Anything up the backâbasically corset equivalent.
Gorgetâprotects the neck, throat, vertebrae, big metal collar. Yup. Go to town on that one.
Side-fastening armorâbody armor, cuirass, etc. Multiple fastenings up each side to work up or down, standing right next to armored partner, extended eye contact possible. Very dependent on arm position, howeverâif arms are to the sides, turning inside, or reaching forward, fine; beware any raised arms because gambesons and armored people are likely to stink. Could be avoided by having the arm raised but curved over or around admiring partners shoulder.
Helmetâtheyâre facing each other, Iâm not going to spell this one out. Secured with chin strap. Recommend padded hood/hat or sweat-mop coif that better be under there removed at the same time if possible, because those get gross in a hurry, and are likely to tie under the chin like a bonnetâcould be made to work like taking off a hood or hat, but requires thought. Do not have long hair fall loose, Helmet Hair is no oneâs friend, it will be sweaty and gross and the only way to deal with long hair and helmets is braids anyway (hair gets caught in EVERYTHING).
Mail shirt/hauberkâNot recommended. Armoring partner can help bunch it up and lower it onto raised arms like a nightie or something, but not great. Getting out of it involves bending over and wiggling it off; hilarious, but not sexy.
Specific fastenersâmetal and boiled leather armor is typically buckles and leather straps riveted on. They can take a bit of fussing to get tied/tucked into straps and untied/loose, so youâve got something to work with there; you can also do a sharp, yanking cinch to pull them tight. Dialogue about âtighter/looserâ available.
Fabric layers like gamebsons can also have buttons instead, middle front and sometimes along the outside of the forearm.
Or they can laceâtypically not cross-lacing (like shoes), but spiral lacing, knotted at the bottom and then one lace snaking through the eyelets, basically sewing (whipstitch). Usually you unlace as little as you can get away with, and just pull it loose enough to get out, and lace it loosely before putting it on and tighten to fit, but thereâs obviously all kinds of potential there either way, including ye olde cinching with a sharp tug.
Side note, thereâs often a shoulder pat/grip/slap of some sort (particularly from behind or the side) to indicate armoring up is finished. You can include a last inspection before this, just like checking a horseâs tack, testing the knots and fit, making sure one more time nothing is frayed or bent or otherwise likely to fail.
Inspection can also be done anytime the armor is on by anyone, and fussy little tugs or straightening straps can be included. Proper inspection is always done by hand as well as eye.
