Page 73 of Marked By Shadows

“But that’s not the point of the contest, right? The cool stuff is to motivate us to do our best and win.”

Maybe. “What would you pick if you won?”

“The books probably, or the fabric and patterns. Though having my own computer would be nice. I wonder if that machine is too fancy for Chad’s non-profit to use? The kids he taught would get a kick out of that right? Even if it stitches cats or bunnies or something.”

“Oh,” I looked at him with wide eyes. “That would be way cool. Can you imagine those kids he’s teaching? Have them make something and finish it off with a cool embroidered dragon or something?”

“Man that would have been sweet when I was a kid.” Alex said. “Maybe make some gnomes for Lukas. Weird how he’s into gnomes and I like dragons. Gnomes are so… weird.”

“There’s a story behind the gnomes,” I said.

“Yeah?”

I glanced up at the clock. “No time for it right now. Less than two minutes before we start.” I got up and cleaned up my plate and cup.

“Crap.” Alex shoved the last of his pizza in his mouth and got up too, balling up his napkin. He chewed fast and swallowed as we took our stuff to the kitchen. “I need to wash my hands. Any last words of wisdom to share?”

“Look at the pile of fabric and the first thing that pops into your mind for characters discuss that with your partner. Might be a color or a specific pattern, whatever inspires you and jumps to your attention. The two of you may branch out with ideas but it’s a fast place to start, and gut instinct usually helps. And remember: simple. If you pick a simple costume, putting it together goes fast and you can spend more time on embellishments, hair, makeup, and accessories,” I offered. “It’s the little details that often win this thing.”

Alex nodded, his eyes scrunched in thought. We both took turns using the small downstairs half bath to wash our hands and then joined the group waiting outside the closed double doors of the craft room. I couldn’t help but feel a bit of anxiety in my gut, so much like excitement that they echoed each other. So close it was almost impossible to tell them apart. I’d have preferred to work with Alex, but maybe it would have hindered me too as my plans for him were never simple.

Nicole would be easy to work with. She was smart and resourceful. The fact that she was a petite blonde helped keep our options open.

Freya stood next to the door. “I’m going to open the door, and everyone pick a corner for their group. You’ll have ten minutes to discuss with your partner before the rush for fabric. Then it’s off to the tables. Everyone ready?”

There was a murmur of agreement. I caught Nicole’s eye and she nodded, moving closer. Jonah pulled Alex away. I had to fight down the urge to grab Alex back, more as my safety blanket than worry Jonah would seduce him. Alex was tuned into me, so he threw me a warm smile and mouthed, “Good luck!”

Then the doors opened.

It was a bit of shock of color and fabric. Instead of it being stacked on the cutting table it was on a cart, bright colors, some incredible designs of varied widths, and what I could tell even from a distance was textures. Knits to cottons to leather-looking polyester. It was the fire red that caught my eye first even as I moved around the room, meeting with Nicole and finding a spot. If Alex and I hadn’t spent the trip to the convention the first day discussing anime he’d seen, I might not have been drawn to it. But the fire made me think of Inuyasha. Alex said it had been one of his favorites growing up, especially when Kagomi shouted “Sit, boy!” at him. Which I pointed out wasn’t quite the same in the non-dubbed version, but he didn’t care.

Nicole turned to me. “Ideas?”

“Inuyasha and Kagomi,” I blurted, but tried to keep my voice down.

Nicole glanced back at the fabrics. “All the colors are there, but it’s missing a bit of ‘Wow’ factor.”

“I was thinking of the ‘Sit, boy!’ thing. So like dog ears and rolling circle over the head.” A single pose could make an outfit. Have one pose mastered, the outfit detailed to fit that snapshot, and you were golden.

“Oh,” Nicole’s mouth echoed the big O as the idea came together in her head too. “Okay, so we’ll need red, white, and green. I can whip out that school girl outfit in less than an hour. Do you want to be Inuyasha or Kagomi?”

“Inuyasha,” I said, still not feeling any desire to do the dress thing. Especially not a school girl one. I really hoped Tim and the videos hadn’t ruined that for me forever.

“Let me pull up some pictures,” Nicole said.

“Okay, one representative from each group will race to the cart and get what they need in fabric. Thread, beads, buttons, zippers, and other basic supplies are on the box on the table and open to everyone at all times. But get the bolts you need. Once I say ready, set, go,” Freya said.

“Can we trade fabrics if we need to?” Chad asked. “Since they are full bolts instead of pieces?”

“Yes. Anything you’re done with put back in the cart and it’s free game.”

“Sweet,” Jonah said. He looked at Alex. “You want to go or me?”

“You,” Alex said. “You know more about the texture stuff than me.”

Jonah nodded and took a stance like he was ready to run a marathon.

“You or me?” I asked Nicole.