The champion's new clothes [Red Diamond, Rosela please]

[Leo Varniak]

Seeing the unease painted on Rosela's face genuinely amused Leo in a good way. As one who had made it a habit of questioning everything, he would not think less of her for having doubts. These feelings, being honest, were more appreciated than any amount of pleasantries she could lavish on him. He said nothing about his seeming nice, but gave another half-smile. 'Seem' being the keyword here. Few people in Riverfall were more righteous, to be sure; as for nice, now that vastly depended on the situation. Ever the politically correct shopkeep, the Eypharian reverted to safer business talk almost right away. "I believe we do have them. I'd like some appropriate trousers, yes, if it's not too much trouble." Which it obviously wasn't, given that was what the shop existed for, but Leo felt the need to reassure Rosela that he wasn't about to burn down the Red Diamond. He'd mostly meant the talk as a way to gain a little insight into the seamstress' mind, but Ivak was greatly misunderstood. He'd probably clear that himself in short order. "Present," he answered the inquiry about his purpose at the Council. "We help people confront their darkness and move on. It's what we do, but most only remember the part about burning things. I wonder why." He did not go into the details of what he planned on saying at the Council. She'd have to be there and find out for herself - and decide whether she liked it. On the other hand, the reason he was doing this shone through his words. "I promise it will be worth your time if you are in attendance." It seemed he had won her over, if anything because of the prospect of gaining popularity with the elite. Rosela went as far as mentioning something of a trade secret about the girls from the local brothel wearing her designs. It made Leo show his teeth in a quick grin. "That speaks of your skill. I can't think of another profession in which dress code is of such paramount importance." And maybe it was the small fact that got him interested in the Eypharian woman as a person for the first time. She didn't belong here, not really. What was her role in the greater scheme of things? He could sense the traits her race was known for, albeit softened by exposure to people from all walks of life, most likely. He could tell she was the ambitious sort. He couldn't reconcile this with her being in Riverfall. "Have you been doing this for very long?" he selected an innocent question, now relaxed enough to take a careful look around the shop.

[Rosela]

He was hard to read, Rosela thought in the back of her mind. She seemed to be handling him well, despite the awkwardness, but it was difficult to tell if he was taken with her at all, or just gliding through the transaction with no real desire to come back. At least he was buying a lot. ”Trousers it is. And don’t be silly, it’s no trouble at all.” She sucked her teeth once and waved a hand nonchalantly. ”Do you happen to know your size? If I had to guess…” She gave his atrocious trousers a quick glance. ”You’d be a 32? In any case, black trousers are pretty standard, since they match everything, but you could also get away with a very dark brown.” Reaching over the shelf next to them, she pulled up a pair of black wool trousers, presenting them with the bottom cuff held out. ”Not much variation in style, but I’d recommend getting the boot cut, which has a little extra room around the ankle, in case you need really thick boots. And last, but not least…” One arm picked up another pair of pants, this one dark brown and cotton, and she held it out next to the black pair. ”Wool, cotton, or both?” Though she knew he hadn’t intended it, Rosela felt an anxious blush rise to her cheeks at his words. ”Confront their darkness? That’s…quite a tall order.” For a terrifying moment, she thought his reference to burning things was about her own past, before she realized he was talking about Ivak. Fire and darkness spoke a little too close to home, and she struggled not to think of blood. ”…Maybe people prefer the burning things part. Having someone else talk to you about what’s in your own head…It’s a little uncomfortable, isn’t it?” There was an awkward moment of silence that she forcefully broke with a laugh. A hand went to the side of her neck, and her fingers felt cold. ”But I’ve never been very good at philosophizing. Good thing it’s left to the Council and priests, hm? I’ll certainly be there though, if only to see how great you look.” The Velvet Curtain suddenly seemed like a much safer subject to tread into. ”Looking good is important for most professions, but yes, some places more than others. Everyone’s a salesman, to one degree or another, and no one trusts a slob. I only opened the shop earlier this season, but I’ve learned that much. Well, there’s a lot more to it than that, but there’s not a lot of people interested in the finer details of fashion.” Her eyes darted upward briefly as she shrugged in resignation.

[Leo Varniak]

"32?" Leo gave her a quizzical glance. "Thirty-two what?" He frowned and stared down at his body, in a fruitless attempt at figuring out what exactly Rosela had seen of which there were thirty-two instances. Never before had he been exposed to the notion of standardized units of measurement in clothing. Clerks just gave him what they thought would fit him decently. When in doubt, they'd err on the side of caution and have him rely on the services of a belt. It had served him just fine until now, but apparently these Eypharians were more sophisticated. Regardless, he nodded at her pick of colors. "Black will do just fine, I think." Again, he was a clothier's dream come true. The word 'choosy' did not apply to him in this context. Having a profound awareness of his strengths and weaknesses, he would never let anyone's judgment interfere with his own in the former, but as far as the latter were concerned he was more than ready to let himself be guided all the way. He nodded at the suggestion of the boot cut, and as for the fabric... "Both." Shopping was a draining activity, and not only on his budget. When in doubt, one of each seemed like the best option. It instantly became obvious that his pliability was limited to such fields as fashion. As soon as a blush crept on Rosela's face in response to his general statement, his full attention was on her. Leo Zaital was unafraid of staring. His mark had picked up the slightest bit of emotional upheaval in the room, and just like that, the hunter in him had stirred. Did he know there was something for him to probe into? No. Did he suspect? Certainly. She was observant, too - she'd notice the insistent curiosity in his dark eyes. Still, making that obvious was as far as he'd go for now; in these matters you did not want to rush things. Experience had taught him that the more obvious the offer of help, the less likely it was to be believed, accepted or properly understood. Her answer further cemented his belief that there was more to her than met the eye, and possibly an opportunity to exercise his sacred duty. He smelled blood from wounds that wouldn't heal, and the shop was suspiciously new. "Maybe they just need to be taught, just like me," he offered, spreading his arms a little. "People are strange creatures. Sometimes they don't realize they need something until they are told they do. They may not care about fashion now, but as soon as their peers start taking an interest, they will unfailingly follow... even though they may have scoffed at the idea the day before. It seems to me that you need to establish a foothold first - not mere patrons, but fans. A passionate following, even if a small one. Passion calls to passion, always." Behold the preacher at work.

[Rosela]

”32…i-inches?” Rosela was momentarily thrown, and she glanced around in confusion. Did Riverfall use a different system of measurement? Had she skated along luckily so far, and was about to be called out on her ignorance? ”It’s the length of the inseam. From here,” Holding the pair of pants apart in two hands, she held another hand vertically just below her crotch, or where it would be, given her skirt. ”Down to where your pants would fall on your ankle.” She kicked a foot out from under her skirt, pointing the toe. ”It’s a way to standardize pant sizes. This way, you can walk into any store, and know right away you need a size 32. That is, if the proprietor isn’t as welcoming as some, and isn’t already getting you the size you need.” She indicated herself with a flourish, half joking, half honest pride. ”Wonderful, I’ll just bundle these all up then. I think that was all you wanted, right? Besides the fireproofing?” She struggled to keep her excitement out of her voice as she folded the pants and shirts, stacking them swiftly on the shelf next to them. Three shirts and two pants, all in one sale! ”Unless you’d like to add a cloak or scarf today? I heard it’s going to be a rough winter…?” She’d heard rumors of both a harsh and mild winter, but a harsher winter was better for business. It was pretty doubtful he’d go for even more clothing, but it was worth a shot. She wouldn’t even offer if it were any other customer, but given the volume of his purchase and his ease with getting both pairs of pants, she was confident the mere offer wouldn’t drive him away, even if he didn’t accept. Whatever she’d said in her little foray into philosophy and the duties of priests had caught Leo’s full attention, and not the kind she usually enjoyed. She wanted to hold the clothing in between them like a shield, unwilling to venture too far down that dark road. He didn’t pursue her down it, however, and she listened to him speak on her work with less enthusiasm than she should have. He made good points though, putting into words what she’d been unconsciously trying to do in the scant sixty days she’d been open. ”I’m afraid that’s the problem though,” She smiled waveringly, still off balance. ”Generating that kind of passion is difficult in a place like Riverfall. Function is so important here that I feel like they’ve forgotten the form. There’s been a leather working shop for years, but I’m the first one, in who knows how long, to take fashion out of the Zhongjie stalls and give it a face and a permanent home. I’ve been doing my best to get people excited about the image they present, but until the Love Festival and the Masquerade next season, I’m not sure casual wear inspires that kind of interest.” She shrugged casually, flipping a free hand, the one with her citizenship mark. ”I only arrived here last season, so the best I can do for now is work towards a good reputation and hope it pays off.” It was playing at much more casual than she felt, but she knew better than to reveal her gnawing need to be back on top.

[Leo Varniak]

Leo pursed his lips at the sudden realization of the meaning of 32. It was very obvious in retrospect, as all things were. "Ohhh," he drew out the sound and considered the idea, liking it very much. It made perfect sense, and he wondered why more shops weren't taking advantage of it. Then again, it was even little things like this that gave an edge over the competition. He'd have to remember this number for the future, even though he hoped he wouldn't have to make a habit of such purchases. He had no idea how much this was going to cost him, especially with the inclusion of fireproofing. He had to smile at the inquiry about scarves and cloaks. "I'll have to decline," he shook his black mane ever so slightly, "heat is the least of my problems, as you can probably imagine." Had she touched him for the briefest moment, she would have noticed how he seemed to burn inside. He'd survived a journey through Kalea with nothing more than a shirt and a jacket on. He was a walking furnace. He could bet she wasn't selling a lot of those scarves and could just imagine why. He wondered if Rosela knew it too. She was good at what she did, but she seemed to struggle with that particular focus, that sense of direction that separated her from true success. Leo stroked his jaw thoughtfully as the Eypharian spoke, his mind piqued by the presence of a problem. Life often looked like a puzzle laid in front of him, and he was rarely one to turn one down. The challenge never failed to set his blood boiling, and it gave him an excuse to study her better. Rosela had a problem, but he wasn't sure she was focusing on the right angle of approach. Maybe it took an outsider to point out the obvious when the person in question was too close to the situation. She needed a male opinion on this. "Yet, in spite of that, the city is in love with the arts. The gallery, the parks, the festivals, it speaks of a deep love for all things beautiful. Maybe it's not so much that the they always value function over form, but that they think of the two things as separate. Let's pretend I'm an Akalak for a moment." And that was a stretch for sure. He didn't have le physique du rôle, so to speak, but for the sake of argument... "I'm a warrior then, and chances are I'll never buy a scarf or anything that offers my foe an easy grappling opportunity. I want my garb not to hinder me in a fight, sure. But there's something I need even more, and that's children. Women, by extension. My entire life revolves around that need. And I am quite sure, if someone convinced me that some stylish, combat-ready clothes can improve my chances, I'd give it some serious consideration." He gave a little shrug. "But then again, I'm just a priest with no fashion sense. I'm probably wasting your time. Shall I just come again tomorrow to conclude our business?" Rosela had mentioned not being sure about the price right now, because of the fireproofing being an unknown variable.

[Rosela]

Rosela wasn’t disappointed in the slightest at his decline, and gave a short laugh. ”Of course, I hadn’t thought of that. You must not be concerned one bit with winter right around the corner.” She actually hadn’t realized priests of Ivak gave off actual warmth, but it made sense and she didn’t want to seem ignorant by admitting it. Not for the first time, she reminded herself to get down to the library and brush up on these things, especially now that she was doing business with people like Leo. As they moved further away from uncomfortable territory, she relaxed and appreciated his advice. She said nothing on his unspoken comparison to an Akalak, but had a feeling he didn’t miss the silliness of it either. As soon as he mentioned scarves, her face lit up with understanding. How had she never thought of it? ”Combat-ready…” She repeated slowly, enunciating the words. A hand cupped her chin, and her eyes grew distant, suddenly re-evaluating every item on her male side. ”I…I’ve never thought of it like that. It makes perfect sense! Combat…and women! How did I not see this? Oh, just picture it! Two Akalaks get back from hunting. Who is that pretty Konti going to go for: the one in the ugly, mismatched stuff; or the one who looks great, even after a battle?” She gasped in revelation. ”Stain. Resistant. Fabrics. And leather! And double back stitches… All this time, and I haven’t even…” She clapped two hands and giggled. ”This most certainly has not been a waste of time! You’ve given me a revelation! So much work to do…” She waved a hand to brush away the thought before she got carried away again. ”Anyway, yes, tomorrow. I’ll find out about the fireproofing this evening, and have everything ready for you tomorrow morning, one way or the other.” She smiled again with the nervous excitement with a tremendous amount of very interesting work to do. OOCPost again for the morning whenever you like. I’ll be doing a post or two elsewhere to find out about the fireproofing thing, since I’m not sure how possible it really is.

[Leo Varniak]

Leo felt that he had done Ivak's work here, if only in a small way. To help others move on, remove the barriers of their own making, reach new heights of potential. Maybe Rosela would truly benefit from his advice, and even if she didn't, he had at least succeeded at making her more enthusiastic about her work. It truly felt incredible to watch someone being consumed by the flame of enthusiasm. His sixth sense told him the Eypharian needed more aid than just that, and in vastly deeper matters, yet he could sense her unseen but tangible resistance in that direction. He failed to see an opening there, a foothold. Perhaps one would present itself later on. For now, he simply smiled at the seamstress, who had been nothing if not polite and helpful, sometimes to a fault. He wished he could do something for her, but there was little room for maneuvering as of right now. It didn't help that he was a mere human. One wouldn't get the impression of a savior by just looking at him; that and people existed who did not want to be saved. "Very well, Rosela. I'll be back tomorrow then. Late in the morning so you don't have to overwork yourself." And with that, he took his leave politely and walked out of the Red Diamond, looking back one final time once he was out the door. 'Was that fire I saw in the back of her eyes?' He frowned slightly. There had been something terribly familiar about the scattered information he had received from Ssena's mark. Nothing coherent, nothing definite - which hinted at someone not fully in control of their mind - but it had struck some resonant place in Leo's own soul. He chewed on his lip. *** He was back just as promised, the next day and late in the morning, ready to pick things up from where they'd left them. There was none of the awkwardness from the first visit; he knew what to expect and who he'd find inside. "Good morning," he called out as he walked in, curious to see what had become of his custom order. Time to look fashionable!

[Rosela]

OOC : Sorry for the lateness! I’m not sure if it’s up in the wiki yet, but Traverse developed a lovely tree with sap useful for this purpose, so we’ve got a belated go on fireproofing! After her visit to What Boils Beneath, Rosela had cursed both herself and the infuriating proprietor of the establishment for the rest of the evening. She hadn’t intended to spend nearly that much, and had been pushed into it by her own pride. She should have gotten a discount for putting up with such a man! The next morning, her anger had faded and she tried to see the silver lining in her purchase. It would be a valuable addition to her line to be able to offer fireproofing. She could charge a 30gm fee for the process, competing with that miserable Sivoret for the business and making a small profit at the same time. It was worth it, she repeated to herself as she trekked down to the shop. It was already looking to be a fine day by the time she arrived, and she spent the chimes before she opened working the thick, disgusting oil into the bronze shirt she and Leo had picked out the day before. Though she used a rag, it coated the hands she used and soap was apparently a luxury she’d never bothered to stock her shop with. A solid dose of the oil was used up on the shirt, and she apparently also now owned a fireproof cotton rag. The process took longer than she estimated and had to open the shop mid-shirt. Two customers interrupted her as well, forcing her to don a single pair of gloves to help them out. It felt ridiculous to wear only two gloves, but she didn’t want to go about coating everything in the shop with the stuff – not when it was so valuable. As the morning wore on, Rosela found herself glancing continually outside, wondering when he was bound to show up. Had he changed his mind? Had he spoken to that miserable Sivoret and decided forgo her as a middle man? Her purchase had been a valuable one, but nonetheless, she didn’t want to lose this sale. She was going over the seams a second time for any missed spots when Leo strode in, apparently more comfortable with her now than many of her customers usually were. ”Good morning!” She chirped back, sliding out of her chair. ”And it is a good morning, because I have excellent news.” Pausing to slip on the gloves, she picked up the shirt with a pair of ungloved hands and displayed it dramatically. ”You may not be able to tell, but this shirt is now completely fireproof, for the low, low price of 30gm.” Passing it to him for his inspection, she leaned a hip on the table. ”I only did one shirt, one of the casual ones, since it is a bit of a price increase. We can go out and test it, if you like?”

[Gossamer]

Character: Leo
Experience: Observation +5, Interrogation +3, Leadership +3, Socialization +4
Lore: RDF: Does mens clothing, Knowing What One Wants and How to Ask for It, Rosela: Treats Everyone The Same –Whores & Champions alike, Rosela: Customer Wants Into Needs,


Character: Rosela
Experience: Observation +5, Interrogation +3, Planning +5, Teaching +1, Socialization +4, Business +4, Leadership +3
Lore: Leo: Terrible taste in clothing, Leo: Tends to wear rags. Leo: Priest of Ivak, Knowing How To Give A Customer What They Want, Customers Must Look Fabulous, Leo: Helps People Confront Their Darkness, Scarfs: Warriors Dislike These – To Easy For Opponents To Grapple, Fireproofing: It can be done on garmets.


Additional Note: NIce thread. Let me know if it ever gets picked up again and finished out and I can regrade. I know Leo's been away but its best to wrap up unless otherwise sure it will get picked back up. Rosela, you are a nice business woman.