Xanadu Weyr - Clearing
A wide clearing stretches from east to west, the ground packed hard although grass grows across most of it. Trees are strictly forbidden in this space, their danger to the constant draconic traffic reason enough to banish them to the forest that creates a this and sharp border to the north. Where the ground is less trampled, tiny flowers poke their delicate heads out from their shaded hiding places with upturned petals to wave to whoever may be looking.
The cliff looms imposingly on three sides, stretching upwards all the way up the side of the mountain where, high above, Xanadu's Star Stones and the ever present watchdragon sit on a lonely peak. Directly south is a massive tunnel, fully wide enough for even the largest dragon to fly down. Southeast are wide steps leading up to the Caverns and eastwards is the large entrance to the Infirmary. Somewhat north of the Infirmary is a human sized archway that has a frequent quantity of traffic — it leads to the Tavern. Southwest lies the low ledges currently belonging to Xanadu's queens while north and west a broad path cut by the side of the cliff leads to the Feeding Grounds and due north is the spacious trail that leads to the rest of the Weyr.
Morning sun dapples the weyr's clearing, many residents and riders going to and fro about their business. Off to one side, sitting on a rock within the cliff's shadow, is Fiara, notebook propped up on her knees, though her pencil currently sits idle, tucked up behind her ear. The harper seems to be more interested in watching the people coming and going today, though presumably that notebook has some kind of work in it. Right now her focus seems to be on the blue dragon that just landed with heavy packs that a group of residents is unloading.
Vivian is out and about, flouncing along like she owns the place, the knot on her shoulder looks a little battered and old but is still worn proudly as she wanders around the edge of the clearing where the dust is still settling from the blue's landing.
Fiara spots Vivian from her perch and observes the younger woman for a moment or two. She's familiar with her from seeing her around the Weyr over the last few months since she arrived, but the harper doesn't know her well. As the Weyrwoman's daughter wanders nearer, she musters a bright smile. "Hello there, congratulations on being Searched."
Vivian keeps on wandering merrily along until her reverie is intruded upon. "Who are you?" she asks straight off before acknowledging her properly. "I suppose congratulations are in order, I hadn't really thought about that side of it yet." The teenager seems to ponder that for a bit before looking back at the woman.
"Fiara, posted journeyharper," the harper replies promptly and holds out her hand, notebook shifted out of the way. "And that is usually what's said," she notes with a broad grin. "This will be your first time standing?"
Vivian smiles and looks the woman over. "Perhaps, but you're the first one that said it, though at least I was searched fair and square, unlike that Nicca." She replies with a touch of a smirk. "She only got given a knot because it was her birthday and she threw a strop until her mother gave in." She rolls her eyes like only teenagers can manage to convey her utter disgust at the situation.
"Am I? Well then, good that it's been said, hm?" And Fiara smiles wide again then widens her eyes a fraction, leaning her elbow on her knee and propping her chin in her hand. "Reaaaaallly?" she draws that out, like she's eating up good gossip, makes a good show of it in her expression too. "And here I thought things were more … equitable in the Weyrs."
Vivian bobs her head in understanding, "First person in almost a full sevenday." She replies sincerely, unaware as to why this may be a problem. "It's just not the way it should be done is it though, but when your mom is the weyrwoman, who's to stop her." She adds, not letting on at all that it's her mom and sister. "I suppose the dragons will sort it out on the sands though."
"A whole seven-day. Well you've quite gotten the hang of it already, haven't you?" Fiara continues to maintain an upbeat tone though from the twinkle in her eyes, it's entirely likely she's suppressing laughter. "Rank does sometimes have its privileges," she agrees, deadpan. "And so they say, that in the end, only the dragons know and can make the right choices." The harper's head tips to the side though and she asks almost too sweetly: "So you don't get along well with your sister?"
Vivian smiles with that sugar sweet smile she's usually seen giving. "I suppose it does, but I've got a ways to go before I reach that stage." She declares far to quickly for the thought to have only just arrived. "Well Duh!" She exclaims. "Of course I don't get on with her, she gets that kind of present for her birthday and I had to get breathed on by a stinking blue who had just eaten his dinner by the smell of it."
"Ah well then, I'll wish you luck with getting oriented," Fiara says magnanimously, chin still perched in palm. "Really? A blue dragon? I've heard tell that some of them are quite sensitive about Search, very able with picking out … the right sort of person."
Vivian shrugs her shoulders a touch. "It's supposed to be a lot of training to become a good and proper weyrwoman, so we'll see how it goes." She replies confidently. "As you say, the dragons know their stuff, I'm confident it will all end up well, even if Nicca will be left standing at the end of it all." She does seem a little smug at the idea.
"Is that your ambition then, to become a weyrwoman like your mother?" Fiara asks, tone mild though still with that faint hint of amusement to it. "And I suppose you won't feel sorry for her at all if it turns out that way, hm?"
Vivian nods her head as she listens to the harper. "I will be once I have my gold." She tells her, no hint of uncertainty in her tone or manner. To her it's as certain as Rukbat still being there the next morning. "Some things are just meant to be, after all, I was the one that was searched, she was given it as a present."
"I see, meant to be. I guess we'll all just have to see what fate brings come hatching day, eh?" Fiara says non-comitally and shifts, dropping her hand from beneath her chin to drape her arm loosely across her lap. "So I was wondering Vivian, if you like music at all, or making it. The Weyrleader asked me to see about putting together some entertainment with the candidates. Is that maybe something you'd like to help organize? Show the weyr just how good your weyrwomanly organizational skills are?"
Vivian just smiles, it's a face she's managed to perfect over the turns, sugary sweet and dripping with venom if you're unlucky. "R'sul actually managed that?" She wonders. "I could do, so long as you don't expect me to do any of the musical side of things."
"Managed? Yes, and quite well at that," Fiara replies with a little chuckle. "And that sounds like an excellent compromise if you're not musically inclined yourself. It'll involve helping to find candidates who'd like to play or sing, hooking them up with the right instruments and making sure everyone has the music that needs to be learned. Also, we'll need to organize some practice sessions. What do you think?"
"But you're a woman?" Replies Vivian, still in wonder at R'suls accomplishment. "You must be safe." She tells her. "He can't fancy you if he actually managed to speak to you." Sooo self assured of how these things work. "I'll arrange some space and times for you initially, how big a stage will you need and when do you need it by?" She asks, the part of her that actually knows how to work coming through.
"And?" Fiara prompts, head tilting curiously to the side. As Vivian goes on though, her expression first shades thoughtful then she laughs merrily. "Clearly not," she states, settling her notebook down atop her knees and her hands folding over that. "Excellent, and that will depend entirely on how many candidates volunteer, so you'll need to take that into account when setting things up, though I am partial to the theater in the forest. It's rather whimsical."
Vivian doesn't seem phased by the reaction to R'sul, she's been his personal secretary for enough turns to get used to him. The questions is if he's ever managed to get used to her. "Of course, we can put something up in the barracks for it, though you'll need to hold some kind of audition, is it all going to be candidates?" She checks.
Fiara doesn't linger over the subject of the Weyrleader and any possible or impossible fancying or the fact that he actually spoke to her. "That's a good thought too, let me know how feasible it might be to do that," the harper states and then she's nodding confirmation. "Yes, just candidates."
Vivian nods her head as she plots her next course. "Okay, I'll get them to report to you for auditions, is individually better than as one big group?" She asks her.
"Find out the talent first," Fiara notes with an uplifted finger. "And they can come in all together, or one on one," she continues. "It's all right if they're not experts of course. Half the point is to have fun too."
Vivian smiles, "don't worry, I'm sure everyone will have fun, except perhaps you if you've to try and wield them into something entertaining." She actually allows herself to grin at that one. "Okay then I'll get to that one."
"Well, it's part of what I do as a harper, so even when there's some bumps and rough spots, there's fun to be had for me," Fiara says with quiet confidence and she then nods at Vivian's agreement. "Lovely, let's shoot for the end of the seven for the first round of auditions and then as more candidates come in, we can organize a second. It'll be a bit of a juggling act I guess to get them organized and ready well before the eggs rock."
"So long as you're the one doing the juggling I don't really mind." Replies Vivian, "I'll go and book one of the rooms in the complex for you and then we can get you in to review just how good they are."
"Lovely, thank you so much for your help, Vivian," Fiara says with emphasized sincerity. "And hopefully we'll have an interesting performance to top it all of with."
Vivian just gives up that sugary sweet smile. "You're more than welcome." She replies, "But anyway I'd best get over to the complex, I have reports to pick up."
Fiara inclines her head slightly. "Of course. I'll catch up with you later in the seven, Vivian. See you around," the harper says politely and waits a moment or two before rising to head off in the opposite direction with her notebook tucked under her arm.
Vivian bobs her head in response. "Will do." She replies before she heads off towards the craft complex.