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

Fuck it, getting some warlock armor too...

[vengeance_driven]

[Since his unfortunate experiences during the skeleton take over (while they weren't traumatizing, they are uncomfortable) Niko has decided to pick up more armor to go with his current armor. So he purchases a set of the warlock armor.]

[And it's... more form fitting than he's used to.]

[And the coat is longer. So he's adjusting, trying it on and carrying the helmet under his arm, checking what's laying against the back of his legs. But the funny thing is almost as soon as he put it on, even slight aches and pains ebbed, stress and strain from all the moving and working he does. So he guesses that the healing effects work (he wonders if they'll come back as soon as he takes it off.]

[thumbsdown]

[Boone wanders over to Niko as he's adjusting, not looking too happy about the weather.]

New armour, huh.

[That makes both of them- Boone is wearing his new patrol armour, which also came with a coat. He's kind of glad for it right now, since it's raining. He has it closed against the cold, but he's still not feeling particularly warm. Rex tries to shake off beside him, despite not having much fur to get wet.]

[vengeance_driven]

[The saddest Boone is a wet Boone. He gestures for them to come over to him and steps under a shop overhang.]

You look like you could something more than a beret. Nice outfit.

[It actually worries him a little. He has friends that don't take too kindly to security, but if it came down to a fight he'd have to choose sides and he really doesn't want to choose sides. This is the first time he hasn't minded patrol at all. It's a sticky situation.]

[But Boone wears his uniform well (or probably does when he's not getting rained on, and when Boone gets closer Niko brushes some drops off his shoulders.]

Looks like Rex has the right idea. Dry off and maybe we can get you an umbrella.

[thumbsdown]

Thanks.

[He instinctively shrugs his shoulders a little when Niko brushes his hand over them, still not particularly fond of people touching him, but since it's only Niko he doesn't seem all that uncomfortable with it. It's just a matter of getting used to it, the way he did with Elle. He at least likes the idea of drying off.]

Yeah, wouldn't mind getting outta this rain. Got anywhere in mind?

[vengeance_driven]

Not really. There are still some restaurants with a covered place. Even if it's getting later in the year.

It's going to get colder, you know.

[He suddenly remembers that Boone is from the desert. He knows how he feels in the extreme heat. It'll probably be hard on him. The cold won't be easy on Boone.] When it happens, remember to layer up. Then you can just take off layers or put them back on. Don't just wear one warm thick thing.

[Then, self-conciously, he asks.] This armor. Does it look stupid? I feel stupid. [Which would suck, because he spent a lot of money on it.]

[thumbsdown]

[He looks gloomy at the reminder that it's going to get colder. More gloomy than usual, that is.]

Yeah, it is.

[He remembers Jacobstown. It was snowing there. He'd hated it. He looks Niko over properly once he asks him how the armour looks.]

Looks fine to me.

[Boone never really has cared much about what he's wearing, though. Armour is armour.]

Didn't you try on other stuff first?

[vengeance_driven]

[He feels bad somehow for making Boone look sad.]

Hey. I know this might not be your thing, but ah... dogs like playing in snow. So maybe when it is cold, we can still manage to do things to make it not so bad. [The animals seem to make Boone happy. As otherwise hard as he is, he can see that soft spot.]

It's the only sort he has this time. It is made especially to fit the user, but, ah.... I am not used to things fitting.

You want we should go now? [Niko that's bad English again.]

[thumbsdown]

We took Rex to Jacobstown once. Had to get him a new brain. It snows there. He didn't seem all that interested. Maybe that was just cause he wasn't feeling too good, though.

[Well, Niko has a dog that might find it fun. Maybe Rex will too, now that he has a new brain.]

If you wear it a lot, you'll probably get used to it.

[He starts walking with him, not happy to be back out in the rain but keen to get inside. He doesn't care where, so long as it's warm and dry.]

We could get a drink, or we could check in on your cat. See how she's doing. Kitten could be any day now.

[vengeance_driven]

Umbrella first. Umbrella first. You are like a wet beast at this rate. You look miserable.

[He runs off into a store, and, thankfully, umbrellas are readily available. It only takes him a moment before he comes back with a thing that's red with large white dots and holds it up over them. More over Boone than himself, he's prone to just shaking water off.]

Here you go.

[thumbsdown]

[He takes the umbrella, and looks relieved that he's not being rained on anymore.]

Thanks. How much was it?

[Well, of course he intends to pay for it himself. He's trying to hold it over the both of them too, even though Niko looks fine with being in the rain.]

[vengeance_driven]

Just a few bucks. Buy me a drink sometime and we're even. Is what friends do.

[He thinks back to the earlier question, though.] Let us check on Snažan and then we'll go... maybe play pool or something.

[thumbsdown]

Okay, if you're sure.

[He starts walking again, though he's slow so they can both walk under the umbrella.]

Pool sounds good. Could always get you a drink while we're there.

[vengeance_driven]

[Niko is a little amused for a moment, and then he ends up taking Boone's hand over the umbrella handle and raising it a little higher, smiling stupidly because he was almost wearing it for a hat for a minute (as Boone is considerably shorter). He immediately lets go, though, just dimly aware his height was almost an annoyance.]

That sounds fair. Is my cat doing good? Healthy still?

[theugly]

[For all the good that the thick fabric of Tuco's tattered outer-coat usually does to insulate him from the cold, it's not exactly waterproof. In fact, it's clearly quite the opposite, doing a rather impressive job of collecting the water like a determined (and not particularly welcome) veteran collecting money. This is all ultimately evidenced by the loud schlack that cuts through the air the moment Tuco's shoulder connects with Niko's arm.

Tuco, being the smaller man, spins and glares up from under his hat brim, letting out a fierce,] Hey!

[An abrupt pause. He probably meant to follow with the traditional swaggering tough guy growl of, "Watch where you're going!" Instead, there's a surprised flinch that just about passes for a smile.]

...Niko!

[He whips his hands down and away from any suspected pockets, thumbs pressing tightly over the tops of his fingers.]

[vengeance_driven]

Hey, watch it- [he started, not so offended by being sprayed with water (he tended to slap and shake rain off himself) but being irritated at being thwacked. Once he realized who it was, though, he smiled over the collar of his new coat and clasped his hand in a friendly way.]

Tuco! Good to see you man. How you doing after ah... all that bullshit. Looked like you got hit pretty hard.

[theugly]

[Realizing that his aborted pre-thievery must have gone unnoticed, Tuco's face relaxes into an easy smile. He gives the offered hand a shake, slapping his other one on top of Niko's knuckles.]

Good! Very good! [He punctuates with a flash of teeth.] Yeah, yeah... it's like my father used to say: "El que más temprano se moja, más tiempo tiene para secarse." [He pauses self-indulgently before translating.] He who gets wet earliest has most time to dry!

...A little like today, no?

[In case it isn't crystal clear that his earlier failings aren't his chosen order of small-talk for the day, he moves straight on, pointing to Niko's jacket.]

And what's this, huh?

[vengeance_driven]

[Little does Tuco know, Niko doesn't actually care that much. He knows Roman would have wanted into that chest, too. And... probably would have made the same mistake, and that makes him disinclined to get too angry at him. His cousin is back home and far away. Having a little something familiar is nice.]

This man there, he's selling armor that helps you heal. It doesn't do it instantly, but if you get hurt a little bit it can pull you back together. Like sprains and things.

It already seems to work.

[theugly]

[Tuco squints slightly. From the way his lips purse, it looks like he's on the brink of saying, "Really?" And yet in a place like this, while the ridiculous seems entirely plausible, gullibility isn't exactly a good look. He cocks an eyebrow instead, grinning like he's in on a joke.]

You sprain your arm running into Tuco?

[vengeance_driven]

Yeah, you should watch where you're going. Аљкаво мокро копиле. [He jokes, and then he explains.]

No, I was sore before I put it on. You know that sort where you can't even stretch it out? I put it on and I feel better.

[theugly]

[If Tuco knew the story of the Emperor's New Clothes, this would be the moment he'd smugly recount it. As it stands, he just smirks.]

And what happens when you take it off, huh?

[vengeance_driven]

I don't know. I am still getting used to it on.

[But he starts to undo the coat, right there, despite the fact that it's raining to see.]

[When he's done, he hands it off to Tuco. And even in someone's hands it's soothing to the touch, for being hard as hell leather with some sort of heavy mesh under the lining.]

[theugly]

[Tuco's wet, he's aware he's wet, and he knows the longer he stands around, the wetter he'll continue to get. He jostles on the spot, bouncing on the balls of feet while Niko gets on with the grand unbuttoning.

His expression (faintly bemused, with just a hint of petty meanness) softens the moment he takes hold of the jacket. He's never been the kind of man to dress for anything other than lazy practicality. Whether it's tattered and stinking of death, or pretty in a rigidly gendered way, it really doesn't matter: if it does the job, he can work with it.]

...Huh.

[Right now though, he finds himself coveting with the fierceness of a fat pink man stood inside a tailors. It feels good in his hand, it looked good hanging off Niko's shoulders, and he finds that there's a reassuring heaviness to it. Smoothing his hand over the leather, his eyes dart up.]

Well? How'd you feel?

[It's a question in need of answering, sure, but it's also a delaying tactic.]

[vengeance_driven]

Still pretty good. [And then, as if to test, he tosses a few coins at a vender, takes a cheap, hardcover book, and smashes his hand against it. Books shouldn't bend when hit. That one does a little. And Niko's calloused knuckles are reddened.]

[He takes back the coat and puts it back on, then turns his hand to watch the redness in his knuckles ebbing away.]

Well, is not super quick, but is better than if I get hurt.

[theugly]

[There's a brief window of undisguised reaction: those brown eyes get big and his mouth draws high on one side as he stares down in wonder. Hell, he even briefly looks a little younger, like he hasn't had the desert and its denizens wear him down year after year.

Then comes the snort.]

Remind me to come to you next time a pack of books attacks.

[vengeance_driven]

[He lightly bonks Tuco on the head with the book.] Come on, man. Let me get you out of this rain. I'll ah, get you something to eat? How is that?