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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Fabric is meant to be handled before it's purchased and worn! If Alex notices what Delia's doing, he doesn't mention it, because it's not a crime in his book. She wants to check everything out before she buys? The tailor is all for it!

"I thought the pattern would go nicely on a new shirt for you," he informs her as he tucks the bolt under one arm and offers her the other. "A lovely, billowy blouse for spring that flows with all of your natural movements." All of which are very well placed, if Alex were to say so out loud. He'll refrain for now, if only for the chance to make not of it at a better time in a bit.

"Now for your pants, I think we should try something a little different. A complimentary brown that inches toward olive would still play off of your skin tone wonderfully while adding a new element to your wardrobe." He grins as he points to a bolt of linen fabric on a nearby table that fits the bill. "Like this, perhaps?"

"The Nexus has been a boon for a good many people," he agrees. Himself included, but that was a choice he made all on his own. No one made him come here or killed him or any of the other myriad of things that have happened to people that caused them to end up in this place. Alex just loves this place and he's pretty sure it shows most when he's at work.

"Perfect. Hold still unless I direct otherwise and we'll be done before you know it." The next few minutes are all necessary and painless, but Alex is quick in his work. When everything he needs is written down, the tailor stands and motions for Kinner to follow him as he pockets his measuring tape and picks up his sketchbook before making his way over to another table.

"Fabric for your pants is already decided, but we have lots of options for shirts. Might I recommend these?" He stops and motions to two bolts of patterned fabric for the other man to look over with a smile. "I've plenty more if neither of those feel good to you, but they seem a good place to start."

One name is all a person really needs. Alex just likes having something that makes him easily distinguishable from other tailors with his second. That and it's fun.

"A pleasure to officially meet you, Azwel. Now, if you'll excuse my hands, let's get you measured." He winks to emphasize his joke and then quickly sets about doing just that. The tailor is well-practiced and efficient after many years of experience, so the process only lasts a minute or so before he feels he has everything he needs. Azwel's robes are also a lot less involved than many of the other garments he makes, making this a lot easier task.

After jotting down the last few numbers in his sketchbook, Alex nods to Azwel's belongings and begins to sketch out a basic design below all of the measurements he just took. "This should be fairly simple. I'll want to make a mock up first to make sure I have the fit right, but that will only take a few minutes and then I can get to making the actual robes."

He looks up from his sketching after a moment of silence. "How much time do you have today? If you're willing to hang around for another... hour or so, I can have the basic robes completed in that time and we can find some trims for polishing the look." Because embellishment is obviously necessary even when layering!

Norn brings up a good point on the stills. Alex forgets that not everyone can walk around in whatever they feel like at any given moment. "That would be very helpful, if you don't mind. I don't want to get you in trouble by dressing you in something that doesn't match the time you come from." Not everyone tells their world that they get to visit the Nexus after all! Alex just gets excited enough to forget that detail sometimes.

"No warm fabrics, got it." An easy enough request to fulfill! The tailor smiles as he sets aside the wool blend in his hand and instead picks up a cotton bolt in a similar color. "Cotton is a very breathable fabric that wears very well and isn't so prone to wrinkles as to cause issues if you don't have an iron handy at all times. How's the color? Good? Too light?" He has so many more if necessary...

"You're from Asgard?" Wow. It must be a day for them to be showing up in the Nexus. What that means, exactly, for this woman is unclear, but to even come from there is like hearing all of the myths he remembers from his teen years are real.

Royalty or not, Alex bows his head when she introduces herself. She might as well be some kind of royal for the way he's already enamored with her. "I'm sorry that your memories aren't all with you, but I promise I'll do everything I can to help you feel more comfortable without them." It might not mean much coming from a tailor of all people, and someone she doesn't know to boot, but Alex hopes his words will help Sif even a little.

He chuckles a bit at the mention of armor. "Ah. I'm afraid I'm not an armorer, but I can add touches to your clothes that will make it known that you're a fighter." Leather and various links of chain are the most obvious options, but given a little more time? He's certain he can come up with one or two more to add in.

The gears in his head begin turning the second she mentions formal wear. He has no idea what formal for a place like Asgard would be, but if Sif is a warrior and is certain she would've worn armor in the past? He can work with that.

"I'm inclined to start with something that you can wear everywhere you go first, and then make you something fantastic that you could wear to any formal event." He smiles and gestures to the tables of fabrics around them. "With everything here, I could get you started with a basic wardrobe in a matter of hours. How does that sound?" Gods, he hopes she says yes!

This is an unusual turn of events. Alex looks at her curiously, one eyebrow arched high. "I don't usually sell my fabrics in bolts. As a tailor, I pride myself on selling finished clothing. If that's not what you're looking for, I can direct you to the supplier I bought this last fabric from. Last I checked, he had more of this particular fabric and several very similar ones for sale."

Alex nods, pleased that they're coming to an agreement on the fabric choice. "I think it suits you. It's also very easy to find complimentary colors to match, so we won't have any troubles picking out some nice shirt fabrics for you now that we've got this settled." He tucks the fabric Palmer chose into a bin under the table for later retrieval, then leads them over to a few new stacks of fabric to dig through.

"Here's a few that I think could work," he says after a moment, pulling out first a brown fabric and then a dark green one for closer examination. "They're both cottons, so they're easily washed and will breathe easily while you wear them."

"That all depends what you're interested in," Alex says with a grin. He gestures to the fabrics all around him. "What I have here could make you something casual or formal - and anything in between that you can think of. If you're looking for something new for work, we can work to find the best fabrics for a new suit. If you want something for an easy going day out, I have fabrics for that too. Either way, it would be my delight to make it for you."

Because what else would a tailor want from life, if not to have fun clothing everyone possible?

"So, tell me friend, what are you in the mood for and how can I help make it happen?"

"Ah..yes I see." She murmurs and nods in understanding with a small sheepish smile. Whoops, she hope she didn't unintentionally insult the man. He seemed nice. Her eyes wander toward the other items he has available. "Ahem, well um..do ya have any spring jackets? " She asks warmly in that case. It never hurt to at least ask in her option. "And that would be helpful thank you." She replies.

Oh, if only he were in better condition. He would have flirted outrageously. As it is, a smile flickers across his face for a moment. He stays very still during this measurement.

He shrugs a couple robes back on and pulls them around himself for warmth. "I've got plenty of time," he says. "If you don't mind my staying nearby." He bends and rummages in his belongings until he comes up with a book. Finding a place to sit he leans back comfortably and opens the book.

Well, then.

Oh, now this is good. His arms free of their sleeves, Thor folds them solidly across his chest as if incredibly unimpressed by the tailor's skepticism, a stern, solemn look on his face that's not quite enough to conceal the small yet amused glint in his eye. "King of Asgard, now, actually."

Not that he entirely looks it at the moment, between his T-shirts and the faded jeans and the terrible haircut, but the sheer scale of his musculature and the way he holds himself are points in his favor, at least.

"Mjolnir is destroyed, I'm afraid, but my command of storms is no less for it." And because Thor is, at heart, a dramatic showoff, he lets a single peal of thunder crack overhead despite the fact that it's a bright sunny day out.

Look, he has to get his amusement somewhere. And he's missed getting to do that.

Though the reminder of his mother is usually a saddening one, Thor can't help but laugh anyway at the absurdity of the last question. Honestly, it's like the humans paid no attention at all, sometimes, the things they've mixed up or exaggerated over the centuries since Asgard's last involvement on Earth. "Not unless she borrowed them from Freyja, centuries before I was born. No, I am the son of Frigga, once-queen of Asgard, who now rests in Folkvangr." Despite his amusement, there's a seriousness in him when he speaks of her, his grief old enough to be settled yet not nearly enough to be gone entirely.

"Quicksilver." Peter grins.

"But you can put down Peter Maximoff." He teases right back.

He stays still as possible when the tailor makes his measurements.

"Aren't you sweet." Harley squeezes his hand back in return. He might note that she is being careful with the amount of pressure she is using. Just enough to be friendly.

"Yah I do." Harley beams at him. "I really like the way it makes me feel."

"I'd rather not have come here the way I did." Kinner still remembers burning red eyes and a tentacle wrapped around him, fusing with him as the alien used its telepathy to end Kinner's struggling. He almost wihes he hadn't gotten those particular memories back. "Not somethin' I'd ever care to repeat."

Kinner kneels, taking a closer look at the fabric. Both are good and he feels he blues of the first suit him, but the pictures of the boats and palm trees on the second amuse him. He thinks for a few moments before pointing to the second option. Yeah, it'll do. He thinks that pattern would look good on him.

"I like that one, right there. The one with the boats and trees. Looke nice, doesn't it?"

For as much as the lieutenant enjoys spending his off hours in the Nexus, having clothing that only works while he's here would be a bit difficult to explain away. The Andorian pulls out his glass tablet looking device before pulling up several advertisements for clothing his people favor as well as current galactic fashions overall. Some things don't seem to have changed much, while others may seem downright ~~alien~~ unfathomable for Alex's time and world origins.

"...It's strange not to see synthesized fabrics but the feel is very nice." Norn's not sure what exactly he's supposed to say but he does make an attempt to have an opinion. All of this feels a bit overwhelming to him.

"No it's...it's a handsome color." Reminds him of his dress uniform's steel grey, in fact.

This is exactly the kind of reaction Alex was hoping for. Not only does Loki like what he's drawn, but he has ideas to make it even better. What more could a fashion designer want?

Once he has all the new details to incorporate, the tailor takes back his sketchbook and begins making small updates to the design. He adjusts the trim on either side of the center panel on the bodice to be a more asymmetric design, making notes on the side about how each stripe of trim should be a different color to add to the effect. Another note is added about the neckline, because of course he's willing to include something like a crest to the design. It's hardly the first time he's done so after all. There's a few more odds and ends notes he makes as well, but when he turns the book around for Loki to look again, it should all but match what the god had in mind for updates.

"I'll need a visual of your crest so I can include it, but embroidering it into the top of the bodice won't cause any trouble once I have that. I will, however, insist it remain silver to stay in line with all the other colors of the design. I know the Northern Lights can include gold tones, but silver ties the look together so much better."

He takes a breath, having used all of it to get his thoughts out in an excited rush, as he lets Loki take it all in. Once he's sure everything's been properly soaked up, he grins. "Better?" he asks. "Or do we need any further adjustments before we start hunting down fabrics?"

He chuckles at the question about machines. "No, no machines. It's all done by hand or magic. I should invest in an embroidery machine one of these days, though. I've a few clients who request the same pattern over and over, as well as a few fairly standard designs that I use frequently. Would definitely save me time to get a machine to do that much for me..." Having someone on call to help him with such a machine would also make the investment that much more worthwhile. There's plenty of people in the Nexus who could do it, but a personal connection is far more inspiring than the work of some Joe off the street.

"Let's do one bottle of each, and call that even for your everyday wear, a new suit, and an introduction to the cobbler I spoke of. Then, when I get around to getting that embroidery machine, we can work out something in case one of them breaks." The offer leaves a lot of space for both of them to work with and ensures that Alex isn't taking advantage of Cricket's offer of repairs and maintenance. It seems like an all around win to the tailor, so he shakes Cricket's hand, assuming the deal will go through as it is, and then releases it so he can search out a sketchbook from under the nearest table to start taking notes.

"Now, what's your name friend?" he asks with a smile after opening to a fresh page in the small leather-bound book he digs out. "I'm Alex Needleworthy, and I'm so very happy to have met you today."

The discomfort is again noted, but not commented on. They can talk about that more later if Marie brings it up, but for now the tailor is focused on getting everything right for this dress. There's a job to be done and he's intent on doing it!

Once Marie is in the mock up dress and Alex is busily checking over every inch of it for fit (by the gods this is so much easier when he has such familiarity with a person's silhouette!), he'll get to answering her question. "To be completely honest, I don't think about much other than fashion these days. I live and breathe my work, so even things I do for fun - concerts, plays at local theaters, and various movies that sound interesting - often include a side of research. Watching people in their element is exciting, and some of my best ideas have come these little outings." He pauses to look over all of the new pins and marks he's made on the muslin dress then nods to himself as he steps close again. "I do like taking a break for a drink around mid afternoon, though. People watching is especially fun at that time of day when you can grab a cozy window seat and an exotic cocktail from some far corner of the multiverse."

After he's gotten everything he needs done while his new friend is wearing the practice dress, he carefully helps her out of it and hangs it up on the dress form again. He follows this with a few more notes on the page with the sketch and then turns to Marie with a grin. "Now for my favorite part - fabrics. I've a black in mind already, but we need three others to finish it off." He offers his arm to her and nods down the tables. "Let's pick them out together, shall we?"

He's not offended, but he's obviously still confused. "I can design and create one for you, if you have a general idea of what you'd like. Anything like color, number of pockets, and fabric would be helpful to get me started. I don't make anything in advance. Everything is designed and created after I come to an agreement with someone about what they'd like."

If that's not the kind of thing she's looking for, it's no big deal for him. He wants to make sure he helps her along to the right place, once he knows where that may be. He shrugs and then smiles at her. "If that's not something you're looking for today, I'm happy to send you along to my supplier. He'd be more than happy to haggle pricing for the fabric with you."

He doesn't usually have people stick around for orders, but Alex is far too excited today. If anyone who comes to his tables is willing to wait long enough to get what he's creating for them? Then they'll get it. ...unless they want embroidery or fabrics or other embellishments that are at his shop rather than out here at the Plaza. But everything else can be created on the spot! And that's why he'll quickly get to work right now.

With Azwel waiting, Alex finishes off his sketch then sets up another dress form, this one broader to give him more space to work with across the shoulders. He then takes up a nearby bolt of muslin and starts measuring out with practiced movements the correct amount of fabric for this particular design. He checks over his notes and measurements a few times before making the first cut with a wave of his hand and a magical slice, then sets about to really get things going. With an ease and familiarity for the art he's performing, the tailor uses his magic to cut, sew, and pin a mock up of one robe in mere minutes. There's a few disgruntled noises mixed in with the giddy ones (this dress form just isn't wide enough to handle Azwel's broad shoulders), but he appears triumphant in the end as he removes the muslin garment from the form and holds it out to Azwel.

"If you'd be so kind as to remove your current robes again, I'd like for you to try this on for me. I need to make sure everything is perfect before we cut the actual fabric." He smiles brightly and gives the robe a little shake. "Mind the pins. They all point to the outside, but they have a mind of their own sometimes, so best to be careful."

Mr. Slick looked more and more impressed when Alex described what all he can do. He had never met someone that had such a variety of clothing options before and design them all too. The alien is quite impressed.

"Ah," he looked thoughtful as he looked down at himself before he looked up at Alex, "I've been lookin' for a new casual look that suits me. Somethin' comfortable but still smart. Does that make sense?"

The alien rubbed the back of his neck.

"I've never been good when it comes to the casual look that actually suits me,"

She blinks a bit as she takes that in, "Ah I see.." She states and rubs her chin in thought. In her experience custom pieces tended to be more expensive..Though it had been a while since she had anything of that sort of item done and it would be useful. She thought as she half debates with herself. Least she could do was give him the ideas and see what his estimates might be. "Well..It'd have to be ..durable and not hindering of movement. " She begins to explain. "Maybe a sea blue or spring green.and, " She chuckles softly, "Probably be best to have a number of pockets..maybe four outside and one or two inside ones." She describes, warmly before waiting to see what his thoughts we're.

She hums and smiles gratefully.

For whatever it's worth, Alex has won himself a repeat customer. At least, assuming he can produce the garment he's just designed, which Loki assumes he can, based on his confidence. It's not often you run into a human tailor who can equal the work of the artisans of Asgard.

There's a flicker of green energy as he materializes his helm and points out the angular two-pointed crest in the center. It appear to be a simplification of the helmet design itself. He's not explaining why he wears ginormous goat horns into battle, although Alex is welcome to ask. "Some variation on this, if you please. I've worn interpretations more literal and more simplified."

He laughs softly then, nodding. "I submit to your insistence. Gold is my normal color, but it seems appropriate for a different shape to flip the switch on that, as it were. Silver it is."

His gaze lingers on the drawing for another moment, and then he nods. For someone who claims satisfaction is not in his nature, he's pretty pleased with this. "I must say, I'm impressed. And I am not easy to impress."

"Yes, let's have a look at fabrics, and we can discuss your fee."

"I seen those!" Cricket looks mildly excited by this prospect. "With the computers in 'em so you can program the designs you want. I'll read up on 'em in case you want me to help some time. The machine parts work almost the same in any sewing machine anyway, I'd just need to see how the computer integrates into it."

He's never met a machine he didn't like, honestly.

"Yessir, a bottle of each is more than fair. I mean...a jar of each. I put 'em in jars, but it's the same amount either way." Clothes are expensive where he comes from, so he thinks he might be getting the better half of this deal, but Alex seems content, so he'll shake and agree and maybe bring him an extra taste of blackberry moonshine in the summer.

"I'm Cricket. Cricket Pate. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Needleworthy." If it strikes him as a highly convenient name for a tailor, he's not about to comment on it. He's named after a cute bug, after all.

Marie has to calm herself once more and talking about hobbies in definitely a good way to keep her attention off Alex. Ironically, his hobbies are like her own, but instead of art, she's always looking for the newest trend to capitalize on.

"Do you have any favorite places to visit? It always feels difficult keeping work out of my personal life, but I can see why new experiences and worlds would benefit you. Everything out there has a spark of creativity, just waiting to be tapped into." The process has been easier knowing that her frame is modeled after someone else. Marie just has to keep herself from asking the wrong questions. Picking out fabric colors is another great distraction, as she looks over the different selections.

Instinct ultimately guides her to a vibrant red, but she hesitates, worrying it's the wrong choice. "What do you recommend? I fear I'll dress myself to look like a flag by pure mistake."

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Time to spruce up the Nexus - with Fashion!

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