The 3 of us headed to the market in the Linden District. Today, I was going make to make a simple fish dish for once and the Linden Market was the best spot for buying fish. They're always caught fresh by fishers coming and going at a nearby wharf.

By the time we got there, Kanna and Cynthia were somehow already there even though I'm certain they went the opposite direction from us.

Steven: "Hey, Kanna. How did you get ahead of us?"

Kanna: "Cynthia just picked up her boots and we came as fast as possible. I mean, we're shopping, aren't we? And you brought Madelyn too. Does that mean we're all here?"

Steven: "Don't forget Joan."

Madelyn: "You already know she's with her tutor. Have you been studying your sign language?"

Steven: "Uhh…"

I have been studying, I just hope I can do it right…

Steven: (SL) "Hello, we are going to make food today."

[SL = Sign Language]

Madelyn: (SL) "Are you sure you've been studying for only a couple of weeks?"

Livia: (SL) "That's very impressive."

Steven: (SL) "Thank you, but when did the both of you learn to speak like this?"

Livia: (SL) "I've known how since I was 15. My father said it would be good to know and I guess he was right this whole time."

Madelyn: (SL) "I also would like to understand her if I'm going to be an auntie."

Kanna grabs my hand and gently guides me to the marketplace.

Kanna: "Let's do our shopping and head home. I wouldn't want to make our guests wait."

Madelyn: "Oh, that's today!? Gee, time really flies!"

Kanna: "Even I forgot!"

Steven: "Yup, let's make this trip quick before we forget what to buy!"

We walk into the market and begin browsing the various stalls. Occasionally, we stopped when something caught our eye and for me, it was when Livia standing near an odd vendor selling only grapefruit.

Steven: "Grapefruit? I already have a ton of these because of Yuuna."

Kanna: "You could make healing potions with these."

Livia: "These aren't meant for Alchemy."

She picks one up and sniffs it.

Merchant: "The ones here are very sour. Not very suitable for Alchemy. Sorry."

Livia: "I'll buy one anyway, I love sour ones."

Madelyn steps in to tease Livia.

Madelyn: "Livia, are you the kind of odd person that would religiously buy sour patch kids?"

Livia: "It's just a preference. I'll eat sweet things too, so it's not like I'm a picky eater."

Merchant: "It's a coin for 2."

Livia grabs another one while I give the merchant the money owed.

Merchant: "To each their own, right?"

Livia: "Thank you, Steven."

She uses her dagger to cut wedges out of the fruit and suck the juice out.

Steven: "Don't mention it. I did say I was going to buy you something... But... do you actually enjoy those?"

I continue shopping further into the market until I start seeing more and more meat. With all the fish there was, I had to slowly comb over each stall until I found my perfect salmon.

Kanna eventually found them before I did tucked away in a little corner and I went straight to buy the best fish available.

Steven: "Are they wild-caught?"

Fisher: "Sure are; you looking for farmed?"

Steven: "Wild."

Wild-caught salmon has fewer calories and total fat than farmed, but I'm not sure if the same knowledge can traverse between worlds. true or not, wild-caught is just my preference.

And amongst the wild-caught salmon, the one in the middle looks big and beautiful. It should feed everyone and maybe have leftovers.

Steven: "I'll buy the one in the middle."

Fisher: "Do you want me to debone it and cut it into filets?"

Steven: "No, I can do it myself."

The last time one of these merchants tried deboning the same fish, they hiked the prices from 20 Coin to 140.

That is one BS scam I'm not going to fall for again for the rest of my life.

Fisher: "Thank you for your purchase."

Now that my shopping was finished, we stagnated near the entrance and I checked to make sure everyone was happy.

Steven: "Cynthia, you don't want anything?"

Cynthia: "Knowing that you'll make us an appetizer before you start cooking, not really. Maybe I wanted a drink, but I don't see anyone selling any."

Livia: "You make appetizers? Isn't that something you do only in a restaurant setting?"

Steven: "My kitchen is my restaurant."

Madelyn: "What kind of appetizer are you making?"

Steven: "Salmon and cream cheese pate."

Kanna's cat ears shot up straight and turned her attention to me I could tell just from her reaction that she's about to yell, "that's my favorite!"

Steven: "I already know, Kanna…"