private A Cultural Exchange 1x1 with Drago Ryder

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

"I suppose that's a good enough reason to like someone, but what someone is shouldn't be the deciding factor. How they look will change but who they are will not." A slow roll of green fire passed over the unicorn, revealing for a moment a changeling with a gold colored backplate and eyes underneath. "I would know a thing or two about that." He turned and bagan walking away before pausing, "I don't want to see Illiad hurt, I'm glad you're the kind of pony I can trust to keep him safe emotionally. He's at a difficult time with his change, no doubt you can help him adjust." With that he walked off.

(Before you ask what he meant I have no idea myself, he's cryptic that one.)

[Drago Ryder 641]

Dawn nodded slightly. "Thank you." She said. To be honest, she was a bit more unnerved from his reveal than she should've been. "Hurting him would be the last thing I do." She said, smiling gently, before exiting the building. It was then she realized that she hadn't seen Illiad leave. "He must still be getting those bills organized." She thought. The alicorn didn't know if she should visit the markets or wait for him.

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

Illiad felt Dawn move out of the building and got slightly worried that she was leaving without him. He hurried out of the building to catch up with her, looking regal as ever as he once again entered the view of the public. "So, how did you like talking to them? did they ask any interesting questions?" Illiad had an idea as to at least one of the questions the unicorn/changeling was going to ask.

[Drago Ryder 641]

Dawn smiled slightly as she saw Illiad and nodded. "I guess you could say that." She said. The deer asked about my thoughts on the meeting and the cities joining the empire. As for the unicorn, he was curious about what I thought about you." A light blush then formed on Dawn's cheeks. She was unsure as to how he would react to that last part.

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

"I suppose I expected as much, Interchange has always been concerned about my possible relationships, and Conifer often seeks out opinions that differ from his own to improve his own points, in seeing why others disapprove he can make his ideas more appealing." Illiad looked out on the crowd and gave a slight sigh of content. "This is why I work so hard, to keep the quality of life high, I can feel the currents of their lives and I do what I can to improve them. It's seeing the impact I have that reminds me why I work so hard." He turned back to Dawn, "So, it's only midnight, is there something in particular you'd like to see or do next?"

[Drago Ryder 641]

Dawn smiled slightly and nodded."That only makes you a better ruler." She said, before an idea came to mind. "Do you think we could stop by the markets? I think I'll go for a new robe." The alicorn knew that it was one of the best ways to fit in while she was in Troy,

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

"Sure, we could do that now." Illiad led Dawn through the market as they continued around the center oasis. "This market is good if you want to find rare items from foreign nations, but not so great for crafted goods, and even then you have to be diligent and assertive if you want to get a good deal on something actually worth it. Nowadays general goods are acquired by shop-owners through the trade agreements instead of directly from the caravans like in the old days." Many of the market attendants noticed that Dawn was not a local and thus tried harder to push their wares, anything from crafted items to rare artifacts to polished gemstones could be found here if one was willing to look. They exited the central market in front of another grand structure, this one was much more square than the Council Halls, it stood about as tall with a peaked roof, stairs led up to the front where giant doors prevented entry. "That over there is the Trojan high courthouse, that's where Selena works as one of the lower judges until she has enough experience to be a high judge. It's technically the second highest judicial authority we recognize, as the highest one is reserved for disputes between nations when a neutral party is required, they decide if new laws follow our constitution." They continued past and soon reached a certain crafts district where they found a building not entirely unlike Carousel Boutique. The sign read 'Starshine's fine fashion.' As they entered a small bell chimed, and a thestral head peeked out from the back room, "Oh hi Illiad, I'll be out there to help you in... five minutes, just sit tight."

Edited January 16, 2016 by Illiad Easle

[Drago Ryder 641]

Dawn smiled at the vendors and politely declined what they were trying to sell, saying that she would be back later. To be honest, the city itself was so diverse and she knew that she could easily get lost here. That being said, she relaxed somewhat when they got to their destination and began to look around the store as they waited.

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

Around the entry room there were models of different species each with a robe wrapped around it, they seemed to demonstrate how the wrap and robe was different between each creature. There was also examples of different fabrics, and the formal accessories that seemed to build off of the base like barrel and neck sashes, emblems, and a few different pieces of head ware. In just over four minutes the thestral emerged from the back room. She was a bit on the small side and had a dark purple grey coat, her slitted eyes were a deep amber. She knew that Dawn was at least the most likely reason they were here so she turned towards her. "Welcome to Starshine's Fine Fashion, how can I help you tonight?"

[Drago Ryder 641]

@Illiad Easle

 

Dawn stopped studying a robe to glance at Starshine and gave a slight smile. "I was wondering if you could make me a custom robe." She said. "I just arrived in the city and I think a change in attire would help me fit in a bit more." While she needed a robe, she was also curious as to what the threstral would make for her.

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

"Well, every robe is custom as each is unique to the individual's size, cloth, and tightness preferences." She grabbed a sample of three different fabrics. "What I currently have in stock is standard, athletic, and magic. I can also do custom weaves like Illiad's robe, but those take a week at least to make. Standard is like a plain cotton, it doesn't stretch much, but it keeps you warm better than the other two. Athletic is a bit thinner but stretches better, allowing a greater degree of flexibility and a tighter wrap, though it won't keep you as warm. Magic is a bit stiffer, many say it feels a bit starchy for a while, but it is specially made to hold magical enchantments better than the other two. On it's own it is not warmer, but it can hold a warming enchantment that would make it the warmest of the three. Once you pick a type I can measure you and show you how to wrap it as I assume you have never worn something like this before." 

Edited January 17, 2016 by Illiad Easle

[Drago Ryder 641]

@Illiad Easle

 

Dawn nodded slightly and knew that the tailor would probably think that. She then began to think about each of the fabrics. Each seemed to have their own advantages and disadvantages in terms of what they would do. "I think I'll take the magic fabric." She said. The alicorn could probably find a way to make the cloth less stiff and she was curious about what enchantments she could put on the cloth.

Edited January 17, 2016 by Drago Ryder

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

Starshine nodded as she put the samples away. "I should have guessed, most unicorns choose magic, and I supposed you wouldn't be too different. Follow me to the back so I can measure you and show you how to wear it." Starshine grabbed a roll of the magic fabric and placed it on her back before moving into the back room. Illiad took a seat on a nearby cushion. "I'll be waiting here, don't worry." 

[Drago Ryder 641]

@Illiad Easle

 

Dawn gave a slight smile and nodded to Illiad. "I can't wait to see how this turns out." She thought to herself. The alicorn then simply followed Starshine into the back of her store. She was already beginning to imagine how the robe itself would look, along with how she would look in it.

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

When Dawn arrived in the back room Starshine was already prepping to make the robe. "Since it's magic cloth and you are unused to wearing this sort of thing you'l likely prefer a looser wrap, I think they're much more comfortable, but all the noble mares want tight wraps so they look especially skinny and the pegasi want to cut down on air resistance." Starshine ran a tape measure from the back of Dawn's neck to the middle of her hind leg running along her back, she noted down the measurement. "Okay, if you could take your cloak off I can measure the length and show you how it would wrap around you." She pulled out a roll of standard that had been marked like a tape measure.

[Drago Ryder 641]

Dawn nodded slightly and took of her robe. She shivered as she felt the cold air blow against her fur, but didn't really pay much mind to it. Of course, she also didn't like having her wings visible, as they would most likely cause unwanted attention in Equestria. Here, however, she felt like she could be herself.

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

Starshine looked over Dawn's wings with a somewhat crooked head. "Huh, so you have wings like he does. Well, you'll definitely find the wrap more comfortable if you make your wings visible, otherwise they'll be bound by it. It's your choice after all but it won't effect the length, just how it gets wrapped around you. Now, which foreleg would you say is your dominant one?" 

[Drago Ryder 641]

Dawn nodded slightly and thought for a moment. "I'll keep my wings out." She said giving a slight smile. "My left hoof is dominant, as well." The alicorn figured that she could also use magic in order to wrap the robe around her, but figured it would be best to learn it both ways.

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

"All right then." Starshine began unrolling the cloth, the end had two sashes sticking out to either side. "The first thing you do is tie these around your waist with the rest of the cloth sticking out between your forelegs." She quickly did as she said and tied the length snugly around Dawn's waist, taking note of the measurement displayed by the sashes before moving on. "Then you wrap the cloth around your right foreleg and under your wing join, then over your back and under the other wing. Then you go around your barrel and back over your back, this time the cloth will go all the way from the middle of your hind legs to the back of your neck. The final clothe will have slits for your wings to stick through." She made a note of where in the measurements the wing joints were and the width of Dawn's wings as demonstrated by their outline on the wrapped cloth. The measuring cloth was not wide enough to go all the way on Dawn's back, likely it was easier to measure with this way. "​Then you take the rest under your left foreleg and tuck it under the rest of the wraps, leaving your left foreleg free. Alternatively, you can wrap around the left foreleg for a more symmetrical look." She noted down the length at which the cloth returned to its start. She looked over her notes and gave a slight smile. "This won't take long to make, one maybe two hours? fell free to browse the shop in the meantime, I can have it delivered to Illiad's house when its done if you don't want to wait around for it."

 

(When it comes to accessories whatever simple things you can think of are probably available, if you want that is. On closer inspection the emblems are examples with a flyer for a local business that custom makes them.)

[Drago Ryder 641]

Dawn nodded slightly and made sure to remember the steps she needed to take in order to properly put on the robe. "Thank you. I'll look around for a bit longer." She said. The alicorn was curious as to what she may be able to wear with her robe and began to look around the room. She could see several stands holding items that one might normally wear in Troy and began to study each one closely.

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

(You see the flyer for custom sash emblems.) 

 

Illiad stood back up as Dawn came back in the room. "So, how'd it go?"

 

Looking around the room you see much of the same head and neck gear that you would see in Equestria, as well as a few items that seemed to be specifically made for other species. There were also some saddlebags on display that didn't look too pretty, but were very good quality and had a surprising amount of storage space within.

[Drago Ryder 641]

@Illiad Easle

 

Dawn glanced at Illiad and smiled slightly. "It went well. She said it would take some time, though, but I figured you already knew that." She said The alicorn then began to look at some of the head and neck accessories around the shop.

 

(In terms of a real culture, what would Troy's be closest to?)

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

"I thought as much, would you like to wait here for it or would you like to see more of the city?" Illiad sat back down in preperation to wait as Dawn seemed interested in the other things that Starshine has for sale.

 

(I modeled much of the country around ancient Greece and Rome, hence the togas.) 

[Drago Ryder 641]

Dawn thought for a moment, before giving her answer. "Do you mind if I look around for a bit longer? I just want to see if there's anything that I could wear along with the new robe." She asked, smiling slightly. The alicorn was happy to be spending time with Illiad. If it wasn't for him actually saying it, she would've forgotten that he was royalty.

[Illiad Easle 3,143]

@@Drago Ryder,

 

He smiled slightly, "Sure, take all the time you need. I'm sure Starshine will appreciate the interest you're putting into her other wares."

Illiad retrieved the folder from his robes and began to read through it again, settling in to the long wait by getting some of the busywork he had, done.