4 Preparations

The words "Jackson's Tailors" Were embroidered with gold on a rich-looking sign, causing me to grunt softly. I hate these flashy clothing stores and the fact that Fricn picked this spot and even giving me a discount barely motivated me to hide my disdain. I double-check my clothes and take off my mask, making myself as presentable as possible. I'm not in the mood to get kicked out of the store for Mary's sake.

Momentarily satisfied with my appearance, I head inside to be immediately greeted by a worker.

"What can I help you with… sir?" Her once cherry voice soured at the sight of me, obviously discriminating against me by my clothing. "I'm preparing for the upcoming expedition and was recommended here, please tell me your best tailored that my sponsor Fricn sent me, and my budget is 1 gold and 2 silvers," I respond, not caring to hide my obvious disdain for being here.

"Oh...Oh, my apologies sir! I'll bring him right away please wait there!" She replies, her tone taking a 180 after hearing either my budget or Fricn's name, most likely both. I nod my head and wait, my aura of disdain probably coming off as one of ignorance like most of the nobles who come here.

After waiting a few minutes, I'm greeted by a young man, presumably in his mid-twenties with long locks of black hair, enough to almost pass as a girl… almost. I instinctively start to size the man up but quickly remind myself that he's a tailor, not a knight or assassin. (hopefully anyway)

"So your the kid Fricn decided to sponsor huh?" He questions, his voice plummy and strident, his blue eyes aflame with challenge bore into me. My dead, uninterested eyes easily extinguish that flame, my demeanor crying out "Let's just get this over with"

With the tailor and I on mutual grounds of not wanting to be here, the bitch who brought him with her introduces themselves. "This is Jackson Vangrut the third, our finest tailor, and my name is Sofia. May we ask for your name dear customer?"

Pathetic

"The name of a commoner like me is not important, just know that I am Fricn's sponsored, and how you treat me reflects him"

Her reaction is immediate. Fear snakes around her as she barely manages to hide the trembles overtaking her body, knowing the underlying threat in my words. I could have her fired, her life ruined. Whatever family she could be struggling to support will crumble, whatever blood, sweat, and tears she spent trying to keep herself and whoever else afloat can be ripped from her with a singular complaint, and she knows. She understands the warning the second I gave her.

Heh, smart cookie

Thick waves of Ignorance and narcissism radiate from me, so thick that for not my shabby clothes, the people before me easily could have thought I was a noble.

For the briefest of moments, Sofia and Jackson could have sworn that they were in the presence of a noble, and barely fought the urge to bow down for forgiveness in front of this black-haired teenager in shabby clothing, sporting a hairstyle that they feel like holds some sort of long lost significance.

The moment and the feelings along it went as fast as it came however as I calmed down, my looks and demeanor once again of a commoner.

"Did Fricn have any specific clothing recommended for me, or do I have the freedom to choose?" I ask the duo, my voice flat and bored, giving off the impression that I have places to be, alleviating my status as a customer even higher.

"Ah yes! Fricn has some recommendations, would you like to see them?" Sofia responds, having been the faster one to snap out of her daze.

"Bring them out, I'll be waiting"

"At once sir!"

And like that Sofia was gone, viciously grabbing the confused Jackson along for the ride. By the end of our brief exchange, we were at the back of the shop, with luxurious furniture and rich food was strewn about. I recline into the comfortable coach before me with a sigh, sipping whatever wine they had.

"Old habits die hard huh" I murmur as I clench my teeth, my knuckles turning white the harder I grip the wine glass. I suppress those disgusting memories once more as I place down the glass and fish out my notebook, regarding my map once more to see what my next stop is. "Hmmm, guess my next stop is the blacksmith, can't say no to that." I think to myself as I re-read my to-buy list, crossing out some things and adding a few more to pass the time.

After what felt like 10 minutes, Sofia comes out with a small mobile clothing rack with a tailcoat hanging on it. The two primary colors of the tailcoat were black and crimson, with streaks of gold intertwining and slithering around the coat. The tailcoat was fit with a hood and after closer inspection, a sewn-in bandanna. The bandanna's main color was black, with a curved gold line where my mouth would be, resembling a mouth a child would have drawn. The coat's fabric was rough to the touch but also wrinkly in a weird sense. Noting my curiosity, Sofia eagerly explains,

"The coat's mainly made out a mixture of bloodwolf hide and leather, allowing for not only ease of movement but also water and dirt resistance to a certain extent. It can take a graze or two, but its main purpose is to protect you from the elements, not from blades and arrows."

I nod, liking the tailcoat more and more. "Do you have any jeans or pants that could pair with it?"

"Of course! Look here Sir,"

Putting the coat back on the rack, she gives me a pair of pants with matching colors, held together by the usual six ring strings while also sporting numerous pockets, a most revolutionary design I'm sure.

"Perfect," I muse, nodding in approval. After trying both on to make sure the clothes were a good fit(which they were), I confirm with Sophia that I'll take them.

"That'll be 75 slivers, while you here is there anything else you might need?"

"A good backpack, specifically something with a good amount of space while also being durable enough to not damage what's inside in case of a tumble or fall," I tell her, tossing her a gold coin.

"This should be enough to cover everything I would assume"

"Certainly sir! I will come back shortly," And then she was off, leaving me to wait once more, only this time in more… acceptable clothing. It only took half the time to come back with a multi-pocket leather backpack, instead of being its usual mahogany color it was black, dyed no doubt. Unstrapping the numerous pockets and compartments revealed space more than satisfactory, and after touching and feeling the backpack I easily knew this will be more than good enough for the nearing expedition.

"I'll be taking everything," I tell Sophia, who nods brightly and gives me my change, which resulted in 2 slivers. (1 for her) After quickly transferring my old backpack's contents into my new one, I nod to my old clothing and backpack as I depart.

"Burn them"

"At once sir! Have a safe expedition!" She wishes me off cheerily, due to her personality or merely to lower the chances of me ruining her life I could not tell, nor care.

I leave Jackson Tailors with my new clothing and head to my next destination,

Talia's forge.