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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The first thing this woman checks over when given a look is her clothes? Is this really happening? If Marie weren't right in front of her and her hand clearly smoother than what he's used to from his rogue friend, he might think he was dreaming. There are so many opportunities here he almost doesn't know which to choose and it's amazing.

He positively beams when Marie comments on his work. "Thank you. Coming from a woman as finely dressed as yourself, I take that as the highest compliment." Being praised for his work isn't unusual after the job is done, so he'll happily take getting it on the front end. "I've been a tailor for over a decade now, and settled in the Nexus for over half of it. This place has the best access to fabrics and clients that a man like myself could want." His smile turns playful as he adds, "I'm sure a business woman such as yourself understands."

Ah to be allowed to flirt with this face again! It's truly freeing, and more than a little exciting.

"But enough about me! What are you looking for today? Something new for your work? Or maybe something nice for going out at night? As I said, I've plenty of options for us to choose from." The only question is where to begin!

"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."

"I don't tend to advertise my wares quite like this." He gestures to the tables around them to clarify his point, grinning all the while. "I've a small sign hanging by my door, but nothing else. My business grows by the generosity of my patrons telling others about my work, but today... I thought I could use a little walk about the Nexus today, and I'm so glad I did." There's a chance he never would have met Mari if he wasn't out on the Plaza with his makeshift bazaar and gods how awful a thought that is. This is turning out far too well for him to want to worry about something as tragic as that.

And she's single. That flirting door is so open and he's going to walk right through it. Grinning, he gestures to a small stack of patterned, synthetic fabrics and then carefully pulls one out for closer inspection.

"I think this one will make a perfect evening dress for a gallery viewing. If you'll allow me a minute to find the right sketchbook, I'd be glad to show you a design I have in mind that I think will look stunning on you." And, in truth, it will look amazing on her. The color of the pattern compliments her skin tone and the lovely shade of her hair, and if she doesn't care for it, he has several other patterned fabrics that would work just as well for the design he has in mind.

"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."

For as much as Alex is enjoying Marie's appreciation of the fabric and design, he's not much a fan of the upset over the open back. It's not a reaction he was expecting, so it takes him a moment to recover and adapt. Apparently this woman has scars and stories to hide in much the same way his rogue friend does.

"Let's worry about the cost after we find something both fabulous and beautiful for you." He smiles warmly at Marie in the hopes of easing her mood a little, then sets aside the fabric in his hands. "I have another design that's equally fabulous, though a bit more daring in construction."

He holds up a finger to keep her from going anywhere, then quickly digs under a few piles of fabric and through a couple of his half-filled bins to find a particular sketchbook. It takes a few tries, but he eventually rises from under a table with a triumphant 'Got you!' and a small leather-bound book in his hands. Flipping through its pages, Alex eventually finds what he's looking for and steps to Marie's side to show her the design he has in mind.

"For this one, I was thinking of using different patterned fabrics here and here." He points to the sections of the design he means, then points to the last and largest portion of the dress right down the center. "This I thought should be black, and accented at the waist with some bold color as works best with the patterns." The tailor falls silent for a moment to let Marie ingest what he's told her, then smiles. "What do think?"

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."

It may be a faux pas to send off someone's designs to some unknown person, but Alex doesn't seem to mind in the least. After the first miss with his choice for Marie, he's excited to see her so eager about this second design. It's rather adorable, if he's being perfectly honest, and he's glad to see her perk up like this.

"We can begin immediately and I can be done within an hour." Now that's something rarely said by any tailor, if ever. Alex seems completely confident in that statement though, so there's no time to ask about it. He grins and sets down the sketchbook, replacing it in his hands with a tailor's tape measurer. "Let's get some measurements, and then we can select fabrics for the dress. The magic will happen after that."

That is such a terrible joke when she has no idea he uses magic in his tailoring, but she'll see soon enough! For now, Marie will have to excuse his excitement and eager grin as he preps for taking her measurements and then gets into it in earnest. He'll be very gentle with her, always explaining what he's doing and why at every step, but his fingers will inevitably end up in awkward places from time to time as a result of the process. No one likes fingers in their armpits, but what can you do when it's necessary to make everything fit just right?

As they finish up with the last measurements, Alex takes a step back and gives Marie a very serious look. "How long would you like the dress to be? I'll need to know for measurements, but it may also limit which fabrics we use. Some of those patterned beauties only have a few yards to work with in total."

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."

"You've never had a tailor like me before," he counters, his grin pulling from ear to ear. "Relax and let me do my work. You'll see why I'm making lofty promises soon enough."

People being nervous about having their measurements taken is a given for Alex. Unless he's worked with a person multiple times, his assumption is always that they'll be nervous. So as Marie blushes and stammers as they finish up, the tailor takes it in stride. Nodding, he carefully takes a last couple of measurements from the top of her shoulder to the midpoint of her calves, back and front on each side. "No apologies necessary. You're far from the pickiest client I've ever had and your requests are all easy to accommodate. Besides, it's much easier to make something right the first time than to fix it later. That's why I ask so many questions each step of the way."

With all necessary measurements taken, Alex sets aside his sketchbook and grabs a nearby bolt of muslin. He eyes the measurements he's written down for a long while and then starts measuring out the muslin in precise arm lengths. When he reaches some predetermined length, he slices through the fabric with only a sharp glance. He sets aside the remainder of the bolt and picks up the cut fabric, holding it out in front of himself as he tilts his head back and forth between glances at his sketchbook. After a few 'hmm's, he sets aside the fabric and pulls out an empty dress form from under a nearby table. He drapes the muslin over this, then raises his hand to work.

What follows during the next few minutes is a set of precise cuts and placement of pins done solely with magic. Alex constantly motions through the air to direct, cut, and pin the fabric as he sets it against the dress form. The test dress mimics the design Alex has sketched out, down to a separate piece of fabric for the pop of color at the waist. When it's done, it looks like the dress is complete, just in the wrong fabric.

"Okay, we're reading for a quick fitting," he says triumphantly as he stands back from the dress form. He smiles at Marie, and she might notice a few beads of sweat at his temples. Gesturing to the dress, he undoes all the pins down one side so that Marie can grab the garment and pull it on from the side. "Let me know if you want help. If you're careful, you shouldn't have any trouble with the pins, and then I can make a few markups and get the real dress going."

"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?"

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?"

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."

"I don't have any particular spots I'm attached to, but there is a particular little theater hidden away in Downtown that I love. The actors are often terrible, but it's always good fun. The costumes are surprisingly good, too." He chuckles at a memory of the spot he's describing and then shakes his head. "The bars around here are always fun, but as I'm always going for the people watching my favorite spot changes from day to day. I won't go back if the drinks are bad, but that's only happened a handful of times over the past few years."

Putting the choice back on him for fabrics opens up a whole new world for Alex. The face next to him now is usually telling him, very bossily, exactly what she wants and fighting him tooth and nail when he tries for something too far outside her comfort zone. Getting to choose for Marie? Well, he can't deny the excitement in that.

"Something patterned for the two larger areas that aren't black," he says immediately. "We want you to be noticed, but anything louder than a black with patterns would give the wrong impression, especially at an art gallery." People there are already looking for finery and artistry in what people are wearing; If Marie walks in with something that speaks louder than the pieces on display? ...well, it could go over fine, or it could go very poorly. "We could use that fabric we pulled before for one section, if you like. Based on that, we can choose something complimentary for both the other pattern and the sash at the waist. I think a solid color would be best for that little bit," he adds quickly. "Too many patterns and we might seem like we're trying too hard."

It's a lot to think about and process, but hopefully Marie will understand. Alex only wants her to look her absolute best, even if it means he has to guide her away from certain choices. No client of his is going to look anything less than amazing when he's done with them.

"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."

"Theater's not for everyone," he comments, not catching on the way her mind is wandering off. "People watching, on the other hand, is definitely something everyone can enjoy. How intoxicated one is depends on the kind of enjoyment you're looking to get out of it."

Is Alex suggesting that he's gotten quite drunk and enjoyed the parade of people making their way through the Nexus on occasion? Damn straight he is!

Again she trusts him to make the decision. This is going to make the dress so much better. He smiles as he reaches past her to pull out a patterned fabric for her to take a look at. "I think this would go wonderfully, especially considering you're off to an art gallery. Between this fabric and the other I showed you earlier, plus a splash of red at your waist to contrast the black? I think you'll be the talk of the gallery without attracting attention in the wrong way. Do you agree?"

"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."

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."

"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.

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."

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Time to spruce up the Nexus - with Fashion!

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