The Solution

Writers: Mirren, Paula
Date Posted: 28th August 2015

Characters: Jaffra, Varija
Description: Varija comes for her dress.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 6 of Turn 8
Notes: Notes: After 'The Tear'

Jaffra glanced at the doorway. She could hear someone walking down the corridor toward the weavers' rooms. Hopefully they'd pass on by.

Varija had gotten a message asking her to come to the Weaver's. She hoped it meant her dress was ready. It had gotten bit mangled during the Turnover festivities and she had left it there to be fixed.
She stopped at the door and knocked to get attention. "I'm Varija, Attiath's rider, I was asked to come here."

Jaffra looked lost for a moment, until she remembered. "Oh, yes. There's been some issues with your garment." She put her work aside and rose to her feet.

"What? Isn't it ready yet?" Varija asked with dismayed tone.

"No," Jaffra replied. "There's not enough fabric in the dress as it is to repair the damage."

"What do you mean by that?" Varija asked, crossing her arms under her large breasts.

Jaffra sighed at the woman's obvious obtuseness. "I mean we can't simply repair the tear. We don't have marching fabric to replace it," she added.

"Can't you just sew it shut?" Varija didn't know much about weavercraft or sewing.

"If I could do that, I would have," Jaffra replied, her voice tight.

"So what do you suggest then?" Varija said with aggressive voice. She had long day drilling behind her, sweat was trickling along her back under her flight leathers, her back ached and she was feeling
cantankerous. She walked further into the room and scowled at the weaver.

"It can be shorted, to knee length," Jaffra replied. "Or a different fabric could be substituted, but that would cost extra."

"That dress was expensive enough as a new one, I don't want any additional costs," Varija replied.

"Then it will have to be knee-length," Jaffra concluded.

"Then it won't be the same dress. And how will it look on me?" Varija said.

The tailor looked her up and down. "It won't be as flattering, but it'll be easier for your lovers to push up without tearing it."

"What are you hinting at?" Varija asked.

"I'm not hinting at anything," Jaffra replied. "I'm saying that if your lovers tear you clothes to remove them, you need to rethink the style you wear. Or your lovers."

"At least I have those," Varija said.

Jaffra was momentarily lost for words, stung by the remark. It was too painfully true. How long had it been? Long enough. And longer still since it had mattered."So," she said eventually, her voice tight, "knee length or will you be taking the dress to use as a strap polishing cloth?"

"Make it knee length," Varija said. She couldn't afford a new dress nor any additional costs, so what other options she had left. It didn't improve her mood.

"Very well then." Jaffra turned away, hoping the greenrider would take the hint and leave.

Varija stared her back for a moment and then turned around with a huff. "Bloody stupid crafters," she muttered when walked out.

If Jaffra was vindictive, she might have taken the dress in a little, to make the greenrider think she'd put on weight. Since she wasn't, she merely got to work, as meticulous as ever.

Last updated on the September 1st 2015

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The Solution