March Catch All, open

[kiss_it_better]

🧙 WHO: Chang Geng and you
⚔️️ WHAT: Quests and other open stuff
🕒 WHEN: Throughout March
🗺️ WHERE: Around the town
⚠️ WARNINGS: None so far



i: Run Snagglefoot Run

[A thief, though his magic isn't so suited to this he has other skills at his disposal. He pulls out a map from (a magical hammer space) pouch. He pointed at a spot on it after a quick glance.]

We can head him off here and set up an ambush.



ii: Farmer-R-Us

[He'd helped out on a farm or two during his four years travels so this was a little familiar.

At some point, when his sleeves and the heat had gotten to be too much, he'd stripped off the top part of his robes to tie around his waist as he worked on getting the hay into bales.

Though when it came time to casting magic on the hay he'd dressed properly and looked incredibly interested as he watched the hay's colour turn into a clean, golden colour.]

I wonder if this magic can be used on other things?

[Like water, for example.]


iii: some shopping is in order

[At some point, he needed to get more clothes. Ready made fashion isn't something he's used to so he browses a store with interest...though the styles were all a little strange to him.]

Surely not everyone fits into a standard size... [He looks thoughtful as he rubs a bit of fabric between his fingers.] Though I suppose it is easier to modify an outfit than to make one from scratch. [He lets go with a thoughtful sort of sound. Perhaps you're a stranger and maybe he's talking to himself but he does turn to you as if looking for a reply.

But he can also be found later on, in a different store just looking at fabric, asking questions about the ones he doesn't recognize the material of. One such question that might get directed your way is:]

Would this be a good fabric for summer?

Comments

iii

[angel_of_death]

[At some point, Walter had decided to tag along with his friend. He's just as in need of new clothes as Chang Geng, and after having run into him while looking for something that would work for him, it just seemed natural to stick around.

At one point, he'd mentioned the sleeve garters on his sleeves — the little metal clasps with the strip connecting them — were used to compensate for an overly-long sleeve for the wearer. However, they don't seem to be a common thing in modern fashion. The collared shirts hung up for sale were also much too loose in the neck for him to wear with a tie and look anything other than sloppy or ridiculous, so he had passed on the opportunity to purchase them.

Which is why he is currently accompanying his friend at the fabric store. He's not a person who sews beyond stitching up a tear here and there, but coming from a time and place where fabric itself is restricted in use for clothing, seeing so much of it in one place, for sale without limitations, is an experience.

Some of them are really good-looking fabrics, too.]

Cotton and linen are better than wool for summer... [He says, half-distracted by the sheer range of colour and finery. But he soon snaps out of it, leaning over to examine the bolt.]

What does the label say it is?

[kiss_it_better]

Silk is a good fabric for warm weather as well...if a little impractical and outside of our budget.

[After all, it was expensive and came with its own issues when it comes to care.

He looked for the label.]

Polyester...it certainly doesn't feel like cotton or linen.

[Well, as much as he'd want to experiment it seemed more prudent for find something familiar that he knew how to use and care for properly so he lets that go.]

There is someone here who is a fashion designer where she's from. Perhaps I should have asked her for some advice before hand.

[But he hadn't entirely intended on looking for make more outfits? He had only wanted to maybe add one more thing to his wardrobe since there seems to be a troubling amount of events in this place that made ruining an outfit beyond repair a possibility.]

[angel_of_death]

Fashion and practicality don't necessarily go hand-in-hand.

[There were times in the past when fashion ignored practicality altogether. However, Walter doesn't know to whom his friend is referring, so he can't make any judgements regarding the person, whoever she is.]

I would save silk for garments meant for special occasions rather than daily wear here, if you mean to use it for something like your robes.

[Lifting a hand, he rubs two fingers against the surface of his tie, the decorative strip comprised of silk dyed a deep, bold black.]

I can get blood out of silk, but it would be a pity if it got damaged from sparring or fighting.

[Such as how his shirt was slightly damaged in the tournament, burned by a well-directed burst of flame.]

[kiss_it_better]

If we did need clothes for special occasions we should probably out-source the making of the outfit to a professional.

[Because it would be a waste of nice material to leave him to make it.]

If only healing magic could work on clothes.

[But at least they can still patch things.]

[angel_of_death]

[The last sentence causes Walter to pause in reminiscence, words conjuring the mental image of his partner, whose clothes could repair no matter what damage they were caused.

This being for one reason: the clothes were not truly clothes, but the vampire's own body.

Walter's expression at this memory is rather complex; slightly uncomfortable, slightly awkward, but not outright disturbed.]

...Well, the fibres are already dead. Perhaps alchemy might work?

[If alchemy could rearrange the metal in his rings to make wires, perhaps it could also rearrange fibres to mend fabric.]

[kiss_it_better]

Hm...perhaps. If we could find someone who knows such magic we could ask.

[His fingers linger on another fabric, one that feels more familiar.]

This one feels more like cotton.

[And it is too! And it's not overly patterned.

[angel_of_death]

[Walter responds to the first with a thoughtful hum. While he does know someone with that sort of magic, he's not certain whether the man would be interested, and if the incident with the bread informed him of anything, it was that the man doesn't very much seem the sort to pursue an action if it does not personally interest him. Maybe if he frames it as a possibility for easily making money...

Walter's mind is brought back to the present when Chang Geng speaks again, the announcement of something like cotton drawing his attention. He leans forward, curious eyes and curious fingers examining the fabric before gently folding it back to expose the label on the bolt's end.]

So it is. Do you like how it looks?

[kiss_it_better]

[What he does first before answer is check the price per whatever-unit-of-measure-is-used-here-probably-metres (either way, it's interesting to think of how unit of measures work. They do use different ones in different countries...perhaps when the Silk Roads open properly they should develop a more standardized unit of measure).

Only when he saw the price did he answer (because it was important).]

I think it's fine.

[angel_of_death]

[Walter notices Chang Geng checking the price, and lets out an amused huff at the behaviour.]

Gauging the quality versus the price?

[There are definitely different grades of cotton fabric. The ones with lower thread counts are less expensive, but rougher to the touch. Finding a good balance is important in their current situation. The fine muslin of ancient India is almost certainly well out of their price range.]

ii

[ladyemperor]

[Farming was something Meiniang has never done which is exactly why she'd gone to go and take a look. This is the first time in a very long while that she's put down her all white clothing to wear something else. Plain, light colours with not much adornment but even then it feels like a betrayal, somehow. So she keeps a knot of white cord in her hair as she brushes the back of one hand across her forehead, leaving a streak of dirt behind as she straightens up to look at the hay that is now bright and clean.]

...Have you not tried to use it on other things? [Because she feels like that should be the first thing to try?

Meiniang's dragon, "Little One" for lack of a name that wouldn't somehow be seen as disrespectful, is happily nosing at the hay and ready to dive into the depths of it.]

[kiss_it_better]

I have only read about this magic a little. It's advanced magic that I am nowhere near being able to perform yet. [Hence why he hasn't spent as much time reading up on the details of its use.] Even now, I think I can only perform it with help from others.

[ladyemperor]

[There's a lot she still needs to wrap her head around with what he says but what catches her attention first is obvious:]

There... is somewhere to read about magic? [That's news to her. But then again anything is news when you've just been at home.]

[kiss_it_better]

Yes, at the library. [And public libraries are such a novel thing. Perhaps they should make one in Great Liang.] Anyone can go there to read books. You can also take classes about magic.

[ladyemperor]

A library-

[The only library she's ever seen was the one in the Imperial palace and to think that all that knowledge could now be at the fingertips of anyone who wanted it. She smiles a little for what feels like the first time in a long while.]

That sounds wonderful. Where is it?

[kiss_it_better]

[He offers the directions to the building.]

It's free to go there to read...but if you become a full-time student you will be paid for doing so. It's a very generous offer, in my opinion.

[ladyemperor]

Generous, maybe. But surely it's best for everyone when those who seek knowledge are able to obtain it. Are you a full-time student, then?

[Because she's kind of considering it herself. It's not jovial or jolly, fitting for a widow. And she's always liked being at the library.]

[kiss_it_better]

That seems to be the same stance this place has taken.

[To encourage learning and mastery, that is.]

I was but I've been working at a clinic to learn more hands on healing skills and lately it's been difficult to balance both.

[So he's only a student part-time now.]

i.

[good_ideas]

[Shiho peers down at the map this guy just pulled out, tracing the thief's path in her mind before she points at a spot just a little behind where he indicated.]

I couldn't take him head on but if I drew a weapon on him, he could probably back up into you so you can take him down. How does that sound?

[kiss_it_better]

[He nods.]

And my familiar can be on this roof. [He points at a nearby building.] Just in case he tries to escape another way.

[That decided, he folds the map back up.] If I may ask, what sort of weapon do you have?

[good_ideas]

Tama can take a vantage point too, probably.

[Tama being the name of her familiar.

Thankfully Shiho hasn't had any occasion to use her pistol as of yet. That's what she pulls out, its weight familiar in her hand.]

This is what I have. I don't want to use it if I don't have to. [Because dead thieves tell no tales, especially now that she didn't have psychometry anymore.]

[kiss_it_better]

Qi Ming can bring him to where he needs to be.

[Qi Ming being his pixiu who was...actually also a cat just bigger and with antlers and wings. He makes it clear by putting a hand on her head...which she pushes into.

Also after being here for a while, he could recognize a gun when he saw one.]

Hopefully it won't come to that.

[He says but he's absolutely prepared to use violence if it came to it.

Then he starts walking after giving her another smile.]

[good_ideas]

Then I guess Tama can just follow along with me and be a second pair of eyes or something. [Despite her initial fear of the ghostly cat, she's actually gotten rather fond of her at this point and can't bear the thought of her getting hurt even if she knows Tama is more than capable of taking care of herself.

Maybe.]

And if we play our cards right it won't come to that. We still need him able to talk not going into shock. [though she won't say no to some violence, it would be troublesome if he died before they could even interrogate him.]

[kiss_it_better]

All right. [He makes a gesture at his pixiu who understands that he's asking her to to go, but she takes a moment to dash closer and rubber against him briefly before she bounds away, spreads her wings and takes off.]

Ah, so as long as he can still talk then it's fine.

[He isn't teasing. He genuinely wants to know where the line is being drawn here.

And what better time to talk about this than now while they haven't made it to their ambush spot yet? He starts a brisk pace but tries to make sure he won't out pace her too much.]

[good_ideas]

He has to be able to make sense.

[Being Normal is such a pain, honestly. She never had to worry about a criminal being conscious before.

Also walking is a bit of a pain too but she keeps pace with him as much as she can.]

What, have you never interrogated someone before or something?

[kiss_it_better]

I haven't had the chance to do it personally, no.

[But he knows how it works in theory.]

What about you, young maiden?