The difficulties of shopping

[Moonlit Raven]

Elena opened the door to a modest sized shop, she hesitated a moment before walking in. I hope they have something more suitable than what I’ve been seeing in the stalls around here. Elena thought. She looked around, blinking in surprise at the amount of things crammed into the store. Unable to help herself she walked over to the weapons. Elena lovingly touched a beautifully made rapier made of steel, while the basket was too intricate for her tastes she admired it none the less.

“This is not what I came in here looking for.” Elena muttered to herself. I don’t think Avery will appreciate a new weapon. Unable to help herself Elena giggled at the mental image of Avery’s perplexed expression at being offer a weapon. Shaking her head, she headed towards the bolts of cloth and clothing folded along one side of the shop.

A neatly folded square of shimmering red called to her. Elena ran her fingers over the silky material before laying it out flat to look at it. She chewed her lower lip nervously as she studied the summer dress. It was what she had been looking for, or so close it didn’t really matter. The sleeves consisted of little more than a short rippled fringe. The dress could be tightened or loosened just under the bust with ties that wrapped around to the back. Dubious she stared at the mid thigh hem line, for her it was short.

Elena picked up the little dress and held it against her body, eyeing the dress skeptically. I suppose that I should make an effort, I never act very girly. Grabbing the silk, careful to not wrinkle it, she walked over to the counter and laid the dress on it.

“I would like to know how much the dress is. Also, ah, do you think my husband might like it?” Elena was aware of how odd the question might sound. She looked anywhere but at the store clerk, her face feeling like it could possibly catch on fire at any moment.

[Artifex Felicis]

((You've waited long enough, sorry bout how crappy this is))

"It's only 40 gold for you miss," the merchant said with a grin. "And I'm sure that your husband will love it!" The merchant moved from behind his counter, offering a hand to the girl "If you would follow me, I could show you wear you could try that exquisite dress on for size and have it adjusted for no extra cost."

[Moonlit Raven]

Elena nervously twisted a strand of her midnight and blood colored hair for a moment. She eyed the shop keeper and finally nodded, choosing to accept his opinion rather than argue that he might be saying such a thing just to make the sell. She straightened her posture from the unconscious shrinking she had been doing and took the man’s hand, allowing him to guide her over to the mirrored dressing area.

Elena stared at herself in the mirror briefly the turned away and quickly stripped off her leather armor and weapons. She sent up a half muttered prayer to any deity that would listen, hoping, no, demanding that Avery be properly impressed with the dress.

Slipping the dress presented a problem. Carefully Elena slid the dress down her arms and over her head, she used the sides of her fingers to avoid damaging the delicate material.
Elena tied the attached sash behind her, though she found with the sung fit of the top that it was unneeded.

The hemline gave Elena a slight pause, falling higher than she had guessed it would it came to her upper thigh. There the volume of material making up the skirt rippled prettily. Eyeing the empire waisted sundress critically, Elena concluded that it would more than serve it purpose.

“Alterations will not be needed. The dress is okay as it is.” Elena called through the door. She opened the door to the dressing area, absently she brushed a lock of her hair back behind her shoulder and spun slowly before the shop clerk.

“How do I look?”

[Artifex Felicis]

The merchant waited outside of the dressing room apprehensivly, hoping to make the sale and please his customer. Unlike some of the more lecharius people in his proffession, he did nothing to try and "sneak a peak" at the woman dressing within the room. He went to the side, afixing some of the clothing that was not hanging quite right until he heard her voice saying that she was done. He returned, greeted by the beuitful girl in, hopefully, her new dress.

"You look very pretty, and I should be killed for such an understatement. He eyed the girl, checking for anything wrong with the dress and found known. He gave a wide smile. "Now then, would you like anything else to go along with that dress of yours, or will that be all?"

[Moonlit Raven]

“I think this dress alone will do. I have jewelry at home.” Elena’s expression twisted to a nearly hidden distaste at the word jewelry. Lessons in being polite, long ago given and sometimes beaten in prodded her to responding to the compliment paid.

“Thank you for the compliment.” Elena allowed a small smile to slip free for a moment. Elena fidgeted where she stood, and looked over the items in the store. Shortly she shook her head and walked back into the dressing area. Stealing a glance at herself in the mirror one last time. ‘I don’t look like me.’ Elena thought, trying to figure out if it was puzzlement, disgust or amazement at the image the mirror presented her.

Elena engaged in battle with the dress to remove it with out tearing the delicate fabric. Finally she succeeded and replaced her normal clothing that hung on a hook with the dress.

“Gods, now I remember why Joranda always cursed the dresses her father made her wear.” Despite her newly found sympathy for her old friend, Elena found herself laughing easily at the memories of her friend.

Once she was redressed in her leather armor, falchion and daggers fastidiously put in place and adjusted until they were perfect, Elena emerged from the dress room. She glanced around for the shop clerk, her eyes bright with laughter still. She nodded her head to him and made her way to the counter. She laid the dress to the side and untied the pouch at her waist that contained her gold.

“I believe you said 40 gold?”

[Artifex Felicis]

"It was 40 gold," the merchant replied to his customer. He waited pathiently for the girl,helping another, younger customer get anoverpriced cloak so that way he could look "cool." He wasn't sure why every kid from eighteen to twenty-five loved the color black. He set the boy on his way, focusing all of his attention on the girl again. "Bring it back if you ever need repairs, I can fix it for cheap."

[Moonlit Raven]

Elena watched the shop keeper assist he young man for a moment then dug out the required gold. Laying it neatly in the counter she, bowed her head slightly in thanks.

“Thank you, have a pleasant day.” Elena paused for a moment then shook her head. Carefully scooping up the dress, she turned and walked towards the door of the shop. ‘That was no where as painful as I thought it would be. Embarrassing, yes, but not painful’ She glanced at the dress she held, the sunlight from the now open door making it shimmer prettily. Elena gave the shop keeper a wave and walked out, closing the door behind her

[Artifex Felicis]

The shopkeeper smilied. Business was slow but at least he was making enough to get by easily enough. Better than quite a few others could sayat the very least. He put the gold away, then began to busy himself with keeping the shop tidy.

((Transaction complete

40 gold taken, 460 remians at time of thread completion))