I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

Saturday, the twelfth of June [day three hundred seventy seven]
Late afternoon in the Market


Winter is long gone and summer is here, and it's making me feel a bit restless. Makes me miss the endless days on the road that was my life for the last three years. Never thought I'd actually miss them as I spent far too many of them missing Manhattan. Even the rain this morning couldn't keep me inside and I'm glad I stepped out for a smoke when I did as I caught sight of the all too brief glory of the rainbow.

I didn't want to spend the rest of the day inside missing all that fresh clean air and the people who would surely be at market so as soon as I finished my smoke I got my guitar and soon as it stopped raining I set up in the market at the corner much like I did when I first came to town. Since I can't stop thinking about it, my first song is an old tune that's had many different sets of words matched with it. This time I use the ones I learned from the riverfolk on the boat that brought me here.

One song becomes another and another and before long it is late afternoon. If I want to buy something for dinner I should probably do it soon before everything's  gone. With that thought I pack up and start wandering the stalls.

  [Open]

Comments

[nunaunet.livejournal.com]

Been a busy sort of day heah at market, ayuh. Had lots of custom, an' my stall's nearly empty. Pretty sort of boy who was busking earliah walks by.

"Nice songs," I say. "Hope you managed to make some coin out of it." Plenty of people'll stop to listen to a buskah, ayuh, but not open their purse-strings.

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

As I pass by the stall with the fish, a voice calls out to me offering a compliment on my music and the hope it brought me some money.

I turn my head and smile at the very large and very dark figure. "Thanks. And yes, I did get a few coins."

The stall is nearly empty and I add, "I can see you have had more success on the money front than I did."

[nunaunet.livejournal.com]

I snort.

"Ayuh, people pay for what they can't get othahwise; they think music like youah's is a gift for the empty air, something they don't need to reward."

I have big sides of fish smoked in a little smokehouse on the rivah by a funny toothless old man, though if I'd known we was going to be heah so long maybe I'd have looked into building a smokehouse myself. Got a little piece of smoked trout left, an' so I wrap it in papah an' hold it out to him.

"Heah," I say. "In thanks for your music." I put my money wheah my mouth is. An' that fish don't need cooking, if he ain't got a home with a kitchen.

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

With one sound the fish seller lets me know their opinion about what I just said, then adds, Ayuh, people pay for what they can't get othahwise; they think music like youah's is a gift for the empty air, something they don't need to reward.

I try to shrug like I don't care about people's selfishness but I've had too many hungry nights on the road not to care and I'm both surprised and guiltily pleased as I watch the little piece of fish being wrapped up and held out to me.

Heah, in thanks for your music.

"Thanks, I really appreciate this. Glad you liked the music." I smile and hold out my empty hand. "My name's Damien."

[nunaunet.livejournal.com]

Shake Damien's hand, and get a little sense of... They ain't like me, but they ain't as unlike me as some. More fluid, ayuh.

"Name's Nu," I say. "So you been in town long?" I say. Start wrapping up the fish that ain't been bought, cos the market's pretty empty now. That can go in the stew pot on the Lot tonight, ayuh.

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

I get a firm handshake back and a name, Nu, then the inevitable question about how long I've been in town.

I push a loose bit of hair back out of my face, "Long enough to start missing the open road." I confess, my smile turning a bit embarrassed. I'm not quite sure why I feel like telling this to Nu, given that we just met.

I pass the bundle of fish from one hand to the other as I watch those large brown hands quickly and efficiently tidy up the stall. "I take it you've been here long enough to settle in." I add a bit uncomfortable with the silence between us.

[nunaunet.livejournal.com]

Damien seems like the sorta person who needs to chattah, ayuh.

"Been heah a year," I say, "which is quite a spell of time." Ain't been in one place so long for most of this lifetime. "Catching fish, birthing babies..." Smile. "Keeps me busy." See Damien looks surprised, and I laugh. "Fishing and midwifery don't seem so alike, ayuh? But theyah both skills that need a powah of coaxing and good strong hands."

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

Nu answers my question and then adds the startling information that not only do they fish but also catch babies...? Oh. Midwife. I must have looked very surprised because I get a bit of an explanation, Fishing and midwifery don't seem so alike, ayuh? But theyah both skills that need a powah of coaxing and good strong hands.

I nod, "Never thought of it like that, but you're right." A thought occurs to me and I ask, "If I wanted to bring a gift to a new mother, um, who's probably gotten a whole bunch of stuff already. What should I get her?"

I haven't seen Wanda in too long, not since before she had the baby. I should go see her. She probably doesn't have the time anymore to come visit the tavern, and maybe she'd like someone to just come visit and bring some music. Which means I maybe already have my answer but I'll wait and see what Nu says.

[nunaunet.livejournal.com]

"If I wanted to bring a gift to a new mother, um, who's probably gotten a whole bunch of stuff already. What should I get her?"

"You ain't a friend of Wanda's by any chance?" Seems they might suit each othah, being musicians. "Maybe a gift for her comfort, rathah than the baby, ayuh. Women get so many new things for their little ones, but in truth, a baby sleeps happy in a rag so long as it's clean and warm, you ken? But mama might want something nice for herself, to remind her she's a person herself, not just a mothah."

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

I should of guessed Nu would know Wanda, probably helped with the birth. I blush.

"Yes she is a friend of mine. I suppose you were there...for the birth?"

Wanda's one of my few friends in this town, maybe my best friend here. And listen closely to the advice on what to bring her. Something for herself...I could bring her something from the shop but what if I choose wrong or it doesn't fit. I haven't seen her in a awhile and I don't have Dorian's ability to guess the correct size just from one look at the client. I'm getting better at that, though nowhere near as good as Dorian. I don't think he's been wrong yet. Not on clothes size at least. Other ideas come to mind for gifts...I'll have to think on it later.

"Thank you. For the advice and such."

[nunaunet.livejournal.com]

"Thank you. For the advice and such."

"Ain't no thing," I say, smiling some. Pack away the fish an' wipe down the stall. "Wanda'd be glad to see you, I guess," I say. "She ain't had an easy time of it, ayuh." Can do with what friends she can find, that girl.

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

Nu smiles and says it is nothing, and that they think Wanda will be happy to see me. I hope so. I feel a little bad that I didn't come see her sooner. I nod when the stall keeper adds the part about how she hasn't had an easy time of things. I remember what she said when she was comforting me about stuff when John was in jail.

And then there's all those rumours I've been trying not to listen to. I don't want to hear them because she's my friend and rumours like those aren't usually kind or correct. "I'll go see her soon. Should I tell her Nu says hello?"

[nunaunet.livejournal.com]

"Ayuh," I say. "Tell her she can come see me any time. Wanda, I think she's been hurt enough she forgets to reach out to people who care, you ken?" I wipe my hands clean. "It's been good to meet you, Damien. You should come ovah to the carnival sometime, plenty of people who like music theah. Just don't try to busk," I warn with a smile. "Carnies don't like othah people making money on their pitch."

[damien-dw.livejournal.com]

"I'll tell her." I say, I have no idea what to say to the other bit, the one about how she's maybe been been hurt and doesn't reach out to people for help any more. I can sympathize with that. If you let people in you get hurt.

Nu invites me to the carnival, but warns me not to try it as a busker. I shake my head. "I know better than that. I wouldn't try to horn in on their thing. I'd be happy to drop by sometime just for something more social." I smile. "Thanks for the invite."

Looks like the stall is about ready to close up for the night so I adjust the strap of guitar case and add. "It was really nice to meet you too, Nu. I'll see you around."

Time to head home and see what I can make for dinner with this fish.