[OPEN][BACKDATED] Stitch me back, one by one!

[chronomancer]

Characters: Jade!Eridan Ampora, and YOU!
Setting: Floor 15, the workshop.
Format: I'll start with action, but I'll match you.
Summary: In which Eridan pretends he knows how to sew. Spoilers, he doesn't. Backdated to before the Labyrinth event!
Warning: None? I'll add if necessary.

[It's really not that hard, he figures, to use his torn jacket as a pattern and make a new one with some scraps of red fabric lying around. It's just. Cutting fabric and sewing it together. How hard can it be?

Apparently, very hard and not really a project for the uninitiated.

He's left the whole mess on a workbench for now, focusing on patching up his other pair of pants. That, at least, he's relatively used to. It's not the neatest of stitch-work, but at least it'll hold.

At least, he thinks with grim amusement, he has two hands now, to do this. Otherwise it'd be well and truly hopeless.]

Comments

[mamadonna]

[ She would be a little embarrassed if she didn't find it so endearing. Nonetheless, she moves in to his side and glances down at his work. ]

Would you begrudge my providing a word of advice?

[chronomancer]

[Jumpy, jumpy! He startles a little, but relaxes after a moment, recognizing her.]

Ah. No, 'a course not.

[He blushes a little, looking away.]

I would... that is, I don't want to take up your time if you're busy, though.

[mamadonna]

You're always so worried that I'm incapable of properly allocating my time, Eridan!

[ She leans down and picks up the needle, closing a few tight, neat loops. ] See, it is generally preferable that your stitching not be given too wide a berth, otherwise the patch will be loose and run the risk of undoing the entire repair.

[chronomancer]

[He flushed jade, ducking his head between his shoulders at the admonishment.]

'm sorry, ma'am.

[Yeah, you. You are a whole lot more intimidating in person than online. Online it's easy to forget you're... you know, grown up. He peers at her work carefully though. Attentive.]

Yeah, I. I am not really good at making them even, though. I try, but...

[Well, you've seen his handywork.]

So I just learned to accessorize the stitches.

[He blushes again. He had not meant to say that outloud. Goddamn you and your slowly defrosting techniques, Rosa. He is now putty in your claws.]

[mamadonna]

[ Her towering height really doesn't help ease that recognition whatsoever. She turns her attention back to him from the garment, her expression curious. ]

Oh? And what variety of accessories do you employ?

[chronomancer]

[Are they doing this, really? Are they making it happen? Fine. He blinks.]

Well, if I can help it, I try to make the stitches the accessory instead? Like, if I have to stitch up dark cloth and I can get away with it, I'll use light thread to do it.

[He's all seriousness now.]

Half the time, it's all on how you carry yourself, and people will assume the stitches are part of the design, rather than... you know. Really unfortunate encounter with some bastard's claws.

[mamadonna]

Oh. Well, I suppose that is certainly a style. [ Not one she's really much for, but... ] If it has brought you success, then it seems to be for the better. And these stitches hold, yes?

[chronomancer]

Sometimes you just have to make do with what you have.

[A small shrug.]

But that's no excuse to look bad while you do.

[...like David, for instance. Jesus.]

Ah, yes, they do. They... might not be pretty, but at least they hold.

[mamadonna]

[ She nods. ] Well, then I suppose it's perfectly serviceable, if the serve their primary purpose. Even despite the curious selections. [ She would've just made them jade, because she's boring. ]

Do you practice this with all of your clothing?

[chronomancer]

...it was born out of necessity, really.

[He unconsciously hugs himself a little, remembering a little sight of hideousness that made his little fashionista heart weep tears of blood. He's telling you this because you're you, okay, hush and no one else must know.]

To be perfectly honest, I prefer to not look how I feel, which is often pretty damn terrible, but you don't always have access to convenient wardrobe and all.

[mamadonna]

An emotionally inspired style could be highly interesting to witness, but I have my sincere doubts as the the logistics. Such a wardrobe would simply require more changing than is reasonable!

[chronomancer]

Actually, there's these things, wardrobifiers, that you can set to change your outfit like that.

[He makes a face.]

But that just seemed like asking to get all your clothes ruined all at once, rather than just the set you happen to be wearing.

[Or, you know, Eridan, for people who don't spend all their free time battling undead monstrosities. But who thinks of that?]

[mamadonna]

[ Or just have a particular outfit assigned to dirty work. ]

Really? That sounds absolutely wondrous! How might one acquire such a device?

[chronomancer]

[Take your filthy "logic" and go away.]

You can... buy them, I suppose. I was never really interested, though.

[Fail jade, or FAIL JADE?]

[mamadonna]

[ It outright shameful, for sure. ]

They didn't have anything of the sort available in my time, but then I probably wouldn't have been able to afford myself such luxury anyway.

[chronomancer]

[He nods.]

And there that, yeah.

[mamadonna]

Which leaves us directly where we began, with the logistic difficulties to an emotionally themed wardrobe, unless one intended to maintain the one emotion throughout the day.

[chronomancer]

It's not usually that hard...

[Well, you know, when your emotional range goes from guilt to self-pity.]

[mamadonna]

[ She chuckles lightly. ]

If one doesn't expect to be particularly emotive, at least. Should they be taken by surprise in a manner that compromises that resolve, then they may find their outfit very suddenly inappropriate for the occasion!

[chronomancer]

And now you know the secret a' my legendary deadpan.

[And that was delivered in said deadpan too!]

[mamadonna]

From an attempt to keep your mood so neutral as to maintain your outfit's season?

And in what state do you then find it when you are made flustered? [ She smirks. It seems to happen easily enough, after all. ]

[chronomancer]

[He looks at her for a moment, then reaches for the jacket he's using as a pattern. You know. The one with the arm ripped off. He shows it to her, and then he smirks wryly.]

Well, sometimes you just feel you're bursting at the seams.

[Badum tiss!]

[mamadonna]

[ She lets out a small chuckle, but smiles wanly at the torn sleeve. ]

Will you attempt to repair it?

[chronomancer]

[He shrugs, humor fading slightly as he looks at the torn jacket, the memory of the torn limb still quite... fresh. In his mind.]

Maybe. I guess I could, if I find the right type 'a fabric and all.

[mamadonna]

[ She turns to glance through the rolls herself. Not expecting the right material, but perhaps they could at least match the color. ]

Perhaps it could be accomplished in a way that appears deliberate, as you explained with your seams.

The other sleeve could also be replaced if you prefer uniformity.