Who

L'xan, Selaine, Willimina, Ypsilani

What

Shopping can be fun. I guess? L'xan encounters Willamina and Selaine at the Cloth stall. Later Ypsilani makes an appearance.

When

It is noon of the twenty-second day of the eighth month of the ninth turn of the 12th pass.

Where

Central Bazaar, Igen Weyr

OOC Date 11 Dec 2016 05:00

 

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If I had been, my father would have probably been very happy his son was finally in an honest trade!


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Central Bazaar

All roads in the weyr ultimately lead here, to this center of commerce. Canvas awnings jut out over time worn, sandy cobblestone, sheltering customers and wares alike from the majority of Igen's elements, and funnel scents both mouthwatering and vomit inducing through the thin streets. Almost all store fronts are open air, delineated by sandstone arches with intricately carved facades. The insides of these stone-shingled buildings act as an amplifier for the salesmens' bawled enticements, and are held up by the chipped swirls of marble pillars.


Summer in Igen can be brutally hot, most escape the heat indoors, with only the truly hearty braving the sickness inducing heat. Today is not so bad, but it's still hot. Not too many are perusing the bazaar at present, but one of the few that are finds herself pausing her mid-afternoon walk to admire a yard or so of brightly colored fabric. Willimina, leader of the Zingari Caravan, seems to be enjoying a day of lazy shopping. She fingers the bolt of cloth, admiring the light the yellow fabric reflects. Her gold firelizard drapes lazily over her shoulders, WIllimina's silent guardian.

There are those who brave Igen's heat by choice, and those who have no choice about it. L'xan falls into the second category. While he has abandoned the leather gear of his calling, he still walks like a rider. Slowly pacing down the thoroughfare, head and shoulders are covered somewhat by his scarf this day but the jaunty Parhelion bracelet on his wrist is plainly visible. Eventually he makes his way closer to the browsing woman where he pauses. "That'd go well with your colouring." She wanted his opinion yes? "Qualities not the best though, you should ask for a discount."

While some, like the Zingari leader, might be going about the bazaar with no idea of what to purchase, others, like Selaine, strides through the crowd with purpose. The greenrider is clearly here with an idea of what she wants, though she wears no knot, meaning she's not on duty. She's simply clothed in a long, flowing dress, a headscarf loosely wrapped around her head. It just so happens that something at the very same stall Willimina and L'xan are at catches the greenrider's attention and she's soon making her way over. A bolt with a beautiful shade of cornflower blue is pointed to. "How much is this?" she asks the stall owner before she finally notices who else is there. "Oh! Hi." The Zingari leader is a common face and L'xan. Well.

Willimina looks up at L'xan with a crooked grin. "If I was looking for quality I'd go to my own weavers sir rider, it is merely pretty and would be a fine fabric for a baby quilt." Willimina chuckles and pulls the bolt of yellow and eyes one of green. Selaine is a familiar face and she gets a bright smile from Willa when she greets her. "Good afternoon Selaine!" Chocolate hued eyes slip back to L'xan. "Were you a weaver before your lifemate claimed you?" Riders. Willimina can spot one a league away.

L'xan's lips twitch and his eyes twinkle. "If I had been, my father would have probably been very happy his son was finally in an honest trade. No. I didn't do much of anything before I impressed. But I was raised to appreciate quality." A wink is sent overhead to Selaine. "L'xan, Nokteryth is my lifemate." A somewhat graceful bow is produced, likely giving hint to his origins if Selaine doesn't tell outright. "And congratulations." He'll just assume the baby in question is hers. An odd glance and a salute is given to "Selaine." Wait. His eyes widen.

There's light laughter at the suggestion that L'xan might have ever been a weaver but the greenrider doesn't really comment on it, resisting the urge to roll her eyes at the bronzerider. "Good afternoon, Willimina." A polite nod for the other woman before L'xan introduces himself. She's trying to haggle prices with the stall owner when he gives her that odd glance. "What?" She questions, handing over the marks just before she grabs hold of the bolt she'd just purchased.

Willimina doesn't seem to catch the odd communication, but L'xan would be right about one thing. "Thank you." Is given with a smile. Both riders are given an odd look when Selaine asks L'xan 'What?'. Okaaaay then. Willimina makes her purchases and turns towards the other riders. "What is yours for Selaine?" Willa asks, eyeing the pretty fabric.

"Yes, what's yours for Selaine?" L'xan echo of Willamina's question places emphasis in different places, making the question come out half tease half mild interrogation. "I've got a couple myself." No L'xan you have three. "Uh, kids I mean. They're sturdy, and don't eat sand all that much. Hopefully yours is the same." He doesn't do parent all that well. Hey look at this pretty bit of ribbon! It's cyan.

"Oh! I didn't know you were expecting. Congratulations!" Selaine offers the other woman with a wide smile. She hadn't really caught on the baby quilt bit from earlier. "They shouldn't be eating sand at all, y'know." That directed toward L'xan. As for their questioning… "A new dress for myself. Probably. Maybe a baby blanket or two." A look for L'xan. And then she's looking at a few other colors as well, cause one totally isn't enough. "How far along are you? If you don't mind me asking." The greenrider glances back at the Zingari leader with a curious tilt of her head.

Willimina laughs softly and smiles. "We haven't made much of a fuss about it, I'm just nearing the end of my fourth month." Her smile widens a bit. "That color suits you perfectly Selaine, it should make a beautiful dress." At mention of more baby blankets Willimina grins. "How is your youngling Selaine?" Willimina can hardly believe her own are as big as they are already. A sidelong look at L'xan brings Willa's attention back to him. "Aye, I'd have to agree, they shouldn't be eating sand at all. Luckily my older two are well past the 'everything goes in my mouth' stage." Thank faranth. "However, you move from that to sass…sometimes I wonder if I prefered the teething stage over the obnoxiously defiant stage Lillia has hit."

L'xan drops the bit of cyan ribbon he had been inspecting…yes inspecting is manly enough, to hold up his hands helplessly. "You should probably tell that to their mothers." Which is a fair point, albeit one with the hint of a smile twitching the corners of his mouth. His eyebrows remain raised teasingly but he seems happy enough to allow the ladies their conversation in peace. After all he can't really contribute to conversations about dresses and baby blankets and babies all that much. He doesn't seem particularly eager to continue on his rounds either. So essentially hes eavesdropping out in the open, don't mind him.

"Well, no wonder you don't look much like you're expecting." Selaine comments with a light smile, her gaze flickering down to the other woman's hidden belly. "He's doing quite well. Getting close to those terrible twos I've been hearing about.. but otherwise he's behaving." For now, right? Then she leans in a little conspiratorially to whisper into her ear, "I'm expecting another one. Barely a month along." Then she's leaning back with a twinkle in her eye. "Oh, what do you think about this color?" Selaine points to bolt of off-white cloth. "Maybe a white and blue quilt?" And this is directed to either of them.

Heavily veiled as always, Ypsilani makes her half blind way through her route. One, no. Two stops left on the deliveries that she was given to run. She'd gone to the infirmary, and the guardhouse first then started working her way through the bazaar. The cantina, a cloth shop, some high end clothing shop, and the last stop was, "Pardon," she rasps as she approaches the group with the two riders, and the brightly clothed trader woman, "I have a delivery for Willimina?" she blinks a few times as it registers that L'xan is one of the riders. Too late now, she can't just run, the delivery has to be made.

Willimina chuckles. "They are a handful at that age. Taimin will be three here soon." Willimina eyes the off white fabric, heedless of L'xan's open eavesdropping, it actually makes her smile. Most men didn't jump at baby conversation, she's noticed. "I think it's a fine shade, but don't you think this cream would suit the blue better?" Willimina picks up both bolts, holding them side by side. "What think you L'xan?" She asks before whispering a congratulations to Selaine. She tips her head slightly at the bronzerider and raises a brow. His?

L'xan really doesn't have a lot to add to this conversation. AT ALL. He's done his bit, so to speak. He does frown at the whispering however, mostly because he can't hear a thing. "It's alright." He scans the stall items for a moment. "What about this one?" He counters both ladies a shiny red fabric that looks as if it was deliberately designed to clash with everything. He may know quality, but style? Not so much. This is a conversation he probably shouldn't be invited too. "Good strong colour." He is clearly impressed by his choice as he holds it against one tanned forearm. Suddenly a rather pained expression crosses his face, and he drops the red fabric without further teasing. "Ypsilani." He swallows, before turning his face slightly unreadable. "How are you?"

The basket is held in front of her, and Ypsilani's looking like she'd rather be almost anywhere else but here, "Found work," work is good. It lets her buy rum. Rum is better. It lets her sleep through the night mostly dream free, "Have a delivery?" has she come to the wrong grouping? Maybe she should go to the caravan grounds? Ypsi looks on the verge of bolting, but does manage to hold her ground.

"Ohh. Cream and blue do look better." Selaine comments as she compares the colors, L'xan's opinion notwithstanding. A very slight nod in Willimina's direction to confirm her inquiry. A brow arches when the bronzerider picks up the bolt of red. "By itself, maybe." The greenrider notes, again resisting the urge to roll her eyes though she can't help the smile that tugs at her lips. When the veiled woman approaches the small group, Selaine observes her curiously even as she addresses the Zingari leader, though she throws a worried glance in L'xan's direction as he addresses her. Ypsilani. He'd told her about this woman.

"I'm Willimina." Willa states, finally taking note that there is another present. Pregnancy hormones. Really. She smiles at the young woman. "Might I ask who the delivery is from then?" L'xan is given a look of amusement for his color choice. Willa shakes her head, mahogany waves bouncing around her face as she does. Men.

L'xan is oblivious to the silent conversation of nods and eyebrows running underneath the choice of fabrics for a dress? Baby blanket? Something. His mind is no longer on the pleasant teasing anyways. "Did you go through the rum I got you already?" On top of his concern, he looks slightly impressed at her capacity before he continues in a soft voice. "You know, you can come to me if you need too right? Marks are not an issue." Marks are never an issue for L'xan. Lucky bastard.

"Ravene's Bakery," Ypsilani answers holding the basket toward the Zingari leader, "Said make sure they was delivered to you," apparently this Ravene doesn't trust puffed pastries that are wrapped to be left to just anyone. L'xan gets a nod. She's remembering, see? She can be social. She's just not pleasant to look at, hence the veils and scarves that cover most of her face. L'xan's question earns a one shouldered shrug, "I can work," she just can't see that well, or remember things that well. As for the rum? "No," yes, mostly, "Still have some," but why wait to run out before earning marks to buy more? Anyway, this gets her out of her dusty attick that she found. Maybe it's above the bakery itself? Probably not though.

As there's an exchange going on between the others, Selaine doesn't bother to butt in, feeling like it's not really her place to do so. Instead, she turns back to the stall owner once more to haggle on the price of the cream-cloth bolt. She just bought one from him, can't he give it to her for cheaper? Eyes light up as she succeeds and now she's got two bolts of cloth in her arms.

Ahh, this must be the girl that Zisiene mentioned. Willimina grins and relieves Ypsi of her basket. "Please do tell Ravene I said thank you very much." Willimina lifts the cover on the basket and takes a smell. She loves these pastries. "I should probably getthese home. It was nice to meet you L'xan, and you young lady." Willimina gives Ypsi a bow, she'll have to track her down later for a talk. "Good afternoon everyone." And with a bright smile, the young leader is on her way home, disappearing quickly around a corner of the bazaar.

L'xan gives a friendly enough salute to the trader woman as she takes the pastries out of his reach fairly quickly after delivery. Smart move that. With a face full of concern, he looks back down at Ypsilani. "Let me give you a tip at least?" He offers, holding out whatever change he currently has on him. "Job well done and all that." The slight crack in his usual jocular tone is the only betrayal of whatever is going on in his head. The same thing that goes on every time he runs across the dragonless woman. "Ypsi…" He begins gently. "I'd like you to meet someone…" He holds out an arm to shepperd Selaine into the conversation.

Ypsilani accepts the tip, she's been getting a lot of those. Probably because of the way she looks? Or more likely because of her being dragonless. Word does seem to have a way of getting around in the bazaar it seems, "I should.." voice trails off, she's finished her deliveries and she was paid before the start of them. She really hasn't anywhere else to be just now, "Pardon," she says instead as she turns to get a better look at Selaine. Pretty, just the type of face that would draw L'xan's attention so she'll stand where she is and fidget just a little. Skittish thing that she is and all.

There's a bit of thinking going on in Selaine's head as she considers how she's going to manage getting both bolts up to her weyr, only vaguely aware of the conversation going on between L'xan and the dragonless woman. She doesn't blatantly eavesdrop like someone. CoughL'xancough. That is, until L'xan's holding out an arm around her. She blinks a few times in surprise before she offers the woman a polite nod and a small smile, cause, y'know, she's only got two bolts of cloth in her arms. "Pleasure to finally meet you, Ypsilani. Selaine." The greenrider offers by way of introduction.

The second bolt of cloth is a surprise to L'xan. Where is the red? This is no good, the red is a good, strong colour. A small frown crosses his features before his arm drops, namely to wrest the bolts from the green-rider, in almost absent-minded thoughtfullness (So much denial). He has all those muscles not doing much at the moment after all. Oh. His realisation that the conversation has to go somewhere prompts him to add. "Selaine rides green." The gentle tidbit of information is shared.

Ypsilani gives a nod to Selaine, "Well met," she rasps out. Her voice sounding like it's trying to cut its way out of her throat rather than just flowing, "Green," she repeats, "Fast, agile," and a color she normally avoids, "Someone," pause, "Someone I used to know rode green," used to know, nice, she's taking a step back. Instinct is to run as she reaches for the mindscape that isn't there, "Like brown," another dragon color she mostly avoids though.

There's relief in Selaine's face when L'xan takes the bolts from her, eyes giving him a silent thank you before she turns back to Ypsilani. "Oh. Yes. Her name's Akitith." The raspy tone of the other woman's voice gets a slight widening of Selaine's eyes. "Yes." She agrees with Ypsilani's observation of greens with another small smile. The way the dragonless woman steps back doesn't go unnoticed, obviously not wanting to stay. Selaine purses her lips before saying, "Brown's a sturdy color."

L'xan winces. Well, shit. Shouldering the bolts of cloth to the other side he rubs at his neck. "Hey hey hey hey." He says gently, reaching an arm out to rub hers. "You know now, and you can forget later." His eyes drop significantly to the marks still held in her fist. "But I did want you to meet her." Her being Selaine, sorry to reduce you to a pronoun Selaine. When he winces a second time after Selaine speaks, it is accompanied by a hissing indrawn breath. Uh. Well, shit.

Ypsilani gives a nod as the marks are finally pocketed. She had forgot she was still holding them, "I," what? "Should go," she doesn't really have anywhere else to go, but she can tell when someone is shopping and perhaps her being there is interrupting the progress? Whatever the reason, Ypsi gives a nod, takes a step back, and turns with a rasped, "Pardon," to whoever she just bumped into.

Selaine only looks a little confused at the exchange between L'xan and Ypsilani, but she'll leave it to him to hopefully know what he's doing. She glances up at him when he mentions that he wanted Ypsilani to meet her. And then Selaine apparently says something stupid, since it earns that breath from the bronzerider and causes the dragonless woman to run away. "Oh. Crap." The greenrider lets out once the veiled woman disappears into the crowd. "She rode a brown, didn't she? I completely forgot…" Selaine winces at her own forgetfulness. "Sorry…"

L'xan watches Ypsilani's progress through the growing crowd with an unreadable mixture of emotions on his face. "Fuck." And then the awkwardness of the bolts of cloth against his shoulder reminds him that he is not alone. "I don't think any real harm was done. It's always fifty-fifty if she'll stick around for long." Also with those marks, she'll be able to buy herself a whole lot of forgetfulness. Shifting his weight also means he gets another faceful of cloth. "Don't worry about it." He reassures her with a small smile. "What we should probably worry about is these." He waggles the bolts of cloth.

Selaine watches the change in emotions of L'xan's face with some interest. Even when he tries to reassure her though, it doesn't provide the greenrider with much relief. She still lets out a sigh. Then her attention goes back to the bolts with a small smile. "Oh. Well… if you're not busy, if you wouldn't mind helping me bring them back to my weyr?" A pause. "If you are, I'll manage." Probably. Maybe? It's obviously very questionable.

There is a certain irrepressible quality to L'xan's sense of humor, he does try but after a few moments of inner struggle, all is lost. "It occurs to me that this might just be some flimsy pretext to get me into your weyr." Like fruit? "And no, I am now…" He glances up at the sky to judge Rukbat's angle. "Officially at leisure."

And it is here that Selaine affects a mocked offended look. How dare he suggest she would do something so underhanded. "You wound me, sir." Selaine even puts a hand to her chest with a huff. With him announcing that he is now free, however, her expression lights up, mock injury completely forgotten. "Well then. Let's go!" And she'll take his free hand to drag him out of the bazaar, because he apparently doesn't have a choice in the matter. Not since he's holding her bolts.

The bolts of cloth are definitely not flimsy, as L'xan can attest, slapping him in the face as they are as he tries to keep up. His face! "I think it's the other way round!" He complains. "You're wounding me!" He of course refers to the face slapping and such.

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