As I wandered through the crowded market of Teguise, my thoughts were on the souvenirs I could bring back to my home planet. The chaos of the market was a cacophony of sounds and smells, with traders shouting and haggling over deals. I navigated through the crowds, searching for the perfect artifact to take with me.
The market was a melting pot of cultures and species, with humans and aliens alike coming to buy and sell a variety of goods. In one corner, Martian traders were offering their unique tech gadgets, while in another, a Venusian seller was displaying luminescent crystals. The atmosphere was electric, with the smell of exotic spices and the sound of lively music filling the air.
As I wandered, I spotted a large African mask that caught my eye. Its intricate carvings and bold patterns seemed to jump out at me, and I knew I had to have it. I picked it up and felt its weight in my hands, before approaching the seller.
“How much?” I asked, pointing at the mask.
“Where you from?” the seller replied, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. I hesitated, wondering if the price was based on my nationality. I looked over at my partner, who was checking her holographic watch, and she shrugged.
“Another planet,” she said sarcastically. “What, didn’t you get the memo?”
The seller’s face softened, and he grinned. “These cheap ones are 40 euros,” he said, gesturing to a selection of smaller masks. “What about the big one?” I asked, reminding him of my original choice.
“These are expensive! 120 euros!” the seller replied, his eyes gleaming with greed. I wondered if the price was only for humans from certain planets.
The seller seemed to read my mind, and he grinned. “How much do you give, my friend?” he asked.
I looked at the mask, weighing the cost in my mind. It was more than I wanted to spend, but I couldn’t resist its beauty. “20,” I said, trying to haggle.
“My last price 40, my friend,” the seller said, his voice low and menacing. “Price for otherworldly beings. 120 for humans from certain planets.”
I met his gaze, my own eyes narrowed in determination. I wasn’t going to back down. “Fine,” I said, handing over the money. The seller grinned as he handed me the mask, and I couldn’t wait to take it back to our spaceship and add it to my collection of treasures from our trip.
This Short story was written using Open AI Chatbot. All images were generated using DALL.E 2 (Open AI)