[ORP Navytide] The Night Market - OPEN

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[ORP Navytide] The Night Market - OPEN

Post by peanutbutter »

It's the edge of spring and summer, the turn of the seasons right around the corner, and with a new moon on the horizon, Navytide has decided that it's time for The Night Market to open once more. The Market Square has transformed this evening, into a bustling darker-toned counterpart to it's morning version. Stalls are set up once more in the square, but rather than the fresh produce and artisan goods they hold in the morning, tonight's goods are focused on magic. Charms, potions, and even basic herbs and casting ingredients are all in abundance, alongside whatever unique crafts that magic users have managed to create.

Some vendors are hawking food - some normal festival fare, some of it more magical, such as drinks that change color, or tufts of cotton candy that float as light as air. Off to the side from the vendors, there's a band that's setting up, promising music to come and some games that are just starting and are slowly gathering a crowd against the dusk sky.

Speaking of crowds, there are a few booths that are getting a little more attention than normal already...

The Stationary Booth - Letter writing is a time-honored tradition in Navytide, despite the well-maintained infrastructure and the fact that cellphones and computers are in use here. The mail system is unexpectedly rather robust and speedy, and plenty hold onto the tradition and continue to write letters or just journal. There are inks that shimmer between colors, papers that are enchanted with extra effects, and every manner of pencil and pen that one could desire. Perhaps something stands out?

The Flower Station - For those willing to be a little more hands on, there's a booth offering make-your-own wreathes and flower crowns. There's a lush selection of greenery to select from (no doubt from a well enchanted and maintained greenhouse) and multiple bases to build said wreathes and flower-crowns upon, alongside with a large variety of ribbons, bells, and other odds and ends that can be added. Of course there are some already made in advance for purchase and inspiration, if one doesn't feel like learning how to weave together greenery tonight.

The Charm Stall - A stall slightly larger than the others, this one boasts a large number of charms to take home, and even some blank that can be charmed tonight if what's already available isn't quite what's needed. They come in a large variety of styles, from braided ribbons, to pieces of sea-glass strung on twin, to precious stones wrapped in intricate twists of metal. Some eagle-eyed customers might be reminded of certain charms hanging from a tree, although it's hard to say if they're from this stall or not.

[Booths and Stalls are just a jumping point if you're not sure where to start - anything goes in The Night Market and you are not confined to these three alone!]
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[ORP Navytide] The Night Market - OPEN

Post by HuniPi »

From the Crossroads to deeper into the Forest, Sun-Cursed and Smoldering Ember traveled arm in arm trying to understand the landscape better. While initially pleased with being able to be out in sunlight (and not be in pain), Sun-Cursed couldn't help but want some respite from the bright light. Perhaps that's why the pair found themselves arriving at an area of the forest where dusk had fallen.

The ground here seemed to have been tended to for easier travel, which made finding the door a lot easier for them despite the thickening mist around. Sun-Cursed had only seen the sea once, at night when she was trying her hand at fishing but the water was too cold and she couldn't stand the temperature. But despite her less than pleasant experience, the door and the scents proved as inviting as the sense of warmth and home.

"It feels cozy, like being in your arms, My Warmth." she said, smiling up at Ember. "I think it's safe to go through." The entrance was large, height-wise, but kin still needed to go through single-file, which Sun-Cursed decided she would step over the threshold first, knowing full well Ember was right behind her.

----

Sun-Cursed (Wendy in Navytide) didn't feel too much of a change, perhaps a difference in feet (in that she had feet rather than hooves), ears, and clothing, the loss of her horns and fur didn't feel too odd either. Her halo seemed to have sunk into her neck, forming a thin glowing necklace tattoo. The change wasn't overwhelming nor upsetting, in fact it felt natural likely thanks to the magic of this realm.

Magic?

Oh, there was magic here, yes! And she had a Magic Mark on her body, a simple sun with cracks running across its surface. The sun seemed to rest on her throat, just below where her halo had turned into a necklace, as if mimicking a pendnat.

But that wasn't important. What was important was there was a Market! She hoped it would be like the Winter Market in the swamp, with delicious food and fun games and interesting wares to peruse.

When she turned to Ember to ask where they should check out first, she couldn't help but pause and stare at him. "You are so handsome no matter what form you take," she said shyly, her hand squeezing his in a small show of appreciation.
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[ORP Navytide] The Night Market - OPEN

Post by doomsayer »

Changing into yet another new form as he entered this new area would have been jarring to him, but seeing how Sun-Cursed looked at everything with such optimism and wonder grounded him.

His vantage felt much higher here, and he almost hit his head at the top of the passageway as they entered this domain. He looked down at his own body and saw that the fur was gone, replaced by a blue vest that didn't do anything to cover his defined chest and abdomen. His lower limbs--his feet--now had appendages much like the fingers on his hands, but shorter and stubbier. A glowing blue circle about an inch in diameter sat in between his chest which he instantly just knew was his magical marking. It wasn't odd to him because he inherited the glowing spot from his mother who he could swear did magic to raise all her children and still have time to follow her dreams.

Looking at Sun-Cursed's new form was breathtaking. Her fur was replaced with clothes that were reminiscent of her markings, but fit her new frame to gently but noticeably accentuate her curves. Her horns were gone, replaced with a bob cut of ash blonde hair. Her halo looked to now encircle her neck, mimicking a golden necklace that dipped slightly at her clavicle. Her face was still so familiar to him, yet now so different, but her inner radiance still shown from her ever-present smile and her eyes that glowed in contrast with the dim light of this place.

He had to quickly look away lest be accused of ogling her, but he couldn't deny to himself that he wanted to continue ogling. He squeezed her hand back in appreciation, "And you, My Light, only get more and more beautiful each transition we make."

Looking to the coast, he saw a gathering of stalls and tables with people moving through them--a market? This would be the perfect opportunity to get Sun-Cursed a gift that he could give her to commemorate the occasion.

"That looks interesting, would you like to go there with me?"
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[ORP Navytide] The Night Market - OPEN

Post by HuniPi »

"Absolutely!" Wendy nodded, grinning from ear to ear at the compliment and how eager Ember was in exploring the stalls. Still holding his hand, she linked her arm in his, resting her head against him while still looking up into his face. Had she always been this clingy? She didn't think so, but then again, the only other kin who had been so affectionate with her was Steals Kisses and now she sort of understood why the other doe had been so keen to cuddle and snuggle.

She hadn't minded it with the other doe. Having the closeness of their bodies was never uncomfortable but it didn't make her heart race the way it did with Ember. She would have to talk to him whether he had any concerns if she were to still be as friendly as she was with Kisses. Later. Much, much later.

Right now, she was going to focus on exploring this cozy, coastal Realm with Ember.

Even though they had just come from the Crossroads and had some pastries and coffee, something about the smell of the sea and the delicious aroma of grilled food made her mouth water. "I don't know if it's because of the sea and we'd traveled farther than it felt, but um, that stall over there looks really good." She gestured to a stand where a middle-aged man was grilling a variety of seafoods.
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[ORP Navytide] The Night Market - OPEN

Post by doomsayer »

Ember didn't mind that Wendy clung so close to him here. In this form, it was easier to conceal the physical effects of what it did to him. He wondered if it was an effect of these places that was making her more forward about being so close, or if the only obstacle to their closeness all this time was the fact that they were both holding back with their feelings not knowing that the other felt the same. If so, he lamented to himself all that wasted time.

As they approached stall located in what looked like the center of the town's activity, the man cooking in the stall greeted them warmly. "Well hello there! Aren't you a nice looking couple! Haven't seen you around tonight. Is it your first time at the Night Market?"

Ember smiled as Wendy looked up at him, their eyes meeting, no fur this time to hide the fact that they were both blushing from the man assuming that they were a couple. Ember took in the smells of the cooking seafood and couldn't help but comment on it, "Yes, uhh, we just got here. Completely new to the place. That all smells incredible." He gestured to the mix of fish, squid, prawns, oysters and lobster tails cooking on the man's grill. "Would it be alright if we asked for some?"

"Why of course! The bounty of the sea blesses us all here in Navytide. But the sea isn't the only provider tonight. Everything you'll see and get from the stalls tonight will be infused with the magic of the land. Sometimes it will be wonderful, but sometimes the magic will give you something to think about. My advice, don't fight it, let the magic take you where it'll take you and I guarantee you'll always be in a better place than you started." The man opened his palm to the coals underneath the cooking seafood and a gout of flame burst out from it, reinvigorating the glow on the hot coals and releasing a new wave of enticing smells.

As Ember and Wendy took the food that they were offered, he turned to her, hesitation clear on his face. "How do you feel about this magic stuff? It all sounds a bit much for me. I'm not used to miracles and mysteries, and to be honest, I'm a little...uneasy about it all."
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[ORP Navytide] The Night Market - OPEN

Post by HuniPi »

Wendy didn't mind that her feelings were out on display for all to see. There was some level of her being used to it, given how her halo would be a beacon in the darkness. This wasn't all that different, perhaps a little (a lot) less dangerous regarding survival. Why would she want to hide what she felt now that she's admitted them to herself and to Ember?

That others were acknowledging it only made her happier. "Thank you," she said, what she was thankful for it could be a lot of things: that the man saw they were a couple, that he cooked their food so perfectly, that Navytide was so welcoming, likely she was thankful for all of it.

She eagerly bit into the first of the skewered seafood, savoring the texture and the grilled flavor and the sauces. She did make sure to take a napkin and clean her mouth, feeling like if Ember used his finger to wipe any sauce from her face, she wouldn't be able to hold back from teasing him and lightly nibble at his digits.

She was a little surprised to learn that Ember was uneasy about magic. "Really? You don't have problems with glowing markings when we were kin. I think magic is just like a gift from the MotherFather. Even if some of the gifts are difficult to handle," she smiled wryly, "It's part of the world."
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[ORP Navytide] The Night Market - OPEN

Post by doomsayer »

Wendy's explanation that they'd been in the presence of magic even when they were kin gave him pause. "I've never really thought of those things as magic. I always just assumed they were just part of our bodies, like how fireflies have glowing bottoms, or some fish glow in deep water. But you do have an excellent point. I've never met one, but we've all heard the stories about the ascended and their gifts from the MotherFather and their ability to give blessings. They're definitely magic. It just... it feels a little different from... I guess being able to produce fire from your hands like the man at the stall did." He held his palm up in front of him, making sure he wasn't pointing it at anyone, then pushing forward into the air as though expecting something to come out of his hands.

He laughed at himself for expecting something to happen before looking back to Wendy, "Okay. I guess I can't do the fire thing. I wonder what we can do though. Maybe someone from around here can tell us or help us find out."

They continued walking around the market square while eating the skewers of seafood given to them. There did not seem to be any rhyme or reason to what the other stalls looked to provide. Some had laid out seashells for anyone to take, some had jewelry, one was hosting paper-making classes, another was just a person offering a service where they would sit in front of you and just actively listen to you. It was all so fascinating and he was spoiled for choice. He tried to see which ones Wendy was particularly looking at or interested in, but even she seemed to be looking at everything all at once. He rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand to get her attention, "Well, there's certainly a lot going on here. Do you have an idea of which stall you'd like to visit next?"
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[ORP Navytide] The Night Market - OPEN

Post by HuniPi »

Watching Ember try to figure out his magic within the realm made Wendy giggle, "I wouldn't be surprised if your magic was less showy but still remarkable when you use it. Just like your quiet strength and warmth. It's not attention-grabbing but you drew me in and you made me want to stay."

It was difficult for Wendy to shake off that feeling of needing to do everything right this second. Having grown up needing to constantly be aware of the time, of her distance from shelter or cover, it wasn't something she could just let go like that. Even after moving in with Ember and having another source of support, she didn't want to become too dependent on him. She wanted to be his partner and contribute as much to their den as he did.

Even though they were here in these strange new realms and are able to go anywhere at any time, Wendy couldn't still help but need to weigh their options. Who knows how long they actually were able to stay here, after all. "Maybe we can get something to remind us of our visit?" At the very least, if that's all the time they had here, they would be able to look back on it and prove it hadn't all just been a dream.

She noticed there were other couples here as well, some remarking about the quality of the craftsmanship of their matching jewelry. Gently tugging Ember along, she went to ask the couple which stall they got their beautiful jewelry. The man and his partner were more than happy to point out the Charm Stall at the other end of the market.
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[ORP Navytide] The Night Market - OPEN

Post by doomsayer »

Eventually Wendy led Ember to the stall that gave out charms. It was larger than all the other stalls in the Night Market and boasted a massive variety of charms and jewelry that looked to be from different cultures. An old lady wearing very thick glasses, and her granddaughter who were both wearing knitted and crocheted clothing operated the stall. The old lady spoke to people looking at their wares while her hands moved non-stop with needle and thread on her next creation. The granddaughter explained to those looking how certain charms worked, what they represented, or what they signified.

What he wanted was something wearable he could give to Wendy to remember this special day by--hopefully something she could bring back to their reality once their time here was done. But knowing that everything here was magic, he was hesitant to pick something out himself without asking about it first. So when it was his turn to talk to the old lady, he was about to point to a thin silver bracelet--the first familiar pretty thing he saw--to ask about it when she raised her pointer finger as if to interrupt him. "I know you would like to pick something out for your lady friend there, but it would be wise to browse together first before deciding on something. Take your time, the evening is young."

The old lady's advice, though spoken in an odd cryptic manner, made him reconsider. If they were here to get something matching, he figured it would be better to ask Wendy what caught her eye first.
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Post by HuniPi »

Wendy was too absorbed in the wares out on display. Everything was so pretty, it make her wish she had more limbs to wear them all on. But that was just silly thinking. She was here because what she wanted was to get something she and Ember could both wear. Pretty but practical, and more importantly symbolic of them.

The granddaughter was happily chattering away, explaining what each bauble and bead could be used for but it took a moment for Wendy to notice that she was being shown sturdy, hardy accessories. Leather bands, woven strips, things that were flexible and wouldn't get in the way. But there was room for customization, certain portions that she and Ember could provide their suggestions and ideas for.

"You can put some beads on either side of these knot bracelets." The girl offered, showing a matching pair made of leather. "I can infuse them with magic to glow a certain color when they're near each other. Saaaaay, orange and blue?"

"That's actually a nice idea!" She squeezed Ember's hand, gesturing to her selection.
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[ORP Navytide] The Night Market - OPEN

Post by doomsayer »

Ember nodded with approval at Wendy's selection. He was glad that he listened to the old lady's advice--what he would have picked out would have been ostentatious and gaudy compared to what Wendy picked out.

When the younger woman spoke about infusing magic into the leather bracelets to make them glow when they got close to each other, he had to ask, "How close would they have to be to start glowing? And does the magic fade over time?" He was also curious if the object, or any trace of it, would stay with them once they left this realm, but he ultimately decided against it in case the people here weren't even aware of the other places.

The granddaughter was quick with an answer; "Well, they should glow once the bracelets get within a few feet of each other, about 6 to 8 feet. And the magic that will be infused into them takes a negligible part of it's wearer's own magic to fuel the glow, so as long as you're wearing them, the enchantment should keep."

Happy with the answers to his questions, Ember agreed and asked for the bracelets. It didn't take very long before they were finished and given to him.

Turning to Wendy with a smile, her hand still in his, he gently slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.
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Post by HuniPi »

Wendy tried her best to slip Ember's bracelet onto his wrist with just one hand. It didn't go as smoothly as he had done with hers, but she refused to give up and managed to get it on him. And maybe her hand lingered on his arm for longer than necessary, lightly running her thumb along the point where the band touched his skin.

With both bracelets on and in close proximity, their glow was instant. Hers was blue, his orange, and when the bracelets were close enough, such as now, hand in hand, the colors were half of each other.

"They're beautiful, thank you," she enthusiastically said to the grandmother and the granddaughter before other market-goers started asking for the stall-owners' attention.

The pair moved along with Wendy admiring the soft glow of their charms, as bright as fireflies in the distance so they weren't exactly too distracting. If Wendy really thought about it, their glow as kin was actually brighter. But that didn't take away from how happy they made her feel "They really are beautiful but," she beamed up at Ember, "They're more beautiful to me because they remind me of us. Thank you, Ember, My Warmth.
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Post by doomsayer »

He turned to face her, "No. Thank you." He didn't care that they were still in an area where many people would be around to see, in fact he wanted there to be witnesses--to declare to the world his feelings for her, and to show her that he didn't care what other people thought, as long as he had her beside him. He leaned down until their faces were just inches apart. "I wanted to get you something to remember our time out of the swamp; to remember this day that we finally told each other how we both really feel. Once again, I hesitated and relied on you, and you picked the perfect thing. Every moment we've been together has been better because you're in it. I don't know how I've managed all this time, but now that you're with me, it's like I can see things bright as day. Wendy, My Light, I promise once again that as long as you are with me, I will do everything on my power to keep you safe and make you happy."

Renewing his vow to her filled him once again with happiness and desire, but this time he had decided that he would take the initiative. He leaned in, closing the gap between them for another kiss, the glow from their bracelets intensifying in the night.
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Post by HuniPi »

The world seemed to blur into itself, Wendy was too wrapped up in the moment to be too concerned about their surroundings. But soon they had to move somewhere that wasn't inconveniencing others, and after some quick apologies, the pair continued exploring the rest of the market. From musical performances, to games of skill and luck, to flower displays and some aquatic decorations, there seemed so much to see and discover.

Every now and again, Wendy would glance up at the sky, even if the moon and the stars remained where they are, she couldn't help but shake off the habit of being conscious of the passage of time. When she realized her anxiety, she sighed and leaned her head against Ember's arm. She didn't want to end their visit with a downer but she knew she had to bring it up with him.

"I wish we just be like this all the time. I don't know if I'm still sensitive to the sun here, maybe it's like in the Crossroads but I don't know if I want to chance it. Do you think we can go soon?"
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Post by doomsayer »

He lost track of time as they watched and participated in the various activities that the Night Market had to offer. He was too lost in they way she smiled, the way she looked at him, the way she made him feel every time she clung to him to share in his warmth.

He felt a little bit guilty for forgetting that her sensitivity to the sun might have been an issue here; he initially thought it might just work like it did at the Crossroads. But now that she voiced her concern about it, he agreed.

"You're right. I don't know for how much longer this place will be in a state of evening, but I won't risk you being exposed if it ever suddenly changes to the sun being out." He squeezed her hand, this time with some trepidation, "But before we leave, since I don't know if crossing the threshold of this realm will just drop us back into the swamp, I need to tell you something. When your friend Steals Kisses stayed over in our den that one time, she told me that she always noticed a presence lurking around you whenever she visited you. She told me that she felt that presence was now in the mangrove dens.

Looking back, I realized that I may have also had a small inkling that something was lingering around you, hiding in the shadows. I don't know of it was responsible for hurting your pets when we first took them to the den, and I don't know of it's responsible for the neighbor being attacked. But the possibility is there. Grove Guardian and I have increased our vigilance for hidden areas, and I feel more confident about your safety since we've had that self defense training. But the most important thing for your safety is that you're aware of it's existence--whatever it is."


Getting this off his chest, he was more confident at least that if she knew about the potential danger, she would be wary and prepared if anything untoward did happen.
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