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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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 Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 2:39 am
It is only an hour or two before noon; most merchants have already flooded the marketplace, the stores open, flying their signs gaily, and temporary stalls and blankets crowding the sides of the street. Most of the good spots have already been taken -- but this doesn't much bother one merchant, dressed in drab-colored but finely-tailored clothes, pushing a cart. In contrast to the cheap and practical folding booths of other merchants, this cart is a work of art, with intricately chiseled wood beams supporting a brightly-colored roof accented with golden-colored paint; it almost seems to be a tiny model of a temple or palace courtyard on wheels.
Within the low red fencing around the outside of the cart are rows of lovely dolls, some of which are cloth and some porcelain, some with plainer, more utilitarian-looking clothes, and others with fine brocades, better quality than the clothing of the merchant. Though most are secured on bases or tied down with fine thread, their limbs and heads tend to sway a bit as the cart moves over uneven patches of ground.
The merchant pushes it along slowly, aimlessly, smiling a little, as if on a pleasant stroll. It seems that the dolls are not being brought to a specific location but are rather being paraded along the street to see if any buyer takes interest.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:00 am
Melody is absolutely mystified. She'd only come by to check on her father and her nieces, only to find... what? No sign of any of them and a hole in the wall that led to--
How many Porcelain are there? She'd never seen so many in one place in her life.
Curiosity compels her to move forward, even as she already feels woefully under-dressed (even if just days earlier she'd insisted it was JUST FINE and COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE for the weather), even as she feels distinctly FOREIGN, even as she feels completely LOST.
Not to mention confused as to why the heck this is even here in the first place.
As she slowly, cautiously, tentatively moves forward, deeper into the unfamiliar marketplace, her anxiety and confusion slowly give way to wonder and amazement.
She stares at each stall, eyes wide, her mind racing to keep up with each new sight, each new sound, each new smell, new feeling.
And then, she sees it.
The merchant. The cart. Melody doesn't even notice the dolls at first, her attention captured entirely by that exquisite cart. And she can't help but stop dead in her tracks and stare, mouth agape to complete an entirely undignified expression on her face.
Wow.
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:06 am
The merchant, lulled by the warm Sovereignty weather and the pleasant aromas suffusing the marketplace, seems almost to be dozing off at the cart... but upon spotting Melody, suddenly snaps into focus and puts on a bright smile. The cart's pace picks up, as if the one pushing it is eager to meet up with her.
"Two things," the merchant calls in a sweet-toned but rather deep voice while reaching into the cart to free two of the cloth dolls, taking one in each hand to present to Melody, "which you have been expecting."
Two dolls, one male and one female.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:14 am
"Eeh!"
Melody leaps back a small step, startled by the merchant's sudden interest in her.
She isn't-- she hasn't--!
Now, she's almost flustered. A childish part of her wants to grab the dolls and just cuddle them, they're just so CUTE! But a much louder, rational part tells her to stay where she is, that this is a strange place with strange people and strange things and who knows what she'd be getting into by just snatching them?
So she reaches out tentatively, and then suddenly jerks her hand back as if touching the dolls would ensnare her in some kind of horrible, binding legal contract (THESE DOLLS FOR YOUR SOUL!) she'd heard about in many, many movies. And heavy metal music.
Finally, almost shyly, she projects that she doesn't have a single coin on her.
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:20 am
The merchant laughs a little. With a shake of the head, Melody is informed in gentle projections that she need not worry about coins -- these are not for her, after all.
An affectionate -- though not pushy -- gaze and feeling fall upon Melody's middle.
How much longer will they be?
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:28 am
If the merchant is absolutely sure...
She tentatively reaches out and takes the dolls, fingers gently brushing over the fabric first before wrapping around their middles and lifting them out of the merchant's hands.
They are adorable. 4laugh So extremely cute and well-made and CUTE and--
Her projections abruptly cut off as the question of "how much longer" is asked. And her face flushes, her heart pounds with embarrassment and she bites her lower lip.
Melody doesn't... actually know. She knows how long it's BEEN (Week twenty!) and how long is considered normal for most other species, but as for Porcelain, she just doesn't know.
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:40 am
Ah... To this one's eyes, Melody's children look as if they have been growing about 4 months. Then again, the merchant is a dollmaker and not a doctor, so sie can only speculate.
"... Where is Madame from?" the merchant then asks, in a casual tone of voice as if it is only an idle question but with eyes looking over Melody's strange mode of dress, one eyebrow slightly raised.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:48 am
Barton Town, Melody answers. But then it dawns on her that she is not only not in Barton anymore, she honestly doubts she's even in GAIA.
Gaia, she finally clarifies, awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other. And this place is...?
She thinks for a moment, struggling to recall the name of the place her grandmother and grand-uncle mentioned, the place Daddy and Mommy and Boyue came from, the place Great-Grandpa Tsutsu brought so many Porcelain out of...?
Dragonlamp! This place is Dragonlamp, isn't it?
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:52 am
"Aaaaaah," another Gaian? This one understands now.
This, sie explains, is "The Capital City of the Silver Empress's Empire." It seems that their two world have been bleeding into each other rather often as of late, hmm?
The merchant places a hand on hir chest lightly. This one's name is "Jin." If Madame would like, sie can show her around the marketplace?
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:57 am
"Me-lo-dy," she answers, placing a hand on her own chest.
And now that the introductions are finished, she thinks on what Jin has said. Well, perhaps not about hir offer; Melody would definitely like to explore this place a bit before going home.
But the Silver Empress's Empire, their worlds bleeding into each other... There's something vaguely familiar about all of this, but she just can't recall what it is for the LIFE of her.
But whatever it is makes her think of jelly donuts for some reason. confused
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:04 am
Whatever jelly donuts are, they sound tasty, Jin replies with a laugh.
Well, should they begin their tour? If they continue in this direction, they will encounter the shop of a very skilled tailor Jin knows who may have some pre-made pieces on display... and there should be a skilled cook starting up her kitchen at about this time. Jin raises an arm to look at the position of the sun through the sleeve of hir under-robes.
Or they can just stroll and enjoy the weather.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:10 am
Jelly donuts are... well, they're this sweet pastry filled with jelly, and you have to be REALLYREALLY careful when eating them or they'll squirt out EVERYWHERE! She can't help but giggle now, feeling her earlier anxiety melt away.
And... well, as Melody has no money, perhaps simply strolling to enjoy the weather would be best, right? Well, unless it was possible for her to run back home REAL QUICK to pick up some gold? --And maybe put on some more clothes so she doesn't stick out like a sore thumb...
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:15 am
If Melody would like to do that, Jin doesn't mind. After all, sie is just going to be rolling the cart up and down the street; so long as Melody returns before sundown, Jin will still be there.
Though, Jin points out, no one seems to be looking at Melody unkindly (in fact, nobody seems to be paying Melody any special mind at all) and if she finds something she really must have, Jin wouldn't mind lending her a little money...
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:18 am
Melody honestly couldn't do that! It just wouldn't be right! After all, they just met, and Jin already gave her a present-- two wonderful, adorable, soCUTE presents that--
Wait.
How... how did Jin know she's having twins? She didn't think it was THAT obvious yet.
Well, without knowing how far along she is, she means.
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:27 am
Jin can feel them very clearly, sie replies with a smile. It's true that one cannot really hear a baby until soon before she is to be born, but Jin has a keen sensitivity regarding these things. To hir Melody's twins are as obvious as the fact that Melody is one, not two or five or ten people.
And Melody need not worry about imposing. Jin can spare a little gift, and perhaps Melody will repay the favor someday, sie muses lightly while pushing on the cart to get it rolling again.
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