Logs:Considerations for Crafting Riders
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| RL Date: 18 December, 2015 |
| Who: J'sae, P'tras |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: J'sae and P'tras get to know each other during a wing luncheon. |
| Where: Riders' Lounge, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 1, Month 8, Turn 39 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Marnie/Mentions |
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>---< Riders' Lounge, High Reaches Weyr(#1803RJ) >---------------------------<
About as high up the bowl wall as it is possible to get before hitting
clear sky, right up against the rim, this ledge is tiny, narrow and not
terribly inviting. Though angled towards the sun, there's not enough room
to properly stretch out, and that same angle ensures it receives the worst
of bad weather, with no shelter whatsoever. From above, there's not even
an obvious passage inside, as if this particular ledge is, in the end,
nothing more than a natural outcropping. It's only from atop the ledge
itself that the cleverly concealed entrance becomes clear, angled into the
stone as it is.
Inside, there's a cavernous space, more than making up for the stinginess
of the ledge. There's one large main room, and a much smaller back room
that could probably be used as a bedroom - if this weyr were in
traditional usage. Instead, the main cavern is largely filled with a
collection of mismatched tables and chairs. Towards the back, there's a
bar made out of old, recycled wood, manned during peak hours; there's
plenty of alcohol on display behind it, though most of it tends towards
the cheaper end of the range. Old, but still impressive, hangings cover
the walls, all depicting scenes of High Reaches in glory. The back room
has been turned into a storage area, with several cases of whisky and a
variety of other spirits ready and waiting.
A strange pipe contraption comes through the ceiling and towards the stone
floor, where a large bucket sits beneath it. A lever turns on water from
the pipe: fresh rain or snow, ready for drinking.
+views available
-----------------------------< Active Players >-----------------------------
J'sae M 25 6'2" wiry, brown hair, hazel eyes 5s
P'tras M 20 6'0 lean, curly brown hair, green eyes 0s Even special wings drill sometimes. It's after morning drills that several members of Tundra head to the Riders' Lounge to enjoy the labors of one of their number, a former baker, who's set out a lunch spread for the riders. What's better than free food and group bonding, right? J'sae's still the new kid in the wing, but the fact that he's not obnoxious has gone a long way to gaining him some friends among the more outgoing. Zajeth's loud presence is harder to ignore and there are still adjustments going on in draconic circles. Now, J'sae finishes fixing a sandwich for himself and collects a drink on his trip down the bar holding the offerings. P'tras and food are two things that go together very well. The group bonding is okay, too, but he's undoubtedly here mostly for the food. The greenrider is already working on a sandwich at a table near the bar, and he's watching it like he's already working out what he might make up for himself next. It's difficult to be social while one is stuffing their face, so it's fortunate that P'tras is sitting by himself for now. His gaze settles on the new bluerider while he watches people taking advantage of the spread. It's not polite to stare, sure, but new blood draws attention like that. J'sae doesn't mean to make P'tras' life markedly harder by taking the seat next to him and greeting with an easy smile and a, "Hey," but judging by the size of J'sae's sandwich, the bluerider would be understanding of P'tras' priorities. "Pip, right?" asks Jase who goes by Jase. "Tanner?" It's a lot to remember, really, all the new faces and names and crafts attached, so it's probably admirable that the Istan transplant remembers that much. The greenrider watches J'sae join him, but swallows the bite he's chewing on before he answers. "That's me." P'tras looks at the bluerider's sandwich, then back to the man's face, "Jase. Wood" He seems sure enough of it that it's not really a question. But it's easier for him to remember things about new people. He's had longer to know things about everyone else, after all. "Settling in good?" is followed by another mouthful of sandwich. "Don't worry, I'll let you get seconds first," is deadpan to answer the greenrider's mental calculations about his sandwich. The lack of denial must be confirmation that Pip has it right. It's after J'sae's first bite that he spares his mouth to answer, "So far so good. I hear I came at a good time of the turn so I can ease into winter when it comes. Are you from here?" The first of J'sae's comments makes P'tras look a little sheepish, but he adds a small smile and finishes off the rest of his sandwich. He doesn't immediately get up to get himself another, though, using the moment to take a drink and consider his newest wingmate. "Not originally, no. This isn't the worst time, but winter will still suck." He makes a face, clearly not a huge fan of the season. His gaze wanders back toward the bar and he makes a quick apology so he can get up and grab a second helping before he returns back to where he'd been sitting. "Someone did try to convince me it wouldn't," J'sae admits with a grin. "Where're you from originally? I mean, before Tanner." One thing about Tundra is that for most crafters, their training was conducted in similar fashion, at a Hall with classes, lectures and practicals; this sameness offers a level of similar experience that goes beyond the weyrlinghood training, beyond the experiences of having to oil dragons and check flight straps. It doesn't work for everyone in Tundra, but maybe it helps with the bonds of brotherhood being encouraged at this little luncheon. P'tras doesn't seem sure how he feels about anyone trying to convince anyone else that winter won't suck, but he doesn't make a point of complaining about it. That won't help anything. "My family has a beasthold near Igen." A place where the winters don't suck quite the same as they do here. P'tras rearranges some bits of his new sandwich, making sure it's less likely to fall apart while he eats it. "You came from Ista, right? How'd you end up here?" "Igen," J'sae repeats, "that's an interesting place. The wood there is--" scarce? "interesting," it's a lame description, but what more can one expect from a dedicated Woodcrafter. "Ista, yeah. It was my first posting. I asked for a transfer. Wanted to be part of this experiment." Tundra. A little gesture indicates the wing. "I was born in Southern though. And a lot of turns at WoodCraft in between." There's a fond grin for that. "Did you Stand? Traditionally, I mean. Accept a knot and all that?" "More or less," is kind of a weird answer for whether or not P'tras Stood traditionally. "I like this better than being with Tanner, I think. Officially, I mean. Could do without the drills, though." He's never hid the fact that he doesn't enjoy that part of being a dragonrider, and this probably won't be the last time he says as much. "Did you accept a knot? Sometimes wonder why other crafters end up with dragons if we're just gonna keep doing our crafts." It is weird and it prompts a curious, "More or less?" inquiry from the bluerider. J'sae works on his sandwich a bit as the younger man talks. "No knot for me," he must long ago have come to terms with the unusual circumstances of his getting of a dragon. "In what way?" It's asked and only after clarified with a brief look of chagrin, "--do you like this better. In what way?" "Well." P'tras considers it, takes a small bite of his sandwich, then pieces together a response, "They weren't really at Tanner on Search, but I got them to bring me here. I was lucky Riennath was there, I guess." He takes another bite, but answers instead of asking more questions once his mouth is free again, "More freedom, I guess. Miss the resources sometimes, and there's a lot more I'd like to learn, but I wasn't really happy at the Hall. Happier here." "So you hijacked a dragon?" J'sae says after a moment of assessment, expression amused, brows lifted only slightly in question. "Think it's luck? Sometimes I think Zajeth would've found me wherever I was, but probably not." There's fondness there. J'sae loves his craft, but he loves Zajeth just a little bit more. "Happiness is pretty important. In a way, it's good for a lot of us that there's this kind of option available. The things we love most combined. How long did you study at tanner for?" The fact that he doesn't answer the first question is almost certainly answer enough. "Lucky for me, I guess. I don't really think there's only one dragon for someone, or one rider for a dragon. If it wasn't me, she would've chosen someone else." So P'tras is lucky it was him and he didn't have to go back to the Hall. "Only five turns. I'm glad I can still practice, but it'd be nice sometimes to have that knot again, too." He could probably charge more for his work, for one. "I'm glad you were able to get in here," he adds with a genuine smile before he takes a bigger bite. "I guess every dragon is different really. Some might have only one someone, or some might be able to find more than one." That's food for thought. J'sae chews while he mulls it over. "Yeah, practice is good," he finally says, moving on from the other without any further illuminations. "I don't think I'd trade back to apprentice rules, though. Curfews. Drinking. Not that I don't think it's a good idea for kids who can barely find their hands in the dark, but- like you said- more freedom here. "I'm glad too. I was worried they mightn't. I mean, it's not like there aren't crafters who'd do this, and too many cooks in the kitchen and all that. I'm just excited to not have to do everything in my 'off hours' now. Zajeth's pleased about that too, thinks it'll convince me to go bar-hopping, or Weyr-hopping," or is that weyr-hopping? one of them. "Stir up the things that interest him about life. Which aren't wood, really." That makes him grin though. P'tras can laugh at that, at least. "I think I'd rather stab myself in the leg with an awl than be an apprentice again. But if I was gonna get a knot, I'd hope they'd give me a Journeyman one now." The greenrider works his way through almost the rest of his sandwich between talking and listening. "He likes you going bar-hopping? What is it that interests him about life?" It's not that he wasn't already interested in the bluerider, but this piques it all just a little bit more. "Ah, Pip, Pip, Pip," J'sae playfully chides with the affected air of someone much older and wiser (a master, no doubt), "Knots don't recognize age or talent, only knowledge of and dedication to one's art." P'tras must have had one of those masters at his craft, mustn't he? Jase is grinning afterward before taking another bite, chewing and swallowing quickly before he explains, "Zajeth likes me being social. He likes seeing people, in all their seasons and feelings. He especially likes it when I can provoke strong reactions, which-- well, isn't always the safest thing to do." J'sae does not look like a man who'd take a punch and stay standing. "Zajeth does as much with dragons, but he finds humanity to be the real curiosity, the thing worth observing. Dragons are-- well, sort of boring to him. Every now and again one will pique his interest, or he'll fixate on-- Sorry, talking too much?" The bluerider is suddenly conscious of it. P'tras does not look at all convinced of J'sae's take on knots. "I think talent is pretty important. You aren't gonna get very far in any craft if you suck at it." Apparently the only options are being talented and sucking. The rest makes the greenrider study his wingmate while he finishes off the rest of his sandwich. "What sorts of strong reactions?" He can probably guess, but it must seem safest to ask directly. It means he probably doesn't think that the bluerider is talking too much. Not yet, anyway. "I was-- quoting. Facetiously. Sorry." J'sae's abashed, "There was this one master back at WoodCraft who, when asked about early promotions would repeat that as if repetition would make it true or at least make you believe it was." Perhaps J'sae was one doing the asking. It's a good time to change topics and Zajeth is so useful for that. "Zajeth likes strong emotions and to see what people do when feeling them. How people handle anger, sadness, love, excitement. Really anything a person can feel keenly. He likes to try to maneuver me into situations where I feel those things, too, partly because I'm-- well, he says 'dull', but I'd call it mellow. Hard to rise to a passion in some circumstances. Anyway, he can most directly observe and experience through me, so he likes it better when I'm not boring, by his definition." There's some measure of shared confidence as Jase leans toward Pip to say, "But he likes the challenge. Of me." The greenrider allows the change of topic without trying to go back to the craft stuff. He takes a drink while he listens attentively to J'sae's explanation. He even seems genuinely curious about the other rider's dragon and his experience with him. "He sounds like an interesting sort. I'm guessing you don't mind him trying to make you less boring, then? Riennath doesn't really get involved in my business too much. So long as she doesn't think I'm being an idiot about this or that." P'tras has a slight roll of his eyes for that. J'sae chuckles, his look equal parts fond and rueful, "Zajeth's not the type to be easily changed even if I did mind, but mostly I don't. He's-- pretty great." Jase certainly seems to feel fortunate. "What's Riennath like?" The question has the light of genuine interest in Jase's hazel eyes, so it's not a polite inquiry; he really wants to know. P'tras has a brief smile for J'sae's fondness for his lifemate. As for Riennath, the greenrider has to think for a few moments. "She's pretty independent. Proud sort. Doesn't like being made to look a fool." And P'tras is pretty good at looking foolish, poor dragon. "Kind of stoic sometimes, I guess. She's nice, though. Supportive and strong when I need her to be. If I needed her to be." What? P'tras doesn't ever need a dragon's shoulder to cry on. But he has one if necessary. "No," is firm but not for Pip. "Sorry," Jase apologizes sincerely to Pip, "Not liking to be made to look a fool is sort of fresh meat to a hatchling for Zajeth. Better to stop him before he starts." Whatever it is he would start isn't specified, but the bluerider seems certain it's for the best, even if it meant an embarrassing blurt aloud. "She sounds interesting. Was it always this way for you or was she more babyish once?" P'tras jumps slightly at the 'no'. Not because it's that harsh or anything, but because he doesn't know what it's for until J'sae explains. "I don't think he'll bother her too much," notes the greenrider, though his dragon might not appreciate the sentiment later. "She was more easily agitated as a baby. She learned to control herself better as she got older. She likes talking to others, though. She's relatively friendly and all." "Well, that's good, but I'd never bet my marks against Zajeth's ability to annoy someone if he puts his mind to it." Jase sounds apologetic almost as if he expect his 'no' to do little good in the grand scheme. "If he hasn't talked to her yet, I'm sure it won't be long." And then they'll just have to hang in for the ride. "Actually, Pip, I'm doing some refurnishing for my weyr and I could use some help with some leather overlays I want to do, if you've got time to spare sometime in the next month or two?" For his part, P'tras doesn't seem all that worried about it. He either underestimates Zajeth or overestimates Riennath. That or maybe he doesn't care if someone else puts a kink in his dragon's tail. "I think I could probably find some time to set aside." It's an easy answer. Too easy? "Great!" If it's too easy an answer, Jase doesn't seem to realize. "I think that's another thing I really love about being here. Collaboration was always such a pain back at the Hall, because you'd have to get however many people to sign off on it or find a way to pay for it yourself or-- Here, we can do more of that. We might even have an edge on the Hall that way, not that they'd like that, even if it means they don't have to do it themselves..." And now J'sae is rambling again, so he picks up his sandwich to finish it off. "Collaboration is pretty great." P'tras can agree to that, chewing on his bottom lip in thought once that's in his head. Then, "It'd be nice if we had more of an edge than that. But I guess then they might start getting pissy about us doing what we do." He's not being the most optimistic person right now. "But it sounds interesting. I like doing interesting things." He offers a smile, for whatever that's worth. "Yeah, I think it's a pretty challenging thing to figure out to what degree we can offer services and goods before it sets back our Hall relations. We don't want to challenge their monopoly so much that they shut down even more to the idea of teaching us more. Sort of would turn the whole experiment of Tundra on it's head if we tipped that balance, I'd think." J'sae has probably done a lot of thinking along these lines. "I haven't gotten to do much mixed-medium pieces, so this'll be great." He looks to his empty plate and offers a smile, "My turn," for seconds. "And I should probably check in with Marnie after that," nodding toward a brownrider. "But good talking with you, Pip," he's got a smile that makes that all the more genuine before he's getting up to get seconds. P'tras looks at J'sae like he's probably not saying anything that any of the people in the wing haven't given some thought at some point or another. He still seems curious, though, so the bluerider must not be that know-it-all to the point of annoyance. "Oh, sure," he says with a glance to said brownrider. "You, too. See you around." He'll watch for a moment as J'sae goes, but then he's up and heading for another drink so he can bother some of their other wingmates for awhile. |
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