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 Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:59 am
Early evening fell hot and heavy across the dusty bowl of Ista Weyr, but neither appeared to have much effect on the progression of Things That Must Be Done. With so many dragonriders in residence, the folk of the Lower Caverns were kept in a constant state of motion, and this evening was no exception for a tall candidate from Lemos. Today she was struggling with a large load of rags being taken in from the bin down by the weyrlake. Somebody with a brain had decided that setting up a bin for those lazy riders who didn't take their dirty rags with them once they were done caring for their dragons would be a good idea. In theory, Allende agreed, but since the bin was only emptied twice a day... the mass of grimy rags tended to pile up to gargantuan proportions.
Setting it down for the third time, Alle wiped her forehead free of sweat and let her long hair loose so she could readjust it into a proper bun. The only real good thing about this particular chore was that she got out of the milling mass of bodies that was the Dining Hall at this time of night, plus lugging the heavy basket about was sure to help her develop some muscles to go with her height. The downsides, however, included the agony her arms would be in and the fact that she was out her alone in the dark bowl.
Realistically, she knew she was in no danger... but she was young and skittish in a still new place... and shadows did have a tendency to look scary!
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:54 pm
It was usual for him to shoulder aside those in the Dining Hall in order to gather up a meal for himself so he could better slip off and eat alone. He had no desire to mingle and feign social graces that he didn't have and likely never would. Half of those shading brats were self-entitled, puffed up wherries, so like the sort that set his teeth on edge and his considerable muscles bulking with border-line hatred. His sandals were all too loud against the sands of the bowl, gritty grains of sand crunching from his weight even as he concentrated on the rich juices from the meat he'd currently stuffed into his mouth. It was easier to stare up at the darkened ledges then, focusing on the taste.
There was a sudden sound that caught his attention, made him spin and whirl with looming muscle and clear threat. Someone else here? At this time? In this heat? Squinting hard into the shadows, the young man hesitated for a moment, then began to take slow and menacing steps in that direction. If not to investigate, to scare someone off; he didn't come out here to be spied on.
Imagine his surprise when his eyes landed on the young, but pretty face, felt his tongue all tie itself into knots and his eyes instinctively drop to focus on the bin at her feet. "...What're you doing?" The words, as usual, came slowly, more of a gruff growl than a gentle inquiry. He was tense now, on edge and that edge was leading to aggression.
...Or would have, had she been a man. Now, he was feeling quite stupid and wishing he hadn't come snarling over to this corner in the first place.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:11 pm
Fortunately for all involved, Allende didn't scream when the big hulking shadow growled at her. Instead, as Allende was quite used to large hulking men being large hulking men, the moment Alle recognized the shadow as being human, she all but collasped in relief.
"Goodness, you gave me a good scare!" She blurted out, still a little short of breath. "Honestly, I'm just trying to lug this basket across the Weyrbowl and get it to the laundry room, nothing suspicious!" She said once she caught her breath and her heart stopped pounding so furiously. Really, what had she been so frightened for! Upon closer inspection, the big guy wasn't as old as she had first thought (as his size was certainly deceiving) but she figured he must still be older then she. He was much larger then any of her brothers, and was actually a bit taller then she was! (No mean feat, that!)
"What are you doing out here in this heat? " She asked after another brief moment, glancing at whatever it was he held in his hands.
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:47 pm
Her words instinctively had him shuffle back some, squaring his shoulders in case she suddenly did decide to scream. For the most part, she seemed surprisingly calm despite how he'd lunged out from the dark like that, but Goran didn't trust things to stay this peaceful. The last thing he needed was her shrieking and people rushing out, thinking he was attacking her or anything of the like. Unnecessary trouble that he definitely didn't need.
Dropping his gaze to the basket in question, Goran steadily evaluated its contents, not even bothering to hide the way his lip curled at the mass of grimy, sweaty clothes within. And they expected a girl to haul all this by herself? ...A tall girl, he'd admit to that, but it was clear that it was a heavy burden for her to bear all by herself. Why was that making him hesitate? Thick fingers curled around the remaining meat and bread he still clenched in his hands, as though to hide it from the eyes that so openly peered.
The more he looked at her, the more grateful he was that it was so dark--the last thing he needed was to clearly make out her face and find the situation even more uncomfortable than it already was.
"Nothin'." He grunted after a moment, shifting his food to one hand so the other could twitch its fingers in debate. Then, after another pause, it dropped to grab at the basket, slowly hefting it with a growl. Heavy--very heavy. He struggled with it for a moment, managed to wrap a considerably length arm around its girth and glowered at the girl. His scowl was more from concentrating on not dropping the thing, but nevertheless, he didn't look the most friendly sort.
"...Where's it need to go?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:57 pm
"Nothing?" She echoed, growing a little uncomfortable with the older lads attitude. At home, her brothers were growly, but rarely did they direct their more aggressive rumbles in her direction. Tease? Sure. Sometimes cruelly? Yes. But outwardly aggressive? No, her father would have sent them through a wall if he ever found out. This situation was awkward for her, but she suspected (with the part of her mind that tried to take note of everything) that this guy was feeling just as awkward as she was. How else was one to deal with meeting a stranger in the dark?
She was about to pick the basket again and excuse herself, but before she could she had to take a step back in surprise when the giant suddenly made a grab at the basket and heaved it up with a growl. Blinking, Alle wasn't sure how to react to the sudden change, but the relief of not having to haul the stinking thing all the way across the Bowl eventually won out. Growly and glaring or not, he couldn't be that bad if he was going to help her out could he?
"Laundry room, that way." She pointed, impressed once again with how big he was, she couldn't use both arms and get nearly as far around the bloody thing as he could with one! Maybe being big and tall wasn't as weird and unusual as her brother's had said...
"Um... and thank you. A lot." She added, a bit shyly this time. She really was terrible with giving thanks when thanks were due right away!
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:31 pm
He wasn't going to repeat himself twice, thick jaw gritting itself a bit more tightly to keep a growl from slipping out. He didn't know how to talk to girls--at least, not very well. This quirk wasn't helping the situation. It was easier to focus on the weight currently suspending in his arm, features grim and stoic even in the dark. Was better not to look at her, shoulders rolling stiffly even as his patience began to quickly thin. Was she gonna tell him where the room was, or not?
She, luckily, pointed the way, and he twisted his body to straighten himself out. This bin was heavier than it looked, but he could manage it. Well, until she thanked him, made him almost stumble over his feet before he glanced over his shoulder at her. Thanking him? What the Shards was she doing that for? After a moment, he only grunted at her and seemed to shrug off her words, stiff and clearly displeased as he strode towards the laundry room.
He didn't meet the eyes of anyone inside the place--if there were any--and quickly set the basket down before he slipped back into the heat. He wouldn't look for that girl again, either, carefully keeping his eyes straight ahead as he stepped back into the bowl. He'd find a place to sit and... well, maybe not eat. A rueful glance to the squashed remains of his meat and bread didn't look entirely appetizing.
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:37 pm
Ok, this guy is definitely a little strange. Allende thought as the giant took the bin up and away towards the laundry room. She'd thought he was going to yell at her for thanking him, as if it was the most out of place thing for her to do at that moment, but luckily he didn't. Alle was fairly thick skinned, but it was dark, and he was still a very large and odd person. So, she took the eventual grunt as a 'your welcome' and after noting the stiff displeasure in his body language, was about to dismiss the entire episode from her mind when her brain finally processed what had been in his hands when she had met him.
"Oh, for Faranth's sake." She said, an unconscious frown crossing her features as she quickly glanced back to the laundry room where the giant had stomped off too. He'd been about to eat something, she supposed, when he'd run into her... only to stop what he had been doing and complete her chore. Between the grumbles, the rumbles, and the terse speech mixed with the kind of kindness a holdergirl like Alle took note off... nothing about the guy made any sense. Her brothers may have acted chivalrous at times, but they'd never stop eating when they were hungry to help a lady. This guy had, which put him at odds with her initial less then shining first impression. "Now I feel really guilty..." She muttered to herself, before abruptly deciding to remedy the situation the best way she knew how. Dinner cooking was likely over, but she did work in the kitchens most of the time, and she now knew her way around well enough to be able to finagle at least a small apologetic dinner for him. The kitchen staff had their hands full these days handling the complaints abounding from the poor dinner fare. None of them would take it amiss that she was choosing some leftovers for herself and carrying them off.
Not too long after, she reappeared in the bowl, a much smaller carry-basket held in one hand as she looked around in the dark. Hopefully he hadn't gone straight to his bed, since Alle wanted to make sure he got the dinner remains she'd gathered from the dining hall left-overs. She figured it'd be best to search closest to the laundry room exit, fanning out her search as needed.
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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:06 pm
Somehow, it was even worse out here when the sun was down. The heat seemed to be smothered by the night sky, now pressing unbearably on his shoulders and making his shirt stick to sweating skin. Needless to say, Goran was used to being filthy, but that didn't mean he enjoyed it. Finding a spot to sit, the young man grunted and took a slow seat. The girl had gone, much to his relief, and he devoted himself to picking apart the remains of his meal to devour. Luckily, he'd never been particularly choosy about his food.
Chewing silently to himself, he couldn't help the sigh of irritation that slipped past gritted teeth. He felt riled up and uncomfortable in his own skin, not certain why he'd helped that woman... other than the fact that she was indeed a woman and had needed assistance. He'd done his part--yet he almost wished she'd dismissed him and gone off without another word. That would have made his life simpler, would have given him a reason to growl and blow it off and not think about it anymore. Now he didn't even have a good piece of bread to gnaw on and relieve his frustrations. The big man shook his head and was debating getting to his feet to head back to his room when sudden movement caught his eye, made him squint suspiciously as he attempted to pick out a face.
When he did, he wished he hadn't.
Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, he instinctively squared his shoulders and felt his face tug itself into a hard scowl meant to scare off any overly friendly individuals. What was she doing out here again? And what was she carrying? He was trying to hold himself quite still without realizing it, as though perhaps hoping she wouldn't spot his massive frame in the dark.
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:25 am
Unfortunately for Goran, Allende was quite determined to find him and rectify the situation, so when her search brought her closer to where he was seated, she responded with a sunny cheer, not in the least bit forced since somewhere between the kitchens and the laundry room, she had decided that not matter how strange and big the guy was, he couldn't be that bad! Her brothers were all she really had to judge other young men by, and while he was big like them, he didn't act like them at all. Gruff and grumbly, sure, but none of them would have lifted a finger for anyone unless it got them something. The black and white of the way she took situation was surprisingly comforting for Allende, since like it or not, her world was turning upside down every time she woke up in the Weyr.
"There you are!" She started, striding towards his spot with little regard for the scary, dark enhanced, scowl he was directing her way. He'd scowled at her right before surprising her with his kindness once before, so the usual effect was lost on her now. "Look, I'm terribly sorry you didn't get to eat because you helped me. I brought some of the best leftovers I could from the kitchen." She continued, holding up the small basket for him to see. "It isn't a whole lot, but.. well you know how it is these days. " She finished, moving closer to set the basket down next to him before quickly moving back out of his personal space. Apologetic or no, she knew she hated her personal space to be invaded, so she went out of her way most days to do the same for others.
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