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 Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 6:33 pm
When Mero had returned home with a stained dress and refused to speak about it her mother had just let the topic go. Clearly something had happened, something her daughter was eager to discuss, but unlike the older woman Mero herself was incapable to letting things go. She'd strewed over it for days and had refused to go to town at all for as long as she could. Part of her wanted to go back specifically to spike his meal with worms or something equally as rotten, but Mero had stubbornly stayed home.
She would have done so again if her mother hadn't sent her out on errands.
"You can hide all you want after you've picked up a new kettle. I can't brew tea with a hole in the side!"
She'd tried explaining to her over and over that they didn't need tea anymore, but the older woman had insisted. So, Mero had stiffened her back and gone back to the village.
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Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 7:29 pm
Kuno had gone back home the morning after his "successful" adventure. After a few days though, he felt guilt picking at him.
He needed to be sure the old tea man got paid back for the shattered cup.
So, another fib to his parents and he was back in Sauti. To his surprise and relief, the old man laughed at his tale of how the cup had broken. Kuno was able to put the money back in his pocket, the tea-meister telling him the broken cup would simply be docked from his 'pay.' Besides, he had enjoyed the nap~ Kuno ended up standing there for quite a while, forgetting his own concerns while listening to the man's tales with interest.
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Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 7:36 pm
Mero was stiff backed when she rounded the corner towards the tea stand. She had hoped against hope that the boy wasn't there; that he'd gone off, had gotten fired or at the very least was home with some illness or another. Nothing too serious, just enough to keep him away from her while she shopped.
Unfortunately he was there, chatting it up with the old tea seller and she felt her tongue cluck inside her mouth. She could walk away, but if she dawdled too long in town then her mother would worry and if Mero came back without a kettle then she would be punished. With any luck she could just get this over with quickly and move on.
So, with a deep breath, Mero walked up to the stand, making sure to only look at the old man and to ignore Kuno completely. "I'm here to buy a kettle; cheapest you've got"
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 5:26 pm
Kuno took a step to the side when someone approached the stand, not paying the customer any attention until he heard the voice. Head lifting with surprise, he gawked a moment before grinning brightly. Maybe he was a little safer with the old man there? "Ah! See, this here's the one that broke the cup with her magic!" he chirped. "That was really cool, ya know?"
The old man sighed heavily and shook his head. "You got some learnin' to do, boy." He looked to Mero and smiled politely. "I got a nice one here. You sure that's all you want?" he asked as he bent to grab up a kettle.
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Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2020 12:28 pm
Mero's cheeks flared with color at the exact moment her eyes decided to spark. Electricity itself seemed to pop off the tips of her curls, but just as quickly as the display had reared it's head the whole thing went away. She calmed herself with a smooth inhaled before turning her heated gaze away from the talkative idiot to the stall owner.
"Well, I wouldn't mind some briarroot leaves if he hasn't touched it." She should have just finished the transaction and left it at that, but Mero's youth betrayed her. While the old man prepared her order she turned her attention back to Kuno, "Do you make a habit of being a public nuisance? Or do you actually have somewhere to be?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2020 7:11 pm
Kuno's brow rose at the subtle crackling around the girl. Had he actually seen that? It was entirely possible. Oooh, sensitive. "Ah, you don't have to worry about anythin'. That was the only time I worked this here."
The old man peered between the two and snorted. "I get the feeling that it's a habit of his."
Kuno blew out a raspberry between his lips. "I ain't no public nuisance. I just like a good joke now 'n then. I just came back to pay for the cup. ..You know, seein' as I kinda made you mad enough to break it." His grin brightened. "Oh, did you actually get the tea you ordered?" He waved his hand to the salesman. "She liked the mammu root. What was the rest.. the lake lily and...cullyweed! Right?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 6:32 pm
[4/7]
"It certainly does seem to be," Mero murmured in agreement with the shop keep. This time she kept a firm hand on her basket lest she touch something else she might accidentally break. If he hadn't been so obviously at fault then she may have offered to pay for it, but covering costs would make up for the little stunt he'd pulled.
"No, I didn't. After I br- After the incident with the cup I left." After taking a sharp little inhale, Mero was prepared to lash out again when he momentarily gave her pause. "You remembered what I ordered?" Confused or not, she waved it off. "Doesn't matter now; I'm getting the kettle instead."
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2020 1:32 pm
Oblivious to the surprise, Kuno tapped his hand against the stall. "Well, now I feel bad. Come on. Since I messed up your day, how 'bout I get that tea for you?" He held one hand over his heart and the other rose in a fist. "Man's honor, no ink this time."
The tea seller laughed and set a simple looking kettle onto the counter top. "You have to be a man to make a man's promise~" he teased. "Here you are, miss."
Kuno scrunched up his face in a playfully hurt pout. "Hey! No one asked you."
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2020 6:40 pm
[5/7]
Mero couldn't help the little laugh that slipped out. "Not much of a man with that baby face." She framed her jawline with the back of her hand, and smiled. One day he would be, that much was easy to see, but right now he was just another irritating boy.
As much as she wanted to decline the facts were that finances were tight. Her mother didn't bring anything in; they relied entirely on handouts from those they served and she wasn't in a position to turn away such a generous offer. "...Fine." Taking the kettle, Mero settled it into her basket, leaving just enough room for when the seller had her tea ready. "I'll forgive you, but just know you're getting off easy."
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2020 7:43 pm
Lips pursing lightly, Kuno couldn't help raising his hand to his own jawline for inspection. "Baby face, my eye," he grumbled to himself. Maybe he would just keep his money to himself!
..No he wouldn't. Once the total price for the teas and the kettle was noted, he counted out and dropped the offered share. "I 'preciate you sparing me from the worst of your wrath," he chuckled, leaning in an easygoing manner against the stall. "So, meet here same time next week?" he asked with a playful grin to the young lady, while ignoring the sigh from the old man.
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Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 3:25 pm
[6/7]
Mero carefully tucked the tea around the kettle and pulled a bit of cloth over her entire haul. It wasn't much, but at least it might protect the tea should the weather turn foul. Looking at him from under her eyelashes, Mero couldn't help rolling her eyes at the easy going pose. Was he trying to be disarmingly charming or - ?
Get ahold of yourself!
"Are you serious?" She gave a low, slow blink as if processing his request was something entirely unheard of. Mero gave in to a little laugh, some color finally coming to her cheeks. "You've ruined my favorite dress, embarrassed me, been threatened, and you still want to see me again?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 5:01 pm
"Well, when you put it that way, comin' back here sounds like a bad idea," he replied with a laugh. Kuno straightened back up, pausing any further advances. Honestly, it wasn't likely that he would get away with returning again any time soon. Plus, if that was how she felt... maybe he shouldn't push his luck? Next time, he might be the one that shatters rather than a cup!
Oh, but this was so much fun. Besides, when she did smile... "Can't blame a guy for tryin'." he relented, putting his hands up in surrender.
The old man waved his hands to shoo the teens away. "It's been entertaining, but begone now. I'm not running a social dance here or anything. You're going to scare off my other customers with all this nonsense."
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Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 5:07 pm
"I've got to get back anyway." The longer she was gone the more her mother would worry, and the old woman didn't need anything else weighing her down. Mero took a few steps away from the stall, paused and looked over her shoulder. She should, really she shouldn't, and yet..."I don't come to town often, but you could always leave a letter with the cobbler. I watch his sons while he works. Leave it for Mero."
With a little wave the girl turned back around once more and started out of town. Maybe he would write to her, maybe he wouldn't; either way she would have an interesting story to tell her friends over a cup of warm tea. Looking into her basket once more made her grin. Some of the tea wasn't cheap in the least, but she'd managed to snag a fair bit of it! So maybe, just maybe, it had all been worth it after all.
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Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 5:18 pm
Kuno took his own turn to take in the unexpected. "Leave it with the cobbler," he repeated out loud to himself, waving in return even though the girl was already walking away. Mero... After a long moment, he looked to the old man and smacked the counter with delight. "Ya hear that? Mero says I can leave a letter for her with the cobbler!"
The tea seller rolled his eyes. Kids these days. "Yes, yes, my ears are still working. Now, are yours? Begone, you public nuisance you!"
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