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[[entering]]

The bustles and noise of Market Day carried on around Olivia as she hummed to herself, getting her cart of wares ready for the long day ahead. The pale girl carefully hung a few more shirts on the line she had extended between two of the poles of her booth, showing off the tailoring and construction of the clothing she had made specially for today. They were simple, as what was expected of those that inhabited the Silver Kingdom, but that didn't mean she wouldn't make them with pride - and even maybe sneak in something a little fancy here and there like an embroidered trim or a fancy looking scarf.

After a simple pat to flake off the dust from a shawl, Olivia turned herself back towards the open market where the movement of people seemed non-stop. Though a tune was on her breathe and her bright blue eyes were down turned to tend to her items, her ears were open to any bits of gossip that could cross her path. She was a quiet creature by choice but that didn't mean she didn't listen, and listen was what she really did best.

"... collapse of our kingdom would create a power vacuum for the other Kingdoms, that would be unheard of..."

Her humming changed to a different tune as the words crossed her path. Her head lifted, trying to catch the source of such words, hoping to maybe catch something else or maybe more context. There were rumors about the King for sure, but were affairs in such a state that their own Kingdom could be in some sort of trouble?

Hmmmm... Olivia slid her eyes closed for a moment as she smoothed out a piece of cloth on her table. Perhaps if she listened a little more...

Being the firstborn in a long line of smiths meant only one thing: that Crispin Waldegrave had tended a smithy since before he could remember anything else. He was the oldest brother that liked to work on "armor" -- elaborate, impractical suits of plate, meant for nothing more than sitting in a house or hallway. His younger brother worked with making silverware. The youngest loved to design tools. Crispin had never made anything for war or fighting, and for such a strong, strapping young man, he looked more of a farrier or a fashion designer than an armor smith.

Stacks of heavy iron rustled in his arms. Crispin clanked along, wearing a full set of gold and blue plate to market that he was intending to sell. The visor on his helmet was pulled up high, revealing a thin, young face, with vivid blue eyes mussed by a few errant strands of sandy blonde hair. A long roll of carpet was hung over one pauldron -- the mat he was going to display his wares on, as soon as he found a decent spot to set up market.

"Sure is noisy, and I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm wearing this metal clunker," he murmured to himself, shuffling slowly along. The iron suit was heavy, and not only was he carrying that on his body, but more in his arms and his rug atop his shoulder as well.



"Hey, if you're badmouthing my smithy again -- " Crispin wheeled around, the long rug nearly taking out a few bystanders in the tightly packed area. In confusion he scanned the throng of people, but the voice he heard was gone, and the entire thread of conversation seemed to just melt back into the din of chatter.

Just gossiping about the royalty? he thought to himself, a bit miffed, with one eye quirked as he made to turn back around to continue walking. Always good to keep an ear out for that kind of talk.

Alastair's booth presented a large collection of varying garments such as suits, dresses, t-shirts and even pajamas. As a tailor, the boy also offered repairs on any damaged clothing if given to him, but not without a fair fee and a bit of time to work.

Presented on the heads of mannequins were eye-catching colorful hats. Hats with shimmering feathers that seemed dance with the slightest breeze, hats covered with glitter and gems, and others with veils or comically over sized bows. Alastair even had novelty hats, one resembled a large block of cheese, and another spiraled upwards like a giant spring. Alastair valued each of his creations and found it difficult (albeit necessary) to part with them as they sold. He hoped his hats would find good homes. Whenever he saw one atop a head in the crowd, he beamed brighter than a parent whose child just excelled beyond the rest.

Alastair leaned back in his chair as he carefully sewed up the a hole in the dress shirt a customer had paid him to repair. He appeared to be relaxed and in his own world, but in reality, he was constantly vigilant. A few muttered words caught his attention, causing his ears to flick in that direction.



Alastair found the rumor unsettling, even if it wasn't true. Death was never necessarily a pleasant subject, but the death of the King could have consequences for the entire kingdom. With a gentle sigh, the boy continued working to repair the garment with repetitive strokes of his needle.

He watched her gaze fall, following it, before musing silently at her question. Eyes closed a moment as he contemplated an answer. Did he particularly care? He found no ill in the proud people of that kingdom, their ideals were suitable enough. However they were not his own people. Rather he still felt more kinship to the study and observation of others than to any single group. While he disliked the simplicity of his people, he found little wrong with their habits and collective mentality toward obtaining knowledge. Pride was fine, but truly collecting data was his point of interest. "Observation is what I find most pleasing, so if nothing else my place suits me, regardless of location. For I am able to watch, to study?"

It was a fair statement, true as he found it. He could learn from anyone anywhere, where he was desired most just happened to be a place that worked for that as well. "Joining... them?" The words fell off his tongue, slowly, seeming foreign. The thought had never occurred to him, after all... what suited him better than this? Brows knit as he shook his head, mildly troubled at the question. "I feel no kinship at this moment to think of such permanent residence." Though at the same time, the concern of their evident lack of presence from their King came to mind. If nothing else, that was all that would make him even consider such a thing. But such... wasn't worth wasting time worrying over.

Ah, she forgot they were just "shadowing" at the moment. Observation, so they'd say. No immediate ties or bonds yet. It wasn't that she didn't WANT to join another kingdom, but...

Was she scared of leaving? Most likely.

"Ah, you're right, we're just observing..." She laughed awkwardly, and picked at the straw basket.

"I wish I was as sure as you. I mean, the gold kingdom seems neat, but I doubt they'd want simple wares like mine, but then the green kingdom looks really interesting, but there's also red, whom we often trade with, and the thought of weaving dreams from illusions..."
She trailed off, a dreamy look on her face.

He nodded in response, seeming to have made his point well. At least she wasn't questioning it, though the nagging voice in his head still was. Best to ignore it, drown it out with simple fact. Rumors were, in fact, pointless. "Exactly."

Though he blinked at the following comment, a small smile gracing his lips. "Do not be so sure, perhaps those with a taste for the higher things are 'above' such work. We all have our places." He added, shrugging lightly. "It is merely that other places will be easier than others. I could sell a trinket here with a silver tongue, or I could sell many within the proper Kingdom. I see no reason to work harder than I must." Though the look on her face, perhaps his words fell on deaf ears, for she seemed lost in a fantasy at that point. Dreams were, after all, the perfect fantasy. Something hard to resist for even the most logical being.

But he cared little for charades and illusions, so such did not strike his fancy. "Perhaps, but it is all just temporary wishes. Granting an illusion that is real for a moment does not make it more than an illusion."

Cookies? Score! The possibility of food clouded his thinking for a moment and then he eyed the plant wearily. He really didn’t have much use for living plants. They always somehow managed to get set on fire. Always. He had been babysitting a plant for a friend, watering it once every two days exactly. It was even doing well when one day he had bumped it while he was walking by the table it was on, turned just right into the sun. Crash! It didn’t break, no, the pot rolled next to the fire place and by the time he had gotten to it, its leaves had wilted into withered husks.

“What exactly does it do?” the teas would do, they would be good for light carrying on his travels. “I was thinking about getting some of your more medical herbs or spices. I’m leaving soon you see, and I want to bring a few things that would be good for travel.” and not alive/ inflammable.

Her question about the king’s rumor came as no surprise; it had been one of the hot topics of the day. “I have heard something about it, but only just the rumors going around.” There was always some rumor or another of some evil deed somewhere. He waved his free hand in the air the other cradling the bottle. “But rumors were just that until solid proof shows up to back it up. Until I get some good details, I’m not going to worry about it.” But then he remembered that the king wasn’t in her chair. It had been more common since the change of power and was odd. Still without any proof it meant nothing.

Not that the rumors were any less interesting. He just liked to see for himself before making a decision about such things.

“Hey, speaking of kingdoms, have you thought about which kingdom you are going to?” a little smile played across his face, showing a small delight in the idea of going somewhere new. He wanted to go someplace he could make a little money, possibly, or even make a few good strong connections. Not that he particularly wanted to stop being who he was; he was a trader at heart. Settling down in one spot wasn’t really his thing, not without a huge pay off anyway.