(no subject)
Jim was well aware the time he had set for the wedding was getting closer. To say he was feeling the pressure was an understatement; even with Pam's help, they were still missing a few key things to make the wedding perfect. He had considered telling Pam about what Jon had told him, to seek Sansa out for a dress, but ultimately decided it would be far more fun to surprise her with a finished product if he could get the Stark to agree to help him.
He set out to Summerfell early, a little after he walked Pam to her usual desk job in the IPD office. He hoped to catch Sansa before she went to do whatever daily activities she usually did. It didn't take him too long to reach the familiar area, and when he did he spotted her nearly immediately sitting outside.
He offered a smile as he approached.
"Hey, Sansa. Just the person I wanted to talk to."
--
Sansa had been spending a quiet morning at Summerfell, though she often spent her days at the compound. Robb had asked her a long time ago now to spend some of her time at home and she did her best to keep to her word that she would. She looked up from the novel she was reading, she was immediately interested as to why Jim would want to talk to her. She liked him of course but he seemed much closer to her other siblings, Jon in particular. Her curiosity peaked, she smiled at him, “Hello Jim. Is there something I can aid you with?”
Lady then made it clear that if did want help, firstly he would have to provide some petting as she nudged him in the leg with her nose.
--
He grinned when he saw Lady trot up to him. He had expected to see the wolf, and like all the other times he came to specifically speak to the Starks, he pulled out a small bit of muffin he had saved from breakfast from his bag and squatted down, offering her the food as well as giving her an affectionate pet behind the ears.
"Yeah, actually," he admitted sheepishly when he looked up at her. "Jon actually told me to come talk to you. You're good at making clothes, right?"
--
"I am," she said cheerfully not even caring that it was boastful. She was better than whoever had made the majority of clothing in the clothes box. Not that Sansa had as many problems with it as she used to. "Are you wanting something for yourself?" she asked. She had the sneaking suspicion (based on what she saw Robb and Jon and Johnny wear) that it provided even worse clothing for men. Or it could just be her brothers taste.
She's a little reassured that Jon is praising her skills to others, even if he does not seem to appreicate them. That cloak she made is still with his things and she's glad that it isn't that he doesn't think it's good enough for Susan. It can't be that if he's recommending her to others.
--
"Actually, I'm looking for someone who can make a dress," he explained. After Lady finished up his muffin, he stood and went through his bag again, fishing out a little sheet of paper. He held it out to her. "This is the size my fiancee wears. I'm kind of hoping to surprise her with a wedding dress, though I kind of doubt the clothes bin would ever hand something like that over, you know? That's why I've come to you. Do you think you can put something together? I'd do just about anything to give her something nice to wear."
He wasn't above begging. Jim knew if he didn't find someone to make the dress, Pam would be at the mercy of that stupid bin. He could only imagine what it would give her if she had to rely on it.
--
"Oh," she said delighted, "I did not know that you and your lady were betrothed. Congratulations, I'd be glad to help." Sansa was always glad to hear that there were island weddings taking place. She'd been reading more about Earth customs (having caught the bookshelf on a good day) since she spoke to Susan on the matter. She wondered if Jim and his lady could be persuaded to throw a bouquet or garter in Jon and Susan's direction. She took the piece of paper and peered at the measurements. Sansa hadn't worked from measurements before only having made clothes for those she knew and mainly as presents so as a surprise. She'd probably do better if she could see his betrothed. "I already made a wedding dress here," she said unable to stop herself sounding proud at that. "Tonks had fittings though, is there someway I could meet your betrothed? Without spoiling the surprise, of course."
She is still thinking, "I'll need to find some white material, white is traditional on Earth, is it not? And you must let me know what embroidery you would like?" It might take Sansa several attempts to find decent white material depending on the mood of the clothes bin. It's strange to think of an object as having moods but it clearly does.
--
"I actually heard about that. I didn't go to the wedding, but I'm sure you did a great job on it," he nodded. He'd been asking around a lot about weddings in general, and it sounded like only one had happened that had been pretty public. "As for seeing her, she works most of the mornings in the IPD office. I'm sure if you went in asking for one of your brothers - Robb and Jon are officers, right? - you could get into a conversation with her and get a good look then. She's really friendly, and she adores your family. I would have likely never even met Jon if it wasn't for her friendship with him."
Then she started asking about stuff Jim had no knowledge about. He was always certain he was born without the ability to learn things about fashion, his choice of work clothes back home proof of that. "White's the color, yeah. Um, what's an embroidery?"
--
Sansa can certainly do that, she tends to sew for herself or if for someone else but comparing them to herself. So it will be much easier if she's met her and at his words she works something else out. "Is Pam your lady?" she asks, Jon does speak well of her, on the brief occassions he talks about his friends and Sansa needs to know her name just to be sure when she goes into the office. She thinks there is more than one person who works in the IPD Office, (other than the officers of course) though she could be wrong. She'd hate to make the dress to fit the wrong person.
His next question makes her smile, just a little, she thinks it is fair enough for men to have no interest in sewing but to not know what embroidery is? Still fashions are very different on earth and they have different ways of making patterns so it isn't as necessary. She rummages in her bag and produces a sample of her own work, just a little practise wolf she was doing while bored one day. "Embroidery is just embellishment really," she said. "It makes things prettier, I did pink flowers on the other dress, they matched the brides hair."
--
He smiled. "Yeah, her name is Pam. She works every day except Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm. You'll probably find her drawing at her desk."
Jim moves closer to inspect the piece she was showing him. "Wow, that's really cool."
He meant it, too. Any lingering doubts that she could make something really nice for Pam left him; it was fairly obvious she had a good amount of skill in these sorts of things. "Well, Pam doesn't have pink hair, so that's out. Though, a flower pattern does sound like something that'd work. She'd want something simple, I think, but something kind of elegant. I think you'd probably be better off figuring out what looks good yourself than to ask me, to be completely honest. I'm sure if you talk to Pam you'd get a good idea what she'd like."
He hoped he was making sense. He had a feeling he wasn't being very helpful.
--
Sansa made a mental note of what days Pam worked, so she could go and meet her. She supposed she might be able to ask about flowers and colours without letting on about making a dress as long as she was subtle. "You are kind to say so, I'll certainly do my best." She thinks if she can't get any information from Pam, she'll try for something silvery or even white on white, thats simple and elegant. She decides if she can she'll do a flower pattern that features one of the island flowers, it is an island wedding after all.
She wonders how long she'll have, a gown takes a lot of time, and a wedding gown must be extra perfect. She's finished most of her other sewing though so she can work just on this. "When are you to be wed?" she asked. She'll do her best to make the gown perfect from the measurements and meeting Pam but he hopes he'll leave time for her to make adjustments if necessary. And then because she loves weddings and it isn't too bold, not when she's helping, she asks, "who are you inviting?" This last is said with a hopeful look.
--
"Thank you. Like I said, Sansa, if I can do anything to repay you for even trying I'll do it. Feel free to ask."
He wasn't even sure if he could repay her, but he'd try. Her taking on the job regardless of the fact they hardly knew each other was one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for him. He smiles a little when he sees the look he's getting.
"I think we're doing open invitation. The wedding's going to be at the end of October or early November. I hope you'll consider coming," he responded. "I don't know if you know this, but I think Jon's asking your father to marry us. It's safe to say without question else every one of the Starks are invited. Your family has done so much for the two of us."
--
Sansa blushes already planning a trip to the clothes box to search for material for this. "I'm glad to help," she said. "It's lovely to think there are weddings here, and a new start for people." Not that she has any personal reasons for thinking new starts are a good idea, not at all.
"I'm sure Father will do a wonderful job of it and that we all would love to attend." Well maybe Arya wouldn't because she thought weddings and romance were stupid but Jim was her friend. At least Sansa thought Jim knew Arya as well as Jon it was hard to keep up with all of her siblings friends.
"I'll let you know when I have something presentable," she said. "So you can let me know if there are any changes you'd like to make."
--
A new start. Yeah, Jim liked the sound of that.
"Okay," he nodded. "I'm usually around my hut, which is in the Green Arrow Estates area. Jon knows where it is if you can't find it. Just come around and I'll be happy to see what you've done."
Jim smiled, already somewhat excited to see the result. Pam would be so happy to get a dress.