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What is a dream?
Well, this is one that not many people would have the same answer to.
Some people call a dream a mere figment within someone’s mind, a landscape of their own creation, the product of their life’s imagination, as how they drew it in their sleep, or whenever they’re daydreaming about it.
Some people call it a distant reality that is nowhere near the real world. A place that exists nowhere, and while it may sound like an imagination, it could also be a solid object that has existed outside of one’s mind, reachable through special ways.
And to others, they will call it a goal.
An end game.
A final objective that one wishes to obtain from an early point in their lives. A sort of finale that one would wish to accomplish to finally say that they have done it, whatever it is.
This can vary, of course. One may say their dream is to become the most well-known academic in Sumeru. One may say their dream is to be the best martial artist in all of Inazuma. One may say their dream is to become the richest person in all of Teyvat. One may say their dream is to reunite with their long-lost families and relatives.
And to some, their dream may be as simple as the notion of getting married.
“And there we go. I think that fits well, what do you think?”
The owner of the boutique stood back behind the mirror, taking a look at the veil at the top of her client’s head that was made meticulously with every fine detail refined beyond belief, to the point that every single seam is woven to perfection upon her outfit. To the blind eye, it may seem like being too tedious or overly detailed.
But to Chiori, it meant everything, as she always produced the very best and will keep going on to fulfill that name.
“This is wonderful. I honestly have no words to describe this dress. I thought I asked for one that I would remember for a lifetime, but I think if I wore this, I’d make everyone who saw me remember it for their lives.”
The tailor chuckled at her customer’s remark, walking to the side to grab a small fabric shear and a pin. “I suppose I can take that as a compliment. Besides, I stand for nothing less than perfection in how I tailor my dresses, especially for an occasion such as this.”
“True, that’s a good point. Besides, this is a once in a lifetime event, so it would make sense, right?” The customer replied, her eyes turning to look at Chiori off the side.
“Indeed. If you would be so selfish for this, that’s something quite understandable. Be so selfish on a day to day basis, and we’d have a problem.” Chiori says, humming idly as she plucked a roll of red fabric.
“Are you referring to the multiple times I’ve seen people get thrown out?” She asked, turning the other way to look at the shop windows. “I’ve been here a few times and I’ve heard it a lot, though the windows seem to be still intact.”
“Heh.” Chiori gave one short chuckle. “I haven’t seen one recently that wanted to hop out of my window like a madman, so I suppose it’s a good thing. Better that than having to replace my window, even if they’re paying for it.”
“Fair play, business is hard if you have people going in and out to repair the window.”
“Very true.” Chiori walks back, taking a good look at the bow tier behind her client. “Alright, this is good, but I need to do some minor adjustments to this to make it fit absolutely. Do you mind staying still for a bit, I wouldn’t want to turn into an acupuncture specialist.”
“Oh, right. Do so please.”
Chiori nods, kneeling behind her and taking a sewing pin before going to work. Every push and every pull was deliberate in her craft. Every movement had its purpose, weaving the dress together with immaculate precision and fine detail. There are certain standards for creating dresses and suits, and in Chioriya Boutique, Chiori upholds them to the last bit in every single millimeter of her dresses. To her, a small miss is equal to a failure; one that she can’t accept.
That is how she built her reputation as a masterful seamstress in Fontaine, and that is how she will continue to maintain her reputation for as long as she remains at work there. If one were to become standard like the rest of the market, you’d be nothing special. But if you stand out, you’d be sure to make an impact, not just in one nation too if it goes that far.
“Say, Ms. Chiori?” The client asks, not moving to turn to talk to Chiori.
Not that Chiori bothers. Formalities can be a pain sometimes. “Yes? What is it?”
“You know how I talked about wearing a dress like this is a dream for me, and perhaps for many others?”
“Mhm. A few times, yes, but I understand. The excitement that comes with it can be very hard to contain as I have seen with several clients. Go on.” She says, casually fixing up the back and putting another seam in place.
A soft giggle before the client cleared her throat.
“Is it, by any chance, a dream of yours too?”
For once, Chiori did not give an immediate reply. She paused her arms for a brief second or two, her eyes looking aside in thought before she resumed her work as if she never stopped. Her demeanor had gone into a rare moment of thinking before she laid her answer out to him.
“If we’re talking about now, no. Not at all.” She answers back.
“I see, but you took a bit to think. Something on your mind?” The client follows up.
“Hmm, you sure are observant.” Chiori shrugs. “I guess I’ll entertain for a bit. Yes, I did think for a moment as I wanted to add that my answer stands for now, and without any foreseeable future of changing. However, as I am not a fortune teller, I can’t see the future that far, so I’d like to leave a point that my options are open.”
“Oh, so you may eventually find this to be a dress you will want to wear?” The client raised an eyebrow with a smirk.
“Maybe, I can’t exactly answer anything different from what I said now, we can leave it at that.” She responded, taking another pin in place. True to her words, Chiori hasn’t met anyone she can accept as her partner as many of those who were interested quickly found themselves intimidated by her demeanor, thrown off by her nature of being quite straightforward, or are just into her for the glory and not actually for her.
A notion that would send them flying to another level of Fontaine, usually the level below. Chevreuse would be annoyed if that happened again, but there’s not much the captain can do at this rate.
It really can be a hard thing to do, finding someone you’d be interested in. And for someone like Chiori, people of that type would be far and wide.
“I see. Ah, a shame. I’d think you’d make for an interesting wife to someone if that day ever comes.” The client added, not pressing any further.
“Hmm.” Chiori gave a flat hum as she finished the bow. “If that day does come, I would accept it and go along. If not, it’s not like that’s the end of the world for me. Besides, such a notion is a mere secondary, not what I’m actively pursuing.”
“Besides, life is already interesting enough as it is.” She added, though her eyes does not portray that much interest in her words, despite what she had just said. She just gave a flat look before moving on.
“And we’re done. I have a selection of bouquet samples I brought along for you, see if any of them would match your tastes. All of them are color coded to match the design of this, so if you may.” Chiori took the pins out, slipping them between her fingers and stepping out.
The client nodded, standing up somewhat carefully to not accidentally break the dress before looking in the mirror first. Her face cracked into a genuine smile when she saw herself in the mirror, giggling happily to herself. “You surely outdid yourself again. This looks wonderful. My husband’s going to lose his mind at the ceremony later.” She said, turning around to look at the fine details of her dress.
“Just another day for me, pay it no mind.” Chiori nonchalantly dismissed, putting the pins and scissors back into her workstation drawer.
“You always throw it off whenever people say those, do you? Hehe.” The client added, taking some steps left and right and moving her arms about. “Ah, and the material is not constricting either. What wonders this boutique can bring out.”
Chiori turned to look back at her client, crossing her arms as she patiently waited. The client soon started looking at the flowers, checking them out one by one in the mirror and thinking.
That was when the bell in her store rang again.
“Oh, another one. Welcome to- oh. Nevermind.” Chiori turned her head to see the customer, only to realize it's probably not a customer.
Though that isn’t to say she didn’t welcome him in, it's pretty much the opposite.
“Back from another round of spelunking? What did you face this time?” She asked, still crossing her arms as the traveler from a land afar closed the shop doors behind him, walking in.
“Not much. Just a few things to settle here and there.” Aether replied, the man himself making sure he’s not dirty before setting foot into her shop, lest letting her get into another unhappy fit with him over that.
“Oh, sounds interesting.” She commented, though her face, again, portrays flatness.
“In any case, you didn’t get hurt, hm?” She asked, a rare shift to ask for someone else’s well being.
“No, not at all.” He shook his head, stopping by the working table beside her. “Not that many things we had to deal with, and Paimon’s already going to a souvenir shop to look for something. If that’s any indication, it went without any issues.”
“Good, the last thing I need is for me to drag your butt to a medical center.” She responded, rolling her eyes slightly. “Anyways, just here for a visit or are you wanting to talk to me about something, or buy something?”
“So quickly to shoo me away?” He asked with a chuckle, taking a small box out.
“I might if you annoy me any further.” She rolled her eyes again, before exhaling loudly. “It’s a long day and I still have work to do, surely someone like you understands.”
“Right, right. I got what you asked for yesterday.” Aether adds, pushing the box towards her.
“Oh?” Chiori unfolds her arms, opening the box. Inside the small box are several Rainbow flowers, all fresh from the wild and preserved in some small bags to keep the roots fed. The smell was natural, and without any stench whatsoever.
Chiori took one of the roses up, carefully inspecting the petals and feeling the leaves and stems. Her eyes were scanning the flowers, still somewhat flat and expressionless. After a few seconds, she placed the flowers down and turned to Aether.
“The best I have seen in a while. Thank you for them, I can refill my dyes later, it seems like I don’t have to go to the shop as often.” She responded, her tone ever so slightly shifting upwards to a pleased one. “In any case, this will do.”
“You’re welcome. I happened to pass by a large patch on my way back, so I stopped. Turns out they were beautiful, so I didn’t really need to look around for more. Snatchedthem up, stored them and brought them back.” Aether responded, taking a look at the box of flowers. “They looked really pretty out there, and there were several left in the patch when I left. We can come back there later if you wish to see.”
“Oh, that’d be marvelous. That way I can get them in case you are busy or in another area. Thank you.” She gave him a nod, placing the box off to the side of the table before turning to Aether again. “Well, you’re done for the day, then?”
“Mhm.” He looked around. “A busy day? There are quite a lot of sewing pins left and right on the desk.”
“Ugh, like any other.” She looked aside, huffing. “Had a few picky ones today. It troubles me how someone can ruin their own fashion thanks to their wishes. Such morons.”
“Hey, not everyone has a fashion sense like yours, not even me. Cut them some slack.” Aether responded, chuckling.
“I did. Otherwise, they’d be out there.” Chiori pointed to her still intact window.
“Hehe, fair. At least your window has lasted longer than usual.” Aether responded, crossing his arms as he looked out.
“Yeah, agreed.” Chiori adopted the same pose, looking in the same direction. “In any case- hmm?”
Without a word, Chiori yanked Aether’s scarf towards her. Aether, not expecting the pull, suddenly found his face abruptly close to hers.
“C-Chiori?”
Chiori however wasn’t looking at him, merely looking at his scarf. She narrowed her eyes slightly, her sight pointed towards a cut on his scarf that had some loose strands. She scoffed slightly, looking at him. “Come on, you got a cut here? I thought you said you did nothing much today.”
“A-ah….” He scratched his hair slightly. “Maybe I got snagged on a twig or two when I was rushing around.”
“Ugh, sometimes you annoy me, you know? Taking care of your clothes while you’re wearing them also goes a long way in taking care of yourself.” She let go, Aether reeling back as Chiori grabs a small sewing kit. “Stay there and don’t move too much or I’ll prick you by accident.”
“Accident or on purpose?” Aether asked back, shaking his head clear from the previous pull as the seamstress fixed his scarf with some quick pulls of a sewing pin.
“A bit of both, if you look at it that way.” She says, quickly fixing the small cut within a minute or so. “Stop throwing yourself about so harshly. If you were to cut your outfit up, it’d take forever for me to sew it back together, and that’s if it still exists.”
“Hey, at least be worried about me more than my outfit?” Aether retorted.
“Pff, what are you talking about? If your outfit is already cut up, that means you are cut up. Take care of your outfit, and it means you are taking care of yourself, dumbo.” She gave Aether a soft knock on the forehead with a finger before finishing up.
“Right, right.” He sighed, Chiori pulling back as she finished fixing the tear. “All done?”
“Yes. I do it quickly and efficiently while maintaining quality, of course.” She responded, crossing her arms.
Aether took his scarf, observing it and finding no visible seams or traces of it being cut. Satisfied, she gives her a smile and a nod as thanks.
“Don’t mention it. That said, while you’re here, I have a request.” She says, Aether raising an eyebrow at her.
“What is it?”
“There’s a show in the Opera house tomorrow.” Chiori says, looking out the window towards the upper levels of Fontaine. “The show is going to be directed by a crew from Mondstadt. Though I have you here to help me, I’d like to see what the story is all about from a place I’ve never been to. Might serve as some inspiration for me to make a few new designs.”
She turned towards him. “And you are going to watch it with me.”
“Me? Why do I need to be there, not that I don’t want to.” Aether raised an eyebrow.
“Do I have to explain everything? Ugh, we'll call it a hunch but I feel like some stage props and outfits are going to be extravagant for the sake of a show. Rather than try to discern out what is real or not myself, I’ll just nab you along to tell me what is what.” Chiori explains, fixing her hair tie casually as she speaks. “That’s it, nothing more.”
“Huh…I guess I can, got nothing to do.” Aether shrugged.
“I know. That’s why I’m not waiting for an answer anyway.” Chiori replied nonchalantly, turning away to look at the clock. “5 pm tomorrow, I’ll have something for you to wear to at least look good, not that that’s a difficult feat for someone like you.”
She spoke the last part a little lower than Aether can hear.
“Alright, I’ll be here.” Aether replied, before pausing. “Wait, how’d you know my size?”
“Are you serious?” She gave him a sigh and an eyeroll. “I’ve been with you a many few times already, and I fixed your outfit more than once, maybe even a dozen times now. Why wouldn’t I know your exact dimensions?”
“Hehe, fair.” He scratches the back of his hair.
“Okay, I’m done!” The client, busy checking flowers, finally calls Chiori.
The seamstress nods, moving over back to her client as Aether looks around the store while Chiori tends to work again. The client was holding a nice bouquet of red roses; a standard pick for weddings that can’t go wrong.
Seeing this, Chiori gave a nod. “Alright, that’s that then. The dress is good and the bouquet is complete. I’d say you’re ready.”
“Thank you.” The woman gives Chiori a small bow. “This is wonderful. I’m sure to remember this for a long time to come.”
“A pleasure.” Chiori replied flatly. “So, you’re done? Going to change out?”
“Yes. Your staff member is already there to help me anyway.” She replied, motioning to the changing room. “Speaking of, I didn’t know you were this acquainted with the traveler.”
“Oh him?” Chiori turned around, her gaze lingering on Aether for longer than she realized. “Yeah, I suppose you can put it that way. Helps me get stuff done around here, so I’d say he’s a welcome one, besides my staff.”
“Oh? Hmm~” The woman takes a long hum before nodding. “I see, I see.”
“Maybe that dress will be in your dreams sooner than I expected.”
“Say what now?” Chiori turned to her, raising an eyebrow.
“No, nothing. Hehe, I’ll change out, and we can process the payment.” She responded with a giggle, waving Chiori off as she walked to the changing room.
Chiori crosses her arms again, raising an eyebrow at her words before sighing, turning to Aether as watching him.
“Heh, I doubt I would even consider that.”
“........”
“......okay, that’s something for future me to think about.”
Her train of thought when a loud thud suddenly came from the door. Chiori and Aether both turned to the door, where they found a man suddenly entering the store and looking at Chiori with displeasure.
“Hey! I want to voice a complaint!”
Chiori huffed, Aether watching off the side. She turned to him, arms still crossed. “What now?”
“The suit you made for me tore too easily! I want a free remake, based on my specifics this time!” He responded with displeasure in his voice, throwing said suit in a horrible condition to the floor with the tear very visible.
However, as Chiori stepped closer, she smelled something foul in the air, before narrowing her eyes ever so slightly. “Smokes and alcohol.” She said flatly, looking up at him. “Are you perhaps unable to realize that wearing such outfits to get drunk and irresponsible to be extremely stupid on your end?”
“Hah?! I’m not hearing any of that from someone who doesn’t even understand the high life, now get to work!”
Chiori’s eyebrow twitched as she turned to Aether. Aether also had a distasteful expression on him as he turned to Chiori.
He tilted his head to the side, motioning towards the exit of the shop.
Chiori nodded, the pair putting their arms down as they approached the man.
“Well, I sure hope you have money to replace a broken window.”
Chevreuse would be baffled the next day when she found out that a man had found himself face-first into a plant pot outside of the Chioriya Boutique. Despite her questions, both Chiori and Aether seemed to not admit that they had anything to do with it.
The captain could only sigh. Chiori is bad enough already at times, how the hell did she get Aether involved into this?