[Open Post] ..Tuesday afternoon..

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot feels that things have been a strange mix of tumult and routine. This is probably because they have. But today, so far, is routine in all respects. His day has proceeded apace through his usual steps -- drills, tending to Rivelin, coffee, lunch with Susan -- and the afternoon is now stretching out before him in a very satisfying way. He feels good, settled.

And so it is that he's in the café, reading (or mostly reading), with more coffee at hand. Given that he seems to be splitting time equally between having his eyes on his book and gazing out the window, he will not be bothered if anyone comes to chat.

Comments

[kadewest]

Kade goes to jot down some notes in his notebook. "You more comfortable with a free range of motion, Lancelot?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot gives a little laugh, "Is there anyone who isn't?"

[kadewest]

"Oh, I've met a few," Kade laughs. He moves to help Lancelot out of his suit jacket.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot slips easily out of it and turns to watch Kade, curious about his process.

[kadewest]

"I'm tailoring this for you too," Kade says, now inspecting the shoulder seams from the inside. Yeah, there's definitely enough space to adjust there. Glancing up at Lancelot, he adds, "In addition to the other new clothes. If you're uncomfortable in what you're wearing, other people will be able to tell, and it won't have as big of an impact. You want to inspire a reaction, right? You want people to be surprised and find you handsome?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

He flushes a little, but he still looks easy enough. "Aye. I would have that."

[kadewest]

"So you said you're comfortable in your everyday clothes," Kade says then. "What contributes to that? Besides their familiarity and free range of motion. You can take some time to think about your answer, if you need."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He does consider for a moment or two, but then he says, "Primarily, they are familiar. I'm used to them, I can drill and ride. But very little here is familiar, and that's a comfort."

After another moment he adds, "I don't really know how I might request anything else. Susan helped me with the suit."

[kadewest]

Kade leans back, crossing his arms and smiling at Lancelot. "You don't have to request anything in specific, Lancelot. That's why I'm asking these questions--to get a sense of what might work for your needs." His smile softens. "I'm used to working with a bunch of traumatized teenagers who don't have the vocabulary to ask for what they need--who only know they want to wear something that reminds them of the Worlds they went to. An updated wardrobe for a knight who wants to impress someone is, no offense, pretty fucking easy in comparison. So I got you, my man."

He lifts one of his hands, tapping his chin with his finger for a moment, thinking. Then: "What if you tried on a couple of styles for me? Unfitted stuff for now, just to see what feels right to you? Then we can go from there."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot gives him a look that's partly amused, partly touched -- that Kade cares at all is touching, given that he barely knows Lancelot.

He says, mostly with ease, "I can do that. And I thank thee. But, partly what I mean is... I cannot ask the mansion for it because I know not what things are called. I try to read and learn, but I have thought so little about clothing that I would not know where to start, even there, and we are rather a long ways off from my own time."

[kadewest]

"So I'll tell you the names of things as you try them on," Kade says. He lifts the suit jacket and gives it a good shake before laying it over a pile of paperbacks and disappearing into a maze of clothing he's been collecting from stuff people didn't mean to have the Mansion generate for them. He has a fairly good sense of Lancelot's general size, but still--from the depths of his clothes-maze, he calls, "I don't suppose you know what size pants you wear? I think I can approximate it for trying things on, but if you know your actual measurements that'll be easier."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot laughs, "I've no idea. Even at home, someone else took measurements and supplied things."

[kadewest]

Kade's absolutely not surprised to hear it. He emerges after a few minutes, laden down with options.

"Pants first," he says, "since I had to guess at your size more there." He carefully wiggles one arm free of his pile and pulls a pair of jeans free from the top, tossing them at Lancelot. "Try these on and let me know how they feel." If he's judged Lancelot's size right, they'll fit him, snugly enough to appeal to whoever Lancelot might want to impress, but not so tight that he'll feel like his movement is restricted.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Should I-- go elsewhere to change?"

[kadewest]

Kade shrugs. "Up to you," he says. He keeps meaning to set up a changing room in the corner, but he hasn't needed one yet, so he just keeps--putting it off. "Whatever's easy and comfortable for you."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot shrugs, chuckling a little, "It makes little difference to me. There is often little room for modesty in camp."

He quickly and efficiently is out of his boots and swapping into the pants -- which fit fairly well, though they also feel a bit strange.

[kadewest]

Kade comes over. "Do you mind if I--" he asks, gesturing toward Lancelot's waist to indicate tugging at the jeans. "Wait, walk around for a second first. Tell me how they feel."

[lanselos_du_lac]

So he walks across the room and back, laughing a little, "Strange. It feels a little strange, but not uncomfortable."

[kadewest]

"Strange how? The newness, the stiffness of the fabric, the method of closure?" Kade has been watching Lancelot closely. He's pretty sure he guessed Lancelot's size with decent accuracy. They'd be better tailored, obviously, but it's a starting place.

[lanselos_du_lac]

A smile, "All of it, aye." He stops nearby, glancing down, "In truth, it feels fine. 'Tis just unusual."

[kadewest]

"Yeah, the adjustment period is a lot," Kade acknowledges. He hadn't started wearing jeans until he got to Aunt Ely's school, and walking in them felt kind of funny for the first day or two. "Those are called 'jeans'. These--" going back to the pile of clothes that he'd pulled and freeing another pair of pants "--are called skinny jeans. Same material--denim--but a different cut." He's pretty sure Lancelot is either going to love them (they fit more like hose) or hate them (less range of motion). "Give 'em a shot?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

So he swaps them out -- he struggles a bit with this pair, but eventually they are on. He walks around, experimentally.

"Hm. These might be better. There is less extra fabric. Though perhaps they're a bit tight."

[kadewest]

"That's by design," Kade says, amusement clear on his face. "Uncomfortable tight?" He's giving Lancelot a scrutinizing look. He might be straight, but he does consider himself an expert in what makes men look good to others, and this is a good look. "Because I'm pretty sure that these puppies would turn a few heads if you wore them out around the general populace here."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Oh? You think it so?" He laughs, "I've no idea what passes for 'good.' They don't make me feel anxious or like I can't do what needs doing. That's enough."

[kadewest]

"Great starting point," Kade says. "I'll put a mark down in the 'skinny jeans' column. They're wildly popular where I come from. I usually tailor mine to be more flattering through the leg. I think a dark-wash denim would suit you particularly well." He tilts his head. "Hang on, I'm having a vision."

Then he disappears into the piles of clothes again for a minute or two, emerging with a thin white cotton t-shirt and a soft leather jacket. "Try these on with those jeans."