I Feel Pretty

[Balthazar Black]

56 Vhalar 720

The Glass Quarter was the best and worst of Rharne, in Balthazar's opinion, because it allowed you to bask in what Rharne could offer... but it also reminded Balthazar how those in the Dust Quarter had been fairing. It was the same everywhere in the world. There was always a divide between the rich and the poor but in Rharne that divide was literal. Balthazar walked with confidence he did not have because he knew that it would keep people from looking twice when the saw him unless they noticed his poorly mended shirt. He heard that there would be a Ball soon and intended to go if for no other reason than to meet people. You never knew who you could meet at events and you never knew what could be turned to your advantage. Besides, he'd promised the Lightning Knights at Storm's Edge eighty trials in Rharne to try and help out. The whole point of participating in The Copper Prince's tournament had been to help gather supplies. Then again Balthazar would be lying if he said he was not placing Scalvoris first in his priorities.

For every ration Balthazar secured for Storm's Edge, he kept one for Scalvoris. One of the reasons he needed to book passage back to Scalvoris- apart from the Shades pursuing him, was that Balthazar did not think he could carry all of the supplies he needed to transport back with him through the Untold and he really did not want to lose them. Yet to-trial he had nothing in his heart but himself. He'd been growing frustrated as of late due to his lack of progress and the distance from his home. Most nights he didn't take control of his dreams, he dreamed of Faldrass. He relived the eruption and the horrors he'd seen helping clean up the damage. He saw the mangled bodies, the dead, the weak and the injured. In his dreams he could make them whatever they needed but it did nothing to take away the pain he felt when he awoke and thought of them waiting for his help back in Scalvoris.

Fuego had not spoken with Balthazar in a few trials and the mage assumed it was because the diri was angry with him. Balthazar had promised they were going to return to Scalvoris and then the Shade diverted him. At least to-trial Fuego was willing to ride on Balthazar's shoulder again as they moved through the Glass Quarter to the unique shop that they'd heard about. Nimue walked beside Balthazar with some childish interest in the idea of dressing up but she had no plans to attend the Ball with Balthazar. He did not plan to bring her anchor because he did not plan to bring weapons. Nimue did not mind, she had better uses for her time, but she wanted to see Balthazar dress up so she lurked around him in softly materialized form as he passed through the threshold into the shop.

"Any idea what you want?" Nimue asked as she took a casual glance at the room. Fashion had interested her more in life than it did in death. Now she didn't have simple desires or hobbies, merely her obsession and smaller obsessions bound to it. Yet she would enjoy admiring Balthazar as he fumbled through making all his decisions. He didn't spend large amounts of money often but the Glass Quarter seemed to demand such patronage. If he didn't spend it here, he'd spend it somewhere else in the Quarter- so why not here? Balthazar had heard that this boutique could do some interesting things with fabric colors.

"Not really." He admit as he slowly shifted to the nearest rack. He didn't know exactly what he was looking for but as his hands slipped over the different materials he narrowed it down a little. Certain fabrics he touched were softer than others and Balthazar decided rather quickly that he enjoyed the soft feeling against his skin. Whatever he decided to get, he wanted it to be soft.

[Faith Augustin]

56th Vhalar

Faith was here, finishing up orders for the Ball. People had been coming in throughout Vhalar and that was great, because it meant that more money came into the shop. Even though this was a very exclusive boutique with some very expensive pieces in there, Faith was uninterested in the money from her own point of view. But every nel which came in to this shop provided charities throughout Rharne - and beyond - with funds needed to function. To help people and improve lives. Such was her drive and determination, Faith would not stop until the world was a better - much better - place.

On this particular trial, Faith had been making her way around, tidying the store and making sure that all the stock was arranged, things were placed in the best manner, that the feeling was welcoming and so on. Faith was very careful and particular about things like that, she wanted to make sure that everyone felt welcome - because everyone was. On this particular trial, although it had been busy for quite some time, it was quieter and Faith was pleased at the opportunity to fuss around and attend to the small details.

Then, as there was the familiar tinkle of the shop bell, Faith turned and glanced. She saw the man, of course, but the ghost with him was of equal, or greater, interest to her. She looked at the soul who was with her latest customer and Faith nodded her head in greeting to the ghost. Then, she spoke to the man. He knew the ghost was there, Faith figured, because he'd been muttering to himself. So, she turned her attention to the latest customer. He had a sense of static around him and his eyes looked ... like he was a mage, or h was marked perhaps. Still, either way, Faith smiled and her gaze encompassed both Balthazaar and the ghost.

"Welcome to Augustin's Boutique," she said, her voice soft. She was happy to see him, as she was with every customer. "I'm Faith Augustin. How can I help you to-trial?"

[Balthazar Black]

56 Vhalar 720

Faith Augustin was a hero for many, many reasons and most of them Balthazar wouldn't likely know about. He could find out about her many great deeds and he could find out where the profits for her shop went, but what made Balthazar think that Faith was a hero was that she had saved him from fumbling around on his own. He seemed a little jumpy but not much. There was a certain little start when Faith welcomed him into the shop but he quickly seemed to push down his nerves. Balthazar gave a friendly smile and an awkward wave to Faith before looking around her boutique.

"He doesn't know." Nimue mused to Faith before Balthazar could say anything in response. Balthazar's face twisted and he tilted his head slightly to peer at Nimue. She shrugged and continued looking around aimlessly while Balthazar spoke to the polite woman who'd addressed him.

"I am Balthazar Black, this is my... friend, Nimue." Balthazar said with a gesture to the ghost beside him. How could she help him? Well he thought on that longer than he probably should have. He'd fought the Creep in Quacia, a mountain in Scalvoris, and storms in Melrath yet he was nervous to buy a nice suit. He didn't buy nice things often, certainly nothing like the outfits he'd heard Faith could make. "I'm looking for a... suit." Balthazar finally managed. "I- uh, don't normally dress up but I'm going to the Mummer's Ball and was told I should probably get something nice." Well 'everyone' being the few people Balthazar had asked in the other Quarters.

"That is a lie," Nimue chimed in again as she looked over towards Faith, "He got the idea entirely by himself." Balthazar's face turned a little red when Nimue said that. He didn't know why he felt embarrassed about wanting to buy a nice outfit but he did.

"Alright, yes, I thought I should get something new." Balthazar admit, "But I have no idea what to get. I like dark colors, something black, but I- I don't- Is there a particular style in Rharne or... well, what would you recommend?"

[Faith Augustin]

56th Vhalar

That he wanted a suit was enough to make Faith smile. Then, the ghost with him said that he wanted it for himself, and Faith nodded in understanding. "Of course you do," she said, quite sure that it was the most natural thing in the world. "Of course you want to look your best," she said, doing her best to reassure him. "Going to a ball will mean that you are in quite a different situation than you are used to, I imagine?" He seemed very uncomfortable, and Faith had no wish to add to it - rather, she wanted to make sure that he felt at his ease, comfortable.

"So, I'm very happy to help out. Let's have a look, shall we?" She led him over to a rail. "How about I pull out a few things which I think might be good for you? Comfort is important, as well as looking appropriate." There were rails of clothing and Faith was able to really home in on where she felt he'd be best suited. "So, we have a few options," she said. There were three suits she was specifically thinking of and she took them out, one at a time.

As she took the first one, she said "We can make the waistcoat slightly more intricate, but this is a very relaxed and comfortable look. You could go with that shirt, or a slightly more formal one if you feel inclined." That was the first one and then, when he'd had a good look and asked anything he wanted to, she moved to the next suit. Looking at it, she frowned slightly and said "If you went for this sort of thing, I'd suggest that we change out the shirt? All black is probably too much." She felt that the all black look probably would be too much for him with his specific colouring. It suited some people, but not others. Finally, there was the last outfit which Faith showed him. "These can be mixed and matched, as you see fit," she explained.

Well aware that there was only so much help she could give before he basically had to make the decision of what he wanted, Faith smiled slightly. "So, what are you thinking?" she asked, and waited to hear his answer.

[Balthazar Black]

56 Vhalar 720

Balthazar's mind was alight with possibilities as Faith lead him down the rack and showed him the variety of options at her disposal. When he was looking on his own, or as on his own as he could be with Nimue and Fuego, Balthazar hadn't really considered anything as much as he did when Faith was displaying them for him. He was just feeling his way through the fabrics with no real sense of what would look good. Yet now he was picturing himself in the options Faith was giving him. With every suggestion a different number of thoughts ran through the mage's head. Her comment about all black being too much echoed repeatedly in his head. He always wore black... almost exclusively... would she have thought his fashion sense was droll? "Very different than I'm used to." Balthazar admit to Faith as they moved down the rail. Nimue followed behind the two of them silently, her eyes shifting slowly over the clothing. She wasn't paying attention to the options Faith showed Balthazar.

The first option Faith provided leapt out to Balthazar and impulsively he wanted to claim it on the spot. He liked the simple look of the vest and the pants seemed comfortable. He wasn't the most fond of the shirt- he'd have preferred something a little darker and Faith's word's quickly reassured him of that possibility. Yet the longer he looked at it the more he realized he probably wouldn't wear an outfit like that to the ball. It looked comfortable enough that he thought he might wear it at work to look professional. It was nice, but it was not Mummer worthy. He still wanted it, but not for the ball. Balthazar didn't say anything though, he just thought, observed, and listened to Faith as she told him about the outfits she was presenting. He didn't care as much for the second outfit though the color scheme fit his preferences perfectly. There just seemed to be too much fabric dangling around the ensemble for Balthazar's preference. He was a little worried about tripping over the fabric. Then Faith showed Balthazar the third option and the second slipped out of his mind entirely. He liked the look of the gold embroidery on the black material.

"I like this... a lot." Balthazar said quite simply as he gestured to the embroidery on the waistcoat and jacket. "But I liked the first option as well- just not for the ball. Perhaps with a darker shirt beneath it- maybe not black but... not white. White clothes don't last long for me." Blood was the devil to clean out of white clothing. "I was thinking I could get both and use this one-" The one with the golden embroidery "-for the ball. What do you think? As you could tell, I'm in unfamiliar territory here."

[Faith Augustin]

56th Vhalar

It wasn't at all a surprise to her that he was feeling out of his depth; lots of people did. It was only natural, Faith believed, for that to be the case; on the whole, most people didn't frequent posh shops looking for bespoke clothing - those who did do that regularly were usually quite at home. Far more of her customers, like this one, were not. Her sharp eyes caught the slight wince as she spoke of black and Faith noted it; she smiled at him and nodded. "Different for most people, I think. Whereas a woman can, and usually does, wear one colour to affairs like this, for a man to do so would be most unusual." Such was, alas, the nature of fashion and how things worked.

He looked at both the first and the last outfit and he said that he liked them both. Faith nodded her head, "I think that's a wise choice, of those two, this one is more... well, formal ball-worthy. But I agree that this first one would really suit you." She motioned to the changing rooms. "We'll need to get you measured, and I can add or take away anything you want changed?" Colours, accessories, whatever he wanted, she was more than happy to provide. If he wanted Faith to bring in a male assistant to do that measuring, she was happy to do so. Then, she would show him the options in terms of buckles, buttons, that kind of thing - he liked the embroidery and she was more than happy to add, change or in any way amend that.

The final questions showed Faith's attention to detail, but it was much more than that. She wanted to make sure that Balthazar got exactly the outfit he wanted that, when he wore it, he would feel as comfortable and as good about himself as was possible. There were additions which Faith could make - from slightly shimmering fabric to a whole range of other things. She could ensure that he was cool, no matter how warm he felt, or that he was warm, no matter how cold it was. Each option was there for him and, at the end of it, she could be sure that she had made exactly what he was hoping for.

That was what she wanted for each and every person who shopped here.

When they had everything they needed, all the information she could possibly use, Faith made sure that she had a place to contact him and told him when the suit would be ready. He could pick it up, or they could deliver it, she said, and there was no bother either way. If he wanted to, he could pop in and see it, then she could deliver it to the Ball itself. Whatever he preferred. When everything was done, though, she nodded her head and said, very seriously "Thank you so much for shopping here. The profits all go to charity and what you spend here will make people's lives better. Thank you."

And, with that, once everything was done, Faith would make sure to bid farewell to him and his ghostly companion. She did her best to always be polite to everyone - alive or dead.

[Avalon]

Review Rewards

Balthazar

Name: Balthazar

Points awarded: 15xp
No magic xp

Knowledge:
Politics - Supporting businesses who support the people
Etiquette - Getting the proper outfit for an event
Etiquette - It is unusual for a man to wear a single color to an event
Design - Measurements are important to make comfortable clothing
Intelligence - Augustine's Boutique donates it's profits to charity
Intelligence - Faith Augustine owns a store in the Glass Quarter
Intelligence - Faith Augustine can produce unique clothing
Detection - Feeling the difference between two fabrics

Renown: 5 (For meeting Faith)

Loot: 2 Masterwork Quality Outfits for Balthazar, made by Faith.

Wealth Points : (- 2) Transaction recorded in CS ledger (Verified)

Skill Review: All Skills used appropriate to level

I loved this thread. Men shopping for fancy clothing (when they aren't used to it) is always a good time and you wrote Balthazar's reactions beautifully. Nimue is always a great and perfect wing-man for his exploits.

Faith

Name: Faith

Points awarded: 15xp
No magic xp

Knowledge:
None requested

Renown: 5 (For another customer knowing about the charitable contributions of Faith's shop)

Skill Review: All Skills used appropriate to level

Faith is always written beautifully. She assists the fashion-challenged Balthazar with efficiency and grace. I love how you write the aspect of her that always hints at knowing more than she's letting on.

Notes:

Great read! These types of threads can be challenging to make interesting because there is a specific goal in mind (purchase of clothing) but you both did a great job of making it a fun read.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this review, feel free to PM. Enjoy your rewards!

Avalon

!	Message from: Munchkin
	Due to Faith being in a coma on this date, this must be assumed to be an NPC and not Faith