A Disturbance

Writers: Mirren, Yvonne
Date Posted: 24th October 2015

Characters: Jaffra, Ricker
Description: Ricker wants to bring electricity to Jaffra's workroom, but she's less than impressed.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 4 of Turn 8

Ricker checked his prints; this was the door, and this was the Crafter. A tailor, by the sign on the door and the markings on the prints. The apprentice who'd made the mark had wanted someone to check his work inspecting the room for future electrical wiring, although he hadn't noted why. Either way, better to have an accurate summary of the work to be done than discover more problems later. With a mental shrug, Ricker adjusted his belt of tools and knocked politely on the door before entering the workroom. "Hello?"

Jaffra looked up from the dress she'd been sewing. It was intricate work and required concentration. Even if it didn't, no interruption was a welcome one. "Yes?" she asked succinctly.

"I'm Journeyman Ricker, here to do the pre-electrical wiring inspection." Ricker looked around curiously. Every Craft had its tool room, and the Tailors' were areas that he rarely visited. Bolts of cloth were stored neatly on shelves against the wall, and there was a large table in the middle that looked suspiciously clean. The lighting was good, though-- glows were everywhere. **And just think what an improvement it will be once electric lights are installed.** Ricker turned his attention to the woman working. "I assume you're Journeywoman Jaffra."

"Yes I am," she replied. What the shells they needed electricity in here for was beyond her. They did just fine as they were. Someone had mentioned the possibility of sewing machines which were controlled by electricity, but she'd stick to the push treadles and hand sewing.

"Do whatever you need to do," she gestured around. Unfortunately it wasn't her call to make.

"Thanks kindly." Ricker had only half-heard her. He was already headed to the far wall, which was buried behind shelves of fabric in every colour imaginable. No wonder the apprentice had handed the job off to someone else-- Ricker didn't want to have to move everything either. **You'd think they'd tidy up before we came in,** he thought irritably, but then sighed. "Do you have a chair I can stand on?"

Jaffra looked up sharply, "Chairs aren't for standing on. There's a step ladder in the storeroom over there." She jerked her head to indicate the direction.

Ricker refrained from rolling his eyes and went to explore the storeroom. Stepladders or chairs; they served the same function in the end. The ladder in question was leaned up against the wall; he pulled it out, set it up back in the main workroom, then paused. Journeywoman Jaffa was obviously the meticulous type. "I'm going to have to move some of your fabrics to inspect the wall, and I may have to take off some of the plaster at the back of the shelves to see what's beneath. Do you want to move the fabrics yourself?" Some of them looked delicate.

No. "Yes." With an exaggerated sigh, she put her work aside, rose and went to start moving the bolts carefully to the other side of the room. They were countless marks worth and she didn't want them ruined. He was obviously planning to make enough of a mess as it was.

"You will clean up afterward?" she asked.

"Of course!" Leaving a bunch of plaster dust lying around in another Crafter's space would be exceptionally rude.

"Good." Rather than return to work, Jaffra stood back and watched, her arms crossed over her chest.

With a mental shrug, Ricker got to work. The task was to double-check the thickness of the walls in preparation to drill through to the next set of rooms in order to run electrical lines. Since he knew the length of the corridor, and the length of the previous room, it was simple enough to knock a small hole in the plaster to see how thick it was: less than a finger-width, but enough to hold a short screw. He withdrew one from his pocket and screwed it in by hand. The end of the screw had a loop, which had a marked length of string tied to it. Ricker got off the ladder, moved it to the other end of the room, and proceeded to do the same thing at the wall at that end. The plaster was slightly thicker, but about the same in depth as the previous wall. He measured from stone to screw, made a note on an inky hide he withdrew from his pocket, then peered more closely at the bit of wall he'd exposed. It was the same as the rest; the masons had them looking for
seams of any other minerals while they were working, since there was no sense in doubling the work. Satisfied, he moved the ladder back to the shelving at the other end of the room and proceeded to unscrew the screw, wind the string, and clean up the plaster dust he'd knocked off the wall with his handkerchief. He came down the ladder and gestured to the mess in his hand. "Got somewhere I can leave this? And some water? There's still dust and I'd hate for it to mark your fabric."

Jaffra picked up a waste bin and held it out, just under his hand. She didn't want to take any chance that he'd miss. "We have water in the dyeing room, to the right. Your left," she added as though he couldn't figure that out for himself.

"Left, right." Ricker deadpanned, dropped the dust into the bin, and went to go check out the dyeing room. That, at least, his apprentice had checked. The room was dim but it was easy enough to spot the gleam of taps, and he took a moment to wash his hands before wetting his handkerchief. The Journeywoman hadn't moved when he returned to the other room to finish up. He almost told her to go do something else, but it probably wouldn't have had an impact. She actually reminded him of himself when the cleaning drudges dared brave his workroom.

He'd remember to be kinder to them next time.

Silently he climbed the ladder, wiped down the shelf with his handkerchief, and climbed down again. Folding the ladder, he picked it up over his shoulder and turned to Jaffra. "That should be it for now. We'll let you know when we'll be laying wire and what you'll need to do to prepare for it."

"Fine," Jaffra replied. "As long as it won't be too intrusive and happen while we're busy making outfits for hatchings or Turn's End. Or important gathers." Basically that was most of the time.

"You can take up scheduling issues with Master Solis and the Weyrwoman," Ricker replied pleasantly. Let them deal with the Journeywoman. He had other things to attend to.

"I'll do that," Jaffra replied. Perhaps he thought she wouldn't, but she hated being disturbed and wouldn't take it well when it happened.

"Right." Ricker tipped his imaginary cap at Jaffra and smiled, mostly to see if she would smile back. "Have a great rest of your day, then."

She gave him a funny look and then went back to working, the man dismissed from her mind already.

Last updated on the October 26th 2015

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A Disturbance