nexus_crossings | Time to spruce up the Nexus

Current Mood: giddy

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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"Very easily," he agrees. "I even have a few fabrics right here that would go very well. Hang on."

He slips away for a moment, digging through a few piles of nearby fabrics, then returns with several options, one in each hand. The tailor looks exceptionally pleased with himself about his choices, but he tries to hold it in a bit to keep from overwhelming Azwel.

"I thought something patterned would be nice for one robe while the other is a solid color, to balance out the intensity of each layer. What do you think?"

Azwel appreciates that--he feels like the floor of a taxicab in Minnesota, and he hates that fact. Startling would be very bad for him.

He leans forward to look at them, and a smile crosses his face. "Oh, I do like these. Brighter colours are... they're something we all need right now, I think."

"Everyone could use a little brightening," he agrees with a smile. This man perhaps more than some of the others he's seen today, but that's neither here nor there. What matters is that they're going to get him into something much more comfortable and appropriate for the season.

Fabrics now approved, Alex sets them aside and grabs a nearby sketchbook in their place. He jots down a few notes at the top of his next blank page and makes space for taking measurements. "Before we get started taking down all your numbers, might I have your name, friend? I much prefer we're on a good foot together before I ask you to remove any clothes so I can make you new ones."

A little joke to lighten the mood. That always helps, right?

Oh, if he'd only met Azwel before this winter--the man would have stripped down to his skivvies without batting an eye.

"Hm? Oh. Call me Azwel." He is the Cher of his time, apparently, as no-one's ever heard any more of a name from him. There's a pause before he starts disrobing. This will take a while. He unhooks a few belts, putting them aside with a great clattering of metal and other things and then pulls off the robes, putting them aside, too. It's a very large pile of clothing and he's still fully covered, clad in a dark bodysuit and rather snug boots. He shivers slightly, breathing into his cupped hands to warm them. The bodysuit is so snug that it's easy to get a very good picture of his muscular form under it.

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!

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.

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."

The first part went more or less unobserved, Azwel settled in with his book. But the moment Alex starts to use magic Azwel's gaze snaps up toward him. Then he puts the book aside and watches, fascinated. He can feel the magic humming and swirling in the air, teasing across his senses like a scent.

When Alex speaks, Azwel blinks, snapped from his reverie. "Hm? Oh. Of course."

He stands and sheds the outer robe again, stepping forward to shrug the muslin on. He looks down at it, then tugs his arms inward, testing to see how it fits across the shoulders. Oops, just a hair on the tight side.

"Hmm. Might need a little more give." He has the good grace to give a sheepish smile. "It's a common problem, really." The last one had this problem, too.

It's not the first time he's under shot something like this for a client, but the obvious answer to 'by how much' makes him chuckle. Both the chest and the shoulders need work. Back to the cutting board they'll have to go! "I'll add a bit more and we'll try again," he says with a laugh.

He quickly helps Azwel out of the too-tight robe and sets it up on the dress form. Rather than try to reuse any of the pieces he already cut, the tailor heads straight back to his bolt of muslin and cuts all new pieces of fabric. It doesn't bother him at all to use so much of it in one go when this is what he buys it for. He's all smiles and concentration as he pulls together a new test robe, and when it's complete a few minutes later he has an air of confidence about him.

"This should to the trick this time. I've added more fabric across the back and shoulders and made a few adjustments to the fit where the sleeves attach to the body of the robe." Still smiling, he offers the new muslin garment to Azwel and carefully watches as he gets into it. As predicted, it's a much better fit. There's still a few tweaks to be made - the length on the front isn't what the tailor wants it to be and he's not sure the cuffs on the sleeves are quite right - but he'll wait to start making any mark ups until Azwel's had his chance to look it all over.

"What do you think? Any adjustments you'd like to see for length or style? Now's the time for us to make the changes before I cut into that lovely fabric we pulled out for you."

He looks down, gives the sleeves and the body a few slight experimental flaps.

"Oh, this is very comfortable. I like it!" A less weary-looking smile crosses his face. He peers at his reflection and turns this way and that. "I... can't think of anything I'd change!" He turns a jokingly wary gaze to Alex. "Have you looked into my mind, sir?" He chuckles and removes the muslin. "I look forward to the finished product."

He hands it back to the tailor and steps back, returning to his chair for a moment. "D'you want me to continue to stay?" he asks mildly.

Alex is absolutely ecstatic to see the weight lift from Azwel's face, even if it's only a momentary thing. New, well-made clothes can do such wonders for the spirit.

"I'm no mind reader or fortune teller," he promises with a laugh. "I'm just a man who loves fashion and takes his cues from the people who commission him - and who's gotten very good at taking hints over the past decade." He leans in as if to reveal a secret when he quietly adds, "The decade's worth of practice really helps."

Taking back the muslin garment, the tailor sets it back up on the dress form with a soft 'hmm'. "I'd like to add some modest trim and decoration to both this and the second robe, if you don't mind." He turns to Azwel with a questioning look on his face. "If you're amenable to that, I'll hold off on making them now and have you meet me in my shop in three days for the final products. I can also rush for tomorrow if you'd prefer, though I would up-charge for that."

Best to lay it all out on the table so they're both on the same page. Either way, Alex will have everything done in a time frame that works best for his client. "What works for you, friend? I'm ready for both options without hesitation."

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Time to spruce up the Nexus - with Fashion!

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Minnesota jokes yesssss <3

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