What's a girl (with bad fashion sense) to do?

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

Ugh. It's like this dress has a personality all its own. That's a sign that it's time for a new wardrobe. Putting on my tattered, stinky velvet dress one last time, I left my room and headed towards the bazaar. The air was thick that day--I was having a little trouble breathing as I walked towards a tailor's shop.

The condition of my clothes was not the only reason it was time for an update. Despite my loss in the Dajas Pagoda, I was approached to take a spot as one of the six elite warriors, complete with all the perks. An arena all my own, discounts at local taverns, free health care... I couldn't take the position looking more like a child's rag doll than I already do. So, a new outfit or two to keep me looking presentable was in order.

I calmly opened the door to the tailor's shop. Sunlight tinted orange poured through the dusty windows, casting an amber glow on everything. Various articles of clothing were neatly folded on racks and shelves. That new clothing smell pervaded the air, a smell that had its way of nauseating me. I had a basic idea of what I wanted, but I began to look around the store in silence, should something else catch my eye.

[Moonlit Raven]

Sitting on top of the counter a young boy of seven watched the lady that was browsing through the shop.

"Gorv, you know you're not suppose to be up there. Elena will be mad." A second older boy whispered as he looked from his companion to the lady. For a moment the threat of Elena's anger caused a look of dismay and worry. As fast as the expression appeared it disappeared and the little boy shrugged, unwilling to give up his advantage point to Kale as he was sure the older boy just wanted the spot for himself.

"Good day ma'am. What can we help you with today?" He called, imitating the kind woman that had taken him and his companion in.

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

I regarded the kid (wait, kid?) with a weak, forced smile. He's probably just watching the place for his parents, I thought to myself.

"I'm just looking for now, thanks."

I began to flip through the various garments that were sitting on the racks. I passed up on some pretty plain-looking shirts, the thin cotton kind that would be considered extravagant for the farmers drudging their lives away just outside of town.

Boring, no, boring, boring, there's no way I'm wearing floral print... Come on, how lucky do I have to be to--!

I found a plain black, short sleeved blouse top with a V-neck. Not low enough to show off what little cleavage I had, but it still looked halfway presentable. I removed it from the wire hanger and draped it over my arm. I didn't dwell long on the pants--it didn't take me thirty seconds to find a pair of dark blue jeans that were my size.

I walked over to the counter where the kids were, and placed the clothes on the flat wooden surface. "Hey, do you guys have a parent here I can talk to? I have a bit of a special order to make."

[Moonlit Raven]

Gorv stared up at the lady, his eyes wide. While Gorv stared at the woman Kale rolled his eyes and decided to show that he was much older and in his mind a more mature person. Turning tail he raced for the back room, shrieking at the top of his lungs for Elena as soon as he cleared the doorway. Gorv tried to look behind him at Kale's shrieking falsetto and still keep an eye on the lady in front of him.

"Parents? I don't have a mom or dad, Elena takes care of me now. She's a nice lady. Hey maybe she can take care of y..." Gorv was cut off by a slender, alabaster hued hand covering his mouth for a moment. Tilting his head back Gorv looked up into the amused and exasperated eyes of his 'nice lady'.

"Gorv, go find Illaniel and Serraphiel then tell them where I found you." I picked up the small boy and sent him on his way with a grazing swat to his backside. Smiling faintly and shaking her head she turned to look at the young woman in the tattered velvet dress.

"I'm Elena, sorry about Gorv and Kale. Now, what can I help you with?"

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

"Don't worry about it," I said to Elena as the kids in question scampered off. I looked around the shop once more, noting with dismay that I had to place this little order and wait for the new dress I wanted.

My gaze returned to Elena. "There's a couple things more that I need. I'd like a new dress, much like the one I've got on now. But I need it to be a fabric that's a bit more resilient than this cheap velvet, and I'd like it to be a dark purple, if possible. Also, I'd like a corset made; one that's flexible, but can still offer a good deal of protection. What kind of materials would you recommend for that?"

[Moonlit Raven]

Elena thought for a moment then gesture for the girl to wait. She hurried off for the back room and a bolt of cloth that had come in the day before. A minute later she returned carrying the said cloth. Heaving the large bundle up on the counter Elena fingered the dark purple cloth.

“I really should make a cloth book, it would be so much easier. Anywho, this is Vlince; it’s resistant to punctures and slashing. While it’s a lighter weight cloth than the velvet on you it will provide a lot more protection. A dress in the same style as the one you are wearing will be 275 gold pieces. Now for the corset you asked, that will be a little tricky. Traditional steel would not allow you freedom of movement and I can not think of any way to add joints in it without compromising the original purpose of a corset.” Elena frowned; her eyes focused on the deep purple cloth resting on the counter with out actually seeing it.

“Trakym could be used.” Elena said slowly as she turned the problem over in her head and studied it from different angles. “It’s a light weight wood that is incredibly flexible, but it is a mildly rare wood so it’s a little expensive. If a corset were made from the Trakym and vlince it would be five hundred gold. I could replace the vlince with a lighter cloth such as cotton or linen and it would be 450.”

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

I cocked an eyebrow. A wooden corset? That sounded a bit strange to me, no matter how flexible trakym was. I took a quick peek inside my satchel at my coin purse, furthering my doubts about the corset.

"Hmmm..." I silently mouthed a few calculations and surveyed my options. I still had some shopping to do after this, but I needed something to protect my chest. "Two seventy five sounds fine for the dress, but the corset I'm not so sure about." My eyes drifted around the shop, trying to find a decent substitute, eventually spotting a black, tanned leather corset off in one corner. I walked over and picked it up. It was thick, and would need some breaking in before I'd be able to freely move in it, but for now it would have to do.

I walked back towards the counter, setting the corset on top of the black blouse top and jeans I also wanted. "How much would it be to get this thing lined with vlince?"

[Moonlit Raven]

Elena suppressed a smile at the girl's dubious expression when she suggested the unusual wood for the boning of the corset. Once the leather corset and the other items were laid on the counter Elena mentally shook her head at the steel boning in the corset. What ever the customer wants they get. It's too bad really. I was wondering just how well that springy wood would have worked in the corset.

"With vlince lining the corset is 300 gold. Your jeans are 75 and the blouse 50. I'll also need you to step into the dressing room so I can get your measurements."

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

So that's... Seven hundred gold total.

I nodded. "Alright." Reluctantly, I stepped into the dressing room, biting my tounge as the shop girl deftly slung the tape around, grabbing all my measurements. I have to say I was quite uncomfortable with the process; someone can only be touching me for so long before I get the urge to knock some teeth out.

But, I guess that punching out someone who runs a store would be a bad idea, so I sucked it up. After she was done, I placed the money I owed onto the counter and asked, "When can I expect the dress to be done?

[Moonlit Raven]

It took only moments for Elena to write down the measurements. A light tug at the hem of her skirt stopped her from answering immediately. Glancing down she gave Kale an annoyed glance and held a finger to her lips, asking for his silence and patience.

"I'll have the dress ready for you in two days. I'll require three hundred of the gold now and the rest when the dress is completed." Elena looked down at the young boy as he tugged on her skirt again. I need to train the boys better, either that or scare the daylights of out them once in a while.

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

I nodded as I pulled my coin purse out of my leather satchel, counting out three hundred in gold and dropping it on the counter. The metal clinked and clanged as coins collided with wood and one another, the familiar sound meaning I was that much poorer and would eventually have to take up another job in order to recuperate. I also threw in enough to cover for the blouse and jeans, which I gathered up in my arm. "See you in two days," I nonchalantly said to the woman as I left the store.


***

Time sure as hell moves slowly when you're waiting for something. It seemed like forever, my mind occupied at the library, at my apartment, and at the tavern for those forty-eight hours.

When did I become such a girl?

When the two days passed, I returned to the shop. I was already counting the money out as I pushed open the door with my back. The bell rang, signaling my arrival.

"Hello? I'm back for the dress."

[Moonlit Raven]

I apoligize for the delay in replying.

Elena knelt on the floor behind the counter ,playing a simple hand game with Gorv and Kale. Elena glanced up at the shelf under the coutner, making sure that the newly finished dress was still there and still in pristen condition. The soft yet brash chiming of the bell over the front door had Elena peeking over the coutner. Smiling she stood up, smoothing out the red silk of the short sundress she wore.

"Good day. Your order is ready for you." Elena quickly gathered up the dress and placed it on the coutner for the girl.


Transaction complete. BlackAndBlueEyes loses 700 GP and gains 100 EXP for good IC interactions.