milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Zhaan is in the booth outside the infirmary again, her table filled with neatly arranged jars, sachets, bundles and packages. Anyone who comes close will be treated to a symphony of floral and herbal smells.

Apparently, Zhaan has decided to decorate the table today. Her goods rest on a blue cloth woven with glinting metallic thread, and a bonsai tree sculpture made of wire and semiprecious stones sits in the center of the table. Leaning against the tree sculpture is a sign listing the prices of all Zhaan's items in Peacekeeper currency pledges, with a note that the Bar will exchange currency for customers. She is also willing to make trades with those who have no currency to give.

Interested in purchasing?

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No longer! But interested in delivering a commission -- one cast-iron pot, on little legs, as ordered.

When Teja sees Zhaan, he goes to the forge to fetch it, then returns with it.

"Greetings, Zhaan!" he says.

"Good afternoon, Teja. Oh!" She smiles. "I see you have the pot. Thank you."

Teja puts it on the table.

"Now, you have the pot," he announces. "One hopes it will serve you well!"

"I think it will," Zhaan says as she examines her new pot - turning it around, lifting the lid, testing its weight. "While we are on the subject, are my herbs working well for you?"

"I did not need the balm much, yet," Teja says, "but the mint infusion in my bath is doing me very good; my muscles are rarely sore any more, no matter what I do."

"That is good," Zhaan says. "And the peppermint smell is not disagreeable to your cats?"

"No," Teja says. "They live in the forge, not in my room with me -- they are free creatures and need to be outside, hunt mice!"

"Ah, forgive me. I meant to say that I hoped the forge cats are not upset by the peppermint smell." Zhaan recalls that Teja was somewhat concerned about using anything that might alienate the cats.

"No, they are not," Teja says. "The female is a bit distant, used to being on her own; but the male is as affectionate as ever, no matter what I had in my bath the night before."

"Do you think they would like catnip? I don't grow any myself, but there may be some in the gardens."

"I am sure they would -- it is slightly inebriating to them," Teja says. "I might look for it; or perhaps grow some in my room and bring down for them when the plants are mature."

"I think they like it best live," Zhaan says. "Grow some in a box for them - if you use a pot, they might topple it."

Teja nods. "I will ask the bar for seeds; or maybe the gardening people of the purple godling have some," he says.

"The gardeners are sure to have some," Zhaan confirms.

"I will ask the purple godling, then," Teja says. "He tends to be helpful, if somewhat mocking."

Zhaan frowns, concerned. "Asar-suti has always been kind to me. Perhaps he has an irreverent sense of humor, but I suppose I've grown accustomed to that." Living on the same ship with a person like John Crichton inures you to certain things. Or it drives you insane.

"He seems to find me amusing," Teja says, "but then, it does not really matter -- he lets me use the library regardless."

"I suppose that is worth putting up with a great deal of trouble for."

"He is not a great deal of trouble," Teja says. "Merely somewhat annoying at times."

"He means well," Zhaan says with conviction. "If you were that old and powerful, your sense of humor would be strange too."

It could be a lot worse. Asar-suti told her that it had been, once upon a time.

Teja no longer would claim, straight-facedly, that he has no sense of humour.

"It is something that one can bear, without undue exertion," he now simply agrees.

"That smells nice." Guppy says, depositing his coffee and sitting down with her. He looks a bit worn out to say the least.

"Thank you. Hello, Guppy." Zhaan blinks at him, noticing his weariness. Of course, it's not the first time she's seen Guppy like this - far from it. It still worries her, though.

Guppy went through a period of at least a month or two without looking exhausted. Not today though, too many casualties.

"I don't suppose you have anything that reduces the need for sleep do you?" he asks hopefully, sipping his coffee.

What Zhaan gives Guppy in reply is not exactly a Look, but it's at least distantly related. "I hope you aren't being serious."

Guppy goes slightly red, and shakes his head.

"Course not. How are you?"

Right, of course not.

Zhaan relaxes, mostly, although she seems a bit troubled underneath her smile. "Very well, thank you. Since the House of Arch children are out for the summer, I've been turning my attention to my garden and to making things." Zhaan gestures at the wares on her table. "Stark has been very helpful."

Guppy looks mildly relieved to get away with that one, and considers that he wouldn't have let his guard slip like that had he not been so tired. Then again if he hadn't been tired, there would be no need to ask the question.

"That's one of the things I like about you Zhaan, you're always keeping busy." he smiles a little, picks up a sachet and sniffs it curiously.

"Who's Stark?"

"Someone from back in my universe who is very dear to me," Zhaan says. "He is still able to go back - and he must, from time to time, as our friends need him. But while he is here, he stays with me in the House of Arch."

If Guppy's not too tired to pick up on it, there's a strong between-the-lines hint that Stark and Zhaan have a very close relationship.

Guppy does pick up on it, and gives her a tired grin.

"I'm happy for you finding him. Someone to lean on can be very good for you."

He finishes his coffee and orders another one.

"If you can find a way to pass for human, you'd be more than welcome at my wedding in a few months if you'd like to come."

Zhaan grins broadly. "I would love to, Guppy. I'm sure I can figure out a way." There has to be someone in the bar who can work some kind of illusion or transformation for that purpose.

"We haven't set a date yet, but it will be this summer. We just want to go for it."

Sipping his new coffee. "She's very understanding when I have to stick around here like this, but it's only a few hours for her fortunately."

"Has she been here yet? I would like to meet her if possible."

[OOC: I need to go take a shower but I should be back before too long, 'kay?]

"We tried, but she can't get in for some reason. Her name's Frogspawn, she's a physiotherapist."

Pause.

"Her name is what?"

Zhaan knows English well enough to be thinking that 'Frogspawn' can't be her real name.

"Frances Rainbow Osbourne - Frogspawn for short."

"Oh." Zhaan blinks and releases a breath. "I thought it might be something like that."

"Well it's just like my full name is Gurpreet. A guppy is a type of fish."

"I understand that, but as I recall, I knew your full name before I learned your nickname. And back than I don't think I knew what a 'guppy' was." That's changed, of course.

"Did you? Hm, I don't usually introduce myself with my full name. Only... only my mother and a few family members call me that."

Zhaan shakes her head. "I might have misremembered. But in any case, I'm sure I did not know at the time that a guppy was a fish, so it didn't seem all that odd to me."

Guppy nods.

"Well I suppose the name Zhaan is unusual to me, but doesn't make me think of anything else."

"If it did, I suppose then it would have sounded strange," Zhaan says speculatively. "I always find it a bit strange when I meet someone named John. That is the given name of the first human I ever met," she explains. "I've learned it's a very common name, so I can anticipate having many odd moments."

Guppy laughs. "Yes, it is. Though only in the western world, I believe."

Now Zhaan looks puzzled. "I've never been clear on this. Which part of Earth is western? Everything there is west of somewhere else, and the application of the term seems inconsistent."

"Oh, it's an expression, refers mainly to some of Europe and North America I believe. And it's measured from the line that divides time zones from one day to the next I think."

"To Europe and North America, but not continents south of them?" Zhaan looks puzzled for a moment, then a lightbulb goes on. "Oh. I see. It is a cultural more than a geographic designation, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's it." Guppy rubs his forehead. He's not good at explaining things when tired.

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