Xanadu Weyr - Beach
The unerring range of subdued white rises and falls in a multitude of sandy dunes, creating an endless amount of tiny valleys constantly demolished and rebuilt by the frequent arrival or departure of a dragon. Smoothing out as it slopes gently to the edge of the deep blue water, the sand darkens and a shell here and there stands out for children to collect. The beach itself is set along a low cliff - the height lessoning as one heads eastwards, blocking a portion of the beach from direct access.
The wide wide stretch of water opens up to the east, the far distant shore way beyond the horizon and the beach curves ever so slowly round to east and west, distant arms of land embracing the wind-ruffled Caspian Lake. East leads up to the mouth of the Rubicon River, where the protecting cliff is merely an arms length higher then the sand, and beyond that, a winding road leading out of Xanadu's territory. Westwards, the beach narrows as the cliff swings out, leaving a path wide enough for dragons in single file before cutting in to the sheltered cove designated the Weyrling Beach. However, cut in the cliff face to the north are a variety of rough, wide staircases, providing access to the clearing and to the meadow.
A beautiful, lovely spring day with sunny skies and a gentle breeze. Not the kind of day when one wants to be cooped up indoors if one has any choice. Daneira has brought a piece of work down to the beach, sat down on a somewhat tatty-looking blanket that's been spread on the sand. Apparently something of a one-person picnic, too, with a basket near by, along with a ceramic jug and a crumb-dusted plate. A large piece of red fabric is stretched over a rectangular frame that she holds in her lap, careful stitches beginning to pick out a vague pattern in dark golden-yellow thread.
M'nol wanders up the beach from the Weyrling area, Faraeth flying over the shore, stretching his wings with Agate, Tourmaline, Bloodstone, and Jasper. Tiny Fossil is curled up around M'nol's neck asleep with food. When M'nol spots Daneira he gives a wave, "Hullo! How's your green doing?"
Daneira looks up, automatically looks around to see if there's anyone else the approaching boy might be addressing. Seeing no one in the immediate vicinity, a puzzled look is directed back to him. "Hello?" Lacking in recognition, though his question at least provides the other 2 to add to the equation and make 4. "Ohh, were you at the firelizard hatching the other day?" She smiles brightly, waggling a finger towards the hidden interior of the basket, "Sleeping, the precious little thing. I'm sorry, I don't… did you get one, too?"
M'nol chuckles, then nods, "By fluke, yes, I ended up with Fossil here," he indicates the tiny brown wrapped around his neck, "I wasn't really looking for a fifth, but I couldn't leave him cryin' there." He pauses, then, "Oh, M'nol, Faraeth's rider." He indicates the brown flying past in great sweeps.
Daneira's expression fully clears, now that it's confirmed that she wasn't actually formally introduced and being very rude by not remembering him. "Fifth? Goodness! How in the world do you keep them all in line?" Green eyes chase after the gesture, finding and following the flying young brown for a few moments. "Pleasure to meet you," she responds once her regard is back on the weyrling. "I'm Daneira, Journeyman Weaver. Which clutch is he from?"
M'nol grins, "Agate, the blue, was the hardest since he was my first. Otherwise I've mostly managed to keep 'em far enough apart to have one trained before the next comes along… And I don't so much keep them in line as call them to order when needed…. like the day they were throwing snowballs at the other weyrlings…" He chuckles softly again, "Pleasure to meet you, Daneira. Faraeth's from Avaeth's most recent clutch." As if knowing he's being talked about, Faraeth executes a slow turn, allowing the sun to glint off his well-oiled hide.
"I might come asking advice then," Daneira says, settling her frame off to one side since she's not getting any work done while talking. "Kapoia here is my first, and I haven't the first clue how to go about it. She seems a sweet-tempered little one, though." Talk of snowballs brings a reappearance of her grin. "Oh, they're great in snowball fights! We used to have the best battles up at Telgar when we were children, and the firelizards and even some of the more playful dragons would all join in." Waxing reminiscent, her gaze wandering and expression turning fond. It's the wandering gaze more than actual attention that allows her to catch sight of that showy turn, and she's properly appreciative, if laughingly so, "Oh, he's a handsome one and knows it, hmm?"
M'nol nods, pondering for a moment, "The real trick is to reward them for doing good and let them have their fun. Try to control them all the time and they'll leave." He continues to chuckle for the snowballs, "My four teamed up with Cale to drop a snowball the size of my head on Sigam. It was funny, but a little mean on their parts." M'nol glaces up at Faraeth, "Not just that, he wants all the girls to know it too," he sticks out his tongue in a clear 'ick' gesture, "sometimes I wonder if he'll ever stop flirting with every green who comes along."
Daneira nods, all serious. "As long as her fun doesn't involve tangling or stealing my threads, she can play as much as she wants. Are toys any good? You know, giving them something they /can/ play with in place of what they can't? Or will that just make them want the 'can't have' more?" Teach her, oh wise one! Ahem. She giggles, wickedly cheerful, over the massive snowball dumpage. "What's mean about it? Unless they rolled rocks or ice chunks up in it, too…." At his expression, her laugh gets all the brighter. "You'll be lucky, lad. I don't think they tend to outgrow much in their personalities. But don't worry. You'll learn to like it." Unspoken 'when you're older.'
M'nol shrugs, "It depends on the flit, I think, but it's generally a good idea so long as the 'can have' is shinier than the 'can't have'." He chuckles again, "It was mean because they took it /between/ to catch him off guard. Made the snow colder, too." He cocks an eyebrow at Daneira, "Everyone keeps saying that… I dunno, him eyeing V'dim's green yesterday was just distrubing."
Jessamin ambles on down to the beach, her sewing basket packed full and held tightly against her. A tiny bronze flit clings to her shoulder, cheeping with curiosity at everything he sees. Four more follow along behind, wheeling and whirling through the air in an aerial ballet. Jessamin looks more than a little bit sun-kissed, hinting at perhaps a bit of time spent elsewhere.
Daneira's sat on a spread, somewhat tatty blanket. The evidence of a small picnic are shown in the basket, ceramic jug and crumby plate that are next to her. Stretched over a rectangular frame, currently set aside, a large swatch of red fabric with the beginnings of an ochre design at one corner. Her own tiny friend isn't in immediate evidence, though for some reason she's got her hand inside the basket and it isn't being withdrawn with food or drink. Maybe a clue? Since she's not really paying attention in that direction, it's likely Jessamin will have to actually speak before she's noticed.
Jessamin smiles as she approaches, calling out cheerily. "Hello there! Didn't I see you at the flit hatching?" She stops a short distance away, her eyes flicking between the basket, ochre-bedecked cloth, the remains of the picnic, and Daneira. Her eyes widen slightly with recognition at the knot, and she inclines her head. "Good to see you again, Journeyman. Mind if I join you?"
Daneira looks up, tilts her head for a moment before deciding that yes, the called hello is for her. Bright, beaming smile as she waves with her unoccupied hand, "Hello to you, too! I was there, so probably… oh wait, aren't you the one who lured the bronze?" The latter reaction earns a grimace and a snort, "Oh, pish tosh. Unless there's some reason for it, formality can go sink. My name's Daneira." She pats the blanket, plenty of room! "C'mon, sit sit. I haven't gotten as familiar as I should have been doing. How long have you posted here? Which one are you?"
Jessamin nods, chuckling softly. "Just a matter of respect, that's all." She lowers herself to sit down on the blanket, setting her sewing basket down in front of her. The little bronze in question swivels his head to peer at Daneira, trilling softly. "Jessamin. I was actually Searched here from Ista oh… was it really two Hatchings ago? So I haven't quite been here a full Turn yet." She smiles warmly, tucking a stray lock of honey gold hair behind her left ear—and out of the way of inquisitive hatchlings. "I didn't actually seek apprenticeship until after Avaeth's clutch hatched. I was a seamstress before then, so it was a natural extension. And it sure beat sitting around on my thumbs!"
Daneira laughs lightly, "Duly and justly rebuked, Apprentice." Her green eyes sparkle with humour to match her laugh. It might be the laugh, or possibly the trill, but something finally wakes up her little flame sprite, who crawls up the sleeve of her jacket to settle at the crook of her elbow with a curious little chirp. "Ohhh, so who are you studying under then? I got a list of names, and assigned apprentices, but I don't remember seeing yours. Did you take lessons at the Hall before, for your sewing? Or are you family-taught?" Curious, curious is the small redhead. But it's always good to know who you might end up working with. "Are you following that line of study, the tailoring? Or are you looking at another specialty?"
Jessamin says "Family-taught. My mother was the seamstress of the lot, and my father was the Harper." She smiles a bit, ducking her head. "I have to admit, it was a close call for a little while as to which Craft I would pursue. Weavercraft seemed a logical starting point." Her little bronze crawls down to the crook of her elbow to peer at Daneira's flit, much to her wincing dismay. "Easy with the claws there, Bahrain." She turns her gaze back to Daneira, and smiles. "Currently studying under Loeashia. And I'm leaning strongly towards dyes for a specialty. I enjoy tailoring, adore quilting, and dyes encompass both.""
"Yeah, it's not always easy, deciding what you want to do. I got pretty lucky, with that." Daneira says quietly. Kapoia flutters her wings at Bahrain, stretching her nose out and chittering a verbose little hello, all happy trills and cheeps. "Mmn, dying huh? I could never get into that, myself. All the mixing and measuring and ingredients. If I wanted to cook, I'd be a baker!" She laughs though, teasing and cheerful. After saying her hellos, the tiny green on her elbow turns to some insistent squawking, making the woman wince slightly. "What? Alright alright I'll get you some… oh, drat." Peering into the basket, finding it empty. "No more food. I'm sorry, Jess… we'll talk more later, yes?" Swiftly gathering up her things, but leaving the blanket behind for others to enjoy. Empty tummy must be fed!
M'nol watches the girls chat briefly, then utters a muffled curse as Faraeth lands himself on the beach, spraying sand as he seems to enjoy. M'nol gives Jessa an apologetic half-smile, "He likes you if that makes it any better."
Jessamin bursts out laughing, nodding with understanding. "I know the feeling. Bahrain's one greedy little maw…" He starts squawking as well, creeling as his eyes begin to whirl red. "Oh, shells… again? You're worse than any of my other four!" She rolls her eyes a little bit. "Well, with any luck… ah, there!" Turquoise swoops down to the water, trumpeting his presence to all who will hear. When he comes back up, there is a wriggling, silvery fish in his claws. Jess has no time to duck from the spraying sand, laughing as she sees the source. "Hello there, M'nol! And to you, Faraeth!"
M'nol chuckles as Fossil starts up as well, "I think they feed off of eachother. If one's hungry, they're all hungry." His own four come in behind Faraeth carrying a catch for the little brown. Faraeth gives Jess a happy wuffle, nosing her gently and must've said something since M'nol begins to chuckle more loudly, "He says we have the same number of little ones."
Jessamin grins, chuckling softly. "Good, maybe the older ones can catch some fish for the rest." Speaking of which, Turquoise wings his way over to the blanket, dropping a wriggling, flopping fish almost right into Jessamin's lap. "Eeeek! Turquoise, really!" She squeals a little bit as she pushes the thing off of her lap, Bahrain looking at her curiously. Isn't food supposed to be good?
M'nol nods, "perha-" he's cut off by her squeal and the subsequent diving trill as Fossil descends on the fish. He chuckles for Jessa, "Seems he knows who really gets the fish." Faraeth gives a draconic chuckle as Agate and Bloodstone decide that Jessamin is a good place to deposit their offering as well.
Jessamin squeals, flapping her hands about to try and dislodge the fish from her lap. Bahrain, on the other hand, decides to pounce, making things even -more- of a mess. Jess picks him and his fishy meal up, deposits both on the blankt, and tries to clean herself up. "Shards… it's going to take forever to get the smell out of that… my new skirt, too!"
M'nol nods, "We did our first manned flight a few days ago, but it'll be awhile still before I can go /between/ or even fly long distances." He sighs, "And then I'll be in a wing and who knows how much time I'll have to flit all over Pern to watch you impress." He grins as he's hugged, glad he left his jacket in teh barracks
Jessamin says "What if I made the request to your wingleader when it's time? Would that help?" She smiles, thinking back to her last time on the Sands. "It'd sure be nice having someone there for a change. The last two times were kind of lonely that way."
M'nol nods, "I'd probably get time off for the hatching. I think most do. And I'd love to be there to watch you, no one should be alone on the sands."
Jessamin smiles, tilting her head. "Maybe sometime you could visit Western. I wasn't sure what to expect there, but it's really beautiful. Hot as anything, not like here. But you could get used to it pretty quickly." She chuckles, touching her face in memory; it still looks more than just a little sun-kissed. "Got to watch out for sunburn. I kind of found that out the hard way."
M'nol smiles, nodding slowly, "When you get searched, I'll visit, no doubt about it. Maybe even bring you a present."
Jessamin chuckles, and nods. "Well, the knot's not on my shoulder yet, so let's not get ahead of ourselves. Even though it really -would- be nice to be able to try again." Seemingly sated for now, his belly full of good, fresh fish, Bahrain crawls back into Jessamin's lap—fishy smell and all. She wrinkles her nose a little and laughs. "You're going to need another bath and oiling, mister stinky-wings."
M'nol chuckles as well, "Stinky-wings? That's quite the nickname." Fossil finishes as well, but instead of going to M'nol, crawls over to the other four curled up together in the sun. "I suppose you're right, but if nothing else, I know they'll let you stand here again. Once you're searched you can be a candidate until you're too old."
Jessamin nods slowly. "There's that, too. I'm not going to give up. Either I find my lifemate, or I age out of the Sands." She reaches her hand out to Faraeth, offering scritchies. "I don't know, which do you think will come first?"
M'nol ponders how to respond as Faraeth extends his head out to Jessa, rumbling happily for the scritches. Finally, M'nol says, "I don't think you'll age out."
Jessamin coughs lightly, chuckling and gently thumping Faraeth on the snout. "Silly, have you even had the mating flight talk yet?" She blinks, looking a little confused. "Which one of you said that, anyways?"
M'nol goes quite for a moment as Faraeth gives a happy wuffle, then says, "Blame him. I didn't say anything that would bring up thoughts of mating flights… adn no… we haven't… I think V'dim said that would be at the year mark."
Jessamin chortles softly as she shakes her head. "Well, I think that's one subject to steer clear of for the time being. Better that talk come from V'dim. I'm not going to upset the course of your training." She scritches Faraeth's eyeridges gently, warbling softly. "Never had a dragon talk to me this much before. It only happened one other time… but that's another tale entirely." She grins at both dragon and rider. "I'm certainly not objecting. It's… nice, to not feel quite so alone in here." She taps the side of her head with her free hand.
M'nol nods, "I know what you mean. Before Faraeth I didn't know what I was missing, but now? I can't imagine being without him." He watches silent for a moment as Jess scritches the very happy Faraeth, then says, "He says you're easy to talk to because he knows you, but it's still more difficult. He can't do it all the time."
Jessamin nods with understanding, and a warm smile. "Still, I'm grateful for when it does happen. It's a little bit of happiness. Kind of like being around friends, making new ones, and keeping up with the old."
M'nol nods, "Especially with him, his voice is so soft and smooth when he's not angry."
Jessamin shivers a little bit. "I'd hate to see an angry dragon. That can't be a pretty sight." She reaches up with her other hand now, scritching both of Faraeth's eyeridges at once, chuckling. "Guess the way to keep this one happy is lots of scritches, oiling, and good food in the belly."
M'nol nods, "It's kind of scary the first time, but when they're yours you learn how to re-direct 'em." He chuckles as well, "He likes oiling the most. If V'dim hadn't forbidden it, I'd take you up on his back."
Jessamin nods. "Better not go against V'dim, then." She smiles to herself. "You know… I don't even really mind *between* that much. I'm starting to get used to it, as often as I've been going back and forth between here and Western lately. Sure, it's cold. Sure, it's silent. But you're still never alone, and if you do your job right, you're safe." She tilts her head thoughtfully. "More for V'dim to tell you. I'd really better shut up."
M'nol chuckles, "What's the worst he could do? He already threatened to ground faraeth and I if we so much as thought about going /between/ early. No way I'd do that, not worth it. /Between/ scared me the first time, when Seryth took me to the Yoko, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. It's just another space, after all."
Jessamin smiles broadly, glancing briefly down at Bahrain. "Then you've seen the same thing I have." She tilts her head thoughtfully. "Was that really the Bahrain I was on, though? I mean, I saw things up there with the name, but didn't two of the Dawn Sisters finally fall from the skies? I'm a little confused." She shakes her head, and grins all the same. "Still… it made quite an impression. I never want to forget, so mister stinky-wings has the name now."
M'nol nods solemnly, "It was… breathtaking… I thought I was on the Yoko, but I didn't explore very much." He eyes Bahrain somewhat sideways, "I'd wondered why you named him that. It does seem to suit him somehow. First bronze I've ever seen with orange stripes."
Jessamin smiles, reaching down to scoop up Bahrain into the crook of her arm, bringing him close enough where he could touch noses with Faraeth if he wanted. His eyes whirl softly turquoise as he looks at his much larger cousin.
Faraeth wuffles gently and noses the tiny bronze gently as M'nol chuckles, just watching the tableau.
Bahrain creels softly, extending his little neck and touching noses with the brown dragon. Hello, are you a friend?
Jessamin grins widely as she watches the two, her eyes misting over a little at the surprising tenderness of the moment. "So sweet!"
Faraeth rumbles gently, « Of course, little one. » M'nol nods, watching the two interact, "He does seem to have a liking for them. Sees them like children or somesuch."
Jessamin says "I guess… I can understand that." She smiles softly at the little flit in her arm. "I guess that's how they're like to me, too. Something of a mix between friends, and children I might not otherwise have.""
M'nol nods, "Me too. They're so much fun to have, but at the same time they can be hard if you have too many little ones at a time. I'm so glad to have Agate and Bloodstone to help with Fossil. Don't know what I'd do without them."
Jessamin nods, and smiles. "It can be a little chaotic. But I love it to bits." She chuckles, and nods slowly. "The older ones are a great help. Turquoise is turning out to be the best fisher of them. And, he seems to have found a friend in Western already, bless his heart." She thumps Turquoise's nose gingerly, chortling at his startled expression. "Not that he can do much about it for a few more months yet, mind you."
M'nol nods, "Even with Faraeth I've gotten so used to having them around that I don't know what I'd do without 'em." He chuckles, yeah, "Bloodstone's been flirting on and off with ever gold he meets. Either that or he's just really friendly."
Jessamin says "Turquoise never seemed to give much thought to the females before. But now, there's this one pretty green flit in Western that's drawing him out of his shell." She bursts out laughing, and shakes her head. "It was really quite adorable to see.""
M'nol smiles, perhaps a tad sadly, "I wish I could've. I've missed so much with the up and downs of being a Weyrling. I can't wait to graduate and get back out into the Weyr again."
Jessamin says "That must be the worst part of Weyrlinghood, the isolation." She smiles, tilting her head thoughtfully. "I know it's not much, but maybe I could start making sketches and such of things like this, and send them to you by flit. Would that help?"
M'nol grins big, "That would be great. Weyrlinghood is really strange, especially right at the beginning when you're never alone for the first time in your life, but at the same time you feel cut off from everyone who didn't impress."
Jessamin blinks. "Is that how you're feeling right now? Cut off from me even though I'm right here?"
M'nol shakes his head, "Not so much, now, a few months ago, though, it was like even when I was in the Weyr with others, I was either too tired or distracted to really *be* there. Now the only problem sometimes is sorting Faraeth's feelings from my own."
Jessamin nods, seeming to take this all in. "I guess I'd better brace myself for it, then, because it's going to happen to me eventually." She smiles then, scritching Faraeth's eyeridges while eyeing him and little Bahrain with the remains of the fish. "But, I still bet you wouldn't trade it for anything, would you?"
Bahrain warbles softly, butting the remains of the fish over towards the brown dragon with his head. Hungry?
M'nol shakes his head, "Never." Faraeth excentuates his statement with a soft snort before blinking at the little bronze, « No, but thank you. » M'nol sighs, "It was hard at first though, especially with so many friends not impressing."
Jessamin nods. "I imagine it must have been. But the true friends will stick with you whether or not they Impress." She chuckles at Bahrain's look of disappointment, as he starts dragging the remains of the fish towards the rest of her faire. "What a little sweetheart. I don't ever recall any of the others doing something like that."
M'nol chuckles, "Bloodstone was like that, always offering food or inviting others to play… still is, actually… but yeah, most still are. I don't think anyone's seen Cen in a while, so it's hard to tell."
Jessamin nods, and gets to her feet, brushing fish and sand from her skirt. "I'd better get the stench out before I head on back over to Western." A sharp whistle brings the four older flits to her; Bahrain doesn't quite get the idea, but she just picks him up and cradles him gently. "Wouldn't you figure I've gone and landed a commission already. Should really go work on it." She smiles, and reaches out with her free arm to give M'nol a hug. "Don't think you've gotten rid of me yet, I'm still coming back to pester everyone here."
M'nol grins, standing as well before returning the hug, "You'd better, or I'll sic Thea on you." He chuckles, "You know how she can be when her kid disappear."
Jessamin says "Her kids?" Jessamin blinks, looking confused. "Is that how she sees us?" She grins, and—giving Faraeth one last good scritch, picks up her sewing basket and waddles off, her faire winging their way along behind her."