When Fire and Water Embrace [Private] [Whimsical x Pigeon] 18+

[Whimsical]

Character:

 

 

 

Name: Nico

 

Age: 21

 

Species: Water Spirit

 

Height 5'8

 

Personality: Nico is a very expressive person; he’s bubbly, spirited, and witty within his actions. He takes situations light heartedly and aspires to have a semi-optimistic outlook on life, no matter what the situation he’s in. Nico tries to keep himself collected all the time, however that doesn’t mean he acts serious; in fact, he has a hard time expressing stern emotions. This isn’t because he is ‘immature’, but rather he isn’t able to handle stressful situations unless he’s able to make a joke out of them or else he may begin to feel uncomfortable and fidget. This flaw however doesn’t deteriorate from his intelligence. Nico is an incredibly smart person who is able to piece together problems in his mind quickly, and is able to come up with solutions or compromises on the spot. Despite his bubbly attitude and his lively personality, it is to the best interest of Nico to know that he is also selectively mute. He chooses not to speak with words, but rather with body language. His main form of communication is sign, but he does carry around a pen in case he’s found alone with no translator. Regardless of Nico’s lack of words, he is still ironically a social and “talkative” person.

 

The streets glistened with golden light as Nico walked through the ever busy, ever hectic city on the edge of the country. The occasional passerby would wave hello, or completely ignore him, but nobody here seemed in any way propelled by urgency or worry. The residents, dressed surprisingly intricately for a city plagued with poverty, only seemed concerned with their own mundane lives and seemed content to be so. Children would gather in circles and play games while their mothers stood on the sidelines chattering, merchants would go about peddling their various wares, and all while bathed in a warm perpetual sun.

 

Nico inhaled the pollution filled air and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his worn out and tattered excuse-of-a-cloak. He sported an oversized rag-like shirt, accompanied with a pair of brown frayed trousers. Barefooted and beyond filthy, Nico regarded his surroundings somewhat anxiously as he continued down the busy streets at a fairly leisurely rate. He felt out of place and uncomfortable; Nico knew he had entered the richer part of the city, a place he preferred to ignore for the most part. The amount of guards within the area was ridiculous and Nico couldn’t help but discretely fidget his hands within the folds of his pocket. He knew he that he would be safe; he had ventured in the area dozens of times before, had conversed with guards a couple times without suspect, and has never been caught stealing here. Never the less, the anxiety never lessened.

 

He managed to disguise his navy blue hair by spraying his hair with a good layer of dirt in order to cancel the elemental tint his hair executed in the sunlight. In the dark his blue hair was barely noticeable, but in the daytime it was highly prominent. Nico didn’t appreciate the suspicious glances from the people if he simply wore his hood to cover his hair, so he found a compromise.

 

One that worked damn well if he might add.

 

Nico exhaled the pollution filled air as he finally reached his destination; a well known, high class tailor shop. Nico had figured it was about time to get rid of his old rags and replace them with replenished articles of clothing since he had managed to save up a couple silver coins over the past few weeks. He really needed the makeover.

 

Before entering the store, a sign caught his attention and Nico cocked his head towards it.

 

‘Help wanted.’

 

Nico grinned silently, followed promptly by a confident stride into the tailor store. He pushed open the door, initiating the clamorous ringing of a bell. The store was large and well kept; sewing materials and fabrics were scattered onto a nearby table, accompanied by a pair of mannequins sporting semi-finished garments.

 

"Damn this place is nice," Nico thought to himself nonchalantly while unconsciously nodding his head at his thoughts.

 

The water wielder regarded the store while stepping into its full premise, intrigued to finally step foot in the place he's heard multiple women rave about in the streets. Nico noticed that he was the only current occupant in the room, and that the owner was nowhere to be found.

"Must be in the back room..." Nico concluded to himself. He stepped forwards towards the deserted main counter and noticed a small golden bell residing beside a couple of trinkets. Nico nodded to himself one last time before bombastically dinging the golden bell.

[Kotorichan]

 

 

Name: Ark Reid

Age: 24

Species: Fire user

Appearance: long red hair, pale skin, red eyes, very slender

Height: 6'3

Personality: Ark is a high class tailor in the capital city. He is somewhat introverted but has to be outgoing and sociable for his job. He is very dedicated to his work and has a firm moral compass.

 

 

It had only been three weeks since Ark’s previous assistant had moved away and the shop had already fallen into disarray. Ark had managed to find a maid who could come in to keep the front clean, but it was impossible for one man to manage the front, shop for materials, come up with designs, make the clothes, and market the shop all at once. The clothing stock was already becoming dangerously low, forcing Ark to slip into the back whenever the shop was empty.

 

He was so focused on his work that the sound of the bell made him jump, almost cutting his finger with his scissors. The man quickly set down the garment he had been working on and stood up, checking himself in the mirror before stepping into the shop.

 

“Hello sir,” He smiled brightly as he walked up to the counter. “I apologize for not being able to greet you right away.” His head lowered in a bow. “Welcome to Eternal, where you can find the perfect fashion to last you the rest of your life. I am Ark Reid, the owner and head designer.”

 

When he straightened up he had to be careful not to show any kind of judgement of the guest. This didn’t look like someone who belonged in a high class clothing shop, either as a customer or an employee. But with the right clothing anyone could fit the bill.

 

“What can I help you find? If you do not see anything here that suits your tastes then I am more than happy to make a custom outfit that will be perfect for you.” Designing clothing was one of Ark's favorite things, he loved to find a way to bring out the inner beauty. It was much better than just picking something that could fit anyone else.

[Whimsical]

It only took a couple of seconds after Nico rang the golden bell atop the busy countertop for a tall, slender man to stride out from the concealed backroom. Nico’s first initiative was to act friendly and remain calm but he couldn’t help feeling somewhat flustered as the man walked out. Nico knew he shouldn’t stare; but what else could he do? The man standing before him was beyond handsome. You could tell from first sight that he was a fire user; he sported prominent red hair, accompanied with ruby eyes. The man’s elemental and almost regal appearance sparked a sense of intimidation and nervousness within Nico. He almost felt as if this guy would be able to see right through him; however Nico knew that his disguised hair and red contact lenses were enough to fool others into believing he was a fire spirit as well, even if it was quite the contrary.

 

Nico’s thoughts were plagued with ideas that this man would reject his ragged appearance in his high-class tailor shop, because honestly it wouldn’t surprise him since encounters like that have happened in the past. He almost expected to be promptly shoved out the store and told to go somewhere he could afford, so it was a pleasant surprise when a welcome voice and beaming smile erupted from the man instead.

 

Nico felt his initial nerves creep away to the back of his head as the man, Ark, kindly introduced himself and his business. His eyes didn’t seem to hold judgment, which Nico appreciated greatly. He straightened his posture to look his tallest and most confident and proceeded to bow his head as a greeting to Ark. The typical “hello, it’s nice to meet you,” was out of the question for Nico since his vocal abilities lacked, and not speaking was an issue sometimes. It was hard to find people who understood sign language, and much harder to find people who actually bothered to keep up a conversation if they did understand. Prejudice plagued around the richer parts of the capital city like a wildfire.

 

Despite the difficulty, Nico ensured he always carried a writing utensil and small notepad for the people who aren’t familiar with signing. He grabbed out the notepad and pen that was stored in the front pocket of his pants and set it upon the counter in front of him and proceeded to write,

 

“Hi I’m Nico, and I was wondering if you would be able to help me get outta these old rags,”

 

Nico offered a smaller smile to Ark as he finished writing and spinned the notebook around so that the tailor could read his request. Normally Nico wasn’t the biggest fan of communicating on paper, but sometimes it was his only choice. Despite the low odds, Nico found himself testing the waters anyway.

 

“Excuse me,” Nico began to sign, “do you understand sign language?”

[Kotorichan]

The written message took Ark by surprise. It was fairly common for him to deal with people who were deaf. But usually it was very obvious. Lots of young fire users had injured themselves with their powers at an early age. Ark himself had a scar on his arm from a stray fireball. It was strange to see someone using signs when they didn't have any clear scars.

 

"Um..." Ark had to think for a few moments to process what he had just seen and remember how to reply.

 

"Yes, I am a bit out of practice though. Please excuse my assumption that you could hear my words. Ark's movements were awkward as he was clearly rusty. "Is there a style or a color that you prefer?"

 

He was tempted to ask if there was any kind of budget that he should keep in mind, but quickly pushed the thought away. It would be far too rude to assume that someone was poor just because of their clothing. There were plenty of reasons that this person could be under dressed that had nothing to do with their wealth.

 

"I already have a few outfits in mind for you. But I would not want to suggest something that you would not enjoy.

 

The fire user began to glide around the shop, examining different outfits. He really got a bit overly excited when it came to fashion, it was his passion. Whenever Ark saw someone his mind would immediately begin to match them with colors and styles, different materials that would bring out their hair or skin. He had to stop himself and turn back to Nico so he could see if the other man was trying to say anything to him.

[Whimsical]

Nico did his best to contain his ever growing smile from becoming too large as his eyes analyzed Ark’s hand movements. So, it seemed like the guy knew how to sign. Nico himself was used to people messing up the language often, as he knew it wasn’t the easiest to learn and maintain without everyday practice. He appreciated people like Ark; those who seemed to put the effort into conversing with him despite the lack of words, but then again, customers means money so of course one would do their best to make them feel welcomed.

 

The fire user prompted a couple of questions and suggestions about the clothing he may be interested in, but to be honest, Nico wasn’t too sure himself what he was looking for. All he knew was that for once in his life he simply wanted to walk the streets without holding the appearance of a walking trash can.

 

Nico nodded an as answer to Ark’s signing and took a moment to analyze the store’s appearance as a whole. Fabrics of all colors and textures were hung up and displayed in a neat manner, accompanied by racks of completed clothing already for sale. The water user could feel himself cringe at some of the insane price tags attached to the women’s dresses, but despite the price, the garments looked prosperous and gorgeously created. The men’s wear seemed to appear a little cheaper; there were definitely less racks filled with men’s clothing, as women were often the ones intrigued in fashion in the city. None the less, the sleek and expensive garments were created as just beautifully as the dresses. There surely was something for everyone in the store.

 

When Nico snapped his gaze back to the owner, he noticed he was already being looked at. Nico felt the need to shrink himself away from the intense gaze but reminded himself that he wasn’t staring because of his race. There was no way he could possibly know.

 

“Oh, yes thank you!” Nico began to sign, remaining composed and lively in his body language, “I don’t really have any preferences, so maybe you could show me those outfits you had in mind,” he continued with a smile.

 

Nico took a couple steps away from the counter and shifted closer to where Ark had ventured, “Also I appreciate the signing, but if it’s easier for you, these old noggins aren’t damaged just yet,” he signed and pointed to his ears.

“I’ll understand you just fine if you speak; just don’t be offended if you get the silent treatment,” he finished with a small smirk.

[Kotorichan]

"Ah, thank you. I'm sorry, I just haven't had enough practice lately and I don't want to say something incorrectly." Ark smiled brightly and began to sort through the outfits.

 

"Well... I actually thought that you might look good in navy blue. It's a bit difficult for most fire users to wear since it can clash with our hair and eyes, but I think you have the perfect shade to compliment it. He pulled out a few outfits that were dark blue with crimson trimming. "But if you don't like that then I think you would also look good in plenty of other colors."

 

He picked out a couple in dark red, pale green, and grey. "Do you know which one you would like to try on first? I picked out the size I thought would fit you best and I would be happy to make any alterations you need."

[Whimsical]

Nico's eyes traveled wherever Ark moved and he found himself staring at the man's lips as he spoke. He shook himself out of his trance, almost too hypnotized by the gorgeous man in front of him and graced a smile, "blue isn't really my colour," Nico signed with somewhat urgency.

 

He stepped forward to take a closer look at the designs that Ark held in front of him; there were three garmets, each beautifully designed. His eyes were automatically drawn to the grey outside, as it was a coour that complimented water spirits well but he shook his head slightly and forced himself to seem interested in the red one,

 

"This one's beautiful," he signed with enthusiasm. Nico gently grabbed the garment out of Ark's grasp and headed over to a nearby mirror to stand before it and check how the outfit might look on him,

 

'Hey not bad,' Nico thought to himself, more excited to get out of the rags more than anything.

 

The water spirit turned back to the fire spirit and smiled up at him. He draped the article of clothing on his arm so that his hands would be free to speak, "Is there anywhere I could try this on? and uh, was there any specific price on these?" he questioned.

[Kotorichan]

"Ah... I apologize, I forgot that color has certain... Political connotations..." Ark sighed softly. "It's a shame... Blue is truly a beautiful color but these days you could get harassed for wearing it in public." He shook his head and put on a smile. "My apologies, I got distracted. He watched the boy look at himself in the mirror.

 

"Ah, yes of course. I will find some other outfits in a similar color and style." He opened up a door to a very large dressing room. "Please take your time. If you need any help them you can knock on the inside of the door to get my attention. I would not want you to be unable to get help because you cannot call for me."

[Whimsical]

Nico forced a smile as he listened to Ark 's somewhat cautious speech on the colour. He felt out of place, different, and just so wrong when he pretended to agree.

 

'Yeah, it is a shame,' he signed as he turned around from the mirror to face the fire spirit directly.

 

Nico smiled at Ark as he lead the way to the dressing rooms and he signed a quick 'thank you' at him before he closed the door with his outfit in hand. Nico inaudibly sighed and began to change from his rags to the beautifully garnished items of clothing. He was surprised at how well and comfortable the clothes fitted, and he couldn't help but admire how good the clothes made him feel.

 

Nico stepped out of the dressing room and offered a smile at Ark as he made his way back towards the full-length mirror he previously stood at. Not only did Nico love the way the clothes made him feel, but they complimented his frame near perfectly.

 

Wow... I look, like a fire spirit Nico mused to himself pridefully.

 

Nico turned around and smiled gratefully at Ark, looking down at the outfit before back up to him, 'I really like this one,' he began to sign, 'I'd be interested in buying it, was there a preset price on it or?'

[Kotorichan]

"Ah, yes, all our premade outfits have a set price and come with free adjustments and repairs for life. As well as a week to return it if you find it does not feel right." Ark smiled brightly and walked closer to the boy. "This one is made with our hand made lace and fireworm silk so I doubt you will need any repairs unless you take scissors to it." He laughed softly.

 

"For the full outfit it would be five gold pieces, which does offer a fifty silver discount from buying each item separately." Ark hesitated for a moment. "Of course I do not wish to make assumptions of your financial situation based off your former appearance... However we do have similar outfits for a lower price if you are shopping on a budget."