The Grand Bazaar

Madame Naoki arrives at the Grand Bazaar, flanked on the left by Kate, on the right by Artemis. Her shawl is worn around her waist, hiding her tail, and her wide brimmed hat is worn low, at a decided angle. More than a mere fashion statement, it serves to cover her otherwise prominent ears.

With her bandaged hand, Naoki awkwardly pushes the brim of her hat up, allowing her to clearly survey the marketplace. Amber eyes sweep back and forth across the chromatic stalls and canvas tents from which merchants peddle their wares. She had visited the Bazaar a few times before, but usually dispatched one of the staff to do her shopping. The marketplace was busier than the last time she visited it, perhaps because the city was growing, or, perhaps, today was just a busy day.

“This would be it, then. Let’s hold here for a moment.”

Naoki’s right hand is, of course, still wrapped in white medical bandaging, hurt from when she punched Hasdrubal’s faceplate yesterday evening. The skin isn’t visible through the multiple layers of clean canvas.

Maladroitly, she uses her right hand to knock her hat backwards, off her head. It hangs over the small of her back, held up by the chin strap, wrapped around her neck.

Carefully, she touches the mess of bandages against her ear, trying to signal using the earring.

Nothing happens.

She pokes it again, the un-opposable appendage clumsily bashing into the side of her head.

Nothing happens.

“Dammit.”

Cursing Hasdrubal for the umpenteenth time, Naoki ceases her attempts, and her right hand returns to her side.

“Hey, Artemis, could you contact Reese, and have him send somebody over here in, perhaps…. two hours, to pick up our shopping? I wouldn’t like to have to double back to drop things off.”

Turning back to Kate, she gestures ahead to the Bazaar in front of them.


“Where would you like to start? I think we should probably pick up a couple of baskets first, to carry the rest of our things, and there’s a particular book merchant I’d like to visit, but beyond that, all I’d like to do is make you happy.”

Immediately, Kate had felt her green dress might have been a misestimate. Once she noticed the myriad of colours and ethnicities that made up the entity known as The Grand Bazaar, she immediately felt more comfortable. It wasn’t everyday she could clad in fancy clothes and just prance around town like a… Girl.

I’m not sure if dad would like this…

But I don’t have to do everything he says! Hey-ho!

As Naoki tries in vain to communicate with her gem, Kate’s eyes latch onto her wounds. “When did that happen?! I could put something on it…”

She gently reached from her side to stroke her arm, and said: “I’m happy as long as you’re happy. I would like nothing more than to spend some more time with you. But… if you insist I might like something to go with this dress.”

Kate skims the environment, intensely looking for a jewellery stand. “Maybe a brooch? You know? A small one. And some gloves! Those go well with dresses I think?"

Garo enters the bazaar area nonchalantly, having frequented this place almost every day as he was a resident of the Free City. Unless interrupted, greeted, or disturbed, he'd grab some food--lamb chops, potatoes, garlic, butter, and bread.

Madame Naoki avoids eye contact as she examines the wares around the tent, rapidly considering the possible impacts of her actions, and cursing herself for not considering them beforehand.

Harold was a Midnight Sun regular; he could be counted on to drop by after work each day and blow through his day’s wages on Silverleaf, sitting alone in his customary corner booth. He didn’t socialise much, and never was involved in any of the rowdy groups.

An excellent customer, by all counts. One with expensive taste and good habits.

At Kate’s request, the man nods, proffers some sales patter, and begins puttering about, trying to figure out what a viscaria might be.

Madame Naoki stoops over one of the display cases, feigning close examination of the gems within. Meeting Harold here brought up an excellent question. How to publicly play her relationship with Kate. Naoki was known to enter into teasing flings on occasion, but was, by and large, considered very much a solo rider. The only one consistently seen at her side was Artemis, and that was easily excused. If she was seen on a regular basis with anyone, there would quickly be talk among the patrons and staff. Such talk could be detrimental. Stable relationships made “negotiations” difficult; it was far easier to appear unattached.

This was too complex a decision to make alone, so it would have to wait. For now, she would have to trust Kate to have a suitable level of discretion, and tip Harold to keep his mouth shut. Her mind made up, she truly looks at the gems in front of her for the first time, and is momentarily impressed with the sheer variety and extravagance, even within this single case. It was no wonder he could afford such fine vintages.

Naoki shifts her gaze into the mirror lining the back of the case, meeting Kate’s gaze. At the other woman’s suggestion, Naoki nods. She was unsure what exactly made an orchid a ‘cattleya’, but something floral could be nice, sure.

Looking again through the case, she begins to think about what she actually might be interested in. After a moment more of staring at a very different kind of silver in the mirror, she refines her thought process.

What she might be interested in in terms of jewelry.

After some browsing and comparison, a pinch of haggling, and a large sum of money changing hands, Naoki and Kate exit the jewelry store, each having found a few adornments to suit their tastes.

They spend the next few hours among the other stalls in the bazaar. They pick out a few other accessories to tie together Kate’s evening ensemble, and select a variety of sandwiches and other picnic-suitable delicacies to eat for lunch. They were unable to locate the book merchant that Naoki mentioned earlier. She mentioned something about coming back later.

The pair eventually find themselves back where they began, on a side street just outside the bazaar proper, arms laden with their newly purchased goods. The sun gazes down from almost directly above them; Naoki estimates that they could expect Reese's messenger to appear before them at any moment.

Naoki sets one of her baskets down on the cobblestones, and uses her arm to wipe a speck of sweat from her brow.

“That was pretty fun. It’s been awhile since I’ve gone on a proper shopping spree. I’m satisfied with what we picked up, as well. Those dresses will go perfectly with the jewelry.” She flashes a roguish smile. “I’m also quite looking forward to my meal,” she says, in a manner that decidedly does not call to mind images of sandwiches and pastries.

During the hours they had spent perusing the market, Kate had picked up quite a few items of interest to her. She had struck up a conversation with a travelling botanist, and made a deal for an exquisite venus fly trap.

Kate grinned apologetically. "Sorry. I know we were supposed to do girly stuff but I couldn't resist."

When the envoy arrived to pick up their stuff, the plant promptly tried to bite the poor messengers head off. Kate would then proceed to give it a swift punch on the bud, which seemed to calm it down.

"If you could put that in my undergarden, that would be swell. Preferably on the wall near the exit to Hasdrubal's Lair." Her garden was in desperate need of a safety mechanism. A fly trap would do the job of eleven bodyguards, for the price of gentle care and nibbling uninvited quests.

Kate flashed a playful smile and grabbed Naoki by the arm. "I'm glad you had a good time..." So this is the kind of thing she does for fun. I had no idea there were so many ways of spending money!

The word 'meal' said by Naoki carried a tone Kate readily recognised. That has to be an innuendo... But for what?! She gulped and decided to play along. For the first time, Kate's inexperience caused her to feel incapable.

"Yes! I'm all ready for the m- meal!" The nervousness in her tone in was soothed by the presence of her special other. Soon, the flustering gave way to craving as the glimmer in her eyes turned from panicked to wanting. It was too long since they last were intimate together, and Kate felt her desire for Naoki deep within her.

Whatever she wants to do... I'll do my best!

Naoki chuckles; Kate’s inexperience was evident. Lack of knowledge on that subject wouldn’t likely last long, but Naoki found it terribly endearing while it lasted.

Twisting her arm, Naoki works Kate’s hand into her own. In an exaggerated motion, she raises her right arm ahead. The mass of bandages points forward at nothing in particular; the light of the sun glinting off the metal clip securing the dressings.

“Onward! To the picnic, for great sandwiches!”

<Exit to The Free Plains>

One of the days he was shopping, Garo would be approached by Rahlie Persnip. They would reach for his coinpurse, which he had firmly strapped to his belt. He didn't seem to have anything insecure, but the crowd they were in concealed Rahlie's intentions. Garo felt a tug, a touch, or something out of the ordinary... He wouldn't have seen what had really happened, however.
"Huh?"

He turned around.

Garo instinctively took chase as the guy ran off, and before he even knew what he was running for he was after him. Weaving through people and accidentally striking people with his shoulder and jostling them aside at times to get through the crowd. He keeps Rahlie in his sights...

Alden scopes out the bazaar trying to figure out how to go about begging for coin. He observed the other vagrants and noticed a pattern, they stayed close to main thorough fairs, away from shops, and they tended to sit with their backs to something. With that in mind he finds a likely spot near a fountain wrapping himself in his cloak hiding his swords behind his back.

"Spare a few coins?"

He asks this to random passers by most seem to just ignore him but some spare him a quick glance. Alden simply shrugs at each failed attempt he knows this will take time. He hoped only to have to do this once and right now he needed enough money for three things, a bar of soap, a pair of shears, and a hot meal. Once he got those things he could clean himself up hopefully making the acquisition of an actual job easier.