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Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 30th September 2010

Characters: Shadux, Zelanka
Description: Shadux needs Zelanka's help...
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 15 of Turn 5

Half a candlemark until they were scheduled to leave for Jasper Cave
Hold. On a _dragon_ no less. Of course it would happen then.

"Shard it!" Shadux growled as he crawled on the floor, trying to find
the button that had flown off his pants. Now what was he going to do?
"Ah ha!" he cried triumphantly as his fingers found the little traitor
under the table.

Standing up, he glared at it hatefully as he ran mentally ran through
his options. One stood out foremost in his mind.

"Zela? Are you busy?" he asked as he sheepishly stuck his head in the
Headwoman's office door. One hand clasped the button while the other
held his pants closed.

"Hello, Shadux. I'm a headwoman of large hold, what do you think?" she
answered with an amused smile. One of the drudges was standing in the
office, face downcast and hands clasped together in front of her.

"Ah." He looked at the girl and give her a slight smile and a nod.
"So... you're busy?"

"This will only take a minute, if you can wait that?" Zelanka asked.

Well he had no choice, did he. "Can I wait in here? Or should I..."
Faranth, he'd make quite the pretty picture standing outside the
Headwoman's office holding his pants up with one hand.

"This isn't any secret, so get in," she only now spotted his clothes
dilemma, and had to work up not to smile.

"Thanks." He nodded again to the young woman, knowing just how
ridiculous he must look as he squeezed through the door.

Zelanka continued reprimanding the drudge, althoug she was obviosly done
with the most of it. Then she sent her away with final: "Don't let it
happen again," admonishment. She curtsied and hurried out.

"So what's your problem, dear?" Zelanka turned her attetion to Shadux.

"A dragon is coming to get me in a quarter candlemark and I popped a
button on my dress pants," he said mournfully, holding out the button to
her as proof.

"I'll fix it in no time. Take off your pants, please," Zelanka said and
reached for the basket were she kept her knitting and sewing things.

Shadux didn't even hesitate. It was _Zelanka_, after all. "Here's the
button," he said, handing her both. "It would happen _now_ of all
times."

"It usually happens at the worst possible moment," Zelanka said, her
attention in getting the thread into the needle's eye. Her eyes weren't
as accurate as a young woman. Besides, he had seen Shadux butt naked
before. Although he had been much younger then.

"So who was that?" he asked, fingering a book on her shelf as he
wondered around in his his shorts and dress tunic.

"Drieda, one of the drudges. She's been...sloppy," Zela replied, sewing
the button.

"Oooooo..." he said, making a horrified face. Shadux knew just how much
that would drive Zelanka crazy, but he also knew he could get away with
a little teasing few others could. "She better be careful or you'll
convince the Lord Holder to cast her out of the Hold all together."

"I'm not that bad, am I?" Zelanka said with an amused snort and cut the
thread. "Here's your pants," she tossed them at him.

He looked at them with a bit of amused bewilderment. How did she do
that so fast? "No, you're not _that_ bad. Usually."

"She forgot to wash the door handles. You can catch diseases from door
handles," Zelanka frowned at the thought.

"Really?" he asked, eyebrows raised as he pulled the pants over his leg.
"Maybe I should stop spitting on them then."

"I give you a spank if I ever catch you spitting indoors," Zelanka
warned and burst to a joyful laughter.

"Should I not pull up my pants yet?" Shadux asked innocently, sliding
his other leg into the newly mended pants.

"Oh, get dressed, you rascal. Weren't you supposed to leave soon?"
Zelanka rolled her eyes.

"I suppose," he shrugged, jumping a little as he pulled his trousers up
around his hips. "Are you going to behave and not scare all your staff
while I'm not around to offer them my comfort?"

"I always behave," she replied.

As he finished buttoning up his pants, he leaned down to give her a peck
on the cheek. "Somehow I doubt that."

She just smiled.

Last updated on the October 1st 2010

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