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"The true worth of a man is not to be found in man himself, but in the colors and textures that come alive in others." -- Albert Schweitzer
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Burlap - Noun: Coarse canvas woven from jute, hemp, or a similar fiber, used especially for sacking.
Burlap is dry and resistant to weathering. It’s rough, and the bumps and ridges can be unsettling to those used to a softer touch. It’s a supportive fabric, used for nets, bags, and rugs.
Gideon was burlap. Spencer didn’t mind the rough edges, in fact, he found that’s what made him so comfortable around his mentor.
But, like all things, burlap cannot last forever, especially when it’s left out to the elements. Sometimes it starts to shed. When you cut the burlap in its one weak point, two inches too far to the right, it unravels.
Sometimes in his sleep, Spencer finds himself walking through aisles and aisles of burlap cloth, searching for that one grain, that one specific pattern in the woven strands. His senses scream for something familiar, something that will be dependable and permanent and something that will just make sense for once-! Of course, he wakes up and feels nothing but soft sheets beneath his hands. He’s still reaching out, even just to graze over that coarse string that’s been left unwound.
Velvet - Noun: A closely woven fabric of silk, cotton, or nylon, that has a thick short pile on one side.
Velvet is durable, and it doesn’t have any loose threading. There’s a terrible myth that velvet is too high maintenance, that it’s not good for homes with children. Sure, it takes a fair amount of time to make, but it’s worth it for such beautiful fibers.
His mother is velvet. Everything about her is, her voice low and smooth, with a certain heavy quality to it. She’d read him poetry in bed even on some of her worse days, stroking his hair as he’d run his fingers over a small purple velvet pillow on the bed.
William was like thin cotton that had shrunk in the washing machine, weakened and pilled. Spencer decided he never wanted to be cotton. After William left, Spencer did everything he could for Diana. He’d pick up coins and cash left on the sidewalk on his way home from school. He’d bring items that wouldn’t be missed to the local pawn shop or thrift stores, selling off what he could. He filled out his mother’s disability papers when the university let her go. He helped write a convincing letter to William for enough child support funds to at least cover groceries.
“I’m not weak.”
“I know, baby.”
Some people say that velvet is cheap in looks, but Spencer knows the truth. Velvet is priceless, it’s strong, it’s worth any amount of work people complain about. And to Spencer, it isn’t work. It’s a labor of love.
Canvas - Noun: A strong, coarse unbleached cloth made from hemp, flax, cotton, or similar yarn, used to make items such as sails and tents and as a surface for oil painting.
Canvas is used for many things, like sails, and bags, and shoes. A lot of people associate canvas with art, oils and pastels hanging in quiet museum halls, looking out as people look in. Canvas is sturdy, and can be used for the outdoors.
Hotch is canvas. He’s a steady presence in the unit, calm and collected. He billows the sails of their ship, guiding them to shore after every case. In a way, canvas is like burlap. Both are strong and rough, but there’s an element of softness to canvas, something that keeps it from fraying like burlap. Spencer learns to adjust to the feeling of canvas. Burlap isn’t an option anymore, and he can’t find that loose thread.
When a canvas tears, you can mend it. A tiny amount of glue and some extra paint can do wonders for a portrait that has been torn. That’s how Hotch heals, and that’s how he tries to help others heal, too. A little word of encouragement here, an early release from the office there. Spencer knows he’s trying his best, and that’s good enough in his eyes.
Denim - Noun: A sturdy cotton twill fabric, typically blue, used for jeans, overalls and other clothing.
Denim is one of the most popular fabrics in the world. It is extremely strong, but it’s also has a gentle weight to it. It doesn’t drag you down, it is just more noticeable sometimes more than others. It’s firm but smooth, and it’s reliable.
JJ is denim. She calls him Spence, she was the first one in the unit to make him feel less like an anomaly and more like a person when he first joined. She gives the best hugs, she’s familiar. She makes people feel better, kind of like how jeans can make anyone look good.
The thing about denim is it’s even cooler when it’s ripped. You can see the frayed edges, but the rest of the fabric still holds. Even when JJ is walking blindly in her darkest moments, she is just as grounded and solid as she would be on any other day. Some people might say that ripped jeans are unprofessional, but Spencer disagrees. It’s a willing exposure, an open sort of vulnerability. He admires JJ for her ability to allow others to see through the cracks.
Silk - Noun: A fine, strong, soft lustrous fibre produced by silkworms in making cocoons and collected to amen thread and fabric. Silk is also spun by some insect larvae and by most spiders.
Silk is revered as a luxurious good, with its smooth and lustrous build. Silk is also strong, stronger than most would think. It’s breathable, and can help regulate body temperature in both cold and warm weather.
Emily is silk. Despite being raised in a higher social class, she has an amazing ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Her demeanor is smooth, and she makes other people feel comfortable and at ease. She can hold the attention of the room, but in a subtle way, like a beautiful silk evening gown.
The thing about silk is that it can be delicate. Once it is stretched out, it cannot shrink back down. Sometimes Spencer worries that Emily is stretching herself too thin. She seems tired, distracted. So he starts to try and take on what he can, extra files, extra interviews, to try and ease the tension in her shoulders.
He’s finally gotten used to silk. He’s not ready to have someone else slip away.
Leather - Noun: A material made from the skin of an animal by tanning or a similar process.
Leather is sturdy, and has been used throughout history for a variety of reasons. These days, it’s common in clothing and furniture. It’s warm, and rather resilient. It’s a fashion commodity too, seen as expensive and attractive.
Rossi is leather. Like leather, his experience has improved him and has held up over time. The texture of leather can change over time depending on the environment it’s in, and this is also true for Rossi in Spencer’s mind. What once felt like a grainy, unknown landscape, now is smooth like butter. It’s familiar.
Leather requires occasional maintenance, and any scratches collected over time are visible. But these technical damages are more like art. Rossi is strong, he bears his scars and trials without shame or regret. Spencer can only hope to have that level of confidence as he gets older.
Chiffon - Noun: A light, sheer fabric typically made of silk or nylon.
Chiffon is light, sheer, and often comes in bright colors. It can be used to create a draping effect on clothing, or add volume. Chiffon is stronger than people might think, based on how it is woven to withstand stress when in use.
Penelope is chiffon. She’s bright and full of life, and sometimes may seem like she’s walking on air. She lets people in, she shares her feelings and thoughts like a fountain pours water. Spencer has always appreciated Penelope’s honesty and empathy. In ways, they balanced each other out, Spencer’s inability to let others in, and Penelope’s skills in bringing out the best in others.
Chiffon should never be washed in a washing machine. It’s could tear, or snag easily. Chiffon needs to be cared for. Spencer knows Derek primarily looks out for Penelope, but he shows that he cares in different ways. Some days, Spencer brings Penelope her favorite coffee, or a new figurine for her desk. She always smiles and thanks him, and all he can do is hope these little actions help to distract her from the horrors they see every day.
Corduroy - Noun: A thick cotton fabric with velvety ribs.
Corduroy is durable and has rounded cord or ribs. It's mostly used for clothing and home furniture, as it's warm and is easily washed. It's also long-lasting and feels warm in cool weather. It's most commonly made in neutral shades, but there's no specific limit on the colors used for this fabric.
Derek is corduroy. He's warm, stylish, and Spencer feels so comfortable around him. Their relationship came naturally, Derek's corduroy meeting Spencer's own closely woven tweed where he was. Corduroy has a similar feel to velvet in some ways, but with Derek love comes with far more communication and patience than it ever had growing up, essentially alone in Las Vegas.
There aren't really any structural downfalls to corduroy. Usually, the main concern for this type of cloth is that the color can fade over time. Spencer embraces spontaneity to help keep interest alive in their life together, such as surprise tickets to baseball games and offering to be the designated driver so the team can get together and enjoy each other's company. In return, Derek prevents Spencer from losing his quiet moments, reading poetry to him by firelight in late July, or visiting museums so Spencer can tell him more about the art than the poor college-aged intern tour guide.
And when Spencer feels Derek, all of his Rough and Smooth and Warmth, he feels complete.
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Texture can be an interesting subject.
Spencer's world has been full of adjusting to new patterns and feelings, but texture has been his way to understand his interpersonal relationships. He values his team, just like he values the burlap bookbag hanging on his door, the velvet pillows on his sofa, the canvas drapes hanging from his windows, the denim jeans he wears on days off, the silk tie he wears on special occasions, the leather wristband that holds his watch, the chiffon purple scarf laying on the counter.
Just like he loves that well-worn corduroy jacket on the coat rack.
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“Symbolism is no mere idle fancy or corrupt degeneration: it is inherent in the very texture of human life.” -- Alfred North Whitehead