Leatherworking
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Aaron, Yvonne
Date Posted: 23rd October 2024
Characters: Kailis, Ketlyn
Description: Kailis and Ketlyn have *opinions* about leather
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 1, day 24 of Turn 12
Crafting was one area that Ketlyn felt competent at. Marching drills and Weyr politics were new and often confusing, but making something... this was satisfying and something she felt good at -- mostly. She scurried into class and slipped into the seat beside Kailis, a giant canvas bag with her leather straps, awl and sinew hung over one shoulder, and a pair of mugs of klah precariously gripped in her other class. "Thought you might appreciate some klah," she said, holding the mugs out to the other weyrling.
"Thank goodness. And thank you." Kailis took the mug and carefully sipped its contents. "Can you believe this nonsense?"
Making, assembling, and maintaining things made of metal was one thing. But this? Preserved and hardened bits of beast skin!? It was an entirely different beast, no pun intended (this time), and she was already having the worst time with it. She would settle for nothing less than perfection -- these things would be her only lifeline (literally) when she was in the air on Chordath's back -- and perfection was going to take forever.
"What nonsense?" Ketlyn pulled a pair of biscuits from her pocket and handed one to Kailis.
"Oo, thanks." Kailis shoved the biscuit whole into her mouth, and then when she began to answer Ketlyn's question, realized that she had sabotaged her ability to speak. "Mm." She held up one finger and chewed more quickly. At last, she said,
"Leather. Absolute nonsense."
Ketlyn nodded. "I hate anything to do with sewing with a _passion_. And leather as a material it feels so... flimsy." But at least it was making something instead of memorizing.
"See, you get it." Kailis frowned and squinted and refocused her attention on the straps.
Ketlyn sighed and let her mind wander back to the glassworks. She was just an apprentice so she hadn't been able to play with glass the same way that the more experienced students did, but she loved the sound of scoring and breaking glass, and how brittle it was, and how stained glass caught the light like little bits of concentrated colour you could hold in your hands. She liked the blast of the furnaces and weight of a punty in her hands, and the satisfaction of making something real. "Do you think we'll get to go back to our Crafts ever?" she asked a bit wistfully.
"Like, full time? I doubt it. I suppose there is always the possibility that some unexpected event could disrupt the Red Star, but..." Kailis tapped her chin for a moment.
"Have you ever seen a telescope?"
"Just lenses. I saw some that were going to go into a telescope that were a Masterwork."
"I'd like to see one," Kailis mused. "It would probably be more interesting than leather. But unfortunately, telescopes won't stop me from falling off of Chordath. Or maybe it is fortunate, after all. Telescopes are much more expensive than riding straps."
Ketlyn sipped at her klah. "What's your favourite thing to make?"
"Hm... I like anything I need a schematic to assemble," said Kailis. "The more puzzling, the better. You?"
"Glass," Ketlyn sighed. "Although maybe not grinding lenses. That's really, really hard to get right." She looked at the pile of leather in front of her. "Although it's more interesting than making giant belts. I can see why so many of the real dragonriders decorate their straps."
"You're not real?" Kailis leaned over to poke Ketlyn's shoulder gently.
"The dragonriders fighting Thread, I mean. We're just..." The word 'playing' was at the tip of her tongue but she managed to bite it back. "...practicing."
"I was worried about where that cookie came from there for a second." Kailis smiled. "Well. Practice makes palpable. We'll be real before you know it."
Whether she wanted to be or not. Ketlyn set aside her klah and picked up a strap. "Pass me an awl?" Even if it was sewing, this was something that she could do-- and do right.
Last updated on the October 28th 2024