Logs:Exchange
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| RL Date: 29 September, 2015 |
| Who: Aiden, Z'kiel |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Z'kiel encounters Aiden in the galleries. Food is exchanged. |
| Where: Hatching Galleries, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 13, Month 12, Turn 38 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: Gray. |
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>---< Hatching Galleries, High Reaches Weyr(#290RJs) >-----------------------<
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. It's a little later in the afternoon and the day itself is gray and cool and a bit on muggy side - but at least no snow has fallen. The galleries are a popular place on days like this - and not just for the healthy clutch of eggs on display. Z'kiel, for his part, has found a spot somewhat near the eggs to settle in, a baby bronze firelizard tucked up in the crook of his arm. A cloth-wrapped parcel of something that might have either been lunch or possibly early dinner rests on the seat next to him. He's looking out over the eggs, forehead pinched, but with an otherwise unreadable expression for the time being. Aiden walks into the galleries and at first goes right to the railing to look at the sands and the eggs currently on it. Once a good look is given he turns back to the seats. The closest one is near Z'kiel, so Aiden walks over and addresses the rider. "Hello sir, is someone sitting here?" He indicates the space next to him. He himself has a bundle tied up that smells faintly of fresh bread. There's a slight narrowing of Z'kiel's eyes at that 'sir', but the grunt that follows is ambivalent at best. A sidelong look is spared to the approaching one, a look that turns cool and reptilian and clinical - at least until he looks away and back at the eggs again. He pulls his parcel a little closer to himself and motions at Aiden with a slight jerk of his chin. "No," is grated out in his distinctive, Igenite accent. "Sit." A beat. "It's a good spot." He remains more or less rigidly upright, his posture painfully pristine for the sake of the beast that's clearly napping on his bent arm. Aiden hesitates a moment before taking the seat and nods as he looks back at the eggs. "It is a good spot," he agrees. "I haven't had a chance to come see them, and they're the first I've seen personally. I've never been to a hatching myself." He puts the bundle on his lap and unwraps it, revealing twists of bread with yellow streaks from the cheese that had been baked into it. He looks at Z'kiel and offers, "Would you like one?" Hnnnh. It's a sound without weight, and yet. Z'kiel sucks his teeth and lifts his chin a bit at the eggs laid out. "Holder," is less a question and more an observation of the youth. On the heels of it: "More than were expected," says he of the spread. "Roszadyth might lay more." A glance is angled back to Aiden. "Get to see two clutches and two hatchings, if you're here for them. It's... something. Never watched one. It'll be strange to be up here for a change." The offering of the cheese bread is noted with a slight pinch to his features but, ultimately, he extends a hand to accept - and offer, in kind: "Some jerky in that cloth. Peppered. From Igen." Aiden smiles at the return offer. "Thanks. Yes, I'm from Balen Hold. My name is Aiden. It's nice to meet you." He looks back at the eggs again. "Two hatchings in a short space, I guess that usually doesn't happen. I bet nobody guessed there would be that many eggs either. Is the number of eggs a problem, do you think? Considering that the Beastcraft isn't allowing anybody to be searched? Not that that's the only place to get candidates from, but if others followed suit..." He trails off and takes a bite out of one of the other pieces of bread. "I met a Beastcraft apprentice the other day who said that anybody who breaks that rule has to pay the Craft back for their room and board." There's a slight nod of acknowledgement, confirmation, and agreement before he replies, "Z'kiel. Bronze Ahtzudaeth's. And Zen, here." There's a faint snort from him as "No one from Tillek," is added tangentially to the list. "But. I'm sure a lot of bets were lost on those. More might be lost on Roszadyth." A shoulder rises. Falls. "Not a betting man, so it doesn't matter. More worried about making sure they find theirs." A look askance is followed with a bland, "Doubt the other crafts will be that extreme. Seems like it'd hurt them in the long run. Be hard to recruit when that's the punishment for answering the call of dragons." Aiden smiles at the napping bronze firelizard when it's named and adds to the rider, "Well met Z'kiel." Another bite gone from his bread. "Oh, I hadn't heard that about Tillek. I don't bet either. Not that I have a lot to bet *with*, but my father trained me to originally be a steward and I helped with some of the record keeping. I learned to value my money. I also don't know enough about hatchings and eggs to make a good choice anyway." He nods with an ahh. "I hadn't thought about that, it hurting a craft. But you're right, I can see that happening. I'm glad it looks like the others won't follow suit, because it looks like the Weyr is going to need more candidates than they thought." A click of tongue on teeth precedes, "Good." It's a heavily uttered word, Z'kiel's reply to most everything encapsulated in that sound. The accepted roll is placed within the jerky parcel for now, while he lapses into silence for a little while. Just long enough to leave a buffer between Aiden's last words and his next. "Plenty within the Weyr that can stand. Other Crafts. Other Holds." He issues a lopsided shrug. "More worried about getting the right ones." There's an odd hazing of his eyes as that, the kind that suggests the dragon-rider bond being pulled into play. Then he shakes his head to clear it, snorts, and studies the eggs once again. Aiden nods "That's true. But it's supposed to work out in the end, isn't it? Somehow the dragon knows which one is the right one?" He leans closer. "Is it really as dangerous out there as I've heard it is? My mother is an assistant headwoman at the Hold, and another assistant kept telling stories about it. She was upset because her son was searched and she was worried about what 'horrible' things were going to happen to him. Although in his case he didn't impress but stayed at the Weyr." He smiles. "That started another series of horror stories which becamse more fantastical as they went along." "Usually." Z'kiel faces the eggs, but he's not looking at them - not now. "But. They can only pick from what they're given. Choice of a lifetime and minutes to make it in. So. More candidates is good. Makes it easier." There's a slight shake of his head for the concerns, though, and he adds, "Not too bad. Touchings help. Get you familiar with the eggs, the dam, the sire. Not sure how it'll go with that many." His mouth pulls to a side. "Sometimes people get hurt or killed. Usually only if they aren't careful. Same as hunting." There's a throaty grunt for the rest; another grim shake of his head. "Weyrlife isn't so different. Dragons are here, sure. And there are flights. Nudity. But it's not a horrible life." Aiden nods with a smile. "I haven't been here long, but I can see that too. It's different, but not completely. But don't worry I didn't have too many preconceptions. I figured some of her stories were a mother's panic. I have to admit I hadn't really thought much about life at a Weyr until it was decided my training was going to be at one. I'd only told the Bakers that I wanted to start my apprenticeship away from home, and they chose the place. So far so good." "Silly thing to worry about," Z'kiel replies. "But, mothers worry." He's silent again while he listens, with Aiden caught in his peripheral vision while he speaks. "Weyrbred. So. It's easier. Nothing to adjust to, except him." Eventually: "Didn't care for the Hold." Mostly observation, that. "Why?" It's not even a 'why here' type of question - that's answered, technically - but just that 'why'. The firelizard wakes up with a startled 'snrk' and looks around, wild-eyed, until he settles into slumber again. Aiden wraps up the remaining bread in it's bundle and leaves it on his lap. "My father is Steward of Balen Hold, and expected me to take his place someday. I have worked for him a few turns, I guess as an unofficial assistant steward. I did learn a lot of useful things, but I wasn't as interested in being a Steward as he was interested in me being one. So it was a little awkward when he found out I was learning to cook on my own with the intention of becoming a crafter." He shrugs. "He stopped talking to me, and I took that time to finally join." Hnnnh. again. Z'kiel reaches to collect his parcel of jerky and lone roll, while shifting to let him drop the slumbering firelizard into a safe pocket. "Some fathers are like that," is neutral, but contrasted by the slight darkening of his expression. "Hope the Weyr treats you better." And then he's up and on his feet, belongings gathered, and his feline-quiet stride threatening to take him out of earshot soon. Aiden smiles and nods "Thanks, and it is so far. I'm also hoping that he changes his mind. Or at least we can agree to disagree about my future." He looks up at Z'kiel hwen he stands. "It was nice meeting you," he says to the departing rider. |
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