The Market

[travelagency]

Who: Merchants, Reporters, and You
What: Open Market
When: M9 D13
Where: The center of town, near the resort
Notes & Warnings: Here is how the market works...

The marketplace is a large open air affair in the middle of town, with a couple of dozen vendors out supplying wares. For the most part they're local crafstmen and farmers; it is post harvest time now, and the last of the fresh vegetables are being sold off before it gets really cold (various tubers, fruits, roots, wheat, etc). There are also cooks with a variety of foods, so everything smells pretty good. There are even pierogi and sausages along side more unusual fusion foods like deep fried gagh on a stick.

Unfortunately, it's raining and while it's not a drenching rain, if you're not used to the rain an umbrella probably wouldn't go amiss.

There are a few odd stands, though. External stands, brought in by merchants that don't want to permanently reside here but are happy to do some sales for the resort. Sure they have to earn in the planetary currency, but they can buy a few unique items from here to take back with them before they go. That makes the trade worth it for them, and Blackstaff needs all the external trade it can get (even if the outside vendors doing the trading are a little dubious and are probably breaking the law just by being here during the quarantine).

In the meantime, with Blackstaff's cooperation Upsher and Doff have set up a booth in the middle of the market. Imports receive additional pay for going inside and answering their questions, and Jeffers is very adamant that imports should participate. It may help out their current situation by showing the universe what widely varying worlds are represented by the resort and attaching real faces and voices to the people of Quadratus.

Comments

[folkscallmewander]

[There are too many novelty items out of Wander's price range, but that doesn't stop him from window shopping. His exploration takes him to Jack Jeeb's stand, with its cheap jewelry that he might have bought if he knew someone here that would like it.

What catches his eye immediately is the picture of a dark-haired man in outlandish clothing. Judging by what he's going in the picture, he's probably a singer from Earth.

He wouldn't have dwelled on it too long if he didn't notice Belloq eyeing it for some time.]

You know this fella?

[archeologue]

No. I'm not certain he has even been born yet where, or rather when I come from. But I have heard that this man will become very famous some day.

[He eyes the picture critically.]

A very peculiarly dressed young man. [Especially by 1930s standards.] I hope not everyone dresses that way in the future.

[folkscallmewander]

So you come from the past... [He stares at Belloq in awe for a moment before returning his attention to the picture.

It's certainly is a unique outfit, but not out of place with the flashy outfits he's seen on this travels. It's pretty nice, Wander has to admit.]

I don' think they all dress like that. Heck, no planet has everyone lookin' the same. 'less they're robots, but they don't wear clothes anyway.

[archeologue]

There are some human tribes where clothing is more or less optional. But, I take your point. I do hope that in the future, class still prevails in some places, if, evidently, not-- [He points to the picture. There are many ways to describe Elvis, but "high class" would not be one of them. And Belloq judges this not-yet-born person for it.]

[folkscallmewander]

I don't see anythin' wrong with the way he dresses. If he's famous, he can do whatever he wants. [It's obvious Belloq doesn't like this future celebrity, but there's no sense in criticizing him this much.]

Who knows? Maybe everyone does dress that way where and when he's from.

[archeologue]

en xenai xenon. [A quote from Sophocles. "I am a stranger in a strange land."]

They say the past is like a foreign country. It seems that the future is as well.

[folkscallmewander]

[Wander does not understand a word of Greek, but he assumes that "the past is like a foreign country" was the direct translation.]

Who's to say? Besides, who knows if this guy's gonna be born way, waaay in your future. Things'll be real different in a couple hundred years.

[archeologue]

No, as I understand it, this man is going to be born very soon after my time. Or perhaps is an infant born already. He becomes famous a mere two decades from my time, otherwise I would not be bothered to consider getting it.

[folkscallmewander]

Oh, I see. So you're buyin' his merchandise before it's even it stores? Must be a real steal!

[archeologue]

Just so. If I wait a few decades, it will be worth a small fortune, I wager.

[folkscallmewander]

So...you're gonna sell it an' get real rich? [That's one amazingly rewarding long-term plan.]

This guy must be real popular in the future!