simon_doctor | (no subject)

(no subject)

The weather's good this morning; the air's chilly but the sun's bright and warm, and the sky is a clear translucent blue with no hint of rain.

The major marketplace of Logan City is spread out ahead of them, a thousand bright colors and a cacophony of voices, swarming and busy and alive. It doesn't feel like starting over, because you can't start over, but it's good enough for now. And they have things to accomplish.

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"Creepy," she says, but wanders closer.

It's clockwork toys. Hundreds of them. Some of them extend into Rube Goldberg machines. Kaylee eyes them warily, but with interest.

Simon's staring, bemused, at what appears to be a clockwork miniature of a carousel. Tiny figures are riding the painted horses, waiting in line, waving at intervals to other tiny figures; tinny calliope music plays as it turns.

(One unfortunate tiny figure is standing just off the carousel and bending over at the waist, clearly having ridden around a few times too many.)

Kaylee hears cymbals.

The cymbals are attached to a monkey wearing a hat.

She picks it up, and holds it for Simon's perusal. "Yeah?"

He looks over at it -- and starts to grin uncontrollably.

"Yes."

"Good, then let's get it and get out." Lower. "This place gives me the creeps."

He glances sideways at a clockwork rabbit, which appears to be eyeing him beadily. "...I really have to agree."

The proprietor of the stall is a small balding man with glasses; he doesn't negotiate too stringently, but they still wind up paying slightly more than the toy's worth to get the haggling over with.

Kaylee looks up at him once they emerge back into the sunlight. "Does that do us?"

"I think so," he says cheerfully. "Do we want to take the other way back to the hotel? Just to vary the scenery?"

"Oh, sure." Mild. "And we might want to lay in some more supplies."

He offers her his arm again. "Did you have anything in particular in mind?"

"Enough for us to not have to stop what we're doin' so we won't starve."

Kaylee is very innocent as she slips her hand in the crook of his arm.

"...I think we could manage that," he tells her very seriously.

Through a growing grin.

"Just remember, there's something in it for you."

"Such as not starving?"

He's carrying too many things to squeeze her hand, but the glance he gives her is very nearly as good as a touch.

Kaylee's glance is openly lascivious.

"Handsome, I can promise you that and a lot more."

(Because half the fun is making Simon blush in public.)

(It's working.)

"Well then."

And suddenly he's walking a lot faster.

Kaylee keeps up, humming the birthday song.

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