Act 4/Scene 4: Lunar Market

The Lunar Market took place in the Moon's large public hanger. Throughout the year, the Market typically opened once a week and sold food, clothes, and basic necessities to the Moon Base civilians. However, because of the influx of interplanetary visitors that the Moon Festival had brought in, the Lunar Market had been open everyday for the past week. It was filled with vendors selling exotic wares, beautiful materials, and delicious foods out of their spaceships, all of which were rare treats for Moon Base residents. The Lunar Market was also filled with people-mostly students who had the day off from school and visitors who lounged about in each others' ships, filling their free time with eating and chatting and shopping.

"Hey, come look at these!" Teiko shouted over the din of the shoppers surrounding them. Rini and Sanae joined their friend at a booth where a tall man with a long, silver beard and pale peach robes stood before a table covered in sparkling baubles.

"Can you imagine wearing those to the Ball?" squealed Teiko, pointing at a pair of silver and emerald earrings.

"Maybe Ryuu will buy me this bracelet!" said Sanae, reaching for a strand of glimmering amethysts a few shades darker than her hair.

"No touching!" the merchant warned, narrowing his eyes at the girls.

"We were only looking," Rini said, but Teiko was already pulling her away toward an adjacent ship selling refreshments.

"This is a favorite sweet on Earth," an elderly woman was explaining her shiny shish kebabs to Teiko. "Each candy sphere has a delicious mystery filling in the center! You won't know until you bite in!"

"Three, please!" Teiko handed money over to the merchant and gave the glistening stacked candy to her friends.

"Thanks, Teik," said Rini, but Teiko was already skipping toward the next ship, which was selling carved lanterns that casted eerie, beautiful shadows when lit.

"She's really excited," said Sanae. "She's hardly even stopping to check out the guys!"

"That's not the only reason we're here," said Rini, sucking a candy off the stick and crunching into the raspberry filling.

"True, but if you two don't find some handsome escort here you'll probably be stuck asking a classmate, like Donovich or Greg." Sanae made a face.

"Donovich won the science faire, maybe I should get him to ask me," said Rini.

"Oh, goddesses, Rini! We can do better than Donovich." Sanae waved to a boy about their age selling wares a few spots away. He was tall and tan, his short, dark blue hair sticking up in spikes around his pilot's goggles. He grinned easily and waved back.

"How about hottie over there?" Sanae nudged Rini.

"I can't just go with a complete stranger," Rini said, chomping another candy ball. Rich buttercream filled her mouth.

"Sure you can!"

Rini rolled her eyes. "That's enough boy-watching for now," she said. "I'm going to look at the gowns." She headed toward a little enclosed shop who's makeshift walls were made out of draped silken scarves. A man in a tailored suit with a satin lapel stepped in front of Rini before she could enter. His long brown hair was tied back with a ribbon.

"Please," he said, his voice soft and polite, "no food inside the shop."

"I'll hold it!" Sanae snatched the kebab from Rini's grasp, giving her friend a huge wink as she said, "Take your time! I'll be by that tent whenever you're done, I need to get some parts to help fix D.D. anyway." She pointed the two candy kebabs at a mechanics vendor across the way.

"My kebab!" Rini protested, but Sanae had already hurried away. The man in front of her now held the scarf door open, ushering Rini inside.

The shop was filled with richly-colored clothing, fine material, and incense that made the air floral and sweet. A lantern's golden glow set every sequin and bead glittering.

"My name is Akio," the man asked, stepping inside as well and lowering the scarf against the busyness outside. "Please allow me to assist you. What are you shopping for today?"

"I'm going to the Moon Ball," Rini said, "so something…"

"Elegant," breathed Akio. "Formal, beautiful, hmm. Arms up!" He whipped out a measuring tape and wrapped it around Rini's bust with expert precision.

"Hey!" she squeaked, placing her hands over her breasts. Akio didn't even pause, though, as he moved on to her waist, nodding at the measurement and turning away from her to thumb through a rack of spectacular gowns of all colors and styles.

"Lilac and silver, perhaps?" He said, holding a tulle gown on a hanger up to Rini's frame.

"It's gorgeous," Rini gasped, but Akio shook his head and whisked the dress away.

"No, no," he said. "That dress won't do. Soft spring green?"

"I love it!" Rini had barely touched the cashmere-like material of the new gown he held up before it was pulled away as well.

"No, you couldn't go in that one. Smokey cinnamon? No, no, no. Champagne and rose? Close! But not quite the one…"

"Rini!" Rini turned to see Teiko, grinning and clutching a package with a green ribbon to her chest. A woman stood next to her, dressed in a tuxedo identical to the one Akio wore, her sandy waves tied back in the same low-ponytail style.

"Teiko! What did you buy?"

"Oh, Rini, Aki here found me the most perfect gown! It took her like 5 minutes and it's the prettiest thing I have ever seen!"

"Let me see!"

"No way!" Teiko giggled. "I'm not going to ruin the surprise! The big reveal will happen tomorrow."

"Fine, you can't see mine until then, either," said Rini, sticking out her tongue playfully.

"I was leaving anyway!" said Teiko. "Where's Sanae?"

"Across the way by the mechanics stuff. I'll join you guys as soon as I'm done."

Teiko waved as she left the makeshift tent. Aki stepped next to Akio, who showed her the measurements he had taken.

"I see," said Aki. She walked over to an opposite rack and produced a frilly-skirted showstopper. "Peaches and cream?" she pondered, holding up the dress to Rini just as Akio had been doing. Aki and Akio both shook their heads.

"Not the one," they said in unison, and the search continued, their speed through a rainbow of colors and textures making Rini dizzy.

"It's not any of them!" said Akio, his soft voice tinged with frustration.

"I liked all of them!" Rini said.

"None of them will do," said Aki.

"Any of them would do!" Rini insisted.

"How could this be?" said Akio. "Unless…" he locked eyes with Aki.

"Could it be?" Aki asked.

"It must be!" Akio said.

"What?" said Rini.

"Allow me!" said Aki, and with a curt bow she darted from the tent. Akio examined his measuring tape again, before finally turning his attention back to Rini. He surveyed her carefully from head to toe.

"What!" Rini said again, self-consciously crossing her arms. Akio just smiled as Aki returned with a dark garment bag on a simple hanger. She hung it on a peg and pulled down the zipper, revealing the gown within.

It was rose petal pink, an elegant velvet leotard with a corset top, the sweetheart neckline embellished by sparkling red rubies. The skirts were sheer and layered, following the V of the leotard and trimmed with thick rows of short pink feathers that curved and rose and cascaded in a train like frothy waves.

Rini wanted to say that it was beautiful, but she couldn't even speak. Aki carefully removed the gown from it's garment protector and held it up to Rini.

"That's it," said Akio.

Aki said, "It's the one."

Rini rasped, "Are those real rubies?."

"Of course they are," said Akio. "This is a Misha gown."

Rini's eyes grew even wider. "Misha, as in the most famous young designer on Earth? There is no way I can afford that!"

Aki said, "Don't be silly, Misha doesn't sell her gowns! They have no price. She custom makes them only by request, and only for exclusive clients and special occasions."

"She made this one for you," Akio said. "It's yours."

"There's no way that's possible!" said Rini. "I have no way of communicating with Earth. How could I have ordered this gown?"

Akio said, "It was crafted for your exact measurements. I admit it is one of Misha's finest works. You must be a very special young lady."

"But…" Rini faltered, "I'm not. There's been a mix-up, some mistake."

"We do not make mistakes," Aki said. She whisked the dress away, zipping it back into it's garment bag and beginning to package the entire thing.

"I couldn't possibly accept it," Rini said.

"We could have it delivered to your living pod," Akio offered.

"No, I mean, it's not mine, I didn't order anything!"

"Regardless, it is yours," Akio said. "Misha herself instructed us to deliver it to the girl fitting your exact measurements. We couldn't possibly return to Earth with it!"

"I'm telling you, there's been a mix-up."

"Everybody's combination of measurements are unique," said Akio. "It most definitely belongs to you. If you feel indebted, a thank-you would suffice."

"I…" she was interrupted as Aki pressed the now-wrapped parcel into Rini's arms. Akio had moved toward the door, holding the scarf up to escort Rini out of the shop.

"Thank you," Rini mumbled, walking out slowly.

"You're welcome!" Aki and Akio chimed together. They waved and lowered the scarf as Rini exited the shop. The bright, busy marketplace moved all around her, and she shook off enough of her daze to head over to the mechanics shop, weaving between the busy crowd.

"Sanae!" Rini found her friend leaning against the leg of the mechanic's ship, a bag full of parts over her shoulder and a smirk on her face.

"Take a look, Rini," said Sanae, jutting her chin toward the right. The cute blue-haired pilot was chatting with Teiko, who's freckled cheeks were pink and crinkled with laughter.

"You weren't interested in Mr. Friendly, but Teiko sure is."

"He looks pretty interested in her, too," Rini noticed. He nudged Teiko, jerking his thumb at a food vendor a few stalls down. Teiko nodded enthusiastically and the two headed away.

"C'mon," Sanae said, following. "We can't let him steal her! We'll keep our distance, though." She eyed Rini as they walked.

"You're kind of quiet," Sanae said. She pointed at Rini's parcel. "Is that a dress?"

"It is…"

"What, did you have to blow your life savings on it or something?"

"No, they just gave it to me, actually."

Sanae laughed. "Oh I see. So you had to blow something else, huh? I was wondering what took you so long!"

"Sanae, gross."

"No judgement! That merchant was cute! A bit short, though. Did you ask him to the Moon Ball?"

"No way! And we didn't do anything."

"Sure, ok. Neither have me and Ryuu." Sanae gave Rini a huge wink and nudge.

"Grooosss!" Rini scowled. "I'm outta here. I need to go hang this dress up."

"So sensitive!"

"Just keep an eye on Teiko, okay?"

"Duh, of course. Meet us back at her place after you're done, Rini. We've got tactics to go over.."

"Yeah, I know." Rini waved before she melted into the crowd, leaving the Lunar Market.