第3: [text]

[unfollowing]

i'm aware i asked this a few months ago, but now i actually have materials to get started, so i'm asking again:

does anyone know how to sew? hand stitching, specifically. i now have really nice cotton (thank you, delight!!!) that we can make clothes with

right now, we have a bolt of white cotton fabric. if you want a different color, tell delight a happy memory, and she'll give us more fabric. but don't, like, dogpile her or anything. be nice, for fuck's sake

[Emily, who are you to talk about being nice...................]

if you're interested in sewing, meet me here: [and she attaches an image of a map with one of the shops circled]

Comments

[unfollowing]

[Okay but you can plan for it without saying it out loud? God.]

Right. Goddamn. WHo knew you'd be so helpful when it comes to clothes?

[It's a compliment. No, seriously. It's a little bit teasing, but it is also a compliment.]

Maybe I can make you a nice dress so you and Chris can go on a date. [She kind of told Chris she'd do that. In a dream, but still.]

[cowardley]

Uh, I'm great with clothes. [ which is to say she's really good at finding the most comfortable clothing combinations in the whole universe, and leggings go with absolutely everything.

but, at the mention of a dress and Chris, she stops. ]

C-Could you? [ because she would really, really like that. ]

[unfollowing]

Oh, honey.

[Emily gives her one look and drops the subject. Her tone of voice and the expression on her face should be more than enough to convey what she thinks of Ashley's style.

But now we're on a topic that interests them both. She barely reins in the instinct to tease Ashley, and that only because Chris asked her to lay off. So because she is not actually that much of a bitch (don't tell anyone), Emily nods at her friend, her grin a little less smug than it could be.]

Yeah. There's dresses here I could work off. You could dye it whatever color you want when it's done, and then you and nerdbrain can go... I don't know, dance in Delight's bar or whatever.

[What do nerds do when they go on a date, anyway.]

[cowardley]

[ Ashley likes the move in subject, not quite wanting to argue with Emily that her fashion sense is all right. Sure, it's comfortable, but it's also sort of fashionable. Like lazy fashion, which is totally a thing in her opinion.

She smiles. ]

Can you imagine Chris dancing? He'd step on my feet, or his own. [ But it's clear she doesn't mind the idea. Even if her toes turn red, and he falls on his face. ]

[unfollowing]

[Sure, it's totally a thing. A shitty one.]

Oh my god. [Emily can't help but laugh. It's too easy to picture him trying and failing. What an absolute dweeb.

It's endearing, and she's glad for both him and Ashley. Sam always said they'd be cute together, and now here they are, the cutest damn nerds in shithole cavetown.]

You could make a cute moment out of it and teach him a little.

[Mushy stuff is Jessica's department, but Emily picked up a bit from her be-- her former best friend.]

[cowardley]

[ Her expression turns dreamy for a moment. It could be turned into a cute teaching moment, but Ashley's knowledge on dance is pretty limited to the generic waltz and awkwardly grooving off-beat to catchy tunes. ]

I'll teach him a dance that requires no steps, or I'll spend the evening with ice on my toes. [ or she could wear sneakers, but Emily would probably beat her with said sneakers if she wore them with a dress she created. ] But I like the idea.

[ Even if she has to ice her toes, after; it'd be worth it. ]

[unfollowing]

[These fucking nerds. These dorky, cute nerds who are finally dating after yesrs of mutual pining.] Just make him wait on you if he does step on you.

[Duh.]

It won't be a fancy dress, but it'll be nice. And I can force Chris to dress up a little so he doesn't embarrass you.

[She's got you, Ash.]

[cowardley]

I think we get embarrassed over different things, Em. [ But the way she smiles—something akin to dreamy—says she appreciates the offer. ] I like the way Chris dresses. [ It sounds strange, but it's just... one of those things. She likes his silly layers, and the glasses, and the whole I'm-a-nerd-who-stayed-up-too-late-playing-video-games look. ]

But I bet he'd like sports jacket, or something. You know, something he can slip on over his nerdy shirts. [ something that doesn't take away from his usual aesthetic. ]

[unfollowing]

Fine, whatever. [Emily's not in the mood to fight with her about Chris's nerd fauxtoure style. She just wants to start testing dyes.] You guys do your nerdy thing. I don't know when I'll have your dress done [given she hasn't even taken Ash's measurements] but I'll totally make it.

[cowardley]

There's no rush. We've got a lot of dye testing to do before we can do much of anything, I think. [ and she's already going through a list in her head of plants that could possibly make a mint green. she'd like a dress in a minty color, for sure. ] Though, I could do the testing while you focus on, I don't know, leveling up your sewing skills?

[unfollowing]

'Leveling up'? [Really? That's cute, but Emily will never say it.] Anyway, yeah. Divide and conquer.

[Then, after a pause, she adds quietly,] Thanks, Ash.

[cowardley]

[ Ashley smiles, smaller now, sweeter, genuine. If they'd never come to this place, Emily and Ashley's relationship would be nowhere near where it is now. There are times she finds this place worth coming to, and this is one of them. ]

You're welcome, Em. [ More than. ]