Logs:A Useful Hobby
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| RL Date: 16 March, 2011 |
| Who: Madilla, Nyjah |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Madilla meets Nyjah, who is interested in quilting. |
| Where: Kitchen, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 23, Month 3, Turn 25 (Interval 10) |
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| Kitchen, High Reaches Weyr Polished marble and granite surfaces, gleaming metalwork and pale woods characterize the vaulted fastness of the kitchen. Several large hearths gape red-mouthed against the outer wall of the cavern, their fires almost always stoked for the constant cooking the Weyr requires to feed its denizens. Sinks line the wall to one side of the hearths, providing ample space to wash large quantities of dishes, while to the other, cabinetry and a deep pantry provide storage space for items commonly needed on a day-to-day basis. The remaining wall space is taken up by passageways and extra seating: swinging doors that lead variously to the main living cavern, the inner caverns and the storage rooms, a counter-height pass-through for food service to the Snowasis, and a series of nooks equipped with tables and benches for quick, out-of-the-way meals any time of day. It's mid afternoon, sort of between meals, with lunch mostly cleared away and dinner still a few hours off. Still, for those who need to, there's always food available in the kitchens, and so, perhaps, it's no surprise to see Madilla settled in at one of the booths, her late lunch abandoned in favour of the quilting she's working on. Bits of coloured fabric cover her little table, albeit in some kind of pattern: the healer swaps one for another every so often, before she reaches for pins, to piece them tidily together. Nyjah enters the kitchen with a bundle of clean, new rags for cleaning up with to probably replace older, more abused examples since removed. Navigating the few staff still lingering after the midday meal, she deposits her light burden and accepts the thanks of one of the cooks with a gracious smile and a friendly nod. Moving with a relaxed, casual air, she turns as if to depart...and then spies the quilt which Madilla is working on. Eyes widening with eagerness and delight, she makes her way toward the older woman, unable to hide her enthusiasm. "Oh, that is /lovely/!" If Madilla is surprised to be addressed, it doesn't show in her expression: she tips her head, smiling brilliantly as she meets Nyjah's gaze. A faint, pink flush is hinted at upon her cheeks as she says, "Oh, thank you. It's just a hobby--" A fact which may be true, but there's no small amount of skill in her work, nonetheless. "-- But I do enjoy it. My little girl is getting too big for her baby blanket, so I'm making this one to replace it." Beat. "Slowly." Nyjah is clearly delighted by the work, judging by her eager scrutiny of it. "A useful hobby," she quips, edging out of someone's way and gesturing to an unoccupied chair. "Mind if I watch for a little while?" She's in no hurry, obviously, to get back to her chores...and admiring a fellow crafter, even if not from *her* craft, is a good enough excuse as any! "That's why I picked it up," admits Madilla, with a rueful little smile. "I wanted something to do with my hands that would keep me busy - something with a purpose." Unsconsciously, she smoothes down some of the bits of fabric, repositioning them just so. "Of course not: please, join me. Unless you'll be missed somewhere. I wouldn't want to keep you from anything important." Though her gaze remains squarely upon the apprentice, her eyebrows just faintly raised, she adds without pausing, "I'm Madilla. Journeyman Healer." Nyjah has to think it over. As is evident in her hesitation, eyes flicking to the exit and back. Welll... "I won't be missed if it's just for a few moments," she finally states, her voice carrying a ring of truthfulness to it. Or at the very least, an abandon for consequence. "As this pertains to my craft, I'm pretty sure it's forgivable." She hauls a stool over so that she can have a seat on it, her short stature further emphasized by her lowly seating arrangement. "I'm Nyjah, apprentice Weaver. Well met, Madilla." Amusement lingers behind the edges of Madilla's gaze, but she doesn't seek to press the apprentice on where she's really supposed to be. Instead; "It's a pleasure to meet you, Nyjah. You're a Weaver. And new to the weyr, I have to assume? Have you done much quilting, in your studies?" Her pieces, so tidily pinned together, are given another cursory examination, before she takes her needle to them, working with brisk efficiency. Nyjah sighs...surely not with relief? "No, not yet...I actually started my apprenticeship at the Hold, and was working a lot with wool. I've been learning to use a wool loom and some knitting." She leans in as close as she can without being in Madilla's light or way, taking in almost hungrily each stitch of the needle. "I used to help the other women at my birth Hold with mending...but they didn't often make things like this.." "Ah. Lots of things I've no skill at. I can sew, and I've taught myself some embroidery, but that's about the extent of my skills." Madilla concentrates on her work as she speaks, but her gaze slips across at the other woman after a few moments, giving her a considering glance. "I'm sure you'll get more opportunities, now you're here. Our weavers do all kinds of things, as far as I can tell. And if not - well, I could teach you a little, if you liked." Nyjah brightens up at that suggested possibility. "I will probably take you up on that," she says, grinning genially. "If I have the time. What got you into quilting?" So easy to get distracted! But she's all eyes for the actual work, not to be distracted by casual chatting. "The complexity of some of the wooms really takes your breath away. The sisal, especially. I still prefer wool, but I'm probably biased." Madilla sets her patches back down, adjusting them just slightly under the weight of a critical eye. "If you have time," she agrees, easily. "Of course. No pressure." Her adjustments made, she's back to sewing, stich after careful stitch, drawing together two patches of old-looking wool. "My parents had a quilt on their bed, when I was little. And I learned enough before I left home to have some idea; it just seemed like a good idea. It's nice to be able to give something useful to people, too. I always do admire how fabric gets made: so precise!" Nyjah looks up with growing respect and admiration, nodding as if she knows exactly what the other means. "Yes, it is...there are artists that actually paint right onto the fabric, such delicate patterns. They're the best of our Journeymen and Masters. I don't have the eye for it, but I got to see some samples." She shifts uneasily, perhaps noting the passage of time. "Speaking of...they'll probably be looking for me soon.." She chews at her lower lip, clearly reluctant to go. "Mm, yes. I suppose it makes sense that not all of us have a talent for it, but one can't help but wish sometimes, I think." Madilla /does/ sound a little wistful for it, though it's obvious she's enjoying her work just as it is. "Oh, yes: you probably should. If you want a lesson at some point, though, you can drop in on me in the Infirmary, or the Healer workroom over in the complex. All right? I'm sure we'll get a chance at some point." She smiles across at Nyjah, head inclining just slightly forward. Nyjah returns the smile, flushing with anticipation. "Sure!" she croaks, obviously thrilled over the idea to expand her skills. Shucking she may be, but it doesn't seem to mean she's not interested in her craft. The youngster finally stands, relinquishing her temporarily pilfered stool. "Thanks for the time, and letting me watch you work. See you!" Very reluctantly the weaver leaves Madilla to her quilting, headed off to her next task. Genuinely; "Any time." Madilla watches Nyjah go, smiling after her warmly. |
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