They waited awhile, the wind moving the bells at the entrance, making them chime. Then, an old man stepped out from further inside, an entire mountain of fabrics next to him. His face resembled a raisin, his hand resting heavily on a walking stick as he gazed at them through what appeared to be his good eye. The other eye was more of an empty socket.
"A young Lady in my store, it is my honor," Tamar said, catching sight of her. He moved towards her and took her hand. "It is my honor. What can I do for a pretty gem of a woman like you?"
"Tamar. She is with me."
July had a distinct feeling of being able to witness something not many got to see.

"Gin, you son of a bastard," he grumbled. "What did you do? Rip your armor again. I will not be repairing it for free, not when I have such a beauty as a customer."
"What do you believe me to, bo? A criminal? Tamar. I thought you had a higher opinion of my esteemed self."

"I believe you are nary worth a single chopper, and your life should end in the goddamn desert sands you were born in. That I believe. But now tell me who that lovely creature you have brought me here is." He waved his hand at her. "Beautiful." He then stated. "More than you."

She said nothing but merely tilted her head. Then he turned to Gin. "Again, why are you here? I have such a lovely customer to care for; I cannot spare a second. I believe a beautiful lavender Sari will look like it is painted on you by the greatest of masters with such pretty dark hair. A bit of cold silver, a few jewels, and amethyst best. I offer the best prices; nowhere else will it be so cheap. You will be a beauty of the coldest yet graceful of hues." He said again, and she felt that she should feel bit coerced and took a step back when Gin slapped the Tailor's hand away.

"Stop it. You will rip her off an arm and a leg and then some more. She is my guest. We are not here for a pretty sari but for some sturdy clothing for her," he pointed out. "Battle clothing, armor."
"So she is one of your fighters; what a pity." He threw his arms into the sky surprisingly fast, a speed she hadn't expected.
"Then you woman, get out of that mask and the garish shawl and tell me what color you prefer and what style. This won't be cheap Miss, armor should never be cheap. I deliver only the best and only to the best. If Gin speaks for you, then you are worthy of my work. Damned bastard is many things, but incapable is not among them."

"I am paying; you need to negotiate with me," Gin said behind him, bowed down until his face was right at the old Tailor's ear behind him. Whispering something July couldn't hear.

"Then I will make it especially expensive; you have money, and from how she looks, she doesn't have any. You, Missus, should be careful. He will devour you and spit out your bones, this lover boy." His finger rose. "No matter how much he pays you for the night."

"Tamar...I feel hurt, I don't need to pay for a woman's company, and this one will crush my bones if I don't watch it." He said with mischief in his voice. "It is my payment to her for sparing me during battle and using what I suspected was not even half her strength."
Tamar stepped back and looked up and down at her with a keen eye. "You don't like intense colors, do you? You are the subtle yet luxurious kind." She didn't deny it. "Black?" he asked. "Or maybe something lighter, paler, nothing flamboyant for sure, like the gentleman here with all his white and gold?"

"I like color, but black is better. It doesn't show blood all that often." She stated, and he nodded, vanishing into the back. Returning shortly later, six balls of black Fabric were on his shoulder. She hushed him and took some of them from him, their weight surprising her as she placed them alongside the others on the counter. "He was right. You are a strong one."
Tamar muttered and then rolled out the first Fabric. "This one is exquisite, quite sturdy but a bit thicker. See, not much in the way of embellishments, but pure in color, it will shine in dark purple hues under the right light." She stared at it, her hand stroking what felt like soft woven leather. "Next, we have these two; they are the same Fabric and have different patterns. This one has patterns with the creatures of the sky, birds, and flying clouds wandering the sky; you see black on darker black embroidery here. I got it from the fabric makers down further south. This one is silk, black silk, and simply jet-beauty." His hand showed one Fabric after another. "Then we have my personal treasure. The only ball I have of this Fabric is enough to make one outfit. I want to see your face as payment for even offering it." He held up the last ball of Fabric, and July openly admitted curiosity may be killing her. She took off her mask, and he let out a gasp. "Yes, you are worth this Fabric. If you wear it with a face like this, it will make me famous beyond Chir."

"As if he already isn't. Don't believe the old fogey a word; he is the best Tailor in all of Chir. The Royal tailor, to be exact." Behind her, Gin said and stepped to the last Fabric laid out. "That being said, I feel hurt you haven't shown this to me before."

"Because this is for women, you bloke, not a brute like you. It is a fabric woven from metal fibers and shredded skin of a sand serpent king, not taken after a kill, and the finest silk. Making it flexible yet strong, almost impossible to work with under normal circumstances; it is like ebony swallowing light. Yet, someone embroidered eleven meters of it in these sweet small flowers and made it workable." She neared it. Hundreds of small flowers were all over it.

"It's amazing." She muttered.

"It is. The entire outfit would be made with it, and if you intend to have something similar to what you are wearing now, I would mix it with a few others here. This leather is for the pants. In two layers. Tight underneath and with a second airy layer, the weather will become secondary like that, with enough ventilation for the hot days and enough warmth for star-filled nights." She gazed at him, and then he switched to the simple silk fabric. "This for the top, loose yet covering, high till the neck; it will contain the warmth and enable circulation as well, and if I make it lose and the pants high in waist cut, flatter your figure. You will look like a queen. The last one is for a jacket or a vest. To put it over the airy top for protection in a battle. Such clothes would make for a light yet incredibly flexible armor."

"It sounds amazing," she said in open admiration. It was incredible craftsmanship. Suddenly, Tamar clapped his hands, and she wore something similar to how he described it. She turned and looked into the mirror.. Even her hair was suddenly hanging in a carefully groomed, complicated style. The clothes showed a thin waist and made her look different.
"What?"

"Illusion," Gin said and whistled. "You got taste, old man; I think you have us both hook, line, and sinker. She looks like a seductress of the night in this; my pockets will weep."

"Indeed, they will weep and do so in gold. The shoes are made from the same snake leather and then worked on by my best leather maker. I'd say it will cost you at least fifty gold." Tamar said. 

"I can't have him pay so much," she muttered fifty gold had to be expensive anywhere, she fount it hard to imagine otherwise. "Have you got something cheaper in Fabric and leather?"

"I will only ever offer the best, and the price is something he needs to contest. You are such a lovely thing. He will want you in the best money can offer, or he would not step into my store in the first place."

"You are quite right; to put a woman in the wrong clothes is an insult. Twenty-five gold for it all, and you will be finished by tomorrow."

"That is daylight robbery, Gin; please, do you want to make her think you are a poor soul haunting the streets?"Tamar said with a voice of drama grabbing his heart. "How can you."

"Tamar, no man stepping into your store is a poor Soul of the streets; you would not let them step through this door if they were. You would cut off all their fingers, thinking they might be too long for their own good," Gin said with the same drama, her eyes widening in realization. This was all an act, yet it was led with intrigue as if it was a game between the two.

"Ayyy, forty gold." Tamar raised a finger. "Ten less, but only because she is so beautiful and you are a regular."

"You wish to tell me my being here and bringing you a customer is only worth less than gold, thirty-five, my last word."

"Gin, you drive a devil's bargain. But I do know that tone. I agreed to thirty-five, but I will have more Time to finish seven moonrises."Tamar pointed out, and Gin bowed.

"You shall have your Time, my friend.

"Good." He looked up and down at her. "You, my dear, please stay still. I will take your measurements." Tamar wiped out a long measuring band from his pocket and started limping around and measuring her. A few minutes later, he hummed. "I have what I need. Come again in seven days, and it will be finished. You, devil of the sand, leave what needs fixing on my counter." Gin did as he was ordered, and a few moments later, they were out of the store. July checked the Time on her clock and saw it was already dinner time.

"I need to leave Gin...is it fine to pass by the Arena tomorrow?" She asked him, and he nodded.

"Of course. Put the mask back on before you dazzle the entire street with your pale skin," he said, and she did as he said. "I will await you tomorrow at the Arena. May I consider my department for not attempting to harm me in the Arena settled?" 

"Yes, you may."