Tea Time [Nex]

The landlubbering fish was malcontent, out of place and, verily, out of time. He had come to market to breathe from the mundane venture of rule. He wasn't a king who sat on a throne. You learned nothing of current events from a seat and the whisper of scouts alone. It was such a narrow and unprogressive. It was no wonder that, in over twenty years, the River Peoples had not changed. It had been only two years since his return and Nex had changed a plenty (and so little). He was still a grumpy looking fish and, if not for the distinct letter over his eye: he would probably seem as ordinary as the saleszora selling fish, or spring water. Nex would swear they would sell a bottle of Lord JabuJabu's piss as holy water if it got them out of the border of catty nobles and mutinous princesses.

He had been selling the day's textiles and, while a king by the current, shifting, politics of the Zora Domain, by his birth he was still a S'Urltl merchant. Not a soul in his tribe was made aware of the addition to his resumè and nary they shall until it was too late. He'd not yet solidify a completely positive flipperhold on the empire. Being placed on the throne via a revolution did tend to sour things here and there, but they were problems he was to work through.

Simple enough.

With few of his fabrics sold this market day (the summer stock is likely the cause on the way to fall and winter) he would need to pack up and head along on his way. His horrendous sales were little to due with the quality of the material. Hand (or fin) woven, the fabrics and other displayed tapestries were ornate and beautifully colores. They gave off the feeling of great expense, yet Nex somehow managed to price them affordable for commoners of the day. 100 rupee a yard, was quite a steal for bolts of cloth and a thousand or more for the elegant tapestries fir for a king's house brought to question just who his supplier was…

The Zora had turned away a moment to fetch his pack. He never turned from the front long because that was the fastest way to lose inventory. Today he had a cart so it would be a bit easier to carry the excess goods back ho-- well to a cave where he stored dry goods. It would do no good to keep his possessions in water when they weren't made for such. The cave was difficult to find and it made Nex comfortable knowing that bandits would be troubled to spirit away with his loot. He was quite possessive.

A soft voice rang from behind him. He had bent over to pick up a crate that he closed up wiyh a but of rope rather than the noisy hammer and nails. When the Zora turned back to the front of the stall his slit, feline-like pupils came upon a familiar, pale face. Scaled brows pinched as he tried to attach a name to the face. He had a good memory for stock, bumbers, but people often escaped his memories. It was not until he took note of that distinct frown that --

"Ah, if it isn't the Carpenter." Former, something he did not know! "What brings you to Hyrule?" He walked over to the cart and set the cargo upon its edge before turning to walk towards the Hylian woman.

Now such a question could be difficult to answer. Private considerations were oft times a factor to one's decision to make a new life for themselves. Nex took that concept of grasping a new face for himself to the extreme in such a case, but he had been at least technically born in Hyrule, even if he was raised in Holodrum. The accent never faded, but it was part of him. The male moved a few fabrics to make space and make them more visually appealing. With them lying atop each other one could not grasp the full scope of their quality.

"How can I assist you?" His wheezing vocals rumbled from beneath a professional smile.

The Zora leaned back from the counter a moment. He raised a webbed hand towards his face and blinked. The intensity of her voice, so up close, was a but shrill. Vibrations in addition to vocals put a tense discomfort on his head. It did not help he is, and had been, sober for quote many years. When she seemed to quite, apologizing for her shouts: his lips pulled back over his fangs in a weak smile. After all the muscle dystrophy did make moving part of his facial features as finely as he should be able to otherwise. His forearms crossed in front of him, moving to rest against the goods and counter as Maude prattle on.

He never took her for a talker. If anything he was rather thankful for her introvertism, but it seems his welcoming behaviors drew out a blabbering, little vixen. He resisted the sigh in his lungs, thin, sharp edge eyes staring right at her as she spoke. He was listening and showed physical signs of his attentiveness. He, frankly, could not care why she was here, or how she had come to arrive. A customer was a costumer, even if they were a bit given to share more than he was inclined to care for.

His scaled, tattooed brow gave a little arch at the mention of Josh. Josh? That had to be a common name among the knife ears. "Josh?" He verbally mirrored the curiosity in his hear when Maude shut her mouth.

He stood back and unfolded three rolls of fabric to display them to Maude. They were in increasing price ranges, the one on the left being the lowest and the one on the right being the highest. Their quality seemed to increase as well, though not in terms of physical appeal. The patterns were more complex as one looked from left to right and as did the fabric's thickness, though nothing was appropriate to make winter wear, just undercloths or inside goods.

"I, unfortunately, do not yet have my winter stock, but these are wonderful fabrics for making tablecloths, home clothing which are light and easy to wear, as well as for mending." He explained, clearly. "The increased prices on these is due to the pattern complexity. Hand woven these patterns have taken a greater time to weave in, the intricacy based around cultural traditions." He pointed to the second one in the row. "This is a Gerudo design, bright reds and blues depicting sunsets and night fall in an semi-abstract pattern, and this one Hylian, depicting scenes of combat." He did not know if if was fictional or no.

He looked to Maude, surprised to see her about, and not drowned.

Maude's words were a more reliable affirmation of Josh's words in earlier days. Men had a grotesque habit of exaggeration. While it was possible Maude was simply his neighbor, also choosing to vacation the dreary, dark consumed lands of their former residency, it was wholly unlikely they lived in a shared domicile. He had his doubts due to the simply fact Josh was an annoying twat. He could see now, he was wrong… and while that did not change his opinion about the amount not irritation Josh brought him, there was a level of amusement seeing the Hylian posture. Nex was more subtle in his manipulations. It could be assumed, by the way they spoke, their residency was, coincidentally similar in its vicinity, but Maude lamented as a wife did when chores were not completed.

"I see," he began. "You are living with the golden haired hero wannabe?" He leaned forward, elbows moving to rest on his stall's counter. "I think it is good you switch roles occasionally. Sometimes a second pair of eyes viewing things from a different standpoint is good. Josh likes to see the good nature of others, but such a trait is no good in a market full of charlatans. " To provide example the Zora pointed a claw across the way.

One merchant was selling rare jewelry from Death Mountain. Beautifully carved ruby-like rocks of reds, blues, and greens. The prices for the imported goods were extortionate. Another salesman provided fruits that were rather exotic looked, but being they were dried or in preserve jars for the coming winter, it was hard to tell what they were, but at least he had handy labels! One other, rather close to Nex, also sold textiles, but at far more competitive prices. The colors the other offered were quite a spectrum across the rainbow where Nex had less solidly colored, and pattern schemed textiles.

The Zora looked to Maude. "As an artisan yourself you are far more judgmental when it comes to a product." He declared. "What Goron have you ever seen, wear jewelry? Have you any positive indication that the dried fruit isn't just ordinary faire from the Deku? Whom sell their goods quite cheap due to the fairly fertile nature of their land and limited need for income." He leaned down to whisper, matching his eye level with Maude. "Simple fabric he dyed. True culture comes from the designs each group weaves into the stitch. Designs are indicative to a handmade, carefully produced product as opposed to a mass produced good that is as unique as the cotton it is made from." And cotton, frankly, looked all the same.

He motioned his hand, allowing her request to touch. He held no qualms with the items being observed and nothing like a good pinch and grope to properly determine the fabric's softness and strength. To form not all the cloths were made the same. One was cotton, soft and warm. Another was wool, quite fibrous and would certainly cause a sweat. It was, itself, from a northern region where even in the spring it was quite chilly. The last was a bit stiffer, more given to decoration than use, but it was tough and not something easily torn. The Zora did notice Maude had nor questioned him, why he was here… not as nosy as Josh she was a more tolerable presence in that sence. It was not that he wanted Josh dead… anymore, but the lout had a mouth on him that could burn the energy out of a Wizzrobe.

The Zora rubbed his webbed hand against his face and murmured. "Since you will be my last customer Maude, care to have a spot of tea with me? I am rather curious about this Ordon place since Josh first mentioned it to me." He noted as he moved to stand to his full height. "I will slash twenty rupees off your purchase if you invite me over for the afternoon." A free meal would do his mood better. "He did well to laboriously regale me with the intricacies of this and that, but lacked the common decency to grant me an invitation." That was one way to get business done and spy on your neighbors.

Besides a few too many eyes were watching him. Not everyone was content that he was king now, a few Zora keeping an eye on him. Perhaps he'll have a talk with Anastasia later on finding someone who could grant protection. A few hoodlums wouldn't do well to protect him for long.

Nex smirked when Maude sat with clear unease at the idea her perfect sun, was actually moonlight. He pressed his clawed digits to his lips, his torso still leaning against the counter top of the stall. He tilted his head, his branded eye pinched closed as he focused at the woman. Her face told more truth than her words ever did. She had this way of widening her eyes, shifting her head. It was quite easy to tell when she was flustered. It took a few encounters for him to learn, and perhaps many more to take advantage of them. Pressing his hand to the surface of the table he pushed to stand, letting his weight lean on his arm, his right fist on his hip. Those pink bracelets of his stood out against his blue skin, contrasting even more than the ruby inked tattoos.

"Come now Maude. Such talking is to be expected between comrades." While he would rather Josh just atop breathing sometimes so he could watch him flop about... It twas not always so. "We've traveled together once and have many a encounters similar to this." He pardoned, not once apologizing for his opinion. "While on the whole I believe him competent with a sword, I have lived in a world where heroes are only in books." He raises his claw and pointed down to a book off to the side, which he has likely been reading between sales.

While he talked Maude seemed more than complacent on continuing her shipping. Her attention on the fabrics after her assertion, which he found odd, would lead to an amusing situation. Though it bothered him. Perhaps it was his lack of understanding when it came to communicable relationships, but to see no flaws in the person you shares the intimate space of a home or business… it was unhealthy. Seeing the weakness in those around you kept you prepared and safe. He motioned his hand and chuckled at her attempt to negotiate. She had given him quite the discount on his craft, which he still owned and took great care of.

"Alright, say I only eat five rupee worth of food," he arched his scaled brow. "I'll give you a discount if you throw in a few pumpkins. You should have some gourds this season, no? If not, potatoes will do." He grinned. That was the deal, for 20rupees off the current price.