Monday October 15th

Alex Mann stood at the front of a lecture. As the Powerpoint was on it's final slide, the room began to explode into chatter he called out. “I have one last announcement before you rabble go.” With a cacophony of disgruntled sighs, grunts and chairs being moved so everyone could sit back down.

“For the tournament and league matches not only are you allowed to bring one weapon or one set of weapons into each fight you are permitted to wear any outfit you desire. Hence, our university has provided you all with a small grant. You each may design a costume to fight in.

Now we recommend thinking about this carefully. You can either submit one design and alter that three times a year or you can have two unique costumes designed a year, that’s as far as your money will cover. If you can either email Morgan a design document with reference pictures or an artistic rendering of what you want by the end of the week, then we will be able guarantee it will arrive before the tournament.

Now get lost you lot, I wanna go home but I have to lock the room up.”

Everyone began to pile out of the room. There was a notable quietness about the scene. Usually, it would have had a lot of people talking but everyone was fixated on what their costume could be.

Wednesday October 17th

Jude walked into the kitchen. On the table was an art piece showing a very well-made costume design. Jude studied it, ignoring the sound of a door creaking open. “You like it?”

Turning around Jude saw Amelia stood with her arms crossed and with a smug grin on her face. “I… I er… You’re a pretty good artist.” Jude’s cheeks swelled with a red flush.

“Thank you. How’s your design coming along?”

“It’s not.”

“Aww, you having trouble being creative Mister Strategist?”

“Oh, I’m sorry that I couldn’t come up with the genius idea of fingerless gloves.”

“You were the one that was staring lovingly at my fingerless gloves.”

“Well… uh… okay…” Jude said with a sigh to finish it off. He headed to the fridge, his original destination.

“Do you want some help?” Amelia said with a smug smile on her face.

“Yes.” Came a mumble from behind the fridge’s ajar door.

“Huh? What was that?” Amelia cupping her hand behind her ear. “I think I’m losing my hearing.”

“Can you help me?”

“Yeah course. You just had to ask.”

Jude sat down at the table, with a drink in hand.

“So, first thing first. We can’t overdesign it. I’m not that good at art.” Amelia said pointing her pencil at him. “Also, I need two colours. I only went for two and it’d be easier if you only used a couple. Reduces the visual noise, you know makes you nicer to look at.”

“Am I not nice to look at?”

“Honey I wear dark brown or black. You are literally sat in a bright orange top. I don’t have time to look at your face.”

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“Fine. Blue and white.” Amelia sighed the moment Jude said the colours.

“What blue? What white? Be more specific otherwise you could have a bright sky blue and a dark ivory.” Amelia was stern and annoyed as if this was a usual concern for her.

“Navy blue and you know like the bright white white.”

“Okay thank you. Now next what kind of outfit are you wanting. Something sexy, practical or cool?”

The conversation went on for about an hour before Amelia had got everything she wanted.

“Okay I’ll send you an email with the final design by the end of tomorrow and you can forward that on.”

“Thank you, Amelia.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Can I buy you a drink for all your help?”

“Do you have ulterior motives Mister Strategist?”

“No… I just wanted to pay you for helping me.”

“Well, that’s too bad then. But yeah, I’ll grab my jacket and we can go.”

Monday November 19th

Once more was everyone in their lecture just ready to leave when Alex had another announcement to make.

“We now have all of your costumes. They are in Alteration building, room 702. Please come and pick them up before the end of next week.”

Jude was the first there, he had made it. Though, he was panting heavily. Jack and Rin caught up to him both lost for breath. Kuna appeared alongside them through a portal, bringing along AJ and Damian who were laughing slightly at the first three’s need for the costumes.

Bent over and trying to get his breath back Jude did not even notice that the three from the portal had already gone in. His mission to be first had been in vain.

When he eventually went in there were two lecturers: Morgan and Ray. Next to them were a few cupboards filled with metal briefcases. Upon giving them his name Jude was handed two briefcases. He was happy and nearly skipped out of the room.

Eventually he would regret his decision as halfway home he was feeling the strain of a backpack and two briefcases filled with clothes.

But when he got in, he threw the cases and down and was getting ready to see his suit. But just as he was about to a notification came up on his phone. It was Amelia.

You got the costume, right?

Yeah, why?

Come to my room. I want to see my handy work.

Jude scuttled across the corridors with his cases in hand. Before he knew it, he was in Amelia’s room. It reminded him of his own, but the room was rotated slightly and slightly larger, owing to her having a double bed. The bed was the resting place for the cases.

There was a click as the latches on the first case released and then he opened it. The smell of leather rushed into their noses. In the first case was foam padding with indents for the two very dark, almost black, blue combat boots. Jude hurriedly pulled them out and was ready to put them on.

An arm swept in front of him. “Hold your horses. You’re not going to put on my costume design wrong. Open the other one first then put it all on.”

Disheartened slightly but still excited Jude moved onto the next case. The case was set up the same with the black foam that had indents. Though this one had one for the blue tactical trousers that matched the boots’ aesthetic. They even had a pocket on the leg for storing something in.

The other indent contained both a tight navy-blue shirt and a coat. The other three things were quite easy to request but the coat was Amelia’s crowning achievement. It was long like a trench coat and easily came down to his knees. The material was light and easy to move in. It was mostly a navy to match the rest of the outfit however there were white accents. The sleeves ended in a white trim; the coat had two white lines going down the middle that became one if it had the ability to close and they continued to the bottom of the coat outlining the whole thing. Lines went down the middle of the sleeve.

Under the coat were a pair of gloves. Jude had followed Amelia’s idea and had gone for fingerless gloves. His gloves were once again blue but every hole in the glove, be it for his hand or his fingers were outlined with a white ring. They were a leather-like material matching the design of driving gloves but allowing for a more comfortable range of movement.

Jude, without thought, immediately stripped off and got into the costume. Amelia would have protested but she also was too excited and wanted to see this costume.

“Tada!” Jude said presenting himself in costume. Doing a little spin to show it off. The coat twirled around with him.

Amelia jumped with happiness. “This is so cool. Though I do reckon we could make it better.”

“Oh come on it looks so cool. Thank you so much.”

“Don’t flatter me Mister. I reckon there’s not enough white in there. It’s all in the coat. I also think we could add a strap across your chest just for cool factor.”

“Hmmm, I guess. The strap sounds dumb though. There’s no practical reason for the strap. At least the white would add definition to my design. Maybe added it to soles of the boots.”

“Yeah, and some white laces. What a great team we are. How about you try it out in the tournament and then after we’ll come back, I’ll redesign it for you.” She held her hand out.

“Deal” Jude said, taking her hand with a big goofy grin smeared across his face.