Chapter Text
Dress Rehearsal
‘'Valby's Glitter Pen’
EGGO-CTRL
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^ Eggo Depicted Above ^
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“I would like something similar to this,” Princess Iron Fan declares, smacking a few pictures over the outfit sketches that sprawl out across the desk. I’ve been working with her for a few weeks at this point, trying to get a final design on her arena-performance costume ---for the acts that involve sponsors. However, things have been less than decisive from …an -unbiased and totally indifferent point of view.
To say the least, her standards are hard to meet with simplicity-- not to mention with what resources we have to work with.
As Princess Iron Fan swoops into my tent with a new declaration, my shoulders sag for a brief second. The pit in two of my three stomachs drops, as I come to terms with another likely ‘soon-to-be change of mind’, from Missus Bull-King.
The pictures are of a new matching costume design for Princess Iron Fan and her husband. (Edited with crayon. But we all work with what we’ve got.)
“Oh, sure! Did you–” My mind instantly begins mapping out a plan; working on colors and fabrics that’ll go well with the request,-- but the Lady seems to be working at a different pace. She strides straight to the clothes rack full of designs-in-progress, and pulls off different pieces from the hangers.
“I am confident that you are able to create good enough works for my husband and I.” She spots a shimmering corduroy dress and physically recoils, before moving on to a blue suit jacket that still needs a lot of work. She tosses it to me, along with multiple pieces of her husband’s armor.
“Make sure it is show stopping, alright, Eggo? We would like these new outfits ready by the show after next.”
I juggle the different pieces of clothing as they’re tossed to me, fumbling for comprehensive words that articulate just how ready the jacket isn’t anywhere near being. “Oh I’m not sure about this piece, Princess. How about we discuss the details–”
“Are you saying that you can’t do it? That’s a shame. I know that Jade tot won’t be nearly as decent at preparing as you would.” She sighs, already making her way to the curtain flaps.
“No, wait, I can do it! I can get it ready for you.” I jump up, scuttling out of my seat with such haste that the papers and scraps of fabrics scattered around my desk fall off the sides. Papers flutter in loops as they fall, and different tools clatter as they land on the ground. In a beeline, I charge over to see her out. Princess Iron Fan gives way to a coy look, giving herself a point for her win, as she slips away into the bustling court.
I slouch upon seeing the state my desk has become, turning on my heels to walk back over to the costume rack. I push the line down and make room for this project, hanging the pieces back up on a new end, as what just happened finally sinks in.
“Looks like I’m not sleeping for a few days. This’ll be fine,” I tell myself, meanwhile gathering the fallen papers tools. Tossing them back onto the desk and then turning to the disposable yarn and thread scraps littered about on the floor. I plop down onto the ground and start preparing my work, when the curtains are drawn back again.
“Yes, Princess. I’m working on it right now–” I look up expecting to find our maiden-sponsor again, coming forward with surprise as I see Tang peeking through the curtains. He’s holding two bowls of soup in hand, and bearing an apprehensive smile at me.
“Is everything alright in here?”
“Tang!” My head bangs against the underside of the desk’s adjustable craning in a moment of panic. Leaping off of the floor, the desk changes angles and tilts upward at an acute 60 degrees angle. “Yeah! Everything’s cool, I just dropped some stuff… again.”
Tang enters the crafts room, cautiously stepping around the organized chaos of individual projects spread around that haven’t been finished.
He half nods, “Right… Well, I didn’t see you in your train carriage quarters so I figured you were in here,” He places the bowls on the end table. “Need a hand?”
“Yeah, that would be appreciated,” I admit, scratching the back of my neck as a nervous chuckle draws from my mouth. “Are you sure you have time in your management schedule? You don’t have to do … manager-things, do you?”
I scootch over on the floor, and Tang comes to join me, sitting criss-cross. He helps me get everything into order in front of us, before leaning toward the end table and passing our bowls up. I try the noodles and instantly know their divine taste. Tang has a fond habit of always bringing food in his spare time, in an effort to convince me to take breaks, but the new cracking demands of Princess Iron Fan’s costume have me working all the more lately.
“Hey.” Tang reaches over the gap between us, lightly taps on my hand, and brings me back to him.
I give him a small stress smile, returning the squeeze, “Hey. Sorry, I’m just a bit tired from the constant tasks at hand.”
“Did Princess Iron fan change her design again?” It was an easy guess, seeing that the sponsors have had to relent their moments in the spotlight at recent acts, due to not having their proper uniform for performing. The work I do for the circus crew is never ending, and the whole entirety of the work-load always falls to me, or Jade. At most, the performers only have two people to work on costumes at a time.
I’ve been giving Tang updates as things progress and pass. Little ranting bits that help me get the overdue acts out of my system, and he’s always there to lend an ear. Knowing I have one more person on my support team always helps.
I sigh, pushing away my bowl. My stinger does a swoop over of the desktop, bringing the new designs over to show tang.
“She completely changed it again. This time she wants latex incorporated into the bodice and pants. Nearly every single one of the colors has been changed, so I’m essentially starting from scratch. And it seems like she wants some kind of illusion incorporated into the fabrics as well, to make it ‘ shine ’ in a whole different way.”
Tang hums in understanding, pushing his glasses up as he looks the crayon drawings over, “I see.”
“The good thing is that her husband’s outfit will end up matching the majority regardless, so it’s just minor adjustments,” I hang my head low in a show of exhaustion, “This woman might actually put me in an early grave.”
“Well, I can give you a hand if you’d like. I do know a thing or two about spells and I’m sure making something sparkle won’t be too hard,” Tang grins confidently, puffing out his (non-existent) chest.
“Would you??? I could love you forever if you help me!” I wrap him into a hug, pushing my chest into him and crushing him in my arms excitedly. Tang faintly emits low strangled noises, muffled by the smothering of my joy. I ease up, opting to hold his hands while my mind devises a better plan, at rapid speed, to find what’s of first priority.
Tang laughs softly, “Well-- I hope you will. Even without my limited help. But for now,” He gently leads me back onto a stool, dragging his seat closer to mine, “Evica will be upset if she learns that you haven’t been eating properly. Pigsy, too. MK and I know first hand what he can be like when you become invested in your work. So this will be my job. Getting you to relax, even if it’s just for short intervals at a time.”
Before I can back myself out of it, I plant a soft kiss on his cheek and melt into a fond gaze, “Thank you, Tang. You’re the best.” I turn my focus back onto my forgotten food, making a mental note to give Tang’s husband gratitude for the meal. As I turn back to finishing my bowl, the moment becomes a peaceful one, where I’m not worrying about deadlines, or crafts.
And I don’t miss the happy grin that Tang hides behind a smothered cough, either.
~FIN~