Celyn!

I'm gonna swap my vote to Celyn because pupbold (also because the last vote tied things again, and he was my second choice anyways).

Celyn

Saiorse 2021/12/11(Sat)23:38 No. 1017140 ID: 8483cf
File 163929468368.png - (155.01KB , 900x900 , CR_31.png )

I wake up just as the sun crests the horizon.

It’s my first day!

I leap out of bed, careful not to trip over my laundry. Thankfully I was smart enough to hang my work uniform so it doesn’t get wrinkled- that would take a little work to fix, and there’s so much to do!

I hurry downstairs and shove wood in the stove, then strike the flint to kindling and pray it catches. A few tries do it, and I hurry upstairs to get properly dressed, freshen up and do my hair. When I’m done, the stove is nice and hot- perfect for making breakfast. Step 1: Don’t set the place on fire: complete!

I make myself some delightful tea, eggs and buttered toast. I splurged a few days ago and picked up some honey to flavor the tea. It was expensive, but so worth it! I finish breakfast ready and energized. So energized, in fact, that I feel ready to start cleaning my shop up. Might as well get it done while I’m in such a good mood!

I’m about halfway done cleaning when I hear a knock at the door. It’s before any other businesses to be open- who could be asking for me so early?

I open the door and do a double take.

It’s the cute pupper Celyn from last night who I very awkwardly flirted with. Easy, girl. Easy! You can do this- even though he is most definitely not wearing a shirt!

You can do it, Saiorse! You can handle a topless cutie first thing in the morning!

“Um … Hi!” I say, master of conversation that I am.

“Um … Hello,” Celyn says.

We both stand in awkward silence for far too long.

“Do you want to come in? You must be, uh, cold,” I say, finally finding my manners, and most definitely not wondering where his nipples are.

“Yes, thank you,” Celyn says.

I let him in and check outside. His party isn’t here- he’s come all by himself so early in the morning.

“I’m not really open for business yet,” I say, scratching my neck over of the half-cleaned-up-store around me, “But I’m happy to help you if you don’t mind the mess. I’m just happy you found the shop- all I have outside is a generic needle and thread sign. I need to put the name out there. A Stitch in Time.”

“It’s a good name,” Celyn says, shuffling his feet. “Um… I’m sorry about last night. I’m not the best at conversation. My party was encouraging me to … well, let’s ignore what they were saying.

I am so very, very curious, and so very, very embarrassed, but I don’t press. For now. “It’s fine! Everything’s fine. You’re fine. Except for your shirt. And pants. I can fix those!”

Celyn stares at the floor, obviously embarrassed by something. “I’m sure you can, but I have an … interesting problem. I was really hoping you could help me with it.

“I’m a druid, and I’m responsible for keeping my party’s defenses up. I carry a lot of enchanted berries, and they’re very powerful- and very tasty, too. So … I’m the first to get attacked by wild animals. Every time.”

“Ooooooohhh,” I say, looking at his shredded shorts. “Do you have a scent-proof bag?”

“Yes,” Celyn says, “But it doesn’t do me much good when I have to open it up and enchant the berries every day or so, and I can’t stop the animals from going after me. The berry smell gets everywhere. Um, I’m a member of the Circle of Dreams- do you know our customs?”

I nod, and he gives a sigh of relief. I think for a moment. I know his circle’s rules- his clothes and armor need to be as close to their natural forms as possible, no manufactured materials or refined metal. The lighter, the better, so he be nimble in a fight, like dreams themselves.

If the berry smell gets everywhere, then everything he’s wearing needs to be cleaned regularly. Even what he’s wearing now.

I have decisions to make.


What should I suggest to keep the berry scent off his clothes?
1. Cover the scent up with ______________
2. Make the clothing scent-resistant by __________________
3. Sell him cleaning agents
4. Other: _____________

Should I be thorough and ask him to get rid of everything berry-scented he’s wearing now?
A. Yes! Everything must go!
B. Yes, but he can keep the underwear.
C. No, he can get rid of his clothes later, or wash them on his own time.

What clothes should I suggest for Celyn, a druid healer?
I. Robes
II. Padded Armor
III. Leather Armor
IV. Vest and shorts
V. Other

Cover the scent up with: marigolds, for a smell that wards animals but not people. He can ditch the clothes later. Padded armor to better resist animal attacks.

Armor that's as close to its natural form as possible would probably involve layered hide and furs. Or dragonscale, but I doubt that's within his price range. I feel like other sources of animal scales would be too heavy to work as a full suit, but maybe just in vital spots...

I feel like he'd need to either apply a dangerous animal's scent to his clothing to scare off attackers, or splurge on an anti-scent enchantment...

So basically:
1 or 2 depending on his budget and how much he would dislike his clothes smelling like an animal
B because that's professional and probably JUST lewd enough to be enjoyable without scaring him off.
V: some sort of tough animal hide/leather(is leather better or worse for him? It's processed, but definitely more protective for sure) armor, reinforced with scales over vital spots. You can make it look nice with fur in places.

1: cover up the scent, something unappetizing to wild animals

A: everything must go! look how tattered and ratty his clothes are, better to start fresh.

II: padded armor, if he's going to be attacked he should be well defended

4: Let's teach Celyn a few common remedies for removing the scent from clothing instead of making him something special. A bit of baking soda or Sandalwood in his clothing bag will leave his clothes with a nice neutral scent. If he only carries one outfit at a time, then a natural air freshener or cologne of some sort could overpower the berry scent with something that won't attract animals. A bottle of lavender oil could probably do the trick, with the added bonus of helping him rest at night!

B: Though the scent can be treated, those pants are shredded. We shouldn't let him walk out in rags, so we should encourage him to get rid of them. He can keep the underwear as long as they aren't in bad condition. (Though if we're feeling frisky, looking through a single layer shouldn't take up too much of our monocle's energy :wink::wink:)

II: Padded armor is the way to go. Cloth is far closer to the plants they originally were than leather is to a cow. It'll fit his circle's beliefs nicely, and make for a happy customer!

Saiorse 2021/12/12(Sun)13:51 No. 1017184 ID: 8483cf
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“I have just the trick for you,” I say. “There’s plenty of ways to clean clothing in the field, and if you have spares, I have some powders and sandalwood to keep the scent neutral. If you can grow specific plants, you might even be able to cover up the scent!”

“As for new clothes…” I look Celyn up and down. “I have a padded gambeson in your size. Combined with your enchantments, it’ll stand up to wild animals no problem.”

“Good,” Celyn says, and he lets out a breath of relief. “My party is calling me the chew toy. I don’t mind the teasing, but the awkward part is they’re usually right.”

“Oh, dear,” I say. “Well, first things first: let’s get you something to wear. Then I can teach you how to de-berry your clothes.” I point to the changing stall. “You can hop in there and get rid of those ragged shorts.” My heart beats a little faster. “Do you mind if I take a few measurements when you’re ready?”

Celyn glances down at himself, obviously wondering what kind of measurements I’ll be taking that require his pants to be off- but he brushes the question aside and nods.

“Great!” I give him a big smile. “Your headband is probably fine, but the flowers are wilting- they’d need replacing soon anyway. I could make you something special if you want.”

“I’ll grow a new one,” Celyn says shyly. He takes off his headband and rubs the flowers nervously between his fingers. “Thanks, though.” He glances at the door to the shop.

“We’re not open yet. It’s locked,” I say. “Nobody’s gonna barge in, if you want to just take them off right here.”

Celyn still heads for the changing stall. Just like Elaine, he undresses with the curtains closed, then opens them when he’s done. I guess privacy is important when undressing, but not when they’re undressed, if that makes any sense.

He pulls back the curtains, and OH SWEET MERCY he’s standing there in nothing but a jock strap and collar.

I am a PRO FES SHUN AL and only do a single double take.

I grab my measuring tape and quickly take his measurements, being as professional as I can despite the fact that he is incredibly cute and oh my goodness look at that butt.

“Celyn?” I do my best to keep my voice level. “Could you lift your tail for me, please? I have to get your inseam.”

He lifts his tail. I have to remind myself to keep measuring.

I finish, and he just kind of stands there, still holding his tail like an obedient puppy. I am SORELY tempted to see what else I can get him to do.

But that would be unprofessional.

Should I have a little playful fun and get Celyn to follow my commands?
1. Yes! Have lots of fun with it!
2. Yes, but only order him to pose for armor measurements. It’s not really necessary, though, but maybe he’s used to following orders?
3. No, don’t order him to do anything- it’s not needed.

What should I talk with him about to make him comfy?
A. His druidic circle
B. His adventuring party
C. His current quest
D. Busalla and the local town
E. Delicious food

2
C (to figure out what kind of outfit to make him that could fit his quest.)

2C

And ask if he would like to purchase armor-patching lessons.

2. Talk about the DROODS.

2 C and D!

>>1017184
2, A&C

use monocle to take a peak at his goods

Discuss his adventuring party

>>1017184
We TRY to be profeshunal, but we know the sordid and lewd truth about ourselves.

We can only resist for so long...

2. Get him in a few extended (and sexy) poses. Call them being for 'extra measurements for all athletic situations'. Because frankly, the only chewing that should happen is you on your lip- or maybe that butt- NO.

Talk about C (and maybe swoon over whatever it is he's doing because MY GOD HE'S CUTE)

2C and I second using the monocle to peek at the goods

2
C

Saiorse 2021/12/13(Mon)22:57 No. 1017344 ID: 8483cf
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Celyn is still holding his tail up and waiting for more directions. In my apprenticeship, I’ve never seen someone present themselves for so long.

No! Don’t stare, Saiorse! You have a job to do!

“You can stop now,” I say. He lets go and his tail immediately plasters between his legs, but stands at attention (but not like that).

He’s ready to take direction, and my instincts tell me to give it to him.

“Let’s make sure the padding doesn’t chafe,” I say. “Celyn, please stand with your arms out.” He raises his arms at once, and I measure his wingspan. “Thank you. Now show me your arms’ range of motion.”

“Like this?” He windmills his arms.

I smile. “Yes, like that. Good!”

He smiles back and I absolutely melt oh my goodness he is so CUTE

I order him through a few more poses, enough to get into a rhythm and for me to get plenty of measurements. He’s loosening up a lot and getting steadily less self-conscious with every direction I give, and just like that we’re making small talk. It’s the complete opposite of last night at the bar.

He tells me about how his circle has asked him to check up on the local wildlife. The animals have been growing agitated and extremely aggressive lately, and it’s not clear why. Celyn’s been trying to commune with the local fairies to see what the matter is, but they’ve been hard to find.

“I ran into a fairy last night,” I say, directing him into another pose, slightly more risqué. “She was green, with pink triangle-teardrop markings on her wings.”

“Green fairy… hmmm…” Celyn takes the pose without hesitation. I bite my lip at Celyn’s display and give him a thumbs-up, then turn around and fan myself. It’s getting hot in here.

“Oh!” Celyn says. “I saw her last night, too. Her name was Clover.”

That’s weird; I thought her name was Zinnia. Was my lens wrong? I take it out of my apron pocket and pop it over my eye. I’m shocked to see how little power it has left. Does it still work? Was it malfunctioning yesterday?

I should test it. Just to make sure. Right! It’s only practical.

I glance over my shoulder. Celyn is relaxing against the shelving, perfectly calm and content, practically presenting his package for inspection.

“Clover’s not helping me very much,” he says. “I tried to ask about the local fairies, but she’s too shy to talk to anyone but her adventuring companion.”

I quickly click the button to take a peek under that jockstrap and nearly faint.

Every inch of him is perfect. I quickly turn off the lens as quickly as I can, but not before I confirm that yes, it’s correctly displaying his name as Celyn of Everspring.

There’s no going back from what I’ve seen. I need Celyn. I need him real bad.

Flirting with him the way I did last night didn’t work. I have to try again! But how? How do I ask him out? Or should I just tackle him right here and… no! I have a job to do!

How should I act to get Celyn to like me back?
1. Polite and professional! I should ask him out once we’re done.
2. Assertive and bold! Order him to come back to my shop later and bring flowers, ‘cause it’s a date!
3. Coy and flirtatious: It’s getting hot in here! (it really is, I can’t handle it)
4. Other

We're not cool enough to be coy about this, and while we tout ourselves as PRO FESH UN AL, that's debatable as well. I say we take an assertive stance here and just say what we want: Him on a date with us. So that's a vote for 2 from me, be bold!

Prrrofessional.

2. He wants to be told what to do. So take charge.

>>1017344
2!

"I'm glad you've loosened up so much! ...do you think you've loosened up enough to keep me company tonight? I think you have."

>>1017344
B, and you got a different name because the monocle gave you the fairy's true fey name! Thats powerful!

>>1017344
"by the way, just in case there's any room for doubt: yes, I am flirting with you while I work. do with that as you will~!"

Prepare some lace. Feeling fancy and looking lavish too.

Saiorse 2021/12/18(Sat)00:49 No. 1017715 ID: 8483cf
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Celyn’s clearly most comfortable when he’s being told what to do. I can’t leave any room for doubt! I have to make it clear I’m interested in him, and tell him how to step up and wow me back!

But I can’t flirt with him now, not when he’s standing there in his underwear. I need to do my job, and THEN flirt as hard as I can!

I make more small talk with him, and Celyn tells me about his adventuring party. When he asked around about who was interested in going into the mountains, he found a human warrior (Giuseppe Giovanni Giorgio) and half-elf bard (Cierce Cormorant).

Giuseppe is making good money from a local land speculator by bringing in proof he’s managing the aggressive animal problem (e.g. ears and heads). Cierce is trying to find any remains of what might have been an elven settlement from a thousand years ago, before the war between humans and elves.

While Celyn talks, I pour my focus into tailoring a set of padded armor for him, and making sure the materials are as close to natural as possible. That means the fastenings are a little weaker than metal buttons, but I put enough of them down the front that it shouldn’t matter.

Celyn watches as I work and his tail is wagging and it is just TOO CUTE. Everything about him is just so happy and eager and I need him like I need air. I distract myself by telling him all about how to de-scent his armor and how much cleaning reagents to use, and to keep other outfits from getting berry’d.

Somehow, I finish my work without swooning. It’s simple: no decoration, no frills; just sleeves and leggings, and extra padding over the naughty bits. It’ll stand up to a good gnawing and slashing, no problem. Of course, if he’s fighting against swords and spears, those might do some damage to his clothes, but his protection spells will keep him safe, just like every other adventurer.

“Does the armor fit okay?” I ask.

“It’s great!” Celyn beams. “It’s so free! Those extra poses really must have helped.”

“They did!” I giggle.

“How much do I owe you?”

“Well… Let’s see!” Now’s the perfect time to flirt! I pull out a quill and paper to add up the prices, and lick the quill tip just a little lewdly before dipping it in the inkwell. “Here’s the price of the armor and fitting, and here’s the price for the reagents. And here is a quick reminder of how to clean up that berry scent. And here are my favorite kinds of flowers!”

“Flowers?” Celyn looks at me all confused like.

“Uh-huh!” I give him what I think are bedroom eyes that I really hope isn’t me looking stupid. “Those are very important because if you want to give pretty girls gifts when you visit their shops, you can give them a nice big druid bouquet!” I lean forward and look him deep in the eyes. “And yes, in case there’s any room for doubt … Yes, I am flirting with you right now. Do with that as you will~!”

“O-oh!” Celyn’s tail wags exactly three times before he catches himself and clears his throat. “I’m going to be out of town for the next few days, but… hypothetically…. Do you like getting flowers on Fridays? Maybe this Friday specifically?”

“I love Friday flowers.” I give him my biggest smile. “It’s a date!”

Celyn is smiling back and my heart, it’s MELTING

He pays me and I don’t even count the money cause really who needs money when you have cute boys

“See you Friday!” I call after him dreamily.

“Friday!” he echoes back, and steps outside the door in his padded armor that fits so well I am so PROUD.

Everything is nice. Better than nice. Everything is great. I glide over to make lunch on the stove and am just so very, very happy that everything is so great. I have some time to myself to do things other than giggle with glee over my date.

What should I while I wait for a new customer?

A. Finish cleaning up the shop floor
B. Paint the shop’s name on the sign, so it’s properly decorated with A Stitch in Time
C. Prepare some lace for if Tineola drops by for food
D. Brainstorm ideas for how to increase sales, how to handle more than one customer at a time, and scale up my business, including hiring assistants

A. Then B.

>>1017715
We can do C while we do A, presumably we have some lace samples already pre-made.

A and then B. If Tineola stops by, she can wait and make a bit of conversation while we prepare lace.

>>1017715
A first, and then C. Branding can wait.

>>1017715
Gonna say A and B.

Saiorse 2021/12/21(Tue)22:33 No. 1018047 ID: 8483cf
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I groan at the prospect of finishing the clean-up work. It’s boring. It’s agonizing. It’s dull. It’s also necessary if I want to put on a professional appearance.

It takes a while (mostly because I keep getting distracted and daydreaming), but I finish my clean-up. Hooraaaaaay.

Still, there’s no one dropping by. Maybe I need to make my sign more visible? I grab a set of leftover paints and a brush from the last tenant, take down the sign for a bit, and get to work painting the name on. Branding is important!

I’m almost done when there’s a tug on my sleeve.

“Excuse me. Pardon me. Are you the tailor I have just been so kindly reminded that I have, in fact, promised to visit first thing five hours ago?”

I turn around and there’s an arctic fox spirit- no, an arctic fox girl – standing there in what appears to be a light pink shift. She swooshes her tail idly, giving a peek of a drop seat for her tail in back. It’s not a shift- she’s actually wearing pajamas in the middle of the street, confirming what I overheard last night. If my lens was right, her name’s Naomi.

“That’s me!” I say. “Can I help you?”

“Yep!” she responds. “But hey- are you looking to make that sign really pop? I can make it sparkle! For a small, small discount on some clothes, of course!”

“I’ll think about it,” I say. “I’m a little short on cash right now. It’s my first day open.”

Naomi shrugs. “Your choice. But I don’t make this offer to every shopkeeper out there! You’d be super special. It’ll really bring in business, or my name’s not Naomi von Minga! You can tell how trustworthy I am because of the von Minga.”

I’m not sure how trustworthy she is, or what the von Minga means, but I consider her offer anyway. I open the door and lead her in. “So what brings you here?”

“I’ve been told I need shoes. And actual clothes for this unbearably hot weather you’ve got here.”

“It’s not even that hot,” I say. “Um, are you sure it isn’t… you know…”

“My fur? No, I never considered the possibility that all this fur was contributing to it.” Naomi rolls her eyes. “Of course it’s my fur.” She hops up on a bench and fans herself. “Whoof! You probably had the stove going for lunch, didn’t you? It’s a sauna in here.”

“Um. I did,” I say, unexpectedly flustered. I can’t lose a customer just because it’s too hot in here!

“Ugh,” Naomi flaps her skirts.

How do I offer to cool Naomi down?
A. Keep the door and windows propped open extra wide.
B. Grab a clipboard or something else and try to cool her down by fanning her.
C. Get her some nice ice-cold drinks.
D. Offer to lock the door and windows to let her strip down while she shops.
E. Other

Let's shutter the blinds so she can shop in comfort, and the buff.

C & D

D "anyway, i wasn't going to ask if your fur was making you hot, i was thinking more your dress . Even though it's not that hot out, it isn't winter or autumn, and you are wearing a long sleeved dress over your furcoat... ummm. Since youre already getting new clothes, you could remove what you have on now until we get you something lighter to wear. i'll lock the store up and get you some water."

C: Get her a glass of water. With ice!

C
D

E - Oh! You have mass-produced enchantments don't you? Are any of them related to heat protection, and do you have a sampler item she could try on while you get ready? Give it to her to wear if so or maybe you can whip up something quick-like! It'd be like a test of what you could offer her!

D - A nice cool drink might also do wonders, she could be a bit dehydrated from the heat (or yesterday's drinking... probably yesterday's drinking).

Anyway, it should be useful from time to time to keep a bead on the customer's mood so you know if what you're doing is working... so check Naomi's aura! How is she feeling? This could be a great opportunity to identify what color matches 'annoyed' - and possibly which is 'pleased', if you can ease her heat problem a bit.

C and D. We were going to have to ask her to strip to take her measurements anyways. Get her some nice cold water or whatever else you've got, and hopwfully it'll be enough.

>>1018047
c and d.

also, if she's offering to enchant our sign into an eye catching neon for a discount, we absolutely NEED to take that. that will draw in so many customers, god damn

as for preemptive cooling ideas, mesh air vents are always smart.

1/3 Saiorse 2021/12/22(Wed)13:58 No. 1018104 ID: 8483cf
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I have to cool Naomi down, or else she’ll walk out the door and I’m gonna lose a customer- a customer that can make my sign glow and blink and sparkle! That is NOT OKAY.

I briefly consider opening the door and windows as wide as they’ll go, but that would take time, and it would be bad for privacy. I wish I could give her an enchanted t-shirt or something with an endure elements enchantment, but all the mass-produced enchantments affect the clothes themselves, not the wearer. They’re mostly strengthening, stiffening, or resistance spells, with a few fun ones that don’t do much but look fancy. The dozens of mass-produced enchantments I have aren’t really “smart” spells (the kind that ramp up or down based on the user or the environment); they’re meant to cast during the stitching process, be always-on, and last for a good amount of time without needing to recharge, usually six months or so.

If I’m going to keep Naomi here, I need to let her cool off as fast as possible.

“Well…” I give her a shrug. “I wasn’t actually going to ask about your fur. Summer’s just starting, and you’re wearing a long sleeved-outfit.”

Naomi glances down at her arms and frowns slightly.

“You don’t have to keep that on,” I say. “It’s fine if you want to take it off while we find something lighter to wear. I could lock the door to give you privacy while you shop.”

“You sure?” Naomi asks hesitantly. “You might lose customers, locking the door on your first day open. Weren’t you short on cash?”

“I can’t really serve more than one customer at a time anyway,” I say. “Why don’t I get you some ice water while I’m at it?”

Naomi’s ears perk up at the mention of a cold drink. “Yeah, that’s good!” She bites her lip, considering her options. “If it’s just me…” She sighs. “All right. Go ahead and lock that door. Give me the VIP treatment!”

Naomi’s eyes follow me as I lock up and check that the shutters are tight. The moment I give her the thumbs-up, she undoes her pajamas’ drop seat shucks them over her head. She has short, vivid ice-blue fur on her belly and chest. Her upper arms and legs are lined with light blue streaks, some of which end in vivid turquoise highlights, the same color as her chest.

“Whoo!” she says, fanning herself with a hand. “Still pretty hot, but that drink’ll help. Ugh!”

Naomi’s tugging on her bra straps uncomfortably. Well, if she’s not going to propose it, then I’ll be the one to say it.

“Um…” I scratch my neck. I hope this doesn’t sound awkward. “You can go au naturel if you want.”

“Huh?” Naomi’s tail swishes in indecision. “Really? Is that okay?”

“It’s fine,” I say.

Naomi glances at the door, then down at herself, then throws caution (and her underwear) to the wind.

“Oh, yeah,” she says. “That’s way better.”

Aaaand she’s definitely a natural pink.

I quickly look away and busy myself getting some chilled water and ice from the icebox.

2/3 Saiorse 2021/12/22(Wed)13:58 No. 1018105 ID: 8483cf
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I come back with the drink. Naomi is still getting used to the idea of walking around a shop in the buff; her ears are flat to her head and her fluffy tail is plastered between her legs. I’m feeling confident I can lighten the mood, though; I had practice with Elaine and, I got Celyn comfortable eventually. I’m sure I can pep Naomi up.

“Here you go! One ice water for the VIP,” I smile. She swipes the glass out of my hands and gulps the water down with gusto. I guess arctic foxes don’t get brain freeze.

“Good! Good!” she says, licking her chops. She thrusts it back towards me. “Another!”

“Three more, coming up. Let me know if you see any styles you like while you’re waiting.”

I grab two additional glasses and by the time I’m done filling them up she’s started browsing. That’s a good sign.

“I’ll leave your water here.” I set the glasses down on a workbench.

“Yes!” Naomi says, downing her second as quick as she can. She stretches out and swishes her tail back and forth. “This feels real nice.”

“I’m happy you’re comfy! You said you wanted shoes, right? And I’m presuming a lighter outfit, too?”

Naomi nods. “Yeah. Sort of.”

“Sort of?”

“You mentioned I was wearing long sleeves,” she says, reaching for a third glass. “You see these patterns on my arms? They’re personal. And they change sometimes, when the heavens change houses. I don’t exactly go around showing my patterns off.”

“So you prefer something that covers up your patterns,” I note.

“Yeah.” Naomi holds the cold glass to her chest and looks down at herself. “And let’s be 100% clear up front: on top of that, I’m not okay with any outfit that shows even a peek of my tummy.” She points at the turquoise starting below her collarbone. “So there’s the job. Think you can handle it?”

“I’ll see what I can do,” I say. “May I take your measurements?”

“Go for it,” Naomi says, holding her arms out.

I take Naomi’s measurements and ponder my options. This is going to be tough. She obviously wants to keep her long sleeves, and showing her midriff is absolutely out of the question.

3/3 Saiorse 2021/12/22(Wed)13:58 No. 1018106 ID: 8483cf
File 164021033672.png - (76.64KB , 408x568 , CR_38.png )

“Tail up, please,” I say, and she lifts obligingly. Her turquoise pattern continues between her legs, but I note that it doesn’t extend to her inner thighs. A leotard might work if she could be convinced to show the patterns on her legs. She’s a 28C, so I can design the leotard to fit her bust without a problem.

She wears a dress right now, so people can already see glimpses of the patterns on her lower thighs if she moves around too much. Maybe she can be convinced to show a little more in the name of keeping cool? If not, mesh vents would help- but I have to make sure the vents don’t allow any glimpses of turquoise. It would mean having a little bit more of an under-layer, and that increases the price. If I’m going to give her a discount on that, I can’t make it too big.

If I want to make a deal with her, I could use my lens to sense her aura and figure out how much she’s willing to haggle on the discount. That would for sure drain my lens’s power, and I don’t know how to recharge it.

What base layer should I propose to keep Naomi cool?
1. None
2. Regular underwear
3. Breathable leotard and panties underneath
4. Other

Should I prioritize cooling or coverage in outfit design?
A. Maximum cool; she could get heatstroke if we don’t go lightweight!
B. Lightweight materials with okay coverage, but some potential for peeks of patterns, such as a loose skirt.
C. Keep everything covered by default, including arms and thighs, but have option to remove portions.
D. Maximum coverage; I can sew more vents in, and maybe invest in cooling enchantments later, but she’ll love me for following directions and maximizing durability in combat. Expensive: good for my profits, too!

Should I use the last of my lens’s energy to get a better deal on enchanting my sign with neon?
I. Yes, use the lens and negotiate the best deal/discount for me.
II. Don’t use the lens, but negotiate the sign for a discount on Naomi’s clothes.
III. Don’t use the lens, and don’t take her offer to enchant the sign.

Breathable leotard, and D. Removable portions have the problem of coming off when you don't want them to, vents are an interesting challenge and look cool to boot!
Use the lens to get your sign bejazzled.

How about some silk robes? Each piece can be taken off in seconds, but together they make a tasteful, wholesome - well, sort-of-wholesome-not-really - ensemble. Yes.
Maximum coverage but she can take off whatever is too hot. (And of course, if she loses armor pieces you can sell her replacements. Especially handy if she wants to tease her suitors with articles of collectible clothing.)

Haggle without the magic lens - she might detect it.

>>1018106
3 and D, just bear in mind the discount. Try to keep it above materials costs at the very least, and we're gonna need to avoid too many more discounts moving forward.

As for using the lens, yeah, we should go for that.

3- It sounds like she'd want it for privacy, despite the complications even a breathable added layer would give involving heat. There's also secondary benefits to a secondary layer - as an adventurer she's liable to get her outer clothing gets compromised at SOME point and having a layer of underwear will then keep her in the fight rather than be busy covering up (at least that's what you can sell it as).

She may wish to invest in those cooling enchantments in the future, to be honest. Sounds like it'd be worth it to her, at least for summertime clothes, or if she travels to even warmer climes. And if she'd be investing in cooling enchantments anyway...

D - Recommend the full package.

II - With such a hefty purchase, she will for sure need the discount, and we'd want her coming back for those cooling enchantments so we shouldn't gouge her. Also, even if she's low on cash she can repay you with the "A Stitch in Time" sign (how long will that last, by the way?) which should hopefully pay quick dividends... and you could also ask for her help with recharging the lens!

She is a magic-user, after all! Even if she doesn't know how herself, someone of that community that she knows (her wizard friend) might know how or can find out for you. Favors for favors, yeah? Granted, that doesn't pay as many bills, but it might get you another contact and an additional opportunity for a sale (if you can convince them to drop by and pitch them something).

3, it's a little more expensive so make sure you don't give her too nice of a discount on it. Better haggling should make this alright.

Gonna have to agree with the majority and say D here. She's made it clear that she wants her markings covered, so we should give her exactly what she's asked for. We can split the top and bottom since we're doing a leotard, which will cover the tummy for her, to allow for some airflow in the outfit. It wouldn't be a ton, but it's better than nothing. Also, if we're doing shoes, maybe sandals? About the same brethability as flip flops but far less likely to just lose them.

I, use the lens to negotiate. Even if she catches you with her magic know-how, as long as you don't have any pervy X-Ray modes on you aren't doing anything wrong (and she's already naked, so that wouldn't really matter). When you're done haggling though, maybe ask if she knows how to recharge your monocle. Who knows, if any magic user can do it then you could make a deal with her or someone else to give a discount on your wares for free recharges whenever they stop by.

>>1018106
You can have air circulation while covering everything by utilizing layers. As in, loose cloth covering openings that allow hot air to escape. Perhaps that's what a vent is. Definitely recommend an optimal solution despite the cost. She seems unwilling to compromise on coverage so that's the priority.

2, D, II

2, D, I

Saiorse 2021/12/24(Fri)10:57 No. 1018281 ID: 8483cf
File 164037226575.png - (14.26KB , 680x417 , CR_39.png )

It’s my first day, so for now, the customer is always right!

I put on my lens as surreptitiously as I can and start sifting through my fabrics, describing the options to Naomi and gauging her aura’s baseline. It brightens every time I mention vents and full coverage, and doesn’t seem to dim at all whenever I bring up difficulty or price. She doesn’t seem to be overly concerned about price too much (or at least not enough to affect her mood) and she definitely wants a cooler outfit that keeps her markings 100% covered, even if they move around. She also knows how difficult that is, and she responds well to my confidence in recommending it. She also likes the idea of sandals. Success!

I recommend her a breathable leotard with built-in bust support, but mention that she should still wear panties underneath. She nods approvingly- above all else, she absolutely wants to keep her icy blue tummy concealed.

All of my recommendations make her happy- right up until I tell her how long an outfit with mesh vents will take to make.

“Three days?!” Naomi’s aura sours, turning from a vivid blue to a dour navy. “I can’t roast for three days! I need to go out and adventure! I can’t wait around here and be bored for three whole days! That’s costing me money! Lots of money!”

With my lens (which Naomi still hasn’t noticed as magical), I can see her aura darken on the things she actually cares about: being hot, and being bored. She’s not actually concerned about money or adventuring; she might not even have a job lined up. Her real issue is the time it’ll take me to make the outfit. I can work with that.

“How about I work late?” I say. “If I start right now and work as hard as I can, it’ll be done in two days.”

Naomi pouts. Her aura’s still dour. I need to sweeten the deal.

“Or, if that’s not fast enough, I can make it a high-priority VIP job! If you’re willing to pay extra, I’ll go from sunup to sundown, and I’ll work on your outfit- and only your outfit- until it’s done. That way I can guarantee no distractions, and I’ll have it done by tomorrow evening!”

“That’s still a day of sitting around doing nothing!” Naomi says. “You’d better give me a big discount for that. No extra fee for VIP.”

She’s not actually looking for a discount- she’s just bored. If I give her something to do, I think she’ll take the deal.

“I can’t give you a big discount on such an important VIP project,” I say. “But how about you take a little time to enchant my sign? I might bring the rate down to normal if you do that. And I’ll have the sandals done today, so you can at least go out adventuring in your paja- I mean, regular clothes.”

Naomi’s aura is still sour. She might not take the deal unless I can guarantee she’ll be cool tomorrow, and give her something to do when she’s done with the sign. I have to make this sale! This is BIG MONEY. I’m about to get what is essentially a free neon sign and a major high-quality sale (but I’ll be working hard for a day and a half to do it).

It pains me to do it, but I could guarantee the sale at this price if I tell Naomi about my secret swimming place. It would cool her down and she’d probably have lots of fun- but then it wouldn’t be my own personal secret hideaway anymore.

Should I guarantee the awesome sale and free sign by telling Naomi about my secret swimming place?

Share the swimming location. It probably isn't really a secret anyways, locals definitely found it before you, and would we really be upset to find Naomi there in either a swimsuit or underwear? Just ask her to keep it secret. She won't, but if she's trying she might at least tell fewer people than she would otherwise.

>>1018282
Yeah, makes sense to me

tell her!

Nah, don't mix business and pleasure. She'll have to freeroam to discover that secret. Can you give her a quest to retrieve fifty bear asses or something?

Reveal the deets

Saiorse 2021/12/24(Fri)13:15 No. 1018290 ID: 8483cf
File 164038053601.png - (124.35KB , 644x816 , CR_40.png )

I could probably make the sale (and get the sign) without telling Naomi about my secret swimming spot, but the way she’s acting, she just might walk away in a huff, realize she still needs a new outfit, then come back with her more-responsible wizard friend who cares about money. I have to close the deal now, and make Naomi happy enough to defend the price!

Naomi’s insistence on how trustworthy she is makes me suspicious. I’m pretty sure she’ll let the secret slip to the adventuring crowd, and my spot won’t be secret for long. But worst-case, the swimming spot might get popular. Maybe I could start selling swimsuits?

I prrrroooooobably won’t need to make them as sturdy as my other outfits…

“You drive a hard bargain,” I say, and put on a show of lowering my voice and leaning close. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Yeah! I’m great at keeping secrets,” Naomi says eagerly. “Tell me! What is it?”

“Only if you promise to keep it to yourself,” I say solemnly.

“I promise!”

“Good! There’s a hidden riverbank about fifteen minutes’ walk from here,” I whisper. “There’s brick walls sealing it off from the streets everywhere but one little gap, and the river bends just right so no one can see you take a dip. It’s perfect to cool off in privacy.”

“Really?” Naomi’s eyes go wide. “How do I get there?”

I give her the directions to the gap between buildings, and where to look for the hole in the brick walls to climb down to the riverbank. She takes it all in eagerly.

“That should let you cool off tomorrow while you wait,” I say. “Between that and the sign, time will fly! You’ll have a new outfit before you know it.”

“Yeah!” Naomi gives me a big smile. “I can’t wait! Let’s do it! How much was it again?”

I tell her, and she agrees to the price without batting an eye and I am absolutely STOKED FOR THIS

“It’s a deal!” I immediately start pulling out soles and start fitting Naomi’s new sandals. “No time to waste. Do you mind if I give you details for how I’d like the sign to look? And what colors to use?”

Naomi nods and listens closely. We get through the fitting and adjusting and describing, and when we’re done, Naomi leaves in her pajamas with a nice new pair of sandals, carrying my sign over her shoulder to work on it first thing tomorrow.

As for me, I’ve got a long day and a half of highly paid work to do!

Donut 2021/12/24(Fri)13:16 No. 1018291 ID: 8483cf
File 164038056211.png - (119.52KB , 687x549 , CR_Title.png )

CLOTHING REPAIR will now take a break!

There will be a brief timeskip for the local adventurers to go adventuring, and for Saiorse to work on Naomi’s outfit and build up extra lace and food for Tineola, and other necessary restocking after her first few customers.

While we wait for this to finish, CLOTHING REPAIR will update with glimpses of what the adventurers are doing in the meantime.

Feel free to suggest which adventurers we see and what they’re doing!

Let's see how long Tineola takes to realize her invisibility enchantment has some strings attached.

The Wizard Samantha Stevens, her shopping complete, peacefully reading a book and drinking chilled lemonade in a tavern - until a giddy Naomi drops by, chugs her drink and asks to borrow a change of swimwear - something fully-body, please! Or maybe an illusion spell could do. Samantha's not using her spells on anything now anyway, right? Riiiiight?

a completely normal middle-aged salaryman who is totally not suspect or out of place in this high-fantasy setting, and DEFINITELY not asking for very surreptitious modifications to his suit for hazy and unsettling reasons

Knife cat, she will be on a adventure... or maybe she is an assassin and was sent to kill someone. But whatever happened, she failed and her clothes are ruined, causing her to think about visiting our place

Gonna suggest we peek in on Elaine, and see just how well her mission is going. If her robes get damaged and the corset comes out, maybe she'll return our kindness by telling people where she got it from. Of course, she'd probably rush to explain why a monk with a vow of poverty is wearing something so high quality and expensive looking. The idea of being seen as not taking her vow seriously is far worse than a spot of clothing damage.

1/3 Saiorse 2022/05/12(Thu)19:40 No. 1032058 ID: 8483cf
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One exhausting all-nighter (and all day-er) later, Naomi’s outfit is done. I’m absolutely exhausted, but it’s worth every moment when I see that big bag of gold Lira jingling and jangling.

I open it up and carefully set aside this month’s rent, my first month’s repayment to my master for the loan he gave me to start the shop, the cost for resupplying my for materials, some money for groceries, and…

It’s still a good amount of money left over.

This pile of gold is pure profit, and I haven’t even finished my first week in Busalla.

OH MY GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWDDESS

I wipe my eyes and sniffle. I’m gonna make it. I’m really gonna make it!

I place each gold coin in my pouch and wobble unsteadily to the stairs, but I can’t make it, instead passing out in a strewn pile of lycra.

2/3 Saiorse 2022/05/12(Thu)19:41 No. 1032059 ID: 8483cf
File 165240967036.png - (52.03KB , 857x466 , CR_42.png )

I blearily wake up the next day, still in my work outfit. I’ll need to clean it.

Or not.

I don’t have to work a single day this month if I don’t feel like it.

I giggle. This is a nice feeling.

I roll around on the shop floor and toss my work clothes in every direction, reveling in my complete freedom. Then I fall asleep again, this time in a pile of nylon.

I wake back up at noon, slowly this time, and wander over to the kitchen for some food.

I see my sketchbook lying there. I munch on some bread and cheese and doodle ideas for my sign, getting absorbed in the possibilities.

I settle on this one!

Happy with my work, I find some casual clothes and spend an evening back at La Taverna, hoping Celyn is still here. He’s not. In fact, it’s pretty dead tonight. Oh, well.

3/3 Saiorse 2022/05/12(Thu)19:44 No. 1032061 ID: 8483cf
File 165240986550.png - (83.05KB , 472x911 , CR_43.png )

The next day, I wake up a little late and decide to spend a little more energy refining my shop’s brand. I’m still in my nightie, but I open the door and take a look at what I can place in the windowsill.

And of COURSE that’s the moment a sheep girl barges in and asks if I’m the proprietor of this fine establishment.

“Aaah!” I let out a yelp and cover myself. “Y-yes! But can you come back later? Maybe when-”

“Not an option,” the sheep says. “I’ve been told in no uncertain terms that I’ll get arrested if those bloody Censors see me again without some clothes on.”

“Okay, okay!” I wince. “Come in. Let me get dressed at least.”

“Dressed?” the sheep’s eyes narrow. “It’s eleven o’clock. That Wayfinder girl had better be right about you.”

She’s mad. Real mad. But she’s basically being forced to buy something from me, so it’s a guaranteed sale.

How should I treat her?
1. Ask her to please wait while I make myself decent and do my hair up a little. Someone else might come in while we’re working or after she’s done, and I can’t have it get out that I stay in my nightie all day.
2. Ask her to have a look around and sneak into the changing stall and put on the first thing I have in my size.
3. Apologize profusely for my state of dress and just serve her in my nightie.

3 - She wants a rush job, you'll get to charge her extra for a rush job.

>>1032061
2. You'll be advertising your own clothes that way!

2, because if you do 3 then UNDENIABLY somebody else will walk in while you're helping her, and you'll never have a chance to get dressed.

2, Everything you've designed is surely a hit. Right?
Right away if she doesn't want to shear everything else, it's clear she's going to want loose clothes that are good on top of thick wool. Got any bellydancer outfits?

>>1032061
2. She's not going to give this up, and hopefully you've got more than a little fashion sense- as long as it fits you should be good to go.

2

>>1032061
could offer her a sketchpad and have her doodle some ideas for what she wants to wear while you get something on.

Saiorse 2022/05/14(Sat)08:59 No. 1032204 ID: 8483cf
File 165254395828.png - (197.24KB , 944x1129 , CR_44.png )

“Um, it’s nice to meet you,” I say, guiding her inside and hastily shutting the door behind. “I’m Saiorse.”

“Lamisa,” the sheep says, glancing around at the mess I’ve made in the last two days. “What a pigsty…”

“Um, I’m very sorry for the mess,” I say. “I just had a big order, and-“

“Yeah, yeah,” Lamisa interrupts. “Just tell me where there’s something in here that’ll make those Censors happy and won’t boil me alive.

I point Lamisa in the direction of some loose wrap dresses made of light fabric. Her hooves stomp loudly on the wood floor despite her small size. I quickly grab a blouse and skirt, slip into the changing stall and whip the curtain closed, shucking my nightie as fast as I can and trying to make myself look somewhat professional in thirty seconds or less. The blouse and skirt aren’t tailored to me- they’re loose and a little big, but they’ll do for now. Thankfully there’s a spare pair of pantyhose lying around too. I do up my hair in a rush. I throw open the curtain and hide my nightie under a table. Pretty good for less than a minute!

I find that Lamisa has abandoned her search for clothes. Instead, she’s standing with her arms crossed and tapping her hoof impatiently.

“Took you long enough,” she says. “Look, I don’t care what it is. I don’t want clothes anyway. Just give me something cheap that won’t get me arrested, and I’ll be on my merry way. Busalla can rot for all I care.”

“Are you sure?” I ask softly. “I know the Censors can be strict, but…”

“I paid for a permit- to wear my own wool, mind you -and the Church is still threatening to arrest me!” she huffs. “It’s all a big scam.”

“I’m sorry the Church isn’t being fair,” I say. “Um… maybe you can get a refund?”

“Fat chance,” Lamisa says. “And now I have to roast all day in this stupid heat in a stupid dress I have to pay for with more money.”

“I used to help my brothers shear wool back home,” I offer. “If it’s really that uncomfortable, I can-“

“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?!” Lamisa interjects. “Free wool and a tidy profit off a cheap dress. The Censors are really helping your business, aren’t they?”

I can tell I’m getting nowhere with her. I glance at the ground. “I was going to offer you a discount,” I mumble.

“This isn’t fair,” Lamisa says, ignoring me. “All I wanted to do was go to market, and I can’t even do that without getting fleeced.”

Lamisa is really upset, and I haven’t made a good first impression. I don’t know how she really feels about the idea of shearing some wool off to make clothes more comfortable- it sounds like she can still wear it outside Busalla where the local Censors are more lenient.

How should I deal with Lamisa?
1. Maybe she’s most upset about all the money she’s losing? Give her a nice outfit for free in exchange for her wool- it’s high-quality and I can make it into something comfy later. I can charge extra for “locally sourced ovine wool,” too.
2. Perhaps she’s most upset by feeling judged and singled out by the local Censors. I could make her an outfit that just BARELY passes decency standards, as a way of thumbing her nose at the Church.
3. Or maybe she really likes her wool, and is upset at the idea of giving it up. I could try and make her something comfy and cheap, like she asked.
4. Other

Tempting as 1 is, I think 2 is the way to go here. Lamisa complained about having to roast in a dress, so an outfit with less material would suit her well I imagine. Plus, Censors are terrible horrible people who sell bullshit permits and then don't respect them, so fuck their rules.

2. Less material = less heat = more pissing off the censors.

Though uh, doing that mayyyyy cause you problems later since if she really likes it, she absolutely will advertise your services.

On the other hand she's already in a pissy mood, was recommended to come here, and will likely leave in a bad mood anyway, blaming you and your store, bringing you bad press.

Doing nothing also invites the same but worse problem, and as far as I know you don't have any connections to the clergy to get that permit verified.

Its a lose/lose/lose situation so 2 at least means she'll spend the least on the last amount of clothes and can get out of your hair the fastest at least until she calms down.

I'd also even suggest being more pro-fe-shun-al with her. Cut out the smalltalk, she thinks because you werent prepared and your shop is a mess that you're not a professional, prove it by stepping up your game even if you are a bit tired.

(side note, maybe use some of those funds to hire a weekly maid, yknow, just to make your life easier)

>>1032204
2. Also tell her you can give her a fair price on any wool she is willing to sell.

3. She'd be singled out further if her outfit was toying with the decency standards, and you'd be bringing scrutiny on the tailor who made them too. Perhaps she'll come around on the clothing instead if it's comfy, or you could suggest making it with utility in mind - when you don't want to get your wool dirty with slime or ichor.

>>1032236
3 for this exact reason.

Actually yeah, changing my vote to 3. It was what she asked for, and the customer is mostly right. I think thats how the saying goes

Saiorse 2022/05/14(Sat)18:05 No. 1032268 ID: 8483cf
File 165257671072.png - (81.93KB , 843x616 , CR_45.png )

I cut the small talk. Lamisa wants to complain? Fine. But she obviously doesn’t care about my sympathy.

“The Church might not have treated you fairly,” I agree, “But I will. I wouldn’t be taking your wool for free; if you feel like selling any, I’ll give you a fair price and help shear it if you want.”

“Pass,” Lamisa refuses, but her resolve wavers at the mention of a fair price. She shakes her big poofy head and huffs.

I realize that while I still have a guaranteed sale, Lamisa is probably not going to have anything good to say about my shop.

Maybe if I get her angry against the right people, that would save my reputation. The Church of Censorship is responsible for Lamisa’s problems, not me! I could make her an outfit that lets her thumb her nose at the Church. Petty revenge is so marketable!

Unfortunately, that would probably just get Lamisa targeted even harder by the Church, and maybe even get me on their radar, too. I don’t want to be known by the Church as a ne’er-sew-well responsible for lascivious lambwear!

No, I need to be PRO FE SHUN AL and give the customer what she’s ordered: something quick, cheap and safe from the long brush of the Censors. To be 100% decent, clothing has to always cover the naughty bits and cleavage, and for races with fur or wool, no skin can be showing from your collarbone to your knees (except for upper arm to hand). A light dress would be the safest bet, but the most inconvenient and would look like she’s wearing a tent (plus the cheap fabric doesn’t breathe at ALL).

Wait. If I’m going to design something to fit her properly, how big should I assume her measurements are? How much of that top is fluff? What if she’s faking her cleavage and padding her bust? If I ask her about it, will she get even angrier? What if I do it covertly while I’m measuring her other dimensions? Or does it not matter because the clothes will loose on her anyway?

I suddenly regret using up all my x-ray monocle’s charge the other day.

What kind of cheap clothes should I give to guarantee Lamisa is decent? Should I take her actual measurements?

I don't think we need underwear, the fleece can work for that.

I'm thinking a poncho might work, it has opening on the sides that allows for plenty of breathing room, and we can probably get something large enough that reaches the knees. the fleece can look like she's wearing pants from the sides

and yes, her sides will be revealing skin especially around the belly area. maybe we can find some light wrappings for the belly, much like how Elaine had before we gave her the corset? or maybe we can figure out another solution

>>1032268
Actual measurements. She wants clothes, you get her proper fitting clothes. No cutting corners.

...you know, you could get her a short dress since her wool covers below the waist. A sundress maybe.

No cleavage? Dang, this police state is the worst.
Make sure her measurements are correct. It should be at least a two piece so she can roll it up when the censors aren't looking and air herself out. Can the top hang down like a tent to overlap with the top of a skirt, which doesn't have to be very long at all since her wool's got that covered?

Himitsu 2022/05/14(Sat)18:58 No. 1032275 ID: 629f2e
File 165257993565.png - (33.59KB , 1000x1000 , Lamisa Outfit suggestion.png )

>>1032274
Great minds think alike!

We should try to leave as much of her wool showing as we can, and leave room for it to breathe. A cowl that goes down to about where her nipples are should work for a top, and a high-waisted skirt starting right where her chest-wool ends down juuuuust low enough to cover her nethers when she's walking should be good. The belt on the skirt is important to keep it from slipping down and exposing any hints of skin, lest the censors get uppity.

And of course, if the outfit gets too warm, it's easy to air out.

>>1032275

Forgot to add, but I'm against getting exact measurements. The clothes I suggested drape loosely over her, and belts are adjustable. There's no need for them if this is what we go with, and she doesn't seem like she's looking for her clothes to fit perfectly. Speed over specificity.

>>1032275
support this if not poncho

but yeah, no need for measurements. make this a quick order for her, she doesn't seem to want to be here.

>>1032275
This is a good solution

Saiorse 2022/05/15(Sun)15:07 No. 1032362 ID: 8483cf
File 165265243513.png - (145.15KB , 901x1233 , CR_46.png )

I decide against taking all but Lamisa’s bare minimum measurements. She’s not here because she wants a perfect fit; she just needs something right now to make her “decent” in the eyes of the Censors. I don’t want to make her feel awkward by measuring under her wool, no matter how curious I am.

I decide to make her a two-piece poncho outfit that lets her keep cool and play it safe with the censors. It’s a little jury-rigged; the belt for the skirt isn’t as comfortable as some other options, but it’s the fastest option I have.

Lamisa doesn’t comment on her outfit. She just reaches into her wool and pulls out a pouch of coins. I give her the price (materials plus the bare minimum markup for time spent). She scowls, but doesn’t object, and leaves immediately.

I close the door gently behind her and wipe my brow. I hope she doesn’t hate me.

I look around and see the mess of the last few days. It sucks. Maybe I should just hire a maid to clean up after me… I have the money, that’s for sure!

Yeah. Why clean things up myself, which is ZERO fun, when I can get someone else to do it better than me, and faster too? I could be making clothes or lace. I’ll come out ahead, money wise! Yeah! But I do like having that extra money, too, and a maid won’t be here 24/7 like I will be. Maybe I could have them come more often than once a week? Maybe I should check if there’s anyone who’d be willing to clean for me in exchange for clothes or something. Elaine, perhaps? No, she’s traveling too often to rely on her for that kind of work…

I look down at myself. I’m still wearing the un-tailored blouse and skirt.

I also need to figure out how to charge my lens. There’s no mages’ guild here, so I’ll have to rely on a passing adventurer to teach me how to charge my lens. Maybe Naomi or her friend Samantha could help? They’re adventuring right now, though…

Should I go look for a maid?
1. Yes, and hire them to come more than once a week
2. Yes, but only once a week
3. No, I should be disciplined and clean my own shop

Should I ask for help from adventurers in charging my lens?
1. Yes, and show them the lens
2. Yes, but don’t tell them it’s a powerful x-ray lens
3. No, wait for Naomi and Samantha to come back

What should I wear when I’m running my errands?
1. Something Professional
2. Something Casual
3. Something Cute

Be disciplined and clean up your own casa!
Do ask about charging up your definitely not a powerful artifact monocle though.
Wear something casual on your errands.

Should I go look for a maid?

2. At least until we get our bearings with starting out. Having a maid work once a week can help us get situated until we can determine how much money we'll be making weekly to budget, how much cleaning will be, how dirty the place will get each week, and practice cleaning on our own so we can figure out if we actually need a maid down the line, or try to do it ourself. Consider spending an hour practice cleaning the shop on your own after each work day on your own tho while maid does deep cleaning

Should I ask for help from adventurers in charging my lens?

3. Patience is more rewarding, plus I'd rather have someone we trust look into it than have a total stranger either try to steal it from us later, or squeal on us if they figure something out about the monocole.

What should I wear when I’m running my errands?

2. It's just errands, and we don't want our EX-PEN-SUVE PRO-FES-SHUN-AL outfit to get dirty or damaged when we're off duty and doing errands.
And cute outfit is for when we aren't doing errands or working and want to find a date. we're not looking to hook up with someone when doing errands right now.*

2/3/2 (or are we picking one action to do right now? Cause if we are, then getting the maid first I think should be a priority)

2) You should not waste your money on eye candy maids, and you aren't entitled to train the maids into learning fabric organization. But having a seasoned maid clean the areas you wouldn't normally think about, or find nasty smells that you can't recognize, will help maintain the overall health and appearance of your store while cutting costs to a minimum.

3) The less people know about that thing, the less likely it will get stolen. It's worth more than your entire shop and you cannot risk losing it in any way, even for early-game profits.

3) You cannot wear better clothing than your prospective customers or they'll think you're a hobby elitist. Pique their interest with bohemian deviancy and they'll come up with their own requests.

2, 3, 3

Hire a maid once a week, because you need cleaners to keep this place tidy you lazy person you, but you're not filthy stinkin' rich.

When it comes to magical artifacts of some significant worth, it's best to be clandestine with details. Stick with the people you have some trust in for now, and expand your list of people worth asking only if they fail.

Wear something cute. You deserve to look cute!

>>1032362
2, 3, 2.

>>1032364
Actually, I'm starting to think 3 for what to wear, then we can show off the cute clothes customers could be wearing if they shop at our store. Advertise while we do errands!

>>1032365
Seems like the most optimal set of choices

>>1032362
Actually, 2, 3, 3. Like some of the others say, to advertise our own work.

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