From: Save Address Block Sender Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 20:58:44 EDT Subject: Market Madness Teri rolled over, the thin scratchy blanket of the inn falling away from her face, and she instantly woke up as sunlight brushed across her eyelids. Muttering about "the fucking light", in keeping with her always-pleasant morning personality, she slipped her feet from the bed and promptly cried out as her bare feet touched the freezing floor. Roland chuckled from where he was strapping his gunbelt around his waist. "So she decides to wake up." His eyes looked red and puffy, but his smile seemed less strained than normal; nevertheless, Teri shot him an *It's Early morning and I am Oh So NOT Amused* look. "Why do you wear that thing anyway? You just look stupid without any guns." "It's a question of honor. You probably wouldn't understand." "Amazing. And I thought I could get my nose pretty high in the air." He didn't respond. Her stomach rumbled. Loudly. Teri sat on the bed, curling her bare legs underneath her and running her hand through her tangled hair. "Where's shinji? Where'd you guys sleep last night?" she mumbled, voice hoarse, face scrunched against the sunlight. Roland shrugged in answer to the first. As to the second, a simple "Here" sufficed. Teri rolled her eyes, not all that happy about sharing a room with men she didn't know that well. Roland tossed her black bag to her, and she pulled out her makeup case, clicked open her clinique mirror-- and grimaced. "Damn.. you'd think i'd been drugged or something..." Roland just hid a smirk as Shinji walked in, towel-drying his short hair. Teri was applying makeup (her undereye stuff-- it looked as if she'd been crying all night, but she knew that couldn't be the case), but then grew bored and skipped the rest. "pointless to put on makeup. like anyone's going to see me." she looked up, "present company excluded, of course" Roland smirked. "And I've seen everything there is to see, remember?" Teri's eyes flashed as they widened. "At least I have something to see." Roland's face grew a little tighter, but he maintained his smirk. Shinji just shrugged and went to sit on the window sill, folding his towel up. "We should get some breakfast, and then be going. The temple service is probably over by now." "What time is it?" Roland asked as he grabbed his staff. Teri looked up, surprised. "We're leaving already?" Roland and Shinji blinked. "but i just got up. I haven't brushed my teeth... or changed or.." She looked at their blank faces, and sighed. "nevermind. give me five minutes in the bathroom." <20 minutes later> Roland looked at shinji. "Amazing how 5 minutes always turn into half an hour with women." "No kidding," he mummbled in responce. Twenty minutes and he was already bored. "Think she died?" Teri knocked on the door. "I heard that! And let me in." Roland opened the door. Teri smoothed back her hair, which was in a tight pony tail high on the back of her head-- the brown tail brushed her neck as she moved. Her puffy eyes were gone, and she smelled faintly of herbs. "Not my fault you can go out looking like a pig and not mind. It's a question of.... HONOR. You probably wouldn't understand." Shinji chuckled. "Touche." Roland shot him a look. "You two certainly get along well." Teri smiled innocently. Roland frowned. Shinji laughed to himself and stepped out the door. *Amazing. All the possible companions in this world and I get stuck with two who've been brother and sister in another life." Later, the three of them were standing in the common of the inn. There weren't many people here right now, but later it would be filled with travelers and other such visitors to this place, but why anyone would want to come here was beyond Shinji. Oh well. First they would have to get past the monster. Shinji mummbled as he remembered that fight. God, had he been sloppy. "Good morning. I hope you slept well," the innkeeper said with an expectant smile. "Uh huh, really great," Roland replied with a smirk. "Oh? Was there something wrong? If there is anything I can do-" "Oh don't mind him, he's just cranky," Teri replied with a reassuring smile. The innkeeper gave a sigh of relief, then went to assist another customer. Roland debated whether to reply, but didn't. Instead he began walking toward the door. "We better get some supplies," he said, stopping to wait for his companions. Shinji and Teri both replied simultaneously. "Shopping?" Shinji groaned. "Shopping!" Teri replied enthusiastically, then dashed past Roland and out the door. Roland shook off the large sweat drop that began to move down the back of his head and rushed after her. Shinji sighed in defeat, then followed. * * * The town in daylight wasn't as deserted and desolate as it appeared last night. Now, merchants and shoppers lined the streets, various objects glinting in the early morning light. As the three of them walked from merchant to merchant, it became quite obvious that it would be difficult to find the things they needed. Teri was stopping at every cart, rummaging through filigrie bracelets and long cords of silk woven together, held bolts of embroidered cloth up to the light, smelled exotic incense imported from the Lands Beyond the Sea, and slipped tinkling bracelets on and off her slim wrists. Holding a thin chain of white gold against her neck, she turned giddily around to show her two companions. "Isn't it breathtaking?" A small of moonstone drop caught the sparkle of sunlight as it bounced against her skin. "Lovely, but I think we should split up. We'll cover more ground that way," Roland murmured, and Teri's lips slipped into a pout. Nevertheless, she returned the necklace to the vendor with thanks, and joined the two men. Shinji sighed in relief that he didn't have to stick with the shopping plan. After they split up, he could head back and check out the rest of the city. He could-- "Shinji?" Roland called to him over his shoulder as he walked away. "Huh?" "Keep an eye on her," he finished, nodding towards Teri, who had already begun to wander away. Shinji groaned, then sprinted to catch up with Teri, imagining his pouch growing lighter with every step. There were too many shops. The range of wares from clothes to dates was making the trip seem oh so very long for Shinji, and Teri still didn't seem to be tireing. "Oh thats so cool!" she beamed, picking up a small bag made of shiny scales. "No way. Too expensive." Shinji said, examining the price. "Aww, you're no fun," Teri replied with a pout, then forgeting her low and rushing off to another stand. The merchant saw her coming, and greeted her with a warm smile. "Good day young lady. Can I help you?" he said. "What do you have?" "We specialize in clothes. The most intricate fabric designs you have ever seen! All the fabric is of the most expensive quality. If you would only step this way, we can start the fitting right now," he said, snesing a possible sale. Teri was about to follow him when Shinji put his hand on her shoulder. "Hey! What are you doing!" She exclaimed, sorely annoyed with his meddling. "Um, Teri? I really don't think you should go with him," he answered, glancing suspiciously at the salesman. "Why the hell not?! I've never been to a fitting before!" she snapped, trying to get away as he pulled her from the stand. "I don't know, but something about men with two earring's just doesn't seem right..." Teri paused and looked over her shoulder, "Maybe you're right... But I don't know the customs of this place," she sighed, "And those dresses were beautifu--" She stopped, her eyes flew open. *Dresses? What am i THINKING! I don't want.. DRESSES!* Shinji waited for her to finish her sentence, but when she clearly wasnt' going to, he shrugged and pulled her to another clothing vendor. "Here," he said, holding up a flashy blue-silk ensemble with faint gold stitching on the collar. "People wear stuff like this around here." Teri raised an eyebrow, met the vendor's eyes from across the merchandise, and smiled. "Let me do my own shopping?" Men didn't know anything about fashion. Or practicality for that matter-- a royal blue dress was bad enough-- but silk? For travelling? She wanted some native clothing, and in good taste (and preferable excellent quality), but she didn't need something fancy and impractical. The woman-vendor chuckled, and held up another dress, this one a light violet linen. Teri tilted her head in consideration, and Shinji lounged, annoyed, against the booth. "I think... do you have pants?" The woman's eyes widened a bit, but she nodded. Shinji shot Teri a glance. "What?" He sighed, "Women don't wear pants very often around here." Teri threw up her hands, "What is this, feudal England? i can wear anything I damn well please!" Shinji shook his head, "If you have the money, that is." Which promptly brought Teri back to Earth (or wherever she was), since she was mooching off of him enough. And from the looks of it, Shinji didn't seem to have very much to spend. She nodded, "I'm sorry-- you're right." and turned back to the vendor. "You see... I'm going to be doing quite some travelling... So I'd like something as durable and practical as possible." The confusion in the woman's eyes cleared and she nodded, motioning for Teri to come to the other side of the table. Shinji kept close watch, but the woman only held up a few more items from trunks behind her. Teri wound up choosing a few sleeveless blouses (the heat was atrocious), and a skirt divided for riding (complete with stockings), and a pair of breeches of a light fawn color that surprisingly fit her rather well. The vendor had mentioned her son's old clothing, but Teri didn't care at this point. When she was spending her own money, or that of someone with a little more to throw about, she'd worry about first-hand clothing. Teri had blanched at the slippers, though. The back of her left boot was still gaping, and was slowly making a blister on her heel, but the thought of travelling in heeled shoes made her face drain. "Do you have any boots?" THe woman sighed at what was apparently Teri's awful fashion-sense, and produced a pair of brown ankle-boots. Teri paid, and profusely thanked Shinji. "We should go find Roland." Teri grimaced. "Do we HAVE to? He smells." "Yes." "Yes, we have to find him, or yes, he smells?" Shinji cracked a smile. "Both." They wandered around giggling for another 5 minutes until they spotted Roland coming out of a weapon shop. Teri looked at him and asked "Still no guns?" "No. I think I should pretty much give up hope of ever finding any in this place. Unless I mine the goddamn chemicals myself, which is NOT gonna happen any time soon." Shinji looked at them questioningly. Teri patted him on the back. "Nevermind. It's a technology thing." "You wouldn't understand." Teri and Shinji stared at Roland. The gunslinger had made a joke. Shaking his head, Shinji led the way to the temple.