Avarus Invidia (V): Shopping In Hell (Surprisingly Delightful)

--- Booker H. Freeman ---

“Is this really the best idea?” Lydia asked with her (hideous) frown as they walked through the streets. “I mean, your accounts are frozen, is now really the best time to go shopping?”

“Well that depends my dear, does wealth have any point beyond spending it on the things you want?” He argued with his own question as he twirled the crimson crystal Hemingway had given him between his fingers.

(Greed: Wealth is power, but simply hoarding it away makes it worthless.)

“That sounds a little… spend thrifty.” Lydia grimaced, looking like she wasn’t at all pleased with the idea.

“Perhaps, but you also saw how easy it is to make more Sin in a pinch.” He reminded his companion, pointedly not mentioning that the whole affair was actually more work than he was making out to be.

(Sloth: Please don’t blow all our money, we’ve worked enough for today…)

(Wrath: Our work will never end.)

(Sloth: I know…)

“I guess that makes sense. I'm just… not used to spending money when I don’t have to.” His young companion confessed.

“Understandable.” He nodded, before putting on a proper smile. “But with me here you won’t have to worry about that quite as much. If there is anything you desire, then it is my duty to help you acquire it!”

“I don’t actually know what I want…” Lydia admitted as she messed with the hem of her shirt. “I mean, in Ira Invidia we kind of just used whatever we could get our hands on. Based on what people said, there hasn’t really been anything ‘new’ there since the wall went up.”

“All the more reason to get you some new things.” He assured her with a pat of her head. “After all, as they say, ‘clothes make the man’... or woman as the case may be. And you are so much more than what your current clothes make you out to be.”

(Pride: Especially if she is to be our companion.)

Lydia looked down with her (delightfully) bashful little smile as they continued through the area Hemingway had directed them towards. An area he took in with interest.

While they had yet to leave the area the locals seemed to refer to as Avarus Invidia, their current surroundings were notably different from what he could make out of the rest of the district.

The majority of Avarus Invidia seemed to be filled with various business buildings that made the whole city look like one massive downtown district the likes of which could usually only be heard of in megacities such as New York. The many skyscrapers only broken up by the occasional bank or businesses that had decided to adopt a more Greek architecture, or the many suited individuals walking between them all as they rushed from one appointment to another.

(Greed: Business never stops. There’s always money to be made, and they’re the ones making it. More than most people will ever make in their lives.)

(Wrath: How much of it is actually earned and how much is snake oil is debatable.)

(Sloth: Regardless, most of them won’t see a nickel on the dollar compared to the big man on top.)

(Gluttony: In the end they’re all just pigs fattening themselves up for the slaughter.)

By contrast to all of that their current locale was filled with a number of boutiques and shops in something of a shopping district that was notably shorter than the skyscrapers visible on all sides. Each store possessing enough character to make their wares more than obvious to all who passed them by, be it food, clothes, jewelry, or even a fine selection of weaponry.

(Greed: If someone is going to make money, someone else needs a place to spend it.)

(Lust: There are so many fun things here!)

He found his eyes drifting between a number of the shops openly displaying clothes, weapons, books, and so much else within each, before eventually spotting a few burlier men and women lurking here and there. Each of whom had far more animalistic qualities than anyone amicably walking between the shops with their associates.

(Sloth: Guards to take care of any would be trouble makers. Probably a protection racket… No idea if it’s just one gang or a number of them.)

(Greed: One. Gangs want a monopoly. Other areas might have different ones, but this place only has the one.)

“Are they going to be something we have to worry about?” Lydia asked, her eyes on the same men he’d noticed.

(Sloth: Right, as a street rat she’s probably more aware of gangs than most.)

(Pride: Her information is likely dated though given the)

“Not so long as we don’t cause trouble.” He assured her. “They’re gang is merely working security for the local shopkeeps as it were. I doubt they’re quite like the ne'er do wells you’re more familiar with.”

(Sloth: They won’t start anything because as long as nothing happens this is easy money for them.)

(Greed: The best kind.)

“Right, that makes sense.” Lydia nodded, her shoulders looking a little less tense. “They’re just security guards, that’s all.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

(Wrath: Not quite.)

(Gluttony: Civility is a lie to let the wolf walk with sheep.)

That was a sentiment he understood quite well even as he wondered how much effort it would take to kill the various guards he could see.

(Wrath: More than it’s worth.)

(Gluttony: Their meat isn’t sweet enough yet.)

“So, uh, where are we starting?” Lydia wondered.

“Mm, I’d like to acquire you some new clothing, but I’m not sure if I trust any of these tailors to give you the kind of outfit you deserve.” He admitted, before tugging at his own clothing. “And I very much doubt we’ll get quite as lucky as we did with me and what we pilfered from the Smiling Man’s lair. His taste really was impeccable I must say.”

His companion’s face twisted at that. “Yeah, I guess… But as long as it fits and doesn’t look too stupid I’m willing to wear whatever… Except a skirt.”

“Fair enough my dear.” He accepted, before considering things. “Now then what else could be useful at our current junction?”

(Pride: Books or tools.)

(Greed: A sale?)

(Lust: How about some sweets?!)

(Envy: I doubt there’s much magical here…)

(Gluttony: Food is good.)

(Wrath: A weapon of some kind.)

(Sloth: Whatever gets us out of here faster.)

“I, uh, I don’t really know…” His companion confessed. “Wouldn’t you have a better idea of all that than me?”

“Hmm, well I do have a few ideas, but given how this little trip is more about setting you up than it is about reinforcing me, your opinion matters.” He explained, because while he could build himself up some with a few trinkets here and there holding onto his Sin and the power it provided could be far more valuable at this time. (At least until I find out wherever our rabbits are based out of.)

Lydia was quiet for a moment, before telling him that, “I’m good with pretty much anything, I mean this is your Sin your spending. Honestly, I’d rather you just save it.”

(Greed: Sensible, but pointless. She’s an investment that we need to invest in if we want her to properly help us.)

(Sloth: An ill equipped minion is a dead minion.)

(Lust: Which is why we should spoil her!)

“Well, regardless we should get you some clothes. Ones far more durable than the ones you’re wearing right now.” He told her, a hand to her back as his eyes drifted over the various clothing stores around them.

(Envy: Hold on, do you hear that?)

(Lust: The music of magic?)

He could hear it in the air now that he was looking for it, most shops had it on some level, but there were a few that really stood out from the rest.

(Greed: Those will be the ones offering higher quality products.)

“Ah, this one should do then.” He decided, upon finding a clothing store with a particularly riveting song to it.

The interior of the store was lined with numerous fabrics, and mannequins wearing a number of outfits, but no actual clothes were left lining the sidelines.

(Pride: A proper tailor shop rather than some generic old store.)

(Greed: Just what we’re looking for.)

“There aren’t really any clothes here.” Lydia noted as she walked around the room.

“Because they’re going to make them for you.” He grinned as he ran a claw over one of the mannequins, listening to how it caused the spellsong weaved into its very fabric to shift.

(Envy: It’s enchanted. Not quite sure what with, but definitely something defensive.)

“Interesting…” He smiled. “Yes, I do believe that this shop will do quite nicely for our purposes.”

A feminine laugh echoed through the room. “Oh, if that old thing impresses you then you should see some of my more recent work.”

He turned towards the front as a woman with gray skin and pale hair stepped out from behind a curtain while wearing a rather elaborately made dress.

When he caught sight of her smile full of fangs, he couldn’t help but match it with one of his own as he assured her that, “That is precisely the reason we’re here!”

“Oh?” The woman prodded with a tilt of her head without losing her smile.

(Greed: Ah, more business. Let me do the talking.)

(Lust: Ah-ah-ah! I’m pretty sure fashion is part of my domain?)

(Pride: I assure you you’re both wrong.)

(Envy: Just… start talking and we’ll sort this out.)

“Yes, you see my young companion here has recently found her way out of a rather terrible situation for such a fine young woman to find themselves in. As such, I’ve decided to take her under my wing and help her to achieve her full potential, which of course begins with being properly dressed!” He explained to the seamstress.

“Of course!” The woman clapped, before turning her attention towards young Lydia. “Now of course, the most appropriate attire is entirely dependent upon the sort of events you intend on wearing it to…”

Lydia glanced towards him looking more than a little confused.

(Sloth: Do I even need to tell you she’s never had anything like this?)

Seeing Lydia’s confusion, he answered the seamstress’s unspoken question for her. “Given our adventures thus far… we’re likely to see more than a little bloodshed, a few harsh negotiations, and things of a similar sort.”

“Hmm, a burgundy color would do quite nicely at covering up any bloodstains, it should also compliment your eyes, making the green stand out like sparkling emeralds.” The woman who clearly knew her trade assured his young companion. “Though making it the primary color of the composition, may cause it to clash with the shade of her hair. Do you have any particular preference child?”

“Uh, no?” Lydia answered questioningly.

“In that case we’ll have to try a few different colors during your fitting.” The seamstress told her, before turning back towards him. “Given everything, I’ll likely have a rough sample ready within an hour or so.”

“Plenty of time for me to run a few other errands nearby.” He smiled as he pulled out and twirled his stopwatch. “After all, one must accessorize to bring it all together!”

“Oh, they absolutely must!” The shopkeeper laughed, before suggesting that, “Why don’t you go see Franklin a few shops down? He’s a bit new to the lane but I do believe he should have something that’ll work for our young friend here.”

“I’ll do just that.” He nodded.

“You’re leaving me here?” Lydia (grotesquely) frowned.

“Now, now my dear. It would be simply improper for a man to be present during a young woman’s fitting!” The seamstress warned.

(Lust: Yeah, I’d rather not see anyone in their underwear.)

“Absolutely right.” He agreed. “That said, I won’t be too far and I assure you that a true professional would never harm their clients.”

(Pride: Their own self-respect simply wouldn’t allow it!)

“Not so long as those clients are paying of course!” The seamstress chuckled.

“Ah, don’t worry I’ll be footing the bill in full. Though it does pain me to say that we’ll have to focus more on speed than quality.” He admitted, with a sigh as he took another look around the shop. “Which is truly dreadful given the quality of what I’m seeing here.”

“Oh, I understand completely.” The shopkeeper assured him with a sympathetic smile before turning it on Lydia. “In fact, because this won’t be my best work I’ll even give you a discount as a first time customer dearie.”

“Uh, thanks?” His young companion smiled back, if a little unsurely.