A Garment [palace] <Ba Sing Se, Earth Kingdom>

[earthking]

"Your Majesty," the words slid into his ear. And in spite of the gentle hush in the woman's voice, the cheery enthusiasm she possessed was as unremitting as the rise of the sun.

"Your Majesty," attempting to garner his attention in cheerful caution.

The eyes of the Earth King slowly crept open. Immediately the woman's own eyes closed, pointing her forehead downwards. With hands inside the wide cuffs of her sleeves she bowed lowly just as the Earth King slowly turned his head towards her.

And he was so close too, he thought. On the precipice of the waking world and nearing the realm of sleep if she had not interrupted. Aided by lavish comfort and the orchestra playing at the other end of the room. But he saw fit not to reprimand her. He was not that sort of person. No where remotely such in his relaxed state.

"The tailor has arrived," addressing him with her broad, expansive smile and eyes that held an uncommon innocence. And she looked rather familiar somehow too. "May I send for him, Sire?"

"At--" attempting to move his right hand for moment, then immediately remembering he was 'restrained' still. "At once," he soon replied.

Whilst she trotted off out of view, His Majesty reacquainted himself to comfort. Badgermoles, ostrichhorses, emuhorses and zebragazelle decorated the elaborately carved, marble recliner that was sunwarmed before his arrival. Each parked on small stone stool, a manicurist quietly attended to him, one at each foot and one at the end of the armrests.

A contented smile inhabited the Earth King's feature. Above his head he could still feel hear the low trickle of spring water from a marble spout somewhere over his head, pouring itself upon his hair situated within a marble basin carved from the same mass of rock as his and Bosco's recliners. Lightly he felt the pull of a finely crafted and fine tooth jade comb that slunk back and forth through his water submerged, unbraided hair.

"Soon you'll have a proper set of attire for the ball," addressing his pet. Companion and best friend in the entire Earth Kingdom. If not all the world. "As well as a new playsuit. Won't that be lovely?"

[nifeng]

Beautifully endowed sandals tapped impatiently on the dull, earthen floor. Usually, the customers waited for him, but it seems that since he was at the highest level of the social ladder, he would have to painfully wait for them.

It didn’t matter though. This customer was very special. Apparently, word of the Ni family’s wonderful garments and tailoring skills had reached even the royal palace. Yes, this was the biggest achievement yet in his family’s long history and it was for him alone to enjoy.

He wondered what his parents were doing at present. He mulled it over in his creative mind, finally coming to the conclusion that were probably enjoying Maotai at some fancy restaurant. He sighed audibly, his mouth beginning to salivate from the thoughts of the alcoholic beverage.

A woman soon appeared, motioning him to follow her. He followed the attendant, pondering the phenotype of the Earth King. How was he dressed? How would he react to him? He was obviously a man of class, judging by his choice to send out a beautiful woman to receive him. But the question that burned a mark in his brain was what did he look like? He had never really seen the Earth King; he didn’t know anyone who had. Even men of his social status weren’t allowed to see the King. The Dai Li saw to that personally.

He entered the Earth King’s quarters to find the man grooming his hair, with a big ball of fur next to him. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that furry ball could move and had several teeth that could quite possibly harm him. Nervously, he slipped his hand underneath a beautifully embroidered beige cheongsam, removing a metal fan from his sash.

Furiously pumping the tool, he placed his right foot in front of him elegantly, slowly taking a bow. “ Greetings, your-er-Kinglyness.” He stood back up, eyeing the thing next to the King cautiously and began talking in an egotistic, arrogant tone. “ As you may have heard, I am Ni Feng, master tailor at my quaint-well quaint is quite an understatement, but nonetheless- quaint, little shop in Ba Seng Se. I am quite pleased to be in royalty’s company. It’s quite a pleasurable break from dealing with dank peasants that seem to overrun this city.”

Ni Feng smiled while the narrow slits on his face absorbed the King's attire. The fan still beat wildly by his face. “ And I can see that you have style. In clothes and in attendants.” He nodded towards the woman who received him and passed a wink at her.” As much as I would enjoy to fraternize you, I feel that it’s quite unnecessary. You probably receive enough of it. So! What shall I be getting you?”

A bead of sweat miraculously formed on his thin nose before quickly being rendered dry by the dry winds from the fan.

[earthking]

His Majesty resigned himself to his position of staring at the ceiling. Unable to pitch his head forward even if an attendant was not meticulously combing through his hair with the expediency of water wearing away a mountain, his hair partially submerged in the water filled basin while the jade comb slid through the strands with ease.

Oh well, he could always observe more of this man, this tailor than just his voice--which seemed to ring of both impertinence and nervousness, either on their own or one feeding into the other--later on once this tradesman began... well, his trade.

Reflexive he tried but was reminded of a manicurist, the Earth King instead merely spoke without motioning towards Bosco.

"It is not in so much for myself as it is for my dear Bosco." At the mention of his name came a relaxed yawn from the full grown Grizzly Bear, displaying teeth untampered that caused servants attending the animal's nails, paws and fur to recoil in cautious fear. Returning to work as if nothing had happened once the bear had finally closed its mouth.

"Please do not stare," did his command sound like a request? "Bosco can get nervous and shy when he is indecent in public," His Majesty tried to say in a kindly hushed tone. The bear sat, being waited on his natural state. Without hat or jacket he had long been accustomed to wear.

"It would seem dear sweet Bosco's attire had become worse for the wear during yesterday's latest kite flying lesson," almost sorrowfully divulging the story to the tailor. "Thankfully the royal seamstresses should have new articles for Bosco within a day's time. And thankful as I am, such lovely outfits are dreadfully saddened to find ruination amidst such joyous playtime activities."

"Upon swiftness of thought, my mind has ascertained that one who exists outside the walls of this palace would do better in understanding and the manufacture of leisure clothing for use in play," His Majesty deduced.

"And therefore whence your skill and reputation has garnered you candidacy for employment for the two--no three fold," immediately deciding, "task by you have been called to perform. By first of which is the creation of playsuit attire for Bosco and myself. And from there a sumptuous manner of dress for Bosco for his attendance at the coming Springly Ball of this year's cultural festival."