Find A Seamstress

Writers: Suzee, Eimi
Date Posted: 6th July 2017

Characters: Sophque, Kiomo
Description: A chance meeting in the Hold.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 12, day 14 of Turn 8

Sophque

It was too early to face the day without a bit of klah, but in order
to get his stimulant fix, he would have to get dressed and walk down
to the kitchen. With a yawn, Kiomo slipped his arms through the
sleeves of an old shirt and stepped up in front of his mirror.

**I'll need a haircut soon,** he thought as he ran his fingers through
his dark hair. He liked to keep it long, but it was starting to get a
little too feminine. That certainly wouldn't do.

With another yawn he reached for the top button, followed by the
second. **Uh oh... That feels a bit loose...** After repeated
buttoning and unbuttoning, it was not unusual for the thread that held
it in place had become worn and frayed. Why he hated sewing his own
buttons on, he could certainly do it. With a sigh he undid the top
button and slipped his arms back out. Before reaching for the kit, he
took closer look to see what color thread he would need.

He discovered to his annoyance that the thread was just fine. It was
the fabric underneath it that had somehow ripped. **How in Faranth's
name did that happen...** he thought with a frown. That was one of
his best shirts! It slowly turned into a wide grin, however, as he
remembered a rather impatient Holder's wife... What a night that had
been!

But his poor shirt! It was one of his favorites! Master Weaver
Craboss himself had sold him that shirt. He certainly was not going
to throw it away without at least trying to save it. But this was
certainly beyond his very basic button sewing skills. What he needed
was a seamstress. But not until after his klah...

Sophque hummed as she walked toward the dining hall. Her day had
started very happily. Sophine had awoken early and come to her mothers
bed to read her a book. Her little five turn old girl had gotten her
love of reading from her mama and it thrilled her no end. She'd be
starting her Harper classes come next season and Sophque sighed. She
knew soon enough there were going to be questions as she came in
closer contact with other children and realized that her mother wasn't
married and how odd that was.

She smiled as she turned the corner and nearly ran into a man she
didn't recognize in a very very nice classy shirt. Her expert eyes
roved over the fabric and trim then widened as she recognized it. "Oh
sorry," she finally looked into the man's face. "Please pardon my
stare," she dropped a curtsy knowing he was certainly rich if not blooded.

"Oh! Excuse me," Kiomo said, reaching out to touch her arm as if to
steady them both. "Sorry about that. I'm new here and a little
lost." He held up the shirt he carried folded neatly in his other
hand. "I'm trying to find where the seamstresses might be. You
wouldn't happen to know, would you?"

"I do sir," she nodded. "I'm one of the seamstresses. My name is Sophque."

"How lucky," he said with a wide grin. And not just because he had so
conveniently found a seamstress, but one that he could tell at a
glance ticked several of his boxes of what he liked in a woman. Her
hair, the roundness of her face, the shape of her eyes... She very
much looked like Gleniel, a young drudge Kiomo had found to entertain
himself with in his early days at Garnet Valley. Could he be so lucky
twice? "Well met, Sophque. I am Kiomo, newly arrived from Garnet
Valley."

"Very nice to meet you," she smiled. "May I," she asked and held out
her hands for the shirt. Unless she was mistaken she thought she
recognized the pattern of the weave.

"Sophque. What a beautiful name." He obediently reached out the
shirt to her. "Are you from Sunstone originally?"

"Born and raised," she smiled. "My father is the head Orchardist." She
took the shirt and looked closely at the weave. "Is this Master
Craboss' work?"

"It is indeed," Kiomo said, genuinely impressed that a local girl
could recognize it. "How did you know?"

"See this?" She turned the fabric and tilted it until a slightly
raised pattern could be clearly seen in one corner of the sleeve. "see
how the C is embraced by s's? That is his signature. This is very fine
cloth," she smiled.

"I would not have thought that Master Craboss did a lot of trade with
Sunstone. How do you come to know so much?" Certainly she was not
weaver trained, and she said her father was an orchardist!

She blanched realizing she couldn't or wouldn't fully explain how
she'd spent many hours in the former Lord Holders rooms and was very
familiar with the expensive fabrics Morin had used in his garments. He
might not have desired a great deal of embellishment but the fabric
was always very fine. "Well," she stammered. "I do dress my Lady and
work with many very fine fabrics."

"Of course you do." That definitely explained why she might come into
contact with the finer makers. Maybe Sunstone was not so backward for
such a newly established Hold. "I bet your Lady appreciates your fine
eye. Do you make original pieces for her?"

"I do," she smiled hoping her discomfort had gone unnoticed. He
certainly had fine manners not questioning her more closely. "Mostly
maternity things right now and small clothes for the new baby."

"And do you make clothes for others as well, Sophque?" He certainly
wouldn't mind letting this pretty little seamstress take his
measurements.

"Sometimes," she smiled and tilted her head. "You find the fabric you
like and tell me what you'd like made from it and I'll tell you how
many marks."

"It's a deal," he said, reaching for her hand to give it a small shake
to seal the promise. "And where can I find you when I find what I
want?"

"I work up on the next floor near my Lady's chambers." She said. "A
drudge could show you the way."

"And when during the day may I find you there?" he asked innocently.

"Usually from sun up to sun down." She smiled and blushed prettily.
Then she dropped a short curtsey, "Well met Kiomo of Garnet Valley,"
she said. "I must get to work."

Last updated on the September 1st 2017

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