#so much of the stuff I've sewn for myself in the past has been focused on looking good while feeling comfortable outside of the house

[sheliesshattered]

I’m coming to grips with the news that GallifreyOne won’t be happening in 2021, and what that likely means for other cons around the same time and place, like WonderCon. Jack and I are talking about making tentative plans for Dragon Con in 2021, since that isn’t until Labor Day, almost twelve months from now, but still. I was really hoping that those jokes about ‘the first year of quarantine’ wouldn’t turn out to be prophetic, but it’s not looking likely at this point. Ah well.

So this morning I woke up thinking about clothing sewing for the first time in I don’t know how long. I’ve certainly sewed clothes for myself in the past, and even had stretches where most of my sewing was focused on clothing and not costumes, but it’s been awhile. Usually I’m in a countdown to one costumed event or another and wanting to make special pieces for that, and to suddenly have this stretch of who knows how long before I’ll have an excuse to wear costumes out of the house is definitely a change of pace.

2020 has been an adjustment on so many fronts, and it’s probably time I do some wardrobe sewing to reflect that. I’ve learned a lot from what I’ve sewn for myself in the past, but since lockdown started I’ve worn exactly two things that I’ve sewn for myself, and even those two not very often. I have a standard outfit I’ve very much defaulted since at least April, maybe mid March, and I’m thinking I should probably use that silhouette and expand the number of items I’m actually wearing, and maybe clean out my closet of a lot of the stuff I just don’t touch any more.

I need to do some sketching, but I’ve already sourced some fabric I think I want to work with, and it’s exciting to have plans on that front again -- especially as all the plans outside of the house continue to get cancelled. I think I am going to try to finish my Oswin Oswald cosplay before really diving into this wardrobe makeover, stick to my original plan of having that wearable by Halloween, and someday I’ll have an excuse to wear that out of the house. Eventually. Hopefully.

I’ve got a bunch of fanfic writing projects I’m dipping my toes back into as well, so I’m happy that coming to grips with no Gally1 has meant an uptick in my creativity rather than the opposite. Updates to come on all fronts over the next few months, I’m sure.

[the-three-idiots]

EXCALIBUR #1

1328AE Divinity’s Reach 8:50PM 

Divinity's Reach, Capital city of the humans. The city is massive due to its six plaza’s, each plaza dedicated to a human god. The plaza of Dwayna was built in honour of Dwayna, god of healing, air and life.

Tonight, however, death has come to the plaza of life. A corpse lays on the floor, which is surrounded by yellow rope and seraph soldiers. The blood from the body being washed away by the persistent rain. This bustling plaza has now been turned into a crime scene. “Sir, this way,” says a soldier to Jacob Reed. Jacob Reed is a twenty-seven year old private investigator. He is human and stands around six foot, he has neatly combed brown hair and dark blue eyes. Jacob dresses in a smart matter, often wearing suits with a large blue-grey overcoat.  Heavy rain plummets down onto Jacob as he walks up to Logan Thackeray, a captain for the seraphs, the police force for the city. “Good evening, Captain.” says Jacob. Logan turns and looks at Jacob. “I wish it was, mister Reed,” replies Logan. Jacob sees the body of a norn woman splayed onto the pavement, her stomach violently ripped open with cuts and bruises all over her skin. “A norn?” asks Jacob

Jacob kneels down to the corpse, looking over the body. He raises an eyebrow and looks up at the rain then back down at the body.

“She’s been ripped open, can't tell if it's outside in or inside out.” Jacob points to a snapped bone. “See there? The bone snapped in half. Norn bones are stronger, three times stronger than ours. Whoever did  this, they have some serious muscle on them.” Jacob says, in concern.

Jacob looks down at the corpse, seeing  the shredded skin and flesh. He looks at the bloodied clothing, noticing burn marks and tears, it's as if the corpse was attacked by a creature. Jacob stood up and walked over to Logan.

“Do we know who she is?” asks Jacob

Logan shrugs his shoulders.

“No, she was seen in the streets about four hours ago, according to eyewitnesses, she was pregnant.” says Logan.

Jacob looks confused as he looks back down at the body, he looks towards the chest area and the remains of the stomach, looking around the body for clues. He stands and walks up to Logan with his hands in his pockets.

“She couldn't have been pregnant.” says Jacob.

Jacob pulls Logan over to the corpse, pointing to the chest and stomach,

“Those stretch marks are new, if it was pregnancy the marks would be a little darker and a lot less pronounced.” Jacob points to the woman “Your eye witness must have gotten the wrong woman.” said Jacob.

Logan pulls a piece of paper from his belt and gives it to Jacob.

“Then how do you explain this?” asks Logan.

Jacob takes the piece of paper and opens it, on the paper is a sketch of the corpse on the floor. Jacob looks back and forth between the paper and the corpse. Jacob looks at Logan in confusion.

“That's impossible.” state’s Jacob

Jacob gives the paper back to Logan.

“I've seen some things Mister Reed, I assure you, I wouldn't have called you in if i could have explained it myself.” Says Logan

Jacob notices a leather wrist strap on the corpse's left hand, Jacob walks over to the wrist and undoes the buckle on the wrist strap, he inspects it. He looks at the corpse, looking at  the rips and burn marks on the clothes. The wrist strap was in good condition, not a single scratch or burn on it.

The wrist strap has a button down flap on it, Jacob tries to open it. Logan raises an eyebrow as Jacob manages to pop one of the buttons on the flap.  

“Excuse me!.” exclaims a female voice from behind Jacob and Logan.

Logan and Jacob turn to see a sylvari woman walking towards them, her skin is a dark blue  with light blue ‘hair’ which is composed of leaves styled into a smart left parting. The sylvari wore a shirt and trousers with a waistcoat. The waistcoat had four buttons undone that exposed the middle of her chest.

The blue sylvari walked up to Logan and Jacob.

“Gentlemen, how are you this evening?” asked the sylvari.

“Ma’am, this is a crime scene.” says Logan

The sylvari looks at Logan with a smug sense of nostalgia.

“Captain Thackery, nice to see you again.” states the sylvari

Logan looks confused as he crosses his arm.

“Ma’am this is the first time we have met.” states Logan

The sylvari puts her hands on her hips and smiles.

“Oh yes, of course we haven't met before, then I apologise about this next part.” says the sylvari.

The sylvari whistles and three more people walk onto the scene. A charr male, a norn woman and a skritt. They walk towards the corpse, Logan tries to stop them but the sylvari grabs Logan's arm.

“We have it from here captain Thackery.” orders the sylvari 

Logan stares at the sylvari.

“We? You can’t just walk in here, who do you think you people are?” asked Logan.

“Excalibur.” says the sylvari

The sylvari woman puts her hands in her pockets and stares at Jacob.

“Never heard of you.” replies Jacob

The sylvari tilts her head and smugly smiles.

“Really? guess the rumour mill isn't working then,” Replies the sylvari woman.

The sylvari pulls out two leather wallets, she smiles as she offers the wallets to Logan and Jacob. Jacob looks at the wallets, noticing a sword logo on the wallets. The logo consists of a circle with a sword through the middle.

“I shall explain everything, just take these and we can get started.” reassures the sylvari.

Jacob looks up and down on the sylvari, trying to get any sort of idea of who she works for. Jacob notices a symbol of a sword sewn into the waistcoat. Jack reluctantly reaches for the wallet, he grabs onto the wallet tightly.

“Mister Reed, are you going to check the body?” asks Logan

Jacob looks at Logan.

“What?” asks Jacob

Logan crosses his arms, as if annoyed.

“I asked you to look at the corpse, your here for the murder.” states Logan.

Jacob rubs his eyes and looks a bit confused.

“Right of course, sorry, i was just...nevermind head’s gone blank.” replies Jacob.

Jacob turns around to look at the corpse. Jacob walks up to the corpse and kneels down, inspecting the body. He notices a single stab wound to the chest, Jacob looks around the body. Jacob focuses on the stomach area and lifts up the corpse's shirt to look underneath. The stomach is intact and doesnt have so much as a scratch on it. Jacob looks disappointed and confused, as if he was expecting something.

“Stab wound to the heart, hardly the crime of the century.” Says Jacob

Jacob stands up and walks over to Logan. Logan scratches his head and rubs his eyes.

“You're right, i'm not sure why I needed you to confirm that.” Logan says in a confused manner.

Jacob shrugs his shoulders and gives Logan a smile.

“Don’t worry about it captain, I was around anyway. It's only what? Nine o’clock?” says Jacob.

Logan looks at the clock tower and turns his head to Jacob. “I think your watch may be off, it's half-past ten.” states Logan

Jacob looks at Logan, turns to the clock tower and takes out his pocket watch. He opens the pocket watch for it to read ten o’clock, he looks at the clock tower. Jacob remains unconvinced by the clock tower's time.

“Sure, I guess I’'ll see you later, captain.” Jacob says, closing his pocket watch.

Jacob buttons up his coat as he walks towards the edge of the crime scene, his clothes now soaked through. Cold and slightly annoyed, Jacob walks under the rope and past several seraph soldiers. His hand in his pockets, desperately trying to keep warm.

Jacob stops for a second as he lifts his coat lapels up to cover his neck from the rain,

“Hell of a night to come out don't you think?” asks a female voice.

Jacob looks to his left to see a blue skinned sylvari woman, Jacob smiles as he looks at the sylvari woman. Jacob sees the sylvari undone shirt, he shakes his head.

“Just a bit, standard seraph murder stuff, you know how it be.” replies Jacob

The sylvari nods as she looks up at the rain clouds and looks back at Jacob.

“You know, looking at you, I wouldn't mind sharing a bed.” hints the sylvari.

Jacob shakes his head as he looks the sylvari up and down. Jacob smiles and puts his hands behind his back, looking at the sylvari in disbelief.

“You're not trying to offer any services are you?” asks Jacob

The sylvari laughs as she puts her hands in her pockets, her white shirt becoming more transparent the wetter it gets.

“Depends, how much you offer.” replies the sylvari woman 

Jacob raises an eyebrow.

“I got a bed and 10 gold.” offers Jacob

The sylvari woman shrugs her shoulders.

“And I can cook you breakfast.” states Jacob

The sylvari woman nods her head and walks towards Jacob, She takes her hands out of her pockets.

“Why not? Got nowhere else to be.” replies the sylvari

Jacob stares at the sylvari’s face.

“Have i met you before?” asks Jacob

The sylvari woman shakes her head

“Not that i know off.” replies the sylvari

Jacob and the sylvari start walking forward together but the sylvari stops as she notices that her shoe laces were undone. The sylvari kneels down to do her shoes, she turns her head to Jacob.

“I’ll catch up, you go on ahead.”  said the sylvari 

Jacob walks forward slowly, the sylvari pretends to tie her shoelaces as she places her left hand to her ear. A small audible beep emits from the ear..

“I’m distracting the target, finish the clean up, sanitize the area if you have to.See you in the morning.” orders the sylvari.

The sylvari takes her hand away and stands up, she looks towards Jacob and smiles. She takes her waistcoat off and starts running towards Jacob. The two disappear around the corner of a gate.

The rain starts to ease off as the rain clouds dissipate and reveal the clear night sky.