The Suit Makes the Man

[Seraphina]

Fabric. She needed it. The fabric lady had it. Least, that’s what Sera affectionately called the older woman who owned the fabric store she loved. The lady had rows upon rows of fabric, and even some in the basement! And Sera had come to enjoy browsing the selection and talking with the lady, who was five feet at best! But had the feel of a grandmother to her.

Thankfully, she had the perfect fabric! And Sera eagerly purchased what she had, explaining she was branching out into men’s fashion. That earned her a pat on her hand and a wish of good luck with her attempt.

For this, she would work at home, in her workspace. Which was really just an office with a light board desk and various sketches pinned on the walls. But she had what she would need, including a dress makers dummy that could be altered to the correct size. It always helped when draping fabric and making sure things lined up.

Hair up in a very mess bun, a pin cushion on her wrist and tape measure around her like a scarf, she started her work. Or, step one in her work, step two would be the Hedgespinning. The door was closed, and Rhodes knew that when her office door was closed, she was working on something important.

Where she wanted this to just right, she decided to call upon a Contract to help her, one she hadn’t used since making the boots from her dress. She allows her Glamour to flow through her body and sets to work.

Material was cut, laid onto the dress makers dummy and pinned together. Measurements were taken as each piece was pinned together. It needed to fit him perfectly. When the measurement’s added up, the material was sewn together, it was slow, painstaking process.

But she did it. After hours upon hours of work, it was made.

The jacket was in the fabric agreed upon, the size was exact, right down to the shoulders, and she wipes a hand across her forehead, a huge smile on her face.

Next was going into her Hollow and adding the special ingredients.

5 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-12-07 15:59:03	Seraphina rolls 11 to Font of Inspiration(Wits+Emp+Mantle) (10 Again)	3, 6, 8, 3, 10, 9, 9, 2, 3, 8, 1, 3	5 successes

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-12-07 16:02:10	Seraphina rolls 6 to Craft a Suit!(Crafts+Int-3 Quality)+5 bonus from Contract (10 Again)	8, 10, 2, 9, 7, 3, 3	3 successes

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-12-07 16:02:41	Seraphina rolls 4 to Craft a Suit!(Crafts+Int-3 Quality) (10 Again)	9, 5, 6, 5	1 success

[Seraphina]

Bookkeeping

[Seraphina]

In her mind, this was one of the most important projects she had done. Spinning for herself was one thing, but doing it for someone else? Well, that was a whole new thing. It had to be perfect, just what was envisioned, nothing less would do.

So she took time away from the coffee shop, spending hours upon hours in the Hedge. Looking for Markets and the perfect ingredients. And it took a few separate trips, but she finally found what was discussed. Trades had been made, and the ingredients now sat in front of her in her tiny Hollow.

The suit had already been put together, the fabric confirmed with John through texts and face time calls. This was his after all, so she wanted to make sure everything was exactly what he wanted. Measurements were given, and the suit would fit him to the T.

Now came the more trying and difficult part. Working the ingredients into the jacket. With the jacket on a mannequin, she sat down, looking from the stars to the coat. It was fascinating to her how different the stars looked from the ones she used on her dress. Just a simple change in the season can add something…special…to the appearance of the night sky. While she was keener on the Autumn ones, there was no denying the cold beauty of the Winter ones.

But enough looking, it was time to interweave them into the very fabric on the inside of the jacket. Something she remembered, was not easy, as stars were finicky. The magical power of the Hedge made the stars malleable in her hands, and she begins the painstaking process of weaving them.
It was a trail of labor and determination, the stars sometimes taking to where she placed them, and other times fighting her. But the Nix was determined, and worked tirelessly at it. Breaks were taken here and there, and it took her hours to place them in the perfect places. Opening the jacket, closing it, then opening it again, making sure the effect was as described. Once she was satisfied, she sat back, flexing her fingers to work out the cramps, but happy.

Though as she looked, an idea dawned on her! Why not a handkerchief to match the lining of the jacket?! She thought it would add an extra pop to the look, but knew it would be up to John if he used it or not. So she sets about using extra fabric she had, sewing the edges, and adding an arrow for Winter on one of the corners. Then the remainder of the stars were worked into it. Which went a bit quicker as it wasn’t as large as the jacket. Folding it and placing it in the pocket she stepped back. Perfect!