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The Shops (5): If you’re looking for thoughtful, heartfelt gifts to commemorate your day or just gifts for someone (or yourself!) you don’t need to go far. A large, indoor vending space is set up with a great array of local shops willing to spend their time here. There’s such a great array of things to find here–all handmade or locally sourced and owned. Jewelry, accessories, outfits, candles, cards, sweets, home decor–there’s a little bit of everything, just waiting to find a new home. Take some time to appreciate the sales, and get some good deals while you’re here! The Event is also selling an array of special memorabilia where proceeds go towards their list of charities; you can purchase crystal flowers like those from the Garden.
Local vendors are all permitted to attend! Tables are a low $100 each and up to three can be purchased for a single shop.


Arms full of legitimately purchased loot, Del paused in front of yet another table and goggled at the wares on display. While a bit too cheerful and lovey dovey for her own tastes, she had to admit that this shindig was managing to scratch several of her itches. The photography she’d seen was divine and she’d already gathered up any business cards in view with the intent to call them later to talk about possibly collaborating. Her little digital camera was chock full of pictures taken in the Crystal Garden. And now she was shopping. Only, instead of some ratty, half dead mall, it was little local businesses and she was In Heaven. She’d already loaded up on homemade soaps, lotions and in the case of one table perfume. Candles were next on her list. After all, no good goth would be caught dead without at bare minimum twenty candles in the house.

Laughing a little at herself, Del paused by one table offering up crocheted plush animals. Normally, she’d have just given a courtesy looksy, but one piece in particular snagged her attention and made her heart hurt a little. Set on a little riser, but still half hidden by a massive crocheted rose, was a little t-rex holding a generic little flower. Under any other circumstances, she’d have thought it was cute and moved on. But standing in the moment, she was reminded strongly and painfully of little Saiph and how the kid had trusted her. More, Del felt certain, the kid had genuinely liked her. Hesitating for the briefest of breaths, she seized on the plush and paid, tucking it into her bags with her other treasures. Because it was a totally normal thing to buy a toy for a kid she’d spent what? Maybe a week or two in horrible conditions and praying that they wouldn’t end up as monster chow? Yeah, she thought. Completely normal. Super, duper, totes mcgoats normal.

She felt a guilty twinge deep inside. Why was she buying a present for someone who was supposed to be an enemy? For that matter she had no way of knowing if the kid was even still, well, active. Though that thought was quickly and angrily shoved away. No one had hurt or killed Saiph. She was certain that workplace scuttlebutt would have reached her if anyone had disposed of a dino themed chibi. But still. She didn’t know. And now she had a silly crochet dinosaur that she was totally going to drag out on patrol until she managed to run into the kid again just to give it to her.

Yep, completely logical.

Shaking her head, Del forced her brain back on track. But somehow, the thought of more shopping just didn’t seem appealing anymore. Not when she wanted to power up and go hunting for her little friend. Well, Del paused, mentally tallied up time. Saiph might not be so little anymore. Still, Del wanted to find her and just talk. Maybe make sure the kid was all right.

Maybe talk about other things that only someone of Saiph’s side would have answers to.

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