They reached the other side of the bridge and Xasan released her. No doubt, seeing them walking across these heights wouldn't help the rumors, but perhaps he assumed the damage was done. 

Xasan led them further up the volcano’s edge. He took stone and more solid wooden bridges where he could, avoiding the swinging ropes since Brysys had an aversion to them. Unfortunately, they were the predominant form of bridge across the gaps, so when they became unavoidable he helped her across. 

He brought her inside the Seeker’s guild, but let her handle the request. However, he did tell them to charge it to his ship to streamline the process. “We can settle up later,” he assured her once they were back outside. “They often take requests from captains more seriously than individuals.”

“Oh, well, thank you. What happens if they don’t find anything?”

“After a certain amount of time there is a charge and we can request they continue or drop the search. Their network is large, but sometimes it can take time to find people. I’ve heard of them finding people after the term of the contract is up and contacting the person looking, but they don’t go out of their way for those bounties anymore. Most of the time the person has moved on.”

“And if they do find something?”

Xasan chuckled. “If they find your man then there is a substantially greater charge, and we bring you here to collect information on how to find him.”

The tailor was lower than the seekers guild. He didn’t envy new sailors trying to find things here alone. New installations were popping up all the time. The city was growing more every year as they cobbled together supplies. There were no set levels for easy reference, no standardized walkways, everything was an eclectic mix of scrap. Xasan loved it, loved the chaos that somehow blended into uniformity. Whenever he felt pulled in too many directions at once he remembered his city, and knew that he was just a product of his home.

It really had been too long since he’d been to the tailor, and his girl was delighted to see him. She greeted him warmly, and probably a bit too enthusiastically given he’d brought company, but he was never one to turn down affection.

Her demeanor crashed into cool politeness when he introduced Brysys and explained their need for suitable clothing. He let them both know that he was off to make arrangements at the baths and for someone to ferry Brysys back and forth while he took care of other arrangements.

Brysys didn’t like the idea of being left alone with this clearly hostile young woman, but Xasan was gone before she had the chance to protest. She tried flashing the girl a smile, but the girl- Vanysa? Would hardly look at her. 

Too bad, she was a pretty girl. Not Brysys’ usual type, but even she could see the appeal. She looked to be of mixed races, triton and orc, possibly? Something aquatic certainly, the way her fingers webbed together. Her skin was a blueish green and she had small tusks that protruded from between her lips. Her eyes were pupiless and dark, at odds with the light freckles which adorned her cheeks. She’d seem sweet if it weren’t for the sour look on her face, although Brysys knew better than to say so, she never enjoyed hearing it.

“Well, come along,” Vanysa tied her hair back while she spoke, going first to the display dresses in the windows. “I’m sure we have something here that’s close enough to fitting you.”

She rejected several items offhand before turning on her heel and striding into the back of the shop. Brysys followed her, uncertain of what else she was meant to do. “So how do you know Captain Golden Scales?”

It was the first attempt at conversation Brysys had been given, and yet it took her a moment to place that she was being spoken to and asked about Xasan. “I- yes, Captain Golden Scales. We met on their last voyage. I’m a druid so he and his first mate took me onto the crew.”

“And now you’re having dinner with the other Captains?” The words were innocent enough, but Brysys still felt endangered by the way they’d been issued. 

“Just his fathers, I believe.”

“His fathers?” She turned and appraised Brysys critically. Brysys frowned back at her. She didn’t appreciate the scrutiny. This woman knew nothing about her. She could rip the girl in half with only a little bit of effort, but the young woman wasn’t considering that, just how Brysys looked at the moment.  “Well, aren’t you a lucky one? And getting all made up for it too? I know plenty who’d kill to be in your shoes.”

“Are you one of them?” Brysys had noticed the knife at the woman’s belt. She hadn’t been here long but, well.

She smiled. “I might be, but I don't think that’d win me any favors with the Captain, so why don’t you undress and try this on.”

Brysys begrudgingly complied. She put on a variety of hideous dresses while Vanysa made catty comments about how poorly they fit. “Your chest is far too small for that one, and with the structure we’ll never take it in in time.” or “Oh, doesn't that just make you look like a puffer fish. They might mistake you for their dinner!” or “This one is so long you’ll probably trip and break your neck, then he’ll need to bring someone else.”

“Wouldn’t that just be a shame,” Brysys grumbled. It didn’t seem that she wanted to actually help at all, but eventually Vanysa pulled out a gown that wasn’t hideous. Red satin draped off of Brysys’ shoulders, complimenting her coppered skin. The corset and skirt were a slightly darker red with gold embroidery depicting stylized flowers, and satin roses marked the points in the skirt that were gathered up to reveal the ruffles beneath. It wasn’t something Brysys would dream of wearing normally, but it was beautiful. 

“Hmm,” Vanysa turned her head one way and then another. “That will do. Only minor alterations are needed and the buyer won’t be here for another month. I can make a replacement for them.” She gestured Brysys up onto a stool and gathered materials to mark the adjustments in the dress. “This will cost your Captain a lot of money, you know.”

“I’ll be sure to show him my appreciation,” No sooner had the words left her mouth than a needle pierced her skin. “Ow!”

“Careful not to move,” Vanysa said placidly, “these needles are very sharp.”

Brysys glared at the wall and tried to stay as still as possible. She hadn’t moved that time, but she wouldn’t give the other woman more of an excuse to hurt her.

“The Captain and I arne’t together,” maybe if she just told the girl the truth it would lighten the mood. She didn’t like getting stabbed for no reason. “I’m just on his crew. There’s nothing romantic between us.” Then, because it was obvious even to her what the girl wanted to hear, “I’m sure he’d much rather be bringing you to dinner.”

She sighed dreamily, but her hands continued their quick and efficient work. “Wouldn’t that be something? And then maybe I could be on the crew too, going off on adventures together!”

“You and Captain Golden Scales are close, then?” They couldn’t be that close if the girl wasn’t using his name. She hadn’t heard anyone call him that until they got to Trove. 

“We’re intimate. He stops by whenever he has time, but that’s less and less lately.” She paused and leaned away with a pout. “My clothes are too durable.”

Brysys tried to keep her tone light. She wanted out of this dress and this shop as quickly as possible. “Maybe he’ll need a tailor on board one day. Stranger things have happened.”

She looked at Brysys’ eyes for the first time. “Maybe he will! That would be useful, wouldn’t it? If he needs to go meet a king or something?”

Brysys nodded. She didn’t know anything about royal functions, but it seemed like something you'd want nice clothing for. Vanysa declared her done and Brysys offered to wait outside for her handler. Anything to get out of that shop. She didn’t need to stand outside for long before a spry goblin fetched her. She followed his small form through the streets, careful to stay close so she wouldn’t lose him on the way to the baths.

The baths were a blur of people scrubbing at her, and poking at her, and messing with her hair, but the massage was nice. She left feeling refreshed with her hair piled far on top of her head in a way that made her feel strangely off balance.  She toddled back to the tailor after the goblin man, careful not to turn her head too much. It felt like if she moved her neck the weight would shift and she might not recover. 

By the time they returned she was surprised to find the dress completed. Vanysa might be a bitch, but she worked quickly. “I’ll take her from here,” Vanysa informed Brysys’ guide before looking her over again. “Look at you. They managed to get most of the dirt off you.”

Brysys stared back at her. She was growing too tired to play nice, especially with someone who obviously had no intention of doing the same. They went to the back and Brysys put on the dress again. It was much more snug this time and Vanysa had to help lace her into it. She looked down at herself and was surprised to see that her chest looked sizable. It never had before, aside from in the company of elves. Maybe that’s why people wore corsets, despite how difficult they made breathing. 

“Oh, I forgot a pin,” Vanysa came behind her and Brysys felt a small pain as another needle pierced her skin. She was going to grumble at the woman, but before she could her vision began to darken as she felt suddenly unwell.

Her knees no longer wanted to support her, so she sank to the floor, her dress billowing out around her in a lovely pile. “Poison?”

“Don’t worry, I'm sure the dress will look just as good on me,” Vanysa chirped. 

Brysys spared her a glare before gathering her will. It was difficult to lift her arm, but she forced herself to concentrate on the gesture that would restore her. “Renew,” the fey language was like a second skin, as comforting on the tongue as a soft blanket on her skin.

She felt the poison begin to lift as quickly as it had started. “Bitch. Don’t you know it’s useless to poison a druid? You’re a stupid as you look.”

The fear in the young woman’s eyes was nearly punishment enough. She reached for a pair of scissors, but only held them defensively while Brysys tried to work out how to stand in her new dress.

“Hello?” Xasan’s voice from the front of the shop.

“Back here,” Brysys called, keeping wary eyes on Vanysa.

“We’re just finishing up,” the girl added, placing the scissors beside her, like the two hadn’t just been about to kill each other.

She could hear Xasan approaching, but didn’t dare take her eyes off of Vanysa. Maybe the girl would learn from her mistakes and do something that wasn’t so easily fixed next time.

“Oh, what happened?” Xasan hurried forward, offering a hand to Brysys who was just working her way upright.

“She tripped,” supplied Vanysa.

“Well are you alright?” Xasan looked her over a little more diligently than he needed to. “This dress is- you’ve outdone yourself Vanysa.”

“Yes.” She didn’t sound pleased by the compliment.

Brysys held her tongue. Maybe Vanysa wouldn’t try anything in front of Xasan, but she might attack the tailor if she wasn’t careful. Luckily, Xasan was asking about payment.

“Oh, just the standard rate,” Vanysa gushed. “I was going to charge you extra for the short notice, but your friend and I just had so much fun together.”

“Oh, did you? That’s wonderful.” He flashed a smile to each of them.

“Yes,” Brysys agreed dryly. “Now, shouldn’t we be going?”

“Yes, yes, of course.” He paid and then gestured towards the door. “I just need to get dressed. Quick stop by the ship-”

Brysys didn’t really hear him. She looked back at Vanysa to catch her glare as they exited the shop. She didn’t think of herself as a petty woman, but she also hadn’t been able to pay the tailor back for trying to kill her, so she smiled at the woman before supplanting herself at Xasan’s side. He put an arm around her waist, as Brysys anticipated he would, and she got the briefest glimpse of Vanysa’s reaction before the door obscured her from sight.