Sansine was entirely unsure how to approach this situation. She tugged on the measuring tape in her hands, staring pointedly at the ground where a still warm black robe lay pooled. If she looked up she could see the body of a Dremora she'd just met, only a simple and maybe too small cloth wrap covering his more intimate parts. Taking a deep breath through her nose, Sansine steadied herself and moved forward.
"I'm just going to take your measurements so I can make something that fits," she explained, still keeping to an impromptu rule of no eye contact. Her face was already burnt up enough as it was. Pushing a lock of bitter chocolate colored hair behind her ear she began her work. Sansine's knuckles and fingertips brushed his dark skin, making her flinch with each accidental contact. He was too warm, nearly hot to touch.
Moving around to him she glanced at the dimples on his lower back, rolling her eyes at the absurdity of her thoughts. The Dremora's silken black hair was kept in a top knot, the sides and back of his scalp shaven to show the red markings on his face curled back to his temples, only ending around where his ears lay. Biting her cheek Sansine quickly dropped to her knee and noted his inseam before popping up and barreling through the rest of the more intimate measures.
Stepping away Sansine told him to redress and finished marking down his numbers. He'd been loaned to her for the evening and being a practical woman she wasn't going to let another set of hands go to waste.
"Alright, let's see how good you are at fixing buttons."
Leading the Dremora to a nook hidden away behind mannequins in finery and chests filled with luxurious furs or glittering buttons she sat them both down on creaky old stools and set out teaching a daedra the domestic arts. He was a quick study; unspeaking and aloof to anything but the task he was set on. The scrap of practice cloth didn't have a single drop of blood from a stray needle prick when he finished his five buttons. Taking the cloth from him Sansine inspected his work, humming her approval.
"These are lovely, properly secured and everything," Sansine murmured, rubbing her thumb against a chipped jade button. "Suppose you're ready for the real work," she pulled a box of garments with lost or torn buttons out from under a nearby desk, cursing when a roll of fabric bounced off and rolled messily down the cluttered path.
"Okay, I've already picked out matching buttons and paired them up with which piece needs them. If you'll just stitch them up together I'd be grateful. If you've any questions do come get me, I'll be just around the corner working," she stood, wiping spare threads from her tunic before pausing, looking down at the daedra who was clutching a silver needle in his dark hand.
"I'm Sansine, by the way. It's nice to meet you," she floundered for a moment, "even if the circumstances are not particularly favorable for you I hope we can get on." Before she could embarrass herself further Sansine spun on her heel and disappeared to her own work, ignoring the faint warmth itching her ears.
The morning passed with ease into a drowsy midafternoon. A few locals came in to pick up or drop off this and that. A Khajiit merchant stopped in to sell off fabric and lace. Sansine reluctantly traded gold and a finely embroidered tunic with the grinning Khajiit. Finishing up on taking in a few dresses and breeches, Sansine decided she'd earned her lunch. Darting upstairs to her small room she rifled through the kitchen nook and made a platter of fruits, cheeses, and crusty bread. Tucking a jug of water and two tankards under her arm she sidled down the narrow stairs and took a seat next to the Dremora, offering an unsure smile as she set out the meal.
"Lunch. You can take a break for a while, I'm sure your eyes are crossing," she poured water for them both, trying not to smirk at the ferocity the daedra tossed his work away with. He pulled his stool closer, the legs squeaking over the old hardwood, before snatching a bunch of shiny red grapes and breaking a piece of bread away. Sansine bit into an apple, licking the juice that rolled down the crimson skin. Well, she hadn't actually thought he would join her. Did daedra even need to eat? Probably not but maybe the Dremora liked to chew or something. Sansine was peeling the skin from a grapefruit when the front bell dinged its off kilter tune.
"Well I see you two are getting along," Liobah chuckled, her arms loaded down with colorful bags padded with crinkly paper, hat and pastry boxes tied by shining ribbons. She set down her luggage and crossed the shop, grabbing Sansine's cup and gulping the water down.
"Yes Miss Telvra you may have some of my drink, I'm so happy you asked," Sansine smiled, whining at the slap on her shoulder Liobah delivered.
"No sass from you, girl. So how's my boy been treating you?"
"Fine. Actually wonderfully? He's been working hard all day. Not much of a talker though, hasn't even given me a name," Sansine admitted, noting that all her grapes had disappeared.
"Maybe I'll loan him out again in the future. Though Dremora generally don't include names for individuals in their culture, they refer to each other by rank or title. Fun little fact for you," Liobah twirled her finger, poking Sansine's nose before pilfering a strawberry from the platter. The tailor sat back, frowning and rubbing her nose.
"That's bizarre."
"It is. I'm going to be calling him by Romas while he's around, just to keep things simple. So feel free to use it as well, I imagine he'll be sick of me soon enough and want other companionship anyhow," Liobah said around a mouthful of bread, waving a hand of amethyst painted nails.
"Romas?" Sansine turned to him, eyebrows drawn together.
"That's right. Figured I'd pick something you Imperials would be comfortable using."
The daedra locked eyes with Sansine for a quick moment before returning his attention to the fruit. The corner of her mouth twitched at the exasperation on his face. Liobah pushed away from the counter, wiping her hands clean and jerking a thumb over her shoulder.
"Well come on then, we've got to be heading back and I'm not going to be carrying all that by myself," Liobah corralled her Dremora from the nook and set to stacking her bags and boxes up in his arms until he disappeared behind ribbons and colorful tufts of semi translucent paper.
"See you around, dear Sansi. When you finish my orders feel free to drop them off in person and we can have tea or coffee. Until then!" she dropped a peck on Sansine's cheek before sweeping herself and Romas out of the shop. Sansine snorted, tugging on a stray curl of hair.
"This neighborhood's really gone down hill."