Logs:Oh, The Places You'll Go
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| RL Date: 21 July, 2008 |
| Who: Paige, P'draig |
| Involves: Fort Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: At Tiasheth's urging, Paige pokes her head into the weyrlingmaster's office to express her concerns over Neala and Saryan's behavior and to confide in Paddy about her struggles with the harper lessons. Jekzith shares images of places for Tiasheth to explore; Tiasheth lets slip that Paige likes one of P'draig's assistants. |
| Where: Weyrlingmaster's Office, Fort Weyr |
| When: Day 20, Month 3, Turn 17 (Interval 10) |
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| Afternoon often finds the Weyrlingmaster in his office going through reports from the assistants and harpers on the Weyrlings' progress and today is no exception. The weather's been getting better and better, even if it's still wet, spring rains washing away slushy remnants of snow and almost fully thawing the lake. P'draig's just flipped over another hide and is frowning down at it, scratching his head. "What in Faranth's name are those two busy bodies up to /now/?" Which very likely means Neala and Saryan who just haven't stopped being the mean girls they were before they Impressed. Paige's peep into the office is a hesitant and somewhat indecisive one, at first - at least, until the girl takes a stumbling step in - or gets nudged in from behind. "Er, P'draig, sir? We ain't disturbin' yer work, are we?" Never mind that they're also part of the job. Behind her, Tiasheth makes her way in with ease, hardly as long as her weyrling is tall. "S'jus tha' -- well, I dun mean t'be a tattle or nothin', but 'bout Neala and her friend, they been, ah - " Mean to some of the other weyrlings? " - not real nice t'some folks, " she finishes, rather lamely. Shift, fidget. But surely that's something he's already aware of? Up comes Paddy's head again, focusing on Paige and he smiles warmly. "Oh shells no, please come in," he gestures for her to come forward, take a seat in one of the chairs pulled up in front of the desk. He lifts the hide he was just looking at ruefully as she makes that statement. "Mmm. So I'm hearing. I'll have to sit them down. What have you heard about? It's really not behavior that can be left be. The dragonets are still sensitive and - hello there Tiasheth." Jekzith, hunkered down in the entrance between the office and the Weyrlingmaster's actual weyr, pokes his head towards the door and peers in at the green. « Hello! Hello! How are you today? » "Nothin' real major, " Paige admits as she settles in one of the aforementioned seats. "But yesterday, looked like they were kinda hasslin' J'vran over by the oil. Sayin' stuff and makin' it harder fer him t'get t'the vat he was tryin' t'get ter. Thin's like tha'." Tiasheth takes a moment to survey the weyrlingmaster's office, eyes spinning in pleased blue-greens. « I am well, thank you, » she says brightly, walking a few steps closer to the entrance before sitting carefully, tilting her head toward the brown. « You are - very tall. » "Figures they'd pick on him, being the youngest," distaste curls the corners of P'draig's mouth about the bullying. "Good thing J'vran's pretty ... scrappy," the Weyrlingmaster notes with a hint of amusement, but then he nods. "That in addition to this report, and this one ... and this one ..." three hides lifted. "They'll be getting a talking too," he says a little sourly and then looks over towards Tiasheth. "Mikhuth was in here checking out the dust bunnies under my desk. Crazy what they get into isn't it?" And his blue-eyed gaze returns to the Weyrling, searching her face. "You doing okay, Paige?" Jekzith warbles happily as Tiasheth approaches and hunkers down a little so he's more 'her size' though this doesn't reveal much more of him through that door. « Oh that's good! Am I? Sometimes I don't think I am. Not as tall as Ciath, you know. » And he admires her for a second. « You've got lovely hide! » "Yessir, was 'fraid o'tha', m'self. But he'll be alright. Got his blue t'look after him, too." Still, Paige seems surprised that the troublesome duo has already managed to take up three hides on P'draig's desk, even so. "Maybe they'll realize there's a better way t'deal with people by the time we're all outta here, " she suggests hopefully, unable to suppress a little grin at the mention of Mikhuth and dust bunnies. "I dun think ya'll hafta worry 'bout her stickin' her head under there, really. She's more interested in meetin' everyone." « No, but you're certainly taller than me, » the tiny green replies, tail swishing delightedly as Jekzith hunkers down a bit. « Why, I can't quite tell from here, but I'm probably near the size of your head, if that! » But she seems pleased with the compliment, letting a fragrant breeze carry her polite, « Thank you. Your hide is very nice, too. So - varied! » "They do a good job with the support," P'draig agrees about J'vran's blue and dragons in general. "Mm. Hope the lesson sinks in. Compared to some Weyrlings I've taught in the past, they're ... small tubers." More humor from Paddy and a wink for Paige. "Oh? Sociable? Well good, should always be at least one sociable one in the clutch I think." Jekzith lets out an amused sound, half between warble and croon. « That's true. We'll see how tall you get when you finish growing. It's like a puzzle trying to figure it out sometimes, who'll be the tallest or the longest or the fastest! » Bright iridescent bubbles, tinged happy blue-green float Tiasheth's way. « Oh thank you very much! I'm glad you like it. Not everyone does. Some greens think it's weird. But P'draig says it's interesting. » Paige's grin brightens noticeably. "Really? Well, if they're the wors' in the class, guess y'dun have so much t'worry 'bout, then." One hand fidgets a little, idly tapping against the chair's armrest. "And so concerned 'bout everyone. Wanted t'make sure y'knew 'bout what Twillith's and Sayarith's were a'doin'." Her expression eventually falters a little, though, causing Tiasheth to angle a glance in her direction. "I, erm, I did wanna talk t'ya 'bout somethin' else, though, " she finally confesses. "I dunno if'n I'm the only one, but - them harper lessons make me feel kinda - kinda - well, I can' tell if'n I'm the only one who's strugglin' somethin' with the basics. Never was no good at the readin' and writin', and I know they said 'tis harder t'learn new thin's as we keep growin', but..." Scarlet, she gives up, dropping her gaze to trace a line in the armrest with a fingernail. « Zibeth will be the tallest, » Tiasheth is quick to reply, « and I will likely be one of the fastest. » It's all very matter-of-fact; she doesn't seem to have it in her to be boastful. A trail of leaves meet his bubbles halfway, infused with equal delight. « Oh, I do, » she assures him. « It is very interesting and very nice. If everyone looked the same, things wouldn't be half as wonderful. » "Well, remains to be seen if there's a 'worse' in the class, but over the turns I've been Weyrlingmaster, I've seen much, much worse than either of them. Pretty run of the mill bullies really. Just ask T'rien or K'len about Sal'ros and Solath sometime though." P'draig nods a few times. "Him I had to dare to climb a cliff without a safety rope before he'd hush up and just do the damn lessons." There's humor on his face still until she falters and names her concern. "Struggling with the general classes. Hm. So, do you feel like you might need to split out and do some special study? I'm sure Llany or Master Jaeleka can set aside some time for that. There's always a mixed batch of skills in every Weyrling group. Everyone comes from so many different places." His manner is calm and matter-of-fact through that, a reassuring smile on his face for the blushing. "Hey - not everyone's bookish. It's not really my thing either. I mean I did my basic lessons when I was a kid, but after that it was alll kitchens all the time." Jekzith listens, folding forepaws under his chin and seems to consider Tiasheth thoughtfully. « It's very likely Zibeth will, yes. Though perhaps not /longest/. » Humor there and he sparkles a single bright firework her way. « Oh yes. Greens usually very fast. It's fun to fly fast. Turn about in the air. Roll and dive! » The leaves interest him and he illuminates them with shafts of bright sunlight, bubble drifting low and then popping on contact. « That's a very good point. And I'm glad you like it. I can't help being fond of it myself. I mean, it's mine and there's no changing it. » "Sounds purty extreme, " Paige manages after a moment, embarrassed flush darkening a tad when K'len is mentioned. "I - might could use some o'tha', " she agrees faintly. "Tha'd be - prolly good." Eventually, she even gets out a little smile. "We had - real basic lessons at Balen, " she explains, "and after tha', 'twas mainly learnin' the chores and doin' a lotta hard work. Dun think I got too much further than learnin' shoulderknots, some basic history and knowin' the names of the other Lords and Ladies nearby, but - 'twas so far back. I was lil." Tiasheth moves up onto all fours, tail giving an eager flick. « Roll and dive? What is that like? It sounds terribly fun. » There's a heavily muddled image of the sky and a smudge of green in it; her, likely, but at the size she is now. « It's hard to imagine, » she admits, « but one day, I won't have to anymore. » And the earthy scent of rain-soaked soil drifts upward to meet sun-touched leaves. « No, no changing it. It is good that you like it. It would be not good if you didn't. » "Mm - it's not uncommon for holdbred Weyrlings to have some gaps," P'draig reassures again. "I'll just have a word with the harpers and we'll re-arrange your lessons quietly, how's that?" Jekzith 'beams' down at Tiasheth and paints vivid imagery of what he's been talking about, sharing the feeling of it as well. « Like so. » And there's a ripple of laughter in his sending, bright blue. « Oh yes. You'll get to go up soon and that should be a lot of fun for you and your rider. » His nose actually physically sniffs and over behind the desk, P'draig sniffs once, passes his hand over his nose. « When you can fly, you'll be able to go to the forest. » And he shares pictures again, of actual light flitering through branches and leaves, dappling leaf-strewn ground beneath the cool shade. Paige gives a quick series of nods, brow relaxing with relief. "Tha'd be - great. Thank ya, P'draig. Really do appreciate it." She inhales suddenly as Jekzith shares that imagery and sensation of rolling, diving, swooping, arms instinctively tensing on their rests for a long moment. But then it passes, leaving her to release a breath she was hardly aware of holding. Tiasheth revels in this vivid display, taking in the feelings with clear delight. « That is wonderful! Yes, we shall have to do that. We are all eagerness. » She embraces the sylvan imagery with a sudden, earnest adoration, complete with the twinkling sparkle of sunlight filtering through a thousand leaves. « The forest, » she repeats, sighing. « I do so want to go there. It looks beautiful. » And as both brown and rider sniff, Paige glances from one to the other uncertainly. "Sure," P'draig answers with another ready smile, still rubbing at his nose a little and he quirks a little look over at the dragons. "The forest?" he inquires after a moment. "Someplace she'd like to go?" Jekzith helpfully shares more. More flying. More trees. Different kinds of trees from the Lemosan forests to Southern jungles, mixed up with looping and soaring above them, then diving down when possible to fly beneath tall skybrooms. « You will go there. When you're both ready, » Jekzith tells her confidently. "S'very nice, " Paige says aloud, adding for the weyrlingmaster's benefit, "oh, er, yeah. She really likes what he's showin' t'her with all the trees and flyin' and everythin'. Findin' it real excitin'." « Those are lovely places, » Tiasheth reiterates happily, extending her small wings a little before folding them once more. « I would be happy to live somewhere with so many trees like that, but it does not seem very practical. It would be much harder to learn everything properly if all of our wallows were out there, don't you think? » And more blurry images, murkier than her imaginings about the sky: People like Neala and her sidekick chasing little J'vran around a tree; a smudge meant to be P'draig, trying to get attention while bunches of other smudges wander around taking in the /newness/ of everything outdoors - trees, sun, warm earth. Too distracting for their young minds. "Ohh, well then," P'draig bends and brings up a folder, flips it open. Well hey, if there isn't a little sketch of Paige clipped to a sheet of actual paper though the rest of the items in the folder are hide and P'draig makes a little note. "When we get to Between, we'll make Lemos one of your first visuals," he says with a grin. Jekzith meanwhile is sharing a view of Southern Weyr, with wallows ... out under the trees. « This place has wallows like that. It's very warm there. » Jekzith shares some counter points of view next, clarifying some of the smudging, touching up details. Especially his own rider, but the Weyrlings too. « So much to do ... » he muses thoughtfully. Blows another mental bubble for the young green bright and rosey-gold and filled with a single picture of a growing tree, fully leafed out which he sends her way. Paige can't help leaning forward to get a better view of that little sketch, eyebrows lifting with some astonishment. "Ya - Y'will? Really? Tha's great!" The enthusiasm must be infectious; Tiasheth's delight scatters amongst their views in bursts of firefly-like glimmers. « There is a place where we can wallow like that? In warmth? It must feel amazing. Do you go there often? » Both the growing tree and the added details are absorbed readily, followed by the delighted gurgle of a splashing brook. Flick, flick goes her tail. P'draig mock twitches the file out of the way, then chuckles an slides it over to you. "Nothing you don't know already in here. It's just that there's fifteen of you and one of me with four helping out. So I keep notes and things." Jekzith's negative is just a shadowing of gray across the bright landscape before his colors return. « Not terribly often no. But it /is/ nice. Another place to go to when you are bigger. » "Oh, o'course, " Paige grins, tilting her head a little as she peers more closely at the sketch. "S'good likeness, " she says with a nod, passing the folder back quickly enough. "Musta been harder t'keep track o'so many when there were more'n fifteen, " she muses, then, giving the dragons a thoughtful glance. "Seems hard 'nough t'keep track of so many young'uns with jus' those of us from this clutch." « We must go there too, then, » Tiasheth decides, sharing the image with Paige for her to remember for them both. « When we are big enough. » Naturally. "Didn't do it myself," P'draig disclaims. "Got one of the scribes to do everyone," he says with a chuckle. "Well, I've only ever been Weyrlingmaster in Interval, so the largest clutch was only ever just over twenty, but, yeah, I can't imagine having 80 or 90 in there like there can be at the height of a Pass." His gaze shifts to the dragons, back to Paige. "You okay with him egging her on? He likes to share." Jekzith's blithely continuing to do so. « Oh yes! Definitely, I can show you! » And then he nudges a closer-by image their way. Forest a little south of the Weyr, between Fort and Boll. "Ah, well. 'Tis good, anyway." And Paige marvels at the sheer numbers, nonetheless; eighty, ninety weyrlings? "Land sakes, how'd they manage?" she wonders, shaking her head. "Barracks musta been unbelievably crowded!" Her head swivels to peer over at the dragons again. "Dun mind it at all, " she replies cheerfully. "She's enjoyin' the sharin' and the views. S'only so much I can show her from bein' on two feet on the ground." Tiasheth gives a flicker of recognition, a breeze scattering through the leaves excitedly. « Paige has been there! Or - maybe somewhere near there. » She, in turn, shares a glimpse of soaring over the forest, Paige's memory of flying sweeps with P'draig during her candidacy. « That is the most greenery she's shown me. » "Lots of help," P'draig provides his opinion on that and then smiles at her declaration about the dragons. "Oh good. He can get a little ... enthusiastic sometimes. I have to remind him that they're little. He just enjoys how happy they can be about new things a lot." Jekzith whuffs out loud, happy, eyes blue-green as his sending. « Yes! We took her! Me and mine. » A brief puff of pride. « That was a fun day, P'draig remembers. » Flying. The jungle. Music. Dancing. He narrows his eyes and brings up a sense of twirling about. « It is very green there. AND the other place we went to. Where Aath is. » "Hard not t'enjoy tha', " Paige admits, returning his smile. "Makes me remarkably happy, too. Everythin' feels jus' as new t'me as it does t'her. Sometimes s'like I'm lookin' at everythin' again fer the first time." Tiasheth gives the equivalent of a mental beam, radiating warmth. « Yes, Paige remembers it fondly, too, » she supplies, fireflies sparkling across that idea of dancing. That was especially enjoyable. « Other place? Aath? Oh, yes. It is ... » And there's a pause while she gets the correct name. « Ista? Paige says it is Ista. » "Pretty amazing, isn't it?" There, P'draig sets his elbow on the desk, perches his chin in his hand and just grins, taking the file back and flipping it closed, puts it in with the other Weyrling folders. His head tilts like his listening and he rolls his eyes a little. "You know what it's called," Paddy murmurs under his breath. « Yes, Ista, » states contentedly. « That was a very good day. » Paige just nods, smile fond. Amazing, indeed. « I'd like to see Ista, too, » the little green replies, having her lifemate add that to the steadily growing list of Places To Go. « It must be nice, there. She says that it is warmer and the people are nice. Aath's is nice. » Joining in the momentary silence, P'draig just sits quietly, listening to the patter. « We will definitely go to Ista, P'draig says. And to the island. The Shipfish one. There's a woods on the island. We go there ... when you can Between. » Jekzith's got diamonds to hang all over his vision of Aath. But what he says is: « P'draig loves Aath's very much. » « The Shipfish island? » Paige's face briefly reflects some of her dragon's confusion. « Neither of us have been there. But oh, more woods, you say? Why, that will be delightful! » The diamonds draw forth a fleeting sense of awe; shine, after all, appeals to most maidens, whether they'd adorn themselves in it or not. But the statement gives the dragonet a brief pause, a pause in which Paige reddens a little and mumbles something under her breath that sounds like, "Later." « And I love Paige, » she says simply, adding a moment later, « but she says that that is something different entirely. I do not yet understand it, but she says that yours is very happy to see Aath's. » P'draig and T'mic, grinning as they greet each other in the Sandbar. And a brief moment of confusion follows. « Just as she is always happy and a little nervous to see Kalorith's. » And a vaguely blurry image of K'len later, Paige's eyes widen a bit. "Later, " she repeats, shifting uncomfortably, clearly trying not to touch /that/ subject with a ten foot pole for now. « More woods. » Jekzith confirms and there's a hint of wicked sparkles at the back of his mind and then maybe even of someone quietly but firmly, shoving those far out of reach. P'draig startles a little and frowns, straightens in his chair and there's more mental shoving going on and then Jekzith makes a little mental throat clearing noise. « Yes. We all love our riders very much. » The brown agrees. « And the rest is definitely for later as yours says and mine reminds me not to confuse. » So he changes tacks and brings the ocean into view next, endlessly rolling and clear blue. « It's not the forest, but very interesting. » P'draig casts Paige a sheepish look. "And that's an abject lesson in dragons having their own minds. I won't pry, Paige, but just ... later, very much later. I'll trust your judgement about K'len," he says quietly. "And I expect him to be mindful of the fact that he currently has authority over you as an assistant." There's no reproof in his voice though. "Anyway. You've got a long list of places to visit, when you can Between, girl!" he teases her a little. Tiasheth remains a confused blur of greens and browns a moment longer, but a trusting breeze soon dispels that, gradually bringing her back into focus. Willingly, this new picture of the ocean is pulled toward her, eyes spinning faster with clear interest. « No, that is not the forest, but it is beautiful in its own way, » she agrees. « It must be pleasant to be in it? » Paige gives the tiniest of nods, abashed. "Yessir, " she says quietly, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly at the teasing. "Yeah, guess - guess we do. Lemos and Ista, Southern, Shipfish Island, that area near Boll... and, well, I - I kinda wanna take a trip back t'Balen, when we're allowed. I think m'sister would - would like meetin' her." « The ocean. The sea. It just goes on and on and it /does/ feel nice to swim in it! » Happy blue-green Jekzith, painting the landscape beyond where land actually ends and he brings in the scent of salty sea air and endless sky above with the sun beating down. P'draig laughs. "All right, well I'm not putting them all down on the list, but Shipfish - well we do a cookout on the Island after you learn Between. It's fun." A nod of his head follows. "Good that your family might be interested. Sometimes ... it doesn't work out that way," he says quietly, taps his pen against his files then blinks twice. "Hm. Any other questions that are burning a hole in your tongue?" Again humorous. « The /sea/, » and Tiasheth marvels in all of these new sensations. The tang of the air, the sun beating down without greenery to provide a reprieve - this is all new and different, strange and exciting. Foreign. "Sounds fun, " Paige agrees, watching him briefly during the pen tapping. "I mean, I - I hope they'll be, sorta, " she hedges. "M'sister was dreadful excited t'meet Khavoth /finally/ when they got t'gether fer the hatchin'. Whole family hasn' been t'gether like tha' in - turns, " she admits. "They were all happy fer m'brother; seemed happy 'nough fer me. Got a coupla gifts from 'em, at least." And she drops her gaze briefly to pull her thoughts back together. "Can we - go back and visit Balen, ourselves? After we learn t'go between and - all tha'?" « The sea. » Jekzith echoes and makes the water transparent so there's fishes and things to see. It's all the world out there, a promise of things to be seen. The tapping continues, seems more like a restless gesture than anything else. "Sounds good then, glad they're behind you. Sometimes families get a little weird about girls becoming riders of fighting dragons especially, I've had a few like that." He smiles warmly though about the description of Paige's family. "I'm glad they're happy for you and absolutely, when you're cleared for solo Betweening, you may go visit them. Before that you can go with one of us." "She's female, " Paige says simply, chin ducking a little. "I mean, they - they're prolly relieved I'm not ridin' a brown or a blue. Might've started t'make false assumptions 'bout thin's." She smiles, too, at the affirmation of being able to make a trip back once they've completed that crucial stage in their training. "Tha's great. Even if'n I dun get the best reception, I still wanna - wanna show Tia what my home's like. Where I grew up, where I was lil." As the tapping continues, though, the weyrling's gaze slides briefly to the motion, then back up to P'draig, apologetic. "We've kept ya too long, haven' we, " she says sheepishly, looking as though she's about to stand up. Tiasheth embraces this picturesque promise with childlike delight, enraptured. There's a breeze of fresh air to mingle with the salty tang, apologetic. « Thank you for showing me all of this, Jekzith. Mine thinks that perhaps we ought to be getting back, now. » "Yeah - sets you up a little that, even if there's no real basis for it," P'draig replies, smile shading wry. "Jekzith likes to go see the Reaches. Which is where I'm from -- and no! No not at all, I -- hm. Sorry." The Weyrlingmaster sets the pen down with a little wince. "I could probably stand a walk actually." Jekzith's sending shades to russet, sunset over the ocean. « You're welcome! It's fun to share. Can't wait until you see it all for real though. You'll really like it, I think! » Beat. « If you need to. But don't worry about mine. He hates hidework. » "Oh, " and Paige's arms relax once more, expression relieved. "Still, if'n yer gettin' restless, a walk would do ya some good." There's another glance for those hides. "Can' imagine readin' those fer hours on end, but I bet it can get as tedious as spinnin' on the same spool fer hours and hours. Helped out with tha' sometimes at home. Not somethin' I'd recommend." Grin. Tiasheth likes the sunset, likes the way the colors mingle and gradually turn from blue to red-gold and the beginnings of dusky purples. « I think I shall, too, » she replies happily in kind. « It is all very wonderful. We cannot wait to travel places. » And right on the tail of Paige's suggestion: « Yours could take a break? Eating is very refreshing. And sleeping. And oiling - but perhaps not that. It does not seem soothing for them in the same way. And speaking of eating, I do believe I could use a bit of a snack. » Perhaps all the excitement worked up an appetite. "Yeah - thankfully this job doesn't involve all that much hidework. I just like to keep it up-to-date, but at the same time, it's a chore to do it," P'draig explains and he starts tidying up his desk. "Would you care to join me? We can take a spin around the lake maybe and then Tiasheth and Jekzith can actually see each other," Paddy says with a bright laugh. "Y'know, my mother spins and weaves? But other than that, I haven't the foggiest idea how that all works." Jekzith warbles happily and pushes up to his feet. « Yes. We're going to take a break and you can have a snack. I'm not hungry, but maybe the ice is gone enough off the lake I can swim and blow bubbles for you. And oiling for humans can be relaxing too mine says. But 'in the right situation' whatever that means. » Mental shrug. P'draig stands and comes around the desk. "So, Jek tells me Tiasheth's peckish, why don't you two take care of that and I'll meet you in the Bowl?" Paige gives a sympathetic grimace, standing as he does. "Be glad t'join ya, " she says cheerfully, expression brightening at the invitation. "Tha'll be excitin' fer her. Then he'll be a bit more'n a big head and large eyes and nose." Tiasheth gives a cheery warble of her own, eyes picking up speed. « I'd like to see that! It sounds nice. Almost as nice as eating and getting oiled. » This 'in the right situation' garners a curious head-tilt, but it's carefully filed away for future reference rather than questioned. More immediate needs must be satiated, first. "Okay, yeah. Least with her doin' half the feedin' and me doin' the oilin', it seems t'go by faster, " the slim girl agrees, beaming proudly at the little dragonet. "Meetcha outside soon." And with a final glimmer for Jekzith, Tiasheth follows her into the barracks proper. Mm, food. |
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