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 Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 7:53 pm
"I guess if you look at it that way, maybe my chances aren't all that bleak." He hadn't really thought about the fact that there were 4 queens around to clutch but he had to make a quick calculation and quickly counted for a moment on his fingers. "Mmm....so if 4 queens lay about 20 eggs a turn then that's around 80 eggs. You're right! And then for 5 turns....umm....400 eggs. But there are at least 100 candidates or more now with more coming by the week. Maybe I do have a chance!"
That gave a welcome bit of relief to the boy who had sort of placed the dream aside some for the sake of reality after feeling the pains of this most recent mistake. Although after thinking a moment longer, he knew some folks just didn't impress at all. Some did grow too old; it happened all the time but still there were only 3 queens at the time.
But maybe he would be a lucky one? Could he hope for such a thing again? His dream world say anything was possible if he only tried. "Do you really things we have that sort of chance, Mal?"
The next question he pondered for a moment. "Umm. No, I haven't met E'rik. Really, ummm...I haven't met many folks around here. I usually try to stay out of the way of others and just get the chores done."
But then he watched the other's hand take up the bug and place it in his mouth and smirked. By the look on Mal's face he wasn't really certain he had actually eaten it but the Flit seemed mighty please with the results. "So was it tasty?" For a bit, he was actually starting to feel like his old self even though things had been so horrid as of late. "I wonder if Aeron will find any trundle bugs in our room later."
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 8:15 pm
It was a good thing that Mal had pretended to swallow; he wasn’t about to ruin the illusion by talking with his mouth ‘full’. Although, judging by the lack of disgust on Veyes’ features, the other boy had figured it out. That was mildly disappointing, since the older boy enjoyed shocking others. It was things like that that got him the most attention, after all.
Clearly, Veyes was better at math than Mal; the ex-Harper had just thought as far as the immediate eggs, never minding the next five years. Still, he was good enough at math to figure out that this meant Veyes was about 16 Turns old. “Course, the newest one won’t be ready to lay any eggs for… what? A few Turns, right?” That sharding reality! It always had to interfere in things like this. Realizing that he was being a bit of a downer here, he quickly added, “Still! That’s just a few Turns. You’ve got some time left. I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t Impress. I mean, you were Searched, weren’t you? Seems like someone has some faith in you. Seems only right that you should have some faith in them too.”
It was a load of herdbeast droppings, actually, but it was a good load of it. Being a Harper meant knowing the romance that lurked in a person’s soul. And not just ‘romance’ as in ‘kissy-kissy’ stuff, but the very… heart of stories. Everyone truly wanted to believe that a rags-to-riches story could happen, that the poor scullery girl could turn out to be the Lord Holder’s secret daughter. And everyone liked to believe in hope. Besides, it sounded fancy, didn’t it?
“It was delicious. It tasted like wherry, you know,” he added somberly, trying to ignore the fact that the trundlebug was currently making its way up his sleeve. “I dunno. He has a gift for finding things to hunt. I figure that, even if he doesn’t find anything, he’ll try to hunt the dust balls. Either that, or ankles. So I recommend being very careful if you walk around at night.”
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 9:09 pm
Veyes pondered the thought like a fire had been re-lite inside of him. He just had to believe that between about 400 eggs that one of them might be the dragon in his dreams. Everything revolved around those dreams; many hopes for adventure and exploration that never could be had by just riding a runner. "Yes...so there is a chance." That lifted quite a weight from his chest even amidst everything else. "You know that's the best news I've heard in what seems like forever, Mal."
He smiled and leaned back against the wall feeling a little more human than he had been in recent days. Seemed like Mal was able to bring out the best in people and maybe rooming with him might be ok after all. At least, he didn't feel deep in that black mood which had possessed him in recent days.
Then, he smirked and said, "Well sometimes they can. But I never could quite call them delicious. However, they make a quick snack if you are really hungry and can't get back to the farm to eat." He stretched the story just a hair because while he had eaten the bugs; he never made a habit of it.
"Mmm...I thought of oneday getting a flit of my own. When I have the marks or get lucky enough to find an egg. Yours has a lot o personality. Well, hopefully he won't jump on the bed at night but if he's good I might give him a marble to play with." He smiled and opened his trunk to fish out a shiny small marble from the bag then rolled it along his bed so the flit could see its little shiny moving surface.
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 9:34 pm
Aww… it always did Mal’s heart some good to see someone’s eyes light up like that, as if some inner fire had been stoked. It was always nice to know he could inspire people. That was one of the works of a Harper, he felt, just keeping people’s spirits up. Sure, there was other stuff too like teaching and all that… but he preferred this sort of thing. At least now he had an appreciative audience for his new tricks, none of which involved the usual Harper’s trade at all.
“Good luck. I had a hard time getting a hold of Aeron’s egg. I won his egg at the last Gather, you see. To be honest, I actually cheated to get his egg,” he admitted frankly, without an ounce of guilt. For someone who had recently gotten in trouble for stealing----that is, being associated with an accused thief----Mal certainly was honest about his own past crimes. “But, don’t look at me like that; the other guy was cheating too. It’s only fair. Besides, it’s not like he could complain. He couldn’t say that he was meant to win.” There was that grin of Mal’s again, all bright sunshine even when talking about a crime, and then he winked. “After all, it was supposed to be a game of chance.”
Aeron’s temperament helped whatever guilt Mal might have had. The evil-tempered little firelizard’s first act on Pern was to bite Mal’s finger, nearly nipping it to the bone. “They’re good pets, though. Judging from ones that aren’t Aeron, that is. He keeps trying to pick fights with dragons though, so I gotta keep an eye on him whenever he’s around them. Hence why I didn’t go to the Feast.”
Aeron let out a noise of surprise at the sudden movement of the marble and moved to the edge of the cot so he could get a better look at it. His eyes whirled with curiosity and his jaws clattered. As the marble kept moving, he kept sidling along side of it, clearly fascinated with this new toy. When it finally stopped moving, he whapped it with one of his front paws and then jumped back in surprise. Eventually, he got the hang of the game and started rolling it all over the place. Curiously enough, he didn’t bother flying.
Apparently, that would ruin the game.
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 10:04 pm
"Ha! Well you know, I figure with all the bad luck I've had in life something has to give. So maybe a little bugger's egg might be in the cards one day." He paused as Mal spoke of his crimes. Maybe he should have cared more but well after being marked as a "thief" himself he really had no room to talk. "Well I guess I won't be playing games of chance with you." He grinned a little and crossed his arms. "But I might play a few rounds of Migsy with you when we have time." No chance there...marbles were mostly skill.
"Well, I guess that they're just like any other pet but maybe a little more intelligent. How long have you had him?" He turned his head and watched the flit take over the marble like a new found friend. It brought a giggles to his lips and then more laughter as he watched Aeron start running around the room with it. He doubted he would ever get the marble back as the flit might get upset. But he had chosen one that he could live without so nothing really lost at all.
"So when did you arrive here at the Weyr? You said you have seen one hatching prior to this last one?" He relaxed a bit more and stretched out on the cot and yawned a little. "How long do you think until the next hatching?" Maybe it would be soon, he thought to himself because right then he really didn't want to think about all the other decisions if he didn't impress. Even though, reality was only a thought away - he wanted to ignore it for now.
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 10:23 pm
Again, that bright grin. “Aw, don’t look at me like that. Like I said, he was cheating first. Fair’s fair. I may be dishonest, but I only cheat at games when I know the other guy is cheating first. Besides, can you imagine leaving the care of a firelizard egg to someone who was willing to cheat at cards with some young Candidate like me? The very nerve of it!” While, of course, it was completely understandable for a cheater like him to get the egg, because it was him and not the other guy. That was the little detail that was a bit fuzzy to others, but Mal was certain they’d understand eventually. “But I’m game for a game of Migsy any time.”
“Let’s see…” he scratched his cheek once more in thought. “Well, he hatched shortly before the officially Hatching. Not this one, but the one before. So he’s a couple months old. This Hatching happened relatively soon after the one before it because the queens mated at about the same time. Apparently, it’s considered rather unusual.” Like most people who were ignorant in one area of knowledge, Mal hated admitting to such. So he decided to fall back on his usual method of life: bluff and extrapolate from the knowledge of others.
“I can’t say for sure… I’m not weyrbrat. I haven’t even been here for a full Turn. But, judging from the rumors, I’d say in the next few months? I’ve heard that the youngest----oh, excuse me… second youngest Gold is just about ready for a Flight. So not too long. And I hear that the Weyrleader is trying to put a stop to the Searches. Apparently, there are too many Candidates.”
Oh, no. Veyes didn’t stand a chance of getting that marble back. A chocolate kettle would actually work before he got that marble back. And Aeron had made a brand new friend, and without mauling anyone at all! The Bronze firelizard continued to chase the little marble back and forth across the floor excitedly, apparently full of energy. Mal smiled at the thoughts the firelizard was projecting, mainly ones full of excitement and delight. “He really likes it, you know. Thank you.”
By making a friend in the prickly firelizard, Veyes had made a friend in Mal.
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 8:28 am
Veyes laughed just a little, "I'm not judging you in the least considering my brand new label; I don't have room to talk about how you conducted yourself." With the way things were going, the whole catastrophe had changed so many things in his life. Once he left the Weyr in 5 turns from now, he hoped the bad reputation would not follow him. He guessed that if L'thor did hook him up with the traders, L'thor would not reveal this mistake. 5 turns was a lot of time to prove that he was at least not going to make the same mistake. The Weyr wouldn't care anything about him after he had left and probably would forget his name. So there was indeed hope for the future if he didn't impress.
"If anything this mess has shown me lately, you can't judge anyone by what's on the surface. I'm always going to be looked at as a bad person while I'm in this Weyr no matter what I do but that doesn't mean I am one. " He sighed just a little then pushed aside the weary thought to be distracted by the conversation once more.
"Ah...so you have been here a little longer than me. I didn't make the hatching you were at. So how long are you able to stay for? You have as many turns as I?" He had to hope that Mal wasn't looking at the end of the cycle because well he didn't really want to lose someone that might be a new friend that quickly. That thought almost drew him back to thoughts of Conomor but he pushed the far aside knowing that those thoughts would only blacken the happier mood that he had found through Mal's encouragement.
"Maybe the second youngest will produce a huge clutch. You know I have heard that the farther the queen flies, the longer the flight....the bigger the clutch. Some queens can have up to 60 eggs in a clutch...but that's what I have heard around the Weyr, not sure if it is all true. He hoped it might be true so maybe he'd have to cheer a lot when the next queen decided to take flight.
"Well, if bunking us like this is any indicator they've got too many candidates. I'm wondering honestly how the Weyr is going to handle feeding everyone on scrawny herd beasts. I've been taking a good look at the food resources here and there isn't enough to take care of everyone at this rate. The Holds aren't giving their best beasts and food stuff. Heck, my farm had better meat than I've ever seen at this Weyr."
Some of those thoughts did concern a boy, who was used to a farm that had been self sustaining. He certainly knew they wouldn't starve but people were even more unfriendly when they were hungry.
His eyes drifted back over to the intensely playful flit and he started to laugh again as Aeron scampered all around the room with the marble. Yep, he had lost that one forever.
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 5:04 pm
And it looked like Veyes was plunging right back into his dark thoughts. “Don’t worry about it. Labels corrode with time. My mom used to put my name on a little label on my toys and stuff so I wouldn’t lose them or, more accurately, so they could find their way back home. But the labels never lasted very long.” Admittedly, people were pretty sharding angry over the whole thing… but, sooner or later, they’d realize that the Candidatemaster had just been unfairly harsh to everyone. That would make the ‘thieves’ gain a bit of sympathy, wouldn’t it?
If things didn’t… well, Mal had other plans. He always had other plans.
“I’ve got another two Turns to go before they can get rid of me, providing I’m not thrown out before then.” He mentioned the possibility of being thrown-out nonchalantly, but, in truth, the prospect terrified him. Being Holdless was just about the worst thing in the world, especially with an impending Threadfall… assuming, of course, that it actually did. There were many rumors circling Pern right now, including the theory that it wouldn’t fall at all.
Which explained exactly why a farm wouldn’t hand over its best herdbeasts. Why feed something huge like a dragon if it didn’t do any good? Not that the older Candidate had noticed any difference between the Weyr herdbeast and any other. Mal cocked his head to one side, frowning a little. “Is that so? Can’t say I’ve noticed. But I’m not the best judge on something like that. If it’s got hooves, horns, and a tail, it’s a herdbeast as far as I’m concerned. That and I thing the best are going to the dragons instead of us.”
“I’ve heard things about Queen’s Flights too.” The words were absolutely dripping with less-than-innocent tones. It was the sort of tone that nudged and winked at other tones, possibly causing them to retreat blushing. It could probably find something naughty in the words ‘good morning’.
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 9:29 pm
"Well I hope you're right. I'd really rather not keep this one for too long." He wasn't quite sure he believed Mal on that one but for now he'd leave it at that and try do at least make do with what positives he could make out of this. "Hey well at least the Latrine duty ain't as dirty as the Meat locker. I'm not smelling like a flit feast by the end of the morning." Actually, he'd rather be in the meat locker gutting beasts than the latrines but he had to find something to make the job bearable. Coming out of the bathroom smelling like soap had to be a better thing didn't it?
He thought for a moment, so Mal was 19 and that brought a small furrow to his brow. "Mm...well, I bet that your dragon is just around the corner then. Probably a smart a** one too..." He chuckled just a little thinking he could see Mal with some sort of sassy dragon that equaled his broad grin with a toothy smile. Although he couldn't quite pick the color of the dragon. "Mmm...but color...well could be anything. Let's see, as brown as your hair...nah...your dragon would want to stand out more...Umm..." he thought about it more. "Oh a bright sunshiny bronze with tips of red...and his name is...Ahh...ummm...." he glanced at Aeron. "Oh, it's name is Aeronath." Yes, that would have been his name had he finished the story at the lake. One day he'd work on that idea some more even if Conomor didn't speak to him at all he remembered the amused smile on the other's face. Yes, it would have been a good story. Something he could leave as the last fond memory just before everything collasped.
For Veyes, dreams usually were far better than the reality around him. He had learned to accept that. Only in the recent past had his dreams, pushed him forward and he found himself confronted with L'thor in a distant field and given the "silver platter". So many new things had come in to his world now....at times he had to run like mad to keep up with all that was happening around him, although he had never turned away from a challenge. However, it was much different from the slow pace of the farm and much different from his dreams.
"Well, then you haven't had good herdbeast or you'd know the difference. Imagine flesh melting away from the bone after being baked in its own juices with roots and wild herbs. My family's farm has nice plump herdbeasts that cook up just like that. Their skin makes some of the best leathers that you'll get at the market and since they've been fed well the bones ain't brittle so you'll can get good needles, and craft carved tools or art. It's a real difference if you get down too it. One good herdbeast goes further - feeds more, makes more afterwards. But here, they're getting low quality goods. It takes a good butcher to get meat off of those bag of bones. Most folks never see how much work it takes to tenderize that meat enough to feed the Weyr." He was rambling just a little but the fact was it frustrated him no end as a farmer to see anyone be given such shoddy goods. He had a bit of pride in his farm and couldn't see him giving such crap to hungry people or dragons.
But then he paused as Mal talked about the Queen's flights, "Oh?" he returned curiously, "Well spill it then, Mal. Sounds like a tale worth the hearing." Scooting back up further on the cot he pulled his feet off the floor and back under the blanket. He knew that Aeron would soon be hiding his new toy somewhere in their room and he wanted to be sure that the flit didn't nibble on his toes afterwards.
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 12:30 pm
Mal looked at Veyes as if he had suddenly grown two heads and, metaphorically, he just had. And it was talking. Latrine duty wasn’t exactly clean… sure, at least everyone could wash up after, but it was still carting out… well… waste, to put it mildly. The only bright side was that, if someone tripped you, you would fall in something soft. On the downside, you’d fall in something soft. “Remind me that I never want to work in the meat locker if what you say is true,” he said, as if he hadn’t just been told this fact.
At the suggestion that his dragon was right around the corner, Mal let out a bark of laughter. And it really was a bark too: sharp and sudden. In his mind, he wasn’t really a Candidate, exactly. He was simply just trying to buy some more time in the Weyr. Still, he didn’t think that he should destroy Veyes’ little story. Not after he’d just gotten all cheered up and all. “And what about you? What would the brave V’yes ride? Perhaps a gallant Brown?” that was his guess, anyway, since the boy seemed on the shyer side. (Actually, Mal thought he was a little…well… girly, but there was nothing wrong with that).
And, shards. Just listening to that description was enough to make Mal’s mouth water, especially since, for the past few days since the Hatching, he had been more into the ‘snatch and grab’ method of feeding. It had been far too long since he could just sit down and enjoy a full meal. “Sounds like you have some good memories of home,” he said, absolutely oblivious and ignorant to the truth. “Why’d you leave when you’ve got grub like that lying around?” Because, to Mal, the main attraction of the Weyr was the food and the prospect of not having to scrounge around for it. “Huh… wonder why we’re getting the bad herdbeasts then…” he mused thoughtfully. “I guess people just aren’t willing to give up their good stuff, not even for the dragons.”
Oh, wow. Veyes really hadn’t been here for very long. Mal arched an eyebrow at the other boy, wondering just how… well… innocent he really was. Come on, he was at sixteen turns old, or there about. There was no way he just couldn’t think about sex, even a little. Well, maybe there was. After all, the world took all sorts to work. “You do know what they say about Weyrfolk, right?”
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 1:42 pm
Veyes realized that maybe Mal just hadn't been through enough hard labor to understand what a mess a full butchery job could be from skin, blood guts, organs, meat and bone. It wasn't like anything got wasted and sometimes it stank to high heaven if you accidentally cut something you shouldn't have. No...he wouldn't explain that one to Mal because he didn't want to gross him out any more than he already had. "Alright, I'll make sure to do that."
Maybe the latrine also didn't bother him that much because he was also used to shoving dung from so many beasts for future fertilizer that he couldn't get demoralized over a few latrines. He was used to dirty jobs since he was big enough to follow his brother to the barn.
But then he had to think on the question about his own dragon and had to laugh because he hadn't even thought about how to change his name either. "I've never really thought about color for me. I'd be just happy to have any if one would accept me. As many greens as there are in the Weyr, its a good chance that I might get one of those compared to any other. " He smiled a little as he continued to think. He had dreamt about ever color including gold just for amusing inspiration. "So you think I need a gallant brown. Mmm...Ok...well, his name is...Umm...Varnath and I am sure one day he'll out fly your Aeronath." He patted the wall as if patting the neck of some great beast that could only be seen in the broader reaches of ones imagination. "He's pitch like fertile soil and streaked with the colors of clay wet from the autumn rains." Veyes smiled a bit more as the vision was perfect in his mind. "So maybe one day we should have a race and see which of our boys are faster."
His paused just for a moment, his home life really wasn't that increduble even though the food was exceptional. Even if his mother was the best and he really loved his brothers so he tried a different tact on his answer, "Some good memories of home...I guess." Well, What's the point of good food if you do the same thing every day...all day and never follow any of your dreams? Farming is a well fed life for the body but it doesn't do anything for your mind. There's no adventure, no change...no way to see the world. I wanted to expand my mind...I was happy to come here when the offer was given." He didn't bother to talk about the abuse or any of the hell he had lived through. It wasn't needed and at times he just wanted to forget about it so he could make a new path in life.
But as Mal arched his eyebrow Veyes realized suddenly what the he was talking about. "Oh, you're talking about that. Umm...Yeah...I've heard about it." He fidgeted just for a bit. "Ah...To be honest, I try not to think about it much. Never got to think much about stuff like that on the farm; way too much work to keep one occupied. Then, you're too tired to care." A part of him shuddered with even the remote thought of ending up in the same bed as the Candidate Master, Z'nal. A brief look of disgust crossed his face as the unpleasant thought was shoved to the back of his mind.
He seemed a bit more bewildered as he thought of other people and that brought those confusing thoughts to his mind. He really hadn't...no couldn't decide about several things....what gender did he like?? Well that seemed to be either...because he thought L'thor was attractive but he also thought Hanya had a curious appeal. But what did that mean really? None of these options were even remotely accessible! Ugh! Too much to think about. Sometimes he just thought celibacy was...easier.
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 2:23 pm
Prior to coming to the Weyr, Mal really hadn’t ever done a day’s labor in his life. Well, not what people would call ‘real labor’, anyway. A Harper’s life wasn’t exactly full of tough-and-tumble butchery or anything like that. Mostly his days had been full of learning about the theories of music, what made pretty sounds and what didn’t, and other studies. And then, after that, he had devoted his time to simply surviving.
“Nothing wrong with Greens. They’re the fastest, you know. I wouldn’t mind a Green myself, regardless of the rumors about their riders.” Rumor in the Weyr claimed that male Greenriders were more likely to be gay, but Mal had yet to see any proof of that. He had, however, come across plenty of proof that male Greenriders were more likely to be grumpy.
“I still see you as a Brownrider though. They say that they’re more, you know. Humble and everything. And it sounds like you’ve got a spark of Harper in you with that description!” Not that it was so surprising. Mal recognized over half of the Harpers here as being from his own class. It was very odd, actually, that so many of them had been Searched. Surely there would be some sort of an outcry over that eventually. “And I’m up for a race whenever you are. Let’s hope we both Impress next time.” Hey, it was alright to dream, wasn’t it?
Wait… so, he never thought about it? It was a pity that Mal’s eyebrows were already arched because he could’ve used a good arch right about then. He made the effort anyway. It did not go particularly well. Instead of making him look incredulous, it just made him look surprised. Mentally, he ticked a few things off of his list: misses out an obvious insinuation? Check. Calls ‘sex’ ‘it’? Check. Fidgets about as sex comes up? Check For the love of Faranth, Veyes really never did think about it, did he? That was just sort of… sad, wasn’t it? Mal wasn’t overly obsessed himself----how could he be? Candidates didn’t have any free time anyway for such things----but he thought about it as often as the next boy. “Well, at least you’re prepared to be a Weyrling then,” he commented as he relaxed on the cot. “I hear they’re not allowed to do anything for two Turns while their dragon matures.”
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 3:01 pm
"Well, the man that searched me out rode a green and right now, she's my number one dragon until I get one of my own." his smile broadened a bit more as he laid back down on the cot. "Nope...nothing at all wrong with a green." Then he paused, "Ok...what rumor are there about green riders? This I have to hear." He leaned upon one shoulder and looked up at Mal's face with a curious smile.
"Humble? I guess...most think I'm pretty unimportant anyway. But...Well I rather hope to find a dragon that would like a bit of adventure and wants to travel some. I remember one harper saying that there sometimes are ruins and other strange things found out there. I'd like to journey to those types of places." Most holders would rather have that stable security but Veyes wanted a challenge in life; and live on the edge of his seat. Actually, what he really wanted was to feel some control over his own destiny for a change rather than adults telling him how life would be. "It's a deal! You bring your dragon, and I'll bring mine. Then we will see who the victor is. So let see...the winner...what should the winner get?"
He nodded just a little, "I suppose so. I guess it's going to be hard on the other guys more than me. Some of them already want to figure out how to sneak in the girls dorm; me...I want to avoid it. But...well you know, I'm not sure what I'm looking for so I just don't think about it much." He scratched his head for a moment trying to figure out what he should say. It was a subject he had to face soon or later but had done his best to avoid. Maybe it was better to talk a little be about it now so he didn't get bowled over by something worse in the future. He already had his fair share of thoughts about what he would do when that time came if he had a dragon however, most of his thoughts never lead to real answers.
"The Weyr has had the most choices I've ever seen to be honest but there isn't any time in my day to get worked up about it. What about you? You seen anything you like around here? I'm guessing you've at least thought about it."
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 2:08 pm
“For the love of Fara… Do you hear anything at all?” Mal said incredulously. Or was Veyes really just that innocent? It was mind-boggling, that’s what it was! Or maybe he really just didn’t pay attention to these rumors. Ah well. Probably better for him that way, all things considered. Mal figured he’d be a better person if he tried to do the same but, come on. Sometimes, rumors held a grain of truth. “Well, they say that male Greenriders are more likely to, you know. Like other men.” He shrugged at the end of the sentence, a clear indication that he didn’t really care one way or the other. Either that, or it meant he had no idea if this was really true or not. “All I know is that Greenriders seem a good deal more likely to be grumpy.”
“Why, the winner gets bragging rights! Is there anything else in this world worth having?” Well, almost certainly. But bragging rights were certainly still enough to compel Mal into doing just about anything. “Oh, yeah. I’ve heard about those things. There’s a lot of information in Harper Hall, if you know where to look. Like stories about ancient Weyrs from Passes… err… past. And that sort of thing. It would be interesting to explore them, I suppose. Imagine, Veyes, the glory and adventure of realizing that you’re the first person to step in one particular place for hundreds of years! That’s the very stuff of life, my friend, knowing the unknown is right around the corner!”
Of course, it was less likely to be a long life if the unknown thing around the corner happened to be, say, a ravenous feline. Or, perhaps, an angry girl.
Mal lifted an eyebrow at the idea of sneaking into the girls’ dorm, clearly unimpressed. “Pft. Such a lack of creativity. I don’t really see the point in trying to sneak into the girls’ dorm. I mean, they were taking their clothes off in the lake not too long ago. I guess sneaking around would make it more of a victory but I don’t think it would be worth the punishment there. Eh. I haven’t seen anyone I particularly like, really. Half of the people I know already, ‘cos they came over from Harper Hall. It feels like an entire class has been abducted.”
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:43 pm
Veyes blinked and stared at Mal for a moment wondering if the other thought he was blind or something, "Yeah...I hear a lot of things but you know I don't claim to know if they're all true. I don't like to be the one assume stuff. Make's me look like an idiot if I do." He nodded slowly, "Yeah...I've heard that rumor but I'm not one to care what a man does in his own bedroom. I know most holders don't think that way but well I really don't want to be phobic like my father was." Thinking of his father, he was certain the man would have come unhinged if he had said he thought he was bi or maybe even gay. Especially, after so many times his father had suggested a bride to help him carry on the farm and bear his children. Just the thought of that made him cringe and at times he wondered if he could even look at bedding a woman without his father's words and expectations within his head.
"Well, I don't think green riders are any more grumpy than blues or bronze riders. In fact, I've seen more grumpy blues and bronze riders." He laughed just a little. "Well you know, maybe green riders are better off than most. Sounds like they have plenty of opportunity to get some and at least if they like other men, they don't have to worry about...offspring." Maybe it was his friendship with L'thor that brought him to the green rider's defense even if he wasn't sure what L'thor's interests were exactly.
Thankfully the idea of a race distracted him from further observations. He glanced up with a mirthful smile, "Alright, bragging rights sounds good. Sure I could think of a few things but bragging rights won't empty my pockets like other things might."
"Maybe one day I can find a way to look at the information in the Harper Hall. If I become a dragon rider, maybe they won't be opposed to let me look." His hungry eyes focused on the words as they were spoke as if the mysteries that he sought were only a stone's throw away. Certainly, the sigh upon his lips was only a slight recognition that it would take more than just dreaming to discover these places. "Oh...I have had that dream...where feet fall on the hard dusty floors of some ancient civilization; fingers tracing over the edges of untouched knowledge. One day, Mal...I will set foot on those sands. Just got to learn a few things before I step forward." There was a depth of confidence there that obviously held on to the core of Veyes' being and maybe that was a good portion of his drive which kept him going as things got tough.
"True...they were taking it off at the lake. Not bad looking either...guys and girls." He had to smile because the view was one he could appreciate and a reason he stuck around for as long as he had. "Ah, yeah? I didn't realize that they had so many here. That's kind of strange. Well, some of them probably could have refused to come but I guess no one wants to miss a chance to impress. But being a Harper isn't a bad line of work. One I might have tried had my father not been determined to keep me on the farm."
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