Finding a tailor

"Excuse me?"

The man behind the front desk of the inn looks up as you approach. "Can I help you, sir?"

You want to say "no shit", but you know it wouldn't go over well. "Yes, actually - I need a tailor, and preferably one that is not very busy. I'm looking for a bit of a rush job, and I prefer to shop at smaller businesses. Would you happen to know of such a place?"

He nods, and writes down directions for you.

"Fantastic - thank you so much." You provide him with a small tip - a single bill worth five gale.

"My pleasure." His smile becomes more genuine as he pockets the cash.

You turn, and very nearly call Nightwing by her actual name, but catch yourself just in time. Using the pseudonym you came up with, you get her attention.

"Okay, Nicole - you ready to head out?"

You make sure you've made eye contact with Nightwing as you ask that question, to make sure she knows you're referring to her. And you're glad that you did - it takes a second for a spark of realization to light up in her mind. "Yep - all ready."

You inwardly cringe at her acting. She's going out of her way to appear human - so she's saying and doing everything with exaggeration.

You both set off for the tailor. The early morning chill nips at your skin as you walk through the near-empty streets. Nightwing's cloak flutters in a crisp breeze, and you silently hope that the disguise doesn't require full body contact as she wrestles with the unruly fabric.

You arrive at the tailor rather quickly, and your heart sinks as you see that it's closed.

"So much for trying to beat all the crowds," you mutter to yourself. As you don't see any hours up, there's no way of telling when you should return.

Just as you're about to turn to leave, a distinctly feminine, and yet surprisingly gruff, voice catches your attention. "Hey - can I help you?" You spin around to see that a young woman is approaching you, a cup of what seems to be Elven coffee in one hand, and a set of keys in the other.

The first thing that strikes you about who is very clearly the owner of the store, is that her skin seems to have a very slight green tint to it. You clock it immediately - she's part Orc!

Based on her skin tone, and her decidedly human features, you'd wager a guess and say that she's maybe...a fourth generation hybrid? Could even be fifth. Either way, you're surprised to find someone with even an ounce of Orc blood working as a tailor.

"Yeah, actually - we're here as customers."

There's clear surprise in her eyes. She looks between yourself and Nightwing, a small bit of suspicion clear in her expression.

"B-by all means, please - come in."

She brushes past you to unlock the door, and you feel Nightwing sidle up behind you.

"She seems to be part orc..."

You cast a sidelong glance at the disguised dragon. "And?"

"I think... maybe we could trust her?"

You fully turn to stare at Nightwing, confused and surprised. Honestly, the most surprising thing is that... you think she might be right. A part-orc woman living in a human city, as a tailor no less...

"Come on in."

You and Nightwing hurry in after the young woman. Once she's settled, she turns to regards you and introduces herself.

"I'm Thelma. Please to meet you. And you are?"

You introduce yourselves as Peter and Nicole. You still haven't decided if you can trust Thelma just yet.

"So, what brings you here?"

Nightwing and yourself exchange a nervous glance. An unspoken question passes between you.