Qadim U-Kathiib
Vignette: Raed's Rarities
Raed's Rarities is a small oddities shop in Chukar's Sorrow that doubles as a pawn store. The storefront is fairly plain outside of a colorfully painted sign to catch the eye. Hanging beneath it is a smaller banner that reads Tailoring & Alterations by Nimah. Qadim glides into Raed's Rarities after a day of work at The Candles, Raed is tidying up. Qadim greets him in Salohusaid, “Hello Raed! What is the news today?”
Raed retorts in Salohusaid, “Working on our Salohusaid again, are we? Your mother had a dress commissioned, I’m sure she’s quite excited. Drop by later if you have a minute and I’ll show you what I purchased in the Bazaar today.”
Qadim smiles at Raed and hops up the narrow staircase. He pushes open the door to the small two-room apartment and carefully removes his boots and cleans off the bits of sand and dirt.
Nimah is sitting at the small table with a few papers in front of her sketching out designs for a dress. The room is cluttered with several swatches of fabric that she has laid out. He skips over and places a small purse of coin onto the table. “Marhabaan Umi, how was your day?”
Before she has a chance to respond he brushes on past and greets the two cats sitting on the sill of a small window, “Hello Farouq! Hello Said!”. He places his chin on the windowsill between them looking outward, “What did I miss today, did you spot that chukar again?” Qadim pulls out a small bit of dried meats wrapped in a cloth and tears off a piece for each of them.
His mother’s eyes lift from the papers and she calls out to him, “Those cats get fat while we stay skinny. Come have a seat, give me a hand with this will you?”. Qadim pulls the narrow brush from behind his ear, the handle flecked with a rainbow of dried paints. His head tilts as he looks over the designs, he grabs a fresh sheet of paper and his lips purse as he begins to paint several brightly colored patterns with graceful swirling designs.
While they work his mother asks him about his day, listening attentively at his detailed descriptions of the day’s patrons and a far too technical explanation of the piece he is working on. She asks questions about the work and asks if the man he’s mentioned before is a friend of his. Qadim shakes his head no as they sit together happily.
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