[SE] back in their nests

// but darling you are a river //

“Yes,” Lena declared with a rush of her own laughter; content with taco party plans (gulp) and hat purchases. Once they exchanged some money, the Caretaker placed her wares back within her back, and hummed along, very pleased with the level of ridiculousness and assorted gifts.

But there were more serious aspects she wanted to behold for Zavien, rather than just jocular devices. The leather goods were all quite wonderful – honed and rendered in darker stains or brilliant hues, but she was searching for specific armor thresholds, and made a beeline for the shoulder guards and breastplates. They were of a different quality for sure, lighter than something honed in Stormbreak, and she considered them. “What do you know about armor?” She whispered to Noe – in case some knowledge had trickled down from her brother.

Lena

// but you will never stop; you flow //

With hat purchases complete, Noe and Lena continued their perusal of various goods. The girl might not have known Lena very well before, but now she had decided rather firmly that they were friends, and so she linked arms with the Caretaker as they meandered this way and that. They stopped in front of a display of armor - breastplates and shoulder guards, to be precise - and Noe hummed thoughtfully. "Not much," she admitted. She hadn't gleaned much from Koa on that front. Still, perhaps she knew enough to be moderately helpful.

So she looked between Lena and the armor, dropping her own voice to match her friend's. "Why? What are you looking for?" Perhaps she should have paid attention to her mother, back before her untimely death, or to Koa and his endless efforts to protect her. She'd never thought she'd need it... but that was before the Family had taken over.

Was feeling so weak but baby I'm strong
Little did I know I'm a champion

Noe

// but darling you are a river //

Not much, unfortunately, was also about all she knew. Someone had probably tried to tell her at one point, but staring at the armaments, weaponry, and walls of armor had always given her trepidation, and she was content enough to leave portions of it alone. It was much more comforting to work in her gardens, make a poultice, or return to the Celestine, embraced by things she knew and understood.

But every once in a while, one needed to meander out of their zone and challenge themselves. Which was why she grimaced now, staring over the hordes and multitudes. “Something Zavien could use,” she murmured in return, glancing at various objects and hoping the information would come flying at her. When it didn’t – she opted to ask the merchant. ”Ah, of course, you’ll be looking for one of these!” he announced, waving his hand towards the most expensive options.

Lena

// but you will never stop; you flow //

The two women looked over the displayed leather goods, each probably just as lost as the other. Noe grimaced as she considered all of the options, knowing only enough to know what each piece was called and their general use, but not enough to know what was good or bad quality.

Lena asked the merchant, and Noe raised a brow at the man’s insistence that she would want the most expensive items on display. The girl offered a saccharine smile. ”Can you tell us more about the specifications of those versus these?” she asked, gesturing towards a less expensive option, but not the cheapest. No one, she assumed, would want cheap armor.

Was feeling so weak but baby I'm strong
Little did I know I'm a champion

Noe

// but darling you are a river //

Well and out of her depth, Lena couldn’t tell if she was being taken over the high hurdles simply for more coin, or if there was something to the more expensive portions. Noe, however, asked the discerning question, and the Caretaker’s eyes shifted back to the merchant. The man rubbed his hand over his beard, scratching at his chin for a few moments, seemingly deciding how to approach the inquiry while still striving to make a sale. ”Well, uh, these are better,” pointing to the pricier alternative, ”Due to the materials. They’re tougher. And we don’t want to bargain on protection, eh?

He gave a cheeky grin, presuming that would fit the bill while giving nothing at all.

Lena furrowed her brow, looking things over. “Maybe we should go elsewhere,” she whispered to Noe, beginning to suspect they weren’t going to get anything straightforward.

Lena

// but you will never stop; you flow //

The merchant’s answer was decidedly lackluster, and Noe raised a brow at the man as he stumbled through the simple nothingness that he spewed. ”Riiiiight,” she said dubiously. At her side, Lena leaned closer and whispered to her, and she nodded. ”Well, thanks anyway,” she told the merchant, twiddling her fingers in a mocking wave as she looped her arm through Lena’s and steered the older woman away.

They meandered down the street until they came across another armorer. This one was run by a dark-skinned woman with muscular arms who was in the middle of tempering a piece of leather. Something about the way she more or less ignored passersby made Noe feel like she might be a better option, and she tugged Lena over. ”Excuse me,” she said to the leatherworker. ”We’re looking for some armor, but we’re not sure what we’re looking at. Could you help?’

Was feeling so weak but baby I'm strong
Little did I know I'm a champion

Noe

// but darling you are a river //

Noe was far better at handling the inevitable, and Lena winced inwardly, always hating to disappoint others. But she didn’t want to be taken advantage of either, so she slid her arm through Noe’s once more, and they strolled away, hopefully to a far more knowledgeable and trustworthy merchant.

The armorer in question turned her head towards the two of them, and while not eager to talk, certainly seemed rugged enough to be able to showcase her wares. ”Depends on what you want it for. I have some lightweight pieces over here,” sizing both of them up as probably unlikely to be capable of wearing anything heavy. Lena finally spoke, regaining her courage. “I was looking for some shoulder guards and breastplates. Can you tell me about those?” Pointing to some in the middling range; not of the high, more expensive end, but certainly not cheap and pathetic either.

Lena

// but you will never stop; you flow //

Noe had never been one to mince words, and she was more than happy to lead her friend away from where they were clearly about to be scammed. The female leatherworker they came across seemed much better equipped for their needs - not friendly, but then, she didn’t have to be. Noe listened as Lena made her request, and then as the rugged woman began to explain the differences.

Apparently, the most expensive options had additional padding to help with comfort, and some extra pieces to cover spots that were normally weak points on armor. The least expensive were missing those added benefits, and were made of weaker leather besides. The ones that Lena had asked about, in the middling range, were made of the same quality leather as the more expensive options, but without some of the extra portions and padding. Noe raised a brow at her friend. Which would she choose, if any?

Was feeling so weak but baby I'm strong
Little did I know I'm a champion

Noe

// but darling you are a river //

Lena was an individual of pragmatic sense, and though her heart often led the way, she knew Zavien would be disappointed if she went for the more expensive route and undermined her entire budget. Besides, there would be opportunities for improvement, and no one said she wouldn’t be able to place additional padding in herself, perhaps for cheaper. They could always be enhanced by the gods and heralds as well.

Mind made up, she opted for the middling portions, and with those signed, sealed, and delivered, the Caretaker felt a little better. “I think I’ve done enough for the day. Thank you for helping,” she laughed, once she and Noe could meander away from the stalls, and the market itself. Between the two, whether they were coming and going back to Stormbreak at large, or continuing to venture through the semblances of the Greatwood.

[FIN]

Lena

// but you will never stop; you flow //