Peaceful Shopping: XCII
"Flamme Silks." Adleth read aloud, Vaelle tried her best to not be noticed. She knew that Adleth and Riu planned to take her shopping now but since the parties' overall needs came first she didn't know what to do besides tag along for their fancy clothes shopping. She felt so awkward, part of her really wished she still had Jseki next to her.. That was normal right? Her breath hitched, memories began flooding back. Wait, when had she sold her shop? Her brain kept telling her over and over it was something she did. But when? The sensation she felt the other day when she was brought to TrollSkull manor was starting to subside. Why did she feel safe then? Why was she longing for a different sensation? She shook her head furiously when she found the eyes of the cultist on her. If he looked concerned then Vaelle needed to get a hold of herself. "Odd looking place.." Adleth continued.
The outside building was white marble with red and blue stone resembling patches of fabric in the corners. Over top the name was written in a very thin fine golden ink etched into the stone of the shop. It looked decently nice like something you'd expect in Waterdeep. Located on Vhezoar street, Vaelle nearly fainted from the fanciness of the shop. Most stores were in the Trades Ward one way or another. So for a more pricey place to be in the North Ward was alien to her. Riu led the way inside and Vaelle followed the pack of them, she was still uncomfortable with being around these people.. She barely even knew them. What shocked her more is the fact she hadn't been tossed out yet. They got the information they needed, hell if they wanted to she could be handed to the city guard.. She shuddered, she didn't want to think about it.
"It's alright." A voice came from the vanguard of the party. She felt Vestus's hand clasped her shoulder. "I can feel you trembling girl. They seem alright. They were enough for my son. They'll be more than enough for the both of us." She didn't know why, but she felt a tinge of kinship with this giant. He was so very gentle and reminded her of her own father.. She wished she had met his son. Whoever he was. A bell audibly rang when they stepped inside. It was warm, with carpeted floors and leather seats on either side of the room. The interior had a small desk in the center operating as some kind of front desk but no one sat there. The ceilings were taller than most shops and the number of candle glass lamps illuminated the place heavily. In the shop she could see lines and lines of mannequins wearing dresses and suits and other bits of formal attire. There were stalls, rooms, and plenty of things on display. The decor seemed mostly some form of off white. A backroom curtain shifted and a figure emerged... Vaelle clasped a hand over her mouth. The figure was tall, nearly eight feet tall with dark gray scaly skin. Massive claws and visible fang sticking from its mouth. It was a dragon born with red eyes wearing.. A large pink and white floral ball gown. She had a white and purple umbrella over her shoulder.
"That. That. I! Will be having that!" Markos blurted. Vaelle spun with genuine surprise and studied the half-elf, yeah he looked like a girl that could be funny. Was it wrong to laugh at her saviours?
"Well hello there!" The dragon born spoke with somewhat of a southern tip. "What can I do for ya?" She sauntered over to the pack of them, Vaelle calmed herself down.
"Well, we would like to get suits for these.. Fine gentlemen." The Aasimar giggled. Vaelle had only learned Riu was an Aasimar that morning.. When the girl stripped her shirt off and stretched her wings. Freaked the hell out of her but alright. "And some dresses for the ladies." Riu divulged, she seemed to still be laughing at what Markos had said.
"Do you have anything I can hide knives in?" Adleth asked, the elf just kinda scanned the room.
"I mean I could probably make that for ya deary. But why would y'all like fine clothes just to hide weapons in?"
"Well it's not.." Herod tried explaining. The man named Herod had one of those stronger voices you trusted, not nearly as deep as others but it was relaxed and easy. "Just to hide knives in."
"Yeah!" Markos agreed. "We need to look fancy, and hide weapons. Now, I need something massive to hide mine." Riu set a hand on her shoulder, her face twisted in a smile. "I don't really wear suits.."
"-We could always put you in a dress, Markos. You would look like such a beautiful lady." Riu seemingly begged the rest of them to agree. Vaelle looked up at Vestus and the two of them were not saying shit.
"You could fit some weapons in there." Herod added. 'Oh gods seriously?'
"Look at my fine self." The dragon born elaborated. She lifted up a side of the dress revealing a dagger point strapped to her thigh. "Don't I look wonderful?"
"You do look dashing!" Riu affirmed. Vaelle just started muttering a prayer, she wasn't sure who to. She vaguely recalled Damian talking about the group of adventurers in TrollSkull manor. How they were powerful, and probably smart. 'I don't disagree, but like.. This.' She thought guestering to them.
"Thank you." The dragon born set down the seemingly prop umbrella and pulled out some forms. "Anywho, you darlings can call me Jheri, so who's first?" The room stood still for a second before she felt something shove against her back, she was pushed to the front, along with Markos. Her mind took a second to process it; 'uh.. What?' She titled eyes at Andraste. "I can offer custom dresses from the beginning.. Those we can get you done in about two days.. Custom suits can be finished in a day." What kind of estimates were these? Who could finish a full gown in only two days? Vaelle was so consumed by confusion, for once in weeks she wasn't crying or aching for some kind of home. All that died with Donna and Holiver. instead she just felt out of place and unsure what was going on.
"Oh I'm not.. Getting anything I can't.." Vaelle tried to explain but Riu gave her a little nudge.
"It's on me." Riu explained. Vaelle bit her lip wanting to say no. "Just take it." The Aasimar insisted.
"Quite good." Jheri affirmed. "I also have certain pre-made outfits that can be retailored to your sizes... So what is it going to be?" Vaelle looked over to Markos who seemed equally lost.
"Do you have anything purple?" The half-elf whispered. The two of them were led over to the back of the room where they could still see the party who were waiting.
"Do you know your measurements sweetie?" Jheri inquired. Vaelle took a second to realize she was talking about her. She rummaged through her brain, she'd gotten a dress done a long time ago but she'd lost weight now..
"Not really no.." She responded. The Dragon born pulled bits of her clothing off, while a nearby Lizard folk began working on Markos.
"Oh sweetie I think we're fitting that one with a dress." Jheri explained to the red lizard folk, who didn't seem fazed, neither did Markos apparently. "Hmm ok there.." Vaelle "We're looking at.." All the numbers, didn't surprise her including the twenty eight waist, she hadn't eaten much when in the cult.. Dear gods she lost so much weight in that stupid thing. "Ok dear.. You can go back to your friends now, I'll pull out some dresses that best fit you." Vaelle quickly scurried back from behind the curtain to rejoin her 'friends.' She tried her best to ignore the fact they were practically stripping Markos.
"How many cloaks does she have on?!" The lizard folk cried for help.
"Deary is your pants filled with.. Pamphlets where on Toril are you storing this?" Jheri's voice sounded confused. "My goodness.. You have a lot of bruises."
"Stop making fun of me!!" Markos complained. When it was finally over the cultist came back with the look of shame, his cloak was off kilter and his whole outfit looked a little disarrayed. His hair was actually further down now, going still just past his ears. In his hands were a bunch of folded up pieces of clothing, without them he looked a lot smaller. Jheri came back to them.
"So I want to ask, would you all like to handle this privately or, are you all comfortable with me just wheeling you into the fits.." The pack of them looked around shrugging in boredom. 'Ah so now we get privacy, or not..' Vaelle grit her teeth.
"Let's just do it." Riu cheered. They were all led together into the back, once they were finished being measured. This section of the shop wasn't visible from the windows but Vaelle got a good look at a room filled with suits and dresses lined against the walls. At the center was a large three sided mirror and a small room nearby. What they entered was like a big circle, where one person could be brought up for special tailoring.
"Let's start with you." Jheri pointed to Herod who was standing next to Markos trying to comfort the embarrassed half-elf. "What do you want?" The man stepped forward and looked along the walls.
"Huh... this." Herod strolled to the left hand wall and analyzed the suits picking out a forest green one. It was far from simple. It had a green button up vest with silver studs, long sleeves that became white at the ends. Its pants were a dark grey with silver lines. The top of the suit had long metallic dusky chains that connected a cape of sorts that ran down to the back of the knee. They went over the shoulders with ornate designs on either pad of the cape.
"A fine choice!" Jheri insisted. "Any alterations you would like done?" Herod seemed to ponder that for a second.
"Yeah could you.. Add in a little bit of deer antlers on this and this." He pointed to the capes' sides. "And one like on the centerpiece.." Vaelle was not completely sure what he meant but it sounded really nice. The man ducked into a back room to try on the suit. This was going to be her day.. She kept pushing her mind to focus on the dress fittings, it was either that or actually start to mourn her lost ones.
"For you?" Jheri invited Alekzandr, the next man in the group. The guy who Vaelle wasn't really all too familiar with yet, seemed to groan and scan the room he eventually pointed to a large white dress coat over a simple black vest with blue pants that had enwrapped designs of a darker blue. The arms of the jacket had blue clasps over the biceps and the collar along with the cuffs were the same color. He picked out a pair of snow boots to go along with it.
"This one seems rather not that fancy.. I can deal with it, new comrade.." Alekzandr muttered he took a swig of his flask and picked it up.
"Oh, and will you need anything custom about it or-" Alekzandr held up a hand interrupting Jheri.
"No. This shall do." He picked up the suit but did not try it on.
"Oh uh.. Sir." The lizard folk snuck in. "We still have to see if it fits-"
"It shall fit." He didn't say another word, he just stood there and kept drinking. Like the suit would either fit, or he would make it fit.
"What about you sweetie?" Jheri was bent over speaking to Adleth who was already running her hands along numerous dresses. "Anything custom or would you like to simply buy what's here?"
"Ha, I'm not paying extra for custom." Adleth chuckled. "I want something green.. Like a nice grass field green." Vaelle actually followed a bit watching Adleth pick through green dresses before she finally settled on one. It was simple, going down to the feet. It was a light green for the skirt portion and had a little clasp under the breast in a darker green with gold trim and edges. Right under the bust it had a small golden flower which golden trim trailed away from. Its shoulder actually covered around the neck and a good deal of the chest with a much darker green fabric. It formed a triangle with the bust but the sides were curved inward. After the field crossed the elbows it flushed out into a see-through puffy fabric that rebuffed at the wrists.
"Oh you would look splendid! Chot, take this one away." The dragon born handed the dress to their assistant letting it be taken for recutting. Jheri whispered to the lizard folk something, she didn't know what it was.
"Yeah I know I'd look splendid, I look hot a shit in everything." Adleth seemed to laugh like she was joking, Vaelle wasn't completely disagreeing that the girl was pretty.
"I'll have something blue and silver." Andraste pushed up to the front. "Something custom if you can. With a hood." Jheri nodded and actually led Andraste over to the side back to her helper to actually take these things down.
"Are you getting anything?" Vaelle whispered to Riu who was seemingly just smiling like a mad woman.
"Oh yes, I am, I'm just waiting for others.." She replied. Despite sharing a room with her, Vaelle had gotten little to no time to actually get acquainted with any of the members. They had picked her up the previous day.. Given her food and a place to sleep. Hell they weren't even suspicious she might kill one of them in their sleep. It was.. Really odd. However, since she slept in Riu's room she could say the girl was really beautiful. Pretty wasn't an accurate word, she had a full figure and an angelic face. So seeing her in a mixture of combat shorts, a few belts, tight pants and a weird laced armored top that flared into a skirt was quite out of place. She expected that kind of girl to be in a dress, or even some kind of fancy robes.
"Sorry about that dears." Jheri returned without Andraste. "So my lovely lady, what can I do for you?" Riu rushed over and grabbed Vaelle.
"I'd like something blue and white as well actually.." Riu began running down her requests and what she wanted. Any attempt to point out current existing dresses were met with more explanation. Which Jheri seemed to be taking down rapidly on her pad. A quick jot here and there Vaelle peered over to see the elaboration. White gold trim and lines across the dress with florals on the collar, she wanted a large gown below. Icy blue mixed with dark blue Vaelle looked at Riu, it seemed that this would fit her style. She had such calming icey ocean blue eyes with small flecks of gold in them.
"Ok, I'll have that for you sweetheart... let's just get this here.." Vaelle peeked and saw the dragon born, writing some numbers down. Those sounds about right, Riu was by no means fat, she was actually quite skinny. Not as thin as Adleth but still thin. "Have you a clue what you want? Jehri now directed the question towards her. Vaelle bit her lip and decided.
"Nothing custom just.. Simple." Vaelle walked over to the line of dresses running her fingers down them. She spotted a clearly red dress, it was dark red with a split skirt, one side was dark red and the other blood orange, layered over each other like a little spiral. The bust was mostly not revealing with the right hand side breast having a little darker color flared out over it. In the center was a little scarlet glass gem. Over the entire thing was this slightly fiery floral pattern. It in a way resembled a rose for her, several flowers crushed together. Behind it were two long strands of transparent silk probably to wrap around the arms. She spotted the price, it was decently cheap compared to others.
"Oh that one is so beautiful!" Riu was practically jumping behind her. "Yes, you should get that one." Vaelle pursed her lip and shrugged, reaching out to pick it up, before Jheri snatched it up and smiled at her, handing it to an assistant.
"Now then, that leaves me with you two." Jheri said. Vaelle looked at a bored Vestus and an embarrassed Markos.
"I'll take this." Vestus was quicker to the punch than Markos. He held up a large- holy shit, a large black and grey suit similar to the one Alekzandr had picked out. However its jacket wasn't nearly as long, it had red dark red trim, so dark it was almost dull. It seemed to leave no skin visible really, and its design was reduced to simply the red lining across the suit. Vestus had a misshapen face which, Vaelle hated to say; was quite hideous. He made her cringe just a bit before looking away. He had large massive hands that matched his shoulders. With a bulky body that would seem odd in a suit.
"Something purple?" Markos tried again, he was looking awfully sheepish; it was hard to not feel bad for him. Jheri pulled a dress from her left, a massive ball gown with furls and white trim. It looked like a ball gown rather than a dress. "No!" He protested.
"Well it's all we have, purple wise. Sorry dear, though something custom is always acceptable." Markos looked at the ground seemingly defeated and simply nodded. 'He does know he can just order a suit right? Right?!' She wondered. He stepped forward and began running down his request for a dress. Surprisingly.. Vaelle heard some of it. He sounded like he wasn't too unknowledgeable. He pointed at various other outfits and let them take his ideas. "Alright. We should have all of your orders done in the next two days.. Where do Y'all live?" Jheri was escorted aside by Riu who began talking to her. She was so overwhelmed, she ran her hands down her waist cupping them together, realizing just how much weight she had lost in the fa- cult.. How much she had deteriorated in the cult. She wanted out of there. Vaelle eyed Vestus, the giant had a blank but miserable expression. They shared a silent agreement, both of them grabbed Markos and bolted quickly from the shop.
"Let's get out of here before Riu suggests something else." Markos chirped, then jogged out the door. They weren't far behind him.
"I thought that was never going to end." Adleth groaned, bending over taking deep breaths, she didn't have anything in her hands, so presumably she was getting it custom or still being tailored.
"We go home now." Alekzandr sounded even more dead inside than that morning. "And then we drink until we forget the fancy. Yes?"
"Yes." They all said in unison minus Andraste and Riu. Vaelle was.. Starting to like them.