I Dream of Jeannies

Sometimes you have to treat yourself. Otherwise, why grind the merchant lifestyle? And it is a grind... Browsing market stalls. Listening to town and tavern chatter. Getting to know neighbors and what they need. Harvesting, mining, logging, skinning... Filling furnaces, kilns, looms, tanning racks... Expanding into out-of-province markets and events. That last bit requires extensive travel, which is why these pants have a history.

Traveling the world alone used to require walking in shadows. Back when animals and enemies would chase someone for what felt like forever. My friend Talis from the TaylorNox clan (affectionately nicknamed "Taylor & Tailor") crafted me a pair of dreambind trousers on commission. Those pants were well-worn through wildlands and war zones to unlock every fast travel stone.

That feels like a lifetime ago. Now, I can outrun bears instead of lulling them to sleep with my tales of valor. Tightly-laced spirit stride shoes have replaced my dreambind trousers and pacify headband. I travel light across borders, only packing my hunter's jerkin to hide in shadows when all else fails. Stamina pants and a cooldown hat are the new functional fashion. At least, until beasts can be tamed as mounts.

So I've been thinking about these pants, a relic from another era. Walking past them many times to get to other sales. In fact, these are not on sale... and there are two thousand reasons not to buy them. But as a collector of fine wares, they keep calling to me. Reminding me of what we've been through. Reminding me that this pair is a cut above... rare quality AND master crafted. There probably won't be another pair like these in the market for a long time. Who will buy them? What adventures will they have? Do retired things still have value? (Stirs campfire embers) That last bit hits a little close to home.

I can't imagine these pants on someone else. And now, I don't have to. Reader, I bought them.

Ironically, they don't look any better than my last pair. No gold trim, no new colors or textures. But I smile when I wear them, and think about the miles we both still have to give.