Through and through the needle went, following along the forming seam after the backstitch was done. This would be a quick fix, a simple patch job for one of her new neighbors, but she put all her focus into it none the less. Best to showcase ones best especially in the first few days and weeks of business in order to gain a good reputation.
Saving up for those years had paid off, as the place she’d found in Breeland, decently sized with a nice layout, would service her well. While it was less expensive than in some of the more populated towns, it still tested those saving reserves. But at last, she was out of apprenticeship and on her own, though she had excelled in skill beyond that stage quite some time ago. She would make this place her own, carve out a place for herself in the community, find the work that needed to be done.
One feature that came with the residence that would serve as both her home and shop was the cat. The land owner hadn’t mentioned the creature upon her tour, but there it sat in the main room the next day, mewing at her. She wondered if it was a stray or if it had belonged to the previous owner. Either way, she had no time to care for a cat and shooed it out the door before continuing to unpack her things. It must have snuck back in as she was bringing her things inside because the next day, there it was again, in the space she had designated to be her shop, meandering about as if nothing was the matter. She picked it up, placing it out on the front porch, and closed the door. The third day, it was back again, napping on her pillow after she had returned from town. She heaved a sigh. How it had gotten back in was anyone’s guess. She had closed and locked the door behind her, but apparently this cat knew the place better than she. Resigned, she placed a cushion out by the fire, which pleased the cat. This proved to be a mutually beneficial relationship, as she found the cat a couple days later with a mouse, toying with its prey. She couldn’t help but grin; her first business deal: a rodent free house for shelter for the cat.
Now, to get other business. Her first trip to Bree was…discouraging. She brought her sketch book with her to the establishment hailed as the most popular in town: The Prancing Pony. Many an interesting figure was there, and several sparked design ideas. On the other hand, she had only made her business known to one man and by the end of the night she had gained little but the cold fish dropped in her lap by some madman called Jim. Ultimately, she closed her book in frustration and left. She had wanted so much to advertise herself, but when it came down to it, she just couldn’t seem to find a niche. Everyone had already had someone to talk to and she didn’t want to butt in. The last thing she wanted was to be seen as rude and intrusive, but how would she make her business known? Why did some people find such things so easy? She wasn’t shy in the least, and had always been enterprising.
Back at home, she flopped onto her bed and sighed. Perhaps the next few days would bring her something.
