Intoxicating Scent

Writers: Francesca, Paula
Date Posted: 13th March 2008

Characters: Jadorin, Petriv
Description: Petriv gets measured by Jadorin for Gather clothes and both men feel attracted to one another.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 8, day 2 of Turn 4

"Good job, both of you," Jadorin told the apprentices after examining their work at the loom. The brothers were mischievous at times, but when they kept their concentration, their work was not bad. The older one especially was turning out well-made rugs that, while very simple looking, would do well on the floor of any small room or cothold.

Satisfied that they were on task, he turned back towards his desk, where he was doing some sketches for a small tapestry he was thinking of making for one of his sisters. Just then, the door to the workshop opened and a man he had never met walked in. After a quick glance at his knots, Jadorin smiled and walked over to great him. "Hello, Master. I'm Journeyman Jadorin. How can I help you?"

"Hello. I'm here to be fitted into new gather clothes," the man replied. He was tall and lanky, with silver-grey hair and weather-beaten face.

"Wonderful! Come this way, and we can go to my workspace to talk. It's quieter there." After ensuring that the apprentices would be watched over by another Journeyman, the two men went to Jadorin's room, where he took a seat behind his desk and offered another chair to the Master. "Now, do you have anything specific in mind, Master ...?"

"Petriv. No, I don't have anything in my mind. This was my wife's idea," Petriv replied.

"Ah. I understand." It was surprising how many of the men who came to see him had been sent by their wives. "If you want, I can take your measurements now, and then we can pick out the fabric, colors, and style.
This will give us a chance to talk for a bit so I get some ideas of what would suit you."

"Sounds good to me," the herder replied with an indifferent shrug.

Yes, he was a typical husband, Jadorin thought, a bit amused. At least that was better than the wives who accompanied their husbands and fussed over every little detail. "If you could just take off your jacket and stand up, that will make my measurements more accurate. I promise this won't take long."

"All right," Petriv grunted and complied. "Are you new here, 'cause I don't remember seeing you around before. Of course, I don't hung around the weavery usually," Petriv asked in attempt to make small talk while the weaver measured him up.

"Yes, I just arrived a few months ago, from the Weaver Hall. It's a bit crowded here, but the Headwoman set me up with a good room, so I'm not complaining."

The Journeyman gestured for Petriv to hold his arms out to be measured, and couldn't help but noticing his smell. It wasn't strong, and he couldn't describe it, but it was attractive, and he could even imagine it being a bit inviting. His thoughts turned to his time at the Weyr, when a rider would just laugh and, depending on the color of his dragon, flirt if someone commented on his scent. But, of course, Amber Hills Hold was nothing like the Weyr, he reminded himself, moving the tape measure to under Petriv's arms. Besides, people, much less Petriv himself, would think he was crazy if they caught him smelling another man.

Petriv found himself fascinated by the weaver's hands. So different than his rough, work-calloused hands.

The smell was almost intoxicating to Jadorin and he cleared his throat to try to snap out of it. What was wrong with him? He never felt attracted to his clients. In an attempt to break the silence, he cleared his throat again and asked, "What color outfit would you like to have? Perhaps your craft's colors, or something that would go well with your complexion?"

"Something in earth tones?" Petriv suggested almost shyly. He felt attracted to this young man. It wasn't first time that happened to him, but it was always tough to fight the feeling.

"Hmm, that sounds good," Jadorin replied, using that as an excuse to look the other man up and down. "Yes, that would work very well with your complexion. I have some color samples on my desk that we can look at as soon as we finish measuring."

He knelt to the side of the Master to measure his legs, concentrating so he didn't caress or let his fingers touch Petriv any longer than necessary for the job. He was still fighting against the attraction, but it was difficult to do because it happened so rarely and was such a wonderful feeling.

Petriv wished he would touch him more, longer. Maybe he could make this session last longer.

"Almost done," the weaver murmured, unsure of what else to say.

"There's no hurry," Petriv replied.

After several minutes of almost complete silence, Jadorin wrote the last of the measurements down and stood. The two men quickly agreed on the exact color and the design of the outfit.

"I'll contact you as soon as I have everything cut, dyed, and sewn, and we can do a final fitting," the weaver said. "It shouldn't be more than a sevenday or two." He regretted that the meeting was over but couldn't think of a legitimate way to prolong it. The other man's smell was still potent, although he did manage to push the feeling of attraction to the corner of his mind. **Concentrate. He's married!** he reminded himself. He smiled and they shook hands.

"Well, we'll see then," Petriv said. He was sure he was not going to miss that appointment. He couldn't remember last time some young man had this effect to him.

Jadorin watched Petriv leave, then shook his head to clear it. "He's married," he told himself firmly. Although he couldn't help but have the feeling that the other man had seemed to enjoy his touch as much as he himself had.

**It was just my imagination.** But was it? He sighed. He had a feeling he would not be able to get much work done for awhile.

Last updated on the March 19th 2008

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Intoxicating Scent