Difference between revisions of "Logs:A Purpose for Pim"

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.

Apparently candidates who linger over-long in the galleries get put to work. Late afternoon finds Gallagher stripped down to his undershirt and manning a broom. He's relatively focused on the even movements of his sweep, though his eyes do stray toward the eggs every now and again. The rest of the galleries has its usual compilation of egg-lookers as there's seldom a shortage with all the new faces in the Weyr, and with the warmth here such a nice change from the stormy snow that comes in bouts with the thunder and lightning outside.

Good thing that Pim isn't a candidate! She can wander into the galleries without worrying about getting mauled by people wanting help. Nope, Pim is just here to look at the eggs. And she can do that while pretending that no one else exists in the entire galleries. She does, however, move to a place that's not too close to the front because it's probably safer further back.

Lucky Pim. Gallagher's starting down her aisle and it's not long before he's nearing enough to need to say, "Excuse me," The broom pointing to knees and feet. It might impinge on the redheads world of pretend, but his voice is politely insistent. He's got a job to finish, although from the looks of it, there's another candidate who's taken care of the aisle above, so perhaps this is his last.

Staring intently at the sand from where she is, Pim doesn't really pay any attention to Gallagher until he's saying something. And then she kind of gets an expression that suggests a huff more than there's any actual huff. "There's not even anything to sweep here," she says, but she stands up and seems willing enough to let him pass and move a little further down the aisle and probably forget about the encounter entirely.

"Pretty sure that's not the point, miss." His whole tone isn't as polite as the the last word might lend to; in fact, his tone implies something else entirely: that she should know better, and might, in fact, be a little dim. Gallagher answers as he lets a smooth stroke go over the space vacated by her boots. Only, he doesn't move off immediately, instead fixating on that spot as though there was something there to be brushed away by the bristles, even though there isn't.

This time, there's no pair of women talking of men and irritating teens to be seen or heard in the Galleries...but there is an Alida to note, the palest-blonde pacing into the arid heat of the place with a reason. Said reason is soon found when her soft bootsteps climb stairs and take her to one of her Glacier wingmates who's currently on duty, acting as a human egg-guard. The greenrider and bluerider exchange soft, intense words for some moments, until finally both give nods and farewells to one another, the bluie slowly pivoting about, and looking all about as she starts back down the tier she's currently occupying. Clear, deep green eyes focus more directly on Pim and Gallagher this time - the pair (and others) noted only in gestalten sweep when she first entered - and on impulse, the quiet-featured woman directs her unhurried self their way.

"I'm trying to watch," says Pim when Gallagher lingers for too long. It's not that he's actually blocking her view or anything but she still seems a little annoyed that he's lingering the way that he is in her general vicinity. Probably because she figures he's doing it to annoy her. Which is, obviously, annoying. "Can you, like, go away a little?" she asks more blatantly.

If his tone was implying before, the implication hasn't changed as he quips, "Really?" The faux incredulity inserted into the tone is... well, intended to be insulting. "In a Galleries. With eggs on the sands. Imagine that." Then, not a question, "You must be new." Gallagher stands letting his broom graze across the stone in the same aisle of benches Pim is occupying. "I don't know, maybe once I get your residue off the stone here." Where there's actually nothing. He doesn't miss Alida's approach while he's busy making friends with Pim though, a small curl at the edge of his otherwise straight lips welcoming the woman, "Bluerider, we meet again." His turn to state the obvious.

K'del has not, shall we say, made much of a habit of stepping into the galleries, this clutch - though he made the obligatory visit early on. Today, however, he's here with a collection of others: teens and pre-teens who share something of a look with the bronzerider, suggesting some kind of familial relationship. The apparent eldest of the group, a girl of perhaps fifteen, leads the way, marching the quartet down towards the very front of the tiers. K'del holds back, letting his gaze sweep over the galleries instead of the eggs.

Pim's comments to Gallagher are just hearable in the respectfully quiet atmosphere of the hatching cavern, and at her last words, Alida can't help but give off a soft, low little snicker-chuckle, though she soon enough silences herself. And when the blonde finally steps up within about five feet of the pair, she stops, settles her ass down upon the nearest stone bench, and notes a bit dryly around her own half-smirk to the man, "Candidate." Pause, peer. "Weyrbrat...Crom guard." A faint incline of her torso might be the vestiges of a slightly mocking little bow - as much as the faint flash in green eyes are - that often clinical gaze then shifted back to Pim for a moment before K'del and company's entrance have her (and the assigned egg guard) gaze flicking over like razors onto them. Assessing for a few moments.

"And you must be--" something not nice that Pim ultimately doesn't say. Probably in part because there is Alida coming nearer and the numbers make Pim a little less confident in standing up for herself against Gallgher's judgment. The redhead glances at the bluerider, then shifts to face the sands again, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. So defeated.

"A candidate, miss, right you are." Gallagher finishes helpfully for Pim. He even deigns to flash her a smile showing his dimple. A request to leave is really the same thing as an invitation to get comfortable, right? So a few quick sweeps take care of the candidate's obligation to the row and then he sliiides comfortably onto the bench, placing himself about equidistant between the positions of the women. While he sweeps, his eyes flick to the entrance of K'del, lifting his chin toward the man and his gaggle in greeting, but that's not where his attention lingers. To Alida, "Did your homework on me, hm? Was I that intriguing?" There's a touch of cockiness there before to Pim is questioned quite directly if not with exemplary manners, "Like the eggs, new girl?"

The gaggle (three girls and a boy) accompanying K'del are, at least, well behaved: they stand near the railing, peering down with interest, but otherwise only talking quietly amongst themselves. The Acting Weyrleader takes one step further, and then a second, answering the glances in his direction with short, polite nods. It's possible that he's listening to the conversation but - as yet - he makes no move to join in.

"Don't let me interrupt ya..." Alida notes almost blithely to Pim as the teen girl buttons up most of her potentially choice comments to Gallagher, that faint bit of smirk still lingering at the corners of her mouth while her eyes are still studying K'del and cohorts. But once she's finished her visual assessment of that lot, it's back to more immediate things, the candidate's comments giving her reason to bob her pale head once, then offer him a soft, "Psh," and wave off of one hand. "I just like ta know who's takin' up residence in my home, if possible." Cue a small flash of an even-toothed little grin, and her following, sort-of-bland, "Quite a change uv' duties, ain't it?" From guarding to 'slogging.' A look over her shoulder lets the bluerider know that the other Glacier member on egg-guard duty is saluting K'del, and then continuing on her unhurried rounds of walking, watching, 'lida then re-aligning her candid gaze back upon their acting Weyrleader once again. His head bob finds her answering with the same.

This guy being a candidate doesn't really seem to make Pim feel all that much better about him. She's looking at Gallagher with eyes of judgment. But also uncertainty. And once he's settled down, Pim scoots herself a little further away down the bench. She does notice K'del and the group that arrived with him, but she doesn't really know what she's supposed to do so she just kind of stares at the bronzerider for a handful of moments before looking at the eggs again. "I've never seen them before," she says to Gallagher without actually answering his question.

"Can't we share? It's my home, too, as you know." Even if he has been away a while. A single brown brow arches at Alida, slight smirk settling on his lips. "It is, a bit. You'd think they'd put some of us to better use, even if we're not from here. But I suppose with important things like guarding eggs," He's not making fun this time, "It's best to leave it to those who're more bound to the Weyr than we guests of it." To Pim, he directs pointedly, "Guess we have that much in common, right? Being guests of the Weyr?" He's probing for confirmation or denial of the suppositions he seems to have made already. "And now you have. So, do you like them?" Gallagher's attention is not so easily diverted.

K'del answers salutes easily, but doesn't seem terribly bothered by formality, right now-- his steps edge him closer to the group in which Gallagher, Pim and Alida can be found, their conversation having evidently found something of interest for him. "What better use do you think should be found?" he wonders, breaking in quite as if he were always involved in that conversation, no really. "Candidate." Beat. "Bluerider. And--" And Pim, to whom he simply nods.

At this point, there's some interest to be had in observing how Pim and Gallagher interact, and so Alida lingers upon her bench seat, crossing one leg lightly over another at this point, watching and listening to the 'squabbling' pair. "You gave it up fer Crom, so..." the blonde comments drolly to Gal, then shrugging lightly. "Home's where the heart is, I've heard. Where's yers?" Riposte. Indeed, though: guarding eggs is quite the serious duty, the candidate's comment earning him a definite nod, though a differing, "It's whatever the Weyr needs most. And... like ya said, the duty uv' those much closer." When K'del finally steps closer, volunteers his words, the Glacier rider can't help but adding in her eighth-mark's worth with, "Actin' Weyrleader." To her, there is a distinction. "Fer 'im? Likely aidin' the effort..." A jerk of thumb back and up to the other Glacier greenie who's egg-guarding, making her slow circuit of the Galleries as they chat.

"I don't think I want to have anything in common with you. Anyway, I'm not here because I want to be." Which clearly gives her the right to be temperamental and prickly. Pim's gaze slides back to K'del, vaguely anxious, as he approaches and she kind of looks like she wants to get up and go somewhere else. But stubbornness or something like it keeps her butt where it is for now. "Pim," she says her name, at least as much of it as she's told anyone, and there's a very slight hint of an uncomfortable squeak in her voice. "Sure, they're great," she says unconvincingly to Gallagher, bright eyes still watching K'del like he might Do Something.

K'del may not be concerned with formality, but when the Acting Weyrleader asks you a question, at least if your Gallagher, you give that question your first attention. "Well, sir, the candidates who're truly local are keeping up with their usual duties. The few of us who've come in from other places," Despite the Policy, "Or who are making temporary home here, have translatable skills that could be of use. For instance, I'm a guard. Even if it's something as simple as helping document the incoming refugees, or lending a hand bringing them in - not sure what your scope of responsibility is to them," Whether they're escorted in or just allowed once they get themselves here, "Heck, I'm a fair hand at hunting in mountain territory, could be I'm of most use teaching those with a knack on how to do that and bring in more game since there's so many mouths. I've never had qualms with candidate chores, and see value in them, but these are strange times." He shrugs his shoulders in a take it or leave it gesture. "Pim," He furthers his point by looking to the girl, "What did you used to do as a job where you came from?" All of this attention means his answering repartee to Alida is late, but he still offers: "My heart's safely buried somewhere in the Weyr where it's safe. And probably frozen, given the weather." He flashes a smile, but his behavior might speak to there being some sort of truth there.

"Pim," repeats K'del, answering the Nabolese girl before anything else. "Welcome to High Reaches, Pim. I'm K'del." He doesn't give his title - but then, that's already been done for him, hasn't it? His actions don't seem to suggest any intention of doing anything in particular, though he's quick, after that, to turn his attention back towards Gallagher and Alida. "It's worth remembering," he points out, "that we've plenty of people with plenty of skills already. Which isn't to say that yours aren't worthy, but... it's simpler to keep candidates on the same level, as much as possible. And we don't, after all, have guards here... Alida and her wing notwithstanding."

There's something of disapproval in Alida's eyes for just a nanosecond when Pim answers Gallagher that way, but it instantly disappears, the bluie left much more curious than anything else as to just why she's here and not wanting to be. For the moment, the former-and-always guard will let that comment pass in favor of not only learning her self-given name, but also in observing how the others might react to one another. She looks about as cool as a cucumber, herself. Gallagher has a point...but so does K'del, and the logic of both their points seems to find fertile home within Alida's facile mind, her head unconsciously bobbing just a hint at both males...especially when the bronzer mentions herself and her Glacier pals. Is that a faint puff of chest, straighter sit from the woman?

Because she has to keep up the whole being contrary to Gallagher for the sake of being contrary, it's a point of pride now, Pim says, "None of your business," to his question about her previous job. It's probably fair to assume she was a typical non-craft Holder girl, though. "Thanks," she adds to K'del, but by now her gaze has dropped away and she's pointedly trying to keep it that way. The eggs and sand are so very interesting.

"You asked, Weyrleader." Gallagher says simply. "Having grown up here, the fact that there's many and more competent people here isn't something I'm like to forget. Ever." This is said matter-of-factly. "As you might've marked, my suggestions for my skill-set had more to do with my abilities to organize and observe, or to simply lend a hand to those in distress on the ground. Perhaps it's because you don't have guards here, except-" He gestures to Alida and beyond to the bluerider, "-that you misunderstand where the true wealth of a guard's skills lie." His tone is respectful, not meaning to insult the weyrleader, but also not one to play 'yes man' when he disagrees. "If Pim was more forthcoming, I was going to ask her if she'd rather be doing whatever her job was before, for part of the day, were she to find herself a candidate." But her not answering doesn't keep him from asking, "Would you?"

"It's more difficult," points out K'del, "when a person may only be here for a matter of sevens - a month or two at most." His tone is smooth, though there's a suggestion about the eyes that he's not terribly fond of Gallagher's answer, and is doing his best to keep it out of his expression and tone. It may be for that reason that he lets his gaze fall towards Pim again, apparently interested in her answer to that question (or finding it easier to look at her - one or the other!)

Smoothly injecting herself back into the conversation, Alida's clipped, hard-accented alto notes almost blithely to Pim, "Ya' know yer talkin' to a Guard, right? Best way ta keep their attention on ya, typically, is ta present a mystery they just might wanna dig up." Voice of wisdom. More listening to Gallagher finds the bluie tipping her head just slightly to the other Guard's observance of varying Guard skill sets, a flick of eyes over to K'del offered to see how he responds to this politely head-on tactic of the candidate's. The young man's inquiry triggers a faint twitch from one corner of the seated rider's mouth, but nothing else as her eyes snick back and forth between the pair of males. The bronzerider's reaction is quite interesting to her, but there's also some wisdom in his first observance...which nets K'del a continued neutral look from the seated woman. Ever feel like you're being judged by a pair of inscrutable eyes?

Lansha peeks into the galleries and looks around, then sees a few people in the stands and heads in quietly. He stands by the benches for a moment, listening to the others' conversation.

Pim is not terribly comfortable with this attention focused on her. She opens her mouth to say something but the words don't come out right away, inhibited by the pressure of expectation from people that make her uncomfortable to begin with. "I, um. I guess doing what I know would be more comfortable. But if I understand anything about candidacy, it's a step toward changing your entire life." Which is not a comfortable sort of thing. Take that, Gallagher thinking she's dumb. Alida's comments are absorbed but she doesn't reply. Not out loud, anyway. Pim just continues to look like she Does Not Belong.

Part of a fairly strung out group engaged in conversation, Gallagher's blue gaze and accompanying smirk hint that he finds truth in Alida's words to Pim as he looks between the two before addressing K'del again. "True, but if I'm not mistaken, it's traditional for candidates who fail to Impress to be offered the opportunity to stay on at the Weyr. It's not terribly comfortable to have one's hard-won skills and experiences discounted while those who happened to be part of the Weyr already go on with their usual duties for at least some part of their day." Gallagher allows, but further points out, because, of course, wasn't it K'del who commented about keeping candidates on the same level? For once, the candidate doesn't snipe at Pim, but instead gives her a look that's mildly approving for the first time.

Lansha is uncharacteristically quiet as he listens, trying to get the gist of the conversation. He peers down at the clutch as he listens, trying to get a good look, then looks over at the others seated on the benches. His eyebrows lift as he notices a new candidate he hasn't met, and another girl he doesn't know. He grins and waves overenthusiastically as he sees Alida, then takes a seat near Gallagher.

"But since we have no guard force, what purpose would your staying on at the Weyr serve?" wonders K'del, glancing back at Gallagher just for a moment. "It is, of course, your decision - of course. And I certainly don't mean to discount your experience so much as suggest that, in most cases, those coming in to the Weyr as Candidates have... other concerns." It may not be so in this case, but that, it seems is beside the point. Alida's scrutiny doesn't seem to bother him, though his lips part into something resembling a smile as his gaze sweeps past. "Pim's correct, too, of course. It's a momentous thing." Lansha's arrival earns a glance, but not a lingering one.

Alida, too, offers Pim a slightly more approving cast of eyes at her answer to Gallagher, but the bluerider's regard is soon enough flicked to the candidate again, the blonde's smirk soon bookending his own. What is this Guard-smirking thing; a trademark? At this point, she's not going to give any more obvious signals of approval, disapproval...agreement or disagreement to either Gal or K'del, the woman perhaps quietly enjoying their verbal 'dance'/spar, and wanting it to go on uninhibited. Ah...and then there's overenthusiastic Lansha and his waving, to which the observant woman can't help but first cringe just slightly, and finally offer a small lift of hand in 'greeting' back. With the (acting) Weyrleader's verbal observance comes 'lida's own ghostly hint of a secretive smile - quickly covered by a pair of fingers scritching at her upper lip, the knowing cast to her eyes hidden by their hooded 'condition.'

Pim glances toward Lansha's approach but there are riders around and she seems incapable of relaxing for that reason, even if K'del agrees with what she's said and doesn't really seem all that scary or unreasonable or depraved. Come to think of it, Pim has not seen a single public orgy since she arrived at the Weyr. She glances at K'del again and finally says, "How... do you become a candidate? I mean... if he's one, it seems like anyone could be. But how?" There's a brief, vague gesture Gallagher-wards.

Lansha's arrival on the bench is noted with a polite nod, before he's looking back to the bronzerider. "Are you already rescinding my invitation to stay when we've not even had a chance to see if I'm worthy on your sands, Weyrleader?" There's a subtle trace of humor in Gallagher's voice, but a lifted brow seeks an answer to the question. "As Pim's so eloquently pointed out, sir, I accepted the honor of standing when a dragon found me worthy. Obviously, I've an interest in changing my entire life or I'd have just stayed back in Crom." So who's to say Gallagher would want to stay a guard if he doesn't Impress? Who's to say the guard would still have him? "Bluerider Alida, you were a guard, right? Before you Impressed?" It might be suspicion or it might be a fact he's heard and is now wanting to confirm. "Would you say the choice to change your life was worth it?" Maybe it's a mark of respect that the man doesn't comment on Pim's question to K'del, to either make fun or answer, just giving it space to be asked and answered without his interruption.

Lansha arches one eyebrow at Gallagher's last question, as if the other candidate had just lost his mind asking a rider if she regretted Impressing. He stays silent for now, interested in hearing Alida's response. His attention is divided between the conversation and the eggs on the sand.

K'del's quick to say, with a shake of his head, "Not at all. Every Candidate is given that opportunity, and you will certainly be afforded the same. It's certainly not my intention to suggest that anyone's choices are invalid, or in any way up for-- well, you know." It's kind of a lame ending, but since he also needs to answer Pim, that's all Gallagher is going to get. "In most cases, a person's Searched by a dragon - picked out, because they seem to have some kind of special something that makes them suited to a dragon. People in Weyrs ask to Stand, sometimes, though, and in most cases we'll say yes-- weyrfolk have that right."

Good thing her hand's already lifted to cover her small smile with a fake scratch, since Alida's suddenly grinning furtively at Pim's comment about Gallagher, the guard-candidate obviously (and again) found lacking by the weyr's resident. And then that question comes, though the bluie bats not an eyelash at it, simply bobbing her head almost gravely to Gal, then noting unhesitatingly, "It was. But, though I'm a rider, I'll always be a Guard, too...even if it ain't listed first on my creds, anymore." As Gallagher should well know, all the skills, knowledge, experiences of their chosen 'craft' will nearly always be utilized in some fashion or another by their ilk...and the 'mindset' of such will never leave them as long as they live. Much as on distant Earth: there is no such thing as a 'former' Marine. It's listening to the rest of what the male has to say that dissuades her from commenting more, his comments to K'del finding her quietly agreeing, though something in her green gaze remains watchful, vaguely remote as she studies Gal. Caution: it does a body good. K'del's more affable, quick response to the candidate earn him a thoughtful look, though the bronzer's answer for Pim is followed by a rather laconic, dryly humored, "Depends on the dragon." Smirk.

Pim listens but she's most interested just now in K'del response to her questioning. And it ends with her looking thoughtfully droopy at the answer he gives her. "Oh," she says, dropping her gaze away from the bronzerider again to glance back toward the sands. "Okay. I didn't know." And she obviously doesn't consider herself a weyrfolk or she might question that further. But for now she falls silent and even goes so far as to eye an escape route.

Gallagher catches the look on Lansha's face, and he silently answers the look with one of his own. It says: what? But then both K'del and Alida have answers for him. For K'del, he simply inclines his head, not pursuing the matter further. Quitting while he's ahead, maybe, or at least while he's still allowed to be a candidate. Alida's words about being a guard strike some sort of harmony with the brunette and he gives a simple nod to them. While Pim is getting her question answered, his eyes flick back toward Lansha, "What about you? Were you asked or did you ask?" To Stand. And beyond to Alida, "And you?" He arches a brow, extending the question to the already dragon-claimed blonde. But just because he's asking doesn't mean he missed K'del's answer or Pim's answer. So now he has a question for K'del as well. "What about refugees, sir? In this unusual time, are they given the right to ask to stand?"

Lansha cranes his neck a bit to get a better look at one of the eggs. "Ooh, I like that pink one," he mutters to himself. He glances over at Gallagher. "Me? Oh, it's all her fault." He points at Alida. "Well, Ilicaeth's, anyway. And I'm sure she's still regretting it. Her blue Searched me. I like it better that way, really. It's more...I don't know, I guess it's not really traditional, since most weyrbred are just asked to stand. Romantic, maybe? There's just something special about that moment when a dragon looks at you and sees something in you that says, 'You could be rider material.' I would never think of asking to Stand. It's not your place to know if you're the right person to be on the sands. It's entirely up to the dragons, or people who've been around dragons all their lives. When you grow up in a Weyr, it's something you think and dream about your whole life. I guess the only thing better would be the Impression itself. Maybe if you Impress, you'll understand."

K'del seems to find something very... strange about the way Lansha talks because he says, "All weyrfolk are allowed, and indeed encouraged, to ask to stand. It's their right, and they should feel free to take it. It doesn't force a dragon to choose them, only provides a dragon a better opportunity to do so. And I rather imagine no one understands until they've Impressed." Lansha, therefore, included. "The refugees would also have that option, certainly. While they're here, they're residents of our Weyr... and it wouldn't hurt for some of them to give something back. It was the same when we had exiles." His gaze slides back towards Pim, thoughtfully. "If you wanted to Stand," he says, then, "you'd be welcome to ask. As would any resident."

That look of wanting to escape brings something of a predatory look to Alida's features for a few moments, the guard in her surfacing almost instinctually. And then the moment of suspicion passes, the blonde chalking it up to her own nature, training...and the other female's apparently feeling ill-at-ease in present company. Lansha gets a quick once-over when he catches the other candidate's eye, her braided head then turning back towards Gallagher when he nods to her answer. After awaiting the younger male's answer to the brown-haired guard's inquiry, she lips off a casual, "Asked." And isn't Quinlys rather sorry about Ollie's choice, now. A sudden head-quirk from her might signal the blonde's instant interest in how K'del again might respond to the male guard's pointed inquiries, but her gaze has moved to Lansha, his rather romantic words of dragons and Searching again 'inspiring' her to lip off a second, slightly sarcastic, "Special moment when a dragon fuckin' gobbers on ya, y'mean." Eyeroll, snerk. K'del's words for Ilicaeth's searchee have her nodding a few times in agreement, her gaze then flicking over to Pim, leveling firmly upon her. Waiting.

Pim's gaze cuts over toward Gallagher, who seems quite adept at sticking his nose into the business of other people. But she's torn on how annoyed she wants to look because it's a question she's actually interested in being answered. And then it is answered, but Lansha's comments seem to have wilted her remaining confidence. "I just thought... I mean, I'm here. And they're there." The eggs that she vaguely gestures at. "I haven't really met any dragons that noticed me," her voice is starting to sound a little wavering now. She might cry. "And... and I don't even know who I'd ask." The uncomfortableness and attention and her own uncertainty are clearly starting to overwhelm her. There's a tear on her cheek and more in her eyes.

Lansha's eyes widen and his jaw drops. "You mean I could've asked?" He throws his head back and shouts, dramatically, "Why didn't anybody TELL me?" Then he regains his composure and clears his throat. "Ahem. Just kidding! But no, I really couldn't do that, it would just be too presumptuous of me. I'd rather let the dragons decide. But you're right, I don't really know what it's like, either." He leans over to look at Pim. "Aww, honey, don't cry." His voice drops to a whisper. "I'll give you a big hint who to ask: he's standing right in front of you."

"Uh-huh." It's a drawn out word. Gallagher stares at Lansha's young face for a moment, measuring. His dark blue eyes remain there while K'del responds. It strays away for only a moment while Alida answers him. But then Lansha's shouting, and Gallagher's eyes are narrowing. "A couple of things, kid," His baritone manages to be civil, but there's an edge as he addresses his fellow candidate, maybe the timing of his interruption is an attempt at kindness to Pim, maybe providing distraction for the eyes that made her uncomfortable before. "Just to help you broaden your world view, Lansha," New though he is to the barracks, names are easy to come by, and at least it proves he knows Lansha's name isn't kid. "I grew up right here and didn't dream away my life thinking of dragons, and Szadath's finding me suitable was anything but romantic, not that I'm any less honored by the opportunity." Clearly, Gallagher, who has more than a handful of turns on Lansha, is a weyrbrat of a different flavor.

K'del, not a weyrbrat at all, just... stops. And closes his eyes. And takes a deep breath. His relatives - if that's what they are - have turned to stare at the group, who are making enough noise to be obvious. Finally, he takes another breath, opens his eyes again, and turns his attention on to Pim. "If you would like to Stand for Iesaryth and Vhaeryth's clutch, Pim, then we would be delighted to have you." Everyone else? He's going to ignore them, at least for this moment.

Lansha straightens up as Gallagher addresses him, then bursts out laughing. "I guess that was a little exaggeration. I mean, Ilicaeth nearly spat all over me. Not very romantic. But that one moment is what I was thinking of, when it happened. I nearly hyperventilated."

"Oh fer Faranth's sake..." Alida mumbles barely under her breath at Pim's reaction, the blonde turning her gaze away from the other female to roll her eyes ceiling-ward, scrunch her nose up. and sigh darkly. To Lansha's facetious and loud inquiry comes the bluerider's firm, rather tart, "I think bein' asked by a dragon's more legit." Pause. "Big mouth." Translated, perhaps: more fair. And hopefully, Iesaryth's not glaring at the kid, ready to bite off his head. With Lansha's next words to Pim comes a small dropping of her forehead into her palm, the woman then sitting up and rising to her feet...her features now of the 'poker' variety. This has now officially become 'too much' for her. Ick. Cue a sudden stab of her finger towards Gallagher and his response to Lansha, as if to silently say, 'He's got it right!' That Szadath picked him has the woman's curiosity piqued again, though she files such information away for later perusal. The atmosphere's too rife with excessive teenaged emotion for someone like her to want to stay. Nope, do not want to be part of this anymore. "I got shit ta' take care uv'. Later, folks." A significant look is leveled at Gallagher before her greens give a cursory swipe all over everyone, a small nod encompassing them all before the blonde steps away from her former seat, and takes the stairs back down towards the exit two at a time. Let me the fuck out of here!

The bronzerider is saying words. Words that she's happy to hear. Well, happy enough to hear. But other people are saying other words and Pim just stares at K'del for a few moments like she's embarrassed and guilty all at the same time. "I do. But..." She glances at Alida, looking hurt, and any questions she has over the legitimacy of this acceptance are left unasked. "I do," she repeats earnestly, "If it's really okay."

Gallagher seems unbothered by Lansha's response of laughter. It doesn't make him any less serious when he adds, "One would also think that a weyrbrat would know better than to shout in the hatching galleries where it might get him eaten by a protective clutchparent," to the things Lansha might want to add to his world view. He glances up as Alida leaves, catching her look and giving a level one of his own in answer. If Gallagher were a nicer person, perhaps he'd comment something about it being sweet that Lansha was so touched by being asked to Stand, but unfortunately, Gallagher doesn't really do sweet. He might, however, do hero as he directs his eyes toward Pim and K'del. "If that's settled, perhaps you'd permit me the honor of escorting you to the barracks and telling you who you don't want to bunk near because they're stinky in their sleep." Well, it was almost chivalrous. So much for being a more mature candidate.

Lansha yays! and claps (quietly) for Pim. "Congratulations, sweetie! See, what'd I tell you?" He sees the dragons staring toward the stands and gulps. "Er, sorry! I'll be quiet now." He twists his fingers over his lips as if buttoning them.

It seems to please K'del, Pim's reaction. "Of course it's okay," he tells her, firmly. "It's-- excellent. Good. Congratulations." Alida's reaction has him glancing after her, perhaps even faintly amused in a muted, restrained kind of way; "Good. What a good idea, Gallagher." Ah, yes, he knows the candidate's name. "Why don't you... yes." Something. His gaze slides from one candidate to the next, and then to the next, and he shakes his head. "I am going to go deal with my nieces and nephews. If you'll all excuse me?"

Pim smiles briefly through her weird little emotional breakdown, lifting a hand to wipe at her eyes. Gallagher might not be her first choice of... anything, maybe, but she probably doesn't feel like she's in a good position to be picky right now. "Thank you, sir," she says to K'del before a sniffle has her looking at her volunteer escort.

Gallagher, for once, can't help himself in staring, right at Lansha, eyes flared briefly before narrowing. It was that buttoning gesture that did it. The stare doesn't last rudely long though; he's volunteered himself. Gal might not be Pim's first choice, but look, he has a handkerchief that he produces from a pocket and offers to the younger girl as he stands. It's even embroidered with flowers around the edge in a way that's probably too feminine for what a guard should be carrying. He offers it without much attention to the gesture, instead saying, "Ready to brave the snow?"

Pim eyes the handkerchief for a few moments before reaching to take it. She glances over the embroidery but doesn't say anything to him about it. "Thanks. Yeah, I'm good." She offers another glance toward Lansha, frowning as she dabs at her eyes.

Lansha puts a hand against his chest as he sees Gallagher offer Pim a lacy handkerchief, his expression saying "That's so sweet!" without him actually speaking. Nope. 'Cause his lips are buttoned. He beams at Pim and follows them out and back to the Candidates' Quarters.

Gallagher, who'd been stripped down to his off-white undershirt reaches to the pile of fabric that must be his winter layers and pulls the dull brown garments over his head. "Then, let's." Now that he, too, is ready. There's just the broom to see to on their way out, setting it with the small collection of others left for that purpose as he precedes Pim out.