Between Family and Friends <Shai City, North Pole>

[nati]

The day was turning out better than Nati had hoped. She managed to shake off some anger from her brother’s embarrassing behaviour earlier, and was turning over the opening lines of an argument in her head for later. Chamir was very willing to accompany her to the market whilst she picked up some vital bits for her mother’s leg and some food for dinner. She’d hardly had a chance to muse about the devastating effects of the Siege, luckily she was in a position to roll up her sleeves and dive right in with her work, however exhausted she was left. Nati prayed often enough to the spirit for pulling her family through unscathed, and most of all her brother.

Nati smiled cheerfully back at Chamir now and then as she walked leisurely along the canal paths to where the market was placed a little deeper into the confines of the city. Many of the buildings were looking crisp and new thanks to the rebuilding, only minor repairs made here or there to her own home. She knew very well that the stall her uncle manned was unlikely to be here this early, people needed supplies and food than they needed luxury fur. Her father seemed to be more determined to start trading with the Earth Kingdom again, and with this new expedition of Saghani’s, her father would be even more pleased, and that Kian was going to have a key part in it.

She did her best not to appear distracted, but the thoughts of Kian volunteering her away like that were hurtful, and the annoying thought in her head that she could, might just agree to go to keep an eye on him. Leaving home for the first time…didn’t honestly bare thinking about. Why shouldn’t she enjoy Chamir’s company and light hearted banter instead of thinking too far ahead of the future?

“Oh!” She exclaimed, and stopped suddenly in her tracks. “I meant to get some shrimp….” She then turned halfway to look over her shoulder, where they’d just walked past the shrimp and crab stall a few moments earlier. “I think I’ve lost it already.” Nati managed a sheepish smile at Chamir.

[chamir]

"I'm not." Chamir replied simply enough while holding two bone skewered squid-shrimp in either mittened hand. With Nati deep in concentration of nursing her oown thoughts for whatever good and ill, Chamir's recently easy purchase behind her back had gone unnoticed.

"Nope. Not in the least," shaking his head to each squid-shrimp to affirm his sanity. "Though some people would gladly say, even try to honestly say, otherwise," frowning. "I would most certainly say they are merely crazy themselves."

"Afterall," he held out a hand, fffering Nati one of the bone skewers, "they are speaking with me to begin with, so what does that say unto their grasp upon a reality they are welcome to call sane but they themselves may not yet count themselves as member among--so hah and fah and bah and tra la la la lah on them!"

"So anyway, Nati, do not fret. If you've lost it then count yourself companion to a secret society of many that counts such as normal especially when it comes to grocery shopping. It happens to men quite oftenly far more so if they are husbands. I fear it is a genetic trait amongst my brood of any locale and keen--but enough bombastic frivolity your food is getting cold and cold shrimp need to be had."

[nati]

How sneaky Chamir could be! Nati mused at when he’d managed to buy the food so subtly behind her back. Then again when she was in deep thought, anything could pass her by! Nati’s azure eyes crinkled with a wide smile, and she reached out to accept the skewered shrimp from his left hand. Her hunger was a little strange these days, some she’d scoff her food and pick up seconds, and others sniff at the fish on her plate and refuse anymore like a picky animal. Luckily it was one of the good days, and the shrimp looked pretty nice!

“I believe it’s a secret society that operates all across the world.” Nati injected her own humour, eyes more fixed on the shrimp that on Chamir. Little could divert her attention from the said shrimp. Nati took a small bite, as lady like as she could with the present company. The shrimp was still warm, and very tasty! “Poor husbands driven to distraction with their wives’ poor memory for shopping, indeed not a state I could care to be in if it were to be that bad!”

“Mm.” Was the next happy sound she made, taking a bigger bite from the shrimp-squid. Nati was a girl who enjoyed her food, not quite so picky as other women about their figures, her soft hips and rump were proof enough of that. She wondered for a moment if Padma picked at her food a little and declared she was full, the woman however lithe and delicate, seemed like she’d probably drift off in a snow storm.

“Better not let yours get cold too.” She pointed out to Chamir, and took another bite, grinning all the while.

[chamir]

Catfish-gator like, Chamir clamped down on the fried squid-shrimp. His mouth held that way for a long moment after snapping through the crispy outside, savouring the soft and juicy inside before his teeth finally chose to touch. Cutting a huge chunk into the snack, Chamir rolled the meal about in his mouth until he began chewing.

Somedays, so far from home, you miss this, he thought he said. The hint of sea salt, in a snack like this, melting against your tongue and traveling up your nose from there, subtle and unnoticed as the feel of snow and ice under your feet becomes some days. Aroma of furs. Draft animals, pets, tanned hides, leather, vellum, rawhide and buckskins as varied as there are herbs and spices. The underlying scent your people can have after a day's activity that's like the tinge of a snowflake on your tongue. The men made of sweat and salt, flesh and fur while you taste oils and water, perfume and lotion on a woman. And children, well they can be a breed apart from either.

It wasn't until a response came from Nati that Chamir realized he was reminscing outloud, the words spilling from his mouth. Turning away from her he gave his food a look of mock-betrayl, feeling a little embarassed at the thought that maybe he was tearing up than what Nati heard from him.

"Been away for a while," finally looking at her again. "And not just in the head."

[nati]

Nati chewed away quietly, turning her eyes over the various fish and shrimps laid out on rough ice but in neat rows, and she tried hard to remember if her mother wanted cat-fish again, or something a little more expensive, the few coins rattled about on the inside of her glove. Finishing off her delightful snack, Nati threw the bone screw sway from her, and stepped forward to the stall and made her quick order.

“Just some shrimp please” She asked, and nodded when the man had enough into a bag for her. Grocery shopping was something she’d not done in a while, her family employed a woman to do the cooking and general cleaning for the family, but she needed to be with her own family for the moment. Nati was finding it to be a surprising pleasure to be out and about. She accepted the bag and hooked it over her shoulder. She was rather surprised to turn and hear Chamir simply talking unconsciously about all the wonderful things about Shai city, though she did find herself blushing at the comment of perfumes and lotion on a woman. Well, she did like to use a little perfume…

“I’ve never left Shai City.” She stated, sighing a little soflty, and feeling Chamir’s plight. “You must be missing your home a lot. I bet it must be looking better since Master Pakku went to go rebuild down there.” Nati rested her mittens hand gently on his shoulder.

“You’ll be home before you know it.”

[chamir]

"Universe willing," came Chamir's hushed reply, a mitten clad hand sliding upon Nati's own that sat atop his shoulder.

"You're right," he said with a crumbling smile. "The war shall be over soon enough with a sound thrashing of the Big Red," sliding the bag of shrimp from Nati's shoulder and limply holding up a hand to silence any protest on her part. "And the world will be allowed to travel as freely as they see fit once again."

"i suggest that maybe you should come and visit the South Pole when that day comes," he said unabashedly. "Yeah," adding in all seriousness as he awaited for her to lead in the direction home.

"It may not be the Earth Kingdom but the landscape is similar here. A home away from home, just different people and animals. I can take you penguin sledding and, afterall, my Tribe will need not just capable healers like yourself but capable healers to teach them in how to become such, like yourself."

[nati]

The idea of visiting the South Pole wasn’t an unwelcome one in Nati’s eyes, she had considered going with Master Pakku and several other healers down to the south. Her old tutor had even suggested she go, but she didn’t feel ready for the move, her mother needed looking after and she couldn’t bear to leave home. Yet now the idea was planted in her head.

He also quickly slipped the bag from her shoulder, she opened her mouth to protest, and closed it firmly when he signalled it was fine. She smiled.

“I’d love to visit sometime.” However far off it was. Nati stepped over to vendor selling the herbs and items she needed for her mother. “I must admit, travelling has often appealed to me, but it’s not very proper for a Healer to go gallivanting off into the wilderness by herself.”

“Penguin sledding?” She’d heard of that from the south, she faintly remembered her time in youth spent sledding down large hills of snow. Her eyes grew a little distant, the memories trickling in pleasantly. “I feel sorry for those poor penguins, ” She laughed. “when the child gets too big or an adult wants to have a try!”

With her items purchased, handed him the second bag without any fuss, knowing he’d do the gentlemanly thing and take it from her hands anyway.

“Oh, thank you for doing this.” Nati added. “It’s nice to have some company to the market for a change.” She started to lead the way home, keeping pace with Chamir in the crowd that was slowly building up for the midday rush.

[chamir]

"Bah!" Chamir nonchalantly replied towards Nati's gratitude. "I know of little better than being with you," tossing the other sack over his shoulder. "This defeats lollygagging about the city all morning, noon, day, evening and night."

"My music and... cavorting with some of the populace helps keep me entertained. Otherwise there is little for us Southerners beyond train and explore while we wait and prepare to depart. Returning to Chameleon Bay," shaking his head.

"It is nice to stay here even for a bit, relax for a little, but..." he paused, "you know." He then mumbled, "our job is yet to be completed. Damn barbarians."

"Ahem. I take it to be a difficult task to drag your brother into helpming you? More so as you two grew older?" He asked as he followed along behind Nati,trying not to distract himself into becoming entrance by her 'walk,' let alone how it looked without the parka or--he turned away and cleared his throat for a moment.