Difference between revisions of "Logs:Weaver Survey"

Lujayn ducks into the glowlit workroom, making her way straight to a loom against the back wall with an expectant look on her face. The weaver there exchanges friendly words with the goldrider without stilling his deft hands, correcting some moth-eaten pieces of what looks to be an intricate rug. It's only a few moments before Lu steps back, politely allowing him to return to his trade, taking a quiet minute to appreciate his handiwork, to watch something old become new again.

Nyjah is also at a loom today. It's one of the smaller hand-operated types, ideal for scarves and other such items. A journeyman is explaining the pieces to her, gesturing with a small stick around which is wrapped several lengths of colored yarn. The older weaver is currently weaving some ribbons into the work to add some color, showing Nyjah how to separate the strands and slip the ribbon through without damaging the piece. The girl's attentions are unwavering, even upon Lujayn's entry, as she watches her senior work.

The weaver glances over his shoulder, shooing Lujayn away with a chuckle. "Watched weavers won't wrap," He scolds her as she paces the floor, moving as unobtrusively as possible between the worktables, meaning to make a circuit of the room. She pauses again where Nyjah is being instructed, the bright colors catching her eye. An approving nod - definitely a springtime piece. "Do you think that'll be a fashion?" She whispers to the apprentice, not wanting to disrupt her teacher. "Ribbons and colors for the new season. It's refreshing."

Nyjah twitches with surprise as the gold rider seems to appear out of nowhere, though her teacher doesn't miss a beat. "We're hoping to corner the market," the older weaver says casually, flashing Lu a friendly smile and wink. "We've started getting some feedback...tell her, Nyjah." The much shorter, younger apprentice swallows, avoiding Lujayn's eye as she replies. "Well..Southern Boll's known for coming out with some amazing colors. We'd uhm...like to try and duplicate that." She gives her head a regretful little shake. "The weavers down there are reluctant to share their secrets, even with fellow crafters." Her tone is laced with disapproval.

"Looks like a success so far, nothing like what's going on in Igen either," Lu straightens, fingers reaching and then stilling before they can touch the work - she's no weaver and isn't going to be caught unraveling anything accidentally. "It's a shame. Maybe you can give them a taste of their own medicine this spring." She encourages the pair of teacher and pupil, curiosity sparked. "What kind of feedback, now?"

Nyjah gives Lujayn a long, calculating look. "No one's spoke with you yet?" she asks, almost slyly. "Right now, we've been trying to get surveys of some things folks around the Weyr would like to see for the spring season. It's going to be Gather weather soon, and if we can get enough popular opinions, High Reaches could be first pick for sales in offering weaver goods." She gestures to the scarf which is in the works. "This is just a prototype...would you like to share your thoughts on a few questions?" Her eyes twinkle enthusiastically.

"High time I showed an interest in this kind of thing," Lujayn muses, eyeing the colors wistfully. "I'm all free time at the moment; ask away." She doesn't waste time being shy, snagging the nearest empty chair and pulling it close at the invitation. "If you don't mind, of course," She settles in on Nyjah's opposite side while addressing the journeyman. "Don't want to steal time that could be spent learning to actually make them.."

The journeyman answers for the bashful apprentice. "It's no trouble...these surveys have been a priority for us." As if to demonstrate, Nyjah fishes a pack out from under her own chair and pulls out paper and pen. "Lu...jayn?" she asks hesitantly, confirming the name she heard once now almost a month or better before. Although there has been some talk of her since that the apprentice may have picked up. She sits poised and ready to continue, first awaiting the confirmation of the name.

Lujayn nods, shifting in her chair. She doesn't seem surprised to be recognized, just a little amused. "Lujayn, that's right. And you?" She won't be taking notes, but it's better than something so formal as 'apprentice.' "Hopefully I can be of some help. New eyes to the field, that's it." She doesn't worry over her lack of expertise in the fashion world, at least not verbally.

Nyjah squirms until she's a bit more comfortable. "Any input we can get is helpful," she affirms stoutly. "Now..first question. Do you or do you not feel that most people look attractive in shades of yellow?" She gives Lujayn her gravest of serious expressions, pen poised and ready to go. Meanwhile, the journeyman continues her work, weaving ribbon and string to form a textured, colorful length of cloth, the clicks and shlacks never ceasing as she works the loom.

"Yellow's a good color," Lujayn affirms, though she may be biased. It's close to gold, after all. "Not the dark ones, though, I think a sunny yellow suits some people." Faced with the serious questioner, she tries to shake a few more tidbits from hre mind. "The paler colors are easier on the eyes, but I get that you'd be going for bright this Turn."

Nyjah scribbles something on her paper and pursing her lips. "Next question..." She seems to have a list to choose from, as it takes her a while to decide. "Do you think Pern ought to show more skin or less?" The corners of her lips twitch, though with frown or smile it's hard to say. Her eyes give away nothing. Again the pen is held to attention, ready to jot down Lu's responses.

"From the sunburns I've seen on some of the riders around here, I'd go with less." Lujayn answers readily, a silly smile remembering a certain few. "But it's so /restricting/ to dress all covered up." So says the tan rider, not a hint of peeling skin on her face. "It's a draw on this one. Personal preference, wouldn't you think?"

Nyjah hrms and thinks it over. "I think so...but we do notice certain trends." She makes another scribble on her paper and presses on to the next question much more quickly. "Which do you feel is the /least/ attractive color on a person?"

It takes Lujayn some time to turn the question in her head, thinking over the Gathers and social events, trying to pick out the disastrously dressed from the fantastically fashionable. "There's that shade of pink," She begins seriously, teasing apart the shades in her mind. "That's more orange, that fishy color. Haven't seen anything in it that I like." There, that's a concrete answer at last.

Nyjah writes this out with a flourish, poking her tongue between her teeth. "What brings you to the work room today?" she asks next, tilting her head and regarding Lujayn with innocent curiousity. Hard to say if that's a survey question or a general inquiry.

"Is that really on the survey?" Lujayn asks immediately, good-natured in her suspicion. "I'm here to check on the repairs on an old rug someone left behind in my weyr," She cants her head back to the loom in back for Nyjah's benefit. "I wasn't going to toss something out just because it was a little frayed. It'll be great when he's done, like new." 'Waste not' is clearly part of Lu's ethics. "Get some color into it, a new border.."

Nyjah turns in the direction Lu indicates, giving the rug a professional eye. "You were lucky it /was/ well kept," she observes. "Shouldn't be a problem at all restoring. I haven't gotten that far yet, though." Nyjah still has a long way to go. "And, no, that's not on the survey." She adopts a grin. She certainly seems more at her ease, now that she's had some time to adjust. "So you really /are/ staying?"

If there had been gossip to the contrary, the goldrider hasn't heard of it. "Of course. Just have to meet with K'del, get some official meetings taken care of. I've tied all my loose ends at Igen.." She pauses and redirects the conversation rather forcefully. "Next question?"

Nyjah blinks, a bit startled by the strength of the question. She doesn't move away from Lujayn, but she still manages somehow to shrink back. Perhaps a lowering of the shoulders, a more guarded expression replacing the cheerfulness that had begun to take over. "That will do for now," she says softly, rising to her feet. "I should get these to the Master," she says to the journeyman, bowing politely to both. "Thank you for your time."

Lujayn's own expression stumbles from thoughtful to confused and back to something resigned, realizing her own tone might have been too sharp. No taking back words, though. She smiles kindly to the young woman and journeyman, replacing the chair as they say their goodbyes. "I'll be stopping back in. Don't hesitate to grab me - if I'm here, I've got free time." Returning the bow with a nod of the head, the rider can't help but sneak one last look at the rug-in-progress. Then it's out the door to the bowl, anticipating a fresh spring day that /doesn't/ include rain.