.[14] (This type of favor is the Gentleman's modus operandi.)[15] There is also a mention of Galleries of Serpents, the Gentleman's haunts in the Forgotten Quarter;[16] additionally, the Shopkeeper still wears a small dream-snake as a tie, just like the Gentleman.[7]
The Viscountess of the Viric Jungle
While in London, the Shopkeeper lives with the Viscountess of the Viric Jungle,[17] who appears in the real world as their pet cat rather than a panther. They managed her 1898 mayoral campaign[18] and acted as her amanuensis.[19] The two share a much longer history than that, however: when the Viscountess was a kitten, she was deceived by a powerful Fingerking under the pretense of an alliance, and it trapped her within a prison of mirrors.[20] The young child who would become the Shopkeeper[21] found her and won her trust, convincing her that she could be rescued.[22]
To free the Viscountess, the Shopkeeper devised a daring plan: they strengthened their own reflection, feeding it until it became independent. They intended to lure the Fingerking into the glass, tricking it into capturing the reflection instead of the real Shopkeeper.[23] The plan worked — too well. The Fingerking was drawn in, but instead of the Shopkeeper’s reflection becoming trapped, it escaped into the world. The real Shopkeeper was left behind, trapped somewhere in the Neath;[24] it was their reflection that traveled to the Viric Jungle, shattered one of the mirrors that held the Viscountess captive, and helped her escape.[25] Since then, the Shopkeeper's reflection has remained her ally and friend,[24] and the Viscountess has been their instructor in the art of glasswork.[26]
The Shopkeeper's dual education by agents of both Cats[26] and Fingerkings[14] puts them in a unique position in Parabola. The ramifications of their essentially being a double agent, and their current status with the Fingerkings, are not known.
↑An Arranger of Nuptial Phantasies, Fallen London"A Shopkeeper in a Viric Suit offers to sell you a reverie of lasting love. Each purchase buys you three trance-dreams. A seeming-lifetime, packed into the corners of sleep!"
↑Customisation of your viric dream, Fallen London"All our Phantasies are made to measure [...] We can do you a shared home life, either peaceful or otherwise. Or you can also share matters of business. Though in that case I can't control whether it will be blissful or the reverse. External pressures make it hard to predict. You understand."
↑Require a happy home life, Fallen London"After the order is made up, they give you a box containing three tiny pills. "You'll want to put one under your tongue as you're going to bed," they explain. "And fall asleep gazing on this." 'This' is a pendant of light green crystal that catches the light. Probably not real Viric."
↑ 7.07.1Greet an old acquaintance, Fallen London"They recognise you, and straighten up. "A pleasure! […] Just gathering a few ingredients in advance of the next feast. You understand."They look a little uncomfortable, however, as though they're not used to having company here. Also — you notice only now — they are wearing a tiny snake as a tie."
↑See what gossip you can get out of the Shopkeeper in Viric, Fallen London"In fact, that is why I am here tonight [...] It is common for people to come here with a companion. I observe the ones who are disappointed, disgruntled, lonely; those for whom there is no ideal companion, or those whose current companion has not grown alongside them. A matter of investigating the market."
↑ 9.09.1An Arranger of Nuptial Phantasies, Fallen London"But if you try to press them about their other plans, their associations with the Fingerkings, or their sources of financial backing, they prove always to have their mouth full of chanterelle puff, and tragically unable to reply."
↑The Shopkeeper's Marquee of Mystification, Fallen London"As the Masters are preoccupied with the treasures being extracted from the ground, the Shopkeeper in Viric has taken over the Marquee. "By the request of Mr Mirrors," they claim. "What are you buying?""
↑Ask the Shopkeeper in Viric about the purpose of these stories, Fallen London"I've been doing this work for years, but it was difficult getting a license to sell to the public. Both Mr Wines and Mr Spices wanted to superintend. Finally I needed a different sponsor entirely. Sales reports are turned in every fortnight to the offices of Mr Fires."
↑ 14.014.1Ask about the child's reflection, Fallen London"They found their way here aided by another. Who taught them the arts of reflection and of entrapment in the Galleries, in exchange for a promise of assistance in the future. A debt that has yet to be called."
↑How was the Viscountess trapped?, Fallen London""The Sliver of Treaties brought me here to work out the terms of our grand alliance. All I had to do was step within this circle of mirrors so I might choose the gift the Sliver offered that would suit best, to seal the alliance. Of course, once I did I was paralysed. Each reflection offered me each of my heart's strongest desires.""
↑Approach the reflection, Fallen London"A child looks out at you from the glass with silver eyes. Their hair is grey, their clothing green. [...] "The Shopkeeper found me in my captivity here," the Viscountess says [...] "I don't know how they found me. I think they dreamed too far, perhaps. [...] The Fingerkings had me caught here, tempted by every mirrored surface. I resisted even the Shopkeeper when they found me. But slowly, patiently, they won my trust. Convinced me that rescue was possible."
↑Ask about the child's reflection, Fallen London"Seeing my captivity, the Shopkeeper was overcome with the injustice of it. Using their learning, they fed their reflection well, so that it was strong. They meant to use it as a lure, an enticement to my captor. It worked: the Fingerking entered the glass as planned, intent upon the reflection."
↑ 24.024.1Ask about the child's reflection, Fallen London"Only, the reflection was too strong. The reflection went free. The Shopkeeper did not. They remain locked away, in a sealed place in the Neath. I know not where. The Shopkeeper's Reflection helped me escape, and has been my friend ever since."
↑Ask how she escaped, Fallen London""The Shopkeeper found their way here through the Viric Jungle. They shattered one of the mirrors. Freed of my reflections, clarity returned. I effected my escape, with the Shopkeeper at my side." The Viscountess sighs. "Or part of them, at least.""
↑ 26.026.1Ask about the Shopkeeper in Viric, Fallen London"The Shopkeeper rescued me from torment when I was a kitten. Their heart is good, and they have been justly repaid. Who do you think taught them the way through the mirror?"
