Preparing For The Cold

"10% off. Take it or leave it."

Majestic clothes are displayed all around the elven tailor's shop. While Althea and Yazmin haggled for a discount, Telmano shivered while staring at the mannequins. Unlike the creepy ones they encountered last time, the major purpose of these were to display the elven tailor's craft. The mannequins were faceless, and to the party's relief, unmoving.

"Is that really the best you can do for your Guildmates, Kienne?" Disbelief dripped from Althea's tone.

Wearing fashionable grey robes, Kienne swayed his fabulous golden hair before saying, "What percentage do you want, 50? How about I just make you the damn coats for free, hmm? Oh, that's right, it is almost as if I am running business."

"Fine, geez, you could have just told me you're not going to go higher than 10. "

Friend or not, Yazmin's lover getting mocked while simply asking for a discount was something she will not let slide on especially when they're just right next to each other.

"I know a thing or two about being a tailor, hell, you don't even need to be one to know that a pleasant personality brings plenty of customers. With how insufferable you are, are you getting any, I wonder?" Yazmin hissed beneath her mask.

How the Gorgon's snakes started to menacingly glare at Kienne alarmed Althea. Kienne had a reputation for being overly blunt, aside from it, he's a good high-elf. Certainly a cut above than his pompous brethrens who think they are above other races.

"Yaz, stop it. I told you Kienne is a friend of ours."

Even with murder in Yazmin's eyes, Kienne remained unfazed, even laughing off Yazmin's hostility.

"You bagged yourself one fierce lover, Althea, lucky you!" Kienne could tell at a glance that the Gorgon's bark is as worse as her bite. She is dangerous. But what if it? Kienne grinned. "You mistake me for an ordinary tailor. A pleasant personality isn't going to give you arcane draped clothing. I will."

Yazmin solidified her glare, "There are many ways to stave off the cold, your coat won't be the only one."

A sight escaped from Althea's lips. How did it devolve into this? They simply wanted procure proper attire to fend off the north's frigid cold.

"Both of you, break it up. Kienne, can you please measure us so we can be on our merry way?" Althea said to the two.

"Certainly." Kienne agreed. Like Althea, he didn't want to waste time on petty arguments. "Telmano, Marionne, follow me to the back."

+++

While the two manned counter in Kienne's momentary absence, Althea laid her hand underneath her chin.

"I warned you about Kienne's personality beforehand, there was no excuse for you to press him like that." Sadness lingered in Athea's tone.

Now that it's just the two of them, Yazmin removed her mask. In her expression there was remorse, in hindsight she might have overreacted. Althea was a formidable woman, she needed no help in fending for herself, be it verbal or physical.

"Forgive me, my love. Your condition blinds my judgement, I just don't want anyone to give you a hard time knowing that you're sick."

Althea chuckled, "You're damn right, it is blinding you, otherwise you wouldn't even dare accompany me to Vanagrad!"

Snakes can die a slow death when subjected to extreme cold, their energy drained, making them unable to digest food. A Gorgon's insistence to go the the land of ice was like a polar bear requesting to visit an arid desert.

Yazmin grabbed Althea's hand, clenching it, letting Althea know that through thick and thin, Yazmin will remain by her side.

"I have to be there, I need to grasp your hand like this as you are finally healed."

After a heartfelt confession like that, how could Althea leave Yazmin behind? And thus, Althea agreed with Yazmin coming on board, hoping that the warmth of their love will be enough to fend off the extreme cold that awaited them both.

There hearts beating as one, the two were about to lean in for a kiss....

Until Marionne and Stefano stepped out, and Kienne calling them, making the two force to break apart as if they weren't about to give each other's lips as passionate smackdown.

+++

"Can you fit my knives in this coat that you will be making? I prefer they be hidden."

While Yazmin's arms spread in a T pose, she made a request to the elven tailor that was taking her measurements through a marked rope. From vertical to horizontal, parts of her upper body were subjected to the elf's rope pressed on her skin.

"So you're making demands now after threatening to sic your snakes on me earlier?" Kienne smirked as he continued his measurements.

Yazmin watched as a floating quill wrote all her measurements on a paper by itself - nay, it was guided by the high elf's telekinesis spell. While most mages can can chuck objects at you, it is complete mastery over telekinesis that allows this feat before her.

"That was for Althea's sake, now, it's only you and me in here. If you are an excellent tailor as you are a powerful mage, then my request should be child's play for you."

Kienne chuckled. This Gorgon is stroking his ego. Luckily, Kienne enjoyed the praise.

"You are playing me, but I shall let it slide for I am indeed an excellent tailor." His measurements done, Kienne reviewed Yazmin's sizes. "Observe."

With a simple wave of Kienne's hands, leather and threads all levitated towards him. Ordinary tailors and craftsman needed to rely on pedalled machines, Kienne needed only his magic. His hands swayed in every direction, conducting an opera of threads that the the leather followed. They were cut, sewn, and adjusted mid air. Right before Yazmin's very eyes, her majestic blue arctic coat.

A few moments later...

Yazmin slithered out of Kienne's work room wearing the gorgeous blue coat for her lover to see. Brown fur in its hem, the long and thick coat boasted magical heat insulation that warm Yazmin even if the temperature reaches below the freezing point of water. Its inside, littered with numerous daggers. Yazmin was well equipped for whatever the land ice throws into her direction.