Getting my feet wet

[Marie Legard]

When I’d awoken this morning I knew I had to get out and begin learning this City I was going to make my home. Pierre had already left so it was easy to slip out. I’d made sure to bring some coins and even had the finished sample of my needlepoint tucked in my purse in case I came across a place where I might apply for a position.

I decide to visit the Temple District, it was closest and seemed a good place to start. I tried not to stare and seem like a tourist as I wandered the streets, though likely the cut of my grey gown gave me away. I’d not yet ventured inside a store, not sure where to start. My decision was made for me though when I caught sight of a squadron from the Guard approaching down the street. Not wanting to take a chance that Pierre was one of them, I slipped into the store that was closest.

Stepping inside, I closed the door behind me and looked around. Inside the store seemed even more foreign than outside and for a moment I was unsure what type of establishment this was.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I heard the jingle of the bell, and stepped out from the back of the store, a basket of root vegetables in my arms. "Good morning, my lady," I said, as I spotted the young woman standing my the door. "May I help you?" I set down the basket and brushed some of the dirt off my clothes, it really was getting dusty in the back.

[Marie Legard]

I nearly jumped when the man addressed me, but managed to control myself.

Stop it Marie, it’s just a store. You’ve been in stores before.

“Good morning, my lord,” I said, even managing a real smile. “I was just looking if that’s alright.”

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Of course," I said. "Welcome to Shahrizai and Sons. I am Aramis, the owner. Please let me know if you have any questions or need any help."

[Marie Legard]

Shahrizai? I wondered if he knew my soon to be sister by marriage.

“Thank you, Aramis,” I said, taking a few steps inside. “What is it you sell here?”

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"I sell foreign food," I said. "I do both wholesale for restaurants, and retail for customers. Occasionally I help physicians and chirurgeons to obtain a rare medicinal herb or root as well." I picked up a ginger root from the basket. "This is called ginger, and it comes from Ch'n. It is well-known for its healing qualities, but also makes a tasty spice."

[Marie Legard]

I was instantly interested and moved to where he was, looking at the root in his hand. “I’ve heard of that, but I’ve only seen it dried and powdered,” I said, my eyes a little wide. “What a long journey that little root has had.”

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Yes," I said. "I have a very wide network of contacts and associates in many different countries; I owe the sped of shipping and quality of goods to them."

[Marie Legard]

I looked from the ginger to glance around his store, at all the things it contained. “And you do this all yourself?” I asked.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I nodded. "I'd been looking to hire an assistant," I said. "But my first choice passed away in the plague, and I just didn't get another chance to look." I shook my head. "But here, let's talk of more pleasant things. Would you like to see the items?"

[Marie Legard]

“I’d love to,” I said, even as I wished I had shopkeeping experience to apply for the job. “If I’m not keeping you from anything that is.”

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I gestured about. "It's been a slow morning," I said. "I have plenty of time." We were standing by the counter, and I showed her that first. "Behind the counter is where I keep some of my rarer stocks of spices, but over here-" I pointed to the first stretch of wall next to the counter "-is where you can find of the more common ones."

[Marie Legard]

“What’s the rarest spice you carry?” I asked, my eyes moving from one area to another as he indicated each one.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Saffron," I replied. "I try and keep the price reasonable, but it always ends up costing a fortune. Still, it's something everyone should try before they die."

[Marie Legard]

"I've never even heard of it," I admitted. "Where does it come from?"

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"It comes from Bhodistan," I said. "It is highly valued here not just as a spice, but as a pigment."

[Marie Legard]

"That's incredible," I told him, smiling wider. "You have some amazing items."

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"I truly do," I said. "I love my business, I would be no one without it." I gestured to the rest of the shop. "Would you like to see more?"

[Marie Legard]

"I'd love to," I said, finding myself fascinated by both him and his goods.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I moved onto the next section of the store. "Here is where the vegetables and roots are kept," I said. "You'll notice I keep them covered and in baskets - if they stay cool and dry, they last much longer." I reached into one of the baskets and pulled out a leafy green vegetable. "This is called bok choy and it comes from Ch'n. It is very good when sauteed with other vegetables and spices."

[Marie Legard]

“How do you get it to stay fresh for the trip?” I asked curiously. “At home we can’t make greens last for longer than a couple weeks.” I knew it was a far longer trip than that from Ch’n.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"I'm glad you asked," I said. "This vegetable is closely related to our cabbage. Cabbage, as you may know, is a particularly resilient species. By simply keeping it cool and dry, rot can be staved off for a month. When shipping from Ch'n, we surround the baskets with bags of snow insulated by sand. The snow melts, the sand absorbs the water, and the vegetables are kept cool for nigh on a week." I smiled dryly. "You can see why some of my items are more expensive than others. I am currently looking into the cultivation of some of my rarer fruits and vegetables here."

[Marie Legard]

“That’s just so…impressive,” I said, knowing he could hear the touch of awe in my voice.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Please, it's just my business," I said. "There's nothing impressive about doing what you have to to stay afloat."

[Marie Legard]

I tilted my head, curious at his reluctance to take a compliment.

“Is it not impressive to find such a method as you have?” I asked.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I grinned a bit sheepishly. "To tell you the truth, I did not devise it," I said. "I heard of it second hand from one of my contacts, a Chowati fellow. I must give credit where credit is due."

[Marie Legard]

“But still, you found out about it and made use. It’s impressive,” I said. I looked at the vegetable he’d shown me. “Do you sell a lot of those?”

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"More than I expected," I said. "There are a few restaurants in the high-end section of town that like to serve it to the nobility. And of course, the chefs of the nobility frequent here quite often. My shop has the widest variety of imports in town."

[Marie Legard]

“What is the most popular item you stock?” I asked, finding myself smiling at him.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I smiled back at her. "That would be the teas and coffees," I said, leading her to another part of the store, where barrels of all sizes lined the shelves. "They are easy to import and last so long, I can sell them relatively cheaply for a very high quality."