9 You Attract What You Are, Not What You Wan
A couple of days after moving in, Yuuna and Kanna are taking me out of the house to get myself in new clothes. They've been very hospitable and even going out of their way to show me interesting bits of the neighborhood.
However, today's task was going to a tailor that happened to be down the street from where we lived. It happens to be another one of the many converted townhouses, a common theme I'm starting to see.
We entered the shop and the man running the place spoke to Yuuna very familiarly.
Tailor: "Ah, Misses Hisakawa. I did not expect you today. Is there anything I could help you with?"
Yuuna: "I need a suit for a servant in my house, Mister Bradshaw."
Mr. Bradshaw: "Why, yes! I have plenty of suits. Please, pick one out and I'll begin measuring him."
Yuuna: "Oh, no, I wanted him to decide his suit."
Mr. Bradshaw: "You're a kind mistress, Misses Hisakawa. Please, step right up, sir."
He has me stand in a square drawn out in chalk in a corner of his store. He has me T-pose and with a cloth measuring tape, takes my measurements from head to toe.
As soon as he was done, he began to ask me questions about my soon-to-be tailor made suit.
Mr. Bradshaw: "Do you want anything specific for your blazer, sir?"
What's common and fashionable in this world? What if the patterns are unique to this world. Like, what if there's one called "Dragon's Weave?" It would sound cool but it'll end up looking tacky.
Mr. Bradshaw: "Sir?"
Maybe it's best to stick to my own preferences.
Steven: "Unconstructed. Slim. Charcoal."
Mr. Bradshaw: "Any patterns? What about the fabric?"
Steven: "Herringbone and cotton."
Mr. Bradshaw: "Good. Very good. Now, could you describe this herringbone pattern?"
Great..
It was inevitable.
Steven: "Maybe you know it as a broken twill weave?"
Mr. Bradshaw: "Yes! I know what you mean now. My apologies. Does it happen to like the skeleton of a herring fish?"
Steven: "Yes, that's exactly what I'm referring to."
Mr. Bradshaw: "I'll get started as soon as we finish. Now, what would you like for your vest?"
Steven: "Black wool with a lustrous finish."
Mr. Bradshaw: "Now your shirt, what would you want?"
Steven: "Ivory poplin."
Mr. Bradshaw: "Trousers?"
Steven: "Slim. Charcoal. Herringbone."
Mr. Bradshaw: "A matching fit."
He finishes his measurements and I float back to Kanna's side while Yuuna sits with the tailor. He pulled out small sheets of fabric and showed what exactly he'd be doing and smaller details like how much of my cuffs I'd be showing.
Yuuna: "Do you believe you could have it done by the end of the week, Mr. Bradshaw?"
Mr. Bradshaw: "It's possible to have priority."
Yuuna: "Should we discuss payment?"
Mr. Bradshaw: "Yes."
He pulls out a dip pen and writes all of the prices of the fabrics plus work and labor and the priority order Yuuna wanted.
Mr. Bradshaw: "Your total comes out to 1,000 Coin."
Knowing that I could buy a pound of chicken for 2 Coin, 1,000 will burn a hole in anyone's pockets.
Steven: "Are you sure this is alright?"
Yuuna: "Yes, it is. I need you to look great. I'm sure the extra cost comes from the priority order."
Mr. Bradshaw: "It does, Misses Hisakawa."
Steven: "Well, I'm just a servant—"
Yuuna: "Steven, you attract what you are, not what you want. If you want great, then be great."
Kanna: "Just let her, Steven. My mom knows best when it comes to fashion. Since she's buying the suit without putting in any of her own input should mean your suit sounds good to her."
Even though she's telling me to go along with it, this crappy, freeloading feeling isn't going to shake itself off anytime soon.
Yuuna: "Understood?"
Steven: "Yes, Misses Hisakawa."
Yuuna: "That's what I want to hear."
I'll have to find a way to pay her back. The only person I owe anything to is Kanna and I'd like to keep it that way.
Yuuna: "Now, Mr. Bradshaw, do you have any ready-made clothes for him in the meantime?"
Mr. Bradshaw: "I, unfortunately, don't have any. You could ask the cobbler near the town square. His brother makes clothes for many of the workers."
Yuuna: "Thank you."
Near the town square was deeper in and the heart of the historic district. Many of the streets became narrow and town square was a plaza surrounded with things to do. Restaurants, coffeeshops, bakeries, bars and lounges made up the majority of shops.
Steven: "What are the lounges about? Do you smoke hookah or is it just a place to hangout?"
Yuuna: "My one and only request is that you never visit a lounge."
Steven: "Why not?"
Yuuna: "A lot of them tend to double as brothels. Very dirty places, they are."
Steven: "Oh, I didn't know that.."
A much needed change of topic is in order.
Yuuna: "Now we must go to the cobbler. They'll fit you into some better shoes."
Steven: "Though, was the suit necessary? I like to look nice, but I don't want to drain your money either."
Yuuna: "Don't worry about a thing, Steven. I know you'll make it up to me eventually."
With time, we found the cobbler's shop and entered. This time, it was a proper shophouse with a nice, large window with a display of the many different types of shoes made. We stepped inside and the cobbler greeted us cheerfully.
Cobbler: "Welcome! How may I help you?"
Yuuna: "would you, by chance, have any ready-made shoes?"
He looks at me.
Cobbler: "For the boy?"
Yuuna: "Yes."
Cobbler: "I might.. Come and have a seat."
He whips out a cloth ruler like the tailor and quickly measures my feet.
Cobbler: "12. Let me check in the back."
He disappears through the back of his shop. I could hear him rummaging through his things and something heavy falling. It was a short moment of silence before he comes back and handed me a pair of shoes.
Cobbler: "Sorry, but this is all I have for the size of his feet."
Yuuna: "What are those?"
Cobbler: "Laced combat boots with a buckle at the ankle. I made it out of black calfskin; it has grooved heels and leather soles."
Kanna: "They look like the boots a friend I knew would wear."
Cobbler: "The army wears these because they're chic and durable. It wouldn't surprise me if the everyday populace starts wearing them."
Yuuna: "If they fit, I'll pay for them."
I slipped into the boots, tied and buckled them with the cobbler's help. They were comfortable and snug, the polar opposite from my worn sneakers.
Cobbler: "They don't look too tight."
Steven: "It's a perfect fit."
Yuuna: "Do you want them, Steven?"
Steven: "Well.. yes.."
Cobbler: "These boots? Hmm, 100 Coin."
She finishes the deal by giving him the Coin and shake hands.
Yuuna: "I also hear you have a brother that makes clothes."
Cobbler: "Yeah, he's next door."
Yuuna: "Thank you for helping me today."
Cobbler: "Happy to help, ma'am."
After we're done, I get to go outside and walk around for a bit just to break in the boots.
Kanna: "How are those boots, Steven?"
Yuuna: "You looked relieved when you put them on."
Steven: "I love them already. Thank you for buying them, Misses Hisakawa."
Yuuna: "You can thank me by dropping the formality. I'd prefer it if you called me Yuuna."
Kanna: "They look nice too."
Steven: "Thank you, master."
Kanna: "I keep telling you to just call me Kanna."
Steven: "Kanna."
Finally, we enter another tailor store.
Instead of the elegance of the previous one, this place felt more moody and down to business. The man, who could be called the tailor, came out and greeted all of us.
Tailor: "Hello, welcome to my shop."
Yuuna: "Hello, I need a tunic and trousers for this young man. Would you happen to have something ready-made?"
Tailor: "Yeah, I have plenty of them. What's his job?"
Yuuna: "He's a servant."
Tailor: "Then the choice is up to you."
Yuuna: "Hmm, then I'd like a natural cotton shirt and black trousers."
Tailor: "Perfect, I have plenty of those colors. Do you want to come in the back and pick them out yourself?"
Yuuna: "With pleasure."
In the back, my new outfit was quickly pieced together. I was given a straight cut shirt with a buttoned neckline and black straight cut trousers with a loose fit but fastened with drawstrings.
The outfit was certainly unique but I worried about looking like a pirate.
Yuuna: "He looks good. How much would this cost now?"
Tailor: "60 Coin for both."
While Yuuna was doing most of the work, I caught Kanna in the corner of my eye checking me out. She could be interested in that way but I also haven't had a change of clothes in 3 months so I must look completely different to her.
Steven: "K-Kanna?"
Kanna: "How do those clothes make you feel?"
Steven: "Like a pirate."
Kanna: "No~ do you really believe that?"
Steven: "Well, I did arrive by boat. All I need now is a tricorn hat."
We were too busy fooling around that we didn't see Yuuna waiting to leave. I didn't see how long she was there but she called out to us, grabbing our attention.
Find authorized novels in Webnovel,faster updates, better experience,Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.
Yuuna: "Steven, Kanna, it's time we get going!"
Clean air..
Beautiful city that's painted orange by the sunset..
Until I could figure out my way back to Los Angeles, this place will be a magnificent place to live. I just hope that it doesn't grow on me too much.
Yuuna: "Now you look like an Everhand working man."
Steven: "Thank you for everything, Yuuna. I still don't think you should've spent so much on me."
Yuuna: "You're very welcome."