Noir drove the Channel Horse into a small stall, a section of the Canal that was pushed in, single sections for Paddle-Go's and Channel Horses like a miniature dock. All he had to do connect the rope on a pole to the reins via hook and he could walk down the partition and onto the side walk.
"Huh. Ain't that something." He pulled a cigarette from his pack, last one, and lit it. "Well, seems like I know where I'm going first."
Walking down the sidewalk, there were dozens of people in clothes from light linen and sundresses to more coverage with suits and vest similar to Noir himself, some wore elegant dresses or simple silk garments. The thing that was most standout about them was that they all had their hair done up in lavious ways. Some had curl kisses, some had pompadours.
In Water 9, Fashion had advanced many years ahead of other islands and some fashion trends in the Other Blues. Noir wondered why. It was so casual but also quite elegant.
Coming into a tobacco store, the smell of the plant being sold filled Noirs nostrils, the smell of wood complementing it well. Around the walls were lamp lights illuminating shelves with boxes of cigars and displays of pipes, matches, raw tobacco and even an assortment of lighters.
"Mornin friend, welcome to Dried Smoke Store. I'm Ro Whatcha lookin for today?" A man with a long elegant pipe stood behind the counter, thin sunglasses on his nose as his hair thinned. He was short, and sat on a stool behind a wooden counter as even more boxes sat behind him on shelves. In front of him were a variety of Ashtrays.
"I'm lookin for a months worth of Northwind Breeze?" Walking up to the counter the man pushed an ashtray to Noir, who tapped the remainder of his ash and put out the butt.
"Northwind, eh? That's a specialty import from the North Blue. But you're in luck. Just need a pack for the day or?"
"How about a crate?" The Chef tucked his hands into his pocket.
"A Crate?! Really? That's practically my whole stock!" The man's glasses fell to the end of his nose, eyes widened.
"Yeah- I've only got a few more packs left" Noir watched as the man walked to the middle of the store where large crates sat.
"Well, I'd recommend maybe picking up the habit of Carrying a Tobacco kit or a tin of Tabacco with you. We've got a large selection from the South Blue and Toba if you're willin' to change up your taste for a bit." Moving a couple of the Crates, Ro bullet one with a bright blue label of a blue cloudy sky and a visible breeze.
"Nah. I'm good."
"Alright- Well, I'll ring you up. Anything else?"
"Actually, yeah. Why don't you give me a tour around the place, show me what you've got."
"Oh! Certainly." The man held an Excited grin as he walked around to the Left of the building where a flat wall sat to begin.
"We've got an Incredible selection of Cigars, From the Toba Top Pick." He said lifting up a finely crafted wooden box with an elegant field across the front. Ro lifted one, it was wrapped in a visible leaf as opposed to more paper life leaf. Handing it to Noir, the Chef took a deep whiff of the object
"Hmmm…Mango?" He guessed.
"Yes! Exactly. Each are finely crafted by hand, and has toppings added into them such as coco leaves and even some sugars. As well as ground and fruit thats made into a syrup to give them aroma and taste."
"Finely made indeed. You mentioned by hand? How so?" Noir inquired
"Well- That I don't exactly know. I know it comes from Toba in the South Blue. They produce a lot of Tobacco. And honestly. I wouldn't be surprised if they use plantations and slaves…Toba is pretty reserved in their practices."
"I know that another Island in the South, Fressh, also produces tobacco, but doesn't use any slaves. We've got a couple from there too."
"Yeah, lets see those instead." Noir said moving along.
The man spoke in intricate detail of the Tobacco, where it came from, and when he could, how it was grown and produced. Even speaking highly of the the farmers that grew and picked it.
"You really love Tobacco, huh?" Noir said with a slight grin
"Oh yes. Got hooked on it when I was young. Some Doctors say its a mistake. Especially the health magazine." A Magazine that was delivered bi weekly and spoke of new health discoveries and was written by many doctors of repute. Something that the Red Sashes own Doctor read.
"But I love it. I love the way its grown, the smell, and I love rolling my own Cigarettes and Cigars. I know others prefer hemp or cannabis. But I prefer the soothing feel of Tobacco."
"You've got quite the Passion." Noir remarked
"Indeed, and similar could be said for all of Water 9. We may be famous for our shipwrights, but we make plenty other things. It was thanks to Mayor Winslow that we got to keep it too."
"Keep it?" Noir inquired.
"Well- Originally. Shipwrights were the only thing Water 9 did. Everything was related to ships. Many people loved that, but others weren't content with just that."
"Over the years, shops like mine opened around on this level, and many followed suit. But it was an underpaying career. But more and more opened, and it drove more people in. Gave people more to come here for."
"One day, the Wholetrade trading company tried to set up shop here. But us all out of business cuz they would just buy from us, and resell us at a markup but at a better availability."
Wholetrade was notorious for buying up stock of people and islands and reselling it due to having a large amount of availability in shipping to get to plenty of corners of the world. Just not all. And if they didn't get what they needed? They relied on their production Island to mass produce a single thing that was incredible cheap in quality.
"But after Winslow came into power. He flushed all that away. He guaranteed that Water 9 would be a place where a person's passion could be livable"
"And thats what happened?" Noir questioned
"It was hard for the first few years. Especially with all the rich folk in the top layer having a problem with it. But eventually they left, or came to either not complain or understand it."
"Then- All the housing was moved to the top ring, more houses were built. And those that were struggling were given homes. While other homes on this ring became places for markets and shops and the like."
"Thats why you see so many shops. Everyones got a passion."
"From Jers Lighter Shop and Repair, to The Clear Lacquer company that coats and redoes paint coatings, The Shine Shiners, a group of shoe shiners with stalls all over the city. Almost everything has something. There is a few collective bakeries. But also ones that sell just bread, or just confections."
"Thats pretty Awesome!" Noir gleamed, Noir pulled out his fold of Berry and raffled through a few bills and handed them to Ro. Who slid them into his drawer as Noir walked out.