'Nother notice: Kylik Ravenarrow is © Marisa H. (Lady Serpentine.)

CHAPTER 2
After the breakfact had been wolfed down, our heros set about the house they had occupied together for the two weeks prior to X-mas day.

"Wow, this could possibly be the longest we've ever actually stayed in the same place at once!" Yecen realized.

"Yeah, one would've thought we'd have gotten annoyed with each other before now." Drizzt smirked.

They had actually grown annoyed quite a few times over the escapade, but they had learned to deal with each other long before so all was well.

Clapping her hands together, Rejal stood up. "Well, looks like I'm headed to the market. We're running low on food after the feast we had on Christmas. I have my list, anyone have anything to add?"

"Get some lettuce, and add milk to the list. Oh, get some coffee beans, too. I can't stand smelling Mari's tea anymore," Carmen said with a sly glance to Drizzt. "I can't see how you stand it."

"I hold my breath when I walk past and flee when she comes near me with it."

"So that's why you ran off when I went to say good morning to you! Cad!"

Drizzt scrambled away as Marisa chased after him, arms waving wildly.

"What store are you going to?"

Rejal thought for a moment. "The only market near here that isn't at that hellhole of a mall."

Miguel jumped up. "Thaddeus' Plaza! Ye gods, I'm coming with you, Rejal!"

"You aren't staying here with me?" Carmen pouted.

"Miguel doesn't want to snuggle with his hon?" Rejal wondered.

Now it was Rejal's turn to dash, for she had both Miguel and Carmen after her. Yecennia turned to Jarlaxle. "And you have stayed here for how long with these people?"

The dark elf shrugged. "I have only barely survived," he said honestly.

In no time the chases were over and Rejal set off with Miguel to Thaddeus' Plaza.

"So," Rejal said, "why did you really want to come with me, Miguel?"

"Well," the blond Spaniard replied, "out of all the places around here, only Big Bob of Thaddeus' Plaza can make a fizzy with all the ingredients just so.. They're so heavenly!"

TWACK!

Rejal slowly drew her hand away from her forehead. "Fizzies...it had to be something with sugar... Carmen is going to kill me."

The blonde Spaniard grinned. "If she kills you, then what do you think she'll do to me?"

"Aah!" Rejal clutched her head. "Naughty images! Nightmares! Augh!"

"You..."

"Oh come off it," Rejal giggled. "Come on, you can hang by the fizzy machine while I get the stuff."
* * *
"Who's house is this anyway?" Yecennia asked suddenly.

Drizzt and Jarlaxle looked to each other and shrugged.

"Ookay," the young woman said, unsure of herself now.
* * *
"Rejal!!"

"What, Miguel?" the voice echoed from across the store.

"Rejal!"

"WHAT!?"

"HELP ME!!!"

From around the corner Rejalyn spotted Miguel being chased down by a small mob of people. In a moment she had taken a dagger from her coat sleeve and yelled, "Catch!"

Miguel caught the blade with ease and spun around. "Back! Go away. Leave me alone! Fiends! Demons who can't appriciate the fine taste of sugar!"

"Oh goddesses," Rejal muttered. "What now?"

The group of five people had surrounded the Spaniard at this point, and Rejal took it upon herself to step in. She knocked aside a tall fellow and immediately stood by his side. "What is the meaning of this, chasing a man around in a Plaza Market?"

"He tried to force feed me a fizzy!"

"He gave my son sugar-candy!" the kid's father shouted.

"That man looked drunk! All I did was offer him a napkin to clean the fizzy of his face when he spluttered the Suicide all over my face!"

Miguel was awestruck, giving reasons to his actions. "Kid, you wanted the fizzy and I gave it to you! Don't blame me that you're a spoiled kid who isn't allowed any sugar - I didn't know! And you, Mr. Dad; where were you? Obviously not watching your son! Shame on you! And Sir, do you know how many times I've been tapped on the back only to see there's some kind of evil person there? And you are the most diabolical, being a telemarketer! How can I tell, you wonder? Your briefcase and outfit, sir! Have at you!"

Rejal watched the conversation go back and forth until the tall man stood back up and intervened.

"Look people, let's just apologize and get on with our lives, eh?"

And after seeing the glance that passed from the man, no, jade elven druid's, eyes to Rejal's, the amendments went around quickly and were overwith as soon as they had started. The chasers departed.

The deep jade eyes smiled knowingly to Rejal and her shopping companion. "Looks like all's well. I thought it'd be best to apologize rather than have Thad's business cut short by fighting customers."

"Yeah, it was a good idea," Rejal agreed.

"Thanks, Kylik."

"No problem Miguel. You probably would've been fine without me here, what with Rejal and her dagger." He turned to go, "I had best be off now. Time's flying by."

Rejal stopped him. "Hey, are you going to visit the house sometime before New Year's? We're gonna par-tay!"

He grinned. "We'll see."

After he had left Rejal went back to her shopping, this time taking Miguel along with her. "That's the last time I let you out of my sight. Good gods, Miguel! If you have a scratch on you I'll be dead shortly after we get back!"

"Oh, don't over react, Rejal. Besides I can take perfect care of myself. Carmen doesn't need you to watch me every minute when she's not around."

It was a gallant speech that Miguel made. Rejal almost believed him. Until he tripped over his feet.

As she helped the Spaniard up she grinned and patted his face twice. "Sure, hon. Whatever you say.

"Anyhow, we really need to finish this list. What else should we get here?"

Miguel took the list from her. "You've crossed out everything on here already."

"Because I already picked it up, duh. What should 'we' add?"

"Oh! Let's go!" Miguel grabbed Rejal's arm and nearly wrenched it from her socket as he drug her along.

They picked up wine, several decks of playing cards (that had somehow managed to disappear after a previous game of strip-poker..), some streamers, other New Year's decorations, candles, insense, music sheets, several new calendars for the upcoming year, more decorations, more wine, some beer, a book: Thousands of Things to do at Parties!, and some punch mix and party dishes.

As they were in the checkout line, Miguel asked, "Are you sure you have enough to cover all this besides the food we were suppose to pick up in the first place?"

Rejal nodded. "Yeah, I've got plenty of old cash lying around from mercenary pay. No worries." She grinned as the clerk gawked at their cart and began running every item under the over the blinker. Fortunately for the clerk, a friend had just gotten off break and came over to load the materials into bags. When they left Rejal laughed at the abhorrent glares both clerks gave her.

"That's me, Rejalyn Athenlar: Scourge of the Markets!"
* * *
Marisa opened the door as the two shoppers piled in. "It that all?" she asked.

"Good heavens, no!" Rejal chortled. "Get Drizzt or Jarlaxle to helped load in the next five bags. After we get these set down, Miguel and I'll go back out and get the last bags."

Carmen entered the room as both Drizzt and Jarlaxle made their way out the door, muttering. "I thought all that you were getting was food?"

Rejal smiled innocently, "We did get food. But Miguel and I thought we'd best be prepared in case of a snowstorm. We could be trapped inside, you know."

Laughing, the Spaniardess caressed her lover's blonde hair. "Oh, I think we could think of some things to pass the time if that happened." She picked up the book, Thousands of Things to do at Parties! by Assorted Authors, and flipped through to the middle of the book. "Hey look! They have strip-poker listed."

Rejal grinned and flipped the next page as Miguel set down his load and went back outside. "Hey, look! 'Snuggle-bunnies! : Best if played by two people of opposite genders. Other materials needed: a bed, couch, sofa, floor, etc. and some blankets.' I bet you wrote that chapter, didn't you?" She grinned fiendishly.

"Ow!"

Carmen swiftly drew her elbow away from her companion's side before Rejal could grab her arm and twist it backward. Cita quickly fled the scene, laughing merrily.

Rejal turned to head back out the doorway as Jarlaxle and Drizzt trodded in, barely keeping good hold of the bags.

"I'll get you, Carmen," Rejal chuckled, revising a fun prank-plan Marisa's brother, Scean Van'kre had played long ago. "And your lover-Spaniard, too!"

[Author: Oooo....this'll be fun. ^.^]