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RESPITE MARKETPLACE - LATE MORNING
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Enver is just busking for himself at the moment, having helped a local craftswoman sell out her stock of solstice gifts and decorations earlier. For now, he occupies himself with just practicing a few juggling routines while a small crowd comes and goes, a coin or two being dropped into his hat on the ground every minute or so.
Teis strolls through the marketplace, mostly unsure of what to do with the fresh morning and basket of snacky breakfast. The buskers of Respite certainly have her attention, slowing down to appreciate the happenings around her, eyes eventually settling on Enver. Busking was certainly frowned upon from where Teis was from, which Teis considers to be a bit of a shame. Teis stops to watch Enver as well as to eat, going so far as to sit wherever she is capable of doing so - Even if that simply means the ground.
Enver gives the white cat a nod and small wave between catching his balls and various other items that have been proffered to him this morning. There's a lumpy turnip and a squash of some type in the mix current, as well as what looks to be a decorative ball woven out of dried pussywillows.
Teis tellingly smiles at Enver in response to the silent greeting. Impressed, her eyes idly follow the motions of the juggled objects as she continues consuming her food, able to simply relax in the moment. A good way to start the day before getting stuck into work later. As she finishes up her current treat, she fishes a hand into her coin purse, fetching her morning's change out. Della won't mind. . .If she even notices.
Enver finishes up the current pattern in time with Teis's donation, catching the items with his good hand before setting the back in his cubic bag and then pausing to take a drink from a flask of water. "Thank you kindly, miss." He gives her another smile and a nod as the rest of the crowd disperses, adding a few coins of their own before moving on.
Teis scuttles forward to deposit said donation in Enver's hat, before retreating back to where she was sitting. She offers yet another, wider smile to Enver, with a small nod. She pulls out another snack, watching Enver, to see if he'll be continuing or not. If not, well, it's still a nice place to sit and eat - Teis isn't about to move just to finish her breakfast.
Enver cocks his head at Teis. "Ah, I see. Forgive me for trying to spark conversation while you're eating." He bends down and fetches a faintly glowing glass ball out of his bag before closing it up and using it as his own seat. He begins carefully rolling it over his hand and forearm, still fairly new to this art, but able to keep it balanced even if his movements have to be less than smooth to do so.
Teis: "Hm?" Teis hums a response through her food. She speeds up her chewing, swallowing quickly to clear her mouth. "Oh. No. Talk away, if you want. Just figured you're in the middle of a routine, and all." Teis replies, nomming some more food. Her eyes follow the orb closely, somewhat mesmerized by it.
Enver transfers the ball to his other hand, though the inflexible nature of his prosthetic makes what he can do with it much more limited here. He gives a little laugh. "Don't worry about it, miss. I'm Enver, and I was mostly just practicing. Been here long enough now that most folks have seen even my fanciest tricks, so I need to get better."
Teis: "Ah. Fair enough. I'm Teis. Mostly new around here. You do this for fun, or. . .?" Teis attempts to probe.
Enver transfers the orb back to his good hand, adding a few flourishes now that he has a handle on its balance. "This is my trade, Miss Teis. It's how I filly my belly and afford my baubles. If no one claps, then my stomach growls, to put it bluntly."
Teis' expression seems to sadden upon hearing that, though she keeps it at bay with a follow-up question. "Do you perform elsewhere?"
Enver looks around the marketplace. "I have vendors who pay me to bring crowds to their stalls, but I've never performed on a stage in limelight, if that's what you're asking." He looks around. "I don't even think Respite has a stage anywhere?" The ball falters and tips off his hand, but it is deftly caught in the other hand, coming to rest against the curled fingers of his prosthesis.
Teis: "No I meant. .Like in another town or city. Like Barnell's Foothold, or something." Teis questions. Her eyes follow that orb, expecting it to hit the ground and shatter, though is pleasantly surprised when it is caught. This, of course, only further draws her eyes to Enver's prosthetic, now notably staring at it.
Enver palms the ball in his good hand, squeezing it a bit as the practice ceases. "Some back home, enough to know it's what I wanted to do... not that my father would listen." He notices the cat's eyes on his bad hand and lifts it up so she can see. The prosthetic has been replaced since he got to town, now made of finely carved wood and supple leather which fits his hand much better and blends in a bit more with his natural coloration. "I would say it was a juggling accident, but I was just born with only half a hand." He flexes his thumb and index finger, the only genuine digits on the hand before pulling it back and sticking both hands into the pockets of his baggy, brightly colored trousers.
Narrator: So this is something Enver chose to do. Teis nods, sighing quietly to herself in relief. "I mean, yeah. . .I get that. Wanting to do your own thing, that is." Teis smiles. It's a bit judgemental of her to assume all street performers are desperate and homeless. . .But that's sort of what she's used to back where she's from. As for the prosthetic, Teis winces, pained once more. "Oh. That. . .Kind of sucks. But you juggle and contact juggle anyway, which is impressive!"
Enver nods. "Yeah... but I don't want anyone's pity. I want to be known for making people smile, not for making them sad for me." He leans over and picks up his hat from the ground, transferring most of the coins into his pocket for the moment. He shakes his head, still thinking. "I mean, I wouldn't be opposed to doing this in addition to an apprenticeship somewhere, but that wasn't an option and so... here I am."
Teis: "Ah. . .Yes! Of course. Um, sorry." Teis briefly panics and apologizes. "So you're. . .Not on good terms with your father? You came out here alone? I mean. I don't mean to be intrusive. Curious cat, and all. A-ha." Teis sheepishly chuckles.
Enver rests the hat in his lap and shakes his head. "No, it's fine... it's just... well, he basically tried to sell me... it wasn't 'Enver, how would you feel about going to work at the pipeworks in Westport?' It was 'You're going to the pipeworks and I'll hear nothing against it... They paid me good money for you.'" His voice gets really quiet near the end. "So I got on a different ship in Policaster and it brought me here... wish I'd made that plan before they loaded my trunk on the boat to Westport though..."
Teis' happy go lucky demeanour disappears in an instant. Any smile she may have had drops, her eating stops, tail becomes still, pupils constricting. A seething, silent rage takes over Teis, and soon, one claw is digging deeply into her fresh bagel, the other getting lost in the extravagant fluff of her thigh.
Enver cocks his head as he notices Teis's changes in demeanour. He gives a little nod, but otherwise says nothing, not wanting to interrupt the cat's train of thought wherever it may be headed.
Narrator: Soon, Teis takes a deep breath in, followed by closing her eyes. Once she lets it out in a controlled, angry sigh, Teis seems to 'reset' of sorts. Still upset, but restrained. "I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. Truly." Teis offers.
Enver nods. "So am I, but I'm here now, no one has found me, I doubt anyone is looking, and I'm making my own way in this lovely little town." He smiles a bit as he stands up, opening his cubic bag and transferring the hat and the coins from his pocket inside it. "I'm going to be all right."
Teis offers a solemn nod in return. Not happy, but aware that she can't exactly do anything about it, much as she wants to. Parents like that. . .Well, they suck. "Good. I'm glad you're alright, and got something good going on." Teis smiles.
Enver smiles. "Like I said, I'd rather folks feel good when I'm around." He stands up and gives a long stretch, which is quite long considering his slinky build. "Think I'm going to go find some lunch of my own. You're welcome to tag along, if you like."
Teis: "Ah. . .Maybe another day, Enver. I'm afraid I have work of my own. But tomorrow, I can stop by before eating? And then we can eat together, yes?" Teis offers.
Enver smiles. "I'd like that. See you then. I'm not too hard to find." He hefts up his bag and makes ready to head toward the other side of the market. "A pleasure meeting you, Teis."
Teis: "You too, Enver." Teis replies, finishing off the last of her food and standing herself.
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MARKETPLACE - NOONISH
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Jennica is sitting on the sidetable of her and Emmeline's stall, her overalls somewhat loosely on her and her hair a mess, as she seems to be still waking up. Regardless, she's also fiddling with a mini version of what would be the ice-cold generator of Bracvar's wagon, just to test her theories.
Garwin yawns, stretching as he heads back towards his quarters after his early shift and a late lunch. He looks across the marketplace as he spots a somewhat familiar new face, and moseys over to her stall, very careful not to touch or break anything as he peers down, giving Jennica a big smile, "Hey there, ma'am. So this here's where all your inventings end up, hm?"
Jennica blinks from her focus and looks up, smiling timidly at the bear: "O-oh! Hey. Y-yeah, guess this is where they end up. B-before they're sold, anyway." She gets up to standing, but is still a lot shorter than Garwin, looking up to him.
Garwin bends down a little, crouching to take a closer look at one of the little light-up doohickeys befeore he looks back up at Jennica when she stands, "Oh, shoot, uh, sorry. It's Garwin. From the bar the other day? It's Jennica right?"
Jennica smiles and nods: "Y-yeah, I remember you." She blushes slightly, glancing aside: "You and Enver were very nice to me."
Garwin stands back up, scratching his head, "Aww, well, I did my best. You seem a nice lady. And Enver's a good lad too. He's not got much so I try to keep an eye on him."
Jennica tilts her head, curious: "Doesn't have much? What do you- oh. Oh." She gives an idle glance at the currently vacated rock where Enver often does his juggling. "Oh."
Garwin frowns, "Was I not supposed to say that? Um... I kinda forget what I'm supposed to and not supposed to say sometimes. He's working really hard, is all."
Jennica looks at Garwin, then slightly shakes her head. "No, I just thought... I don't know what, that he was just doing that for fun." She looks at the trinket in her hands: "...though guess I'm kinda doing this too, in a way."
Garwin turns back to the trinkets and nods, "Oh, sure! You're working really hard too, right? I mean, a lot of folks are around here! I didn't mean to imply you weren't!" He points at the little device with the spinning light in it, "Like what's this do?"
Jennica looks at the device and spends a second recalling, before nodding with a smile: "O-oh. That just sort of... mood lights. It gets brighter when your mood darkens, reminding you of better things. Sorta. It's not very complicated." She picks it up and puts it on Garwin's paw.
Garwin carefully takes the light, tilting his head at it quizically. It seems to brighten up in his paw, shifting to an orange-ish color. "Oh? Well, I really like the shininess of it, and I always try to keep my mood bright! How much for it?"
Jennica blinks at the sudden call, glancing around if she or Emmeline actually set up a price for it. "Um. Hmm. Ten, maybe? Not sure, hadn't thought about it..."
Garwin blinks, "Err, you hadn't? Well, if ten is alright, I can do that. I don't wanna short change you or anything though. I've got no clue what this kinda thing is really worth, I just think it's pretty."
Jennica blushes, tapping her fingers together: "I don't really know either. Emmeline does all the cash math usually."
Garwin hums, setting the light down, "Well, maybe you can ask her and save it for me?"
Jennica hums, then nods slowly: "Guess I can do that... she doesn't like it when I undersell things. Or I don't like it when I do and don't know it, anyway."
Garwin grins wide, "Well just put a little sold sign or whatever you do with it and put my name on it! I don't wantcha to undersell either! And I'm sure Emmeline is uh... sorry, I guess I don't know who Emmeline is, actually."
Jennica blinks, then smiles: "Em is my b-best friend and the other owner of this little stall. Brown cow, and taller and better looking than me. Can't miss."
Garwin laughs, "Well obviously I can miss, since I don't think I've met her yet! Didn't realize you had a partnership going. Good on ya. Plenty of folks can get lonely this far out from civilization."
Jennica nods, leaning back on the sidetable: "Y-yeah.... Respite is pretty far from places." She sighs a bit, but then smiles again: "It's good, though."
Garwin stands up tall, glancing around the marketplace at all the various folks mingling around. "Yeah, it is good... it's a wonderful little town, once you get to know it. I'm glad you and your friend are part of it, Jennica."
Jennica gives a timid little smile at this: "Y-yeah... I'm glad too. I like warmth."
Garwin chuckles, glancing down at the other sthings at the table, "Oh, well, warmth we got plenty. Save for when it's raining. I try not to go out in the rain much though."
Jennica sticks her tongue out for a moment: "Y-yeah, me neither. My fur holds the water way too well."
Garwin gives a big laugh, clutching his stomach with a paw, "Oh, I know that feeling. I used to live down by the sea too. I've never been swimming though."
Jennica blinks, then goes quiet as she blushes at a memory or another: "Y-yeah... swimming's maybe not my thing either."
Garwin nods, "I do like fishing though. It's quiet, relaxing... never actually caught anything though."
Jennica blinks, giving Garwin an odd look: "Never caught anything? Why, uh... how... um, why do you fish, then?"
Garwin shrugs, "For the peace and quiet."
Garwin points at the stall next to them, "If I want fish, I just buy it from Bracvar."
Jennica blinks again, following Garwin's direction... then lets out a giggle. "O-oh. That's... kinda great. Hehe."
Garwin yawns, then stretches his arms out. "Ahhh. I should head home. Been a long shift, and I'll stop hogging your booth. But save that little light for me, alright? I'll stop by again tomorrow?"
Jennica picks up the light trinket in question and smiles brightly at Garwin: "Y-yeah, I will. See you then!"
Garwin waves a paw as he continues along his path out of the marketplace, feeling fairly... light? He chuckles.
Jennica looks at Garwin go, idly waving at him, before continuing her crafting with a smile on her face. Making a mental note to ask Emmeline about pricing later.