Limbus Company story · Identity stories
Haute Couture::Le Rouge King of Needleworks Heathcliff's Story
1 scenes, 86 lines
1. Haute Couture::Le Rouge King of Needleworks Heathcliff's Story
86 linesN-no, you've got the wrong idea... I'm not here to file a complaint...!
Bollocks! You're here to pick holes in my stitching style, ain't ya? Gonna find somethin' wrong with the yarn too, eh? Gonna keep on till my bloody head boils over, I bet! Same as all the rest!
W-well, of course the stitching style is important. But I'm the designer, so it's up to me to decide on a style before commissioning you, isn't it...? Same with the yarn, so you know what to do without worrying about follow-up complaints... right?
...?
It had taken season after season, but I'd finally made it all the way down to B2F.
I'd come to discuss the sewing for a new outfit. Nothing complicated about it, I'd thought - until I saw the supplier.
It was a man perched on... something between a chair and thick bundles of needles, propped up in a vague imitation of a throne, twitching erratically without a moment's rest.
... Now I'm hearin' things.
Huh...?
This one standin' here... he just said the "right" thing, didn't he? Or are my ears havin' me on?
@*#&*!
Yeah, thought as much. That's it, then. Finally gone clean off my rocker.
... You actually got an answer out of them? I thought those were Mannequins...
Little figures no bigger than my palm, all bundled up in hooded cloaks, were squeaking away at the man on the needle throne.
Between how quietly they spoke and how quickly the words came tumbling out, I couldn't understand any of it...
Still, whatever they were squeaking into his ear, I had a feeling this was turning into the kind of misunderstanding that could get me in serious trouble unless I cleared it up from the get-go.
Okay, look... let's - let's try this again from the beginning. I'm here to talk about having my fabric sewn. That's all I'm here to do.
I don't know what counts as saying "the right thing" around here, or what doesn't. I was just answering honestly, that's all.
Actually... you know what? This is pretty frustrating for me, too. What'd I do to deserve this kinda grilling, when I haven't even had the chance to bring up my request? I just got here! Back in the Backstreets -
"Back - " Hang on, what did I do there again? "Backstreets"... uh... Whatever, that's not important! The point is, I've sold things before, and I can say pretty confidently that your sales attitude is way out of line.
.......
The man went still and studied me for a while. Then, slowly, he settled his chin into his hand.
... Well, ain't that a bleedin' novelty. You really are talkin' sense.
.......
It's usually the gits who call themselves "designers" that take the bloody biscuit. Come traipsin' down here, chuck a design at me, and tell me to get on with it.
So I do. Whatever's on that bit of paper, that's what they get.
Send it back upstairs, job done. A f-few seasons go by... and what comes back down? A note.
Won't even come downstairs themselves. Heh... hehehe! Oh, no, can't be arsed with that...! Just fill a bloody note top-to-bottom with "feedback" and send it down for me to choke on.
But d'you know the best bit...? Here's what - get this... Hah... hahah!
You can't make head nor tail of it! They want one thing at the start, then the bloody opposite by the end!
He sprang out of the throne and started howling at the ceiling, cackling so hard that I wasn't sure whether he was laughing or screaming.
The sudden movement shook loose dozens of little paper slips from wherever they'd been wedged, sending them scattering through the air...
I picked one up and slowly read it aloud.
"I specifically requested a selvedge finish that stayed true to the original, and that all sewing be done with green thread. So why have you used red thread to finish the seam allowances?"
What the FUCK is he talking about?! RUBBISH! That's what it is!
Authentic selvedge has a red edge, you pillock! That's common knowledge! "Keep it true to the original," you said! SO I DID!
And... and... before you even get to that...!
... Wait. Isn't the selvedge finished when the cloth is woven? Before any of the sewing happens?
I thought that was the point... the edge is made so it doesn't need finishing afterward. That's what makes it selvedge, right?
You... Y-you...!
And it's the Floor Manager down here on B2F who does the weaving, isn't it? So shouldn't the customers take it up with the Floor Mana - wait, whoa!
He rushed straight at me, stopping practically nose-to-nose. Had I said the wrong thing? Had he finally snapped? The way he was coming at me, I thought he was going to knock me flat...
Bloody hell... I can touch you...! You're real! You're actually real...!
But instead, his arms closed around me in a fierce embrace.
Um... hello...?
Thought I'd finally lost my marbles... But I haven't! You're not just my imagination takin' the piss!
Shaddap! Shaddap! King too noisy!
NO, YOU SHUT YOUR GOBS!!! Not now... no one's ruinin' this moment. No one, no one...
... The decorations on his shoulders and all over his body were digging into me, and it was starting to get a little uncomfortable - actually, pretty painful. But when he started sobbing uncontrollably, I figured... I could endure a bit of discomfort and let him get it out of his system.
A little later...
Whew...
Made a proper show of myself there - but I won't be sayin' sorry. You heard the kind of shite I've got to deal with. Tell me you'd be any different with that lot on your back! Can hardly blame a bloke, can you?
N-no... I guess not.
But I'm not about to fob you off with a few words and nothing to show for it. That job you came in with? Won't cost you a thing. I'll throw in up to three rounds of revisions to the design, too.
You'd really do all that...?
Well, 'cause you won't come back flappin' your gob about some absolute dogshite and have the brass neck to call it "feedback"...
... His teeth ground together with an angry crunch. Before I knew it, I was drawing my shoulders in.
There's something I should mention, though... I might need you to sew on some leather as well. Would that be okay?
From what I'd heard, your expertise is fabric-exclusive, so I'm not sure if...
Hah! You've timed that a treat. Picked just the right season to come knockin'!
...! Wait, does that mean you work with leather now, too? But isn't that Le Rouge's...
Most of the work's been fabric, so I wound up doin' plenty for Le Noir. But all I do is sew the stuff together. Rouges, Noirs... Never had any call to nail my colours to either of 'em.
But them Le Noir's orders've been thin on the ground lately. Gives a bloke time to think.
Why am I sittin' here at the beck and call of those stuck-up sods? Talk like they know everythin', but they know fuck all, and I ain't heard a single word out of their mouths that don't send me up the wall!
I can see they're scared shitless just from their eyes, mate. The Voice's gone, they say. But since they're on the basement floors, they've got to put on a brave front, eh? Can't appear weak before us plebs, can they? If neutrality's meant to be me sittin' here waitin' for that lot...
Might as well chew my way round the department store and do what I bloody well please. Sounds a damn sight better, innit?
There was a greedy glint in his eyes as he spoke, as if he were already getting a taste of what he wanted.
And... honestly, I could see where he was coming from.
...Yeah. Making the clothes I want to make... that's what all of this comes down to for me, too.
What I'm saying is... You've got a point.
... I like you, mate! Okay, let's get down to brass tacks!
Oh, right! So, the hem on this dress... I want to run a band of leather all the way around it...
Huh. Can't say I've ever seen anyone stick leather round that bit...
It'll give the dress a heavier, more defined shape. Everyone else's just sways and flutters around, so this way mine would have a bit more... presence.
And with what's left over... I'll make a huge sunhat! A nice wide brim, all in leather. Nobody else even seems to think of using leather for one!
Sure, it'll be heavy. The brim might end up drooping, too... but that's all part of a "fresh approach," wouldn't you agree?
A sharp grin tugged at the corners of his mouth - whatever I said seemed to strike a chord.
And somehow, I could see it too. The outfit I'd set my heart on, the one I just had to finish.
All that was left was to talk it through with him and place the order...
And I'd be another step closer to the "runway."
Wait, there's another thing.
We wouldn't want top-grain, would we? I mean, that's like erasing every trace of the life the hide lived. Calling it "leather" seems a bit...
.......
Um... did I say something wrong?
NOT THIS BLOODY LARK AGAIN!!!!!!
... Okay. Talking him around might take a little longer than I'd hoped.