[SE] Wrapping paper or ribbons?

I have never feared the storm

Deepfrost was the best tie to visit Torchline in Sah's opinion. It was early in the season, but it was already cooling down much to his relief. He'd come to the port in search of a present for one of fellow Halovians. The man often watched over the arctic pups when the Wild Thunder had to be away from Halo. The trio were wild, yes. But they were still too young to be released back to the tundra. Having someone with experience handling sled dogs and the occasional wolfdog, meant that Sah could handle commissions and emergencies with less stress.

He could have found a gift in Halo, but he didn't trust the merchants not to gossip before he'd had a chance to give it. And so, he found himself perusing stalls and trying to determine what was appropriate for a homebody Halovian with a love of dogs, who wasn't himself.

Sah

Alys strolled casually through Kaiholo Port, a bag of supplies slung over her shoulder. At her feet, Sascha trundled along, as happy as could be. It was the little ursur's favorite time of year, and she didn't hesitate to let everyone know it.

The seer and her companion were on their way to the little market stall they rented from time to time in Torchline, where Alys could set up her little traveling business and offer tarot readings to passersby. Leafchange had been a busy season, and she had gained quite a few new clients in Torchline. Hopefully they would have spread the word, and she could gain even more after setting up today.

Before she could get to her destination, however, Alys saw a familiar face in the crowd. She made her way over to Sah with a smile. "Sah!" she called, squeezing between two shoppers hurrying in the opposite direction. "Hey! A little far from home, aren't you?" she added in a teasing voice. Though she supposed that Deepfrost was the best time for a Halovian to visit Torchline.

ALYS GLASSE

I have never feared the storm

Sah turned and spotted Alys smiling warmly at her and Sacha as they made their way over."Hey, Alys!" With a shrug, he chuckled, "You're not wrong. But when you're trying to find a gift for someone who is friends with half the merchants in Halo, you have to go further from home, so no one spoils the surprise." The people of the snowy region always had each other's backs, but the Wild Thunder had found that many were also notorious gossips.

Spotting the bag on her shoulder, his head tilted. "Are you setting up your tarot card stand again?" It wouldn't surprise him to hear that Alys had been successful enough last season to return. The fortune that she gave him had been lingering in the back of his mind for a while. Others surely felt the same.

Sah

Alys raised her brow at Sah's explanation, wondering just who it was that the hunter was shopping for. Not that it was any of her business, and she was too polite to ask. Still, she could understand wanting something to be a surprise. She was desperately trying to decide what to get for Tal, while simultaneously trying to hide her ideas from someone she lived with and spent most of her time around. It was... challenging.

"I am," she said of her tarot stand. "But the beautiful thing about working for myself is that I set my own hours. I'd be happy to help you find a gift, if you'd like the company." Perhaps he'd rather shop on his own, but it wouldn't hurt to offer. "I can keep a secret, I promise."

ALYS GLASSE

I have never feared the storm

Sah nodded, "That's fantastic. I'm glad that things are going well." He immediately perked up at her offer. "Yes, please. Given the season, if you're looking for something for Tal, I'd be happy to help in turn."

Gesturing at the vast line of stalls, the hybrid chuckled, "I'm not quite sure where to begin. I'm trying to find a 'thank you' gift for a man in Halo named Mr. Vardic. He's an eclectic one who loves his sled dogs more than people. He's the one who usually watches the wolf pups when I have to be away from Halo for long." Despite his quiet nature, the man was always the first to help run deliveries for merchants or assist in search and rescue for people and merchandise alike with his team. 

The Wild Thunder wasn't sure if he should get something practical for the man or try to find something more sentimental. They weren't close but Sah greatly appreciated the assistance that the musher so readily gave him.

Sah

Alys smiled, graciously accepting her friend's words. She lit up at the mention of Tal, her cheeks gaining a rosy hue and her features softening in a way that they only did when speaking of her partner. "I have a few ideas for him," she admitted. "But I'm not sure I'll be able to make either of them work in time, so a backup plan might be helpful." After all, one idea relied on her ability to be sneaky (which she wasn't), and the other required her to track down a certain cartographer who had become nomadic in recent seasons.

As for Sah's conundrum, Alys pursed her lips in thought. She could see how someone like Sah described might be difficult to buy for. The seer wasn't particularly good at buying gifts - she preferred to make them - and so she wasn't sure she had much to offer in the way of advice. "If he loves his dogs, perhaps something dog-related? Or dog-themed?" she wondered aloud. "Are there things that could be... I don't know... attached to a sled that might be useful?"

ALYS GLASSE

I have never feared the storm

Sah chuckled, "Just let me know how I can help." Tal would surely love anything that Alys got him. From what the hybrid had seen, the man was nearly giddy every time she so much as held his hand. Still, the courier was a curious one and would surely catch on to his partner being suspicious.

The Wild Thunder considered Alys' recommendation. "Something useful for his sled sounds like a good way to go." He hummed in thought, "I've heard that veil fungus makes excellent nets. Maybe if I can get some of that to help him secure his items, that'll work. With how much is imported here, surely some merchant will have some." It'd be something useful and hard to get in Halo. If he recalled, the fungus was only found in the Feverlands. Perfect.

Sah

Alys smiled, nodding her thanks. Tal was difficult to buy for, which was why she’d have preferred to craft something unique for him… but it was hard when they spent nearly all their time together, and she was loathe to stay home while he went out on deliveries. She’d rather stay close to him and keep him close to her.

”That’s a good idea,” Alys agreed, then looked around, searching for a vendor that might carry such a thing. If she remembered correctly, there was someone around the corner… ”I think we might be able to find some if we go up this way,” she offered, pointing in the direction of the stall. ”Is there anyone else you’re shopping for?” she asked as they walked, curious to know who, if anyone, was worthy of the Wild Thunder’s affections.

ALYS GLASSE

I have never feared the storm

Sah fell into step with his friend, shaking his head. "No. I usually make gifts, but I was at a loss for this one." He hadn't been able to think of anything that he was capable of making that Mr. Vardic would want. After checking a few merchants, the duo finally found one selling veil fungus. The merchant was a haggler, and it took far more negotiating than Sah had expected. But soon he had his gift prepared and wrapped.

Afterward, the hybrid snorted out a laugh, "I don't think I've ever heard someone speak about the wonders of a fungus for fifteen minutes straight before. Sah glanced at Alys, "Did you retain any of that or am I alone in feeling like I just had a fever dream?"

Sah

Alys laughed. ”I’m with you. I normally make my gifts as well.” It always felt more personal, more genuine, and besides that, Alys never felt very confident purchasing gifts for others. What if she got them something they already had or something they didn’t need? Sure, making a gift might be just as risky, but at least there was love and effort put into it, and in Alys’s mind, that counted for more than anything else.

The merchant that they found was a haggler, and Alys stood by as he and Sah negotiated, then raised her brows as the man rambled on about the properties of veil fungus. When they finally managed to escape, Alys met Sah’s gaze. ”I think I missed half of the lecture,” she admitted. ”He lost me somewhere around the benefits of different colors.”

ALYS GLASSE

I have never feared the storm

Sah nodded, "Fair enough. I gave up somewhere in his tangent about the history of its discovery and why the fact that it looks like netting is some kind of omen?" His voice trailed off in confusion. "I really don't know but at least I have something for Mr. Vardic."

The hybrid chuckled as the duo made their way away from the fungal fanatic, "Well... should we recover from our ordeal with one of the baked good stalls? Or do you need to set up your stall immediately?" The air of the market was filled with more smells than could truly be deciphered but seawater, sugar, and the smell of something cooking were the most prominent.

Chocolate, sugar, and spice were the perfect remedies for an overworked brain. But that might have just been his sweet tooth talking. Still, he didn't want to delay Alys if she had work to do.

Sah

Alys smothered a laugh. Sah had made it farther in the man’s ramblings than she had, and she gave him kudos for it. Meanwhile, the seer had been planning where the best place to set up shop would be, and she’d just about decided on a section of the port where seers and fortune tellers didn’t frequent. At least she’d stand out, even if she was less likely to snag a client because they wouldn’t be looking for her services there…

In any case, she and Sah had escaped their fungal expert relatively unscathed. ”Oh, no,” she said, shaking her dark curls from her face. ”The nice thing about working for myself is that I’m on my own timeline. I’m not in any rush. Food sounds great.” Especially if it was something sweet!

ALYS GLASSE

I have never feared the storm

Sah grinned when Alys easily agreed. "Perfect." He gestured for her to follow him, "I saw a stall selling some kind of swirled bread. I didn't get a solid look, but it seemed like they had different flavors. How does that sound?" In his brief glance, the Wild Thunder had spotted cinnamon sugar, chocolate, cream, lemon, and some other fruit. Given the number of trays, there were likely others as well.

The stall wasn't far so if Alys agreed to follow, they would quickly find themselves facing a sharp-jawed woman wearing a permanent scowl and a brightly colored apron. In front of her stood a both with trays and display boxes filled with cinnamon-roll looking pastries of various colors.

If the Abandoned offered another stall instead, the Wild Thunder would happily follow, content with any form of sweet treat.

Sah

Alys happily followed along, content to explore the swirled bread that Sah had mentioned. The stall was manned by a scowling woman, her expression at odds with her brightly-colored apron. The pastries were varied, and Alys looked them over with keen eyes. There were chocolate and cinnamon and lemon and strawberry, though where the woman had found such fruits at this time of year, Alys really couldn’t say. In the end, she decided on a chocolate-strawberry swirl and placed her order.

”So,” she said as she waited for her pastry to be selected and served, ”How are things in Halo?” It had been a while since she’d been to the tundra, and their visits tended to be quite short - get in, deliver whatever needed delivering, and get out. It was strange, sometimes, to be so far away from the region Alys considered home, but it was worth it if it meant being near Tal. Besides, with how much they traveled, it wasn’t like they were home much, anyway.

ALYS GLASSE