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RESPITE MARKETPLACE - AFTERNOON
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Fiora walks through the market in her jogging outfit, a towel draped over her shoulder and holding an ice cream cone as she just enjoys the treat after a hard morning workout.
Enver is doing a simple juggling demonstration near the fountain for a trio of children who all look to be siblings. They seem a bit entranced by the way the colorful balls can move through the air and are asking Enver a bunch of questions, which he's answering coyly.
Fiora continues to lick at her ice cream, spotting the little juggling display by the fountain, she recognizes Enver, making her way through the crowd to stand at the edge of the crowd, a respectful distance from the mongoose while he finishes up performing.
Narrator: The performance is cut short as the trio's mother finishes her business at a nearby stall and ushers the children away hurriedly.
Enver catches the balls in his hat and sets it next to him on the edge of the fountain before looking around and noticing Fiora. He blinks, not having seen her since the incident with the log.
Fiora waves, stepping forward as the kids disperse, "Heya, Enver! How's the tent treating you?"
Enver finds himself a bit tonguetied for a few moments. He manages a shallow bow to the giraffe before he speaks. "A-afternoon miss Fiora... It's good... Nice and dry and no one bothers me out at the waterfall. I've been making enough that I can look at renting a room in town soon, though..."
Fiora licks her ice cream and grins, "Just Fiora is fine, Enver. I'm too tall for folks to miss me." She walks around and takes a seat at the edge of the fountain. "Cool! I'm assuming no one has sat on the tent, so I'm glad that helped out!"
Enver giggles at both of the jokes and smiles. "Oh, yes, no, I mean, it's all good... it's helped a lot..." He sits on the other side of his hat and looks up at her. "How are things with you? Still waiting for another bounty to come in?"
Fiora shrugs, "Sorta? I've sorta gotten things figured out with my Sister... if I go for any bounties it'll probably be something my partner brings to me. In the meantime, I guess I'm sorta setting up a home base here, which is weird and new."
Enver smiles, "Ah, that's good... I mean, family is good... when you like each other and all..." He looks down at the ground, going quiet.
Fiora nods, "Yeah... well, barely know Erika at all but I've also sent her letters my whole life. So, that's weird... don't have anyone else."
Enver nods. "At least you have someone..." He kicks some dirt up with his foot. "All I've got is me. I mean, I've made a few friends in the market here, but like, they're not family..."
Fiora sighs, "Yeah... that's rough... the whole reason I'm here is cause Mom..." She shakes her head. "Crap. No, nevermind. You told me about your Dad being kind of a pushy jerk."
Enver shakes his head. "No, it's okay... he's not here... can't hurt me anymore..." He looks up at Fiora. "Please, tell me about your mom."
Fiora crosses her arms, silent for a moment. "She was a strong lady. I mean, both physically and like... she was a tough lady."
Enver smiles. "Well, to be your mom, she'd have to be, I think." He looks down, a slight flush to his cheeks. "I mean... from what I know of you,... which isn't much..."
Fiora chuckles. "Oh yeah, I was a handful." She glances at her melting ice cream and puts the remainder of the scoop in her mouth, swallowing. "I was always picking fights and doing whatever I wanted. She was super patient when she needed to be, but I didn't see tha-AHHHHHHHHHGGGGGH!" She clutches her head suddenly, "Da-Damn ice cream headache!"
Enver jumps up at the scream and looks around before Fiora explains it. "Oh, uh... that happens sometimes, yeah..." He hops down to the ground again, the cuffs of his trousers dripping from the mongoose's brief visit to the fountain. He shakes off a bit more of the water before sitting down again. "I miss my mom too... she got sick a few years ago and got sent to some special hospital in Westport. I wanted to visit her, but it was always 'too expensive'... and then after a while, Dad didn't talk about her anymore."
Fiora grins guiltily, "Heh, sorry about that." She sighs, "Never really had a Dad. He's here, in town, but I dunno. Don't really connect with him. Mom didn't really talk about him growing up. She was all I had. She got sick too, while I was away." Her hands tighten into fists. "Just came back to find her gone."
Enver looks over at Fiora. "I'm sorry..." He stands up and picks up his hat before stepping in closer to look up at her face. "I don't know what to say to that, but..." He trails off, really not knowing what to say as thoughts of his own mother distract him from any sort of words of comfort or wisdom.
Fiora relaxes her hands, one now sticky from the broken cone and remnants of ice cream that had dripped inside of it. "Eh... it's fine. Mom would hate it if she saw me crying over her. I'm pretty well past all that anger stuff about it. Sorry to hear about everything that's happened to you as well... 'specially your Mom."
Enver shakes his head. "It's... well it's not OK, but it is what it is... Dad got really angry after she went away...." He sighs. "I think she'd be proud of me for running away... not letting him just... sell me off..."
Fiora grins, "Probably. My Mom lived by her own rules, and she taught me the same. Be who you are, and don't let anyone stop you. That's how I live."
Enver smiles. "Yeah. Not gonna let anything stop me from having a good life for myself, not my dad, not running away, not even my stupid half-hand..."
Fiora glances at Enver's hand. "You could always talk to my partner about the hand. He used to be a pirate. Probably has all sorts of good tips for like, hook hands. That's a pirate thing, I think."
Enver's hand isn't noticeable, especially when he's wearing gloves, like he does when performing, but the mongoose takes off the glove and undoes one of the straps holding the prosthetic in place to show Fiora what's he's talking about.
Enver: Yeah, no... I'm good with this for now... probably impossible to juggle with a hook... There's this little lizard guy that says he's going to make me a new one... he made his own arm, so like, I think he know's what he's doing?
Fiora nods, "Oh yeah, the juggling. Guess that'd be pretty hard with a hook." She pauses, "Wow, actually pretty impressive you can juggle with that like it is. Dang. Well, good luck with the lizard guy, anyways."
Enver laughs, blushing a bit as he refastens the straps and replaces his glove. "Well, it took a lot of practice, and it's limiting for sure, but I'm not going to give up."
Fiora grins, "Good plan. I've never let giving up stop me from not giving... hm. Yeah! You've got this."
Enver laughs again. "Yeah, thanks. I'll try my best anyway... so uh... you have a partner? Like, just a business partner, or...?"
Fiora: "Pretty much. Bounty Hunters. Always nice to know someone's got your back on dangerous jobs. He's got a quick trigger finger and a mean right hook, and he's basically the best with swords. Don't tell him I said any of that though. He'd get a big head."
Enver laughs. "I don't even know who it is, so don't worry..." He picks up two of his juggling balls in his good hand and starts moving them around in circles with his fingers.
Fiora chuckles, standing up from the fountain. "Fair enough! I should head over towards the hardware place. I still looking for a place to live and someone recommended this second story place that hasn't sold in awhile. It's supposed to be a bit weird but..." She shrugs. "You take care, Enver!"
Enver blinks at Fiora's quick departure, leaving him only the opportunity to call out a quick "Bye Fiora!" He keeps sitting on the edge of the fountain as he adds the third ball in with the twirling pair, content to just sit by the fountain and practice until the pre-dinner rush.