Worn in the Sole (Emeni)

[Invisible]

A couple of boxes did not sound so bad to K’mar so he nodded his head. “Shall I bring it down and hand it to you?” he offered with a gesture towards the shelf that should have the box on it. “Or did you want this one moved somewhere else? Put back behind the other one on the shelf?” He knew how things operated in here, but he wasn’t sure what Emeni wanted done and he assumed she had the authority to do as she wanted in this at least.

The expression on the steward’s assistant’s face made him smile for a brief moment before he looked at the offending box on the ground. He stood quietly then awaiting her instructions because otherwise he would have had to make small talk and…small talk. Well, it didn’t go together well with him at all. Not a big surprise really.

[Slim]

Emeni spared him the trouble of having to make any more small talk, choosing to focus on her work now that she'd gotten back to it. "Just help me put this one on the floor," she patted the one she'd been resting her cheek against, "then the one behind it, so I can get it open. We'll put 'em back in the same order once we're done, and it shouldn't take more'n a couple minutes. We're strong people, right?" She grinned at him. Nevermind the ailing thumb, she did have some muscle on her lean frame, even if it paled next to the average tough guy's.

[Invisible]

All his work as a weyrling had not added to K’mar’s bulk. He still had the same wiry frame he’d had before Volsteath found him on the sands. But he would certainly be up to any task a woman could handle. As Emeni described what they would do he nodded his head. He reached for the first box to be moved and got a good grip on his side of it. When Emeni gave the signal he would make sure to steady his grip and haul the box down. With any luck, he thought, he would not drop it on a foot. “Sounds easy enough,” he told her with a little smile. "Be careful with your thumb."

[Slim]

"Oh, no chance of messing that up again." Emeni said, tapping her thumb on the side of the box. "I put any pressure on this thing, and it lets me know about it. Up!" And that was all the signal he got, as Emeni heaved the box up just enough to slide it over the edge of the shelf and lower it to the ground. It went easily for her, and without pausing to see if K'mar had managed equally well, she grabbed the second crate.

"C'mon, now for the goodie box. Up!"

[Invisible]

“I still think you should have had it looked at,” K’mar says with a glance towards the offending thumb. He always worried about injuries even if getting him to the infirmary took a miracle and a half. The first box was moved easily without landing on anyone’s feet. Always a plus!

Once it was out of the way he went for the second one sensing Emeni would waste no time. He was right too and K’mar had a good grip on the second box before she made her move. The boxes were not light, but he could see where they might have seemed so. Light enough for one person to try to move they were not, but until you tried you might think otherwise.

[Slim]

Emeni waited until she had the second box down to answer him. "Hey, you're not the only one who doesn't like going to the healers over nothin'. It's just a little smushed, but what're you gonna do?" She shrugged, dropping to her knee in front of the box she'd been seeking and sliding off the lid. "It's not like they can set it like a bone or something. And I don't need numbweed, yuck. Did you smell when they were brewing it up the other day? Ugh!

Talking about numbweed didn't interfere with her ability to pick through the contents of the crate, and while she spoke, she pulled out one of the bolts of cloth and squinted at the spool all the cloth was wrapped around. "Sorry, can you hold up the glow for me? Can't really see the mark down here." Too dark on the floor.

[Invisible]

“I missed part of the smell, but only because we don’t linger over breakfast anyway,” K’mar said with a frown. “But it’s hard to miss the smell even if not in the room it’s being made. I cannot believe the headwoman allowed that to go on. I wonder what that healer did to get permission?”

Once the box was down he didn’t know what to do with his hands. Luckily he was given a task. Taking up the glow he held it where it would provide the best light for Emeni to see. “What are you looking for exactly? Anything?”

[Slim]

Emeni didn't answer for a moment: now that she'd been given light, she wanted to see if she was right about the cloth. That came first. The smug smile that stretched across her face seconds later indicated success.

"This," she said, angling the spool so he could see the stamp on it. Southern Boll and the Weavercraft Hall had both played a part in its creation: a fine pedigree indeed. "I knew we still had some. I wanna set up a trade, this stuff for some rugs out of Tillek. They're great, you can just dig your toes into them and it's so warm. I figure people around here'll want rugs like that when winter comes, right?" Giving the one bolt of cloth an approving pat, she proceeds quickly through the rest of the batch, affirming quickly but thoroughly that each one of them is the same type of cloth, and that no inferior bolts have gotten mixed in by mistake.

[Invisible]

Leaning against the shelf while holding the glow K’mar tried to resist the urge to peer real close. That would show too much interest and interest? In something as dull as cloth? No, he wasn’t interested in that. “Oh, that’s a good find,” he said because he thought that was what one said. For K’mar most conversations seemed to wind up with him saying what he thought he should be saying.

While the box was being checked he leaned closer and took a look, giving in to curiosity. “I imagine when winter comes people will definitely want rugs,” he agreed. “It would beat having to always remember one’s slippers.” He wondered if there would be any good rugs left by the time he graduated. A nice rug for his weyr would be a good first touch.

K’mar cleared his throat and straightened up to stop casting his shadow on the glow light. “I don’t suppose I could get you to hide one of those rugs for me until I graduate?” he asked hesitantly. The weyrling did not know what sort of trade she might want for that so he did not suggest anything.

[Slim]

Emeni's favor-trading system was much cleaner than that, and didn't require any promises up front. "Sure!" she agreed easily, patting the last bolt of cloth as she slid it back into place. If she ever needed something from K'mar, there'd be plenty of time when that need arose to guilt-trip him about that time she'd saved a rug for him.

"Just as long as you promise you'll actually come take it," she added, "'cause there's been a few times where I saved something and the person I'm saving for decided they didn't want it after all. I mean, I can get rid of it anyway, it just bothers me." After all, anything popular enough to need saving could easily find a new home, it just wasn't fair to the people who'd asked for it first and been told there weren't any left. It was perfectly fair, though, to save something for somebody who'd asked first and just been unable to take it home right away.

[Invisible]

“Thank you very much,” K’mar said most formally. If he was bothered by the open ended promise he had fallen into it did not show. Any arrangement deserved such a formal thank you. Already he wondered where that rug would wind up a turn from now when he finally graduated and had his own weyr.

His own weyr. Just those three words could make him smile. Not that he had ever doubted, but it sure took long enough. His satisfaction at his future lot in life leaked out into his voice as he spoke. “I give you my word I shall be looking for you the day I graduate.” This was one person who would not decide otherwise about what it was he wanted.

[Slim]

"Good," Emeni said, shoving the top back on the crate. The wood screeched as it slid back into the runners that held it in place, and she shot K'mar an apologetic grimace for the noise. She'd managed to open it without any screeching, but sometimes these things could get cranky.

"Help me put them back up?" she requested, flipping her knees out to the side as she squatted in front of the crate, ready to lift. The pose looked a bit silly, but she'd been working in the stores for too long to care: lifting properly and keeping your back in good shape was more important than dignity. Especially when she was already avoiding a healer visit over her red-purple thumb, she didn't want to add a sore back to it.

[Invisible]

Wincing at the noise K’mar rubbed at one ear and made a face. “I hate that,” he commented. Because, of course, some people might like that? Well, at least he said something. Once it was closed and she was ready to move it back up he moved over to help. In the process he forgot he was still holding the glow basket and had to step back again to lay it on a shelf.

With empty hands he once more moved over to help get the box in place. K’mar let Emeni be the leader in this since he was just the helper assistant weyrling. Silly she may look, but at least with her lifting the box properly she was spared a lecture on such things by K’mar.

[Slim]

When both boxes had been lifted safely back to their appointed places, Emeni gave a contented sigh and planted her hands on her hips. "Whelp," she said, looking back at K'mar with a smile. "I guess you're all paid back for the shoes or whatever. Don't let your dragon eat these ones, though." She shook a scolding finger at the new boots she'd helped him find, but winked while she did it.

[Invisible]

Brushing his hands off on his trousers K’mar picked up those boots that replaced the ones eaten by a curious brown. “I shall make sure they are placed in my chest,” he assured Emeni with a solemn expression regardless of her wink. “Thank you for your assistance. It is most appreciated.” A somewhat stilted ending to the conversation but it was the best the weyrling could do before he turned and headed back for the barracks.