Monday morning had started far too early. To get Melkan, Kendall had been up shortly after sunrise and out of the penthouse within fifteen minutes. She'd stashed a pair of apples in her pockets and " very special treat " a plum and a peach. Then she'd set out jogging across the city to the corner of Deep and Tin Pan Alley. Melkan was waiting, jittering from foot to foot and darting scared looks over his shoulder. She could tell his balance was still off, so when they bolted from Melkan's da she'd scooped up the boy and carried him.

But even carrying a six-year-old, Kendall was faster than the big man with the solid belly. After all, it wasn't as if Melkan were well-fed. A desperate knock on the carpenter's door, a muttered password, and minutes later the street rat and the child were surrounded by the scent of sawdust and linseed oil. The carpenter went back to work " no questions, silent as ever " and Kendall squatted against the wall, sharing out her fruit with Melkan.

Two hours later she left a handful of coppers on the carpenter's kitchen table, and ducked out the back door with Melkan riding piggy-back. By the time Kendall dropped off the plum-and-peach-smeared boy at the Riverside Clinic, it was nearly ten o"clock. So then it was back out the hospital doors and back across town at full speed, pelting up to the back door of the Bodhi Tree Caf" just as Amy left with the first delivery run.

Three hours of running Indian food from one corner of the city to the other left her with two silvers, four coppers, three obscene proposals, and one near-brush with the law for assault. It was just past one-thirty when Kendall went to meet her new sister-in-law for lunch, and she was more than ready for something to eat.

And after that morning, how bad could going shopping be?

Considering that Kendall normally shopped in the small church-run stores that sold donated, used clothing or the pawn shops that turned unclaimed items " when she actually bought her clothing instead of finding it " well, needless to say that Doc Anya's version of decent clothing and Kendall's version weren't exactly on the same page. Kendall owned exactly one sweater that had never been worn by anyone else (earned it running packages for Shane Michael); her leather jacket (also made by Shane) had been torn to shreds in that Denubae attack.

When she jogged up to the front of the caf" to meet her new sister-in-law Kendall was wearing a much-torn pair of faded black jeans and a short-sleeved blue button-up shirt she had grabbed from Bashir's closet over a worn green tank top. Her scarred black steel-toed boots were two sizes too large and she'd stolen them from a dead man. At least, staying in the penthouse, she was getting regular showers.

Maranya's stylish, silk-and-gauze outfit was instantly intimidating to the street rat, so she resorted to her usual defense " a cynical smile and hipshot attitude.

"So where d"you wanna go, Doc" "Spect you ain't thinkin" of th' thrift shop on Main."

"Nyet, nothing like that. But nothing like Koy's shop, either. Perhaps we can meet in the middle, da?" Maranya's mischievous smile lit her hazels from within.

Her look in response was skeptical. The street rat had no idea what "meeting in the middle" would look like. "Well, I got five gold an' a couple of silver, so what?s that gonna get me?" Apparently she hadn't taken any of Bashir's money along for this trip. If he'd thought ahead, he would have supplied the Doctor with the cash ahead of time.

Her brows furrowed as Maranya pondered that problem. "You also have access to Bashir's coin, do you not' If not, we can keep a tally, and Alper will get it back from him, as I am using his coin for myself."

"Ain't got one'a them card-things of his what draws on his bank, nah." Kendall dismissed that with a flip of her hand, squinted thoughtfully at Maranya. "You-all really ain't think anythin' of such-like that, do you? Lending out like that, I mean."

Maranya pursed her lips for a moment. "I consider it paying forward, as people were kind to me when I first arrived in Rhydin. Besides, you are family, and a friend before that." Her smile warmed her features.

Paying it forward was a concept utterly foreign to the street rat. On the edge, there wasn't enough of anything to give away with no return. But she wasn't fool enough to turn down the offer when it seemed sincere. She gave a one-shoulder shrug, managed a curl of real smile. "A'right. I'll make sure yer paid back, or Alper is. Whatever. So what?s between th' thrift shop an' Koy's fer clothes?"

"Mm. There are some nice shops in the Marketplace. Nothing too fancy, and the prices won't break the proverbial bank." She tipped her head to regard Kendall. "I need new shoes, and boots, and they have some cute ones at Zingo's. Also reasonable."

((Adapted from live play - thank you!))

Meanwhile, Kendall was following Maranya's earlier direction " one basic outfit, several colors. Two pairs of pants (one cream, one gray) in the same style as the black slacks. Three more shirts (pale green, blue, and dark green) and two cardigans (gray and white). All set. She dumped the pile onto the counter and looked perfectly ready to call that the trip. It was more new clothing than she'd ever owned.

"Me, I personally favor jewel tones, but most any color will work for me." Maranya turned a lower volume of the dazzling smile on her sister in law. "I believe Bashir might like to see you in something similar to this, would he not?" She gestured to her own outfit briefly. "We will model them for our husbands, who expect us to come home overburdened with purchases, so they can complain."

Well, there was a foreign concept. The marriages Kendall had seen, if a woman spent too much she was just as likely to get a beating as anything. Then again, spending too much wasn't usually a problem when there wasn't anything to spend. Another one-shoulder shrug was her answer to Maranya. "Ain't really think he's gonna much care what I get." The look on her face plainly added, "why would he?"

By this point, the saleslady had sussed out who was really driving the purchases in this trip. She hurried over to a display of skirts in a range of colors and sizes. Swift hands pulled down a selection in jewel tones suitable for a woman with an expanding waistline, and another array in bright prints to fit the underweight red-head.

"Oh, on that I differ, Kendall. I heard something about you being angelic when you sleep. So. Spoiling ourselves will delight them, I am sure of it."

Kendall could fit a lot of scorn into an eyeroll. Angelic was definitely not one of her attributes, and Bashir was flat crazy to think any such thing " even while she was sleeping. But she drifted over to the skirts, eyed the selection, shook her head. "Not these. They're too"." She waved her hand aimlessly, shrugged. "Can't run in"em without th' ankles getting tangled. Why do I need skirts, anyway' I mean, I get fer you with th' squirt an' all."

The Good Doctor leaned in to conspiratorially whisper to Kendall. "Because he will likely go mushy when he sees you in one, and then you can tease him about it later. Besides, it's good for teasing in other ways. You can wear a skirt at the Inn, or at the duels to spectate for me."

The saleslady was definitely on the ball when large commissions were at stake. She took the aimless gesture and Kendall's comment, and replaced all but two of the print skirts " and the ones she left were the ones with the fewest colors. The jewel toned skirts she left on display while she stepped back to the Capri shorts. Two pairs of those in black and dark denim, and then three more skirts. These skirts came to knee-length, however, and were in solid colors instead of prints. She also retrieved several empire-waisted tunics that could easily accommodate a swelling stomach, and at least as many blouses in various shades of the rainbow.

"S"pose?" Kendall was keeping a mental tally as the woman brought over clothes for inspection " she couldn't read well, but numbers had always danced into place easily " and trying to hide growing dismay at the total. And they hadn't even started to look at underthings " or shoes!

Maranya gave Kendall a look which said Remember who is financing this trip. "Excellent." Approving smile was given to the very patient now saleswoman. Her right ringed hand subtly reached out to give her sister in law's a brief, comforting squeeze.

Kendall was even shaken enough, by this point, to accept the casual touch and squeeze. Actually, she was nearly in shock. She blinked at the steadily mounting pile of clothes, and finally focused on one piece. It was cut and embroidered around the neck in a style that reminded her of one of Bashir's tunics. She pointed at the caftan-style top with the Turkish feel. "Couple more like that, yeah' Green an' blue an' that purple." It was her first positive rather than negative input into the process. The saleswoman was happy to comply.

"Uh, Doc" Think that's enough?" Please let it be enough.

"And those for me, please, green and purple and coral. And that should finish things here."

It was an impressive stack of clothing that the saleslady started folding and putting into reinforced paper bags. She considerately divided Kendall's purchases from Maranya's, and rang the totals separately. "I think I can give you a ten percent discount for such a large purchase - I'm not allowed to go above ten percent, though - if that's all right?" Oh, the woman did not want to lose this sale!

"Perfect." Maranya reached into her black leather satchel for her wallet, and removed a black credit card. "I believe this will be accepted here, da?" The name on the Black American Express card was Alper Ergin II. "And this, if you need it." She also provided her Rhydin ID card with the name Maranya Ergin-Falconne, MD on it, as well as a decent, recent picture of herself.

"Of course, ma'am." The saleswoman was sharp enough to glance at Kendall, then. "And since your sister-in-law lost her belongings in the fire, will you be covering her purchases as well, today?" Kendall was gathering up the bags of clothing. One bag on each forearm, two bags in each hand. That left two bags on the counter for Maranya to carry.

"Of course, my sister in law forgot to bring her husband's card." She reached for the bags containing her own splurge with a smile.

Oh, two of the bags in Kendall's hands also held Maranya's purchases. And forgot the card was a great way to say hadn't been authorized on the accounts yet. The saleslady smiled and ran the card through with a swift ker-chunk of machinery before she returned it. "Thank you so much for visiting us today, and please come back soon!"

"Of course." Sweet smile curved Maranya's lips as both cards and receipt were taken. Signature made for the purchases, and the dealer's copy offered back.

The saleslady took the signed copy and waved them cheerfully out of the store. Kendall was already practically bolting for the door. With any luck and with all this to carry already, Maranya would call this enough for one day...

((Adapted from Live Play - thank you!))