Logs:Paige Is Searched
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| RL Date: 5 July, 2008 |
| Who: Paige, A'riste, X'den, T'aren |
| Involves: Fort Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: While searching for Nerine, Paige finds herself walking arm-in-arm with T'aren; the latter soon comes up with an excellent idea for the former to get rid of her small hold misconceptions: Why not stand as a candidate? |
| Where: Records Room, Fort Weyr |
| When: Day 21, Month 12, Turn 16 (Interval 10) |
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| "I'm sure a clever lad like you will do just fine," T'aren replies with an amused smile as his fingers roll the long, wide schematic hide up along with some others there, and they're inserted into a wooden tube for travel purposes. He sits on one of the stools, having just cleared the spot on the table in front of him of hides, talking to Xhaiden who sits nearby. "They wanted me to go Smith, and in truth, I wouldn't mind it if thread really stops like they say it will, to try to go and learn a thing or two if we get back into a proper interval. But I was Weyrleader at Igen when they said it was coming back, so I can't say as I think I'll ever trust anyone telling me thread is going away for a good long while again." Shoulders roll in a dismissive 'that's just how it is' shrug. "But do attempt it. All the candidates ought to. Little boats for everyone!" Paige looks rather confused as she pokes her head in, eventually mincing into the cavern and offering the cluster of familiar faces a quick smile. "Have y'all seen Nerine about?" she asks, even while blinking at T'aren after catching the tail end of 'little boats.' "Lil boats?" she repeats, befuddled. She can't help but to sniff just a little, mouth quirking upward. Why, it does smell like hides. Who'd have thought? Xhaiden looks to his shoulder were his firelizard usually sits and frowns a bit that the creature isn't there. "I think a lot will rest upon the firelizard being able to use the craft. At least, that will be my trick of things." He taps the side of his head as he shares a rare secret. "I am glad that thread will stop falling. With our without a dragon. Although I guess it's more imporant to have the purpose with a dragon hmm?" He turns and withdraws a blank sheet of hide. "Sir," Aeriste inquires from the entry, having caught the end of what T'aren had been saying, "It's possible to train at crafts once Thread is gone? It's not all just oiling and drilling and..." There's a heavy winter coat slung over his arm, and his cheeks still have color from having recently been outside. He moves forward, toward the bronzerider and Xhaiden. And to Paige, he shakes his head. "I haven't." Hazel gaze flicks to Paige as she addresses her query to himself, Xhaiden, and Aeriste. "Paige, right?" There's a grin from T'aren. And something a little unusual about the way he regards the young woman. "The one with the lovely rash from not rolling with someone in the garden? Of Balen Hold?" His attention is momentarily caught by the female. Perhaps there is a little bronzerider in him afterall! Teusath would be proud. "She was just here actually. I could help you find her if you like." His smile is all genuine willingness to be of service as the tube is hefted, "Or we could take a walk down to the lake to check the conditions. If its frozen at all already there might be a bit of a delay for those boats." A rather haphazard look is tossed to Xhaiden and Aeriste, "You two can come along if you like." To Xhaiden, a smile, "Aye. Its more important to have purpose of thread with the dragon. I impressed in the interval. It was interesting to learn about all the duties during an interval as they differ from during a pass. Lots less drills, though we have to keep with those also so they're not forgotten before the next pass." This seems to partially answer Aeriste's question to, and he adds, "I asked Weyrwoman Zahava about that the other night. She's of a 'wait and see' opinion." An arm is proffered to Paige, "Shall we?" "Thanks, Aeriste. And right, not rollin', " Paige replies, still looking more than just a little confused; the unwarranted attention draws a flush to her cheeks, and her chin ducks slightly. "Could ya? That'd be wonderful. Wanted ter - ter give her somethin' if'n I can track her down." Hesitantly, she curls her arm about T'aren's, shrugging. "Sure, why not." Feigned nonchalance. Xhaiden rolls up the hide swiftly and tucks it under his arm. There's a look of uncertainty as he sizes up Paige and then grins to Aeriste, "I think that I will call it a night. I'm afraid I have some research to do here anyway." THe idea of being left alone gives his eyes a certain gleam. "Good to see you Aeriste. And...." a sly grin to Paige, "I'm Xhaiden...afraid I have not had the pleasure. Although if you have a rash, perhaps I should not get too...familiar." "It wasn't all frozen," Aeriste states. "I was just out there. It's cold, but it seems like the ice is gone at least reasonably close to shore." 'Wait-and-see' seems to stymie whatever else he might have added, so he closes his mouth for a moment. T'aren's open flirting makes him look from Paige to the bronzer, but he offers no comment, particularly not when she takes it so well. All that he says is, very carefully and blandly, "I wouldn't want to, ah, interrupt. Unless you two want a one-man orchestra." Xhaiden gets a wry little smile, and a nod; the other young man can be sharp-tongued, but aren't they both? T'aren casts a glance over his shoulder to the other boys as he begins to meander towards the door, "Fine, there'll be no dancing in the snow-" There's a pause as he leans towards Paige to confess in an aside, "I'd probably crush your feet more than I would get the steps right. Soka was supposed to teach me to dance one of these turns, but now he's busy with this and that and-- well, I can always find someone else to teach me, right? Perhaps Candidate Aeriste would oblige." An amused look is tossed towards the lad. "Come if you like. I don't care. We're off to find Nerine. I told you once already, Candidate, I'm a father and a rider, nothing untoward." Because all riders are pure and innocent, right? "So, Paige, what brings you to Fort?" Casual chit chat? The Captain must be listening in and feeding lines, and out the door he heads. T'aren steps out of the Records Room. T'aren has left. Aeriste steps out of the Records Room. Aeriste has left. "Paige, " the slim girl supplies, giving Xhaiden a shy smile. "Although, dun got no rash anymore. Healers took care of it, fortunately." And it was an allergic reaction besides! Still, she grins faintly up at the bronzerider at his aside, starting into a reply with, "Well, m'aunt ... " as they head out. You step out of the Records Room. Inner Caverns Lower than the Living Cavern above, this room is still a large, bustling place. Hearths heat some of the areas here, allowing elderly and ill residents to rest here rather than mount the steps to the Living Cavern above. Rooms open out to the storerooms, the children's areas, the private rooms of staff members and some of the residents. Laundry rooms and bathing areas down one set of stairs draw near-constant traffic throughout the day. Two long corridors lead off of here, one to the east and one to the south, going to the 'crafter' and 'staff' hallways respectively. Noise drifts out from the curtain to the northeast that leads to the residents dorms, and a small bubble cavern to the north leads to the 'resident hallway'. A short flight of stairs to the west leads back to the Living Caverns. "Well, " Paige starts as they step out into the inner caverns, "m'aunt brought me here fer a visit that kinda got extended a bit, here and there. Wheedled a few more days outta my folks and sent a letter home sayin' I was a'thinkin' of stickin' 'round a bit longer, maybe t'work in the stables or somethin'. S'very different from what I expected, but hafta admit that s'not bad here, not bad at all. Jus' different." By a whole lot, in some ways - and fundamentally, not so different in others, like the population of teenaged boys. Some things are just universal. "If you need my assistance," Aeriste drawls to T'aren, visibly shoving his discomfort into a Harper-shaped box and taking on, instead, an air of cheerful insouciance, "In knowing where to place your feet, I'll endeavor to be gentle with you. Wouldn't do to teach you the wrong steps, you might have me cleaning latrines for a week. But *I* get to lead." T'aren snorts at Aeriste's words, "How am I supposed to learn to dance properly if I'm not even learning to dance my part of the dance? Doesn't make any sense." This is stated rather insistently, "Mayhaps I could dance /with/ Paige here and you could show me how to step properly." He casts a smile onto the girl, "You'd dance with me, wouldn't you, Paige." Its not really a question so much as an assumption as he continues along down through the tunnels that lead them into the bowl. "Just think of it this way, Candidate, the better a teacher you turn out to be, the faster we get back indoors." Because its sharding well going to be cold outside! And is, too!, as a light snow falls over the Weyr. To Paige then, he'll comment, "I can't say as I know what its like coming from a Hold, but Weyrs really are lovely places. I hear we get some rather vicious rumors spread about us in smaller Holds. Do you know what I heard from one cotholder who was up last Turn Over Day? That bronzeriders steal away Holder daughters and keep them hostage in their weyrs." He issues a bark of laughter at the very idea. Paige's flush just sort of lingers as they continue on through the corridors, expression unreadable. "I - could, " she says haltingly. "Ya dun seem like the sort that'd take advantage of a girl jus' after a dance. Or are ya?" If her shifty eyes are anything to go by, she's probably heard some of those vicious rumors in smaller holds. "Y'mean, " and she's at least half serious, "they dun - go after holder girls jus' ter - jus' because they're innocent?" She has to assume mostly not since she's yet to be spirited away to anyone's weyr, but one can't be too careful, no? "My name," the Harper lad states mildly, "Is Aeriste." He shrugs into his coat, and it flares behind him in a swath of rich harper blue as he strides along swiftly after them. And sings helpfully, whilst holding his arms out as if he danced with a girl - or T'aren - himself, and steps lightly in a waltz: "There once was a bronzer from Fort / And he was a congenial sort. / He wanted to dance / To get into..." And he pauses delicately, and then ponders, and resumes. "...To share with her *romance* / To more properly pay her court." "Certainly not," T'aren responds almost immediately, expression serious. But he can't hold it for long as he says, "It takes three dances at least." They might not find it amusing, but the bronzer is amusing himself infinitely. And perhaps the potential reactions to this particular brand of humor is what has the trio met by a hulking mocha-bronze dragon virtually blocking their way more than a few steps into the bowl. "Oh, come on, Captain, it was only a joke." Tru insists, "They know it was a joke. Right?" This 'right' is directed to Aeriste and Paige. Of course, the attention of both dragon and rider is stolen by Aeriste's little ditty, and a brow raises. And if dragons could raise their brow, Teusath probably would too! Then there's a wuffle of amusement echoed by the rider's laughter, "Well done, Candidate /Aeriste/. Though I'm not entirely sure any of that is accurate. I am a father, you know." Did he really have to say it for the 10th time? Apparently. "Besides all of that, Paige, what makes you think Holder girls are so special?" A brow raises curiously. Though apparently, the dragon thinks there might be something special about this particular Holder girl, his swift whirling gaze returned to her with decided, if subtle, interest. Paige relaxes a bit at that. Three dances? Well, one shouldn't hurt, in that case. Stopping short as a mass of bronze all but blocks their passage, the dragon momentarily arrests her attention, but not enough to fully distract her from Aeriste's charming limerick; her flush deepens, expression sheepish. "Aw, Aeriste, cut it out, " she mutters. "I dun think he really intends to - how'd you say - 'pay me court.' We're lookin' for Nerine." Right, because walking arm-in-arm with a man is perfectly normal people-searching behavior for her. "They ... " and she hesitates before plunging on, " ... they're not - loose like weyrbred women, I always heard? Ma always used ter say that a Weyr spells nothin' good fer a girl's dignity or somethin' like that. S'why m'sister can't go visit our brother 'till she's old 'nough ter know how ter - keep outta trouble." Like getting swept into the arms of random dragonriders. T'aren passes though the double doors into the Central Stores. T'aren has left. Aeriste passes though the double doors into the Central Stores. Aeriste has left. You pass though the double doors into the Central Stores. You leave for the Tunnel. You leave for the Bowl. Center of the Fort Weyr Bowl The Bowl of Fort Weyr, a large, featureless plain surrounded by steep mountain cliffs, stretches out around you. It is approximately oval in shape, about 2700 meters along the long axis running southwest to northeast, and about half that distance across the short axis. You stand in its approximate center. The soil of the bowl is somewhat sandy. To the northwest is the large cavern used for the Weyrling barracks. To the west is the fenced off area where the Weyr's herds are kept, and the lake shore is to the southwest. To the northeast can be seen the ledges for the junior queens and the weyrleaders. The large entrance to the Hatching Grounds can also be seen to the northeast and to the east are the Lower Caverns. The crew is halted just at the exit of the tunnel into the bowl, Teusath's hulking form all but blocking the exit, snow falling lightly outdoors. Paige and T'aren are arm in arm and Aeriste has just recited a clever limerick/ditty. Aeriste just eyes T'aren with no little amusement of his own. His gaze strays to Teusath, though, because the bronze is mighty and large and while the Harper Hall gets a good deal of traffic, there's a difference between seeing a dragon out a window, in passing, and standing nearly at one's feet. "In a weyr," he remarks absently, "Women can foster out children they get from liaisons. In a Hold, I suppose she can, but a woman's worth is still invested in," and his tone doesn't imply that he approves of it, "The children she bears and how big she can grow the holding- but that's pointless here, because riders give up their land allotments. In the crafts, it's too complicated to have any such things until you've been a journeyman for a good while..." "Loose?" T'aren scoffs, leaning closer to Paige, "Word to the wise, my dear. I know a good many female riders who would punch you as soon as hear you call them loose. Its like Aeriste calling me perverted in the infirmary." He shakes his head slightly, clicking his tongue in scolding. "But. Seems I've an excellent way for you to both stay at the Weyr and learn a bit more about these so-called loose women. The Captain," A gesture indicates that he means the bronze, "Would like me to ask you to do us the honor of standing for the clutch." He glances to Aeriste and his grin turns a touch wicked, tease obvious as he says, "Between the two of you, I'm sure you can sort out all the perverted men and loose women and how they get along. What do you say, Paige? Will you stand for Ciath and Soldreth's clutch?" Paige automatically flinches at the word 'punch.' "Sorry, didn' -- didn' mean it 'bout the riders, " she mutters, cheeks aflame. "S'just what I always heard. Dun mean I believe it." But then T'aren reveals his excellent idea, and the girl just stares at him, eyes rounding. "St - stand? As in, be a cand'date?" Totally incredulous, yep. "Yer kiddin', right? I mean, if'n you aren't ... I'm not fool 'nough t'turn down such a chance, although ma and my sister sure will be a'missin' me back home." Ah, but her aunt will be proud. "I'd do it, " she reiterates, "if'n yer - yer serious." Dazed? Just a little. Aeriste raises his hands, and opens his mouth to say something... but then T'aren speaks of Candidacy to Paige, and he just closes his mouth and says nothing at all save, warmly, "Congratulations." But his expression doesn't match his voice: the latter is warm, because she deserves that, but the former is absolutely, blankly neutral. "Nope. Serious. The Captain never kids about search." Again the bronze is indicated with a nod from T'aren. His hands clap together and rub in a gesture of delight. "Excellent. Then you'll both have plenty of time to help me learn to dance later. Perhaps where its warmer even. I'm sure you'll find Nerine in the barracks. Perhaps you," A glance flicks to the former Harper, "Candidate Aeriste, could escort Candidate Paige to the barracks and show her around while I go leave a note with the Headwoman to get her settled with a new knot and badge for the morning?" "Never kids, " Paige repeats, reduced briefly into a mechanical stupor. "Then, I - I guess I will. Am." Still in a state of shock, particularly when the bronzerider addresses her using her new, however temporary title, the new candidate just stands there, astounded. A little direction from Aeriste might well be necessary just to get her back inside. "Of course," Aeriste says pleasantly, and his face now matches his tone. "No trouble at all." And he gently shoos her toward the living cavern, though he doesn't actually touch her. "Come on, then. Welcome to the wonderful world of latrines, pestilent pustules, and wrinkled fingers." |
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