|
Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 24, 2012 22:08:51 GMT -5
"Thank you," says Aleiph. A bit of her hair is getting in her eyes again. She tosses her head to get it out of her face.
"...So what other riders do you know?" Because she's curious, and wants to learn more about the Weyr. She undresses the last bed and waits near the door for her new friend to finish.
|
|
|
Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 22:13:44 GMT -5
"I grew up in the weyr," Zayin says with a grin, as she works her way along the rows of beds. She's not quite as fast as Aleiph, since making a bed takes longer than unmaking it, but she's about two thirds of the way through. "I know most of them- though not well, I suppose." she shrugs it off. "Plenty of the people I grew up with are riders now, though. Uh, there's L'morr, Aneimi, Z'fi..." she counts off a few more names, as she works her way towards the door. Finally, she makes it to the last bed. "And Zamorina- but you won't see her around. She transferred last turn, when she got pregnant with her first. Said she couldn't stand how out of the way Cat's Paw is."
|
|
|
Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 24, 2012 22:30:26 GMT -5
"Out of the way?" Aleiph's not sure what that means. "Though if almost all your friends are riders now, you must feel so lonely. Though... Though I'm sure almost everyone born in the Weyr Impresses, right?" She pauses. "Maybe you can help me start feeling more comfortable around Riders. I don't really-- don't really know how to address them. I try to be respectful, but I feel like every time I try, it just falls flat."
|
|
|
Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 22:36:56 GMT -5
"Well, it's in the middle of nowhere, you know? Far away from anything else." Zayin shrugs. "It's a quick trip on dragonback, but not if you're pregnant and can't go between."
It is a little lonely now, with so many of her friends riding or off pursuing crafts, but once she's a rider, things will change, won't they? She'll be part of something again. She's just... taking a bit longer to get there. "Not everyone does. Not everyone even wants to, believe it or not. But a lot of them are off learning a craft, or starting a family... Things aren't so permanent here. People come and go a lot." And it does take getting used to. She does still sometimes miss people, more than she wants to admit.
Nervousness again. Well, she'd feel nervous if she were dropped into a hold, so she supposes it's only natural. "Sure," she agrees. "It's really not- I mean, as long as you aren't insulting them, no one expects you to bow and scrape for them." She chuckles. "It's not like dealing with a Lordholder."
|
|
|
Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 24, 2012 22:42:29 GMT -5
Maybe she shouldn't get attached, then. Because what if Aleiph's new friend leaves her for another Weyr? But of course, who knows if they'll even get that close? (And then there's the darker topic of fatalities at Hatchings...)
"So people leave," she says, a bit sad about it. But that's life, she guesses. "Are there different ways to offend a rider, though? I mean, I don't know how to deal with a Lord Holder, either. I've only seen him a few times and never once spoken to him. He likes my father's wolfhounds for his hunting kennels."
|
|
|
Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 23:08:47 GMT -5
"Well, if you insult their dragon, I suppose," she says, "Or weyr life in general- there's some who come here and look down on the way the Weyr does things." She's not particularly fond of the more judgmental hold bred candidates. "So long as you don't intentionally insult anyone, you'll be alright." There, the last bed is done.
|
|
|
Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 24, 2012 23:15:04 GMT -5
"All right. So don't insult the dragons and don't look down at them." She picks up the dirty linens and holds the door open for Zayin. "I think you'll be a lot of help, really. I... I still don't know what to do about Weyr life. I don't think it's wrong or anything, don't get me wrong, I just-- I just don't know if I'll ever fit in."
|
|
|
Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 23:20:22 GMT -5
“I can help if you ever have questions, but it’s not really all that different from a hold,” Zayin says. “Well- a different routine, but you’ll get used to it soon enough.” She heads out, glancing back to make sure Aleiph follows. “What else are you worried about? If it’s the hatching, I wouldn’t stress too much. Lots of people take a few hatchings to impress. I’ve been standing since I was 16.”
|
|
|
Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 24, 2012 23:27:21 GMT -5
"It's not really the hatching..." She shakes her head. "I can't really talk to bronze riders, or anything like them. Or other brown riders, for that matter. Or any rider, really. I just-- think they'll think I'm stupid or silly or... Or something. And then there's the fact that it seems like everyone here has had some sort of... sort of experience with things that- that I never have. Like... Well, sex is just sort of the first part of it, but I've never even kissed a boy..."
|
|
|
Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 23:38:20 GMT -5
“You’re not missing much,” Zayin says with a cheeky grin, but then she figures she should take this more seriously. “I can’t say I’m fond of kissing boys, but I like that the weyr doesn’t have such strict rules on sex. It’s really not that intimidating after the first time.” She pauses. “You… do know, with dragons, that you will end up with someone when they rise…?” because oh, if she has to explain flights…
As to not being able to talk to riders, though… “Everyone was a candidate once,” she points out. “They’re not going to judge you too harshly. My first time helping wash a dragon, I grabbed cooking oil instead of scented. Franth smelled like the kitchens for days. And I’m weyrbred.”
|
|
|
Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 25, 2012 0:36:37 GMT -5
Aleiph can't help but laugh. Her mother's not here to scold her for rudeness now. "Poor dragon," she says. "...And I do know about Flights. I just-- I figure that maybe-- maybe it'll be different, if my Dragon rises. Like, it won't matters as much. I won't remember it or realize it or-- or I don't even know."
She's really not sure what to think, but they're at the washing pools now and she'll experience it herself. "It's more dangerous to be a non-rider in a Flight, so I've been told." Because she's never seen that, has she?
|
|
|
Post by moonchilde on Oct 25, 2012 0:42:27 GMT -5
“You don’t usually if you’re involved. At least, that’s what they say.” Zayin sort of shrugs. Someone’s eventually going to have to point out to Aleiph that she’ll likely feel it the nexzt morning, but she doesn’t think now’s the time. There’s ages left till the eggs are ready- they’re not even clutched yet- so there’s no need to worry her unnecessarily. “I wouldn’t say it’s dangerous to be a non-rider- you just keep a little distance. There’s usually plenty of people around who are willing to join in. No one’s going to chase you down if you don’t want to get involved.”
Personally, she does sometimes join in the activities, but she doesn’t need to tell Aleiph that, now does she? Not until she’s sure the girl won’t look down on her for it. “Have you ever seen the people on the ground during a flight? It’s… really not as bad as it’s described.”
|
|
|
Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 25, 2012 1:28:10 GMT -5
"...I have." She's not going to get into details. "It was sort of shocking, to be honest, but... But I figure it'll be okay when I'm a Rider, right? Because if it isn't, there'd be so much... I don't even know. I just-- I just don't know if I could adjust otherwise." She begins to wash the linens, then sighs.
"I hate tedious chores," she says, changing the subject. "My mother used to make me do them all the time and I hated them."
|
|
|
Post by moonchilde on Oct 25, 2012 2:11:46 GMT -5
It's a little discouraging, actually, to hear she was so taken aback by it. Granted, it takes some time to adjust, but if Aleiph is so uncomfortable with what riding requires...She's not about to let it drop so quickly. "I know it's a little weird to see the first time, everyone sort of- looks like they're in a frenzy- but it's not so bad." She shrugs awkwardly. "Anyway, it's easy enough to avoid if you stay out of the lower caverns when there's a flight going on, but it's really.. I mean, as long as you're firm with anyone who tries to grab you, no one's going to carry you off kicking and screaming." She can't help but think that holds have it entirely wrong, if the notion of sex is that frightening to Aleiph. Sure, some of her early experiences were awkward, but they weren't terrifying. Just important lessons in figuring out who you have chemistry with before you jump in with them.
"Anyway, I've always liked the monotony," she admits, "It lets your mind wander, you know? And it keeps your hands busy."
|
|
|
Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 25, 2012 3:01:40 GMT -5
Aleiph is very uncomfortable with this subject, thanks, so she's going to focus on the linens.
"I always preferred chores that required more physical exertion," she says. And it's strange because she's such a tiny girl, such a skinny little thing that could be picked up and toted anywhere. "I used to help with the Runnerbeasts. I can think just fine while doing those, and at least I get to move."
Linen-washing just makes her restless.
|
|