Death Of A Chair

Writers: AL, Heather
Date Posted: 26th July 2014

Characters: Chaysea, Meledei
Description: Meledei goes to Chayse because her chair has died.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Kapera, Cyradis

Meledei hadn't really had any interactions with the Headwoman as of
yet. Even though it wasn't her fault Qorri was gone, Meledei didn't
really_want_ to interact with her. That, however, was impossible.
Sooner or later, she was going to have to go to the Headwoman for some
reason or another. That day dawned and Meledei's morning was
interrupted by the seat of her armchair finally giving up and caving
in.

"Oh fiddlesticks." Meledei pouted as she remained nestled in the
chasm that had once been the seat of her favourite chair. It had
already been repaired and the last time she'd been told that most
likely it wouldn't hold up to another one. Her legs dangled, the
edge hitting at the back of her legs rather than her thighs and she
kicked them light before finally pushing her way out of the hole.
"Guess it's time to get a new one."

Unfortunately, it was going to have to wait. Drills took precedence
and then Meledei had to work in the records room to take care of
parchments that had to be copied, those copies sent to the proper
authorities, and then one copy shelved. It was toward the end of the
day, when those who worked a normal day time would normally be
finishing up their duties. Meledei trotted through the hallway and
skidded to a stop in front of the Headwoman's door. Hopefully she
hadn't left just yet. Meledei knocked but there was nothing. She
knocked again but silence was her only answer. She heaved a sigh.
"Guess it will have to wait until tomorrow
."

"Miss Meledei, how can I help you?" Chaysea said as she came down the
hallway, keys jingling in one hand as she carried a box of shoulder
knots and cords in the other. She had just left her office for a bit
to grab them out of the storage room. Soon their Candidates would be
turning into Weyrlings and they would need the proper rank knots to
signify their change. She had never had any formal interactions with
the goldrider but Chaysea knew Cyradis and Kapera and so there was no
doubt in who the younger woman was.

Or maybe not. Meledei turned and managed a half smile to the new
Headwoman. "Oh, hi. I thought I'd missed you." Well, maybe she'd at
least be able to look for a chair even if she didn't actually have it
taken to her weyr til the next day. "My armchair died."

"May it rest in peace." Chaysea said with humor as she unlocked the
door to her office and set the box down inside, "Let's go see what we
have in storage then. You may find a diamond in the rough."

The spark of humour took Meledei by surprise, but spurred her smile to
turn into a half grin. "Yeah. That's what I was thinking. I'd
rather not spend marks for a new one unless I absolutely have to if I
can find one that I like."

"Oh I agree, it costs so much less just to have someone reupholster."
Chaysea led the way down the corridor and around the bend to the
largest storeroom that housed the miscellaneous furniture. She used
the toe of her boot to flick open a few shade baskets in the floor,
bringing the glows to life.

"Unfortunately, the one I have is way beyond reupholstering." The
thrice fixed hole just wouldn't stand up any longer. Each time she'd
had a repair done, it had taken less time for it to break again. It
was better to just get a whole 'new' chair. "But I guess if I don't
like the way the new one looks but I like the way it feels I can go
that route."

How much easier would it be when they had electricity installed? They
could just flip a switch and light would click on. At the same time,
there was a certain charm in the glows. "So..." Meledei cast a
sidelong glance to the headwoman. "How are things going with...you
know, your new position and all?"

Chaysea had meant reupholstering a chair from the storage area, not
repairing the old one, but she saw no point in correcting the
goldrider. She hooked her keys onto her belt, "So far so good. No
complaints, at least, or people are polite enough to do it behind my
back." She doubted that sort of politeness existed, even at the Weyr.

"If it makes you feel any better, I haven't heard of any." Meledei
hadn't time to assess the skills of the new headwoman and it wasn't
like it was her fault Qorri had left. If only Qorri would tell her
_why_. "You come from a Hold, right?"

"Hall, actually. I was the Headwoman at the Vintner Hall." Chaysea
explained as she slowly walked the haphazard rows of furniture, her
eyes looking for a suitable chair that did not have too much wear and
tear on it.

"Quite a change, coming from Hall to Weyr." Some had trouble
adjusting to the different philosophies between Weyr and other places.
Meledei hoped she didn't have that problem. "How have you liked it
thus far?"

Chaysea lifted her shoulders, "I have liked it a lot. I mean, it is
very different of course but mostly I find it liberating. I wasn't
allowed to be anything where I grew up," anything but a wife, "and
here I can at least do something meaningful."

And that was a reaction from a lot of holdbred too, particularly
women. Of all the adjustments, that was one they seemed to find
easiest to deal with. "Yeah. I really wish the Holds weren't
so...well...sexist."

"I wanted so badly to be a healer." Chaysea said and then, "Ah ha!"
She waved Meledei over and pointed to a chair, "What are your thoughts
on this one? Yay, nay?"

"I won't know til I try it out." Meledei turned and plopped into the
chair. She bounced up and down a few times, wriggled around, then
shook her head. "No...no, not quite. Is there anything else?"

Chaysea turned around, "We have this one over here. Everyone always
overlooks it because of the dated pattern, but I think it sits
nicely."

"The pattern's not such a big deal." As soon as Meledei turned to
study the chair in question, she could understand. It wasn't pretty.
A sickly green background was covered with brownish-red flowers. How
anyone could have thought that attractive, Meledei didn't know. She
didn't let it deter her, though, and eased into the seat, then bounced
again. "Yeah. This actually feels good."

"In the mean time you could throw a blanket over it to hide the garish
pattern." Chaysea said with a little grin as she watched the goldrider
test out the chair.

"True. Until I can get it redone." Which would still be a lot less
than a new chair, and not as broken in. "I'll take it. I guess I'll
get some people to help me with it tomorrow." It was late and almost
time for dinner - she'd hate to keep someone from their food.

Chaysea smiled, "Excellent, I promise to guard it with my life should
someone else see it and decide that the pattern is to-die for."

"I might question their taste." Meledei laughed and pushed herself to
her feet. "Thanks for staying late to help me look."

"My pleasure. Let me know if there's anything else I can do."

Last updated on the July 28th 2014

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Death Of A Chair