InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Dag, yo."

This round of suit shopping was very different from the last time he and Zari had been in the high end fashion stores of Manhattan. There were certainly more nerves and expectations this time around. Probably because they were now engaged and the suit was for their own wedding. As such Zari had planned their trip meticulously, and he had appointments at Mohan, Enzo and State & Liberty, all bespoke tailors, plus time to check the rails at Bloomingdales, Saks, Armani, Gucci, Prada, Ralph Lauren and Versace. (It was a good thing Palmer Technologies had come through and could hold its own against Stark Industries.)

They'd not strayed far from 5th Avenue since getting into the city, but it felt like they'd walked miles by the time they came to Mohan's. His last booked appointment of the day. Tomorrow there would be more store surfing, for shoes and accessories. As soon as they stepped through the door of the tailors, Ray had a feeling that this was the place he'd find his perfect suit. The bolts of fabric, neatly shelved, were far more varied and colorful than the other two made to measure places and he looked across to Zari in time to see her eyes light up at the beautiful textiles.

Even Zari could admit that the schedule she'd set was absolutely gruelling. Sure, lunch had been rather exquisite and every store plied them with tea and/or sparkling water and they'd found snacks along the way, but nothing about the experience had been all that relaxing. Good thing she'd scheduled a few hours at a day spa after the next day's shopping excursion. That was tomorrow's indulgence, however. Today, she was trying to tamp down her excitement to less visible levels; that was a sure fire way for people to attempt to upsell and Zari wasn't having it.

Still, she squeezed Ray's hand and sent him a sweet smile as she said in undertone, "I have a good feeling about this one."

"Doctor Palmer," A sales assistant appeared in front of them with a polite smile, "Miss Tarazi, welcome to Mohan's, can I get you anything to drink?"

Ray smiled in return, not surprised that the staff knew who they were, but a little at the use of his title. Like Zari, he tried to rein in his excitement, though this was due to not wanting to get his hopes up, just in case this wasn’t the place. "Nothing for me, thank you." For once he’d had his fill of tea and he didn’t want to have to interrupt his measuring for a bathroom break. He was still somewhat distracted by the variety of different fabrics on display, as well as the portfolios of their work which included designs they’d created for screen use.

"Sparkling water, thanks." Zari returned the smile easily while keeping her hand in Ray's. She had an idea of why her fiance had declined, and it boded very well. It wasn't that the other shops had been a bust, but nothing had really gelled. She, at least, was far more in love with the fabric selection than anything else they'd seen that day.

The staff person gestured to the design area, which was set up with tables and chairs. "Yes, of course. Our lead associate will be with you shortly. Please feel free to look through the portfolios."

Zari tugged at Ray's hand so they could go sit. "I'm eager to see if they've added anything new since we've done our research. We should be just in time for a new Fall collection. Could be some exciting stuff. My husband-to-be, a knight and a couture model. I feel like the luckiest gal in the world. But that's how you make me feel every day."

Following Zari easily as she tugged on his hand, Ray's eyes swept over the fabrics on display, already spotting several colors that would fit their scheme. They were drawing a lot from the Persian traditional ceremony and both had agreed they wanted a colorful palette. But uniqueness was also key, and though he'd picked a sapphire for Zari's engagement ring, a blue wedding had already been done in their little community.

"I think they have, did you see those jewel tones?" He whispered as they sat, resting their joined hands against his knee. A shy little smile pulled at his lips at Zari's words and he shook his head. "I'm only a model for you. And ditto on the lucky part, I sometimes feel like pinching myself when I wake up next to you, just in case I'm still dreaming."

Flipping open one of the portfolios, he turned a couple of pages before pausing at one design. "Do you think I could wear a slimline cut? Or would it make me look like I'm just made of shoulders?"

Her eyes went warm and prickled with emotion. She knew Ray's future from their universe, and sometimes what they'd built in this one didn't seem possible. Except there they were, sitting in a bespoke suit shop, his hand surrounding hers, warm where it rested on his leg. This had been happening all day, and each time felt just as acute as the one before. Zari grinned at her husband-to-be and brushed at her cheeks with her fingertips. "Thank goodness for waterproof mascara, huh?" She chuckled and squeezed his fingers. "And I know exactly what you mean. Oh, my god, we're so gross, I love it."

She leaned into his arm as she looked down at the page he'd stopped on. "Babes, I hate to break it to you, but you could be made up entirely of dimples, and you'd be able to rock each and every cut there is. And don't knock all those shoulders. I happen to like having an excuse to hold on to them." Popping up, she gave his cheek a kiss, knowing full well she was probably going to make him blush. "But in all seriousness, you really would absolutely slay a slimline. We should ask about a British cut, too. And have you decided if you want a waistcoat?"

"Sorry, I'll try not to test its water repellent efficiency again today." Ray smiled, turning his head to kiss her cheek softly. "We are, and I love it," He chuckled, knowing exactly what she meant and agreeing completely. He didn't know anything about his future in their own world, didn't really want to either. All that mattered was the future he and Zari were making together.

"Mmm, I think I might have noticed." Ray's blush was inevitable, and he tipped his cheek into her kiss with a little smile. "Then I'll definitely consider a slimline, and a British cut." He pursed his lips for a moment, considering the third piece to the suit and then shook his head at his lack of solid answer. "I'm not sure. I don't want to overheat and it's usually warm in August and early September. But if we're looking at later September or early October then, perhaps I will. It'll mean another layer between you and my shoulders on our wedding night, though."

"Another layer! Unacceptable!" Zari flung an arm around his shoulders and laughed. "You bring up a few salient points, like the fact that we absolutely need to solidify a date. It's all coming together just the way it should, however." There didn't seem to be much point in tempting fate by trying to defy whatever deity or force that might be listening to interfere with their special day.

The associate came back with her sparkling water and an individual with obviously immaculate taste. "Hello, happy couple." They smiled, and Zari couldn't help but smile right back as she slid her hand back into Ray's. "I'm Lindsay. What should we get started with first? The cut or the fabric? I'm sure you already know that one usually dictates the other."

Ray laughed along with her and leaned into her embrace, the more he thought about it, the more he was swayed toward the British cut, they just looked better with the tapered waist. "Mmm. Early September would be nice, did we hear back from the castle about dates?" He knew the venue's availability would ultimately dictate the wedding date, as both he and Zari had fallen in love with the place.

"Hi," Ray smiled back, lacing his fingers through Z's as she took hold of his hand again. His eyes immediately went to the stack of rich jewel toned fabric just beyond the sofa where they sat and he nodded in answer to Lindsay's words. He knew the fabric dictated the cut, but he really hoped one of the bright cloths would work with the British cut.

"We're aiming for a colorful day, so any of those jewel tones would fit." Lindsay nodded and jotted a note on the tablet they held.

"I love early September, which fits rather well with the dates they had open. I'll go ahead and shoot an email to the coordinator and get started on the vendors as soon as we're done here. No rest of the soon to be happily married." Zari laughed without a hint of artifice. She'd been doing this for so many couples since coming to this crazy world, and had helped a few outside of their little community, so her contact game was strong. "It's really happening!"

She was still very much present for the consultation even while she was building lists in her head. Something about Lindsay already told her that their current vision would be safe in their hands, especially when they nodded for their assistant, who brought over a few of the bolts Ray had been eyeing. "A few of these darker colors would really bring out your skin tone. Now, what are we thinking about the cut? I'm sure you've already discussed it, and you can take it as a promise that we'll do everything we can to bring your vision to life. Bespoke means it's made just for you after all, Dr. Palmer."

"Early September it is!" Ray grinned as a thrill of excitement raced down his spine, to have a date(ish) was a step he hadn’t taken before, despite having two previous engagements. Third time really was the charm in his case and he was still a tiny bit amazed that Zari had chosen him, of all people. "It really is."

As the fabric came closer, Ray shuffled to the edge of his seat leaning forward to take a closer look at each as they were set on the low table before them. "We’ve had blue, silver, red, black, purple and white weddings amongst our friend group in the past year or so." Ray explained as he narrowed down the choices. His fingertips ghosted over the bolts, feeling the weight and texture of each swathe of cloth, while comparing his skin tone with each different color. "I think aquamarine, jade and dark turquoise are my favorites. I’m hoping they can be tailored into a British cut, or if not a slimline."

Another couple of notes were added to his file on Lindsay’s tablet, then they brandished their tape measure. "Let’s take your measurements and see if we can’t make a British Gentleman of you."

She sat next to him, just watching and marveling. The consultant obviously knew what they were doing and RayRay was a man of impeccable taste regardless, so she left the pair of them to it. Oh, she had opinions, but they hewed so closely to her fiancé's that she just sat back and basked in this moment. To think they were doing this, that it wasn't in the far distant future, it shook her in the best possible way. Zari almost laughed right then and there.

Instead, she patted his upper arm, then made a shooing motion. "Go forth and be unproblematically objectified by someone other than me." Zari grinned and pulled his face toward her so she could kiss him. "Have fun, babes. I'll be out here sending out a few dozen emails."

Giving her a sweet, lingering kiss, Ray smiled and disappeared to the back of the store for Lindsay to take his measurements.

About twenty minutes later they were all on file and he was reunited with his fiancée. "I need to come back in a week or two for a first fitting. I can keep the color a secret if you’d prefer a surprise." He gave a little wink and took her hand, "So, what are we doing for the rest of the day?"

"Surprise me!" She put her phone back in her purse with the finality of a person who was done with it for a while. Still happy, still smiling, the line of tension through her shoulders probably wouldn't have been noticeable to anyone if it hadn't been Ray. Zari slid their fingers together and stood. "We have so many colors in our venue that there's no way you won't look amazing when it comes to the day-of."

With one more cheek kiss and her sincere thanks to the staff, they walked out into the street, and only then did she wheel around to face him and take his other hand. "Okay, I hope you're not really disappointed, but I couldn't get the venue until mid-October. Apparently they're doing some minor renovations the weekend we talked about. I went ahead and booked it, but we can look somewhere else if you've got your heart set on that date. And to make it up to you, I thought we'd hit up The Strand and Forbidden Planet, then maybe head back to our suite for some good ol' fashioned nerdery. And we can order room service or find somewhere fun to eat?"

Ray wondered what had caused the tension in Zari's posture, but he waited until they exited the tailor shop to voice his concern. Though as Z took his hands he knew it wasn't necessary. A little smile came to his face at the explanation and following appeasement plan, and he leaned in to kiss her softly. "I'm not disappointed, so long as we get married, I don't mind what date we set. Just maybe not October ninth." He chuckled then, slipping his arm around her waist as they started to walk again. "Comic shopping, nerdery and room service sounds perfect to me. There's a new two player compatible tabletop out, so we could pick that up and try it?"

"Oh, don't you worry about October ninth." Her smile, which had gone soft around the edges at being kissed so sweetly, went sharp again, and her eyes glittered with promise when she looked over at him. "I already have so many plans for that day. But until then, who doesn't love a little light roleplay?"