10544/Holidays are overrated.

From United Heroes MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Holidays are overrated.
Date of Scene: 26 December 2019
Location: Flatbush, Brooklyn
Synopsis: Helena orders a new costume for...
Cast of Characters: Red, Huntress




Red has posed:
Even though the 25th is often considered a big holiday, some shops are open. Including the small costme shop in Flatbush, just a couple blocks away from Bushwick, is open. Open and staffed with Alice, sitting behind the coutner with a hot tea as outside very very few people are out and about in the cold weather. But she had decorated somewhat... The Enclave Power Armor in the window wears a santa hat and the bell, usually playing any movie theme, she had set up to use christmas related movie themes. Just a tiny bit christmasy.

Huntress has posed:
Mayhaps being less busy because of the big holiday is part of the reason she gets an actual visitor. The faint *wwwph* outside could be mistaken for a cool breeze blowing between the buildings. It's more noticable when the glimps of purple darts in front of the shop window, partially obscured by the minorly merry armor display.

Then the tall, darkly clad figure walks in the door. It's winter, so no surprise to see someone with a hood up and overcoat pulled around their shoulders like a cloak. There's a cautious glance around the costume shop. "Looks like the right place."

Red has posed:
The bell plays some drums, mixed with bells and then strings. Alan Silvestri's A Christmas Carol Theme greets the woman as Alice looks up, clad in a red rayon blouse and a pair of incredible long synthleather boots going up well over the knees to where they vanish under the red skirt. No white trimmings though, they are black this year. "Happy Holidays, what can I do for yea?" the redhead greets, putting their teacup down. "Want a cup? Cold enough out there. Need a last moment costume?"

Huntress has posed:
"Merry Christmas to you too. I'd heard there was a costume specialty shop around here; kind of surprised to see you actually open on the holiday honestly... A warm drink would be nice, thank you." As she walks towards the counter she reachs up to grab the sides of her hood and push it off, letting the length of dark locks spill out of it in doing so. One hand then taps at her mask to ensure it's still in place. "You could say that." The other hand is used to undo the partially fastened overcoat, pull it from her shoulders, and toss it on one end of the counter.

As it flutters down to settle on the surface, there's numerous gouges and rips in it. "I'm afraid that thing has seen better days. Not to mention it's not really suited to the seasonal weather." Short sleeves and winter really don't mix when you're scaling buildings to jump baddies in dark alleyways.

Red has posed:
Alice starts to pour a cup for Helena with a smile, then tilts the head a little. "Yea, though I got to note we don't do fixing that ammount of damage. Tough, as it's not really a seasonal variant of a cosplay, are you looking for a redesign? Something more wintery? You happen to have some sketches with you or want to scribble something together?"

With the later notion, she pulls out a pad and some pencils and markers, pointing to them. "I can get the material booklet from behind if you want. The stuff we got here and can get is in there."

Huntress has posed:
Huntress chuckles softly. "I'm aware that's a bit much to ask anyone to repair. But it is interesting to see who would admit it or try to take the job anyways." Her demeanor lightens after that with a hint of a more genuine smile, taking the offered pad and pencils. "But you pointed it out right away and directed attention to what could be done instead, and that's good honest business." She turns briefly to lean back against the counter. "Something a little more suited to the weather this time of year, yes."

Red has posed:
"I don't repair cloth anyway. I mean, I am not the best with needles." Alice admits, actually hating to have needles around. "Something a litte more suited to the weather can be a lot. I mean, you wanna go to some con with it, a shoot outside, or do a full event outside... That dictates the make a bit. And then the other needs. I mean, you see the EPA in the window? As gorgeous as it is, it's hot and stuffy in there and you better not drink too much, or you might hate yourself the moment you need to go for the restroom. So, how 'bout you tell me about what your costume needs while I do a general sketch to scribble on?"

With the later words, she picks up the pencil to do some quick body figures. Front, back, side. A couple times, so they can work a little with the thing.

Huntress has posed:
The EPA.. oh, must mean the armor suit. "Reminds me of the time I heard a kid asking if Iron Man's armor was like an astronaut's spacesuit." Okay, probably better to let the person that does this for a living handle the sketching. That's not really a skill she's honed. Taps a gloved fingertip at her cheek. "Maybe something more like an actual cloak? Warm enough to wrap up in, but just toss behind me without needing to unfasten when I want to move around. Plus the dramatic pose potential." Got to strike that imposing shilouete after all.

Red has posed:
"You mean a cape, the bane of revolving doors? Sure, could do that." Alice asks as she picks up some color markers to sort them around. "So, what you gonna do in it? I mean, just posing or are you doing circus and stuff in it?" No vigilante would buy in a public costume shop... riiiight?! well, at least not openly.

Huntress has posed:
Of course not... Unless they wanted to give more business to a smaller and more personal operation. Getting thugs and freaks off the streets wasn't the only way to make society a little better. Helps that this isn't Gotham and she's not going to be so easily reconized.

She actually laughs at the revolving door remark. "That's a skill that takes practice." She's thinking a moment, as the little charade of her just being some very involved cosplayer amuses her. And when you think about, it's not entirely wrong. For most costumed crime fighters it's a completely different identity. "I do my share of acrobatics... I know, at first that probably seems like a cape or cloak or be a bad idea. But it also looks all the more impressive when you do pull it off, no?"

Red has posed:
Alice shruggs a little as she sketches, the. "Full coat or just neck to half thigh? I mean, if it's shorter length you might not even have that much trouble with it getting stuck. Or some kind of quick detatch for when the cape gets hooked somewhere to prevent you from strangling yourself?"

Sketching some, she looks at the rough figures, all greyscale. "Oh, totally forgot to ask colors and materials. I mean, if you want to get different colors.

Huntress has posed:
Helena Bertinelli leans on the counter, arms propped on elbows and resting her chin on her folded hands. She was just watching the other woman work and admiring the skill going into it. To the point it takes a moment for her to fully realize a question was asked. "... Oh?" She partially stands back up and turns a bit to look down her side, mentally measuring. "That's actually a good thought. Half thigh would still be enough to give that dramatic flare, but all your points are entirely valid." There's a mental 'Or a thug tries to choke her by it' but she doesn't say that part out loud.

Color, on the other hand, isn't a hard question. "Purple is kind of my thing." Shrugs a shoulder. "Constrasts the people that go for all the black and grey just to look gritty and serious."

Red has posed:
"Black doesn't blend in with shadows as good as people think it does. A medium-dark cold grey or dark blue are much better to do those stepping from shadows photos." Alice explains as she gives Helena a good look over. "Well, ok, let's stay with purple and black, but what about materials?"

She reached under the counter and pulls out a thick binder from eher side, putting it on top and opening it. It's a fabric materials collector, offering the materials availeable. "And do you need embellishments or something? Integrated protectors?"

Huntress has posed:
She's not entirely wrong with that observation. That and proper stealth is more than just good color blending.

Helena picks up the binder, cradling it in one arm and leaning back against the counter as she looks through it. Though at the same time she asks, "Got any professional suggestions?"

Red has posed:
"All depends on the purpose and look. Lightweight parachute silk breaks the wind easily, but doesn't warm too much. Heavier Aramid won't be as airtight but somewhat warmer and it's the same stuff in ballistic vests, though I wouldn't suggest to test that. Some cosplayers sear on thin suits, but freeze in the cold, others are happy with neoprene and sweat in the heat. It's all about what you want." Alice chuckles a little. "And how much skin you show. You could wear tons of faux fur and stuff and still freeze if you don't close the front zipper of your neoprene suit and show off."

Huntress has posed:
"Yeah. Just because you might be wearing something they say is bulletproof is not a reason to try taking a bullet. It's meant to be a precaution, not a perfect defense." That and relying on it in the part of the costume that can be moved around or flap out of the way is kind of silly.

Helena shakes her head a little, and sets the binder back down. "I'm not going to be 'showing off' as it were, so the lighter material should be fine."

Red has posed:
"I more meat just because they use the stuff in ballistic vests doesn't make a shirt from Aramid a ballistic vest. Those things have bulk for a reason." Alice notes, flipping in the binder for some options that might be suitable. "I think those stretchy ones might work. Or, if you are going for super shiny, there's always rubber. That is a sweating hell if warm though, as it doesn't breath."

Huntress has posed:
"Oh. That is also valid, yes." Helena mentally gave herself a swat. A little too much speaking from experience there. But no harm done. "No I think you are right with the stretch material. A little give without immeadiately tearing if it does happen to get caught is good, too. But rubber is its own set of issues. Overheating being one of the main ones, as you pointed out."

Red has posed:
"I more meant that you end all sticky under rubber, but yea, that too. Just choose the one you thing keels best. Now, what kind of distribution you want for the colors? Let me get the color pens a moment..." Some moments the redhead rummages under the counter, pulling out a box of Copics and taking out one to twirl aroung a finger before tucking it back into the carrier and turning the box to Helena. "Pick and choose your hues."

Huntress has posed:
"Neither is pleasnt to think about," Helena replies with a soft chuckle while fingering through the carrier and looking over the options.

Red has posed:
The carrier has like 50 or such pens on offer, pretty much the whole range of the rainbow and black to white. Alice meanwhile takes the odd notes about the chosen material and the materials onto some sort of form she pulls out, then procedes to a general humanoid sketch of a humanoid in the lower area, the pen swapping for a pencil. "Oh, and I'll need your measurements."

Huntress has posed:
Helena Bertinelli eventually settles on two different hues of violet. Dark for the outside, and the inside a lighter and more pale shade so it provides contrast between the cape and her body when open. Give it a little more visual striking presence.

"Okay. Just a moment." She pulls what looks like a business card out and puts it down on the counter to write on the back of it. She's had enough personally tailored clothes to have measurements memorized. Then hands it over to Alice. The front side shows that it is indeed a business card of sorts, so it's conveniently got contact information on it already too. As well as noting her professional certification as a teacher... Oh, substitute teacher. Well that would explain having time for other pursuits like this, wouldn't it?

Red has posed:
Alice nods a little as she transfers the info from the card into the form, picking up the pens. "Hm, your current one has some sort of cross Embellish it? Keep it? Or thin it a little? I mean, if you want some change..." Alice offers, marking down the colors on the form in some lower rank circles before reaching for black and a very deep shade of grey. "And simple black or a friendly anthracite?"

Huntress has posed:
"Mmm, thinning it a little wouldn't hurt I think." While interally Helena is amused Alice picked up on that detail without her mentioning it. This woman indeed pays attention to her work. "Go with the anthracite."

Red has posed:
The scribbles continiue onto the page some minute or such, then she adds a rough sketch of the color pattern onto the figure provided, a couple numbers to indicate widths and positions. "now, that's a custom order, so you'll need a downpayment. Let me punch this calculator real quick..." she says, reaching for one.

Huntress has posed:
"Of course." Helena doesn't act too concerned over that. She can already see from the effort Alice has put into the process that it's going to be quality work... And money isn't really a big concern for her, either.

Red has posed:
Alice hammers the calculator some minute before turning it to Helena. "What do you think about that?" she asks, indicating the screen of the item. "that covers materials and work hours."

Huntress has posed:
Helena Bertinelli looks around the shop again while she's waiting. "Seems like you've made a good spot for yourself here." She turns back to look at the presented calculated, looking it over and then nodding. "What method of payment do you prefer?" She's asking out of politeness, not every smaller personal shop keeps the modern check-out technologies at hand. Those can be fairly costly.

Red has posed:
"Not my shop actually, I just work here." Alice notes with a chuckle as she points to the cashier. "Cash and debit, and of course paypal. Actually, plastic or electronic is somewhat preferably - no cash in the shop means no cash to rob..." She shrugs. "Though with customs I can take that money out on the end of the shift and right to the bank to get it into electronic shape."

Huntress has posed:
Helena Bertinelli nods. "I see." Then smiles. "Still, the effort you've put in shows." Another nod, and after a moment she's pulled out a debit card. "No, that's fine, and perfectly sensible. Less temptation the better. Also makes it easier to keep record of things on my end." Not that any of the few people that can see her money use are going to bat an eye at what looks like buying some custom work for a costume party or some such.

Red has posed:
"Oh, I get comission on custom orders, so it pays." Alice answers as she types onto the terminal to set up the sale, then swipes the card and printe a reciet to sign. "Here you go, half up front, half on pickup. I guess it will take about... two, three weeks. So 2nd week of january."

Huntress has posed:
Helena Bertinelli nods as she takes the receipt and signs it, then passes it back. "Sounds good. I would expect it to be a few weeks, especially for a custom job."

Red has posed:
Alice quickly prints a copy of the reciept before she hands it over to Helena, writing a short date and note onto it. "Here you go then. We see each other in a rew weeks then?"

Huntress has posed:
Helena Bertinelli tucks the copy away for safe keeping, and nods with a smile as she turns to leave. "Thank you. See you then."