Red Mage in Windurst (Cru, or ask)

The shopping district of Windurst was busy with the sounds of adventurers going about their business and the shouts of merchants seeking to draw their attention. A Tarutaru woman sat at a stall selling fabrics and some hand-stitched blankets. She looked up, smiling, at a young woman with shock white hair and red clothing who had paused to idly touch one of the blankets which was stitched of soft fabrics, obviously made to swaddle an infant.

"Looking for something for a new baby-waby?"

Telira blushed slightly and nodded. "I'm still getting used to the idea."

The Tarutaru woman grinned at her, nodding sagely. "I've had three of my ownie-wonie. Babies are so sweetaru." She tilted her head slightly. "Where's the daddy-waddy?"

Telira blushed deeply. That was certainly the question of the day. She couldn't very well admit that she had no idea who had given her this child. "I... I'm going to raise this child alone."

The diminutive woman looked at her with obvious sympathy. "You will be strong, of this I know." She smiled. "You will need many things for a baby-waby. Let me help you, as one mother-wother to another."

Telira nodded slowly, as many questions as she had, she was happy to have this child.

Having finished up a meeting with the Star Sibyl in Windhurst Waters, Crucent was happy that she now had some time too herself to go shopping before she had to get back to Jeuno, so she was currently in Windhurst Woods and on her way to the Auction House to see if she could find some good bargains.

Walking down the crowded roads she was just looking at all the things the salesmen had to offer; jewellery, fabrics, food, weapons and the like to all the Adventurers that was out and about, she suddenly saw a totally white-haired woman in red that was talking to a taru merchant and smiled as she recognized the woman in question.

Walking over to her Crucent looked down and said with a friendly smile " Hello Telira. It's so nice to see you again. What brings you to my hometown?"

Telira looked up at the sound of Crucent's voice and flushed red again as she ducked her head in embarrassment. 'Hi, Crucent." She motioned to the blankets. "I'm doing some shopping." She blushed again. "I wanted the chance to shop without a lot of people staring at me."

She forced herself to calmness and smiled at the tall Elvaan woman. "So how're you doing today?"

She didn't know how obvious certain developments were, but she really wasn't sure how she'd answer any questions.

Looking at the wares Telira was shopping for as well as noting how Telira seemed... rounder across the stomach from last time they had met, Crucent didn't comment, even though it was obvious that her friend was pregnant. Instead she smiled down at her and replied "I'm doing fine, thanks for asking. I've just been to see the Star Sibyl here in Windhurst about the treaty with the Yagudos, a race of bird-like Beastmen that lives not far from here. Apparently their Leader is getting old and naturally; we take intrest in who his Sucessor will be."

Telira noticed how Crucent's eyes drifted to the blankets she'd been looking at and then over to take in the slight roundness in her midsection and blushed brightly. That Crucent didn't ask about it was even more telling, perhaps, and made her even more self-conscious about the whole matter.

She had so many mixed emotions about things that she just didn't even know where to begin unraveling them.

She nodded in understanding at Crucent's neutral conversation, pointedly ignoring the proverbial elephant in the room. "I can see how that would be something of interest to you, certainly. I suppose I'm rather lucky in that regard in that Elfheim's Prince will doubtless outlive me and the Dwarven clans of Mount Duergar are almost as long-lived. The biggest change to the power structure on the World of One was, in fact, my arrival on the scene."

She looked fondly at the blanket she'd been considering and nodded to herself. "I'll take it," she told the Taru merchant and pulled the necessary coins from her beltpouch. The purchase was quickly wrapped in protective paper and placed in a sack for Telira to carry.

She turned back to Crucent. "Does it look like there are going to be any problems?"