"Shopping for Sundries"

Cast: Seed (Deme) & Cirocco (Loyal)

TLDR: The duo find themselves in a busy market, searching for some varying necessities.

Support Points Earned: 1

[8:50 PM] LadyDeme: The days turned until Market Day arrived, and the whole of this little town was absorbed into it. Into an outpouring of streets and stands. The air smelled faintly of someone hanging spices to try and attract someone down at the end of the square's impromptu aisles, and that scent baked in the morning light. The sun pounded down on a sea of heads, of songs rising up to populate a world of stalls and tents, of vegetables and imports from the ports and cities more important: this town is just a place to stop in-between other places. But days like these are what keeps the whole town moving, the people flowing through it as vitally as blood. So muses an unusual figure, standing in the midst of all of that and peering over the heads of most of the crowd. He'd decided to abandon ever seeing the item he'd lent to Saarva again... But that old bandanna had been of use to him for years, a bundle for items, an impromptu blanket or picnic blanket, a towel of sorts -- just a handy thing to have. The airily-dressed Florkana was looking for an appropriate stand, letting traffic part around him as if a flowering tree really had been planted there in the square. From behind, his folded arms played with the expectations further -- his body formed a sleek line that only his silky, delicate clothes -- something like a pale chiton tunic that draped between the branches of his shoulders and a vague pair of pants -- really broke the impression given by his high branches and green waves of leaf and hair and bloom. The corners of his lips, which normally defaulted to being vaguely upturned, here tugged down at the edges. Nothing seemed to have much promise, and as he considered it, his shopping list was expanding rapidly: he could use some paper if anyone was selling any, and a new inkstone -- he'd be away from his chances to work with any of his usual supplies for a while. Better to stock up now, and to start... Perhaps with whatever he saw? Or should he organize his searchings?(edited)

[9:16 PM] Loyal: Meanwhile, a much shorter man makes his way through the square, perusing a much shorter shopping list. Cirocco tries to ignore the white noise, the distracting scents, the hustle and the haggling and the hawking, taking note only long enough to form a mental map of his immediate surroundings, thus that he could know how best to avoid bumping into anybody. Truthfully, he could probably do without, but it wouldn't hurt to be prepared. Cirocco had brought a number of supplies and amenities with him on his trip, enough to survive and maintain the most important things, as well as send a periodic report to Lady Atena. But at the same time he had also left some things at home, just in case he'd failed to make the cut and had to return home empty-handed. Now that he knew he was in it for the long haul, it was time to correct that. At the top of his list was getting ahold of a certain oil. Cirocco made a habit of carrying tools with him to maintain the quality of his Flute, but he'd foolishly forgotten to bring the oil and rubbing alcohol needed to clean it properly! That error was to be corrected immediately. As he kept looking around, Cirocco's mental map fails to take into account a certain Florkana who'd been nearly still this entire time. Combined with his eyes scanning one stall after the next instead of the space in front of himself, Cirocco doesn't notice him until he's mere inches from running headlong into him. The corner of his eyes catches the Florkana just in time, and Cirocco jumps back with a start! "Oh heavens, my apologies good sir," he says, his wings fluttering in the air to stabilize himself. "I didn't notice you there."

[9:59 PM] LadyDeme: Seed hadn't quite noticed anyone failing to part until he heard the voice -- after all, Cirocco had caught himself in a perfect moment; when a voice came out with an apology, Seed nearly ran into him when he swung around to see the who'd apologized and why -- the turn nearly brushed up directly against him, causing Seed to immediately step back in reflex. "Oh, I'm sorry!" The mutual apology left his lips in a single moment, before he'd fully registered the scope of circumstance. Something about the laguz tugged at the back of his brain, but in the meanwhile, the market came back into real focus around him, the rock in the river of people having grown a little larger, as people began to avoid them both, sending the occaisonal glance towards this unusual interruption. "I suppose I rather took leave of the circumstances; my line of thoughts rather started to whisk me away... " A thought dawned on Seed, as to where he'd seen this person before. By a degree, the busy, fretful knotting of his hands disentangled. As he assessed the figure he'd seen mainly in a group more closely, his branches swayed with a slight tint of his head, leaving an occaisonal rustle that seemed almost like a thoughtful hum. Gold-ringed eyes lingered extensively on Cirocco's face as he committed it to heart. "You're with the investigation team as well, are you not? Come to do some shopping before we set out?"

[10:32 PM] Loyal: "Ah... hah. No," Cirocco shakes his head, chuckling weakly as he starts to realize just how tall this guy is. So tall the hawk had to actually crane his neck to make eye contact. "No, don't trouble yourself, I'm at least as guilty here. Moreso, truly, you were simply standing there... ahem." With the crowd giving them an ever wider berth, Cirocco decides to take advantage by stepping back, and gently lifting off the ground with his wings so that he could face the Florkana at something resembling eye level. In the process, it also gave the two men a better field of view to take in the other. Besides, he didn't want to cramp up his neck. "Yes, I am with the team," Cirocco states, his arms crossed. "I'm sorry again, I must not have recognized you from before. It is as you say - I'm just here to stock up on some supplies, make sure I have everything I need for a ... potentially long trip." As he speaks, his eyes seem to stare right through the Florkana, taking in the unique intricacies of his plumage (or might that be prunage? he thought to himself), the way his clothes hung off his body and branches. "I must make sure my instruments can be maintained, my clothes kept in good working order, that sort of thing. It didn't seem to make sense to prepare for every eventuality before I was sure I'd be away from home long enough to need it, you see." Finishing his explanation, Cirocco realizes that even though they'd recognized each other, the two were still strangers. "Ah, right. Nearly forgotten. Since we didn't get a chance to introduce each other - my name is Cirocco. Might I ask your name, sir...?"

September 25, 2017

[5:21 PM] LadyDeme: "It's fine; you didn't actually run into me, though it was a close shave." Seed watched his momentary companion take to the air to get a more even view of each other, with less looking up or down all around, with something of a sink to his heart -- it was nothing new, and more or less unavoidable for some people to be made to either crane or find a level to see him clearly on an equal level, but if he could have made himself shorter, maybe that would have been his wish. Perhaps not short -- goodness knows, being tall (taller if you counted his branches swooping upwards as they looped around his head) was his only form of physical imposition. Perhaps, were he a more powerfully-built figure, being shorter wouldn't be a burden... Still, this was the hand he was dealt, watching someone fly to his level. "I'm doing much the same -- gathering a replacement for an item I...Sort of gave Saarva, and perhaps I'd pick up some writing materials extra, cut off as I will be from my usual supplies and supplier, for a time. Either way, you're welcome to navigate this labrynthine market with me, until we find what we need." He topped his words with a gesture to the array of stalls that had had him, frankly, stunned. In terms of supplies, Seed could afford to mostly pack frivoloties or tools of trade, as experience from his occaisonal travels from locale to locale could attest, and so he'd managed to come with a few prepared items as it was.... But there was no such thing as too prepared, or something like that. He didn't need room in his pack for non-snack foods, for example, but he'd had to bring a good-sized waterskin from home, that sort of thing. "Oh, yes. I am Seed Viridius -- Seed will suffice, however."

[8:35 PM] Loyal: "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Seed. Might be a good idea for us to travel together either way - It's claustrophobic here, more than I'd anticipated for sure." Cirocco keeps a wary eye out. "I'd never make assumptions about the locals, but it never hurts to be wary for pickpockets in such a crowded place..." "Did Sir Saarva enjoy your... gift?" he adds, as curious about the item given as the result of said gift. I suppose I wouldn't have needed it in hindsight, but ... one wonders if it would have helped all the same.(edited)

[10:01 PM] LadyDeme: "Hm, I'm not terribly worried about it, but I suppose it doesn't hurt to have a little vigilance." Seed said, looking at the frankly mostly preoccupied crowd. He couldn't deny the possibility, and yet... It wasn't so much as a breeze to him. He began to walk through the crowd, looking for a likely-looking stall among the noise. "Ahhaha, calling it a gift is a little much, but I think he found it useful. He needed help cleaning up a small mess, so I lent him a handkerchief -- of sorts, not a pocket one, mind you -- of mine... And when the time came, well, I thought it'd be fine whether he returned it or not." Because he didn't think hit wouldn't have been rude to ask -- but Seed elided around the topic with a chipper smile. After all, in the end, what did it matter if he had to replace it? "You mentioned an instrument -- what is it that you play?"

[11:16 PM] Loyal: "Ah, I see. Still, I'm sure it was appreciated." Cirocco reaches to a satchel behind his back, and taps it a few times. He smiles, perhaps the first hint of confidence and plain joy he's shown the entire conversation. "My talents lie with the flute. It's something I take pride in, earning many a Leaf and entertaining many an esteeded guest at the behest of My Lady." He pauses to consider something, but then shakes his head. "I'd offer to play a few bars for you, but... perhaps that should be saved for another time. The Flute itself is a ... precious gift from My Lady, and I'd like not to attract unwanted eyes."(edited)

September 26, 2017

[6:46 PM] LadyDeme: "Ah, I would love to hear it sometime -- but I can well imagine a better time or place than a shopping trip." Even if his words were mellow, Seed's face glowing with a reflection of that pride and happiness, causing his steps to move a little more spryly down the lanes of market stalls. He waved the laguz over towards one that looked somewhat promising -- dry goods, and so likely to have textiles, or paper, or polish: not hard tools, not food, but a number of sundries. He made a note of the title he offered as an answer to many things -- but couldn't find it wholly strange, save that she wasn't named directly: Seed was himself an entertainer, of a sorts, and as an artist used to cultivating patrons. That life was one that had come to chafe, at the end, but... It certainly kept artists that needed feeding fed. In the present, he rested his thumb against the sharpened point of a quill-feath, lying flat along its side. "Which lady is your patron, if I might ask?"

[9:54 PM] Loyal: Cirocco keeps himself busy looking over the stalls as he walks with Seed. "I have attended to Lady Atena of Mytia for over ten years, now. If there was a task she needed doing, I was on top of it. Well - outside of administrating her lands, of course. I do wonder how she's faring without me..." One stall catches his attention - a vendor selling, among other things, a type of cotton that matches the texture and color of his own coat. "Last I'd heard My Lady was preparing some new trade contacts, just in case the unpleasantness with the Aurelius soured her network. Even in a land as remote as ours, that attack sent shockwaves far and wide indeed..."

September 27, 2017

[12:04 PM] LadyDeme: "I see... And so resolving this has become a task that needs doing... I hope it goes well for the first of us." He noted the choice in words carefully -- euphemisms were always, in their own way, revealing; he was not sure he'd class it as unpleasant, but the term kept it away from the facts of blood that troubled Seed sometimes still. He stopped at the same stall, eyeing the fabrics in turn -- he was satisfied that his clothes were presentable for a long time off the island again (he kept them as such), but this was very likely to have... His eyes alighted on a small basket full of things made with their products: they'd had bolts of cloth for sale, looped up around like scrolls, but also things made from their materials, little scarves and handkerchiefs, knits of their wools, small satchels and drawstring bags. He sifted through these, pulling up brightly-printed handkerchiefs, before pulling forth a handkerchief of a good size of hot pink and chautreuse swirls. Seed's nose scrunched slightly as he looked at it. "Hm. It might be prudent to simply purchase a half-yard, and hem it in myself..."

[2:51 PM] Loyal: Cirocco looks to Seed's current acquisition and barely masks his own dismay for the object's sad existence. "They say there's no accounting for taste... but even that one's a bit much! If all you need is a handkerchief, one supposes it would be simple enough just to make it oneself. Especially if, as I suspect, our investigation takes us to the waves. Plenty of downtime to work..." "But aye, it seems we have a good, well-rounded group among us. Whatever our work comes to I am confident we can handle it. Even if it comes to blows, I have my talons, and you...?" He trails off, suddenly realizing he doesn't notice any immediately identifyable mark of how Seed would contribute to a fight.

[3:27 PM] LadyDeme: "I'm not especially skilled with textiles..." Certainly not compared to many Florkana he'd met; most of his fabrics were traded for, rather than woven by hand... It was probably a little burdensome, he supposed -- and that supposition wore on his face for a moment, before the topic returned to the poor thing in his hand, which he lowered back to the basket. "But I'm certainly skilled enough for to make a handkerchief I'd like better than this. Besides, the remnants of the half-yard might be useful yet." And so he could turn himself to the bolts of cloth, his fingers fidgeting over the broad cotton. Because here was the question -- what could he do, if it came to violence? Why was he here? He considered himself carefully. His voice was light, but trailed slightly, here and there. "Well, to be honest... I'm hardly suited for battle. I suppose I'm a little more durable than most people... But I'd rather not hurt anyone if I can help it. If it came to blows, I'd doubt I'd be much use. However, if you get hurt in the course of our investigation, I'm practiced in healing magic and medicine; in this, you can rely on me." He gave a small nod.(edited)

[9:34 PM] Loyal: "No trouble at all, friend, I'm sorry to have implied anything." Cirocco raises his hands in a palms-out gesture. "Having a skilled doctor with us is just as valuable as any spell or sword. I'm sure we'll have every need of your insight even without the need of mending wounds..."

September 28, 2017

[2:54 PM] LadyDeme: "Oh, no, I didn't think you implied as such -- Those are my own worries, I suppose, so don't trouble yourself," Seed said with something of a dry chuckle, having done all the implying himself. He wasn't very sure how he'd do if it came to a fight; just the thought of it crawled around inside him like an infestation of termites. It was something on which... He never wanted to really be tested. Somehow, he thought that wasn't the case. "I hope that's the case; I think I'd rather be useful in other ways, than needing to patch people up."

September 29, 2017

[7:36 AM] Loyal: "Mm... the methods and goal of the expedition are pretty open ended at this time, after all," he hums reassuringly. "You'll figure something out." Cirocco's nearly finished his shopping by now, having assembled a tidy basket of miscellaneous sundries to keep him over the trip. He pays for the last of it and turns to Seed. "That open-endedness is why it helps to be prepared for any eventuality, after all. Sadly, we've only just met, so I can only be of so much help in figuring out how..."

September 30, 2017

[12:40 PM] LadyDeme: "I'll certainly do my best with what's thrown at me, so don't worry Not to brag, but I do have talents that don't involve someone getting hurt first." Seed's smile had just a touch of mirth in it, as he watched Cirocco sort of leap to the task of figuring out something for him, even if all Seed could do was wave a hand in an airy circle, sure that this was his question to solve. He directed the shopkeep to cut him a piece of a cotton cloth with a pattern of loose florals, every so often, against a rich brown background; a print he could already imagined getting somewhat faded over time. As if he minded. This would be added to the quill he'd examined earlier, and a jar of ink, some paper -- fairly ordinary things. "We shall see how we're needed in time, so I guess we'll just have to be flexible when the time comes."(edited)

[7:22 PM] Loyal: "Indeed, so must we all, Mister Seed... I suppose I'll look forward to working with you."

[8:17 PM] Loyal: ---====END===---