Difference between revisions of "Logs:Job Hunting"

Records Room, High Reaches Weyr

Books. Scrolls. Bound hides. Maps. If it's a record pertaining to the Weyr, it's likely to be in this roughly oval room with its floor-to-ceiling cherrywood shelves, its multitude of slots for scrolls, and its wide drawers for materials that shouldn't be rolled up or folded. A scribe is usually on duty at the tall desk up front with its good view of the room, and is able to help visitors find what they're looking for via the big bound index on its rotating stand. Past the desk, several tables stand in neat rows for note-taking, each stocked with glowbaskets, scrap hide, paper and pencils. Additional lighting is provided by a many-armed wrought-iron light fixture, its glows gleaming through luxurious glass containers in fluted shapes instead of baskets.

To one side of the room, a gap between two sets of shelves outlines where another set once stood, now replaced by a tapestry-covered aperture. Peeking behind the tapestry reveals another cavern, this one likewise full of shelves, but occupied by only a few boxes of older records and a somewhat musty air of disuse. As well, two narrow but solid doors are locked when the room is unattended and a discreet staircase provides direct access from the Weyrleaders' weyrs.

As dusk settles over the Weyr, and while many places seem to be settling down for the evening, the records room is still buzzing with unexpected activity. Perched precariously atop a chair, an ex-candidate stretches to fill the last of the glows. Her face smudged with dirt hair pulled back and dust coating her smock, she steps down with a satisfied grin. Though the poor scribe supervising looks a little worse for wear the air is decidedly less musty and the cherry wood shelves gleam. New glows placed Edyis rubs her palms against the apron surveying her work.

It's common knowledge that K'del frequently works in the Council Chambers, even of an evening, though that's been less of late. Word is that he's lately a father again, albeit with an out-Weyr goldrider, and that's certainly keeping him away more often. Indeed, there's an air of 'done for the day' about the way he hurries down the stairs from the Chambers, now, not paying much attention to those others around him, but instead intent upon his goal: returning a stack of records to be shelved, one atop the other upon the trolley set aside for just that purpose.

Edyis turns when she hears footsteps on the stairs, perhaps its the speed at which he's moving, but she attempts to offer "I can take care of those Sir, If you'd like, I'm sure you're anxious to return to Fort as quickly as possible." She'd have to shelve them anyway, though whether he even hears her is questionable in his current state.

But he does hear, and though it can't be a surprise that Edyis, however unfamiliar she is, knows where his thoughts may be, K'del flushes nonetheless. Still, it's an unrepentant flush; it's absolutely clear from his expression that there's a little person at Fort he's besotted with, and why should he care who knows that? "Oh, would you?" He seems pleased, turning his attention more directly onto Edyis. "There's nothing from the restricted stuff in that lot - just basic records."

Edyis breaks into a wide smile at the blush. So she may pay entirely too much attention to what the ladies in the kitchens say. "So the gossip is true. It would be my pleasure, always happy to assist a father in getting home to the little ones that much sooner." She reaches for the lot, nodding. "I'm Edyis, one of the ex-candidates." She offers by way of introduction. "I was actually hoping to speak with you at some point to see if you needed an assistant for the time being, or knew of someone who might?"

"'fraid so. Don't listen to the ones who have a problem with their Weyrleader - even if he is just 'Acting' - consorting with foreign goldriders, mind." K'del releases his bundle of records as soon as Edyis has a hold of them, drawing his hands down to rest at his sides, though one instantly lifts up again, fingers rubbing at the light stubble upon his narrow chin. "Edyis - nice to meet you. Glad to hear you've decided to stay at the Weyr, then." His nod may be intended tacit commiseration, for he bypasses further comment on that topic and instead wonders, "What skills have you got, that you would be wanting to put to use?"

Edyis laughs, immediately studying the titles and preparing to put them away. "It would be hypocritical of me to fault you for fulfilling your responsibilities here, even though your heart may be somewhere else. If anything I respect you for it." She smiles, finding the first shelf within easy reach as she starts tucking the documents into position. "Basic skills, though one of the scribes has offered to give me lessons on improving my reading and writing if I help out in the records room. I can clean, cook, organize, keep records and manage inventory, and I've had extensive practice babysitting with my siblings. I admit there are always areas I could improve upon, and I'm still learning the weyr." The next few documents required her to tiptoe.

It's use of the word 'hypocritical' that has K'del's attention truly caught by Edyis, though it's obvious only in the way he allows his gaze to track after her movements, and in the way he worries at his lower lip with his teeth before answering. "Not going to abandon the Weyr for the sake of my daughter," he says, letting it fall just barely short of an unasked-for promise, though he certainly means it. "Have you talked to the Records Keeper, seen if he'd be interested in having you on staff? Or the Headwoman? Seems like those skills could be useful in a few different areas."

Edyis tucks the last of the documents away, biting her lip and drawing a half breath at the almost-promise, or perhaps at the effort to reach the last shelf. The documents up, she again wipes her palms on the smock, thinking better of whatever response might have been on her mind. "I was planning on trying the Records Keeper tomorrow, haven't been able to catch the headwoman yet. One of her assistants put me on the duty roster."

"But the duty roster isn't really a place you want to stay," concludes K'del, and not without an audible measure of approval and understanding. "Which is fair enough. Seems like most of us are happier with a set job, not... well. You know." Presumably she does, which would be why he smiles so crookedly in the wake of that remark. "If I'd something for you, I'd offer it - you seem bright enough. But it does seem like either of those options," Headwoman and Records Keeper, presumably, "would be a good place to try next."

Edyis laughs, "Yes, besides a set job gives a better sense of permanence, routine makes a place feel like home usually." She smiles, "I shall, in the meantime anytime you have records or other things that need taken care of let me know, I'd be happy to help get you home to your little girl a little sooner." She smiles adding more softly "After all, whatever time she has with you I'm sure is the most precious to her. - I thank you for taking the time to speak with me." She adds, grinning.

K'del has gone back to chewing at his lip, nodding just once as Edyis says 'home'; there's sympathy there. "I, uh, wish you the best of luck in finding a way to make High Reaches home," he says, genuinely. "Keep your offer in mind, I promise. Never hurts to have someone at hand for those occasions, especially... well. Newborns." His smile is only briefly misty, but all the warmer for it. "Any time, of course. It's my pleasure." But so - it seems, given the way he'll take the stairs several at a time - will heading back to Fort.

Edyis laughs and nods, watching the man leave. It's not until he's gone that she finds her own eyes a little misty, wiping them with the corner of her smock before returning to the shelves. Some things, were universal whether you were from a Hold, Hall or Weyr.