The following is a log of roleplay from PernMUSH . The World of Pern(tm)' and 'The Dragonriders of Pern(r)' are copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) l967. This is a recorded online session, by permission of the author but generated on pernMUSH for the benefit of people unable to attend.

10/13/02



Galleries

Stretching along the eastern wall of the hatching cavern, these tiers of seats have enough room for several hundred spectators for Clutchings and Hatchings. To one side, long shallow steps descend to the entrance. There is also a railing separating the lowest tier of seats from the Hatching Sands themselves. Other parts of the galleries are closed off from the sands by a wall to the north and south. From here you can reenter the bowl, or follow the pathway down to the Sands.

The evening seems darker then normal due to the overcast skies which blot out the stars and moons. It is completely still, no winds blow and the winter air is freezing against you.

Contents:

PLAYERS: Cheni

Obvious Exits:

Bowl Sands

Kichevio enters the galleries from the bowl.

Cheni sits, hugging her knees to her chest and her feet tucked up under her skirts. She looks, unseeingly, towards the sands and the bit of mending she was working on has fallen, unnoticed, on the bench beside her.

Kichevio shivers her way inside. "Don't mind me," she advises the vague shape she notices in the tiers. "I'm just thawing for a bit before braving the bleak midwinter again--oh, hey Cheni." She clambers up to join the Candidates, sitting cross-legged beside her. She scoops the forgotten mending into a slightly neater little pile. "You look pensive."

Cheni blinks, looking around and pinkens slightly. "Oh, hello there." She takes the mending and sets it on the other side of her. "It's a bit chilly side, I mean, outside, not in here. And pensive?" She gazes out at the sand. "Perhaps. Just thinking about what I really don't have any control over."

"Nope," Kichevio agrees with a slight smile. "No control whatsoever. Just show up, wear your robe, and don't get stepped on." Her eyes rest on the eggs reminiscently. "Would you be less ner--pensive, if you _had_ some sort of control? Though there's not much to control, really."

Cheni shakes her head. "It's not the fear of being trampled that I'm worried about, it's well, what just not knowing. You know?" She wipes her slightly sweaty palm on her skirt. "Got a note from Lord Braddle, it was short and to the point. He doesn't sound overly happy but told me I'd better do Braddle proud when it's time for the eggs to hatch - or else-. As if I have any control over -that-."

Kichevio rolls her eyes. "As if being Searched wasn't enough of an honor. The old porcine ought to be proud enough of that." She considers for a minute, fingers drumming one knee. "I never thought about it like that--being nervous about not knowing," she admits. "It was a comfort to me, that it was out of my hands. Nothing I did would change anything any more. After months of being good and doing chores and being a proper Candidate, it was nice not to have to think about all that anymore."

Cheni giggles, looking sideways at the greenrider. "You, being a proper candidate?" She winks, teasingly. "Well I suppose I've been mostly a good candidate whatever that is, well, at least I haven't been caught out being anything but a good candidate." Shaking her head, she chuckles. "Old porcine fits, I guess. His newest assistant I heard is on sick leave, strained back."

Kichevio tries to look proper and well-behaved, and fails. "I was, most of the time," she insists. "Did my best, I swear. Not being caught is a good tactic to work with."

Cheni nods solemnly but giggles. "I am sure you did try hard. Had you stood before, before your lifemate found or chose or whatever she did to match you to her?"

"Oh yes," Kichevio nods, laughing softly. "I stood at Igen about a Turn before Impressing here. Didn't Impress, sulked for about a month afterward. As several friends here will tell you."

Cheni's legs cramp and she shifts, slipping them down into a more normal sitting position. "I don't think I'll pout when I don't impress, it's been nice seeing what a weyr is like, it's certainly different than the hold." She laughs at her own understatement. "I can imagine you had lots of friends to help you shake the disappointment?"

Kichevio's smile is very slightly wicked. "Enough," she answers, with a little understatement of her own. "My Igen friends invited me to visit--or stay--and my Telgar friends were glad I'd come home. So I managed. And you'll Impress. Saulith likes you, and that's always a good sign." Draconic barometers.

Cheni pinkens slightly. "Well, Saulith and you seem happy enough now." She continues, a bit lamely. "It worked out. And I like Saulith too but that doesn't mean much about if the eggs -like- me or not. I mean, who knows, maybe they don't like the way I smell or something, or the way I look, or ..." She shrugs. "I mean, look at Shawnah, she's stood a couple of other times, hasn't she? What's different with her than the person next to her that impressed?"

Kichevio responds with all the assurance of someone who has a little voice in her head backing her up in all things. "It means her dragon hasn't been shelled yet. My friend Alessandra, she stood for four Hatchings before Kiyoth chose her. Talk about never giving up hope. And as for eggs _liking_ you--" The concept makes her smile. "Have they hissed at you? Rolled away when you approached? They're eggs. The hatchlings inside might have sensed you, but not enough to form a definite opinion about you yet."

You say, "Four times, How could she have?" The candidate searches Kichevio to see if she's joking. "How could she have taken that stress and the strain and having all those rules." She repeats. "Rules, every which way you look." She huffs. "Then how do they know who to look for then, if they don't already have an opinion? It's all too complicated for me.""

Dragon> Cheni senses that Saulith projects an image, one very clear frame, painted in sharp colors. Tawny sand, twin bulks of bronze and gold to one side, and various shades of blue and green and brown wandering about, a half-circle of white columns directly ahead. One of those white things has a...shine to it. No real color, just an extra brightness that sheens white robe and black hair. << We know. >>

All color drains from Cheni's face and her huge eyes search around the cavern. "Who.. what, what was that?" She takes deep breath, trying to contain panic. "I... was that Saulith?"

Kichevio shrugs, still not sure even after the lectures and classes. "I have no clue, they just know. I guess it's why they have all the Candidates stand spaced apart, so they can see all the options. It's worth it, you know. All the rules are worth it when one of them looks at you--Saulith?" Her eyes focus far-away, then she huffs out a sigh. "Saulith, you scare people when you do that. We've _talked_ about this. I'm sorry Cheni, she will occasionally get it into her head to bespeak someone..."

Alonna enters the galleries from the bowl.

Kichevio is chatting quietly with Cheni, sitting relaxed halfway up the galleries. She smiles and waves as she sees Alonna come in.

Alonna walks in blinking and spotting the greeting she waves back.

The color slowly returns to Cheni's face and a look of confusion with an edge of wistfulness grows. "I.. just wasn't expecting that is all, Kichevio. Please don't be cross with her. It's just never happened before. What were you saying about standing apart?"

Alonna makes her way down to where the other two candidates are and grins at Cheni.

Alonna turning to Kichevio she asks "What are we talking about?" in a curious tone.

"Still, she shouldn't scare people like that," Kichevio murmurs, half rueful. "Talkative thing that she is." She raises her voice slightly so Alonna can hear the current topic. "Oh, on the Sands they'll send you out in pairs, and you'll make a pretty widely-spaced semicircle around the eggs. As people Impress, the circle just gets smaller and closer together. It helps to have friends around you at all times."

Alonna blinks "You sound like you have done this before."

Cheni shivers as she looks down at the eggs. Swallowing hard, she sighs. "Shells, I gotta watch out for dragonets, making sure I'm far enough away from people and make sure I'm not trampled, plus worry about Lord Braddle breathing down my neck. Can I go home?"

Alonna blinks and wakes up some more, and stares at Kichevio. After a moment she laughs and mumbles "Of course she's done it before you idiot!"

Kichevio laughs, grinning at Alonna. "Twice, which was enough to get some practice. I'm Kichevio, and Saulith's my green. I think you're Alonna, but we've never formally met, so don't worry about it. No, Cheni, you may not go home. You won't get trampled. Telgar dragons don't trample people. Now, if this were Igen, you might be in danger; Igen Hatchings aren't complete without a goring. But you're safe here."

Cheni sighs wistfully. "But at least it's warm at Igen. And please? I promise, I won't tell a soul you let me go home, I mean." She flutters her lashes, eyes sparkling with mischief. "I mean, you told me about your trip to Shipfish. I am sure a missing candidate won't be noticed in the throng and by the time I'm hiding in the jungles, the holder can't find me to bawl me out for disgracing the Hold."

Alonna snaps her mouth shut in the middle of a yawn and smiles sheepishly at the rider. "Yes, I'm Alonna it's a pleasure to meet you...is what you just said about Igen true? Why would it be more dangerous at a hatching there then here?" Alonna bounces on her toes, looking at the rider with interest. Catching Cheni's comment she turns to send a mock-glare to her friend.

Alonna shaking her head she pokes Cheni on the arm "Uh-uh! Your going out there with ME, not hiding in some jungle!"

Kichevio chuckles. "It's not a given, not really. But...okay, when I stood there, the queen dragonet walked right over a girl who didn't move quickly enough. The Igen clutch after that one--I think it was Irianth's--the queen from that one clawed my friend Dushku--again, she didn't move fast enough. And in the last one, some mean little green barreled right over Joshi. It's rather nerve-racking to watch."

Kichevio simply ignores Cheni's request to flee. It's too close to the hatching to humor scared Candidates.

Alonna blinks "Sounds like Irianth's hatchlings are dangerous...." She then grins "But that’s ok, I only have to worry about the hatchlings here. and I move fast, so does Cheni..right Cheni?"

Cheni glares at the poke and sticks out her tongue at her fellow candidate. "I'm not going anywhere, too far to walk in this weather." She pales as the mauling sinks in. "Weren't they paying attention? I mean, they said if we watched and kept sharp, we'd not get mauled."

"Watching and keeping sharp are very important," Kichevio agrees, not looking too concerned. "The Sands can be distracting, is the thing. People Impressing all around, hatchlings wandering everywhere, the spectators yelling, and all the dragons are humming loud enough to shake your bones. The girl I knew and Joshi, they just blinked at the wrong minute. Dushku--" she shakes her head. "Dush was meaner than Yashira on a bad day, if that tells you anything. She tried to stare down the hatchling, and it didn't take that kindly. The thing to remember is that the hatchlings are confused, and probably as scared as you are. Like little kids lost, trying to find help, except they have these claws they can't quite manage yet. Keeping calm, trying not to look threatening, is the best course."

Alonna looks at though her eyes are about to pop out of her head.

Cheni blinks. "Yashira on a bad day? She must have been horrid indeed." She leans over and speaks quietly. "She scares me, she does. Ever seen her smile? Even more frightening." As Kich continues, she sighs. "Shells, I wonder if I can learn to ski out of here by the time the eggs begin to rock. They look pretty hard out there."

Alonna giggles at Cheni's latest escape plan. "You know Cheni, the more you try to escape something..the deeper involved you get!"

Kichevio's eyes flicker blank again. "Saulith--like she knows--says it'll be a couple more days. Two, maybe three. Better learn to ski fast." She chuckles at the description of Yashira. "She's just herself, and I think Decarath supports her in that. She's not dangerous unless you start threatening her with dresses, frills, or a matchmaking plot."

Cheni gathers her sewing kit and shoves the tunic she was working on into the bag. "I will get on it right away." She winks. "Skiing can't be that hard, it's just sort of walking, with huge long thin things strapped on your feet, right? That candidate from Igen Hold, he has feet at least as long as skis and he does it well."

Alonna grumbles "Nothing is that easy. Snow is out to get you..."

Ryklin enters the galleries from the bowl.

Ryklin smirks slightly. "So this is where you ladies hang out . If I'd known that, I'd have come here more often." he notes charmingly.

Kichevio laughs out loud. "I won't argue with that! There are entire seasons when I wish I'd Impressed at Igen. They don't _need_ to ski there; it hasn't snowed in Igen territory in about five Turns." She sounds wistful, but lets it go when Ryklin arrives. "If we'd known this was what it took to get you here, we'd have managed it before," she teases. "There's a bet on whether you'd have to be hauled in here by two burly riders when the Hatching starts."

Alonna looks over as Ryklin arrives and blushes at his comment.

Cheni rolls her eyes. "I figured I was safe from you up here, and it's warm." Laughing, she nods to Ryklin."Evenin Ryklin or should I say ..Ryklina?" She smirks at Kichevio's retort. "I should take lessons."

Kichevio's eyebrows go up directly into her hair. "Ryklina? has something happened I should know about?"

Alonna looks out over the sands.

Ryklin grins at Cheni. "Cheni was just referring to a game we candidates were participating in earlier, and is having great fun reminding me about." he notes.

Ryklin adds "But seeing as we're not playing right now, you can call me by my given name Cheni.. or Ryk if you prefer."

Cheni murmurs as she flutters her lashes at Ryklin, pure mischief there. "I have so little to brighten my day, thank you for being a gentle .. man." She explains to Kichevio. "We were playing a ball game that required us to take on the persona of either Senior or junior weyrwoman, Weyrleader or Weyrsecond. He made a fetching Weyrwoman."

Kichevio is grinning as she stands up. "I can only imagine, and I do wish I'd seen it. Please excuse me, Saulith is grumbling about freezing to death. Good night, everyone."

Kichevio walks off towards the Central Bowl.

Kichevio has left.

Alonna yawns once more and shakes her head sleepily "I'm going to head to bed, it was nice meeting you" She says nodding to Kich, then looking at Cheni "I'll see you in the morning!" finally she looks at Ryklin and blushes slightly "Night" she says hurriedly heading out on her way to the candidate barracks.

Cheni waves as Alonna departs. "Don't bother blushing, he's that way with everyone." She wags a finger to the candidate. "Shame on you, poor Alonna."

Ryklin chuckles, noting the hurried departure of the poor candidate. "Not shame on you Ryklin for upsetting another candidate? Not shame on you Ryklin for being such a pain, just shame on you Alonna. She's holdbred isn't she? I've not been able to get near enough to her to speak more than a couple of words and find out for certain?"

Cheni rolls her eyes. "I meant, shame on you, Ryklin, poor Alonna. She's rather gullible. And I am holdbred as well, is that a problem?" She chuckles. "You are remarkably good at filling in the blanks, I have a feeling you've had a lecture or two about your behaviour in the past."

Ryklin throws back his head and laughs with a little more gusto. "Or three, or four or.." he breaks off and looks at Cheni. "Yes, you get the picture, more than a few. Sometimes it rubs off... but not all that well I'm afraid - A southern feline can't change its spots any more than I can."

Cheni chuckles and pulls her knees up to her chest and hugs them close. "You are what my mother warned me about, when I came to the weyr, but I have a feeling it's mostly talk with you. And most lectures wash off me as well."

Ryklin chuckles. "Oh I can assure you, it's not. I can fulfill my end of the bargain quite well... but don't expect me to embark on a long-term relationship like you holder girls seem to expect." he says, softening the words with a gentler grin.

Cheni laughs out loud. "You -are- a piece of work, aren't you? Shells." She gives Ryklin a dismissive look, up and down. "You weyr people complain that holders think one way about you then you go and paint us all with the same brush. Long term relationship, with you?" She laughs again. "As if I'd even consider a short term relationship."

Ryklin smiles 'I find it's best to be honest about these things up front, and you looked as though you needed that reassurance." he notes, glancing away. "But I didn't come out here to chat with you about committments either, and you didn't come out here to. Got a favourite shell out there Cheni, if you're speaking of shells?"

Cheni can't help but to laugh again. "Honestly, you -are- full of yourself at times, Ryk, I mean, as if I'd even.." She smirks. "You're like a pesky brother more than anything. And eggs?" She shrugs. "I don't really know if I have a favorite one. I really just came out here because it's warm and I could sew up my tunic where I tore it, in relative quiet. I hate sewing and everyone is so on edge in the barracks the noise is deafening in there."

Ryklin chuckles. 'It is a little at that. Well, that makes two of us then."

Confused, Cheni asks. "What do you mean, that makes two of us?"

Ryklin gives Cheni a wry grin. "I can't sew to save myself.,” he notes with a genuine sincerity.

Ryklin adds quickly. "Not that I'm implying you can't, just that I don't enjoy it very much for all that."

Cheni ohs and laughs. "I see, Well, I got it sewn up, got my robe from Mirielle, I think I am set." With a little headshake, she admits. "I can't sew. I am not you typical holder girl, I'm not great in the kitchen, don't know much about sewing, am not a great housekeeper, you see my cot.."

Ryklin chuckles. "I try not to look." he says. Then adds. "There's enough of us in there, sometimes keeping detracted from it all is a little hard. But don't take that the wrong way." he says gazing out across the sands. "The bets are on that they'll hatch within the next sevenday." he says, looking at Cheni candidly. "I know you don't want to think about it too much, but I guess whatever happens will be for the best when it does." Lips purse slightly, eyes narrow against the heat as he gazes back out across the sands, and the quietly sleeping figures of the queen and her mate guarding the sands.

Cheni chews on her lower lip as she is forced by her own thoughts to look out and really see the sands that she' has avoided looking at most of the evening. "Well, whatever happens, even though I've got a good feeling I'll be headin' home to Braddle at the end of the sevenday, if it's that quick. You'll go back to Igen? If you don't impress, I mean?"

Ryklin chuckles. "No, I'd go back to Benden..." and there's a slight tic in the corner of his jaw as he says this. "But there's nothing there to hold me. I guess I'll stay on here with Mam. She can look after herself, but she still needs me." he notes.

Cheni note the tic but only nods. "Family is important, I miss mine although the longer I've been away, the less I -need- them." She slips her coat over her shoulders. "I'd better get in, baking duties tomorrow, I have to be up early."

Ryklin seems a little distracted as he gazes out over the sands, and didn't really hear her reply. It's a long moment before he looks back and says. "Sleep well then Cheni."

Cheni nods again as she snuggles deeper into her coat. "Ryklin? Good luck, alright?"

You walk off towards the Central Bowl.







*** Disconnected from PernMUSH ***

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