Althea returned the kiss instinctively, having experienced so many in her short time as the fighting mountain's second wife. She had felt his lips upon her own so many times, she could return his attentions in her sleep, as she did for a second before opening her eyes to greet the waking world. Kacie woke next, holding his solid mass tightly to her as she gradually stirred into consciousness. She gave her husband a more accurate kiss, actually knowing her surroundings for this one, before rolling out of bed to disdainfully regard the window. In the open plains where they grew up, lovemaking was a good means to both beginning and ending the day. The vapors that assaulted her nose here in the Maze, however, killed the mood quite a bit. Even Kacie, who was more used to city living than either of them, had to crinkle up her nose at the atmosphere as she rose to check the larder for anything that would make a good breakfast.<br/><br/>As usual, the first crowd to arrive at Luke's stage were the street urchins so cute, even the guards wouldn't harass them, with a few of the ugly ones crouching in the middle of the group. They were followed by young daughters of nearby shopkeeps who came to fawn over the talented young man, followed themselves by gawkers who didn't usually travel through this part of the Bazaar and wanted to know what all the fuss was about. It had gotten to the point of a few young ladies having gathered by the time the stage was properly swept and cleaned. Many of the roughshod stalls had opened by then, awaiting the morning rush of people who sought to arrive before the midday rush of people who sought to arrive before the afternoon rush of people who sought to arrive before the evening rush of people who sought to arrive before most of the shops closed down. There was a certain reputation that came with keeping one's shop open, as well as going out to shop, after a certain hour after all.