[The Weft and Warp] Another Day, Another Miza. (Open)

[Nessaisa Protea]

Nessaisa was relieved. She listened to Avarys' explanation with admiration, she couldn't have explained so well without giving everything away. She only halfway listened as the old man rambled on about his early days. Another day it might have been interesting, but her mind was jumping ahead now to the next step in making the dress.

When he handed her the fish she thanked him politely and ate as quickly as possible without burning her tongue. She felt re-energized and ready to get back to work. She nodded when Avarys suggested they go, and rose to her feet.

OOCThat's fine by me!

[Poison]

After they had bidden the fisherman farewell – the man looked a bit disappointed that they were leaving again so soon – Avarys and Nessaisa returned to the Weft and Warp. The weaver took her to yet another room where she could see a couple of large cauldrons. „Just put the coccoons in there“, he told her and pointed at the cauldrons. „Then we just need to add water, heat it and wait. Now where are the buckets …“

He murmurred something, and then he discovered a few wooden buckets half hidden behind one of the cauldrons. He handed one of them to Nessaisa and gestured for her to come with him.

The houses in Kalinor had an advantage over the houses on the surface. Water was delivered directly into the homes through a complicated system of tubes, so instead of making a trip to some kind of well, they only had to go to the next room.

Soon enough Avarys had stared a fire under the cauldrons, and the water started to boil. „Once the coccoons have unravelled, we let the silk dry a bit, and then we’ll dye it. I have some dye that should give it a nice shade of golden here. You should be able to start weaving the cloth this evening. By the way, if you ever need anything or if you have a suggestion, don’t hesitate to talk to me.“

„I want our little project to go well.“ While they waited for the silk to get ready, Avarys left the room to retrieve the dyes. He also brought Nessaisa something to drink since all the work in the Rose Cavern had likely made her thirsty. Some time passed as he told her more about the process of creating and dying silk, and before too long the silk was ready so that Nessaisa could finally start weaving.

[Nessaisa Protea]

The process of creating and dying silk was new and quite fascinating for Nessaisa. She listened and watched Avarys attentively as he went about his work, helping when he directed her. Soon enough the silk was done. Now it was her turn to help produce the cloth that would become a beautiful dress for the princess.

She took the silk to the room Avarys had designated she use for the project and began carefully setting up the fine loom inside to begin her weaving. She set up the warp threads first, making sure they were taut and threading them through the heddles to the other side of the loom. She put the gold thread through the bobbin on the shuttle as well.

Then she began to weave. She first opened the shed using the foot pedal, creating the opening for the shuttle to pass through. The she gently moved the shuttle from her left through the opening in the warp threads over to her right. She pulled the weft thread close to her starting point and battened it into place. Then she repeated the actions, moving the shuttle this time from right to left.

Nessaisa was slow at first due to anxiety. However, as she fell into the familiar pattern of weaving she became more confident. She loved the simple work of creating a beautiful piece of cloth. She moved at a steady pace, not too fast but not slow either. A pace she was comfortable with. As the evening wore on she continued to work steadily and the amount of finished cloth was growing.

OOCI'm sorry if there are any mistakes on the process of weaving, I'm not entirely sure I grasp it. Please let me know if I need to make any corrections. Thanks!

[Poison]

„Is it alright if I leave you alone for a bell or two?“ Avarys asked Nessaisa once she had sat down behind her loom and started weaving. „I have to admit, the things you said about my cousin still worry me. I’m going to look for her, besides that I need to check on the Rest of the Weft and Warp to make sure that they are still doing their work. I don’t think leaving them alone for the rest of the day is a good idea. I’ve brought you something to drink, and there are snacks as well in case all that weaving makes you hungry.“

With that he left the room. As he said he was gone for about two bells. As he returned he had a strange look on his face. „I’ve found Alessa“, he told her. „She’s … well, I suppose. She’s just had some issues, nothing that you need to be worried about.“ He talked a little too quickly, and from the look on his face it was obvious that at least he was worried. „Anyway, you are doing a great job so far.“ He inspected the cloth she was working on. „It looks beautiful. The ruling couple’s daughter will love it!“

From then on he checked on Nessaisa every once in a while in between doing whatever a teacher at a weaving school was supposed to do. As the evening wore on, most of the other weavers left the Weft and Warp to go home until there were only Nessaisa and Avarys left. „I think you should leave as well“, he informed her. „It’s getting late. Come back tomorrow morning. We’ll need a bit more cloth, but you should be able to start sewing soon. You can already start thinking a bit about the design of the dress.“

[Nessaisa Protea]

Involved in her weaving, all Nessaisa did to show Avarys that she had heard his question and approved him going away for awhile was nod. She continued on with her weaving the whole time he was gone. When he arrived she was standing and stretching. She took a big drink of water while listening to his news on Alessa. She looked as though she wanted to say something, but thought better of it and followed Avarys' change in subject.

She went back to weaving, picking up her steady pace. She was reluctant to go when that night, but realized that falling asleep at the loom wouldn't benefit anyone. She walked home quickly, her mind on the part she was most looking forward to—the design. She fell asleep as soon as she lay down and dreamed.

She woke early the next morning, many hours before she would be expected at the Weft and Warp. All she remembered of the dream was the dress. Sleep deprived though she was she was awake now and made a quick decision. She pulled out her canvas, easel, and paints. She set to work painting. She was far from a great painter, but when she finished she was satisfied the idea would come across to Avarys.

While she let the paint dry she ate her breakfast and dozed for a short while. When she woke again she knew it was time to go. She took the canvas off the easel and after making sure the paint was dry she rolled it up. She still managed to get to the Weft and Warp early. She began her weaving again while she waited for Avarys.

[Poison]

Avarys who was normally the first to arrive at the Weft and Warp and one of the last to leave was a litlte late this time. He looked tired, as if he hadn’t slept properly the night before, and his hair was a little dhissheveled. Still, he greeted Nessaisa with a smile as he noticed that she was already at her loom again.

He touched the cloth she was weaving and checked if it was completely flawless – nothing but the best would do for the ruling couple’s daughter – and then, satisfied, he stepped back and finally adressed her, „It looks wonderful, Nessaisa. I’ll prepare a few things you’ll need when you are actually sewing the cloth, needles and thread. You’ll need them soon.“

He was about to turn around and make sure she had everything for the next step when his gaze fell ont he rolled up canvas she had brought with her. He furrowed his brow. „What is that, Nessaisa?“ he wanted to know. „I wasn't aware that painting something was part of your job. Would you mind showing it to me?“

[Nessaisa Protea]

Happily weaving at her loom, she again barely noticed Avarys until he asked about her painting. Then she was very obviously overtaken with anxiety. She had that scared look on her face again.

She took a deep breath and explained, "I know you wanted some ideas for the dress, and I was half asleep and I just kinda saw this dress in my dream, and I got up really early and I decided to paint...I thought maybe it would convey my idea better than words?"

She then reached back and unfurled the canvas and handed it to Avarys with shaking hands.

[Poison]

As Avarys noticed Nessaisa’s shaking hands, he smirked a little. „There is no need to be nervous“, he remarked. „I don’t bite … usually.“

With that he took the canvas and examined it from all angles before a smile slowly spread across his face.

„This looks fantastic“, he remarked as he handed it back to her. „The shade of gold will compliment her eyes very nicely, and the cut of the dress is very flattering. She will look a real princess when she’s wearing it!“

After a few more moments had passed he left Nessaisa to her weaving again and went to prepare the sewing materials as he had said.

He brought balls of thread in different shades of gold, different kinds of needles and scissors and everything else she would need, and then he simply stood there and waited for her to finish weaving and actually begin working on the dress.

He was ready to help her at any point, as he had said.

OOCIf you want to, you can just describe Nessaisa making the dress and how Avarys helps her. Make the post detailled though!

[Nessaisa Protea]

Nessaisa said nothing to Avarys' comments, however she did smile rather brightly after his compliment of her painting. She went back to the weaving at the same steady pace and soon enough the fabric was finished.

Now she was in unfamiliar territory. How to make this piece of golden cloth into a beautiful golden dress? She turned to Avarys and stated quite simply, "Avarys, I know very little about sewing, and it's been awhile since I've sewn. Where do we start?"

Avarys reminded her how to thread the needle and make some simple stitches. Then he gave her a needle, thread, and a bit of scrap cloth to practice on before starting on the dress. Once she began to remember her basic lessons on sewing, she began to feel a bit more comfortable. She managed to poke herself a few times with the needle but nothing worse. After a short time though, the stitches began to get even. She worked slower and stopped poking herself so much. Finally she began to feel ready to sew the dress.

She began with the seam, sewing it most of the way up the cloth. The open part would be used for the ribbon to tie up the back of the dress. Nessaisa patiently brought the needle and thread through the fabric time and time again. She worked slowly to avoid making mistakes, or worse poking herself hard enough to draw blood and mar the fabric. The stitches were passable, but would barely be visible anyways.

Next she got Avarys to hold the dress, holding the open back together. She was going to cut the neckline. She gently and slowly cut a small triangle with curving sides into the middle, creating the dip of the neckline. She then got Avarys to turn the dress and she cut the slit into the leg. She asked Avarys how to create the folds of fabric in the back of the dress as she had imagined it, he helped her gather the fabric and put several pins in to hold it in place.

After that they figured out how they were going to do the back, where it would lace up with a ribbon. Actually it was Avarys who figured out the best way to do it. He decided that they would use small metal loops wrapped tightly with gold ribbon and then sewn onto the dress. It was simple to attach these as well, and when they were all in they drew a long gold thread through and tied it in a loose bow.

Nessaisa knew the next thing they needed to do was sew beads around the neckline and waist, but she didn't have any and didn't know how. Avarys fetched a large box from another room full of all kinds of beads, gems, brooches, and the like in all colors. He showed her how to do it--by putting the beads on the needle and then along the thread to the fabric. He gently pushed the needle through the fabric to the other side, then back through in the same spot directly in front of the bead. Then he let her do sew the next few beads in. It was very simple, however, sewing the little beads on was time consuming and she had to do it alone because she needed Avarys to hold and turn the dress as she did it.

She began at the neckline, sewing the little beads in a line about an inch below the top of the fabric. She sewed another line of baubles beneath that, and another line of beads beneath that. Then they moved onto the waist of the dress. They then attached little strings of dark yellow beads at the waist in the back that dangled down almost to the floor. After all the beads were sewn into place, they placed a brooch in front and another in back. The one they fixed onto the front was black, and looked something like a spider with a large dark red stone fixed into its thorax. The other had a large amber gemstone in the center, with white beads around it. It gave the impression of a vortex, perhaps, or a spider's web. At first glance, both brooches looked valuable and as if they were made of fine materials. However, they were both made of nothing fancier than copper and simple crystals and beads. The stones were the most expensive parts and even those were not precious. All the same they were both quite beautiful.

The dress was finally done. The day was almost gone as well. Nessaisa stood, stretched and popped her knuckles to alleviate the cramps in her fingers. She turned to Avarys with a simple question: "Do you think there's anything else we need to do to the dress to make it ready for Silenva?"

[Poison]

Avarys looked at the finished dress, let his hands run across it and checked it for possible flaws, and then he turned back to Nessaisa and smiled. "It is perfect", he told her. "I know that letting you make it wouldn't be a mistake. We should present it to Silenva right now. What do you think?"

It was then that he looked back at the dress for a moment and suddenly furrowed his brow. "No, actually there's something missing. Wait here for a moment." He hurried out of the door and returned with a large box. "The dress needs a proper package", he informed her. "There's still a bit of cloth left, right? We'll put it around the box. And then we'll use this here ..."

He showed her a deep red silk ribbon. "The inside of the box should be covered with velvet of course." As he said that, he began to work, and a few moments later a shimmering golden box with a red ribbon was lying in front of Nessaisa.

"Perfect", Avarys decided. "You should freshen up a bit, and then we'll go to Silenva."

He sounded very, very excited as he said that.

"I'll be waiting for you in front of the door."