I got the second chapter up in time. Yay! This one is more filler-y and not quite as good, but the next chapter should be better. And wow! Lots of love! Thank you guys! And ReinaPokemoneOtuaku, I'm so happy to see you here! *Huggles back*
Chapter two: Explanations.
Kanaya wasn't sure how long she sat and stared at the log book. Long enough that the tea was cold when she wiped it up. She was shaking, and her heart wouldn't slow down.
Finally, she picked the book back up. She'd only ever seen it written down, so it wasn't really surprising to her that she didn't recognize the name when she heard it. Seeing it here, though, after nearly five sweeps…It was disconcerting, to say the least.
She glanced over at the clothes. She picked up the cape. It was violet purple, like his blood. It was soft, and warm. If it were her own clothing, she would've buried her face in it, and curled up it. But it was his, and besides…It was very badly mangled. She dropped the cape on the counter.
The next thing she picked up was the scarf. It was cobalt blue, with a slightly lighter blue in alternating segments. It wasn't as badly mangled as the other scarf and the cape. She spent a moment wondering what this scarf meant to him before the thought hit her. She dropped it like poison.
The other scarf was ripped the long way in several places. It was a fuchsia color, the color of the empress. She shuddered. This was the color of death.
Kanaya carefully brought the items to the back of the shop, and left them next to her sewing machine. This was no different than any other job. There was no reason to treat this any different. He didn't even know her name. He had no idea who she was. He had no idea that one of his old chat buddies was the troll fixing his clothing.
And it would stay that way. Kanaya could remember the threats that he had spewed out, the numerous times he has threatened all land dwellers. But an old memory of him promising not to kill her along with the rest of her people surfaced as she made another cup of tea. She set the cup down and supported herself by propping her arms up on the counter and leaning on them.
She closed her eyes and exhaled, slow and steady. Ever since she'd gotten permission from the I.G.P.A.C., a group of adult highbloods who watched children and decided where they went when they came of age to leave the planet, to open a small shop from which trolls could buy clothing, she'd been terrified of being culled. It was a rational fear. No one would get in trouble for it, and that was enough incentive for most trolls.
Kanaya finished making her tea, and walked back into her sewing room. It was her favorite place to spend time. Fabrics of all sorts, thread, needles, her sewing machine, and more were spread out around the room. This was where she made her clothing; this was where her fashion master pieces came to life. She couldn't think of a place she'd rather be. Of course, it would be too crowded to keep everything in this one room, so she used the front room of her shop to show case her clothing, and put everything she finished in there, along with a few boxes of cloth.
She lived above the shop, in a place that was small, but adequate. Her life was good, and she wouldn't wish for anything else.
Kanaya worked dutifully on fixing the blue scarf, first. She ignored the fact that the color was the same color her lost Moirail identified with. In a few hours of hard work, and at least five cups of tea, she made it workable, useable. The next morning, she made it beautiful.
The cape was somewhat harder. Even after two and a half days of searching, Kanaya couldn't find a single scrap of violet cloth. She had thread, and had sewn some pieces back together, but now she needed more cloth. Unless, of course, he would be willing to accept it as some mangled piece of garbage. Kanaya wasn't used to selling that sort of service, but it might be necessary. She glanced over the material she had. Maybe…
When the shop door opened, Kanaya walked out with confidence. Then she saw who it was. Eridan. She swallowed.
"Hello." He greeted politely.
"Hello." She repeated. He stood there for a moment.
"So…I'm here to pick up my stuff." He said. Kanaya exhaled.
"I fixed the blue scarf." She stared. "And some of the cape. But I simply don't have the materials to completely fix the other scarf. I'm very sorry, but it is impossible unless I can get the fabric colors I need."
Eridan scowled. Kanaya looked down, hoping she looked submissive and not defensive. She could hear an irritated sigh.
"Very well, show me what you have." He commanded. Kanaya ducked into the back of her shop and brought out the clothing. She dropped it on the counter and look up. Eridan was a bit taller than her, and he scared her. She had to look submissive and act like her class no matter what.
Eridan picked up the blue scarf. He looked impressed. Eridan glanced at Kanaya. Then he turned his attention to the other scarf. He pressed his lips together as he examined it. Kanaya had done no work on it, and she really hoped he wouldn't cull her on the spot. She didn't even have the thread she needed. It must've passed his inspection, because Eridan dropped it on the counter, and picked up his cape.
Turning around, he held onto the corners and let the bottom of the cape fall downward so he could see the whole thing. Kanaya winced looking at it. There were a few lines of stitching closing up some of the biggest rips, but the rest was just as awful as when he'd left it there. He dropped it on the counter and looked at Kanaya.
"As I said, there's not much I can do with it." She whispered. She prayed that he didn't cull her, prayed to whatever god was listening.
"Oh, it's fine." He said. She looked at him in surprise. Eridan was leaning on the counter, looking thoughtful. "But I do find myself wondering why you're here, working in a shop, instead of working with the other jade bloods, down in the caverns, tending to the mother grub."
Kanaya felt panic rising in her throat. Here it was. She would tell him, he wouldn't believe her, or would say he didn't believe her, then he would end her life.
"I…I got permission from the I.G.P.A.C. to run a shop that would clothe the trolls of Alternia. There was a few more jade bloods then normal and I wasn't needed. In return, I would not only take care of the clothing problems, but I would also report any uprisings within the groups of children." She explained. "And, if you don't mind me asking…What…"
"What am I doing on planet?" He asked when she trailed off. Kanaya nodded. "Well, I feed the empresses Luses. It's a sorry job, but someone needs to do it."
"Oh." Was all Kanaya could muster. Of course that's what he would do. That's what he did as Feferi's Moirail. Even after she dumped him, Kanaya had heard that he had continued to feed the monster. And if the empress had seen his proficiency in doing that, the only reasonable response would be to allow him to continue, even if that meant leaving more adults on planet and risking another rebellion.
"So, where can I find the things you need to finish this cape and the scarf?" Asked Eridan.
"What?" Kanaya tried to pull herself back to the present. Eridan waved impatiently at the clothes.
:Where can I get the things you need to fix these?" He repeated. Kanaya could hear his growing impatient.
"Oh, well…" She thought for a few moments. A thought hit her, and she ripped a piece of paper out of her record book. She scribbled down something. "With a blood color as high as yours, you could probably walk right into the I.G.P.A.C. and ask for the materials."
"The I.G.P.A.C." He said slowly. Kanaya nodded.
"Yes. It stands for Inter-Galactic Protection for Alternia's Children."
"I know what it stands for." Eridan snapped. Kanaya took a step back.
"I'm not really sure were else you could get the supplies." Kanaya said. "Of course, there are probably places. I'm just not a high enough blood color to get them."
Eridan sighed and stuck the note in his pocket. He picked up the blue scarf and wrapped it around his neck. He glanced at the other things.
"I'll leave these here for now. I'll try and bring the things needed for fixing them." He said. "Can you give me a list?"
"Of course." Kanaya quickly jotted down a list, and handed it to him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some other things to work on."
"Wait." Eridan said. Kanaya waited while he seemed to look for the words he wanted. "I was wondering…What's your name?"
Kanaya panicked. She could feel herself panicking, and glanced about for a weapon. A pair of sewing scissors rested on the counter, but even if, and that was a huge if, she could somehow manage to kill such a high blood, she would be culled the next day. Unless she could hide the body, but that didn't seem likely.
Get a hold of yourself, Kanaya! He just asked for your name. Give him a fake one. Besides, are you really worth all the deaths that would occur if Gl'bgolyb wasn't fed? She thought.
"My name is…Um…" She drew a blank. Taking a breath, she answered. "My name is Porrim Maryam."
Eridan raised an eyebrow. Kanaya had no idea where that came from, only that it seemed the most natural choice. She swallowed.
"All right." Eridan said. Kanaya's knees went weak with relief. "I'll be back with the supplies as soon as I can."
Eridan turned and left. Kanaya grabbed the counter. She stood there for several moments, trying not to collapse with relief and fear. Now, if only she could insure that he wouldn't find out what her name was. What would she do if he did? What would he think? Why hadn't she just said Kanaya Maryam?
The next chapter should be more Eridan centered, I think. I think I'm planning no making this more adventure then I thought, but I'm not sure. Either way, I assure that this "won't be your average love story." *Snickers* If there's a suggestion you guys have, please feel free to tell me. Leave a review if you think the story warrants it. Thanks!