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 Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:49 pm
Veyes tried to put his best foot forward and work hard since they had put him in the meat locker again. Although it was hard to think straight at times seeing that someone had possibly ruined this hatching. He had many harsh feelings but he didn't want to let them out considering he didn't want to be like the others that had make fun of him...and had said cruel things. but this truely topped two wine skins. Shards, it made him look like a Saint comparatively.
Walking out of the meat locker he pushed the cart to the kitchen and left it outside just calling into the kitchen to tell them the job was done. They didn't want him in there still but they weren't harsh to him. There was other gossip and he was easily ignored. Sometimes it was a bit of a let down but he'd rather have them gossiping about someone else than him. Finally, he was able to take off the apron and gloves washing his face and hands in the sink close by before leaving.
Slipping back around in to the dining room he picked up a plate and placed on it 3 meat rolls filled with meat cut from the previous day that shouldn't be too tough. The last thing he took was a few small tarts and a mug of Klah. With hands quite full, he made his way down to a cool quieter part of the Weyr - currently the empty candidate lessons' cavern; a place he had gone to a few times to find solace when no one was around. But this time, he chuckled there was no little bronze flit around that wanted to steal his meal! So he settled in while pulling out his practice leather and needle examining his stitches as he sipped on the Klah and occasionally nipped on the end of a roll.
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:07 am
It had been a harrowing couple of days. Although the brunt of the Junior Weyrwoman's wrath had fallen upon Kyllae, there had been backlash for everyone else, too. Including the most oft-repeated question: Would there be a Touching? Firyal had taken some time to look into that, and she'd found that Touchings were a relatively new institution, actually, instituted by Weyrleader F'lar of Benden at the beginning of the Ninth Pass in hopes of decreasing the number of maulings that took place at Hatchings. It seemed to have been effective for him, and after reading the statistics on the number and violence of maulings that took place at Ista before the practice was put in place, Firyal decided it was definitely better to have it. She hoped Cheoth could be convinced to allow a Touching. The Hatchings at Ista were violent enough with them, as had been mentioned in a recent conversation she'd taken part in.
That had been a few days ago, however, and although Firyal was still anxious to know what the answer to the matter of the Touching would be, she had grown tired of hearing everyone condemning Kyllae and repeating the same facts and questions. It made her sick to her stomach that any dragons might have been harmed by her foolishness - what if the dragon that would have Impressed to her, Firyal, had been damaged or killed? - but at the same time she knew what it was to be a pariah, and she couldn't help feeling a little sorry for the ex-Dolphineer, whose history had become a matter of public knowledge after her stunt as people took it upon themselves to determine what was to be done with her. That decision, ultimately, would be made by the Candidatemaster, Favan, and the Senior Weyrwoman, Firyal assumed, and so she preferred not to speculate.
The problem was that it was difficult to avoid the talk in any of the public areas. Which forced her to move into less public areas. Her room was usually a safe retreat, and she liked her new roommate immensely, particularly compared to Adrisa, but her room was an obvious place to look for her, and her prime directive was still to avoid work that she didn't have to do. Being scarce came in handy with that. And because the weather at Ista had been so unreliable lately, she didn't feel it would be safe to find a place outside to nap. Too often in the past few days she'd had only a few minutes' warning before a cloudburst spoiled a perfectly beautiful day and left her soaked to the bone. She would have to find a place inside to avoid gossip. The most obvious place for that was the room where candidate lessons took place.
Accompanied by her pair of firelizards she made her way there. Numenor and Chance flew around her in dizzying circles or darted ahead, trying to figure out which way she would go next and then whizzed back to her when she took an unexpected route and kreeled their disapproval of her attempts to lose her. Perhaps the next command she should work on with the pair was Be Quiet or Hush. Behave didn't seem to cover it. Maybe she could work on training Chance a bit more. He'd mastered the concept of No/Stop/Don't, but he still got confused as to what she wanted him to stop doing unless she was explicit in her accompanying mental command. It was, apparently, true that there was a notable difference in intellect between the different colors of firelizard, though it could also be that Chance was still young.
She'd brought a few shiny bits of metal that she'd borrowed from the bin for broken buckles and studs for harnesses. With them she planned to begin teaching Chance to Fetch. Having Numenor to demonstrate would be a help. It had been with the other commands she'd been working on with him. As she and her small fair entered the chamber she immediately noticed it was already occupied and began to retreat when Chance flew straight at Veyes(?) before backwinging clumsily and turning a somersault, ending up in a heap with a chagrined cheep. Numenor glided gracefully around the room, peering at Veyes, before returning to Firyal and wrapping his tail firmly around her throat. She didn't need oxygen or other humans. She had him! And the brown squeak.
"Hello, Veyes," Firyal said dryly, well used to talking despite Numenor's customary stranglehold. "It would seem you've met Chance."
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:20 pm
Veyes pondered the stitches that he made and decided he would have to pull a few out and try the pattern again. Sooner or later he would get the hang of this even though sometime the method eluded him. Setting down his mug, he started picking out the threads in between bites on his first meat roll. If he worked really hard, he'd be able to show L'thor his first completed project - a perfect set of strap stitches. Fortunately, L'thor was a patience teacher because Veyes never thought his sewing to be anything more than basic. But in this, Veyes had determined that the stitches were the only thing keeping his but from falling off a dragon later. So yeah...they had to be perfect.
However, that need for perfection didn't leave him any room to notice the others who had entered the room. So soon he was startled and falling backwards trying to catch himself as the little flit fell in front of him in a pile. Maybe he should have seen that coming considering last time he was hiding in this room, Numenor had done something....similar.
But soon, he pulled himself upright and glanced down at the flit. "Little buddy, you've got to get better control of your maneuvers." he laughed then glanced up to spot the owner. "Firyal? Oh.. he's yours? Wow, so you've got another mouth to feed." As he looked over at Numenor, he picked up a bit of the meat roll. "Hey look Numenor, this time I've got real food." He just had to tease the pudgy flit because the flit was a mischievous scamp.
"They put me back in the meat locker to work. But I'm not allowed in the kitchen itself...so things are getting a little better for me lately. How's things going for you?" he asked since he really hadn't much time to speak with her since the last hatching and with all the sickness going around. "Were you lucky enough not to catch the flu?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:06 am
Firyal peered at what Veyes was working on. Was he still working on riding straps? It was an impressive demonstration of dedication on his part. She wondered if he kept working at it because it was how he motivated himself to believe that there was a chance he'd Impress. Her own confidence in the likelihood of Impression tended to flag. Maybe she should take up a hobby like Veyes' that related to a future as a Dragonrider to make those moments of doubt pass faster. Unless it served to remind her that she wasn't a Dragonrider yet, and might never become one. But she had her firelizards.
"He's young," Firyal said, as though that explained everything. To her it did. She wasn't one of those people who had scores of firelizards, but she was good with them and wouldn't mind being one of those people. "Eventually his motor skills will improve. I hope they do, anyway, otherwise he'll be the laughingstock of all the firelizard fairs at Ista."
Chance was oblivious to what Firyal was saying about him. He wasn't as quick-witted as Numenor, and he was young and lacking in experience, and he wasn't so good at picking out words that weren't his name or any of the commands he recognized. He was very good at recognizing food, however. Numenor was crafty and accomplished at snatching food that wasn't offered directly to him. Chance preferred just to be sweet until someone fed him. And Veyes was obliging.
He walked over to the meatroll and took a pleased bite, ignoring the glares Numenor was directing at him. The older firelizard didn't like having food that was clearly meant for him consumed by the young brown, but he wasn't about to attack Chance. He, Chance, and Firyal were a set, and he was in charge of protecting them. Which meant no undignified scrabbling for food. Firyal provided, he protected, and Chance...amused? He'd have to figure out a role for Chance.
"Things are going well. I've got a new roommate. She's great. And I did manage to avoid catching the flu. I remember that you didn't look too good at the Hatching. I hope all is going well for you now, though."
She'd been careful to limit her exposure to people with the flu until E'rik fell ill with it a sevenday into the outbreak. That had forced her to visit the infirmary, though she waited until he was through the worst of it and into convalescence. She probably should have visited Veyes, too, but that had been during the initial outbreak and she was being cautious.
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:43 pm
Veyes sat the riding straps aside along with the large needle an thread aside as he fed the little brown some of his roll. "He's very cute, Firyal. I bet he'll be a fine flit when he's big." Veyes knew better than to let Chance have the full meat roll...but pulled it away after a could good bites making sure to offer the rest to Numenor, since he had offered. "I bet in time he'll be the most agile flit in the Weyr." he said with a grin in response. "But he sure is a clumsy thing right now."
He smiled a bit when he heard she had not gotten the flu. That was at least a relief as far as he was concerned. So many people had been dealing with it and he really hated the idea of having been one of them. "I'm glad to hear it. Sounds like you lucked out. Rooming with Mal's been a pretty good thing so far except for Aeron, who bites my toes whenever he can. Although, I'm wondering now if it isn't all in good fun to him."
The flu...thinking about it left him rather annoyed especially falling over as he had when he thought he'd been made of stronger stuff. "Yeah...I had the flu and I ended up passing out at the Hatching. Heck I don't even remember most of the hatching. It like it was a distant dream." With that he frowned at is sharding luck. This hadn't been a good run of events for him.
Although, he lifted his head as he brushed that thought aside, "Things are going better; at least as well as to be expected. People aren't treating me like the plague anymore. You know, Firyal, I feel like I can only talk to a few people reasonably about that ...other girl's mistake. I mean...I guess I'm at odds about having everyone go after her once her punishment has been decided by the Jr. Weyrwoman. We went through that...and well it seemed wrong. I don't think I could do that after having been through it. What are your thoughts on the matter?"
He hoped that he could have a reasonable conversation rather than the last time he tried to talk about these things around other candidates. They were too flustered and ready to bite each others heads off...especially Mal's friend...Rin. Actually, he didn't feel like he was too far off with his thoughts although, Rin had looked at him like he was some sort of lunatic.
Pausing he took a drink of his Klah and swallowed. "Seems rather weird...but...I almost feel like things are changing so much for me from when I first arrived. I'm not sure what to think about all that...but sometimes I'm concerned where things are going in this Weyr. And where things should be going. I've been focusing on making myself the best possible rider even though, I'm not one yet. I guess I'm seeing that there is a lot more to being a rider than just drills, straps and...well flights."
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:48 pm
"No doubt," Firyal replied with all affection. "Personally, I think he's already a fine flit, but I have doubts about him growing into the most agile firelizard in the Weyr. Not as long as Numenor's around. He should grow out of the clumsiness though. Numenor did."
Chance finally took notice of Numenor's scolding and snatched a last portion of the meatroll. Carrying it in his foreclaws so that it nearly unbalanced him as he flew to bring it to Numenor in a gesture meant to be placating. The older firelizard accepted the tribute as his rightful due, giving Chance an approving cheep and sending him back for more.
"No, Chance," Firyal said firmly in an undertone. To Numenor she added, "Get your own if you want it." She could feel Numenor pouting and sent him loving feelings.
"I'm sorry you were so sick. I admit I was a little too distracted by other goings on to take much notice of who was falling ill at the Hatching. Selfish, I know." She did sound genuinely apologetic that she hadn't noticed really if Veyes fell ill at the Hatching, but she was obviously mocking herself when she mentioned her own selfishness in minding the Hatching.
"On that note, I'm also relieved that neither of my firelizards is inclined to toe nibbling. At least not when it comes to my toes. Numenor remains a nippy beast with strangers and Chance sometimes misjudges the difference between food and finger, though he's always very apologetic when he does."
Firyal was a little uncomfortable discussing what had happened with Kyllae and their own faux pas before that. She had felt that the punishments dealt out by the Candidatemaster in response to the wine thefts were unnecessarily harsh, but she had not contested them. She had been grateful to be allowed to remain at the Weyr after all that fuss. Comparably, she was amazed Kyllae was allowed to remain, considering the severity of her offense. It seemed a little unfair in contrast. Actually, it seemed very unfair, and she didn't trust herself not to be overheard by the wrong people.
"I'm torn. On one hand, she could have killed or hurt the dragon that I might have Impressed, but on the other hand I know what you mean about being in her position. I don't think I can bring myself to do anything to her, but I also have no idea whether I'll be able to come to her defense." It was hard to admit even that much. She preferred not to share personal feelings if she could avoid it. Particularly not when she stood to get in trouble by voicing them.
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:24 pm
Veyes chuckled a little as the flit ungainly flew over to the older flit to offer tribute. "Seems like Numenor is already taking charge of the situation." The pudgy little flit would soon have Chance running all sorts of errands. Veyes could just see it in the little guy's face. What a crafty flit he was! That remind Veyes to add that bit of Numenor's personality to 'Conomor and the Great Gold Dragon'...whenever he got to sit down and finish it.
"Ah it's ok Firyal. Heck, with the hatching going on I'm surprised anyone would have seen me at all but Nehren showed up from what I was told. I'd rather you have your chances at impression." he said with an accepting smile. He knew that she was a bit older than him so time was running out. It must be getting a bit harder each time the hatchings passed for her. The darker side of his imagination had already scoped out his last hatching turns ahead if he never impressed because chances were slim with the multitudes of candidates rolling in and out. Maybe he could find a new path...as a dragon healer or trader. Those thoughts were on the peripheral but he knew for Firyal it was probably starting to become more in focus.
"Well, that's good to hear! At least, your feet are safe in your alcove." he laughed just a bit as he grabbed up the next meat roll and took a bit. "I've got an extra meat roll if you're hungry, Firyal. It isn't burnt either. So much food has gotten foul seasoned or burnt lately. I'm guessing at the reasons...but you know...it's food. And we've already got supply issues." He had started noticing a few more thing but...as a candidate what could he do? Lately, he was keeping an eye on his stuff especially after word of things going missing. He didn't want to become the suspect of others since he already had a reputation.
Veyes noticed she was uncomfortable by the way she paused and maybe she was right to take the subject and drop it. He valued her opinion and could understand why she might have felt that way. If they could have talked; he would have agreed. Kyllae got off easy in comparison to the crime she committed. Comparatively, the people at the lake got treated far worse. However, it seemed everything at the Weyr was run by whim with little accountability. The Weyr wasn't a big happy family.
"So, did you place your bet into Mal and Rin's pot for the Flits? What did you guess?" he switched the subject quickly to a more positive one. "I made a few guesses myself. I saw the gold egg out there. Cheoth laid a bunch! Maybe we'll have better luck this time....both of us."
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Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:48 pm
"Numenor's good at that. I think he's gotten more crafty since the last time you saw him. Which is just as well, since he's gotten no friendlier." It had reached the point where everyone in the Weyr was aware of his nippy tendencies with those who decided to get too tactile, and they weren't willing to risk fingertips to feed him. Chance's arrival had been a serendipitous occurrance for him, because it gave him someone cute and adorable to send in who was malleable enough to be convinced to bring him tidbits.
"Thank you for being understanding," Firyal said, still ashamed now that she thought about it. She had been so adamant about not falling ill herself that she had neglected one of the very few friends she had at the Weyr. "Come to think of it, Nehren was there when Chance hatched. He had a firelizard egg hatching at the same time."
She gave the table in the front of the room a considering glance, wondering if there had been anything dead on it within the last few days, and decided it was safe enough. Then she hopped up to sit on it fairly nimbly. Chance joined her, peering over the edge from a precarious position. Numenor abandoned her to investigate the rest of the room, remaining standoffish with Veyes.
"I appreciate the offer, but I don't really need the extra food. I've got enough fat stores to survive the better part of a season." The smile at least looked real. Sort of. If you squinted a little.
"My feet are safe, yes, but both Numenor and Chance have a fondness for relocating people's things, and Astri's are all new and they enjoy exploring where they can stash them. I'm still missing some of the things they've misplaced for me." She rolled her eyes. There were some disadvantage to firelizard ownership, but the good points outweighed them completely as far as Firyal was concerned. "And yet I did indeed place a bet with Mal and Rin. I don't know how accurate my guesswork was, and I think I missed a few eggs, now that I think about it."
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:46 am
Veyes grinned, "I guess so. It seems like he's changed a lot. Too bad he hasn't gotten any friendlier though. Seems like quite a few of the flits I've met lately are like that in one way or another. But at least your toes are safe. I hope when I finally get an egg, it will be a more friendly sort." Sometimes Veyes wouldn't mind having a flit to keep him company but he hadn't been lucky enough to win or find an egg. It was ok though, eventually he'd find because there were just too many around the Weyr not to have an opportunity come sooner or later.
"I've yet to see Ren's little flit in person but I bet it's keeping him busy. Did he get a boy or girl?" Knowing Ren, the flit probably already had him under his or her thumb and it might be amusing to see how he was taking to the flit just to verify that. The Flits seemed to have ways of knowing how to get under the skin of their humans quickly. He smirked at the thought and figured that he also had to thank Ren for dragging him out of the last hatching. Sometimes he just forgot that they weren't to far off in age. Ren just seemed younger...more naive.
Veyes took a quick glance over of Firyal; she looked pretty fit to him because she had lost weight previously but...he was a GUY and guys knew nothing about girls ideas of fat, thin and all that stuff in between. Well, at least he was smart enough not to comment on the weight. "Ok. Well, you're missing out because I had to dig for these good ones." The burnt food and other issues with supplies were starting to bug the farmer in the boy.
While normally, he tried to keep his opinions to himself about those that were trying to make change happen, he wondered if they had any real plans to beyond pushing the situation. At times, he thought about seeking out this membership to learn their 'game plan' but he was a little worried that it might bring about other problems. Now that supplies seemed to be 'cut' the farmer in him was sending all sorts of warning signals. What would happen during the lean winter?
"Hey Firyal, what do you think about the problems around the Weyr? The burnt food and now the supply problem. I've been trying to wrap my brain around it all because well...being from a farmer's family, its starting to worry me." he said as he looked up at her from his seat. He figured from her position, she'd have a different insight into all of it.
"Well be careful about what they've been taking. I hear that some candidates are complaining about things missing." Maybe that was the answer...someone's flit could be taking the items around the candidates' halls. He hoped that it was a flit because he really didn't want anyone thinking it was he or Firyal taking things this time around.
"You know, I think I missed a few eggs too in my guesses." he chucked as that he thought about it. Oh well, not much he could do about it so he wasn't going to worry about it. "At least, this time I won't be sick on the sands!" he said with a determined voice. Especially this time, he thought. Without a touching he'd have to be on his toes.
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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:25 am
Firyal shrugged. A part of her liked that Numenor was so dedicated to her, and her alone. It gave her a sense - albeit a false one - of being special and important. At least to Numenor. She knew Chance loved her, too, and had Impressed to her, but he didn't seem any more affectionate toward her than he was toward anyone else, so it was really from Numenor and his otherwise unfriendly tendencies that she derived the most satisfaction. She didn't know about Numenor changing. He'd just learned some new tricks besides the ones she'd taught him and acquired a manipulable partner in crime who was too friendly for anyone to begrudge him anything.
"I don't know if it's universally true, but I've found that browns and blues tend to be friendlier then bronzes and females," Firyal mentioned. It was more likely that Veyes would end up with one of those colors anyway. Unless he got a green, but it was an undeniable fact that green firelizards were downright simple-minded. Not that they couldn't be crafty or bad-tempered, but it didn't tend to be the sort of ill-temper or craftiness borne of thought or experience. Even so, she wouldn't turn down a green firelizard if one was offered to her. More and more it seemed shew ould have to make do with a fair of firelizards, rather than a dragon.
"To be honest, I wasn't paying too much attention, other than to notice his presence by the hearth. Impressing firelizards takes a certain amount of concentration. You have to keep feeding the little appetites and talking to them and handling them, all the while making sure they don't choke or become distracted or something." It seemed Firyal had been fairly remiss on all counts when it came to noticing significant events in others' lives. Which was really to be expected. She had very little personal interest in the Candidates by and large.
It took Firyal a moment to realize what Veyes meant when he said he'd had to dig for the good meatrolls. Then she recalled some of the complaints she'd heard in the kitchens about some comestibles being short-rationed or inedible. Ista wasn't known for its harsh winters, so it wasn't as though there was any danger of people freezing to death from a combination of cold and privation, but hunger in a Weyr as overfilled as Ista was a real problem.
"The supply problem, I assume, lies with the reluctant producers of supplies who don't believe that the Weyrs serve any purpose, as Thread won't return," Firyal answered in a bored tone. It wasn't so much that the topic bored her as that there was nothing she could do about it and she tried not to worry about things beyond her control. She was about fifty-fifty in terms of success with that.
"As for the burnt food and whatnot, I can't imagine it's anything more than inattention. There've been a number of recent goings-on that would distract people." She had certainly been guilty of burning a number of things accidentally before they stopped letting her cook. But that was usually because she found the task boring and would become more engrossed in her fantasy world than the real one.
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:41 pm
Veyes chuckled just a little as he adjusted his seat some, "I wonder if that goes the same for dragons. Not sure if your right about that but I haven't had many flits that have liked me very well except for maybe L'thor's boys. He's got a small herd of flits!" Just thinking about all of L'thor's 'kids' could make Veyes laugh because the man seemed overwhelmed with a weyr full of creatures constantly demanding his attention beyond Raith. Maybe it was better that he didn't have a flit because it seemed that once you started getting them, you somehow ended up collecting more inevitably.
Taking in the information about flit impressing and storing in a corner of his mind, he realized it might be a bit more difficult to impress one than originally thought. "So that's how you do it? Never really thought about that part as much considering my focus has been on the dragons. Sounds like they are just as hungry as dragons though when they are born only...with a smaller tummy."
He noted her tone but wondered how she could take it so off the cuff. It was an important problem that affected the entire Weyr. Maybe they were only candidates but that didn't make them dumb. Maybe they could figure out a solution...Heck so many had been holders or with other skill sets. Why couldn't they find a way to use them?
In reality, he'd rather be farming a field or raising herdbeasts for the Weyr's needs than doing meaningless chores while waiting for a dragon. At least he'd feel his contribution at that point was more valuable. Why not put good talents to work from the candidates? And make use of those skills? He sighed slightly because his imagination sometimes created fantasy worlds where everyone could look beyond tradition and seek answers rather than reality where the Weyr couldn't seem to figure out how to handle the over population or other internal affairs.
"I don't know if I agree with you. There's been a lot of burnt stuff...and stuff that has been over salted or seasoned lately. I may not be in the kitchen that much anymore but I'd think with as bad as supplies and food quality is they'd be more careful with it. Not sure exactly who or what but I think...there is something going on." he returned with a thoughtful gaze. He had worked in the kitchen so much that he doubted any of the regular cooks would do anything of the sort but...that left a host of others that could have done something. And a lot of it he couldn't attribute to bad luck anymore...although...if it were then the Weyr seemed to be caught up in a Vortex of it.
Of course, that Vortex brought on a host of visions that connected his own bad luck to that of the Weyr and lumped into a giant sea creature that loomed in the great blue ocean of his imagination. What he needed was a something to slice of Bad Luck's head off so he could get past the creature and on to greener pastures. Somehow, it seemed like it would be easier to slay the creature of his wild imagination than to shift that balance in reality. Firyal and he both needed dragons to do that. How he hoped with all his heart that one would find each of them on the sands this time around...even with the other girl touching the eggs.
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 10:06 am
Firyal rubbed the bridge of her nose as she considered Veyes' ponderance. The only dragon she was really well acquainted with was Daramulath, who was a very easy-going brown, but she knew one of his clutchmates, Khunoth, was a foul-tempered creature. Also, there were any number of affectionate greens out there, though she wasn't well-acquainted with any of them, as well as some real pieces of work. Dragons' personalities were better-developed than firelizards', and she suspected that was partly why it was easier to guess at a firelizard's temperment based on its color than it was with a dragon.
"I don't know about dragons. I think they're more individualized than color-based when it comes to their personalities." She shrugged.
It had been some time since she'd seen L'thor, and so she couldn't remember how many firelizards he had or if his fair had grown in number since the last time she'd seen him. She knew he had a fairly genial green dragon, though she'd had little to no dealings with the pair. In some ways it was like she was still new to the Weyr. She knew so few people personally, and the rest by hearsay. It was not a good way to be. Perhaps if she was less aloof...what? It would make no difference. Besides, it was difficult to go from an aloof nonentity to a somebody after seven years of existing as the former.
"That's how I did it, and how they tell you to go about doing it. I wish I could say firelizards were more discerning. It'd make me seem like a much more interesting person to be able to say I'd Impressed two of them, but sadly, you just have to be in the right place at the right time with food. Lots of food." She smiled, thinking of her firelizards' Impressions. There was no question she would eventually acquire more firelizards in the future. Even if she Impressed a dragon, she didn't think the little beasts would ever lose their appeal with her. She'd always maintained that firelizards were as unique as dragons, though less intelligent, and that alone kept them interesting.
Veyes' reaction to her resignation was something of a surprise and she had to remind herself that he was farmbred and so food shortages were far more serious to him. She wasn't concerned because she really didn't feel there was anything she could do about it except to do her best not to make a mess of whatever culinary tasks she was assigned. She couldn't make the holders see reason. Shells, she could barely make people see her, let alone reason. Besides, there was no proof the blame lay with the Holds. It could be an internal difficulty.
"What do you think the problem is, then?" she asked, toying with Numenor's wings absently, taking the tips between her fingers and gently extending them and refolding them. Numenor tolerated her playing with his wings because she, poor thing, hadn't any and he could understand his fascination.
Chance had returnd to Veyes, hoping for more handouts. He wasn't as canny as Numenor when it came to determining who was a soft touch, but he wasn't afraid to go back to the same person over an over until he forgot them, even if they only fed or played with him once. He tested an imperious cheep like Numenor's, demanding food, but then followed it up with a head-butt to Veyes' knee which demanded attention. He could never get enough of that.
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:37 pm
Veyes nodded in return as he scratched the side of his neck,"I guess so, I've not hung out with too many dragons and riders. But seems like from what I've seen on the sands from the hatchings, you're probably right." Considering some folks that he had seen impress, they'd have to have a wider range of personality. He wondered what sort of dragon would find him acceptable. "You know sometimes I wonder what sort of dragon would pick me. But I guess that's the thought of every candidate. I just sometimes wonder what part of a personality keys the dragon's mind an intended partner."
Of course, he could run those thoughts through is head many times but no answer to any of his question would be found within his own mind. L'thor and Raith couldn't even answer to the why Raith had picked L'thor. She had just said she knew...but how?
"Thanks for the information. I didn't really know myself how folks went about impressing one. So afterwards, do you basically raise them like a wee dragon with oiling and feeding...etc?" Then he chuckled, "Of course, no riding straps or drills...." Now that thought gave his inner boyish imagination something to really work on. A tiny set of riding straps for a flit like Numenor! Now wouldn't that be funny! He glanced over at the flit and stared at the pudgy frame for a moment estimating the small amount of leather it would take to make straps for him.
"Mmm...well..." he seemed thoughtful for a moment as he tugged on a strand of hair. "I almost...well almost think its... sabotage. I mean I've heard riders complaining about spoiled Klah and stuff. No cook would put out spoiled drinks or let them stay out long enough to spoil. So I think someone is adding vinegar or something to make it nasty. And burnt food...well, the head cook isn't always in the kitchen but there is a lot of other people at any one time. If I were working back there I'd be watching for over stoked ovens, salt supplies and vinegar supplies to see how much is being used. Maybe it's just bad luck...but...you never know."
Heck, if he could investigate the kitchen, he'd surely be searching. His farmer nature wouldn't tolerate food being intentionally wasted especially when there were so many people that needed to be fed. The idea of researching for a possible crime tempted his vivid imagination - What if there were a plot going on? What would someone be trying to gain out of it? His own ideas brought about possibilities rooted between good intentions and down right destructive. "However, it were someone doing it; I'd have to think they were trying to get the attention of people beecause messing with the food when we're already getting poor tithes isn't a crime that remains quiet."
He paused upon that thought as his eyes strayed down to see Chance trying everything he could to get a bit more attention....or...maybe food. Veyes laughed merrily and scritched the flit just a bit before picking up the last meat roll he had and tearing off a small section. "You're a very cute fellow, Chance." he said as he reached his hand forward with the tasty chunk for the small mouth to take.
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