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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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 Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 12:44 pm
Tanda crouched behind a makeshift barricade constructed of a rug spread between some chairs and anchored with heavy stones. She was a thief who had been caught trying to steal a queen dragon egg. Shortly she would be tortured into admitting that she had done so and revealing where she had hidden it. After that she would be staked out for the firelizards to eat. Her trial had already taken place and she had been found unanimously guilty. She suspected the jurors had not been neutral, but when she tried to protest she had been silenced sternly and warned that she would be gagged if she spoke out of turn again. She was silent after that.
At the moment, her captors were occupied by trying her accomplices. Apparently she'd had several, though she'd not given any of them up to the authorities. She was an unrepentant thief. Truly a reprehensible criminal. In the likely event that the firelizards didn't want to eat her, she'd probably be sentenced to hard labor in the mines until the end of her days following a dunking. Those were popular sentences in this court since the offenders enjoyed them the most. Particularly the dunkings.
Unbeknown to her captors, help was on the way. A small contingent of her real co-conspirators, not the ones put on trial but those who had evaded arrest, were planning a daring heist which would set her free and enable them to make off with their stolen booty. Namely the queen egg. She would then force an Impression to the queen when she hatched and use her queen to start a rival Weyr to High Reaches. One of her conspirators was a bronzerider, after all, and his dragon would fly their stolen queen.
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 1:04 pm
Jericho paused a second time, asking for directions from a passing woman on how to get to the creche, having gotten lost...again. Apparently Wery's liked to hide the places they kept their children rather extraordinarily well....that and Jericho's sense of direction indoors where there were no windows was pretty rubbish. Eventually the sound of shouting children reached his ears and he made another turn down a hall and ducked his head into a open doorway, blinking at the rabble of youngsters and the odd set up to one side of the room involving a rug and some chairs. He watched for a moment, bemused, gathering what they were up to.
Apparently it was a trial of sorts, from what they were saying. But who was the guilty party? He craned his neck around again, looking over at the rug and chairs, assuming that was their prison. He hadn't seen Tanda at all yet, was she not working today? wouldn't that be just his luck too...
And then he saw her dark head as she sat in 'prison', and nearly laughed aloud.
Careful not to attact the attention of the children, still having their trial on the other side of the room, Jericho crouched over and slunk to the makeshift prison and ducked behind the rug.
"Hey, how long you in for?" he asked with a large grin, keeping his voice down, and crouching into a ball so that he wouldn't stick out from behind the rug too much. It was a rather comical sight, all in all, considering how tall he was. Hiding just didn't come easily to him anymore.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 7:31 pm
Tanda was actually startled by Jericho's arrival and peered over the top of the rug to check on her charges. Usually she didn't take this central of a role in their games, but they had insisted that she be the sinister one. None of the girls wanted to be an egg thief, and none of the boys would pretend to be a girl for the sake of the game. Privately, Tanda had been amazed that one of them had been willing to take on the role of a villainous bronzerider. It wasn't the sort of role that was fought over, even if it was villainous, since it meant they'd have to pervert their dragon, which was wrong on every level for a weyrbrat. It also meant that there was a theoretical mating flight in the future, and everyone knew what that meant. Tanda hoped they could do that tomorrow, so she'd have time to think of a tactful way to manage it.
"Hey there," she whispered, grinning at Jericho's predicament. The prison had not been constructed to contain someone as large as Jericho. "I didn't realize my conspirators had enlisted your aid in rescuing me. Clearly, though, they didn't tell you the nature of my crime if you need to ask how long I'm to be imprisoned."
She paused and then looked away melodramatically, taking the opportunity to glance at her charges once more, making sure that the trial's arguments didn't become too heated. It wouldn't be the first time one of the accusers became too enthusiastic or one of the accused became too indignant, leading to actual fighting. Fortunately, it seemed the youth acting as the lord holder seemed able to keep the others in line. Daram, whose name always reminded her of her grandfather, though he was a thoroughly different sort of person, being generally pleasant and given to spontaneous laughter.
"I stole a queen's egg, you see," she confided in Jericho. "If I'm lucky, I'll be sentenced to hard labor in the mines, but I might be staked out for the firelizards to nibble and gnaw at until I give in and tell them where I've stashed the egg. Which I'll never do."
She gave him a measuring look. "So. Do you still want anything to do with me, knowing what sort of a reprehensible character I am? Because if you do, my shift ends in about an hour, unless I can convince that stern-looking woman over there to release me early."
She pointed with her chin toward an unobtrusive middle-aged woman who was actually in charge of the creche and was always there. She and Tanda got along very well, though she didn't really approve of Tanda taking such an active role in their charges' games, or encouraging them to glorify villainous characters. She was in a corner watching the trial proceedings with a frown meant to quell rowdy behavior before it could start. She was usually effective in this.
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:36 am
"Stole a queen egg? Well that was awfully naughty of you. No wonder they stuck you in prison." he said with a mock frown of disapproval that was soon overwhelmed by a smile of amusement at her melodrama. "Firelizards wouldn't dare nibble such a wicked person as yourself, I am sure."
Jericho took his turn at peeping up over the edge of the enclosure, catching sight of the older woman on the other side of the room before ducking down again "Quite the formidable looking lady." he said with a slight grimace as he settled himself into a more comfortable position. He looked thoughtful, tapping a finger on his full lower lip as though debating whether or not he wanted anything to do with her now that he knew the 'truth'.
"Well...I suppoooooose I could help break you out of jail before the feed you to the firelizards..." he said slowly, still wearing a thoughtful expression, as though facing some inner turmoil at the idea. He grinned at her then and then turned and exited the 'jail' and moved along the wall until he was near the woman who was watching over the children, who were still taken up in their game.
"Excuse me, ma'am." Jericho said, offering the woman a quick bow and one of his warm, charming smiles "I was wondering if you wouldn't be able to spare Tanda for the last hour of her shift? I'm one of the new candidates and I have yet to learn my way around the back parts of the Weyr, and Tanda was kind enough to offer to show me around..." he looked at the woman with his bright, hopeful blue eyes, his smile turning a bit meek at his admission of becoming hopelessly lost "as a candidate I have a pretty busy schedule and finding free time is hard...so it would mean a great deal to me if you could free miss Tanda."
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:43 pm
"I am awfully naughty," Tanda agreed readily, wearing a wicked grin that hinted at a double entendre. It was one of those thing that just came naturally to her. "Ask my father. I'm a wicked person and, as you say, not fit to feed firelizards."
She waited patiently for Jericho to come to a decision regarding what he planned to do with her. Beneath the long sleeves of her tunic goosebumps rose on her arms. Jericho showing up unannounced as he had definitely tickled her fancy. She couldn't help wondering if his presence meant that he was interested in her. She had been interested in him when she met him, but she hadn't gotten the impression that he was similarly interested. Not that she'd been particularly overt in expressing her interest. But still. A person could hope. It wasn't as though she was unattractive.
"I would be forever in your debt if you'd rescue me," Tanda added sweetly. She didn't bother with double entendres. Simply evincing a willingness to put herself at his disposal would probably be sufficient. She knew she probably shouldn't tease him like that, being as old as she was compared to him, but she was perfectly willing to follow through on anything he felt she'd implied. There was only one way to conceive children, after all, and what she wanted more than anything was a child of her own.
She watched with wide brown eyes as Jericho made his way to her supervisor. When she first started working in the creche, it had taken most of Tanda's courage to just speak to the woman. She remembered her youthful days as her charge, and although she'd been more helpful than anything else, she always seemed to be getting in trouble for superseding her authority. Tanda was still wary of her, even though she was assured that her supervisor actually liked her, and always had.
Tanda strained her ears to overhear the conversation. "Miss Tanda?" Not even her charges called her that. They all called her Tanda. Or Tandy. Or Tanna. It depended on how old they were and how well they were able to pronounce her name. She answered to any of them. Miss Tanda, however, was a name she'd never heard. She smiled behind her hand and continued to listen, waiting for her supervisor's reply:
"I'm fairly sure you have somewhere else to be right now, young man, but as it happens I have no pressing need for Tanda to be here. Perhaps if she leaves I'll be able to direct the children to a more suitable game." The iron-haired woman sniffed. "Take her and be gone."
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:32 am
"Thank you very much, ma'am." he said with another smile and a bow, trying not to show the relief that he felt inside. It wasn't normally in him to just up and approach someone like that, especially such a woman as this who looked so imposing. Since coming to the Weyr, though, he had been working hard to try and put himself forward more. At home he could get away with keeping to himself and mostly only talking to people when he had to give orders in the ship yard, but he figured that if he was going to impress a dragon, it would be better if he could be at least a little more forward. He was willing to try just about anything to impress.
He bowed again and headed back over to Tanda, keeping his face carefully schooled into a grim expression. He ducked behind the carpet again, this time not hiding the fact that he was there from the children, who looked around at him as he did so, all blinking in surprise.
"Well, Tanda, your captors refuse to let you go, so it looks like I'm just going to have to kidnap you." He said grimly.
Without any further ado he grabbed her up and tossed her over his shoulder, laughing as he did so, turning to face the children and striking a proud stance, challenging them to come and claim her from him.
"So sorry, children, but I am the wicked bronze rider come to rescue the egg thief and we're taking the egg with us!"
He laughed again and jumped over one the rug and chairs with ease and then ran out the door, Tanda still over his shoulder like a sack of tubers.
"You'll never catch us!" his voice echoed back down the corridor as he no doubt left a rabble of children in complete confusion and disarray without their prisoner. He hoped the old matron wouldn't be too angry with him for his antics, but it had been awfully hard to resist.
When they were a few hallways away Jericho put Tanda down on her feet and grinned at her "Sorry it had to come to that, egg thief, but I couldn't let you be devoured by firelizards. You still owe me that tour after all."
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 11:18 am
Tanda had resumed her charade as a sullen prisoner, knowing it would do her no good to be caught eavesdropping. She was desperately curious, however, what Jericho meant to do. The last glimpse she'd seen of him, he had just switched from being nearly servile in addressing Tanda's boss to striding across the playroom wearing a grim expression. She'd overheard the conversation that meant she was free to go, and so she was unable to reconcile his expression with that news.
It wasn't until he ducked back into her "prison" that she guessed what he might do, and by then it was too late to do anything but go along with it. She didn't have to do much acting, though, to look surprised when Jericho made his grim-faced announcement. Her surprise deepened to shock when he lifted her from the ground and slung her over his shoulder. An unfeigned squeal escaped at his unexpected action, much to the delight and startlement of their audience. She very deliberately did not look at her matronly supervisor. She didn't want to know what the woman thought of this display, and she was enjoying herself too much to have her mood spoiled by disapproval.
Tanda tried very hard not to laugh at the declaration Jericho made to her charges for two reasons: first, she thought it might make her more difficult to carry and she didn't wish to be dropped, and second she thought it might not be appropriate for the scenario. She was, however, enjoying herself a great deal. She was so rarely the center of any sort of spectacle, it was definitely fun to stand out like this, even if it was just in play. She definitely gasped, however, when both of Jericho's feet left the floor while carrying her, grabbing at his top in hopes of preventing a fall.
When Jericho set her down at last, several hallways away from the creche, Tanda sank to the ground, made languid by laughter a mild dose of terror caused by being carried through the halls at speed. She leaned back against the wall, limp and with tears of laughter leaking from the corners of her eyes. She covered her face with her hands and wiped the silly tears away before looking up, up, up at Jericho. She couldn't resist pointing out the obvious:
"You're very tall from down here."
She smiled and her hands went automatically to check her hair. As she'd anticipated, it was a mess. Being carried like a sack of tubers will do that, she supposed philosophically. The only solution she could come up with on the spot was to just let it down and finger comb it, which she did as she thanked Jericho for playing the part of her rescuer.
"And thank you for rescuing me. It was very noble of you." She wrinkled her nose, recalling that she was a villain. "Well. It was something. Fun. I'm not sure rescuing a thief is generally considered a noble act."
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 12:01 pm
Jericho chuckled to himself as he straightened out his tunic while Tanda saw to her hair. He ran a large hand through his honey colored curls, though there really wasn't much straightening one could do there, before offering the woman on the floor a hand up.
"And you look very short down there." he pointed out "My daring rescue didn't scare you I hope?" Jericho asked as she gained her feet "And I suppose we're not exactly noble characters, but it will simply have to do." he said with a smile.
He suddenly grimaced as a thought occurred to him "I don't think I'll be able to come rescue you again now, though. Your coworker would probably put me in time out." He couldn't hold the grimace long though, and soon broke into laughter at the idea of him sitting on a stool with his nose in a corner, something he hadn't had to do in many many years.
"Well, ready to go then?" he asked, looking at her to see if she had managed to put herself in order. As he looked at her, he tilted his head slightly and smiled "Your hair looks nice down, you should leave it that way more often."
Tanda, Jericho suddenly noticed, was even prettier than he had originally thought with her hair falling in thick dark waves about her face, skin flushed from laughter, and her eyes bright with amusement. His heart nearly skipped a beat and he pulled away slightly, but managed to keep his smile in place so she wouldn't think anything of it.
He looked around them and gave her a helpless sort of shrug "Might as well start the tour now, because I have absolutely no idea where we are." he said with a wry grin.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:07 pm
Tanda took Jericho's hand and let him pull her up. Her limbs still felt a little loose from laughing and being carried, but she could support her own weight, which was definitely a plus. She held his hands a little longer than was strictly necessary, but she had a ready excuse. It would have been more than a little embarrassing if she'd collapsed as soon as she gained her feet once more. Of course, there was the possibility that Jericho might catch her before she hit the ground, but she'd rather not rely on that. After all, he might not.
"Mm. No. I'm afraid you didn't manage to scare me. Why? Were you trying to?" She raised her eyebrows as if in horror. "Is that one of your nefarious plans? I mean, a person who makes a business of rescuing people who steal queen eggs can't be trustworthy. It's a good thing mine is an equally questionable nature, or else we'd be quite the mismatched pair."
Tanda was perfectly comfortable standing close to Jericho. And so she didn't bother to back away after she was upright. Oh, her body was making its interest in him known to her, but she'd been around for long enough that wasn't going to make her do or say anything stupid. It wasn't as though she had to concern herself with the sort of physical reactions that plagued men, for which she would be eternally grateful.
"If she puts you in time-out, maybe I'll rescue you," she teased, grinning at a similar mental image to the one Jericho held in his mind. It was easy to imagine the tall young man with his knees folded practically to his chin as he sat on a low stool, putting him at about the same height of one of her five- or six-turns-old charges. "I have my ways, you know, though they're not nearly as showy as yours. I think I'll be hearing about this for a long time to come."
Tanda chuckled at Jericho's suggestion that she wear her hair down more often, and then she reached up and tugged on one of his golden curls. "See what I did there? Now imagine that every few minutes, and done by sticky hands. I'm only safe to wear my hair down when I'm not near anyone under the age of four, which is never. But I can leave it that way for now if you like." She shrugged as though it was no big deal, because to her it really wasn't.
She looked around once Jericho admitted he had no idea where they were. She knew well enough. They were in the set of tunnels which could lead eventually to the lower caverns, where the regular weyrfolk made their homes. She had a room there, and she might see to it that their tour ended up there if she could arrange things that way. Which meant it should probably be the last place they stopped.
"Well. We should probably head back the other direction for a bit. That's the way to parts of the Weyr you might recognize like the kitchens and dining cavern. I won't bore you by showing you those places, though. I could also take you from here to the drum heights, if you like. It's a bit windy up there, but the view of the weyrbowl is great."
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:59 pm
"Scare you? No...well, maybe...I am supposed to be a wicked bronze rider..." he said thoughtfully. The thought was cut short when she reached up and tugged on one of his curls, making him wince.
"Point taken." he said with a slight nod as he rubbed his head absently as he considered her with a slight smile on his lips.
Tanda's words brought him around just as he seemed to be slipping into thought, making him stand up straighter and look around. "Ah, the drum heights sound interesting, I haven't been up there yet." he said with some interest. He certainly wouldn't object to the view it would no doubt afford them of the Weyr bowl "I don't mind the wind at all, and I promise I won't let you blow away while we're up there." he said with a grin.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:28 pm
"I'll try to remember that you're a wicked bronzerider," Tanda promised in a somber tone that her immediate grin belied.
Good humor made it something of a challenge to pretend to be serious, and although Tanda could be called something of an actress with regard to hiding her true purpose in sleeping with different men, she never thought of herself that way. She felt that was simply an omission. Most men would be seriously unnerved to learn that she was only after them for their ability to impregnate her. Not that she couldn't have fun along the way. In fact she preferred when her liaisons proved to be fun and interesting, resulting in lasting friendships, but she was perfectly all right with never seeing a man again after they'd slept together.
"In that case, let's go," Tanda said, deftly linking her arm with his. The height difference meant that they were probably an interesting sight to anyone who happened to be watching, but the fact that they were still an hour from the end of this work block meant that there would be few people in the halls to see them. She hoped he wouldn't be too taken aback by it, but Tanda dealt all day with children, and it had turned her into a very tactile person.
"You're sweet, by the way. Did someone teach you how to compliment girls so it doesn't seem like you're doing it overtly, or is that just a natural talent?" She spoke as if she was putting the question to a friend, and not the potential father of her not-yet-conceived child. She was coming to consider Jericho a friend, for one thing, and for another that sort of question was best asked in a non-serious tone. Otherwise it made people uncomfortable. It definitely would have made Tanda uncomfortable if someone had asked her that seriously.
As they walked, Tanda's mind went back to their last conversation, the one over dinner. She couldn't remember if she'd asked him what color dragon he hoped to Impress. Usually that was one of the first things a person asked a candidate, so it seemed logical that she had asked, but she couldn't remember if she had or hadn't, and she couldn't recall his answer if she had. Because his portrayal of a wicked bronzerider had reminded her of it, she figured it wouldn't hurt to ask again.
"So, forgive me if I've already asked you this and forgotten your reply, but did you have a specific color in mind that you're hoping to Impress? I mean, personally, I think you'd look very good on a bronze: it would match your hair. Not that that's desirable in all cases. I can't imagine a blue- or greenrider with hair dyed to match their dragon. That would be...Anyway. Did you have a color preference?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 6:50 pm
Jericho looked down at her arm, linked neatly through his own in mild surprise, but left it there, grinning slightly down at her. He wasn't entirely sure what to make of the sudden body contact, and so he decided not to make anything of it at all for the moment. His mind couldn't help but drift back to their first meeting and all her little hints about lap warmers that had so taken him by surprise. He was gradually becoming more used to the...laid back...view of the Weyr on certain aspects of life...but... Was she trying to hint something, or was he reading into it too much? Tanda, he felt, was rapidly becoming a good friend and he'd hate to screw that up by doing anything untoward.
These thoughts he pushed aside as the woman on his arm spoke teasingly of his manners, and now he couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, I didn't get any special lessons in etiquette, if that's what you're asking. So I guess it's natural...Though I think you're over valuing them slightly." She thought he was sweet? Was that good or bad? He tried to think back on all the conversations on women he had overheard the other boys having back at Tillek but never paid much attention too. Now he wished he had. It would at least give him some heads up as to what to expect.
Jericho vaguely remembered her having asked what color dragon he hoped to impress before, but didn't mind answering again, as he didn't really remember what answer he had given anyways.
"Well," he mused "I would be happy with any color...but then, I imagine that's the answer everyone gives when asked, and I guess it's probably not entirely true." He raised an eyebrow slightly, looking straight ahead, lost in thought for a moment before replying "Really, I think that at heart, everyone has a color they would truly prefer. I guess I would prefer a bronze, if I were given my choice. Like you said, a bronze would look amazing against this hair." he said, breaking his serious mood with a playful grin, but he soon banished it for a more thoughtful expression once more.
"In all seriousness, though, I think I would like a bronze. I know that a lot of responsibility comes with riding a metallic dragon, and I think I would like that. Not," he said, turning to look at her again to press his point "that I want one so I would be able to order other people around. That's not it at all. I've...always been pretty shy, on a social level anyways, but over the years I've managed to put that aside enough that I can at least work with people on a professional level. I had to, being a Journeyman in charge of ship building projects. I had to be able to direct people, and do it in such a way that they would do as I asked, and not question me because I was too meek for them to take me seriously..."
He frowned slightly, remembering how things had been for him early in his journeyman-ship. He had always been a quiet person by nature, more prone to being lost in thought than seeking out others company, and so it was not easy for Jericho to recommend himself to strangers. When he suddenly gained some power over people in the ship yard, and his master expected him to give orders to other workers, it had been hard for him. Eventually, though, he had set aside his normal reserve enough to develop a decent bellow and a business like manner that didn't allow for argument from the people under his watch.
"I mastered that in time, though, and was able to lead without being questioned, which is important when you're building something that will be carrying people and valuable cargo, and even little mistakes and lead to critical failure later in the building process. So, I think that with a bronze, I have some of the skills necessary for leadership already, but at the same time, I would have more expected of me at a social level as well. While I don't like the meet and greet parade that would no doubt be involved, I think it would be good for me." his brow furrowed slightly here as he went on "I hate not being able to really put myself out there for people sometimes. I wish I was more forward, I guess." he said with a small smile for his companion. "Maybe having a dragon that would expect things of me, and people in general expecting things of me, I would be able to work past that social awkwardness, just as I was able to work past my professional awkwardness."
Jericho certainly hoped this was so. He was usually okay in one on one scenarios, as long as it was the other person introduced themselves and did most of the talking at first, as Tanda had when they met. Once he got pulled into the conversation, and became more familiar with the person, he was generally quite friendly and open. In large groups though, he was always awkward, and if he talked at all, it was either very short sentences, or to one person in particular off to one side of the group. Having people expect things of him would, he was certain, help him past all that. He tried to do it himself, especially since moving here to the Weyr, but putting ones self out of their comfort zone was hard to do without some support or drive.
"Not," he abruptly added "that I would want a dragon as demanding as your brother's Sakneth." he laughed a bit "From the way you described him, I think that may be a bit more than I bargained for." he thought again and amended his statement slightly "Well, perhaps I could deal with it if the dragon were...more...kind, about it." He laughed and shook his head at himself "Listen to me go on. As if I really have any choice in the matter at all, and yet I have it all planned out." He laughed at himself then, at his own folly for hoping for something that he could never hope to bring about through any power of his own. In the end, if he impressed, it was all up to the dragon. And even if he didn't impress a bronze, surely he could still work to better himself no matter what the dragon's color. They would surely support him, no matter what.
That was all, of course, if he impressed at all.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:25 pm
It was a side effect of Tanda's work that she automatically tended to compliment people on things they'd done well, particularly when it seemed that they'd done well unintentionally. Calling attention to a person's success and encouraging them on to further achievement was part of the job description. Positive reinforcement and all that. Which is why Tanda felt obligated to explain to Jericho exactly what was so good about his compliment.
"I really don't think I am," she said, continuing her evaluation. "The implication that I'm petite enough to be in danger of being blown from the heights is flattering, but not overtly so. It's a very nice compliment, delivered well."
She gave a self-deprecating smile. "Sorry. I know it's really strange to evaluate things like that. Try to think of it as a charming quirk that comes from dealing children, please."
Once Jericho began talking about what sort of dragon he hoped to Impress, Tanda didn't feel that much input was required on her part, and so she listened in silence, grinning wryly as he acknowledged that everyone said they'd be happy with any color, but didn't really mean it. She was also not terribly surprised that a bronze would be his first preference. Personally, she really did think he had it in him to make a first-class bronzerider. Without disloyalty to her brother, she could probably state objectively that Jericho would be better at it than B'shir, though much of that was Sakneth's fault. Having a dragon that fights you at every turn couldn't be easy.
She pushed thoughts of B'shir from her mind. She'd learned years ago that she couldn't be his mother, and though she'd never really stopped trying to look out for him, she had to learn not to worry constantly about him. He would manage Sakneth in his own way, and was, in fact, managing him fairly well from what she'd observed. For the time being, her attention should be focused completely on Jericho, who was just now saying that he wasn't interested in a bronze for the power that came with the shiny metallic hide.
Tanda nodded in acceptance of his statement. Jericho didn't seem like he'd be in it for the power, but as she listened to him talk about how he'd grown into the ability to wield professional authority she wondered where he'd gotten the idea that a dragon existed to compensate for their rider's flaws. Both B'shir and A'ram had dragons who magnified their flaws more than they compensated for them, only A'ram had embraced his dragon's nature and B'shir fought against Sakneth's. Was that what they were telling the holdborn nowadays? True, dragons usually effected changes in their riders, but they weren't mindhealers.
She returned his smile as he spoke about wishing to be more forward. It wasn't a problem she had, but she dealt with shy children all the time as well as shy adolescents and adults. Drawing people out was something she enjoyed doing from time to time, and in Jericho's case she didn't mind if he used her for that purpose, consciously or not. After all, she had her own ulterior motive in furthering their acquaintance, too.
"I can't blame you for not wanting a tyrant like Sakneth. Not all bronzes are like him. For instance, Roheth, the other bronze from his clutch, is a perfect gentleman. And there's nothing wrong with having hopes for the future. We all do."
For the last part of his monologue and her response they had been climbing carved stone stairs that were vaguely spiraled. They would have to climb up for several minutes before the reached the top and the drum heights, and the last part of the climb had some nastily steep steps. This last part of the stairs always put her out of breath, no matter how slowly she took it. The younger people who were assigned to act as runners to the harper on duty learned to jump down the steep section and land running, but Tanda had never been one of them. B'shir and Ylabet had loved it, but they took different risks than she did.
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:54 pm
"I suppose you're right." Jericho said with a slightly shy smile, realizing just how long he had been talking about himself. She didn't seem overly bored or offended by his monologue though, so he didn't apologize. He did resolve not to ramble so much about himself for the rest of their outing though. Not that he thought he could, that was more talking than he normally did in an entire conversation. His hopes about impressing, though, had just sort of...spilled out.
As it was, though, he didn't have the spare breath to talk any more once they started getting closer to the top of the stairs leading to the drum heights. Jericho was quite fit, and made sure to keep himself that way, but even he was running short of breath by the time they finally topped the stairs.
"Shards," he panted "that's one heck of a climb!"
He stepped through the door and out into the open air, taking a deep breath as the wind from the heights whipped at his face and hair, driving his curls first one way and then another. it was quite chilly, but he thought it rather bracing. He stretched out his long form and then turned to Tanda, grinning "Feels great!" he called above the noise of the wind.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:15 pm
"Of course I am," Tanda said.
It was the last thing she said until they reached the top of the stairs. By breathing slowly and evenly she was able to keep herself from actually panting, but her calves ached and her chest felt constricted from the effort of breathing evenly in the face of increased physical exertion. Her cheeks were flushed once more and her skin felt very warm, so when Jericho opened the door and she followed him onto the heights the wind struck her like a cold, wet sheet and she had to catch her breath suddenly.
She also stayed as close to the door as she could without seeming unfriendly. Tanda knew the view was spectacular, but she'd seen it once. Once had been enough to set her head spinning and send her into a near-swoon. It had been mostly luck that the man who'd taken her to the heights had quick enough reflexes to keep her from going over the edge when her weakened knees gave out on her with a chilling sense of vertigo. She hated the heights. She hated heights, period. Reflecting on this as she leaned against the closed door with her arms wrapped around herself against the cold, Tanda decided that this had probably been an idiotic place to take Jericho.
"It is," she agreed. "Our harper jokes that's how he keeps in shape, though mostly it's his runners who have to make the repeat trips up and down."
Tanda kept her gaze focused intently on Jericho and tried not to think about the sheer drop behind him as she smiled tightly in response to his declaration of how it felt to be on the heights. On this they would have to agree to disagree. She shivered. The light fabric of her outfit was not meant for the blustery conditions atop the drum heights. It was intended for the far warmer conditions in the creche, and also to make her look good.
"I'm glad you like it," she called back and shivered again. These were not the sort of delicate feigned shivers she might have used at another time and in another place. These were genuine "I'm cold and terrified" shivers. She hoped he would soon finish tire of the view.
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