A Charming Freaking Day (End)

[Nako]

What a charming day, for all that there was no business.

Perched carefully upon a single leg with his tail coiling under him for support, his claws were freed up to carefully hold a long stem that held his half-smoked cigarette. Smoking with a beak was no easy feat, lending itself to the light, dainty draws he had to take. It was a delicate feature, he decided, only contributing to his natural elegance. Karrock giggled lightly at this, his high voice echoing down the relatively empty streets. It was strange, especially for this time of day. Where the hell was everyone?

Keeping under the shelter of the awning of the tailor shop he'd taken apprenticeship at, he allowed himself the pleasure of a smoke most daringly in public, but shaded just enough so as not to be screaming 'look at me!' to any passers by. He could say he was shielding himself from the bright midday sun, though that would be a lie. The reptile in him liked nothing more than to bathe in the life giving rays. Frankly, he didn't want to be the center of anyone's attention, though he'd deny it if asked.

Generally, with how busy people could be on these streets, he sometimes went unnoticed. Sometimes. Other times they would run away in terror. Once, he'd been rudely stopped by police, wrenched around and was demanded to let them see his rank and suit. How surprised they had been by his rank. Had he not feared incarceration, he might have turned the man to stone to teach him a lesson. But no, he'd need to stay out of trouble. His employer had made that quite clear.

Glancing to the side, Karrock watched as a pottery shop nearby closed for the day, the owner locking up before giving a quick, polite nod in his direction before moving away. Polite, yes, but they never would stop to speak to him, for all that they were now used to his near daily presence on their street. They always looked worried. Unsure. Perhaps it was Karrock's lack of friendliness. Well, he was certainly no bleeding heart; he was a young Card of class.

Hm... but if the clothing shop wasn't going to get any business today, he'd likely have to lock up. His employer had already found it to be a lost cause and left for the day, telling Karrock to take orders for him till they closed. Still, if he locked the doors early.. the man would never know.

[Greenie]

Marigold skittered through the streets, her tail whipping violently thanks to her speed and the empty winds that pushed past her. She paused at a curb to check the sun for time, then set off even faster, her mouth set in a grim line. It was getting late in the afternoon, yes, but the absence of people around her was eerie none the less. Where were all the obsessive-compulsive shoppers that usually skulked around the city's shops? She stopped once more, her face forming into a frown. Where was the tailor again? She'd only been there once with her mother and the experience had not been the greatest... hopefully they wouldn't recognize her as the small child with the rude mother that tore threw some of their displayed fabric... Five years was enough to obscure her in memory, right?

The hybrid trotted slowly, absently brushing up against street lamps and mailboxes as she passed them. Baker... candy shop... doll shop.... tailor? Tailor! Her ears perked up and she quickly sped over to the door and poked her head in. "Hello...? Are you open?" The teen called out with a frown. She slowly slid through, careful not to let the door slam on her tail. Mari didn't see anyone in the store, but figured since the door was open she was welcome to come in. Perhaps they were taking a break and would be back. She shrugged, and headed over to the sheerer fabrics that were on display by the wall. She wanted a bellydancing skirt, and was having trouble finding one pre-made, so figured she'd just custom order one. Mari had plenty of money saved up from babysitting.. she hoped. Well, that was why she was here, to get an estimate.... assuming anyone actually worked in the place.

[Nako]

At the sound of someone rustling about in the stoor, Karrock cursed under his breath, taking in one last drag of his cigarette before snuffing it out on the concrete. He knew he should have put up the closed sign.

He slid back into the store, the bell behind him clinging noisily as he shut it. Who on earth would need something on such a quiet day? Turning the corner, he saw a most unusual, colorful mixed breed looking at the fabrics. Huh. Certainly an interesting creature. A scrutinizing eye looked for her rank; a habit that helped cater to his own ego to know that even if he was horrific to look at, he outranked a good many of the people that came through.

Leaning against the counter, he cleared his throat loudly. "Can I help you?" Hopefully, this could be resolved quickly so that he could go home.

[Greenie]

Mari quickly became absorbed in the fabrics around her. She pored over patterns and compared colors to different parts of her fur, trying to find a shade that complimented her various tones. How did her fur manage to compliment so well when it was so contrasting? She had no idea, but was beginning to think there wasn't a fourth shade that would work..

The mix never registered the door or the bell clanging, but whirled around in shock at the sound of a voice. She leaned up against one of the tables, her heart pounding as she quickly examined the card behind her. Her eyes flickered down to his rank quickly, just to reassure herself that it was indeed there, then she cleared her throat and tried for a tentative smile. "You.. you work here?" She asked somewhat redundantly; he wouldn't be asking her if he could help otherwise, would he Mari? Stupid, stupid question.

She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then just plowed forward. He looked strange - very strange - but so did her brother. Just ignore it. "I'm looking to have a belly dancing skirt made. I'm just looking for an estimate today, I don't know if I have enough to commission it at the moment."

[Nako]

Goodness... why doesn't she just piss herself and run off and get it over with? a wrinkled, ugly brow quirked, wings folding in front of himself in a most unamused manner, though careful not to obscure his rank. After all, that's where her eyes seemed to be plastered right now, probably making sure he wasn't a monster like everyone else did.

Finally though, she was actually able to speak. Well, he was impressed. He wouldn't expect a person of her rank to have the mental strength. Then again, his horror was not magical; rank really had nothing to do with it. Perhaps he just assumed those of higher rank were stronger mentally.

"Bellydancing skirt? In this material?" Walking forward, he brushed past the frightened card and measured the fabric by eye. "Hm... I'd say you'd need.. no more than a yard or so. With my Boss's rates of labor, I'd probably say it'd run you about a hundred."

Expensive, for what it was. A skirt was ridiculously easy to make, and this fabric was not as expensive as some of the others.... Would he dare?

"Of course, if you have the coin.. I could do it for you at half the price. The skirt is not difficult to make, and is well within my skill level, I assure you." He chirped with a proud lilt to his high voice.

[Greenie]

Marigold squared her shoulders and didn't shiver or flinch away when he approached. She was here to get a skirt, not have the devil scared out of her by the poor man's unfortunate face. His reaction spoke measures about how people usually regarded him. She took a deep breath and promised herself she'd be nice to him unless he was a jerkface to her or something.

A hundred? For a skirt? She had about seventy-five, but had been hoping she wouldn't have to spend it all. She looked up when he offered to do it himself. "Really? Would you?" Mari asked, her hope obvious on her face. She paused though, and looked down at the fabric once more. "How much extra would it be for you to attach coins to the edge of the fabric?" The mix asked, running a small paw gently over the lacey fabric. She hadn't hoped to be able to add some jingle to her skirt, but if he would do it for half the price it might be feasible for her.

[Nako]

"Oh, the price difference would be negligible. Those jingle-jangles are a dime a dozen.. almost literally." He frowned as he put the fabric against her shoulder. "You are quite the colorful card. I'd go with accentuating a color that you have very little of, say.. a gold, or perhaps bronze? It would bring out those Jossigy markings of yours, and the color of your claws and hooves. I'd even say we could go without absence of color and go with say.. a silver, or even a white. Honestly, we could blend white with either silver or bronze... But then again it is -your- purchase. How do you feel about color?"

Picking up a measuring tape from the table, he made no hesitations to start measuring. One couldn't necessarily say he was rough, but he was certainly no-nonsense in his approach. "Goodness me, you certainly have a -unique- physique. What are you.. otter and... horse? Deer?"

[Greenie]

She brightened even further at the prospect of some added coins. It would be a true bellydancing skirt then.. and she could start lessons and show grandma Quinn! Oh, it would be delightful. Mari listened to his jabber about fabrics, completely undecided about what she wanted. She shrugged hesitantly, looking back down at the fabrics. "I don't mind color. I really don't know what I want.. honestly, whatever you think is best. I'm pretty color nondiscriminate."

Mari frowned slightly when he abruptly began measuring and tried not to dance away from his sudden touch. She fidgeted for a moment but forced herself to calm down. She smiled to herself at his questioning of her genetics. "I'm half otter, half horse. I know, they don't mix well.." She glanced back at her half-hoof-half-paw hindpaws and tried to prevent them from twitching. She didn't hate them, precisely, but she certainly resented to being the only sibling possessing them.

[Nako]

"Oh.. I wouldn't say that. Even things that are the best of combinations doesn't always mix well. I very well should have been a handsome beast, in theory. Hm. Gold and white, that's my opinion, anyways. gold trim, white fabric."

He pulled away from her then, jotting down notes on a sheet of paper on the desk, 'hrmming' and 'hawwing' to himself quietly before pausing, considering, and then writing down more notes. "Are you going to be wanting this to fit perhaps a biped form, or are we only taking quadrupedal into consideration?" Dual form clothing sometimes took a considerable level of skill to make, but in skirts, it was merely a consideration of length, and the ability to perhaps modify certain aspects of the way it fit. Considering the nature of most of the world, buying clothing to fit various forms were a smart way of getting more for your money in the way of clothes.. for those lucky enough to have acquired another form, that is.