New Supplies (Stonecrafter's Stall/Open)

[Rowana]

Hoayamae grumbled unhappily as she stalked down the row of stalls. Thanks to someone deciding it was a good idea to blow up her kitchen, she was now in need of new cooking supplies. Which had meant getting a ride all the way to Southern and spending some of her savings on proper utensils. She probably could have just requested one of the supply runs to bring her some, but she didn't trust anyone to buy these for her. Those fools wouldn't know a ladle from spoon if it hit them on they're think skulls.

She paused to examine some of the clothe hanging at the Weaver's stall. Perhaps a new apron if she had enough marks left over. Nhim poke his head around her ear. Despite being full grown now, he was still a tiny, little thing. He chirped curiously and crawled to the end of her shoulder to look at the pretty colors more closely. Which was when he realized that some of the colors were pink. PINK! The worst color in all of Pern! Nhim squealed in terror and dove into Mae's shirt.

"Get out of there, yah pervert!" She must have looked a funny picture, digging around in her shirt and shouting. Nhim continued to whine piteously and scrambled to escape Mae's grasp. Finally, she grabbed him around the middle and pulled him out. "See here, you little monster," she scolded loudly. "What have I told you about hiding in there?" Nhim whimpered sadly and looked back at her innocently.

Mae sighed and set him back on her shoulder. "Look, we're leaving the pink behind, silly creature," she told him, in a more soothing voice. She changed direction for the stonecrafter's stall. She was in need of a new rolling pin, and a carving board wouldn't be a bad idea either. She leaned over the wares skeptically. "Hmmm..."

[Requiem]

He had no intention of going to the Stonecrafter's Stall. There was nothing really there that was a necessity, which was the main reason, but as S'rei passed he caught sight of a familiar figure. Shouting. And...digging around in her shirt in a most animated - and entirely inappropriate - fashion. He winced slightly. A single glance confirmed what he'd suspected; several holders had stopped to stare in disbelief at what appeared to be a matronly woman fondling herself quite...vigorously. Some with children hurried by, shielding them from her, and, despite himself, he couldn't quite bite back the chuckle. Hoayamae. Or Mae, as they'd all called her. S'rei remembered her well. He could only hope that she wouldn't see too much of the troublesome 16 turn-old in him now...twenty turns and a foot of growth should keep him safe enough, right?

Because, yes, no matter how many turns passed, a man never quite lost his boyhood fear of the dictator of the kitchens. Little known fact? No Weyrleader had any jurisdiction over the kitchens; that small kingdom was run entirely by the drudges and staff, of which the head became the Lady or Lordholder, and you only went against them if you planned on not eating for awhile. (Technically the Weyrwoman ran the domestic side of Selenitas anyway, but they had no more control than the Weyrleader in this case.)

Despite any fears as to being discovered, however, the bronzerider stepped up to the stall, leaning against it and flashing a grin at the older woman. "Looking for something, Mae? Allow me to cover it...the Weyr should be replacing anything you're missing, anyway," he commented lightly. Technically, he should be replacing it, though he didn't regret blowing up the Main Hall. Not in the slightest. Not if it protected Selenitas.

[Rowana]

Hoayamae looked up at her name. She scowled at the man. Speak of the devil. Nhim poked a shy head around her head to peer at him. He chirped curiously and crossed to the nearer shoulder for a closer look. Mae stood to her full height and eyed S'rei skeptically. Despite her unhappiness about her kitchen, she didn't really blame him. The safety of her Weyr was more important than the safety of her dishes, no matter what she said. That didn't mean she wasn't going to be cranky about it for the next turn or so.

"That's mighty kind of yah," she allowed with a huff. She might be proud, but she was also short on marks and it was true that the Weyr should be paying for it. She just hadn't thought to bring it up. "I could use a few essentials," she admitted. "Yah all did a fine job, but I don't trust anyone else to get these things." She waved at the table of supplies. She threw up her hands to emphasize to point. "Leave it to them, and afore yah know it, I'll be making bread with grease and sawdust."

Mae crossed her arms and eyed S'rei suspiciously, as if she expected he was up to no good. "And what brings the mighty Weyrleader to this humble place?" she asked, with a hint of amusement. She remembered younger days of chasing boys out of her kitchen. S'rei had been no exception. "Surely yah didn't come all this way ta do mah shopping."

[Requiem]

Oh was that a look. Fortunately, being thirty-nine did come with some perks. Like having been around long enough not to start shifting like a little child under the glare. That and height, at least for him. Height could be very convenient at times, that it could. He crossed his arms and watched her with a certain amount of fondness as the older woman went on animatedly. All bark and no bite - or at least, not much of one. Women like this were the real ones keeping Selenitas going. All spunk and fire. He couldn't resist a chuckle. "And even with grease and sawdust, we'd never notice. You've always had the magic touch, Mae."

At her question, though, he pulled a face, digging into his pocket to pull out the rather longish list of items that his weyrmate had sent him to get. "Not your shopping, but shopping for another woman. My butterball is just about ready to pop," he stated, with such a mixture of fondness, excitement and dread that he had to be playing it up. Right? "Kalierre put her on convalescence, and she's really not up to the trip, especially in this heat, so Lish gave me a list of everything she wants to get. I was thinking about stocking up on long-range weapons but something came up with one of the dragonriders and a dispute over sea passage, if you'd believe it, so...that might have to wait for later," he concluded. Then he rubbed at his nose slightly, feeling a touch embarrassed. You knew you didn't talk to people enough when words just started dropping from your lips like rain like that at the first half-friendly question. Oh well.

Of course, Mae wasn't one of his dragonriders, which may well be the reason he didn't feel the need to be so reserved with her. That and she'd whacked his knuckles with that spoon of hers when he was filching as a tot. Hard to be all dignified with that lying somewhere in the not so distant past. Glancing at the firelizard briefly, he managed a smile for the creature (the last one had hopped on him because he was sad so he didn't want a repeat) attempting not to think about the pet that had left a gaping hole in his mind. "So then, what did you need to get, Mae? Don't worry about the price, either...I make far more than I ever spend so it definitely won't be a problem."

[Rowana]

Hoayamae raised a finger. "Flattery will get yah no where, yah know," she scolded, but it lacked any bite. By the sparkle in her eyes, she was pleased by the compliment. People didn't usually take the time to appreciate her cooking. They just wolfed it down. She didn't generally mind though. She knew they had more important things on their minds of late. She raised an eyebrow and smiled knowingly. "Aliscia's almost due, ain't she?" She sighed wistfully, remembering her own son. She wished she could give youngsters a better world to live in, but war didn't care how many families it tore apart.

She shook her head, both to clear it of the past and at the absurd amount of work S'rei seemed to have to do. "As if it wasn't enough yah having to run things back home. Ever thought of taking a day off?" She eyed him skeptically. Not that she should talk. She hardly ever had a day off. People always needed to be fed. She made a shooing motion. "Don't yah worry about mah things. You're busy enough as it is." She waved her hand over the table of wares. "I just need a new rolling pin and a decent cutting board."

[Requiem]

He simply grinned in response to Hoayamae's comment, easily reading her pleasure even if she wasn't willing to voice it in so many words. It was true, though; the woman's cooking was by far the best. Though he was likely much like anyone else, preferring the food he'd eaten in his boyhood above all other types of food. "Yeah, pretty much any day now. Hardly seems like she could get much more pregnant." Aliscia was such a small woman. He was fully aware of how mismatched they could sometimes look together, with him being one of the largest men at the Weyr, if not in the entire region.

He waved the older woman's comments aside casually. "Sure, thought about it, dreamed about it, but there's always something that comes up. To be honest, I was at my most unhappy when I didn't have something that constantly needed seeing to. Doesn't feel right to lounge around. I'm sure you can relate?" Gesturing to the stallkeeper, he arched a brow, nodding toward Hoayamae to pick out precisely what she needed. "That isn't to say that I wouldn't rather not have to deal with riders causing scenes at Gathers. Too many young hotheads at Selenitas." He tsked softly.

Then, almost as an afterthought, "It's not a worry, Mae. Though if you don't want me helping with your shopping, I hope you won't mind if I tag along for a little bit. Haven't had a chance to speak to you in ages."

[Rowana]

Hoayamae chuckled at the image of Aliscia large with a young one. "Yah must be excited," she commented with a knowing smile. No amount of annoyance could contend with the joy of a new child. "Thought of some good names yet?" It would depend on the gender of course, but there was no way to tell that ahead of time. Not for certain, at any rate. It almost made her wish she had taken the time to have more children. No sense in regretting it now, though. She had more then enough children to feed now and some riders were just as bad.

She shrugged in acceptance of S'rei's answer. "I understand how yah feel," she agreed. "Tried taking time off myself after..." She paused. She didn't like talking about her son's death. Words would not bring him back and bringing it up just reopened the wound. "...things," she finished with a dismissive wave. "But I find I do best in the kitchen. Keeps me busy." She laughed lightly. "At least someone is trying to keep them under control. Best I can do is keep them from eating all our stocks in one night."

Running her hand over a rolling pin, she nodded in approval of her selection. She turned her attention to the cutting boards and continued. "I don't mind," she admitted. "Yah should visit the kitchen more. I might even be able to make something to keep Aliscia off yer back for a while." Someone that pregnant was probably hungry much of the time and having cravings for all sorts of things. Nhim whistled at the idea, dancing across shoulders as he listened to the conversation.