Candidate Greigen
"I would feel much better, Master Okal, if you fitted me. I need this Gather dress to be absolutely perfect...An Apprentice just won't do." The woman looked at the Master Weaver sternly, crossing her arms as she waited for him to comply.
"Lucia, you know I'd love to do it myself...but unfortunately I'm just too busy at the moment. I wouldn't want to do a sloppy job for you because I'm in a hurry. I assure you, Greigen will do just as good a job as I would. He walked the tables a little more then a month ago...He knows what he's doing. I wouldn't send him to you if he wasn't, you know that." Okal put an arm around the rather stocky woman and led her into the next room.
A young man, who could have been no older than 20 turns, was kneeling on the floor, sorting through a pile of colored fabrics and cloths. One sleeve, which had previously been rolled up to match the other, fell down to his wrist, covering his carmel colored skin. His dark hair was pulled into a loose pony-tail that hung to the middle of his back, though it did not keep the hair entirely out of his face and eyes. Perched above him on an open cabinet door was a small Bronze firelizard.
"Greigen..." the Master Weaver waited until his Journeyman looked up, "This is Lady Lucia, she's here for her fittings. Please take good care of her...I know you'll do an excellent job." He gave Greigen one last meaningful look, then left the two, pulling the crutain down as he walked out.
Greigen stood up and dusted himself off before giving Lucia a small bow. "If you'd just step over here, my Lady...I'll be able to take your measurements." He helped her onto a low platform, then turned to his firelizard. "Get me the tape Sharpie."
The Bronze chirped happily, left his perch, and grabbed the roll off a small table. He obidently landed on Greigen's shoulder, and dropped the measuring tape in his waiting hand. Greigen smiled a little, and thanked the flitter...giving his small, wedge-shaped head a quick stroke before turning to his task.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It took nearly two hours to finish Lady Lucia. The measurements had gone smoothly enough, with only the occasional complaint about his "help"...and a glare at the preening bronze. Picking fabric and a dress pattern had been another thing entirely. She had to have the worst taste he'd ever seen! Her "favorite" color was an unflattering shade of reddish-orange, which looked even worse with the dress design she had picked. It seemed to Greigen that the short, portly woman couldn't understand why a dress made to "cling to every curve" wouldn't do for her. Changing her mind had taken sheer determintaion and mounds of effort.
He was pleased with how he'd done though. Not everyone would be as difficult as Lady Lucia. And if he could deal with her, he could deal with anyone. He smiled to himself as he sat down at the small work table, stroking Sharpie's neck with his index finger. The bronze crooned happily, then, with a startled cheep, disappeared /between/. Greigen frowned, what had caused that?
Sharpie returned few minutes later, chittering excitedly and clutching a folded hide in his talons. He dropped it in front of his friend, then settled on his shoulder, wrapping his tail firmly around Greigen's neck.
The Journeyman Weaver looked first to his firelizard, then to the hide on the table. He picked it up and read it...his eyes widening slightly. He'd been Searched by Katadon Weyr?! When?! He frowned, trying to think...Oh yes...It'd been two days ago...The Searchdragon had been in the forecourt. He'd looked everyone over, made some notes, then went off to check the rest of the surrounding areas before he'd made a decision. And he'd picked Greigen!
The young weaver grinned. He could be a Dragonrider!...no...He WAS going to be a Dragonrider. He'd stand until he couldn't anymore if he didn't Impress this time...but he would do it. Just like he did everything else he'd ever wanted...no matter how hard he'd had to work for it. He smiled...and hugged Sharpie gently, before he ran off to tell Master Okal the good news.
Sharpie was Impressed @ Naronis Weyr