Aeric walked into the store, waving at Grant when he saw his friend behind the counter. He headed over with a grin. “Was your night as great as mine was?”

Grant snorted, “I had a ton of fun, but not as fast as you. You and Celina disappeared on us within ten minutes. To be fair, that did kind of hit something competitive in Meera so maybe I should thank you instead. The wingman does it again!”

“Doesn’t being a wingman only count for landing a date?”

“Eh, I think if you continue to push a relationship forward you continue to be a wingman. You here for some materials though? Got a new order?”

“Yup, I had this drow customer walk into the store this morning. Completely emotionless in both expression and way of speaking. Thought he was kind of creepy, then I took his measurements and the guy took his coat off and was covered in knives. Gave me a heart attack!”

Grant raised an eyebrow as he leaned on his counter. “What’s the guy doing covered in knives this early in the day?”

“Xii said it was for work, he’s a monster butcher.”

Recognition sparked in Grant’s eyes. “I think I know the drow you’re talking about, doubt there are that many around. He comes in here semi-regularly to supply the old man with materials. Gramps says he does good work, the materials are always harvested well and of high quality. He’s pretty slow with gathering I think, we don’t see him as often as some of the other butchers.”

“Well he was a little odd, not to speak ill of people or anything. I’m plenty odd myself, just felt like something worth mentioning.”

“No need to explain yourself here, I’m always up for some innocent people gossip.”

Aeric snorted and rolled his eyes, “I’m pretty sure you’re part girl.”

He was answered with a huff and a similar roll of the eyes, “Says the guy making clothes and constantly thinking about fashion.”

“Touché”

“What’s that mean?”

“That I accept your point and that my remark was well countered, I think.”

Grant tapped his desk, “Good to know, but you’re here on business. Whatcha lookin for?”

Aeric looked around the store and headed over to the cloth section with Grant in tow, “I need something that’s blood resistant, something so it won’t show up on clothes.”

“Hhmmm, does it need to be resistant? Or do you just need the blood not to show up when splashed on the clothing.”

“The latter.”

Grant sat down on his heels and ran his eyes over the materials, “Well, we have this.” He grabbed a piece of cloth that looked blood-soaked. “It’s called Scarlet Scavenger Cloth, it’s from this really weird type of insect. They absorb blood and it makes their… stuff, stronger.”

“Stuff, huh? A true expert at work.”

“Shush you, I have no idea what the material is called because some kind of bighead called it something really complicated.”

“Uh huh, insult the intellectuals because you can’t comprehend their words.”

“I’ll hit you.”

“No you won't.” Aeric retorted with a smirk. “What about those other materials then, blood absorbing works I guess, but I wanna know my options.”

“Well next we’d have blood resistant materials. They just don’t get stained basically, least interesting of the four I got so let's skip them.”

“What’s the other two then?”

“Blood proof, which means blood will just roll off. Won't get stuck to the clothing or anything else the material is used on. Or blood repelling, which will actually push the blood away from the cloth.”

“Absorbing and repelling sound the most interesting.”

“I do have a question though, will they absorb water as well? What happens to the absorbed material?”

Grant blinked and looked over at him, “I honestly haven’t a clue, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t absorb water but as for what happens to whatever is absorbed? The material doesn’t change once it has absorbed water. So as far as I know it just gets magicked away.”

“And the repellent? Does it repel water?”

“Let me get some water and we can check.” Grant walked to the back of the store and came back with a cup of water. He hefted the cup and looked over at Aeric who nodded. He dripped a bit of water onto the material and nothing really happened. The water just slid off the material.

“Hhhmmm, it doesn’t repel it but it doesn’t absorb it either.”

“So waterproof and blood repellant, that’s actually perfect.”

Grant looked at him and frowned, “Are you sure, wouldn’t that make it hard to clean?”

Aeric tilted his head, “Don’t you just use cleaning magic. Should be fine if it’s waterproof right?”

“Well you’d know better than me, is that all you need?”

“Yup, I’ll see you around. I’m headin back to the shop. I got work to do.”

Grant waved at him after giving him the bag of materials. Aeric returned the wave as he stepped through the doorway and out of the shop. He walked down the street and watched as the people started coming out of their houses. For most people the day had only just begun, not everyone got up as early as he did. Or Grant did for that matter, shop owners tended to be up rather early.

He blinked as he saw a familiar head of golden hair walk ahead of him. Aeric picked up the pace, slinging the bag of materials over his shoulder. “Fjar right?”

The man turned around and blinked in surprise at the mention of his name, then a blinding smile appeared on his face. Causing a few girls in the street to stutter in their steps as they stared. “Aaah Aeric. Fancy seeing you on this fine morning.”

Aeric smiled at the diplomat, “So what’re you doing out and about this early?”

“Simply enjoying the morning sun, I do like my regular walks. The weather is gorgeous today so I thought I’d get some fresh air. Explore the city a bit.”

“Well if you don’t have any plans I can show you where I work.”

Fjar laughed, “The famous store of Aliami and her band of misfits. I do believe I’d enjoy a tour.”

Aeric grinned, “I also have something of a plan which I wanted your opinion for, you’d suit a part particularly well I believe.”

“Aah and something to keep me occupied as well, I must admit my time in the city is fraught with boredom, there is little to do for me once the relations were established. Although if there is an emergency my work multiplies and I make up for all the free time I have in times like this.”

“Sounds pretty great and kind of sucky at the same time if I’m honest. Free time is only enjoyable as long as you have things to fill it with.”

“You speak true. Well, lead on.”

Aeric spent the walk with some small talk. Getting to know Fjar better, he apparently had several siblings. He was the second oldest, with an older brother and a younger one, as well as two younger sisters. He was however alone in the city, he had no entourage or staff working for him. He had plenty of work connections but not many personal ones.

Aeric on the other hand told Fjar about his father, his tendency towards art of various kinds. About his grandfather who had been a tailor and had taught him some of the tricks he knew and had specialised in making suits. His roommate who for all intents and purposes had been family, her little art projects she made from scrap metal, his dog and how the fluffer had always rushed up with wagging tail when he came home from work.

“And you left all of that behind to come here?”

Aeric frowned and adjusted the bag he had slung over his shoulder, “Not by choice. Teleportation spell gone wrong, I don’t even know how far away from my country I am. No one I spoke to has heard of it. The girls think it might be on another continent.”

Fjar blinked and looked over at him, “Another continent? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“Well Lshrkr knows there are other continents for sure, said her people have had dealings with them. You’d have to ask her for more details.”

“You do realise how much this would change, don’t you?”

Aeric shrugged, “Just don’t start a continental conquest war, I’m enjoying the peace quite a bit.”

Fjar sighed and ran a hand through his golden hair, “That’s quite a surprise you dumped on me. I’ll need more information at the least before I decide what to do.”

“Well you can ask her about it later, we’re here.”

Fjar looked over the clean wooden entrance, with the little carvings on the door and the windowsill to add a little flair. “Aaah the infamous home of powerful misfits.”

“I’m still not sure how we have such widespread renown as misfits. I don’t feel like we are that misfit like, more like a dorm of determined people if anything.”

“I’m half certain that Aliami spread that information herself so the people who are a little odd end up finding her or get sent to her when people think they might fit in. It’s worked well for her, I heard it’s what brought you to her doorstep as well.”

Aeric blinked and scratched at his beard, “Well that would have been quite the business move, Aliami is sly in all the ways you don’t expect or really notice.”

“She is quite the business woman.”

Aeric shook his head and entered the store, he looked around and noticed a pair of customers but the store was rather empty. It made sense, it was still very early in the morning. He headed over to the counter with a wave at Treeka who waved back at him and eyed Fjar with obvious curiosity.

“So who’s the sparkly white knight type next to you?”

Aeric snorted and Fjar smiled, “Told you so.”

“So you did, anyways Fjar, this is Treeka. Most energetic of the misfits.”

Treeka raised a hand and grinned at the man, “Yello!”

“Treeka, this is Fjar, noble diplomat of the Harlan Kingdom.”

Fjar bowed at the waist, a polite smile on his face. “A pleasure, madam.”

Treeka chirped and patted the man on the shoulder, “Madam makes me feel too old. No lady stuff either. It’s Treeka, or T, or Ka. Something short and fun and energetic, no titles for me!”

“Understood Miss Treeka.” Treeka raised a disapproving eyebrow and folded her arms. “Understood Treeka.”

She grinned at him, “Well if Aeric brings you over you’re probably the good sort, so I’m guessing he wanted to show you what the workshop was like?”

“I’m unsure actually, I just tagged along because I didn’t have much better to do. I do have some questions before we head to the back.”

Aeric and Treeka exchanged glances before they shrugged in unison. “Ask away.”

“So Aeric you mentioned those suits of yours, and I saw those clothing mannequins covered in multiple layers of cloth. It looked amazingly smooth, I assume those are the suits you talked about?”

“Yup! Wanna take a look?”

“I would appreciate that.”

Aeric walked over to the front of the store, there behind a window a pair of mannequins stood showcasing suits. Already there had been multiple people asking about them in the few days they had been put up.

“These are called suits, they’re from my home country. Mostly used for business wear and the traditional wear of those who consider themselves gentlemen.”

“They are extremely fashionable, these were made with common materials?”

Aeric nodded as he ran a finger over the jacket and turned it over so they could see the inside. “It’s mostly Silk, linen, and cashmere. With the various layers working together, most of the suits I make end up in the Exceptional category of clothing. They’re a lot sturdier than they look, caused mostly by my compounding skills.”

Fjar tilted his head and walked around the mannequin admiring the suit. “This is a gorgeous ensemble, I’d like to order one of these for my own use if I could.”

“Custom tailored?”

“Of course.”

Aeric grinned, “Well I had a bit of an idea that I wanted to run by you and Aliami. I believe a suit could be easily added to the negotiations. Let’s head to the back, Aliami shouldn’t have left yet. It’s still early.”

“Well now you have me intrigued, lead the way.”

They headed to the back, Treeka raised an eyebrow and followed. Aeric turned to her, “Don’t you have to watch the store.”

“Sure, but you’re up to something. You’ve got that ‘I have a great idea look’ on your face. I’m not missing whatever you’re up to, I wanna be involved!”

Aeric grinned, “Good thing I already had a role in mind for you then. Maybe even more than one, it depends.”

Treeka grinned and bounced through the door, “Well then, let's do this thing! Ali! Aeric is up to something, he’s got his idea face on.”

Aeric snorted and rolled his eyes as he stepped after her through the door. Fjar followed through, everyone turned their gaze to him for a brief moment. Xii, Yi, Aliami and Lshrkr nodded to him in greeting. Hurma raised an eyebrow and glanced at them in confusion, Yii leaned over and whispered something in her ear. To which Hurma’s eyebrows raised in surprise before she sat back in her chair, eyes glancing from Aeric to Fjar.

Aliami stepped forward with her hands on her hips, “Out with it, you had an idea?”

Aeric grinned, stepping on a stool so he could be seen by everyone present. But mostly for that little bit of extra theatre. “I had this little idea, I was thinking of running a fashion show!”

A quiet fell over the room as his audience stared at each other in confusion. Aliami folded her arms, “I think you will have to elaborate.”

“Well, think of multiple people on a runway. Which is a uuuhhh, a long stage someone can walk down. They’d show-off the clothing I’d made then turn around. I’d have various different styles and people walking down. Could go both genders and some clothing fit for various occasions. You’d make it a big event, like we’d have people catering food. A musical component, someone who could make different lights or illusions to add to the show. It’d be a whole show about fashion.”

Treeka bounced up and down, “And what role did you have for me.”

“Well I was thinking of you as the announcer, the presenter of the program. You’d tell people about the clothing, do some theatrical flourishes. Get the audience into it, I think you’d be great for that.”

Treeka scratched at her beak and grinned, “That does sound like a lot of fun, I’m already in.”

Aliami tilted her head, “This does sound like a rather large expenditure.”

“It will be, but it’s an investment. For now we aren’t that big, considering. But if we established our own lines, you could expand. We do the first event for free, get people interested. If it’s a success then perfect, we could charge for future events. Make it something the city is known for, which is why I asked Fjar to come with me. He has connections and he could help us with the event. I was thinking of asking Bramzur and Po’al as well. The higher class people would enjoy the various fashion pieces and what they could mean for dressing codes.”

Hurma tapped her chin, “While the lower class people would simply enjoy the show, the food and the fun.”

“Exactly! Most importantly we start spreading the brand. Aliami’s is already known for quality yet affordable clothing and accessories. Now we are adding expensive options but we want to keep the quality yet affordable part. So I’ll use various ideas from back home to showcase separate styles that we can then spread. We add on a symbol that stands for our quality and then you can spread it to other places. Keep the symbol the same but make sure the quality is good. That’s how you can grow from a shop into a company. I’d prefer to remain in the design and custom work part though. I’d like to step back from normal tailoring completely.”

Aliami eyed him and scratched her chin, “I’m behind the idea, I see the merits and as for stepping back from normal tailoring.” She shrugged, “I’ve been expecting that for a while now, the normal stuff bores you out of your skull and we can tell. I need some more details about this fashion event of yours though. How does it work.”