Happy Days (WIP)
Happy Days
Walking down the grass covered pathway, Zavanis looked up, down and around searching for the little shop written on a torn piece of paper. Since building her workshop, she had resided in the Shroud for nearly 2 years now. But she hadn’t spent nearly enough time combing through all the shops Gridania had to offer. Taking the ferry from the Lavender Beds, she walked up towards the main merchant alley. Friendly faces greeted her as she passed by, offering their goods and services. To which she would wave them off with a smile. Some were known to her, of course, as she had purchased all sorts of local items. Others, however, popped up everyday. Not quite as often as Limsa’s Hawkers Alley or Ul’dah’s Sapphire Exchange, but it was growing.
She turned right at the market boards, heading down the pathway heading towards the Leatherworker’s guild. No, she wasn’t looking for any materials there, at least not today. A fun idea but it wasn’t her primary objective. Down the way she stepped over a short wooden bridge making her way past the amphitheater. It was nicely decorated and bustling with people. It was, of course, the month of Little Ladies Day. While the main event was held in Ul’dah, many locals participated still by hanging pretty lanterns on the trees all around. Still she walked. Glancing ever so often at the note she turned corners and around bends, until finally she stopped.
There, just before her sat a small shop, not unlike all the others she had seen. It was made of lovely wooden walls and a green tiled roof, with oblong windows and a cute double door at the front. Hung just off the side of the front door was a little sign that read “S’ithrie’s Boutique” embellished with little carvings of clothing just below it. Zav stepped up the small flight of stairs onto the porch of the store. She peeked around the corner through the windows and saw a pair of mannequins, one in a lovely white tailcoat suit, and the other in a lengthy white dress. Zav blushed momentarily before reaching for the door handle. Now was the time to pick or choose whether she went in or not. Just as she reached the door did it spring open and nearly hit her in the face.
“Gooooood mornin’ sunshine!” out came a blonde miqo’te woman with wired spectacles placed on her head. She wore a pink apron and her hair was tied back into a long ponytail. Her eyes smiled and beamed with delight at the hyur she probably just scared half to death. “Come in, come in! You’re right on time, please take a seat, take a seat!” The slightly taller miqo woman hurried Zav in and beckoned her sit on a plush loveseat in the foyer. Zav did as she was told and placed her small cross body bag in her lap, covering it with her two tiny hands. She glanced around the lobby curious what all was there as she had only seen inside from beyond the oblong windows as she had walked by on several occasions.
“I just got word your party will be in in just a short bit! Would you like something to drink? I know it’s only just nearing 9 o’clock but a small drink won’t kill ya right?!” The fluffy eared woman went behind her desk and grabbed a large bottle of a cream colored beverage. She picked up a skinny glass and placed it between her fingers as she walked over to stand beside Zavanis. “Here you go, dear! I’ll leave the bottle with ya, sound ok?” she said as she poured it halfway, holding it out for Zav to take. She stared for a moment. This woman is a bit much, she thought. Zav took the glass and looked closely at the bubbly liquid that spun in the glass.
“So you’re S’ithrie ri-” just as she spoke the miqo woman joyfully interrupted her. “ S’ithrie Jones of S’thrie’s Boutique, you got it ma’am! That's little ol’ me!” She giggled happily before giving a comical bow. “I’m the owner and seamstress of this fine establishment! I know we’ll find the best dress for you, don’t you worry none!” She said as her gestures were over exaggerated and filled with silliness. Zav looked unimpressed but smiled anyways. The clock was ticking ever so loud, at least to her. Had it only been 5 minutes since she entered? Her eyes wandered the walls. The whole building was covered in pink and white striped wallpaper with small flower embellishments lining the top and bottom. The ceiling was surprisingly intricate on the inside, made of white molding in an elegant fashion. All the racks and stands with which fabrics hung were all uniformly white and pristine. The shop looked ever so perfect, something Zav could tell made the proprietress proud. The brown haired hyur simply sat in silence, still holding her glass of champagne in hand. Gentle music played throughout the space while S’ithrie pardoned herself as she went to tidy up the stockroom.