Difference between revisions of "Logs:Kidnapping and Candidacy"

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.

There are not many seasons in High Reaches that come without chill and spring is no different. This makes the hatching ground galleries a desirable place to be despite the complicated and unpredictable scheduling of being permitted a look. Maybe Azaylia's on the sands to manage the fierce dam or maybe she's asleep, but whatever the reason, the galleries are open and K'zin is currently settled in them. His pose is one of contemplation, knees set a little wide and elbows resting on them, hands clasped as he leans forward, shoulders not quite hunched as his eyes scan what eggs may be seen. Whatever he's thinking of, it might not be good as he's frowning.

As Telavi enters, she walks lightly, as though on eggshells... if not necessarily the draconic variety; certainly there's no hot-footing it the way she'd had to do the times she'd Stood, just also-light greetings to those who greet her and a few more besides. It's once she's spotted K'zin that she walks with more overt purpose, moving to slip into the row and perhaps eventually the seat behind him. "Water?" she murmurs. She's brought a 'skin. It's cold.

Around the entrance to the galleries comes a familiar face - just the face, looking around with wide, curious eyes. They're looking for.. ah, and they see, the gold is otherwise distracted, enough to allow watchers to get their full view of the varied eggs on the sands. The rest of Valenros's body appears seconds later, all gangly and partly covered in a fine dusting of powder, maybe flour. He makes a fast ascent to the stands, stopping in front of the metal railing that runs the length of the stands. Then he turns, a smile transforming his usually timid face, but it disappears as soon as he recognizes some of the people seated. He's quick to nod his greetings, stopping in front of each person individually. It takes him a while, but he finally stops in front of K'zin, and Telavi, bobbing his head. "K'zin, sir." A shy, unsure settles as he nods to the dragonrider behind him. It's probably going to be another one of those awkward encounters.

K'zin's lean is casual. It's so he can look up at the blonde with complex braids and smile. "Yeah, thanks." He reaches for it just as the man just shy of being of an age with him says his name. The reach stills as he looks to the holder. "Candidate," K'zin observes with surprise. Then, "Still just K'zin. Valenros, Telavi. Telavi, Valenros." The introduction is polite if informal. "Guess you're not leaving before the hatching after all," he observes, eyes back on the young man's knot to reconfirm what he thinks he saw before craning back to try to reach for the cold waterskin once more. "We met back when he was just a holder choice for the kidnapping," he adds for the assistant weyrlingmaster's benefit.

Telavi's smiling back to K'zin, of course she is, and traces of that warmth color her blue-green eyes as she turns quizzical attention to the slighter man. Her mobile mouth quirks; she says lightly, "Well met, Valenros," rolling the 'r' for the pleasure of it. Even as she gives the waterskin over, "How do you like having been... kidnapped?" She's not awkward in the least.

"Just K'zin," the candidate mumbles, "and Telavi, hi." Valenros colors and looks down at his feet, shuffling in place. It takes a couple beats before he's able to look up again, hands shoved deep in his trouser pockets. "I wasn't.. I mean.. no one.. not, kidnapped." He flushes brighter, looked chagrined over the whole situation. "I.. I accepted. I wanted this.. I do.. I do, want this. No one, um, no one kidnapped me." Thereby he stops talking altogether, looking back down at the floor as if it's the most interesting floor he's ever seen - just look at those dust motes!

K'zin's eyeroll might be partly obscured by the long drink he takes from the cold waterskin. "Jo-o-king." He stresses after he swallows before offering the skin, Telavi's skin, to the candidate. "Water?" Weyr manners, so uncouth! As for correcting the holder-gone-rogue's understanding of Telavi's question... Well, the greenrider has a mouth if she's of a mind to use it.

"No?" Telavi, disappointed, no correction in sight. "Whatever will you have to tell your grandchildren if you haven't even been kidnapped?" She glances consideringly at K'zin, as though wondering if they could do the job, and then back at Valenros, terribly concerned... and possibly not just because of her waterskin.

What is a joke? Valenros looks mildly confused. "No-no, thank you." He just stands there like some sort of limp noodle, hands at his sides, looking from one dragonrider to the next. "I.. I won't tell them.. that. I would just say.. I stood.. and if I Impressed.. but, I don't know.. if.. I'll have any." Pause a beat. "Grandchild." Clarified, see? He clears his throat and looks from left to right. "How.. how are you.. both?"

The shrug K'zin gives says 'suit yourself' before he passes the water skin back over to Telavi. "Wise decision. The grandchild thing. Though having some interesting stories to tell... well, everyone should have some of those." The bronzerider stretches backward, "Well enough. Getting to see the eggs and not getting eaten by Hraedhyth, so that's something to brighten the day," he answers Valenros before asking of Telavi, "Looking forward to hatching day? Any advice for Valenros?" He shoots the slightly younger man a "lookin' out for you, bro" look. That doesn't rule out kidnapping though.

Even more disappointed, Telavi, at least until she gets the 'skin back-- but in a forgiving sort of way. When she drinks, it's absently and with her gaze still on the candidate, as though prompted by the weight in her hand more than actual thirst. "'Looking forward' is a strong way of putting it. We're ready, things are sorted, but," it ends on a shrug. As for advice, "Only the practical variety. Drink lots of water as soon as people, people who should know anyway, get all soon-soon-soon; be prepared for the eggs to not actually to hatch for a couple days anyway; and, as soon as you get the word to change into your robe, go take a leak because you won't get to later." Her glance down to K'zin is brief, very brief.

Valenros looks like a trapped animal, looking wildly from left to right. "Ok.. I.. I will.." But then he's pointing towards the bowl and looking at the floor again. "I should.. I just.. chores." He spares them both a weak smile, the barest of a wave, before he is shuffling out of the galleries and towards the stairs.

K'zin's eyes follow Valenros as he departs before he's craning his neck back to look up at Telavi. "I'd hope that one doesn't Impress, if I were you. Weird and no sense of humor. You'll have your hands full with just him if he doesn't get one of those overnight-change-for-the-better dragons." You know, the ones of Myth and Legend.

"No humor at all and--" now Telavi's laughing behind her hand, because change-for-the-better, really. She wipes her eyes, drinks another sip of water as though to make up for the lost fluids. "Skittish. I can't see him asking the headwoman, not unless he were her favorite nephew or something... How is Tolman doing?"

"No, definitely not." K'zin reaches to reclaim the skin for another drink for himself. "Tolman's doing well, I think. He's excited. I've told him -- things. The important parts. But he's determined. He likes beastcraft and all, but if he can become a dragonrider, that's what he wants." The bronzerider says this as if he thinks it's a little crazy. More than a little.

"I wonder if he'd still want to if it were Pass," Tela muses, and then slides him a more teasing glance. "Are you going to bet on him, one way or another? Does he want you to place bets for him, one way or another?"

"Mm, good question. I wonder if any of us would have." K'zin sees her wondering and raises her. He rises from his seat, offering her a hand up. "I'll bet on him to Impress. It's the least a mentor can do." Still terrifying that. K'zin, a mentor. "I'm hungry. Let's get lunch. I wonder if they have any eggs at this hour..." Go figure.

Telavi, risen. "I won't ask how much," she says, light as her footsteps towards the aisle. "Bet, not eggs," and with that-- and without even any omelet jokes!-- off they go.