tushanshu_logs | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Characters: Cinna and YOU!
Date: 1-10 through whenever
Location: Alcuin's clothing threads
Situation: Open catch-all for anyone who wanted to comission clothing from Cinna. Prediscussed comissions and new comissions welcome; let me know if you want a specific starter and I'll toss one up!
Warnings/Rating: None so far!

During business hours, Cinna likes to keep the shop open, bright. Having the windows open doesn't bother him, although the walk to work everymorning is still a challenge. But once he's inside, he doesn't have a problem pulling open the curtains and letting the room fill with natural light. It looks best on the fabric, after all.

He keeps his workspace tidy. It's hard to make a room look inviting, when it's filled with work tables and dress forms and bolts of fabric, but he does his best. It will never look like a place for anything other than work, for dressmaking, but at least it's neat and airy. Pleasant. He likes it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

With the amount of business Scott is bringing in (even unwittingly), Cinna doesn't want to let him down. Cassie's clothes are all stacked neatly on a side table. In addition to the sweaters Scott originally requested, there are several long and short sleeved shirts suitable for layering, new pants and skirts, and even a few accessories. All of it is thoughtfully designed, so that Cassie can combine the pieces virtually any way imaginable.

And, hopefully, none of it will be too objectionable to father or daughter.

That just left Scott to clothe. Cinna raises a hand in return.

"Pretty well." Which is a lie, but a convincing one. "How are you?"

On the bright side, Scott is cheerfully oblivious to whatever nefarious plans Tony and Cinna have cooked up. He hasn't the foggiest idea that anything is about to happen outside of him swinging by and picking up the things he ordered.

He doesn't know Cinna well enough to assume otherwise, so he takes the man's words at face value.

"Good to hear. And stuff's good on my end. Working a little extra now, with the whole two mouths to feed instead of one thing, but it's good work." There are faint bags under his eyes, but he looks chipper enough.

"Everything ready?"

Good. Cinna doesn't want his own difficulties weighing anyone else down. His problems are his problems, and part of why he keeps so many people at a friendly arms' length. It prevents prying.

"Almost," he says. It's not quite a lie. Everything he made for Cassie is done, except the coat. He's still putting the finishing touches on it.

Because he'd met the girl at Peeta's, during his brief time here, Cinna had a better feel for her style. Nothing was too prissy. He'd built off the tshirts and button downs she seemed to favor, but with small feminine twists. The way he'd placed the pockets, swapping oxford collars for more delicate key-holes and v-necks, seaming and darts. There was even a warm flannel shirt that she could wear over a tank top or tshirt. Nothing in the collection was overtly girly, but none of it could be mistaken for menswear.

As for Scott...

"I actually need to get your measurements."

Edited 2014-01-14 18:48 (UTC)

"My measurements?"

That's not what he's expecting to hear at all and it shows, his eyebrows pulling down as he frowns in puzzlement. He doesn't recall ordering anything for himself, though he supposes Cassie might have done some sort of return gifting. Either way, he's not a request he's opposed to, so he merely shrugs in acceptance.

"Sure, I guess it wouldn't hurt."

He doesn't really need anything at the moment but it'll make buying things in the future easier. And he's here already so he might as well get it over with now.

"Do I just stand and stick my arms out like a seagull?"

"I think we can do better than seagull. Aim for 'eagle, at least."

That will take care of the arms, but they'll deal with inseam when they get there. Cinna starts with what he needs on the upped half of Scott's body -- shoulder to shoulder, arm length, armpit to waistline, etc. And then, alarmingly, starts sorting through a second neat stack of clothing he'd laid out on the table.

"Do you mind changing into this for me?"

He held out one of the shirts he'd designed. It was a black button-down, made more casual by a light jersey, and deceptively simple in its design.

Measurements Scott is willing to hand Cinna on a silver platter, but the minute the other man holds up a shirt to try on - and a nice one at that - alarm bells go off in his head. Obviously it can't be for him but why is it there and why does Cinna have it in arms' reach and when is he ever going to wear it?

"Uh. Are you sure that'll fit me?"

The question sounds like it's asking for size, but he's really implying more about style.

Scott had bought several outfits -- and gotten a discount -- so he probably had a decent idea of what Cinna would charge for even one shirt like this. Let alone a whole suit.

Which didn't change the fact that it was here, in his hands. Tony had specifically requested a suit, but Cinna didn't think that was practical. All he knew about Scott, really, was that he worked with his hands, he was a bit absent minded (feed your tribble) and he loved his daughter. But Cinna really didn't think he was the type to be dressed to the nines every day.

So he'd settled on a more casual version. A pair of excellent dark-wash jeans, a few shirts, and a jacket. Again, the concept was mix-and-match. He'd prioritized comfort and wearability over style, and everything was fairly simple. Just beautifully tailored and made out of high-quality materials.

"That's what we're finding out." Don't make him stand here all day.

Cinna's words don't really go very far in assuaging Scott's trepidation. He sounds so calm about all of this, though given that all this - measuring and designing and making - is what he does for a living, it's probably to be expected, but still. Getting fitted for clothes is decidedly not what Scott does for a living.

And what he does for a living is not enough to afford whatever that is in Cinna's hands right now.

But okay, it's Cinna, he knows what he's doing, and it's not like he's obligated to buy anything just because he tries it on, right? He can do this. Scott sighs, holds out a hand.

"Fine, hand it over."

That's Cinna. Calm about everything. He almost smiles, "handing it over".

"It's a shirt. It's not going to bite you."

Because Scott really looks like he expects it to. Cinna returns to his table, sorting out a few more of the pieces.

"It's already been paid for, if that's what you're worried about."

Cinna's only reply is some under-the-breath muttering that sounds suspiciously like 'I wouldn't be so sure of that.' Still, he sticks one arm in a sleeve, and is halfway through sticking the other arm in when he fully registers Cinna's last comment, and his head jerks back up to stare at Cinna accusingly.

"What? No, that's not—I'm more than—who paid for it?"

Why would someone pay for a shirt for him?

"It's my job to be sure," Cinna says in the same tone. He doesn't let Scott get too far, quietly invading his space to tweak the shirt into the correct position.

"Your friend Mr. Stark." Tony hadn't asked him to keep it secret, after all, and Cinna wasn't as virtuous as everyone thought. Oh, he was working hard to make sure the clothes weren't an embarrassment... but he wasn't sure that was the spirit Tony had hired him in. Fair enough that Tony be the one to shoulder some of the embarrassment, then.

Despite that there are two Tony Starks on the turtle, Scott is 200% sure he knows exactly which Tony has been throwing his money around buying shirts for him. And other articles of clothing, if the pile on the far table is any indication.

"I'm pretty sure it's my job to be able to dress myself." Said somewhat testily, because seriously, Tony thinks he can't dress himself? That's just annoying. Also kind of offensive.

"Tony seriously bought this shirt? Did he buy anything else outside of the shirt?"

Time to see how far the damage went.

”He bought a suit for himself... ” Cinna bit back a grin, knowing full well that that wasn't what Scott was asking. But it had been such a long time since he's had anyone to joke with -- not since Katniss had gone.

Of course, he might agree with Tony. A little. On the Scott dressing himself thing.

But, well, the first time they'd meet, Tony hadn't been cutting the best figure himself.

Scott just scowls at that, because he knows full well that Cinna knows full well that wasn't what he meant.

"Right, of course, reminding all us lowly plebians that he can afford nice things while the rest of us can't."

Despite his words though, he's not angry, not really. He's sure Tony's intention was good, even if the execution was a little more than sloppy. And the shirt is nice, even if it's a little more high-end than he'd usually wear. Sighing, he deflates a little.

"So this shirt is supposed to be for me? When am I supposed to wear it?"

Cinna is doing a very poor job of hiding his smile now. poor Scott -- he just keeps asking the worst questions, blundering right in. ”He bought you an outfit to, and I quote, 'make the girls cry.'” Cinna's not even sure Scott is interested in ladies, but presumably Tony knows. Since apparently he neither believes Scott can dress himself not attract a lover.

Cinna's lucky Scott isn't drinking anything right now, because it would be all over the poor shirt right now if he was.

"The last time I made a girl cry was when I told her she couldn't have an extra bowl of ice cream before bedtime."

Which is entirely not the point of Tony's statement, but he feels the need to say something, otherwise he's just going to stand here being flustered. Is that really what Tony thinks he needs to be doing?

”Cassie doesn't count.” Cinna reaches for a jacket to slide over the shirt, again adjusting the fit.

”Honestly? I get the feeling this is his idea of nice.” Two meetings had made that pretty clear. The order has been accompanied by some gentle mockery, after all. ”Don't worry too much. I'm keeping it casual and easy to wear. You can decide if you actually want to try and pick someone up or not.”

"It is nice," Scott admits. "I don't know how you come up with all these designs, but they always come out looking like art."

The guy really is talented, he can see that much, and he shouldn't be venting about his own personal life problems to him when Cinna had done nothing other than work a client had assigned to him.

"And I appreciate it." Scott eyeballs the jacket. It also looks pretty nice, and not too fancy. "Although I'm not really into the dating game anymore, even if I wanted to be. Having a kid is kind of a turn-off for most women."

”Thank you.”

The jacket isn't quite where he wants it, though. With a sure hand, Cinna chalks on a new seam line. Now he just needs to try on the jeans.

As for the other, well, Scott may be surprised at how often ”stylist” and ”sounding board” coincide. People talk to those they see as lower in rank then them. They can become agonist furniture.

It's one of the reasons Cinna took the job.

He doesn't feel that way with Scott, though. And Scott may refuse payment, but Cinna remembers how he helped with the tribbles.

”Really? Cassie seems like a good kid.” and a convenient excuse, maybe?

Mention of Cassie always makes Scott smile, even in circumstances such as these.

"She's a great kid. One of the best. She was listening to NPR and watching the news when all other kids her age were playing with dolls." He shakes his head slightly, still amazed by it all. "But I guess people see her as a threat, or some kind of competition."

Which...isn't all that far from the truth. Cassie does take up a large part of Scott's heart. Kids have a way of doing that. Speaking of kids....Scott shoots Cinna a curious look.

"What about you. Have any kids of your own?"

Now that he thinks about it, he's never asked Cinna about his personal life.

It's obvious Scott cares about his daughter. Cinna's not sure why that makes her a competitor for Scott's affection. He'd find it more of a selling point. But presumably Scott knows more about dating with children than Cinna does. He's not going to fight.

Besides, he'd rather hear about Scott's life than discuss his own. Life in Panem, even in the Capitol, isn't really conducive to having a family. Nor is it something Cinna's proud of.

"No. I never really made it that far."

For better or worse, Scott doesn't know a single thing about what life was like in Panem. As a result, he feels comfortable barging in and asking questions about Cinna's personal life, unaware that it might potentially be painful for the other man.

"You could start now." He gestures as Cinna as best he can, given that he's got a jacket half-on. "You're young, good-looking. I bet all the ladies would fall over you if you left your store more."

Oh, Scott. He has no idea. The last thing Cinna wants to do is leave the store more. He barely wants to leave his suite, and some days the idea of leaving the earth sector leaves him pulling his sleeves out of seam, trying to cover his fingertips.

"You could be right."

Which is a nice, non-dismissive way of saying that he has absolutely no intention of finding out. "Try on the jeans and I'll have a better idea of where we're going from here." There's an alcove with a curtain if he's more comfortable.

Now Cinna, don't say things like that otherwise Scott might get it into his head to start setting up blind dates. Or making 'Attractive Female Wanted' ads. The latter might be more fun, honestly.

But he takes the jeans and waddles into the alcove, waddling back out some minutes later with a frown on his face.

"I'm not supposed to go to work wearing these, right?"

Because what he really needs, what would be really healthy for him right now, is surprises. Besides, how does Scott even know that attractive females are even what he wants?

He almost laughs as Scott comes back out. The jeans aren't that tight.

"I can loosen them up for you."

He comes over and rips out a few stitches, using the seam allowance to ease the fabric a size larger.

"Why couldn't you wear them to work?"