Logs:Spring is felting time
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| RL Date: 24 March, 2011 |
| Who: Lujayn, Nyjah |
| Type: Log |
| What: Nyjah felts. Rielsath works her way up to easing the weaver's apprehension about dragons. |
| Where: Lake Shore, High Reaches |
| When: Day 19, Month 4, Turn 25 (Interval 10) |
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| The sun is up, the weather is lovely, and Nyjah has wool. Life is good. Three satchels are resting against each other and she has a little wooden bucket and a length of hide. Right now she has several tufts of creamy brown which she is using two wire brushes to clean. One brush is used to hold the wool, itself, and she scrapes vigorously at it with her other brush, freeing it of any dirt or other soilings. Once a tuft is satisfactorily clean, she sets it on the hide, covering it with a spare bit of cloth to keep it from blowing away. It's dirty work, so she's wearing a light shirt and work trousers, her sandals set well away from the water's edge so they won't get wet and damage the leather. She's seated, toes curling with pleasure in the soil. Her thick black locks have been pulled back into a sloppy bun, several tendrils hanging down about her neck. She hums a dancing tune to pass the time, focused completely on her task. Rielsath circles in from above, turning away from her usual splashy descent into the water so as not to soak Lujayn. The rider clambers easily down once the gold is situated nearby, tail twitching eagerly. "Straps off first. It's too cold for me, but you go ahead as much as you like." She tells Ri firmly, moving quickly to find each buckle and restraint until her lifemate is free of the padded leathers - and immediately charges for the lake. A little hop-glide precedes her initial entrance, joy whirling in her bright green and blue eyes. It takes Lujayn a moment to notice Nyjah, watching her dragon frolic in the 'shallows' (quite deep for any human. But once her attention is grabbed, she's hooked. "Whatcha got there?" She approaches, peeling off riding gloves and pushing her goggles down so they hang around her neck like a strange pendant. "Looks like detailed work." She obviously appreciates the crafts, curiosity and intensity in her gaze. Nyjah is not quite so absorbed that she'd miss something just shy of forty or so feet long taking to the water. She pauses in her brushing, watching as Lu removes the straps from her dragon and the gold goes off to have her fun. She notes the rider's approach and is back to brushing out the wool until Lujayn is close enough both to offer her greeting and for Nye to hear it. "I'm making felt," she replies brightly, lining up more wool on her stretch of hide. There are actually two strips of hide sewn together, and if Lujayn looks close enough, she might notice a bumpy irregularity to the surface upon which the Weaver is laying her llama hair. "First, I clean the wool by brushing off the dirt, then I lay it out and sprinkle it with a mix of sweet sand and water..." To demonstrate, she places one last piece of wool and takes her bucket to the water after rolling her trous up to the knee. She gets a bucketful and returns, fishing between her satchels for a very small bag of the cleansing grit. "I'll pour some water over the lot and press it until the wool thickens and becomes a length of fabric." Rielsath wades through the waters as Nyjah approaches, a light little rumble of curiosity at the bucket and the weaver. She doesn't move any closer, but her rider's attention is apparently catching. "Now /that/ is a system." Lujayn compliments Nye, looking over the color. "And once it's felted, what does it become? I mean, besides felt." She kneels down to have a closer look, still aware that Rielsath is splashing along the shore parallel to Lu's movements. For now, Nyjah is too focused on teaching Lu the fine art of wool felting to realize that it's not just Lu that's curious. "Well, once it's felted, you can do a lot of things with it. With some knitting you can put designs on it, make it into shirt, hat, pants, whatever you like...puppets to entertain the children...although there's better ways to make toys than this." She take some of her sweetsand and pours it into the bucket, sloshing her hands inside to mix it thoroughly with the water. "Soaping it up is important...I can't remember why. But after I sprinkle it with this, I'll add some fresh water, and roll up the lot." "I'm sure they'd teach the technical breakdowns to journeymen and such," Lujayn muses about the soapsand interaction. "I haven't a clue myself." Rielsath decides that she's had enough of the lake today, especially if her rider isn't going to come in and scrub her. With a little huff she settles on the shore, watching the pair plaintively. Hey, I'm here! Me me me. Lujayn knows better than to react too strongly; she merely grins and waves to the demanding gold. "Felt's heavy for the hot seasons.. is this an assignment?" Nyjah sprinkles the soapy mixture over the felt with a few flicks of her fingers. "I volunteered, actually. Felt can be used in all sorts of things. It's used on piano hammers, so the harpers are always glad for the use of it..I know I've already mentioned hats, but you can make sturdy purses of it as well, dolls..it's warmer, too, for herders that go into the mountains, and protects well against water, so we sell a lot of sweaters to seamen." Nye stands to get fresh water, only now noticing the proximity of the gold. She edges to one side in order to give her a nice, wide berth, though she is determined to continue her 'lecture.' "There's more more use for felting than you'd think, and of course a lot of it can go into storage for when it /is/ needed.." All business. Lujayn raises her eyebrows, taking in the wealth of knowledge and certainly keeping it. "Felt purses," She repeats. "I'd love to see something like that. Sounds like it could be easily decorated." She doesn't miss much, including Nyjah's subtle avoidance of Rielsath's proximity. The gold's neck stretches, following Nye's progress to the water and back. Unable to keep herself from translating, because it's just so funny sometimes, Lujayn pipes up. "She wonders why you don't just get in all the way; forgets that it's okay for her but the lack is still pretty cold for us fragile humans." Her laugh is bright and clear, easing the tension. "Or if dragons can wear felt hats." Nyjah follows Rielsath's progress in watching her as well, from the water and back. She smiles tentatively as Lujayn passes along the translation, kneeling by the hide and lightly pouring the icy water over the hairy mess. "Do they really..talk that much?" she asks, almost shyly, keeping an eye on Ri as she rolls up the hide to the crackle of little pebbles inside. She presses it down tightly and binds it on both ends with string, massaging it to work the water thoroughly into the wool. "I didn't know they could have personalities. I mean, I knew they were smarter than canines and other animals, but.." "If they have something to say. Some are quieter than others, just emotions or images unless there's something really important to pass along. Ri's the curious kind, it's like a running commentary in my head sometimes." Eyes on Nyjah's work, not wanting to spook or send Nye into her stammering, Lu smiles. "They're like humans in a way, but ... not. Nothing like a firelizard, if you've met one of those." "Some folk had them around the Hold, but not a lot." Nye works on rolling and rolling the hide in the soil, working her hands up and down its length. She seems to be curious, herself, which is much better than attempting to scoot away first chance she gets. "What's..flying like?" To have asked that question, it's very doubtful she's experienced it. As if realizing something, she adds, "And..well..I suppose a dragon /could/ wear a hat, but.." She giggles lightly, her first sign of actual mirth. "I somehow don't think it'd be very dignified. Perhaps with some sort of dye or paint that wouldn't harm her hide, you could make some lovely designs, though." "You have to trust them. It's completely against every instinct you have at first, but that's why we have Weyrlingmasters. Just short glides at first; they have to be able to fly on their own before they carry any passenger." Encouraged by Nyjah's reaction, Rielsath shuffles closer, long tail curling around her hindquarters as she lays her head down on the ground next to Lu, who obligingly strokes one eyeridge carefully. "Maybe for games, she thinks. Playing war games. Not every day stuff." More dragon-thoughts, mindless speaking rather than making a point of translating especially for Nyjah. "But if you need the practice.." A sly grin. "She loves to make an impression." Nyjah doesn't retreat, another good sign. Satisfied that she's worked the wool as much as she can, she pushes the roll aside, mopping at her face with one of the extra strips of cloth. It's cool outside, but the work is still enough to work up a good sweat. "War games?" She tilts her head, picturing it, and laughs outright. It makes her face much more youthful and happy-looking. "Now /that/ is something I'd have to see to believe." Encouraged by Lujayn's relaxed posture, she has a chance to really /look/ at the dragon, studying the way her hide moves, taking in her size, her apprehension slowly fading into admiration. "She's so...elegant, isn't she?" Rielsath snorts with surprise, more like a runner's snuffle than any growl. Elegant? But the idea takes hold of her whirling mind; she lifts her sun-tinged neck with a slight arch to it, wings folding halfway open to show off this 'elegance.' That means pretty, right? A compliment goes a long way for her. "She's pretty, but I'm biased. There are downright ugly dragons out there, not that you'd ever hear anyone say it in front of them." Shifting aside to give Nyjah a better view and even space to touch the soft hide, Lu continues. "Rielsath is an instigator, though they mature with age. Really, she's more self-controlled than ever. Especially after Igen, coming in as an outsider. She couldn't just do as she pleased and get away with it." Nyjah grins slightly, finding it difficult to resist. "It's just..I don't know. I think all weavers have an eye for color...but I don't think anyone but an artist could try to recreate the way her colors blend into each other." She notes the hole left for her and inches closer, still too hesitant to try any touching. "Maybe elegant isn't the right word, but...just put together so well. The only animals I've ever been really close to were llamas." The way she says llamas, it's clear that the hairy spitters don't quite compare. "I've...never...been this close before. Except that time at the feeding grounds." Nye is a little breathless as she leans in to study the gold's play of colors, eyes following the line of her joints, especially the way the nearest wing connects to her body, and smiling all the time. "My father'd soil himself if he were this close," she mutters almost scornfully, and more to herself than to her present company. "He'd never let us out if someone from the Weyr came." The girl sound suspiciously as though she now regrets that little fact. "He said Weyrfolk like to snatch up women to.." She coughs. "Well. Take them away." Lujayn listens appreciatively - it isn't just dragons who appreciate compliments aimed at them. "She's had a lot of practice." She's quiet again while Nye speaks, sympathy in her voice. "I wasn't holdbred myself, but I know the mentality. Dragons do search all kinds of people, but you always have the option to say no. No one forces candidates to stand who aren't willing. You sound much braver than the folk you come from." Rielsath's eyes whirl slowly as she lies back down, rolling to one side. She may not be a little dragonet anymore, b ut isn't she still cute? Again, Lu rubs gently at Ri's muzzle. "They're so soft.. if you keep them oiled. You wouldn't believe the tongue-lashing neglectful riders get, not just from their wingmates, but from everyone." Nyjah glances Lujayn's way, eyes sparkling with good humor. "He didn't mean they took them away for Search," she clarifies, arching a brow as if to say, Need I say more? She laughs again, though with a higher pitch than before. "I'm terrified," she admits, not to claim undue credit. "She's just so big!" She watches the hand touching Ri, and swallows audibly. "I hate letting anything.." Deeep breath. "May I..may I touch her? D'youthinkshe'dletme?" The rest comes out in a rush before she can take it back, her shoulders scrunching up against her neck. Now that it's said, no turning away from it. In silent answer, Rielsath nudges her snout into Lu's lap, not an easy fit by any means - but the gold makes it work, apparently unconcerned with her large size or just unaware that she might be crushing her rider. "You certainly may," Lujayn echoes the formality, reinforcing that yes, it is polite to ask but also not such an enormous request. "Your weaving made her mighty curious, making felt and all. Permission granted, Nyjah edges just close enough that she can reach out with shaking fingertips, running them along the soft, soft neck and letting out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Incredulous, she gives Lu a look of delight. "I don't think we can even produce anything quite like it," she sighs, pausing to rest her palm flat and enjoy the warmth of dragon skin. "Thank you.." It's hard to say whether she's voiced her thanks to rider, dragon, or both. She's looking a little pale, but she's still clearly enjoying the treat. Lujayn beams, as proud of Rielsath for sitting still as she is to see Nyjah challenge herself. "Tanners will try to replicate, like weavers," She can't help but sound a little smug. "I can only imagine the trouble we'd have if they tried to use real hide for it, though." Rielsath, not one to sit quietly for long, shifts just enough to push her snout back against Nyjah's hand. Very nice. Lu doesn't mention the 'dragon thing' that came up during their last conversation, just looks on in approval. "Doing okay?" Nyjah breathes out again to control her nerves, obliging Ri with scritches along the offered muzzle. "Better.." She tilts her head, eyes a-shine with triumph. "I hate not understanding things," she offers by way of explanation for her reluctance. "Not..facing things that make me afraid. Because if I don't get it over with, I may never." She admires Rielsath, eyes softening as she looks into one of the multi-faceted eyes. "They're nothing like he always said." "You," Lujayn begins with a chuckle. "Are so like her. She can't stand not knowing, the nosy brat." Not asking after what 'he always said,' because it's easy enough to guess, the rider goes on. "It's hard to do things that frighten you. Strange things, things you've never done, even normal things that just aren't part of your life." Gazing out across the lake, watching rielsath's eyes whirl through the blue-green spectrum, a little bright turquoise of delight sneaking in. "She's so spoiled.." Sigh. "What else do you want to do, if you don't mind me asking? If you can come face to face with Ri, I'd put marks behind you doing anything else you might be scared of." "Well..." Nyjah's voice trails off as she gives it some thought, tracing some pattern or other along the bridge of Ri's snout. Her smile changes once more, higher on one side than the other. "I've only told one other person this, ever. But.." Again, better to dive in that hold back. "I want to be famous!" Nye laughs nervously at the childishness of it. "Like there are people who are just so...so well known everybody knows their name. Like the Craftmasters. And the Weyrleaders and Weyrwomen." She winks impishly. "Only...I don't /just/ want to be a Craftmaster. Or even /the/ Masterweaver. Because I'd just be another name on some dusty old Record. Just one of many Masterweavers. I want to create something, or design something, or do something that everyone will remember /me/ for." She echoes Lujayn's sigh. "I have no idea how I'll do it. But that scares me. It scares me that I might not ever do that. That I won't be clever enough to think of it. I'd like to try, though." Lujayn grins. "Depends on your definition of famous, I guess. Around here I'm well-known, maybe still at Fort someone might know me, but Pern-wide?" That's almost impossible to think about. "My advice would be to start with what you know, then do something crazy. Like that felt. What could you do with it that usually isn't done?" She has a few ideas, but this is Nyjah's fame. Or wish for fame. "It has a lot to do with who you know as well, sadly. There are plenty of geniuses working who don't get the credit they deserve because they don't have the best connections." Rielsath's third eyelids slide down in contentment even as Lu wiggles out from under the heavy chin, stretching out tingling-asleep legs. "You have time." Is her only reassurance, not wanting to pressure the girl. "You're smart. Something will happen to shake up your life sooner or later. Everything changes." "I know...hardly something anybody would aspire to." She shrugs with self-deprecation. "It's not something I /really/ think about. More a childhood fancy." She gestures about them. "This shook me up. I...well, I suppose I like it, but it feels like it's so..so /isolated/." Her dismay at this fact is plain in her voice. "Although..you're the first one I suppose I've really talked to. Gotten to know, anyway." She gives Lujayn a sidelong glance. "Most people don't really think about apprentices. Enough of us running around to blend in." Bitter, she is, at this. "I can see why there were so many excited to have you back." Though it's a flattering statement, it's not spoken as such, but instead as simple Fact. "Felt's just one subject. Of course there's a lot to learn about wool here, because there's so much of it available...but the Weavercraft has so much you can study." She gestures to the rolled up hide, slowly warming in the sun. "This is just one lesson. I'll be moving on soon...I've really stayed on it for too long." Nye shrugs again. "Not at all. There are so many ambitious people as there are hidden geniuses. Everyone wants recognition.. even me, even Rielsath," The latter goes without asking, as she's everything but out and out begging for attention. "My dreams were different, but already in place. Dragonriders deliver most of the mail, but I wanted to set up a system of Runner-only delivery. Not exactly practical outside a Weyr." She leans back and shakes her head. "The more effort you put into it, no matter the time, the better the results - time means doing the thing right, not rushing through. Even if you're just learning." An eye cast to the straps, folded carefully farther away from the water. "We learn to make our own, and trust me, the first product is hardly ever flightworthy. Lots of people take the commissions to tanners, but I like the pride in work.. What do you want to be taught next?" All this talk of dreams has Nyjah in a somewhat melancholy mood, as suggested by the troubled furrowing of her brow, but she's supportive as she responds. "Not really. A lot of Holds don't trust dragonriders." Slight smile. "And can't dragons only go somewhere if they know where it is? There's so many minor cotholds and things out there, and probably not enough dragons to get to all of them." She has to think about that last, and is quiet for some time before she's able to answer it. "I suppose clothes design. Though, that's not what they have me studying next." She sniffs. "The sewing machines are much more useful and less complicated than the looms, but the journeymen say you should know how to make the cloth before you can use it." "I don't think I can do anything about that mistrust, short of building an army of liaison riders, an exchange program between Weyr and Hold.. like they do with Weyrs, only a bit different." She pauses, thinking of which topic to address first. "/Between/ is tricky." Rielsath shifts away, sunning herself quietly. Boring talk, she knows /between/. "You don't need to have been there as long as you have a clear picture. Dragons can mentally receive detailed images from other dragons and go off of those. It's remarkable." As for weavers.. "I can't tell you otherwise, truthfully. They have Weyrlings make their straps even if they plan to use tanners in the future. The theory's really important. In the meantime you could sketch out clothes designs," She offers. It's hard to get a melancholy Lu. "Maybe get someone to sew them out for you. Lots of willing people around.. like the man I found to take on my carpet repair. There are always bored hands just itching for something different" "Yes...but you said Runners-based. I'm sure you can find Runners-" meaning the human type, not the horse "-that would be willing to help you. And a lot of folk would probably trust them more." She drags one of her satchels to her, fishing out some white wool that she can brush clean. She didn't bring extra hide, but she can at least clean the wool she has for the next trip. "That's true, as well. I hadn't thought about that." Something in her expression closes down, however, which it often does when Nye's in an evasive mood. "I'm itching for something different." Lujayn isn't shy about ferreting out those evasive thoughts, as proven earlier, so her next question is completely predictable. "And what's that? Different from weaving, from the Reaches-" That one's been established, at least. "Tradition is hard to bend, nearly impossible to break. But here we are." Not that there's anything out of the ordinary going on - two women sitting on the lake shore chatting. There's a past behind how they were able to get there, though. "I was dead set on staying at Fort, but I could have missed some incredible opportunities if I had turned down Search. If my family hadn't allowed me to go." Share and share alike. Lu doesn't have much to trade, but she's willing. Nyjah shakes her head with wonder. "And I would have loved more than anything to go to Fort," she says. "It /is/ strange how things work out sometimes. If I had been..I know I never would have been allowed out of the Hold." She sighs with relief. "It is nice to have more freedom. Instead of just being told No to everything. It's different being an apprentice here than staying in the Hold. I would probably already be married and pregnant if I had stayed there." "You always have a choice," Lujayn asserts somewhat more strongly than her other encouraging comments. Rielsath rumbles a quiet agreement. "You say there's freedom- you aren't stuck here, you aren't stuck with the weavers or the Reaches." They say there's a dragon-rider bond that goes deeper than anyone ever realizes, and here it stands out starkly: defy fate. Create your own destiny. "Marriage is a choice. Children.. less so," She has to admit. "I've never had any.." Squirm. Evade. That might be a sensitive topic with some, especially some from Holds. "I'm glad you're here." Nyjah makes a face. "I don't want to have kids for a long time, too," she says, firmly enough to let Lu know she's okay with the admission. "I think they're great..but...as long as they're not mine." Shrug. However, Lujayn's words are definitely uplifting for the girl, who grins with renewed vigor. "If not weaving, I'm not sure what I'd do. I've only ever done..well, girly things. Cleaning and cooking and stuff like that." Lujayn wasn't the most feminine type as a young girl, despite her demeanor at present. "See, I was that tomboy. It wasn't out of the ordinary for me.. I can see how it would be frustrating, trynig to break that barrier down. But I've already offered you that field trip, it's coming up." She reminds the weaver lightly, hair blowing in a breeze that ripples the lake, a bit chilly. Rielsath rouses herself from the shore, stretching out every limb and wing before taking flight. "And that's the thanks I get. She's probably gone to get a funny hat or some poor beast's hide for you to look at.." Hopefully not the latter, which is more of a jest than anything serious. "What would make you happy?" Nyjah thinks stretching would be a good idea, and does so, rousing herself as she returns the wool she's been working on to its bag. "I guess I haven't really figured that one out," she admits, gathering up her bags. "But I need to get another hide, and take this back to the complex." She pauses, blushing. "I really appreciate you helping me so much. Talking to me. Everything." She offers a hand, though her expression is sheepish. "I, uhm..I don't know how to do this really, but...friends?" The offer is deeply sincere, even if Nyjah's embarrassed about the whole thing. Lujayn takes the hand without hesitation, using it minimally to hoist herself off the ground while shaking it firmly. "Of course. Anytime you need something, leave a note, stop by - it feels like I'm just settling in here myself, too," She bends to gather up the abandoned straps, looping them around her shoulder after folding them a bit smaller. There, no dragging on the ground. "Friends." As if the word was needed to seal the deal. "Expect me in the next sevenday or so," She does warn with that same mischevious smile, a good afternoon spent on the shore. "Think about it even if you're not sure now. Even little things." She takes the handshake and offer as a conclusion to their time together, heading back towards the weyr complex with a smile and wave. "See you!" |
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