Closed [The Great Bazaar] Ribbons & Bows (Elann)

[Nevin Margaitis]

The Great Bazaar
42nd of Summer, 515 AV

Livi paused at the first shopkeeper’s table. There were many decorative items on the table, but what really drew her in was the mirror. There was nothing like it in her small apartment and she would have loved to have it if she could afford it. She picked it up from where it rested, and turned it over in her hand. It was solid and there wasn’t a single scratch on the glass. She twisted her neck to get a better view of the back of her head.

She’d done her own haircut without the aid of a mirror and the result looked choppy, but at least it was short. No one at the bazaar would have guessed her secret by looking at her. The shopkeeper with the ruddy complexion was more likely to have his sex called into question than she was. Besides, the citadel was packed with people of every shape and size. No one paid her any attention as long as she didn’t stick out. Even now, the shopkeeper was too busy waiting on other customers to notice her. She could have walked off with the mirror if she wanted to.

With one more wistful look, she placed it down carefully right back where she’d picked it up. If she had any mizas left over when she was done getting what she came for, she might be back for it later. She mentally added the mirror to her wish list and stepped away from the table, blending into the crowd, which ebbed and flowed like the tide.

She lost track of time as she browsed a multitude of other tables, searching for something special. Since she didn’t have anything else planned for today, she could afford to take her time and hunt down a good deal, so that the small amount of mizas in her pocket might go farther.

Another table caught her eye at the end of the row. There were bolts of silk layered on top of the table. She stopped again and reached out to run her fingers over the light blue one. The fabric was amazing and she would have loved to make something out of it, but she feared the material would cling in the wrong places. She needed something sturdier to hide the bulk of her chest, but she still wanted something nice because her father was coming to visit. His visits had become more and more rare. Everything would have to be perfect. He was the only one she knew who worried about his clothes more than she did.

“How much for this one?” she called out to the woman manning the table. It didn’t hurt to check the price to see what she was up against today.

[Elann]

Elann watched with a longing look toward Livi as she observed the mirror. It was one she had been eying now for going on a week. She had not had a mirror yet and had resulted in either hiding her hair, oiling it and brushing it, or using some form of glass or water to get an obscured view of it. For that reason her own hair was not the most perfect, but then again there were those who in the city never spent their lives looking into a mirror. Now that Livi's hands where upon it, she hesitated at the edge of the woman's shop.

In Elann's hands was a medium sized wicker basket, designed to carry whatever she deemed to buy today. Out of all the things that may have ended up in the container, the mirror was the only one planned. As Livi lifted it up to look into it, Elann attempted conceal her interest and began to look innocently at something else; picking at it as if she was interested in buying it. She didn't want her reflection to be seen and find herself staring at some boy like a strange person.

The young man seemed to be quite interested in it and even had a wistful look upon putting it down. She considered this as she repeatedly would glance at him to see what he was going to do with the mirror. He seemed almost sad to part with it and Elann felt compassion for him. He probably didn't have any money. While she was not rich by any means she considered what it would mean to sacrifice her own desires and selfishness for this ones.

Her mind raced back to Morian's book and recalled that Yahal saw favor upon such acts. When Livi disappointingly left the mirror, Elann proceeded to snatch it up and put it into her basket. She quickly paid for it, knowing the price by heart, and with a little run, she did her best to catch up to the young man. Quite a bit of crowd and time had passed and she still could not find him. It was no wonder, the bazaar was a frantically busy and loud place. She was just about to give up when at the end of a row where people congregated less, she saw the man. He was holding fabric and she recalled buying from the shop not even two weeks earlier.

The shopkeep was a man of middle age and worked it with his wife. Them and their many daughters were helping their father by stitching and weaving fabrics in the back. They even seemed to hit on Garland a little bit when she was last here.

Turning out of the flowing weave and stream of people, she headed down toward the table that Livi stood near and slightly held the basket more abreast so as to conceal what she carried inside. Perhaps she wanted to hear this one's voice, to see if he sounded like someone in need. Maybe she was wrong in her assumptions and the man was very proud and rich. Maybe the mirror she bought considerately was something he didn't want. After the price for the garment was quoted, she moved nearer the table and smiled briefly and nervously at the woman behind the counter, who no doubt had already forgotten the Benshiran. Her shining eyes however struck a chord and the woman smiled and said a greeting to her, "Welcome back".

With a little nod Elann she quietly said, "Thank you."

The frumpy garments of Elann were a bit worn, but showed limited stitch work to them, indicating they were repaired at one point. The newer threads also indicated that it was likely more recent than a long time ago. While her garments were clean, pressed, and very neat, they still bore signs of age and almost a hue from clothing that has been touched too much by the sun. She after all was Benshiran.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Nevin Margaitis]

“30 miza,” the woman quoted her.

Livi’s eyes widened. “Your sister told the last customer 28!”

“No she didn’t.”

“She did. I heard her from the other table.” Livi pointed in the direction of the table she’d come from. The one with the mirror on it.

“You heard her from all the way over there?” The woman’s glare didn’t waver. She shook her head. “There was no girl before you. You think I’m petching stupid? Last time you were here you tried to do the same thing.” She pointed a long finger at Livi. “I remember you.”

Livi took step back from the table and met the woman’s accusing finger with a stare of her own. “It wasn’t me you think you saw. You’re making that up so I keep my mouth shut about how you’re ripping everyone off.” At least that part was true.

The woman’s face reddened, but before she could answer, her father, the one who owned the stall came over and put his hand on her shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“He’s trying to say we’re cheating him, when it’s obvious who’s trying to cheat who. He’s playing games again.”

The man looked Livi up and down. “If you’re not going to buy anything, I suggest you move on. We don’t want any trouble at this table.”

It was clear that Livi wasn’t going to get what she wanted and trouble was the last thing she needed. There were knights everywhere. She couldn’t stand out. Not like this. Some of the people at the bazaar didn’t like to haggle and they didn’t like it when she tried to. A 5 miza discount wasn’t worth it.

She shook her head. “Never mind. I don’t need it anyway,” she said as she turned around, only to see a familiar face in the crowd. Seeing Elann was the perfect excuse to hurry away. She worked with Livi at the Elegant Weave, but customers were always her number one priority so until now, she hadn’t had a reason to get know her better.

The first thing she noticed was the basket Elann carried. It looked sturdy enough to handle a large load. It was nice, but a miza-pincher like Livi would be sick to her stomach filling it. Judging by the bulk of whatever Elann had in there, she probably spent most of her pay already. Livi couldn’t do the same. To make things worse, Elann was a young girl shopping alone at a busy market. Livi’s thick brow lifted. What was that girl thinking? Anyone could see how skinny she was and take her for an easy mark.

Though she hardly knew the girl and leaving should have been a high priority, she didn’t want to leave Elann without an escort. It made her feel like the girl was a target. She had no choice but to offer her a hand, even if it meant lingering where she shouldn’t be. Another man might not do the same.

She frowned, peering past the Elann’s slight shoulders, into the throng of people to be sure there was no one else with her. Seeing none, she extended her hand. “Looks like it’s a good thing we ran into each other. I can help you with that if you want.”

[Elann]

As Nevin Margaitis turned her way she was curious as to what he was arguing about. Upon seeing her, she was offered help in holding her basket. At first she held it closer to herself and thought it would be better later to let him see it as a surprise. She didn’t exactly have anything to cover the mirror from him though so with a shy response she said, “Hi Nevin. I can’t believe it’s you.”

The response to his inquiry to hold her basket probably seemed a bit strange so she quickly added, “I saw you a while ago....” she gestured vaguely in the direction where she thought the mirror was originally bought came from. “Though I didn’t know it was you and I uhh...well” she was kind of nervous about something but she reached into the basket and pulled the mirror out for him to see. “I bought this for you?”

She wasn’t sure if he would like it. It was not exactly a normal gift for a man. If she hadn’t have noticed him looking into it so earnestly she would have never bought it for him and would have taken it for herself. Elann looked curiously for Nevin’s reaction upon seeing the mirror.

The mirror was actually quite beautiful, and while not overly ornate or rich, it served its purpose with class. Her weavers fingers held it very tightly and would not let it fall. He could now see that there was nothing in her basket except it as she lowered its lip for him to see.

"Do you like it? or No?" She didn't think she could feel more awkward.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Nevin Margaitis]

Livi blinked. The mirror she’d been looking at earlier was now in Elann’s hands. A curious feeling crept into her lungs and stole her breath. She found it difficult to speak while looking at it so she pulled her gaze away and forced herself to look at Elann’s face instead.

There was clearly a look of concern in her eyes. She seemed to be unsure of what she’d done and Livi was also unsure of why Elann would have bought something for her. Had Elann been following her? It confused her to say the least, but it was the other feelings drowning out her senses that made it hard for her speak right now. She couldn’t even reach out to touch Elann and offer her comfort with that mirror in the way.

She’d been kidding herself about that mirror and now face-to-face with it, she knew that. Wanting it had been about way more than vanity. There was a reason that her apartment was decorated so sparsely, without a single mirror in it. It wasn’t just about the mizas.

She swallowed hard, trying to find a way to let Elann know what she was thinking, but it was impossible to say anything. She drug her arms through the air like she suddenly had the weight of a hundred stones on them and she pushed the basket away from her, surprised she had even that little bit of strength.

Her body trembled as she mouthed the word, “No.” She sounded like a mouse that had been stomped on. It was hard to form words with no air in her chest. “Keep it. You bought it. It’s yours.” She swiped away the sweat beading on her brow. Offering to help Elann had been a mistake even worse than she could have imagined.

[Elann]

As concern crept over the eyes of her companion, confusion crept over hers. She tried to put on a smile but the man’s actions befuddled her. His thin bony hands crept up slowly toward the basket and he pushed it toward her gently, though it seemed like a great act for him. She swore that it was like as if a poor child never ate a sweet candy and for the first time tasted its goodness, only rejected to eat the rest of it because he knew he could never have it again.

Who knew what went through Nevin’s mind? His words were trembled out, like the squeaks of metal on metal, like that of a mouse. She considered pushing the matter, and while she could see Nevin’s face and hear his words, she didn’t just walk around for that whole time re-looking for him just to have him say no. After all, it seemed blatantly obvious he wanted it. It was either that or he feared it, though that didn’t make any sense to her, so with a shake of her head she said in typical Benshiran stubbornness.

“No...now I bought this for you. You will have it” she asserted, though not fully understanding how forceful her words sounded. She was strong boned, much more so than Nevin was and in this moment she could almost come off as a big sister forcing down Nevin to take medicine or something; yet while doing so, she had a poisonous kindness to her. She was sweet, loving, and was doing this without selfishness.

“Tell me why no?” her accent betraying her a little, “You stared into it so long. It is for you.” she moved the basket closer to him.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Nevin Margaitis]

Elann asked for more than she was able to share. It seemed the things in Livi’s past weren’t buried as deeply as she'd been leading herself to believe. The fact that her father was coming for a visit had her shaken. It was true that she’d wanted the mirror when she first saw it, but the mirror was a reminder of nightmares she wished would end. Elann's prodding wouldn't bend her.

Stubborn lines etched the sides of the girl's mouth. Even her posture had taken on a defiant stance. There didn’t seem to be any getting past her will. Her desire to give Livi this gift was genuine even if she didn't understand where it was coming from.

Despite the fact that it made her cringe to think about waking up to her own reflection staring back at her in the middle of the night, it might have been better that she took it. It would make her co-worker happy and hopefully keep her from prying into the things Livi was desperate to hide. As soon as someone started to dig around in her past, it was only a matter of time until who she was in the present came to light. She’d have to leave her precious city and that was a thought more terrible than holding onto the mirror.

Reluctantly, she smiled. “No. It’s nothing.” She took a deep breath and forced herself to look into the young girl’s eyes. “I’m sorry if I offended you. It’s just that it’s such an expensive gift. Usually it’s the man who buys those things for the woman. It caught me off guard. I’ll take the mirror. Thank you for buying it for me. Your interest in me is flattering. I’ll have to take you out sometime to repay you for it.” She flashed Elann the most charming smile she could muster, hoping she wouldn’t see through it.

[Elann]

As Nevin slowly smiled reluctantly, Elann calmed a bit, and her concerned eyebrows lowered. Nevin took in a deep breath and Elann watched him now with curiosity and an expectant grin to hear what he had to say. Nevin proceeded to look into her eyes and they were meant with merriment.

The man apologized if he offended her and she shook her head no, yet continued to listen. It seemed clear that his feelings were more out of shock than actually not wanting the mirror. “Its okay Nevin,” Elann said to the man before her. “I don’t want anything in return. Its yours. You can use it, stick it in a closet, or do whatever you want with it.” She seemed to accept the smile, not thinking that anyone would lie to her. Perhaps she was naive, but then again she was not even a season old in this city, and before that she was far from any harm or maliciousness.

She took it out of the basket for him and let him hold it. Elann then looped her wool covered arms through the basket’s loop so that she could hold it better. “Were you working on a project outside of work? You do some fine work...I'm impressed really. I can just tie the knots” she looked to the stand where she was trying to previously buy some fabric. Elann was actually pretty quick at tying knots. She could do about ten thousand knots a day as she was competent at it. There were those who could even do much more than her and knew how to tie them better.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Nevin Margaitis]

The weaver surprised her. Most women gave into her while she donned Nevin’s persona. None had ever stood their ground and refused her help and then she went on to further behave in a way that baffled her, by giving a man a gift, for no reason. How strange this girl was. It must have had something to do with her thick accent.

However, with the matter of the mirror seemingly closed, the budding tailor could bask in Elann’s praise. Anyone who complimented her workmanship couldn’t be all bad. Her craft meant a lot to her. The Weave was her safe haven. When she was there, she could get lost in her stitching and never once feel the need to look over her shoulder. Her skills were minimal at best, but she loved what she did.

She grasped the mirror and held it down low, out of her field of view. Though its weight was still heavy in her hand, she could ignore it. It made her happy to have a distraction. She hadn’t gotten to see much of Elann’s work but could easily have spent the afternoon watching her weave. Learning new knots and stitches was always fun. She was even dreaming up patterns of her own, though few had made their way onto actual paper.

“I’m working on a personal project actually. I need a new shirt.” She pulled at her sleeve, showing Elann the worn spot by the hem. “I was thinking something different, but silk’s probably going a little far.” She chewed her lip while considering the options. Her white cotton shirt had seen far better days. It had done her well until now and it would still make a decent work shirt, but it would never pass her father’s high standards. “I’m thinking something linen, but it has to be of the best quality I can afford.”

She liked what Elann was wearing, even if it wasn’t much. It looked like a labor of love. Obviously, what she wore mattered to her. It was something Livi could relate to. She gave her a thoughtful look. “Do you have any suggestions?” The girl’s attire made her think. “Maybe we could look for something together. We have similar tastes. What did you come here looking for?”

[Elann]

Elann had gotten into a pattern long ago when a child doing it for the first time, you come up with a little song and you sing it in your head. That song could help you weave even in the most complicated of times. It was honestly why she sang so much and had an okay voice. When no-one was around, often times she would be singing her song vocally. Usually at work though the most anyone would hear out of her besides talking about various things, was a humming noise. It was rare and very quiet when it was heard however.

As Nevin revealed the spot on his shirt that was frayed she looked up at it with investigating eyes. She sneered at the horrible fraying, knowing the doom that comes with age to fabrics; especially nice ones in rough situations. Her own poor clothing had faded a bit since leaving, but she had recently bought not only some new clothes, but new fabric as well.

Being that they were still relatively close to the stall where she was nearly kicked out from, Elann just went back to it. “Well if you want, I have some bolts of cloth in my home. I have some that is as fine as this.” She moved back to the section of fabric and pointed to some very nice pricy fabric. “Also some like this” , she said as she held up some very fine wool, “And some like this” she held up a common bolt of linen.”I have at least a few yards of each. Plus I was going to buy some more today. I was thinking something like this.” she held up a nice smooth grey color and the fabric was nice of good quality. “What do you think?”

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts