Out and About

Out on the streets, we keep together, going a little slower than usual to accomadate Kiou's pace as she stares at everthing; the shops, the patrons, even the night sky with its jewel box of stars around the great round moon. "Pretty isn't it?" I call over the noise of the traffic and the crowd as we move from the Sherlocks into the more modern sections of the Nightside, then pull her back from the curb. "Stay away from the traffic, it can be dangerous."

I try to remind myself to breath as the sheer size and complexity of this place begins to overwhelm me. All of this living inside of a cave? "I... I have much to learn... I fear I cannot learn all in my life." My accept comes heavy but I have no way of telling Liv just how small I feel right now.

*I know how you feel,* I smile at Kiou. "I was a slave once, so having the chance to see all of this is pretty amazing."

I grin. " I felt the same way the first time I stepped into a city myself. Bit of a shock, but you'll get used to it.Though the Nightside will shock anybody, it's pretty wild. Come on, up this way!"
Mammon Emporium seems to take up miles of space, and getting through its parking lot is an adventure in itself, with cars growling or watching us, revving their motors warningly or sneakily throwing out tendrils to trip. It's a relief when the mall doors whoosh open, releasing the smell of cleaning supplies, foods of all descriptions and spicy, intoxicating perfume.
The Emporium is like the platonic form for every mall that ever existed, stores upon stores endlessly stretching away into the distance, people and things bustling in every direction. I turn, and hold out my arms with a grin. "Welcome to the Mammon Emporium! Wild, isn't it?"

*I have something to show you* I say to Kiou *Come with me? Your friend can come with if she wants...*

I just stand and stare slack jawed at the immense size of this marketplace. "How does it not fall and kill everyone? I... I don't know what say... This... This is incredible." Kaija's voice comes into my mind and I look to her. "What you want to show me? Why not speak? I need to learn in listening." My English flows faster than I have time to correct to make it grammatically correct.

"Aren't you listening either way?" I say it half in voice and half in mind. "So, coming or not?"

I look between Liv and Kaija nervously as I am uncertain which to choose. "i... I want rather not take side..." My nervousness was beginning to degrade my English further. "I.. I want to see ... but I... I know Liv have thing to show too."

Reaching backwards, I pull my hair into a tight, familiar braid then await further guidance from Liv.

"No worries, we're in no hurry and I'm in the mood to window shop anyway. Lead the way, Kaija, and while you're at it do me a favor and make sure you help her out with mental shields, will you? We don't want anyone walking in uninvited." I call. It's too dangerous to walk around here with an open mind.

Bowing my head slightly, I turn to Kiou and Liv, "Well, when I first came, I got to hear the stories first, so I wanted to show Kiou something she would enjoy. Call it, a berserker's attempt at a kind gesture?" I say as I place up several mental guards in Kiou's mind and march her to the front of a huge kimono shop.

I grin. "Oh, Fancy's! I remember this place! I loved it! Nice choice, kid!"
At first glance, the kimonos seem simple, until you notice that one is made from cloth-of-gold, one is subtly swirling with changing colors, and one has dragons woven into the fabric that are moving, crawling and twining through the designs. I turn to the others. "Who's in the mood to try things on?"

I watch the clothes weave and move of their own volition. "They are... beautiful." I go to one and run my hand down the back of a winding dragon. "They are so pretty... Why is a place like kimonos here?"

"Well, this isn't a normal place...."

"They're dream clothes! Literally! Everything in here is fabricated out of some dream someone's had. It's really fascinating what you find in here. Come on girls, safari time!" I shoot a glance at Lily. "Safari means look, don't touch, by the way." She rolls her eyes, but I think she took the message.
We spend a wonderful time pulling crazy outfits off the rack, testing them, trying them on. But after a little time, I glance up from a dress that has storm clouds and rain rolling across it, with lightning at the hem. "Hey girls? Where's Kiou?"
After a few minutes, we realize it. She isn't in the store.

I jump a bit as the man's voice startles me before I look at him. His face alone is pleasing enough and I cannot stop the blush that fills my cheeks. "I am with friends. They show me these." I showed him the kimono I'm investigating. "They are well made."

"Y-You may..." I find myself wondering if all men in the Nightside are like this. Making advances in pubic is simply embarrassing and part of me simply wants him to go away and write me poetry like a civilized man.

"Y-Y-yes...?" My cheeks are burning too deeply to think straight. Since when are men this forward; ever?

I wait patiently to see this gem that he has. I can feel a pressure in my mind as the other Kiou tries to speak but I press her back. Now is not the time for her to be released. This is no place for a mad woman. "I look forward to seeing it." My blush still continues to warm my cheeks.

"What.... What kind... of price?" I'm beginning to lose control of my English as his words are affecting me. "And... And how it teach?"