Crossing Threads [Krima]

[Rosela]

Timestamp: 15th of Autumn, 513AV

Rosela straightened her back until it cracked and glanced outside. It had been a long day already and it wasn't much past lunchtime. The bells were creeping by and the dress slowly coming together in front of her was practically putting her to sleep. It was a long, silk affair, with loose ruffles starting from the bodice and falling to the knees. The top layer of white silk ended slightly short, showing the deep purple underneath at the knees in a nice layering effect.

The basting stitches were all in under the bodice and she was slowly, methodically, putting in the backstitches to hold the fabric in place. Holding the pinned bundle of fabric close to her face, she moved slowly to push the needle through the silk with just a few threads of fabric between each stitch. The ruffles were intended to be even and smooth, and the fine silk would easily show any uneven stitches. Even after seasons of doing endless backstitches, Rosela found herself undoing and redoing the occasional stitch, stopping on occasion to smooth out the length of silk to make sure it fell correctly.

There was a creak at the door and Rosela looked up to smile at the Akalak who came in.

"Welcome to Red Diamond Fashions; let me know if you need any help."

"Thanks. Just need some pants here."

Normally she'd get up to walk them through their purchase herself, but she was behind schedule on her inventory and it was already looking like another late night in the back room. He seemed to know exactly what he was looking for though, a rare occurence, and was carrying a folded pair of black trousers up to her desk. Rosela shifted the pile of fabric to the side and tried to hide the sleepiness behind her eyes.

"Just this then? Did you find everything okay?"

"Yea, just needed...pants."

"Wonderful. 1gm then." She took the proffered miza and deposited it in the till drawer, discreetly trying to stretch her feet behind the desk. "If you have any trouble with the fitting, just bring them on back and I'll hem them up."

"Cool, uh, thanks."

He headed back out the door and Rosela sunk back into the chair. Maybe if she ran out and got a snack-

Too late though, as another customer popped in through the door. Making a split decision, she decided to attend to this one, hoping the movement would get her blood moving. "Hi, welcome to Red Diamond Fashions. What can I help you with today?"

[Krima]

15th Day of Fall, 513 A.V.

Krima made her way towards Red Diamond Fashions in a hurry. The Amphitheater needed new costumes, and the bazaar didn't have the silk she needed. The costume was suppose to be a queen's nightgown, and would be worn through the entire play. It was a murder mystery, and the lovely ruler of the land woke up in the middle of the night to her son's screams. When she managed to get to his room, the prince had been murdered, and it was up to the queen to find out who did it.

The queen was suppose to be the richest in the land, and her nightgown should reflect that. Krima imagined the queen in something long and made of silk, but it would have to be something sturdy enough to last an entire play. She figured Charmeuse would be best for this, but the bazaar didn't have enough, so she had to get it from the only other place she knew about.

Jorin had wanted to avoid this place for some reason, and it made her uncomfortable that she had to go here now. Still, it was getting late and she needed to start this nightgown. An Akalak walked out the door holding a pair of pants. As he walked past, Krima took a pause. Back in Mura everyone knew she worked as a seamstress with her sister, and always gave her ludicrous prices. She didn't want that to happen here as well, especially when this woman could be making the costumes for the Amphitheater instead. I'll walk in and act like I'm going to be making a dress for myself and not another business. How could this Rosela woman get angry if she's making a sale anyway with fabric. Krima made the game plan in her head, took a deep breath in, and walked inside.

It was a nice store, and Krima was impressed. Right away a women working on a dress greeted her. "Hi, welcome to Red Diamond Fashions. What can I help you with today?' the instant greeting caught her off guard, and she started to stutter.

"Oh! I uhm..." she glanced back and forth before swallowing and improving her posture. This was suppose to be business, so she couldn't show weakness. Still, she felt guilty about telling a flat out lie.

"I'm here to buy some silk. I uh, want to make myself a nightgown for my honeymoon. Something elegant. Do you have any charmuse silk? Preferably a deep red." She explained. A woman would want to be in her best nightgown during that time period right? She gave the woman in front of her a small smile, hoping she would buy her story.

[Rosela]

The woman seemed slightly nervous, which wasn't uncommon for young women in Rosela's shop. Fashion wasn't exactly at the forefront of Rivarian's minds, despite her best efforts, and it was easy to spot people coming in without any real idea of what they wanted.

She was wrong this time though, and her head tilted slightly at the unusual request. "Silk? She repeated in slight confusion. Not a silk dress, or a silk scarf, just the silk. "Yes, I... I just bought a couple bolts of the charmuse. I'm fairly certain one of them is a burgundy-red." She absently indicated the door to her back room, where the bolt in question lay, along with the rest of her supplies.

"Are you...looking for a custom nightgown?" Feeling she may have misunderstood, she stepped back a pace and laid one hand on a small stack of folded nightgowns. "I don't have any made up in that particularfabric, but I'd be happy to whip one up for you? It'd be only a few moments to take your measurements?" Her voice had an air of confusion and helplessness in it, and she felt very off-balance by the odd request.

Who came into a clothing store just looking for the fabric? Perhaps she was just confused, some imbecile telling her that Red Diamond Fashions was a mere fabric store. Surely, she'd jump at the chance for someone else to make her nightgown for her? An expert seamstress at that?

[Krima]

15th Day of Fall, 513 A.V.

"Yes, I... I just bought a couple bolts of the charmuse. I'm fairly certain one of them is a burgundy-red." Krima's eyes lit up as the women pointed towards the back door. A nice burgundy was exactly what she needed. Surely she would be fine with her taking a few yards, despite how surprised she sounded. Krima was ready to walk into the back and ask for a price, when the women indicated to a small stack of pre made nightgowns. She had forgotten the women was a seamstress herself, and was taken back when Rosela offered to make one herself.

"I don't have any made up in that particularfabric, but I'd be happy to whip one up for you? It'd be only a few moments to take your measurements?"

Not expecting the offer, Krima instantly blurted out"Oh no, I couldn't. The Ampith-" She froze. Well petch, there goes her entire plan. The entire thing, gone. She was going to be ran out of the store, she could never buy a fabric from Rosela again. Petch, she may not even let her get a fabric now! Her mind swirled with colorful language as she tried to save herself.

"I mean erm, The Auntie wouldn't want me to buy a night gown. My Family, uh, comes from a long line of seamstresses, and all our clothing should be made by ourselves." Well, it wasn't a complete lie. She did come from a family of seamstresses. Two, including herself. Close enough right? Krima sighed. Better to just fess up now the reality of why she was here, and hopefully she could still purchase fabric at all.

"Look, I work as the costume designer at The Amphitheater. We need a nightgown for our next play, and the bazaar didn't have the right fabric. I came here hoping you would have it, considering you own a shop. Back in Mura I worked with my sister, who was well known for her wedding dresses. When we were asked to use nontraditional colors, we would have to ask the other seamstresses for fabric." She took a deep breath, then held her hand out and gave an apologetic face.

"I'm sorry I told a lie. In Mura we would be given bad prices, and I wanted to avoid the issue here. Please accept my apology, and maybe we can work together for the betterment of The Amphitheater?"

[Rosela]

There was a moment of awkwardness as the young Konti clearly lost herself after Rosela offered to make her nightgown herself. The Amphith... Was it Tukant for something?

Rosela couldn't help her eyes narrowing as the Konti spun her tale of a family of seamstresses. Aside from the two batty Konti twins running the cloak stall down in the Zhongjie, she hadn't heard of such a family in Riverfall. They'd be quite the competition for her with an entire of family of hands opposed to just her own, multiple though they were.

Brief relief came as the Konti admitted her story, quickly followed by irritation. The Amphitheatre, once again a thorn in her side. She thought of outright refusal, witholding her hand and throwing the deceptive little blonde out of her shop. What an uncomfortable situation she was being put in. Supplying to a competitor? In Ahnatep, it would have been unheard of. Then again, in Ahnatep, tailors and weavers were not far between, and fashion was not a feature firmly secondary to function.

Sighing deeply, Rosela reached out her hand to clasp the Konti's firmly, squeezing once before letting go. "I suppose if anyone other than me can deal with Jorin, ridiculous as he his, and those insufferable actresses, it's a good deal." Jorin's visit in the Summer had been unpleasant to say the least, though he had redeemed himself not to long ago by visiting with Rinya. "I don't have much of it left, though it should be plenty for a nightgown. I'll get the bolt."

She disappeared quickly to the back, hesitating before picking up what was left of the bolt. In fact, she had another full bolt remaining, but had plans for that with a line of Beautyfest inspired little red dresses and lingerie. Not a chance she was missing out on those profits, and certainly not for the Amphitheatre. She wondered if she shouldn't go visit the place to scope out who worked there. It would avoid another situation like the one she was currently in, and maybe allow her a discreet markup for all theatre employees.

Returning to the front, she saw another customer come in behind the Konti, and she raised a hand genially. "Welcome to Red Diamond Fashions! Let me know if you need anything." The bulky violet Akalak grunted once and meandered uncomfortably over to the men's trousers.

Turning back to the Konti, Rosela waved her over to the till, face set in a professional mask. "There's about ten feet here, two feet wide with a square foot section pinned onto the end that I didn't use last time I worked with it. I assume the mizas will be invoiced to the Amphitheatre? There will be a markup on the fabric, since I won't be getting more soon." Best to be forward about it, no sense in lying about what she paid for it only to get confronted about it when the Konti inevitably found out.

[Gossamer]

Character: Rosela
Experience: Observation +2, Business +3, Interrogation +2, Leadership
+1, Planning +2, Sewing +1
Lore: Krima: Makes Odd Requests, Krima: Works for the Amphitheater

Character: Krima
Experience: Planning +1, Observation +1, Deception +1
Lore: Red Diamond Fashions: A place to be avoided, Making Confessions


Additional Note: Interesting little thread. I can see why Rosela hates the Amphitheater if that’s what she has to deal with repeatedly. Too bad it didn’t finish.