nexus_crossings | Time to spruce up the Nexus

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Time to spruce up the Nexus - with Fashion!

It feels as if a bazaar is going up in the Plaza today, what with the way a sharply dressed man is toting about tables, bins, and bags stuffed with fabrics, trims, buttons, and other necessities for his trade. It's a one-man-bazaar, but the man doesn't seem at all concerned with what any passersby think of him. There's too many fabrics to put on display and barely enough time to think of the trims!

He 'hmm's and 'no no no's often as he arranges all of his things across the tables he's brought, his head tilting to and fro as he debates the best way to show off his supplies. Once he's satisfied with the table situation, he pulls out a few dress forms from a bin and sets them up with a few examples of his work. These properly arranged and his vanity appeased by the general feel of the entire display, Alex smiles proudly at the setup before turning around and gesturing to the Plaza with arms held high and wide.

"Nexus visitors and residents! Winter's been a dreary time for all of us. Too much gray, cold, and hardship. What do you say to a little something to brighten your outlook? Spring is a time of colors and casting out the old for the new." His smile melts seamlessly into a bright, giddy grin. "How about a new look to ease the transition? I promise my best work to help you along."

The Tailor, dear Nexus, is ready and waiting for your patronage.

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He wasn't going to come out and suggest it, but Alex is completely on board with this idea.

"That I'll leave to a different kind of professional." He chuckles and shakes his head. It's good to know one's limits! "But if you show up in my work and ask a stylist for a nice cut to go along with your new look? I'm sure they'll be able to come up with something perfect."

Be that as it may, Delia still doesn't ask permission, seeing no real need to do so in this situation. After all, it's as stated: It's meant to be handled!

Although there are those who don't always like their space invaded, or things touched initially--but obviously our dear Alex isn't one of those in this situation. "Mmm, yes, flowing with my movements is an absolute necessity," as Alex has a front row seat to bear witness to the fact that Delia's one of those people who talks with her hands, or hand, as the case may be, since he's got her other arm hooked with his elbow.

Lots of emphatic gesturing. Delia may not be a dancer like other Orions, but she's still got a natural grace to her movements. "Now now," Delia adds thoughtfully, "Don't limit yourself to just pants, I'm hardly a stranger to skirts and dresses, after all." Cue a little twirl of the hand and a boop of his nose, but she does regard the fabric thoughtfullym tapping her chin with her finger as her eyebrows furrow, "Mmmmm, that could work, though."

His confidence is reassuring, and even without knowing that he has magic on hand to complete his work, she feels better about the deadline. It's true, there's a lot she and Caspar need to do to prepare for the wedding, as low-key as it is. At least now their outfits are accounted for.

"This time of day usually works for us," Caspar replies, looking to his fiancée for confirmation. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, of course. You never know what bullshit the Nexus will throw at you. But Alex seems like he knows his way around the neighborhood, so to speak, so it doesn't concern him as much as it could.

As for measurements, he offers himself up first, shrugging out of his blazer. This is his least favorite part of the process. Fives just knew how their clothes were supposed to fit, that was the benefit of having hundreds of clones. But this is what needs to be done to get the perfect wedding suit, and he trusts that Alex will be a professional about it.

"It's not that bad," Loki reassures him, looking the card over. It's gaudier than the style he's displaying here and now, but Loki's tolerance for gaudy is probably higher than some. "If the man I'm thinking of ever shows up here, he'll appreciate it."

"Oh, no, that's quite sensible. I had no doubt you were conscientious." He glances at the card. "...Mr. Needleworthy. Your pardon; I have not yet introduced myself. I am Loki Odinson, of Asgard."

"A week is a very reasonable time period for a garment of this complexity. Please do not feel you need to rush on my account, although I'm eager to see the final product."

Just hearing the title of the show makes Alex laugh. People truly are creative when given half the chance! "That's a hell of a title. Not sure what it's about, but I'd see it just to say I had."

He grins at her agreement about the fabrics. "Then let's make you something beautiful."

The display that follows claiming all of the appropriate fabrics from bins and tables isn't particularly showy. The tailor's magic is subtle, but he weaves it into every drape of fabric and stitch of thread throughout the dress he pulls together for Marie. It takes a fair bit longer than the muslin mock up - as well it should, given the number of fabrics he's working with! - but what's the wait of a half hour for a piece of art? Especially art created on the fly and what is essentially thin air!

When everything is done and the last few stitches have been completed by hand, Alex steps back to look over his work. It's as flawless as he'd dreamed it would be, and that much better knowing who's going to take it home with them. He nods a few times, then exhales a small, tired, yet utterly content, sigh.

"I don't know about you," he begins slowly, turning a grin to Marie, "but I'd say this turned out wonderfully."

"Yeah, my mama was kind of church-y," he says with a wry smile. "But everyone called me Cricket since I was a toddler."

Cricket stands patiently still for the measuring. He's only done it once before, for that suit he bought for Christmas, but he knows roughly how it all works, even if it makes him a little sheepish. And indeed, Alex may notice just how bony Cricket looks closer up, wrists too thin, clavicles standing out. He's not kidding; he was close to starvation, as were many others.

"Okay," he agrees with Alex's suggestion gamely. "I mean, I reckon my arms ain't gonna get no longer. Just might need more room in the collar and chest."

From his seated position, once the measuring is done, Cricket shakes hands with enthusiasm. "Sure does, sir. I wasn't looking for clothes, I gotta say, but you're awful easy to work with."

"...It shouldn't be. I have no allergies." His uniform is what he's in most of the time anyway. It shouldn't be anyone else's concern what he wears outside of that. So long as its comfortable and gets the job done there's no reason for there to be a squabble over it. And if the craftsmanship is as good as this man implies Norn knows a much more looks-conscious friend he can refer to Alex.

Dressing a human won't pose near the same kind of palette limitations as with him for one thing. Though Felix may be pickier. Norn's only taken him shopping once so far. He nods slowly at the request for his measurements. That seems like a reasonable thing a tailor would need. Especially when he's reassured he won't have to remove his garments in public.

"Of course. Just tell me what you need."

"From what little I gleaned from reading the script, it's about a sexual power struggle between an upcoming actress and the director of a play. It would be amusing to watch it performed at least once." She laughs along with him, feeling at ease around Alex without even realizing it. "Do you have a show that you'd recommend to a new theater visitor?"

The wait is most certainly worth it, especially since she has nowhere else to be for now and her company is rather enjoyable. His sewing magic is still a mystery to her, able to follow bits and pieces of his work, but her eyes drift up to his face quite often. She can feel her face turning red, just a little, before drifting her stare onto the finished dress.

"It's simply breathtaking..." She can feel the hairs on her neck rising in anticipation, carefully reaching out to touch the dress. The colors and shape, everything about the final product is magical, something she would never be able to get from a specialty store. Years of living in the Nexus and this is the first time she's met a tailor of his skill and nature.

"I'm not a big fan of dresses, but this would make me want to wear one more often." There's an enormous grin on her face. "Don't suppose you'd be interested in making suits and ties for me in the future?" A possible joke? Perhaps, but she does seems slightly serious about the job offer.

That's news Alex wasn't expecting to hear. "Battle?" he asks as he moves around the thunder god. "Or are you friends with some tailors without knowing it?" Honestly, he could see both of these things being a real possibility given their interactions so far. It's not like the tailor hasn't met people who keep strange company or find themselves in fights all the time!

"...so you go around with no sleeves at all most of the time?" He's trying to get this straight, really. This is just... Well, it's new for Alex. No client has ever had arms this massive before. The tailor 'hmm's a few times, debates again the merits of fabrics and sleeves, then throws his hands up in defeat. "All right, let's get some measurements both with and without the flexing, if you please. If I'm making you something, it damn well will fit."

There will still be sleeves of some sort, but this will take a bit more planning. There is absolutely no way he's making anything for Thor that doesn't have at least some kind of sleeve to cover those massive biceps.

Once the last of the measurements have been taken, Alex leans against one of his tables and starts sketching out a few loose designs in his sketchbook. The cottons he set aside will do nicely for short sleeves on a shirt, though they'll require elastic at the hem if they're going to sit properly on Thor's arms. That's a much better solution than some kind of stretchy lycra or jersey knit, though, because those will definitely not work with the much cleaner look he's aiming for.

"Do you have any color preferences?" he asks when he finally looks up from his sketches. "The kind of fabrics I have in mind for you come in any color you can imagine, so incorporating something you like should be easy enough." Hopefully. Not that Thor would look bad in most colors, but neutral tones like his skin probably wouldn't be very good...

"Those can be very exciting," he agrees. They're also quite extreme for most people, but he's certain Mr. Slick knows that if he counts them in his hobbies.

"Something that's easy to change into and out of would be good for you, I think. If you're willing to go for some denim, I believe a pair of jeans would be great for being on the go, given their durability and color range." Something that will come in handy when they get around to picking fabrics! "A fitted tee shirt and a light jacket would be a great way to round out the look. What do you think?"

"Why limit ourselves to only one or the other?" he retorts. "If we have the option for more, then there's no reason whatsoever to impose limits on fashion." That would be a travesty and Alex won't have it!

As if to prove his point, he picks up a nearby bolt of cotton jersey knit fabric for Delia to touch and ogle. "I realize this is a much lighter color, but it compliments the beautiful gold we've selected, moves and breathes wonderfully, and with your color palette? You will look stunning in it."

And, of course, they can always make more blouses from other fabrics if they're feeling adventurous...

Thor lets out a chuckle. "Oh no, I summon my armor myself. But you never know when a fight's going to break out, and it happens more often than it probably should, honestly. Best to be prepared."

He's entirely too entertained by the tailor's facial expressions as he tries to get his head around Thor's typical clothing habits. And here the little man thought the jacket was a problem, hmm? "Sure, why not? Is that wrong of me?" he asks, a cheeky grin on his lips.

Thor is tempted to loom over Needleworthy's shoulder to watch the sketching in progress, but he's seen how his good friend Rogers reacts when someone's lurking around when he's trying to draw, so he reluctantly refrains. He doesn't want to push his luck too far, anyway, not if he's going to get an outfit out of all this fuss. So he amuses himself instead by idly poking at the piles of fabric, exploring the textures and colors the tailor's gathered. "Red and silver have been my royal colors since childhood, though I'm giving red and black a try, lately."

"They definitely can," he smiled in agreement, "It's the main reason why I decided to do 'em. I always enjoyed that feelin' durin' and after ya do somethin' excitin',"

The alien nodded as he listened intently.

"Denim sounds mighty fine to me," he smiled, "I especially want somethin' more durable. The shirt and light jacket sound good too. I like it,"

It's so good to see someone used to this kind of process! Alex grins as he takes down scheduling notes for himself. "Good. Then I'll see you in two days with your mock up, Caspar, and I'll be able to tell you how long I'll need to complete the final suit after we do a proper fitting. Adia I'll see on the day after your suit is finished, to prevent any crossover." Yes, he's going to stick to his guns on this one!

The tailor is efficient in his work of taking all of Caspar's measurements, despite the large number of them required. The whole process takes only a couple of minutes, at which point Alex shifts gears and offers a warm smile to Adia.

"I promise I'll keep my hands to myself as much as I can. I'll go slower too, if that will make you more comfortable with the process." He holds out his measuring tape and then gestures for Adia steps closer. "Arms out, if you please. I promise this will only take a few minutes and then you can be off to the races."

"I hope that says good things about me," Alex teases. He has no idea who this potential client might be, so he decides not to throw shade on anyone who likes his gods awful gaudy business card.

By the gods, did he really get so excited as to not introduce himself?! ...apparently yes. The tailor laughs at his mistake and offers a hand to Loki to shake, should the trickster god want it. "It's a genuine pleasure to make your acquaintance, Loki. It's not often I meet someone as enthusiastic about fashion as I am and who has such a unique name." He hesitates for a second before asking, "Are you... by any chance... well, that Loki? The one all the stories from Norse mythology talk about?" That would just make this whole exchange so much better.

"My rush is purely for my own selfish need." Alex grins and taps his sketchbook where he's set it aside. "Something like this must be created as soon as possible. The fashion laws of the universe demand it."

After getting up close and personal with Cricket's whole figure, Alex understands why the young man wants more room to grow into his clothes. Still, the tailor is a little less eager to make things that are obviously too big for anyone. It goes against his morals as a man who lives and thrives on fashion.

"Plenty of space to breathe when you get the first round of clothes," he promises, "with allowances based on the fitting we do." No need to guess at how much room to leave when he hasn't put any of his own work on Cricket. All things in due time!

He chuckles at Cricket's exuberance. If he didn't like this one already, this would definitely put Alex squarely in the mood to do so. "Thank you! I find optimism and a breezy attitude go very far in my line of work. Being flexible is good too, of course, but I like to offer lots of suggestions up front to make it easier on everyone. More choices mean less chance of neither of us coming out of this with something we're happy with. And you being happy is my goal."

As he speaks, the tailor digs through some of his nearby fabrics. Many of them are too dark or too light for someone with Cricket's complexion, but eventually he's able to find a few bolts he likes in the range of blue and green they spoke about earlier.

"I'm thinking khaki for your pants to start, though we can add denim to the lot if you'd like. But for shirts, I have these to offer." Turning around he offers two bolts of fabric for Cricket to examine. "If you don't like the texture, I can find some cottons instead of linen. And if you're not a fan of the colors, I've got plenty more to choose from."

Whew. Alex is visibly relieved to hear the fabric won't be a problem. It makes all of this that much easier - and faster - when he's able to find something good on the first or second pass. A lengthy decision making process is unavoidable at times, but for a popup on the Plaza? Best to keep things as simple as possible.

"Hold still for now, and I'll let you know when to move or raise your arms, alright? I promise to be as light in touch as I can be." The tailor flashes Norn a bright smile and then sets about taking measurements with as much speed as he can manage. Practice has made this a very easy process for him, though there are some definite differences Alex has to keep in mind and adjust to as he gets further into the process. It's not unusual for him to take non-human clients, but he's always surprised (and honestly a bit intrigued) by the differences between people like himself and anyone who's not like him in some way.

Still, measuring only takes a few minutes, at which point Alex steps back and smiles at Norn. "There, nice and easy." Or so he hopes. It's always easy on his end, but clients can feel very differently about it. "Now, if you've a few minutes to spare, I can throw together a mock up for you to try on. If not, let's exchange information so I can get a hold of you when I have it ready."

He laughs again at the description of the play. People are very creative out there in the multiverse! "I wish I did. Unfortunately, I only look at the play bills when I'm actively looking for something to watch. But I'll keep my eyes open from here on out, see if I can spot something that might be worth catching so I can let you know." Because they're certainly exchanging contact information after she asks about future clothes.

That reaction to his creation is everything. When Marie turns to him, Alex is positively beaming with pride. If having spent all this time waiting to get his friend into a modern design means he can have more moments like this with his newest client? The tailor will take it a thousand times over.

"If you want something, then you may certainly have it." He grins right back at her. "This will mean I need your number, though, and you mine, because you walking in at your leisure simply won't do when I could have someone else in the shop." Turning back to his sketchbook, he writes his name and number on a corner of one of the lesser used pages and tears it out. As he hands it to Marie, he adds, "Send me a message whenever you'd like something new made. If you have any requests for fabrics or colors, let me know and I'll create with that in mind."

Once he's sure his information is safe with his new partner in (fashion) crime, he offers Marie his hand for a final shake - and to seal the deal on their future endeavors.

"Come and see me whenever you'd like, Marie Aldaine, and I promise you'll never leave with anything less than perfect."

Hang on a second. "Summon it?" Magic is definitely involved here, but... what. That's completely new. "Where do you keep it when you're not wearing it?" So many questions that must be answered about this, but this one seems the most poignant.

He looks up from his sketching long enough to give Thor a very blank stare. "I suppose you're going to tell me you don't get cold, so it doesn't matter the temperature when you go sleeveless?" he asks flatly. As he returns his attention to the important task of drawing a new look for Thor he adds, "And weren't you the one saying you'd be noticed more if you didn't wear sleeves? This seems like it might be a problem if you're trying to be inconspicuous."

Don't think he's forgotten about that part of your conversation, Thor!

It doesn't take him too long to have a very basic design sketched out for the larger man to take a look at. A well fitted (but decidedly not tight) tee, fitted slacks, and an option on the side for a jacket that's less 'hobo chic' than the one Thor is currently wearing.

"What do you think? Going to be able to handle not being swarmed in this new outfit the way you are in any sleeveless getup you've had in the past?"

...he's really not going to let that one go. Sorry Thor.

Caspar makes a little bit of a face at the arrangements, but whatever. If Alex wants to be a stickler for the "rules", he can put up with them in return for his quality work. He puts up with all the measurements, too, although he appreciates how quick and efficient this man is. It makes the process bearable, although he's quick to slide his blazer back on once it's all over.

Adia, meanwhile, has never had anyone take her measurements before aside from her own mother, and one very old lady who needed to check her bra size. The thought of going through that with Alex, despite how nice and considerate he seems, has her a little nervous.

"No, um. It's fine." She holds out her arms, stiff as a scarecrow, waiting for his next order. It helps that Caspar is watching her with mild amusement as opposed to a jealous frown. He likes to think that he is good about hiding those emotions, but she can see it on his face plain as day anytime. The fact that he's accepting these measurements as normal helps her relax. A little. Alex may need to tell her to lower her arms.

Alex keeps things professional and his touching to a minimum, both of which Norn genuinely is grateful for. It's not the man's fault Norn finds him uncomfortable to be around but honestly he's gotten quite used to humans as a whole overall. He's no longer quite as sheltered as he was when he first enlisted into the Academy.

But he still likes his personal space. It helps that Alex seems to be in good health. Nothing unnerves the Andorian quite so much as the common cold. He didn't know anything could leak that much fluid from their body and live afterward.

His comfort is stretched thin enough already though so when Alex offers Norn is quick to duck his head.

"I'd better be off for now. My..ah. Er. Apologies." Too much social interaction.

"No apologies necessary," he assures Norn with a smile. It's easy to see he's a little overwhelmed, and Alex is the last person to push on someone when they seem so nervous.

He holds up a finger before the Andorian can wander off, digging around in the breast pocket of his shirt with his other hand until he finds a business card. The card is made of thin metal and decorated over in delicate gold and silver designs on one side that combine in the center to spell out his name. On the other side are PINpoint coordinates to the street outside of his shop and a contact number at which to reach him. It's gaudy but it'll do.

"Here. This has all of my contact information on it, including PINpoint coordinates to my shop." He offers the card to Norn, being careful to leave plenty of space between his fingers and where the Andorian can grab it. "Let me know when you have time to come back, and I'll make myself ready for you. Until then, it's been a pleasure, Norn."

Where does he keep it? The question is so absurd that Thor can't help laughing out loud. Honestly, what kind of seidrmann doesn't know the basic principles of summoning spells? Even Thor knows that, and he's no sorcerer. "I give it to the storm, myself." He doesn't mean that to be as cryptic as it probably is. Sorry, Needleworthy.

"I'm trying to be inconspicuous today, not all the time," he adds with a roll of his eye. "I needed a break. Being king is a lot of work. And I do get cold, actually. Not as quickly as you probably would, but it does happen. Eventually."

The sketch is, to Thor's eye, a pretty basic sort of look. Which he has to admit is what he was going for, and most of his attention is on the jacket, significant less ratty than the one he's been sporting today. "Oh, I'm sure my ego would survive the insult. Wouldn't take much if I wanted attention," he adds with a cheeky grin. "How long would it take to craft?"

"I guess anyone who's sellin' anything has to be good at putting folks at ease," Cricket muses. There's probably a big difference between selling moonshine and selling hand-tailored clothing, but Cricket has found some key behaviors that help him, and he can see how some of them are reflected in Alex's warm, upbeat approach.

"Especially if you have to have 'em stand still and be measured." He smiles a little, leaning forward to study the fabric he pulls out. "Oh! No, linen is perfect! It'll be nicer when the weather gets hot."

He reaches out to touch the light green thoughtfully, smile widening. "I like that. That's awful pretty, and I bet Loki will like it, too. Ain't nothin' wrong with the blue, but there's one that's kind of violet over there, d'you think that'd be okay? Or one of the stripey ones?"

"Well, the fellow I'm thinking of is several million years old, so it does take a bit of flash to catch his eye." Loki smirks briefly.

It's been a while since anyone has called him enthusiastic, and he looks mildly surprised as he shakes Alex's hand. "I'll take that as a compliment."

And if there's a sparkle of pleasure at being recognized in his ruby eyes, who can blame him? "Well, it depends what I'm being blamed for, whether I want to claim to be that Loki, but I will go out on a limb and say 'yes'. There are many worlds that meet here, and more than one like me, but in my world I am the only Loki, god of mischief, and you are not the first to have heard my tales."

"I'm delighted you're so committed to this project," he chuckles softly. "This was a chance meeting, but I'm pleased. I have worked only with tailors on Asgard and Sakaar before, never here."

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Page 11 of 12

Time to spruce up the Nexus - with Fashion!

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I am so sorry for this taking so long, but real life was like, RAPID FIRE PEW PEW PEW

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Shhh, you take care of you and I will slow tag into eternity as we're both able <3

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