lecouturier: (Sharp Dressed Man)
Alex(ander) Needleworthy (OC) ([personal profile] lecouturier) wrote in [community profile] nexus_crossings2019-03-20 08:58 am

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.

[personal profile] to_the_wolves 2019-03-22 08:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Dressing up nicely is part of the responsibility of being my own boss, so hearing your compliment makes me glad to have spent the time inventing in a decent fashion sense. You flatter me with such words, Mr. Needleworthy."

She does have a habit of making sure the tie around her neck is aligned nicely and is a tight knot. Even if this has been her fashion style for years, sometimes it's easy to forget a loop. Wearing a suit properly matters, since even a small thing out of place can be a fashion mistake. Good to know those expensive lotions and skin care products are also their job nicely.

"Really? There's so many businesses around here and your style seems well-polished. It's a surprise I didn't notice it until today." Maybe one of her business associates has been to Alex's store? She'll need to inquire later. "I understand completely. My trade is all about buying and selling collectables from different eras of time. Having the best to offer is always priority number one."

"A nice night out...I highly doubt being married to my work counts as a viable romantic relationship." His questions do get her to pause, thinking about what she would want, but no clear answers come to mind immediately. Best to list off her upcoming events and let Alex decide what creative direction he wants to go. "I did get an invite to an art show next month. It might be nice to show up in something that isn't a suit."

[personal profile] to_the_wolves 2019-03-23 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's surprising how powerful word of mouth can be in the Nexus. You'd think with the amount of foot traffic words would get lost in the crowd. Instead, the opposite ends up happening: people actively seek out places that fulfil their desires." She's spent way too much time analyzing the shopping patterns of the Nexus, trying to stand on top of it or get ahead of the curve."

It's a good thing that Alex has a finer sense in fashion, because she gets completely lost when it comes to purchasing dresses. It takes a lot of effort to find even one piece that works out, so when the dress is presented, it's impossible to avoid touching the fabric. The colors are warm and the pattern reminds her of different Pokemon sketches she has seen. But then her eyes drift to the open back, and in a split second, her expression shifts from intrigue to shock. The dress must have triggered some sort of emotional memory, because she's clearly taken back by his work.

"It's beautiful, but...I've always been nervous about revealing my back to others." That's going to sound weird, but she quickly comes up with an acceptable excuse for such a fear. "A scar from adulthood that I'm embarrassed to reveal." It's partially the truth, but now that's she got a believable tale, she becomes comfortable talking eagerly.

"I love the length and colors though, especially the sleeves. I'd like to see your other designs as well." Being spoiled and pampered is definitely a plus. "The cost is irrelevant, for the record. I'll pay whatever your price is and extra. Your work already trumps the tailors I consult with."

[personal profile] to_the_wolves 2019-03-24 06:58 am (UTC)(link)
Every woman has their secrets and Marie knows that revealing her back tattoo will turn into an interrogation about what it means, which is something she's looking to avoid. She has no idea if someone would recognize the symbol of a demon so easily.

"Of course, sorry for jumping ahead." Force of habit, really, to start settling prices before the product is even in her hands. Her eyes grow wide in curiosity at being informed of a 'daring construction'. If she didn't see Alex's work, she might be a bit scared, but Marie is confident that the next idea will work out. Watching him search does get a smile on her face, mainly admiring his determination to get the job done.

And then the second dress design is presented and wow...It's definitely border than the first, showing more skin and offering much more vibrant colors. Without thinking, Marie removes her phone and takes a picture of the image, before realizing how rude this might be.

"Sorry, I would like to get a second opinion on this, so I'm sending it to my accountant. I hope that's okay." Well, she's already sending the text, so here's to hoping some unwritten rule wasn't broken. It doesn't take long for her phone to start buzzing, multiple times over. A quick glance at the screen affirms her feelings towards the piece...

"How long would it take to make this dress? I'd love to start the creation procedure immediately." Her gaze shifts from Alex to the image. "It's empowering and bold. The design is growing on me quite a lot."

[personal profile] to_the_wolves 2019-03-26 07:01 am (UTC)(link)
It's probably for the best that Alex doesn't reveal how 'adorable' she looks while getting excited over something like a new outfit. It would only cause her to blush, but her attention has shifted from the sketchbook to Alex in confusion.

"An hour? Forgive my skepticism, but the other tailors I've met take weeks to come up with something new, yet alone to put it together." Ah, she's missed the part about magic, eye widening at his offer to start the measurements right here. Frantically, she scans the area around them to make sure no one is watching, before nodding nervously. "S-Sure thing..."

And then he starts touching her gently, in no way inappropriate, but it's been a long time since a male showed her this much attention. Cue the nervous reaction and obvious blushing as she tries not to look at Alex while he takes her measurements, being sure to follow his directions accurately. Once the process is done, she takes a deep breath, managing to relax after those few tense minutes. The redness hasn't left her face, as she stumbles to answer his newest question.

"Medium to long. I've never been a fan of shorter dresses..." She stammers, then immediately begins apologizing for no reason. "I'm sorry if I'm making this difficult by my preferences."

[personal profile] to_the_wolves 2019-03-31 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll be fine, it's just..." She stammers a bit, uncertain how to explain that Alex giving her attention is something she's wanted for a long time. Everyone that she's surrounded herself with is a female, very rarely does her inner circle of power involve a male. The last time that happened, she scared him off without knowing it. Marie assures herself that Alex won't back away, especially since they've just met. "Carry on with what you need to do."

It's the moment that he breaks out magic that Marie's face lights up with anticipation. This explains everything, from Alex's bold comments to the intricacies of his details and measurements. He's a wizard. No words are said as she watches him work, the beauty in seeing fabric flowing and the cuts flashing before her eyes. She's decided, right here and now, that Alex deserves a greater payment than money.

"It's one of the most beautiful dresses I've laid eyes on." And it's not even the final form? Marie carefully takes the outfit and begins putting it on. "Alex, if you don't mind me asking a silly question, but what are some of your other interests, outside of fashion?"

[personal profile] to_the_wolves 2019-04-02 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
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."

[personal profile] to_the_wolves 2019-04-11 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"I went a few times to the theater, not the one you spoke of, but a few places in London. It was with my ex..." Oh. Marie's words suddenly drift off as she starts recalling personal memories. Ones that she won't openly share with Alex, but it's clear that her focus has been broken for a minute. Bars and theater. Two of many different activities she did with the ex boyfriend before they parted ways.

Marie shakes her head, focusing her attention on the offered fabric as a means to no longer talk about outings. Even if she can barely keep up with Alex's intelligent output on fashion, she's more than eager to let him do the guiding. "Of course. I really liked the pattern from the first dress, but I'll trust your opinion for the second color. Again, I feel rather silly standing here without having a better grasp on fashion. Normally I just let the artist guide me through the process."

[personal profile] to_the_wolves 2019-04-15 09:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Alcohol makes a lot of things better or worse. As for theater, the last thing I recall even glancing at was a script for a play called 'Venus in Fur'. It was rather...provocative. Something I might watch one of these days." All this talk of drinking and doing fun activities is making Marie really consider abandoning work for the rest of the day.

The black and white fabric causes her eyes to go wide, tracing her hand along the different wavy pattern. Karma. A familiar set of colors depicting power and prestige. Doubled with a bit of red? It's as if Alex is reading her mind on what colors will go best together. "I think this would get the attention of the company who invited me. It seems like a natural choice, perfect in every way." She has to take a deep breath because this is truly overwhelming in a good way.

"I agree completely. No objects at all."

[personal profile] to_the_wolves 2019-04-19 09:26 am (UTC)(link)
"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.