Challenge #03346-I058: Love is Always Worth it

Ever tried to go anywhere with kids or a mixed group? -- Anon Guest

Oz stopped and looked back for hir beloved spouse. Sure enough, Thairn was fifteen sidus[1] back along the pathway. They were looking with fascination at something that had caught their interest. Again.

Honestly, this was why ze bought them all those jingly jangly body accessories with all the bells. Just so ze could be warned when this happened.

Alas, public spaces and noise filtration capabilities were Oz's Achilles heel. The cessation of Thairn's merry jingling was lost in the general hubbub of Free Market Station[2]. One of the few places where just anyone could sell any random stuff for the best asking price for little to no overhead. An eternal Galactic Car Boot Sale, as Oz once put it.

Thairn had once again found something sparkly and interestingly-shaped. On closer inspection, it was an artistic meditation fountain, designed to have incense smoke fall gracefully down its tiers. It was in a box, because someone had chosen to display that very function.

Thairn had not noticed Oz's approach. Or, for that matter, hir absence. This little flaw of theirs had gone from cute to annoying and back around to cute again. Such was the rocky path of true love.

"You know those things only work their best in a stagnant air situation," said Oz, not surprising Thairn at all. "Which means bad air, very quickly."

"Yes, but this is so pretty..."

Oz sighed. Ze knew how this was going to go. So did the vendor. They were watching Oz and Thairn with avaricious intent. "Does it come with a box like that?"

"One Minute extra," said the vendor. "They want that one, yes?"

Just because Thairn was watching the one in motion didn't mean that was the one they wanted. "Which one of these do you like best, my love?"

"Hm?" A minute to process. "Oh, that one," Thairn pointed out a completely different, but equally sparkly tower. One that had platforms on all sides around the center.

"That one has an option for a rotating platform, container included," grinned the vendor, much like a shark. "Two minutes extra."

A little on the pricey side. Of course. Thairn was worth it. Of course.

Finances for goods, a fair trade. Oz startled Thairn out of their reverie with an, "I got you something."

"Babe..." Thairn chided. "You didn't have to."

"Ah, but I wanted to."

"I have twiddles and fascination timers on the other side," offered the vendor.

"I think that's enough for today," said Oz, looping hir arm through that of Thairn's. "We still have to be able to afford lunch."

"Honey..." whimpered Thairn. "Really?"

"Happy spouse," Oz pointed to Thairn, "happy louse," and ze pointed to hirself. An in-joke born of many loving years together.

[1] The Standard Distance Unit, often verbally abbreviated to "sidu", is roughly equal to one Terran meter.

[2] Every single visitor is shocked to learn that this is not a Deregger establishment.

[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / Kristini]