The Written Works: The Tailor's Quest - Part 1

Jordini walked through the blossoming forest. It was nice this time of year- perhaps spring? Pink petals from blooming trees fell on her shoulders and gathered in heaps on the brim of her hat. She stopped for a moment under a large aspen tree, fiddling with the collar of her prisoner’s vest. Without her signature poncho, dress shirt, and jeans, she felt rather out of place even when on her own. More so than usual. It had occurred to her several times that she looked rather odd like this. A young girl, with a large witch’s hat and a prisoner’s uniform? Any normal person would know exactly why she was wearing such an odd outfit, and some might turn her straight to the authorities to do the “right thing”.

Her normal clothes had been taken from her when she was arrested in favor of blending with the rest of the criminals, and she had obviously not taken the time to find them. She wished to prevent appearing like a prisoner and perhaps scaring people away, maybe even causing her own characters to fear her. That was not what she wanted. So it was clear what she had to do to disguise herself.

She began her search for a city, which sadly, took a little while. She had begun at dawn, and arrived at a small city at dusk. It was surrounded by a small stone wall that reached her elbows, clearly just decorative despite lacking any detail to give it that title. Small marble buildings sat in rows along a busy street. The marble was not light enough to make it clear this was a Light Kingdom city. So, she assumed it was a Fire Kingdom city instead.

But before she entered the city, she took her shirt off and wrapped it round her waist, revealing her white undershirt. She hoped that, perhaps, hiding the prisoner’s number which had once numbered her would prevent anyone from recognizing her as an escapee- though the bright orange would certainly be a fashion statement.

She strolled into the city, gathering a large amount of stares from the crowd around her. It reminded her so greatly of when she had first arrived, a creator of this great world covered in trash, onlookers watching her like she was a mugger or beggar. So it was the same here.

It was clear where everything was by wooden signs carved by likely amateur carvers. It was easy to locate a tailor’s, where perhaps, she could get some new clothes and then appear less like a prisoner, as she had been earlier in the day. 

She stepped into the tailor’s, gathering more strange looks from those getting measurements done. It was a small room, made to house several people and racks of sample clothing for the indecisive few that came in with no thoughts on what they wanted.Making her way to the waiting section and sitting down, she felt as though she was getting ready to be measured for some great event. A wedding, perhaps, or a funeral. Rather, she was simply hiding her identity.

A young woman not too much older than herself came to her and directed her to the back room, not before glancing at her bright orange pants and shirt as though questioning where she’d come from. She grabbed a tape measure and some pins, setting them to the side on a worn side table, directing Jordini to stand on a circular fitting stand in front of a small mirror.

“Now, could you tell me what you’d like today? Any specific events you’d like to dress for? And any allergies to certain fabrics we should know of?”

“Ah, no. Simply give me something cheap. And made for adventuring, if you can.”

“Of course. We could give you a kitemail shirt and some pants. They are the cheapest we can give you.”

“That sounds good.”

“And that would cost 20 Scorias.”

What had completely skipped her mind was the cost. Even the cheapest clothes would rack up money, money which she did not currently have. The few coins she had been given had been taken from her as well.

“I… do not have any money.”

“As I figured. I could simply tell.”

Jordini’s eyebrows raised in surprise. It was clear she was far from the first to come in with no money, she could tell by her calm demeanor about the situation.

“Do you wish to do something about it or would you rather go without the clothes?”

“Well, I am afraid I need new clothes. You see how I am dressed currently, I cannot go hardly anywhere like this.”

“I see. Well, perhaps you would like to work for it?”

“I would not be opposed to that.”

She nodded and grabbed the measuring tape.

“Let me measure you, then we can discuss things with my supervisor and see what you could do for us in return.”

“Good.”

After taking her measurements, which took a shorter time than expected, they exchanged a curt smile with each other before glancing away. The woman turned to leave, not before Jordini intercepted her and stepped to her side.

“And thank you.”

“Of course.”

After that, the woman left her in the back room, awaiting when she would come back with further news. What she didn’t know was that this coming adventure would be her hardest one in that world as of yet.