|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2017 2:10 pm
Nyko wasn't sure why he even bothered shopping here.
The matorians had no account for taste, and the majority of clothing he saw scattered around him was reminiscent of a child's attempt at fashion. He pawed his way through a stack of tops, opening gaping when one had...fishnet?...danging from it before not so carefully setting it back down.
"If you see nothing you like, perhaps you should try another stall?" He supposed that was the merchant's way of booting him out, though they needn't bother. Nyko didn't want to be there a moment longer than necessary anyway.
His first taste of freedom was...exceptionally underwhelming. The sea was glorious, if not a little terrifying but this was nothing like the grandeur he hoped to obtain in Oba. Nyko dreamed of gold as far as the eye could see, and since he was a boy he only hoped for the best of everything once he was unbound.
Now...now he had fishy smells clinging to his clothing and salt water making his hair coarse.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:53 pm
The children were growing so fast. Usually, Dexurn left the shopping to his wife, but his son had ruined yet another pair of pants with his energetic flare, and Dex was sent to pick up another. Aside from that.. his clothes were well worn. He could use a new outfit. ...He should have brought Shade with him to help.
After taking a little time to browse for himself, he stood at a stall with a couple rows of pant, brow knitting slightly. This was the fifth stall he had stopped at, and he was over it. "How do people enjoy shopping?" he wondered out loud to himself. Browsing for himself was one thing. Trying to pick out pants for his kid was something else. ..Maybe he was over-complicating things?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 12:23 pm
Nyko's finned ears twitched, and he turned toward the less than enthusiastic sound. He wasn't used to seeing such broad shouldered matori men before; most of the slaves - 'servants'- in his household had been scraggly and small, easily over powered by the Oban hired help. This man looked like he could break through a wall on his own, and maybe that was why Nyko whistled when he saw him.
There was nothing sexual about it; just a simple male appreciation that happened to slip out. "How did you get that big working in Oba? You are from Oba, right? I assume so because of all the red." He gestured vaguely to Dexurn's wardrobe which looked....drab, to say the least.
"I'm also going to take a stab and say that you don't shop often?" Nyko openly picked at the cloth around Dexurn's side then, clucking his tongue as he did so. When was the last time this man had worn anything new, let alone fashionable? The flamboyant young man took a step back, cocking his hip to the side so he could look Dexurn over critically, "I can help, but it's going to cost you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 12:53 pm
At first, Dex paid no attention to the soft whistle of awe. He was wrinkling his nose at the price of the pants he was holding. Dropping the pants, he looked over curiously at the voice, locking eyes with the young man. "Me?" He looked down at himself and shook his head. "I.. started out in Oba. I was freed about a year after the war though." So, why was he still wearing the red vest? ..He was still working on stripping the layers of his youth. "Just.. a lot of hard work after that, here in Matori."
He looked at his clothes again as he was picked at and shrugged. "These do what they need to. It wasn't as though I was raised to care about my own clothes much," he murmured, suddenly feeling bashful. ..Why was he defending himself against this forward boy? Cost?! He pursed his lips and shook his head. "I'm actually just finding pants for my son, who isn't here to try anything on for you." Sighing, he couldn't help laughing as well. "My wife might appreciate something new on me, but our pockets would not. Thank you for offering, though." well, they had just come into an inheritance... but, no. He should stay focused.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 1:01 pm
"I figured," Nyko's voice drawled, openly looking over the man's wardrobe. "They do what they need to? Are you even listening to yourself? What is they need to do, cover your junk? Because as far as I can tell, that is the only thing this wardrobe is doing."
Nyko openly sighed, crossed one arm across his slim chest and using the other hand to prop his chin upon dramatically. "It's a pity. A freed slave, a man who has over come so many obstacles in his life, returning home to what I assume to be a lovely wife and a sweet family still dressed in Oban rags. I suppose it's only normal for your confidence to still be shattered after such an upbringing to the point where you find comfort in the old ways, but I just thought maybe your wife would appreciate a new look; a more confident, bolder image. Someone worthy of being on her arm."
The fact was that Nyko knew nothing about this man's family, but he could look at him and piece enough together to at least bring about a convincing lie.
"I don't ask for much. In exchange for a little bit of coin, enough to buy a meal or two for my own wife, I could help you to start a better life with yours."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 1:20 pm
Dex gave the boy a rather perplexed look. "What else is it supposed to do?"
Of course, the boy's pokes hit their mark. It wasn't so much about the rags that got him as the quip about his wife. Shade was beautiful... Maybe he really should try upping his wardrobe a little bit? And the boy had a wife? After a minute of grumbling to himself and squinting at the boy, he sighed and pulled a few coins from his pocket. "This is for your family, and nothing more," he assured bashfully, holding out his hand. He could remember clearly what the struggles were when he and Shade had just started out... "You'll get more if the shopping goes well," he added. He'd been fortunate over the years. It was time to pay that back to those who came after him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 1:46 pm
"Believe it or not, clothing is an extension of who you are. If you can't take pride in your clothing, then how are you supposed to take pride in you?" It was a bit of advice he had taken to heart that he heard as a boy from a passing Noble. Of course, the man had been talking to his own son and wouldn't dare talk to Nyko directly, but the words had left their mark, all the same.
"The goddess smiles upon you, sir." Nyko smiled kindly and pocketed the coin, mentally patting himself on the back for a con well done. That should have been the moment he ran off with it; making his way back to gloat about the quick exchange to his cohorts, but...in all honestly, he really did feel bad for the guy. What kind of person didn't know about fashion?
"Okay, so, first things first; do you have color preferences? Does your wife? Obviously I have some suggestions, but I also want to take your personal tastes into account."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 1:57 pm
Clothing was.. an extension? His old master and the family had taken great pride in their clothes, but not one bit of that had rubbed off on the young Dexurn. "Clothes can be taken off at will. Your actions are your pride, for they are what stay in our minds and the minds of others," he replied. Those words sounded to elegant for him to say."..My aunt told me that back in Oba.."
Color preference? He gave the boy another blank look. "Eh.. no, I don't." He'd been wearing the same colors for years! As for Shade's opinion.. "My wife likes to pick out the nicer things, like that off-white stuff, but I fight for a living. It just shows dirt and blood stains too much."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 2:05 pm
"You're missing the point." Nyko sighed dramatically and got behind Dexurn, pushing him away from their current booth and down a few stalls, where instead of pre-cut pants there were bolts of cloth.
"Your first mistake is picking out pre-designed pieces. They won't fit you properly; not with your kind of muscle." He reached out to playfully pop Dexurn on the arm. "You can have customized clothing just as cheaply as that slop and it will look ten times better because it's made for you. Best part about it is that whatever material we have left over you get to keep it so if your wife needs a new top or a cute skirt to match you'll already be halfway there."
Nyko listened, taking in what Dexurn said before coming to a conslusion, "So, what I'm hearing is that she likes lighter materials, but you're worried about blood stains, which is valid. What about a nice teal? Or something purple? Something a little lighter than red, but not so...Oban?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 2:11 pm
At first, Dex dug his heels in. No. He had agreed to this. Allowing himself to be guided along, he blushed again as his muscle was pointed out. Was he really that bad? ...Probably.
He had never considered coordinating an outfit with Shade! The idea blew his mind for some reason. She.. would probably enjoy that. Then Nyko started listing colors. Scratching his head, he tried to imagine the colors on himself to no avail. "Whatever you think," he admitted. So long as it wasn't Oban looking... it was time to shed that final layer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 2:17 pm
So, he had free reign to pick out some colors, then? Nyko looked at the stacks upon stacks of cloth as chef might look at prime cuts of beef, ready to be served to a King.
The man's coloring was less dramatic than his own, which seemed to suit his personality just fight. His skin was a little darker, his hair was lighter and his eyes...well, Nyko needed to find something to make them pop. Something that would make his wife weak at the knees, and ready to give him the ride of his life.
"What colors does your wife typically wear? Does she wear any accessories, and if so, what do they look like?" He wasn't even looking at Dexurn at this point; he was picking up bolts of cloth, examining them and setting some to the side for further inspection.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 2:30 pm
When Dex looked at the array of cloth available, he only saw a mass of cloth and color. Nothing really stood out to him or excited him. Wow, he really was bad at this.
What Shade typically wore... The thought of her latest acquired outfit made him blush again. "Um, she.. likes purple lately. ..Kinda like the shade you're wearing, actually. With goldish accessories. She's Oban, so they go well with her gems on her skin." Yes, he could imagine his wife clearly... but he better not think too clearly.. "She.. bracelets.. and... something in her hair, like a flower.. a pin of some sort? ..And our rings." He looked down at his own ring that marked him as a taken man... how had he gotten so lucky? Really!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 3:17 pm
Oban, huh? Nyko shouldn't have been surprised. The guy reeked of fire nation, so it didn't seem all that strange that he would have taken one of their own as his wife. At least he seemed happy about it, so while Nyko didn't see the appeal, he couldn't really say much against it.
"Sounds like you're a lucky guy," Nyko turned away form the cloth to smile at Dexurn. Internally he just didn't see the appeal; the only girl he'd found remotely worth talking to with Oban blood had been Aaricia and she'd been a half-blood. "I can tell you really love her; it makes your eyes brighter, did you know that?"
He lifted up three bolts of cloth; each as different from the last, but not less attractive. One was a lovely shade of purple, with some golden flexs blended into the weave, the other was several shades of blue, moving from lighter to darker, almost like the ocean at night, and the last was a lighter, seafoam green with bolder yellow bordering. "Do you like any of these?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 4:08 pm
Dex looked over at Nyko with appreciation. Often, he was still met with anger when he told other Matorian's of his wife's origins. Whatever the boy's view, he at least was polite and respectful of things. His smile warmed and he looked at his ring again, unable to be embarrassed about his eyes.. "I do love her. Very much. We've come a long way together." He so wanted to make her proud. She was of noble blood... Perhaps a new outfit really would impress her?
Looking at the offered cloth though, he got that blank look again. Chewing his lip though, he hesitantly pointed to the seafoam and yellow cloth. "That one, I think. ..I like it better than the other two."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 6:18 pm
"Then you should be proud of that. Flash that ring off, proclaim it from the tallest mountain and own it." If he truly had a wife Nyko would be unbearable. He would openly declare her the most gorgeous flower in all the land and shower her with affection. And, of course, keep himself looking top notch as to not give anyone the wrong impression about her tastes.
As soon as Nyko saw that blank look he narrowed his eyes, pursed his lips and cocked that hip again. He gave the cloths a little shake, indicating that Dex had better hurry up or Nyko was going to pick one for him! Honestly, how hard was it to say if he liked something or not?!
"Okay, good!" Nyko tossed the other two back onto the table and motioned for the merchant to come closer. When the woman came within ear shot, he started haggling for a price; after all, if they bought the whole bolt, shouldn't it be cheaper then cutting it into pieces?
It was a heated conversation; one where neither side wanted to give in, but eventually the sharp eyed Nyko got the price down low enough to believe they'd been given a good deal. "Alright, pay her so we can get to a seamstress."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
