Aleith's Clutching! Pt. 2
Who: Rilkie, Gr'din, Olwyn, Jenivrys, Gay, Ferros
What: Aleith's eggs arrive, and there is much rejoicing. Rilkie feels very much like a third wheel.
Where: Living Cavern, Telgar Weyr
Living Cavern, Telgar Weyr
This huge cavern is sufficiently roomy to hold a large portion of the Weyr's population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of activity here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in prepartion for mealtimes: currently for the evening meal. Drudges are always present, either cleaning under Pierron's watchful eye, or helping fetch and carry. A myriad of glowbaskets and many ever-lit hearths make the cavern warm and inviting despite its size. The scents of cooking meats, baking breads and pastries, and the pungent aroma of spices hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little wonder that those seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do it. Dark summer blooms of vivid hue decorate the tables.
A short tunnel jaunts northward out to the bowl and the merry sounds of cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the southeast end of the cavern near the easterly passage to the rest of the lower caverns. Within the lower caverns is an entrance to the infirmary weyr to care for injured dragons and riders.
The living caverns is beginning to fill with people post-clutching, and the kitchen staff are doing their level best to manage visitors and weyrfolk both. Amidst the bustle, Gay's off to one side by the serving tables, eying trays as they come out, answering questions from harried drudges, and generally being available for greetings. With a rather large glass of white wine in one hand. Of course.
Gr'din eyes Jeni as she comes in from the bowl just behind himself and Olwyn. "Olwyn, this is my baby sister Jenivrys. Jeni, this is Olwyn, Aleith's rider. And I see you've met Rilkie, my wingleader." Lips twist faintly and he says, "Rilkie, you never said if I could have tomorrow morning off or not."
"We met," Jenivrys tells her brother, dipping another mini-curtsey to Olwyn. "When -you- galloped away like whers were after you, /she/ stopped for introductions. How come you never said your dragons were brother and sister?"
Olwyn stops when Gr'din does, turning to be introduced to the female who introduced the term "Dindin" to the Weyr. "Nice to meet you officially, Jenivrys. Duties to your hold. Are you just here to visit Grae or are you going to be here long?" she asks curiously. A hand is raised and fingers wiggle in a wave in the Weyrwoman's direction.
Rilkie is just a bit behind Jenivrys, and comes to join the group just as introductions are being made. "Yes, we've met," she says, smiling. At the more formal topic of wing matters, her tone is just slightly more serious-- "Oh, of course. But if anyone else asks-- you're the exception. /I'm/ not getting too far into the wine tonight, so I don't expect to see anyone else doing so." Her smile returns at Vrys's rebuke and Olwyn's greeting, tone light. "Yes, are you just visiting? We didn't get to talk about much besides eggs and dragon colors during the clutching."
The Weyrwoman might be a little far into the wine by the flush to her cheeks, but that's hardly uncommon. On spotting Olwyn and Gr'din entering, she starts for the little group. Calling out clearly above the din, "She done? Everything okay? Congratulations!" Gay's attention is primarily on the other goldrider, but she offers a brilliant smile generally. "Hey. Welcome."
Jenivrys says, "I'm staying for a few days, I think," casting an uncertain look up at Grae. "I packed for five days, and it's only been two. I -can- stay a bit longer, can't I, Grae?"
Gr'din blinks at Jeni. "Yeah, Rei and Aleith came from the same clutch, but there's nothing wrong with that." As the Weyrwoman makes her way over he gives her a grin, "Thank you, but like Wyn said, we didn't really do much. Ma'am, this is my baby sister, Jeni. Jeni, this is Gay, our Weyrwoman."
"I'm /Vrys/," Jenivrys adds firmly. "Jenivrys. Well met, ma'am. Your... your Liabeth is well?"
Olwyn glances at Grae, raising her eyebrows, but letting him answer his sister's plea. "That's just how dragons are, Jenivrys. All of them are descended from Faranth, so they're all closely related," she explains easily if incorrectly. To Gay, she notes, "She's tired, but well. She laid twelve eggs!"
"And Ancaith," Rilkie puts in, although her brown doesn't have much to do with anything at the moment. "It's true-- dragons don't think about things like that the same way humans do. Doesn't bother them."
"Well, like - pass it on then. And people'll keep congratulating ya'll no matter how many times you say it's not your doing, yeah?" Gay turns her grin to Jenivrys, nodding with a bounce of curls. Flicking a stray one from her eye, "Telgar's duties. And - nice on the name. She's well, thank you." To Olwyn, wryly, "It always looks like so much work. And - twelve's good. A nice size for - well. A fine clutch."
Gr'din eyes Jeni. He mutters half under his breath, "At least she's being polite." A bit louder, "Yes, you can stay for the full five days. But mind you don't be a nuisance here in the caverns. I'll take tomorrow morning and show you around more." He shoots a tender look at Olwyn, "though not until well after breakfast."
"For an Intervel," Olwyn says, trying to finish her Weyrwoman's sentence. "She did really well, but I hate to think what it must be like for the poor queens who clutch during a Pass. So many eggs to have to lay. She was exhausted by just twelve." Gr'din is given a wink and the young rider leans forward to whisper something in his ear.
"I'm not a nuisance!" Jenivrys immediately denies (would she do anything else?). "/You/ don't be a nuisance. What else is there to see? You've shown me your weyr, the living caverns, and the barracks where the Candidates will be. Oh, and the infirmary. What else is there?"
Gr'din grins at Olwyn, completely ignoring his sister for a moment. Then as she goes on and on, he says, "There's the lake and the steam baths. But if you think you've seen it all and are ready to go home...."
Gay wrinkles her nose, nodding to Olwyn a bit apologetically. "Yeah. I'm glad for it - could have been smaller, and our luck with Fall ain't gonna hold out forever." Taking a sip of her wine, she agrees, "Pass clutching can take /days/. Imagine standing out there that long." She quirks an amused grin Rilkie's way as she glances between gold and bronzerider, then tells Jenivrys, "Star stones too, if he'll haul you up there."
Jenivrys pouts, looking (briefly) more like twelve than seventeen. "I -don't- think I've seen it all. But all -he- does," she turns to include the other women in her recitation, "Is yank me out of his weyr, trot me round to -one- place, then abandon me in here!" And the living caverns aren't, apparently, a hot bed of excitement some find them. "Then, just as soon as I find someone interesting to talk to, he pops back in, drags me out, and it's back up in his weyr again!"
"He's probably being overprotective and trying to keep you out of the sight of some of our more raunchy riders, male and female," Olwyn pipes in helpfully. "I seem to recall him being rather shell-shocked at some of the stuff that goes on at a Weyr, so he's probably trying to keep that from happening to you," she finishes. Despite her teasing tone, she gives the bronzerider a fond look. The pair of them are positively sickening to be around.
Gr'din shakes his head at Jenivrys. "Nope, Jeni. Rei's got no intention of leaving Aleith. So it's to the dorms with you. S'what I was showing you before Rei told me Aleith'd started clutching. Besides, my weyr's all dusty." A faint grin at Olwyn at this last. Oh yeah. Utterly too much. Get a room. "And I wasn't /that/ shell shocked. Just D'rin making me /really/ uncomfortable was all." He sends a mute appeal to Gay and Rilkie for support.
Rilkie does, indeed, shift a little uncomfortably at the sight of the bronze-and-goldrider pair. "I'd probably do the same," she offers to Vrys. "I mean, if you were surprised at the fact that sibling-dragons can mate, well, there's a lot to a Weyr you're probably not used to. But that's not to say it's... dangerous, or anything. Just different. Take it in a bit at a time." A hopeful glance is cast between the visitor and the Weyrwoman that seems to say 'I'm not the only one feeling like the third wheel, right?'
Gay points out to Jenivrys, oh-so-helpfully, "Could just stay with the residents in the dorms. Lots of room - hard to get outta a weyr when you can't fly." And then Gr'din suggests it as well, so hey - easy enough. Looking all too pleased at /not/ being the one making people sick, she adds diplomatically, "Riders can be a little weird." To Rilkie, she shrugs. What can you do?
Olwyn misses all the slightly uncomfortable interplay at her twitter-pattedness. "Oh, yes, that's a good idea. I'm sure we could find you a good cot for your last few days here. Maybe Rilkie can take you up to the Star Stones. Even if Rei were willing to go, I think Aleith would have something to say about that, and she's not about to leave her eggs."
Jenivrys casts an uncertain eye at her brother, but it's Gay she addresses, shyly. "Mama and Papa thought I'd be staying with Grae. That's part of the reason I could come. Is it... it's safe in the dorms, isn't it? I think I'd like to see the Star Stones," she adds, more bravely, to Rilkie.
Gr'din snorts. "Course it's safe in the dorms. Though if you're scared, Jeni, maybe we could find a guest room? It's only for a couple of nights?" He too looks at Gay, eyebrows raised slightly.
Weird, indeed. Rilkie's new tactic is to casually not look at Olwyn and Gr'din, and instead look at-- Vrys, who needs to be shown the Star Stones! "Oh, sure!" The brownrider's a little overenthusiastic. "I'm sure I could spare a few moments to show you around. And the dorms are perfectly safe." Gay gets a glance, as well, but the expression on the Weyrwoman's face reminds her that she's not exactly a comrade-in-arms. Is Rilkie the /only/ unattached rider around here?
Olwyn suddenly giggles, and for far too long. "I don't think you want to be staying with Grae right now," she chortles even as she blushes like mad and looks at the man in question again with another one of /those/ looks.
"Man. And like, some queens? They pretty much kick their mate off the Sands." Gay shrugs before taking a drink - who can tell with dragons? "Liabeth doesn't mind some time one her own, so long as someone's watchin' 'em. They all got their ways, yeah? And safe as holds," she assures Jenivrys easily. "There's nosy aunties enough to keep everyone on the straight and narrow." At Gr'din's glance, she gives him an amused look. "The dorms are more than safe."
You know how Vrys' blush had mostly disappeared? Well, it's back with a vengence at Olwyn's words. "/Grae/!" She straightens like someone'd shoved a plank up her butt and addresses Gay with the utmost in formality. "Thank you, ma'am, I think I -would- like a room in the dorms. Even though my /brother/ said he'd take care of me, I see that /he's/ got other things to do." And when she says 'things', she means 'people'.
Gr'din appears not the least bit disturbed by Jeni's comments. "Of course I'll take care of you, silly. But I do have duties. You know, drills, that whole 'fighting thread' thing too. Besides, you slept in the dorms at home. And don't go thinking you'll 'tattle' to mom and da' - mother's already asked me when she can expect grandkids, so I don't think she's all that fussed." He grins at the blushing Olwyn and says, "Now, if it were say, D'rin or M'lal," he names a very flamboyant greenrider, "I think she'd roast me on a spit." His gaze flickers to Rilkie and Gay in amusement.
Olwyn considers Gay's words, then shrugs. "Well, this is her first clutch so I don't know how things will go, but since she and Rei have been nearly inseparable ever since the flight, and it's not just been because of her, I don't foresee that changing." She stands very close to Gr'din in a small group midway into the Living Caverns, all of whom seem more interested in talking than in eating at the moment.
"You've drills," Rilkie remarks, "And /I/ know you've a sister to look after for the next few days." Her voice has an edge of sternness-- apparently Vrys sat near the right rider at the clutching. "Of course, I don't expect to see your duties slide for... other reasons. But I can appreciate the importance of family." Her expression, though, is a bit amused.
Gay grins at Jenivrys, offering a formal nod for formal request. "I'll have one of the headwomen point out a good spot," she promises, giving the girl a little eyeroll for Gr'din's response. She confides easily, "I've got a /lot/ of brothers. They can be really irritating." With a flash of a grin for the bronzerider after, she nods to Olwyn, noting, "Only time it gets rough is when there's eating or bathing to be done. Anyway -" Regretful, "Ought to go talk to some of the visitors. Make sure ya'll get food and drink? And Jenivrys, welcome again."
Ferros slips as quietly as he can into the living caverns. Once he actually gets /in/, though, he looks like he's at a bit of a loss of where to actually go. For lack of a better plan, he slowly sidles towards the large clump of people, some of whom look at least vaguely familar to the young man.
Jenivrys says "I met M'lal. He was very nice." She nods a farewell to Gay, then rises up on her tiptoes to peer across the crowd. "Are -all- these people here for the clutching? I thought I heard someone in the galleries say that this was 'just' a clutching. What did she mean by that?"
Olwyn's cheerfulness vanishes for a moment. "Someone said it was /just/ a clutching? If I knew who it was, I've half a mind to give them a stern talking to!" she says, clearly mortally insulted. Almost as an afterthought, she adds, "There's nothing 'just' about a clutch, especially not now when there's Thread falling randomly and our dragons are only producing small, Interval-appropriate clutches."
Gr'din says lightly to Jeni, "He is, if you're female." He nods politely to Ferros. "Evening - Ferros, wasn't it?" As Olwyn splutters, he puts an arm supportively around her waist. "Eggs are the important thing, right, Wyn? And getting them all healthy to hatching day." He casts a glance at Rilkie for support.
Ferros bites his lip nervously as he comes in hearing range just in time for Olwyn's minor outburst. "If it makes you feel any better, it was very exciting for me. I've never seen a clutching before, or even dragon eggs. They're very beautiful." He nods curtly at Gr'din and can't help but smile as the rider remembers his name. "Yeah. Grae, right? Though I feel like I should be calling you sir." He motions towards the rider's bronze-threaded knot as explanation. "Are clutches always so...green?"
"A clutching's as big a reason for celebration as anything else," Rilkie says, seemingly of a like mind as Olwyn and Gr'din. "Perhaps they meant it wasn' a hatching? But as wonderful as hatchings are, and as hopeful everyone is that their favorites'll Impress, knowing we've the promise of new, fighting dragons, and how many..." she waves her hand around at the celebration. "It's an occasion worthy of all this!" She grins, noting the new arrival. "Evening!"
Jenivrys shoots Grae - not Olwyn - another dirty look and shifts closer to Rilkie. "I didn't hear who said it, just that it was a woman's voice. I thought the clutching was very nice. -And brown," she adds as Ferros joins them. "Lots more brown than green. Though I guess there was a lot of green, too."
Olwyn is mollified by both Gr'din's arm around her and Ferros's honest appreciation. She settles some, though mutters a bit under her breath about, ".../just/ a clutching...." To Ferros, she says, "Thank you very much. I'm glad you got to see it. Every clutch looks different, and hers does seem to be very brown and green, doesn't it?" she echoes Jenivrys.
Gr'din rolls his eyes at his baby sister and echoes Rilkie, "More than cause enough for a celebration. Now, who can I get something to drink? Wyn? Rilkie? Ferros? Jeni? Or maybe a bite to eat?"
Ferros smiles lightly. "I must say I'm glad I'm not a gold dragon. Or a woman, for that matter. Those contractions looked...painful." He furrows his brow, looking thoughtful. "Do you...feel them too?" He asks uncertainly of Olwyn, before reddening and throwing up his hands. "Sorry, sorry, I shouldn't be so nosey. It's just all very new." The young man nods in grievance wit Jenivrys. "Yes, seemed to be a lot of brown too." He looks mystified at Gr'din's offer and simply blinks in response at first. "Thank...thank you for the offer. Er, what's the selection here? But really, if it's too much trouble, I can get my own drink."
"I'd appreciate a glass of wine," Rilkie says, casting a thankful look at Gr'din, "But not too much-- maybe just half." She grins at the talk of eggs. "Yes, lots of brown. I did like the greenish eggs, too, though. That one, pale-green egg was quite lovely. And that one dark, purplish one? I think it was my favorite."
Olwyn smiles at the boy and shakes her head. "Don't worry, you're fine. I could feel that sort of thing if I linked strongly enough with her or if it was overwhelming for and she wasn't able to block it like with bad Threadscores. This was bearable for her, though, and there was only so much of the experience I wanted to share," she admits. "Watching was plenty for me since she was all right." To Gr'din, she says, "Just a glass of redfruit juice, Grae, and maybe a couple of meatrolls if there are any fresh ones."
Gr'din says easily to Ferros, "No trouble at all. I'm going myself - there's juice, klah, wine, ale. Water, of course. I hear a mug of ale calling me. So let's see, that's wine, redfruit juice, klah, some meatrolls for Wyn and dessert for me. So what're you having, Ferros?" He eyes his sister, apparently planning on dragooning her into helping.
Ferros humms softly under his breath, drumming his fingers on his scruffy chin. "I think I'll echo your desire for ale, if you don't mind. Do you want some help carrying, sir? I wouldn't mind a meatroll myself to hit the spot." His hand drops and instead begins to fidget with his clothing. "Yeah, that dark purple egg certainly did stand out. I liked it."
"I think it was my favorite too," Vrys says, steadfastly ignoring her brother's look. "All that green and brown, and bam, that one dark purple one. Don't feel you have to get -me- anything," she adds faux-sweetly to Gr'din. "After all, I wouldn't want to put you out. You're so busy, after all."
"No, Ferros, you stay and chat. I'll help Grae," Olwyn says firmly. Oh no, here comes the gooshiness again. She gives him another look, then twines one of her hands into his, ready to lead or be lead off to the serving tables.
Gr'din has practice ignoring his little sister, though he says to Wyn, "She likes citron juice. Jeni, that is. Here." He leads the goldrider off, and quickly piles two plates - one with meatrolls, legumes and rivergrains, the other with meatrolls and a decadent dessert. The drinks are poured, and then one of the servers is found. A quick word in the man's ear earns Grae and Wyn an unabashed grin and a vague shooing motion. Grae scoops up a skin of wine as well, and pulls Wyn out of the cavern, bringing wine, juice and plate along with him. The server instead ferries over the load of drinks and food to the remaining trio.
Rilkie accepts her wineglass from the server, watching with a mixture of amusement and relief as the two lovebirds head off from the cavern. She opens her mouth to say something to Vrys just as she hears her name called from across the room, turning to see a cluster of her wingmates. "Ah-- will you excuse me?" She asks apologetically. "It was nice to meet you both. Vrys-- do let me know when I can show you the Star Stones!"
TGW-LC>> Ferros again looks heartily taken aback and, at a loss of words, simply looks between his own dull knot and the far more complex ones of those offering him service. "Well, if you two say so." He blushes deeply at Wyn and Grae's non-too-subtle exit and focuses his attention on the mug of ale offered to him instead "So...." He trails off, looking awkward. "How are...you folks?" He nods at Rilkie's farewell. "Nice meeting you too-" He breaks off abruptly, realizing he doesn't actually know the young woman's name, so he just leaves it at that.
TGW-LC>> Jenivrys watches Gr'din and Olwyn with suspicious eyes, and snorts when the two duck out without returning to say goodnight. "Huh? --Oh, sure, Rilkie. It was nice meeting you. I ought to be here a few more days. Maybe," she adds calculatingly as she takes her plain juice, "A few more than a few more, if I have a chance to talk to Dindin alone."
TGW-LC>> "Rilkie..." Ferros notes to himself outloud, trying to imprint the name into his memory." The young man shifts his weight from foot to foot, slowly swirling the ale in his mug. "Hi." Pause. "I'm Ferros. You...from around. Here?"
TGW-LC>> "I'm not," Vrys says, turning to the lone remnant of the chatty group and offering him a little smile. "My name's Jenivrys - call me Vrys, though. I'm Gr'din's sister. He brought me here for the clutching."
TGW-LC>> Ferros nods rapidly. "Vrys. Got it. I'm Ferros. Not sure if you caught my name. There was a lot of stuff going on." He tilts his head curiously as he takes a swig of ale. "Y'mean he didn't live here before he became a dragonrider? I always pictured them all as growing up in a Weyr before being candidates." He scratches the back of his head and smiles sheepishly. "Guess that's stupid. I mean, I've seen people searched from my Hold, but I guess it never really clicks in my mind?"
TGW-LC>> Jenivrys has more of her completely-innocent juice, ignoring the trio of riders a little way away who have begun arguing, loudly, about the colors of the contents of the eggs. "Well, Grae was Searched here. But we're from a little minehold near Crom. He was visiting, and..." She trails off, then shrugs. "He was Searched. He never said much about it in his letters home. Then, of course, he Impressed Sareith, and didn't visit at all for over a turn."
TGW-LC>> Ferros inches away from the loud group of 'riders, face paling a little. "Some people certainly take eggs and betting seriously, eh?" He notes quietly. His eyebrows wiggle with interest and he looks up at Jenivrys. "Oh? Really? I'm from Telgar Hold. Most of my family are Smiths, so they really rely on folks like you." His eyes quickly return to looking down at the ground and he shuffles his feet. "I'm just visiting too. Aunt and uncle wanted to see me."
TGW-LC>> "Not folks like me," Vrys is quick to deny. "I'm an herbalist. Folks like my papa, and most of my uncles. Are your aunt and uncle riders?" She nods toward the boisterous group, "Or are they, um... what are they called? /Residents/, that's right. I've only been here a couple of days," she adds in an undertone.
TGW-LC>> Ferros ohs softly and looks embarassed. "'scuse me. I didn't mean to assume, miss." He bobs his head and adds, "And of course herbalists are always needed too." He shakes his head and smiles crookedly. "Naw, they're residents too. No one in my family protects the skies of Pern. I see dragons sometimes, though, when they go by on sweeps. Never seen them up close like here." He slows down on his ale, just taking sips from it now; a pair of loud drunken riders nearby have made him wary of getting ahead of himself.
TGW-LC>> Jenivrys says "We see -lots- of riders... or we did, anyway. Now mostly we see them on sweeps, like you." She casts a wary eye toward the increasingly rowdy 'caverns and shuffles a step or two closer to Ferros. "Or Grae, of course. So you've never seen a clutching before?"
TGW-LC>> Ferros shakes his head and smiles. "Nope, this was my first time. It was quite a sight. I never thought they would be so...colourful, and different from each other. Much more interesting to look at than wherry eggs or somethin'." He shakes hair out of his eyes and strokes his chin contemplatively. "'course, dragons are rather more honourable than wherries. Their eggs should look better."
TGW-LC>> The dark-haired girl nods sage agreement, like she was the reigning expert of wherry eggs. "Me neither. It was... I don't know what it was like. It wasn't anything like I'd seen before. I can't believe that one woman said that, about it being /just/ a clutching! --Are you coming back for the hatching?" she adds, in another quick subject change.
TGW-LC>> Ferros frowns and pauses a moment to think. "It is strange. Very strange. Perhaps they were weyrfolk? Maybe they see so many, the blur together. Still...it seems like every dragonpair is needed." He jolts at the sudden hatching question. "Oh! Um, I have no idea, really. I'm not sure how long I'm staying. Doubt I'll be given the luxury of more time off to come here again for a while, though. I wish it weren't so...it'd be so interesting to see happen. I can't imagine what it would be like..." His face suddenly loses some of its color. "I wouldn't want to see a mauling, though. I hear about them sometimes." Amongst the crowd, a jovial, pudgy middle aged women begins to wave enthusiastically at Ferros and call his name. The man deeply reddens and he hastily explains, "Ah. My aunt. If you'll excuse me..." He dashes off, clearly hoping the woman will stop drawing attention to him.
What: Aleith's eggs arrive, and there is much rejoicing. Rilkie feels very much like a third wheel.
Where: Living Cavern, Telgar Weyr
Living Cavern, Telgar Weyr
This huge cavern is sufficiently roomy to hold a large portion of the Weyr's population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of activity here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in prepartion for mealtimes: currently for the evening meal. Drudges are always present, either cleaning under Pierron's watchful eye, or helping fetch and carry. A myriad of glowbaskets and many ever-lit hearths make the cavern warm and inviting despite its size. The scents of cooking meats, baking breads and pastries, and the pungent aroma of spices hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little wonder that those seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do it. Dark summer blooms of vivid hue decorate the tables.
A short tunnel jaunts northward out to the bowl and the merry sounds of cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the southeast end of the cavern near the easterly passage to the rest of the lower caverns. Within the lower caverns is an entrance to the infirmary weyr to care for injured dragons and riders.
The living caverns is beginning to fill with people post-clutching, and the kitchen staff are doing their level best to manage visitors and weyrfolk both. Amidst the bustle, Gay's off to one side by the serving tables, eying trays as they come out, answering questions from harried drudges, and generally being available for greetings. With a rather large glass of white wine in one hand. Of course.
Gr'din eyes Jeni as she comes in from the bowl just behind himself and Olwyn. "Olwyn, this is my baby sister Jenivrys. Jeni, this is Olwyn, Aleith's rider. And I see you've met Rilkie, my wingleader." Lips twist faintly and he says, "Rilkie, you never said if I could have tomorrow morning off or not."
"We met," Jenivrys tells her brother, dipping another mini-curtsey to Olwyn. "When -you- galloped away like whers were after you, /she/ stopped for introductions. How come you never said your dragons were brother and sister?"
Olwyn stops when Gr'din does, turning to be introduced to the female who introduced the term "Dindin" to the Weyr. "Nice to meet you officially, Jenivrys. Duties to your hold. Are you just here to visit Grae or are you going to be here long?" she asks curiously. A hand is raised and fingers wiggle in a wave in the Weyrwoman's direction.
Rilkie is just a bit behind Jenivrys, and comes to join the group just as introductions are being made. "Yes, we've met," she says, smiling. At the more formal topic of wing matters, her tone is just slightly more serious-- "Oh, of course. But if anyone else asks-- you're the exception. /I'm/ not getting too far into the wine tonight, so I don't expect to see anyone else doing so." Her smile returns at Vrys's rebuke and Olwyn's greeting, tone light. "Yes, are you just visiting? We didn't get to talk about much besides eggs and dragon colors during the clutching."
The Weyrwoman might be a little far into the wine by the flush to her cheeks, but that's hardly uncommon. On spotting Olwyn and Gr'din entering, she starts for the little group. Calling out clearly above the din, "She done? Everything okay? Congratulations!" Gay's attention is primarily on the other goldrider, but she offers a brilliant smile generally. "Hey. Welcome."
Jenivrys says, "I'm staying for a few days, I think," casting an uncertain look up at Grae. "I packed for five days, and it's only been two. I -can- stay a bit longer, can't I, Grae?"
Gr'din blinks at Jeni. "Yeah, Rei and Aleith came from the same clutch, but there's nothing wrong with that." As the Weyrwoman makes her way over he gives her a grin, "Thank you, but like Wyn said, we didn't really do much. Ma'am, this is my baby sister, Jeni. Jeni, this is Gay, our Weyrwoman."
"I'm /Vrys/," Jenivrys adds firmly. "Jenivrys. Well met, ma'am. Your... your Liabeth is well?"
Olwyn glances at Grae, raising her eyebrows, but letting him answer his sister's plea. "That's just how dragons are, Jenivrys. All of them are descended from Faranth, so they're all closely related," she explains easily if incorrectly. To Gay, she notes, "She's tired, but well. She laid twelve eggs!"
"And Ancaith," Rilkie puts in, although her brown doesn't have much to do with anything at the moment. "It's true-- dragons don't think about things like that the same way humans do. Doesn't bother them."
"Well, like - pass it on then. And people'll keep congratulating ya'll no matter how many times you say it's not your doing, yeah?" Gay turns her grin to Jenivrys, nodding with a bounce of curls. Flicking a stray one from her eye, "Telgar's duties. And - nice on the name. She's well, thank you." To Olwyn, wryly, "It always looks like so much work. And - twelve's good. A nice size for - well. A fine clutch."
Gr'din eyes Jeni. He mutters half under his breath, "At least she's being polite." A bit louder, "Yes, you can stay for the full five days. But mind you don't be a nuisance here in the caverns. I'll take tomorrow morning and show you around more." He shoots a tender look at Olwyn, "though not until well after breakfast."
"For an Intervel," Olwyn says, trying to finish her Weyrwoman's sentence. "She did really well, but I hate to think what it must be like for the poor queens who clutch during a Pass. So many eggs to have to lay. She was exhausted by just twelve." Gr'din is given a wink and the young rider leans forward to whisper something in his ear.
"I'm not a nuisance!" Jenivrys immediately denies (would she do anything else?). "/You/ don't be a nuisance. What else is there to see? You've shown me your weyr, the living caverns, and the barracks where the Candidates will be. Oh, and the infirmary. What else is there?"
Gr'din grins at Olwyn, completely ignoring his sister for a moment. Then as she goes on and on, he says, "There's the lake and the steam baths. But if you think you've seen it all and are ready to go home...."
Gay wrinkles her nose, nodding to Olwyn a bit apologetically. "Yeah. I'm glad for it - could have been smaller, and our luck with Fall ain't gonna hold out forever." Taking a sip of her wine, she agrees, "Pass clutching can take /days/. Imagine standing out there that long." She quirks an amused grin Rilkie's way as she glances between gold and bronzerider, then tells Jenivrys, "Star stones too, if he'll haul you up there."
Jenivrys pouts, looking (briefly) more like twelve than seventeen. "I -don't- think I've seen it all. But all -he- does," she turns to include the other women in her recitation, "Is yank me out of his weyr, trot me round to -one- place, then abandon me in here!" And the living caverns aren't, apparently, a hot bed of excitement some find them. "Then, just as soon as I find someone interesting to talk to, he pops back in, drags me out, and it's back up in his weyr again!"
"He's probably being overprotective and trying to keep you out of the sight of some of our more raunchy riders, male and female," Olwyn pipes in helpfully. "I seem to recall him being rather shell-shocked at some of the stuff that goes on at a Weyr, so he's probably trying to keep that from happening to you," she finishes. Despite her teasing tone, she gives the bronzerider a fond look. The pair of them are positively sickening to be around.
Gr'din shakes his head at Jenivrys. "Nope, Jeni. Rei's got no intention of leaving Aleith. So it's to the dorms with you. S'what I was showing you before Rei told me Aleith'd started clutching. Besides, my weyr's all dusty." A faint grin at Olwyn at this last. Oh yeah. Utterly too much. Get a room. "And I wasn't /that/ shell shocked. Just D'rin making me /really/ uncomfortable was all." He sends a mute appeal to Gay and Rilkie for support.
Rilkie does, indeed, shift a little uncomfortably at the sight of the bronze-and-goldrider pair. "I'd probably do the same," she offers to Vrys. "I mean, if you were surprised at the fact that sibling-dragons can mate, well, there's a lot to a Weyr you're probably not used to. But that's not to say it's... dangerous, or anything. Just different. Take it in a bit at a time." A hopeful glance is cast between the visitor and the Weyrwoman that seems to say 'I'm not the only one feeling like the third wheel, right?'
Gay points out to Jenivrys, oh-so-helpfully, "Could just stay with the residents in the dorms. Lots of room - hard to get outta a weyr when you can't fly." And then Gr'din suggests it as well, so hey - easy enough. Looking all too pleased at /not/ being the one making people sick, she adds diplomatically, "Riders can be a little weird." To Rilkie, she shrugs. What can you do?
Olwyn misses all the slightly uncomfortable interplay at her twitter-pattedness. "Oh, yes, that's a good idea. I'm sure we could find you a good cot for your last few days here. Maybe Rilkie can take you up to the Star Stones. Even if Rei were willing to go, I think Aleith would have something to say about that, and she's not about to leave her eggs."
Jenivrys casts an uncertain eye at her brother, but it's Gay she addresses, shyly. "Mama and Papa thought I'd be staying with Grae. That's part of the reason I could come. Is it... it's safe in the dorms, isn't it? I think I'd like to see the Star Stones," she adds, more bravely, to Rilkie.
Gr'din snorts. "Course it's safe in the dorms. Though if you're scared, Jeni, maybe we could find a guest room? It's only for a couple of nights?" He too looks at Gay, eyebrows raised slightly.
Weird, indeed. Rilkie's new tactic is to casually not look at Olwyn and Gr'din, and instead look at-- Vrys, who needs to be shown the Star Stones! "Oh, sure!" The brownrider's a little overenthusiastic. "I'm sure I could spare a few moments to show you around. And the dorms are perfectly safe." Gay gets a glance, as well, but the expression on the Weyrwoman's face reminds her that she's not exactly a comrade-in-arms. Is Rilkie the /only/ unattached rider around here?
Olwyn suddenly giggles, and for far too long. "I don't think you want to be staying with Grae right now," she chortles even as she blushes like mad and looks at the man in question again with another one of /those/ looks.
"Man. And like, some queens? They pretty much kick their mate off the Sands." Gay shrugs before taking a drink - who can tell with dragons? "Liabeth doesn't mind some time one her own, so long as someone's watchin' 'em. They all got their ways, yeah? And safe as holds," she assures Jenivrys easily. "There's nosy aunties enough to keep everyone on the straight and narrow." At Gr'din's glance, she gives him an amused look. "The dorms are more than safe."
You know how Vrys' blush had mostly disappeared? Well, it's back with a vengence at Olwyn's words. "/Grae/!" She straightens like someone'd shoved a plank up her butt and addresses Gay with the utmost in formality. "Thank you, ma'am, I think I -would- like a room in the dorms. Even though my /brother/ said he'd take care of me, I see that /he's/ got other things to do." And when she says 'things', she means 'people'.
Gr'din appears not the least bit disturbed by Jeni's comments. "Of course I'll take care of you, silly. But I do have duties. You know, drills, that whole 'fighting thread' thing too. Besides, you slept in the dorms at home. And don't go thinking you'll 'tattle' to mom and da' - mother's already asked me when she can expect grandkids, so I don't think she's all that fussed." He grins at the blushing Olwyn and says, "Now, if it were say, D'rin or M'lal," he names a very flamboyant greenrider, "I think she'd roast me on a spit." His gaze flickers to Rilkie and Gay in amusement.
Olwyn considers Gay's words, then shrugs. "Well, this is her first clutch so I don't know how things will go, but since she and Rei have been nearly inseparable ever since the flight, and it's not just been because of her, I don't foresee that changing." She stands very close to Gr'din in a small group midway into the Living Caverns, all of whom seem more interested in talking than in eating at the moment.
"You've drills," Rilkie remarks, "And /I/ know you've a sister to look after for the next few days." Her voice has an edge of sternness-- apparently Vrys sat near the right rider at the clutching. "Of course, I don't expect to see your duties slide for... other reasons. But I can appreciate the importance of family." Her expression, though, is a bit amused.
Gay grins at Jenivrys, offering a formal nod for formal request. "I'll have one of the headwomen point out a good spot," she promises, giving the girl a little eyeroll for Gr'din's response. She confides easily, "I've got a /lot/ of brothers. They can be really irritating." With a flash of a grin for the bronzerider after, she nods to Olwyn, noting, "Only time it gets rough is when there's eating or bathing to be done. Anyway -" Regretful, "Ought to go talk to some of the visitors. Make sure ya'll get food and drink? And Jenivrys, welcome again."
Ferros slips as quietly as he can into the living caverns. Once he actually gets /in/, though, he looks like he's at a bit of a loss of where to actually go. For lack of a better plan, he slowly sidles towards the large clump of people, some of whom look at least vaguely familar to the young man.
Jenivrys says "I met M'lal. He was very nice." She nods a farewell to Gay, then rises up on her tiptoes to peer across the crowd. "Are -all- these people here for the clutching? I thought I heard someone in the galleries say that this was 'just' a clutching. What did she mean by that?"
Olwyn's cheerfulness vanishes for a moment. "Someone said it was /just/ a clutching? If I knew who it was, I've half a mind to give them a stern talking to!" she says, clearly mortally insulted. Almost as an afterthought, she adds, "There's nothing 'just' about a clutch, especially not now when there's Thread falling randomly and our dragons are only producing small, Interval-appropriate clutches."
Gr'din says lightly to Jeni, "He is, if you're female." He nods politely to Ferros. "Evening - Ferros, wasn't it?" As Olwyn splutters, he puts an arm supportively around her waist. "Eggs are the important thing, right, Wyn? And getting them all healthy to hatching day." He casts a glance at Rilkie for support.
Ferros bites his lip nervously as he comes in hearing range just in time for Olwyn's minor outburst. "If it makes you feel any better, it was very exciting for me. I've never seen a clutching before, or even dragon eggs. They're very beautiful." He nods curtly at Gr'din and can't help but smile as the rider remembers his name. "Yeah. Grae, right? Though I feel like I should be calling you sir." He motions towards the rider's bronze-threaded knot as explanation. "Are clutches always so...green?"
"A clutching's as big a reason for celebration as anything else," Rilkie says, seemingly of a like mind as Olwyn and Gr'din. "Perhaps they meant it wasn' a hatching? But as wonderful as hatchings are, and as hopeful everyone is that their favorites'll Impress, knowing we've the promise of new, fighting dragons, and how many..." she waves her hand around at the celebration. "It's an occasion worthy of all this!" She grins, noting the new arrival. "Evening!"
Jenivrys shoots Grae - not Olwyn - another dirty look and shifts closer to Rilkie. "I didn't hear who said it, just that it was a woman's voice. I thought the clutching was very nice. -And brown," she adds as Ferros joins them. "Lots more brown than green. Though I guess there was a lot of green, too."
Olwyn is mollified by both Gr'din's arm around her and Ferros's honest appreciation. She settles some, though mutters a bit under her breath about, ".../just/ a clutching...." To Ferros, she says, "Thank you very much. I'm glad you got to see it. Every clutch looks different, and hers does seem to be very brown and green, doesn't it?" she echoes Jenivrys.
Gr'din rolls his eyes at his baby sister and echoes Rilkie, "More than cause enough for a celebration. Now, who can I get something to drink? Wyn? Rilkie? Ferros? Jeni? Or maybe a bite to eat?"
Ferros smiles lightly. "I must say I'm glad I'm not a gold dragon. Or a woman, for that matter. Those contractions looked...painful." He furrows his brow, looking thoughtful. "Do you...feel them too?" He asks uncertainly of Olwyn, before reddening and throwing up his hands. "Sorry, sorry, I shouldn't be so nosey. It's just all very new." The young man nods in grievance wit Jenivrys. "Yes, seemed to be a lot of brown too." He looks mystified at Gr'din's offer and simply blinks in response at first. "Thank...thank you for the offer. Er, what's the selection here? But really, if it's too much trouble, I can get my own drink."
"I'd appreciate a glass of wine," Rilkie says, casting a thankful look at Gr'din, "But not too much-- maybe just half." She grins at the talk of eggs. "Yes, lots of brown. I did like the greenish eggs, too, though. That one, pale-green egg was quite lovely. And that one dark, purplish one? I think it was my favorite."
Olwyn smiles at the boy and shakes her head. "Don't worry, you're fine. I could feel that sort of thing if I linked strongly enough with her or if it was overwhelming for and she wasn't able to block it like with bad Threadscores. This was bearable for her, though, and there was only so much of the experience I wanted to share," she admits. "Watching was plenty for me since she was all right." To Gr'din, she says, "Just a glass of redfruit juice, Grae, and maybe a couple of meatrolls if there are any fresh ones."
Gr'din says easily to Ferros, "No trouble at all. I'm going myself - there's juice, klah, wine, ale. Water, of course. I hear a mug of ale calling me. So let's see, that's wine, redfruit juice, klah, some meatrolls for Wyn and dessert for me. So what're you having, Ferros?" He eyes his sister, apparently planning on dragooning her into helping.
Ferros humms softly under his breath, drumming his fingers on his scruffy chin. "I think I'll echo your desire for ale, if you don't mind. Do you want some help carrying, sir? I wouldn't mind a meatroll myself to hit the spot." His hand drops and instead begins to fidget with his clothing. "Yeah, that dark purple egg certainly did stand out. I liked it."
"I think it was my favorite too," Vrys says, steadfastly ignoring her brother's look. "All that green and brown, and bam, that one dark purple one. Don't feel you have to get -me- anything," she adds faux-sweetly to Gr'din. "After all, I wouldn't want to put you out. You're so busy, after all."
"No, Ferros, you stay and chat. I'll help Grae," Olwyn says firmly. Oh no, here comes the gooshiness again. She gives him another look, then twines one of her hands into his, ready to lead or be lead off to the serving tables.
Gr'din has practice ignoring his little sister, though he says to Wyn, "She likes citron juice. Jeni, that is. Here." He leads the goldrider off, and quickly piles two plates - one with meatrolls, legumes and rivergrains, the other with meatrolls and a decadent dessert. The drinks are poured, and then one of the servers is found. A quick word in the man's ear earns Grae and Wyn an unabashed grin and a vague shooing motion. Grae scoops up a skin of wine as well, and pulls Wyn out of the cavern, bringing wine, juice and plate along with him. The server instead ferries over the load of drinks and food to the remaining trio.
Rilkie accepts her wineglass from the server, watching with a mixture of amusement and relief as the two lovebirds head off from the cavern. She opens her mouth to say something to Vrys just as she hears her name called from across the room, turning to see a cluster of her wingmates. "Ah-- will you excuse me?" She asks apologetically. "It was nice to meet you both. Vrys-- do let me know when I can show you the Star Stones!"
TGW-LC>> Ferros again looks heartily taken aback and, at a loss of words, simply looks between his own dull knot and the far more complex ones of those offering him service. "Well, if you two say so." He blushes deeply at Wyn and Grae's non-too-subtle exit and focuses his attention on the mug of ale offered to him instead "So...." He trails off, looking awkward. "How are...you folks?" He nods at Rilkie's farewell. "Nice meeting you too-" He breaks off abruptly, realizing he doesn't actually know the young woman's name, so he just leaves it at that.
TGW-LC>> Jenivrys watches Gr'din and Olwyn with suspicious eyes, and snorts when the two duck out without returning to say goodnight. "Huh? --Oh, sure, Rilkie. It was nice meeting you. I ought to be here a few more days. Maybe," she adds calculatingly as she takes her plain juice, "A few more than a few more, if I have a chance to talk to Dindin alone."
TGW-LC>> "Rilkie..." Ferros notes to himself outloud, trying to imprint the name into his memory." The young man shifts his weight from foot to foot, slowly swirling the ale in his mug. "Hi." Pause. "I'm Ferros. You...from around. Here?"
TGW-LC>> "I'm not," Vrys says, turning to the lone remnant of the chatty group and offering him a little smile. "My name's Jenivrys - call me Vrys, though. I'm Gr'din's sister. He brought me here for the clutching."
TGW-LC>> Ferros nods rapidly. "Vrys. Got it. I'm Ferros. Not sure if you caught my name. There was a lot of stuff going on." He tilts his head curiously as he takes a swig of ale. "Y'mean he didn't live here before he became a dragonrider? I always pictured them all as growing up in a Weyr before being candidates." He scratches the back of his head and smiles sheepishly. "Guess that's stupid. I mean, I've seen people searched from my Hold, but I guess it never really clicks in my mind?"
TGW-LC>> Jenivrys has more of her completely-innocent juice, ignoring the trio of riders a little way away who have begun arguing, loudly, about the colors of the contents of the eggs. "Well, Grae was Searched here. But we're from a little minehold near Crom. He was visiting, and..." She trails off, then shrugs. "He was Searched. He never said much about it in his letters home. Then, of course, he Impressed Sareith, and didn't visit at all for over a turn."
TGW-LC>> Ferros inches away from the loud group of 'riders, face paling a little. "Some people certainly take eggs and betting seriously, eh?" He notes quietly. His eyebrows wiggle with interest and he looks up at Jenivrys. "Oh? Really? I'm from Telgar Hold. Most of my family are Smiths, so they really rely on folks like you." His eyes quickly return to looking down at the ground and he shuffles his feet. "I'm just visiting too. Aunt and uncle wanted to see me."
TGW-LC>> "Not folks like me," Vrys is quick to deny. "I'm an herbalist. Folks like my papa, and most of my uncles. Are your aunt and uncle riders?" She nods toward the boisterous group, "Or are they, um... what are they called? /Residents/, that's right. I've only been here a couple of days," she adds in an undertone.
TGW-LC>> Ferros ohs softly and looks embarassed. "'scuse me. I didn't mean to assume, miss." He bobs his head and adds, "And of course herbalists are always needed too." He shakes his head and smiles crookedly. "Naw, they're residents too. No one in my family protects the skies of Pern. I see dragons sometimes, though, when they go by on sweeps. Never seen them up close like here." He slows down on his ale, just taking sips from it now; a pair of loud drunken riders nearby have made him wary of getting ahead of himself.
TGW-LC>> Jenivrys says "We see -lots- of riders... or we did, anyway. Now mostly we see them on sweeps, like you." She casts a wary eye toward the increasingly rowdy 'caverns and shuffles a step or two closer to Ferros. "Or Grae, of course. So you've never seen a clutching before?"
TGW-LC>> Ferros shakes his head and smiles. "Nope, this was my first time. It was quite a sight. I never thought they would be so...colourful, and different from each other. Much more interesting to look at than wherry eggs or somethin'." He shakes hair out of his eyes and strokes his chin contemplatively. "'course, dragons are rather more honourable than wherries. Their eggs should look better."
TGW-LC>> The dark-haired girl nods sage agreement, like she was the reigning expert of wherry eggs. "Me neither. It was... I don't know what it was like. It wasn't anything like I'd seen before. I can't believe that one woman said that, about it being /just/ a clutching! --Are you coming back for the hatching?" she adds, in another quick subject change.
TGW-LC>> Ferros frowns and pauses a moment to think. "It is strange. Very strange. Perhaps they were weyrfolk? Maybe they see so many, the blur together. Still...it seems like every dragonpair is needed." He jolts at the sudden hatching question. "Oh! Um, I have no idea, really. I'm not sure how long I'm staying. Doubt I'll be given the luxury of more time off to come here again for a while, though. I wish it weren't so...it'd be so interesting to see happen. I can't imagine what it would be like..." His face suddenly loses some of its color. "I wouldn't want to see a mauling, though. I hear about them sometimes." Amongst the crowd, a jovial, pudgy middle aged women begins to wave enthusiastically at Ferros and call his name. The man deeply reddens and he hastily explains, "Ah. My aunt. If you'll excuse me..." He dashes off, clearly hoping the woman will stop drawing attention to him.