Reporting For Duty
PASTE


Xanadu Weyr - Craft Complex

This large area has been painted a soft cream with dark orange trim used as an accent. It's separated into a variety of smaller sitting areas, couches and chairs organized into rings and squares, tables set where they can be used easily. Recessed electric lights in the ceiling provide a warm glow, and a row of angled skylights on the eastern wall above the entrance give some natural light when bleary crafters first emerge. There's often a cart with klah parked off to one side to help with waking up or finishing that important project - or simply to be enjoyed with comfortable seating and good company.

Along the southern edge, an open archway leads to a library of books and records. There's something for every craft, it seems, from tomes of caprine diseases, to Pernese history and law, to gemstone identification, to sheet music, to sea charts and herbal manuals. There's even a few works of fiction, though none of it seems very well organized. Whatever is sought, it's probably here… somewhere. A few desks for studying are tucked in amongst the shelves, each with a lamp to illuminate the reading material. Near that archway, a long table holds a row of computers. They're connected to databases all over Pern, and are available for general use except when the computercraft requires them.

To the north, a pair of double doors open onto a grand hall, the vaulted ceiling designed with acoustics in mind. This space is used for lectures and concerts, rows of benches set up to face the front. Along one wall, instruments hang free or on shelves for anyone with the appropriate skills to use. There are often harpers here, practicing their craft.

A pair of hallways lead back from the western wall, one going to the apprentice dorms and the the private quarters for the ranking crafters posted at the weyr. The other provides access to the various workshops.


Summer - Month 12 of Turn 2715

Gerazal is in his workshop and he's finishing up on some of the work that he's doing. He got a dress on a mannequin and it's a very nice dress, but it looks like a dress would be worn for every day use. It's early in the morning.

Sephany's arrival in Xanadu Weyr is likely expected. Certainly there would have been a letter from the Hall, notifying of the Fortian apprentice's temporary transfer to the Southern Continent Weyr. And despite timezone changes and seasonal challenges (leaving Winter in Fort for Summer in Xanadu), she looks awake enough, casually wandering into the workshop with a mug of Klah in one hand and a sketchbook in the other.

Gerazal looks up as he hears someone enter and he gives a smile, "Hello there can I help you?" He asks as he puts a pin in the cushion on his wrist. He brushes off his hands and looks over Sephany, "Good morning."

A yawn is stifled with the sketchbook-baring hand, but the "Good morning!" that follows it is bright and cheerful. Sephany is, perhaps, a morning person. She skips across the last few steps between them, coming to a halt at a comfortable distance for proper introductions and conversation. "I'm here from Fort. I'm Sephany." A flick of her gaze from man to mannequin and back again before she asks, "Are you Journeyman Gerazal?"

Gerazal nods, "Yes I am, so nice to meet you Sephany. I've been expecting you from the letter. Would you prefer to be called just Sephany or Apprentice Sephany. You can call me Gerazal unless other high ranking muckity mucks are about." He offers his hand to her. "So I understand you know the basics and then some. Tell me what is your favorite thing to do? Do you like to design or the actual making of the clothes? Dyeing?"

"Pleasure to meet you." Quick words and quick smile as Sephany shoves her sketchbook beneath the Klah-baring arm so that she can accept that handshake. "Sephany is fine," she adds quickly, shifting in her stance. "Oh, um. Well…" and she considers her answer briefly before continuing with, "Both, really. I enjoy the creative process from start to finish; paper to person, as it were. Though, I am not terribly fond of the production of materials; dye and weaving, that sort of thing. But I will do it," she's quick to add. "Of course. If it needs to be done…"

Gerazal smiles, "Sephany it is." He listens and he nods a bit as he reaches up one one of four different colored books and he selects the first one, which is blue in cover. "I enjoy the same thing, starting from a design." He opens up the book and flips a couple pages to find the a hand drawn picture of the dress he's currently making, "And taking it all the way to the end. I can see why they sent you to me." He winks, "I don't get into much of the dyeing and producing. Don't get me wrong I know how to do it, just not what I focused on. Don't worry about that here, unless it's an emergency we get supplies of cloth from the weaver hall."

A tension that Sephany had been carrying across her back and shoulders, seems to lessen considerably as sketches are shown and winks are traded. Relaxing, and smiling, and looking all the more comfortable with the foreign environment as they continue. "Oh, thank Faranth," exhaled with relief, and she sort of sags in place. "I spent a summer assisting with the dying of cloth… I thought my poor fingers would be purple forever," with a very 'never again' tone of voice. "I have a mostly theoretical knowledge of cloth production, a little bit of practical knowledge, but it was never something that interested me," she agrees, grinning now. "My Journeyman back at Fort had me assist with creation, but I've only done some minor work on my own. Just a few modified pairs of gloves for a friend of mine back at Fort."

Gerazal nods in commiseration. "I understand your pain. I spent a long hot summer dying cloth as well and then spent a fall and winter going from animal sheering to spinning wool. I hate carding with a passion." He smiles, "Well you'll be helping here, I do a bit of everything thing when it comes to the design, creation and maintenance of clothing. Probably have you start with the maintenance to see what your stitch work is like and if it needs any brush up. I'm sure it doesn't, but I just want to check. Basically your morning for the first oh probably month or so will be either free design in the morning or afternoon, whichever you prefer and then maintenance during the other part of the day. If a special project comes up or something I want you to see comes in I'll have you sit in to get your thoughts or to ask you questions. I know you aren't a new apprentice, so please do not take this that I don't trust you. I just want to see your skills before we move on to other things. If you are good at the mending you'll move on quicker. I like to see small tight stitches that will last. I know it's a pain, but most of the clothes I make here are work clothes and they are meant to last, so when they do get ripped I try to mend them so they'll last just as long. I don't want to see the same piece of clothing come back after a month because the repair didn't take."

Friendly smiles make way for studious expressions as Sephany contemplates all that is being told to her. Small nods of her head as she tucks it away, soft "of course," as he speaks of tight stitches and trusting her. "It won't be a problem. I am happy to demonstrate my capabilities and assist in whatever capacity you need me too. I have been doing this a while," she admits, "But I took about six months off when… well. I had to take some time off," she glosses over, free hand tossed into the air as if to wave it away. "This is my passion," she asserts, voice and expression conveying the very same sentiment. "I would never want to produce something that is less than the best quality. I would hate it if something I had my hands on, that I had a part in creating, did not stand the test of time. It's my life, it's my…well. I've already said it," she wraps up, looking briefly embarrassed at such an outburst. "I just mean to say… I will not disappoint you." A sip of Klah, for an awkward pause, and then she wonders, "Is there anything in particular I should start on, today? You mentioned mending… I could do that now."

Gerazal smiles, "Good I'm glad to hear that. Taking time off is fine if you want to talk about it I'm hear to listen no judgments. I had a apprentice a couple turns ago head to take off a turn because she got pregnant, but she came back and is now a journeywoman in her own right. Bumps along the road happen. Well for right now if you have a design book I'd be happy to look at it if you want to look at one of mine. The blue ones here has woman's clothes in it, the green ones has men's clothes in it and the yellow ones has children's clothes in it, both boys and girls." He points them out and offers her a blue one to look at first. He points up to a stack of red ones on the high shelf, "Those are for mature adults. If you need them come and get me. If you need supplies let me know I have extra design books and drawing utensils. So what is your favorite kind of clothing to work on." He motions for her to take a seat as he sits down as well.

Deep breath, in then out, and Sephany sinks into the offered chair. Her sketchbook is retrieved from beneath her arm, and set upon the table, mug following a moment later. "Well… most of what I have are things I've sketched in my spare time, so it has been to my personal preference rather than to a specific client… I love flirty and flowy designs, delicate and wispy fabrics; lots of layers and pale colors. Whimsical, dream-like. Some may call it youthful, or childish, but I prefer to think of it more as playful. And I must confess," she adds as a bit sheepishly as she slides her sketchbook over for review, "that most of what I have played with is impractical as daily work attire. The materials tend to be delicate rather than hardy." Nimble fingers reach out for the blue book, pulling it closer and flipping it open curiously. "I love working lady's dresses; Gather finery and formal wear. Again, impractical," she admits a bit sheepishly, "but it's fun."

Gerazal nods a bit, "It's all right that's what most of my designs are just what hits my fancy. That's what sketch books are mostly, your personal designs. I have other designs for work clothes in the work books." He points to the brown books, "Pants, shirts, other stuff like that normal every day stuff." He starts to take a look at the sketchbook. His is also full of dresses, most formal, some slinky and more rique, but very nice as well as the sketches of the women wearing them. He smiles, "This is very nice. Impractical is fine for sketch books and trust me I've worked with Ladies of Holds before, some of them would love your designs. They'd be a headache to try to make, but that's what we are here for sometimes." He chuckles. "That's what we should be having is fun when we designs and make these clothes."

True to her word, Sephany's sketchbook is full of delicate designs. Light, gauzy fabrics layered to create dimension and movement, without adding bulk. Most are charcoal sketches with notes in the margins regarding color or fabric. A few, perhaps her favorites, have been carefully colored with chalk, scraps of material tucked into the pages to serve as inspiration. A clear progression is evident in terms of complexity and refinement, indicating perhaps that she's had this book for some time and the designs have grown as her skill has; both artistically and practically. Her own grey eyes, turned to the pages of the blue book she's flipping through, pause now and again to glance over to see what Gerazal may be looking at in her book, or to nod in agreement with his words. "I have considered that," she agrees for the logistics of some of her designs, "but I suppose it is rare enough that the trouble would be worth it." Her fingers trace down the design of something sleek and formfitting in the book before her. "Have you made any of these?"

Gerazal takes his time looking over all the sketches and he really studies them to give them time that he feels the deserve. "You are definitely coming along in both design and drawing skill." He says, "Oh yes it is worth is as the Ladies who want these pay a pretty mark for them. That's good enough reason to learn them." He looks over and nods, "Yes the female riders seem to like them as it shows off all the right curves, as do some of the journeywomen."

There just might be a touch of pink to Sephany's cheeks at the compliment. "Thank you," is all she can really say for it, though, having already verbalized her sentiments on her chosen craft. Her life. Her passion. Back to the drawing beneath her finger, and she tilts her head just slightly to the side; contemplative. "It is lovely," she offers, flipping the page to something new. A bit of silence as she considers the many designs, occasionally humming thoughtfully or 'oh'ing softly whenever something unique or different catches her attention.

Gerazal continues to look through the sketch book and he continue to study them with a trained on. "You are welcome." He looks over, "I'm glad you think so. If you like one and would like me to make it for you or you'd like to make it yourself let me know, we can save it for a project." He hmms, "Oh you are comfortable with the human form yes? I measure everyone who wants clothing so I get the exact right fit. Some holders can be a little fragile when it comes to being close to naked or nearly naked people."

"Perhaps as a project," agrees the young apprentice, flipping back through some she has already reviewed. "I'd love to try to make something like this," Sephany admits, pointing out a design that is mature but tasteful; figure-flattering without attracting undue attention. Her eyes and her fingers lingers on it, assessing and thoughtful, before she lifts her head and meets his gaze. "Yes, perfectly comfortable," she assures him. "I am weyr-bred, so I have never been uncomfortable with such things. It's part of the job. Like being a Healer, I suppose. Only not as invasive."


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