Ensign Jaran Jira - Do We Hunt For What We Actually Seek?
Jira Jaran
Jaran: So why the marketplace with your precious couple of hours? It seems like you chose chaos on purpose.
Alex spoke like she'd been ready for the question. No hesitation.
Storm: Because it’s hard to think about things when there’s so much noise going …
Suddenly, distress appeared on the Betazoid's face. Her hand went to her throat. Jira's emergency trauma training had already begun to kick in, when she relaxed and uttered a small bark of a laugh.
Storm: Case in point.
Jira breathed out. Their hand had been halfway to their comm badge to call for a transport to sickbay. But Alex almost seemed casual about the sudden choking.
Jaran: Are you... ok? I am a doctor, after all.
Alex ignored the question and set off down the row of stalls like nothing had happened. We now return to our regularly scheduled shopping.
A Ferengi jumped out with a sales pitch in front of the two, and they both started. She tore her arm away from him when he grabbed at her, but then her eyes went wide at what she saw inside the booth: plushes of all shapes and sizes. Jira was admittedly pretty impressed, too. Was that a Hara cat?
Ferengi: See something you like?
Storm: There are so many of them.
Jaran: ::whispers:: You seem a little starstruck, Alex.
Ferengi: Anything strike your fancy? Or perhaps you want to buy one for your friend.
The merchant gave up and backed off.
Ferengi: Or not
Jira watched Alex walk trance-like to a small grey stuffed animal that they didn't recognise. If they didn't know what it was, she seemed to.
Storm: How much?
Ferengi: For you? Ten slips of latinum.
Alex paused.
Storm: I have six.
Ferengi: Eight.
Storm: I said, I have six.
Ferengi: Seven.
That must have been too much. Alex sat the toy down and turned to walk away.
Ferengi: Fine! You can have it for six.
The purchase was made quickly, like a hostage exchange.
Storm: Thank you. Maybe, I’ll call Ten Slips.
Jira smiled at the sound of metal on metal in Alex's pocket, then again as the Ferengi cursed.
Once they were clear of the stall and had gotten out of earshot of the Ferengi in the doorway, Jira turned to Alex
Jaran: Ok, what's the deal with the... animal?
Storm: Response
Jira looked at the... koala? They seemed to recall reading about people hallucinating the animal in a few medical journals, now that they were reminded of the word. It didn't look so terrifying.
Jaran: Well, I'm glad you found something you liked, if nothing else. The Ferengi certainly had everything! I saw a couple Bajoran animals I'd never seen anywhere else.
Storm: Response
Jira was starting to get thirsty, and their legs could use a break. This marketplace was enormous! They didn't feel like they were making any progress with their hunt for the equivalent of Bajoran clergy, sadly. But food and drink were sacred in almost every culture. Maybe someone would be there.
Jaran: I could use a drink. Do you think the snail juice is good to anyone but a Ferengi? I'm game if you are.
Storm: Response
Tags/TBC