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

[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?

[thumbsdown]

[Oh, right. Niko is tall.]

Sorry.

[He holds it higher after that, though it feels a little awkward to accommodate for someone taller.]

Think she's good. Mostly just lies around on the couch or the floor. Sometimes takes Rex's bed, but I don't think he minds much.

[Especially since Rex's favourite place to sleep is Boone's bed.]

[vengeance_driven]

[Originally he had just gotten the animal in his efforts to get a protective dog, and kept it for no particular reason. But Niko is an affectionate guy, and he misses how overly loving the white, odd looking puffball was. He gets to see her at Boone's place- and if something happened to him while he was out, he wouldn't want her trapped in his house alone in that state. It's the better place for her.]

[And most of the time he doesn't expect to come back.]

[It's a heavy thought to have, though, before seeing an animal that he knows will be excited to see him and want to be picked up.]

Good. [Is finally what he says, but he does a terrible job of hiding his concern.] I am glad she is looked after. If I ran into an emergency out there...

[thumbsdown]

[Boone frowns at him- he knows he's said similar things before himself, and probably will again, but that doesn't mean he likes to hear it coming from a friend.]

More reason why you should be careful. Besides, you've got a dog now, too.

[And obviously, Boone doesn't want to hear one day that Niko got himself killed either. He's not really sure how to go about expressing that without sounding awkward, though.]

She'll go back to you once the kitten is here.

[vengeance_driven]

[He almost argues that he got the dog because it was able to protect itself (and him), but somehow he doesn't want to pass that part on.] Don't worry. I never make it easy. [He can't go down that easy, but he guesses there's a point he will give up. He's just not there yet.]

[He suddenly wants to hold that cat, though. Seeking out a little physical comfort, he just reaches to take the umbrella from Boone's hand. It's not that much contact, but Boone is a friend that he trusts.] Here I will take it for a little bit. We'll have turns.

[thumbsdown]

Sure.

[He's still frowning to himself when he hands over the umbrella, but he doesn't say anything else on the subject of Niko dying.]

Found a home for the kitten yet?

[vengeance_driven]

Tiny furry strange man wants to take it. It will be as big as him when it's grown. Maybe he can ride it.

[Niko is completely serious there for a moment.] Maybe not such a good idea if it is tempered like yours. I think mine will take any attention.

[thumbsdown]

[Boone has actually never spoken to Wander, but he'll trust Niko if he thinks he'll be a good owner.]

Guess we'll see. Maybe if grows up around him, it'll like him better. How long do you think it'll have to be around Sk...uh, the mother?

[He can never remember the name of Niko's cat offhand.]

[vengeance_driven]

[He smiles again at that.] Call her Snazzy. It is easier for someone that doesn't speak my language.

I'm not sure. Maybe not as long as usual kittens. Since they only have one, they're born a little bigger. With eyes open and things.

[When they reach the resort and have a roof, he lowers the umbrella and nudges Boone to show him how to shake it out and close it up. He doubts he has to deal with many umbrellas in the desert.]

[thumbsdown]

Uh... Snazzy. Okay.

[Bigger or not, it'll be the first time Boone has ever seen a kitten. He's curious, even though he gets that realistically it'll just be a smaller version of its parents. He wonders what colour it'll be, too.

He watches Niko sort out the umbrella, then heads inside. He can't immediately see either of the beasts, but he just assumes they're lying around somewhere else.]

[vengeance_driven]

[He can't see them either, but makes an odd little noise between his teeth as if he's trying to get their attention. This eventually makes the white one come creeping out from under the bed. She's very, very round right now, but she slinks her way over to her person.]

Oh you are so big. [He crouches down to pick her up.]

[thumbsdown]

[Boone smiles as his cat pokes his head out from under the bed too, watching Niko carefully. He crouches down and holds his hand out, and eventually the black cat stalks over to rub his head against it once or twice before sitting and looking up at Niko again. Rex apparently hasn't learned his lesson, and tries to sniff at him. Predictably, he gets swiped at.]

Think Rex likes Snazzy better.

[Shes not really up for playing with him, but she purrs readily enough when Rex wanders over.]

[vengeance_driven]

[There never has been an animal that likes attention as much as this one. She kneads the air as Niko shifts his hand to rub her belly. But he's also feeling around it, making sure the baby seems to be turned right (according to the standards he knows). And notices how taught she's gotten. It can't be long at all.]

Come here and feel. [It's moving a little in there. Which actually makes it easier.] This is where the legs are, and the back, and it is already pointing towards the back end. It will be very soon.

[Whenever Boone's hand comes near her she tries to grab and lick it.]

[thumbsdown]

[He comes near and reaches out to touch her belly, but after a moment of feeling around he gets a pained sort of look cross his face and he pulls his hand away again.]

Yeah, she's... soon.

[Maybe it's better that way. The sooner the better. Sometimes, watching his cat protect Niko's, he gets sad again. He's by her side most, if not all of the time. That's what he should have done.]

[vengeance_driven]

[She leans her head against Niko's shoulder and kneads at the leather on his chest, all four eyes narrowed to slits of pure happiness. Niko almost misses the look of pain on Boone's face because of it, but he does. He reaches up to cup and pet her head, and she flops around her fluffy tail. He sets on the bed with her.]

Are you alright?

[Boone's beast normally ignores Niko since he doesn't pay it a lot of attention, but he stills as he climbs up into his lap, right against where she's resting in Niko's arms (even if that means he gets swishing fluffed tail in the face).]

[thumbsdown]

I'm fine.

[The look is gone, and he sits beside Niko to watch the beasts climb all over him.]

How soon do you think it'll be?

[He thinks he'll be pretty useless if the time comes and he can't get hold of Niko. Hopefully he'll be around for it.]

[vengeance_driven]

You're not fine. [He says bluntly, and lets Snazzy slide down into his lap to rest. Which, just gets her ears cleaned by a waiting over-protective father. She likes that too.]

But there is something wrong much of the time. So I'll just try and help out however I can, ah?

[He knows he can't push Boone to talk. But maybe Snazzy is bothering him somehow.] I can take her if it makes it easier. I'll just need you to hold the umbrella over us. I don't want to make her wet.

[thumbsdown]

It's not her.

[If Niko wanted to take her back he wouldn't object, but he thinks the expecting father wouldn't be all that happy about it.]

Don't worry about it. Just... made me think of something different, that's all. She's okay here.

[vengeance_driven]

...You can tell me sometime. What she makes you think of. But I think she'll be okay here. I wanted here here since some fucking guy has it out for me. Spat in Charon's face. Figure she's better with you.

[He scratches under her chin.]

[thumbsdown]

What guy?

[He immediately narrows his eyes, frowning.]

You think he's gonna hurt you?

[He's concerned mostly as a friend, but also as part of security. If Niko thinks someone is out to hurt or even kill him, shouldn't he do something about it?]

[vengeance_driven]

No no. I just worry a fight might happen if we run into each other again. I don't want her to be around it. He doesn't like me too good. I could hold my own, but she is not much of a fighter.

Not many things go after her kind here. She doesn't really have a reason to be.

[At being mentioned, she purrs loudly enough to be heard.] Charon already knows about it, so you do not have to worry. It's just a precaution.

[thumbsdown]

[He doesn't look entirely convinced for a moment, but then he grunts.]

Well, if he gives you any trouble let one of us know. You don't have to deal with it on your own.

[He reaches out to pet her, but his hand gets buffeted out of the way by his own beast, who has decided he wants some attention too. He moves his hand to pet him instead.]

Got any idea why he has it out for you?

[vengeance_driven]

We had an argument, and assholes will be assholes. [Especially fearless ones.]

[thumbsdown]

Better hope you don't run into him again, then.

[His beast comes over to knead his lap, then flops on his side to expose his belly. Boone knows better than to try rubbing it now. His cat is an asshole, who will trick you into thinking he wants a belly rub and then sink his claws into your hand the moment you touch him.]

Yeah, I'm not falling for that again.

[vengeance_driven]

He is grumpy, but maybe he is also more playful than mine. [Niko reaches over, counting on the leather sleeve and gloves to give him some protection, and scratches his belly in more playful way than how he spoils his, making that odd little noise with his mouth again.]

[He is also ready to jerk his hand back.]