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.
Amanthis veritably bounces up the stairs to the Galleries, entirely enthused. Little miss Journeywoman's been caught in lessons all day - she's a firm believer in structure, even when there's much more exciting things going on. She plops herself down in a seat, props her feet up on the bench in front of her, and props her chin up on her fists, letting out an enormous sigh of awe and happiness. "Eggs!" She squeals, excitedly. "And they're huge! And they're beautiful!" It's a muted squeal - she's entirely awe-ful of the giant golden dragon, but it's a squeal none the less. And then a sigh. And then, looking left and right to make sure that wierdo Weyrleader's not about, the Harper draws forth a wine skin and a pewter goblet, giggling to herself gleefully. "Must have a bit to combat the heat. To you, lady Wiyaneth!" Tittering, she toasts the gold and knocks back a sip.
Talmar has also been busy all day with apprenticey things, hooray. He comes up the stairs to the galleries, hands still coated with clay, to ogle the eggs. Amanthis is spotted, and he frowns, cautiously approaching the harper. He doesn't really want to be lectured again, nope.
Amanthis waves enthusiastically to Talmar. Seems the incidents of a few days ago are forgiven - though, knowing the harpers, not nearly forgotten. "Come see!" She says, bouncing in her seat - no mean feat, what with her position and the glass of wine and all. "Eggs!" Squeal. And then the Harper settles, still grinning like a fool. "How was class today?" Sip
X'an is here. He truly is. The trouble is, he's also asleep. Soft snores are emitting from the weyrleader, with his head rolled back over one of the bleacher backings, legs stretched out and crossed at the ankle infront of him, fingers laced across his belly. There's a firelizard… a small, icy-cold looking blue, perched on the back of the seating nearby him, slowly leaning in toward the man's open mouth.
Talmar grins at Amanthis' enthusiasm, and joins in. "Oooh! I like that one!" he says, pointing to the Exotic Deception Egg. He sits down, then adds, "Ooh, and that one!" This time pointing at the Ancient Homeland Egg. "Actually, I think that one's my favourite." still the Ancient Homeland Egg. As for classes, he wrinkles up his nose, but doesn't really say much. He shrugs. "Not bad." he says, in a far less enthusiastic tone.
The blue lizard inches along the bench a little closer, when it proves his craning is not good enough to get where he wants to, and parts his little beaky mouth, neck stretched out. Guess what he does… see, there's a pink thing in there that moves every now and again when X'an's breathing in and out. Yup, he sticks his muzzle in the weyrleader's mouth and tries to peck the man's tongue. "Uzzufufnnnar!" Swat. Thwack! Orbital firelizard making chitters. But what does the blue do? Just lands on the other side of X'an and inches in again to repeat. Brains? PFffff.
Amanthis grins at Talmar. "Not bad, eh? High praise." She winks at him, then scrutinizes each egg he points to. "I like them all." She says, after a long moment, but a noise from off to one side catches her attention. Pulling her wine to the opposite side of herself and crouching over it defensively, she peeks over in that direction. After a moment's scrutination reveals that the Weyrleader is asleep, Ama relaxes. "Good. I don't have to guard my wine." She mutters to herself. "Or my scruples." Then she smiles at Talmar. "Seen any Candidates yet? I'm eager to have them in my classes."
Talmar glances over at the noise too, frowning slightly. He shrugs then, and turns back to the eggs for a long moment, then to Amanthis. "They are all good." he agrees, nodding at the eggs briefly. "You shouldn't be drinking that, you know." he points out, slightly louder than his usual volume. He then shrugs, and returns to his usual speaking volume and says "Haven't seen any candidates yet." he then looks at the eggs, and frowns. "I wonder if I could make those eggs out of clay." Obviously, they'd have to be painted, or they'd just be boring egg-shaped clay things.
X'an swats at the blue lizard as the little fellow tries again, to snaffle his tongue. "G'roff!" sitting bolt upright, the man blinks blearily, confusedly and promptly winces, rubbing the back of his neck at having been asleep in a very bad position. Rub, rub, rub. He stares down at the sands, across the bleachers at the residents and back to the sands again. No comment from him, he's just awoken and people regularly oggle the eggs when there are some.
Amanthis glances at Talmar, raising one eyebrow. "I believe," she says, mildly amused, "that we've had this discussion. I'd like to think that my off time is time I can cherish to do with as I please." More commotion. The wine skin is quickly stowed under the seat, and Ama hisses, "not a word. It's just juice." to Talmar. Shift, shift. "I think that would be lovely." She says in a normal tone, concerning the eggs. "Too bad it's blasphemous to make a replica of Wiyaneth guarding her eggs. That would be an amazing little scene." Ayup, yup yup. Sip.
Talmar glances under Amanthis' seat, where she'd stuffed the wine. "Juice doesn't stink like that." Well, at least he's not asking for an innocent drink of 'juice'. He looks back out at the eggs, then shrugs. "I was thinking that I could make some of the eggs, and then give the eggs to the people who impress the dragons from those eggs." he says, absently. Hey, anything that lets him play with clay. And not have to find a space at home for the clay. "My parents are a bit tired of all the clay things I keep bringing home." he admits, a little sheepishly.
Amanthis chuckles. "Well, soon enough you'll be able to sell the things you make, and then what will you do." She smiles at him. "That is a wonderful idea, Talmar! I'm sure the people who Impress from those eggs will be very pleased. I'm told it's tradition for new dragon riders to keep a piece of their dragon's shell, so maybe that will do instead?"
Blearily: "Can keep a piece of shell if they want to, eggs would be a nice thing though." From X'an, who's stifling a severe case of yawns and stiffness. He glowers at the little blue that was making mischief with him. "I don't know what you're looking so chuffed about, Frostbite…"
Talmar beams. He's got Amanthis' and X'an's approval, he's so happy right now. It's all he can do to keep from running off and getting the clay right now, really it is. He looks over at the eggs, and considers. "I guess I'll be needing to get some different colour paints and stuff." he says, thoughtfully.
Down on the sands, Izelth lifts his head up to peer at the gallery, making snorty-rumbling kinds of noises as he does so. Just having finished shovelling sand over one egg that he's particularly caring for (the Ancient Homelands egg, as it happens) he lurches forward to oggle the people up there. These are his kids they are. Just so as you know.
Amanthis grins. "I'm sure you could get them from the creche, Talmar, and then mix the right colors. Creche keeps some for the toddlers to play with." She pauses. "Matter of fact, I think there might be some stashed in our class room." The woman pauses, letting herself come under the scrutiny of the bronze. "Good day, sir Izelth! We'll not be harming your beautiful children, no. Just admiring them, to be sure."
Talmar looks down at the sands just as Izelth is looking up, and jumps backwards slightly in shock. But he soon recovers, and gives a cheerful wave at the bronze dragon. "You have some really nice eggs." he says, then shakes his head at Amanthis. "No, I need special clay paints." he points out, nodding.
X'an tries to get the grumble out of his bones, but they just don't seem to want to leave. Muttering in slang bitran, he slips his eyes to his lifemate, who's in the process now of trying to get up onto his haunches, wings mantling so he can bring his massive head to a level with the gallery, snuffling at the voyeurs. "No, they're not interlopers, you dafty…" he mutters at the dragon. "Just learn to take a compliment! They're not after your treasures… foolish dragon…" chuckling, he pushes himself to his feet, groans… and slips down to the railing, leaning over to wave his hand at the bronze. Izelth though, just doesn't budge. Meanwhile, the little blue that was pestering him has taken a position on the back of the bleacher behind Talmar, peering over the young man's shoulder. 'Squeak!'
Amanthis casts an eye at X'an, shifting as she watches Izelth rise. Ruh-roh. "Oh. Uh. Sorry." She smiles distractedly at Talmar. "S'why I'm a harper, not a potter." She innocently takes a sip of her 'juice', watching the bronze, eyes wide and body tense.
Something drunken comes this way, trudging up the stairs and into the galleries. Asiree holds a hand against her head, grasping at her hair and grumbling as she looks down at the stairs in front of her. It's imperative that they do not run away or otherwise evade her, see. Pausing in her progress, she removes her hand from her head to squint at the gathered group before she continues on her way to them. "Sukith told me the eggs arrived," she says gruffly, by way of greeting.
Talmar really jumps forward out of his seat now, at the firelizard peering over his shoulder. "Whoa!" he cries out, then calmer, "Oh, hello there, little blue." then he looks up, and his eyes go wide. He's a bit closer now to Izelth than he was a moment ago. "Um, hello. Nice eggs there." he says, slightly nervously, "You don't mind if I make little clay eggs that look like them, do you? I won't need to go near them or anything. Please?"
X'an glowers at Izelth's massive eye. The dragon makes a few noises, whuffs, snuffles and a long, loud aaaaaaaaaaaaaaayuff, then sinks back marginally, but still has a very good view of the gallery, turning his beaky nose so one eye is fixed on the humans there. "I hate playing translator…" X'an sighs, looking at the harper and the resident apprentice… "He doesn't mind. Asking though, why you don't want to go near them. I'm to ask you if you think there's something wrong with them." The man rolls his eyes, looking to Asiree-the-arriving, pointing to the sands. "Someone has a size complex… there's only eight, but yes. Eggs."
Amanthis sniffs at X'an, still obviously not soothed. "Because only Candidates get to go near the eggs." She replies, sharply. "And seeing as how I'm too old by far to even dream of being a bloody Candidate, I won't be nearing the eggs 'tall, no. Wouldn't want to muddy their minds with a foreign presence they can't Impress to!" Ama's started to strain her legs against the bench, pushing herself away from the big, impressive bronze.
"Eggs," Asiree repeats, like the drunken parrot she is. Slightly glassy gaze turns to look down at the sands, taking a good long look at them. Of course, it's more likely she's trying to focus on them than she's actually admiring them. "Sukith says that he came from a larger clutch," she says bluntly, followed quickly by, "But Sukith also says that I shouldn't have said that." Blame it all on the dragon, that's the drunk woman's tactic. "Sukith /also/ says that all of you should go outside," she adds, turning her gaze onto Amanthis and Talmar. "So let's go!"
Talmar raises both his hands, which are still coated in wet clay. "Um, I don't want to get them all dirty, see?" he points out, glancing uncertainly from X'an, to Izelth, and then back to the Weyrleader. "They are very very nice eggs, sir. I would love to see them closer, but I don't want to get clay mud all over them." he says, rambling a little with nervousness. He has a point, though. Asiree is looked at with a far more frightened expression. He's not going anywhere with that drunken rider, nope.
X'an baffles at Amanthis, looking particularly baffled. What? huh? Then Asiree. "So did Izelth, and likely Sukith's…" blink. "Outside?" - Izelth rumbles in agreement, looking at Talmar fixedly, then lopes down onto all fours again, to trundle toward the exit to be a huge, chestnutty brass road block. Fear his ability to take up space, it's scary. - "Asiree… much as I appreciate Sukith's ability to discern what's right and wrong, can you even get down the stairs again?" he drolly asks, nodding at the two residents and beckoning to Frostbite. Who doesn't obey him. Curse the blue, he's impish and his own master…
"Outside," Asiree reiterates, "Sukith says outside." If the bronze is confirming this as well, the bluerider is hardly aware of it. A shove is given to the young apprentice's back in a prodding 'hurry up already' sort of way. "C'mon lazybones, get up. Outside with you," she coaxes. At least, that would be coaxing by Ree's definitions. "And I'm going down too!" she announces as way of answering X'an's question, although she makes no move to do so quite yet, instead looking expectantly at Amanthis and Talmar.
Amanthis shifts uncomfortably. Her concern seems to be on Asiree. "You're not making much sense, but do calm down." The journeywoman say reasonably. "You needn't shove." She reaches out to offer Asiree some support back down those not-so-nice stairs.
Talmar glances uncertainly to X'an. Was that a nod to go outside, or a nod to stay where he was? He's so confused. Big scary bronze over there, scary drunken rider over there, and mildly shocking firelizard back where he'd been sitting. Not much of a choice here. Asiree's shove, well, that gets him moving alright. Rather quickly too.
X'an glances at his dragon, urrghs and nods, stiffly shaking out his legs. "This will teach me, so it will.. that sleeping in the galleries after sweating the bloody clutching is not a smart plan." He tries a reassuring smile on for size. "It's alright, if she tries anything… urrgh, so help me I'll ration her to zero alcohol intake…" and he would too. Because he's evil.
With those who have been given orders finally following them, Asiree saunters on down the stairs with them. Surely if she's managed 30 turns of life, about half of it in some alcohol induced haze, she's able to navigate simple stairs when she's not on the verge of passing out drunk. "Oh, you'll all make Sukith /so/ happy," she says idly to the air… or whoever happens to be paying her any bit of attention.
Fort Weyr - North Bowl
The northern end of the bowl can be an intimidating area, being that Fort is the largest weyr. The far north wall contains the gigantic opening to the hatching caverns, and to the west of that can be seen the sprawling ledges and carved stair cases that mark the way to the weyrleader's complex and junior queens ledges. The west cliff wall towers up, dotted here and there by darker openings that mark individual weyrs before it tapers to a point at Tooth Crag. At ground level on the western wall is the opening to the weyrling barracks, occasional glimpses can be caught of newly paired mates. On the eastern wall of the bowl is the entrance into the living cavern, the heart of the weyr.
Amanthis tumbles down the stairs behind the drunkard blue rider, no small amount of confusion flitting across her face. She stays rather back, walking slowly behind Asiree - somebody's likely to tumble into her. But this is all a bit much for the young Harper, who's hardly been near dragons except when they were conveying her. Certainly not in a leisurely sort of way.
Talmar runs out to the bowl, then finally stopps and looks around to see where everyone else was. He'd been running ever since he was shoved by Asiree, yup. He's not afraid of dragons, having lived at Fort Weyr all his life, but he does tend to fear certain riders. Specifically, those who like to drink a little too much.
Izelth actually did come part-way out of the hatching caverns. The rusty bronze is blocking a good portion of the passageway to them, gazing outward at Sukith and the people that Asiree herded out. Ominous, ominous, cue the eerie SCREE of violins for background music! X'an though, much less bothered, still looks as if he has yet to wake up, following in the wake.
Waiting at the entrance of the hatching cavern is a large-ish blue dragon covered in washed out blues and faint greys. His large eyes whirl expectantly, and his anxiety is evident in his weight shifting from side to side, and the slight twitching of wings with anticipation. As the group is herded out, the blue creels to the presiding clutch guardian before he slinks lowly and slowly towards the candidates, eyeing them and sniffing at them with curiosity. Bringing up the rear of the pack is Asiree, who did indeed not become thwarted by the stairs. "Sukith, meet… um… these people! And the Weyrleader! People, meet Sukith!"
Candidates for sniffing? He wanted them out there?
Then again, everyone is a candidate for dragon chow.
Amanthis is happy about being sniffed at. No. That involves those Big Shiny Sharp Teeth to be entirely too near to things Amanthis may consider necessary for life. But, behind her, there's a big bronze dragon, and it looks like X'an and Ree are guarding the passes in between. So the Harper tries her best to look brave - though her 'juice' in her wine glass in throwing up quite a quake. "Uhm… Asiree? Could you ask him to… Maybe… Move back a bit? I'm willing to listen to why he wanted me outside, but…"
Talmar looks around now, a little confused. "What's going on?" he says, frowning. Surely they weren't all herded out here just to meet Sukith? Maybe they were. He doesn't really know all that much about the inner workings of dragon minds. "Um, hello Sukith?" he says, tentatively.
"Sukith wants you all to give his neckridges some scritching," Asiree announces. Of course, that's what all dragons want. Sukith eyes Amanthis a moment longer, giving the shaky harper journeyman a good critical and intense stare before his head swings to look on over at Talmar. "But he also says he'd settle for you two agreeing to stand here at Fort for some of those eggs."
Izelth's dignity as the reigning big bad and scary clutchsire type is promptly ruined as his head protrudes from the hatching caverns, giving a rumble toward Sukith and being assaulted by a vertitable flock of firelizards, all of whom (including that vagabond blue) take up perches on his head, upper neck and nose. It's hard to look petrifying when you're covered in a chattering hoard of mini-me's. He sighs a little, looking at X'an then at Talmar, whuffing toward the young boy. "Yes, I know… that'll give him plenty of time to examine the eggs closer. Of /course/ there's nothing wrong with them, you… augh! Izzy, you're hopeless. I swear you've not been this bad for any of the other clutches!" X'an scolds his lifemate, looking at the two and when Asiree's already popped the question, mumbles something and fishes for a couple of spare knots from his pocket. White knots. Yup.
Talmar blinks at Asiree. "Standing … eggs … What was the other option again?" he says, very obviously shocked. Give him a moment, he'll answer in juuuuust a moment… "Um. Right. Standing … neckridges … eggs … scritching…" aaaaany second now… X'an is glanced at also, those white knots looking awfully bright there. "Examine … scritching … closer … knots…" Ugh, is that all he can say? His attention drifts to Izelth now, and the cloud of firelizards perched on the bronze. He giggles at that, although he tries to suppress it. Seems like that's pulled him back into the moment, and he glances back to Sukith. "Um… If you're sure? Then okay."
Amanthis gets even more jittery. "I… ah… uh… I… Uh." Stutter. Harper? Speechless? Surely no! "Alisar… Have to check with him… But… Classes… Uh… Eggs?"
And Amanthis was claiming that Asiree was incomprehensible! The stutterings earn genuinely confused looks from Ree. "What's that, people? Will you stand and be candidates or not? If not, Sukith might be reaaaally upset…" The bluerider trails off, leaving that threat open-ended. "So might he, too, actually," she adds, pointing to the intimidating, firelizard covered bronze. "And he's bigger." Way to go Ree, convince them that dragons are scary creatures to be feared.
X'an facepalms. "What Asiree /means/ to say is that yes, you may stand for the clutch if you wish to, but we're not going to force you to. It's your choice. Upset dragons or not… and honestly can /anyone/ take Izelth seriously with firelizard fashion accessories?" He eyes his dragon with a shake of his head. Izelth just snorts, looking entirely like he's the most dignified Firelizard rack on Pern.
Talmar stands up to his full height, which isn't really all that tall yet, and says "Um, I think so?" oh, very definite there, Tal. Very definite indeed. X'an seems to reassure him somewhat, and the boy turns to Izelth. "Um… I'd be honoured?" is that the right answer? Please let that be the right answer. Poor boy is sweating here. "They are very nice eggs."
Amanthis isn't done, darn it! At the threat of big scary dragons, she squeels - but not with enthusiasm, no - and shrinks back on herself. She hazards a peak at the bronze, covered with all those little lizards, and gulps. "Ah, no sir. I mean, yes sir. Wouldn't want to make the dragons mad, sir. I'll stand, ma'am." Just, please don't eat me! Ama does the whole deep soothing breath thing, and finally regains some shread of her dignity. And self control. "Of course, I will need to be able to continue my lessons, as a posted Harper. And I will have to let the Craft Second know immediately." She shifts, not comfortable with dictating terms. "I mean, unless Master Alisar would rather have another Harper posted." She gulps, not looking happy.
Honestly, Ree needs a keeper in order to be let out into public. Poor woman would terrorize ever single person, and the weyr would likely be short two were it not for X'an to soothe the bluerider's terror tactics. "Oh good, they're going to stand," Asiree says gleefully. Sukith, meanwhile, retreats from the pair to come up behind Ree, nearly knocking the bluerider over with a nudge. "New candidates! Welcome!" Probably about time that the weyrleader take over, lest Ree give them cause to rethink their decision and flee instead.
X'an gives Asiree the hairy eyeball. She /so/ isn't helping. Not in the least. Izelth makes a sound that's almost like a whine, empath that he is, picking up on frightened feelings and intimidation. "Here…" approaching the two newly knotted, he holds out the white knots on his palm, looking very seriously at them both. "Before you take the knot, be aware there's rules. No sexual intercourse, no alcohol… unless extremely supervised. We do allow a little bit here and there, if the staff of the weyr say you can, with a function we put on for you or the like, but… you /have/ to be obedient. You can carry on your own practices at the end of the day, when you've done your chores and you cannot go shimmying out of the weyr to visit people without a rider escort…" eyes shifting left and right to try and make this point clear. "He wouldn't eat you if he had no choice but to starve… you do realise that, no?" in a much quieter tone. "I promise. Don't be afraid. It's a good and positive thing, not… terror tactics." - Izelth bugles loudly at the terror tactic comment. Firelizards take off enmasse… only to resettle. Well /that/ did a lot of good.
Talmar nods slowly, listening intently to X'an and fearfully ignoring Asiree. "No sex? Eww, girls are icky." he says, wrinkling up his nose. "And drinking is /bad/." Yes, all present have heard his feelings on that matter. He glances to Izelth, and nods. "Dragons don't eat people." he agrees. He's lived here all his life, and has never heard of that happening. Not even once. He starts to reach out a hand for the knot, then looks at the clay-coated hand and blushes, wiping the clay off on his pants before reaching out again.
Amanthis gives X'an a long look of pure … startlement. Amazement. Disbelief. "But… I haven't finished my-" Ah, best just to leave it. "And I suppose the lessons can be rescheduled." Doesn't seem like X'an heard her - he didn't really say anything specific. Ah, well. Burn bridges after you cross them. She reaches for the knot, tentatively, then her face lights up. "My parents are gonna be really proud." She says, reverently fingering the shiny white thing.
Asiree has never been the helpful sort of gal, unless it involves electrical equipment or helping to drain a wineskin or a cask of ale. Then, of course, she's the first to volunteer. Sukith creels mournfully as he gives Asiree another nudge that once again, nearly knocks her over. "Sharddit, Suki, /stop/ /that/," she grumbles, grabbing onto the blue's muzzle for support. From her spot clinging onto Sukith and scritching the blue with one hand, she announces loudly, "Congratulations!"
X'an grins a little. "Alisar will be proud for you, Amanthis… trust me on that." he heard, he just didn't immediately comment, surrendering the knots to clay and harper hands as appropriate. "You can carry on your studies but -only- in the evenings. If you impress, you're going to have to get used to scheduling some time around someone that will -not- understand your own desires for a good while of his or her life." - just to clear that up!
Talmar nods slowly, glancing down at the new knot in his hand, still somewhat shocked. But in a good way. "Okay." he says, simply. "Clay only in the evenings." now he finally seems to think this thing through. "Oh. I hope Master Jopier won't mind." but, too late for that now. "My parents will be so proud, I'm the first in our family to be searched!" he adds, his parents both crafters.
Amanthis laughs, lightly at first, then with some actual conviction. "I doubt I'll Impress, though, X'an, I don't know thing one about dragons. Except they're big." Shift. She watches the woman with her blue, and grins. "I guess you'd still better have him post somebody else. They can go back to… whatever they were doing after the Hatching." She grins. "I wouldn't be surprised if there's someone here in a few days - Fort's a prestigious placement." Shock crosses her face only now - the finality setting in. "I can still sing at supper, though, right? Even if I Impress?" Little bit of worry there.
Asiree steps away from her blue. "Never did see those eggs, really," she mutters, though a glance at the bronze who's blocking the passageway rather effectively convinces her that she ought to just go back into the weyr proper for a drink… or three. "Congratulations again!" she calls out, sauntering on off and leaving behind Sukith. For a moment the blue looks out of place, before he retreats to a spot against the stone of the weyr and curls up. It won't be long before the Ree returns and needs to go back to their ledge.
X'an smiles at the two of them. "Really? I rather thought Fort'd gone down in the scale of fortunate placements in recent turns." X'an's voice is wry, a crooked finger beckoning them both toward the central bowl. "Yes, you can still sing at dinner time… no, I doubt the potter will truly mind all that much… yes, I'm a little bit scatterbrained and no, I don't think it'll improve for a couple of days, until that dratted daddy over there calms down." he murmurs that all, setting a brisk pace toward the area where the barracks are located.
Fort Weyr - Candidate Barracks
Carved from a natural bubble in the volcanic stone, this cavern has room enough to hold around two dozen occupants in comfort. Set into one of the long walls is a natural hearth area, not as large as some but more then enough to warm the cavern. Before it lays an old, well-worn rug that's colors have faded over turns of being un cared for. Mismatched chairs, an old couch, and a few randomly placed floor pillows finish up the sitting type area where candidates can relax after a long day of chores.
Along the walls are stationed sets of cots and clothes presses with curtains dividing them for privacy, each made up to the standards of the Weyrwoman. The left hand row of cots is made up with coverlets of brown and trimmed in black for male candidates, while the right hand row is made up with a lighter brown coverlet that's trimmed in white for the female candidates.
Above, the soft white light from electric lamps cast down during waking hours, while basket of emergency glows are stored in corners around the cavern for use during power outages.
Amanthis follows quickly on X'an's heels, looking soothed. Plus, the big intimidating dragons have retreated. She puffs herself up. "No, Fort is prestigous." She grins. "And still close enough to the Harper Hall to make visits home." She grins more, nearly splitting her face open. Glee! She looks around, sticking close to the Weyrleader. "It's like the Apprentice barracks." She says, after a long moment.
Talmar follows, still somewhat in awe of his bright new knot. He looks around, and discovers that, yes, these barracks are somewhat like the ones he'd just come from. "Wow." of course, these barracks house candidates, not apprentices. "So… This is what it feels like to be searched? Wow." he's mumbling to himself there.
X'an smiles at the two of them, leading them into the currently empty barracks, gesturing slowly around. "You two get the pick of the beds… but yes, rather like apprentice halls. We do have privacy screens…" he points at the far back, where cupboards are used for storage and linen. "And don't salute. Not unless you're actually called up before a ranking weyr official… else you'll be saluting everyone all hours of the day, which is humiliating and time consuming. If anyone calls you on that, just … tell them to complain to me." He claps his palms together, rubbing them slightly with a genuine smile. "I'm glad this is still a good place to be at. Sometimes I worry.. actually I do that too often. Is there any questions you might have?"
Amanthis shakes her head, but she's still got that stupid ear-to-ear grin on her face. "I'm sure I'll think of a million and one by morning." She assures him, choosing a cot in the corner. That way, she can't be too terribly lonely in the echoing barracks. "Guess we got lucky, huh?" She asks Tal. "Pick of the beds, and the longest as Candidates. Which makes us… Senior Candidates, right?" She waggles an eyebrow at Talmar, then flops down on her chosen choicey cot. "Hope you don't snore, Tal."
Talmar looks about, then frowns slightly. "Will we get to see the eggs closer?" he asks, then adds, "Before the hatching, I mean." He glances over at Amanthis, and grins. "Senior candidates? I've never been senior anything." he says, picking a cot near Amanthis'. It'd be too quiet for him to sleep if he picked any other, he's used to having many other apprentices around. "I don't /think/ I snore… I'm always asleep at the time."
X'an nods to them both a couple of times. "Absolutely.. big on the whole egg communion thing, touching them, familiarizing yourself with the sands.. the eggs, having a dragon watching you all the time." he laughs softly to himself, shaking his head. "If you have more questions by morning… there's a lot of people that'll answer them. Like Z'ran. Go and pick on him, he'll be eager to answer you." And fill you head with oodles of notions. Waving his hand a little, the man rubs the back of his neck once more. "Congratulations the pair of you… I do need to take a shower and persuade my weyrmate to give me a massage though. Remind me never to fall asleep on the bleachers again, hmm?" smiling at them, the slightly absentbrained weyrleader trails out.
Talmar grins, and waves as X'an leaves. "Wow. Getting to /touch/ the eggs. I only wanted to get a closer look. That sounds really great." He's speaking rather fast now, clearly excited. "I can't wait!" he adds, grinning. To Amanthis, Talmar shrugs. "Um, chores, I guess? Is there a list of chores posted up?" he looks at the walls now, frowning slightly, but still excited.
Amanthis looks over, and flicks her hand at the chore list. "Nah. We'll probably start chores in the morning. Bright and fresh." The woman makes a face, then looks around. "It's so… Echo-y in here." She shivvers. "I'd almost rather sleep in my own bed in the Crafter's cavern tonight." Shudder.
Talmar nods, glancing about the barracks with a little bit of a frown. "Is a bit quiet, isn't it?" he looks at the rows and rows of empty cots, and curls up on his own cot. "Little bit too quiet, if you ask me." he shakes his head. "I hope they bring in some more people soon." he giggles then, childishly. "Imagine if we were the only two people searched. We'd have to impress all eight dragons!" he jokes, knowing of course that it would never happen.
Amanthis scoffs, but she can't help but grin. "Yeah. Four dragons a piece, right?" She pauses, kicking her feet out lazily. "I wonder if there's a gold in this clutch." She says, after a long moment. "I mean, just wondering."
Talmar grins. "Imagine that, four dragons. That'd be crazy." he says, still giggling. He leans back, relaxing slightly now. "I dunno. Might be a gold, I guess." he says, with a shrug. "Maybe. Izelth did seem pretty protective, back there. But that might not mean anything." he shrugs.
Amanthis shrugs, and yawns mightily. "I guess not. Hey, these beds are pretty cozy, for cots." She stretches out, laying her head on the pillow. "Think I'll take a nap. There'll be plenty of time for other stuff. Later." She yawns again. "Why don't you get to work on those eggs?" She suggests, but not haughtily. "Or else, I'd suggest taking a nap. I have a feeling they like to work their Candidates." She grins at him. "Never thought I'd be an apprentice again." Is her last cognitive murmur, and then the Journeywoman's asleep.
Talmar nods slightly, then decides also to sleep. Too much excitement for one day, really. "I'll start on that tomorrow." he says, yawning, before he rolls over and falls asleep. As it turns out, he doesn't snore, hooray.
