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Inaari only sighed and shook her head as she walked away and down towards the sideboard where all the fixings for the nutty drink were kept. She was pleased to see that her own special ingredient had become a permanent fixture in the station - Inaari had become slowly famous for her klah-making skills. After all, she was the best. "No way! Goldrider or not, I'm still just a Weyrling, and Weyrlings have chores just like everyone else. I worked in the Lower Caverns as a candidate, and I like to do it still. Keeps me in touch with what's going on...and it's less lonely." There was that sad touch in her eyes again, but it was banished as she started to mix the ingredients with a deft calmness.

Puddle, though content to rest against Jarest, immediately knew what his mistress was up to and his tiny blunted nose raised into the air and he chirped presumptuously. "No! Puddle, I've told you a million times, klah is for people. You can have any, because then you don't sleep for three days and I want to put you back where I found you." A finger tapped his nose, and the cup of steaming deliciousness was held out to the Healer. "Here. Try this, it's the real reason they love me here." Eyes crinkled as sure enough, one of the riders had noticed her at work and come over to ask for a mug of his own, which she sent his way with a cheery smile. "I love being in the middle of these things!"

Sitting back down on the bench with her own glass, the goldrider all but glowed at the compliment from the incredibly nervous young man. She was starting to realize that maybe it wasn't her fault that he was nervous, it seemed to be a chronic condition that had come from two incredibly domineering sisters. It was probably a jump, but he spoke about them with a flinch on the edge of his awareness. It made her feel better, and had she been any less reserved she might have hugged the boy. "My friend T'ron is the same way, he's not allowed anywhere near the Caverns. They actually throw things at him every time they catch him down there, it's rather entertaining." At his distaste for weaving she grinned. "I don't blame you, it's fair boring to do day in and day out. I used to do that at Fort, it's considered 'ladylike'. I hate that. But L'tan's a weaver and seems to love it." Picking at her skirt, she grinned.

"He actually helped me make this one, though it's really nothing special. Just a lighter fabric when all I owned was wool and brocade. But hey, you found something you were good at, something that you were suited for, and I can think of few things that are more crucial than Healers. I mean, without them, none of us would be here! Right?" It was her new project, to boost Jarest's confidence in time for the next Hatching, whenever that might be. Inaari's motherly side was busting out of the seams, and was about to overflow all over him.

Thinking of T'ron baking instead of doing glass made her giggle more than a little bit, it was L'tan she was more confident about, no matter how she felt about the former. "I think, and this is in no way to impugn your skills but his? Well. I'd be a lot skinnier, and I'm not sure that'd be healthy." Slim hands went to an equally slim waist, right above perhaps one of the larger pairs of hips that anyone could possibly have. Inaari often joked that she could have laid an egg right next to Ianath, given the option.

Pulling back to his more serious words, there was another pat on his hands wrapped around the klah with a smile. "You sound like a good person. This will sound odd but...do you climb at all? There are old empty weyrs up towards the top of the rim that are awesome to climb up to and you can see everything." Like it or not, Jarest had a friend that would be very hard to lose.

When he showed furtive interest in climbing, Inaari couldn't have been happier and decided on the spot that it was fate that the two of them had been thrown together. He was from the Holds, as timid as could be, but loved climbing and wanted to help people. The second was absolutely a thing that could be fixed and changed, and she was definitely the person to do it. Or so she felt! Beaming, she was already considering the next time she could get away to climb; T'ron could always come with, but for obvious reasons he'd been discontent to share her time with anyone since their little talk in her Weyrling room.

"Hm? Oh, they're empty because for whatever reason there just aren't dragons for them. They probably won't be as empty when this round of Weyrlings gets assigned to them, but the one I tend to climb up to is in the old and crumbly part of the Weyr. Doesn't look like they expect anyone up in there anytime soon, and you can see everything. It's really beautiful! Peaceful too, and I think there's magic up there. Certainly worked for T'ron and I." Blushing lightly, she touched the glass on a necklace and shook her head to clear it. Getting sidetracked about thinking about one's boyfriend wasn't proper. Inaarimine, where are you? I have a patch on my back that itches very badly. Can you please come scratch it? Ianath's voice came to her from stretching back into the Weyr, and her eyes went blank for a moment as she responded with an affirmative.

"I'm really sorry, but Ianath's roused and I have to go oil her back. You're welcome to come, if you'd like to meet her!" Ianath would doubtless approve of this guy!

There was no faster way to Inaari's heart, had he not already been there, than to exuberantly ask after her dragon. Oh there were cursory questions towards the health of the junior queen, especially from bronzeriders who sought eagerly the prestige of flying her one day. But very little excitement for the fact that it was a dragon and not just another queen! Remembering that he didn't quite welcome open touching, the brunette avoided simply grabbing Jarest's hand and hauling him down the corridors, but instead just beckoned and started to bustle away at full steam. Ianath didn't like to be kept waiting, especially when she itched, and Inaari didn't blame her!

Puddle had immediately launched himself from the boy's shoulder and gone flying off ahead of his bonded, swooping in the air like an acrobat and showing off for the various children that were passing - Puddle loved kids. Go figure! Pushing the tapestry aside for Jarest, there was no hesitating as the girl threw herself at her dragon's neck for a massive hug while beaming. "I brought you a visitor to keep me company while I oil your gigantor backside. Ianath, this is Jarest. He's a Candidate from Healer Hall. Jarest, this is Ianath. To answer you, she's about ten months old and as you can see, she's extremely large!" Chocolate eyes melted to a deep color and rubbing the ridges offered, the girl all but glowed. "There's nothing in the world like Impression. It's finding a part of you that you didn't realize you were missing, but as soon as you find it, you wonder how you ever got along without them. C'mere. Rub right here, above her eye where my hand is. She'll like it. Won't you Ianath?" A quick warning look warned that she would like it, wouldn't she?

Ianath only let out a soft note, encouraging by stretching out her neck. Are you replacing Cavenath's, Inaarimine? I do not think you would do better with a Candidate, though the little blue one is filling my head with many images of him. He must be nice, I will let him touch me. Inaari tried very hard to not simply sigh and bury her face in the dragon's bright hide. That was Ianath, judgmental to the very last! But it was never in cruel fashion, only wanting what was best for Hers. Couldn't fault a dragon (or anyone) for that..could you?

All but purring at the rubbing on her favorite ridge spot, Ianath lashed her tail against the rock happily and let out a rumbling coo. Puddle was already climbing over her back to find the itchy spot and nibble at the dried skin there, using his little claws to try and scrape it off, chirruping as well at the young rider who had hopped up almost immediately to fetch the large bottle of oil. Disappearing behind the curtain, Inaari called out to Jarest. "Just keep doing that if you'd like? Anywhere on the ridge or her neck is good, but stay away from her eyes or snout otherwise. Ianath is really odd about people getting near her nose, doesn't even let the flits do it." Clothes were shed and then added again, a pair of linen pants that fit like second skin, a tight-fitting shirt in the same material before she padded barefoot to climb atop the great golden back.

"I have to oil her, and she'll probably fall asleep again while I do, but if you want to talk to her that'd be great! Ianath just likes company, and to be told how pretty and wonderful she is. Do those two things, and you'll make yourself a lifelong friend." There was laughter in the freckled girl's voice as the oil was rubbed in and applied, soothing the peeling skin of a growing dragon with gentle hands. It was interesting that while he was full of awe, it was not the reverent fear that some held for the queen and her rider. Inaari had the very distinct feeling that this Candidate would fit in just fine...eventually. "This is the most important part of being a Weyrling, and it's what takes up the most time...especially now. There's just so much to oil!"

"You call her Ianath, I've never really heard anyone give titles or anything to the dragons. I'll be a Weyrwoman and there are Wingleaders and stuff, but the dragons don't really seem to need titles. Everyone knows that golds are at the top, then it goes down: bronze, silver, brown, crimson, blue, black, green, white. Though from blue down they're all pretty equal, and a non-clutching crimson is the same status as a brown though clutchers tend to be almost as important as a gold...but don't tell them that. Either of them." Ianath heard that however, and rumbled slightly in the direction of her rider.

A crimson cannot clutch nearly as large as a gold. Never as large as I will clutch! And please tell Jarest that I do not like being poked either, but no one has ever tried it. An eyelid drooped as the dragon regarded her admirer, tail flicking once with happiness as the oil started to seep into the skin. "You tend to have to oil them pretty often as they grow, especially for the larger ones that have a lot more growing to do. Greenriders still have to oil daily, but there's a lot less area and it's usually once or twice. These days Ianath is up to four oilings a day to keep her smooth. But it's important, because if their skin cracks it can be a huge problem when we finally go between. Plus, she whines." A light slap to the oiled patch. "Also she says that she wouldn't like being poked either, but no one's really tried it. Did anyone ever try to pinch your cheeks? I got that one a lot. They used to tell me they could grab my freckles off my face. Never wanted to bite someone so badly!" A giggle, and the rider all but tumbled from her dragon to land on the stone. "That gets easier every time!"