Timestamp: 1st of Fall, 510 AV Location: Odds and Ends The season has turned and with it came a host of changes. The leaves have turned orange from their vibrant green, the summer rains have given way to the cool breeze of autumn that gave hints to how cold winter would be. Squirrels have begun stockpiling their holes and boroughs with nuts and bears have added extra helpings on their meals of fish and berries to accumulate fat for the following season's hibernation. For Cassandra, the coming of fall did not bring an increase of appetite nor the sudden desire to hoard food for the winter. It did, however, bring gold to fill her pockets as she received her first pay from working in the Silver Sliver tavern. It was nothing to brag about, and certainly nothing to be proud off after the deductions of having to pay her employer rent for using the tavern as a boarding house, as well as for the clothes provided her she she first started working. All in all, she was left with just a little less than a hundred golden mizas - just enough for her to treat herself to something nice for all the hard work she's poured in serving drinks and cleaning tables in the tavern. The first day of fall found the dark-haired barmaid walking through the docks and eying the different buildings in hopes of finding a shop that sold clothes and accessories for women. Almost all she's seen so far were residences or taverns, places she had no right or desire walking into, especially the latter since she already worked in one. She was close to giving up and hailing a ravosala to take her to the Merchants Ring when she spotted the a medium sized store at the end of the boulevard. At its front end was a gaudy display window exhibiting all sorts of items, from strangely shaped candelabras, sculptures, paintings, various tools and implements that she could not begin to figure out the purpose, as well as cheap jewelry. 'Odds and Ends', the store's sign said. Cassandra smiled, slightly amused. The name was fitting. She entered, without hesitation. The first thing she noticed coming in was that there was some sort of barrier in her way. Cassandra tried to push it with a gloved hand but, to her alarm, it turned out to be a man: large and mean-looking, with an scary weapon at his side. Frowning, he eyed her a moment before stepping aside to let her pass. An apologetic smile from her did not change his features so she left him to his station. Farther in was the store's owner, a rotund woman who introduced herself as Gloria. Naturally, she would help with anything the girl needed, and would she just browse the various goods the store had to offer? Certainly, she would find at least one thing she needed in this store of stores. Of course, she would. Cassandra smiled warmly at the attention. She rather enjoyed the woman's friendliness. "Do you have anything my size and a place to try them on, please?" she asked. "I can manage from there. Thank you." Of course they did, certainly. Gloria to a part of the store where women's clothes of various design and make hanged off racks or were folded along shelves. On a counter was even a box of necklaces, rings and earrings made from copper. Thanking the woman once more, Cassandra browsed the goods. A simple white dress caught her eye immediately, sleeveless and strapless. She hunted for a size that she felt would fit her among those available and even found a simple necklace to match. "Now, where's that dressing room...?" A brief scan of the room revealed it to be just across the aisle. Cassandra made her way there, eager to try on the dress she would gift herself as reward for her first season working in her new home city. She needed something to make herself feel pretty again after toiling in the tavern for almost a whole season now. Fortunately, the dress fit her perfectly so she didn't need top return to the shelves to look for another size. It hugged her slight form in all the right places without any uncomfortable tightness anywhere. She pirouetted in the middle of the tight dressing room, admiring herself in the mirror. She loved the look. The necklace and new sandals soon followed, and black leather gloves completed her attire. It was a necessity for her to cover the strange red veins at the back of her hands that she could never remove. But she didn't mind. She thought she looked good. Cassandra's Makeover :
Changing back to her previous clothes, she exited the dressing room to pay for her purchases. Another customer had entered the store while she was fitting, it seemed. He was browsing the wares on the other side of the room, his back turned to her. As she approached Gloria to hand over the items she intended to buy, Cassandra passed a cursory glance at the man, wondering if she had ever served him in the Silver Sliver. It was then he turned and her heart skipped a beat, so captivated as she by his looks. At the same time, the strange milady that had struck her since the unfortunate events in Syliras reared its ugly head. Pain, nauseating and debilitating, coursed its way from her head and sent pinpricks like sharp needles against her spine. It completely caught her by surprise and she tripped, flinging her purchases away as she reflexively extended her arms to balance herself. Unfortunately, she threw the items at the man. For Purchase :
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