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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.
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There were alot of things to look at. Booth after booth, table after table, vendor after vendor. It seemed endless but Nate knew better. It was just one chaotic mass of people and items, all lined up and beckoning others to come view their wares. He had ended up in this particular spot after wandering through quite a bit of the event space already. He had offered to take Sarah for a walk when she started to get fussy but now his daughter was asleep in her harness on his chest. Completely zonked out and snoring as only babies could. Nate was glad really since the noise and crowds didn’t seem to bother the napping toddler at all.
“Let's see if I can pick up something small for your mum, shall we darling?” He murmured to the sleeping babe, gently patting her back even as he eyed the mass of people. Nate wasn’t sure wading into such a scene was really a good idea since Sarah was sleeping but he was also curious to see if he could find a little trinket for Dessie. Something to surprise her with. A little memento of the whole event.
“Let's see if I can pick up something small for your mum, shall we darling?” He murmured to the sleeping babe, gently patting her back even as he eyed the mass of people. Nate wasn’t sure wading into such a scene was really a good idea since Sarah was sleeping but he was also curious to see if he could find a little trinket for Dessie. Something to surprise her with. A little memento of the whole event.
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Dmitry didn't think he would be accompanying Ryan to the little Valentines day event, but he supposed there could be worse. It was his turn to have Emorali while Ryan attended the gallery to explain his photos. The one year old was looking around, his cute little RBF on display which really threw some people off that just happened to look at him. “Baby boy you gotta smile sometimes. You can't always be frowning, not even your daddy frowns as much as you do.” Emorali was from a union between Ryan and Moon, so having some sort of frowning was fine, but the kid had ALL the frowning. It wasn't something he could blame Ry or Moon for, which made him wonder just where the heck the baby got it from.
The twins were with his mother, and Emorali is usually a little gremlin when he wasn't around either of his fathers so he had to accompany Ryan to the event. Currently he was thinking about braving the throng of people to look for something to get his husband. He was still on shaky ground when it came to Ryan due to recent events, but now wasn't the time to think about it. He did however spot a familiar head of black hair, and walked in his direction. He’s met Nate a couple of times, Ryan was the one to take Sarah’s baby pictures and of course he was friends with the Jacobs.
Once he was close enough he called out to the other man, bouncing Emorlai when he became a bit shifty. “Hey Nate, here because of your other half too?”
The twins were with his mother, and Emorali is usually a little gremlin when he wasn't around either of his fathers so he had to accompany Ryan to the event. Currently he was thinking about braving the throng of people to look for something to get his husband. He was still on shaky ground when it came to Ryan due to recent events, but now wasn't the time to think about it. He did however spot a familiar head of black hair, and walked in his direction. He’s met Nate a couple of times, Ryan was the one to take Sarah’s baby pictures and of course he was friends with the Jacobs.
Once he was close enough he called out to the other man, bouncing Emorlai when he became a bit shifty. “Hey Nate, here because of your other half too?”
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The young man turned his head when he heard his name called, his face brightening when he spotted Dmitry quickly approaching. “Hello Dmitry.” Nate greeted the other male before answering his followup questions. “Yes. Dessie submitted a few paintings she did for the Gallery. We tagged along,” He patted the sleeping Sarah’s back again, clearly indicating who the ‘we’ were. “You? Did Ryan bring something as well? I honestly was a bit distracted by all the glass and crystal sculptures so I didn't look around at the other stuff all that much.” He should have but that crystal garden really just drew his eye. The colors that were thrown around facilitated not only Nate but Sarah also seemed to enjoy being in the middle of that particular light show.
Just then a figure strolled by that made Nate stare in surprise. Someone in a mask. “Um…. is that normal?” He honestly wasn’t sure any more in this city. Maybe a masked wrestler really was normal for the citizens of Destiny City.
Just then a figure strolled by that made Nate stare in surprise. Someone in a mask. “Um…. is that normal?” He honestly wasn’t sure any more in this city. Maybe a masked wrestler really was normal for the citizens of Destiny City.
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“Yeah, Ryan had some things for the gallery as well. We were able to leave the twins with their grandparents but the youngest here,” He pointed to the small ball of blonde hair that was Emorali who in fact was looking at Nate with a face that would’ve screamed unimpressed, “Does not want to leave either one of us. Very much like Nikky but with the screaming power of a banshee.” He did not want to subject his parents or Ryan’s parents to that. “The gallery is pretty fun, but the crystals are just magical all on their own. Actually caught Emorlai’s attention for quite a bit and then we made our way here.” Granted, he felt like there were too many people in here and he was feeling a bit crowded. “Did you wanna walk for a bit? Trying to see what's available to buy for Ryan.” His mind briefly went to getting something for someone else as well, but he gently shook his head to clear it. Later, he didn't need to be a debbie downer nor did he feel like dealing with all the emotional whiplash.
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Nate chuckled. He could definitely understand the clinginess of a toddler although Sarah seemed to be much more willing to explore without holding on to his coat sleeves as it were. “They are aren't they!” He completely agreed on that point, all those crystals really were just fantastical. “Maybe there is a booth here that sells one of those cut glass rainbow things. Emorlai might like that.” The young man looked back over at the crowd before nodding, “Yes. Best to get it over with before more people show up.”
He started into the mess of people, tables, and things for sale. “Are you and Ryan doing anything special for the holiday?” Their own plans were just a quiet night in, just the three of them. It was the long weekend following that Nate was hoping to have Xander babysit so he could take Dessie out for a more romantic night but he wasn’t entirely sure if his father in law had his own plans.
He started into the mess of people, tables, and things for sale. “Are you and Ryan doing anything special for the holiday?” Their own plans were just a quiet night in, just the three of them. It was the long weekend following that Nate was hoping to have Xander babysit so he could take Dessie out for a more romantic night but he wasn’t entirely sure if his father in law had his own plans.
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“Yeah, I think he would.” Dmitry shifted the carrier he had his son in, “Wanna get a crystal present bubby?” The only response he got was his son suckling away on his binkie while looking up with purple eyes full of questioning. As he walked with Nate, his eyes were scanning for things that he could get for Ryan later. The question about doing something special for Valentines really caused a look of surprise on his face. WERE they doing anything given the circumstances at home? For once he was “Not sure…We’ve been busy as of late but I want to try and do something so I'll have to talk it over with him once we’re home today.” A good neutral answer that didn't give much away but offered enough. Quickly shifting the focus, “What are you and Dessie planning?” He found the young couple interesting for the most part, cute really. Youth was a wonderful thing to marvel at, especially when you're no longer a part of that category.
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He just chuckled softly at the little boy’s expressions, following along with Dmitry as they ‘dove’ into the booths. “Us? Well nothing overly special on the day, since it's a weekday. Just a quiet family dinner.” Since he still spent most of the workweek at his own little apartment, spending the night on Wednesday would be quite special for Nate. It wasn’t much but he would take every little bit he could get until he got Dessie to agree to marry him. Or at least date him. There wasn’t anyone else for him but her anyway.
“The following weekend though, is apparently one of your American holidays so I have Monday off.” Nate still didn’t quite understand why the 19th was special but it was… for some reason. “I’ve got to talk to Xander to see if he would be willing to babysit.” He shrugged and continued, “If possible I would like to surprise Dessie with a weekend off. No work, no cooking, no cleaning, nothing. Maybe take her out for dinner or something. It’s going to be an uphill battle, I know. But, well…” He glanced down at the napping baby. “It’s worth it.”
The young man moved over to a table to look at the little knitted critters. Puffy hearts and cupids and other ‘romance’ things. “Maybe that weekend would be a good time to just relax for you guys as well. My Gran always said a married couple needed time together… granted that's how I ended up with such a large family.” He smiled at Dmitry, inviting him to join in the joke.
“The following weekend though, is apparently one of your American holidays so I have Monday off.” Nate still didn’t quite understand why the 19th was special but it was… for some reason. “I’ve got to talk to Xander to see if he would be willing to babysit.” He shrugged and continued, “If possible I would like to surprise Dessie with a weekend off. No work, no cooking, no cleaning, nothing. Maybe take her out for dinner or something. It’s going to be an uphill battle, I know. But, well…” He glanced down at the napping baby. “It’s worth it.”
The young man moved over to a table to look at the little knitted critters. Puffy hearts and cupids and other ‘romance’ things. “Maybe that weekend would be a good time to just relax for you guys as well. My Gran always said a married couple needed time together… granted that's how I ended up with such a large family.” He smiled at Dmitry, inviting him to join in the joke.
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Dmitry found himself a little jealous, but didn't let it show, “Yeah, president's day or something like that.” He never really kept up with the holidays very much, too caught up in his own little family to really care about most of the major holidays. He chuckled at his son trying to grab one of the little knitted critters, “Mine mine mine!” Mitry made it so that he was grabbing onto his finger instead, “Kid, that's not yours. Papa hasn't bought it for you yet.” He looked back at Nate, “Yeah we’ll see.” He wasn't about to elaborate and he hoped that Nate wouldnt pry too much. When Emorali started to sniffle, he took that as his que, “Okay okay kid one sec yeah?” He gave Nate an apologetic look, “I'll have to go…Little gremlin is going to have a fit soon and I don't want him to wake up your angel there. Do you have my number?” It would be nice to have more people to hang out with and Nate seemed pretty chill. Emorali on the other hand already had tears in his eyes and he knew what was about to happen next.
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Ah… something wasn’t quite right. Nate wasn’t exactly the most perspective of people but he could tell there was something more going on with Dmitry. But this time and place wasn’t exactly conducive to prying. And he wasn’t exactly a licensed therapist. So Nate let it go, instead he smiled when the little squirt started to fuss. He completely understood, it was nearly impossible to get Sarah to let something go once she set her heart on it.
“Yes, now shoo. Go distract him with the pretty colors at the crystal garden.” He nodded and made a shooing motion. “Good luck,” with both the fussy toddler and whatever is causing you problems, he mentally added as the father and son duo quickly headed away. “Well little one, shall we continue walking?” Nate looked down at his still snoozing daughter before weaving his way through the tables.
“Yes, now shoo. Go distract him with the pretty colors at the crystal garden.” He nodded and made a shooing motion. “Good luck,” with both the fussy toddler and whatever is causing you problems, he mentally added as the father and son duo quickly headed away. “Well little one, shall we continue walking?” Nate looked down at his still snoozing daughter before weaving his way through the tables.
