Keliana, Shoshana, and Nandia are here.
"I /thought/ it was you!" exclaims the now-running figure. As she comes to a halt inches away from the much taller, if younger, fellow journeyman, Nandia breaks out into a beaming smile and reaches forward to squeeze Shoshana's arm. "Hey! How /are/ you? You're looking great! And I see you were finally promoted too... Wonderful!" After giving adequate attention to her old friend, she then turns and offers her free hand towards Keliana. "And another appie-turned journeyman. I'm so proud of you both!" Seems like only yesterday that she was teaching them, if not sharing pranks with them, and now... Lookit...
Shoshana breaks into a broad smile, hopping once again to her feet as the redhead approaches...forget the fact she just sat down. Nandia's hand gets a quick squeeze in return, provided it can be caught before attention is turned to Keli. "Thanks! You look wonderful too, shells it's been ages. Welcome back!" Her smile takes a slightly embarresed quirk, "Mm-hmm. Finally made journeyman...then they shipped me right off to Fort. How've you been? How was your posting? And...everything else?" The last question holds some significance as she adds, "You wouldn't believe the rumors I've heard.
Keliana follows Shoshana and seats herself again, decidedly not pulling up her legs a second time. Beckoning towards her satchel she quickly chops off a comment before moving to the more immediate subject-- Nandia. "Oh, Smith's commissioned some things . . . Well, I hadn't been around much before she left." Turning her head again she eyes Nandia. "I," Ponder, "Think so." She watches the exchange between Nandia and Shoshana with a grin, and then a loose salute is cut towards her. "Nice to see you back, Nandia."
A small spark in the sky turns into a winding green arc, turns into trouble coming in for a landing. Isryn dismounts neatly, whistling to herself, hands tucked about her hips in a manner that would have them in her pockets, if she happened to have pockets. This small inconvenience is ignored as she saunters away from her lifemate ... and grins upon spotting the group. "Afternoon!" she carols.
Nandia laughs at Shosh's slightly embarassed look, before holding out a hand to halt the rush of questions. "Woah.. Wait, wait... We'll have to talk about all of that later on... Right now, however, let's see how ..." Her words are cut off when dragon drops out of the sky and Isryn dismounts. "Well, well. Looks like a veritable journeyman get-together," she quips, chuckling.
Up, down, up again . . .Make up your mind, Sho! Keliana, however, remains seated, awaiting the Fortian Weaver to finish with her excited greetings towards Nandia before she hops in again. Acute attention is paid, however, to Shoshana's last comment. She's heard the rumors, also, it seems, and it'd be quite pleasant to gets some finality to pass on to the grapevine, and this particular rumor has flared up again upon the Senior Journeywoman's return. But eyes are drawn again to another subject; the swiftly approaching green descending into the Weaver courtyard. Well, it's up to standing again, and she murmurs in response to Nandia's comment. "More like a reunion." They're all coming out of the woodwork, now.
Shoshana nods to Keliana, "Ah, yeah...what sort of things?" She asks with curiosity, taking a small step back as the dragon lands, almost on instinct, though it lands one booted foot in a puddle. "Sharditall..." Is muttered as she lifts that one foot, trying to shake off the mud, "Hey there! Come join us while we stand here, in the mud!" Well...only she's in the mud. But that's hardly the point. Nandia recieves a rueful grin as she fends off her questions, "Sorry, sorry. We'll meet up sometime when I can properly pester you."
Isryn blinks owlishly. "Journeyman? I'm just the messenger," she disclaims with a wave of her hand. "But since we do have a bunch of journeymen here ..." Greenrider flutters her lashes. She's working up to something. "Could you answer a question for me, any of you?" She beams at Shoshana. "Anything for the lovely and talented ladies of Weaver Hall. How are you girls getting on?" She's laying on the sugar thick.
The copper-haired journeyman chuckles to Isryn. "Yeah, yeah, but you're a rider now, so you've got a bit more swing than before..." Grin. When the ex-messenger mentions something about answering a question, Nandia waves her on. "Go ahead... Ask away." Anything to push aside the return of questions to her...
Keliana lets out an amused snort as Shoshana steps into the puddle. "Nice one, Sho." She teases, before turning her attention to the approaching ex-messenger now-greenrider. She, more out of unfamiliarity than preference, lets Nandia do the talking. And the Senior Journeywoman's ploy worked, for now-- getting answers to rumors slips her mind. But she'll get it out eventually.
Shoshana chuckles quietly at Isryn's over-sweetened attitude, amusment glimmering in her eyes as she continues to tap mud and water off her shoe, making a face at Keli at the tease, "Mmm? What's the question?" She wonders to Isryn, adding with a good natured grin, "Or do you just want something?" Growing up with younger siblings makes it easy to see through such sucking up routines.
Isryn has more influence now? A wicked smile darts across those lips and then
vanishes quickly, hiding from view. "Want something? Me? Whatever makes you
think that?" But the innocent mien breaks into an imp's grin. "I'm wondering
if there's a discount on outfits for former weaver personnel. You know ... like
... oh ... say ..." She makes as if to pluck a number out of thin air. "A
hundred percent?"
Nandia laughs again, this time, a little more loudly. "Gee, you don't want much, do you?" she states, though still grinning. Moving over to sit beside Keliana, (and keeping clear of the mud Shosh kindly pointed out to them) Nan pats the space beside her and motions for Isryn to come and sit. "What is it that exactly that you're looking for. If it's something simple, like a pair of underpants or some such thing, then I'm sure we can arrange something. But," here she grins wide, "If it's a whole new wardrobe you're wantin', then I think you had better lay on the sweetener a little thicker, my dear." Heh.
Keliana makes a move to the side to let Nandia in, and nearly chuckles aloud as Isryn suggests her 'discount'. Mmm, influence indeed. She voices her agreement with Nandia, but more in a jesting way (along with the grin) than in a disagreement with the visitor. Though she adds another comment to that, her face near a wink but not quite so. "But surely, we can work out a little /something/ . . ." She'd sure want a 'discount' if she could get it in any way. She prefers a full mark pouch.
"But, of course, no big favors." Shoshana teases with a chuckle, as she skirts around the mud and moves to lean against the tree that's right by the bench. "Mmm. What Nan said." She agrees simply, "I'm sure we could figure out *some* sort of bargin though," She adds, "Even if it's not quite so dramatic as your little choice for a discount. Depends what you're in the market for." She says with an easy smile, scraping her muddy boot sole against the tree-trunk all the while.
Isryn flounces over and drops off her feet, limbs going in all directions in an untidy sprawl. This particular manuever earns her a baleful, if chiding look from her lifemate, and a comment that causes the rider to grin unrepentantly. "Well, I was looking for a few things ... couple dresses. Something elegant." She strikes a pose as if to demonstration. "And I knew you gals would be able to help me. I've ... err ... let me see how much I've got to pay with?" she volunteers.
Nandia is sure they can work something out, but when she hears the tall order, she tsk's slightly. "Mmm, sounds like you've got a problem there then. Unless..." Turning suddenly to the other two weavers, she motions them forward and whispers something to them, low enough as not to be heard by Isryn.
Keliana listens interestedly, watching Isryn's progress and brows slightly rising towards the steep request, though amused expression remaining. Listening to Nandia's whisper with eyes on the flagstones, she finally lets out a light laugh, shaking her head but twice, slightly, before replying. "Sounds good to me." Eyes scan towards Isryn before resting on Shoshana, awaiting her take on the proposal.
Shoshana's eyebrows go up at the 'riders request, and her mouth takes a doubtful set. At Nandia's gesture she comes towards the shorter journeyman, head ducking down to hear her words. She straightens up again, when Nan's finished her whispering, lips pursed thoughtfully. "It's alright with me." She agrees after a moment. "Though, she might have to come to Fort to pick my part up, since I'm not sure how long I'm staying here at the Hall." She adds in a sotto tone. Isryn fairly twitches out of her skin with curiosity, cocking her head to one side and making a beckoning gesture. "What, what?" she inquires, fingertips making summoning gestures. "Come on, don't keep a girl in suspense..." She cups her chin in her hands, leaning forward. She'd forgotten how evil weavers were ...
Turning back to the messenger, the copper-haired journeywoman smiles and taps her chin. "Well...," she drags on, keeping Isryn in suspense for as long as she can, "I don't know if we can help you out the way you stated..." Evil grin. "Instead, we've come up with another plan. We'll each do a commission for you, and in return, you only have to pay us 1/4 the price -- in payments, so as not to strain your mark pouch -- and sometime in the future, offer us a ride if we happen to have the urge to travel anywhere..." Tilting her head, she then asks, "How does that strike you? Fair?"
Ah, you can /never/ forget how evil weavers are. When they want to be. Keliana nods as Shoshana offers in her take on the deal, and then stands with her fellow Journeymen facing Isryn. Eyes rest on the 'Rider's face, awaiting and attempting to gauge any reaction. A nod is given to aid in support for Nandia's proposal. She could use a bit of transport without having to indebt herself in a favor; next time it will be /her/ visiting Shoshana instead of the other way around.
Shoshana nods at the deal Nandia states, going back to leaning against the tree, adding in a light, advice-giving tone, "Best deal you'll probably find for what you're looking for. What do you need the dresses for anyway?" She asks with some curiosity. Shosh never gets out, and is therefore utterly curious of those who /do/, and need nice clothing for it.
Isryn looks impressed. This could be very useful, if she can wrangle such an agreement from others in the future ... "Fair," she agrees readily enough, "more than fair, in fact ... I'm always willing to get out and see the sights." She studies the trio, lips pursed. "You're at Fort," she recalls with a nod to Shoshana, "and you're right here at the Hall, but you ..." on to Keliana, "I don't want to have to hunt my way around Xanadu again just for a fitting." She wrinkles her nose. "It's too much like messengering." She grins at Shoshana. "That's for me to know," she says. "People talk, y'know."
And speaking of talking and needing nice clothes. "You know, it's too bad that you're not my size. I have a lovely red gown that would look beatiful on you..," Nan suddenly states, almost dreamily. "It's got a v-line waist, and a russet inlay, not to mention the pleats in the skirt and the lace at the neck..." Hmm, sounds almost like a handfasting garment, doesn't it?
Keliana raises her brows again slightly. What, not willing to hunt a little bit for a good discount? Tsk tsk. "Well," She ponders, "I /could/ just get the measurements from Nandia, if she gets them first . . ." Head cants slightly to the side and eyes are in the air, then heads down again as a hint of rumor to be tickles at her ears. But her head swivels to Nandia once she goes into ramble mode. /Well/ now. That's a nice piece of information to add to the heaping pile that is already Nandia Gossip.
"Fort. Yep. Just down at the Hold. You're at the Weyr aren't you?" A thought occurs to Shoshana, and she adds with a lift of her eyebrows, "Oh! If you're up at the Weyr...you wouldn't happen to know how my sister's doing would you?" She convienently forgets to mention who her sister /is/. "I'm sure she's fine of course, but I haven't seen her for a bit, and you know, she tends to get herself into trouble." Doting big sister much? The description of Nandia's gown causes the blonde's brows to rise even higher, "Fancy, fancy Nan. What reason got you something that...well...lovely." She's been a weaver long enough to know something like that ain't your common gather dress.
The blush that suddenly creeps along Nan's pale features is enough to give her away, even though the tiny journeywoman tries hard to pretend that nothing's the matter. "Oh, just something I whipped up for myself, 'tis all. Nothing overly special." At least, not anymore. Wrinkling her nose, she then mutters something about, 'breaking fast' or some such nonsense, making one think that maybe she's talking about breakfast?
Isryn casts a look towards Nandia that wonders intensely, fairly squirms with it, but somehow doesn't dare to ask. "D'pends," she drawls lightly, disgusiing it "who's your sister? I might know her, when you come down to it ..." She catches Keliana's sideways look and just smirks, then nods at the suggestion offered. "That would do, if you don't mind me making you run up here ..." She pauses at a low rumble from her lifemate, the green's regard of the situation intent as she sends a gust of hot breath towards the trio. Her tail snakes out, a wraithly shape, and hovers perilously close to the group. "What? Hush, I'm trying to make a deal here ..."
Shoshana just gives her old friend a Look, complete with disbelief and what seem to be permenantly arched eyebrows. "Just something you whipped up for yourself? C'mon Nan, you don't 'just whip up' red gowns with russet inlays and lace at the neck." She holds that Look for just a moment longer, and it's got to be clear she'll make sure to find out the reason behind the dress eventually, before she glances over to Isryn, pinkening at her forgetfulness. "Oh! Of course. Taire. Do you know her? ...Wasn't she in your weyrling class?"
Keliana eyes Nandia, also, with a look of intense speculation. The Senior's merely getting herself further into trouble. There's not a doubt that it'll be making it's rounds about the grapevine in a matter of days. But she drags her attention back to Isryn. "No . . ." She says offhandedly, finally tearing herself fully away from Nandia's face, hoping not to miss a nuance. "No, I'll be hereabouts anyway." The warm gust ruffles her skirts slightly, and blue eyes scan warily over snaking tail, though she returns her eyes to the group.
Isryn frowns dubiously at Keliana. "Although it does seem an awful lot of trouble ..." Meanwhile, Gwaedoliaeth - whilst peering with apparent boredom through slitted lids - seems to have noticed Keliana's wariness, and ... plays. The tail darts closer, whipping up dust ... and the minute it draws any attention, curls innocently back to her side. Distracted, greenrider snaps her fingers. "Taire!" she exclaims with an almost audible beam. "Of course. I don't think an entire wing of dragons could phase Taire. She's doing wonderfully." Her eyes unfocus in consultation, and a slow grin starts to spread. "Say ... ah ... Keliana?"
Nandia gives the two weavers and the rider a nervous look before breaking into her 'no nonsense' character. You know, the one that scares the apprentices? "Well then, maybe I just /like/ making myself up pretty... You never know." Hmmph. Oh, alright, so it's a blatant lie. Though Nan /does/ enjoy looking good, she certainly wouldn't go through all the trouble of such a dress just to 'look pretty.' Deciding that her fate will be sealed eventually, and that she'll have to spill sooner or later, the copper-haired journeyman decides that right now would be a good time to escape, if only to prolong the misery for another day or so. "But anyway.. It was very nice seeing you again; all of you, and we will have to get together once more... but right now.." And here she tosses her head in the direction of the group of apprentices she left seated at the other end of the Courtyard, some of which whom are starting to get antsy. "I should return to them, and make sure they're not planning anything.. prankish. That's what happens when you leave'em alone for too long, you know." Blowing them all a kiss, the tiny woman gives a wave and then turns on her heel, making a hasty exit before any /more/ questions can be directed her way.
Shoshana has to grin at the truth about her sister, "I don't think they could either. Do remind her to stop by the Hold for a visit next time you see her, will you Isryn? I'd love to see her again." Nandia's hasty exit is watched with amusment, "Well. At least I'm up here for about a sevenday. Be able to get the real story out of her. It's so nice to see her again." But she falls silent at Isryn's call for Keliana's attention, watching with interest. Keliana lets out a small noise towards the sudden whisk of tail. That's quite a dangerous thing, now with all the mud, but luckily her skirts remain unstained. Wide eyes again glance over that direction as she half-listens to Nandia's words, but the tail is back in place and only for a moment it's watched before she drags her head back. By then, Nandia's already heading back, and she calls her salutations to Nandia as she leaves, adding a flick of raised wrist as a wave. She finally returns her gaze back to Isryn and grasps the recollection of a question before Nandia's departure. "Yes?" She slightly cants her head, pondering which else details of this most untraditional commission she might've missed.
Isryn waggles fingers at Shoshana in silent urging. "Oh, you should, you should ... and I'm sure there are other folk who she'd like you to meet." She grins at Keliana with a hint of mischief. "Gwae and I were thinking ... it seems a lot of trouble for you to trek up to the Hall for this commission. So how about you move up to the Weyr for the duration? Of course, we don't want you sitting idle, either, so ... how are you are at sewing things in white? Say, robes?"
Shoshana is still watching, quietly, though a grin grows widely on her face as what's happening becomes clear. "Oooh, Keli! Looks like /you/ could be the one to tell Taire to get her rear down to the Hold too." She exclaims, "Shells!" Fsshhew. That's the noise of something totally going over Keliana's head. She slightly comprehends some significance of Isryn's words, but not /the/ significance of her words. Eyes grow ever wider as she glances towards Shoshana and her reaction. "Do what?" Brows are in a high arc and lashes brush in repetitive blinking, glance from Isryn to Shoshana and back. Comprehension nibbles at the edges of her mind, kept out by a bit of shock, and slight
confusion still marrs her face.
>> I bespoke Keliana with: Gwaedoliaeth slips into Keliana's mind with the sharp
tang of sea-salt, ice winds undercutting the moment's thought. << Must we be tiresome? You as a candidate.>> And the dragon seems to ... arrange an image of Keliana just so, clothed in ill-mended white, with stacks of pots and pans in her arms. Dirty ones, positively incrusted with dried food: no glamour here. << There. >> <<
"Gwae!" Isryn exclaims, tsking. "That's not the way to do it ..." She sighs, casting an apologetic look to Keliana. "Well? What do you think? Would it solve the problem?" Though there's no point in being coy now that her dragon's gone and blurted it out. She casts Shoshana a crooked look. "Fardlin' dragons."
Shoshana just grins as she watches, but leaves it to the rider to explain. That's her job after all, and it'd look pretty bad is Shosh had the wrong idea of what was going on, and said something. So instead, she keeps quiet, just watching.
Keliana's eyes don't get any smaller as she's bespoken, that's for sure. Her body half-turns and her head swivels completely to face Gwaedoliaeth, peering at her for a long moment before slowly turning back to her Rider. Mouth opens for a moment, then closes, then opens again and closes just as quick. "Well, I," Blink, "I think, uhh," Blinkblink. "That would solve the problem, yes." She stammers out quickly, before her mouth betrays her. Isryn can't hold it back any more and giggles outright, a triumphant grin crossing her features as Gwaedoliaeth holds her eyes with a certain radiating sense of smugness. "Perfect!" she carols. "Tell you what, we'll send someone back for your things ... don't worry about it, we have *some* trustworthy people around the Weyr, and I know who the thieves and scroundels are, so I won't send any of them unless you get yourself into trouble ..." Well, it started out as an attempt for reassurance. "How's that sound?" She flashes over at Shoshana. "Any message you want me to pass on, by the oh-by?"
Shoshana waves a hand vaguely, "Just tell Taire I said hello, and that she should visit." To Keliana she smiles brightly, "Congratulations Keli! I'll see if I can stop by and visit you while you're up there, I'm only down at the Hold after all."
Keliana just watches as Isryn chatters on, the shocked look on her face melting with somewhat hints of worry. "That sounds . . ." It sounds scary, actually, but we wont delve into that. She turns towards Shoshana instead, looking for at least a bit of reassurance. Turning back instead without further reaction, she just nods. Le gulp. And condolences to those transporting Asha . . .
Isryn bobs her head vigorously to Shoshana. "I will," she promises. "Try to guilt her into coming, that terrible child ..." Ahem. She bounds over to Gwaedoliaeth, beckoning with one hand. "Well, come on, then," she says. "Before herself decides she wants some squid and we have to make a detour to get some ..." She swings up, offering Keliana a hand.
Shoshana wiggles her fingers at both, "Thanks Isryn! And congratulations again Keli! I've got to go see if I can find Nandia and pump her for information on that dress. I'll see you two later!" And with that she takes off.
Keliana sends a glance towards Shoshana, a slightly worried one, but murmurs a goodbye and offers a faint wave, before gathering her satchel and walking steadily towards where Gwaedoliaeth waits. Using Isryn's offered hand she eventually makes her way up top.
Keliana clambers up upon Gwaedoliaeth's back.
Isryn flashes a cheery smile back at Keliana. "All right, then ... I suggest that for your safety and convenience, you hold on for dear life ..." Her eyes show her to be teasing. "Don't worry. I haven't lost anyone yet." With that ineffable mischief still on her features, she indicates straps. "Get yourself settled in and hold on."
Keliana settles herself, as well as she can, and head snaps up towards Isryn's comments. The teasing sparkle in her eye is noted, and relieves her only slightly. So she does as is suggested; holds on for dear life. Her legs are clenched she tucks her bag to her front, and closes her eyes for a moment, gathering her resignation. When she opens them again, she focuses on steadying her breathing. . . and clenching her arms around what she can hold on to.
Above WeaverHall Courtyard
Closer to the structure of the WeaverHall of Xanadu Hold, the open courtyard beckons from below to rest weary wings. As quick as they start, the monsoon rains cease, leaving much of the south a muddy, gooey mess waiting for winter to run its course. While the days aren't really all that cold in themselves, a constant lazy wind from the sea chills to the bone, preferring to go through rather than around.
Gwaedoliaeth's movements into the air is quite seamless despite the warning, but neither does she give any warning before twisting and ... all is black. Gwaedoliaeth disappears **BETWEEN**
High Above the Central Bowl
The winds here pound, ever flowing, carrying limited amounts of oxygen that works to steal away what breath is left from the spectacular view. Though the sight here is not as grand as the one higher up, it is nonetheless a vision to behold. Sapphire gleams upward from the lake's rippling waters, the jewel of the Weyr. Light reflects, adding to the aquatic glitter: in daylight, the sun's rays glint, while night brings pale moons to cast their luminous glow on the waters beneath.
Keliana is terribly, terribly glad she held on. Knuckles are white from where she grips straps, and mouth is clenched closed. Eyes are wide and breath is short, and whispers breathlessly to Isryn in front of her. "Are we there yet?" A gulp bobs in her throat, and she noticably works to slow her breathing.
Isryn actually giggles, glancing back with a sympathetic air. "You all right?" she wonders as the dragon spirals lazily downwards. "Sure, we're there ... once we land." She points downwards ever so casually, highlighting the distance to the ground.
Keliana casts her eyes down to the ground . . . then pulls them back up again, quick as a flash of light. "Oh, good." She says quietly, her eyes staring straight in front of her and knuckles gripping as tightly as ever. "I'm fine. I'm fine." She says in the same monotone, refusing to become hysterical. Breathe in, breathe out. In, out.
Above the Central Bowl
Serving as the crossroads of the Weyr, the central bowl is the hub of most activity both in the air and on the ground. Dragons sweep and soar from one end of the caldera to the other in their daily activities, and below, the bowl's center is crisscrossed with the traffic of hoofed and booted feet alike. Sounds echo across from the living caverns in the east, keeping the air filled with the muted drone of daily life.
"Easy, easy." There is a hint of worry in Isryn's tone, just for a moment, as the dragon continues on her way downwards. "We've never dropped anyone yet." she really should stop saying that. And the slow spiral makes to end on nearing stone ...
Central Bowl
The elliptical bowl, extending northeast and southwest at its widest points, sees its smooth shape flawed only by the fall of a ancient landslide's earth behind the glittering lake. Opposite, the crater opens a massive aerial tunnel into the northern Hatching Grounds, below Tooth Crag's imperial jut and, further down the rim, the monumental Star Stones. The weyrling barracks and feeding grounds lie off to the west, balanced by the east's living caverns, and the entire bowl rests beneath the glorious arch of sky.
Don't faint. Breathe. Don't look down. Breathe. Keliana repeats to herself, over and over, and an audible sigh of relief escapes her lips as they touch ground and she's slightly jarred. Her eyes close for a moment, and she steadies herself back to-- for the most part-- back to normalcy. When she opens them, she takes a glance around. They're here, and she's alive. Well, that's a good thing at least.
Isryn shakes her head. "Keliana," she assures, "compared to the riders here, you have nothing to be scared of from heights." Pause. She's just making this worse, isn't she? Forcing a smile, she dismounts in an agile bound and turns to offer a hand. "Go easy ... you look a little shaky," she advises.
Keliana watches after Isryn. Making it worse? Yes. She fumbles with the straps and gets herself down, eventually, and very carefully. Shaky she is, though less than she was after they emerged from -between-. "Thanks, I'll do that." She swings her satchel around back to her side and catches up to the rider, glancing about the Bowl. Talk about a change of scenery.
Isryn looks amused, standing with arms lazily crossed as she watches Keliana's surveyal of the terrain. "You want to go in?" She beckons with one hand. "I'm thinking that, unless you want to get snagged for kitchen duty before you've even started, that you want to keep a low profile down through the caverns."
Keliana makes a complete circular view of the Bowl, merely turning her head or body slightly, ending back with Isryn and then to the entrance. "Go in?" Ponder. "I suppose so." Her voice is still slightly muted, a bit altered from the bubbly tone it was earlier, but not a shocked whisper. She nods towards her suggestion, adjusting her satchel habitfully.
Isryn laughs a bit. "Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to look around here between ... oh, chores, chores, more chores, and did I forget my commission?" But before Keliana can answer, she ducks into the caverns.
Keliana follows Isryn in, and despite her words still takes what time she can to look around before catching up. Her eyes are normal-sized once more, and she glances about towards the other people she passes with nervous looks. Not a familiar face in the house. Just great.
Isryn pauses in the lower caverns to twiddle her fingers at a recent gambling victim, then glances back at Keliana. "There's certain rules we'll expect you to follow, of course," she rattles on gaily, "and basically, if anyone who outranks you - and just about everyone does - tells you to hop, you do it." She sounds almost unbearably cheerful about all this. "The barracks are yonder ..."
Keliana cants her head slightly to the side and listens attentively. She chews on her lower lip and adds a nod occasionally. Her nose slightly wrinkles towards her command. She's a Journeyman, for goodness sakes . . . but it smooths again as she glances towards Isryn's indication, and she peers into the opening. She adds another nod of confirmation, and changes to nibbling thoughtfully on her upper lip.
Isryn makes a small shooing motion. "Well, go on," she urges with a hint of a grin. "This'll be your home away from home. If you notice a smell of perfume, though, I'd move ... that means it's where one of my clutchmates was staying. And you don't want that. Got any questions?"
Keliana glances towards the Barracks and back, nodding towards the suggestion and grinning slightly. "No, I don't believe I do . . ." She takes a deep breath, readjusts her pageboy satchel, glances towards the opening towards the Barracks again and chops off a quick salute. "Thank you, Isryn." And swallowing, resignedly heads off towards where she's being shooed to.
Candidate Barracks
This vaguely rectangular room contains cots, cots, and more cots, which either stand in neat, pristine rows, a clothespress at each foot, or in jumbled confusion, depending on the current residents. Metal brackets mark the smooth walls every four cotlengths, hosting shieldable glows that, when open, shine gentle circles on the low ceiling and worn floor. A desk holds a prominent place at the back of the room, opposite the lower caverns' exit and below the large slateboard that lists the room's 'occupants' and their assigned chores.
Beside the slate hangs a wide 'tackboard', pinned full of important notices for the candidates to read.
Isryn leans against the entrance to the barracks at an indolent sprawl, trying not to grin too broadly ... after all, she doesn't want Keliana to retract that outfit offer. "Have fun, dearie," she says. "Need anything, don't hesitate to ask. We don't bite ... hard." And with that old and tired crack, she is gone.
