The Marketplace was a busy place this time of year. Even most who didn't celebrate Christmas took part in celebrating the Winter Solstice. The streets were crowded; full of people shopping, decorating, and generally just being.. happy. It was a rather pleasant change compared to how Rhydin was at other times. People getting some early shopping done trudged about carrying their bags, children wrapped themselves around their parents legs begging for them to buy things they wanted, and many stood outside of stores, just peering inside as they did some window shopping. It wasn't all that different at The Stitch.
Both sides of the store had been packed with customers, since things had been quite good after the expansion. Coupling that along with the time of the year it wasn't a surprise at all that things were going so well. There had been a spike in the male customers that shopped at The Stitch as well. Husbands and boyfriends sought out the perfect presents for their significant others in the form of clothing or jewelry. And at The Stitch the dresses, knittery, and beaded items weren't terribly expensive either. Perfect gift items! And perfect items for women to splurge on and spoil themselves with as well.
Even with so many customers though, lunch time had arrived and food consumption had to go on. Lydia planned a short lunch for herself so she could return quickly, since some customers were so determined they waited outside the shop even as it was being closed down. Customers and employees alike shuffled out of both entrances. Griffith handled locking up the left side- what was once the flower shop, and Lydia handled locking up the main entrance. Removing keys from her bag, she was in the process of locking up as the little blonde elf by her side spoke.
"He kissed ya!? That's so nasty!" To reiterate her point, Carley shuddered and shivered at the thought, little nose wrinkling. "Did you tell Grem?" Bright blues suddenly widened as they watched Lydia carefully.
Pausing, she glanced aside to Carley. "Of course I did. As many people saw? Better I tell him myself than let him read about it or hear about it from someone else." Like Carley, for one. Pause. Afterthought. "And gods, yes. It was disgusting."
Clapping hands together once rather gleefully, Carley grinned up at Lydia. "Ya did!? That's great! He'll probably beat him up! I hope I'm around to see when it does. Because that guy really deserves it, kissin' ya and coppin' feels on anyone he can..." She gave her most sagely nod then.
Turning to face Carley better, Lydia rested a hand on her hip. "Grem is not going to beat Robert up." She had already done a pretty good job of mushing his nose in. She hoped Grem wouldn't do anything... No, she knew he wouldn't. Though honestly, Lydia wouldn't exactly lose any sleep if he did. The thought of it even put a faint trace of a smile on her lips. Gods, Carley was an awful influence... Smile pushed back, she shook her head. "I mean, that's not really going to accomplish anything."
Huffing in disappointment, the little blond reached up to adjust her beret, but alas, she grasped air. "Fire! I forgot my beret!" Carley bounced on her toes as she leaned forward and around Lydia, peering at her. "I gotta run in real quick to get it." She started rubbing the top of her head, almost in a self conscious gesture.
Lydia looked towards where Carley rubbed her head then shook her own, smiling mirthfully. "Go ahead and catch up with everyone and I'll run in and get it, alright?" Rather than object, Carley gave a grin and a nod before spinning around, then started hurrying towards the small group heading away from the store.
"Wait for me!"
Watching Carley for a few moments, Lydia then slipped back inside the store, glancing around in search of her infamous beret. It was rather easy to spot, sitting out on the counter, with that feather attached to it. Mindful of the feather as she picked it up, she ventured back outside and tucked the beret beneath an arm as she relocated the proper key to lock up with. Glancing down the street, she saw the rest of the group and started that way, her steps quick.
The loud sound that suddenly flooded her ears took her entirely by surprise then, more so than the unseen force that knocked her forcefully and violently against pavement and cobblestones.
Both sides of the store had been packed with customers, since things had been quite good after the expansion. Coupling that along with the time of the year it wasn't a surprise at all that things were going so well. There had been a spike in the male customers that shopped at The Stitch as well. Husbands and boyfriends sought out the perfect presents for their significant others in the form of clothing or jewelry. And at The Stitch the dresses, knittery, and beaded items weren't terribly expensive either. Perfect gift items! And perfect items for women to splurge on and spoil themselves with as well.
Even with so many customers though, lunch time had arrived and food consumption had to go on. Lydia planned a short lunch for herself so she could return quickly, since some customers were so determined they waited outside the shop even as it was being closed down. Customers and employees alike shuffled out of both entrances. Griffith handled locking up the left side- what was once the flower shop, and Lydia handled locking up the main entrance. Removing keys from her bag, she was in the process of locking up as the little blonde elf by her side spoke.
"He kissed ya!? That's so nasty!" To reiterate her point, Carley shuddered and shivered at the thought, little nose wrinkling. "Did you tell Grem?" Bright blues suddenly widened as they watched Lydia carefully.
Pausing, she glanced aside to Carley. "Of course I did. As many people saw? Better I tell him myself than let him read about it or hear about it from someone else." Like Carley, for one. Pause. Afterthought. "And gods, yes. It was disgusting."
Clapping hands together once rather gleefully, Carley grinned up at Lydia. "Ya did!? That's great! He'll probably beat him up! I hope I'm around to see when it does. Because that guy really deserves it, kissin' ya and coppin' feels on anyone he can..." She gave her most sagely nod then.
Turning to face Carley better, Lydia rested a hand on her hip. "Grem is not going to beat Robert up." She had already done a pretty good job of mushing his nose in. She hoped Grem wouldn't do anything... No, she knew he wouldn't. Though honestly, Lydia wouldn't exactly lose any sleep if he did. The thought of it even put a faint trace of a smile on her lips. Gods, Carley was an awful influence... Smile pushed back, she shook her head. "I mean, that's not really going to accomplish anything."
Huffing in disappointment, the little blond reached up to adjust her beret, but alas, she grasped air. "Fire! I forgot my beret!" Carley bounced on her toes as she leaned forward and around Lydia, peering at her. "I gotta run in real quick to get it." She started rubbing the top of her head, almost in a self conscious gesture.
Lydia looked towards where Carley rubbed her head then shook her own, smiling mirthfully. "Go ahead and catch up with everyone and I'll run in and get it, alright?" Rather than object, Carley gave a grin and a nod before spinning around, then started hurrying towards the small group heading away from the store.
"Wait for me!"
Watching Carley for a few moments, Lydia then slipped back inside the store, glancing around in search of her infamous beret. It was rather easy to spot, sitting out on the counter, with that feather attached to it. Mindful of the feather as she picked it up, she ventured back outside and tucked the beret beneath an arm as she relocated the proper key to lock up with. Glancing down the street, she saw the rest of the group and started that way, her steps quick.
The loud sound that suddenly flooded her ears took her entirely by surprise then, more so than the unseen force that knocked her forcefully and violently against pavement and cobblestones.