Worn and Torn

[AsukaStrikes]

Bustling crowds flowed through the streets of Radasanth, stopping at shops along the way in their quests for daily wares. Housewives and Kitchen Girls browsing the fresh food stalls, hand-picking only the choicest produce for the people at home. Kids running through the puddle-speckled streets, whooping and screaming with joy.

Fresh earthly scent tickling the noses of the masses. There was nothing more refreshing than high noon after a shower of cool rain.

"Ahh... Ach-choo!"

A sneeze rang through the streets, heads turning just slightly to eye the red-nosed girl trudging by with an indignant scowl on her face.

"Stupid cold... Stupid jacket..."

Asuka mumbled angrily, pulling the collars of the tattered brown jacket up to close against her body. Warmth crept up her chest, giving the worn-out maiden some respite to the chilly breeze before another sneeze shook the lass from her revelry.

Alright, that does it!

She had it with the old jacket, its cloth just a bit too thin and the nonexistent sleeves providing her no protection from the wind. It was time for her to get something new.

Something that would actually keep her warm.

Moments later, Asuka pushed through a creaky wooden door into a quaint little shop just off the beaten path of the main street. She had figured that most of the other store along the main road had things that the avarage Radasanthian girls would want to wear - frilly, flowing and pink.

Oh, how she despised pink clothing.

"Gomen- I mean, Excuse me~" Asuka called out as she approached the counter, her eyes glancing curiously around the store for something she might like. "Do you have any leather jackets here? I looked around, but I couldn't find any that I liked. It would be kinda good if you have some..."

Man, I'm hopeless...

Three stores and counting, Asuka kept on looking and looking. She had never gone shopping for clothes before and she would be greatly amazed if she would ever make sense of what she would be looking for.

For a woman, Asuka never quite liked to follow the trend of other people when it came to clothes. She wore what felt right and that was about it. Now, if only the clerk knew about that...

[Artifex Felicis]

Sewing up leather was a curious job that the merchant had taken quite a shine to lately. He was an older man, with his eyesight begining to go. Though, thanks to a some strange, circular pieces of glass he got as payment, they were as good as a man a third of his age. His fingers were still nimble and sure, and he had more experance then most of the bazaar in making his wares.

Still, he was a good shop, and made enough to get by easily enough. Granted, he could have used some more income, but he was fine. He was an older man. His sons had already moved on, and he saw his grandchildren every once in a while. For all intents and purposes, he did everything he thought he really needed to in his life.

His smile stayed on his face as the red headed girl came into his shop. It was a good thing, since he also was reasonibly sure he could have sold a new piece of armor or clothing. He stopped his stitching, watching her with interest and to make sure that she did not steal anything. She came up to him, and he smilied at her.

"Well, I have a few of these," the merchant said. He gestured towards the side of the shop, where several jackets were hanging from hooks on the wall. "Take your pick, I think at leas three or four of them will fit you."

[AsukaStrikes]

"Eh... um... yeah..."

Asuka muttered nervously to herself, the embarrassment of overlooking such an obvious display. It was all the more reason why she never liked shopping for clothes.

The maiden uneasily made her way to the rows of clothing hung from the wall, a curious display of fashionable jackets and rugged ones that would suit the average wandere quite well. She was not looking to make the fashion scene, to which she skipped the ones with frills and fancy collars altogether. However, she opted to look at the more rugged ones, a few of them looking jsut about right for the rigors Asuka was sure to run into again in her travels.

...I think this might do.

The lass pulled down a rather plain-looking jacket, the leathery material gleaming just slightly in the midday light and reflecting a dim streak across the dark brown material. The long sleeves, reaching just barely beyond her wrists and large enough to stuff her fist through, hung limp at the side even as she folded it around. The clothing probably would reach almost to her buttocks, she reckoned by looking at its length and slight curvature in the design, which would serve fairly well in keeping out the cold. Along the front of the earth-colored jacket were two rows of brass buttons running from the stiff, reinforced collar down to the bottom edge - whatever reason behind such a design, the Akashiman cared little for its tale. What she cared, however, that it looked just about right for her.

"Hey, storekeep." She uttered, still scrutinizing the ware and refusing to walk anywhere. "How much does this cost?"

It would certainly be better than her frayed cotton one, at least it had sleeves that would keep out the cold.

[Artifex Felicis]

The shopkeeper watched the girl with one of his eyes, though most of his attention was focused on his work in front of him. The leather in front of him was not as important as the girl however. It was a hobby, to be sure, bu far more expensive then anything else. He needed to sell quite a few jackets to continue living comfertably in his home. Then again, that was he got for blowing a lot of the savings he had put away into the shop. He didn't complain though, he sold more than enough for an old man like himself to live.

"One second," the old man commented. He laid his tools back onto the table, and moved around his wooden counter. A few steps and he was next to the girl holding up a tall leather jacket. He took it delicatly from the girl, admiring his own work and scrutinizing it carefully for her. "I believe that this is 80 gold, though, are you sure it will fit right? It'll be a little big on a smaller girl like yourself."

[AsukaStrikes]

Yeah, it is a bit big...

"It'll do, Gramps. Eighty pieces it is."

Asuka could care less if it was too large to fit her perfectly. Somehow, the clothing felt more comfortable than some of the smaller, slimmer kinds she eyed along the racks. Dropping the small sack of coins and the new purchase onto the counter, the lass stripped out of her frayed cotton armless one and stuffed it into her canvas sack. After tying off the bag with a strip torn from the hem of her old jacket, she took off her sword belt and laid it next to leather jacket. Slipping into the leather garment, she immediately felt warmth coursing along her body as if she was basking in the refreshing summer light. It smelled oddly like something she had known, though the sensation felt surprisingly new to her.

For once, she was happy.

"It's really comfy, Gramps. Thanks for the good stuff."

That was all she needed after all, the maiden thought as she exited the store with her sack slung over one shoulder. She would have to visit this store again if she had the chance, for no other reason than to see if there are more things she wanted to buy.

Well, perhaps a new sheath for Kazeryu once the old one wears away.

Asuka smirked as a hand touched the sword handle, the sheath wrapped around her right thigh and jumping alongside her like a loyal puppy.

When the time comes.

((Well, that's it for me. Good buy, that I will say))

[Artifex Felicis]

The older merchant smiled at her, taking the bag of gold with careful hands. He opened it, untying the knot that held it tight and sifting his hands through the bag with care. He counted the coins, coming up to a number of over fifty before stopping. He was sure there was more, and that the girl didn't cheat him out of his payment for the jacket she wore.

He saw her out the door, then went back behind his counter again, spilling the gold coins onto the table to be counted. Strict records helped him stay in business, if for no other reason then to help order his leather and other goods. It came out to 80, and the gold was brought back into his storeroom, carefully put away for the old man came back and went to work on his leathermaking once again.

((Transaction complete!

80 gold taken away.

1295 remains at time of thread completion.))