Kurt was at the tailor's, a place he had Never been before. If anyone sewed his clothes it would have been his mother, or himself if they had holes. The idea he could afford custom clothes was never an option. He was moving his arms, as the tailor would do some sort of measurement.
"So do you dress to the right or the left?" said the tailor.
"Huh?" said Kurt.
"Sir Kurt," said Carl, "he asked politely which way you usually, umm, have your privates hang, he'll make adjustments to make it more comfortable. I assure you, it's normal for a tailor to ask, basically no one else minds you."
"It's almost required I'd say" said the tailor, "but I won't go into too much detail. One day you'll accidentally dress left and realize, trust me."
Kurt gave the tailor a look, having never actually thought about something like that before, and sort of felt it, "the right I guess."
"Good, then I have all the measurements I need. We are getting a nice warm cloak, and a few suits to match, correct?" Carl nodded back.
"And a few more casual, comfortable options."
"Of course sir, you can take a look around. Most things here are not tailored yet, so any design, or pattern that fits your fancy, I should be able to make happen. Unless we are looking for something a little more custom?"
Kurt looked around the store, there were various suits and styles, all of them seemed almost done, but he guessed that was the point. "I think I'll be able to find a few things without having to bother you for anything too custom."
"Perhaps next time, after you're more accustomed you'll have more ideas", said Carl.
Kurt had picked out a few things he thought would be good. Carl had convinced him of one, and not taken another as well. He seemed to have an idea about this stuff. Kurt honestly had no idea about fashion. He usually just wore your basic shirt and pants. The cheap stuff you can find anywhere. The whole process made Kurt feel stiff.
Layla, Sara and Susan were also shopping around, they could have gone to a seamstress but there are a lot more options for women. Charleston, unlike Hazelton, had many store fronts and very few vendors on the street, practically the opposite style of town. The three girls had decided to make it a girl's trip for them, since Kurt would be busy here for a bit.
After making his final decisions, the tailor told him it would take a few days, as there was other work for him to do as well. They paid an amount up front and the rest would be due when he got the clothes. Kurt was most excited about the cloak, as warmth and comfort seemed to ooze out of them, and maybe a little badass? He had also never seen anyone not important have one, so in some respects Kurt saw it as a status symbol in itself. Obviously there were better ones out there, and it did seem that silky short capes were the major fashion trend for men at the time, as they could drape over the shoulder or hang back, giving people a few options of how to wear them. Kurt didn't see the appeal of them, they seemed practically useless for real life. It made men look weaker in his eyes. Rich people didn't exactly live the same life though. And Kurt was for once actually fairly wealthy for him at least, and only getting more so.
The uncomfortable event finally came to an end, Kurt would soon be a much more well dressed man, when the tailor finished that is. He wasn't sure how often he'd actually wear the nicer stuff, so he made sure to pick a few seemingly more comfortable. He was also planning on buying some more regular clothes as well, a couple shirts, shorts and pants. He definitely needed new socks and underwear as well. So even though Kurt was a little against the whole thing, he ended up with a bunch more than he was thinking he was going to.
Kurt was waiting for everyone to show up where they decided to meet. He saw Layla, who was wearing a nice white dress, with some fancier trims than normal. Susan hadn't changed so was still wearing her normal shirt and pants, no one had really anything nice to wear daily. Both of which had a few bags.
Then finally he saw Sara, and she was wearing this light floral sundress, and had apparently done something to her hair. Kurt couldn't help but stare a little. He had known Sara a long time, but it had been a long time since he ever saw her look so…hot. Not that she was ugly or anything, but not like a whoa, who is that type of look.
"See something you like?" said Sara giving a twirl, that slightly lifted the sundress's frock proactively.
"Umm," Kurt barely noticed they had walked all the way up to him, "Yes, you look…"
"Super fucking hot?" brushing her hair to the side," Didn't think I knew how to glow up did you?"
"Not like this."
"Well, good, I need to find a man. I'm not going to end up living with just a bunch of goblins my whole life."
"Hey, Joe's a real nice guy."
"The short one really, I'd be more of a Tom-girl, if any of them, which it won't be. So don't be giving any of them ideas, or this will be the last women you see in a dress, or in anything ever."
"Girls and tall guys."
"Height is not everything," said Susan. "There is also length," giggling.
"Susan!" said Sara.
"And Jerry's he is well…" Susan said, looking up and away, smiling.
"Susan!"
"Is this some kind of mating ritual or something?" said Layla. Which made all the rest of them unable to control their laughter.
"Yeah, something like that," said Kurt.
"Well don't worry about the goblins Sara, their mating ritual is — interesting to say the least. I'm not sure how you would — your parts don't umm", making very strange hand signals, "match — just trust me don't worry about it" in a more serious tone, "they do not see you in that way."
"Yes, let's just leave it at that," said Kurt and everyone agreed.
After that they headed with Carl to one of his warehouses in the town, and set up a gate inside. Carl explained he would get the eight people here by the morning and they could get to work moving things to and from the gate. As they would all have to go through the ritual to truly swear secrecy.