Fort Weyr - Galleries
The galleries are carved right out of the rock face, the rows and rows of benches rising high up into the air on a slight slant. Stone and wood benches that used to be known for offering little in the way of comfort, are now padded with cushions in Fort Weyr's colors. Placed along the railing at regular intervals are antique looking baskets filled with cheery fabric flowers. The curving walls sport tapestries in warm vibrant colors that seem to add a dash of color to the otherwise dreary stone. Where the galleries curve slightly at the ends, affording those attending hatchings or clutchings a decent view of the sands, shaded laterns offer warm lighting along the rows of benches.
Snowy and cold outside, the Hatching Caverns offers a stark contrast, being toasty warm without the aid of heaters. It's no doubt a favorite place to hang out, if one is looking for some peace and quiet, though it does lack in snacks. Risner has found himself a seat in the galleries, and he peers out over the clutch with a contemplative look, his elbows on his knees and his fingers woven together, chin resting upon them.
Karona is settling in quite nicely, though the weather still gets to her a little more than she'd like. After spending a day in the forge, hard at work smelting various ores, it's /quite/ a shock to come out into the snow, so she latches on to the next warmest place, the galleries. There's no other significance, none at all. She only bothers to look at the eggs because they're there, /really/. Ahem. But, whatever the reason, she's just as likely to be found here when she's not working as she is to be found in Shenanigan's. She slips into the galleries, and frowns, finding the one familiar face. "Hey, Risner, wasn't it?" she asks, with a tilt of her head to the bartender-turned-candidate.
Warm and toasty! The hatching cavern has become a favored retreat for a certain wingleader, especially when the weather outside is so unpleasant. The man is still sporting Fort's colors in his clothing and hair, despite the end of the Winter Games. He makes his way into the galleries, pausing to regard the eggs a moment, a soft smile on his face. He does have a small notebook clipped to his belt, although he apparently isn't here to work, as he wanders along the rows of seats, nodding politely to those already there. Karona and Risner are recognized somewhat, and the bluerider inclines his head with a polite, "Hello," in greeting before sitting nearby, and letting out his breath quietly as the warmth chases the cold away, "Mm, they are lovely, aren't they?" said softly, as he nods toward the eggs.
"Hm?" Risner lifts his head and blinks a few times, as if to clear his eyes. "Oh, yes, that's me." He flashes Karona a smile. He unwinds his hands and pats the seat nearby. "I recognize your face, but I'm sorry, I don't remember your name," he tells her apologetically. "Been a crazy few days." B'ky's greeting is acknowledged with a smile and return head-bob, a quick, "Hey Wingleader." The eggs are glanced at, but Risner pauses before answering. "They are," he agrees in the end.
Karona takes a seat near Risner whether invited or not — so much for peace and quiet — and eyes the sands at B'ky's remark. "Mmm. I suppose. I mean, they could be worse. My brown firelizard's egg looked like something a feline hocked up." she wrinkles her nose at that, it really was /quite/ disgusting. Thankfully the hatchling didn't mirror that. To Risner, Karona shakes her head, she clearly doesn't mind that he didn't remember her name. "Karona, I ordered the fruity drink." Because, drinks are what he /does/, so that might ring more of a bell, right? "You… you /are/ the bartender, aren't you?" Only, she hasn't seen him around in a few days, so now she's doubting her own recall.
B'ky is the sort of man who would probably think the eggs were lovely, no matter what they looked like, really. If he notices Risner's pause, he doesn't show it, instead murmuring, "I've been meaning to take a moment to see them. I remember when I was a candidate; I'd spend hours up here.." Pale grey eyes drift over the sands, nostalgia written across his face, although thankfully perhaps he doesn't go on, turning to raise an eyebrow faintly at Karona's remark about the firelizard egg, "Hm, I suppose there are some that look.. stranger than others," and he smiles slightly. "I once discovered a firelizard egg which appeared to have eyes; it gave.. a friend a of mine quite a fright. One of the guards was called in to investigate and," amusement flickers briefly over his features, "He ended up impressing the creature when it hatched." There's a tilt of his head toward Risner then, gaze landing on the former-bartender's knot. B'ky smile, "You may have the chance for a much closer look at the eggs soon, I suppose." A round-about congratulations, perhaps.
"Oh yeah!" It seems Risner does remember drinks better than people. He flashes Karona a wider grin at the memory. "I am, er, I was. I guess I technically still am. I'm just on a bit of an extended absence." He eyes his shoulder, and the white knot on it, in a significant way before meeting Karona's eyes and grinning again. "Oh… You have one too?" he says of firelizards, his smile briefly wavering. "Ah, I remember now. Impressed in that firelizard hatching after the games, right?" A shrug. B'ky is given a lopsided sort of smile, and Risner flashes the eggs a quick, wry sort of glance. "Yeah. Should be something. I've seen eggs before, but never touched 'em. This is definitely new territory, even for a weyrbrat." A small sigh as he shifts position, stretching joints that have been immobile for too long. "Were you weyrbred?" he wonders of B'ky.
Karona blinks at B'ky. /Eyes/? She peers more closely at the eggs on the sands, furrowing her brows. "Huh. Eggs with eyes. Did they follow you around the room?" Okay, now she's just joking, there's no way that's a serious question. She nods at Risner. "Two, a brown and a blue." Because, honestly, she can't be bothered to remember who has what firelizards, so she's hardly going to expect anyone to remember how many or what colour firelizards /she/ has. She doesn't even bother to mention their names, in fact. And then she tilts her head at B'ky. Look… closer? She turns back to Risner again, and finally notices his knot. "Oh! Oh. Congratulations. It's… a fine clutch?" Well, what do you say to a new candidate, anyway?
B'ky chuckles softly, "Mm, it was only the design of the shell, but.. it was rather startling to find in one's clothing." There has to be something of a story there, although he doesn't go on to share, instead lifting brow at the mention of the firelizard hatching, and commenting softly, "Hmm, I had heard it was rather impressive," and he really doesn't intend that pun, honestly, musing quietly, "Is that why so many at Fort seem to have young firelizards?" There's a slight nod to Risner, "It is.. rather remarkable," the bluerider murmurs softly, about touching the eggs, "I never thought I would have the chance; I had hoped, of course." There's a soft sort of smile there, grey eyes still regarding the eggs, and then he he nods at the question of being weyrbred, "Mm, I was born here. I impressed Avideth nearly.." his gaze drifts absently toward the ceiling of the cavern, "Nineteen turns ago." It's almost a whisper, B'ky blinking and shaking his head slowly, "Faranth, has it really been that long?" said more to himself. But he smiles, returning to the present after a brief moment, and saying quietly, "I was born here at Fort. Avideth hatched on these sands," and he will stop himself, despite the nostalgia, because really, the man can just talk and talk when he gets going.
"Two?" Did Risner know that? He doesn't seem to think so. There's a brief twitch of his mouth, a semblance of a frown, but he relaxes after but a moment. "Heh, thanks," he says to Karona, shrugging. "It is nice, I guess. Trust me, it was a big surprise." The knot, not the eggs. "Yes. But not me," says Risner of firelizards, smirking. "I'm unlucky enough not to attract even one, which is why I can't believe a *dragon* thought I could be a candidate." Go figure? He flashes a grin at no one in particular, but bobs his head along at B'ky's story. "Well, belated congratulations, even if they are a few turns overdue. I can't imagine." And he just leaves it at that, eyeing the eggs again.
Karona blinkblinks. "In… Really? Were you /wearing/ the clothes at the time?" Surely not, right? But it does seem to be a tad surprising. "So… Firelizards… They lay eggs just anywhere?" Not that she needs to worry about that, having a brown and a blue, but it's something to keep an eye out for. Unexpected eggs. Surprise firelizards. She's still on that track when Risner mentions his searching being a surprise, so it takes her a moment to realise he's not talking about firelizards. "Oh. Yeah. I imagine it … would be." At the mention of not attracting a firelizard yet, she snorts. "Did you /see/ how many hatched the recently? Must've been near twenty. Some of them female no doubt. When those females rise…" Fort will be /drowning/ in firelizard eggs. "You'll have /plenty/ of chances to get a firelizard." Yep. Even in cold land-locked Fort, evidently.
B'ky tilts his head to regard Risner a moment, and then chuckles softly, "Hm, I've never managed to impress a firelizard," and the bluerider has to smile slightly at that. "I've known candidates with nearly half a dozen firelizards, who've never impressed a dragon." Pale gaze returns to the eggs, though he smile slightly at the congratulations. There's a quiet laugh for Karona's question, B'ky shaking his head, "No.. they were left in the bathing caverns," and he'll look just faintly sheepish, "They weren't my clothes." But he does nod, "Greens do tend to leave their clutches.. almost anywhere." There's is a faint grimace for the suggestion of many more firelizards, B'ky commenting, "Hopefully not all at once." One gigantic hatching a turn is enough for him, apparently.
"Oh, I've already had plenty of opportunity. What I don't have, is luck." But Risner just shrugs it off and props his elbows back on his knees, eyeing the eggs skeptically. "Hey, we can always hope the greens misplace their eggs, or that their eggs don't Hatch. Seems to me, green clutches aren't the biggest or brightest, anyways. And there were only two golds, and I think one of them left to another Weyr?" But he could be wrong. "So I think we'll be fine." No firelizard invasion just yet. But he does seem to relax some when B'ky admits he never Impressed a firelizard. "Well, I feel better then," he decides with a small laugh. "At least I'm not the only one lacking a flock of 'lizards to call my own."
Karona shakes her head, eyeing the eggs. Something about sitting in the galleries is comforting, and yet, reminds her of her mother. Strange. "I've known … a rider who didn't impress a single firelizard until long after impressing a dragon." she does have to agree, though she's frowning a tad now. "Mmm. Suppose that /would/ be startling, to come from a bath to find an egg in your clothes." She shrugs a little at the mention of greens. "Greens aren't all that bright, from what I've seen." She means firelizards, of course. "Not that other firelizards are any better." And she's got two of them. She seems content with the idea that all they might do is sit there and look pretty, though that doesn't mean she won't /try/ to make them more useful. "You're not missing out, really. All they do is eat and sleep, and never at a convenient time. Or even the /same/ time." she snorts. Two young hatchlings, must keep her a little busy, though they're not with her now.
B'ky chuckles, shaking his head gently, "I don't think Avideth would be very happy if I found myself with firelizards. I wouldn't have the time to train one properly.. I imagine Avi might attempt to persuade it and send it wild," and there's a soft sigh, the bluerider admitting, "He's done that before. My sister still hasn't forgiven me for it." A faint smile, though, flickers over his face, "They can be lovely companions, I've heard. But.. they aren't any indication of whether or not anyone might impress." He's attempting to be encouraging, at least, with a slight smile to Risner. There's a faint nod in agreement with Karona about green firelizards, "It can be something of a chore, I imagine, to find the eggs." And the he laughs gently, "I'm rather glad green dragons aren't as.. ah, that they don't lay eggs." He might have been about to say something less kind, there, but the bluerider is just too polite to voice it. There's a quiet chuckle as Karona talks about her hatchlings, B'ky commenting thoughtfully, and with some sympathy, "Mm, they sound like quite the responsibility."
"Mm," is Risner's response, shoulders lifted briefly. "Well, I'd like at least one." But that's all he's going to say on the subject. "Avideth sounds like a real character," remarks Risner with a laugh. "Turning firelizards wild? I don't think I've heard of a dragon doing that before." There's a brief stretch, arms over head, and the candidate sighs. "Ah, something tells me it's time to go back to work." He grins a sheepish sort of grin at the bluerider as he stands. "It was nice meeting you again, Karona. Good luck with your firelizards. And nice to see you, B'ky. Have a good day," he adds as he heads down the stairs. Jacket pulled tighter, scarf wrapped around his neck, Risner hunches his shoulders and heads out into the snow.
Karona blinks a little, and frowns. "He would persuade them to go wild? …and has done?" Wow. She never realised dragons could be so… so… jealous. It's a surprise. "Well, see, there you go Risner. Might be a dragon down there who'd rather someone without firelizards." she offers, then waving as the bartender-turned-candidate heads out. "Nice meeting you, and, good luck." she offers, before turning back to B'ky. "Responsibility? Suppose they are, but they seem like reasonably independent sorts, when they're not eating or sleeping." As evidenced by their lack of presence? Presumably. "Though the brown /is/ a tad jealous that I went and impressed the blue a few days later."
Moyrel comes into the galleries, and looks out at the eggs. "Hm, lotsa eggs," she comments, seemingly to herself. Then she turns and waves to those whom she knows, and greets with a friendly "Hello and salutations."
Moydeo trots up the steps to the galleries, not far behind the Masterharper, and waves to those in the galleries she knows, blinking a moment at Karona. "Who would persuade what to go wild?" She asks the girl, and looks at the clutch a moment, eyes lingering on a few briefly, bbefore she goes to sit down near the group, ah, after being out in that cold, the warmth of the galleries was so welcoming.
B'ky chuckles quietly, about Avideth, "Mm, he is," and he'll shake his head a little, "It does happen. Dragons.. can sometimes be somewhat.. forceful." Especially Avideth, though B'ky would never admit it; he has a rather jelous dragon, it just takes awhile to get there. "I'm not sure he intended to send it wild," there's a faint shrug, "But he did frighten it rather severely." There's a nod for Risner as the candidate departs, B'ky calling a quiet, "Take care," after him before turning back to nod to Karona, "I suspect more than a few dragons at Fort have.. less patience with poorly-trained firelizards." And possibly more than a few riders, too. He has to chuckle again, about her firelizards, though, "They are interesting creatures. Avideth is rather fond of them.. most of the time." Moyrel's arrival has B'ky straightening a little; he may not have met her personally, but he surely knows who she is. "Masterharper," B'ky inclines his head respectfully and then offering, "Won't you join us?" Moydeo gets nod and a greeting as well, B'ky offering a polite, "Hello." He does look a little sheepish at her question, "Ah, Avideth can be rather.. forceful. Sometimes."
Moyrel nods to B'ky and takes a seat near the folks gathered here. "Thank you," she acknowleges. "I've actually met a few of your candidates. Quite a bunch of bright and promising up and comers, they seem to be." She pauses pensively for a moment. "Though I never heard of the dragons being so jealous as to drive off firelizards. Most of the dragons I've known get along with them well enough." She allows herself a small grin. "Or put up with them well enough, in some cases."
A'di shuffles quietly into the galleries, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly as he trudges up the steps. There's a quiet sigh, at least until he notices that there's other people around. Stuck between wanting to flee and joining, the rider hesistates on the steps, his lips pursing tightly together in thought. Finally, as if deciding, the rider makes his way inside and plops onto a bench.
Karona blinks a little at Moydeo, and lets B'ky answer first, before adding, "Firelizards." though he did rather cover that as well. She takes in Moydeo's knot — little quicker on the uptake now — and adds, "Um, congratulations." she offers, furrowing her brow at … something. Something unrelated, just some memory that she can't quite access. But, she shakes it off. "Mm, yes, been meaning to start training my two…" she notes, in response to 'poorly-trained firelizards'. And then she's frowning again, furrowing her brows as she tries to think. "Wait wait wait. Let me get this straight. He's /fond/ of firelizards, but he won't let /you/ have a firelizard?" she asks then of B'ky, blinking. It doesn't make much sense to her.
Moydeo blinks. "I hope none of mine get persuaded to go wild, I like them." She says. "I'm training mine to behave though, best I can anywway. They've had some squabbles, but for the most part get along." Though that might change when Phantasma gets old enough to mate, oh boy, what a fun time /that/ will be. She ahs to B'ky's comment about Avideth, and nods. "I'll be sure to keep them away from him." She chuckles, and waves to A'di when she spots him. "Hey A'di, had anymore dizziness?" She asks him, and looks back to Karona, and nods. "Ah, thank you." She says, and holds out her hand to the Smithcrafter. "I'm Moydeo, candidate, and apprentice Beastcrafter."
"I'm B'ky, blue Avideth's," the wingleader introduces himself politely, and then smiles slightly, nodding to Karona, "Avi doesn't mind them, as long as they behave," about the firelizards. Then again, Avideth is fond of people too, but Faranth forbid B'ky ever brought one home…ahem. And he nods to Moyrel, in regard to the candidates, saying quietly, "Avideth searched one of them.. mm, an artist I believe. Milodann." The arrival of another bluerider has him nodding with a quiet, "A'di," in greeting, although those slumped shoulders get a curious look, B'ky hesitating a moment before asking, "Is everything alright?" He'll tilt his head, glancing at Moydeo and then back at A'di, concern in his tone for his friend as he asks, "Dizziness?"
Moyrel says, "Well, I don't have a dragon myself, of course, but I do have five, count 'em, five firelizards. They can be a bit flustering to deal with, especially when they team up on me, but for the most part I can keep them under control."
Karona tilts her head at Moydeo. "Aha, Karona, journeyman smith." she introduces herself, simply, as she shakes Moydeo's hand, all nice and proper. "Fair few candidates about." she smirks, and glances to the sands, as if only just noticing that there are eggs down there, "Though, I suppose, that's only to be expected." Right. There are a fair few eggs down there, after all. She does back B'ky up, noting, "I don't think any dragon would send firelizards wild unless they were being a real nuisance, really. At least, not someone /else/'s firelizards. I mean, my … the rider that I know, has four of the things. And a /very/ grouchy dragon." The latter would seem to make the former a bit of a challenge, but obviously not impossible. "Obviously, training them is a good idea, if you want to keep them." There's a frown, and she tilts her head at Moydeo. "Beastcrafter? Wouldn't happen to know anything that might help, training firelizards?" Firelizards are more dragonhealer domain than beastcrafter, but they're still animals, right? Canine or feline training might work?
Moydeo nods to B'ky. "I saw him in the infirmary the other day, saying he was dizzy, he didn't seem all that happy to be there though, only came because Dalasith insisted evidently." She admits, and then nods to Karona. "Nice to meet you Journeyman Karona." She says, and shakes hands as well. "Ah, training firelizards? Um, no, I'm afraid not, I'm actually getting tips from folks that have well trained ones. Most said, many will do anything for food." She chuckles, and nods. "There's quite a few of us." She agrees. "And probably going to be alot more." She chuckles. "Glad there wasn't many when I got seatched, means I get a cot near the hearth." She chuckles, which means a warmer bed, not that they don't have blankets and covers of course. "Though, one of the newer ones seems to be a real snorer." She admits with a grimace.
Moyrel looks around. "Well, as introductions are going around, yes, I am Craftmaster Moyrel." She gives a little sitting bow. "But don't let my rank intimidate you. I'm harmless. Really I am." She gazes out at the eggs. "Well, there would need to be a fair few candidates, it looks like there are quite a few eggs out there. It'll be an interesting hatching, no doubt."
B'ky nods to Moyrel, smiling faintly, "Most will listen to dragons. There are a few.." but he just shakes his head, then. He nods in agreement with Karona, and then turns to regard the eggs a moment, commenting softly, "Mm, a good sized clutch," and then nodding again at what Karona has to say. That 'my' gets a faintly raised eyebrow, although he doesn't ask, too polite and all. "Some dragons are more patient than others," he will say quietly, and then there's a nod for Moydeo, about the other bluerider. "I hope he's alright," B'ky mumbles, a slightly worried frown flickering over his face. He chuckles, telling the candidate, "During my candidacy, we had quite a few who snored rather loudly." There's a smile, and a "well met," for Moyrel, the talk of eggs bringing B'ky's gaze back to the sands.
Karona looks a little disappointed that Moydeo doesn't appear to have any interesting inside knowledge, but not too surprised. She is after all still an apprentice, it's perfectly logical in the journeyman smith's mind that the good stuff is held over for journeyman rank, and the /really/ good stuff saved for masters. She seems a little relieved that no-one commented on her 'my'. "Somehow I doubt that dragon was among the… /patient/." she says, with a shake of her head. She seems quite familiar with this rider and their dragon, though she doesn't exactly sound like she /likes/ them. "You get snorers in every barracks, though." she notes absently. "It was a sound night's sleep the day I first got my own journeyman's room." she notes, with fondness for the memory.
Moyrel says, "I do intend to see the hatching, if for no other reason than to root for Moydeo here. At any rate, I think I should be heading back to the guest cavern to get some much-needed beauty rest." She stands up and curtseys with the awkwardness of overpracticed grace. "I bid you all farewell for now."
Moydeo nods to B'ky. "He seems better then he was." She agrees, and looks toward the sands. "They certainly are interesting looking eggs." She agrees. "Don't really have any favorites yet, but I probably will soon." She admits, and nods to both of them. "I'm glad it's only one so far, I dread if we get any others." She admits, she likes her sleep after all. Speaking of sleeping, she's interrupted by a big yawn, and she blinks a moment, before looking apologetically at B'ky and Karona, "Well, I think that's my cue to head to the barracks, and to bed." She gets up, and boys lightly. "It was nice meeting you Karona, and nice to see you again B'ky, have a good evening, the both of you." She says with a smile, and a wave, before she makes her way down out of the galleries.
There is a quiet chuckle about snorers and barracks, B'ky nodding in agreement with Karona's statement. And although the wingleader does look fairly curious about said dragon and rider the smith seems so familiar with, he does not ask. There's a polite nod to Moyrel and Moydeo, B'ky smiling to each with a quiet, "Take care," as they depart. He tilts his head to the side, musing, "Mm, I wonder if they're related.." although it is a little late to ask, now. B'ky turns to regard the eggs once more, expression softening, and he may perhaps have had more to say, but the man is then blinking, and frowning just slightly at some point a little ways from his nose. Grey eyes aren't looking anywhere in particular, but then they re-focus on the present surroundings and the bluerider sighs tiredly. "I'm afraid there is something I must see to," and he rises slowly from his seat with a nod in farewell to Karona, "If you'll excuse me," and he walks back across the galleries toward the exit, pulling his coat tighter around him and looking fairly distracted.
Karona frowns a little, eyeing the sands. She seems relieved not to be asked about that dragon, though she'd likely fob B'ky off with excuses anyway. That's /her/ secret. Though, not /so/ secret, if one is familiar with her mother. She /does/ slightly resemble Leona, after all. "If they're related, that's their business, right?" Liiittle touchy there. She does frown after Moyrel, though. "Father's a harper at the hall, ought to visit him some time." she murmurs. She's so distracted by that thought that she merely waves as B'ky leaves, frowning down at the eggs, though she doesn't really /see/ the eggs, lost in thought.
