nexus_crossings | Mother always told me to never give away a story for free

Mother always told me to never give away a story for free

"Honestly, all this bare chest and he hits home right in the fabric..."

Did the demonic looking purple stranger look at all put out by the new locale? Not really, they'd been given a pamphlet that was currently tucked into their belt to be reviewed later. Their attention more focused on the bloody hole in their rather ostentatious coat, lips quirking on a frown as they fingered the damaged fabric lightly, tail twitching behind them in a clear hint of their annoyance.

Really, they're looking rather calm for someone that bloody. When they hear someone coming near they glance up with a jingle of jewelry both in skin and decorating their curved horns, red eyes brightening as their mouth spreads to a cheerfully hopeful smile.

"Well then!" They straighten, something of a showmanship in the shift from grumpy contemplation to sunny disposition but at the same time that shift didn't seem dishonest either. "Hello there darling, please tell me there's some manner of tailor to be found here? As you can likely see I'm in dire need of one."

Clearly this was some manner of weird afterlife, but Mollymauk would be dipped in Fuck No if anyone expected them to wander around with their coat in tatters.

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After all their time together, Alex is very used to Harley's particular flavor of antics. He'll roll his eyes at the marker when he finds it (that's so close to his fabrics, Harley, come on!), but otherwise brush it off. This is a very Harley thing to do and nothing was harmed in the process, therefore the tailor will happily let it go.

"It's my gift," he tells Molly as he retrieves what is finally the perfect lace. He knew he could find it in this shop of his! "Rather than practice more mundane magic, yours truly decided to create art for the rest of his life. It's far more interesting than the usual fireballs and various fancy to-dos you see from traditional mages. No offense to them, of course, but what I create is far more intriguing." Well, actually, he does mean offense, but only to those mages of his world. They were never any fun.

A few more minutes of much more careful magical sewing follow as Alex get the lace and other embellishments in place (gold thread for you, Molly, because if it's going to be fancy, it's going to be fancy), and then the tailor is exhaling a slightly tired, but still very happy, sigh as he retrieves the shirt from the air. He looks it over carefully, checking to make sure all of the seams look good and there's no loose threads, and then offers it to Molly with a smile.

"Give it a try. If it's uncomfortable or needs any adjustments at all, tell me now. I can't fix problems I don't know exist." He's fully confident in his abilities, but he'll always be a bit more cautious with first-time clients. The best way to get them coming back is to make sure they're happy before they leave his shop!

"A lovely gift indeed," Molly agreed, quite amused at the 'no offense' offense offered in that adorably proud sort of way. "I can certainly appreciate turning one's gifts towards such a wonderful calling."

And Alex was much more entertaining than one's typical wizard or sorcerer in Molly's experience, they were always so uptight and boring. The tiefling was aware of Harley's meandering path around the shop, casting a smile her way when she passes near but for the moment he'll just be admiring the tailor's magic. And be very approving of the embellishments, appreciative of that little detail of the gold thread, clear in his grin as he accepts the shirt.

"You sir are a god amongst men," Molly complimented him as he slipped the garment on, shifting it to settle as he cast about for the nearest mirror to get a gander at just what it looked like on him. "You're definitely going to be seeing more of me."

Harley rolls on back, and has a large roll of rose gold fabric with her, and she sets it down. She checks out the fabric carefully, and nods.

"While I am here, might as get several yards of this. For my aerial silks. So you know how I like it.... long as possible."

"You have to catch one of my shows, sometime, Molly. If you like the rollerskates, I am sure you would be thrilled with my act."

"Do go on. I love a good compliment thrown in my direction." Alex grins, unabashedly flirting with Molly at this point. There's been plenty coming in his direction that he hasn't given proper attention to, so now it's time to give it back!

Well, as much as he can anyway. Harley's needs must be met while she's here as well. He nods to the woman as he takes the fabric from her, then turns and tosses it into the air away from the pair currently in his shop. The whole of the bolt unravels from its cardboard base in front of them, and the tailor holds it in place in the air while he quickly works up a pair of aerial silks for Harley.

"This is a lovely choice of fabric. Do you have an outfit to go with this already?" He knows she makes her own much of the time, but if she needs some fabric for something to match while she's here... When the silks are properly crafted, he gathers them into a neat bundle and then offers them to Harley. "Anything I've got is yours to have, of course."

"An aerial silks show? Oh goodness I haven't seen a silks act since miss Faeth left our darling little carnival behind. I'd love to see your act Harley." He assured her, gaze brightening with interest. "You tell me where and when and I'll be there with bells on."

"And you," He exclaimed happily, turning his attention and beaming grin back onto Alex at that returned flirting. "Absolutely insatiable aren't you? Luckily there is plenty to compliment such a wondrously skilled tailor as yourself. Especially one that looks as lovely as you do." He winked as he said this, leaning to absently prop an elbow against a table, chin resting against a palm as he watched the next little display of that magic of Alex's as delightfully flamboyant as anything else he might find in the shop.

"I have a show at the Viper's Pit. Here...." She pulls out two VIP tickets and slides on to Molly, the other to Alex. "For a night off."

"As for an outfit... I have a really great pairs of shoes. Does that count?"

Alex laughs with absolute delight. Yes, lay all your wonderful words on him. He thrives on energy like this! Flirting is definitely the best way to get out that need for connection without having to commit to anything in particular.

"Shoes are the start of a good outfit, yes." The tailor rolls his eyes fondly at Harley as he pockets the VIP ticket. "If you need help figuring anything out, you know where I am, darling. You're free to return whenever you want and we'll get you into something as fabulous and outspoken as you." An easy feat for Alex when he's done it so many times. Harley's helpful hints about fabrics she like are good, too.

"As for you," the tailor turns back to Molly with a grin, "heal up a bit and then come back to me? I'll not have you bleeding all over my shop, but I'm happy to let you keep complimenting me and my work while I create more beautiful things for you once you're more settled."

"Oh my goodness I'm looking forward to it." Molly grinned, tapping the ticket against the corner of his mouth in emphasis before tucking it carefully away for later.

And of course Alex, flirting is the best way to connect without any of those scary commitments. No one needs those, no sir!

"Oh I will certainly be a regular I'm sure. You'll be seeing plenty of me and my compliments." Molly was all too happy to inform the tailor. He'd definitely be around- he had clothing to be sure but who said he couldn't have more?

"The Nexus apartment where I am taking Molly is actually quite close to here too." Harley mentions. It is not her super secret safehouse, but one of the other sort of secret safehouses that she has acquired in the last few years.

"So you two can see a lot of each other."

"Lovely. My door's always open to you both. If it's not, check back after ten minutes - I likely haven't gone far." A blessing and a curse for his body - sleep is such a necessary evil for continuing to create fashion - but a boon for all who want to come see him! Really, Alex can't think of a reason he wouldn't welcome either of these lovely people back into his shop again for any reason.

"Now then, if you'll excuse me, I've a coat to save." He makes a shooing motion in their direction. "Off you go. Come back and see me... about this time tomorrow, and I'll have the coat saved or at least passable again by then. We can talk about any other plans we might make for ourselves at that point, too." Yes, he gets all the hints that have been dropped, but he's busy right now! Everything else that isn't saving this precious coat will simply have to wait.

"Something tells me I'll be finding a job specifically to sink all of my money immediately into wardrobe." Molly mused with an amused laugh, picking up on what Harley was about. No commitments for this tiefling but Alex was certainly pretty, and clearly a witty sort. If he was amenable there was nothing wrong with a little dalliance here and there at least, and otherwise they'd be lovely gossiping buddies.

"However it seems that we should leave our lovely tailor to his business," He grinned, offering an arm gallantly in Harley's direction, like an escort at a grand ball. "Shall we then, Harly dear?"

Harley rolls up to Molly, and glad accepts the offered hand. "Awwww... you don't want to leave like we came in?" She teases him.

"Keep on tailoring, Alex. I will keep on bringing you all the pretty people to dress up."

"Well if the lady insists how can I possibly say no?" Molly retorted genially, giving her hand a companionable squeeze.

"I'll bring wine, we can plot a whole new wardrobe, it'll be fun~" The tiefling cast back over his shoulder by way of farewell to Alex as he seemed to be quickly caught up in his work before letting Harley have his full attention.

When Molly tells Harley that she has the go ahead, to do as she hinted... Harley does. And picks him up bridal style again.

She gives a moment for that last farewell, before she is rolling through the streets again. Molly's own personal roller derby escort girl.

It does not take her long to get to the Nexus apartment she was going to set him up with. It is a nice bachelor set up, close to most of the Nexus pubs and just down the street from where the Tailor Shop usually can be found.

Molly definitely can't help the cheerful laugh that accompanies being swept up. Harley is a good time, that much is quite clear and he's pretty certain they're going to be absolutely marvelous friends.

"Harley my dear, absolute angel and light of my life," Laying the pet names on thick? Sure, but it was all fun. "You are a gem of a woman. I can sense, with all of my wisdom and far seeing that we will surely be getting along fabulously I can't see a single reason why we wouldn't."

She is a fan of pet names. And none of them are even close to the special one that Loki calls her, so it is all good. She can see being friends with him too.

She unlocks the door to the Nexus apartment, and carries him in. Just for fun.

Then sets him down so he can look around. It is pretty basic, with a kitchen, small living room, and it appears to be one bedroom one bathroom.

"The neat thing about Nexus apartments.... is that they will change and adapt to your preferences." She explains, as she tosses him the key. "You can stay here as long as you need. Or want."

As if Molly's going to argue with her fun! It's amusing for them both after all, but he doesn't mind being set down to snoop about. It's miles better than a bedroll in the woods, and given he's spent most of his days living in circus tents well, it's practically palatial in comparison.

But what the heck was this kitchen? He assumed it was a kitchen, there were counters and a sink, and a table to eat at...

"Do they now? What a wonderful sort of convenience, my word." He was interrupted in his fiddling with the faucet and knobs by the ring of the key being tossed, caught easily enough as he flashed her a sunny smile. "You are the patron saint of foolish tieflings Harley, I truly mean that."

"Well, I did have a collection of Lost Boys, once upon a time. You are a member now." She winks at him.

"Did you get a PINpoint?" She holds out hers, which is covered in glitter and stickers.

"Well clearly I'm in excellent company if you've experience wrangling my sort." He sketched a playful little bow at that wink.

"A PINpoint? Oh you mean the little messenger and teleport thing?" He fished his out, a sleek black one, giving it a light wiggle. "Mine's not nearly as fancy as yours is though, I'll definitely have to fix that."

"Oh good. Here..." She takes out one of her magical business cards (which has her many different jobs and skills that appear, disappear, and flip through ones such as mercenary, Finder of Lost Things, psychiatrist, aerial dancer, gymnastic teacher, Bounty Hunter, and many more).

"This has my PINpoint information on it. If you need me, or just want to talk, you can call me anytime."

"What is..." He accepts the card and wow, that little shifting text trick is pretty impressive. It might take a couple cycles for him to catch all of the job taglines.

"A woman of many talents I see, not surprising at all... what though is a 'psychiatrist'?" As he was asking, he was gingerly poking open his PINpoint, to start the clearly inexperienced process of figuring out just where the information was going to go in this artifact for later use.

Harley rolls up to him, and leans in to whisper in his ear. "Someone who is really good at reading your most inner thoughts and dark secrets."

"Shush...."

"I won't tell anyone about the Dinosaur PJs."

Luckily for him? He is very good at keeping Pure Unadulterated Alarm off his face and out of his voice. He's a damn expert.

Not that this will stop him hanging out with Harley, but it will make him a little wary if she's one of these... psychiatrist people.

However her teasing gives him something to focus on instead as he grins charmingly, tilting his head to whisper back.

"It's darling that you assume I sleep anything but naked."

Harley has come to a good understanding that there are a lot of people who get anxious around psychiatrists. And she is the last person to push any of her friends (which includes Molly now) into something they don't want.

Besides, she has her own mess of a life to straighten out, before she can really offer to help others. The word is just there, because she took seven years of university to get her degree. And she needs to remember the sacrifices she made along the way.

"Ohhhh I sense a sleep over in our future." And she happily changes direction of topic when he looks for one. She is more than okay to help him focus on other things.

They'll get along just fine then! Molly of course is unaware of the work that goes into becoming a psychiatrist, or Harley's own aversion to practicing at the moment, but if she's not going to go poking into all of his soft spots, well he'd be a terrible friend not to return the favor.

"A sleep over?" His eyes widened a bit, smile spreading a bit more brightly. "Why that sounds like remarkable fun to me."

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sweetcandygirl - 2021-02-23 23:07 (UTC) - Expand

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