Time to spruce up the Nexus - with Fashion!

[lecouturier]

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.

Comments

[lady_sif]

Sif's eyes lift to Alex when he approaches her, eyebrows arched gamely while he makes his pitch. She seems to consider the silk for a moment, then reaches out and draws it through her fingers as she did with the previous swatch. Something about the color appeals to her, and he's right that the color complements the tone of her skin.

"It's beautiful," she agrees, expression softening, "though I have little to offer in return, I'm afraid." She stands at her full height, perhaps realizing that she's being appraised. "Perhaps a barter could be arranged?"

[lecouturier]

She likes it! This is very promising for him being allowed to make her something beautiful with it! Alex smiles brightly and shakes his head at the only issue preventing that from happening.

"Barter is the true currency of a place like the Nexus, my lady. Let me make you something fitting for someone of your beauty and we can worry about any sort of exchange of work or payment later." By the gods, why would he even care about money in a moment like this anyway? This sort of opportunity rarely comes about for him and he'd happily make her something without any reciprocity in a heartbeat.

"Tell me, dear lady, might I ask for your name? I'm Alex Needleworthy, and I'm so very glad to make your acquaintance." He holds out a hand for her to shake, if that's her custom. "Could I also ask for the kind of style you usually wear? Something stylish and sleek in the form of a suit jacket and matching pants or skirt? Or something more formal, like a gown?" He wants to hear all about it and see if he can't make something even remotely as beautiful as she is.

[lady_sif]

"I am the Lady Sif of Asgard," she says, smiling in a way that makes her look like royalty. "You are well met, Alex Needleworthy, but I'm afraid I cannot give you the information you desire." She gestures at her outfit. "All that I have is what you see, and... my memory is somewhat affected. I can't recall how I would normally have dressed," she hedges.

"There would have been armor," she amends quickly. "Of that I am certain. I am friends with the royal family, so perhaps more formal things as well. I cannot recall."

[lecouturier]

"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!

[lady_sif]

Sif inclines her head in return when Alex does, a gesture of friendship at their introduction. He seems enthusiastic, and it feels like her spirits brighten in response--she can feel herself grinning as he comes up with ideas.

"Informal first is perfectly acceptable," she says, nodding. "Even preferable. I can't imagine I shall have need for a great deal of finery here, at least not until I regain my memories." Her hands come to rest on her hips, and her posture is effortlessly statuesque. She takes a moment to consider, looking over the stacks and bolts of fabric before nodding at Alex.

"Since you insist it shall be no imposition... then I accept. I suppose you'll be needing my measurements?"

[lecouturier]

He grins right back at her, the expression completely effortless to him. "Finery is all well and good, but it's the every day look that gets seen the most. If you don't have something nice to wear when you do even the most boring of daily tasks, then I believe something is terribly wrong."

Dressing Sif is going to be the kind of 'dream come true' moment he's been waiting on for a very long time. Finally, a beautiful, lithe, tall figure to can hang his absolute best creations on. It's good that he's not prone to drooling or this might be a very awkward moment.

"Measurements will certainly help get us started," he agrees with a laugh. Turning to his tables, he quickly finds a spare sketchbook and opens it to a blank page. At the top, he writes her name and makes space for all of the measurements he might need. Below he creates several rough sketches of the kind of blouses he has in mind for her, all of which can be modified based on her opinions after the measuring process is finished.

"Hold out your arms for me, please, and hold still. I'll direct you as we work through this to make sure I get everything we need to make you a full wardrobe." He offers Sif another smile, then pulls out his measuring tape and gets to work. It'll only take a few minutes to get through everything, and he hopes it doesn't seem like he's trying something when he has to put his hands on her. Really, he's being as careful as he can be, but sometimes a gentle touch to the arm or leg is necessary for these things.

Once they're all done, he stashes his tape in one of his pockets and picks up his sketchbook again. "Do you have any preferences for your outfits?" he asks. "Something warmer or cooler? Sleeves, no sleeves? Those sorts of things. Anything and everything on your mind can only help me right now."