We Work Together

[missrecalled_mods]

Cold weather was definitely settling in in Auradon. The days were brisk, most of the non-evergreen trees were down to bare branches, and the nights were becoming downright cold. The snow everyone woke up to not long after returning from the Isle was long gone and no more had fallen, but most mornings saw the school lawns covered with a silvery sheen of glittering frost.

And of course, with cold weather came yet another concern to add to the supply issues, namely the fact that very few of the Missrecalled arrived with anything resembling winter clothing. While a certain amount of it could be dug out of storage at the school, it's not nearly enough for everyone, especially the adults, never mind having any left over to share with those on the Isle, because if cold weather was a concern in Auradon, it was doubly so there.

Fortunately, between Bibbity Bits and Bobs and what’s in storage at Mouse Made Gear, there was plenty of warm fabric available. Unfortunately, as no one currently in Auradon quite had FG's skill with magical makeovers - except maybe Mal or Mallia - it fell to the denizens of Auradon to turn yarn, fleece, fabric, buttons, and zippers into things like sweaters, caps, coats, and mittens the old fashioned way.

Given the amount of clothing needed and the fact that it was needed somewhat urgently, Ben, Mal, and Sylvando had hastily organized a sewing circle of sorts. Those with some sewing, knitting, or crocheting skill to their names were set to work putting together basic winter wear. Those less confident in their sewing skills were encouraged to help by using patterns to cut fabric or to help make simple blankets for those on the Isle by stitching together two large pieces of fleecy fabric; such blankets, after all, didn't need to be well fitting or done particularly neatly, they just needed to hold together. And for those who didn't feel confident doing even that... well, someone had to take care of the other chores while most of the others were busy sewing, right?

Comments

[lovebites_sodoi]

Morgana was one of the few people who could use her magic to don herself a new outfit at the snap of her fingers... but that wouldn't mean much to the rest of the kingdom, because 1) she couldn't use it on other people, and 2) being a stubborn goth, she refused to dress in layers.

So while normally she wouldn't give a rat's behind about the circumstances, she did care about her familiars - Eek and Squeak the bats, and Archie the spider. She couldn't just go into a store and steal - er, buy, of course - some warm material for her babies. Alas, she had no idea how to knit anything. She was also reluctant to ask for help.

So you can spot Morgana puffing her cheeks in annoyance as she glares down at the sewing circle, her love for her familiars - who, at the time, were nesting in her hair - silently battling her pride.

Please forgive the super late tag in >.>

[utauhoshina]

Utau had come to see what was going on and scowled at most of the people she found. But when Il - her devil Chara - flew over to Morgana she followed. At least Morgana was halfway cool, unlike most of the losers here. Utau had been avoiding nearly everyone since she arrived, so hadn't been out and about much.

"You're here doing happy community sewing fun time?" she asked, not buying it. Her harsh tone might have seemed more... harsh... had the two Charas not been floating around Mogana trying to lure her familiars to come out and play with them.

[lovebites_sodoi]

Morgana scoffed at the very notion. "You know the old saying, desperate times call for desperate measures? That's what this is all about."

She placed the sewing down for the moment in order to explain - physical gestures were always a must for a performer. "Given the weather of this place, and the limits to my own magic, my familiars are at risk of getting ill and weak. You can't be a powerful sorceress without powerful familiars - so I need to keep them safe and warm. It's all about practicality."

Not about motherly instincts and protecting her babies - the bats were happy to flap about and say hi, but Archie stubbornly stayed in place.

[utauhoshina]

"Oh, so my so-called rival is desperate?" she asked, smirking. "Good to know."

[lovebites_sodoi]

Other than rolling her eyes, Morgana didn't rise to the bait. "So, what brings her highness down to hang with us lowly commoners?" She resumed her handiwork, which... wasn't looking great. Morgana was talented in many areas, but apparently seamanship wasn't one of them.

[utauhoshina]

"Shopping, what else? So many people making clothes there has to be something here that isn't hideous."

[lovebites_sodoi]

That got her to scoff, but not at Utau. "Good luck with that. The fashion sense on this island is... so boring. All those bright pastels..." Bleck! Shudder!

She then wiggled her fingers towards her project. "It's a miracle I could find any black in there. And apparently blood red is out of the question." Honestly, this place had no fashion taste!

[utauhoshina]

"And you're so limited that you don't know how to play the game?" she taunted.

[lovebites_sodoi]

"I don't play games until I know all the rules... so I can break them." A flashy fanged grin.

"So, go ahead, enlighten me."

[utauhoshina]

"If you pick one of these bland boring pastels? Make a very bland outfit with it. Then..." she smirked. "You add a very deliberate splash of a proper colour. It makes the dark colour pop out and stands out even more than wearing all black and red."

[lovebites_sodoi]

She gave this some thought, leaning back and propping her feet on the table - which made a big CLUNK sound since she was wearing heavy steel-toed boots.

"Not a bad idea, kid. Like taking a so-so song from the sixties and making your own remix. Lot of people really prefer covers over the original." A little chuckle, and she looked Utau over, up and down. "You choose your own outfits back home, or you get someone to style you up?"

[utauhoshina]

"Depends on what part of my career you're asking about," she said, tossing back one of her pigtails.

[lovebites_sodoi]

"Ah." Morgana clicked her tongue in understanding. "I've been here - nosy managers in my ear telling me to tone down my image. That's why I stopped trying with them. Now I only work for myself."

[utauhoshina]

"Something like that," she muttered. "Anyway, let's see what we can find here that we can accessorize properly."

[lovebites_sodoi]

"It's worth a shot. Passes the time, at least." She moved her feet off the table.

"Since you gave me some advice, I'll reward you. You get one question, and I give you the truth. Shoot."

[utauhoshina]

"Oh you're going to regret that," Il said, cackling.

Utau's smile curved up at the edges, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Alright then... what is the most sappy goody goody thing that you ever.... were proud of doing?"

[lovebites_sodoi]

"Sappy and proud. Bit of an oxymoron, don't you think?" How could you do both at the same time?

Still, Morgana was a woman of her word. She mulled it over before coming to a decision. "All right, if we're talking the ultimate goody-goody... saving someone's life probably counts as the goodest-good there ever was."

She stretched out her arm, allowing Archie to crawl down from her hair. "To make a long story short, I had a choice between a ton of money, or saving a kid from being crushed. Chose the latter. No regrets."

Of course, she was carefully leaving out the fact that 1) the money was stolen and 2) Morgana technically put the kid in danger in the first place. Hey, she said she'd tell the truth - she didn't say she'd tell the whole truth.

[utauhoshina]

"I'd rather you make a long story long," she said, settling in. "I want to hear this."

[lovebites_sodoi]

Morgana didn't reply right away, nor did she look at Utau.

All this time, she'd been justifying her villainy. It wasn't her fault her music wasn't popular - they had to steal to make it to the big time. And robbing her own fans - well, if they really were her fans, they'd want her to succeed no matter what, right?

So why couldn't she say that out loud?

"Yeah, well, we don't always get everything we want." She finally responded, a little quieter than before as she resumed the patchwork project. "The kid's still alive, that's what matters."

[utauhoshina]

"Yes, but you promised me honest," she said, leaning forward. "And people who are proud generally want to talk about it. Especially show offs like us. So either you're not proud and lied to me, breaking a promise..." she said too sweetly... "Or...."

[lovebites_sodoi]

"I promised truth. I never said I'd give you the whole truth." She reached over to poke Utau's nose. "Always read the fine print before signing a contract, or you could be a poor unfortunate soul."

With a flick, she resumed her busywork.

"I can tell you it was at a construction site, in the dead of night, where she had no business being. She was nearly crushed by a bunch of falling blocks and materials, so I ran in to grab her before it was too late."

[utauhoshina]

She snorted and got back up. "Without the details how am I supposed to know if it is more or less dramatic than saving someone from falling from a helicopter?" she asked before heading to where the rest of the work was happening to look for something she could wear.

[lovebites_sodoi]

If she could change the topic away from herself, for once she gladly welcomed it.

"Hey, if you want to brag, don't let me stop you. I doubt it'd be the first or last time."

[utauhoshina]

She snorted. "It will be too easy for me to win bragging properly after your half hearted attempt."

[lovebites_sodoi]

She gave a half-shrug. "I won't drag it out of you. Instead, I can leave it up to my imagination, of the wind flapping the hair in your face."

[utauhoshina]

She looked like she was about to respond, but closed her mouth. She shook her head and turned away. She looked like she was fighting not to speak... or not to be sick. She walked out of the room, glaring at everyone and everything.