A Bad Man

Writers: Anika, Suzee
Date Posted: 5th February 2015

Characters: Sophque, Eirock
Description: Sophque helps Eirock choose fabrics and takes his measurements.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 11, day 2 of Turn 7

Sophque

Eirock

Sophque had been so long on the night shift that she was finding it
just a little difficult to adjust to days. But with her main duties
now shifted to the Lady Holder's wardrobe, days were the time when she
had to be available. She smiled as she walked down the stairs toward
the kitchens with a long gown draped across her arms. There was a rent
in one of the seams that she wanted to repair but needed more light to
see her tiny stitches in the fine pastel linen lawn.

Just starting up the stairs, Eirock was pleased to see Sophque on her
way down. "Just the person I had hoped to see," he remarked,
satisfaction evident in his tone.

"Hello," she beamed at him. He was certainly a friendly fellow and she
found she appreciated that in a person. "Beautiful day today." She
descended another step and moved to the side to get past him without
mussing the delicate gown in her arms. "Is there something I can help
you with sir?"

"Please just call me Eirock," he said affably, noting as he had last
time what a very lovely smile she had. "I have secured some fabrics
to consider, though I was left with far more than I require.
Honestly, I am terrible at looking at a piece of cloth and seeing it
as anything but just that, so I am not sure which will be the best
choices for tunics. The weaver will be returning to collect those
pieces I don't require in two days time. Is there any chance you
would have time to look at the fabrics with me before then?"

"Of course, Eirock" she smiled and nodded though she was still a bit
uncertain of calling the Steward by his first name. "I just need to
put My Lady's dress in the sewing room so it isn't mussed and we can
go look at them."

"I didn't mean to interrupt your work, but would certainly appreciate
your help."

"Oh it's alright," she said as she led the way to her workroom. She
hung the delicate dress in the wardrobe and then picked up her
measuring string and a small scrap of hide. "She doesn't need it until
tomorrow so I have plenty of time."

"Well, I'll be pleased to have it done and the fabrics out of my
quarters. I have a strong suspicion that the gent thought the more
options he left, the more fabric I would purchase. Also fairly certain
that at least a couple of the bolts would be used for a woman's gown
and not a man's tunic at all."

Sophque smiled and nodded. "I know exactly what you mean. They're in
business and want to make marks on every sale. But we'll sort it out."
She followed him down the hall.

He smiled at her matter-of-fact assurance. Something about her voice
or the way she spoke, he wasn't sure, but it was comforting in a
manner he couldn't pinpoint. As they made their way to his rooms, he
studied her surreptitiously. Her face was not beautiful, and yet it
was attractive, one of the kindest faces the man had ever seen. Eyes
of light brown, or perhaps gold, seemed to allude to a generous and
soft-hearted nature. Eirock found himself wondering about the widowed
seamstress.

"You've no idea how much I appreciate your confidence in the matter,"
he quipped. "The records and ledgers of the Hold are easy to master,
but these fabrics confound me." As they arrived at his rooms, he
opened the door and held it for her.

"Oh it's not a problem at all," she smiled up at him. When they
arrived at his rooms she walked through the door he'd opened with
murmured thanks before she caught her breath at the array of fabrics.
"Oh my," she chuckled. "Did he bring you an entire shipload?"

"My very point! Do you suppose they are actually contraband and he saw
his opportunity to hide them safely in the Steward's chambers?" Eirock
jested as he fingered a fine indigo fabric that he could not imagine
ever wearing.

"I have no idea," she shook her head at all the finery. "Which colors
do you like best." She knew more than she was letting on of course.
Her turns around the late holder had taught her to keep her own
council on what she did or didn't know. Most of the time she even
forgot about it until someone else brought it up. "This would do very
well for a dress shirt," she said holding up a length of very soft
linen. She tested the strength between two fingers. It would take
embroidery quite well. Either red or black work would look very nice
around the yoke and cuffs.

"I find myself often drawn to darker blues and greens in general. For
the embroidery, I think black is rather stately." Eirock noted and
appreciated her experienced appraisal as she tested the fabric.

"Very well," she nodded with a smile. It would be good to work on
something like that again. She pulled a deep navy and a bright green.
"Both of these could work for a gather tunic, and this brown would be
quite good for daily wear." She looked up directly into his eyes with
a smile. "We could also do one the color of your eyes. That is very
attractive to the ladies."

"By all means let's do that then," he stated meeting her direct gaze
with a teasing one of his own, noticing that her eyes did indeed
appear gold in this light. "Do you have other insights on catching a
lady's eye, perchance?"

"I have all sorts of insights," she said with a slow smile. His eyes
were quite friendly but she had her own reputation to protect and that
of her daughter. Sophine had no one but her mother now. She couldn't
afford to follow her heart like she had with Morin when he was there
to protect her. She looked away after a moment and turned to gather
the bolts they'd discussed.

"I'd keep these," she said quietly. "And maybe this one for some
insets and decoration." She picked a rather masculine looking brocaded
fabric with several of the colors they'd already selected. She could
use it on one of his tunics in various ways. "We'll probably need some
trims and buttons as well."

Her comment and smile were briefly encouraging, but Eirock noted how
she deliberately turned both her body and the conversation and
accepted the unspoken message. "Wonderful. I'm glad to have that
settled. I'll send a message to have the rest of this picked up as
soon as possible. As for the other," his brow crinkled. "Perhaps I
could put some marks on account so that you could pick up the buttons
and other items that match as needed?"

"That would work," she nodded suddenly feeling a little shy about the
next part. "I'll need to measure you," she said as she set the
selected bolts on a chair. Pulling out her marking string she looked
back up at him again knowing her color had heightened. Her cheeks felt
like they were flushed but she needed to do this. She took a quick
breath. "Can you hold out your arms like this?" She held hers out to
the side to demonstrate.

Upon seeing her blush, Eirock's impish side surfaced, "Of course, I am
at your disposal, my lady" he stated, thinking of the potential double
meaning of his innocuous words as he complied with her request, his
tone once again teasing.

She shook her head and smiled. He was enjoying her bit of
embarrassment and she knew it. She held up the string and marked down
the length of his arm. With each measurement she took she wrote them
down for future reference. She dodged under his arm and measured his
shoulders which were quite broad and then from the bone at the base of
his neck to his waist. Then she took a deep breath and walked around
in front of him again. "Two more measurements," she said and couldn't
meet his eyes.

The Steward enjoyed seeing the color rush to Sophque's cheeks and the
way her smile lit up her whole face. He found the gentle touches as
she measured tantalizing. Something about the little seamstress made
him want to provoke her, though only in a playful way, but he could
also sense a need to be cautious. With one eyebrow cocked he
pretended he didn't know which measurements remained. "Okay, what do
you need of me?"

"Can you.. um hold this at your belt buckle?" She could face pulling
the string from between his feet toward the back of his belt but
facing him would just embarrass her even more. It wasn't like she was
a normal crafter. A man could measure a man without ... she shivered
slightly. He was must too attractive.

His lips curved upward upon noting the minor quiver and his green eyes
glinted with humor, but he replied quite evenly, "Certainly."

As he accepted the string, he couldn't resist brushing his fingers
intentionally against hers. "So, I met your father," he commented to
ease any tension his action might have caused. "Quite a dedicated
Crafter, seems to have the orchards well in hand."

She didn't know why he seemed to affect her like this. It wasn't as if
she were a maid. She'd been married and she'd loved Morin and gone
willingly to his bed. But for some reason she was at a loss to
understand, her heart was pounding and there was a roaring in her
ears. The subtle touch just made it worse and her fingers trembled
where he couldn't see as she took the measurement. She blinked when he
mentioned her father and she got hold of herself enough to reply.
"They are his pride and joy," she said softly. "He was very proud
when Lord Morin put him in charge of his prize groves."

"Can you hold it... at the top of your leg?"

Her soft voice was as sweet and gentle as a fresh mountain spring, and
he knew he'd never enjoyed having his measurements taken this much
before. "Yes, ah, just here? Or here?" he asked innocently, though
he was aware that in doing so he was drawing attention to the very
parts of himself she seemed to be trying to avoid.

She realized he was teasing her and probably had been from the
beginning. She grinned at the floor trying not to look where he
wanted. **You are a bad man.** "Right there is fine."

"You're sure? I know how important measurements are for a good fit,"
he couldn't quite keep his voice steady for this last comment and had
to bite his cheek to keep from chuckling.

She shook her head and chuckled. This time she didn't stifle her
response. "You are a bad man," she said and poked the back of his
calf. "Hold it where you want and we'll adjust at a fitting."

No longer holding in his mirth, Eirock threw back his head and
laughed, tickled by her response. Sophque had no idea how very true
her words were, and hopefully she never would! The Steward found
himself anxiously awaiting those upcoming fittings and was beginning
to wonder if he might not just need an entirely new wardrobe.

Last updated on the February 10th 2015

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A Bad Man