kingdoms_of_auradon | We Can Make A Dress So Pretty

Who: Gabriel and anyone, but especially those who'll be participating in his fashion show (Open with one closed prompt)
Where: The Auradon prep Home Ec room
When: A few days after the holiday party
What: Taking final measurements for those in the fashion show, general socializing with the awkward fashion nerd for others
Warnings: Shouldn't be any besides maybe some feels? Will add more if need be.

Final Measurement Appointments

Most of those in Auradon would know Gabriel as being a bit awkward, but those who visited the Home Ec room today would find him in his element. A tantalizing glimpse of a rack of partly finished dresses- and one child-sized suit- could be seen peeking through the gaps of a curtained off area, while finalized design sketches of the same outfits decorated the bulletin board. Meanwhile Gabriel stood ready with measuring tape and notebook as well as a sturdy step stool for those who were on the shorter side as he awaited his prospective models.

Any knocks on the door during the expected timeframe would be met with a warm smile. "Ah, welcome," he said. "Please, come in and we'll get started."

Wonder Twins?- Closed to Nagihiko

Gabriel smiled down at Nagihiko. "I'm glad you were willing to help out," he said. "I understand why the situation would feel a bit awkward to your sister, but thankfully at this age there shouldn't be too much difference between the two of you." That would all change once puberty happened of course, but for now, one twin's measurements should suffice for both. He may have to do a few quick stitches for Nadeshiko on the day, but that would be a simple matter. "If you could take off your hoodie and any other bulky clothing, we'll begin."

General Socializing

Measurements taken, Gabriel could be found hard at work, finishing up the outfits for his new line. Whether tightening up the waistline just so, adjusting the length of a hem, or letting out the sleeves just a bit, he'd do his best to make certain every detail was perfect. Agreste originals demanded nothing less. But that didn't mean he would be especially averse to visitors. And honestly it may be a good idea for someone to poke in on him from time to time, lest he miss a meal or two.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

souls_of_roles

"But making the outfits isn't creative, it's copying. A fax machine can do that. As for acting... My sensei said that if I can only play roles I like, or that are easy... that I'll become a daikon that can't even be a daikon! I don't want to shrivel up just because I'm broken and empty!" she said, desperate; apparently expecting him to follow all of that.

From:

papillion_de_resistance

Some of it he followed. The rest of it, however, left him puzzled. "...It may be just the translation at work, but I don't really understand the metaphor your sensei was going for," he said.

"Regardless, I would argue that being able to create whole garments, even- or perhaps especially miniature ones- from a single image in a magazine requires a great deal more creativity than most sewing projects. Usually, when someone is sewing a garment they're working from a pattern. Even professional designers; the only difference being that we often draw up the patterns ourselves rather than buying them. A pattern shows detailed instructions for how to cut each piece of fabric and often instructions for how to stitch together and assemble the finished piece. That's far more information than could be gotten from a single image in a magazine, which only shows the finished garment from one angle, and provides no instructions on how to cut, sew, or finish it. The fact that you can recreate a garment with the level of detail that you do with such minimal information shows that you're not only highly creative, but you have significant technical skill as well."

"In fact, if your career in show business doesn't pan out, I'd suggest looking into working in fashion. You'd still need some professional training of course, but an eye for detail and impeccable work ethic like yours would be an asset to any designer or brand."

From:

souls_of_roles

"But that's not creative. Technical sure, but it is just math, isn't it? And... it has to be Show business. I have to have my revenge!" And besides... it is the only thing that has helped her fill the part of her that was missing...

From:

papillion_de_resistance

He really wasn't getting through, was he? Perhaps a different approach. "If it was just math, my parents likely would have been much happier with me pursuing it," he said with a bit of a sigh. "But tell me, Kyoko, what would make a sewing project an expression of creativity rather than technical skill in your eyes?"

He's not touching the bit about showbusiness and revenge just then. There was clearly a story there, but he didn't want to get off track.

From:

souls_of_roles

She was shaken out of her thoughts back to the conversation by his question. "Probably by coming up with something completely new..."

From:

papillion_de_resistance

"How new exactly?", he said. "'New' in the sense of haute couture, where the product is far more wearable modern art than it is actual clothing? Or simply an original design, like the dresses I'm making for you and the others?"

From:

souls_of_roles

"Like what you're doing, or like when someone writes a script. Creating something brand new that no one's ever seen before. That's so much more than just copying."

From:

papillion_de_resistance

"In that case," he said, "after the show is done would you like to learn a bit about fashion and aesthetics? I know your main focus is going to be your career in show business, but it never hurts to be versatile, and you do seem to enjoy sewing."

From:

souls_of_roles

"I could use it to help my acting, so... alright. But I'm sure I'm not going to be good at it."

From:

papillion_de_resistance

"Honestly? I wasn't very good when I first started learning either," he said. "But that's why it's called a learning process; like any other skillset, it takes time and practice to develop it. Give yourself a bit of time with it, and would might well surprise yourself."

From:

souls_of_roles

"Like cooking? Or making a turnip rose?"

From:

papillion_de_resistance

He nodded. "Like that, yes," he said. "I'm sure those things took time to learn too, but now they come relatively easily. The same, you'll find, is true for design. Or for acting."

From:

souls_of_roles

She considered then nodded. She still hated why she learned those skills, but she was coming to make peace with the fact that she did have those skills. "I guess I can try..."

From:

papillion_de_resistance

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm rather hopeless in the kitchen myself," he said. "And I doubt I could turn a turnip into a rose if my life depended on it. That's actually something I wouldn't mind seeing someday."

"For now, though, we've gotten rather off-track. We should get back to taking those measurements. So if you're ready...?"

From:

souls_of_roles

She considered then nodded. "I can ask Malia if she can make us one. And... maybe I could teach you some cooking stuff in exchange?"

From:

papillion_de_resistance

"I'd like that, thank you," he said. "I promise to be an attentive student at the very least, though I can't vouch for how quick my progress might be."

From:

souls_of_roles

"I'm sure you'll do better than I did when I was first learning," she reassured him. If nothing else he was tall enough to see the top of the counters, and when she started learning she hadn't been.

From:

papillion_de_resistance

"Don't be so sure of that," he said with a bit of a wry smile. "I tried to surprise my wife with pancakes once not long after we were married; she took one bite, then made me promise to never do it again."

From:

souls_of_roles

"Well, it takes practice. If you only did it the once, how could you have improved, right?" Bright smile.

From:

papillion_de_resistance

"Touché," he said. "But as she would have been obligated to eat all of my failures before I managed to make something decent, I understand why she didn't want me to. Besides, we didn't have a lot of money at the time, and it wouldn't do to waste ingredients."

From:

souls_of_roles

"But... you have money now, right? Also sometimes schools will let you use their kitchen if you do work for their kitchen. Or you could have gotten a part time job at a restaurant and learned from the Taisho, right?"

From:

papillion_de_resistance

He chuckled. "It's true, I have more than enough money now," he said. "But what I don't have is time. Between being a parent a designer, and the head of a international fashion brand, my schedule is a bit too full for cooking lessons." Especially when one also tacked on being a secret superhero.

From:

souls_of_roles

"So... just get up earlier?"

From:

papillion_de_resistance

"Ah, if only it were that simple," he said with a wry smile. "Unfortunately, I'm not as easily able to bounce back from late nights and early mornings as I was in my university days. But for better or worse, I don't really need to worry about such things now. But thank you for the suggestion."