Logs:Slim Pickings
| |
|---|
| |
| RL Date: 18 December, 2013 |
| Who: Edyis, Telavi |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Expatriates run into each other while looking for clothes. |
| Where: Storerooms, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 23, Month 7, Turn 33 (Interval 10) |
  |
| Outside it's warm and still light, a long High Reaches summer's day. Inside, deep inside where the store rooms are, it's glowlit and cool: cool enough to give a blonde shivers, especially if she's wearing a light sundress like this one is. Telavi rubs her arms every now and again as she searches so wistfully through the already foraged-through supplies; perhaps it's the presence of the elderly assistant knitting at the storage caverns' checkpoint that allows her to roam freely, or perhaps it's just the sheer lack of selection. Or perhaps it has to do with her known interest in couches, which certainly can't fit beneath that skirt. While some may be out enjoying the summer air and sunshine, there is Edyis in her hand me downs and she has a pair of too large trousers over one arm as she finds the assistant. "I do not mean to sound ungrateful, but isn't there any chance that there might be something that fits here that doesn't need excessive mending or taking in? I don't mind hand me downs, but I really need to find some things that fit and don't quite make me look like a refugee." Gentle and pleading the words are spoken. Not ungently comes the reply, but it's firm: according to this particular assistant, anyway, it seems that it's been long enough since the last tithe train that what's available has been picked over. What they have is what's there. "Although there always are girls trading in the lower caverns and not reporting it until afterward," the woman adds with a sigh. "It really is a shame, because then they do get taken in and then the next day I'll have a girl come in who could use the same skirt let out." Her needles fly, working the grey wool back and forth. Next she inquires about whether Edyis has put her name on the menders' list for alterations, or if it's that the wait time is still so long. By now, Telavi's abandoned the room she'd been in and moved to the next, only just one over from the conversing pair, and purses her lips at a pink blouse with a bleach mark where some stain or other had been removed. Edyis frowns. "Thank you anyway, I know your trying. I do most of the alterations myself to save time. But only on simple garments. I just wouldn't mind having some decent things to wear." Wistful rather than whining, she hands over the trousers. "I may just have to take up extra work in the Weyr somewhere and try to save my wages for when the trading wagons come. I don't suppose it would hurt to check the store rooms themselves would it? I could take these in, but it would ruin them for someone else. I thought perhaps I would have been able to get some things sent from home but - well I'm sure you've had experience with holder families." A soft wry smile. The storerooms' assistant glances at the offered trousers, then sets down her knitting to accept them. "It wouldn't hurt in the least, there's nothing like seeing for yourself. Do they really need to be taken in so much that you can't use a wide seaam, dear? I don't expect this material should fade," though she looks a little uncertain even so. "Trading wagons are nice, and of course it's Gather season here in the north, but really it will be better in the fall when we have tithe coming in as well." She says it perhaps too fervently, as though it has to be. Edyis nods. "No, It would ruin them for someone else, but I thank you for the consideration. It is gather season isn't it? Seems like only yesterday I arrived to stand for the hatching." For the tithes there is merely a grim expression. "Let us hope that the dance of lords and ladies sees fit to outfit the weyr propperly this season." Farnath knew she'd done what she could on that topic. "Just over here right?" She moves to start in the same room as Telavi, only to be suprised. "I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone was over here." "Let us hope," the woman agrees. "They--" Whatever she might have said of fields and the seed being seen to harvest, she breaks off to confirm Edyis' destination with a wave and returns to her own work. As for Telavi, when she looks up it's with prettily widened eyes that allude to surprise. "Why, hello to you too." Her accent isn't High Reaches' either, not even of any of this Weyr's territories; she keeps her voice down, though perhaps not so low as in the Records Room. "It's a quiet day. I'm just glad to be let in at all, to look with my own eyes." Edyis chuckles, "Forgive my rudeness. I'm Edyis, assistant records keeper, out of Nabol, and you might be?" She tries to place the accent. "Any tips on finding anything remotely fashionable in here? If I have to wear pants while I am working they may at least look good!" Giggling. "Why, I'm Telavi, trespassing here from Benden," only there's the dimple that would betray Tela's teasing even if her voice weren't by itself so light. "Assistant weyrlingmaster under Quinlys, courtesy of Solith. As for fashionable?" She gives the shelves a jaundiced eye and then shakes her head to Edyis, so, so sadly, even if there's still that lurking lightness. "It requires a certain, shall we say, creativity. But you have to wear trousers while working, really? Say it's not so! What could the records possibly care?" Edyis laughs, "Well I kept tripping over the long skirts when I'd get sent to run messages. Skirts are made for dancing it would seem not running." She brushes a stray hair from her face, and gives the shelves a cursory glance. "Some of the tunics wouldn't be so bad with a pop of color though, maybe some embroidery? I'm no weaver but I can manage what most educated ladies might." The accent on the word educated seems as much a private joke as it is a statement on holder ideals. "Did you," Telavi says, mouth round in dismay. "That does sound unfortunate. I do like to hike mine up," she admits with fleeting mischief. But more importantly, "There's always embroidering a band to tack on, that's what I like to do. Or the collar, or wear a scarf with it. I do like scarves too. And... educated, hmm?" Edyis blushes. "I am still getting used to bathing in public, lets leave the dangerous business of hiking skirts for another brave step to be taken at another day?" There is a wry smile, "Some people expect only knowledge based in domesticated duties out of women. I have been fortunate to expand my horizons." She pulls a plain tunic from one of the shelves holding it against her frame. "What do you think? Maybe with a little dye and some flowers at the neckline?" "I see," murmurs Telavi, gaze roaming over the other girl. "How nice for you, advantaged beyond your peers, and escaping the domestic arts no less!" She adds after a moment, hushed enough to be in confidence, "It's fascinating, really, Edyis. I would have thought that hiking skirts would be less difficult, but what would I know, being Weyrbred and all. Well, whatever suits you! And," bending a professional eye to the tunic, "Those would certainly help. If you take in the shoulders a touch too, unless I miss my guess." Edyis blushes. "I know it seems silly there are just some habits I haven't gotten out of. Having some semblence of modesty just happens to be one of them." She frowns, "Not that women here are immodest, just..." She gives the older woman a pleading look. "I can flirt a tiny bit but I'm bad at it and I wouldn't know /what/ to do with a member of the opposite sex if they ever showed genuine interest." She blurts supprised by her own candid confession. "Please don't say anything to anyone, I want to belong here." Pleading. The tunic is folded over her arm. Right before Edyis frowns, that's when Telavi's brows wing upward; still, as the girl changes course, something indefinable about her expression alters just enough-- for now. Withholding immediate agreement, "Say anything about which particular thing, do you mean?" Edyis blushes. "All of it, none of it is meant as an insult but I know there are probably some who would take it that way." She holds the tunic to her face as though that will stop the onslaught of words. "I'm just a little overwhelmed lately, it's finally sinking in that I am here to stay you know?" Does Telavi know what she means? Her expression is smooth as porcelain, a contemplative curve to her lips. Then she shifts, the motion revealing how still she'd become, running her hand down the length of her single braid and smoothing it over her shoulder. "I imagine so," she decides to say, and then lightens it with a smile. "You were never fostered outside your home Hold?" Edyis shakes her head. "No I wasn't, and I'm quite at the disadvantage for it." Relief and tension leave her almost instantly as she pieces her composure back together. "I love it here, I've learned more in my time as a candidate and a records keeper than I ever could have dreamed. I just worry about saying the wrong thing." She shakes her head before holding up the tunic again. "I'm not quite sure how to take in shoulders, but I think your quite right. You didn't happen to spot any skirts did you?" "Have you? What sorts of things? --have you learned, I mean," Telavi clarifies, and maybe her shrug shrugs off the worries about misspeaking, too. "As for shoulders... this could take us a while to do it justice. I did spot skirts, and I can show you; if they aren't colors you necessarily would have chosen, at least they're away from your face! And besides, you look as though you can wear almost anything, color-wise, and do very well." The fingertip to her peachy cheek, the slight sideways tip of her eyes as though to glance at it, these suggest she isn't so fortunate. Edyis smiles, as she starts pulling down pants. "Please!" for the assist in spotting. "History for one thing, this place has a facinating one, and because I work in the records room, many of the marks I'd have to pay for tutors in Esvay can be saved for other purposes since education is part of the job. I'm also to start some dragon healing lessons with Leova, in hopes of catching one of those fire lizards to use for messages." She admits cheerfully. "Your coloring is darling! At least you don't look like you've been out in a field all day or worse so pale that rukbat has never seen your skin. I've seen a few completions like that. One girl looked positively blue!" "If you like history... then I can be pleased for you," Telavi says, flashing a smile; she walks a few steps as she listens to Edyis, presumably in the direction of where skirts might be found, but doesn't go far. "That sounds like an admirable agreement, then, though you don't need dragonhealing to catch a firelizard. Just food and good luck, that's all! As to my complexion, thank you, though I don't mind the field look so long as it's not sunburned or," her smile widens momentarily, "because I was in those fields. Are you having any luck there?" with a nod to the trousers. Edyis says, "I don't ever really need to know anything. Some things are just a pleasure to learn. She saw some of the record copies I was working on and offered and it seemed interesting." She smiles, "I hope I have the good luck needed then. I think there's been a problem with letters getting into the Weyr." There's a large smile, "Farming didn't suit you? It's a shame, I know some won't say it but the holders are greatful. Even as they snub there noses at people. I think these will work don't you? Though maybe the assistant was right and I should just pester someone into going to one of the gathers. I have the marks saved."" That earns a brief glimpse of dimple, because, "That makes more sense." Telavi drifts closer again, if only to reach for one of the items to the right of where Edyis had been looking; once she actually touches the material, though, she darts her hand away as though burned, rubbing her fingers together. And then she turns. "Just a moment, we can get back to the gathers and things but... a problem with letters getting into here? As though they're... stolen, or something?" Edyis frowns thinking about that. "I don't think a rider would steal mail. I've not had one letter from home though since I told my brother I wasn't coming back. Not even from my sisters to thank me for the ribbons I sent them. It could just be that sweep riders haven't been out that way lately." The last sounds as though a thin excuse. "I could understand my brother not writing, but everyone else as well? Bit strange I think." "Silly question," Telavi says, brows drawing together, "but-- would they still have enough... things... to write with? Also, a way to get it here?" She keeps rubbing her fingers, but this time with her other hand, and more absently now. At that the scribe gets quiet. "I am not sure about paper, but ink and quills are easy enough. Normally we'd just send it on with whoever's flying sweeps. It is possible they've run out of paper, and the getting it here is why I was looking to catch a Lizard incase that was the problem. There is another scenario though, Cron could be forbidding everyone. I didn't think him that petty of course but I did openly defy his wish for my return." She shakes her head. "My eldest brother wouldn't be that petty." More a reassurance than a certianty. Telavi looks at Edyis that much more consideringly, and after a silent moment mentions with some delicacy-- in her voice, even more than the words themselves-- "They would not think they had reason to write you off, I would hope." Edyis grows quiet. "With as much as I have embraced the freedoms of the Weyr Miss Telavi, I am still in possession of those virtues which are demanded of the higher bred holder marriages. I have done everything I could for the sake of my family and the place I came from. If anyone were to write me off, It would be my brother's own fears of not having perfect control over Esvay hold even though it is his legal inheritance." The words enunciated with such levity that they might have been expected in a holder conclave rather than clothes shopping in a store room. "I best be headed back, or I won't get Master Jeroman his dinner in time. " Her expression grows more soft. "Could we speak again some time? Maybe go looking at one of the gathers or digging through here once the tithe trains have arrived?" Hopeful, vulnerable even. Miss Telavi's brows arch all over again, if at a not-so-subtly different angle, her mouth narrowed but her lower lip full rather than truly pursed. "I see," she murmurs, and reaches to touch Edyis' shoulder with sympathy of a sort; whether she succeeds or not, in the next moment she slips back. "Good luck. Yes, let's do. Yes," and here the dimple shows fleetingly, "I could be convinced to take you to a Gather. Ask around at the barracks, why don't you?" Edyis smiles, and genuinely seems comforted by the gesture. "Thats right they are doing manned flights now aren't they. I imagine flying with some of them is better than watching them eat." She smiles even bigger, "But If we go together I can ask your expert opinion as well as getting transportation!" She starts to leave before adding. "Thank you, for listening and not judging to harshly." "And the older class even more than that," Telavi agrees, and agrees all over again with a rueful wriggle of her shoulder for them eating. Beyond that, she doesn't seek to stay Edyis, only adds a bright, bright smile before she slips back down the aisle. |
Leave A Comment