expiationnet | let your merchants scream where you can't hear them

[ It's another day at work. Good thing for Sandry she loves her work! At this precise moment she's working on some embroidery on a rectangle of fabric that will one day soon be a cuff, minding the front of the store. The other workers are busy with their own tasks further back in the shop, so it's just her at the front, waiting to see if any customers will walk in.

The door opens with a chime and she looks up with a smile. ]

Hello, welcome in! How may I help you today?

[ Sandry is very excited for this. She loves teaching people to sew, she loves helping friends, and she loves helping people give gifts. This is all three!

She's prepared all the supplies in advance: fabric in various patterns and shades, matching threads, elastic, sewing needles, measuring tapes, scissors, and whatever else they may need. All of this has been assembled on the modest table in the open space of her one bedroom house; there are chairs for them to sit on and the spinning wheel has been pushed to one side to make the space seem a bit larger. The rest of the house is fairly plain, but it is clean and tidy.

Sandry jumps up at the knock on the door and opens it, grinning. ]

Hi, Scott! Welcome!

[Months ago, Scott wouldn't have even considered trying to learn how to sew. Not his thing; he's the arcade and movies guy. He doesn't sit around and do craft stuff!! But... he wants to sew something for Kotone, because she loves making stuff and he wants to surprise her. Sure, he could get her flowers or something else and she'd love that, he's sure, but... he wants to put in effort for her. He loves her--

Anyway! That's why he's here and stepping inside Sandry's modest house. It's honestly cozy, something about it comforting and he takes one small look around before returning his friend's smile.]

Hey Sandry. Um, thanks again for helping me with this.

[He thought about bringing over snacks, so there's a small basket in his hand that has cookies that he and Kotone baked together. Something to munch on during breaks?] I brought over cookies... you know, since we'll be hard at work.

[ AWWWWW SCOTT SO CUTE

Sandry gently closes the door behind him and gestures to one corner of the table for him to place the cookies. ]

Oh that's wonderful, thank you! I have cold tea to drink in the warm weather, but can also make hot tea, plus herbed water and plain water. If you're ready, we can begin right away! Do you have any experience with sewing?

Cold tea sounds good, yeah.

[There's something about Scott right now that is less extrovert, like he's following her lead on everything and doesn't want to overstep. It's a little different from how he normally carries himself. He places the basket where she just mentioned, before looking over at the table with a small, if slightly awkward smile.]

I don't, no. This will be my first time trying to make anything, honestly. [He lifts one shoulder in a half-shrug.] Never really had the interest before.

[But at the same time, he's determined and he's taking this seriously, with Scott moving to the table to start on this.]

[ Luckily for Scott, Sandry is a good leader when it comes to sewing. She guessed he probably wouldn't have experience sewing and prepared some fabric to practice on. ]

I'm glad I'll be able to teach you! Take a seat and I'll grab us some tea.

[ She moves to the kitchen area while Scott takes a seat and pours two glasses of tea, bringing them to the table and setting them down on coasters. Then she takes her own seat. ]

We'll start by learning the basic sewing stitch called a "backstitch." I've prepared some practice materials.

[ She hands him a pincushion with two needles, a spool of thread, and a couple scraps of fabric, and places a pair of scissors between them. The next part she does by example. ]

First we need to thread our needles. Draw and cut about this much thread, it's a good amount to work with as a beginner sewist; too little and you'll constantly be needing to re-thread your needle, too much and it'll be hard to draw and easy to tangle. Then, just thread the end of your thread through the needle! If the end of the thread is looking a bit split then you can cut it off or use a little condensation from your glass to twist it back together. Give it a try.

[ She's made it look easy since she's done it so many times, but threading a needle can often be the hardest part of a sewing project (or at least the most frustrating), so she wants to give him time to try before moving on to actual sewing. ]

[Long time ago, he probably would've started zoning out at the word 'backstitch,' but no, he's here and he's trying. Plus, he's not so rude that he would ask Sandry for help and go over to her house and pay zero attention to everything she's saying. That's real asshole behavior that he's not going to cross. Instead, he takes the pincushion, a certain seriousness and focus to the young mutant as she starts leading by example.

Okay, threading the needle. Yeah, he's heard about this before at least. And he's seen this on TV before.

Carefully, he takes the thread and the needle, trying to push it through the small opening and... it's taking him a hot minute, his tongue slightly sticking out of his mouth as he tries to get this done. The part of him that would be frustrated over something like this is quiet, shoved away, because this is important to him. It's a good thing too, because wow this is difficult.]

Just give me a second...

[He mutters quietly and after a few more tries, Scott actually manages to get the thread through and a relieved sigh breaks free from him. H-hey, he did it!] There!

[He's so proud...]

[ Sandry claps for him, but there's genuine pride and joy in her smile, rather than anything condescending. ]

Some people say threading the needle is one of the hardest parts of sewing, and I believe it can certainly be one of the most frustrating. It does get easier, but sometimes the thread just doesn't want to cooperate.

Now, we can get started learning the stitch!

[ Sandry picks up her own scrap of fabric and folds it in half. ]

We're going to start by folding our practice fabric in half, and then pull the needle through it, leaving a tail of thread like so. Then we're going to go just a little ways and push the needle through, pulling the stitch tight but not letting the tail of thread pull through. Then we're going to come up again, the same distance. This time, instead of continuing forward, we're going to backtrack to where our previous stitch went down through the fabric, and go down as well. Then, we'll go twice the distance forward, and come up further than we had gone before. Then backtrack to where the previous stitch went down. See?

[ She's demonstrated the stitches slowly, turning the fabric over to show Scott both sides as she sews. It's a basic stitch, but she doesn't expect it to come naturally to someone who has never sewn before. ]

[She's really sincere about it. His cheeks redden just slightly, a proud looking flush staining his face momentarily as he nods to her words. Not that Scott imagined himself being an utter failure, but things are also going smoother than he thought. Maybe this won't be a pain in the ass-- okay, he shouldn't have those thoughts when Sandry really seems to love doing this.

Okay, next steps...

He takes the practice fabric and starts listening, trying to follow her directions. It's definitely easier when she leads by example and while it takes a bit longer for Scott to get in the swing of things, he actually manages to get the stitch done. Wow, amazing, and he hasn't even poked himself in the finger once.]

This isn't so bad...

[He comments with a small smile, showing Sandry the fabric and the stitch he managed.]

[ Sandry watches Scott's progress on the stitches carefully, seeing if she needs to advise him in any way, but he's doing a great job! She grins at his comment. ]

It really isn't! And now you know how to hand sew! Certainly there's more complicated stitches, but nothing we'll need today. The backstitch can carry you through most sewing, so you can consider yourself a sewist from here on out. Are you ready to move on to sewing the scrunchies, or do you want to practice a bit more?

Seriously? It's that simple?

[A relieved little sigh escapes Scott, the teen almost slumping in his seat from sheer relief. He thought it was going to be way harder than that, with him making multiple mistakes. Maybe it's too early to celebrate, since he still actually has to make the scrunchies, but he's feeling really good about this.]

You're great at teaching, Sandry. [He compliments before nodding, straightening up once more.] Let's get started on the main shit-- stuff.

[ Sandry doesn't comment on his swearing. She's heard it before, certainly, but also there's a lady-like quality in her that both won't repeat it and won't acknowledge it. It simply isn't polite. Anyways. ]

Thank you for thinking so! I do love sewing.

As for our purpose here today- [ Sandry slides over a set of fabric and thread ] let's start with this one.

I've cut the fabric out already. You'll want to thread your needle with the matching thread, then fold the right sides, as in, the side with the vibrant pattern, together to make a long, thin rectangle, then sew the long end together, leaving a gap where I've marked with chalk. You can see it's about an inch gap. Sew up to one end of the gap, tie a knot, cut your thread, and resume sewing at the other side of the mark. We need a gap in the side here for us to turn the fabric to the correct side. Once you finish this sewing I'll show you the next step!

[It doesn't take long for Scott to get back into the zone, immediately picking up his thread and needle while listening to her instructions. She is honestly good at explaining things and he finds himself getting into a small rhythm as he pulls his needle through. Huh, maybe girls-- err people that sew are onto something when they say they enjoy this.

...Not that he wants to make this a habit! Special occasion or whatever.

But the teen really is taking this seriously, concentrating on his work. It's only when there's a small break, or where he's comfortable enough to multitask, that he starts talking again.]

So, did you always enjoy sewing?

[ Sandry hasn't met Vash in person but... he seemed very nice on the network and they planned a sewing project, so why shouldn't she invite him to her home? Perhaps it's not the safest for a 15 year old girl to invite a somewhat stranger home, but she has a good feeling about Vash.

She's assembled the necessary materials they need for this project. The apron cloth is a light but sturdy canvas, and has thick and equally sturdy fabric ribbon to go along; bright red fabric and teal ribbon for Vash, earthy green fabric and brown ribbon for Sandry. Vash mentioned the red but the teal she decided on after looking at his own post on the network. The rest is the various sewing implements they'll need: thread, pins, scissors, and the pattern. It's a simple pattern and she's traced two sizes out: a smaller one for her and a larger one that she hopes will fit Vash.

Sandry has also made a capitulation and borrowed a heavy duty sewing machine for Vash to use. She'll hand sew because of her magic, but it would take a long time for Vash to hand sew an apron and the canvas is an extra difficulty. She has learned how to sew on one and can see the benefit, even though it's not her style.

She's also prepared some snacks for them to eat while they sew: an assortment of nuts and some cookies, plus cold tea and herbed water chilling in the fridge. Her apartment doesn't get too warm, but the weather is nice and the windows are open.

Now all she has to do is wait for her friend to arrive! ]

[ it's been the first time he's been invited to someone's home like this ... with no strings attached, with no obligation of him ever having helped someone out. it feels a little strange, like many other things about this place; just like the plentiful produce, people are equally as generous here. ah, but sandry is like him - a stranger to this world. he wonders what kind of place she comes from. maybe he could remember to ask sometime.

he has a lot of odd jobs, but vash probably enjoys the flower shop the most - he wouldn't have known that there were more kinds of flowers beyond what rem and luida have cultivated. and ostensibly nai had enjoyed them too, in his own way ...

anyway, it makes for a difficult time trying to pick something out to bring as a gift. he doesn't know her all that well, after all, beyond speaking to her briefly on the network. after deliberating for some time, he will pick out a small pot of pale coloured pansies to bring; they are cute and cheerful looking, right?

after that, it doesn't take long for him to make his way to the address sandry had given him; balancing the potted plant in one arm, he fumbles for the tablet to double check the address before giving a light knock on the door. ]

[ Sandry jumps up at the knock on the door and opens it with a smile. She recognizes the face on the other side. ]

Hello, Vash! Welcome in.

[ She moves aside so he can enter her house. It's a modest one bedroom, lacking in decoration but very clean and tidy. The room they're in has a table with all the gathered materials and the sewing machine, and the kitchen counter has the plate with cookies and a bowl of nuts. Pushed off to a corner is a spinning wheel and chair, next to a shelf with an assortment of fabrics folded up, and some boxes that are hiding various sewing or spinning tools. The windows are open today and a slight breeze makes the gauzy white curtains flutter gently. It's a decidedly pleasant room, though lacking in decoration that would place it as "cozy."

Sandry notices the bundle in his arms as he enters. ]

What's this?

Hello, Sandry!

[ it is always good to see a friendly face - much less one that looks happy to see him. he isn't quite used to the things here - seeing people treating strangers without distrust and suspicion, all brought by scarcity of supply and the greed that comes with it - and vash doubts if he will ever quite get used to it; well, he will do as he always does ... enjoy it while it lasts.

catching her glance towards the bundle in his arms, vash grins widely and presents the pot of flowers to her with a flourish, though there is a little sheepish afterthought in the manner, a second later. ]

It's a gift! I mean .. I hope you like them! I thought they would suit you!

[ Sandry brightens when presented with the flowers. She's used to growing up in a house with green life but never thought to buy any for her home here; it's more of a Briar and Rosethorn thing. But as a gift? She'll gladly accept and take care of them. Plus they're quite cute!

She accepts the flowers and immediately looks for a place to put them. ]

Oh, thank you so much! I love them!

[ She quickly decides she'll need to get a shelf to go under the window, so for now the flowers will go on the kitchen counter. The table is reserved for sewing today! ]

I have some snacks prepared for us when we take breaks: some earl grey shortbread cookies, assorted nuts, cold tea, and herbed water. But first, let's get started with sewing! Have you used a sewing machine before?

[ it's an odd sort of tradition, but it is one that vash is getting wholeheartedly behind after working at the flower shop for a little while now - the idea of gifting flowers, especially living ones, to others? it is an uplifting one, to be sure. and sandry seems to like them, which makes his smile even brighter as he watches her decide where to put them for the time being.

while she's doing that, he is going to step through the threshold and shut the door carefully behind him, looking around at the space; it is not a big place - but then again, who needed much more than this? it wasn't as though it was smaller than vash's own, and he found that plenty big (maybe a little too big) normally. as small as it was you could tell that someone has made this place their own, with little touches placed throughout. ]

Oh, you really didn't have to! You should have asked me to bring some! [ he didn't even think of that himself, and vash looks equal parts surprised and dismayed at having missed such a crucial point of visiting someone else's home. ]

I've done some sewing before, but never with a machine! Is that it? [ it would be in a pretty conspicuous spot, right? ]

let your merchants scream where you can't hear them

for richard

for scott

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for vash

this is so cute im dead

AWWW THE FLOWERS i'm also dying and dead

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