[Kithoi Ward] Palaven Gardens Food Market (OPEN)

Michelle chuckled.

"Well you can judge Alonso, but how's your elcor cooking? I think we should give points to xuumo for trying. Now you guys need to try the red bristles here, AMAZING."

Kiara grinned, resting against the counter. "Thanks, Michelle. I also do cinnamon buns if you'd like one.

It's a pleasure to meet you both either way."

A rather busy looking blonde woman stepped into the market. Sarah readjusted her sunglasses and tugged the hood of her jacket up- As to better hide the recent injury to her head, as she adopted a place in line behind the massive elcor. Her attention was on the datapad in her hands. Doctor's appointment tomorrow- Valentine's Day was soon. She bit into the end of the datapad's stylus as a conundrum formed in her head- What kind of cake does Chris like? Vanilla? Chocolate? She pawed at the idea of dialing her- Then common sense strikes. Can't exactly ask her if you're going to surprise her, idjit. A voice she recognized in front of the Elcor and his companion- The woman's brow quivered, and she adopted an expression that didn't scream 'STRESS!'
She deactivated the pad and stuffed it into her jacket.

"Pleasantly flippant: It seems you have friends all over, Miss Rondor.

Respectfully: Pleased to meet you. You are the owner of this establishment?"

Alonso tried his hardest to stand at some variety of attention, while every instinct in his young human body clearly told him to fidget or make signs of his impatience.

Kiara nodded, smiling. "Yes, I am. I'm Kiara Delenni."

The oven beeped, and Kiara blinked. "Ah, wait just a second..."

She opened up the over, taking out a chocolate mud cake, which she placed in an empty slot of the display area. "All right, that's done! What would you like to have?"

"Politely: Pleased to meet you. I am Xuumo-kalashasi, late of Dekuuna. This is my ward, Alonso Cutri. Of Earth.

Bemused sarcasm: We will have one of those Cinnamon buns, if Alonso can manage to stand still long enough to endure the wait".

Alonso managed to look abashed.

Kiara smiled, picking a cimmanon bun out of the display case. "Bagged, or would you prefer it on a plate?"

"Politely: Bagged will do. How much will that be?"

Alonso accepted the bagged bun and held it for a short time without doing anything, shooting Xuumo-kalashasi a somewhat petulant glance that said something akin to "See? I can be patient". Xuumo-kalashasi released a scent that was somewhat equivalent to a human eye-roll, only far more subtle, a pheromonal cue that conveyed a tone of slightly sarcastic, slightly bemused acknowledgement, a sort of "Yes, yes. Well done", upon which Alonso greedily bit into it. As the boy chewed, Xuumo transferred his attention back to Kiara and Rondor.

Kiara blinked slightly as her nose detected the smell of the pheromones, even though she couldn't tell what they signified.

She grinned slightly as Alonso tucked in, before turning to the newcomer. "Ah, sorry for the wait. What would you like?"

Was it half a day off or just a long lunch break? Arina wasn't sure but the next few evenings were going to be occupied with official events for the CEF Anniversary. A lot of naval officers and officials of all the Council races and all the party addicts from literally every embassy on the Citadel. On consecutive evenings.
Arina needed to make sure her batteries were fully loaded for something like that.

She had been living in Kithoi for a few months now but so far she hasn't seen too much besides her own block, a small bar and just the necessary stores near her place. Getting established at the embassy had been a time consuming thing and her work hours had gone crazy. She should change that, she was supposed to live here and she needed an opportunity to vent and get out, she needed to see people other than at work. After the CEF thing was over she was planning on taking it a bit slower. That last hill to fight.

So today Arina was browsing the Kithoi markets. She hadn't cooked for herself in a while and although she had no fancy plans for dinner, she was looking forward to some steam boiled algae and a fish, which she carried in a bag already. The Citadel being close to a planet was definitely improving the food sortiment.

A scent of bakery and fresh spices entered her nose. The walk had left her hungry so she was all for a little break and maybe something sweet. The sign said Delenni Bakery, a young asari behind the counter.
With a sigh, Arina dropped her bag and was leaning onto the counter to scan the variety of goods, all of them screaming for her attention. There were asari style things, human style and some things she had no idea about. She smiled at the other asari.

"Hello! You're doing a good job, attracting customers by smell! This fills the whole lower square. Can I have one of those..." she pointed to a snail shell shaped thing, "... and do you maybe serve Kaffe as well?"

Kiara looked up as the other Asari spoke, shaking her head apologetically. "Sorry. I do have some iced Kaffe in the fridge if you want it, but not hot." She took out the snail-shaped pastry, placing it in a paper bag. "That'll be two credits, please.

And thanks for the compliment, by the way. I might have to hire some more people to keep up, I have gotten a lot busier here."

"Aw, that's too bad," Arina replied on the Kaffe. "Don't bother, it's okay. Maybe you should consider Kaffe though. Nothing goes with fresh bakery like a hot brew."

She payed the bill, which really was a great offer. Taking the bag, she instantly unwrapped the thing and took a bite, leaning against the counter. She kept the tasty sweet thing half in the bag, carefull not to spill anything on her cream colored long dress.

"I hope it is getting back to where is was, seriously", Arina commented, while chewing and looking out into the markets. "It is great that your business is doing fine." She turned around to the baker again.

"I am quite new to living on the Citadel, jut a few months. I am still in the process of settling in here in Kithoi. What about you, have you been around here since... you know, before all the shit went down?"

Kiara shook her head. "No, I fought in the war. Didn't… really have it in me to stay after that."

Arina thought she heard bitterness and sadness in the baker's voice.

"Oh, you were fighting on Mother Thessia? I am Thessian myself, Dassus to be specific. I spent the entire war on Niacal though." she thought it appropriate to offer a switch on topics again though. "Kithoi is coming back pretty well," she took another bite.

"Do you also live around here? Are there any worthwhile pastimes? .... Besides your lovely little shop and this delicious snail?"
She had to think about that new extranet board she had just signed on to, CDN. Maybe there also where some people on there from Kithoi.

"I saw some action on Thessia, but not much. Got pulled into one of those special teams the Alliance set up fairly early on."

Kiara grimaced. "Don't really like talking about it much, sorry. Anyway, I'm from Epira. And yeah, I live here in Kithoi Ward now. Entertainment... well, I spend a lot of time at the Authority nightclub. Apart from that... there's a good movie theatre a couple of blocks down from here. Plus, the Gardens are a lovely place to relax."

Arina could totally understand the reluctance to talk about the painful memories.
When was the last time she had been at a nightclub on her own terms, not just some stupid party which was kind of 'work'? When had she just been lying in the grass of a park? When was the last time she had seen seen a holo in a theatre?

"I would love to dance a night away some time again... I will keep it in mind, thanks. My job is eating me! But there is hope. A couple more days then I will be able to breath again.
My social life was happening on the extranet mostly lately," she laughed, "since I can have an occasional look at it at work. There is a fun board I discovered not long ago, called 'CDN'. It's people from all over the galaxy..." she smirked, "I think I could even get away with saying it is part of my job to listen to the galactic public, since I work for the embassies."

Kiara paused.

"I'm Blue_Baker on the forums. I think the recurring joke there is that everyone seems to run into each other in real life too."

She grinned slightly. "What's your username there?"

Now that was... unexpected. But on the other hand it made sense. Arina was trying to remember if she ever read of a blue_baker. She wasn't sure but would pay attention.

"Oh, really? Wow, this is interesting. I am 'stardust'. But as said, I am quite new, I am not yet familiar with all the folk. Some of the nicknames are easier to remember than others. Yours is quite telling, once you get he point." she laughed. "Maybe I should put some picture up so people can recognize me. Have you already met other members as well?"

Kiara grinned. "A couple of people from the site have come here, yes. And I basically used a photo of me during a night out."

“He, I have to check it out then. I mostly look stupid on party shots but maybe that’s a good idea.” She was eating the last piece of her pastry.
“I have not met any of them yet – you are the first by coincidence, so to say. But from what I read, a lot of them know each other very well. Anyway, thank you for the tips on the ward, I’ll check it out. One other thing I was looking for was a gym but I guess, running in the park may be even better.”

She was looking at the pastries laid out before her.
“You know what, I haven’t had a decross in a long time. Could you pack me one up for the way?”