[GreatBazaar]Trying something new[Open]

[Fraha]

Timestamp : 25th Summer 511 AV / 2:00PM Spacestamp: Great Bazaar, entrance. How unlikely, it was cloudy, which meant that the Bazaar would be somewhat darker, yet the hot temperature would make it rather smelly and narrow. Still Fraha wanted to buy herself something new. She was thinking of getting a new headband but couldn't decide the colour. So wearing her black sandals, lightly covered by her dark loose pants her slim legs made till the Bazaar entrance. An empty shoulderbag was still on her left hip held by the right shoulder. On her upper body, the space between the bag cloth and her skin was covered by a black top, one of the sleeves was torn away while on the right side the sleeve reached few inches lower her shoulder. The top was belly short and left the air to caress her waist. It still was pretty hot that day, luckily her old brown headband was absorbing the sweat of her forehead above keeping her hair still at the sides. Fraha's eyes were wide open already now, in order to adapt her eyes at the market's light level. She marched some steps forward, it wasn't very crowdy maybe because of the hour, maybe because it was rather hot that day or maybe just luck. She placed an elbow on the hilt of one of her wakizashi's while leaning a bit sideways, on one leg. The sheath on her back, placed in the kidney zone was very useful, it held the two blades of her with their hilts out at Fraha's sides so that they won't disturb her in any way. Looking around Fraha guessed where to find what she's looking for.

[Tessa Poe]

Gods she disliked being in this place but she'd not been back in the area long and there were things she needed to buy... so here she was. She'd ended up spending what felt like a couple of bells wandering around the corridors and making her way through the crowds while trying to find the bazaar and if hadn't have been for that nice woman with her kid guiding her most of the way here she'd have probably ended up having to knock on random doors and that might not have gone down too well. It was too warm in here too, and close for that matter, not a sign of the slightest bit of a breeze. She'd already had to take off her coat and slip it through the straps of her rucksack and it hadn't helped as much as she'd hoped. Still, maybe the bazaar might be a little cooler, if it wasn't too busy? Well she could live in hope for that at least and there was still the thought of a nice warm bath calling her on once she'd finished up here, and the chance of getting her clothes washed properly too. Maybe she should pick up a nightshirt or something to wear while they were cleaning her clothes for her? It was that or wrap herself in a blanket in the room and wait for them to bring her laundry back.

So some provisions and a nightshirt, shouldn’t be too hard to find, especially since the bazaar didn't seem to be particularly crowded just yet, too early in the day perhaps. For all that though the noise was still a little intimidating, but then it always was for her whenever she came back to the city. Maybe the outside stalls? Might be quieter... Tessa started to weave her way through the stalls, eyes flicking curiously over all that was laid out as she did. Some of it was lovely she had to admit, but it wasn't like she'd have any use for pretty gowns or dresses. She just knew that if she wore something like that the first thing that'd happen would be getting it snagged on a branch and tearing a bloody great hole in it or something, and then she’d probably fall over and cover it whatever much she landed in. Nope, far better to stick with sensible breeches, those at least she could rely on.

Something caught Tessa’s attention and brought her to stop though, a pretty little pendant on a silver chain. It was the stone that drew her eye, simply set and cut in a clear shade of blue. She had to admit it was very tempting, she had a little extra money after all and it had been a while since she’d gotten herself anything nice. She glanced up at the stall holder and found him smiling already, reaching out to lift the pendant for her inspection and offering it to her.
“Very nice isn’t it Miss, yours for 5 gold mizas, best hurry too they’re selling very well today.”
Tessa bit down hard on her lip to keep from laughing. Sure the pendant was pretty but she wasn’t going to be paying that for it. She could feed herself for a week for that much, longer if she was careful about it. She shrugged and shook her head, turning to go, she really didn’t want to get into some kind of haggling thing with the man, it’s not like she was ever going to get a good deal out of him. Nope, best stick to practicalities and get out of here before someone else shoved something in her face and said she had to buy it.

[Fraha]

There were too many directions to choose, loads of different paths dividing themselfs in other paths. The Bazaar wasn't new to her but still she just couldn't get used to it. There were simply too many things in too little space, Fraha disliked that, specially because of her simple mentality. Plus Fraha was terrible at taking decisions. But then again why was she making such a big deal out of it? Every time she walked in the Bazaar she would simply stop nearly after the entrance and just wait for something, as if the decision would come at her. Taking a deep breath to get rid of those thoughts Fraha simply followed the first stranger would get pass her, with respectable distance of course. Her temporary leader was a girl, who had just walked in right like herself. She focused on the girls rucksack which had a coat slipped in it. While following her with the eyes Fraha noticed the long black hair of this girl which reminded Fraha that she needed to wash them.

Hoping that the girl wanted to purchase a headband or something like that Fraha walked slowly acting with nonchalance, asking her self what colour would she like. White seemed too bold and black would be boring as her entire clothering was of the same color. Suddenly the girl stopped, which made Fraha freeze too, unprepared. She still had to work on her following skills. It was somewhata jewelery spot. There were necklaces, rings and bracelets. Some earrings and other stuff which were completely uninteresting to Fraha. Why would one buy himself these things? To Fraha jewels were uncomfortable, often ugly, useless and of course expensive. The girl however didn't seem to share her idea since her eyes and hands were on a necklace, a pretty one she had to admit.

To not seem a stalker Fraha came closer to her and picked up a random silver ring with some incisions on it. The sudden voice of the merchant slightly frightened her at the beginning but then made her giggle. She was curious about the reaction of her "leader". Would she react badly to such a price? Or maybe some joy would rise up on her face?

No, the reaction was the same Fraha would give. The girl simply turned away after a polite decline. Fraha quickly put the ring where she found it and did the same after smiling gently to the merchant as their eyes shortly met. When her face was out of his sight she giggled again because of the sparkle of hope mixed with happiness in his eyes when he saw her with the ring.
But that wasn't important, now Fraha had a way to talk to the girl. Normally she wouldn't but Fraha was naturally attracted to those who seem like her. Quickly running up to the girl Fraha said jokily
"One could feed himself for over a week with five Goldens could he? heh".

[Val'pold Aurelius]

Val'pold had finally gotten some time off duty so he had taken off his armor and doned the leather pants and cotton shirt that was his norm outside of work. He still wore his sword at his waist thought. A Squire and a Knight were never off duty. He desended to the Great Bazaar this day. He noticed the overcast sky, and wished for greater lifht as he traveled through the city.

His large body made its way through the city rather quickly thanks to his long legs. He soon found himself in the crampt quarters of the city were the bussel of every day life occured around him. He looked around and noticed two woman at the booth of a jewler merchant. He never really saw the point of it, just a waist of money to his pratical mind.

He nodded his head as he looked at them both shake there heads and leave. He saw that they were heading in his direction one chasing the other. He nodded his own head in approval, his brown hair needing a trim and curling a bit at the ends. He walked over and join the woman. "I apolgoies for intruding upon you, but I have to express my admiration for your practicallity." He said in a crisp voice, pleasent, but used to buisness.

[Tessa Poe]

Tessa glanced to the side as a voice echoed her own thoughts on the price of the necklace and she nodded politely as she came to a halt, shooing away a merchant trying to sell her a pan of all things who’s stall she’d stopped in front of. She had to wonder just why someone wanted to talk to her of all people in the Bazaar. Maybe it was some kind of cunning sales pitch? You got all sorts of attempts to separate you from your Mizas round here, her first experience with the place had proved that. The possible merchant in disguise was smiling, which was always nice to see even if it was being motivated by the chance to make a profit. There was a delicate grace to her, both in her movements and her features, in fact she was fairly sure she'd been stood next to her while she was declining the pendant. No, not fairly sure, she was positive of it, it was hard to forget someone like this stranger. Her tanned skin and dark hair stood out, as did her dress. She obviously wasn't from these parts originally, but the more the merrier. Tessa had always found that people who'd not lived in the city all that long tended to be friendlier. It was as if the city itself and the weight of it ground people down a bit, left them... brusquer, more prone to irritation. Those were thoughts for another time though, a time when she wasn't leaving a stranger waiting for an answer from her.

Given that the merchant hadn't reacted himself it wasn't too much of a leap to guess that the smiling girl wasn't some sort of stealth merchant, there'd have been protests or something from the first merchant if that were the case. Tessa finally smiled in return, nodding in agreement with the girl's words as she decided she wasn't going to try and sell her anything. She wasn't quite sure what the girl expected though, but a reply of some sort was warranted certainly. "Longer if you're careful, and you get lucky out in the forest." There, nice and non-committal; friendly without inviting further comment. She stepped forwards, about to set off again and put the stranger from her mind so she could get on with her shopping when someone else approached her, complimenting her on her practicality of all things. Gods, was everyone obsessed with her shopping habits today!? It wasn’t as if she was doing anything different to the hundred others within fifty paces of her was it? Why couldn't they go and and bother one of those people? This was all just wasting time, keeping her within the bounds of the Bazaar and its noise and heat. The crowds were starting to build and if she didn't get her shopping done quickly she could be stuck in here for hours if not longer. Still, she couldn’t be rude; you always had to be polite, especially when the person you were talking to seemed as well-mannered as this fresh stranger.

She stopped and turned, eyes flicking up and down him. He was a little taller than her, and solidly built too as far as she could tell. He was armed too, but then that wasn’t exactly uncommon was it? It was only sensible to carry something to defend yourself with as she well knew. “Ummmm…. thank you Sir?” There was no keeping the look of confusion from her face, nor the sound of it from her voice as she replied simply to his rather odd statement. She tried to think of something else to say but came up entirely blank, the fact that she could feel the back of her tunic clinging to her skin, damp as it was with sweat, wasn’t helping with that in the least. She shifted her pack uncomfortably, her head turning slightly from one stranger to the other, trying to figure out what either of them wanted from her.

[Fraha]

oh crabs, how do I delete this?

[Fraha]

The woman reacted to Fraha's intrusion after a little, her talk was short and her words were true but left Fraha without anything to say next. In that moment a man jumped in the conversation, taller than Fraha and the other girl he complimented them for their shopping habits. Fraha watched closely as she turned along with Tessa. Something in the eyes of the man frightened her, they were still, blue yet somewhat cold. Fraha looked down to avoid showing it and smiled politely without saying anything. Noticing that he was armed made some questions pop to her mind. But then Tessa spoke, somewhat hesitant. Fraha knew that tone, it would be quite the same way she would reply, probably. Realizing that this may stress her since she wanted to shop in peace Fraha felt in overmuch. It wasn't a good feeling yet it wasn't her fault right? Fraha was sure it wasn't so she looked at the man in the eyes and noticed his firm smile. *Creepy* thought she. It wasn't her fault, she knew judging people wasn't right, then again she had her own reasons to be carefull. Turning to the girl she decided to drag themselfs away from him. "Juliet, we're late renember?" She said confidently, as if her name was really Juliet. To prevent her not realizing she gently took her wrist and looked at her in the eyes while saying it trying her best to, somehow, convince her to act. She hoped that Tessa would follow while she slowly started to move a step towards the opposite side of the man, ready to get lost in the crowd.

[Tessa Poe]

Wait, who was Juliet? Did the girl mean her? If she did, why was she calling her Juliet? That wasn’t her name… so who in the Hells was Juliet!? Tessa flicked a glance over her shoulder, wondering if the girl was talking to someone else behind her but there was no-one there, well aside from a couple at the jewellery stall they’d just left. It couldn’t be one of them that she was talking to since… well they were obviously together, what with their arms linked and everything. Maybe the girl thought she recognised her, or knew her? Was that it? Tessa's eyes met the girl's as she looked back again, flicking them down at the light touch of her hand encircling her wrist. She really had no idea what was going on and it showed. She frowned slightly, trying to figure out what the girl’s game was, she couldn’t be a thief... that was suicide in Syliras, the knights would catch you eventually… when did this all become so complicated? She only wanted some provisions and a nightshirt, it wasn't something that was supposed to be hard to manage. She was just about to ask what the girl was thinking, or what she thought she was doing, or both, when she started to move away, leading Tessa by the hand and in her state of confusion she found herself following on away from the man and his odd concern with her shopping habits. The growing crowd that was wandering through the bazaar soon surrounded them and Tessa shrank into herself a little, trying to make herself as small as possible. She was still catching the odd elbow as they made their way and she’d lost count of the number of times someone had stepped on her foot or grazed the tip of their boot down her heel. This... was not exactly what she'd had in mind when she'd realised she had to pick some supplies up. Finally enough was enough and she stopped in the middle of one of the many aisles between stalls, feeling someone bump into her and send her another couple of steps forwards. An irritated squawking noise came from behind her and she turned, her lips pulled into some sort of snarl and the woman behind her obviously thought better of saying anything as she turned and walked away. This was not a good day. She was stuck in the crowds, her feet hurt, she was sure she’d have a couple of bruises, it was getting warmer and she still had no idea what was going on. It was getting to the point where she just felt like screaming ‘til it all went away. She screwed her eyes shut and took a deep breath, taking a step to one side as yet another elbow caught her in the ribs. Hopefully she’d be safer from that at least closer in to the stalls. In through the nose and out through the mouth, in and out… just forget everything else and… Tessa kept her breathing going for a couple of moments, she knew she was getting wound up and if she wasn’t careful she’d end up taking it out on complete strangers… who’d think she was mad, or worse… and if they thought that they might call for the knights and then… Forget everything else, just breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. After a time that was probably a little too long for comfort for the girl Tessa opened her eyes and looked over at her, the irritation quite gone from her face now. “Ummmm… hi there, I’m not Juliet you know, my name’s Tessa?” It wasn’t the best of starts to a conversation, but she was going to have to find out what this girl wanted with her, and what she’d been thinking. She’d only worry it otherwise. Wait, did she still have her purse? Tessa reached round behind herself, trying to make it look like she was scratching an itch, or maybe pulling her sweat-damped tunic away from her back while her fingers felt at the pockets sewn into her coat and found the reassuring weight of her purse still in place. Well, that was good news, at least the girl hadn’t been trying to lift it from her then. “So… why did you call me Juliet? I mean, it’s…” She found herself lost for words as she trailed off, it was an odd question to have to ask someone after all. Maybe it’d be better to hear her name first and then she could ask about it all?

[Fraha]

Tessa stopped suddenly, Fraha had noted her hesitation shortly before. It was wierd to her that she apearently didn't connect her trick. Slowly dragging her thru the crowd she noticed the girls difficulties with the onther people. She probably wasn't used to a crowd. As she spoke Fraha checked around wheter the guy followed them or not. "I don't know is it Tessa?" said she playfully "Why I called you so? Well I didn't know your name right? Actually you could follow the act, my name is Fraha, nice to meet you, are you new in this town? It seems you are" Spoke Fraha quickly while taking Tessa's left hand between hers and shaking them. This girl was so curious, she seemed almost naive in her confusion. "Sorry I bothered you, but unless you wanted to spend more time with that guy I had to come up with something right?" smiled Fraha. It was getting crowdy, more than usuall, and it was indeed hot inside the walls and the intence contact between people sure wasn't making it better. Lucky for Fraha she could support heat greatly due to her race so she didn't bother that much. Still her new friend seemed quite affected by it. "When you move in the crowds you have to be arrogant, you know take your space, so others won't have the chance to tackle you or stomp you, i'm quite carefull about it" said Fraha showing that she wore sandals.

[Tessa Poe]

It was more instinct than anything else that prompted Tessa to shake the girl’s hand, still slightly lost in her thoughts and her attempts to ignore the swirling crowds making their way through the bazaar as she was. She really was confused now, it wasn’t Fraha’s trick that had left her in that state though, it was more the fact that she thought she needed the trick in the first place. It wasn’t like either of them had to talk to the possibly overly curious man from before, in fact she’d been on the point of walking away with a polite farewell when Fraha had pulled her away. She frowned slightly as she stepped in tighter to the booth, the crowds passing by more easily now as she tried to get her thoughts in order and actually say something. “Sorry… I’m not one for crowds, they make me a little slow on the uptake and all, still nice to meet you Fraha.” She kept it simple, it was best to be polite. Fraha obviously thought she’d done her a favour and it might get awkward if she wasn’t, well, polite. She still couldn’t quite figure out what exactly Fraha was after, she wasn’t a merchant, or a thief as far as she could tell... did that mean she just wanted some company or something? Well that was fine, possibly, so long as she was willing to keep up. With that Tessa gave her a nod and pushed off away from the stall heading towards the stairs that’d get her out of this humid, crowded oversized cellar and into the hopefully less crowded bits. She really did need to see the open sky overhead again soon or she’d start going mad. She had no idea if Fraha was following her, but given that she seemed to want to talk she guessed she was. “I’ve been around for a little while… I just… don’t particularly like it here, I don’t spend much time in the city, the noise, the heat, the crowds... mostly though it’s the roof, like it’s sitting over you and pinning you down, trapping you… sorry, ummm.. I should thank you though, for the thought if nothing else.” Now if Fraha wasn’t following her she’d probably look like a lunatic to anyone around her, seeing as she was talking to herself, and if she was following her she’d probably end up looking like a lunatic to just her. So either way you’ll end up looking like a madwoman… great Tessa, just great. She pushed her way forwards, slipping between the gaps people left rather than forcing it the way Fraha had recommended, maybe she should try that though? She really was getting fed up of being accidentally caught by bits of people. On the plus side though she’d just spotted a what looked like a tailours, and right now she didn’t care how much a night shirt would cost her she was going to buy it. The faster she did that the fast she’d be out of here. She didn’t even bother speaking to the man at the stall, she simply pointed at a blueish shirt that looked like it’d be long enough for her to sleep in and handed over the three silver he asked for. She took the little wrapped bundle he handed over in return and set off again, roughly aiming for the far wall that seemed to be getting further and further away with every step she took. Once she got to the wall she could find the stairs, and then she’d be out of here and away from the crowds that made her skin crawl as much as they did. Ledger-3sm for Long Nightshirt