In the Market for Tea
Log Info
- Title: In the Market for Tea
- Emitter: Ashes
- Characters: Un'eth, Aryia, Jinks, Murder
- Place: A07: Lower Alexandria Market District 9
- Time: Sunday, September 26, 2021, 2:31 PM
- Summary: It's Market day in the Lower Market, and several departing merchants are having a 'sail sale'. Un'eth is in town, purchasing things that are not easily obtained in Mictlan. Jinks is present, securing tea for a friend. Aryia is looking around, shopping for cloth. The mul'niessa and ebonscale Sith'Makar encounter each other at a fabric store. Meanwhile, Lars and Firestarter are shopping for weapons and the orange hobgobling is on the touchy side, suggesting she try the weapons out on Lars. He quickly sings a song to charm and calm her down, accompanied unexpectedly by Jinks. The gnome returns to his purchase only to find a very lumpy looking Sith'Makar in a long-coat in front of him. He lifts up the hem, discovering three kobolds in disguise, who immediately run away - with his box of tea. Frustrated, he buys a second box, then departs before more lizards steal from him. Aryia questions Lars and 'Star about romantic places, 'Star suggests locations where fights occur. Lars is more romantic, suggesting a good spot on the Tornmawr bridge, or an Airship ride of the city. Looking for one's house or recognizeable streets is always fun. Murder buys some tea, convinces Aryia to do the same, and invites her over to her place for an exclusive dinner. An offer the Mul'niessa is surprised by.
-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A07: Lower Alexandria Market District *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-
Just west of the Northern Highbridge and east of the arena, commerce blooms. Noisy and bustling, most anything may be purchased here for a price. Vendors from all cultures sell their wares from exotically colored carts, and the smells of different nations and far-off city-states mix with local ones from Alexandria and its riverbanks.
For all its commerce, visitors are advised to keep hold of their purses. Even the merchants possess a certain, cunning look. Most are positioned at carts or stalls as opposed to a formal storefront, with trade here being mobile, and visiting from all parts of the world.
Though the quality of goods suffers here compared to Upper Alexandria, the options are more diverse. Too, the oversight of the Watch is slightly less, and during times events are held at the Arena, chaos abounds. After dark, the square becomes a hangout for bards and other entrepreneurs whose business is best conducted by night; the shadows at the edges of the square often contain furtive figures engaging in their own brand of business.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Un'eth 6'2" 275 Lb Sith-Makar Female An ebon-scaled female Sith-makar. Aryia 4'8" 110 Lb Shadow Elf Female A heavily scarred mul with a resolved look about her. Jinks 3'4" 39 Lb Gnome Male A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry. Murder 3'6" 40 Lb Goblin Female A goblin woman in studded leather. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the NPCs =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ashes 5'11" 177 Lb Hobgoblin Female A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
This Eliday's Market is busier than usual, several ships having decided the next morn would be a good time to depart, causing their merchant passengers to have on last ditch 'sail sale' to divest themselves of wares.
Jewelry, weapons, poisons, fabrics from many ports are on display.
Over by one of the weapon wagons is an odd couple, a flamboyant looking male human, and a fiery female hobgoblin, with the hob looking easily the larger and more dangerous of the two.
The man is examining a gauntlet, fitting it to his hand, "I'm not sure, 'Star, this doesn't feel right, it's a little tight."
"Fits me just fine. Want me to punch you with it, see if it loosens up?" The orange hob suggests.
Un'eth has minimal need for markets. Ea provides all that is truly required, and simply-fashioned tools or goods are just as effective as those from fine artisans. She is within the city with cause, however, and sees no reason to waste the comparatively rare opportunity. Luxury or warfare-related items are ignored completely, though she browses those things more a necessity.
A figure in a long grey skirt with a long-sleeved green shirt and a black shawl strolls through way through the square, a wide brimmed sun hat with a set of scarred ears poking through some holes in it atop their head. A permanent frown seemed to be affixed to their face as they strolled through. Apparently some mission in mind, but such one-track set skipped to a different track as they slowed to see all on sale.
... perhaps it would be best to just... take a moment. From everything. She stops upon some bolts of fabric on sail sale. Scarred fingers running a thumb along the weave.
"It might all be hot, leafy water to me but the difference is important to some people." Jinks has found a little soapbox and stands atop it, leaning over an assortment of tea-related goods. He plucks the lid off a small clay pot and sniffs at the contents, trying to stumble on some expertise that he most certainly lacks. The lid is replaced and he looks at the dried leaves further behind in the tea-making process, dangling as they are from long wooden dowels.
The gnome has faint red streaks in his hair and clothes fall somewhere in between ochre and mustard, paired with patterned scarves and drapes wraped about his torso and hips. Something a bit more relaxed for today.
"Ha ha," the man laughs awkwardly, patting the hobgoblin on her shoulder, "I know you're joking 'Star, but people will wonder what kind of relationship we have."
"A thundery one, where I strike like lightning, passionate one second, wanting to kill you the next Lars."
"I see, I see. It's getting time to renew your buffs, isn't it? You'd like that, right?" The man says, awkwardly and yet firmly.
"Yes Lars, of course. Buy the gauntlet. It can be your gift to me." 'Star says, then mutters quietly, "... for punching."
The fabric that the Mul'niessa examines is very nicely made, tightly woven with some metallic threads woven through it.
There are plenty of necessities as well.
And tea, of course. Tea and gnomes.
The ...couples' conversation is hardly discreet, and draws a glance from Un'eth after she purchases some candied bacon. Is such truly a necessity? When one faces down a swarm of demanding younglings, it most certainly is. Especially when one can return them to other tenders while they burn off the extra calories.
Her attention does not linger and she moves on, slowing near the array of fabrics. Those she examines are more heavy and possibly course; function over form. Winter is coming, and warmth is far more practical than being a well-dressed frozen corpse. The cloaked, hatted and sleeved one nearby is noted due to proximity.
Aryia tilts her head one way, then another. This is... some very strong fabric. She points to the bolt, tilts her head to the side, then rifles around in her bag and produces the coin for it, as well as for a couple of other bolts that stand out to her. Namely a blue one that matches the horizon sky.
She does glance to the couple that were going back and forth. A brow raising. A brawl in the middle of the day would be a change of pace. Unsure of it was good or bad, but a change for certain.
The hatted figure cranes their head up as the ebonscale draws near, a scarred mul'neissa with silver shades on. They give a simple nod, and flash a relatively common, "Peace on your nest," out of reflex with their hand. <Handspeech>
"Of course. Yes, fine. You are the 'expert.'" The rings on the gnomes fingers glitter and clack as he waves a hand over the goods and leans on that final word for emphasis. A mild wince has him gingerly touching at the space just under his sternum and straightening back up. "Something from the Islands of Jade, then, please. Tsang Lun region if you have it." He slides a hand beneath a draped bit of fabric and into a pouch, fingering around for the proper coins. "Oh-- and no funeral tea. If funeral tea is a thing. Something," he waves his opposite hand around, "upbeat."
This would all be so much easier if everyone cheered up with spirits.
Un'eth's head pans to the gestures, then tilts nearly ninety degrees to her left side. She peers intently for a moment, fabric forgotten, and then a realization is made. Her tail's sway halts as she responds with a low, ululating hiss deep in her throat before stepping back from the mul'niessa.
The man, Lars, slings his lute around and sings.
- "You love me, you really do.
- "No desire to punch me, that's true.
- "We're a happy couple, alike as one.
- "Out for a stroll, out for fun."
It's not that great of a song, nor a tune, but it seems to do the job. The fiery hobgoblin relaxes, her face isn't quite so much of a snarl, there's even a smile. She leans close, breathes, "I still want you to get the guantlet."
He grins awkwardly and plays a little harder.
The mul'neissa's shoulders sag a bit as the ebonscale briskly steps back, her pulling her sunhat lower down her head as she finishes buying her wares. A fist rubs a circle on her sternum. "Sorry."
She turns to leave, but only gets a step as a man breaks out into song. She's a bit bewildered. But... curious? At least it was a welcome distraction from getting hissed at. <Handspeech>
Jinks half-observes the distribution and parceling of the tea until the merchant's care and precision becomes tedious. Small spoons, scales, little boxes, wax paper, and twine are only interesting when... hm, when... no. No, probably never. He considers instead the two-and-a-half rhyming couplets (the nar isn't pulling her weight) and tilts his head.
- "And no shortage of eyes gave attention
- "to their public displays of affection."
The gnome finds his own meter, luteless and strumfree, and offers a wink to the musical tallman.
The tallman minstrel gives the gnome a thumbs up, appreciating the assist, grinning widely, and turns to his companion, "Okay Babe, a gauntlet for you and we find a nice punching bag that isn't me for you to loosen it up."
"Sounds lovely Lars," the hobgoblin purrs back at him, and a purchase is made. There is no need to 'bag' it, as the orange hobgoblin puts it on and flexes it ominously, "maybe we can get this one enchanted to be lightning."
"Sure thing 'Star, sure thing."
The pair drift off to another side of the market and more browsing.
Also browsing, but no where near this couple, is a rather lumpy looking Sith'Makar in a trenchcoat. They have lined up near Jinks, in line for some tea.
Un'eth watches the mul step away, warily. When that is interrupted, the ebonscale relocates herself to a different array of cloth entirely. Aryia is not ignored, but Un'eth's attention becomes more divided and reduced to intermittent glances between browsing.
Aryia watches the couple go back and forth, curious, with fresh eyes. The interaction was noted for... personal reasons. She glances to the blue cloth in hand. A bit emboldened after getting knocked down a peg from just trying to be polite, she goes to another stall. Jewelry, this time.
Turning back just in time to accept a box big enough it's best held in two hands, Jinks nods his thanks and lifts the lid. The lid squeaks closed and he twists a little metal latch, setting the whole thing into the folds of his drape. It's stylish and practical! Then the merchant quotes a price and the gnome chokes, nearly stumbling off the soapbox. "You've gone mad. Your smelly leaves have turned to poison and you've lost your mind for drinking them." He glances between the merchant, then to the sith in the longcoat. "Careful, here. He's lost his mind. Or are you a brigand?" The gnome turns back, digging out the box and half-extending it back. "You can't seriously expect that much. These things quite literally grow on trees." Bushes, the merchant explains. "Bushes, then. No shortage of those in the world."
It turns into a bit of aggressive haggling; Jinks trying to give the box back and making wild accusations. The merchant explaining the skilled farming process, import costs, preparation, and so on. Finally, he knocks a fifth of the cost off just to be free of the yellow-clad gnome. Jinks pays, hops off the box, and waves the mysterious sith forward. Pausing to put his purchase away once more.
GAME: Jinks rolls INT: (17)+INT: 17
Heeeeeeeeeey.... wait a minute. That's three kobolds! In a trenchcoat!
"Not brigandsss." The lumpy sith'makari hisses, "no..."
"I was talking about--" Jinks is stuffing the tea away and pauses, tilting his head to once side. He walks around the soapbox and behind the 'sith' with an unusually tiny head. He draws up the bottom of the longcoat and asks the bottom kobold. "So did you draw the short straw or lose a bet? to end up down there?"
"Takess turrnss." The bottom kobold hisses, peering back at Jinks and grabbing for the edge of the long-coat. It is perhaps male, hard to tell, the voice is high pitched.
"We are dissscovered!" The middle voice says, female. There's a flapping and slapping of tail."
"I will take three boxes, my fellow human." The 'sith' head says, slow to catch on, possibly male also.
"Flee!" "Ack!" "Oops" The tower of kobolds collapses and runs away in three different directions. The top one taking the coat, which flaps behind him along the cobblestones, the bottom one grabs the box of tea from Jinks. The middle one, who knows where she vanished. She prompted the collapse by jumping clear.
Aryia, from her position at the stall with a silver necklace in hand, glances over and spies Jinks and the hunched over sith-makar. She tilts her head one way, then another. Then, a light in the dark, she breaks into a grin and makes a breathy, raspy sort of laughing sound as she leans against the stall to keep her balance. "Haa... haaa hee...."
'What? Wait!' Jinks starts to sing, drawing his hands through the air until he finds the loose strands of the Weave. But the critters are already in the press of the crowd and blinding (or greasing) a bunch of hapless citizens always leads to painful conversations with the Watch. "That was a gift for a kindhearted tallman who doesn't deserve her tea being stolen! She is also very fast and punches things hard enough that they explode!" So he shouts instead, his hands cupped and his head tilted back so the words carry out about the crowd. The gnome has an impressive set of pipes on him. <draconic>
The kobolds have vanished to parts unknown. The Tea merchant looks at Jinks, with a 'well, are you going to pay for that expression', then says, "You gonna pay for that, or do I need to make a report to the guard?"
Lars and Firestarter appear to have vanished. No, wait, they're over there now, at a jewelry section looking over semi-precious stones that match the hobgoblin's orange hues.
Merchants continue to sing out their wares, "twelve and a half percent off! That's a steal! Come check out Jarg's Discount Rum! All of the kick, priced to go."
Finally getting herself under control from the silliness, Aryia straightens back up and purchases the simple silver necklace she had in hand. She blinks as the couple had ended up making her way right next to her. She fumbles for a bit, moving out of the way before she stops. A thought crosses her, one that makes her anxiety spike a bit, but she bites her tongue and pulls out her journal.
Scribble. Scribble scribble.
She turns back to the couple, bolts of cloth in one hand with her open journal in the other. With a sigh, she clears her throat and gives a little wave with her fingers. On the pages, it reads.
"Hello. Do you mind if I ask you two some questions?"
"What sort of teas do you have?", a small, scratchy voice asks the Tea merchant. The voice belongs to a small form, roughly three feet tall, cloaked fully in black, with a boar's skull as a mask and hat.
Jinks narrows his eyes at the merchant, lowering his hands slowly and shaking one finger. He climbs atop the soapboax once more and continues to squint. "You seem the type to be in cahoots with larcenous kobold gymnast trios. Maybe we should call the watch." His eyes narrow to solid, onyx-black slits of suspicion.
And then another voice interrupts their staring match. The gnome blinks and waves it off.
"Another box of the same and then I'll pay for both." He flares his fingers, makes a fist, and then rolls a flat-sided decagon of platinum out from thin air. He hops down and clears the way for the black-cloaked figure to make her inquiries.
"Funny, that's what I was thinking too." The Tea Merchant says, but then money comes out and he is a friend to all once more. Accepting payment he turns to the dark cloaked figure, "All sorts, black and green, energizing and sleep-inducing. Herbals with flower flavours, fruit flavours, and nut flavours."
He spreads his arm wide, "and to go with them, spoons and mixing bells, tea presses, tea pots, tea tins. Everything Tea-y."
"What?" The hobgoblin says, staring at the page. She can read, of course she can read. She's obviously not the charming one of the pair.
"Oh, a survey? I love surveys." The man says, smiling at Aryia, "this time of year is wonderful although I prefer spring. I do think that there should be more foreign merchants selling wares. I think the situation in Charn is tragic, isn't it always, if only our politicians would do something about it."
He grins, "Did I guess correctly? What were you going to ask if I have not?"
Beside him, the orange hobgoblin growls a little.
The hatted mul'neissa pauses as her journal returns back to her open hand to write in. She tilts her head to the side at the shot-in-the-dark answer, gives a hint of a smile, and she shakes her head. Scribble scribble scribble, show.
"No, I wanted to ask about you two. What about the other makes you like them? Sorry if it seems out of the blue, I'm just curious."
The two dark eyeholes of the boarskull begin to glow red, and the short being nods slowly. "Any oolong, or white tea? Any orange-flavoured teas?" The scratchy voice hmmmms. "What does a tea press do?"
The short figure eyes the Hobgobbos being 'interviewed' by the Mul. "You should ask if there's any money in replying. If your opinion is worth asking, you should get something for it.", the small one offers to the two Hobgoblins.
The fiery woman gives the man a light cuff on his shoulder, "See Lars? Should have asked for money."
"Ha ha, it's fine! I've got enough for you 'Star, don't worry." He rubs at his shoulder, "Well let's see. She compliments me in every way. She's tough, she's direct, she punches things and they stay down. She's a great wrestler. She's nobility, didn't you know? Orange is a very rare hobgoblin colour. She's important."
'Star grunts as the explanation is given, and doesn't add anything.
"Aw, c'mon 'Star, you like me because I'm charming and make you laugh."
"I like him because he's charming and he makes me laugh." The woman repeats, stuck in her angry mode.
"And... and?" The man asks, eagerly looking at her.
'Star sighs, "and you're a great leader, we've been adventuring together for over a year, I've made a lot of money and got great status at the Guild because of you, and you keep me out of jail."
Meanwhile, the Tea merchant attempts to land another sale, "Yes. I have Oolong, Oblivion Oolong, and some Orange Pekoke. The tea press lets you put the loose leaves in a carafe, and then after they have steeped, press them to the bottom."
"It only works with some. Others leak tanin if you leave the leaves in too long." He laughs, "Leave the leaves, little tea joke for you there."
"The tea press is for interrogating the tea." Jinks offers offhandedly, happy to be unhelpful as he waits for his order. He scans the crowds for signs of little draconic thieflings, flipping and catching the coin idly. The herky jerky movements of another cloaked figure draws his attention briefly-- but it turns out to just be some broken down brass golem issuing occasional blasts of steam into the air above.
The boarskull's eyes bore into first the Tea merchant, and then Jinks, as they offer their brand of humor. A few blinks go by, and then, "Oh. Jokes." A deep breath. "Ha. Hah. Hah." The laugh sounds obviously fake and forced. "Luckily you both seem to be employed, you'd be run out of town if you were practicing comedians." The wee person snorts.
"Orange pekoe isn't orange flavoured.", they offer, to the tea merchant. "But I would take some oolong and uh, a press."
The eyes turn to follow the path of the coin. "Did you know there was a very small chance that a flipped coin will land on its edge and not fall over?"
Aryia looks behind her, the well dressed mul'neissa blinking behind her shades. She frowns, shakes her head while mouthing "Can you not?", before she returns to the conversation at hand. It looks like she pays careful attention to the answers, her looking back and forth between their banter with a touch a smile.
She nods, writing a few words down that weren't anything of what they said before scribbling conversation once more in a new page. Scribble, present.
"Thank you. Last question. Is there anywhere in particular in the city you two like to go to?"
It's clear to the interviewees, now, that the mute woman is fishing for advice.
"Know-- knew?-- a tallman that could do it every-time. Tsura fellow. His game was he'd show you the trick with one of your own-- to make sure he wasn't using a trick coin-- and swap that with a tin junk disc when he handed it back to you." Jinks tilts his head when he responds to the skull-faced almost-as-small-as-him person. "He had a whole army of the little things on this sash he'd wear. Wonderful trick. Kept him nose-deep in the mustache wax he was so fond of..."
"The Ox Strength. The Colosseum." 'Star answers immediately.
Lars laughs awkwardly and rubs the back of his head, "I think she meant somewhere romantic. The South Tornmawr bridge is a great place to watch a sunset or a sunrise. If you are generous, the guards might let you up on one of the watch towers, this makes for an even more spectacular view."
"The Colosseum, the Ox Strength, that's more 'working'. I do ceremonies for some contests. Firestarter punches things. There's a fight in the Ox Strength almost every night, she really enjoys those."
The hobgoblin's gauntlet creaks, her knuckles crack.
Lars continues, "You can also get Airship rides, from the Air station. Glide around, look down on people, see the streets you walk every day, try to spot your house."
The man rambles on, there are more places to his list. 'Star looks bored.
The Tea Merchant says, "Ah, right you are, well let me package up those things for you. There is one which has dried orange wisk." He puts the press and a box of tea into a sack and hands it to the woman in the boarskull.
"Oh, you want help?", the boar-skull wearing person wonders of Aryia. "If you want restaurant reviews, I can offer a few. For a price." There's a scratchy little snicker before she glances to Jinks. Flames lick at the edges of the boar's jaw as the eyes glow more brightly. "Hmm, Tsuran and followers of Tarien know all the good tricks." There's a little giggle before they continue. "I bet you know a few, hmm?"
"Oh?", she says to the Tea merchant. "I would take some of that tea then, also."
Jinks makes sure he's squared up with the merchant and secures the purchase, assuming the kobolds have quit the market after being discovered. "Gods, no. I've no talent for grift or perfidy. Straight and narrow; law and order."
Aryia blinks as the man gives a long list, her going back a page and scribbling down all that was said. While 'Star's ideas were... interesting, they were a bit aggressive in terms of what she was looking for. And Lars's seemed to be quite on point. The airship one seemed to spark a particular interest. These ideas were fantastic, and her frame was easing with each pen stroke.
While she's writing, she pays the short one no mind, except for a flash of a few hand gestures. "Unless that price is free, I don't want it." <Handspeech>
"Lars I want to go and hit something." 'Star tugs at the man's arm. She doesn't look at Aryia, at first, but then sizes her up properly. "Hmmm..."
"Ah that's the dinner bell! We should swing by the Ox Strength before she decides to practice on me. I hope those suggestions help." Lars waves happily at Aryia, taking 'Star's arm and starting to move away.
The Tea Merchant pockets Jinks' coins, then adds another box of tea to the bag he's preparing for Murder. "here you go, enjoy the brewing."
He leans forward, "if you can find some fresh milk, heat it to just under boiling so it doesn't scorch, you can put the tea leaves in that, and it becomes extra rich."
The boarhead cants slightly at Jinks as he professes to be on the straight and narrow. There's a snort and then a shrug as the Gnome makes his way through the crowds.
The eyes return to peer at Aryia. "You wouldn't even trade information for information?", they wonder of Aryia.
"Oh?", she says to the Tea merchant. "I will try that, then. How much for it all?" A wee pouch is pulled from under the black cloak, a green hand rummaging for the right coins.
'Star just sees a mul'neissa woman all dressed up for a daily stroll. Nothing more. The hat lifts up a bit, and milky eyes peer from over the shades. Oh. She's scarred to hell and back. Those hands? Calloused and rough. And that stare looks...
Like something that'd punch back.
She gives a wave to the couple as they head off, her satisfied with her findings as she addresses the boarhead more head on, not paying Jinks any mind. "Depends on what information you want," she replies. Since last time they talked, she looks more tired, and a bit 'done with it'. <Handspeech>
The tea merchant offers a price, which is in silvers but does not reach a gold, "Very reasonable! You'd have to spend twice that much at two different places to get everything that's in the bag."
He looks around for prospective new customers, but keeps his attention on the woman in the skull.
"Interested in tea, ma'am?" He asks Aryia as she moves withing range.
The skull's pulled free, and Murder giggles brightly at Aryia. "I don't know. I'd have to think about that. Uhm, rough day in the colosseum?"
She pauses to drop the requested silvers into the man's hand, and then possessively snatches the bag. "Thanks, I'll come back to let you know if it suits me to a T." Her grin is toothy.
Aryia blankly stares for a long moment before finally answering. "... rough days in general," she motions languidly before sighing. Easing some as the skull is pulled free. "I'll take restaurant suggestions. Good to see you." <Handspeech>
She turns to regard the merchant, her tilting her head to the side. She shrugs and gives a nod, stepping forward to see what they had. A quick scribble in her notebook, and she shows it.
"Do you have anything fruity?"
"Ah yes, of course, many options." The tea merchant says, "some mixed with ginger, some without, usually a white tea, but a few black options. Mango, orange, cherry, raspberry."
He indicates many large tins on his display, one after the others.
"Took you a few to figure it out, yes?", she wonders of Aryia, going silent while she speaks to the Tea merchant. "It's good to see you again. Though I had hoped you'd be in better condition than the last time." The Gobbo is silent for a time before grinning.
"Don't take the suggestion to go to the Ox Strength too seriously. The food is okay, but the place is often a hassle. A fight breaks out and then you have to join because some dolt is landing in your stew and splattering it everywhere. The Fernwood Pub is a nice little place, but pricy. The Fire Lodge is actually decent. It's not really a restaurant, but there is always food there for the warriors. Ironbrew is another good little spot, and also, the Terrace. It is part bar, part restaurant serving up monster dishes... and part bathhouse."
Aryia pulls her shades down some to get a better view of what was up for sale. She ponders for a moment before pointing to the tin they indicated as cherry, and holding up a single finger. Cherry sounded nice. To share.
She turns to the small gobbo, a tired frown crossing her lips. "Physically better. Everything else... dog shit."
Her scarred lips do quirk up in a bit of a smile. "... thank you. I go to those places already quite often. That's why I went to the Fire Lodge that one day; the Tarrace was too crowded." <Handspeech>
The tea merchant takes some scoops of the cherry tea and slips them into a bag. He includes some small sewn bags to hold the loose tea, then holds the package out for Aryia. "Seven coppers." He signs. <handsign>
"Oh? Well, you may have missed me there, which is okay, I'm small.", the Gobbo says with a snort. "There /is/ a better place though, but it's pretty exclusive, and you have to be invited in. You also can't just walk in, it's a little out of the way."
Murder blinks. "Hey, why is hers so cheap and mine so expensive?", she demands of the Tea merchant.
The well dressed elf shrugs. "If it's that exclusive, then I probably shouldn't be there. Sounds like nobles go there. And those folk make me angry."
The merchant signing to Aryia, actually, makes her visibly brighten just a bit. She rummages around in her bag and pulls out a silver piece, her placing it onto the stall counter and take her bag. "Thank you, keep the rest," she motions back with a hint of a smile. <Handspeech>
"Yours has a tea press, and more tea." The merchant explains, "and she's having a dog-shitty day."
He signs, "Thank you, have a better day." <handsign>
Murder snorts and laughs, shaking her head. "No, I was going to offer you dinner at my spot. No noble, as far as I know, have ever stepped a foot there. Just friends." She huffs at the Tea merchant. "Bloody expensive press then..."
Aryia's smile softens, her closing her eyes and cycling a fresh breath. "Thank you," she mouths, respectfully bowing a bit to the merchant before she gets her things together.
Her attention does turn to Murder. She pauses.
... oh.
"Ok, sure," she flashes dumbly. <Handspeech>
Business concluded with the pair, the Tea merchant nods, sitting back and looking around the square. Some others are starting to pack up.
"If you're up to it? I tend to lean into spices and heat, but I can lay off those if you aren't into them. Rabbit or chicken, hmm?" The Gobbo plops the boar's skull back over her head. "Just lemme know when you want, and I'll show you the place."
With her bolts of cloth, a new piece of jewelry, and a new tea to try, Aryia shoves what she can into her small bag. She had her work cut out for her for the time ahead. She gives a little wave to the tea merchant and steps towards Murder. "I like spicy food. I... this is really kind of you. Thank you. I'll take you up on that offer. Rabbit sounds just fine."
She smiles more.<Handspeech>
The market goes on, but the interesting people have all left.
OOC
<OOC> Ashes says, "The Three Kobolds in a Trenchcoat shall return in the Halloween Adventures!"
Jinks Links
https://www.destructoid.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Star-Wars-Hunters-Utooni-1536x677.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G13jzheosNE
