Shopping for a fight!

[Invisible]

The morning had begun some time ago. It was not safe to say it was closer to lunch than breakfast, but it soon enough would be. Genet was by no means an early riser and she saw no reason to change that. Upon awaking she had to take a bath and then find a decent outfit and then get something to eat before she could venture out to the bowl to find Nysta and then brave the Caminar enclave to find someone to trade with. Her clothes were nothing special, but at least they were clean and pressed. Maybe a brown dress was dreadfully dull, but at least she could decorate it with the red sash given to her by an aunt. That and her amber pendant were all she had to spice it up.

Still munching on her last muffin as she stepped out into the morning she felt in her pocket for the small pouch containing her brother’s marks. Her marks now and if he knew what was good for him he’d never say a word. She was still quite furious at him after all. Even if she missed him terribly still. Brushing at a few crumbs she peered around the bowl looking for her partner in crime. In the distance she could see the Caminar gathered about and wondered how long they would be around. Wondered as well if they’d ever find the missing kids. It was, to be honest, not something she considered much. She had no kids and was not one herself. The only thing she cared about was finding something new to distract herself with. Something pretty for certain. If she could help Nysta find something as well that was just gravy.

[hails]

Nysta had been up bright and early this morning. Upon dressing in her work clothes, she had rushed down to the kitchens and baked up a few treats. Thank goodness that no one had questioned her. They were all too busy doing their own work to pay attention to a young girl trying to decide how many tarts to make.

When they were all safe and sound in a borrowed handbasket, she approached her mother with a sniffle and a cough. She was immediately sent to bed and ordered to 'take it easy.' Did taking it easy include a visit to the Caminar? Nysta thought so.

She quickly bathed and brushed and dried her hair. Then she put on her cream blouse (trimmed in ruffles and altogether very feminine) and her dip-dyed purple skirt (make out of yards and yards of fabric to give that pretty swaying effect when she walked.) After pulling on a pair of sandals and grabbing the basket, she was gone.

Nysta kept a lookout for Genet among the after-breakfast crowd. She dodged people while stepping on her tip-toes for a better look. Aha! There was Genet.

"I'm over here," she called with an excited wave as she made her way over. Her lungs seemed congested and she fought back a wheeze. This would probably make her cold worse but it'd be worth it. Well, at least she hoped so.

[Invisible]

Stuffing the last of her muffin in her mouth Genet brushed crumbs off her dress and then licked her fingers. Breakfast done she resumed watching the Weyr come and go. When she thought she heard a familiar voice, well, one that might have been the one she was looking for she looked around. Spying Nysta she waved wildly. “Oh, there you are! I’ve been waiting forever!” A complete lie, but there you go. That was just the way Genet was. Hopping on her feet she gestured towards where the Caminar were gathered. “We’re ready then? I’ve my marks and it looks like you have stuff too. Excellent! We’re sure to be doing well!”

Genet stayed where she was until Nysta got close and then she gestured once more. “Shall we be off? Before you mother catches you.” Grinning at this because it wasn’t long since she had to worry about her mother she headed off for the Caminar gathered in ‘their’ spot of the bowl. “It’s going to be a lovely day I think,” she said conversationally. “With any luck that will extend towards any dealings we have with the traders. What are you looking for exactly? So we know what to try and get and all.”

[hails]

Nysta reached Genet a bit out-of breath but still with a bright smile on her face. "Sorry about that," she said with a nervous chuckle. "And I've got everything I need." She held up the basket but didn't bother to uncover the tarts.

"Mom thinks I'm in bed but she'll probably check up on me sometime. It'll probably be really funny when she realizes I'm gone." Well, not funny to her but Genet seemed the type to find it so. And despite not particularly liking the way the older woman seemed to disregard people, Nysta certainly didn't want to come off as stuck-up. She hesitantly began to walk towards the Caminar, waiting for Genet to take the lead.

She gave a quick glance to the sky as Genet talked about the weather. No clouds but it was a nice temperature with a gentle breeze. The perfect weather to be outdoors in. "I have a feeling today's going to be great. As for what I'm looking for," Nysta paused thoughtfully. "I'm not sure. Something pretty. I think I'll know it when I see it. What about you?"

[Invisible]

A sunny smile for the girl in place Genet waved her hand as if dismissing the apology. “No need to worry at all! I’ve hardly been here long waiting.” She had hardly been there at all, but saw no reason to point that out at this juncture. “Really? She checks up on you? And you know? And you didn’t plan ahead?” Shaking her head Genet let out an amused sort of sigh. “You have to learn how to sneak around better. There’s no sense if you’re always going to get caught. Well, you’ll sort it out in time. We always did.”

When asked what she was looking for Genet chuckled and pulled her attention from the Caminar enclave to watch Nysta. “Huh? Oh, something to spend my brother’s marks on. I don’t much care what. The point is just to spend his marks. It’s paybacks, you see? Paybacks are important when you are betrayed by the only family you have in the world who even cares if you come or go.” Which might mean one would want to make nice with that person. Then again, who could really understand the relationship between this pair of twins?

The noise was the first thing to greet the shoppers as they reached the little area where traders were still hawking their wares to the residents of Telgar. It wasn’t the biggest part of the enclave and was slightly set apart from it to discourage the curious from venturing into the ‘home’ of the travelers. A short distance away from where the unofficial trading area was a few of the Weyr’s residents sat in the shade of a tree drinking from a shared skin of wine. A sudden breeze brought a whiff of wine on the air which combined with the looks of the men made it obvious they had been drinking for awhile yet even if it was only morning.

[hails]

Nysta sighed to herself, trying to force herself not to feel like a total idiot. But still, a day in the company of someone like Genet would certainly be better than a day staying cooped up inside. Besides, she wasn't so worried about getting caught. She could surely talk her way out of too much trouble.

She also stayed silent while listening about Genet's plans for payback. Perhaps it was because she didn't have any siblings of her own that she couldn't relate. She'd always felt she'd lost out on something by not having a brother or sister but now she wasn't so sure.

Then they reached the trading area and Nysta's general offstandishness disappeared. She uncrossed her arms and let her basket bump against her thighs. She'd seen the Caminar from a distance and around the Weyr but never this close. It was really like they were from a whole other world with their dark appearances and strange customs. The scent of herbs, spices, and wine was strong but thanks to Nysta's stuffy nose, she failed to catch any of it. Her ears, however, worked just fine and a grin appeared on her face. Such strange accents these people had! And how interesting this excursion would be.

___________

How boring this day was turning out to be, thought Laikol as he he sat beneath the tarp covering all the knick-knacks he was supposed to be selling. They were little things like jewelry and scarves and embroidered belts and leather bags, things meant to attract the Weyrfolk and their many marks. But the day had just started and business was slow. He had half a mind to pack up and leave but the thought of his angry uncle was enough to keep him sitting on the stiff wooden chair behind the little wooden table.

While his family was probably out visiting with long-lost relatives, Laikol was stuck here. Always left behind, always stuck with the most boring and unwanted jobs. Why couldn't his brother be here? He was a much better salesman with his cheerful demeanor. He was probably talking to pretty girls and thinking of marriage right now.

Feeling more irritable by the minute, Laikol rose to his feet and went to stand just outside the tent. With things going so slowly, he was about to do anything for excitement.

[Invisible]

There was something about not talking that got to Genet. Oh, it was fine every now and again, but when with someone it seemed rude not to talk. She’d never gotten the hang of comfortable silences. Probably she never would considering she was already over twenty turns and unable to keep her mouth shut for any length of time. So, while Nysta contemplated her day Genet spoke about it not even seeming to care if the girl paid attention. “So, I woke up late because who gets up early on a rest day, right? And it was hard because no one would shut up this morning. I mean, who is that rude? Just because you have to be up doesn’t mean we all have to be up. It’s horrible and I told them exactly that and they just carried on like it didn’t matter.” Shaking her head she looked over at the residents under the tree and wrinkled her nose.

“Drunk already is pretty disgusting,” she commented. Now, Genet was prone to trouble sure, but it wasn’t her fault. It was totally not her fault she spoke loud enough to be heard. Still, it was probably not helping the already edgy drunks to have some woman calling them disgusting. They passed the wine skin around again and kept an eye on Genet, and by extension Nysta. “Personally, I don’t think it’s wise to drink hardly anything. I try not to. I mean, people do it to be social and loosen up and I am already those things so why force it unnaturally. Don’t you think?” She looked at her companion who seemed more interested in looking around. “Haven’t you been here before?” Intent as she was on the conversation and keeping an eye on the drunks she didn’t really notice Laikol.

The drunks under the tree did however and they started nudging each other and whispering. Their looks towards the Caminar grew longer and the nudging grew more fierce as they finished their skin of wine. There was something in the air that nearly made trouble seem likely. Of course, it could just have been the presence of Genet.

[Omnia Munda]

Among those drinking riders were two of J'fel's wingriders. The weyrleader's wing had enjoyed absurd success in a series of joust matches the day before and The brownrider C'vole was well into his second bottle of celebration. A'wan was less of a drinker but no less of a looker: he was sprawled all long legs and arms hung up over one another with keen eyes watchful of every Caminar skirt that swept past.

C'vole's eyes weren't sharp enough to make out detail on a swishing skirt, but he could pick weyrfolk out apart from Caminar girls easily enough. Overhearing Genet's remark he asided to his wingmate - as loud as Genet herself had been - "S'not what she said after th'match yesterday, what." A rich grin completed his jest, and A'wan laughed lowly and wagged brows at the girls as they went by.

He was being nudged, however, and couldn't focus well enough on the girls from whom C'vole was trying to get a rise. Another rider was saying something in his ear and the lanky bluerider tipped down his head to hear it, frowning - then twisting a smile. He shook his head, but when Laikol emerged from his tent, the bluerider's gaze was darkly keen upon him.

[hails]

With her gaze sat on the Caminar, Nysta only halfway heard what Genet was talking about. She'd never really been one for idle chitchat and usually kept her thoughts to herself. She did catch something about drunks, though, and Nysta followed her gaze to see the group of men under the tree. They seemed to be staring at her and Genet, who was still talking.

A series of questions prompted her out of her thoughts. "I've only drank twice and each time I ended up throwing my guts up. But I guess I don't have a problem with people who like it." She was fifteen for goodness' sake. Why would she care about alcohol? Could they just go shopping instead of staying around those leering men? "And I've been by here before but not this close. Look, can we just get going please?" Nysta wasn't so much afraid as she was grumpy about the whole ordeal and the way she clenched her jaw showed it.

___________


A few pretty Caminar girls passed by Laikol, giggling and waving at him. He gave them a cocky smile and nodded back and was about to invite them over for a chat when he saw a group of men out of the corner of his eye. And one of them was staring at him. Laikol narrowed his eyes and sized the situation up. Drunk men and two women nearby, all of them weyrfolk. The older woman kept glancing at the men while the younger one, only a teenager, looked impatient. If they were smart, they'd probably go back to their cozy little weyr soon.

Some of the other Caminar seemed to have sensed the growing tension. They knew the looks they were getting from those weyrfolk. A few other men also exited their portable shops and began to mutter amongst themselves.

Laikol, being headstrong and more than a little foolhardy, began to approach the men. He stopped a safe distance away and gave them all a hard look. "You all got a problem with something?" He asked, his voice thick with the typical Caminar accent.

[Xinnai]

K'houry lingered about, for once not in a very bad mood. It was miraculous really but wasn't prone to last. He'd wandered among the Caminar, feeling the neccessity to check out their haunt even if it disgusted him. He had a right to look and see what was going around his home, didn't he? And it wasn't much of a struggle to look at the wares either, though he was reluctant to buy. The green rider kept his purse strings drawn tight. There, was of course, a less savory name for that.

He noticed two girls walking, all full of youth and mischief. He scowled slightly. It wasn't right. Girls shouldn't be wandering around alone like that. Especially here. The Caminar were known for stealing children, but who knew what else they might do? They were just filthy vermin after all, not fit to even look at such a place as Telgar.

With all of this in mind, the greenrider turned, his direction now headed straight for the two women. He thought he recognized one vaguely but couldn't be sure. He'd known a lot of people in his turns. He had just reached them, and consequently was close by to the drunken men. He bit at his lips, trying to control his temper. Finneth wasn't here for him now, wasn't here to keep him calming, up to Faranth knew what. This could be dicey...Not that he wouldn't enjoy it.

With narrowed light green eyes, K'houry watched and then was moving, standing at most a few paces in between the two parties. He watched the Caminar-filthy, dirty man that he was-approach the drunken men and confront them. He hissed softly, moving forward.

He wanted to be there if anything, anything at all, happened.

[Invisible]

It was obvious by now to Genet that Nysta was not the sort of person she should be wasting her time with. What a bore. Eyes rolling she looked over at her companion and grinned. “Going where? We’re here. Feel free to wander around without me. It’s not like there’s too many places to look.” Really, what was the point in hurrying? She had all day free and Nysta should have all day free being ‘sick’ and all. Kids today had no idea how to have fun. While she wasn’t interested in getting involved in an argument with a bunch of drunks she wasn’t going to ignore their comment. Her head turned to identify the rider who’d made the comment and she narrowed her eyes as she smiled over at him. “I’m surprised you could hear anything said around all your apologies.” She raised her hand and made a fist before letting her wrist go limp and her hand swing. “Like I said, too much wine.” Tossing her head she marched on towards a table inhabited by an older woman selling wood carvings rather than risk any of the surly men.

It was obvious even to the oblivious that trouble could be starting at any minute, but Genet was not to be deterred. Surly men would not stop the spending of marks. Even if the Caminar woman whose wares she studied gave her a look that suggested she might be a few eggs short of a clutch. Ignoring the trouble brewing she picked up a carving of a wherry. An odd choice, but it was well made of a dark wood and deserved some attention.

One of the weyrfolk, brother to one of the riders looked at the Caminar who asked a question. “I imagine us not being kids to be stolen we got no problem with you,” he told Laikol with a drunken belch following his words. Jostel turns to his brother, a silent until now bluerider and laughs. "Hey, K’tel. I hear they steal children because none of their men can do the job.” The brothers laughed in the face of several darkened faces of the Caminar variety. Verinas, one of the Caminar who was only watching his father’s stand, strode up to where Laikol was and clenched his fists at his sides without saying anything. He didn’t need to speak. His body language spoke well enough. If there was to be a fight he was ready.

[Omnia Munda]

A'wan laughed a little less lowly at Genet's comeback, though those of the drunks and other sorts of riders among them that hadn't seen her gesture frowned, the joke missed. C'vole just glared.

Which was fine, really, because it meant the brownrider's face was arranged just how he liked it for confrontations with folk like Laikol - specifically, Caminar men. C'vole wasn't alone in dragging himself to a staggering stand, but he was quick to step forward and take away some of that safe space the trader had kept between himself and the riders.

"Not so long's you stay right there," grunted C'vole, and with a pointed finger gestured an invisible line between himself and the caravan on the ground.

[hails]

More people had arrived. Nysta let out a silent breath and glanced around nervously. Genet didn't seem to be willing to do the smart thing and leave the situation to the men. Instead, she seemed intent on spending marks. And despite not being horribly fond of the woman, she wasn't going to run away and leave her. Nysta followed Genet to a nearby stall. Nothing they offered interested her.

"S-so, um..." She tried to think of something to say, anything to help break the tension. But no words came to her and Nysta's shoulders slumped. Her grip on the basket had grown sweaty and she wiped a palm on her skirt. She surely couldn't invite all the men to a nice brunch with tarts now, could she?

___________

Laikol nodded to the other Caminar who joined him in confronting these men. These drunk, idiotic men who thought they were better than he was! He sneered at their provoking comments and clenched his fists.

Then C'vole approached him. He opened his mouth to reply and then thought of a better idea. He walked towards the man nonchalantly, fist still balled up. He smiled, but it wasn't an 'I'll forgive you for being drunk' or even an 'I hate you so much' smile. It was an 'I'm going to enjoy this' kind of smile. Laikol drew his fist back and aimed a punch at the man's jaw.

[Omnia Munda]

Laikol's fist made hard contact with C'vole's jaw and the brownrider reeled, then staggered, lifting a splayed paw to his face. "You dirty," he started, jaw joint popping as the rough words formed in his mouth. But there wasn't time for the lanky man to come up with more to say, because the much less inebriated A'wan was springing into place beside him.

He was, in fact, suddenly surrounded by red-eyed riders. "Holdless vermin," yelled one. "Biting the hand that feeds you!" Or, as the case looked likely to soon become, the hand that hits you.

The riders that weren't drunk were irate; most were both. And they were coming for Laikol, with an eye toward mowing down any other 'Caminar trash' that happened to be thrown down in their paths.

[Invisible]

Doing her best to ignore what was going on Genet continued to examine the wood carvings that were offered by an increasingly narrow-eyed Caminar woman. Before the first punch flew the trader had begun to pack up her belongings. So had all the others not ready to step into the fight. She muttered something about stupid girls as she retreated from Genet and Nysta. The former looked at the latter and grinned. “See? I told you it would be fun. I wouldn’t worry about it. Men hit each other all the time. It’s part of what makes them men and stuff like that, you know? Just don’t act aggressive and avoid any fists coming at you.”

She probably should be more concerned, but Genet was lacking an excess of real world experience that left her more interested in what was going on than concerned about what might happen to her. Besides, deep down she knew that men didn’t hit women, right? Well, fathers and daughters or husbands and wives, but that was entirely different. So, she held her ground which kept Nysta from leaving unless she got smarter and abandoned Genet to her own fate. “It was only a matter of time,” she informs the girl. “I knew the Weyrleader couldn’t keep things under control. All charm and no substance.” And that was when the first punch flew.

Verinas was close when Laikol threw his punch and he knew what would come of it. He was certainly smart enough to have assumed a more defensive stance by the time the fist hit the rider’s jaw. His brown eyes lit up as he watched the riders approach en masse. He picked out one for himself and didn’t wait for the man to get a swing. Instead he stepped forward and took aim at a greenrider. The rider, kid really, wasn’t ready and was hit square in the jaw. The punch and his inebriation did not work well together and so he stumbled back and into one of his fellows who stumbled as well, but managed to right himself.