The Costume Problem
Jan 18, 2017 16:53:55 GMT
Post by Mittens on Jan 18, 2017 16:53:55 GMT
ESPEREUS
After Lucio had calmed down from the initial fanboying, and Luigi had calmed down from meeting another Tellasite, the two moved to the Costume Department on the 22nd floor of Olympus HQ to discuss Lucio's ideas.
"<So, let me get this straight,>" Luigi said flatly in Tellasite, "<Your proposal for a piece of high-tech, expensive costuming that will define your life a superhero was done on an internet game?>"
"<It's not a game, Master Frigolini, sir, it's->" Lucio's polite response was cut short
"<It sounds like a stupid game; 'heromachine'?! This is an affront to my art, no, it is an affront to my entire life!>" Luigi's arms waved wildly in the air as he shouted. His rage seemed at odds with his overall physicality; he was short and slim, with immaculately shaved beard and long, thick black hair, which he wore in two braids on the side. Despite his youthful choice in clothes, one could tell his age; his eyes seemed somewhat tired and there were deep-set wrinkles around them and around his mouth. Most people would guess that he was in his mid forties; Lucio, however, knew that he had been an apprentice tailor alongside his grandfather, which put him in his early sixties.
"<I'm sorry, Master Frigolini, it's just that->"
"<You damn well better be sorry! I'm tempted to not even make this costume and just let you fight crime in a nightdress or something like that! Whatever happened to respect for the arts, eh? Honestly, I expected better from the Grandson of the great Giovanni Bellatore! How is he doing, the way? And Rosa? They are well?>" His rapid switch in tone from rabidly angry to familiarity took Lucio completely by surprise and he stumbled over his reply
"<Uh, yes, they are fine, but->"
"<That's good to hear. Are they still living in his Villa, outside of Terino? I should visit them next time I am home. Anyway!>" with yet another grand sweep of the arms Luigi returned to the matter at hand: the costume for Espereus.
"<Now, I will choose to ignore the base insults you have levelled at my life's passion out of my gratitude and love to your grandfather. Moving on, despite the horrific methods used, I do rather like where you are going. Simple yet distinctive, much like Strongarm's costume. You know that we hand-make each of his shirts? Yes, we make the apprentices make them, it's good practice. He goes through at least six a week: we did once experiment with velcro instead of buttons but he was disappointed and said it 'just didn't feel right'.>" As he was talking, Luigi moved to a large flip-chart in the corner of his room. He picked up a selection of pencils en-route.
"<So, you went with a Classic feel, yes? Well then we'll stick with that: not many heroes with a classical theme around these days, and you're the second I know of with a degree in it. The other one is Zeus the Thunderer over in New York, but he's retiring soon so you'll be fairly niche. Anyway, a classical theme almost demands that the sketches be done in contrapposto."> He drew as he spoke, quickly etching a basic human figure onto the paper in a counterpoint pose.
"<We'll keep the basics: tunic and sandals.>" Luigi drew them and paused for a second, staring at the paper, before speaking again "<However, an important part of our costumes is that they are hard to replicate, so you don't get imitators too easily, aside from dedicated cosplayers. A tunic and sandals are very easy to make, and they don't give you any protection.>"
"<Well, I regenerate so that' not too much of a pro->"
"<That doesn't matter. You need some basic protection, especially with your feet. The problem is that I like the open sandals far too much. Hmmm...>" he paused for a second, before rushing out of his office into the workspace for a second, returning with a thin layer of see-through material. "<This is the outer layer we put into our spandex; elastic, resistant to highs and lows in temperatures, breathable and retains heat well. Normally we'd have a thicker ballistic weave under it to give some colour and protection, but if we make some 'socks' out of these and put them on the inside of the sandals, it'll retain the aesthetic while also keeping you that bit warmer! My god, I am a genius, am I not?>" yet more ecstatic arm waving accompanied his idea, and he scribbled down some notes on the side of the sketch.
"Hello there, Luigi, I hope I'm not interrupting anything- Oh, good morning young sir!" The Sculptor walked in through the open door of the office, and noticed Lucio halfway through his greeting. Lucio couldn't respond; he was too busy fanboying over the goddamn SCULPTOR!
"Hello Louis. No, you are not, I'm just working on a costume for our latest recruit from the university. What do you think so far?" Luigi switched into English to respond, his accent thick and heavy like strong honey, in comparison to Lucio's lighter and sweeter lilt. Louis shook Lucio's hand in greeting before turning to the sketch.
"Hmm, it's good so far. Needs some form of protection, though. Bracers and greaves, perhaps? That's always popular."
"Good idea, my friend. I also had an idea on some armour..." Luigi drew on some basic leg and arm guards, before adding some elaborate Lorica Segmentata.
"I'm not sure." Louis said "We should get in another opinion."
~~~
It was five minutes later. Whyzz was standing in the room as well, looking thoughtful.
"Well, I like the overall style but I'm not sure about the helmet. Or the plumes."
" Laura, the plumes are vital to the entire thing! How dare you!" Luigi fumed.
"Calm down, Luigi, she meant no offence. Few people do, you know." Louis said.
"I wanted a flower crown..." Lucio murmered sadly from the back of the group.
"How about a Laurel wreath instead?" Laura suggested with a smile.
"I suppose that could work. I am loath to lose the helmet though. The armour will make his head seem small in comparison to the rest of his body."
"Which would be countered by the wreath, right? See, aren't you boys glad you got me in."
"I'm not too sure of that. Maybe see what Sid says? He's good with costumes."
~~~
"Really? No helmet? Luigi, I'm surprised." Canagold joked after seeing the design.
"Don't bring up helmets, we're still at an imapsse. It's not going to be any flowers or leave, either." Luigi said, glaring at Laura and Lucio
"Well, what sort of symbol are you going for then? All us cool superheroes have a symbol or logo that shows off their badassery."
"Sid, you have a fucking leaf as your logo."
"Yeah and what? Miss 'Ohh I'm too good for a symbol', you're just jealou-"
"How about a laurel wreath? Rather than have it on your head, have it on your chest." Louis suggested, trying to break up the squabbling between Sid and Laura.
"Yes, that's a good idea!" Luigi picked up his pencil and began sketching rapidly "And we can have it be blue, like the Tellasite flag. I mean, Bella here is the first superhero in the history of Tellasi, and it's practically tradition for the first hero of a country to incorporate the flag into their costume. Look at Commander America and Sir Britain, for example. Lots of red white and blue for them!"
"I can see a problem-I'MSORRYDON'THITMEMASTERFRIGOLINI-" Lucio piped up, only for murder to gleam in Luigi's eyes as he turned. Louis picked up the small fashionista off the ground to stop him from killing Lucio with his pencils. The Sculptor nodded at Lucio to continue.
"Uh... well, I don't know how well a logo would work over the bands of armour. It might looks strange."
"Maybe keep the shoulder guards but lose the chest armour?" Sid mused.
"What? You overgrown 12-carat fucking hockey playing prick, that'd look ridiculous! Imagine how tiny his head would look!" If Luigi could get any more red in the face he would resemble a tomato more than a person. Nonetheless, he removed the chest portion of the armour and re-drew a tunic with a laurel wreath on the chest. It looked fine.
"See! It's horrible! Honestly, we're not getting anywhere with this!"
~~~
"White is a good colour. It is the colour of truth and honesty." Justice intoned.
"Good. At least we can all agree on that." Lucio muttered quietly. It had been over an hour since they had started to work on the costume. The office was getting slightly crowded.
"However, I do think that you need something around your waist. A belt of some sort, to provide protection and to give him some shape."
"I agree, Elijah. It'd need to be thick, possibly leather, and it'd also be something to clip on the utility pouches you have to have, even if they do destroy the overall shape..." Luigi listed off into angry Tellasite swearing at the rules as the room went silent in though for a minute. Lucio was suddenly struck by inspiration;
"Wait, Lui-" an angry glare cut across the room "I mean, uh, Master Frigolini, what you said earlier, about linking it to Tellasi. How about a dancing-belt?"
Luigi brightened up at this suggestion;
"Yes, yes, that could work. It'd have to be an adaptation of course, couldn't have you wearing an actual one..." he began sketching said leather belt onto the paper.
"<Why not? I've earned it!>" Lucio's change into Tellasite confused the room somewhat.
"<You actually have one?>"
"<YES!>" Lucio's slightly offended and loud reply just garnered even more confused looks. Even Justice, normally stoic and placid, looked bemused.
"<Huh. I suppose you are good at something, then.>" Luigi replied, genuinely impressed. He paused for a second before continuing with the drawing. "Still, we'll stick to an adaptation, make it somewhat thicker to give you a bit more protection.>"
"English, please, Gents. None of us can understand." Louis asked gently.
"Oh, sorry. Right, how does that look? I think that the belt was a good idea, Bella, as it'll give you some protection while also letting you move freely. Hopefully you'll associate wearing it with dancing too, so that'll change your mindset while in costume; possibly giving you a boost to adrenaline or something, I don't know, I'm a master tailor and lord of the fashion world, not some namby-pamby scientist." Luigi waved his hands around in exasperation at those would delve into the secrets of the universe.
"It's good, I like it." Laura put forward.
"So do. Simple and distinctive." Sid agreed.
"It makes for a fine garb. However, it just needs something on the head." Elijah said, to groans all around.
~~~
"Lose the mask." Champion ordered. She had turned up after three hours of no contact from some of her best superheroes to find them and the entire costume department crowded into Luigi's office.
"WHAT?! But the mask ties everything together! It is the pinnacle of this work!" Luigi was nearly frothing at the mouth at this point.
"Doesn't matter. You know the rules, Luigi: no masks. Not even ones this small."
"It barely disguises him-"
"No."
"It accentuates his eye colou-"
"No."
"It's the only thing we could agree on!" this last argument of Luigi's got the murmured agreement of the room.
"I don't care. No masks. Get rid of it, and the costume is fine."
"No! I refuse to make this without a mask!"
This got a few shocked gasps from the members of the room. Champion raised an eyebrow.
"No matter. I'm sure Lucio can go to one of the costume and part shops and make it himself then." she said. The colour slid out of Luigi's face as it turned to a look of object horror and betrayal.
"First I my passion is insulted and now I am held in artistic blackmail? You wound me, Soraya. Fine. I will make it, if only to avoid... that other option."
"Good. Glad we got that sorted. Everybody, back to work! C'mon, people, you've had your fun. Out!" Champion sheparded the crowd out of the office, leaving the two Tellasites alone. Luigi turned to Lucio.
"<I will have it ready within a few days, Bellatore. It will look better than you can ever imagine. You may go. Remember me to Giovanna and Rosa, please.>" Lucio stood up and reached to office door;
"<One last thing, Bellatore.>"
"<Yes, Master Frigonili?>"
"<Get yourself a mask. Stuff the rules, I want you to look good in that outfit.>"
Lucio smiled as he nodded and left the office. He'd got a costume. Finally.