yumemigaoka | Happy Dreamerversary!

[How Amane wound up volunteering at the Dream Weaver's booth was an utter mystery; sure, he had been known to make his own Halloween costumes along with Tsukasa from time to time, but following tutorials he found online was drastically different than sewing something from scratch. Crafting wasn't necessarily his forte, either-- that seemed to be more of his brother's wheelhouse, but they couldn't exactly ask him to help out at the booth instead. Not if they didn't want Eldritch Abomination takes on Dreamer Swan and Dreamer Crimson, anyway...

But if there was anything Amane was good at, it was lying through his teeth-- and that, plus his years in customer service, has him at the front of the booth during one of their demonstrations, blithely applying hot glue to one of his in-progress jacket seams ~~like an animal~~, while one of the shop employees looks on in horror.]

And remember-- when in doubt, just hot glue it!

"Do NOT hot glue it--"

See? It's easy!

"Oh my GOD."

[At some point, though, the Dream Weaver employees banish him to Gay Baby Jail-- or, at least, exiled to a less noticeable portion of booth-- leaving him to commit his costuming crimes out of sight. But then... what were they expecting from a fourteen year old boy with minimal sewing experience? The fact they were even expecting him to sort-of recreate a long tailed, cropped, double-breasted jacket with lapels and cuffs was just cruel.

Anyone passing this more secluded nook of the booth might spot him face down in his glue stained, fraying, glitter encrusted mess of a costume, voice muffled as he whines:]

Ughhh... why couldn't I have been at the ice cream booth instead??

[Was this punishment for stressing everyone out in March??? That had to be it, right?

Though speaking of ice cream, once he's finally done his time at the Dream Weaver's booth, he makes a beeline over towards Dreamery Creamery, eager to get some sort of sweet treat after his harrowing ordeal. His eyes scan the menu, taking in the familiar names with varying levels of excitement (and one with a twinge of guilt), humming a little to himself as he weighs his options.]

Wow, they really got a flavor for everyone, huh? I wonder if they're any good...

[After his well-deserved ice cream has been obtained, however, he's going to be wandering about the festival, taking in everything with wide-eyed excitement and peeking in on every booth for at least a minute or two. Maybe you might notice him before he notices you...?]

[Sam...is not really any help. Amane is in Gay Baby Jail when she finds him. That's.

That's a lot of glitter. Like a Queen featuring Adam Lambert-esque amount of glitter. Dang!

She leans down to give him a hair ruffle--that might be slightly closer to a noogie than she intends, at the moment.]

You're not trying to drown yourself in glue, are you? Or huff it to dull the pain? Don't do that. That's not a good idea. Kills brain cells.

[Not that Sam would be much help. She's an advocate of duct tape--if you can't duct it, fuck it...and don't ask about the glue commentary.]

[Look, he wanted to try to recreate the starry gradient on his jacket, okay??? But for as much as he loved tracking the stars and constellations, he wasn't about to painstakingly paint it all on there... at least, not with only a few hours to spare, anyway. So clearly the best method was the tried-and-true "pour glitter over wet glue" technique, right??

There's a miserable groan as Sam goes to ruffle his hair, and he lifts his head up, bits of stray thread and sparkles stuck to his cheeks and forehead. A-At least the glitter seemed to be sticking to something?]

Bold of you to assume I still have any brain cells left to kill.

[THE STRUGGLE IS SO REAL HERE, SAM.....]

Sure you do, you're not old enough to drink yet! Though a lot of times, we lose the brain cells to cope...

[Yeah there might be some serious truth to that statement. Especially considering the source, though Sam doesn't usually go too crazy with getting drunk. Anyway.]

Don't suppose there's anything I could try to do to help? I've got a roll of duct tape and some safety pins, though the latter are really supposed to be decoration for my jacket. Still. Anything to help out a friend.

[Why, no. She's not twisting the knife there. Why would you think that?]

[... okay, yeah there is a stab of guilt at that friend line of hers-- he hadn't really gotten to talk to her since he'd gotten out of his Disturbance , nor his surgery, and no doubt she was probably as upset as the others were for his secrecy. Hell, he'd even lied to her face (well... Slack account, but still--) about who he was, so she probably had more reason to be upset with him compared to others.

Was he going to address any of that now, though?

Of course not. This is Amane we're talking about, after all.

So, instead, he's going to sit up a bit straighter, holding out the sparkly disaster in all its inelegant glory for her to see.]

I dunno... anything you can do to make this look less like a sad, glittery garbage bag with sleeves, I guess. But I'm probably asking for miracles here...

[... that was a pretty apt description of it, to be honest, with how formless and droopy the whole thing was. Even the rope on the back was sagging, as if it was too embarrassed to be seen with the rest of the ensemble.]

I mean... there's gotta be a way to at least get the bow to stay upright, right?

[AMANE.... THAT BOW IS THE LEAST OF YOUR PROBLEMS HERE....]

[Sam could dig deeper, twist the knife harder, but at least to her eyes, Amane's in enough deep kim chee that it's not something he needs right now.

But there's always later...]

You'd be surprised but...yeah. [It still involves the duct tape, though--mostly using it to strip excess glitter and glue away from the constellations proper. One might think Sam has done something like that before--though it probably doesn't have anything to do with cosplay, unless one wants to count metal attire as cosplay.

Maybe it is. Maybe there's a point to be made, there.]

Okay, how've you got the bow attached? There might actually be a way to get it to stay upright, yeah. Proper sewing or...hell, I don't know what it's called, but there's a fabric way to make things stiffer. I mean you could probably use spray starch in a pinch, too, but normally I don't cosplay, so don't quote me on that, okay?

If not I'll just figure out how to keep it poised with duct tape and safety pins.

[Because that sort of thing has worked for her before, and besides the roll of black duct tape, Sam has big safety pins as accessories on her jacket...]

I know, right? There's so many, it's hard to choose.

[Colette agrees, wanting to try and decide which flavour she wants. She bites her lower lip as she debates. Chocolate? Strawberry? Something more unique? She glances to the options again, eyeing the fruit based ones mostly.]

Something sweet, fruity I think?

I guess that's the appeal of it all, but it does make things kind of overwhelming.

[He starts to eye some of the array again in earnest, trying to narrow down his options. While there probably weren't as many flavors here compared to the main shop, there were some that definitely didn't make the cut-- who was even eating Veggie Boba Crush, anyway??]

Hmm... there is Prill-- er, Prisma Pomegranate if you wanna try one of the exclusive flavors? That could be interesting! [See, Illya?? Don't say he's never done anything for you!] Oh, but Soleil Sorbet might be good too if you want something a bit more on the traditional side.

[Since it looked pretty strawberry forward and all. Perhaps he should do his duty as a Mentor and try the Sherbert Sage, but... what flavor was that even? Green? He couldn't tell if it was lime, grape, or melon, but it didn't seem as appealing as the sugar donut flavor not too far away...]

Oh, the Soleil! Maybe I'll try that. Were you wanting to try something more unique or something more traditional? Something with fruit or more along the lines of chocolate or something?

[She doesn't want to pressure him either way. He's just curious on his preferences and tastes. Everyone was different after all, even if she has a sweet tooth and adores fruits, that doesn't necessarily mean the same for him. She puts in her order for the Sorbet while letting him decide once it's their turn to order their choices.]

[Welp, Ruby will be glad that he got another person to try her flavor, at least!! His brow furrows a little at her question, though, as he keeps studying the flavors-- it's not really something he's thought too hard about, but--]

Hmmm... I dunno. I don't mind fruit-flavored stuff, but I kinda want something more unique too? I mean... nothing crazy like that veggie flavored one, but something more exciting than just chocolate or vanilla, at least.

[After all, he could just go to the combini if he wanted a plain chocovanilla cone or something!]

Maaaaaybe the donut one? Oh, but that rainbow cotton candy looks pretty good too. And the strawberry shortcake...

... I can't just get all three, could I?

[Amane, why are you asking Colette, she's not your Mom--]

Hm. That's fair. Strawberry shortcake would be neat! Um, maybe try one and see how you like it? Or ah, do they let you try a taste? Maybe you can try a little of each and that might help you decide? Between the shortcake or donut or the cotton candy?

[Some ice cream places did that? With like small spoons that people could try a little of a flavour to help them decide? Right? Colette isn't sure if this one does but it seems worth checking, asking if it might help Amane decide on one? Or maybe a double scoop of two flavours he might like?]

Oh-- yeah, that's true! I forgot they did stuff like that. Wonder if they'd do the same for a pop-up booth, though...

[They should... right? Though with all the people out and about at the festival, maybe they decided against it so people wouldn't be using them as a free sample station. Still, it wouldn't hurt to ask...

So he goes to do just that, asking for a taster for each of the flavors he had been musing upon, along with the three specialty ones as well. Even if he wasn't in the mood to have a whole scoop of those, at least he could tell Ruby and the others later on that he tried them, regardless. So, armed with a spoonful each of donut, shortcake, cotton candy, Soleil Sorbet, Sherbet Sage, and Prisma Pomegranate, he begins to sample them all, humming thoughtfully as he decides.]

... okay, the cotton candy is definitely out. [It was the sort of amped up sugar flavor that Tsukasa probably would enjoy, though--] But the strawberry sorbet's good! I think you'd like it, Colette.

[He pops the spoonful of Sherbet Sage (which, in fact, was NOT the green nightmare he had been eying earlier) into his mouth next, and his eyes light up a bit in surprise at the flavor.]

HUH. Sage's is pretty good too, actually! It's sorta... minty? Lemony? Leave it to my best trainee to have the classiest flavor here...

Can't hurt to ask.

[She lets him go first, letting him taste test to help him decide on which to go with. Colette does perk up when he says about the strawberry is probably one she would like. She smiles, knowing it does seem like an obvious flavour for her given her penchant for fruits and her love of sweets.]

I think I'll try a little but I'll probably go with the strawberry sorbet or the shortcake. Yes. Minty and lemony though? That's an interesting one?

Yeah, it's... kinda like a mint lemonade? But in sherbet form? It's hard to describe, but it's definitely not bad.

[Probably not what he was in the mood for at the moment, unfortunately, but it'd probably be really refreshing on a hot summer day. Too bad these flavors were only exclusive to the Dreamerversary festival...]

Want me to grab you a sample? [He flashes her a grin, before adding:] I wouldn't be much of a Mentor if I didn't try to at least promote my trainee's flavor just a little bit!

Mint lemonade...? Hm. I'm not sure I've tried that sort of flavour before. I've tried mint things and lemonade, but not together.

[Colette considers when he offers to let her try a sample, a taste to see if she likes it. She might as well try the strawberry one. To confirm, even if she is pretty sure she would like it that it sounds like a flavour she would go for.]

But ah, alright! I'll try a sample and see.

It's pretty good! My Mom likes to make it for summer with some of the mint plants we have at the shop. It's got that refreshing quality of lemonade but also that extra cooling factor mint has, too.

[Why Amane was regulated to the cosplay booth when he was clearly really good at talking up ice cream flavors is anyone's guess, really....

At Colette's approval, though, he returns to the ice cream booth, requesting a couple more samples from the vendor before running them back to her. Never mind the side-eye they're giving him for trying all of these bits of product for free, but...]

Here you go! I grabbed you one of the Soleil Strawberry ones too, just in case.

Oh? I might have to come visit sometime. Your shop. I know it might be a bit out of the way compared to where I live but? If you give me the address. I might come have a look sometime.

[Colette has more of a sweet tooth, but even so. She is curious. Still, she lets him ask about samples for her, to try the strawberry one. There's a smile as she thanks him and she takes it, trying the sample to get a taste even if she is pretty sure she will like it if it is fruity. She puts it in her mouth, licking it and considering. Giving a soft hum of approval.]

Mm! It's good!

[It's not wrong to say the idea of Dreamer cosplay would be super exciting, especially with her normal-ish outfit that could feasibly exist on this side with a lot of hard work. Unfortunately, that hard work isn't something she's in a good headspace for, given when she would have needed to start... maybe next year? Still, it definitely brings her around to the booth to see what's in progress. Luck and Gungnir's costumes are coming together well enough, but if she's being honest, Hanako's is probably the one she's most familiar with out of those three simply from time and exposure, and it's fun to see it represented on this side in real materials, ethereal perfection replaced with meticulous, careful, thoughtful craftsmanship.

Or it would be, if a certain boy weren't standing there with the emergency permanent attachment tool that any serious clothier knows you don't use for anything short of decorations you never want to take off-!!!]

Amane-kun, put that down right now, you are going to ruin that costume!!

[Her expression is horrified as she comes closer. There's already trails of glue drying onto the dark fabric, getting those off is going to be a nightmare harder than the ones they fight, and they'll never get a needle through that stuff once it hardens-]

[Thankfully for everyone involved here, the copy of Dreamer Hanako's uniform that Amane was currently desecrating happened to be a spare-- there was no way any of the seamstresses at Dream Weaver would even dare to give a newbie one of their painstakingly crafted pieces to work on. Sure, they liked to recreate the vague, logic-bending outfits from the Dream Sphere, but they weren't that masochistic, for goodness sakes! (They'll save that level of pain for crunching a cosplay two days before Comiket--)

Still, it doesn't undo the psychic damage that came with watching this child wreck what could have been a wearable piece, and the poor employee supervising this demo shoots Lisa a look of sheer relief when she calls out to him. Finally, somebody with some sense arrives!!! Amane, on the other hand, glances up from his glue gun atrocities to look at her, the surprise and confusion evident on his face.]

... huh?

[In his bewilderment, though, he forgets to move his hand away from under the gun-- just in time for a glob of piping hot glue to drip from the nozzle and right onto his finger. With a startled yelp, he drops the tool onto the table, no doubt leaving another ugly smear drying onto this poor fabric for later.]

OW--!! Hot, hot, hot--!

[CONGRATS, AMANE, YOU'VE EARNED YOUR FIRST COSPLAY BATTLE SCAR]

Amane-kun! [Lisa seems to teleport as she rushes to his side, taking the glue gun into her own hand and setting it somewhere further away that doesn't look readily meltable and is also not next to Amane - she has a suspicion the Dream Weaver employee will put it somewhere properly safe but that's not her concern just now. She follows up with a practiced, blind reach into a side pocket of her tote for a napkin, immediately moving down to wipe his finger off, careful not to spread it.] Sheesh. Some of this stuff's dangerous, you know? I know it's your costume, but you need to treat the tools with the respect they deserve.

[.......okay, crisis one averted, and it's the one she cares about most. Yeah, she'd like to try and help fix the costume he's working(?) on, but his safety comes first. She doesn't look mad or anything, just... worried for him, which is now fading into mild exasperation as she puffs out a long breath, examining him across the table.]

Are you okay? So long as it doesn't dry on your skin, the glue won't do any real damage to you. It just hurts when it's hot.

[Without missing a beat, the Dream Weaver employee takes the glue gun that Lisa had deposited elsewhere and moves it to it's appropriate place-- far, far away from where any grubby teenage boys could get their hands on it. Said teenage boy in question lets out a small whine as she goes to assess the damage, though whether that was out of pain or a protest over the chiding on her part was anyone's guess. Though considering the pout on his face, it might have been the latter...]

It's not like I was waving it around or anything...

[It's not the first time he's used a glue gun, after all!! But gluing strips of cheesecloth to a body suit for Halloween was vastly different from actual tailoring, so...

He holds his hand still as Lisa goes about fussing over it, however, his petulant pout dimming to something more subdued.]

... 'm fine, though. [Just ignore that sheen around the edge of his eyes, he's totally not holding back tears or anything!! NOPE!!] It kinda stings, but I don't think it broke skin or anything...

[Thankfully, the glue has dried enough to the point that she can easily roll it off his finger, but the skin beneath is still a livid, bright red from the burn. Maybe he should have taken his advice from a while back and brought an aloe plant with him, huh...]

You weren't, no, but you need to always be aware of it. Just like you wouldn't wave a pair of scissors around... right?

[She trusts that he's reasonable, but he's also a kid still, so she's heading him off at the pass. Just in case. In any event, her fussing doesn't take very long - it's not a hard cleanup. As she makes sure the glue is all off his finger (gently, but firmly, so it probably hurts a bit) and reaches back into her tote again, she clicks her tongue.]

Not that I can talk, as Miss Dropped a Pan on Her Hand, but. Do as I say, not as I do on this one, please. [She comes back with a little tube of ointment and a band-aid.] There's only so much room in my bag, so I still don't have any aloe, but I think this'll do for now, yeah? [Lisa flashes him a meaningful smile. She remembers.] Then we can... take a look at this, if you want some extra hands?

Happy Dreamerversary!

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demonstrations

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Dreamery Creamery

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dream weaver, demonstration;

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