A day at the market! :: OPEN

[synergismus]

Who: OPEN, NPCs if needed.
What: A guided trip to the Aspic Bazaar
Where: Aspic
When: Coardi Wednesday Morning
Notes: OOC post here.

It's spring in Baedal and the Bazaar in Aspic is full of life. The sun shines on colourful buildings, bleaching tentweaves draped over market stalls. The air is full of shouts and animal noises, customers haggling with merchants and tradesmen striking deals. Children of different species rush back and forth, unattended in the crowd.

There are a lot of things on display in the market. Local produce and wares sit next to strange and exotic bleed-through goods, all of which the sellers are quick to guarantee the genuineness and legality of. Less honest characters also visit the market, it is generally known as an official stomping ground for one of the city's more notorious criminal enterprises. The city is aware of this, of course, and while Militia presence here is not as keenly felt in other place, it may be noticeable in the cares some people take.

It's still considered a safe place, or as a safe a place full of haves and havenots in a strange city can be. It's certainly considered a safe enough place to send newcomers for quick introduction to local sights and economics.

The (more recent) residents of the Valhalla Inn and anyone on the CeidaryBlue523 Node have been encouraged to visit the place. They have also been encouraged to not go alone.

Comments

Grocery Quarters

[synergismus]

It's still spring in Baedal but local greenhouses keep the grocery quarters stocked with fresh produce. The stalls here are carefully shaded and full of vegetables, fish, bread, spices and things that have been pickled. Bottles of local wines, ales and ciders appear next to more exotic bleed-through non perishables. Further off, live animals bleat, squawk and otherwise complain.

Re: Grocery Quarters

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

There really isn't anything specific he needs, but Sebastian had been meaning to explore the city and is pleased to follow the advice of the Inn employee and take Velcro with him on a tour of the market. Even when he was still in Britain, open-air markets were a treat and he takes to Aspic Bazaar with ease.

As he makes his way through the market, he stops at various fruit vendors to ask their prices or to learn more about what they're offering. One in particular gives him samples of something called a "bullock's heart". While he's adventurous, the fact that the fruit looked too much like its namesake put him off. It was heavy in his hand, dense as a real heart, with a leathery red skin, but when the merchant split it and offered him a piece of the pulp, the flesh was pale and tasted sweet in an exotic way he'd never experienced before.

With a surprised and joyful laugh, Sebastian navigated the purchase of one of the fruits and promised to return some other time to try whatever was brought in next week.

[51stcentury]

Jack is just wandering the crowd when he spots a man with a dog just casually drifting through the way, and well. There's something different about him. For one, the dog. For another thing, the way that he carries himself, the way he's navigating the crowd. Something about that signals to Jack that the other man had training of some sort. And for another thing. The way that he's interacting with the fruit vendor is probably the most adorable thing he'd seen since wandering over to this market. Jack decides that he needs to meet this man, and so he sidles up beside him.

"Hey there," he says, with a grin at the other man. "Find anything you like?"

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

"Whatever this is, I like it," he says simply. Sebastian never met Jack in Bete Noire, but he's seen this man walking through the Inn and he's comfortable enough with that to be willing to make small talk. His past training isn't apparent just in the way he stands, but how he keeps a part of his attention on the crowd at large and a slight weight to his jacket pockets -- one contains change, the other a small flicknife. Magic may no longer be an option for him, but it's just unnatural to be unarmed.

"Have you ever had one?"

[51stcentury]

Jack shook his head at the question. "Can't say I've had whatever that is exactly before, no. I've possibly had something similar at some point down the line, though." He grinned at the other man, winking slightly, completely oblivious to the fact that he could have recognized him from anywhere else, considering this was the first time Jack himself had seen this man. "I've had a lot of fruit, over the years, as it is," he said, in a tone of voice that pretty much meant he was as much making a bit of innuendo as he was actually being honest with him, there.

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

Sebastian examines his purchase and since he's unable to split the fruit like he would with an apple, it's quick work to slice it in half with his little pocketknife. It's clear that he's comfortable with using the knife and is able to do so with just one hand.

"Care for half? I'm still getting used to anything beyond tinned pears," he says while offering a piece to Jack. With the knowledge that he'll probably have at least a little work with Hellsing to help him settle in, Sebastian is comfortable being generous enough to share his food.

[coffeeking]

Ianto is generally a thrifty shopper. When needs must, Ianto is a very thrifty shopper, and at the moment, needs must. The currency had been easy enough to comprehend, and he knew well that 20 marks would only last him a week if he wasn't careful. And so, on the hunt for groceries for an empty kitchen, Ianto had set himself to bargaining fiercely with every stall proprietor he'd encountered.

Not a half hour on, he's already loaded with two bags of groceries and haggling enthusiastically with a man over a block of cheese. He still has more than 17 marks left.

Food Quarters

[synergismus]

A whole part of the market is dedicated to food that has already been cooked. Kebabs, waffles, sandwiches, stews, ice creams and beverages among many other things can be purchased in the stalls here. It smells of spices and coffee. Some tables and crates have been thrown together here and there to offer some seating.

[primogen_vampirate]

Mina absolutely hated the dress she had been given upon arrival in Baedal. It wasn't the fact that it was a dress so much as the fact that it left everything exposed: The tattoo on her left shoulder, the old pirate brand on her right arm, not to mention more than a little cleavage She looked, she thought, like a patchwork doll, one of those whorish dolls that European gentlemen gave to ladies when they had certain intentions. The first order of business would definitely purchasing herself some new, tailored suits.

That was, of course, assuming that they had tailored suits in this Godforsaken place, but Mina wanted to be optimistic.

As she strolled through the stalls, becoming increasingly less optimistic, she thought of the old trading posts in the Caribbean. In general, she had an odd bit of sentimentality for the Caribbean above all the other places she had traveled in her two hundred odd years. She supposed it had something to do with Anne and Jack and the fact that they had become a family on the waters of the Caribbean.

Thinking of Anne and Jack now, however, was a bit too depressing, so Mina decided to focus her senses on suits and predator's taint instead. She would happily settle for finding either of them. She would happily settle for simple company. Mina was never at her best when she was alone. She thrived with others.

Trade Quarters

[synergismus]

A large section of the bazaar is dedicated to trading objects, local and foreign. Rolled up bundles of fabric, strange crystals, plastic toys, cookware and glasses are among the thousand upon thousand objects available for sale or trade.

[cassie_of_troy]

Cassandra was pretty sure she had made several mistakes today. The first was going to market. The crowd was enormous, much bigger than she had expected. She supposed she was still used to the sparse populations of worldwalkers in Rowan or Willaknapp. The second mistake was wearing her Rowan clothes, which were starting to get a little worn down. The third mistake was allowing a total stranger to escort her.

Of course, she didn't know anyone in this world terribly well, but she felt a bit ill-at-ease at the moment. He had been polite enough to go with her and for that she was grateful, but still, as she watched him out of the corner of her eye, several thousand questions were stirring and she didn't know quite the polite way to ask them.

Then again, Cassandra wasn't known for being polite.

"So where do you come from?" she finally asked him.

[paramedicated.livejournal.com]

At least Mal is clean-shaven and washed -- and he will never not bath every night if he can help it because sometimes he still looks down at his hands and sees rusty red and mud dried into the grooves of his skin -- with neatly pressed clothes. It's just too bad his clothing choices are a faded and drab olive-grey shirt with black pants but at least it makes Cassandra's clothing look much ore whimsical and bright in comparison.

The medic has one hand shoved deep into his pocket while his other hand keeps hold of the strap of his medical bag and it's this shoulder he shrugs, smiling at her. "Seattle Washington originally; s'a city like this one and the market is similar though I was never allowed down in it."

Mal's eyes move steadily around them, watching everything that moves too close or might be armed. "Haven't been there in two years, anyway. And what about yourself? S'not a style of dress I'd find anywhere on Earth."

[cassie_of_troy]

"I'm from Earth," Cassandra replied with a slight shrug. "These clothes, however, are not." Sighing, she ran a hand through her wild, untamed curls. How many times had she told her story now? It was getting ludicrous. "This is the third time I've been abducted to another world. The first time was two years ago, to a place called Rowan. The second time was about ten months ago, to a place called Willaknapp. These clothes are from Rowan."

She actually was rather fond of them. There was something delightful about being able to wear trousers. They were easy to move and run in, less clumsy than her old chitons. The only problem was that the corset did not leave quite enough to the imagination, but Cassandra had moved past caring about that too much.

"I've never heard of Seattle," she mused. "But judging from your accent, I'm guessing you're not English. I've met a lot of English people. Are you an American?"

[paramedicated.livejournal.com]

"Not having a bit of luck on that front at all, are you?" Mal's expression reads mildly amused and cautiously horrified all at once, though he smooths it out to give her a reassuring smile as he hitches his bag more comfortably against across his shoulder.

Dark eyes slide slowly across her face and over her shoulder (He keeps his gaze firmly trained on the neck or above whenever he looks at her) before they widen slightly as a ...something ...lumbers away behind her carrying a load of carpets.

"Uh." He utters and then his eyes shoot right back to her face. "I am. Actually. Yes. I mean, I've been to England but yeah. American. What, uh, where are you from if it's not to presumptuous to ask, Miss?"

[patricide]

Lex is quickly acclimating himself to Baedal, or at the very least, doing his best to fit in and pretending like he does. He has already secured himself a job and is currently house hunting. The day when his two weeks' stay at the inn will come to an end is fast approaching and he needs to be ready to move into one of the living areas he has been eying.

Of course it wouldn't do to move in completely empty handed. He stops in front of a large selection of vases, picking up one made of dark brown clay and turning it over in his hands.

[gotbottle]

"Right behind you, sorry!"

The crowds here, oh man. Rachel wasn't quite prepared for the number of people here and how closely pressed together they wind up being at some points. So much so near the far end of this stall that she had to turn sideways and risk bumping a man standing as she popped out between two other passers-by.

"My apologies," she says, offering a polite smile, "I didn't want to get in your way." She glances down at the vase he's holding. "Oh, that's pretty."

[patricide]

In that moment Lex is thankful that he doesn't have a more loose grip on the vase. Out of precaution he continues to hold it in case he is jostled again from within the swarm of people.

"Don't worry about it," he replies easily to the woman, returning her smile. "If I wasn't prepared for at least one person being in the way I wouldn't have come here. Are you looking for anything in particular?"

>_____> I HOPE THIS IS OKAY,,,

[goodtothecore.livejournal.com]

Baedal is bigger and busier than Metropolis, and that's saying something. It's the largest and strangest city Clark has ever been in, which is also saying something, considering he comes from Smallville - home of the uncharitably named meteor freaks. At least when he's in Smallville, he knows his way around and doesn't risk getting lost and overwhelmed in the crowds, his superhuman senses buzzing with the perils of city life.

(Don't ask how many kittens and, uh, other... things... he's had to rescue from trees or narrow ledges so far.)

But today he has something to focus on, and that's following Lex. From a reasonable distance, just to keep an eye on his friend in this strange new environment and make sure he doesn't get hurt. Of course, Clark's idea of a "reasonable distance" is keeping a building between himself and Lex and using his x-ray vision to keep track of his friend, having already memorised his skeletal structure (and later, his heartbeat, for times x-ray vision wasn't feasible) so he can identify it in the crowd. He watches the minor collision with Rachel and winces in mild sympathy, then smiles to himself - trust Lex to find a girl to charm, anywhere in any world.

[gotbottle]

There may be a hint of relief in Rachel's answering smile. After an hour of roaming through the press of people and the nonstop activity, with not quite all of her attempts at conversation or personal interaction going as well as hoped, someone being polite despite the fact that she could have almost clobbered them on accident is a welcome change.

"Thank you," she says. "And pants." She laughs. "Like, when I arrived? They gave me a dress. I'm not really... down with dresses all the time. So some pants would be awesome. Other than that I'm just checking the place and its offerings out."

[beiteverso.livejournal.com]

It was sort of inevitable that Dorothy would end up here eventually, wasn't it? Not that she's a big shopper, but if there's one place you can go to really get a sense of a new city, it's the marketplace. All the hustle and bustle can look like a cloud of humanity, hard to distinguish one thing from another to the untrained eye. So many people doing so much at once can be dizzying.

Thankfully, Dorothy's had some practice.

Amongst all the stalls piled high with goods, barking pitches to the shoppers carrying bags and boxes of their purchases, Dorothy does her best to blend in and observe. There's a staggering blend of people-- was everyone here stolen away like she was? It's an intriguing concept. Maybe she's here for a reason...

All the scheming is instantly put out of her mind when she stumbles upon a stall with a wide-open area in the front, fenced off with a low circle of chicken wire. Inside the fence are puppies. Just a big pile of puppies, with white bellies and necks and sandy-tan backs and heads, napping and tumbling over each other and scooting around as puppies are wont to do.

And Dorothy wants one. Lord, does she want one. But who knows how far the money she'd been supplied with would go, and would she be able to support herself and a pet in an environment like this? Still, it would be worth having someone she could trust, and what's more trustworthy than a dog?

Decisions, decisions.

[andbreathes]

Fabric is mostly what Dominica's here for today, and she's already got herself a bolt of good cloth - sturdy, a plain cream colour that'll take dye well - but with it wrapped and under her arm, she comes to a stop beside the chicken wire fencing to lean over and give one of the little puppies a good scratch behind the ear when it wanders near enough.

"Well, aren't they just the sweetest things you ever saw?" Dominica straightens enough to smile at Dorothy, just a little, easy-going. "Dorothy, wasn't it?"

[beiteverso.livejournal.com]

"Mrs. Norrington! Fancy meeting you here." If there's one thing that Dorothy thanks her lucky stars for, it's that she never forgets a face. It tends to come in handy in situations like these; the ones where she randomly appears in a new land and has to relearn just about everything she thought she already knew.

It's a good thing she likes learning, or it'd get kind of tedious after a while.

Dorothy nods in the direction of the puppies. One of them is wagging its little curled tail so hard its entire back end is shaking. "What do you think? Is it a bad investment, so soon? Having another little person to care for?" What. Dogs are people too.

[andbreathes]

"Oh, go on- I would." She's not going to, for a variety of reasons including that springing a new pet on her husband might not be the best way of greeting him when he gets home from work tonight, but if she'd come to Baedal all by her lonesome- sure, why not? "It'll give you something besides yourself to be worrying about around here, what's gotta be so bad about that?"

A Dark Alley

[synergismus]

For the less savoury individuals or simply for those who prefer to avoid mingling with crowds, there is no shortage of cul-de-sacs and alleys too narrow to fit stalls without serious fire hazard.

Ad-Hoc Cockatrice Fighting Arena

[synergismus]

In the tall basement of a dilapidated warehouse somewhere in the outskirts of the market a rowdy and colourful crowd has gathered. They are there to watch and bet on the cockatrice baiting organized by the Terrier's Sharps. It's perfectly illegal of course, but simple enough to find. The Sharps are keen to spot and invite newcomers.