Status Quo: Fashion & Aesthetics

[Nimh]

The sign that previously read Killin's Clothes and Cosmetics now had been replaced by a much fancier one. The new sign was a beautiful ornament in itself, it's colors were delicate and blended together in harmony, with much more finesse than the former stroke of colors. Status Quo was what it read in big announcing letters, with a font like an elegant book's cover; the following reading in smaller size was like a free-style handwritten font saying Fashion & Aesthetics.

Of much more class and taste, former Killin's had evolved. And so did it's prices, though there were lots of other mere clothing shops scattered around the city, offering mediocre prices for even more mediocre clothings. The new outfit spoke for itself, the old stored had gone out and bought itself some new clothes, elegance showing all around in its now strong but mellow tone of yellow, contrasting with the blueish frames of the wooden sign.

Inside, no hangers, no wooden mannequin, no displays. Only a vermillion tapestry leading the way up to a counter. The inside painting was also vermillion, though less of a velvet variety and more of a solid hue. Behind the counter a Kemite woman. Her very figure a exotic one; olive skin, stretched and tight pitch colored eyes, hair just as dark and running loose, straight down her upper hips. Her outfit was even more of a treat, dripping sensuality and yet the most odd of choices as well. The Kemite woman were but grey shaded rags over her soft skin; tauntingly threating to slip past her shoulders and bare her. Black pants as a match, leather ones, discoloring from overuse. An artist is what she called herself, being the one reponsible for the design of all the clothes purchased in the shoppe.

"What is it you wish, visitor?"

Original concept by GM Kenaz

[Odyleon]

42nd brightening of Immanis

"I'm sorry, good sir, but beggars aren't allowed in our shop" the Kemite woman apologized, gently but firmly. This man wearing a digusting grey tunic - and a patched up one to boot (not to mention in a very amateurish way), why was he standing there in her beautiful shoppe?

"I need new clothes" was the customer's neutral reply, and then, out of curiosity. "By the way, your clothes are totally ripped up."

"Acute observation" retorted the woman "It's called fashion, visitor. It's a good thing you're getting rid of those rags, though. How can I help you? Cash only. Upfront payment."

"That won't be a problem" said the newly made Senator, dropping a pouch of crowns on the counter as noisily as he could. "I'm a rich man" Those were his strategic funds, only to be used in the most desperate circumstances.

"What can I help you with, visitor?" the Kemite bared thirty-two perfect teeth. "As I said, I will need new clothes. Not just any clothes, though. Can you make them as stylish as those I'm wearing right now?" The woman rolled chocolate eyes up and merely replied: "I'll... do my best..."

"Very well. I'd like a long-sleeved shirt, trousers, a cloak and gloves. The clothes will be refined but it is imperative that they allow the highest freedom of movement. I'll leave the color up to you, but I'd like it to be as neutral as possible. Please make sure that the cloak has at least six pockets, and the trousers, four."

"That will be around two hundred Crowns" estimated the Kemite, weighing the amount of custom work her customer required. "I'll make them somewhat loose-fitting, though. Your proportions being a little on the lanky side, you'll look like a pencil if I don't. Anything else?"

"Yes, one thing. Do you sell bags?"

"Well, we don't make them, but we do sell accessories and have deals with leather crafters and the likes to make that kind of items. What kind of bag would you like?" She fetched quill and parchment, as the details were growing past the limits of her memory.

"A leather bag with straps, easy to carry on one shoulder. Robust leather and some form of padding as I may need to store fragile items, but nothing too fancy, I'd think."

"Do you want to customize anything with your initials?" It was an ever increasing trend, and the Kemite felt like asking. "Names are nothing" replied her customer, shaking his head with a smile. "But now that you mention it, I'll have this symbol in gold on each piece."

He gestured for the woman to hand him the quill and traced the shaped of the Lemniscate, the infinity sign, the less known form of the Ouroboros, symbol of Alchemy. "That's all."

"I think everything should be ready within a cycle" she responded, but this was simply unacceptable to the Senator. "You have five brightenings. I'll pay you five hundred if you can meet this deadline."

The Kemite knew this order would involve working overtime, but in the end she found the deal acceptable and proceeded to take his measurements. Ody could only hope she would stick to her word, which she did. On the 46th brightening of Immanis, he was wearing his new garments.

A grey silken shirt designed around his body; darker trousers fitting his figure thanks to a black belt with a golden Lemniscate-shaped brooch (a most excellent touch, Ody was extremely pleased with it). Long, elegant grey gloves for his slender fingers, with matching leather boots. A cream-colored hooded cloak, softly decorated with a lemniscate motif and full of hidden pockets as requested. And of course the bag, elongated in shape, to be carried either on a shoulder or across the back.

"What are you going to do with your old 'clothes'?" joked the fashion artist, picturing in her mind the newborn dandy burning them to ashes.

"Oh, those are for my second job."