The Cat Chronicles

A Difficult Discussion

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:33:32 GMT

Who: L'dor, Wendra
What: An emotional discussion
Where: Records Room, Benden Weyr
When: Day 20, month 8, turn 3.

Records Room
A spiraling staircase joins the Records Room with the Weyrwoman's Antechamber above. The cavern is carved with shelves from floor to ceiling, most still empty, but a few bearing bound volums, neat baskets full of sorted scrolls and several large tubes of maps standing in a bin. Two tables stand in the middle of the room, well-supplied with baskets of scrap hide and writing utensils. Four chairs are pulled up to these tables, providing ample enough seating space for those needing to use the room. Glowbaskets stand in niches at regular intervals around the room to provide adequate lighting for reading and writing.

[DTU] To Banyth, Dulcieth's mindvoice is puzzled with an undercurrent of upset. << My rider asks if yours could meet her in the hide room? >>

[DTU] To Dulcieth, Banyth responds with a faint sheen of harper-blue surprise filming his thoughts. << He can. He can leave what he is doing and come now, if she is there now? >>

[DTU] To Banyth, Dulcieth projects, << Yes, please. >>

Wendra is standing near the threadfall maps, her expresion explaining the undertone of Dulcieth's message. She's wringing her hands and looking a lot like she did when she first impressed -- afraid and nervous.

It's a few minutes, of course, before L'dor reaches the Records Room. Despite the heat, he's carrying a hide jacket - presumably he's been flying. When he arrives, he walks straight in with the confidence borne of long familiarity, and it only takes a glance for him to locate the woman. He frowns as he notices her obvious nervousness, and keeps most of the curiosity from his voice as he asks, "Wendra? You wanted to see me?" After a moment, he adds, "Is something wrong?"

Wendra shakes her head, then nods. "Dulci is overdue to rise. I thought at first it might just be my cycles thrown off, but now she says it's definite. And it's too late to fix it -- I'm too far along." Her words jumble together, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of coordination in how they're put together.

L'dor doesn't see the connection: that's quite obvious from his baffled expression. "She's late rising," he repeats carefully, laying a hand on the back of one of the Records Room chairs, "and you think it's something to do with you? Can a woman affect her dragon like that?" A deeper crease appears in his forehead. "Sorry, not sure I'm following."

Wendra starts shaking a little. "I thought I was just hungry so much because of being a rider, and I thought the being sick was just a touch of stomach flu. But it wasn't -- it's not. I'm pregnant." She bursts into tears with the admission, too upset even to use the proper title as she always does.

"Congra- um." L'dor hastily breaks off the congratulations as he realises that this clearly isn't a matter for celebration in the greenrider's view. "But, is that so bad?" he enquires gently. "You'll want to take it easy for a while - fly in the Queens' Wing, maybe, or stop altogether once you get that far - how far along are you, anyway? And if you don't want to look after it yourself, weyrs go in for fostering, you know."

Wendra nods miserably. "If she hadn't risen in the middle of winter it probably would have died in just normal threadfall, but with the easing off for winter, it lived. There's something else, though. Aside from having to tell the Wingleader and the Weyrleader."

L'dor frowns. He's slow today. "She rose in the middle of - but that'd be when Banyth caught. That was the end of last turn - that's months and months ago. You're not saying it's from that flight? You'd be..." Fingertips touching, his hands make the shape of a grossly swollen belly in front of him. Then he grins. "You're not, are you? Because that'd make me... oh, shells! Is it?"

Wendra nods, her expression becoming almost hopeful at his reaction. "It has to be yours. You're not angry, then?"

L'dor's mouth opens and an expression of wonder spreads across his face. "Angry? Why on Pern would I be angry? I think it's wonderful!" He leans both hands on the back of the chair, smiling and bright-eyed even as he slowly shakes his head in near-disbelief. "I - when you're - like me, having children isn't something that can easily happen. That doesn't mean you don't want them. This is amazing!" Fixing his eyes on the greenrider's face, he says firmly, "Wendra, I want you to know that this child's going to have a father who's interested in it, and I'll support you in raising it as much as I can, if that's what you want. Shells, it'll probably have two - Andy loves children."

A look of relief bathes Wendra's features, and she actually sits down and stops wringing her hands. "I had no idea -- I thought you and the Journeyman would be furious that... it had happened." She glances up again at L'dor, then asks "During fall, how much can riders do with raising children?"

"I'm not sure," L'dor says thoughtfully. "Not much, I think. It was different when Shana had hers - we were in an interval, and she looked after her herself, but some of the women took her during the day. Now, though, I guess there'd be even less time - you could have someone to do most of the looking after, and see it when you could, when you weren't on duty, and restdays. You know Aregia? I think she had a milk-mother for Margia. Why don't you talk to Esseira about it?"

Wendra nods, much calmer now, and wipes the last of the tears from her eyes. "Yes sir. I hadn't even thought of that aspect. I was just so scared between what happened when my mother had me and then at having you find out you were the father."

L'dor frowns. "Your mother? Oh! You said something once..." The details appear to be eluding him, but he tries to sound reassuring. "But we have good healers here, sure you're going to be fine. Both of you."

Wendra smiles faintly. "I didn't kill her, but I made a good attempt at it, from what I hear. That's why I'm an only child -- she couldn't have any others because of the complications from my birth." She pauses, then admits "Death in childbirth almost seemed preferable to how angry I thought people were going to be, though."

L'dor shakes his head again. "Why'd anyone be angry? Having babies is normal. Not as if a Weyr can run without people, is it? And they've got to come from somewhere! Told your wingleader yet?"

Wendra shakes her head. "I'm in Wingleader T'marsk's wing now. I hope this doesn't give him more fuel for his "girls should only fly in lower wings" belief. I haven't told the Weyrleader, either. Faranth, I haven't even told J'vin. I just wanted to tell you first so I didn't compound anything by having you hear it from the gossipers."

"J'vin?" L'dor's eyebrows twitch, and his glance scans the woman from head to foot. "Thanks for that, gossip can be a pest. But, you're sure this baby is from the flight? Only you're not that big, and at eight months..." He sounds doubtful.

Wendra shakes her head. "I've only been with him once, and that was when the Weyrlingmasters recommended we get it over with before any actual flights."

"Right." L'dor digests that, and the smile returns to his face. "Well. Who'd have thought it. Look, are you still flying? What do the healers say about it? At Connell, girls who got pregnant joined the Queens' Wing for the duration - safer for the baby, or something. You've seen Will, or Sofika?"

Wendra nods. "The Healer just confirmed it today, so now I get to tell everyone. I probably should seek out the Wingleader or Weyrleader, now that this part is finished. So I should keep you up-to-date on the progress of the pregnancy, what's left of it?"

"Today?" L'dor sound stunned. "You mean you've not seen a healer before today? Shells." He takes a deep breath. "You tell me as much about it as you want. Or don't, if you'd rather. But look after yourself, and let me know you're all right from time to time, please? And tell me what you decide about who's going to look after the baby. I'd like-" But what he'd like will remain unknown. He cocks his head, listening to something. "Oh, shells. Rosalith's going up." He folds his arms defensively across his middle and says edgily, "We can talk again. I need to, uh, make sure Andoran's all right. Gold flights. Bit disturbing for some folk, you know."

Wendra nods. "Understood. Thank you for your time, sir."

"Wendra, lose the 'sir,' will you? Save it for on duty, anyway. Doesn't seem right, when... you know." He wafts a hand to and fro in the space between them. There's a moment of uncomfortable silence, then he confirms, "I must go. Clear skies." And go he does, hurrying across the room and outside.

SC: Painful Visit

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:05:50 GMT

Who: Amariss, Bardon (NPC-K'jan), Davan (NPC-S'am), Isaranth, K'jan, Myalith, Nadieth, Nazanth, Tarianel, Veyanne
What: Veyanne meets someone from her past
Where: White Sands Beach, Southern Weyr
When: Day 18 of month 1 in Turn 17

White Sands Beach
Fine sand encircles the shore of the lake with only the occasional palm tree to provide shade and break up the blinding whiteness. The lake sparkles with refracted light, the water dancing from the waterfall's plummet to the river far below. As a result mellow waves lap against the shoreline, a smoothing of the sand's natural formations the only hint of where the tidemark lies. As the day progresses, the grains of sand retain the heat from Rukbat's rays, making the beach difficult to walk upon. It is then that the thick green foliage separating the beach from the meadow's edge becomes a favorite, the shade a welcome change.

As the stars come out in the sky above, a faint breeze meanders through, bringing a touch of coolness to the still-warm air, ruffling the reflection of stars in the water.

It's about dinnertime, but that doesn't seem to have registered for Veyanne yet. She's in the middle of washing a very squirmy Nadieth off, occasionally laughing and saying "But you need to be clean, sweetie, or you won't look your best." This usually calms the small green for at least a few scrubs.

K'jan wanders towards the water's edge, looking over various weyrling dragons as he does so, pausing as he spot the squirming green "Small, isn't she?" He says thoughtfully. "But she's got a mind of her own, if your impression is any indication." He glances over Nadieth's lifemate, a cool inspection. "You weren't sneaking onto the sands to touch the eggs by any chance?" A smile flickers, suggesting he's teasing....

Veyanne smiles fondly. "She is tiny, and she certainly thinks of things I wouldn't. I don't know what I'll do when I no longer have the uniform excuse." She pauses as he asks, then says "If I had, I don't know that I'd be alive to have this conversation." She's not exactly serious either.

K'jan laughs "Ah, yes. The ever pleasant Merilyth. You could be right, at that." He shakes his head, then blinks "Uniform?" obviously, he's missing something.

Veyanne says, "She has all kinds of suggestions for what I should wear. At least right now I can remind her that I need to be in a uniform."

K'jan raises a brow "I don't even want to know what sorts of things she's wanting you to wear, if you are grateful for that uniform." He chuckles at his own imagination before his face settles into more serious lines. "So. I don't suppose you've told your hold what happened?" is asked. Hands clasped behind his back, he's the picture of polite interest and subtle curiosity.

Veyanne says, "It's mostly the colors she recommends." she leaves it at that, shaking her head at his next question. "Even if I could train Gale to find it, no one there could read the message. I've been trying to figure out how to do it."

"As it happens, they've been informed." K'jans' tones are dry - very dry. "It seems a certain Bardon, who I take it is the spokesperson for your little grouping of holds, flagged down M'val while he was on sweeps over your hold's area. Wanted to know if he had any news." His tones get dryer still "Imagine his surprise when M'val gushed on and on about the exciting happening at the recent hatching....can you imagine his reaction?" He waits, his expression expectant.

Nadieth notices the scrubbing has stopped and begins slinking away, heading over toward one of her siblings, whom she splashes merrily. Veyanne, meanwhile, is wincing. "I don't even want to think of it." she admits.

"I didn't have to imagine his reaction.." K'jan muses, though his expression suggests he didn't enjoy the experience. "Since he decided to come to the Weyr in person, to see exactly what was going on. Can you imagine how /that/ little meeting went?" is added, again his look suggesting he expects some sort of response.

Veyanne groans softly, before noticing Nadieth. "Back over here, now." she calls to her errant green. Nadieth warbles sadly, but does trudge back for more bathing. Veyanne takes a wild stab. "Unpleasantly?"

"I've never seen an old man turn purple, but he did, Weyrling." K'jan says. "I thought I'd have to call the healers when I informed him that yes, you did impress and no, you couldn't go back and finish the education that your...entire hold, was it? scrimped and scraped to provide you with. Not exactly one of my more enjoyable days, really." His tones are mild, but his expression suggests that he's not all that happy. "You couldn't be bothered to ask the sweeps rider to carry a message? Soften the blow a bit, perhaps."

Tarianel is wandering down the beach with a man -- a stranger to some, but maybe not to others, it seems its the Holder of the moment. She seems to vary between talking animatedly and completely ignoring the man, and the expression on her face is quite priceless: It's evident she is not happy. "K'jan" she shouts, loud enough for her voice to carry in Threadfall, "Where *are* you?!"

Veyanne bows her head, closing her eyes in what might well be pain. Nadieth rears up and hisses at the Weyrleader, not threateningly, but not exactly happy either. In a suddenly weary voice, Veyanne says "Easy, Nadieth," never opening her eyes. The green drops down, but wraps her tail around her Weyrling's legs and huddles close, protectively. When Vey opens her eyes again, she says "I didn't think to bother anyone until tithe time, when I would have been going home."

Holder Bardon is not looking all that happy either, stomping along with the Weyrwoman and giving her looks that suggests he'd rather push her in the lake then talk to her, if his sense of duty and what is owed to Southern didn't prevail. He looks behind him at the young man who trails, and barks "Hurry it up there, Lad!" before turning to the Weyrwoman again "Are you taking us on some merry wherrychase to give you time to hide her? Is that it?"

Davan's steps slow as his attention is drawn first to one thing, then another. The bellowing Holder grabs his attention, and hurries his steps as he follows the Weyrwoman and Bardon. "Oh, Sorry sir."

"You know, I'd have less bother if you had 'bothered' to think, Weyrling." K'jan's tones are stern now, his arms folded over his chest in a not-so-happy stance. "I would think your Holder wouldn't have thought it a bother either, to know right off. And what of this Davan who accompanied your Holder? It would seem that you are betrothed to him, and yet you didn't bother to tell /him/ that you impressed?" He shakes his head "I'd say that your Nadieth has picked herself a lifemate without an ounce of common sense." He snorts, muttering to himself "Bother, indeed."

Dragon> Nadieth senses that Nezanth sends a soothing shaft of thought << He will not harm her. His roar is worse than his bite >>

Nadieth> I bespoke Nezanth with << He's making her feel bad. He's hurting her. >>

Tarianel stops and glances at the Holder, "Excuse me?" she responds, blocking him from going any further with the whole trek down the beach. "You will address me with respect, and you will address Weyrling Veyanne with respect as well. One day she may be flying sweeps other your sharding hold, and it would do you well to remember that!" Glancing over her shoulder she glares at K'jan, points to the holder as she looks back, "You can stay there unless you want Isaranth to come dine on your precious herds." Then she strides over to the Weyrleader and puts a hand on his arm, "Sweetheart, you didn't warn me about our guests and would you please lower your voice. I do not want Nadieth upset, she's too young for these emotions. It's true this mess needs to be sorted out, but not in quite this fashion."

Veyanne nods miserably, accepting the admonition and characterization at face value, and thoroughly failing to notice anything else at the moment. Except that she's absently scritching Nadieth.

Dragon> Nadieth senses that Nezanth's response is a flow of thought much like laughter << She will hurt many times in your time together. You cannot protect her from it all. She must learn from some of these hurts, as must you >>

Holder Bardon looks taken aback by Tarianel's sudden harangue and turns..yes, it's a nice dark shade of purple. He splutters, and blusters, but in the end he stays right where he is, shooting daggers at the Weyrwoman's back and then, beyond, to where Veyanne is standing.

K'jan glances at Tarianel as she begins to berate the Holder, groaning softly as he shoots a glare at Veyanne as if to say, "This is /your/ fault." Then he smiles a plaster on his face for the Weyrwoman "Ah, no I didn't, sweetheart. I hadn't seen you to tell you. Didn't Nezanth inform Isaranth? I did tell him too.." He tries for an innocent look. "But I'm not yelling, my dear. I'm having a nice, reasonable conversation with our Weyrling - aren't I, Veyanne?" he regards the girl in question with a gimlet eye - try to deny it! "I'd have taken her elsewhere for the conversation, but I felt Nadieth here would be less panicked by the overwhelming emotions Veyanne might feel if she were able to be right there with her. To make sure I wasn't murdering her, for example." His gaze goes beyond Tarianel "Ah. You brought them with you, I see."

Davan stops suddenly a couple of paces short of Bardon and the Weyrwoman, unfortunately too close for his comfort as he hears the exchange between the Leaders. Shifting a glance between the two, he slowly sidesteps and looks ahead to spot Veyanne. Grinning smiling he waves excitedly before realizing he probably looks a fool and grows serious.

Veyanne is standing there, silent and miserable, while Nadieth's eyes whirl a worried yellow. Out of the corner of her eye she notices the movement and looks over, then nigh on whimpers. "Oh, Dav..." she says softly.

Amariss walks down towards the beach intent upon a little exercise for herself and Myalith before retiring back to the barracks for a good oiling. Coming upon a scene in which she could actually taste the tension in the air, she wonders if she should not turn around and head in the opposite direction. Instead she halts both hers and Myalith's advancement down the beach and waits a short distance away. "We'll rest here before continuing on." She tells her young green.

Tarianel shakes her head, "He told her where you were, not warned me of other things!" She waves hand in dismissal, "Sounds like, *dear*" she stresses, "that you were berating Veyanne, and I can't allow that. Nadieth and Veyanne's health are my responsibility now." She reaches up, gives K'jan a quick, unasked for peck on the cheek and takes a couple of steps towards Veyanne. "Take a deep breath, Weyrling" she warns, "It might get worse here before it gets better, but keep your emotions under control as much as you can. Isaranth will help with Nadieth if it's needed."

Dragon> Nadieth senses that Isaranth sends her mind to wrap around your own, softening anything said or felt like being cloaked in cottonwool, << Keep calm Nadieth, your rider requires it. I am here should you need me. >>

K'jan looks a bit startled by the unasked for 'peck' and then grins, his mood undergoing a decided reversal. "Well...I wasn't berating, exactly. Just questioning her about her intelligence level..." he says, giving the girl another dark look but obviously relaxing into his normal self again. "But you're right. Certainly not the place..." He nods "Listen to the Weyrwoman, Veyanne and stop standing there like the world's first martyr. It isn't the end of the world and if you feel uncomfortable, well. You should. But you shouldn't let /her/ know it." He stabs a finger at Nadieth "Now let her go play in the water with...with ah, with Myalith there" He waves a hand to Amariss as he spots the weyrling "And come greet your holder and your...and his grandson, Davan. I believe you two know each other."

"Harumph!" is Holder Bardon's response to the conversation between Tarianel and K'jan - or perhaps it's his reaction to his grandson hopping about like a wherryhead. "Be still!" He growls at the younger man, then narrows his eyes on the trio who look about to join them...

Veyanne looks between the two briefly, and continues to rub Nadieth's headknobs soothingly -- both to her and to the dragonet. Then she can't help but glance over at her fiance. When she hears K'jan's order she reluctantly sends Nadieth away, then, once the green is with her sister, fairly runs over to hug Davan. "Dav, I'm so sorry," are her first words.

Nadieth> Isaranth senses that Nadieth croons softly. << I like you. You're nice. >>

Amariss smiles at something Myalith has asked her. "Yes. Of course. Go play. But be careful of your wings." Myalith hurries towards Nadieth but will not enter the water, hating it as usual. She stays on the beach and speaks and comforts her green clutchsibling. Amariss looks over and wonders with concern at Veyanne.

Davan forces himself to still, gaze still drifting all about, but mainly it rest on Veyanne. At the hug, he sighs a little, returning the hug a little uncertainly. "Hi Vey.. I mean um, Duties to Southern Weyr, Weyrling Veyanne."

Tarianel glances from Veyanne and Davan to K'jan and grins. "I'm glad to hear you weren't berating her. You can do that when she messes up in Threadfall, but that's a few turns away just yet." A hand reaches out and captures his as she turns back, "Veyanne, a few things a moment if you would" she adds, taking a few steps forward and dragging K'jan with her, "First you will greet me. You say 'Yes, Weyrwoman, No Weyrwoman' and then we'll get along just fine. Then you greet the Holder as the next ranking member in the room, and *then* you can talk to Davan. So, step back and let's try this again." She ignores Davan's comments for the moment, and the hug. She'll get to that.

Dragon> Nadieth senses that Isaranth croons back, her tone soft and soothing, << I'm not always nice, but you have done nothing to raise my ire. Now, go play, the water is lovely on your wings. >>

K'jan seems content to take the Weyrwoman's hand and let her take over, since he just smiles genially all around - until that hug. Then he's back to frowning again. But the Weyrwoman has that covered too, and he relaxes, his glance going towards Myalith "What is that green doing?" he wonders. "Is she afraid of the water?" Yeah, he's distracted easily.

Veyanne nods and stands back. "I'm sorry, Weyrwoman. Thank you for the advice." She turns to Bardon and adds "Hello. Southern's duty to the cothold." She then looks back over toward Davan, almost longingly.

Nadieth splashes back into the water, warbling an invitation to Myalith to come play. She does occasionally look to her Weyrling, but something is keeping her from trying to join her.

Tarianel nods, "Better" she mentions to Veyanne, nudging K'jan with her elbow (but who really saw that?). "And you should refrain on displays of emotion for the time being. Too much see-sawing is not good for Nadieth, and she is the priority now in your life."

Holder Bardon is back to being purple again at the slight by his former cotholder. "Harumph. Very pretty manners you're learning here, girl." He growls, though keeps it to a dull roar as he sends a wary glance towards the Weyrwoman. "Is that what we spent our hard-earned marks on? For you to disregard manners and respect of your betters? To....to....impress?" He clears his throat "Not that we don't understand the honor you've given your hold, of course. Not many have been searched from our ....well.." He clears his throat again, then shakes his head "You could have let us know, lass." He finally says.

Davan catches the looks from the Weyr's leaders and hastily takes a step back from Veyanne, and glances towards the dragon Veyanne was attending. He stays quiet, obviously not wanting to make things any worse than they already are.

Amariss is close enough to see expressions but far enough away, thankfully, to only catch a few words here and there. Those few are enough to know and feel deep sympathy for Veyanne's plight. She crouches there upon the sand, watching as Myalith walks up to the water and stops as the wetness gently rolls closer from a wave.

Veyanne follows Davan's glance back toward Nadieth and can't help but smile fondly as she sees the dragonet. Then she turns to Holder Bardon and says "I'm sorry, I only saw Dav." Then, appealing to his love of reciting history, she asks "I thought there had never been a search from any of the cotholds. Has there been, then?"

Tarianel glances at K'jan, and then back to the Holder again, shrugging her shoulder since there's not much to comment on there.

K'jan slings an arm around Tarianel's shoulder, murmuring something to her, then saying "Perhaps this isn't the time for a history lesson, Veyanne, but more a time for you to explain what happened and.." He gives a glance to the Weyrwoman. "Inform Holder Bardon and his grandson that we did not force you to impress and we did not mean for it to happen. He seems to be under the impression." His tones are dry "That we had you tied down and threw Nadieth at you." He could be exaggerating a /wee/ bit..." Although what he thinks our motives are, I have no idea. It isn't as if we didn't have plenty of qualified candidates on the sands..."

Holder Bardon opens his mouth to do just that - give Veyanne a history lesson, but snaps it shut with a glare at K'jan for his words. "Aye. Well. The Weyrleader is right. This ain't the time nor the place, lass. Suffice it t'say, there've been a few, but we keep it hushed. It ain't like we /want/ to lose all our good young folk to the Weyrs, places of sin and vice that they can be. We're grateful for the riders' help, of course, when it comes to Thread, but...well. We need you young folk. We needed you, Veyanne lass, to teach our young folk. What'll we do now, I'm asking?" His gaze goes from the green dragon in the water to Davan, his own expression turning sad "And you'd best put this one right out of your mind, as well. He's not for you no more, now that you've got her." He indicates Nadieth. "We'll find him some other lass to be wed."

Amariss catches the last few sentences of K'jan's and can't help but nod a little with understanding. "So /that/ is what all of this was about." She murmures to herself and then stands. The last sentence of Lord Bardon though stops her from approaching any closer. Her mouth opens with a pained expression for Veyanne. She instantly cuts her emotions down so that Myalith will not feel her sudden anguish for Veyanne. A terrible day for her indeed.

Davan's attention is frequently on Veyanne, though he looks away whenever the Weyrling looks his direction. At his Grandfather's little announcement, he frowns to the old man. "I don't want to find 'some other 'lass'." Davan chances a quick look to Veyanne before crossing his arms in front of him stubbornly.

Veyanne listens and nods. "Starting from the beginning -- I'd been to a hatching at Ierne Weyr and nothing strange happened. Then, I was searched at the Crafthall, but I declined. I went to the hatching to cheer on some friends who impressed, and this one hatchling kept trying to find a candidate but couldn't. And the next thing I knew she was talking in my head and she was scared and hurt and I couldn't imagine not helping her. I didn't know dragons *did* that." She nods sadly as he mentions that Davan is off-limits, and says softly to her former fiance "I'm sorry. I've spent the last two turns just waiting to go home and marry you." With an attempt at humor she says "I just hope they don't try to stick you with Yavrina."

Myalith warbles to Nadieth and chatters nonstop as she spreads out upon the beach to sun herself. A wing and a hind leg stretch out comfortably there.

"You will do what's best for your hold, Davan!" Holder Bardon bellows. "She's not for you, man. She's got a dragon now." Seems the old guy, at least, has accepted the girl's explanation. "She isn't going to remember some backwoods boy who can't even write his own name, after joining their world." A jerk of his head towards the Weyrleaders. "So best you start thinking about another. Yavrina's a good choice." he gives Veyanne an approving nod. "She's got her mother's breeding hips. She'll make you plenty of find babes, that one will. I'll talk to her father when we get home." And then, his gaze is fully on the ex-student, now-weyrling. "It might not have been your choice, lass, but it seems there's no going back now, is there? We'll make do. We always have. Best you be making us proud on your new path. I don't want to hear of your not doing your best, y'hear?" He may be a gruff, stubborn old goat but he's not heartless. He looks to the Weyrleaders again. "I'm satisfied that she ain't been misused or coerced against her will. We'll be going now. I apologize, if I didn't seem respectful. I was worried about the lass. I should have trusted you wouldn't harm her. Hard to know what goes on where, when you're stuck out where we are. News doesn't come that often." That, by the way, is his way of saying 'sorry.'

K'jan seems fairly amused by the byplay between Veyanne and her former holders. He rubs Tarianel's shoulder as he listens, then murmurs something to her again, with a smile.

Nadieth gives a mischievous croon and wafts some water toward Myalith with her wings.

Myalith huffs with keen distaste as a few specks of water land on her nose. Shaking them off she stands up and retreats towards Amariss with another huff in Nadieth's direction.

Tarianel nods at K'jan's comment, and grins, "It always does" she replies cryptically.

Amariss grins and shakes her head as Myalith gets splashed. Smiling towards Nadieth she returns her gaze upon Veyanne and the others standing round about. Whatever had transpired before she had arrived it seemed to have now been resolved. "Come on sweety. Lets get you oiled, shall we?" She croons softly to Myalith and turns to head back to the barracks. Before disappearing up the pathway she takes one more last look towards Veyanne and is comforted to see that the girl looks much less stressed than before. Heading off, she and Myalith dissapear.

Davan blinks at Veyanne, looking as if she just slapped him when she suggest Yavrina. Frowning then narrowing his gaze to his grandfather, he rolls his eyes. "Of coarse she's got 'bearing hips', she's as big as a headbeast." He wisely happens to take a too casual step out of the Holder's reach. Looking to the weyrling he sighs "Bye Veyanne. I know you'll do well." He dips a polite nod to her then a respectful bow to the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader.

Veyanne winces as Yavrina is mentioned as a potential. She nods to Bardon and says "I will do my best, for her and for the Weyr." Then she gives a mischievous smile to Davan and says softly. "Don't worry, her parents still fancy she'll wed some distant relative to a Lord and save them from being cotholders. They may well turn him down. Or she may end up being my replacement here."

Holder Bardon eyes Veyanne and gives another "Harumph." "You see to your own business now, lass. The cothold is no longer a part of it. I'll be making the decisions for our hold, not you." And with a firm nod to the Weyrwleaders, he turns to go. "Come, Davan. We can discuss Yavrina on the ride back. Nothing wrong with a little flesh on a woman's bones. More t'keep you warm at night. Your grandmother was a fine handful when we wed, and I ain't regretted a moment of it, nor the 15 children she gave me. I've also been rethinking sending another young girl to be a teacher. Perhaps an older woman would be better, one no dragon would have an interest in.." He continues to talk as he stomps away, but the sound eventually fades into the distance.

Davan just looks between Veyanne and her dragon a few seconds before giving her a sad little wave and turning to follow his grandfather away. He has to hurry his steps to keep up with the old man who is already coming up with a new plan.

Tarianel wrinkles her nose, "Some people are just so inflexible" she notes, "Well, I'm off to take a bath, you lot behave yourself and no more irritating the holders." She squeezes K'jan's hand and then takes off up the pathway.

K'jan nods "Well. It seems you were worrying for nothing, Weyrling. He took that quite well, I thought. Don't you Tari...." He blinks as the Weyrwoman disappears "Uhh...wait!!! About your duties or whatever, Weyrling and remember - you aren't a bother unless you make yourself one!" He says hastily. "I think the Weyrwoman's going to need some help with that bath..." And he strides off after the goldrider.

RSP: Eggses, Precioussssss

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:29:24 GMT

Who: Eliasyr, Felisa, Geneve, Katelin, L'ten, S'dric
What: Egg touching and discussion afterward
Where: Hatching Sands and Galleries, Benden Weyr
When: Day 9, month 1, turn 3

Geneve ducks out of the weyrling barracks, her coat slung over her shoulders, and her face pink with exertion, at much the same time as the candidates begin to show up. She digs her hands into her pockets, weaving her way through the group towards the entrance, head bobbing just briefly towards the Weyrleader - "Thought I might just watch, if I may?"

Katelin smiles brightly in greeting to S'dric. "Hello, Weyrleader," she says with a respectful tilt of her head. Geneve, whom she doesn't know, gets a polite nod as well, and Katelin glances around to see which other candidates are among the gathering group.

Felisa follows in among one of the later, but not actually late, gaggles. As usual, she is wearing part of her job, in this case flour.

Katelin beams at Felisa excitedly, and waves to her.

Pale eyes find Geneve and the Weyrleader inclines his head towards her politely. "Of course, Weyrlingmaster. Gedreth won't fuss about you and I'm fairly sure Ailuth won't either." Fairly sure. As the group grows, it settles out at around fifteen Candidates in total and S'dric squints towards barracks and living caverns, waits another moment then lifts his voice so it carries well. "Rules of the Sands: don't step onto the actual sand without me, no sudden moves and it behooves you to show respect for clutchsire and dam or they might get a little insecure about letting you handle their offspring. Any questions?"

Felisa waves to Katelin, then listens to S'dric gravely, her usual cheerfulness subdued for the occasion.

"Wonderful," says Geneve, speaking to S'dric although her gaze seeks out the faces of each of the candidates in turn, measuringly. "Figure I should try and get to know some of them, before the hatching." She quiets, as he lays out the ground rules, arms crossing beneath her breasts, expression thoughtful. Katelin's nod is returned, so too are those of some of the other candidates, although many seem intent upon ignoring her altogether.

Katelin glances once more at Geneve, briefly, when S'dric mentions her title. But her attention is on the weyrleader; she nods her head when he recites the rules. "No, sir," she says politely.

"A very good plan," S'dric tells Geneve with a hint of humor in his face. "I knew we'd chosen you well." His focus returns to the group waiting on accepting nods and comments, then he nods towards the entrance. "I'll go first, I've already warned Gedreth and he is with Ailuth. Don't be afraid, but if they get upset, leave quickly, but calmly as soon as I ask you to." With that he turns on his heel and walks into the tunnel.

Sands
One of the most elaborate caverns at Benden Weyr, the Hatching grounds are huge overall. The sands themselves are almost an eighth of a mile long with a slightly raised dais in the back, all of it visible from the galleries. The room echoes when it's empty, the sands doing little to absorb much sound. The ground itself is covered with a thin layer of sand, softer than that in the bowl, finer than most beach sand. Constantly heated by the Weyr's internal thermals, the air in here never dips below eighty, and the ground is closer to a hundred degrees.
Gallery seating and ledges frame the sands themselves, supported by ornately carved pillars. The cavern is well-lit at all times, with plentiful glowbaskets tucked into niches at regular intervals.

S'dric just grins over at Geneve as they arrive and looks out across the Sands. "All right, group up and walk onto the Sands slowly, once we're there, feel free to wander around the eggs, touch lightly, but carefully. And again, no sudden moves," he reminds. Then he's turning to lead the little group out to the scattered shapes of half-buried eggs. Gedreth sits up and looks towards the group. He makes no sound, but spreads a wing protectively over Ailuth as she watches the young people /very/ intently.

Felisa walks sedately with her group, pausing to incline her head to the dam and sire. She looks wistfully at the other eggs, and almost seems to drag her feet to follow the other girls to the egg they're swarming to.

Katelin groups up with Felisa. "Hi," she says to the other girl, tense with pent up excitement. "This is so exciting, isn't it? You don't think the dragons will - do anything, do you?" she murmurs.

"Brings back memories," comments Geneve fondly, towards no one in particular, as the candidates begin to fan out about the eggs. Then, her voice raised just enough to be heard lightly across the sands: "Felisa - if you want to look at another egg, I'd go for it if I were you." She winks at the girl, obviously pleased, though several other girls go stiff at the mention.

Katelin loses her smile, and eyes Geneve sharply. She looks at S'dric, obviously expecting him to forbid that.

Felisa pauses, glancing toward S'dric as well, her expression hopeful.

S'dric stands aside as the Candidates move among the eggs, arms folding across his chest as several boys drift into the middle of the grouping. The Weyrleader just waves one hand. "Go on, I did say /all/ the eggs, didn't I?" and he lifts his brows questioningly and ignores most of those funky expressions going around. "It does at that," the bronzerider tells Geneve. "Seems a lifetime ago that I was standing out there hopefully."

Geneve doesn't even seem to notice the reactions to her words - or, if she does, her expression remains utterly unchanged, coolly confident, as her gaze continues to sweep the assembled candidates. "Less than five turns, since I did, but it feels much longer," she agrees towards S'dric. "I know most people say they remember nothing about it, except for that - that feeling. Just you and your lifemate. It's funny, but I remember feeling triumphant more than anything else. At first. And then there was Pendarith, and--" She breaks off, smiling. "Then it was even better."

Felisa listens wistfully to the rider talk as she approaches the gold egg. Gingerly she touches it, and then she turns away toward the rest of the clutch, apparently at a loss as to which to look at first.

Katelin gapes at S'dric, and draws her shoulders up. With great dignity, she walks over to the gold egg. She waits, to give Felisa a chance to touch it, and steps up when the other girl turns away. She lays her palms flat on the egg, feeling the shell, and peers at it curiously. "Hello," she says to it. To another of the girls, she remarks, "I wonder if they can hear us in there."

Felisa finally makes her decision and heads over toward a cluster of eggs without any boys near them. She softly strokes each one in turn, spending no more time with any than she has with any other -- including the gold egg.

Geneve positively smirks at Katelin's reaction, eyes gleaming wickedly - though her nose does wrinkle, as if to suggest that, amusement aside, she's really not very impressed.

Katelin steps back out of the way to let one of the other girls have a turn with the gold egg. She stands nearby, though, making no move toward the other eggs, and frowning darkly at any girl who does.

"I remember," S'dric says with a little shrug. "And it /is/ the most amazing feeling in the world, barring a few other things." A little smile edges onto his mouth and he watches the progress the Candidates are making while the clutchdam shifts restlessly beneath Gedreth's wing. He seems to have no reaction to what any of the girls decide to do, egg-wise.

Geneve looks pleased as one or two of the other girls follow Felisa's lead - though most stick near the gold egg, taking their turn at touching it, and squealing quietly over the possibility of Impressing the creature within. "Mm, yes," the brownrider agrees in S'dric's direction.

Felisa finally dares to approach a cluster of eggs with some boys already there and touches the one closest to her.

Katelin sighs audibly and impatiently. She leans over to one of the other girls who's hung back by the gold egg, and makes a pointed comment under her breath. Then it's her turn again, and she steps up and strokes the gold egg for a few moments, with an absent smile.

"Is she /really/ going to try and Impress one of the greens?" asks one of the girls, her attention turned just slightly towards Felisa, though she hurriedly looks back at the gold egg rather than catch the girl's attention.

"She said she wouldn't /mind/ one," Katelin answers as she steps away to let the next girl have her turn, "but I didn't think she meant she was going to try to on purpose." She presses her lips together into a thin line.

"She's touching the eggs, isn't she?" The girl scoffs, head shaking. "/I'd/ never do that. Wouldn't want to be like--" she lowers her voice further, so that what she says next is barely audible, "The Weyrlingmaster. Freak." Off on the side of the sands, Geneve, despite her watchful eye, doesn't seem to have heard or notice any of this.

Felisa appears not to hear either, and since the boys don't seem to be putting up a fuss, circles around the egg and heads to a few others in the cluster.

Katelin just bites her lip, and doesn't comment on Geneve being a freak, or not.

Another of the girls frowns, shaking her head. "Freak? I-- I don't know. I mean, it's /weird/, but..." Then again, this girl has cast a glance over the other eggs, even if she hasn't made her way towards them for a closer look. At about this point, Geneve herself approaches, still oblivious to conversational trends. "Hatching, soon," she remarks. "Everyone prepared?"

Not the boys near Felisa at any rate, though a pair a little further on curl their lips and shake their heads as other girls walk in between the rounded shapes.

The Weyrleader's voice lifts a little, carrying across the Sands as his hands duck into his pockets. "Peace, please, Ailuth is getting anxious. Just get familiar with the eggs, no baiting." The crack of authority is in his voice, lending firmness to his words.

Katelin is clustered with a group of other girls who are taking turns touching the gold egg. Felisa and one or two other girls are out among the rest of the eggs with the boys, and it seems to be causing some consternation among the rest of the girls. When Geneve approaches their group, she says nothing, just looks blankly at the Weyrlingmaster, but the girl on her right titters and then says, "Yes. I mean, we think so."

Geneve glances back at S'dric, frowning slightly, as he speaks, but it's only for a moment - she's more intent upon the conversation she's beginning with the group of candidates closest to her. "No questions, concerns? If you do have any - and maybe you just would rather talk to someone privately - my office is just off of the weyrling barracks; you'd be welcome. Any of you."

Eliasyr meanders from egg to egg, eyebrows lifted almost into the little lock of hair that arches down just slightly over his forehead. Here and there he runs a hand across a shell, eyebrows narrowed in thought, curiosity on his face. He seems to be quite ignoring the others until S'dric speaks up, at which point the young man lifts his head and peers from Weyrleader to Candidates and Geneve with faint interest. It doesn't keep that interest, though, and then he's off near to that shiny gold egg, brushing a hand across the surface of a smaller egg with a smile.

Katelin just stands there silently. If she has questions, they're not forthcoming: not here, not now. When she notices Eliasyr pass by, she gives him a brief smile and wave.

With no questions to answer, Geneve looks momentarily a little uncomfortable, surrounded by this girls, but she shrugs, and begins to move away, towards the next group, turning back to note only, "Well. If you do. Could be any time now, nearly. Need to be prepared."

One of the boys has a question, overhearing Geneve's question. "Yes ma'am, I uh -- heard from some of the ones that just got tapped that it can be dangerous. How do we not get hurt?" And he's shooting a fearful look towards the Weyrleader at that too. S'dric moves forward, pacing after Geneve and joins the group amongst the eggs. "Want to run through it, Geneve?" he asks her politely.

Geneve, looking pleased with the question, comes to a halt, head tilting towards S'dric as the Weyrleader comes to join them. Nodding, she agrees, "Good plan. That's an excellent question-- uh?" She doesn't wait to get the boy's name, and instead, in an even tone, explains, "It /can/ be dangerous. The hatchlings aren't always very stable on their feet, and they're - confused and hungry and lonely. All they want is to find the right person. They don't mean to hurt anyone, but sometimes - it just happens. You need to stay aware, keep out of their way, and never, ever, ever try to touch one, unless he or she has Impressed to you. And believe me, you'll know if that happens."

Katelin exchanges glances with a couple of the other girls, but maintains only a blank silence for Geneve. When S'dric approaches the group, she looks relieved, and turns her attention to him, curiosity showing when he mentions 'running through it' - she waits, still quiet, to find out what that entails.

Felisa listens politely, even if she's heard this advice before. One of the other girls circling the eggs ends up near her and whispers something, and Felisa repeats what Geneve just said.

"How," asks one of the other girls, "can they hurt anyone, when they're so small?"

S'dric nods along as Geneve speaks and smiles around reassuringly at the group. "The first sign you'll have that the eggs are about to hatch is the dragons humming and making the walls of the Weyr vibrate, you'll need to change into the robes the Headwoman gives you and come to the entryway there," he points. "Geneve will be here with her helpers to guide you onto the Sands. Circle around loosely and wait for the dragons to hatch. Then as the Weyrlingmaster has told you, be ready to dodge out of the way, because the young dragons will be unsteady and searching and very determined. And even though they are smaller than grown dragons, their talons are still sharp and if they stumble and grab onto you, you may get raked."

Eliasyr's curiosity is now firmly planted on the two riders. Flashing a smile for Katelin, the scrawny holder ambles a bit closer to Geneve and S'dric, fingers trailing over the surface of the eggs he passes almost absently. "Unpleasant." He remarks softly with a wrinkle of that long nose of his, wincing. "How long do they usually take to hatch?" A glance down at the sand. Hot sand. Uncomfortable sand.

"It'll all happen pretty fast," Geneve adds in, answer Eliasyr, her arms crossed beneath her chest again, and looking warm, despite how loosely her jacket his slung over her shoulders. "Not long at all. They don't all hatch at the same time - but it's close. Pay attention to what's happening closest to you - don't worry about the rest. Those talons can /hurt/, and if you're hurt, you'll have to get taken off the sands, and you'll lose your chance at Impressing. Now, if you /do/ Impress, I, or one of my Assistants, will come and show you where to go."

Katelin looks much relieved, now that they're being given actual instructions. "How do the dragons choose?" she asks directly.

"Shouldn't be more than a half hour, really," S'dric states plainly, tag-teaming with Geneve pretty seamlessly. "Also if you do get a scratch and you can soldier through it, please do. Your dragon might be out here and you wouldn't want to miss him or her." His eyes skip over to Katelin and he grins widely. "If I could answer that Katelin, someone would have figured out long ago how to rig Hatchings. They know, is the simplest answer, who will fit with them best."

Katelin is dubious. "So you're saying it hasn't anything at all to do with what the candidates do? Weyrleader?"

Geneve opens her mouth to respond to Katelin, but S'dric gets there first - and she just grins, instead. "Exactly right - Katelin, was it? They will get the person they want. Well." She shrugs, admitting, "I went looking for Pendarith, but I think he would've found me, anyway."

Felisa murmurs under her breath "Maybe that's what I've been doing wrong."

Katelin looks aghast at Geneve for several seconds, then shuts her mouth so that she doesn't draw flies.

Eliasyr considers, then nods slowly. "Hm." He murmurs with a faint smile. "Well, that's a relief." The smile grows to a grin, before he's lifting an eyebrow at Geneve, the smile not dissapating much, but could that eyebrow go up any further? Probably not. "Well." He says with a surprised chuckle. "...couldn't approaching one get you clawed up?"

S'dric nods along with Geneve. "Simply put, even though Geneve went looking, it's Pendarith who chose her," the Weyrleader says mildly, pale eyes seeking out the candidates' each in turn. "And it was a risky thing to do, as well. Because she could have been injured. That just speaks to the courage and determination of our Weyrlingmaster," he goes on, smiling not at her but the candidates. "At any rate, no, what you do on the Sands does not determine the dragons' choices. Either you will or will not Impress, regardless of what you do."

Geneve seems very earnest as she nods along to what S'dric has to say, and more than a little pleased at the compliment he pays her. "The Weyrleader is exactly right. Don't do anything stupid. You will Impress, or you won't. You'll get a bronze, or a green, or nothing. /You/ can't influence that - the dragons choose."

Katelin presses her lips together, absorbing all that, and nods once, though there's a set of stubbornness to her jaw.

Eliasyr's wary to agree -- at least outwardly. Still, after a pause, he smiles faintly. "Right." The young man says softly, then nodding his head slowly. "That makes sense." He taps his fingers on the eggshell before realizing what he's doing, withdrawing his hand with a comical wince, then replacing it with a little frown. "How long do you think it'll be?"

"Not very." Felisa pipes up, though she doesn't cite any reasons.

"Another seven or so," S'dric answers Eliasyr and he eyes that stubborn set on Katelin. "It's the way of dragonkind," he says simply, towards her. "The dragon always knows," he echoes Geneve then shoots Felisa a brow-arched look. "If you've all had a chance to touch an egg and get a sense for the grounds, I think we should move this conversation up into the Galleries."

"I'd say less than a seven, looking at those eggs, but we'll see," adds in Geneve, looking thoughtful. "Not long at all, either way." She looks relieved, if anything, for the suggestion to move, her face flushed pink with the heat. "Time for me to get back to the barracks, anyway - still some things to finalise before the place is full again."

Katelin nods obediently, and turns to head out of the grounds. "Thank you, for showing us the eggs and answering our questions," she says to S'dric, before turning away.

Eliasyr glances between those gathered around, still wearing a quirky little smile. Then it stalls a little, the corners of his lips dipping down into a frown. "Seven." He repeats with a wince. "Not so long." The young man glances uneasily down at the egg he's touching, then back up between Weyrleader and Weyrlingmaster. "Of course."

"Certainly, just this way if you'd care to speak for a little longer," S'dric states to the candidates as the group pulls in and some split off to head back out to work, while the Weyrleader leads the way up into the seats alongside the sands and Ailuth who was getting antsy, settles down under some preening from Gedreth.

"Certainly, just this way if you'd care to speak for a little longer," S'dric states to the candidates as the group pulls in and some split off to head back out to work, while the Weyrleader leads the way up into the seats alongside the sands and Ailuth who was getting antsy, settles down under some preening from Gedreth. "Thank you, Geneve, for your assistance," the Weyrleader states as she also bids the group farewell.

Gallery
One of the most elaborate caverns at Benden Weyr, the Hatching grounds are huge. The sands themselves are almost an eighth of a mile long with a slightly raised dais in the back, all of it visible from the galleries. Handsomely carved tiers of seating are kept neat and tidy by the Weyr's staff in between Hatchings and most of the benches are padded with serviceable cushions for comfort. The room presents a beautiful scene with ornate pillars and handsome carvings providing additional interest beyond the spectacle that frequently plays out on the sands.

"Hello, brownrider," Katelin greets L'ten calmly. She takes a seat in the middle of some empty bleachers not too far from where he's sitting, and waits for the rest to come up from the sands.

L'ten's sitting - and has been sitting for some time, if his glower at the exiting Geneve can be interpreted accurately - a short way up the galleries. He's not alone up here, though he's sitting by himself. The usual crowd has gathered to watch the eggs, and this time they get to see the added bonus of Candidates on the sands as well. (re for Felisa)

"Katelin," L'ten returns darkly, though he manages to shift his scowl into something more approximating a smile when she appears. "That looked... informative. Did you enjoy your time near the gold egg?"

"It's the first time I've ever seen a dragon's egg up close," Katelin replies to L'ten. "It's very - I don't know. It feels strange, to stand there and... just put your hands on it. I don't suppose it can be any stranger than a Hatching, though."

L'ten shrugs and turns his attention from the sands to the young woman sitting close by. "Perhaps? Van and I never did that - went out on the sands before the Hatching. What did it feel like?"

"Hot," Katelin says, and laughs. "And I couldn't help feeling a bit as if I'd snuck into my parents' sleeping room, or somewhere else I didn't belong." She glances at Felisa, and seemson the point of asking her what she thought, but then - doesn't.

Felisa notices the gaze, but if she discerns the belayed action, she doesn't show it. She's still somewhat subdued, and isn't chatting with anyone.

L'ten snorts a laugh for that 'hot' and nods, adding a pointed nod toward Gedreth and Ailuth. "It felt like that for me, too. Even afterwards." He catches Katelin's glance toward Felisa and leans forward to spy the other Candidate, even adding a coolly polite, "Good evening, Felisa," before settling back again.

S'dric arrives a little behind the others, having waited until all of the candidates were off the sands before actually stepping up into the Galleries. "Ah, good evening L'ten, I see you've met some of the candidates," he tells his wingrider and leans casually against the retaining rail, looking up at the group who've assembled in the galleries. "Were there any other questions anyone has about the hatching?"

Katelin considers, but for the moment is unable to come up with any new questions. She watches Felisa and the other girls, sidelong.

Len straightens when he's addressed and snaps off a salute to the bronzerider, dropping both Katelin and Felisa from his sights. "Yes, sir." He pauses, just for a moment, then charges on with, "/I/ had a question, sir. About the female candidates."

Felisa shakes her head, then winces and closes her eyes. "No questions, sir." She might be about to say something else, but when she hears L'ten she stays put.

There's a nod towards L'ten for the salute, acknowledging the brownrider. His elbows prop up atop the railing and he looks towards his wingrider casually. "What about them, L'ten?" the Weyleader asks lightly in turn, his gaze seemingly mild.

Katelin makes herself small in her seat and watches.

The young brownrider takes that mildness, and the silence of the others, as encouragement. "Well... is it safe, sir?" He gestures to the sands, to the bronze and gold, though his eyes don't leave his Wingleader's face. "Shouldn't they have stayed near the gold egg, rather than courting danger in amongst the others?"

Both of S'dric's brows lift. "What danger?" he looks honestly perplexed by the question and looks over his shoulder at the Sands. "It's not like the eggs are going to jump up and bite anyone, L'ten."

Felisa glances back at L'ten, offering nothing.

Katelin too is watching L'ten for his answer.

"No...," the younger man agrees reluctantly, though he narrows his eyes at the eggs as if suspecting them of harboring sharp teeth anyway. "It's just that... is that something you want to encourage, sir?"

S'dric tilts his head to the side slightly as he continues to regard L'ten mildly. "Encourage, what, L'ten. Speak your mind, don't hold back," he says in that same light tone. "Certainly, if a dragon has found someone suitable on Search, they should be given every chance to Impress, shouldn't they? After all, the dragon always knows."

Felisa shakes her head again, then says "I think I need to get some water; maybe lie down. Thank you for allowing us on the sands, Weyrleader. Good evening, L'ten."

SC: Post-Hatching Letdown

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:26:29 GMT

Who: Evana, Sana, Taia, Zora
What: Evana mopes after failing to impress yet again
Where: Landing Field, Southern Weyr
When: Day 2 of month 13 in Turn 17

Sana is simply sitting up in her tree, taking a break from the festivities going on in the weyrhall. She's relaxing on the usual branch, head on the bundle of cloth pillow thing roped up there, and looking up, presumably at the branches and leaves, possibly at the sky. Medatch is in his mini basket-wallow, and Lur is on Sana's torso, both asleep. Kiroth is, as usual, in his wallow at the base of said tree.

Still a little wide-eyed and..well.. sooty from the hatching itself, Taia finds herself wandering a little, not so much lost as..well..having no specific direction. Impressees went off with their mates, people had things to do, the adrenaline was fading and she was feeling a little.. buzzed. Her eyes lift to the treed girl and she smiles, almost near enough to speak.

Evana is off near a different tree, but not in it, just stroking a blue firelizard and looking halfway between a scowl and a cry.

Sana yawns, sitting up, and streatching. She sits up, catching Lur and depositing the little gold in the basket typically reserved for food, and smiles down at the girl walking past. She slips down to a lower branch, not far off the ground and offers a little wave, just then noticing Evana. A bit of concern crosses over her face as she jumps down from her tree and walks over to Evana, offering a small wave to Taia on the way. She kneels down next to the former candidate, "You're Evana, right?"

Taia looks up and waves then she follows that look down to the other woman. Torn between intruding and helping she sort of steps closer but doesn't rush upon the pair, offering a soft nod to Evana.

Evana looks up and nods, not saying anything for now. Streak, not his usual mischievous self, gives a subdued chirp.

Sana smiles at Taia, and turns back to Evana. "What's the matter?" One may assume that Sana has an asumption, but she's asking anyways.

Finding a nearby tree, Taia leans, then begins brushing at a patch of goop on her skirt, flicking and scraping. She glances up to the other two and smiles then keeps working, allowing them their privacy to talk.

Evana says softly, a tremor in her voice, "I didn't impress. Again. I wonder what's wrong with me?"

Unable to block out their conversation totally Taia winces some, inwardly, at Evana's distress. She doesn't say anything but her eyes close briefly and she inhales, then releases her skirt with a flick, stained a bit but no longer caked.

Sana shakes her head, settling next to Evana. "This is the second time you stood?

Evana shakes her head miserably. "Fourth. Three times here, once at Ierne."

Simply unable to stay on her feet any longer Taia sits down, crossing her legs beneath her skirt. She takes out a little journal from her bag and begins to read, not write, but read. After a while she does write a few lines.

Sana shrugs, "So? There's nothing wrong with you. Unless you think there's something wrong with me, as well? And you still have plenty of time to Impress."

Evana glances up. "How many times did you stand? You impressed the first time I stood."

She doesn't even look up, bent to her book, though now and again she scratches out something. A soft humming emits from Taia's lips as she writes, though she's mostly quiet.

Sana shrugs, "I've lost track. I didn't stand for every clutch, either. If I'd stood for every clutch since I was originally Searched, I'd of been left on those sands over a dozen times- and that's just here. It'd be twice that, at least, if I stood at Ierne, as well. I only remember, oh, three of four times in particular, for something hapening. And exepting the time that I Impressed, I don't really remember anyone who stood with me. I've been standing since I was searched, at the same age you are now. You'll probably Impress younger than I did." She smiles at the girl, "Believe me, you wouldn't have been searched if you wouldn't fit a dragon shelled. All that not Impressing yet means is that that draggon hasn't been shelled /yet/.

Evana nods thoughtfully, then asks "Is it still ok if it hurts a bit, though?"

Kiryk comes flying along, well not so much flying as long winged hops in the grass. He chirps with every other landing, its curious behavior for such a young firelizard, whose owner is no where in sight. With an extra long jump, that might be enough to be considered a short flight. Kiryk comes to land in the grass a couple feet away from Taia. Chirp.

The chirps draw a gaze from Taia and when the little bronze lands near her, she nearly giggles with delight. Unsure what to do she simply watches him, eyes alight, "Hello there little one.." she finally says in a soft, gentle voice.

Sana nods, "Of course. It does, and probably always will. That's actually the first time I went up that tree, I think." She indicates Getting away from everything after the hatching. Now..." She trails off. As the little bronze enters the clearing, Medatch flys down from his tree wallow, landing on Sana's shoulder and gently looping his tail around her neck, looking at the smaller, younger bronze from his vantage point. Sana absantly strokes him as she lookes at Evana, Saying, "It's definately okay to not Impress, and it's okay to feel a bit hurt, but it isn't okay to dwell on it for very long. It's not good for you."

Evana nods. "Especially if I stay here to do laundry instead of going back to Unified. Then I'll need to dwell on ash and smoke."

Kiryk chirps, tilting his head this way, then that way, and finally wings up to the tree abandend by Medatch. He trills from his tree perch, then settles down to rest on the branch, watching everyone in turn.

Taia smiles then watches the little bronze fly away, somewhat disappointed but amazed at the same time. She goes back to writing but looks up at him now and again.

Sana nods, grining slightly, "Yup. Exactly! Especially if you're in laundry. Oy. Keeping the clean clothes, well, /clean/ isn't going to be easy, will it? If this doesn't clear up soon. She blinks as Kiryk flies away, placing a hand on Medatch to keep him from chasing, and eying the tree. The little gold perched in the (usually) food basket wakes, and looks at her clutchmate, chirruping a greeting.

Evana shakes her head. "I've never seen anything so clingy. I'm almost tempted to go back to the crafthall until after this weather passes." She grins at that, obviously not serious.

Zora comes strolling in the meadow from the landing field. Shes glancing around this way and that. "Kiryk!" She calls looking for the bronze, a plate of meat scraps in her hands. "Has anyone seen a small bronze firelizard around here?" Kiryk, not really starving at this point is free to turn his attention to his gold clutchmate. He returns her greeting with a chirp of his own.

The book is closed and tucked away and Taia rises to her feet in a graceful motion then with a soft nod of her head begins to walk away. She pauses and then points up to the bronze, "He's up there.." she says then resumes her wanderings.

Zora glances toward the pointed direction. "There you are. I've been looking all over for you." She hold up her hand, gesturing for him to come down. "C'mon Kiryk, come here." Kiryk stares at her for a few moments, gives another chirp to his clutchmate, and wings off toward Zora landing on her shoulder with a croon. "Thanks." Is given to Taia as the greenrider strokes the little bronze. "I don't believe I've seen you before. I'm Zora, Sarabeth's rider." She offers extending a hand out to the girl.

Sana nods, and grins back at Evana, glad she's in a better mood. To Zora, she responds, "Yeah, When Medatch here flew down, he flew up into my tree. I can climb up quick, if you'd like." But by the time she finishes, the little bronze is already down. Her little gold follows him, chirping as she glides past, and circling Zora for a moment, before flying back up into the tree, albeit on a lower branch. Sana watches the gold somewhat anxiously- she's still young, so just in case... She introduces herself to Taia, syaing, "I'm blue Kiroth's Sana. You swallowed that ash during the hatching before I could intoroduce myself. You're better, I see?"

The hand is taken and Taia smiles, "I'm Taia.." she says, shaking the hand gently before releasing it. "I've only just arrived last evening.." she says with a little nod.

Evana looks over curiously. "Some kind of weather to come into."

Zora smiles warmly. "Well that would certainly explain a lot. I had evening sweeps last night, and afternoon sweeps today." She gives a sigh. "Just because there is a hatching doesn't mean we all get to take the day off." The greenrider using her free hand, gives Kiryk a piece of meat which he quickly swallows and chirps for more.

Taia nods her head and wrinkles her nose, "The ash was awful.. the hatching was wonderful.. I've never seen one til today.." she says then watches curiously as the girl feeds the bronze. "He's really cute..pretty...handsome? What are they.." she grins.

Sana nods, "Hatching on your first full day here, huh." She settles down, going from her crouch to a sit, and nods at Zora.

Evana stretches. "I think I should go see about moving my things here. Thank you, Sana. And Zora. And well-met, Taia."

Zora grins as she gives Kiryk another piece. "This here is Kiryk, He's my little bronze firelizard. Impressed him a couple sevendays ago." she replies with a smile. "Well if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna grab a bite to eat and finish feeding him. It was nice meeting you Taia. Sana, Evana." She nods to everyone in turn and heads off toward the weyrhall.

SC: Hatching

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:14:25 GMT

Who: Alina, Amariss, Evana, Falgin, Gwen, Jazra, Juniper, K'jan, Lacey, Lonzo, Lyani, Naltia, Regale, S'am, Sana, Taia, Tariniel, Veyanne
What: Hatching!
Where: Hatching Galleries and Sands, Southern Weyr
When: Day 2 of month 13 in Turn 17

Fake cut to Southern Weyr's log.

SC: Firelizard Gone Wild

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 05:08:28 GMT

Who: Amariss, Brenka, Dean, Falgin, Lacey, Lonzo, Sana, Veyanne, Zora
What: Firelizard hatching
Where: Courtyard, Southern Weyr
When: Um...

[Note: In which Veyanne's vicious brown firelizard, Chip, goes wild. The log ends after the last hatchling impresses and when Veyanne takes her exit.]

The fuzzy yellow blanket is mosty still. Mostly. Now and then the barest of bumps seems to move it. Perhaps that egg in there is ready to Hatch? Hrm...

"Stay, try, do as you'd like," Brenka tells Amariss. There's a little flap of her hand towards the trays of meat and a little "Wow, that's... a lot of raw meat! Good." She takes another deep breath, and finally reaches for a bit of S'am's food, if just to munch nervously.

Zora comes strolling from the lakeside meadow, not completely unaware of whats going on as shes brought her own unusual assortment of raw foods. She carries a small basket into courtyard containing several small fish. It helps to have a dragon that knows when eggs are about to start hatching. "I hear there are fixing to be some hatchlings around here." The greenrider smiles toward Brenka, glancing toward the basket then back to the brownrider.

A little shiver, a little shake. It appears that holey old sock is ready to burst! Or, maybe that's the egg inside? Yes, definitely the egg.

Lacey sits back, not so far that she can't enjoy the mayhem but still far back from goo and such. With a smirk, she leans over. "You know, you can impress a lot easier if you have meat in your hand... Greedy little things they are.."

Amariss does not wait for an answer but settles down at a discreet distance to watch anyway. Her eyes peer into the basket with interest. When she sees movement beginning in the eggs she gasps slightly and beams a smile at Brenka.

Veyanne is with the Weyrharper, doing some sort of outdoor lesson. The children all notice the commotion and rush over. The Weyrharper gives a "What can you do?" smile to Vey, who also heads over.

Falgin comes out of the storage rooms and stops, brow raising. He tucks his clipboard beneath his arm and saunters over to where he sees Lacey sitting with her friends. He bends to place a kiss on her cheek and eyes the general tummult "What's this all about, then?" is wondered.

S'am can't help but chuckle to Brenka and concede her point with a nod "Well, can't really blame them really." He gives the headwoman and others arriving a nod. "G'day everyone." Lacey, Zora, and Lonzo are among those waved at before he takes a bite from one of his tortes.

Lonzo takes a moment to scrub at his face with the sooty rag, leaving a less grey area on his skull. At Lacey's words, Lonzo takes yet another step away from the meat. Even going so far as to toe the plate further away, course his boot slips into the the meat. Oops. He gives his boot a little shake and scoots even further away.

Amariss inches closer and dares to crouch down. "Brenka..." she asks feeling very shy all of a sudden. "May I try for Impressing one?...please."

"Amariss, do you not want one?" Now Brenka's attention is back on those eggs or, rather, the laundry that conceals them. "Better get a spot, if you do..." She has to lean to the left just to see the candidate around those who are already gathered. She, herself, sits on the bench, out of reach of meat and Hatchling. Twilight bobs her head on the rim, humming as loud as her little lungs will let her.

"Amariss, do you not want one?" Now Brenka's attention is back on those eggs or, rather, the laundry that conceals them. "Better get a spot, if you do..." She has to lean to the left just to see the candidate around those who are already gathered. She, herself, sits on the bench, out of reach of meat and Hatchling. Twilight bobs her head on the rim, humming as loud as her little lungs will let her.

It's definitely moving now, that fuzzy yellow blanket! Wriggling something fierce, like a child under the covers, the fuzzy yellow blanket is moving curiously with the force of the egg concealed within it. A muffled *crunch* signifies the end of the egg, and the birth of the Hatchling.

Snug As A Bug Hatchling
While there is definitely a Hatchling in there somewhere, the fuzzy yellow blanket has enveloped it as snugly as it had the egg. Now and then movement might be seen as the blanket, erm, Firelizard, moves. No sign of limbs yet, though!

Without any further hesitation she takes a small chunk of meat in hand and inches still closer, breathing gently and watching the excitment unfold before her. "Thank you so much Brenka." She smiles delightedly.

That bit of fabric in the trouser that appears 'not quite right' moves. Yes, yes it definitely moves. It *must* be an egg! Or a crawlie... no, no, it's an egg alright! Another little wiggle confirms it, before the trouser, erm, egg, is still once again.

Smiling, Zora sets her basket down and gathers up a couple small fish from it. "I hope they like fish." She mutters to herself giving a wave to S'am as she does. "Exciting isn't it." She offers a crunch gets her attention as an egg hatches. "Not the best place to catch the little ones in all those clothes." Zora notes holding out her fish for when one of them appears.

Without any further hesitation Amariss takes a small chunk of meat in hand and inches still closer, breathing gently and watching the excitment unfold before her. "This is definitely exciting." She echoes Zora's sentiment.

Lonzo watches curiously as everyone gathers around the basket, he seems very content to stand back and watch. Glances at everyone with a look of amusement, as he notes thier concentration. The crunch of the egg pulls his attention and he watches the clothing move around with an arched brow.

Lacey chuckles after returning the kiss. "Looks like a bunch of people eager to fold laundry? Or ... perhaps something else, who knows?" Mischief sparkles in her eyes as she urges one of her tablemates."Go on, try for one. See if you think they are as easy to train as you say they should be.." Laughing outright at the girl's startled expression, Lacey passes on a bowl of bloody meat scraps and pushes her toward the basket. "Go on now, tempt them once they come out. Not any good to tempt them before they come out."

Twilight wobbles on the edge of the basket, wings spread to hold her balance. Her head twitches back and forth as she seeks out her eggs - they're there somewhere, and she's going to humm them on out into the world! Brenka sighs, and her leg jiggles more with anxious energy.

Amariss sees that Lonzo is standing too far away with no meat in his hand and she waves him closer. Peering all around for Jabari she cannot see him and her heart aches that he is missing this. Holding the meat at the ready she watches the laundry wiggle and move.

Falgin settles his hip against Lacey's chair and folds his arms over his chest, clipboard tucked beneath one of them still "Ahh....little dragons ahatching, is it?" he says, shaking his head. "So much fuss for the little critters. Never saw the sense of them, myself. I've got enough to do without having to take care of a flying stomach." He grins down at Lacey "You going to try for another, Luv?"

S'am glances towards the basket, but seems more intent on his plate than the goings on under all those wiggling clothes. Waving to Zora, he gestures to space around the clothes "Better grab some meat and get in there." He winks then looks to the Steward when he arrives. "Hi there Falgin. Had any good fishing lately?" He sidles a little away from the basket, having lizards of his own to feed and laughs suddenly. "You candidates should be more than welcome in the barracks tonight if you get chosen by one of those little ones." The Brownrider gives a sideways glance to Brenka and starts snickering.

That poor old sock. It's seen it's last days, it seems. Another little wiggle, and then a loud *crack*! Surprisingly enough, the sock does not tear. Instead, the poor firelizard inside is left to fight his way out of a smelly (erm, ok, /clean/) old, holey sock! As if breaking out of an egg wasn't bad enough.

I've Been Sock-ed Hatchling!
A writhing, wriggling mass of fabric that, once upon a time, was a sock. The fabric has stretched to encompass the struggling hatchling within, and even though there's a hole in the toe, no color can be discerned. Where the egg has burst is a dark, moist stain. Ewwww, sticky sock-Hatchling.

From Veyanne's shoulder, Chip hisses meancingly at the moving laundry.

Amariss says, "Lonzo...come get some meat. Hurry. They're coming....Sure wish Jabari is here. He's missing this." Her eyes now attached themselves to the basket and will not move away again for fear of missing something."

Zora watches intently at the moving laundry. Her smile is highly amused along with a giggle from some silent sharing of thoughts. "Ah, this would be much easier in a basket of warm sand. Just for future reference." This is to Brenka as the greenrider inches closer to the laundry basket, still holding out her fishes, surely one of them will show their heads soon. Yummy fishes, come get your fish.

Brenka chews at her lower lip. "Oh, great," she grumps as the sock-egg hatches. "Twilight wouldn't let me anywhere near that one, even when I tried to explain that I was going to *help* it. Guess she didn't believe me." She's chattering quickly, more anxious than the mama-gold Firelizard. Twilight just /hummmmmms/ to her babies. Chip is given a warning look, and Twilight opens her wings fully to show off her size.

Lacey rolls her eyes. "Little firelizards, dear. Not the same thing." Lucky Falgin is saved from a further lecture by the dragonhealer as Lacey urges her friend on. "No, no. You need to get to their level. Down, no, not like that .... lower still." Again, she rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "Honestly!" Turning back to Falgin after scooting over so there is plenty of room for him on her chair, if he doens't mind close company, Lacey snorts. "Nique keeps me busy as it is..." One eye remains on her 'apprentice firelizard impressee' "They can't see the meat in the bow,, dangle ...."

Lonzo catches Amariss' look and beckoning and he quickly answers with wide eyes and a shake of his head. He is planning to stay right where he is where it's safe. He grins over at Falgin as he hears the man and gives him a wave. "You and me both sir." He turns back to Amariss and shakes his head again. "That's one less thing I need to deal with. I already had a wonderful day of Marlianne's mouth." He motions to the soot covered clothing.

The wind shifts that fuzzy gray mass of... wait, what wind?! Oh, it must be that egg in there. Wiggle, wiggle... eww, wiggling ball of fuzz, gross!

Amariss holds out her piece of meat on the edge of the basket. "I hope twilight doesn't think to scratch me." She glanced to the Gold before staring at the laundry one more. The meat close enough for one to grasp should they find it. She barely hears Lonzo's voice now. She nods anyway without moving her eyes.

Brenka shakes her head. "She shouldn't..." she tells Amariss, though there's an anxious look towards the little gold. And then a glance up at Lacey, and those 'trying-but-failing' at the wiggling-meat thing. "Honestly," she sighs, rolling her eyes. "/Wiggle/ the meat!"

The Weyrharper murmurs something to Vey and she replies "I wish, but I daren't try for one. I can't risk impressing another like Chip." In reply, the brown on her shoulder bites her ear.

Snug As A Bug Hatchling is free!... of the egg. Of the blanket, well... that's a different story. The hatchling within seems to struggle as the large, yellow blanket weighs it down. It's movements are slow, but it seems to be making progress. The battle of the blanket has begun!

Dean pauses in his trek across the courtyard when he notices the small gathering that includes his brother before locking in on the plate in S'am's hand. With a shrug, Dean comes up behind S'am and speaks into his left ear, "So, what's going on bro?" he asks with a grin even as his hand snakes around from the right to snatch for a torte off S'am's plate. All the while giving S'am a way too innocent grin as he glances between the laundry and his brother.

Amariss chuckles nervously and begins to wiggle the meat with some vigor, giving Brenka a quick grin of thanks.

"Ewwwww, it's all slimy and icky. It's going to get me all dirty. I hate being dirty.." Marnela abruptly shuts up as Lacey gives her a /look/. The assistant Headwoman in charge of silver and china quickly adds. "But having a firelizard would be so helpful.." Looking over her shoulder at her boss, she continues, as if by rote. "After all, I could send messages much more swiftly with a firelizard ..." Wrinkling her nose, the girl fishes out a bit of meat and holds it between two fingertips, at an arms length and nowhere near a firelizard.

"Look like little dragons to me." Falgin comments, though the twinkle in his eye suggests he's riling Lacey's lectural instincts on purpose. He chuckles at her friends obvious lack of experience and reaches for a bit of meat himself. "Here, like this." He indicates, placing his clipboard on the table and crouching down to waggle said meat close to the ground, little droplets of meat juice spattering the dirt. "Show by example, Luv, it's the best way." Is indicated to his wife, before he's distracted by S'am "Fishing? Can't say I have. Marriage, y'know, doesn't leave much room for that sort of thing." But his wide grin suggests he's not missing it /too/ much.

Zora frowns. "Surely she'll let us uncover them? I mean, it's hard enough getting out of an egg, how are they supposed to get out of the laundry too?" Zora muses as she starts to reach toward the blanket, a glance toward Twilight quickly changes the greenriders mind. She continues to paitently wiggle her fish, slimy and all. "C'mon little ones, I promise they're fresh." Heres fishy fishy.

Brenka shakes her head at Zora. "Yeah, but... I don't think Twilight trusts me much right now, after I raided the rest of her clutch. She won't let me touch the basket." Which is probably why Brenka has seated herself out of reach of it. Twilight, as if sensing 'they' might try and reach in, puffs herself up even more, and gives a warning hiss.

Another wiggle of that trouser, another little shake, and then... *splat!* That would be the sound of egg-shell and egg-goo hitting the fabric. But the Hatchling remains inside, free! but unseen. Darn.

Wiggling Leg-Thing Hatchling
Wiggle-wiggle. Something's IN these pants, and it's not a leg! A tug here, a pull there, the fabric stretches and flexes for this Hatchling, but does not yet give way. A solid brown, it looks ready to swallow the baby firelizard whole. Fight little 'lizard! Be free of the pants!

S'am glances to his left, spotting Dean and narrowing his eyes a bit suspiciously to his brother. "Lizard eggs are hatching you wherryhead." Looking his brother up and down, the Brownrider gestures to a seat across the table "Have a seat, making my neck hurt looki9ng up at ya like that." Peering to his plate, he eyes it briefly, frowning. "Hey!" Seems S'am can count and notices a torte missing. Not quite glaring at Dean a moment, he just shakes his head and rolls his eyes, peering to Brenka with a shrug "Hmm. Wouldn't be so sure she won't bite. Remember K'led's queen going after Eldore?"

Lonzo looks down in panic as he feels a tug on his sleeve. To his relief it isn't a hatchling, it's Kavin, the streaking toddler, who is tugging and pulling at the candidate's sleeve. "Hat-ch?" The youngster asks, he gets on his tip toes as if trying to see what's going on. Lonzo looks at the youngster with amusement. He reaches down and scoops the boy and sets him on his shoulders. Kavin claps happily and giggles infectiously now that he can see the antics in the basket.

Amariss attempts to keep her heart from racing out of her chest. "The anticipation is killing me," She says under her breath. "Oh I hope those little ones can find their way out." Continuing to wiggle her piece of raw meat over the brim of the basket she tries to entice the hatchlings out from under the clothes. "Come here little ones...come on...you can do it."

Lacey snorts at her husband, realizing she's being teased. "Firelizards are /not/ minature dragons, you have to look at them closely to ...." Her eyes widen as she spots the pants. "Oh, aren't those F'sord's? Oh he is so picky about his trousers.." She's on her feet now, not far behind Falgin. "Oh and how do you know so much about Firelizards..." She teases. "You've been much too busy to pay much attention to Nique except to shoo her away when we are ..." Poor Marnela. She's now flanked on the other side by Lacey who helpfully demonstrates the /proper/ technique. "Dangle, drip any blood close to them but do try not to stain the clothes, it's so hard to get blood out......" It takes Lacey a moment to crouch as she is wearing a shorter skirt but she does manage to do so, modesty intact. "Now, you need to speak softly, reassuringly, invitingly." Glancing up at the giggling boy, she smirks at his perch. "You know, his mother will skin you alive if he impresses. Toddlers and firelizards do not mix."

Zora nods. "Right, I heard you traded some away because of the clutch being in the laundry basket. Well, I can't say I blame her for not wanting anyone to get the rest of her hatchlings." She replies giving a shrug. Another cracking egg catches her attention as she looks at the furious wiggling of socks, blankets, and trousers. "C'mon, little ones." Zora says crouching further so her fish are even closer to the basket. Follow the smells, find the taste of freedom.

I've Been Sock-ed Hatchling wiggles in it's sock-y prison, attempting to claw it's way out. It doesn't seem to work. It pushes, it pulls, it even tries to bite (well, maybe. Or grasp?) No good. That sock's just not budging.

Sana walks over to the people gathered around the laundry basket, blinking as she realizes what's going on. Heh. She sits down, a short distance from the basket, looking at Medatch once more, then looks around for some meat.

Veyanne removes the hissing and spitting brown from her shoulder, saying "No bite!". He thrashes and claws at her, raking her hands a few times, before she sets him firmly down beside her.

Lonzo glances over at Lacey from where he's standing, when he turns to address her, Kavin smacks a hand against Lonzo's shaved scalp with a paniced smack. "Can see.. Can see." So Lonzo moves to where the kid can see again, but he still talks to the headwoman. "Not sure how he's gonna do that way up there. I figured up here he's safe enough."

Amariss says, "Brenka, they'll be okay in there won't they? They won't get stuck I hope." She worries and dangles the meat, wiggling it in a rhythm now."

Brenka glances up and assures Amariss, "No, no they won't get stuck..." though her food is jiggling extra fast now as she watches that poor sock-stuck Hatchling. "Most of them," she tells Zora with a smirk. "Would have given them all away if Twilight had let me."

A particularly strong gust of wind... wait, that was a rock from the egg, almost seems to roll it right out of the basket. It's saved by the rim, however, and rocks back into the blanket (The fuzzy yellow one, to be precise!). Another strong shake, and the egg bursts open!

Ball Of Lint Hatchling
Wet from the egg, the ball of fuzz that had been it's past home now clings to this poor little firelizard. A mass of grey and dust, it's impossible to know what color might be contained beneath.

Deans grin grows even wider as he watches S'am's expression at the loss of a torte. Taking a bite of it while looking directly at S'am, Dean mutters around his mouthful of purloined pastry. "You dont say?" with an arching of a brow and an amused twinkle to his eyes.

I've Been Sock-ed Hatchling gives another wiggle, another push... Ah! Finally! A muzzle pokes through the hole... right into another bit of laundry. Go back, go back! A quick scrambling, and it makes it's way out the other end. Freedom! And... what's this? /Food!/ With a spring, the newly freed Hatchling jumps towards the nearest bit of meat, that just so happens to be in the possession of Lacey. Way to demonstrate!

The Holey Old Sock Egg falls apart and out rolls a Stocky Blue Hatchling.

Stocky Blue Hatchling
This hatchling is robust, even at such a tender age. A rich, uniform sapphire blue coats his pebbly hide, appearing to reflect the light like a jewel. Wide haunches, deep belly, and broad wings show a healthy vitality. His neck is far from elegant, but his head possesses a gentle dish and wide, intelligent eyes.

Zora glances over at Amariss. "You think this is suspencful? Amariss, wait until you get on the hatching sands. Your heart feels like it's in your throat, and you could die any moment from all the waiting. And like this, it'll be over just like that." Zora snaps a finger and another egg hatches. "See." She chuckles waving her fish toward the nearest wriggling hatchling that is fighting its way out.

Amariss catches a quick glimpse of the rolling egg before it is hidden by the blanket again. A quick, surprised squeek eminates from Amariss's throat and she forgets to wiggle the meat for a second when the Blue hatchling falls out of the sock. "Oh." Was all she could say as she freezes with surprise.

Lacey gives the candidate another glance and smirks. "Just be careful, that's all I can say. His mother is a tad .... well, you know." Back to coaching and Lacey's demonstrating the perfect technique. "Dangle, make it look alive." Dangle, dangle, dangle." She slithers the bit along the pavement and almost drops it as it is snatched by .... "Keven? Oh dear, oh no. Oh you sweet little dearling." Cooing, she scoops the little blue up into the palm of her hand. "Silly little one." Good thing she can't see the smirk on her assistant's face as she is let off the hook.

Falgin grins over at Lacey "Just couldn't resist, could you? What will Nique say when you drag home another of the silly creatures?" He shakes his head, "As it is, we've got too many of the things in our bed if you ask me. That Nique screeches louder than an old auntie deprived of her favorite sunning spot when I kick her out." He sighs as he watches the headwoman take the little blue. His own meat is waggled desultorily, still in 'example' mode for Marnela "Now she's demonstrated how to impress one." He tells the girl "Try and see if you can do the same? I don't want her taking home any more of the things."

Wiggling Leg-Thing Hatchling is... in a trouser leg! What an undignified way to enter the world, really! It turns in the small (though not sock-small, thankfully!) prison it has Hatched into, as if seeking a way out. Two options. But which direction should it take? Choices... choices...

Gawk and then can't help but chuckle as Lacey unwittingly impresses the little blue. "Oh Lacey. Congratulations...what a dear little thing." Her eyes are alight with joy for the headwoman for a moment before they are turned back towards the basket. Remembering her meat she begins to wiggle it again.

Snug As A Bug Hatchling has small progress against that thick, yellow blanket it is trapped under. Slowly, slowly, it makes it's way to the end. A little more, a little further! Finally, there is a nose poking out. It's first breath of clean, fresh air is taken before the hatchling shrugs off the blanket completely and makes a leap for the nearest food offering. Food! Oh. Hello there, Falgin! Whoops.

The Yellow Blanket Egg falls apart and out crawls a Proportionate Blue Hatchling.

Proportionate Blue Hatchling
Small, but proportionate, this young blue has all the makings of a fine-looking Firelizard. Rich, azure blue, the color changes only slightly, darkening across his belly like a gem. His limbs are just the right size, and in just the right places. Neither long, nor short, he has a delicate sort of build that speaks of future speed and graceful movements. Neck long, wings pointed, and tail the perfect length to be an effective rudder.

S'am shakes a scolding finger at Dean, the other hand scooping his plate in closer from danger. He nods though and gestures towards the basket as Lacey demonstrates how to impress. "Hmm. I'ld say you got the method down perfectly Lacey." He snickers at Falgin, then to the others around the basket before peering to Dean "Why don't you grab some meat and give it a try. Just watch Lacey to see how it's done."

Lonzo winces as the excited toddler slaps at his head with both hands screaming. "Boo.. boo! Tacey Boo!" Lonzo reaches up to stop at least one hand. "Maybe it wasn't such a good idea." He shakes his head at Lacey and smirks. "Not sure whether to say congrats or give my condolences." When he see's Falgin gain one as well.. He manages to say through more happy slaps. "Condolences maybe.. "

Zora glances toward the headwoman, dangling her fish above the basket. Dangle, dangle, who can resist, such yummy fish. "Ooo, He's a very nice blue, congratulations on impressing him Lacey." Zora says with a smile to the headwoman, admiring the blue for a moment as another blue has made it's way out. "How about that. Congratulations Falgin." Dangle.

Brenka smirks at Amariss. "Really," she tells the girl, seconding Zora's words. "This is nothing compared to standing on the Sands. Those, at least," and she flicks her hand towards the basket, "Are small enough to run from, and fast! But the dragons?" A little laugh, and Brenka flashes Falgin a sympathetic sort of look.

Amariss laughs even harder when Falgin impresses, despite his words of not wanting anymore. "That'll teach you." She teases bravely, her meat piece still being wiggles absent-mindedly.

Lacey sticks her tongue out at her husband. "I didn't do it on purpose and at least the feline stays off the bed ..." Offering perfectly sized tidbits to her new friend, she keeps an eye out for the pupil. "Wriggle, now watch Falgin, he's .... Oh shells!" Her eyes widen as the Steward impresses and narrow just as quickly as the sly Marnela slithers away, firelizard free. "That girl, I think she pulled the wool over our eyes, dearheart."

Something's trying to burst from that blue tunic lump! The egg! It moves, it pulses it... doesn't do much of anything after that. Hrm. Maybe it senses the conundrum of birthing right into a tunic? Maybe it's just lazy.

Gale, the quieter of Veyanne's firelizards, peeks out once Chip is evicted from Vey's shoulder. Humming softly, she takes the place where her brother used to be, watching the hatchlings curiously. Chip, for his part, continues hissing at the half-grown green, at the hatchlings, and at Veyanne, occasionally nipping at her.

After Zora and then Brenka mention the dragon hatching not that far away she sobers considerably, not quite believing that she'll be a part of that as well. "Oh dear. Dragons hatch...don't they?" Her words were the product of shocked realization. Her meat wiggling out a rhythm.

Falgin looks down at the blue thing attached to the end of his piece of meat and wriggles it again "Let go of that. You were supposed to go to.." He glances over as Marnela slinks off. "Why, that little git. She's left me holding the firelizard!" He sighs, scooping up the little bit of blue in one large hand and letting go of the meat with the other "Fine. Have it your way, you silly thing. Now I suppose you'll want me to feed you forever and ever, is that it?" A grimace, as he reaches for another piece of meat and gives his wife a resigned look "Looks like we'll have three of them to boot out of the way now." From the way he tucks that little blue guy close to him, however, suggests he's not /entirely/ immune to the firelizard's charm.

Ball Of Lint Hatchling is covered in grossness! Gross! With a disgusted sort of squawk, it's first order of business is to try and shake off that clinging dust and fuzz. Shake, shake, shake! No good. It's tail lashes, it's maw gnashes, and it dives into the nearest bit of fabric. There goes another tunic!

Veyanne smiles over to the newlyweds. "Congratulations. May they be much nicer than Chip is."

Amariss watches the lint-covered hatchling and giggles softly, her soberness is relieved a bit by the little one's antics. "It's so gawky looking but oh so very cute too."

Sana takes some meat, and starts to toss small pieces of meat in a somewhat-line from her to the basket. She sighs, and yawns, blinking heavily.

Zora gives a chuckle. "Yep, dragons do hatch, and it's much more exciting then this. Not to mention it's a lot more uncomfortable on the sands. Especially if your standing right to the end." The greenriders says with a frown and a shrug. Still dangling her fish. Fish heads, fish heads, yummy yummy fish heads. "Course, there is still nothing worth more then the experience of impressing your lifemate. It's something you'll never forget." Zora adds with a smile.

Lacey scoots over to sit near the Steward. "She has a tendency to not want to be available all the time, a firelizard would cramp her style, I have a feeling, as far as reporting in..." Peering over at the little blue, she ooohs. "He is sweet though love and you don't have to feed them forever, I only feed Nique every now and again, she likes catching her own fresh kill. Now oiling? That' another matter entirely." As her own blue lets out a huge burp and abruptly passes out in the crook of her arm, the Headwoman lets out a belly laugh. "Just like a male. if he had a pair of trousers, he'd have undone the top button."

Looking from the wiggling little lizards and back to S'am, Dean gives a shake of his head while taking another bite of his torte, "Are you kidding Sammy? Look at how small those things are. I would be afraid I would break the dang thing."

Lonzo blinks at the ball of lint. "That one is a bit on the scary side." Kavin's arms are wrapped around Lonzo's head like a crown on the large man's brow. "I am not mending those the next time I get laundry duty." The toddler's arms slip down some blocking Lonzo's view, so he pushes the arms up with a finger.

"Don't worry," Brenka says, voice directed at Lonzo, "No one is mending anything in *this* basket. At least, not on top. *I* wouldn't wear a tunic after a firelizard Hatched in it!" Ew.

Don't look now, but that indecent little ball of panties is... is shimmying? How... improper! Frilly bits of lace flap back and forth over the shell of that egg, but none of the unmentionables want to let go.

S'am snorts at Dean "If ya don't try to fix them, they won't break Dean." Taking another bite, he looks back towards the little group around the basket, chuckling at Falgin get's lizardnapped. "So who's gonna be kicking who out of bed Falgin?" His gaze drifts between the newlyweds, still chuckling. "Hey Lacey? Mind showing dean how ya go about impressing a lizard?"

Falgin gives Lacey a look "Well, since you'll be doing your two, I figured you could just oil mine up at the same time." He says with a winning smile just for her, though her comment about males has him frowning "I don't unbutton /my/ top button. At least, not when my stomach's full." A sly grin "Now....for other reasons, you might see me doing so." Ahem. His gaze flicks to the blue thing greedily eating anything placed within reach of its tiny muzzle. "I'm with S'am's brother. I could crush this thing in one hand, if I'd a mind to. Which I don't, of course. Just saying." That added hastily unless someone protests cruelty to firelizards.

All things must come to an end. Too bad for the pretty blue tunic that this egg is going to Hatch now. Right now! The sound of shattering shell, muffled only slightly by the now-destroyed blue tunic, heralds a new Hatchling into the world.

Who Turned Out the Lights? Hatchling
A rich, sleek, sapphire blue tunic covers this firelizard completely. The little thing is but a blob among the once fine garment. Even with the confines of the shirt, the lizard is easily seen. Color, and form, however, are left to the imagination.

Lacey smirks at her husband and leans in, mischief and a lot more in her tone. She mutters to Falgin, "... notice... don't... scented oil... a... gift... Narnie,... do... than... sure you'll..."

Amariss looks and listens as more movement can be seen. She does not know where to look.

Zora shrugs. "I dunno a good thorough washing a few times just might be enough to make the tunic wearable again." She says watching as the tunic is thus destroyed. "Oh well." A flick of her arm in a helpless gesture and the fish in her fingers slips away with enough force to send it flying toward Lonzo. "Oops." Zora mutters looking horrified nearly dropping the other fish in her other hand.

Wiggling Leg-Thing Hatchling has made a decision! And, it seems to be the right one! With a determined little shimmy of it's rump (or... maybe that's the.. no, it's the rump) it sets off determinedly down the pant leg. The going is rough, over unseen lumps of clothes, but the little Hatchling continues on. At long last he meets the end of his trouser-tunnel, and is freed! First order of business? FOOD! And, as it just so happens, there's flying food! In the form of a fish-head! The little firelizard goes diving after it, smacking himself right into Lonzo's belly. Forget toddlers on heads, Lonzo's got a firelizard on his stomach. Feed me!

The Brown Trouser Egg breaks open and out crawls a Lanky Brown Hatchling.

Lanky Brown Hatchling
Thin, long, and lean, this Hatchling almost appears malnurished. A deep, rich soil brown, this hatchling is made for slinking and hiding. A long, whip-like tail is the perfect end to an elongated body. His ribs are narrow, tapered into a petite waist and delicate hips. Long limbs and equally long neck complement the look. His wings are larger than average, skinny, and made for speed.

Lacey looks over from S'am, to Dean and back again. "You've got lots of experience in impressing, S'am. I don't think you need any pointers passed on that you can't pass along yourself. That is, if Dean is willing to listen, mind you." Even in the crowd, she does manage to look Lonzo's way now and again, bursting into laughter at the man's plight.

About the 3rd time the arms drop over his eyes, Lonzo realizes the kid is way too quiet too. He tilts his head sideways to try to look up, but the nanny near by touches his arm and brings a finger to her lip. She lifts her arms and makes a motion for him to give her the little boy. "Kneel down and let me have the poor thing. He had a long day of streaking around. Your lucky he still has the diaper on now." Lonzo crouche down to bring him low enough for the nanny to take the boy from him. He gives the woman a thankful smile and a wink, and turns back just in time to have a fish head smack him in the stomach and then something... brown? Instinctfully he moves to catch it over balancing him and... Oof! The man falls backwards and finds himself staring at a little brown. "What?!?"

Dean nods in agreement with Falgin before looking back to his brother, licking his fingers clean before placing his hands safely behind his back where there is the least chance of accident. "Yeah Sammy, why don't you show me how it's done." While giving Lacey a little smirk.

Zora can't help but giggle, dropping to her knees as she looses her balence. "Well, least some of them like fish." She muses grinning widely at Lonzo. "Congratulations Lonzo. He's certainly an interesting looking brown." She says retriving another fish from her basket to once again be a two fisted fish dangler. Of course her hands are now suffering from a fishy smell that just might takes sevendays to remove.

Amariss gawks almost in disbelief at Lonzo as he tips over backwards and impresses at the same time. "Lonzo! Oh dear." The piece of meat in her hand is forgotten as she watches to see what he will do. "Feed him Lonzo. Quick." She encourages.

"Now, that's an entirely different thing, Lacey" Falgin protests whatever she muttered at him. "Oiling for pleasure is much better than oiling as a chore." He tucks the now sleeping blue a little closer and glances over at the others, before passing the bowl of meat Lonzo-ward "Here...looks like you're going to need this." Smirk.

Twilight stalks around the basket, watching the few remaining bits of wiggling clothes (and lint) with careful, maternal eyes. She humms her encouragement towards that wad of panties, then chirps cheerfully at that blue tunic. You can do it!

Who Turned Out The Lights? Hatchling is... alive. And covered in blue! It seems to consider this new predicament, head twisting left and right beneath the fabric. A pause, a little stretch of the wings... ooo, pretty blue! All around!

Lacey places a soft hand on Falgin's forearm, careful not to jostle the sleeping 'lizards. "Ah but one of the joys of taking care of a firelizard is ..... even though we don't feel it as intently as a rider feels his lifemate's emotions, we do indeed feel their pleasure, if the bond is there." Looking her little charmer over carefully, the Headwoman mutters. "A name, a name. Peeker, I think. Simple, easy and true."

S'am shakes his head adamently "Oh no. nono. I already got a couple of flying stomachs, and Cazynth. I'm afraid there are no more places left at my dinner table." Flashing an amused wink, he peers to Dean "Just grab some meat and wiggle it real close to the lizard, like they are doing." He gestures towards Amariss, Zora, Sana and.. That's it since Lonzo gets gut-punched by a lizard. "You'll be very popular tonight in the dorms Lonzo." The brownrider smiles tooo sweetly, as if he's not exactly telling the truth.

Veyanne smiles over toward the gentle giant and says "Congratulations!" Chip looks toward the basket and spit-hisses again, flaring his wings at the moving clothing. Gale sits quietly and hums.

Sanablinks heavily, again, stiffling another yawn. She eyes the basket, faint amusement showing on her face, and then looks at Lonzo, more amusement showing. She grins, shakes her head, and turns back to the basket. Poor hatchlings. Poor Lonzo, too. Her line-thing is getting a bit longer, and much more crooked.

Without realizing it, Amariss rests both hands on her lap, with the meat included. It stains her skirt but she does not notice. Her eyes are on Lonzo and his awkward predicament. Eyes also flow over Falgin and Lacey's blues with a tender expression in her gaze. Hearing S'am talk about flying stomachs has her chuckling.

Lonzo looks uncertain he wants to move from his position, as he watches the hatching down the bit of fish. Then the little thing turn an eyes to the candidate and they stare at each other for a long moment then.... **CCCRRREEEEELLLL** The lttle brown lets out a long out rather disconcerting sound that makes Lonzo's eyes widen. "What's he doing? Why is he doing?!?" Then the claws dig in. "Ow! Hey! Wait.. Food.. Where's the food!" The big man looks around frantically from his spot on the ground and spots the food offered by Falgin. "Oh hey.. thanks." He grabs a handful of meat and starts feeding it quick. "Okay.. Okay..."

More rolling only seems to tangle the panties around that poor, unfortunate egg. It's rocking quite frantically now, back and forth, as if trying to dislodge those embarassing under-garments from it's shell. No good. If anything, it seems to tighten it's hold around that little egg. Eventually, the shell breaks, and it's the unfortunate Hatchling inside that is suddenly entombed in panties.

Not So Decent Hatcling
Tangled limbs, wings, tail, all wrapped up in the colorful frills and fabric of a bundle of ladies panties. It's impossible to tell what color this Hatchling might be, though it is *definitely* a Hatchling.

Dangle, dangle. Zora is still dangling her fish, but her attention is on Twilight, watching at the fire lizard hums encouragement to the hatchlings. "She's really such an attentive little mother. Even if shes a bit protective." Zora muses. Glancing toward the wriggling bundles of cloth and fuzz. "C'mon." Zora echo's the golds sentiment.

Ball Of Lint Hatchling has tried, so hard, to get rid of it's nasty grey dust. To no avail. Finally, it's reduced to rubbing. That tunic it's claimed is rolled in frantically, like a canine with a bad itch. Rub, rub-rub! On it's back, wings stretched out, limbs stretched up, it shakes and wiggles furiously. It seems to be working, and the lint is slowly worn off. It rolls over, stands up, and goes about it's second mission - fishies! A leap, and Zora suddenly finds herself attached to a fuzzy, lint-y firelizard.

The Fuzzy Gray Mass Egg breaks open and out crawls an Agile Bronze Hatchling.

Agile Bronze Hatchling
A small, yet decidedly agile, young firelizard. Mundane face, average ridges and blunt muzzle lead into a slender sort of neck, narrow shoulders, and proportionate limbs. His wings are wide, balanced, and promise stamina. His tail is of average length, though narrow. A rich, creamy butterscotch bronze coats his entire form, highlighted in opalescent tones across his 'ridges and darkening to a deeper hue across his belly.

Twilight heard that! She turns, wings flared, and /stares/ at Chip. With a shrill cry, she launches herself from the basket towards him, claws unsheathed and ready to attack. Never mess with a mama and her babies!

Amariss is worried for the little one stuck in the panties and without thinking, she reaches forward to help it out. Twilight snaps dangerously close to her fingers as she pulls them back with a gasp of protest. "You silly queen. Your baby is stuck. Look." She points and aggravates Twilight again. Remembering her meat again finally she puts it over the rim of the basket again. "I don't expect anything to happen but maybe the smell will help it out." She shrugs worriedly, glancing at Brenka again before returning her gaze back to the unfortuneate panty-entombed hatchling.

So caught up is she with her new little charge and overseeing her nervous Husband and his new friend, Lacey hasn't been paying much attention. Something is caught in the corner of her eye and instanteously, the Headwoman is very very aware of her surroundings. Blushing pink as a rose, she tries to keep her eyes /off/ of a very sexy pair of panties that is currently being modeled by a hatchling. Leaning over to her husband, she whispers in a panic. "Oh dear, I thought ....lost .... beach ..."

Chip screeches in reply, taking off into the air and disppearing *between* before the queen can reach him.

"Careful, Amariss," Brenka warns. But the candidate's fingers are safe when Twilight takes off. "I wouldn't touch them, though..." It's a polite order.

Zora with all her efforts is caught by surprise with her attention on the gold Twilight. "Oh!" She scoops up the hatchling with a careful, now free hand. "Hello there." She smiles and feeds the bronze her other fish, picking away some of the fuzz still lingering on his ridges. "First things first, food, then a bath. You poor little thing." Zora strokes his hide with a finger as she feeds him yet another small fish.

Not So Decent Hatchling is trapped! Trapped in /panties/! Oh, the embarassment! It struggles, trying to dislodge wings from pink, lacy garments. A tiny cry is issued as it struggles with a particularly stubborn undie, but no progress seems to be made. Another feeble cry, and it crouches down to hide amongst the laundry, as if too embarassed to be seen.

Twilight, mission complete, flies back to her basket to hiss another warning at Amariss. She settles on the rim, watching her two remaining babies with another little croon.

Sana yawns again, letting her eyes drift shut for a short. She snaps them open again, however, and peers at the basket, smiling again. Those poor little 'lizards, trapped in laundry. Oy.

Amariss nods obedience to Brenka and keeps her hands away from the eggs. Only the meat is dangled and wiggling again over the basket's edge. Seeing the lint-colored one reveal itself to being a bronze and then going to Zora she smiles delightedly for the woman's good fortune. "Congrats Zora!" She calls amiably.

Lonzo is oblivious to the panties in the basket, he's too busy stuffing the gob of a tiny brown. The brown continues to try and inch his way closer to Lonzo's face, but the man takes time while the lizard gobbles to push it back a bit with a finger.

Who Turned Out The Lights? Hatchling has finished admiring it's surroundings. It's time to get out of this big blue mess it's found itself in. Time for movement. Time for food! The little form that is the Hatchling manuevers itself through the mass of blue tunic, leaving shell and goo behind. Upwards, it crawls forward, forward, and then out! Out through the neck of the tunic and into the world. A deep breath is taken. Is that food? Yes, yes it is! A mad dash is given, and the new little hatchling latches onto the food offered by Amariss.

The Lump of Blue Tunic Egg cracks and out rolls a Dainty Green Hatchling.

Dainty Green Hatchling
Malachite veins flow from a dainty mossy muzzle, swelling over cheeks and eye ridges, and branching downwards like a spinner's web. The mossy hue fades into a vibrant emerald at the shoulders, enhancing the malachite web. Nicely proportioned limbs, tail and wings are dusted with a bright jade to give a natural radiance.

Not So Decent Hatchling is still in hiding! Who could blame it, really, with those frilly things clinging to it so dangerously. But, it can't hide and cower forever, not with a belly aching to be fed. A wiggle, and a push, as the hatchling tries a new approach: open the wings! It seems to work, and with another final *push* the panties fall apart. Freed at last, the Hatchling makes a pitiful little cry and looks up at the nearest offering of food. And then the next bit, and the next... why, hello there, Sana!

The Ball of Frilly Panties Egg splinters and out rolls a Lumpy Gold Hatchling.

Lumpy Gold Hatchling
Rather lumpy, this young gold looks as if she was assembled by a half-asleep Baker. Chubby limps and an even chubbier belly, look as if she had quite a meal before Hatching. Her neck is short and stubby, her neckridges looking oddly squished together to fill the space. Her muzzle is short, blunt, and her wide, bovine-like eyes give her a dreamy sort of look. Her wings are short, but broad, her tail thick and stubby. Her saving grace is her color: a rich, honey gold from muzzle to tail tip.

Dean's response to S'am is simply to take a little step back and away from the hatchlings while keeping his hands behind his back. "Oh no, I don't need that kind of competition over my dinner plate." Looking around at all the people holding new hatchlings he just gives a shake of his head.

Lacey mutters as she spies the hatchling trying to hide. "I feel your pain, little one, I feel your pain." Keeping her eyes firmly on her own new friend, ignoring the gasps as a gold firelizard appears. "Nice little blue, that's all I can say." She peers over her shoulder at Dean. "Firelizard's don't eat human food, silly. It makes them sick. Only raw meat or fish. That's it."

Veyanne looks up distrustfully toward where the vicious brown disappeared, but relaxes as he seems to be off. She notices the last few impressions and smiles to the happy new owners. "Congratulations!" she says in the general direction of Amariss, Sana, and Zora.

Amariss squeaks helplessly with complete surprise as a green hatchling suddenly attaches itself to her piece of meat. Forgetting all she freezes. "Oh dear...oh dear..." was all she could say. With a careful look towards Twilight she gently picks up the green hatchling and places her in the crook of her arm like a baby. A baby was what she was. "Oh you little darling. You precious little love." She crooned gently and scooted closer to the trays of food. One piece at a time for the Green was given. She did not realize that tears of delight were wetting her cheeks. "Oh Brenka." She looks up briefly. "Thank you so much...she's....she's beautiful."

Brenka relaxes as Twilight does, taking her cue from the gold. "Done!" she declares with delight, hopping down from her bench and reaching for the basket. "And about time." She flashes a grin at Amariss and tells her, "Oh, don't thank me, I didn't do anything! But, congratulations."

Veyanne and the Weyrharper gather together the children and head back to the teaching area. As they go, the Harper mentions to Veyanne "We can make this into a lesson on life cycles."

RSP: Dragon Talk

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:38:48 GMT

Who: Felisa, Lyndee
What: A discussion of dragon colors
Where: Night Hearth, Benden Weyr
When: 5:01pm on day 6, month 1, turn 3

Nighthearth
Partially removed from the kitchen, the nighthearth is a small niche with a long, narrow tunnel leading to the inner Weyr. This is one of the coziest locations in the Weyr, boasting a large stone table, long enough to seat a half-dozen people on either side, that sits immobile in the center of the area with wooden benches along it. Well-lit and well-stocked, the hearth usually contains at least a pot of klah and one of stew as well as baskets of day-old bread and whatever leftover treats there might be from the last meal.

Mid-afternoon and a skipped lunch finds Lyndee at the Nighthearth, pushing some stew around a bowl and licking the spoon every now and then rather than actually eating. She's half-slumped over her late meal, though she seems happy enough, her eyes bright and appearance in order at least.

Felisa wanders in, covered in flour instead of the summertime staple of dirt. She heads over to the pastry tray and checks it out, then notices Lyndee. "Want any of these before I take them away? I'll be bringing out some new stuff, but this is yesterday's bake, so it won't be exactly the same."

Lyndee smiles up at Felisa, then belatedly eyes the food about to removed. The smile becomes a little rueful. "Could I be a pain and wait on the new stuff?" It's eyes to the as-yet uneaten stew then. "'Spose I should finish this first, though..." The blonde leans back in her chair a little, stretching before she asks, "Looking forward to the Hatching?"

Felisa smiles and nods. "No problem on the waiting. I imagine someone would take it wrong if they saw you eating dessert before lunch." As to the other question, she says "Sort of. I can't wait to see all of the new hatchlings, especially with so many. But I have to wonder if I'll be left standing again."

"I guess it's down to luck... Or if it's 'meant'... Or however you like to look at it," Lyndee muses. "But you can't go into it thinking like that. If you're left standing, there's always next time." The greenrider pokes some more at her undoubtedly cold meal, then licks the spoon again. "Suppose you'd want the queen like the other girls, huh?"

Felisa looks around, then says "If I really had a choice, I think I would want blue most. Of course I'd adore a green or gold or even a brown, but I'm not nearly as... assertive as Geneve."

Blue eyes blink at a mention of the dragon that very same colour and shock transforms slowly into a smile from Lyndee. "Well, I gotta say I wasn't expecting that. Girl on a blue. Now /that/ I'd cheer for." She shrugs one shoulder. "I think you have to be assertive to survive as what's 'not meant' as they keep going on, like Geneve; like some of us female greenriders. Doesn't mean a brown won't choose a woman with different qualities. I guess it's what you make of it if it happens that matters."

Felisa nods fervently, though she's still quiet when she says "I guess I could just say that I'd be happy with any color except bronze, just like a boy can impress any color except gold. That's why I'm so happy Ailuth rose first and Gedreth won -- with them, I bet girls will be able to stand every time, not just with a gold egg."

By now, Lyndee's nigh-on beaming and she chuckles softly as she quietly says, "I knew I liked you." She settles more properly in her chair and leans her elbows on the tabletop. "I sure hope girls will be allowed to stand every time. I'd love it if it was one day seen as 'normal'." Sighing, she tries to hide a grimace. "But then I wouldn't wish the taunting and the harassment of female greenriders on anyone." A wink and that mood is gone. "'Cept for a chosen few," she declares, in quite the predatory way. "And those who can handle it."

Felisa smiles back at that. "I wouldn't wish the harassment on anyone but the harassers. And then I'd wish it tenfold." Felisa grabs the tray and takes it away, returning shortly thereafter with the new one.

"We can but hope they get what's coming to them," Lyndee states. Some more stew vanishes whilst Felisa is gone, enough perhaps for the greenrider to successfully reason that she can claim a pastry later. "What about the other girls?" she asks. "From what I've seen, I assume they're all... Anti-women-Impressing-anything-but-gold?"

Felisa nods. "Most of them are, some more than others. There are a few like me, or at least ok with greens. I'm not sure how many bluerider wannabe girls there are." She grins ruefully at that.

Lyndee smirks. "It'd be awful of me to wish a rude awakening upon them, wouldn't it?" Meal gone, she pushes away from the table once more. "Though I can't stand the thought of some of them trying to reject their lifemate 'cause they aren't all gold and shiny." A somewhat snide remark, but she shrugs and sighs. A couple of moments later, the greenrider gets to her feet and leans to claim a pastry. "Sorry, I've gotta dash. Dallianth." She pauses long enough to set a hand on Felisa's shoulder and murmur, "I hope you get your blue," with another wink and then she's off and out to the bowl.

Felisa smiles and waves after the greenrider before returning to her chores.

NC: A Brief Encounter

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:27:19 GMT

Who: Niena, Tamarisk
What: Meeting Tamarisk outside of the Snowasis
Where: Bowl, High Reaches Weyr
When: Day 21, month 10, turn 17 of Interval 10

Tamarisk returns from the tool shed, rake-less, and studies his handiwork again. From dirt to dragon as he senses the blue's gaze on him. And something else -- a flicker of movement that heralds the arrival of the rider. Tamarisk's gaze turns to her, giving his palms a quick swipe on his trous and nods respectfully. "Hello bluerider," he says. "I'm Tamarisk." Short, simple and to the point, with a look that seems to ask for a reply in kind.

Niena nods. "I'm Niena, and this is Masoth. I think I've seen you at the Snowasis?"

Tamarisk nods. "Yes ma'am. I work there doin' this, that and the other. Maybe not the most challenging of jobs, but it's pretty enjoyable in a way."

Niena smiles. "If you enjoy it, that's the important part." Masoth warbles, as if in agreement.

A faint smile quirks the corner of Tamarisk's mouth. "It's got its perks." His eyes travel over to the blue, who seems to have a fondness for warbling. "Dad's a blureider -- Telgar." Just the facts, ma'am -- no need to go into details. He starts scuffing at the ground with his foot, still trying to level the bowl floor. "Excuse me ma'am, but I do need to get back to work." Scuff, scuff, scuff....

Niena nods. "And I should take him swimming. It was good to meet you."

"And nice to meet you, ma'am -- and your dragon," Tamarisk says. "Now, if you would just excuse me," and his nervous scuffing changes into another little dance -- and the sooner he gets back to the caverns, the better he'll feel.

Niena seems bemused. "You're excused?" It's more a question than a statement,

Tamarisk nods. "Thank you, ma'am." Another nod to the dragon and he heads back to the Inner Caverns -- at first a dignified walk the quickly turns into a desperate run, taking care to avoid dragon divots.

SC: Quick Chat

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:17:26 GMT

Who: Amariss, Veyanne
What: Candidate chores amidst a dusting of ash
Where: Weyrhall, Southern Weyr
When: Day 28 of month 12 in Turn 17

Weyrhall
Adobe walls rise from granite tiles towards the crossbeams that support the impressively high ceiling, which has been painted: azure skies and wispy clouds dominating the western side, ebony pinpricked with silver the eastern. Broad windows with deep sills face the courtyard: each decorated with stained glass. With the sun falling slowly from its zenith outside, the temperature and humidity scarcely seem to follow suit as puffy clouds build in the sky. A light breeze wends through the Weyr, providing a touch of coolness as it passes.

On the south wall a 'tapestry' and two 'paintings' have been hung to add color to the walls and below these a long serving 'table' is placed near the kitchen entrance, laden with food and drink. Frequently replenished, the table is often a hive of activity as people gather to read the 'menu' posted on the adjacent wall. Throughout the rest of the hall trestle tables have been placed in parallel. Behind some are benches and yet others have chairs, padded with green cushions. In the remaining corner a heavy 'loom' sits, a task threaded and in progress when time allows.

It's mid-afternoon, after the childrens' lessons are over for the day. Veyanne looks rather tired but not unhappy as she drinks some juice and reads hides.

Amariss grumbles as she sweeps a cloud of ash into the air. "How can I sweep this stuff, it just floats around and then resettles.....on /everything/." She complained under her breath to nobody. A frustrated frown creases her forehead as she works around the tables. Irritated patrons complaining as well when she gets to close with her eternal cloud of gray.

Veyanne casually remarks "It's hard to tell if what you're raising is ashes or the sust which has been falling on everything the past few days.

Amariss groans slightly and stops sweeping when she hears Veyanne's comment. "Ashes, Dust...does it really matter?" She huffs with irritation and then is instantly sorry. "I'm sorry. It's just that it is so frustrating working with this...this...whatever it is. I'll be here forever." She sighs and leans upon her broom for a quick rest.

Veyanne smiles. "Not forever. The eggs will hatch at some point, and then you'll be doing an all new job."

Amariss grins and shakes her head. "You do know how to cheer one up." Seeing a young lad coming in the hall she calls out, "Please shake your feet off before you come in here." Her voice was clear and strong. "I just put a mat down. Doesn't anybody see it? Ugh." She nods thanks to the lad as he steps back onto the mat and takes a one-two swipe upon it before entering again. The gray track he leaves is not nearly as bad as some of the others but there nonetheless. Turning back to Veyanne she says, "I doubt if I'll impress this time. I'm sure my lifemate might be out there sometime but it is highly unlikely that I'll find them on my very first standing. It sure is nice to dream though." She added with an amiable sigh.

Veyanne watches the boy's progress. "Poor Headwoman -- I've seen her before when his footprints would be the outstanding ones. I wonder how she's dealing with this dust." She considers the part about impression. "I've heard it's pretty hard to predict; sometimes someone who seems like a shoo-in stays behind, while the most unlikely person impresses. It's more than luck, but it acts like luck, from what I've seen."

Amariss nods. "I guess I'll find out soon. The eggs are looking pretty hard. I'm thinking it might be close. I hope its close. The waiting is hard." She grins, "Some of the chores are too. Ugh." She waves about the room and the tracks upon the floor and shakes her head. Her grin looks more patient now. "It has helped talking to you Veyanne. You've done a good job cheering me up. I must continue I suppose or I'll be here, maybe not forever, but for longer than I'd like." With that said, she lifts her broom again, gives the young woman a departing smile and begins to sweep the gray matter back up into the air.

Trouble Logging In

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:25:19 GMT

Currently I can't log onto my shell server, where all my game info is stored. I'm taking this as a sign that I should do some backlogged housework, so my characters won't be showing up until whatever is cleared up.

NC: Paxim's Search

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:09:16 GMT

Who: Masoth, Niena, Paxim
What: Search!
Where: West Bowl, High Reaches Weyr
When: 11:15 of day 21, month 10, turn 17 of Interval 10

Western Bowl, High Reaches Weyr
The bowl's vast dirt floor extends in a rough oval from west to east, only sparse clumps of grass surviving between the crisscrossed pathways of daily traffic. To the northwest stand massive gates to the world beyond, allowing people, livestock, and tithes to pass beneath some of the seven jagged spires that stand sentinel over that area of the bowl. In late afternoons, their spindly, fingerlike shadows stretch over that end of the bowl all the way to the living cavern's hulking brass doors in the far north.
Eastward, the bowl sprawls on toward the lake, sloping slightly downward to allow runoff from rain and snowmelt, but to the south it's caged by more cliffs of dark, rough-cut granite. Rocks poke up from the ground here, a few large boulders and many smaller outcroppings worn smooth in spots by time and use. A few ground weyr entrances dot the wall, the most frequented ledge set up like a patio while the largest ledge services the Weyrleaders' complex, directly beside the huge entrance to the hatching sands. A more human-sized entrance, left of that, leads to the galleries.

Paxim
Through sheer force of will, Paxim's rather long and unruly light brown hair has been coerced into sticking straight up from his head. His face is long and thin, his nose a bit fleshy. The most significant thing about him are his small, mean blue eyes and thin lips, the upper curve of them extended wider than usual and giving him the look of a perpetual scowl.
Long and lanky, Paxim has already reached a height of 6', even at the tender age of 15. The height doesn't help his imposing personality. In his white shirt and undyed wherhide pants and old, hand-me-down boots, he looks thoroughly unpleasant.

While the weather still holds somewhat fair, someone has been kind enough to set up a table for Paxim in the sunlight. The table is spread out with leather bound books and the work book Paxim is slumped over. He might look studious at first, but anyone inspecting his paper will see only swirls and styalized letters. The little green firelizard perched on the corner can't tell the difference between doodling and work, however, and so she only thinks to fan her wings and squawk at him if his pen stops moving.

Masoth wings down from some of the higher-up weyrs, and Niena unbuckles her straps and slides down. She begins walking purposefully, then notices the odd setup and detours over to where Paxim is seated.

Paxim glances up at Niena as she approaches, his pen slowing to a stop. The little green trills a reproach, foot extending to tap his hand. He frowns at her, "Just a second, Fid. A guy can't write constantly." To appease the firelizard, he starts turning the page in the book in front of him. "Hello."

Niena says, "Hello." She glances curiously at the hides, then at the firelizard. "Quite the taskmaster, isn't she?"

Paxim glances at the green and shrugs helplessly, "You've no idea. I swear my mother could train her to do just about anything." From the look on his face, he's not exactly proud of her. The firelizard is now eyeing Niena suspiciously, as if she might keep her young charge from his studies.

Niena looks back at the firelizard. "Don't start or I'll sic Rinata on you." she says. Then she turns to Paxim and says "What are you doing out here, anyway?"

Fidellis gives a squawk of indignation and side-shuffles along the edge of the table. Paxim rests his chin in his palm, waving his other hand over the papers. "Studies, you know how it is." He glances at her, taking her in. "Or, maybe you don't. You look too young to have been an apprentice before Impression."

Niena laughs. "I impressed at the tender age of seventeen, but before then I was a nursery worker. Are you an apprentice, then? What craft?" Masoth appears to finally have had his curiosity piqued, because he heads over toward his rider and the one she's talking to.

Paxim rubs his chin, "Oh? I would have only figured you for eighteen at the most." He leans back in his chair, ignoring the green's sounds of complaint, he replies, "Yes, miss, an apprentice. Smithcraft. I came with my parents on their assignment here."

Niena ahs. "How long have you been here? You seem familiar, but we've not been introduced. I'm Niena, Masoth's rider." Masoth, by now, is very closeby, and even takes a peek of the hides for himself, though he takes care not to blow them around.

Paxim shrugs, "A little under a month, miss, still don't quite even know my way around yet, actually." The dragon is eyed with misgiving. "Er, can they read?" He asks curiously, seeing the interest the dragon has in his doodling. Then, as an afterthought, "Oh, I'm Pax, well met, Niena. And Masoth." He inclines his head towards the blue.

Niena nods, then her expression goes blank for a moment. "He can show me what he sees and I can read it. He's never told me if he can or not. However, he wants to know if you'd like a break from reading for a while."

Paxim tips his head, "Oh, that makes sense. I haven't had much chance to talk to any riders in depth. The only things I know about dragons and riders is from records and the teaching ballads." He frowns. "It has... skewed my perspective." The dragon is considered. "What did he have in mind?" One eyebrow raises, his fingers gently closing one of the books.

Niena says, "He thinks you might make a good candidate for the eggs on the sands. Would you be interested in accepting search?"

"There's eggs?" Is the first thing out of Paxim's mouth. He frowns, "Where have I been?" Shaking his head, he eyes the dragon. "Uh, and how long am I likely to be... away from my reading?"

Niena affirms "There are. The clutching was fairly recently, so a month or so, I'm guessing. Dragon hatchings are an art, not a science."

Paxim considers this for awhile in silence, "And I wouldn't have to be an apprentice anymore, if I Impressed?" He asks slowly, eyeing the books, and the little green firelizard with distaste.

Niena nods. "Unless you wanted to. Now that we're in an Interval, a lot of riders are doing things on the side."

Paxim considers a little longer and begins to slowly nod his head, "In that case... I think I would like that very much, miss. Or Masoth, I suppose."

Masoth warbles happily, his eyes whirling a fast blue. Niena says "Would you like to see the eggs now, or get settled in the candidate quarters?"

Paxim looks around and then his usually hard, scowling face gives a twitch, his eyes brightening though his smile looks mostly fake, "Could I see the eggs? Am I allowed to? I've never seen dragon eggs before, and I would enjoy that quite a bit."

Niena nods. "All right. I'll show you where they are and then we can go over rules and such while you look."

Hatching Galleries, High Reaches Weyr
Ringing the southwestern side of the hatching sands are ample tiers of carved stone benches, the lowest of which is some six feet off the ground -- just high enough to separate wayward hatchlings from unwary viewers, and vice versa. A metal railing on the outside helps prevent anyone from falling off; it also extends up the stairs that lead the way higher into the galleries. While most of the area is open seating, ropes section off some of the closer tiers when dignitaries are expected; those areas even feature cushions in the Weyr's blue and black.
The higher one climbs, the more apparent the immense scale of the entire cavern becomes. The dragon-sized entrance on the ground is dwarfed by the expansive golden sands that glitter in the light. Everything on them is easily visible from the galleries, whether that's a clutch of eggs and a broody queen, or simply its emptiness and the handful of darker tunnels that lead to more private areas than the bowl. Wherever one sits or looks, however, one thing is constant: the overwhelming, suffocating heat.

Rinata chirps when she sees Niena.

Paxim tags after Niena as she heads up the stairs into the galleries, "Rules?" He asks with concern. "Are they difficult?" A little v of wrinkles forms between his thick eyebrows.

Niena says, "Not really. Don't get drunk, don't fight, don't trade chores, and don't get anyone pregnant. Hayda is Headwoman, and one of her assistants, Milani, is the candidate coordinator. You go to Milani first with any questions and she'll assign chores. You have today off from chores so you can get to know the place."

Niena says, "Also, you need to get permission to leave the Weyr. Closer to the hatching, when the eggs are hard, you'll be required to have a rider escort when you leave, in case they start hatching while you're away."

Paxim considers what she says, "Can't do any of that stuff as an app-pregnant?" he grimaces and looks disgusted, "Yeah, no thanks." Then he quiets and continues to listen, "Well, I think I can manage that." He agrees. Then he glances at the eggs. "Really, sounds just like the rules at the Hall."

Niena grins. "Good, so you won't feel too harshly constrained, then."

Paxim looks away from the sands and his eyebrows lift, "Did you?" He asks curiously.

Niena shakes her head. "I'm not much of a drinker, and I rarely left the Weyr anyway."

Paxim nods his head thoughtfully. "They're very large." He comments finally. "What sort of chores will I be doing?"

Niena says, "Things which will help prepare you for Weyrlinghood, even if they don't seem to. Cleaning, nursery chores, helping in the kitchens, and so on."

Paxim rubs his fingers across his bottom lip, "Hm. I see. None of that seems terribly difficult. Well, perhaps this shall be an interesting month. You must tell Masoth thank you for me."

SC: Candidate Capers

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:43:36 GMT

Who: Evana, Lacey, Lonzo, Marlianne, Veyanne
What: Lunchtime in chaosville
Where: Weyrhall, Southern Weyr
When: Day 1 of month 12 in Turn 16

Weyrhall
Adobe walls rise from granite tiles towards the crossbeams that support the impressively high ceiling, which has been painted: azure skies and wispy clouds dominating the western side, ebony pinpricked with silver the eastern. Broad windows with deep sills face the courtyard: each decorated with stained glass. As the sun clears the horizon and begins to rise into the sky outside, its heat begins to warm and thicken the air with moisture. A light breeze stirs the air, bringing some relief.

On the south wall a 'tapestry' and two 'paintings' have been hung to add color to the walls and below these a long serving 'table' is placed near the kitchen entrance, laden with food and drink. Frequently replenished, the table is often a hive of activity as people gather to read the 'menu' posted on the adjacent wall. Throughout the rest of the hall trestle tables have been placed in parallel. Behind some are benches and yet others have chairs, padded with green cushions. In the remaining corner a heavy 'loom' sits, a task threaded and in progress when time allows.

It's around lunchtime, and the Weyrhall is crowding up. Veyanne enters, carrying her ubiquitous stack of hides and looking alert as she watches the children being herded by an actual caretaker. She smiles at the childish pleas for adult drinks like klah and wine, but settles on fruit juice for herself, then looks around.

Seems the Coordinators didn't learn thier lesson from last time, cuase Lonzo is there in the weyrhall and he's a lovely shade of grey again. Yes, Lonzo has hearth duty again. The candidate is knelt next to the hall's hearth, a grey colored cloth spread out under him, to keep the floors clean. He's busily scooping up ash and depositing it in the bucket beside him. His clothing is smudged with grey soot, as well as his face, and he looks none too happy about it.

The scent of freshly baked rolls and savoury bovine and barley soup has enticed many a person in to the hall, including Lacey. The Headwoman heads to the line, her stomach growling. With a chuckle, she shakes her head and laughs. "Hungry, I guess." She gives Lonzo and his crew only a cursory glance at their work station, nodding approvingly as the mess is kept in the general area of the hearths. "Good afternoon." Spotting Veyanne, the greeting is given to the lass as well.

Veyanne watches Lonzo carefully, ready to place herself between the hapless lad and the Headwoman at a moment's notice. After setting her juice and hides on an empty table she returns Lacey's greeting, then gets in line for the stew and bread.

Upon hearing the headwoman, Lonzo smartly cracks his skull smartly on the upper edge of the hearth's opening. **Thump** He sits there for a moment in silent misery, rubbing the back of his shaved head. He brings his hand away to look at it a few times to check for bleeding. Satisfied he moves to turn, not noticing that he almost hit's the bucket again as another candidate snatches it out of his knee's way. Disaster averted. He stands quickly and gives the headwoman a bow of his head. "Afternoon Headwoman." He spots Veyanne for the first time and nods to her as well with a quiet hello.

Fortunately for Lonzo, Lacey's eyes were fixed on the soup ladle as she served herself a good portion of soup as near disaster was averted. She winces at the 'crack' and once her soup is safely in the bowl, she glances around only to see a few flakes of ash gently fall from the top of Lonzo's head safely onto the drop cloth. Amused, she smirks then turns back to grab a couple of rolls of bread, a mug of tea and a few fingeroots to munch on. As she passes Veyanne, she invites. "There's room over at the table over there, I'll safe you a seat?"

Veyanne nods gratefully. "Yes, please." She gives Lonzo a sympathetic look, but doesn't say anything lest she embarrass him more. She quietly ladles herself some soup when her turn comes and supplements it with some warm, crusty bread.

Lonzo let's out a slow sigh of relief as the headwoman seems occupied. He watches her and Veyanne for a moment, before turning back to his duties. Picking up his little brush and scoop he goes back to sweeping the ash. He dumps the full scoop and starts to sweep again. It takes a moment for something to register. He looks beside him and finds the bucket gone. "What the..." He glances quickly at Lacey, barely concealing a look of panic. He looks around for the bucket, but doesn't see it so he leans over to Marlianne who unfortuantly is his work mate and whispers fiercly. "Where is the bucket Marli!" The girl looks at him with faked innocence. "I have no idea what you are talking about." One of the other girl's giggles beyond her.

Lacey skirts passed the workcrew and settles in at the table in question, smiling at the young couple at the far end. It's a quick smile, giving the lovers their 'privacy' what little there is of it in such a crowded hall. Scraping a wafer thing smear of butter on a roll, she dips the roll into the broth then takes a bite. "Been craving this all day, I do love a good hearty soup." Whispering candidates combined with panicked glances awakens Lacey's latent candidate coordinator radar and she shoots a more intense glance in their direction. "Muttering under her breath, she repeats. "Brenka's job, Brenka's capable..." But she still keeps a wary eye over toward the hearths even as she waves Veyanne over to join.

Veyanne heads over to join Lacey, scopping up her drink and hides o the way. "You know, I used to think that you needed four arms to carry all this, but a few sevendays working with children has taught me otherwise."

Evana skitters into the Weyrhall, recently bathed and still dripping water from her hair. She scoots over to the lunch table, getting her usual half-milk half-sugar half-klah goop and some soup and bread. Only then does she look around for a table.

Lacey laughs as she makes room for the girl. "Working as a Headwoman you get used to juggling a lot of things, including clipboards, etc. You should see how much the head cook can carry in her arms when she's going from the spice cupboards to her work bench. It's amazing. Tucks stuff in everywhere." Speaking of tucking in, the Headwoman does so to her soup after adding a fine dusting of pepper to the broth. "Makes me homesick, this soup does. My grandmother's recipe actually. I was thrilled to see the kitchens still used it after all these turns". Oops another candidate on the loose and a wet one at that. "forgot a towel, Evana?"

Lonzo starts cleaning up the pile he had just dumped next to him. He glares at Marli as he does. "You ain't convincing no one. Where /is/ it?" Marlianne just ignores him as she continues her half hearted effort, one would note that this candidate is strangly clean compared to the others. With another seething look at the pair of softly giggling girls, he puts his things on the floor and stands so that he can start to remove his boots. "Fine I'll just have to go get another bucket." He grumbles a bit. While he's pulling off his shoes, Marlianne glances over to make sure no one's looking and nudges the soot filled scoop off the cloth and into the path of Lonzo's foot. There is a clatter of sound as Lonzo's foot connects with the scoop and flips the thing. Lonzo looks down at the mess horrified. "Oh.... Farenth.. I'm dead."

Marli's fatal error was --- thinking noone was looking. Watching the scoop fly, Lacey covers her mouth as if watching in slow motion, following the arc of the scoop and the ash falling. Only slightly raising her voice but making sure it carries the proper tone, she firmly calls out the culprit. "Marlianne! That is the /final/ straw! And Lonzo!! Do NOT move a muscle, hear me? Not a muscle! You'll just spread ash." Spotting the damp Evana, she calls. "Go ... do something, pull off his socks or ... I don't know, but don't let any more ash spread!"

Evana promptly gets up, but doesn't go for his socks. Instead, she grabs a broom and begins to minimize the damage that way. To Lonzo she mouths "Get your socks off, go take a bath, and then lunchtime."

Veyanne winces as she watches, but Lacey has it under control. "Worse than the children sometimes, I think." she notes, indicating Marli disapprovingly.

Lonzo's foot is already in the air, but at the order his arms go out and he balances there on one foot. The giggling coming from the other candidates goes silent as Marlianne is found out. She frowns a bit and stands up facing the headwoman with her chin up slightly waiting. The other Candidates look at Lacey with wide eyed fear and awe and quickly go back it thier work. Lonzo continues to stand there even at Evana's words, instead his eyes go Lacey defering to the boss lady on the matter.

Lacey rolls her eyes at Veyanne, smirking "Sometimes?" Her attention is full back on the candidates, however. "Evana, grab something so Lonzo can wipe off enough ash he doesn't leave sooty prints everywhere." Pursing her lips as she ponders, she frowns sympathetically to Lonzo but doesn't allow him to move just 'yet'. "HOld on, you can't go change without bringing half the hearth with you through the hall..." But her full glare is reserved for Marli only. "You --- young lass. You are on hearth duty until the eggs hatch. The kitchen hearth and the outdoor hearths. You will eat your meals out in the courtyard at the tables reserved for those with filthy duties so they don't have to get changed completely for each meal. You will take your bathes after all the other candidates have done so and you will then scrub the floor after yourself to not drag in more filth. And don't bother complaining --- not one word! One word from /me/ to Tarianel and you're out of the barracks and on to that Hold."

The defiant pose of Marlianne fades quickly as the candidate ego is deflated by the threat of leaving. There is soft oooOOOooo's from the other candidates. One boy even braves saying a bit too happily. "You'll look wonderful in soot, Marli."

Evana nods and goes to find a damp cloth. She brings back a towel dunked and wrung out and hands it to Lonzo, smiling reassuringly.

Veyanne nods and says, with a mischievous smile, "Only some of them are worse than the children. The rest are as bad." Not that she's all that much older than some of the candidates.

Lonzo's face flshes a bit in embarressment at being in this situation. People in the hall staring at him while he tries not to fall on his butt. Not to mention the fact that Marli is standing right there, getting punished. He has to hop a bit to keep his balance, so that he can take the cloth from Evana. "Thanks" He murmurs to her with a small smile. He works on cleaning his foot before setting it clean on the floor. He let's out a heavy sigh of relief.

Lacey lets out a breath of relief as well, smiling an apology Lonzo's direction. To add salt into Merli's wound, she tacks on. "Oh and the rest of the crew? You are off for lunch. Marli will finish up for you." She winks at Veyanne then takes another bite of soup. "Children at least aern't always as manipulative and cruel. They may be naughty but deliberately malicious?" She shrugs. "Thank you Evana. And Lonzo, hurry back as the soup is utterly wonderful."

Evana props the broom near Marli and heads back to the table to resume wolfing down her lunch. Before too long she's up for seconds, though she doesn't refill her klah mug.

Veyanne nods to Lacey. "Precisely. The bullies are always around, but most of the children just need to learn manners."

Lonzo nods a bit at Lacey. "Yes, Ma'am." He offers politely. He looks over his shoulder to frown at Marli again and she starts to actually whine about having to do work, but she get's too it. She will probebly make the occational complaint about what the soot is doing to her skin or what not. But Lonzo ignores her firmly now and works his other boot off. He reaches down to pick up his boots. "It'll take a good amount of time to get this stuff off. It get's in the oddest of places." He nods to Evana again with a smile and then waves to Veyanne, before hurrying out of the Weyrhall with only a tiny puff of soot in his wake.

Lacey grins. "And manners they learn! High spirits and happy children are one thing. Out of control, spoiled brats is another.." She glares Marli's way again and then digs into her soup once more. But -- an odd look appears on Lacey's face as she takes a sip and she wrinkles her nose. Quickly taking a bite of her breadroll, she swallows and turns pale. Rising to her feet, she waves to Veyanne. "Excuse me ..." And she's out of the hall with a very puzzled, if not urgent expression.

NC: Eila's Search

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 06:23:18 GMT

Who: Eila, Masoth, Niena
What: Search!
Where: Various places in High Reaches Weyr
When: 15:14 of day 15, month 10, turn 17 of Interval 10

Nursery, High Reaches Weyr
The double door to the nursery is sturdy skybroom and a good three inches thick, meant to contain the natural noisiness of young children. Beyond the doors, a complex of interconnected, glowlit caverns houses the Weyr's infants and children under seven, opening out from a gaily painted foyer where an auntie usually sits to guide visitors and keep a rheumy eye out for would-be escapees.
Two large play caverns see the most everyday use, their smooth walls decorated with layers of more fanciful paintings left by generations of rider and resident offspring. While one cavern is nearly bare, intended mostly for running and roughhousing during inclement weather, the other is lined with shelves at the right height for short legs, stocked with suitable toys, games and crafting supplies aplenty. Beyond the play caverns are two 'quiet' rooms, one with cribs and cradles, the other with low cots for use during both naptime and nighttime sleeping, each with a small sleeping cubicle for nannies on duty during the night shift.

It's the middle of the afternoon in autumn, and most of the children are up from their after-lunch naps. Niena comes in and looks around until she spots Eila. She heads over and says "Hi there. Think any of the children would like to come out and spoil Masoth?"

Most. Some have just woken up - and it's with little mousey Nyck that Eila's occupied, his hair all tousled and his face still pressed with sleep lines from his pillow. The nanny is knelt next to the boy, coercing him into taking his favourite dragon stuffed animal so she might lead him off for a snack or juice, when Niena appears as though out of nowhere. "Hi, Niena. Spoil Mas- oh! Hey, would you like that, Nyckie? Wanna come out and play with Masoth?" Juice can easily be brought along, can't it? The young boy stares with wide eyes up at the bluerider, finally nodding agreement. "Yeah? For sure! Should I collect some more, too, do you think?"

Niena nods. "I knew so little about dragons when I was searched, even after having grown up at the Weyr. I'd like to get children used to them so that doesn't happen again."

Eila, too, echoes that nod with a little motion of her head, and she lifts her finger to indulge Niena's patience for a moment or two longer while the girl weaves in and out of those playing with blocks, with each other, with little stuffed toys, bending to speak to one here or there and finally returning with quite a train of children. Well, five or six. "That's a marvellous idea," Eila's got a bright smile for the bluerider, and she rests a hand on Nyck's head, tousling his hair, before she motions. "Lead on, fine rider."

[They travel.]

Western Bowl, High Reaches Weyr
The bowl's vast dirt floor extends in a rough oval from west to east, only sparse clumps of grass surviving between the crisscrossed pathways of daily traffic. To the northwest stand massive gates to the world beyond, allowing people, livestock, and tithes to pass beneath some of the seven jagged spires that stand sentinel over that area of the bowl. In late afternoons, their spindly, fingerlike shadows stretch over that end of the bowl all the way to the living cavern's hulking brass doors in the far north.
Eastward, the bowl sprawls on toward the lake, sloping slightly downward to allow runoff from rain and snowmelt, but to the south it's caged by more cliffs of dark, rough-cut granite. Rocks poke up from the ground here, a few large boulders and many smaller outcroppings worn smooth in spots by time and use. A few ground weyr entrances dot the wall, the most frequented ledge set up like a patio while the largest ledge services the Weyrleaders' complex, directly beside the huge entrance to the hatching sands. A more human-sized entrance, left of that, leads to the galleries.

Masoth croons as the children arrive, then lays his head down so they can see him better.

It's all squealed delight and cheerful shouts as the children obediantly trailing behind Eila break ranks and run pell-mell towards the blue. Their parents might all be dragonriders but you wouldn't know it for the way they approached, all offering fingers and hopeful noises and patting hands. Eila starts a bit, lifting a hand of her own as though to call them back, and she grins a bit sheepishly towards Niena, "I hope he's good with children?"

Niena nods. "He is. I wouldn't do this to him if he didn't like it." For his part, Masoth croons and puts up with the pats, his eyes whirling an amused green.

Nyckie is wide-eyed with delight as he stands right before Masoth's eye, and he wiggles his fingers in greeting before tentatively reaching to touch the dragon's soft hide before squeaking and pulling his hand right back to his chest. "He's warm!" The boy turns up to Niena, all amazement. "Sure," Eila got a low laugh at the young boy's awe, "They've all got - oh, ichor, is it called, Niena?"

Niena nods. "Ichor." Masoth gives another amused warble at the children, then looks over toward his rider.

Eila appears oh-so-pleased with that accord from Niena (it was an educated guess, maybe?), and for a moment she trails her eyes on Masoth, a smile twitching at the corner of her mouth. "Oh, he /is/ good with them, isn't he?" And even the children are prudent not to poke or prod /too/ hard: he does have sharp teeth!

Niena hmmmmmms, peering at Eila. "How old are you again?" she asks, out of nowhere.

That unexpected question does take her a bit aback, and Eila has to pause for startled thought before answering, "Sixteen turns. Almost seventeen, I think, in just under a month." Then, with a curiosity of her own, "Ah... why?"

Niena smiles. "Masoth just told me he thinks I may not be the only nanny who turned out to be good with dragons as well. Would you be interested in standing for the clutch on the sands?"

And - "Oh, ah - I..." Would it not be quite so laughable, Eila might've put a hand to her chest and asked, '/Me?/'; fortunately, she doesn't, instead wrinkling her brow just faintly at Niena and shakes her head. "I mean - no, I don't mean I wouldn't - I would." It's lifted up, tentatively. "I would?"

Niena smiles. "We should put the children back in the nursery, and then I can get you settled in."

Masoth gives a happy croon, his eyes whirling a blue only slightly darker than his hide.

"Put the children back in the-..." Eila's a bit slow to catch up, but as soon as she does, she throws her head in a rather enthusiastic nod, loathe as the weyrbrats might be to leave Masoth alone. Without actually promising a return (today, at least) to play with the dragon, she coerces them all back, whereupon the nanny - once-nanny - nips her teeth against her lip and glances up at Niena. "Now? I have to go... now?"

Niena nods. "We probably should, so you can get to dinner on time, at least."

[They travel again.]

Niena catches a few of the children straggling and herds them along.

Candidate Quarters, High Reaches Weyr
Two caverns lead one right into the other from a hallway just off the Common Room. Taking advantage of the high, vaulted ceiling, bunk beds march in four neat rows of five beds each allowing up to forty people to sleep in one cavern. Functional and spartan in atmosphere, there's little in the way of decoration here, just the one tapestry depicting a hatching on the wall of the first cavern and eggs on the sands in the second.
Each bunk is made up when there are candidates in residence, with standard sheeting, gray woollen blankets and somewhat lumpy pillows. A trunk stands at both the head and foot of the bunks, providing a little space for the occupants to store their belongings while the wait for the eggs to hatch. The archway between the two spaces is covered over with a hide hanging, easily hooked back when both caverns are in use, but tacked into place when only the first is needed. A proper wooden door closes out noise and drafts from the hallway.

Niena smiles cheerfully. "Not too far from where you lived before, anyway. Welcome to the barracks. Pick an ampty bunk and it's yours. You'r elucky, search has just started so there are still good ones."

It's a little sadly that Eila left those few behind in the nursery, but it's with promises to come visit - not like they're terribly far away, anyway! But she follows Niena into the candidate quarters much obligingly, with a paled smile to those few scattered about. The words get a little nod, and the empty cots are eyed; the girl's voice is faint as she agrees, "Right."

Niena says, "Milani is your candidate coordinator -- she's who you go to for chores and with questions. Speaking of chores, you have today off, but starting tomorrow, you're on the rotation."

Another nod; absorbing the information quietly, a bit hesitantly. "Oh, Milani. Good." She knows Milani, at least. "Should only - be a trip, really, with my stuff." Just around the corner, in fact. Lucky, indeed! "Um. Thank you, Niena. And Masoth, will you tell him, too, please?"

Niena nods. "I will. Just a few seconds more; I need to tell you the rules. They're fairly short -- no getting drunk, no fighting, and no getting pregnant."

Niena ohs. "And no trading chores. Also, no leaving the Weyr without an escort, especially as the eggs harden."

/That/ gets a laugh, low and clear, and Eila twitches a smile to the bluerider with a helpless lifting of her shoulders. "That shouldn't be such an issue -" Well, until that last part. "No - leaving the Weyr?" She flicks her tongue over her lips, frowns. "Okay. I can do that."

Niena nods. "At the moment it's not such a problem, but as the eggs get harder they can hatch at any time -- our clutch did at something like four in the morning. And if you aren't there, your dragon won't be able to find you. That's... very bad."

Eila nods an echoing nod, lacing her fingers together shuffling her feet slightly; explains, "Right. It's just - visiting my family, and all. I'll survive, I think."

Niena smiles. "If you have a rider along, it's ok -- we can get you back to the Weyr quickly. And now that there's no more thread, it's easier to find riders available."

Ah, well /that's/ alright, then. And Eila's smile reflects that, as well as the little shake of her head. "Okay. So - no drinking, no brawling, no - babies. No leaving without a rider. That's it? And chores all day? Do we have a curfew or anything?"

Niena says, "I'd recommend not staying out too late. If you do, you may not have problems keeping up and staying awake the next day."

Eila indicates her understanding with yet another of those nods, curt and almost shy. "Right. Well - not a late-night person, anyway, not usually." And /that's/ it? Really?

Niena smiles. "That should make it easy for you, then. If you haven't any other questions, I should go check on Masoth."

And that's one last inclination of her head for Niena, a grateful little bob and then a relieved slumping of her shoulders, as though Eila suspected at the last moment the bluerider would revoke the invitation. "Of course, of course. And, ah - thank you, again."

NC: Luttrell's Search

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 06:15:39 GMT

Who: Leova, Luttrell, Masoth, Niena, Vrianth
What: Search!
Where: West Bowl, High Reaches Weyr
When: Day 15, month 10, turn 17 of Interval 10

Western Bowl, High Reaches Weyr
The bowl's vast dirt floor extends in a rough oval from west to east, only sparse clumps of grass surviving between the crisscrossed pathways of daily traffic. To the northwest stand massive gates to the world beyond, allowing people, livestock, and tithes to pass beneath some of the seven jagged spires that stand sentinel over that area of the bowl. In late afternoons, their spindly, fingerlike shadows stretch over that end of the bowl all the way to the living cavern's hulking brass doors in the far north.
Eastward, the bowl sprawls on toward the lake, sloping slightly downward to allow runoff from rain and snowmelt, but to the south it's caged by more cliffs of dark, rough-cut granite. Rocks poke up from the ground here, a few large boulders and many smaller outcroppings worn smooth in spots by time and use. A few ground weyr entrances dot the wall, the most frequented ledge set up like a patio while the largest ledge services the Weyrleaders' complex, directly beside the huge entrance to the hatching sands. A more human-sized entrance, left of that, leads to the galleries.

"See?" Leova says sideways, having slowed to let Luttrell match her pace if he chooses. "Besides. Fresh air. Reminds me: how much longer are your wagons likely to stay?"

Niena notices the arrivals and gives a companionable wave over to Leova. Masoth is quietly off to the side, stretched comfortably in the sun.

Luttrell, following Leova closely but letting her lead the way, gives a nod. "Fresh air is always good." He adds with a quick grin. "Oh Da didn't want to actually detour to the weyr. So, he took the wagons on ahead, he didn't want to risk getting caught in an early snow. I'm supposed to catch up with them when I can. Can travel much quicker down those roads when not pulling a wagon. But yeah, I'll be here another couple of days, when Oysric doesn't need me to help with Devyn anymore, then be on my way."

Just as well: it's a big Bowl. Leova listens as they walk, and although she hasn't actually looked over Niena's way, she returns the wave anyway. It's thanks to Vrianth, no doubt, the young green sunning just beyond her barely-older brother. But. "Confused. Thought you said he was taking care of your runner? Why would he need you to help with him, when you're going to be catching up with your Da?" She belatedly adds, "That's my wingmate over there, Niena, if you haven't already met." It's a big Weyr.

Masoth yawns and gives a luxuriant stretch, his eyes opening at his rider's motion. He warbles pleasantly to his clutchsib and also to her rider.

"Well, it's a part of his re-training. Oysric said it would help Devyn to have a familure voice every so often to help reassure him. So he knows we haven't abandend him too. Or something like that. I don't fully understand it myself. But if it'll help, I'm glad to do it. Not to mention I get to visit the weyr for a couple days." He replies giving a wave toward Niena and Masoth. "I don't believe I have. Met her that is." Smile.

Vrianth looks back at Masoth, and then past, her eyes gleaming that much more brightly as they unlid. "Let me see if I got this straight. Oys is going to retrain him and then give him back?" her rider asks. "And he's boarding here in the meantime? Niena and I Impressed together. But she lived here before. Worked as a nanny." /Brave woman/, her tone says.

Masoth shakes himself once and then gets up, trundling over toward the riders and the trader. Without even thinking, Niena reaches up to scritch his eyeridge, which evokes a contented croon.

Luttrell nods as she explains her understanding. "Yeah, pretty much, Were going to give him some marks for it of course, and something to the weyr for the boarding. I just don't know how to retrain him, and he was being difficult on the road, always fighting the lead ropes. Running off when he get the rope loose enough." He raises his hands in a helpless gesture. Masoth catches his attention with the croon that he wasn't expecting. It even made him just ever so slightly, of course it was quickly followed by a chuckle. "Thats interesting. Can't imagine what it was like. But it must be nice to have friends who shared the experiance with you. As a trader, it's just our family, we make a few friends here and there, but then we don't see them for months at a time." He nods slowly as he glances between the dragons and riders.

Leova tsks in sympathy, says, "Good thing he was cheap. About how old do you think he is? And... can't say we were friends to start out with, would you, Niena? Being from Tillek myself and all. Didn't know each other before L'sen brought me by. But we got paired on this hunt thing when we were both candidates, and no doubt we'll be stuck with each other ever after." And she's smiling. /Vrianth/ doesn't croon, but she warbles, low and somehow pointed.

Luttrell shrugs. "I don't know. He's still fairly young, four maybe five turns. It was a real shame. He was in real bad shape when we got him. Had that look of fear in his eye any time you came near him. We had him a little over a turn when I ran into Oysric. Devyn had at least gotten used to me by then, but you didn't dare make a fast movement around him." He grins. "Ah well all friendships take time, but it almost sounds like a story with a happy ending. You know, I bet it's the same even with your dragons. It takes time to get to really know one another and build that bond of friendship." He says nodding toward Vrianth more because she warbled. "I could be wrong, but it makes since."

Masoth moves a little closer, then turns his head to warble at Vrianth. He settles down right next to Luttrell, his eyes whirling a fast blue. Niena blinks and turns to Luttrell. "I'm sorry, but I forgot your name already."

"Sounds as though you might have him for a while, then," Leova says with an approving nod. For the rest? A laugh, a sideways glance at Niena, "Hope it's not a happy ending /yet/. Got a lot of flying together to do, hm?" But whatever else she might have said, it breaks off as Vrianth watches that broad blue tail shift and sway in front of her, and goes prowling along after it. No help with the name, certainly.

Luttrell looks up at Masoth with a uncertain expression. "Well hi there." He says with a chuckle. To Niena he extends a hand. "Ah, well, I don't remember giving it so it wouldn't be entirely your fault. Names Luttrell. I'm a trader, just in for a couple days to check on my runner." To Leova he says. "I didn't mean /ending/, um." He stutters over a couple more um's and glances around his expression clearly looking for help with the fumble.

Niena shakes the offered hand, then asks "And how old are you?"

Leova nods once to herself as the teenager names himself, though the half-hidden relief's at least partially accountable to Vrianth's not actually /pouncing/ on that tail of Masoth's, though she does continue to keep track. A second nod, that's for the boy himself, a crisp of-course-you-didn't, and she mentions something about going to go get that lunch. Before it's all gone.

A change in subject is better then nothing. "Fifteen." He replies more confused then ever. Leova gets a nod and a wave. "I'll meet ya there later?" He calls out to her but shes gone and clearly didn't hear him. "Oh well." He says with a shrug, and an awkward smile for Niena.

Niena says, "Oh good. Masoth thinks you'd make a good candidate for the eggs on the sands." Masoth warbles again, his eyes whirling even faster now. "Do you accept search?"

Luttrell blinks as though that didn't help his confusion. "Candidate? There are eggs on the sands?" He glances up at Masoth, then back to Niena, back to Masoth, back to Niena, he working it all out in his head. Yep, that must be it. "Um, Yeah. My Da will kill me, but Yes." He nods "It's a deal I can't pass up." A glance goes back to Masoth this time with a grin.

Niena smiles. "Oh good. Do you want to eat lunch now or go into the candidate dorms and settle in?"

Luttrell gestures over his shoulder, even though the cavern is not that direction. "I can get something later, if thats okay. I um, don't know my way around really, so I would probably get lost pretty easily trying to find the dorms on my own." He flushes, embarrassed by how easily he gets lost.

Niena says, "Would you like to walk or would you like a ride over there?"

Luttrell grins but looks torn between the choices. "A ride sounds awesome, but walking would probably be better for my sense of direction." He glances at Masoth again. "I guess, if he doesn't mind, I could get lost on my way back." He says gesturing toward the dragon with a very broad, very awkward grin on his face.

Niena nods. "Follow me, then, please."

[They travel]

As Luttrell walks in, he half smiles. "Cozy." He says nodding toward one of the bunkbeds. "But hey, it's better then the ground." He adds looking to the bright side of things.

"Wait until the snoring starts." Niena quips. "All right, so things I need to tell you -- your candidate coordinator is Milani. She's not around at the moment, but she's one of Headwoman Hayda's assistants. She'll be able to answer most of your questions."

Luttrell nods. "Milani, right. Met her, we were supposed to have dinner
yesterday, but Oysric kept me busy with Devyn." He shakes his head.

Niena says, "Rules are as follows: don't drink to excess, no fighting, no trading chores, and try not to get anyone pregnant. Any questions?"

Luttrell gives a quick sigh and repeats. "Got it, Light drinking, no fighting, no trading chores, no, ahem, getting anyone pregnant. No questions, at least, none I can think of."

Niena says, "All right, then. Pick a bunk and make yourself comfortable. You get the first day off from chores to get acquainted with the Weyr."

RSP: A Commission

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:39:49 GMT

Who: Merkan, S'dric
What: A discussion with regards to a very nice piece of leather.
Where: Living Cavern, Benden Weyr
When: 11:28am on day 13, month 13, turn 2

Living Cavern
Huge, still mostly the natural shape of the bubble cavern that formed it though embellished with intricate columns, the living cavern is large enough to seat over two thousand people at any given time. Gleamingly clean, the space is clearly well-kept by the hard work of the lower caverns staff. High in the eastern walls, narrow windows allow slants of light to dapple the room during the day, a plethora of glowbaskets in well-spaced niches around the cavern provide a warm, ambient glow after sunset. Many long tables are placed around the room, providing plentiful seating, some boasting chairs around them, others sturdy benches that seat ten at a time. The walls are decorated with a set of simple color-block tapestries and one that's more ornate, recently restored, depicting the settling of Benden during Torene's time. The cavern has a welcoming, homey feel to it in spite of its size.
The exits from here are pretty clear-cut: A set of handsomely carved stone steps lead up to the balcony-style kitchen that wraps around the cavern; a tunnel on the eastern wall slopes upward just slightly on its way out to the bowl; the southern tunnel slopes downward steadily as it dips into the Weyr's inner caverns.

It's about to start gearing up for lunchtime on a cloudy (but so far not blustery) winter's day. Merkan, smelling of harsh chemicals, enters the living caverns and is immediately beset upon by a worker. With comments as acidic as he is fragrant he informs her that no, he's not dripping anything. Then he goes over and gets himself a mug of klah, which he takes to a table where crafters tend to sit.

Though his paces is casual as he ducks in from the chilly Bowl, S'dric's steps do have a purpose and it's towards the crafters that he steers his steps. "Good day gentlemen," he greets pleasantly, smile ready on his face.

Merkan glances up from his klah. "Ah, hello, Weyrleader. How are you and Gedreth on this fine Benden day?"

"Very well thank you, Journeyman," S'dric replies and starts to unhook the fastenings on his jacket. "In fact you're just the man I was looking for, I've a potential commission to offer." Beat. A meaningful look. "For the Weyrwoman."

Merkan ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhs expansively. "Sit down, please. I would be very happy to assist you in that endeavor!"

Nodding, S'dric pulls out the chair beside the tanner's and settles into it. "Merkan is your name, right?" the Weyrleader asks casually, regarding the tall crafter. "What I've in mind is a very soft, but weather-proofed hide to make into a jacket."

"Merkan, yes", he says, almost dismissively. "Ah, that sounds like something I can do. Buttery soft, I imagine? And do you want it dyed any particular color? Is this a surprise or can I measure her to make sure the hide is sufficiently sized for the tailor?"

"Quite, with a sueded feel," S'dric continues and pulls a little swatch out of his pocket. "Shaded to complement but not match this." It's a little square of ice blue sisal. "It /is/ supposed to be a surprise," the Weyrleader states with a little smile. "But I can get you the measurements quite easily."

Merkan grins. "I just bet you could." He looks at the square for a few moments, murmuring different shades of blue. Finally, he says "I believe a nice, cook azure would fit the bill. May I keep the patch, just in case?"

S'dric cocks one eyebrow at that remark then grins lopsidedly and waits until the tanner settles on a shade. "If I might see a test swatch myself before committing to the whole length of hide, that would be appreciated and indeed, this is for your use." The Weyrleader nods towards the little piece of fabric graciously.

Merkan says, "Oh yes, of course, of course. And a pre-dye sample so you can feel the texture as well, before I commit the whole thing." He pauses, his expression briefly greedy before he gains control of it. "And will we be negotiating price before or after, sir?"

"That depends, Journeyman, do you have fees for the swatches? Otherwise, I would like to feel the quality of the product before engaging in a full on dicker," the Weyrleader answers with a still-pleasant smile.

Merkan shakes his head. "No, swatches are necessarily free to ensure the satisfaction of the customer. I was mostly wondering if you believed in paying, for instance, half before and half after -- a retainer fee, if you will. But given your rank and my esteem, I'll be happy to work with your payment considerations."

"Excellent, then I'll look forward to receiving a first swatch in five days?" S'dric suggests mildly and his smile is warm as ever as he inclines his head. "I'm aware of such customs and thank you kindly for the show of trust. I would be happy to make a small down-payment however, towards the production of the right shade of dye and the swatch. Perhaps an eighth of final?"

Merkan nods. "That sounds fair, sir. I shall begin work on it immediately after lunch. While the measurements will help, I believe I can make a fairly reasonable guess of the final size from the times I've met her."

"I'll bring the measurements by in a little bit, I do need to get my lunch," S'dric answers, rising to his feet with a nod. "And no need to start the full work until you have those, swatch first," he says with a little chuckle. "Thank you kindly for your time, Journeyman. I'll speak with you this afternoon when I b ring the measures by. Work cavern?"

Merkan nods. "Yes, that's where I'll be. Of course I misspoke; I need to pay attention to my Weyr duties during the day and work on commissions in my spare time."

"Until then," S'dric says simply, another smile and he's turning towards the Weyrleaders' table, to set down his jacket and ask for a plate from one of the serving staff as he settles down with a hide drawn out of an inner pocket of his jacket.

RSP: It's an Egg!

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:19:05 GMT

Who: Egwene, Felisa, Katelin
What: Ailuth's clutch has been spread out to reveal...
Where: Hatching Galleries, Benden Weyr
When: 9:43pm on day 7, month 13, turn 2

Gallery
One of the most elaborate caverns at Benden Weyr, the Hatching grounds are huge. The sands themselves are almost an eighth of a mile long with a slightly raised dais in the back, all of it visible from the galleries. Handsomely carved tiers of seating are kept neat and tidy by the Weyr's staff in between Hatchings and most of the benches are padded with serviceable cushions for comfort. The room presents a beautiful scene with ornate pillars and handsome carvings providing additional interest beyond the spectacle that frequently plays out on the sands.

It's fairly late; not quite curfew, but well after dinnertime. Felisa is in one of the middle tiers of the galleries, looking like she wants to jump up and down, flushed with what appears to be happiness.

Katelin climbs up the steps into the galleries. Her face brightens and her step quickens when she sees Felisa. "Felisa!" she calls out, waving and hurrying over. "Goodness, you look excited. Has something happened?"

Egwene stands towards the back of the galleries, sort of just staring into space as she looks out towards the sands. In her hand stands a sturdy broom, but as of now it isn't being used for the work that it was made for. While Felisa is here, the older woman doesn't seem very interested in talking with the other girl. In fact, she is probably the furthest away from her as she can get. However, as Katelin comes bounding in, she gives a visible shake from her day dreaming and turns her gaze towards the entering Britan.

Felisa looks almost as if she wants to hug Katelin, but instead points onto the sands near Ailuth. "We got our gold egg! Ailuth finally sorted the clutch, and you can see it now. See how she's got that one big golden one right by her? That's Benden's third gold, and in a huge clutch from her first flight!"

Katelin shades her eyes and leans over to get a good look at the big golden egg, and then she squeals and jumps up and down with delight. "There /is/ one, there /is/! Ooooooooh, that's SO exciting!" And she does hug Felisa! She then whirls around and sails over to Egwene, looking as if she might be able to hug her, too. "Look! Oh, isn't it marvelous!"

Egwene actually take a step back as Katelin comes bounding over to her. "Hmm. . . Hi," she states bluntly as if she is really not sure what to do with the woman that she doesn't even know acting like a child. "Do I know you?" she asked with a confused look on her face. The Gold egg business is held off as she has more pressing manners to deal with.

Felisa just giggles when she's hugged, then calms a bit and says "Please hush it down a little. We don't want to upset Ailuth, and broody queens can be odd like that." She's still fairly glowing, though.

"No, but - /look/!" Katelin insists, pointing as Felisa just did toward the gold egg. "It's so exciting! ...really?" she asks Felisa, lowering her voice to a near-whisper. "I didn't realize. Well, I suppose if it were me, I wouldn't want loud people around either."

Egwene looks at the egg and direction that Katelin is pointing at and a small smile cracks her normal polite features. "Well, look at that," she comments a bit of pride in her voice. However, it is Felisa comment that wipes the smile of her face. With a raised eyebrow, she puts one hand on her hips and in a voice that speaks very much of a mother, "And when did you become so knowledgeable about dragons." She paused for a moment as she clicks her tongue against her teeth.

Felisa says, "Me? In the first three times I stood. Well, actually in the second and third time I stood. The first time I barely had time to think before we were herded onto the sands." Even that question and the answer can't dim her happiness, though. "I can't believe we finally have a queen born in the proper time and everything."

Katelin looks faintly relieved when Egwene smiles, but her forehead creases when she snaps at Felisa. She takes a step back from both of them, eyebrow raised. "It /is/ excellent news," she agrees with Felisa, and peers at Egwene, trying to work out why she's reacting this way.

Egwene just shakes her head and huffs at Felisa's comment about standing. She looks like she might say more, but instead she says, "And this is the first Queen egg that Benden has had in a while?" She turns to Katelin for the answer to her question.

Felisa says mildly "Ailuth is a Benden-hatched queen -- the Weyrwoman impressed the second time I stood. And last clutch we had hoped the gold-looking egg was truly gold, but it turned out not to be."

Katelin isn't sure; she looks to Felisa, and nods at the answer. "That's what I thought, that Ailuth was the most recent. But," she explains to Egwene, "they asked me to stand, before they knew if there was a gold egg - I don't have to go back home, now."

"The second time you stood." Egwene repeated in wonder as if Felisa has just commented that she was suddenly a dragon herself. "And you stood the first time, without a gold on the sands." Her voice has a semi-disgusted tone to it as she shakes her head in wonder, "I can't believe that you and I share the same blood."

Felisa explains patiently "The first time I stood I had no idea there was no gold egg. I was searched almost as the eggs were hatching. I was as confused as anything at the commotion because I had no idea what was going on."

Katelin jumps to Felisa's defense. "That was because she didn't know!" she says at the same time Felisa is speaking. Then, to Felisa, she says, "I didn't know you had a sister."

"I will give you that," Egwene conceded but she only gives a ground for a second, "but of course, you walked off the stands as soon that you noticed you where standing next to the boys, or that there wasn't a queen egg right?"

Felisa shakes her head. "I knew nothing about dragons then, or that queen eggs were any different than any other one. All I knew was that there were dragonets everywhere, people were shouting, one rider tried to bodily pick me up and ended up carrying two others off of the sands. It wasn't until after that I knew what had happened.

Katelin flicks her eyes between the two, now just watching the argument without interjecting anything of her own.

Egwene just presses her lips together as she listens to Felisa. Picking up the broom in her hands, she begins the walk towards the exit. "Well, I have to finish my duties." To Kat, she nods her head, "It was a pleasure to meet you," her voice returning to its normal polite tone, "It really is good news about the gold egg. Thank you for sharing." To Felisa, she just give her a long look before continuing out to the bowl.

"You too," Katelin calls after Egwene, and then looks back to Felisa. She shrugs a bit. "Well. I'd better go, but - I'll see you back in the dorm?"

Felisa nods distractedly to Katelin, then goes back to looking at the eggs.

Backlog Cleared

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:16:57 GMT

Whew. Ok, all of my logs-waiting-to-be-edited have been posted. I'll try from now on to get them up closer to when they happen.

SC: More Explanations

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:10:19 GMT

Who: Amariss, Brenka K'jan, S'am, Tarianel, Veyanne
What: Lunchtime in the Weyr
Where: Weyrhall, Southern Weyr
When: Day 6 of month 11 in Turn 16

Weyrhall
Adobe walls rise from granite tiles towards the crossbeams that support the impressively high ceiling, which has been painted: azure skies and wispy clouds dominating the western side, ebony pinpricked with silver the eastern. Broad windows with deep sills face the courtyard: each decorated with stained glass. Warm yellow light works its way in through the windows, as outside a warm spring afternoon slips away, the sun shifting on towards the west.

On the south wall a 'tapestry' and two 'paintings' have been hung to add color to the walls and below these a long serving 'table' is placed near the kitchen entrance, laden with food and drink. Frequently replenished, the table is often a hive of activity as people gather to read the 'menu' posted on the adjacent wall. Throughout the rest of the hall trestle tables have been placed in parallel. Behind some are benches and yet others have chairs, padded with green cushions. In the remaining corner a heavy 'loom' sits, a task threaded and in progress when time allows.

It's just after lunch, and playtime for the children in Harper lessons. Veyanne is curled up in a chair reading some hides as she slowly works on a glass of juice.

It may be after lunch for some, but it seems K'jan is here to get his since he enters and strides right to the food tables and starts piling a plate high with mac and cheese, sandwich fixings and various other items available. A glance to Tarianel comes with a raised brow "You getting your own food, Sweet, or just picking off mine as usual?"

Tarianel shrugs, pushing a hand through hair that seems to be damp and messy, most likely from being under a flight helmet since she appears in full gear still, "Picking" she says with a cursory glance to the food.

"Then grab our drinks and a place to sit, will you?" K'jan says, adding extra to the plate for Tarianel in the way of fruit, rolls, etc.

Veyanne glances up as she hears the voices, then stands when she sees who they belong to. "Good afternoon, Weyrwoman and Weyrleader."

Tarianel nods to K'jan and then looks around the Weyrhall. As she finds a seat near Veyanne she nods politely in her direction, slipping into her seat and then scowling at someone who seemed ready to sit in front of her.

K'jan is much more voluble than then the Weyrwoman and gives Veyanne a smile as he sets the tray down, "Afternoon, Veyanne. I hear you've come to study with the weyrharper." He says, waving a hand "Please, return to your seat. No need to stand on ceremony, after all. Well, with me at leat." He gives Tarianel a chiding glance "Considering she did greet you formally, the least you could do is verablize, Sweet." He points out as he settles into his chair. "What are you reading there, Veyanne?"

Veyanne sits back down, curling up in the chair again. "I'm reading this afternoon's notes for the class. I figure it's a good idea to know ahead of time what they're supposed to learn."

Tarianel wrinkles her nose at K'jan, but doesn't seem inclined to verbalize at this precise second. Instead she reaches over and snags a meatroll from K'jan's overladen plate.

K'jan rolls his eyes at Tarianel and digs into his own meal, one cheesy bite of mac'n'cheese at a time, with obvious relish. "A sound plan. I usually review my notes before holder meetings too. Wouldn't do to look stupid in front of them, now would it?" he says with a grin. "And, of course, it gives me more time to decipher those chicken scratches the Weyrwoman considers handwriting."

Veyanne nods, though she appears uncertain how she's supposed to react to the jibe at Tarianel. She finally opts for a neutral smile and says "Luckily the journeyman's handwriting is neat -- especially helpful since I'm still getting the hang of reading."

Tarianel flicks a finger at K'jan's arm at his eye rolling and then at his second remark glares at him. She reaches over and drags the plate more towards her, than him, as retribution. There!

K'jan pulls the plate back with a grin at Tarianel, then nods to Veyanne "Always helpful to have notes written by someone who makes an effort to be neat." He says cheerfully, unmindful of finger flicks or glares from said Weyrwoman - he seems to be pretending she's not there as he continues to eat. "So what are you going to be doing in class? Just watching the weyrharper or will you actually be doing some teaching?" is queried as he finishes off the mac'n'cheese and starts to put together a herdbeast, fresh bread and cheese sandwich, taking a huge bite as he waits for Veyanne's response.

Joleine makes her way into the weyrhall, moving directly to the table of different foodstuffs. Picking up a plate, she begins filling it with some cheese, herdbeast, tubers, and such

Veyanne says, "I'll be helping teach, if the past few days have been any indication." She notices Joleine and gives a polite nod if the bluerider approaches. "He thinks it's best to jump right in and learnthat way."

Tarianel nods to Joleine as she sees her entering, tendering a small smile in the direction of her clutch sister as she does so. Otherwise, she's still glaring at K'jan across the table as she snags another meatroll and nibbles on it.

"Ah, yes. The 'jump in and learn approach." K'jan says wryly "I know all about that one. Of course, I never really had anyone to assist me in learning, I just had to jump in and sink or swim. And, of course, I had a very recalcitrant partner in the learning" His gaze settles upon Tarianel as he says this, and as he continues in between bites of his sandwich "I hope your pupils are less inclined to be irritating and stubborn about learning the things they need to know." is added for Veyanne's benefit, a smile also given to the girl. "I'm sure it makes things much easier if they are cooperative and eager."

Joleine turns, after procuring a mug of redfruit juice. Noticing the visitor's greeting, she nods in return towards Veyanne. Then, Tarianel's greeting, and subsquent mood towards K'jan is noted, and it's in that direction that the bluerider moves,plate and mug in tow. "Always easier to learn by doing; That's why we drill, isn't it?" she adds, agreement to Veyanne's comments about the weyrharper's philosophy.

Veyanne again keeps her smile neutral as she lifts her glass and notices that it's empty. Carefully placing her hides aside, she gets up and refills the fruit juice. When she returns she nods to both Joleine and K'jan. "Immersion really does help. Weyr children are very... spirited. I have a feeling those at home will be more docile, but it's good to learn on those who are more likely to challenge me."

Tarianel glares at K'jan, "You know, if you intend on just sitting here and insulting me, I will take my dinner elsewhere least I suffer from indigestion." She pauses, then looks to Veyanne, "Don't count on it. Either way children are children and will always try to test their barriers."

"Well, Sweet, if you insist on sitting there like a bump on a log, you'll likely hear no good of yourself. Now that you've joined the conversation, however, I'll attempt to mind my manners." K'jan says with a mildly amused smile in Tarianel's direction. A nod is given to Joleine as she appears and he begins to construct another sandwich. "I have to agree with the Weyrwoman. Children need to test limits - that's how they learn, after all. Of course, I'm sure the weyrharper is teaching you ways to turn that natural inclination of theirs into constructive paths, hmm?"

Veyanne contemplates the advice, then nods at K'jan's question. "Though some of the things he comes up with are Weyr-specific, I bet I could adapt them to the cothold fairly easily."

"Oh, I'm sure you can. I really can't imagine it's all that different to be honest." K'jan says musingly "I mean, there are likely differences in that they have different chores at different periods of the days and seasons, but otherwise." He shrugs "It's all of a piece." Big bite of sandwish, chew, swallow and then, "So you plan to use these techniques at your home hold, or are you planning to go elsewhere?" is wondered.

Veyanne says, "I'll be going back to my home cothold, yes. Even though I've enjoyed meeting people here, I miss the place. And Dav, of course."

"Who's Dav?" K'jan wonders, continuing to eat from the piled plate and question Veyanne. "And where's home?"

Tarianel mumbles something and then glances over her shoulder to something or someone invisible before she listens to the conversation once more.

Veyanne says, "Davan is my betrothed -- we're to be married soon after I get back. And my cothold is so remote that it doesn't even have a name." The last is said half-jokingly. "It's on the far reaches of Southern Weyr's sweep, and we tithe to Southern Hold."

S'am makes his way from the courtyard, pausing and holding the door open as a group of children go running by. Chuckling at their actions, he shakes his head and continues on, right towards the food tables. He gives them his total attention while he piles a plate hi and grabs some juice. Then comes the task of looking for a seat.

"Betrothed? Well, he must miss you too - you've been gone for how long, now? I mean, you've been at the hold and I believe Lacey mentioned you'd been studying at Ierne as well." K'jan says after swallowing a mouthful. "Do you at least get to visit?"

Tarianel shakes her head once more, "Alright, I hear you Isaranth. Excuse me, it's time to go again." she stands, grabbing another meatroll for good measure, nods her head to people and then heads out.

Veyanne says, "It's been about a turn and a half now. I miss him a lot, but I've been kept busy with all of my studies. I haven't been back since I keep on thinking I can only come and go with the tithe trains, but Headwoman Lacey reminded me that I could probably get rides. I'm just not sure if that might make missing him worse."

K'jan chuckles "I'm sure you can get rides. You should have been getting them all along. All you had to do was come to the Weyr, and I'm sure a rider would have taken you, especially the younger ones who want to practice flying and betweening." He points out, polishing off his meal and washing it down with a swig of iced klah. "Though I guess that seeing him for a short period would make you miss him more.."

S'am spots Tarianel rising and starts towards the table, he murmurs a greeting and offers a polite tip of his head as they pass and he continues on. "G'day K'jan, Veyanne, mind of I join you?" He gestures towards the now vacant seat. He listens to the conversation and offers a sympathetic smile to the student.

Veyanne smiles at the brownrider. "Fine by me -- we can always pull back another chair if the Weyrwoman returns." She nods to K'jan and hmmms. "I'll have to consider it, but thank you for the offer." She asks S'am in a sotto voice "How are you doing today? Much stress from the weyrwo... goldrider?"

"Oh, well. You'll make your own mind up about it. I imagine you're busy now what with learning and all." He says, draining his klah and standing "AFternoon, S'am. You can have my chair if you like. I've got to go finish some reports so I can hand them off to you." He grins evilly as he says that. "You two enjoy. "

S'am nods to K'jan as the Weyrleader stands. Glancing between the two "Hope I didn't interupt anything." Eyeing K'jan, he smirks "Don't go out of your way on my account.." One can almost hear 'sir' at the end of that. Wiggling his fingers to the bronzerider, S'am settles down and glances to Veyanne with a hint of a shrug "She's doing well, considering. Then again, I've managed to not get in her path yet today. So far at least."

Veyanne nods. "It's really strange -- the two times I've met her, she seemed to be rather nice. And the one time I met Merilyth, she was acting like a mischievous child -- not at all like what I hear now."

S'am lift's a brow at Veyanne. "Really? First time I met her, she couldn't scowl at me fast enough." He glances around as if to make sure the goldrider in question isn't sneaking up on him. "And that was with K'led standing right there." He sighs with a slight shrug. "But he got transferred, thus part of the mood lately."

Veyanne ahs, if uncomprehendingly. "I met her at the Unified gather, which was where Merilyth was being silly. She seemed to be just like everyone else around the pearl dive. And the second time was when I came to see the eggs -- she was in the galleries, and I think maybe lonely for someone to talk to. I made a fool of myself, too -- I'm not very good with knots, so I thought she was a weyrwoman."

S'am nods slightly and takes a few bites from his plate. "Sometimes, she seems to forget to scowl, at those times, she is almost pleasant to be around." He grins before shrugging "Though lately, those times are difficult to spot." He doesn't mention anything about weyrwoman and knots however. Canting his head to Veyanne "Did I hear you need a ride somewhere as I was arriving?"

Veyanne says, "The Weyrleader and I were talking about my visiting the cothold. I was so caught up in the fact that I can really only travel with tithe trains that I never thought to ask any riders I knew."

S'am ahhs over his plate, shoveling in a bit more food before speaking again. "Well, I've got a little free time. I'm sure Cazynth wouldn't mind a little trip somwhere." He pauses and peers across the table "Where exactly would ya need to go?"

Veyanne blushes. "I have lessons to sit in on later this afternoon, so it couldn't be today. I'm still not sure that going home would be a good idea. It might make me miss Dav even more."

S'am gives a little nod. "I guess I can understand that. I shouldn't be too hard to track down if ya change your mind though." He offers with a smile and pops a cheesy puff in his mouth. "Guess sometimes, I forget how things were before Cazynth found me. Having to send messeges and such....You do write him yes?"

Veyanne shakes her head. "No one in the cothold can read -- that's why I'm here to learn to read and to teach."

S'am gives a little grin, nodding. "Your plan being to go back and teach everyone?" He seems to appreciate the idea. "How long have you been studying with the Hall?"

Veyanne says, "A little over a turn and a half. I spent the first turn learning to read, and then some time at Ierne learning about keeping records. Now I'm studying under the Weyrharper to learn to teach."

S'am considers this a moment while he rearranges the veggies on his plate by shoving them around with his fork. "Do ya plan on becoming a harper? Or are ya thinking about being a teaching Nanny?" He shrugs "Something like that at least."

Veyanne shakes her head. "No, the cothold doesn't have time for me to go through a full Harper training. And I'll teach, but not be a nanny. Back at the cots, the mothers raise the children."

S'am holds up something on his fork, eyeing the veggie suspiciously. "Like it was at home. My mom and dad raised us up. With the exception of Dean, they didn't do half bad." He winks with a little smirk then looks at the food at the end of his fork and holds it out to Veyanne "That look like a fingerroot to you?"

Veyanne glances at the root, then says "Maybe a shriveled one. Who's Dean? How did he turn out badly?"

S'am frowns at his fork "Thought so. Doesn't taste very good." Scrubbing the veggie off his fork, ht pushes it off to the side of his plate, then proceeds to weed out all the rest before he speaks up again. "Dean's one of my younger brothers. Don't get me wrong, he works hard, and means well. Trouble just seems to find him no matter what."

Veyanne ahs. "I know of a few people like that. Thank Faranth that's never been a problem for me."

S'am finishes weeding out the bad veggies and reaches for his juice. "So how much longer before you think you'll learn what ya need to know?"

Veyanne says, "I'm hoping that I'll be cleared to go by the next tithe train. I've a lot to learn in a few months, though, if I'm to keep the schedule."

S'am nods agreeably "A few months will go by in no time." He grins at that "You looking forward to going back home soon?"

Veyanne nods happily. "I'm a bit daunted by how much I'll need to know and do, but it'll be good to be home again."

S'am grins. "Look at it this way. Ya know more than ya did, right? And think of how much you'll have to tell about the interesting things you've seen while studying."

Veyanne nods. "I was glad to be able to see a hatching. And I've learned a lot about Craft and Weyr life, though not so much about holding."

S'am nods and takes a few more bites. "And all the Harpers and other people you've met." He grins a moment "I think there is a Ball soon. To welcome the Iernefolk and for the candidates. Think you'll be attending?"

Veyanne mmms. "That sounds lovely. I want to wear the gown as much as possible before I have to give it back. And it'll be good to see all of my friends from Ierne again."

There seems to be some sort of commotion in the Courtyard. A female voice, recognizable perhaps as Brenka, the shrill squealing of an angry firelizard, and numerous unhappy sounding voices. "I didn't do it!" shouts the female. There's angry muttering, and in the end, the squealing firelizard is silenced and Brenka comes storming into the Weyrhall, looking fierce.

Veyanne isn't even a candidate, and she shrinks back.

S'am glances about the hall briefly, and gestures with his fork. "Some of them might be round here now." A little shrug lifts his shoulders as he scrapes his plate clean, cept for those nasty old fingerroots he weeded out. The commotion by the door catches his attention and he spots Brenka storming in. "She can't possibly be mad at me again. I've been here the whole time." This mostly muttered as he watches Bren a moment. Taking a deep breath, he looks back to see Veyanne leaning away. Hiding his grin, s'am shakes his head and waves Brenka over. "What is all the fuss about Bren?"

"Her!" shouts Brenka, jabbing a finger towards the door. Very informative. She doesn't seem to notice Veyanne's recoiling, or S'am's look. She grabs a chair, slides it out, and thumps down with a gloomy expression. "Twilight. The idiot gold! I thought she was smarter than this, really." Hmph. "What're you eating?" she asks, eyeing the plate.

Veyanne isn't eating anything, just sipping very slowly from a glass of fruit juice. And quietly putting S'am between herself and Brenka.

S'am doesn't miss Veyanne tryin to scooch away even more and chuckles a little. Giving the woman a sympathetic smile, he chances a look to Brenka, shaking his head. "I just finished up, unless ya want these bad fingerroots, which I don't recommend." Getting to his feet, "I'll go get you a plate. And some wine." Pausing he glances around to 'her' that Brenka gestures to but doesn't notice anyone in particular. "Be right back." He goes and hurriedly makes a plate, some of Brenka's favorites and gets a glass of wine before returning. "Here ya go, take a few bites, and drinks. Then tell me what ya are talking about."

Brenka just grumps. She folds her arms resolutely over her chest and glares. But it's not a glare meant for anyone in particular, just a glare. "OK," she tells S'am as he gets up, and she looks just a little bit better when he returns with food. Veyanne is given a little glance and a frown, but it's the wine that has Brenka's attention first. She reaches out and takes a long swallow. She sighs. "Twilight," she tells them both, glancing back and forth between the pair. "She's gone and laid her clutch." And she growls. "In a basket of /laundry/!"

Veyanne winces. "That sounds painful." Her tone is sympathetic, but she's not moving any closer.

S'am waits for Brenka to calm down and take a sip or two and nods when she finally explains. "Ahh, well, I guess I can understand why everyone is upset." He glances to Veyanne, grinning a bit "She won't bite Veyanne. I promise." Looking between the two "I bet someone got a fright if Twilight was watching over the basket when someone found them."

"Oh, yes," says Brenka grumpily. "That was the problem in the first place! They made me carry the bloody thing all the way to the courtyard because Twilight wouldn't let anyone else near it." She sighs before frowning at Veyanne. "Of course she won't! Twilight's never bit anyone," says Brenka, misunderstanding. "And she's not in here, anyways. Guarding her clutch. I just know I'm going to be hearing complaints until they Hatch... all those clothes!" Brenka thumps her elbows onto the table and drops her forehead into her hands. Ugh.

Veyanne apparently decides the food looks good, because she gets up to get herself some. She avoids the fingerroot dish, though.

S'am glances around as Veyanne goes to get some food. Peering back to Brenka, he grins and starts to correct Bren on the misunderstnading, but just decides against it. "Do ya think the basket will be alright out in the courtyard. In here by a hearth will keep the weather off them."

Brenka shakes her head as Veyanne goes. "No," she tells S'am. "I wouldn't want to bring them in here without Lacey's permission. Wasn't sure she'd appreciate a basket of laundry near the hearth." She clears her throat, and her cheeks color a little as she leans in to tell him, "There's a rather frilly pile of underwear just at the top, but Twilight won't let me touch it."

Veyanne returns to the table and notes to S'am "I think the fingerroots may have been meant for the waste pile but accidentally got used." She sits back down, not quite so wary of Brenka.

S'am nods after a moment "You're probably right. I don't think Lacey would turn the eggs out though." He winces at the mention of frilly underwear and shakes his head. "Okie, ya didn't need to put that image in my head." Looking to Veyanne, he gives a rueful smile. "Figures. they just didn't taste right. Made the whole dish taste bitter." He glances around as the kitchenworkers bring out more platters and he drifts up. "Hmm. Wonder what they are setting out." And of coarse, he drifts over to find out.

"What? You don't like frilly panties?" asks Brenka, smirking just a little. Her bad mood is fading with food and wine. She sits up again and takes an experimental bite. "Well," she tells them, "This is good. So I suppose it was just that one... dish?"

Veyanne tries some of the other foods on her plate. "I think it was just the fingerroots, ma'am." She also grins at the reference to frilly underwear, and relaxes in general.

Amariss comes out of the kitchen looking like a lump of walking soot. Cleaning hearths was not the most enjoyable of tasks. Walking carefully so as not to disrupt a cloud of black into the air she slowly heads towards the weyrhall door.

S'am returns a moment later, carrying two plates, of honey drizzled pastries. Setting down, " Try these Veyanne." he offers one plate to the middle of the table, keeping the other himself between him and Brenka. "I could think of better places to lay eggs than someone's frilly underwear. Silly lizard."

Veyanne gratefully accepts the pastry and closes her eyes in bliss as she eats it. "Oh, this is really good."

"I don't think she laid it in the panties," Brenka corrects, leaning over to take one of the pasteries herself even though she's not yet finished her meal. "I think she laid it, and went to cover it, and that's what was first at hand. Really, all the eggs are burried. I haven't even counted them yet." She frowns at Veyanne. "Who're you?" As if it's just occured to her she might not know her.

Amariss pauses just long enough to hear S'am mention firelizard eggs and panties. With her head stuck in a hearth all day she has yet to learn the news. Wanting to ask him or Brenka about it further but needing to hurry along, wisdom prevails and she exits a little quicker, waning to return as soon as she can. Slipping out the door, she heads to the steambaths.

Veyanne puts down her pastry, chews, swallows, then says "I'm Veyanne, ma'am. I'm a student at Unified currently here to study under the Weyrharper."

Brenka says "Ah! Yes, Ok. The girl with the family that can't read," and she bobs her head. "Well. Don't call me ma'am, ok? Brenka does just fine. I haven't got a fancy knot like S'am," and she grins at him next to her. "These are pretty good, I agree," she says of the pastry, firelizard eggs momentarily forgotten. "Amari- oh. She's already gone."

S'am ahhs. "Well, you'll need to dig them out sooner or later." As Veyanne introduces herself, he adds "Veyanne's learning with the harpers so she can go back and teach those in her family's cothold." He flashes a 'don't you start that too' look to Brenka with a smirk and chomps into one of the pastries wholeheartedly.

Veyanne nods, both to Brenka and to S'am. "Brenka -- got it." She finishes the pastry and eyes the tray of them speculatively.

Brenka grins at S'am. "Hey, I *don't* have a knot that warrants the title 'ma'am' unless I am outside of the Weyr. But you do." She winks at him before taking another bite of her pastry. "You can have another," she tells the student. "How much longer do you have to study?"

S'am smirks to Brenka and takes another pastry from the plate. "Keep it up and I just may point K'jan towards you if I mess up horribly." The brownrider chuckles and gets to his feet reluctantly. "Speaking of messing up, I need to go finish those reports K'jan assigned me before he adds to the stack." Flashing a wink to Brenka. "See you in a bit?" He gives a wiggle of his fingers to Veyanne. "See ya Vey." And off he goes, after grabbing another pastry, slipping out of the hall quickly.

Brenka mutters to herself as S'am leaves, "I'd better go move that basket... see you later, Veyanne!" With a final bite to her pastry, Brenka stands and hurries for the door.

SC: Another Candidate in Trouble

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:00:45 GMT

Who: Amariss, Brenka, Evana, Lacey, S'am, Sana, Veyanne
What: Amariss is reminded of the policy with regards to candidates dating; Lacey and Veyanne discuss weddings.
Where: Weyrhall, Southern Weyr
When: Day 29 of month 10 in Turn 16

Weyrhall
Adobe walls rise from granite tiles towards the crossbeams that support the impressively high ceiling, which has been painted: azure skies and wispy clouds dominating the western side, ebony pinpricked with silver the eastern. Broad windows with deep sills face the courtyard: each decorated with stained glass. Outside the window, the sun sinks towards the horizon, and the light filtering in is become more shadow than light.

On the south wall a 'tapestry' and two 'paintings' have been hung to add color to the walls and below these a long serving 'table' is placed near the kitchen entrance, laden with food and drink. Frequently replenished, the table is often a hive of activity as people gather to read the 'menu' posted on the adjacent wall. Throughout the rest of the hall trestle tables have been placed in parallel. Behind some are benches and yet others have chairs, padded with green cushions. In the remaining corner a heavy 'loom' sits, a task threaded and in progress when time allows.

Lacey wanders out from the resident lounge, her clipboard at hand and her assistants trotting beside her as she hands off little notes. "....clean ..... vtols ...... unfortunate..... hint?" Lacey pats a younger assistant on the shoulder. "Sorry you get stuck with it but he listens to you at least.." That little bit of unpleasantness over, the little group heads to the meal table and a late dinner.

And in walks Brenka, looking less than agreeable today. She's got a scowl on her face, and her boots make a thick clunking noise as she stalks across the Weyrhall towards the tables.

Amariss curles up on a chair, her feet tucked up and comfortable. In front of her, gripped in both hands is a steaming mug of klah. A slight smile plays upon her lips as she sips it every now and then. She watches ones coming and going.

Veyanne is curled up in her chair, reading some hide or other. She looks fairly worn out, but not unhappy.

Evana is recently bathed, though her fingernails have dirt under them still. Her clothes are also grass-stained, though not anything a good washing won't get out. She also looks tired, and gets herself a klah with half milk and about a quarter sugar.

Lacey sighs happily as she helps herself to her favourite dinner, lemongrass herdbeast. Rivergrains are skipped, however. A healthy serving of steamed greens takes their place and she grabs a glass of white wine to complete her meal. As is their custom, the headwomen staff separate off to their various evening activities, leaving Lacey looking for a place to sit. Growly Brenka garners her attention and she gives the rider a wave. "Evening!"

Sana walks in, from the direction of the meadow. She grabs a couple peices of fruit, and turns to head back out, but then seems to shange her mind- She turns back around, heading for a chair in the corner. She glances over the occupants, those she knows in particular, waving to said people. Brenka, however, gets an extra blink.

Brenka grunts a greeting back to Lacey, glancing briefly towards the Headwoman. But it's quite clear that her attention is on searching the Weyrhall. "Have you heard too?" she asks, still squinting around the room but speaking towards the Headwoman. "Ah! There she is," and off stalks Brenka, heading for Amariss.

Amariss sees that Brenka is coming her way with anger on her face. Frowning with worry she wonders what could have upset the woman so. Gripping her mug harder, her smile disappears and a crease of worry takes it's place.

Lacey quirks a brow at the query and shakes her head. With a smug smirk on her lips, the Headwoman cheerfully mutters to herself in a singsong tone. "Not my problem, not my problem ...." Settling near Veyanne finally, she grins. "Not being candidate coordinator this clutch is deliciously .... wonderful."

Sana blinks. There was no way Amariss pulled another prank, so what upset Brenka so much? She frowns slightly, quietly, and as un-noticably and quietly as she can- She has some obvious natural disadvantages in that- moves over, deciding to actually walk over to Brenka, walking next to her as she approaches Amariss. "Erm, Brenka? What about her?"

Veyanne smiles over towrd Lacey. "I'm afraid I have to agree with your husband -- working with the children is *exhausting." But she is still smiling.

Evana watches Brenka carefully, though seems relieved when the coordinator heads in another direction entirely. She opts not to sit by Amariss, though, for some reason.

"Stick around and you'll find out," growls Brenka to Sana. She pauses, and frowns towards the bluerider. "So you've not heard? Hm." It amuses Brenka only a little, but her expression remains grim. "Amariss," she says as she comes to a stop near the candidate. Her arms cross, and her weight shifts in such a way as to suggest she might begin tapping her foot. "Explain yourself." Nice and vague.

Lacey shakes her head at Sana's brashness but keeps her tone low, so as not to be overheard too far away from her table. "Never come between a candidate coordinator and her prey, doesn't that rider know anything? She's likely to get bit." With a nod, she agrees. "Exhausting but they aren't savages as he would have had you believe, we keep them busy enough they can't get in a lot of trouble... at least serious trouble." Watching Evana, Lacey nods in approval before she takes a bite of her dinner. "Wise, that girl. Best to keep out of the way."

Amariss's eyes grow a bit larger. Her posture stiffens. Shaking her head with a bit of fear in her eyes she says, "I don't understand. I /really/ don't. What have I done?" The tone of her voice sounds a bit pleading.

Sana blinks, shaking her head, "Brenka, I spend most of my free time in a /tree/. Leaves aren't very talkative, y'know." She stands next to Brenka, at an angle to Amariss, an inquisitive exspression on her face, head at a slight angle, as she listens to Amariss and then for Brenka's reply. She has no idea what's going on, just that it's aparantly something that broke the rules.

Veyanne nods. "I just hope I'm up to dealing with the children at home, and I'm just an assistant here. There I won't have one."

Evana is not unsympathetic as she watches Amariss, but nor is she suicidal. She beams when Lacey compliments her, though, obviously putting much by what the Headwoman says.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Trees and their lack of talking is ignored for the moment, Brenka's attention focused upon the candidate inquestion. Lucky Evana, she ran while she could. "You. And *him*." And him can only be one person, really. "I want an explanation. You know the rules. They are very firm."

Lacey continues eating but keeps an ear open, glancing over Brenka's way now and again. She turns back to her table mate, distracted. "You won't have one what? Child?" Waving her fork which still has a bit of her lemongrass herdbeast on it, she suggests. "You really do have to try this. Addicting."

A small squeek could be heard and her jaw dropped with a gasp afterwards. "We have /certainly not/ done anything to merit your anger Brenka. I can assure you of that." Amariss uncurls herself from the chair, sets her mug upon the table and turns to Brenka properly. "You have obviously heard something that is /not/ true. Jabari and I have an affection for each other and /nothing/ more. We know the rules /and/ we have morals too." Shock and hurt are in her eyes and voice. "Who told you we were... you know?" She glances to Sana for a brief moment. Her look was one of great sadness.

Veyanne amends "I won't have an assistant. I imagine once I'm married I'll have children just like everyone else." After getting herself some of the recommended herdbeast, she sits back by Lacey and says softly, "Speaking of marriage, your wedding was beautiful."

Evana is paying exclusive attention to the other candidate and Brenka, and breathes a sigh of relief when Amariss answers. "Something I can never be accuses of" she mutters under her breath.

Sana blinks. 'Him' Oh. Understanding crosses her face, as she understands what rule was aparantly broken. So, she settles for crossing her arms, awaiting Amariss's explanation. She mutters to herself, most likely too quietly for even Brnka, right beside her to understand, "I /really/ don't think she'd break anymore rules." She shrugs at Amariss's look, "I stay out of gossip. It's not always trustable, although, it is more often than not. Plus, crawlies don't have very interesting social lives." She shrugs again, as she didn't even know whey Brenka was yelling at the candidate until /very/ recently. As in, the previous minute.

Jabari enters the weyrhall looking pleased. Spying Amariss he smiles brightly for a brief moment before he sees her expession and those of Brenka and Sana. Feeling the need to help if he could, he approaches the group and tries he charming smile. "Good evening Brenka, Sana, /Amariss/." He smiles encouragement to her.

Lacey grins. "They sort of follow marriage, so I hear. Children and not assistants. But surely you can have help? You do need to learn a very important skill, Vey. Delegation. You'll run yourself to the ground and you and your intended will never have many children if you are busy running around." She peers over at the candidate yet again but turns back to the newly arrived student. "It was lovely, wasn't it? Perfectly wonderful." Blissfully, she continues her meal, the more the conversation goes on between candidate and coordinator, the better her mood becomes. "Crawlies are not candidates, Sana dear."

S'am is one of several people that makes their way into the hall. As usual, he makes a straight line towards the food before even glancing around towards the available tables. Spotting Brenka, Sana and the others, he hurriedly tosses things on his plate and grabs a glass of juice on his way over. Instead of greeting though, he merely tips his head in a polite nod and takes a seat near the brownrider. His curious gaze takes in Amariss as she pleads her innocence then peeks between the riders and headwoman.

"So you /say/," starts Brenka. And then the man in question shows up, and he doesn't seem to be helping the situation. An eyebrow arches, and she turns her toe-tapping stance towards Jabari. "You," and narrows her eyes at him, "And you," and she fixes the look on Amariss. "Whether you are, or aren't doing... whatever. There wouldn't be rumors about it unless it was rather... obvious the pair of you were affectionate." Affectionate? Maybe Brenka is running out of steam. She clears her throat. "There shouldn't be rumors at all." And no, it seems Brenka did not hear Sana's muttered comment. "Crawlies?" she asks, frowning briefly at the bluerider. "Who said anything about insects?"

Veyanne nods wistfully. "I wish I could take so many ideas from it home. Maybe we can at least do vows like you did." She turns to listen to the unfolding drama as well.

"So this is what its all about, huh?" Jabari actually grinned. "Perhaps someone that saw us dancing all night at the wedding and having a good time might be jealous, no?" He was not worried it seemed. In their innocence he was confident. "Of course if giving each other eyes and holding hands on occasion and watching stars come out in the courtyard is grounds for dismissal than by all means you must do your duty. But if you simply believe all that you hear from ones that like to gossip stories that are not true than that is your right. But as for Amariss and I...we have affection for each other and we are not ashamed of it."

Amariss looks to Jabari and smiles with a silent thanks, sighing audibly when he comes and speaks. Turning to Brenka again she nods in agreement for what Jabari has said.

Evana shakes her head as Jabari speaks, mouthing the words "Don't tempt fate", even if she doesn't expect to be seen. She glances over at Amariss, again sympathetic, and already cringing in anticipation of what will come next.

Lacey chuckles. "Most weddings include vows, Veyanne, even ones that are just the couple and the harper. And /if/ I am invited to your wedding, I'll make sure that your day is just as special and unique for you and your betrothed as mine was to me." Quirking a brow at Jabari, she tsks. "That boy is digging himself deep, deep deep. Sassing back."

Sana nods at the headwoman, "I ment the crawlies in the tree, headwoman." She looks at this new candidate as he walks over, adding her own comment to Brenka's lexure, "There's no flaming if there's no thread, as they say. But, Brenka, there's no rules against, well," After Jabari's explanation, she continues, "Dancing and spending time togeather, is there? Holding hands, maybe, and watching stars is breaking curfew, but otherwise..."

S'am listens to the candidates and after a moment, catches the gist of what he walked into. Dipping his spiderclaw puff in sauce, he bites into it with a little grin. Watching Brenka and Sana, he can't help but chuckle a bit before looking towards the headwoman, wiggling his fingers to Lacey and Veyanne. "Didn't think I'ld see you back yet Lacey. Good to see you again Veyanne."

Veyanne apparently can't bear to watch what happens next, because she turns back to Lacey. "I'll invite anyone from here, though I doubt it'll be much. Probably my father officiating since we don't have a Harper. And no special food afterward, either. I was thinking of buying a wedding dress with the marks I've made, but it seems such a waste for something I'll wear once." She smiles over at S'am. "You lot are stuck with me for a while, I'm afraid."

Evana is sitting by herself, well away from the eye of the storm, drinking her syrupy klah and eating more of the lemongrass herdbeast and river grains than her body should be able to hold. She is watching Brenka et al with the kind of fascination associated with train wrecks.

Lacey nods to S'am from her table and shrugs. "We were working two days after the wedding but we were busy moving Falgin's office out from the dark confines of the far reaches of the storeroom. I figured I'd let him out of exile." She's now keeping her eyes firmly away from the future disaster area. She does eye Evana, shaking her head at the girl's ability to keep an eye on the proceedings but she turns back to Vey. "Silly Veyanne. You've got harper friends now, I'm sure one would love to officiate. Honestly! Don't count your friends short. As far as a wedding dress? I'm sure a few folk around here would have some ideas, ask around."

"Oh yeah?" and now Brenka's turning on Sana. "Well, there is now!" back to the candidates, she lifts her chin definatly. "It ends now," she decides. "I will not be kicking either of you out, yet. But I won't allow this to continue into something... more. I don't need the rumors. So, from now on, you two will be in seperate chore groups. I don't want you anywhere near each other unless at least three other people are around as well. And definitely nowhere private! No handholding. Your minds should be on your chores and your possible future lifemates. Not each other." Scowl.

Amariss gawks for a moment and then her eyes fill and threaten to overflow. Her hand nearest Jabari moves slightly as if reaching for him, but it stills as she visibly slumps in her stance. The look of a crushed heart evident upon her countenance. Her gaze is downwards with little hope.

Sana nods, "O-kay!" She blinks, a few times, ang gulps. She had been trying to calm Brenka... oops. She flashes an apologetic smile to Brenka, "Sorry." she bites her lip nerviously, looking between Brenka and Amariss, worridly, again saying, "Sorry."

Jabari's chin rises for a brief moment in surprise. "Really Brenka...have a heart." He speaks quietly, respectfully. Glancing to Amariss he speaks his next words for her benefit. "We will continue to /feel/ affection for each other but perhaps you are right. Our minds /and/ hearts need to concentrate on candidacy. Love can come later and it just might." He nods acceptance for her words but he frowns slightly with the harshness of them.

Veyanne hmmms thoughtfully at what Lacey says, admitting "I figured most people wouldn't want to travel all the way to the cothold. It's a long wagon ride." Then she winces as she hears the punishment, saying softly "Makes me glad I said no to search."

Evana lets out a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. "At least you weren't turfed" she says, by way of comforting. She doesn't have much else to say, though, and hurries back to the safety of the dessert table.

Lacey rolls her eyes at Jabari's tone and shakes her head. "Shells, if they impress it'll be turns before they can even /think/ about such matters. Young dragons don't need all that romantic nonsense." She's not a young dragon though and the newlywed pushes her plate away, listening. "Veyanne...." She chuckles. "Ummm, remember where you are? A Weyr? You've many friends who are riders, you are only a blink away from home, really....." Pause. "You /said/ no? To search? Honestly?"

S'am smirks to Lacey. "Not to hear Falgin telling it. Poor guy was all but exhausted and needing a little rest last time I saw him." He lowers his head with a hint of a chuckle before looking back towards the punished candidates. He arches a hint of a surprised brow towards Brenka but wisely stuffs his mouth with food.

Brenka scowls at Jabari. "Watch it," she tells him. "I think the fact that I have not kicked you out speaks to my heart. But I won't bend on this matter. It's not a game. You can't just turn feelings off with a flick of your fingers, but I'm going to do my darnedest to keep yours," and she waves a hand between the pair, "From growing. At least for now." There's no sympathy, but her glower lessens a little. There's a quick look between the two, to assure that her words have hit home. "Right then. No more rumors. No more hand-holding. And certainly no more star-watching." That done, Brenka seems at a loss with what to do with herself. She turns in place slowly and finds Sana. "Ah... no need to apologize, really. S'my responsibility." Maybe she misunderstood. "Think I'll get food now." And off she goes, boots clacking just a bit less now that she's not stomping.

Lacey smiles ever so sweetly at S'am. "All that moving the offices can wear a man out, the poor fellow. But we are now settled nicely. We are hoping to visit his family soon though, I promised them I'd head their way. Nice folk." As Brenka turns, Lacey frowns sympathetically in the younger woman's direction. "Not easy having to come down hard on candidates but .... she gave wise guidelines."

Sana nods, "Still, though, sorry. Like you said, it's your responsability, I shoulda just stayed away. Sorry." She looks at the door leading to her tree, but thats nearly on the other side of the hall, so... She simply heads for the nearest corner, grabbing a glass of juice on the way. After all, her fruit's still back in her orriginal corner. once there, she sits down, drawing her knees up to her chest and curling up, sipping the juice, her eyes surveying the hall over it's rim.

Veyanne ohs, obviously not having made the connection before. "I never thought of that," she says, unnecessarily. "And now that I have firelizards I can even send messages." She glances at the ever-vicious Chip and adds "If I can convince him to bring them." Chip just hisses. Distractedly, Vey nods to Lacey. "It's already been nearly a turn and a half since I saw Davan, and being a candidate would be that many more months I wouldn't be able to do my studies. I want to be cleared by the Harpers as ready to teach by the time the next tithe train comes."

Amariss looks up and wipes her eyes dry. "Rumors are cruel and untrue. We are sorry." She says simply and leaves it at that. Her attitude now is unreadable. Jabari on the other hand bows his head just slightly to Brenka and says, "I meant no disrespect. If you'll excuse me." His words sounded tight. Giving a 'hang in there' look to Amariss he turns to go back the way he came. Hunger no longer plagued him.

Evana dodges Brenka and heads over with dessert and klah to sit by Amariss. "Stupid rumors" she agrees. Silently she offers some of the sweets to the other candidate.

S'am just nods to Lacey with a not quite believing roll of his eyes "Uh huh." He flashes a wink to the newlywed before peering back to the table. "Looks like I missed a few things in the past couple of hours." This to everyone at the table as he waits for someone to fill in the blanks.

Lacey grins. "Well, dragon-riding friends do come in handy, you've been at Ierne and here, you know we give and take at a weyr, we work together and help each other out. But I can see your point, if you don't want to be a rider, why stand? Not everyone is asked though you know..." Packing up her dirty dishes, the Headwoman stands. "I never was. But then, some of my dearest companions as a child were dragons, so I guess I never missed out? We communicated in our own way, my mother and father's dragons." She nods to the student and stands "Oh, speaking of children, do drop by the nursery, you might find the charts we have there on chore duty, after school activities and such to be of help to you. But if you'll excuse me, Lyani's getting home tomorrow and I've got some things to discuss with Falgin before she returns." Uh-huh. Smirking S'am's way, she oly nods. "Good evening."

"Yeah.. yeah..." is Brenka's answer to both Sana and Jabari. But she's halfway to the serving table by this time. And then she stops, stands stock still, and sighs. "Of course," she mutters to herself. "Never done... I'm coming!" Maybe she's talking to Zavroth. Hopefully. Without another word, Brenka turns on her heels and marches smartly for the door, looking grim once again. And then she's gone.

Amariss shakes her head at Evana's offering, smiles tightly to curb any hurt feelings the other candidate might get and quickly makes her way out into the night in a different direction from Jabari entirely. More tears could be seen in her eyes and this time her cheeks became wet with them. Affairs of the heart were hard. Gossip was never anything but cruel. She wondered if it couldn't have been Sheeza that started it.

Veyanne says, "Clear skies, Headwoman, and thank you for the pointer. I'll be sure to check it out."

Evana just grins at the refusal. "More for me!" she says brightly, and digs in dutifully.

Sheeza just so happens to have witnessed the whole thing. He lips upturned in a pleased smirk. Her arms crossed comfortably at her chest. Leaning up against a far wall she watches.

S'am waves to people as they start out of the hall and continues devouring his meal. Calling out to Brenka "Bren, Waterfall later." He gestures with his spiderclaw tipped fork and looks back to his plate, which he begins to clean a bit faster.

Evana continues eating her dessert, watching S'am absently. "So, how is being Weyrsecond treating you, sir?"

Sana notices Sheeza, and gets up, depositing her empty glass on the apropriate place as she passes, and stalking towards sheeza. Before she reaches the candidate, though, she manages to get a hold on herself, and forcibly turns herself out the door, towards her tree. It isn't her place, it isn't her place... Then again...

Sheeza keeps her smirk and flows out the door and back to the barracks to watch Amariss cry.

Veyanne quietly finishes her food and bins her plate and mug, then heads out with a polite nod to those remaining.

S'am smiles over to Evana with a little shrug. "Oh come on, tis only S'am remember?" Taking another quick bite and drink of his juice, "I guess I'm doing well enough so far." Peering back to Evana. "So how are you managing lately Evana?"

Evana says, "All right. Weeding today -- but it gave me a good excuse for a bath before dinner. I'm just glad I'm not Amariss, though."

S'am glances briefly towards the doorway and shakes his head a little "Aye, can't blame ya there. But Brenka is right. The candidates need to be open to their potential lifemates when the eggs start twitching."

SC: Search With a Twist

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:49:20 GMT

Who: Gwen, Saeynth, Veyanne
What: Veyanne is searched
Where: Commons, Unified Crafthall
When: (estimate) Day 25 of Month 10 in Turn 16

Commons
Spreading out like a wide fan from the entrance to the Unified Crafthall, the grassy green commons provides spacious landing areas for visiting dragons and campsites for Trader caravans. Carefully maintained flowerbeds border the commons, each surrounding a single fruit tree -- the aroma of the blossoms and fruit is tinged by the sharper tang coming from the curved rectangles of kitchen herbs, which grow just within the border. The border breaks twice-- once at the great wooden doors that lead into the Crafthall itself and at the opposite end of the commons, where a broad, rutted dirt road emerges from the surrounding jungle; the path fades into the grass gradually, gracefully giving way to the green.

Its a dark, starry night. The kind when the moon turns the world to liquid silver and the stars shine like diamonds in the night. Gwen is making her way towards the hall, Saeynth at one side and an Ierne rider following her. "Thanks, I brought the paperwork you asked. I'm sorry D'ron couldn't come with it, he's got a bit of a bug. We grew up together so I do him favors sometimes." The brownrider nods. "That's fine. I can take the papers to Orielle for you." He says with a nod. "Ho boy, toxic water. We survive thread and hurricanes and all kinds of freak weather and we get pushed out of house and home by smelly drinking water. Who would have thought?" Gwen nods. "Not me." Saeynth looks up at the stars, crooning quietly. He turns, gaze watching his lifemate and the brownrider. "Alright, I'm going to stay a little bit and go stargazing." She says with a smile. "Its a beautiful evening."

Veyanne is out with a class, also stargazing. The Journeyman is pointing out constellations and quizzing the students as to what they are named, and how they can help with direction-finding. Finally he dismisses them, warning that there will be a test tomorrow. Many of the students, including Veyanne, stay outside to continue looking at the sky.

Gwen spots the class and moves towards them. "Aaaah, Journeyman do you mind if Saeynth and I join you? Its a beautiful night." She says with a warm smile. Saeynth croons, moving towards the students and seating himself so that he's splayed out in a half circle around the students. "I don't mind at all." The Journeyman says with a smile. "Your name Bluerider?" Gwen nods and smiles. "I'm Gwen, my lifemate is Saeynth." And this is aimed at the group of students as well. "Its a pleasure." She says with a small bow of her head and a courteous smile. She moves to sit by Saeynth, placing her also near Veyanne. Saeynth croons, laying down in the grass and glancing skyward to look at the stars. "Hi......" Gwen says with a small smile as she sits near Veyanne. "Nice to meet you....."

Veyanne looks startled, but recovers almost immediately. "Likewise -- Hall's duty to the Weyr." She smiles then, and adds "I'm Veyanne". She glances at Saeynth and says, half to herself, "I always forget how large they are until one is next to me." Aloud she adds, "Saeynth is a pretty name, and a gorgeous shade of blue, at least in the moonlight." She glances up at the stars again, tracing a constellation with her finger and murmuring the name.

Gwen grins and nods agreement. "Yeah, I always called it 'storm blue'." Gwen sighs. Then she takes a deep breath. "Flying under that moonlight is even more beautiful, Saeynth says. He also says that he's glad for your company." The blue croons, turning so that he's regarding Veyanne warmly. "He likes having his muzzle scratched." She adds, as the blue leans in, attempting to nuzzle the girl.

Veyanne smiles and hesitantly reaches out to scratch his muzzle. "Like this?" she asks, after a few scritches.

Gwen nods and chuckles as Saeynth croons, turning his chin upwards for better access. Saeynth shifts, earning nervous glances from the class. But his wings go slack, resting lightly on the ground in contented relaxation. "Well I'll be....... he sure likes you." Gwen says quietly, scooching over so that she's closer to Veyanne. "He only gets that relaxed around me or Krystalin and Zianth." She says with a sigh equally as contented. "Or the kids." She adds, lips curling into a smile.

Veyanne continues scratching, then, smiling unconsciously as she does so. She's completely forgotten about class at this point, delighting in having a dragon this close up.

Saeynth rumbles, forgetting also where he is. He croons quietly, a smug draconic purr is aimed at Veyanne, though Gwen smiles hugely. "Hey Veyanne, can I ask you something?" Saeynth's eyes ripple a deep and happy sapphire as he croons melodically.

Veyanne pauses in the scritching and cocks her head. "Sure. What's up?"

Gwen grins, and Saeynth's croons turn smug. "Would you like to stand for Merilyth and Cazynth's clutch at Southern? You make Saeynth really happy, and he thinks you'd be a good fit." She says with a huge smile. "Whatddyou say? It'll be an adventure yeah?" She asks hopefully.

Veyanne is stunned. Everything: her disbelieving expression; the way she freezes, even not breathing for a second; the absent way she starts scratching the dragon again when she finally does regain her composure; points to it. After a few seconds more she shakes her head, not necessarily in a "no", but more as if to clear it. Finally, in a halting voice, she says "I'm sorry. I'am honored to be asked, but I can't. I have to go back to my cot and teach, and my parents have already arranged my marriage."

Gwen's eyebrows go up. and Saeynth whimpers, clearly disappointed. "Truely?" She sighs. "That don't beat all...... must be some guy if you're willing to turn down Search. But if your family needs you at home, far be it from me to drag you away. Hmmm..... well..... I'm a teacher too, I teach Weyrlings. If you're going to go back to your cot to teach, let me know if you need anything. I'm sorry you can't come though, we've got a great bunch of candidates this year." She sounds disappointed, but she offers. "Good luck." Before she stands. "Journeyman, i've got to put my kids to bed at the Weyr. Good night and happy gazing." Saeynth sounds disappointed to be going, giving a sad glance back at Veyanne before he follows his rider. "Ah well buddy, they go that way sometimes. And there are people who need her elsewhere." She's off.

Veyanne looks after sadly. Several of her companions react, some calling her an idiot, others saying that she's smarter than some, indicating other Craft folks who were searched and accepted. All in all it's a mixed bag, and Veyanne's expression is at once sad and uncertain.

SC: Calming the Storm

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:43:08 GMT

Who: Amariss, Evana
What: Tempest in the Weyrhall
Where: Weyrhall, Southern Weyr
When: Day 28 of month 9 in Turn 16

Weyrhall
Adobe walls rise from granite tiles towards the crossbeams that support the impressively high ceiling, which has been painted: azure skies and wispy clouds dominating the western side, ebony pinpricked with silver the eastern. Broad windows with deep sills face the courtyard: each decorated with stained glass. It's dark out on this spring evening, and only the faint light of stars gleams through the window.

On the south wall a 'tapestry' and two 'paintings' have been hung to add color to the walls and below these a long serving 'table' is placed near the kitchen entrance, laden with food and drink. Frequently replenished, the table is often a hive of activity as people gather to read the 'menu' posted on the adjacent wall. Throughout the rest of the hall trestle tables have been placed in parallel. Behind some are benches and yet others have chairs, padded with green cushions. In the remaining corner a heavy 'loom' sits, a task threaded and in progress when time allows.

It's evening, so Evana is recently bathed and eating at one of the tables with other candidates.

Amariss storms out of the kitchen, tears her apron off and throws it back through the door. "And good ridance to you too!" She hollers. Her face beat red with eyes burning with anger. Grabbing a plate with careless abandon she plops her few choices unceremonally upon it, grabs a cool drink and sits at a faroff table to brood.

Evana watches, but doesn't make any move to intercept the older candidate. Instead, she listens to a funny story being told by one of the newly-searched boys.

A friendly passerby sees her brooding anger and tries to cheer her up. Good thing this one is a bit intoxicated. Perhaps they will not remember Amariss's words come morning. "I am /not/ your sweet little muffin cakes... and I will /certainly/ not juggle my emotions into a cheer just for your own amusement. Take a flying leap in Between! I don't need the lot of you. And I certainly don't need to be told how to clean a *** pot!" With hair flying wild upon each emphasised word, she stands, and her volume rises as well. Several turn heads to look only making her more upset. She slams herself back into her seat and stabs a meatroll with her beltknife, intent upon eating it but not able.

Evana cringes at the yell, twisting in her chair to look at Amariss. "Better watch it -- if someone overhears you, you'll be in trouble."

Amariss looks towards the warning voice with daggers in her eyes. Seeing her friend Evana as the owner of the voice her boiling pot of emotions slowly starts to simmer down. Slumping visibly finally, she sighs at last and the last traces of anger meld into something more akin to exhausted depression. Setting her chin in her hand after a time, she leans upon the table and pokes at the food on her plate. It takes a while for all traces of heat to dissapate from her face but when it does a single tear drips down upon her cheek instead. A testiment to her true state. "Thank you Evana." She calls out softly, when she's able to, and then returns her defeated gaze upon her uneaten food. "A very bad day I've had. I'm sorry I got so angry." She adds. "Maybe I'm not cut out to be a candidate." She frowns uncertainly.

Evana judges the danger of bodily harm to be minimal, so she heads over. "What happened?" she asks sympathetically. Then she grins. "You've seen me when someone needs to be beaten up, and I haven't been turfed yet. You have nothing to worry about."

Amariss somehow manages the semblance of a smile. "Take a seat if you wish." She pushes her plate away a few inches, returns her beltknife to its sheath and sighs yet again. "My days here have been nothing but troublesome. You know the trouble I've had with the Laundry girls even before I became a candidate. Things have gotten worse since I have. Sometimes it seems as if the whole weyr is against me and trying to get me to fail. Sheeza, one of the other candidates is a habitual liar. She somehow managed to talk me into pulling a prank on pour Brenka and Sana. She said it was very mild pepper and that they would think it was funny too. Well, the whole weyr probably knows how that one turned out." She frowned miserably. "And now the kitchen staff has me cleaning and polishing pots. I'm okay with that. I've done it for years and done it very well back home. It was my candidate chore for today, doing dishes." She shakes a tired fist towards the kitchen doorway before relaxing it upon the table again. "A snippety no-gooder made me redo the same stupid pot five times. Five times!" She emphasised. "She said she couldn't see her face in it. Ugh. One could not have seen any kind of reflection in that pot even when first made. I got the distinct impression that she just had fun tormenting a 'poor candidate'. The nerve." She breathes through her nose and frowns. In a very soft voice she said, "Perhaps I should have never have come here. I certainly don't feel very welcome....Well except for you of course." Another tear drops upon her down-trodden cheek.

Comprehension dawns on Evana's face. "So that's why Brenka and Sana were so suspicious of me when I brought the drink tray that night. I'm just grateful they didn't punish us all for it like in Isaranth's next-to-last clutch. And you get used to people taking advantage of the fact you're a candidate. It's not anything against you, really. It's just free labor which can't fight back. Except when they go overboard, like the laundresses.

Amariss says, "I regret having listened to so many over the years. I think from now on I'll stick to what I know and feel is right. If anyone has a problem with it...tough. Let /them/ get /themselves/ in trouble. It's not fair. Candidates should be given a lot more respect than they are. We are /not/ slaves. We have been Searched by dragons because they saw something good in us. Why can't humans see us that way too?" She shakes her head and takes out her beltknife again. A bit of her food and another one settles her stomach some and she looks up again at Evana and smiles. "I'm sure glad you are a candidate too. It's nice having you here. I don't feel so alone."

Evana says, "I think chores are meant to prepare you for Weyrlinghood. Weyrlings have no rank whatsoever; everyone ranks them. And they have to do a lot of work keeping dragons healthy and getting ready to fight thread. I'm not quite sure how kitchen duty fits in, except that candidates put a strain on the Weyr, I think." She smiles at Amariss, "I'm glad I finally got searched again too. Maybe this time will be the one for both of us."

Amariss smiles with genuine longing. "I sure hope so." After taking another bite of food and washing it down she adds, "And chores are not what bothers me. I'm completely okay with doing hard work for the benefit of others. I just don't like to be treated cruely. That's all. And I hate to see others being treated the same way. There is no reason for it." Shaking herself out of her troubled thoughts she says with a hint of excitement. "I can't help but to think ahead to hatching day. Oh it must be glorius, seeing all those you once knew becoming Riders and the fearful excitement of being so close to the eggs while they are hatching. There couldn't be anything better." Her eyes dance with merriment as she invisions that coming day. Impression of herself was the only thing she could not yet consider. It seemed too good a dream to hope for.

Evana says, "Actually, the time Brenka and S'am and Sana impressed, we couldn't see anything. We were lucky if we could tell one was near us. Not that I ever had to worry -- they pretty much didn't come near me in that one. I had better luck in the last two, but close means nothing in hatchings; either you impress or you don't. It is exciting, though."

Amariss says, "Well like you said before...perhaps this one will produce your lifemate. You are a great and caring person. I believe *yours* is definitely out there." She nods emphatically. Finishing the last of her food and drink she adds, "Thanks so much Evana for cheering me up tonight. You've been a good friend. I must go now though. I need a bath before bed." Taking her plate and her cup in hand she stands."

Evana nods. "Any time. I hope you'll find your lifemate this time as well." She gets up and goes back over to the table with the other candidates as Amariss gets ready to go.

Amariss smiles kindly to Evana, not daring to hope. Traveling over to the cleaning bins she sets her plate and cup into it and then heads out into the night to wash up before bed. A hard day it has been, but thanks to friendship the night was a good one. A happy glow seems to emanate from Amariss as she goes.

SC: Chat with the Weyrlingmaster

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:25:11 GMT

Who: Evana, Juniper
What: Chores and life before Nemar's.
Where: Weyrhall, Southern Weyr
When: Day 23 of month 9 in Turn 16

Weyrhall
Adobe walls rise from granite tiles towards the crossbeams that support the impressively high ceiling, which has been painted: azure skies and wispy clouds dominating the western side, ebony pinpricked with silver the eastern. Broad windows with deep sills face the courtyard: each decorated with stained glass. Warm spring breezes waft through the window, bringing the smells of lurking mud and blooming spring flowers. The sun's light filtering in is intense at this noon hour.

On the south wall a 'tapestry' and two 'paintings' have been hung to add color to the walls and below these a long serving 'table' is placed near the kitchen entrance, laden with food and drink. Frequently replenished, the table is often a hive of activity as people gather to read the 'menu' posted on the adjacent wall. Throughout the rest of the hall trestle tables have been placed in parallel. Behind some are benches and yet others have chairs, padded with green cushions. In the remaining corner a heavy 'loom' sits, a task threaded and in progress when time allows.

It's lunchtime, and the peak of the weyrhall's busy time, so there's a crowd by the serving tables, and not many free spaces to sit and eat. Juniper makes her way between the tables, scanning for somewhere to sit. The Weyrlingmaster has a mug of juice in one hand and a plate in the other; the latter is raised to shoulder height as she skirts a knot of children. She finally spots a free chair and drops gratefully into it.

Evana is currently wearing a smock and herding the knot of children. The reason for the smock is visible on the garment -- old stains on the shoulder, and a mingling of old and new on the front. One, some type of mashed vegetable, stands out in bright orange relief. She says to the children "All right, you remember the deal. I got you here, so you'll sit with Ferion." Meanwhile, she picks up some food and klah and also scans for an empty seat. One such is near Juniper, and Eva dashes over to it before anyone else can get it.

Juniper looks up from her meat and salad a someone else sits down. She frowns slightly as she recognises the face from a moment ago. "Didn't you have those children in tow?" A faint grin replaces the frown as her eyes settle on the white knot that Evana is wearing. "Drawn nursery duty? My sympathy. I think. Presumably you've handed the little - handed them over to somebody responsible?"

Evana nods. "It's better than mucking, though." She makes a face at the memory. "The children are with one of the adult staff, yes. I think they're pretty smart *not* to leave them in sole care of candidates."

Juniper shrugs. "I suppose it aids their survival. The candidates' that is. If I remember rightly, I preferred mucking, when I was at that stage. Or just about anything else. Oh well, if you Impress, that one goes off your list."

Evana grins and nods, then adds "And mucking gets moved to the very front, if rumors are true. But I bet it's far more worth it when the mucking is for your own and not just in general."

"Well, there's that," Juniper grins. "And of course, you only have one to deal with rather than a whole stable. And if you don't clear it up immediately, you get to live with it - until I demonstrate the error of your ways in a way you won't forget."

Mock terror crosses Evana's features. "I'll be sure to make mucking my number one priority if I impress, then. And I guess child care will help with the aspects of dealing with baby dragons."

"You will," Juniper agrees. "Oh, you will. So," she continues, brushing a wisp of hair away from her eyes. "I'm Juniper: blue Xienith's, and surrogate parent to anything up to a hundred or so kids - half of them with wings. Not that we have that many at the moment, but it happens. Who are you?"

Evana says, "I'm Eva, from Unified, ma'am. Well met, and I hope Xieneth is well." Now that politeness is taken care of, Evana asks "How do you handle it when clutches overlap like Isaranth's and the one one the sands?"

"Well," Juniper replies, a rueful smile playing on her lips. "It gets busy. We've got some of the Ierne weyrlings at the moment, too, and they're at a different stage again." She continues eating for a few moments. "My sister's at the Crafthall. Are you an apprentice, when you're not being a candidate?"

Evana shakes her head at the question. "I keep thinking I should apprentice, but I just can't find a craft that seems to fit. When I'm not standing I'm a laundress there. What's your sister's name? The Hall is big, but I might know her."

"Illana. She's a harper apprentice - just about ready to walk the tables now, in fact." Juniper shakes her head slightly, apparently bemused by that thought. "Seems no time at all that she was a toddler. But don't tell her I said so."

Evana giggles. "I don't think I've run into her, or rather, I don't know her by name. I suppose if I don't impress I can try to find her." With an impish grin, she says "And tell her all about what you said."

Juniper lets out a theatrical sigh. "She'd just say I must be getting old. To which I tell her - frequently - that it was bringing up her that did it. Funny how it all comes back to children again, isn't it? Do you have brothers and sisters?"

Evana shakes her head. "Foster-sibs, but none of my own. The Healers say I was lucky to be born the way I am because of my parents." She does a full-stop at that, then asks "How much younger is she than you?"

"There are fifteen turns between us," Juniper replies, after a half-second's thought. "She's my half-sister, really - there were quite a tribe of us, back then. But I started looking after her when she was small, and brought her with me when we came forward."

Evana perks at this. "Oh, you were one of those? What was it like back then? Do you like it here now? Did you impress then or now?"

Juniper laughs. "Yes, I was 'one of those'; it was... much like this, except it was the end of a Pass not the beginning, and the crafts have discovered a few things - and there were more people; yes; and then. Any more questions?"

Evana ponders as she matches the answers to her questions. Her next one is wistful. "What was it like before Nemar's?"

Juniper raises her eyebrows. "Back in my time - the oldtime - you mean? I think you'd notice that there were more older people. You'd probably think we were a bit better off, even now, though really, there's not that much difference any more. And people were looking forward to the Interval, and life without Thread, and making plans. It was quite a positive time - though, some of the riders were starting to find it rather dull." She starts to spear some meat with her fork, then pauses with a grin. "And we didn't have mangoes growing out of our ears at the Weyr. That was a change I could have done without; I had to plant my own trees to get any redfruit."

Juniper raises her eyebrows. "Back in my time - the oldtime - you mean? I think you'd notice that there were more older people. You'd probably think we were a bit better off, even now, though really, there's not that much difference any more. And people were looking forward to the Interval, and life without Thread, and making plans. It was quite a positive time - though, some of the riders were starting to find it rather dull." She starts to spear some meat with her fork, then pauses with a grin. "And we didn't have mangoes growing out of our ears at the Weyr. That was a change I could have done without; I had to plant my own trees to get any redfruit."

Evana mmmmmms and nods. "It's sort of strange thinking of what it might have been like before Nemar's, since I was born after it happened." She, too, begins paying attention to her food, and her tepid klah. "And it's hard to imagine living in the north, where you can get apples all the time. I really like when we get those from Nabol. Is some of the redfruit we get at the Weyr yours?"

Juniper manages to eat while Evana is talking, but then continues, "Oh, I've only got the ones in my garden. I don't supply the Weyr, only my family and a few friends. Besides, I don't get so many now - I lost a couple of trees in the hurricane. And I don't know what it was like before Nemar's. In this time, I mean. We came forward because of it, when there weren't going to be enough riders to fight Thread."

Evana takes her turn eating as she listens, washing it down with her drink. When she's done, she asks "Are you happy you came forward now?"

Juniper freezes for a moment, then answers, "Oh, yes. It was the right thing to do. Just as well, really - there's no going back, after all." She continues to eat in silence.

Evana nods, matching the silence for now; chewing thoughtfully.

Juniper lets the silence drag on until she's most of the way though her meal, then enquires, "So. How are you finding it at the Weyr? I expect it's a bit different from living at the Hall. Lana says so, anyway."

Evana has finished her food and gotten some pastries for dessert, as well as a warm-up on her klah. When Juni asks, she doesn't even take any time to think. "I like it here. Even with chores and stuff, it's neat to get to know people and dragons. And since I stood for the last two clutches, there are a lot of friends, especially the others who didn't impress either."

One of those looks of recognition crosses Juniper's face. "Aaah. Thought I'd seen you somewhere." She's just about finished her dinner now, and polishes off the last bits of salad. "Well, I'd better be getting back. Good luck with the children." She gets to her feet and makes her way out of the Weyrhall.

Evana says politely "Good afternoon, ma'am. Thank you."

SC: After the Bombs Drop

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:19:30 GMT

Who: Brenka, Evana, S'am, Sana
What: Discussion about S'am's promotion and candidate pranks.
Where: White Sands Beach, Southern Weyr
When: Day 1 of month 9 in Turn 16

[Note: This is the third of three logs, and occurs consecutively to the other two.]

White Sands Beach
Fine sand encircles the shore of the lake with only the occasional palm tree to provide shade and break up the blinding whiteness. The lake sparkles with refracted light, the water dancing from the waterfall's plummet to the river far below. As a result mellow waves lap against the shoreline, a smoothing of the sand's natural formations the only hint of where the tidemark lies. As the day progresses, the grains of sand retain the heat from Rukbat's rays, making the beach difficult to walk upon. It is then that the thick green foliage separating the beach from the meadow's edge becomes a favorite, the shade a welcome change.

The water shines back bright reflection on this warm spring afternoon, with a clear arch of blue sky peeking out from a bank of clouds overhead.

Brenka gives Sana a /look/. "Sana, remember who you are talking to. Me? In a /tree/?" Snort. "I have enough of heights with my cottage. Have you seen it? It's twenty feet off the ground. Thanks to S'am, though, at least the floor is sturdy." She flashes a winning smile towards the other brownrider. "Oh, but I do have my fingers crossed that this Hatching runs smoothly."

"And quickly." mutters S'am. "Don't know why, but I'ld swear our candidancy didn't last this long. Then again, I'm looking at it through a vastly differant perspective I guess." He shrugs, then chuckles to Sana, hugging Brenka gently at her mention of the treehouse. "You have to admit, that you aren't nearly as paranoied over the height as ya used to be." S'am's brow lifts to Bren before he smiles back to Sana. "I've not seen yours though. Didn't know you got a treehouse as well. i'm over looking out at the ocean. Awesome view."

Evana heads in from the Weyrhall, carrying a tray with decanters of wine, water, and fruit juice, plus glasses. She says cheerfully "I got the drinks; someone else can get food!"

Sana shakes her head, "I didn't get a tree house, unfortuneately. Got a cottage, with a garden, surrounded by trees. The crawlies and such get bad. But, do you remember that tree by the meadow, that I was always climbing during out candidacy? I added a few things, and, basically, claimed it as mine." She shrugs, "No one cares. Kiroth has a wallow at the bottem, and Medatch has a mini-wallow type thing I attached to a branch higher up, basically. Mentioning the garden, though..." She pulls out a pouch, "With it being deserted, and then that hurricane, and all, the garden's mostly shot, but, there were some strawberries. Want some?"

"Lucky," decides Brenka of Sana's cottage. "I'd much prefer crawlies to a house so high in the air I could break my neck down the steps." But she doesn't pout for long, eyeing those strawberries. "I'll take one," and she leans over S'am to pluck one from the pouch. "S'going plenty fast," she tells S'am again, about the up-coming Hatching. "Ah.. Evana..." and those drinks are eyed suspiciously. "Whatcha got?"

Evana finds a convenient stump and sets the tray on it. "Water, wine, and fruit juice." She adds apologetically "I didn't bring klah because there was no room for milk and sugar, and even if I'm all grown up now, klah is icky without them."

S'am grins and waits til Brenka reaches across for a strawberry, gives her side a poke. With a chuckle, he nods agreeable to Sana, hand going for a berry. "Thanks Sana." Canting his head a bit "I thought that tree was used alot by the lizards. They used to gobble up all the crawlies." With an uncertain shrug, his gaze drifts towards Evana. Sending the candidate a wave. "Hi again Evana." The brownrider chuckles at Evana's opinion of klah.

Sana shakes her head, "I'd rather be up in the air, easier to see things from up there." She shrugs, "I like hights." She then shakes her head again, "Different tree, S'am. The only lizard that uses mine, even before I claimed it, is Medatch. And there aren't really many crawlies there, less than normal, actually." She nods at Evana, taking a glass of fruit juice, "Never been much of one for Klah, myself. Wine, either, for that matter."

"What is there to see, anyways?" asks Brenka, being a bit difficult. S'am gets a squeak and a brief scowl for the poke, and she settles back into her spot, strawberry in hand. "I'll... take the wine," decides Brenka, looking untrustingly at the water and juice. "Be careful with that. Sana and I are still recovering from the last candidate prank. I think I took care of whatever was left, though." She hopes.

Evana goes pale. "Candidate prank? Are they sharding crazy, after what happened two clutches ago?" She pours herself some juice and takes a tentative sip. "It seems to be all right. What did they do to it? I wish I wasn't a candidate so I could go beat them up for getting us all in trouble." Evana is not dissembling; she is *angry*. And she does not have a poker face.

S'am eats the strawberry as he listens to the conversation. "Hopefully ya did. If not, I'm sure we'll find out soon." He chuckles at the glasses and looks between Sana and Evana. "I feel sorry for any candidates stupid enough to sneak onto the sands with Merilyth." Evana's comments are noted with a slight twitch of his brow.

Sana nods, "Yup, a candidate prank. Although, this one was a lot less major than /that/ one. Although, if someone tried what those /dimglows/ tried two clutches ago, with the way Merilyth is acting now, well, the results wouldn't be pretty. Less pretty even than they were, I mean." She cautiously takes an impossibly small sip of her drink, before taking a more substantial one, "Mine's safe."

"I assure you," says Brenka, "That the pair involved have been suitably punished. And if that was not enough to deter them, well.. perhaps I should have a chat with Lacey about more extreme punishments. I don't want anything unfortunate happening this Candidacy." Brenka finally takes a bite out of her strawberry, avoiding the greens on top. "And yes. I feel if anyone was foolish enough to try sneaking onto the sands, getting kicked out is the least of their worries. Merilyth might kill them," and Brenka is not at all joking. She slips out of S'am's grasp to fetch herself a glass of wine.

Evana nods. "She nearly killed us when she woke up the other day during egg touching. Goldrider Naltia had to distract her while we ran. I can't imagine what she'd do if the goldrider wasn't there." She takes a more confident sip of her drinki now. "So only they got punished? Not all of us?"

S'am winces at the reminder of what happen during the touching and nods. "I was just telling Brenka and Sana about that." As Brenka gets a glass, "Will ya get me one too please?" Peering back to the group "I think the Weyrwoman is already taking care of any problems that may come up." With a shrug, he leaves it at that.

Sana shudders a bit at the mention of the punishment. Sure, they deserved it, even so... She nods at Evana, "Fortunately, that may keep anyone from sneaking onto the sands- if Merilyth wakes up before Naltia..." Well, she needn't say it, really.

When all else fails, change the subject. Evana asks "Have you told them yet, S'am? About Weyrleader K'jan? And not the bit about not calling him sir, either." she teases.

"Sure." Brenka rolls her eyes playfully, but pours another glass of wine. She brings both over, hands one to S'am, and sits down once again. "No, I wouldn't punish all of you. Just the two involved. This was not a life-threatening stunt, just something stupid." She frowns at Evana. "What about K'jan? The knot? I know about that," but S'am is given another little look. "Who called someone Sir?"

S'am smirks at Evana's question and nods "Aye, they know. And well, he had that 'sir' coming." Chuckling and accepting the glass, he takes a drink before looking around once more.

Evana bounces a bit, her anger completely dissipated by now. "You and Caqzynth are really doing well for yourselves. It's hard to believe I knew you before you met him."

Sana nods, and gets up, brushing off sand, "I really should get going. Sorry." With that, whe leaves, putting her now empty glass back on Evana's tray, and heading up, away from the beach.

Evana picks up the tray and holds it out for other empty glasses. "I should get these back to the Weyrhall before the Headwoman discovers I took them. Congratulations again, S'am!"

SC: Fallout

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:12:24 GMT

Who: Amariss, Brenka, Sana, Sheeza, Veyanne
What: Two candidates spike some water. And get caught.
Where: Weyrhall, Southern Weyr
When: Day 1 of month 9 in Turn 16

[Note: This is part two of three, and is happening concurrently with the first.]

Weyrhall
Adobe walls rise from granite tiles towards the crossbeams that support the impressively high ceiling, which has been painted: azure skies and wispy clouds dominating the western side, ebony pinpricked with silver the eastern. Broad windows with deep sills face the courtyard: each decorated with stained glass. It's dark out on this spring evening, and only the faint light of stars gleams through the window.

On the south wall a 'tapestry' and two 'paintings' have been hung to add color to the walls and below these a long serving 'table' is placed near the kitchen entrance, laden with food and drink. Frequently replenished, the table is often a hive of activity as people gather to read the 'menu' posted on the adjacent wall. Throughout the rest of the hall trestle tables have been placed in parallel. Behind some are benches and yet others have chairs, padded with green cushions. In the remaining corner a heavy 'loom' sits, a task threaded and in progress when time allows.

Sana simply finishes her fruit, gulping a few extra times, then sitting there, leaning back, her mouth still wide open.

Amariss holds her hand over her mouth and attempts to stop giggling but she can't and her eyes dance with laughter still and are tearing up a bit as her shoulders silently shake. Sheeza is not helping. She keeps whispering a running dialog of what the riders must be thinking. "Boy I'm /hot/ stuff now...Woo look at me, /hot/ lips."

A few minutes later, and Brenka comes stalking out of the Kitchen, looking furious. She's got half a loaf of bread in one hand, and is furiously chewing on a large chunk of it. When she reaches the table, she wordlessly hands over the bread to Sana, and turns on the Candidates. "Sheeza! Amariss! Here. *NOW*." Oo. She's mad.

Veyanne arrives on that note and freezes. She looks around the Weyrhall quickly and makes to retreat.

Sana gets up, accepting the bread, and attempts to sneak behind the two candidates- luckily, she only took a small sip, and, between the bread andfruit, managed to cool it down already. She leans over the two, adding her own comment, "Boy, are those two candidates going to be in /HOT/ water." right before Brenka calls the two candidates over. She follows them, walking over to stand next to Brenka, arms crossed, her nearly abnormal hight painfully obvious.

Brenka's enraged voice definitely cures Amariss of her giggles in a hurry. She had /no/ idea the woman would be /this/ mad. Looking to Sheeza she saw that the other candidate still grinned. She gulped and headed towards the table with head down and cheeks now flushed. Sheeza proudly walks beside her, the obvious mastermind. Looking over her shoulder and then up she gulps again when Sana's 'not so happy' face glares down. After a quick glance her gaze rests upon her boots.

Enraged. Definitely. Brenka's arms are crossed, and her foot is tapping, as she waits for the pair to arrive. Amariss is looked at first, and then Sheeza. The latter is definitely scowled at more darkly for that little strut. "Pepper. In water? Not the most original of pranks, but a prank it was. On me!" Um. and Sana. yeah. "Despite that, really. Pepper?" Sigh.

Curiosity, or perhaps morbid fascination, causes Veyanne to pause at the door. Unable to tear herself away, she watches as the drama unfolds, murmuring to herself "... and don't drink the water, check."

Sana shakes her head, "Seriously, girls, you should have been a bit more creative. Not to mention discreet. You know, as in gotten some porr inocent /other/ candidate to bring the stuff out, hidden somewhere where the hall /couldn't/ of seen your giggling, made sure you couldn't have been traced, that sort of thing." She shakes her head, "And, again, you should have been more creative. But..." She turns to Brenka, "It's really her you have to worry about."

Sheeza nods still looking proud. "Yup. Pepper. Pretty clever don't you think? It was Amariss's doing. She's the smart one. I only carried out the trays so...You /could/ say I had nothing to do with it." She lied as she points to the one she origionally convinced to do the prank. "She's the real mastermind." Amariss's head snaps up and her mouth forms the perfect O at what her /supposed/ friend has just said. Her own temper slowly rising because of it. But she says nothing. Instead she looks regretfully up at Brenka and manages to say with a trembling voice, "I did put pepper in the drinks ma'am. I'm sorry." Back to her boots, her frightened gaze returns.

Brenka hisses, "No pointers!" at Sana, flashing an angry look towards the bluerider. And then back on the candidates. Sheeza's speech gets a flip of Brenka's hand. "Not interested," she tells them flatly. "Whether it was your idea, or just went along with it. You are both involved. I have to ask you this... What would you have done if your intended victim had been allergic to pepper?" Frown. "I'd like you to think on that, while you each," and here Brenka turns, walks back to her table, and selects two glasses from it. "Have a chance," and she hands each a glass, "To experience your own prank. Half the glass, each. And then we'll talk about punishments."

Sana ducks her head, a sheepish grin spreading across her face, "Sorry." She winces at the punishment, but stays quiet- Brenka's decision. However, she does sneak off quickly, returning with something hidden behind her back. Somethings, maybe. She places them on the table behind her, where the candidates can't see them, crosses her arms again, and says, "Seeing as you obviously didn't think of it yourselves, don'texpect us to believe it if you say you're alergic to pepper."

Amariss eyes grow wide as saucers and she visibly gulps. Sheeza on the other hand defiantly frowns but admits defeat and snatches the glass out of Brenka's hand with anger and not only drinks half a glass but the whole thing in one sitting. Eyes watering terribly and cheeks growing flushed. When she is finished she shoves the glass towards Brenka again and does her best to look proud as she gasps and coughs. Amariss on the other hand, timidly takes hold of the glass she is given and looks down into it. Her tears begin to fall. Looking up helplessly to Brenka for a moment she looks down again and sips the drink. Fire burning her mouth and throat. Her shoulders begin to shake with silent sobs and she gulps down some more, stopping to breath again. Another long, painful gulping session and she has half a glass finished. She holds out the glass for Brenka to take. She cries quietly and pants hardly being able to do both.

Veyanne cautiously steps into the Weyrhall to let a few people through, then returns to watching the candidates and the riders, her eyes wide and her expression somewhat spooked.

Brenka silently takes back both glasses. There might be the slightest bit of pitty for Amariss, but Sheeza is just glowered at. After half a minute, she bobs her head towards the kitchen. "Go. Fix your mouths so you can both focus on what I have to say next. Sana... what did you get?" Brenka drops her 'Coordinator' pose and peeks curiously towards the bluerider. The glasses are soon deposited back onto the table, and she waits for the pair of candiates to return.

Sana holds out the stuff she'd brought, taking a piece of pread, a rather large piece, ripping it in two pieces. She offers the obviously larger piece to Amariss, telling Sheeza, "You obviously aren't affected as much, so you need less." She also offers them small glasses of milk- again, Sheeza'a much less full then Amariss's.

Sheeza snatches the bread and milk and chews noisily and slurps her milk down hurriedly. Amariss somehow manages a soft, "Thankyou." As she takes the more generous portions of bread and milk and alternately drinks and eats until her mouth is cool enough to breath. Turning back to Brenka for the remainder of the punishment she knows is coming she says, as she continues to hold the empty cup and remaining bread, "I'm ready now ma'am." Tears still govern her eyes but she pays attention to what Brenka would say.

Veyanne approaches tentatively. "Just for the sake of fairness, is there anything you didn't poison? I was supposed to meet the Headwoman, and I don't want to be crying when she finds me, but I *am* thirsty."

Sheeza is definitely not on Brenka's good list. The other candidate gets the full brunt of Brenka's glare, while Amariss is given just a little. Small favors. "It is neither smart, nor productive, to put pepper in drinks. It's wasteful of the Weyr's resources. Perhaps you do not understand how important such things are? And, if you are idle enough to come up with such childish things, something must be done. I want a hide from each of you. Lines. As many times as you can fit - and if I deem the print not small enough, you will re-do it. It will say simply: 'The Weyr's resources are more important than my foolish games.' And, from now until... oh, let us say a month? I want each of you helping with the Headwoman's staff as they inventory, sort and put away the tithes. All of them. I should hope this instills a healthy appreciation for the hard work and labor that goes into our supplies."

Sheeza snorts a little but accepts her punishment without words. Instead her cheeks grow red and her eyes finally drop down. She is not so prideful now. Amariss nods and says, "Yes ma'am. I'm sorry. It will not happen again." She bows her head in a sad show of respect and wonders, "Shall I start on the hide now ma'am?" She asks softly.

Sana nods, agreeing with Brenka, as she herself glares at Sheeza. She smiles, just a little, her features not softening any, as Sheeza admits defeat. She raises an eyebrow as Brenka motes out the punishment, saying, with no sarcasm in her tone, "That's all?"

"Yes, now," says Brenka, sending the pair off with a last flick of her hand. That done, she goes back to panting, and seeks out a bit more bread. "Yes, all," she tells Sana in-between mouthfulls of bread. "It wasn't life threatening. I figured it would be enough. I'm wondering, now, if both of them can write." But she shrugs it off.

Veyanne slips over to the table and gets herself some fruit, still listening to the riders. Her expression is grave, not at all gloating or enjoying the fact that others were punished. She does watch the areas Lacey is more likely to enter from, though.

Sana nods, "True." She grins, "Oh, I hope that Sheeza can't. Can you immagine her trying to explain that she needs /help/ learning how to write so that she could write lines? And sorry about the pointers." She winces, "They did deserve it, but I can't help feeling a bit sympathetic for... well, for Amariss, at least. She wouldn't have done it on her own violation, I'm pretty sure.

Brenka spares a look for Veyanne, mildly amused. "Oh, I am sure she wouldn't've," agrees Brenka of Amariss, and the brownrider frowns. "But, the fact is, she still did. I would have expected better of her, really. I do not feel bad about assigning her the punishment. If anything, perhaps it will help her say no in the future. Ridiculous. Pepper in water." She spares another glare for the acursed drinks before handing the trays off to a drudge. "Zavroth needs me," she says suddenly, looking puzzled. "Apparently, something has happened to S'am, and he wants to know what..." Dragons.

SC: S'am Gets Tapped, Big Time

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:03:57 GMT

Who: Evana, K'jan, S'am, T'lar
What: S'am finds himself in bigger trouble than he ever imagined.
Where: White Sands Beach, Southern Weyr
When: Day 1 of month 9 in Turn 16

[Note: This is the first of three logs which happen simultaneously and consecutively]

White Sands Beach
Fine sand encircles the shore of the lake with only the occasional palm tree to provide shade and break up the blinding whiteness. The lake sparkles with refracted light, the water dancing from the waterfall's plummet to the river far below. As a result mellow waves lap against the shoreline, a smoothing of the sand's natural formations the only hint of where the tidemark lies. As the day progresses, the grains of sand retain the heat from Rukbat's rays, making the beach difficult to walk upon. It is then that the thick green foliage separating the beach from the meadow's edge becomes a favorite, the shade a welcome change.

Low on the horizon, Belior's crescent rises in the warm spring skies as evening falls. A faint trace of stars seems to twine above the Daughters as if forming a maiden's crown of flowers. Other stars glimmer faintly, reflecting light off the water, and brightening their surroundings.

S'am crouches down, taking a knee so to speak and works the bristles over Cazynth's hide. Frowning a little "Well, I'll be glad when the eggs start moving myself. Sooner I don't have to get griped at for every little word, i'll be happy." S'am smirks over that and glances towards the bronze riders with a bit of a wary look. "Hmm. Oh, hmm. Hope you aren't working on a strange idea of your own.. Or I may have to call you sir." His gaze drifts between the two.

"I'd say, rather to wash your hands /after/ touching Naltia, T'lar. She's somewhat toxic at the moment, like the water of Ierne." He says, with a smirk, but his gaze remains on S'am - that so cannot be good. "And actually, I think either or would be in order, at that - the congratulations or commiseration, that is. I believe I've found my new Weyrsecond. Although I'm afraid it will cut into your fishing time, S'am." is said with a slight smirk. "But I am going to ask this time, rather than order like I did with Z'vin. That didn't work out well, even if he did take to the job like fish to water. I'd rather have your cooperation. I just don't have the energy for an argument." A brow quirks "So, how 'bout it? SAve the Weyr from my bad mood and take the position? I'm sure you'll grow right into it."

T'lar looks over at S'am and then back at K'jan, "he says yes. He will be glad to take time away from fishing to do this for you." He turns back to S'am, "besides, look at the bright side of it, It will give you an excuse to NOT be around a certain Goldrider because you don't have as much free time any more because you now have more responsibilities!"

Evana fairly bounces. "Congratulations, S'am!" Then she looks confused as a goldrider is disparaged repeatedly. Without meaning to, she says aloud "Is she that bad?"

S'am narrows his gaze at one then the other and then glances down to scrub vigorously at a spot on Cazynth's hide, the brown's tail swishing lazily over the sand. "I'm not really sure I'm at all qualified to do much else than fish and take care of Cazynth. Sir." He sighs and shakes his head with a shrug. "How about temperaily til ya find someone better?" S'am flashes a little nod and hesitant grin towards the other bronze, brow lifting nervously.

K'jan glances over to T'lar, amused "Amazing, how that isn't what it sounded like he said." He noted wryly, before Evan's sudden query brings her arrival to his attention. He shakes his head at her, "No, candidate, she's not that bad. No goldrider really is. But Naltia's having some issues controlling her lifemate's emotions at the moment, as well as her own because of it. I'm sure she'll make a fine weyrwoman one day, when she gains the adequate control. My apologies if you felt we were being unfair to her, or demeaning her position. She's an asset to the Weyr in many ways." So long as she doesn't open her mouth seems to be implied, however, in the moment of silence that follows. His glance then returns to S'am "No. No temporary about it. You either decide to take on the challenge, or I'll find someone else. No half measures here. And don't consider yourself less than others. You're qualified for the job, if you'll give yourself enough credit for it. What's Cazynth think?" He ignores the 'sir,' for the moment.

T'lar doesn't say anything but just watches S'am and waiting for his answer. A grin does cross his face, however, when he overhears Py talking to Cazynth.

S'am wiggles his fingers at Evana, a bit of a grin managed before he nods looks back to K'jan. Eyeing the Weyrleader a moment, he lets out a slow breath. "Alright. I'll try to do the job well. Even if I've no idea what it is yet." Reaches down to Cazynth, scratching an itchy spot. After a few long seconds, S'am grins, "Cazynth says he still needs to make Merilyth's kills. But doesn't see the problem." A little nod given to T'lar.

"Well, that's the whole point. This way, I can train you to be just the Weyrsecond I need, see?" K'jan says, with a firm nod. "And good. I'm glad. I'd hate to have had to order you into it." He grins then, his mood obviously /very/ good now. A glance is given to T'lar "My aunt is right. You do catch more vtols with sweet than sour. I'll have to remember that." is added. "You'll start tomorrow morning - just as soon as Cazynth has given Merilyth her breakfast, hmmm?"

Evana claps both hands over her mouth as she realizes what she just said, then nods sheepishly at K'jan's words. She has to uncover her mouth to wave to S'am, and when she does so she also adds a emphatic "Yes, sir." She glances at T'lar curiously, then beams over to S'am again.

T'lar nods. "that is so true Weyrleader and sometimes subterfuge works too, I found out." He turns to Evana, "Where are my Manners, I'm T'lar just transfered here from Ierne." He turns and points out to the ocean, "and that bronze island out there is the dragon that owns me, Pyrzanth." He turns to S'am, "Congratz on your promotion and I'm sure you will do well.!"

S'am grins over to T'lar. "Thanks." He steps down to Cazynth's leg, dipping the brush into the bucket. "But I will still have to find time to get 'some' fishing in." He nod determinedly over that, eyeing both bronze riders. "Don't want my seat down at the docks to be left out." S'am laughs over that and nods to the candidate. "Thanks Evana. Glad to see you around he weyr again." Moving to finish Cazynth's back, the brush works abruptly across the hide "How bout it K'jan. Manage to find more time for fishing?"

K'jan sends Evana a mock-scowl "Don't call me 'sir', candidate. And you don't have to be embarassed by blurting things like that out, you know. LIkely we shouldn't have been discussing Naltia so negatively. I was just still smarting from my confrontation with her a few days ago, is all." He shrugs, then nods to T'lar. "I'm glad you agree. Maybe you'll consider instructing S'am sometimes, when I'm unable to?" is suggested "Since you have the experience, if not the inclination to take over the job yourself." He chuckles at S'am's comment then "Oh, don't worry. YOu and I will both find time for fishing. Myself more so, if I have a Weyrsecond to help bear the brunt of things." He finishes up one side of Nezanth and starts on the other.

Evana nods again to K'jan, relaxing a little, then nodding to T'lar. "I thought I recognized the both of you -- I saw you around when I stood for Nenyaeth's clutch. Welcome to Southern!" She is bouncy as she looks back at S'am. "I'm glad to be back. I wasn't even sure they'd let me see the hatching when I got grounded at the Hall."

K'jan laughs "I meant help in lessons with Weyrseconding, T'lar, not fishing. I don't think S'am needs lessons in that, although I'd be more than happy to assist you in your own persuance of that hobby. It's my favorite thing, other than gardening, when I can get away from duty." His glance goes to Evana, amused. "You didn't think you'd make the hatching, and now you're standing for it? Well, I suppose they couldn't ground you from that, at any rate. Glad to have you. I remember you as well, vaguely. K'jan, by the way, works much better than sir. That's my name. Well met, Evana, and congratulations on your search?"

T'lar laughs, "No, K'jan, I didn't make myself clear. I"m the one that needs lessons in Fishing and I'll be glad to help out with lessons in WeyrSeconding!" He turns to Evana, "grounded? Does one dare to inquire as to what happened?"

S'am grins as he goes over Cazynth's leg and nods to Evana. "Hopefully she's in a better mood now." With a pat to the brown's side, he starts on at the base of the tail. Seems S'am is eager to get all the attention from himself "I think there was some misunderstanding in the gallery the other day." Glancing to T'lar, the brownrider grins. "Any advice would be more than welcome. Especially when having to speak to goldriders. No matter what I saw, I end up with one or more queenrider scowling at me."

Evana nods along with what S'am said. "I knew some people were being mean to a candidate, but I didn't tell anyone. When the Weyrwoman found out, she was angry, so she put me on latrine duty and told the Headwoman at the Hall. I wish I'd known I *could* tell someone since I wasn't a Weyr resident." After that small complaint she resumes her narrative. "Anyway, the Headwoman at the Hall didn't ask what I'd done, but she thought I must've made trouble, so she said I wasn't to visit indefinitely."

"Being mean to a candidate? Mean as in making them do chores, making sure they respect rank or just beating them up?" K'jan wonders idly as he scrubs, then grins at T'lar. "Oh, fishing I can definitely help with, have no doubt. Unless you want to go out on a boat. Then you'll have to take S'am or my uncle Karel. I get seasick. Strictly fishing from land for me."

T'lar makes a face, "Dragons are made for crossing bodies of water, not boats. I've never really been sick in a boat, but I feel much better with a good solid dragon under me or else standing on the dock or the ground!" He nods at Evana, "Well, I too am glad that you are here and have a chance to stand for the clutch. It is very important for the hatchlings to have a lot of candidates when they hatch!"

Evana says, "The girls being mean were some laundresses who didn't get searched, so they kept knocking her clean laundry down. And four of them beat her up at once. I wanted to beat them up since I wasn't a candidate and couldn't get in trouble, but she said no, she wanted to handle it herself. I think the Weyrwoman took care of them after she found out.""

S'am frowns to Evana "It was Amariss wasn't it? She was sporting a few bruises from a couple other candidates. I don't know which ones." S'am gives an uncertain shrug to K'jan and reaches down to hurry the brush over the rest of Cazynth's hide "There. Now ya can go if you want." The brown rumbles affectionately before lumbering up and stretching his wings. With a parting bugle to the other dragons, Caz takes to the air on his way back to tend Merilyth's whims. "Silly beast."S'am smirks a bit he starts storing his oiling supplies.

K'jan shakes his head "Candidates may have low rank, but you can't just go beating on them - well, I can if they call me sir enough times." He gives Evana grin to show he's kidding, though. "Next time, make sure you tell. Got to nip that sort of behavior in the bud." A glance is given to S'am. "CAndidates were beating on others? I trust they've been removed from the WEyr and any chance at a dragon." He sighs, glancing at T'lar "Did you have that sort of problem over at Ierne?"

T'lar says, "once in a while we did have a bit of trouble with Candidates fighting, but I don't think we ever had trouble with several candidates ganging up on another one and just beathing them up for fun. I do remember once incident of two candidates that were fighting, but rather than kick them out right away we decided to put them on extra shifts of breaking and sacking firestone in addition to their regular Candidate chores. They were too tired to fight after that. They both impressed and turned out to be a couple of our better riders."

S'am litens to T'lar and nods thoughtfully. "We didn't really have any fights during my candidancy. More then one set of frayed tempers, all being so close in the barracks. But it never came to blows over."

Evana pipes up "I bet if those four candidates hadn't got kicked out, they would have gotten beaten up!"

K'jan nods to T'lar "A sound way of dealing with things. I don't think we've sent anyone home since Tarianel had those four candidates sent home for sneaking on tot he sands. She doesn't tolerate things like that easily. Isaranth was about to have herself a candidate snack as it was." He smiles at Evana and S'am. "I'd rather no one got beaten up. Discipline is my responsiblity at this WEyr, not the laundresses, or the other candidates."

T'lar shakes his head, "they actually snuck ONTO to the sands while Isaranth was there? Even the people in my class didn't do anything quite /that/ dumb, though we did pull off a few things that weren't exactly smart to do." He pauses and looks over at Evana, "but perhaps those stories are best left for a different time and place."

S'am nods agreeably bout the prior candidates. "Sad to say they were in my own candidate class." He sighs a litle over that and steps into his sandals, pausing momentarily and looking slightly distant. Looking around the group he cants his head and shrugs. "I just hope Merilyth doesn't make all the candidates refuse to go near the eggs. >>

Evana nods. "They did! And boy did we pay for it." She seems to take the hint, though, not expanding on it any. "I can't beat anyone up anyway, now that I'm a candidate. I think I'd rather face an angry Isaranth than the Headwoman if I get into trouble at the Weyr again -- especially getting sent home."

"When the time comes, S'am, you can be sure Tarianel will have Isaranth control Merilyth if necessary. We can't have eggs hatching without candidates to impress the weyrlings that come out of them, after all." K'jan says, then grimaces at Evana's comment "Some of you paid for it more than you had to - talk about taking things literally." He says. "I hope you learned from that last candidacy and won't be working yourself to the bone again, hmm?" he says, obviously now realizing where he knows Evana from. "No more infirmary trips because you don't take proper care of yourself and blame it on the poor, beleagured Weyrleader." HE sends her a teasing smile, though it fades as he added to T'lar "Not only went on the sands while Isaranth was there, but almost caused Tarianel to lose the babe she was carrying. As it was, she was carrying twins and we lost one." He shrugs. "I was more concerned with her health, however. She had to go on bedrest, which did /not/ help the Weyr's collective nerves any. She's not a good patient." He finishes up, slapping Nezanth's wet hide to send him in to rinse off. "There you go, you big brute. After all that work, though, I'm starving. I'll oil you after you've dried, shall I?" he says, then flicks a glance to everyone as he gathers his cleaning instruments. "I'm for food, after I've cleaned up a bit. Maybe I'll see you all later. T'lar, it's good to have you here. Evana, keep your nose clean and your body hydrated. S'am, I'll see you tomorrow, bright and early."

T'lar says, "It's good to be here, K'jan, thanks for making us feel welcome. I'll probably see you later during Mealtime."

S'am waves to the Weyrleader "Take it easy K'jan. See you early in the morning." He takes his own bucket in hand, slapping the broon handle over his shoulder. "Don't know bout the rest of ya, but I need a drink." Casting a nod to everyone. "I'll see you all later."