Chapter Text
Gauze, painkillers, antiseptics. Bread, milk, butter. Towels, thread, shoelaces. Might as well pick up everything he would be needing in just one trip, and then he could be done and lie down to read a nice book. The late afternoon in the town was sleepy and pleasant, a welcome change to calm his nerves from events past. Daniil wondered if he ought to get his groceries in the Earth quarter just to extend the trip. It was a nice day, after all, not too warm to stop him from wearing his favorite coat, but not too cold to chase people off the roads. Children played carefreely in the shadows between buildings, joyously crying out to each other but somehow not too loud, whilst adults bustled about their business languidly, greeting each other as they passed and pausing to exchange trinkets with tired but satisfied eyes.
Usually he'd be paranoid at the peace of it all, wondering when it would go wrong, but it seemed as though there was a calming influence blanketing the town in ordinary chatter and remote tranquility. Not even those of the ruling families or the most restless of the bound had shown the slightest hint of a disturbance. So he walked, free to enjoy the sound of his shoes rhythmically hitting the stone road until he arrived at his first stop. The pharmacy was stocked and properly maintained, wonderfully free of dust or overturned furniture, with a shopkeeper that leaned against the counter while leafing through a botany catalogue, sometimes glancing sideways at a juvenile potted plant with thin green tendrils sprouting from the moist earth. The woman caught Daniil's gaze and waved gently, a cordial smile on her countenance. "May I help you?"
"I need to restock my medical supplies. A lot of children with scraped knees these days." Daniil watched the pharmacist hum in amusement, glancing off to the side and catching a glimpse of a playground inhabited by a few smaller kids. "How much for gauze and antiseptic? Mild painkillers too, if possible."
She closed her book and reached under the counter to place the items in front of him, a quantity that would seem decadent in times of strife, but now seemed entirely normal. "Not too much. I can't overcharge a working physician, that'd be unconscionable of me." The shelf behind her was populated with various imported medicines, be it pills or solutions, but it was somewhat of a nice surprise to see homemade tinctures stocked alongside dried herbs and powders kept in glass jars. "Oh! Yes, the young Burakh was kind enough to spare the excesses of his work so the medicine could be distributed if anyone should need it. Just some immunity boosters and a paltry amount of weaker painkillers. Every bit helps. Also steppe herbs for tea, would you like some? It seems to be a hit with most people prone to headaches."
The bachelor left the pharmacy with his needed supplies and a small jar of dried leaves to try to make use of. His next stop was the grocer's, only a fair distance away and occupied by a few kids pestering the vendor for treats. "But you have so many now! Just a handful of peanuts, please..."
Sighing in exhasperation, the older man tending to the store removed the handmade necklace from himself and placed it on the counter between him and the two preteens beside two peanuts and some raisins. "At ease, khyygedi, you can take these and no more. You'll get stomachaches if you keep swindling every vendor of their snacks." He caught sight of Daniil standing a respectable distance away, waiting his turn. "Oynon! Tell the urchins how much work they give you and the other erdem with the scampering about." To be addressed with such familiarity was a nice change of pace, and the bachelor felt a bit more welcome despite having lived in these parts for a fair while.
"It's true you all seem to overdo it. At least you know to go to Artemy with these issues, Rubin wouldn't be so accomodating." He noted how the kids shuddered theatrically at the mention of the gruff pathoanatomist. "Though you're welcome to get ill if you're ready to compensate me for treatment, hm?" The curtains swayed as the breeze infiltrated through the open windows, though the fabric was quickly disturbed by the little visitors taking the bargain on the counter and hopping out of the windows to run off, probably intent on sharing their spoils with friends.
Left alone, the grocery attendant spoke to Daniil directly once more. "Sayn baina. What is it that is needed?" As Dankovsky pointed out food he sought to take away, the man seemed more thoughtful, until finally his list was done and the vendor cleared his throat. "You should consume more meat, erdem. We have plenty, and you need to fill out that hide coat more." It was said as a light jab, though the underlying distant concern for his health was what made it more unfamiliar than anything. "Here, for the road as you toddle about your chores."
The bachelor left with a bottle of tan and some dried meat, feeling altogether quite thankful and a bit disappointed he'd soon be done with his chores. The twilight was painting the town's roads mixed shades of gold and purple, the steppe brilliantly vast beyond the horizon. It took only a few minutes to walk up the stairs to a tailor, entering the establishment and being greeted by an enthusiastic young man pinning a garment on a dress form. His eyes were full of merriment and perhaps a bit of intoxication when he loudly welcomed Daniil. "Hi! Excuse my little self, sir bachelor, I'm doing commissioned work for the theater, but I'll be with you as soon as I get this last pin in." The dress he was tailoring was unlike the grim and somber costumes one would associate with the town theater, but it was a welcome change nonetheless. "Tell me what I can do for you!"
"I need new towels for my clinic. If you have surgical thread and curved needles, I'd be grateful..." He trailed off, looking down at his shoes. "New shoelaces would also be remiss."
Twirling his mannequin one last time before facing Dankovsky, the shopkeeper followed his eyes down and clicked his tongue. "New shoelaces? You need to shine those first, good man. Sit down and I'll do it right here for you." The bachelor was not given time to respond as he was dragged to a chair and pushed onto it, a bit dazed at the restless energy of the tailor who vanished behind the counter only to reappear with everything Daniil asked for plus a brush and shoe polish. "Won't take too much of your time, go ahead and finish your food and drink. I have some books lying around too if you need a distraction, though it's all needlepoint technique and fashion history. Nonetheless!" The man put all the items into Daniil's bag before settling into a position to shine his shoes, humming a jaunty tune while he worked, seemingly conscientious of how the bachelor did not have the energy for small talk after everything.
Once the tailor placed his cloth over his shoulder and rubbed together his stained hands, getting up and stretching, Daniil found himself ready to go home and rest. "How much do I owe you?"
"I'm not charging for the shoeshine, good man, I was just myself bothered by how faded the leather seemed. The rest is priced as usual." With one last smile, he accompanied the bachelor to the door and waved his polish-stained rag in farewell with a sing-song "Come back soon!"
Mundane life didn't seem so bad these days.