Style Quest: Ronin...

    The wedding and honeymoon had been amazing, but it was time for Varick to return to work. His first request back was an odd one. A mysterious client had requested waterproof clothes and a series of mannequins to display them on. Details about what outfits weren’t disclosed, but a ten percent deposit was enough to entice the equine tailor. With the help of his new life partner, Raine, the green and blue spotted snow leopard, Varick set off south of Drakethorpe, following the river till it outlet into the ocean. It was a multiday trip made slightly humorous by the feline’s insistence on naming and setting up the mannequins every night. Finally, on the midday of the sixth day, the pair arrived at the sea cave that the letter directed them to find. 

    “Holy abs,” Varick and Raine exclaimed in unison as they entered the cave to find a merman waiting for them. The blue scales on his tail and arms sparkled with the clear water pool in the crystal lighting. 

    “I’ll take that as a compliment,” the half-fish man laughed as he brushed a few strands of brunette hair out of his face. “My name is Ronin and is one of you Varick?”

    “I uh I um I… me is tailor,” the mahogany Clydesdale found words were failing him. Once again, his problem with talking to attractive men was rearing its head. A quick bat on the back of the head from Raine reset Varick. “Yes, I’m the tailor you’ve requested and we’ve brought the mannequins. What exactly was it you wanted to order?”

    “As you can see,” Ronin motions around his cave to the various shelves filled with different collections of items. “I can’t wear clothes like a land walker, but I would love to have a collection of clothes from the finest magical tailor around. Design me a whole wardrobe that I can switch between the mannequins as the mood strikes and make sure they’re water proof.” Raine wins a quick game of rock paper scissors with a silent cheer.

    “I’ll measure your abs… I mean torso and we can estimate for the legs,” the snow leopard explained with a big smile as they swiped Varick’s measuring tape. “That way all the clothes are sized properly even if you can’t wear them.”

    Over the next few weeks, Varick and Raine stayed as guests in Ronin’s cave as they worked on the commission. The merman had quite the eye for fashion despite his lack of clothing. Each sketch Varick made was carefully analyzed and critiqued before being approved. Raine made several paintings of Ronin as gifts to the merman and for selling back in Drakethorpe. 

    “Some of these would look better with armor accents, but unfortunately, that’s beyond my expertise,” Varick lamented as he examined the final outfits on the mannequin. “I know a few armor smiths that I can recommend.”

    “Nonsense, these are perfect as is,” Ronin exclaimed as he momentarily dove underwater in his pool. Moments later, he reemerged with a chest of gold coins and potions. “If I wanted armor, I would’ve sent for a smith, not a tailor. Plus all these portraits of me are a nice bonus. Now you two should be on your way. I’ve kept you long enough.” Varick and Raine each said goodbye to the merman and started their journey home.