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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jul 31, 2018 14:02:44 GMT -8
/The Tailor/
She flinched at Tilly's exclamation; The Tailor's hands pressed against herself and she seemed to try and shrink into a cocoon as she fidgeted with the button of her dress.
"I-I... It's just, well... You know; it is two people." She looked to Lekalis who gave her little respite; his brow cocked and skeptical, though he seemed to have confidence in his woman... It was respectable enough, The Tailor supposed.
"I only use the finest silks from the city of God's Gate itself." She assured her, looking suddenly about for an example, she shuffled away and plucked up a length of silk, the same silk that led to her working room, and held it up emphatically.
"I grow my own silk too..." Her words fell away from her again as her eyes drifted down. She did want this sale, and she was rather want for customers.
"... Kings and Queens used to pay me five thousand for a cloak woven by me." The Tailor's boast was large, but her voice was still small as she almost shamefully shuffled back to the desk, looking up to Tilly.
"Now I am lucky if someone gives me half a potato for a tunic." She lamented and sighed, her eyes falling to her desk as she looked at the scattering of cut linens and silk, the odd stray needle and line.
"My Last Customer... He was a knight, he was kind, noble... He said he would come back with a king's hoard to pay for the silks I gave him." Her sniffle was wet, despite the dry, dusty air as she idly tried to push and pull the various scraps into some more respectable order.
"Then there was a fire, and rats... I know it is a tall price; but with four-thousand, I could get... Get a better loom, safer stores for my work. I do not have much silk left... I think it will be my last order for it, if I take this for you; but I will have more for you, and your little ones, if you give me... I can do with five-hundred less; three-thousand and five-hundred pieces?"
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Post by Vanitypirate on Jul 31, 2018 14:40:37 GMT -8
"Well... I can't say I've got as much as three-thousand on me." Hummed Tilly thoughtfully, tapping a long finger at her chin, averting her gaze for the moment as though in contemplation.
In truth, she simply did not wish to push the Tailor to tears.
"But I used to be a mercenary, here, before I went to settle down. I know gallant knights, genius scholars, brave soldiers... all folk who've never visited a tailor in years, and are in dire need of new clothes. Terribly impatient, too, I'm afraid; they don't have the time to wait around on measurements and the like... I reckon they'd be happy to purchase what you've got on display." She smiled again, in hopes to eke one out of the Tailor, too.
"When I go to my wedding-- the first one any mercenary here's had, mind-- wearing a beautiful, new dress, I'll tell all of them, 'Oh, yes, go seek out the lovely Tailor down main-street; she's got a Red Bolt on the sign, with the scissors. She's worked for Kings and Queens, but has the fairest prices around.'"
Tilly pointed a finger upwards, "Now, they haven't got too much gold to spend, but I know they'll all come to buy what you've got here on display. That'll free up some more space for you to move around and tidy it all up a touch, and you won't need to even lift a finger."
She chuckled a little and let the hand rest on Lekalis's shoulder.
"This one's got a penchant for silks. I reckon one-thousand, two hundred will be enough for both of our outfits? That's to start with, that is; we'll be in need of some common clothes, too, that aren't the rags we're wearing now."
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jul 31, 2018 15:38:48 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
He looked to Tilly and offered a supportive smile to her jubilant exchange. The Ex-Lord wasn't sure if it was que-in for himself, so he held his tongue for now, simply nodding as he lightly wrapped his hand about Tilly's waist.
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/The Tailor/
The Tailor listened meekly, and held her hands flat against her belly as she spoke; she hummed and nodded anxiously, her thin brows furrowing determinedly as she seemed to focus and hinge her ears on every word spoken by Tilly.
"How do you know..?" The Tailor asked simply, looking down at her desk as she swayed slightly from one foot to the other. She picked at a splinter of wood on the desk.
"... How do you know your friends will buy? A-and I won't be able to keep stock if... If I let everything go for something so small like six hundred gold per." She huffed, shaking her head,
"Less, even, for simpler clothes..." She lamented with a whine as she finally removed a shard of wood from her desk, but looked none too happy for it.
"What about Three-thousand, then? For both you and yours?" She offered hopefully, as she began to fidget with the wood splinter, looking up to Tilly with some eagerness,
"Any less and... And I won't have enough for silk, or linens."
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Post by Vanitypirate on Jul 31, 2018 15:53:07 GMT -8
"Look, now, I'd love to help you with the store and all..."
Tilly looked about her with a little frown, at all the fabrics and all.
"But we're not kings or queens, here. I just haven't got the gold to drop three-thousand on clothes when we've a house to raise up, a party to throw, and bread to buy. Even a thousand was me trying to be generous with what I've got." She rolled her fingertips along the wood surface.
"We don't need your fanciest fabrics, just something that'll look pleasant. And if even a thousand is too much for you-- that's more than most make in a month-- as lovely as your stock is, I might just be forced to find a cheaper tailor."
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jul 31, 2018 16:26:59 GMT -8
/The Tailor/
"A-ah, please, wait!" She reached out and made to hold Tilly's hand in both of her own, her features didn't show much more than the tired smile she'd shown before, but there was a flicker of desperation in her eyes.
"Please, I am-- You don't have to pay right now, maybe?" She offered, nodding.
"I can make do with maybe eight-hundred now... I need to pay the Heir, buy food. But maybe you will pay me later? Eight hundred every month, for three months." She pressed eagerly; she let go of Tilly's hand suddenly and took a step back,
"O-oh, sorry, I didn't mean to..."
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Post by Vanitypirate on Jul 31, 2018 16:46:57 GMT -8
Tilly smiled uncomfortably and stifled the rising urge to flee the shop entirely.
She rubbed at her wrist as her hand was released.
"I just can't pay for your entire store on my own." She maintained, slipping her hands into her coat pockets and out of harm's way. "We haven't got the gold to spend two-thousand all on clothing. I certainly wish we do, but we don't-- and we absolutely can't make a bloody loan for it. You might just be too expensive for us."
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jul 31, 2018 17:18:19 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
He quirked a frown as he let his head wilt to one shoulder; his Love was a terribly hard bargainer, it certainly explained her cache of gold... The poor Tailor looked about to cry, but he held his tongue still. He crossed his arms lightly over his chest and made to look distracted with the dazzle of colors around him.
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/The Tailor/
"I... I am... You do not have to pay for my whole store, what do you mean..?" She implored shaking her head as she knit her brows up and sighed, she brought her hands up to massage at her temples. The Tailor screwed her eyes shut and nodded,
"Ok, Ok... I'll do it, my Lady." She decided with a small frown to her sad features.
"You said... One Thousand and Eight hundred?" She murmured as she fussed about her table before producing a string with red marks laid out periodically, she glanced from the string to Tilly...
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Post by Vanitypirate on Jul 31, 2018 17:58:24 GMT -8
If Tilly knew that she would be made to feel like a penny-pinching villain in entering this tailor's shop, she would have turned back around.
With an unhappy sigh, she felt about in her pockets, as though to recount the gold within. Although she knew already how much she had on her, and it did not grant her a very optimistic outlook on their future finances.
"Right, alright then: one thousand, eight hundred." She agreed, in defeat; it was still thrice as much as she anticipated she'd pay at most.
Her only comfort was the chance that she might be able to reuse some bits of it.
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jul 31, 2018 18:26:53 GMT -8
/The Tailor/
It was small, but it was enough; her smile broadened and for a moment, her eyes glimmered like moonlit saucers, as she clasped her hands together and bowed deeply,
"Thank you, my Lady!" She rose and practically flew around the desk with her smiling face, she was rather clearly an inch or two shorter than Tilly, but she seemed accustomed to looking up to people.
"May I get your measurements?" She looked back to the door she'd left shut, then to Tilly,
"It will only take a moment; your shoulders, chest, waist... We can do that here, or there. Wherever." She assured her, passion beginning to grow in her fingertips.
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Post by Vanitypirate on Jul 31, 2018 18:50:02 GMT -8
Tilly found it difficult to share the tailor's joy; it was time to come up with clever ways to make up the difference...
"Ah, of course..." She glanced to Lekalis, "Unless you'd like to go first, then?"
She stepped away from the desk and motioned to the shut door,
"Should I go in there? For privacy...?"
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jul 31, 2018 18:59:34 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
"Hmm?" Lekalis roused, with a small chuckle, he shook his head; he was happy that they decided to pay the Tailor... He would have paid the three thousand she offered, personally, but he knew the stinginess of his Love might save them the few odd gold pennies that keep them from delving into any more dangerous situations.
"Nay, I'll wait here..." He mused with a small smile, clearly working on some clever word to say before he huffed and shrugged hopelessly,
"... I love you." He decided would be good enough as he made to amble away to a clothes rack.
In hindsight, the ex-Lord scolded himself for not checking the Tailor's quality before buying her sob story...
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/The Tailor/
"Mhmm! It is unlocked, I will be right behind you... It won't take long, don't worry!" She gave Tilly an enthusiastic push towards the door as she diligently shuffled on behind her.
"When will the wedding take place, my Lady?" she inquired happily as she examined the string in her hands...
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Post by Vanitypirate on Aug 1, 2018 1:05:25 GMT -8
"About a week or so..." Tilly answered in reply, shuffling on with tensed shoulders into the room.
She opened the door and filed inside, pausing a touch to give a final wave to Lekalis, before committing fully to squandering so much of the gold she had shed blood to earn.
Gingerly, she looked about for some place to hang her coat as she set about shrugging it off.
"What's your name, anyway, miss...?" She asked absently, still brooding over the grand loss of coin as she set about unbuttoning her jerkin,
"...You don't spread much gossip about your customers, I hope?" Stopping suddenly, Tilly eyed the Tailor,
"I've had a... change in figure. It's a tad embarrassing."
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Aug 1, 2018 1:24:34 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
He let his gaze linger on his Love as she departed with the Tailor; already some nausea began to brew in the back of his throat... What if that Tailor was an assassin? Or simply some murderous wench?
He pinched at the hem of his cloak's collar before raising his free hand to wave farewell to Tilly.
She could handle herself, Lekalis resolved, then brought his waving hand to stroke at his beard; pondering on the Woman's peculiar accent, and why she'd fallen so low.
It could have been an airless boast, he supposed and sighed... Turning his attentions to simpler things, he began to examine the fabrics that were strewn about the place like headstones to a graveyard.
/The Tailor/
"Amgis..." She stated flatly, raising a brow as she shuffled into the room with Tilly; letting the door lay ajar slightly as she led Tilly deeper into a rather dim room. The room was dry as bone, and smelled of the same ivory; a smooth but harsh scent that hung lightly in the room, despite the thick atmosphere of mothdust.
The room was long and thin, one could stand scant abreast with another before brushing against either side. Whatever hopes one might have in the building having more room rested in a door set beneath an iron chandelier that held four candles in a frame meant for twelve, two long had been gutted by the Flame, while one burned low and desperately amidst its own waxy blood. There was, of course, the fourth candle that was tall and grey.
Red, Orange, Indigo, and Grey wax all bled from the chandelier.
There were several hangars lining the wall, like ribs to a breast, leading to a table set flat against the wall, choking the already thin passageway.
The Tailor Amgis shuffled on towards the table and set out some paper and ink, before looking up to Tilly with a small smile that was dying quickly. More from lack of energy than effort.
"I am Amgis of Crete; I would never spread gossip." She assured her as she fluttered closer to Tilly, fidgeting with the red specked string.
"... I do not think anyone would want to gossip with me anyways." Amgis assured her with a little laugh that seemed to threaten popping her fragile lungs.
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Post by Vanitypirate on Aug 1, 2018 1:45:29 GMT -8
Tilly found her thoughts occupied by the colorful chandelier above, curiously, while her hands busied themselves with hanging her coat up safely, and then tending to her leather jerkin.
"I'd quite like to." Piped up Tilly with a little smile, after yet another distraction, it seemed.
"Tradesmen and women have the best stories. Especially considering you've worked for Royalty?"
Hooking the hanger into one of the jerkin's sleeves, she smoothed out her shirt; the shabby state it was in wasn't something she was incredibly proud of in the face of a legitimate tailor. Her coat and shirt were held together solely by patchwork.
Likewise, the shirt she wore was ill-fitting, and rather incriminatingly snug about the abdomen.
"How'd you find yourself here, then, all that long way from Crete?"
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There was a shuffling of wind and a low whine came from a quivering rack of clothes.
A black nose emerged from the clothes and poked Lekalis in the leg, sniffing inquisitively.
It was Elsa, who was now looking up at Lekalis with her deep brown eyes.
She was quite unhappy when bereft of someone to guard or a job to do, it seemed. She was bored.
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Aug 1, 2018 3:10:22 GMT -8
/Amgis/ The Grecian Tailor watched Tilly set her heaving cloak upon the hook with curiosity; there was a definite weight she wasn't unfamiliar with, but she respectfully set her eyes back to Tilly as she removed her jerkin. Amgis looked happier now, as she stepped closer and rather quickly flitted behind Tilly, stretching the string out and measuring the dots in one easy stroke and glance, "Most do not believe I have worked for Royalty... My work has been worn by heroes too." She reminisced dreamily with a sigh, as she made to measure out Tilly's waist too, then she wrapped it about her abdomen. Her brow rose as she felt the line draw unnaturally around her belly button. "One of those Heroes sent for me... He bought this establishment for me; his last cloak and undergarb had been torn asunder. The man had ordered three sets of cloak and attire from me, to wear 'neath his armor." She explained rather freely, her voice holding a natural, story-tellers lilt. Her hands moved to measure out her legs next, "Can you lower your boot? Show your arm? I must measure the width of your leg and length of your arm." She explained as she made to wait attentively, "He was a stupid man... He found himself hurt every time he left. I sometimes think he enjoyed the pain." Amgis' words were amused, but pained as she fidgeted with the string.
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/Lekalis/
He was startled for a moment; and whirled on his heel to face the sudden nudge with a hand set on the hilt of his falchion, thinking the touch to be a toe of a boot. But it was only a dark nose, upon a dog. "Hello there..." He muttered and sighed, offering a half smile before he looked to the door; he put two and two together rather quickly and sighed again.
Dog's were want to cause trouble when unoccupied, he knew, so he took a knee and patted the Dog's head, "... Stay..?" He said slowly, raising his brows as he pointed and looked to the ground. The Dog's fur was well kept, but the dirt of the Hamlet was quickly seeping into its hide... It was going to be a pain to keep clean, he knew, as he brushed his fingers through its hair to try and find and work out any knots.
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