You Get What You Paid For

Writers: Chelle, Mirren
Date Posted: 22nd August 2015

Characters: Jaffra, Asley
Description: Jaffra and Asley do business.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 4 of Turn 8

"Do you have those patterns I sent up to be printed out?" Jaffra offered no greeting, nor a moment for the printer to acknowledge her presence. She was here for one thing. Anything else would be a waste of everyone's time.

Asley was young, but she was a journeyman. The tall printer turned around and eyed the woman before her. She didn't shake her head but her first impulse was to give a flat no. Fortunately, she tamped down that impulse in favor of being professional. She saw the woman's knots. As a female crafter she recognized how hard it was to get those. Besides, the woman was attractive so that helped. "All finished orders are on that table, sorted by name. Do you have the apron I asked for?" Most of her orders were paid with barter goods which helped. She traded some of those with the Weyr for the supplies they provided as well as gave them free labor some of the time.

"Of course." Jaffra wasn't fool enough to hand it over without her work being ready though. She stepped over to the table and started looking for the pile with her name on it. Some people might have flicked through and moved things around. Jaffra simply stood with her hands behind her back and looked carefully until she found what she was looking for.

"Ah." She picked up the top sheet and looked at it carefully, checking for any errors or smudges.

Knowing what she was doing and knowing she'd do the same if it was her-Asley went about her business, sorting typefaces into their proper places on the shelf. If the woman was satisfied, she wanted her payment before anything left the printshop. Asley might be blonde, but she wasn't stupid.

"There's some minor smudging on some of the lines, but I can cut around them." There was nothing particularly accusing in the tailor's tone, she was simply stating a fact. Unfortunately for her, it was still a tone which wasn't appreciated by most people. She knew that, on some level, but she didn't see the point in lying.

"That would be because of the ink used because of the price you wanted to pay. Now if you had paid more, I would have used an ink that had less water in it-hence less smudging." **You get what you pay for.** There was not an accusation in her tone either, but Asley was sure of what she said. She still didn't look up from the type she was organizing. "I was under the impression that the primary need was for the patterns to be durable since you would be reusing them repeatedly during work." The material used was thicker and would hold up, not given to ripping or tearing.

"Correct," Jaffra replied, unaware of how condescending she might sound. "As I said, I can cut around it." She gathered up the sheets and help them in her left hand, while pulling the apron off her arm with the other. "You'll see no shortcuts with its creation."

Coming forward, Asley reached for the apron and pulled it close to inspect it. It would also need to be durable since she used them for work. They not only protected her clothing, they also preserved her skin and served as a precaution so ink didn't get into places it shouldn't. Thankfully, her goggles kept her from going blind, but ink in one's nose wasn't pleasant either. Satisfied with the stitching, she moved to hang it on a hook before turning back to Jaffra. "Pleasure doing business with you, journeywoman." She was also able to study the lines in the older female's face, thinking about how her own might change in the coming turns.

Strangely, Jaffra was always on edge when people inspected her work. She knew it was carefully and skillfully done, but just one mistake, one uneven stitch and it was bound to be noticed. And commented upon. She preferred to avoid scrutiny, to be 'part of the furniture' as it were.

"And with you journeywoman," she said stiffly.

Asley had no other need for sewing work since she received her clothing from stores and could mend minor things herself. So there was no other reason to deal with the tailor. The likes of her didn't have finery or things specially made. Especially since most of it had blue, black, or red stains on it somewhere. Part of the craft, she accepted her lack of fashion. She was more practical. Still, deep down she wished she could look as smart and pretty as that. As a new journeyman, though, she simply couldn't afford it. She had just gotten the printshop back on its feet and it wasn't producing like it would have in the days of the harpers at the Weyr. She had an idea for that, but it would involve discussing something with the Headwoman. "Enjoy your order. If you have further need, please let me know." Her craft stamp was on those patterns so if anyone was curious, they should be coming to her.

'Enjoy' was an interesting choice of word. Jaffra worked because she was good at it, because it kept her busy and because if she was busy, she could lose herself. She didn't have to stop and think about the fact that she was always alone, in a group of people or busy workroom. She told herself she liked it that way. Truthfully, she was simply used to it. The older she got, the less it mattered. Or so she'd convinced herself.

"I will, thank you," she said simply. "Good day."

Last updated on the September 1st 2015

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You Get What You Paid For