[Kithoi Ward] Palaven Gardens Food Market (OPEN)

The Food Market in Kithoi Ward, a wide-open courtyard with both stores in the rooms built into the walls and stalls set up in the courtyard itself. Bustling with activity (especially since it was Lunch hour right now for most of the workers in Kithoi Ward- and right now, Kiara Delenni was pulling a tray of Earth cupcakes out of one of the ovens. "Aaaah... good. Nice and hot."

The young Asari had managed to secure one of the larger rooms (thanking the Goddess she got enough business to cover the rent- although... the benefits helped there, too), the back wall of which was taken up by several large ovens, and a bench for preparing food- interestingly, already split up by a washbasin, with one half of the bench entirely clear, a setup that was standard for stores that prepared both levo and dextro foods.

Michelle entered the shop soon after, intent on making the most of the long lunch she had decided to take. The small woman looked with envy to all those delicious pastries through her oversizes anachronistic glasses. She caught Kiara's gaze and smiled brightly.

"Hi! You must be Blue Baker! I'm Michelle -HereToHelp- from Cerberus!"

Her smile suddenly gave way to panick.

"Wait, in case you're not her I wasn't calling you blue baker to be racist! And I'm not a terrorist, Cerberus is just a name! Ho gods please tell me you're her! If not don't please don't call C-Sec I'll leave!"

Kiara tilted her head, and then started giggling. "Don't worry, you've got the right Asari. Hi, I'm Kiara, or Blue_Baker. Maybe just call it CDN in future, though? You'd get less weird looks. Pleased to meet you, Michelle."

"Ha ha, that sounds wiser! Very happy to meet you Kiara! So what do you advise me? No human things please, I already know most of them."

The maiden smiled, pointing to a set of strangely-shaped pastries. "Well, there's Decross Buns over there- they're quite spicy, but no more so than most asari food you'll find..."

"Oooh that's good! I'll have some please! Ho and that, what is it? Crustaceans pasties here, can I try one? Do you have drinks?"

Michelle was running all over the shop, and asking samples for pretty much everything. By the time she was done she had her arms full with various tasty pastries and a wide smile on her face.

"I'll take a table please!"

By the time Michelle was done, Kiara was blinking at the sheer amount of food she'd just sold to one person. "All right, there's a table over there.

How long have you been at the Citadel, out of interest?"

"About 6 months now", answered Michelle between two pastries. "Hmm that's good. That's very good. Anyway, I've started a charity on Tayseri, we're getting really started now. How about you?"

Kiara set a row of pastries in the oven. "Aaaah... about a year, now. Been in the Sol system ever since... well, since the Citadel was brought here, really."

She paused. "Spent a bit of time on Earth, just... didn't want to live there, to be honest. Memories."

"yeah... I can understand that. Where are you from originally if I might ask? Sorry if I'm nosy, I never had much to talk with an asari. I'm about curious about the republic worlds."

"I'm from Epira- it's one of the earlier colonies, but it's fairly lightly-populated. Still well-known for manufacturing, though. A lot of our dreadnoughts were constructed on Epira, or at least in orbit around it."

"Ever think about going back there? Not that I'm urging you to, after tasting those I want you around forever, ha ha!"

Kiara grinned. "I still want to travel a bit, I think, although I'm pretty sure my commando days are done.

Don't worry, though, I should be sticking around the Citadel for a while at least! I mean, I could stay here for a decade or two."

"Ha ha, that should give me time to copy all your recipes! I theorize that if I eat enough of those delights I'll be able to taste the chemical composition of all of them."

Kiara giggled. "Even though I'm pretty sure that's not how it works, you're more than welcome to try, Michelle. You're welcome in my bakery anytime."

"Thanks! Maybe I'll bring some kids when things... quiet down. For now it's a little too risky."

Bringing along kids was apparently the theme for the day, because shortly thereafter a familiar thundering sound was heard, and an unlikely pair made their way into the Food Market. The phenomenon of imminent elcor was rare in this part of Kithoi, meaning that Xuumo-kalashasi was receiving a fair number of interesting glances, something he disliked intensely. He preferred to keep a low profile, something admittedly difficult when you're three times the size of everyone else. Plus, he had a young human in tow, which was going to attract an odd glance or two. Alonso Cutri was walking alongside the elcor, looking rather bored.

"Xuumo, when are you going to actually, you know, tell me anything important?"

"Wearily, with stern undertones: We've been over this, Alonso. Do not speak of such things in public settings, please. Tightly: My business is private. You of all humans should understand that implication does not point to immediate induction into matters of personal concern".

"You came here to get me, right? That was a personal concern, and you were really quick about it, for an elcor I mean".

A silence that, to other elcor - or to humans familiar enough with their cruder scent-signals - would have been filled with the scent of a complex pheromone, one carrying the implication of annoyance, tired warning (like a glare of the sort an uncle might shoot a child who was in danger of crossing a line), and ever so slight tints of pride for a pupil's astute observations.

The human boy broke the silence by responding out loud.

"Dad was okay telling me all sorts of things". It was almost accusatory.

"Impatient: And your father is not here now, Alonso. Bitterly: Look where haste got him".

He stopped, glanced back at the young human.

"Softer tones, with sympathy: Adapting to life with me will be hard, Alonso. We both knew and accepted that. But I know that Pietro's son has it in him to make the most of it. Determined: And I will make the most of it also. I promise you that together we will be going far".

"Can we get a bun or something? I didn't have much for breakfast".

"Slyly impressed: That was an amazingly easy change in subject. Have you been practicing that casual tone?"

"I guess".

"Approvingly: I like it. Satisfed: Very well, let's eat".

"This part of Kithoi generally is pretty safe. But that's still fair enough."

Kiara noticed the new customers, and smiled. "Ah, hi there! What would you like to eat?"

"Xuumo, Alonso! Hi guys! Xuumo you saw Kiara's post on CDN too? Believe me you won't regret it!"

Michelle's assurance was redundant with the number of empty plates in front of her.

Xuumo-kalashasi blinked. What a coincidence.

"Pleasantly: Good day, Ms. Rondor. Meeting you here is a pleasant surprise.

Bluntly: I don't recall any post on the board - I do not post that frequently, you understand.

Casually explanatory: I'm out shopping for supplies that will help my paddock be more...appealing...to a young human. Alonso was hungry, and apparently desires a... bun... is it?

"We used to steal these great cinnamon things from the place near - er, I mean..." Alonso placed his hand to the back of his neck, rubbing it as he trailed off awkwardly. A hint of challenge was in his eyes, though, a sense of "yeah, so?" He seemed to be both unrepentant and strangely sheepish.

"Understated tones of authority: Remember our discussions concerning haste, Alonso"

To Rondor:

"The fare here is good, then?"

"Xuumo's cooking is awful" noted the boy, apparently happy to embarrass him further.

"With tones of martyrdom: As Alonso feels the need to remind me, I am not the best at evaluating the quality of human food".