Just off Work (open)

[brimstone81]

Panthea had just gotten her chores done under the watchful, if not highly critical eye of Venaru. A woman only two turns older than Panthea, but a woman who seemed so much older than that. Venaru was a mother, an assistant to the Headwoman, and seemed so confident with her life. Of course Panthea of all people knew that looks were not always what they seemed. Venaru was troubled, or at least too angry for a woman her age. Panthea smirked, Venaru was a lot nicer to Panthea lately. The gold candidate was glad, she had always admired the strength of Venaru, and hated it when she was yelled at.

"Nice work," Venaru even managed to say after Panthea re-organized one of the pantries. It was probably the best compliment anyone, save the headwoman, could ever hope to be given by Venaru. Panthea had grinned the whole time since. Panthea had once hoped to be the next Headwoman if she couldn't Impress. Yet now that Venaru was there on the right hand of the Headwoman, Panthea doubted that she wanted to re-enter a rivalry with the woman. Venaru was just plain scary as an enemy. . .

Panthea swept a little corner of the kitchens absentmindedly, while the women around her pushed her this way and that trying to get some food prepared for hungry riders. From out of between popped Fellis, her yellowy gold hide caught the hide of one or two women. Well she couldn't hide Fellis forever. Panthea was very, very proud of the queen lizard. Let them all stare and gawk. Panthea would not tremble under their questions. And she would not give up the identity of who gave her the egg. The candidate looked smugly at Venaru, who looked green with envy. Surely the Headwoman would hear of this, and she would be tested on her previous sentiments of silence.

Panthea looked around for something else to do or some one to talk to, because she didn't want to look idle down here where every one was busy with work.

[Dragon Heart]

A'rik came in to the kitchens, hungry from his walk on the beach. Li and Tyra fluttered above his head, following him as he walked. Meek was asleep around A'rik's neck. The two chittered and he looked to see what had drawn their attention. He saw a young gold flit. Let them have their fun, you are hungry, you should eat Cerenoth told him, his tone stern. You are not hungry? You haven't hunted in a while...He asked his dragon. I will eat after you. The brown told him.

A'rik sat at a table and called for some food and klah. He just wanted to eat and then let Cerenoth hunt. He sat waiting for his food. He was feeling a little better after his walk. Where would I be without all of you? he thought to all of his friends. Li, Meek, and Tyra all gave him a reassurance. You have us, so dose it matter? Cerenoth said, with dragon logic.
((sorry about the color mix-up... X.X))

[brimstone81]

Panthea knew A'rik, but his knots and by others' talk, that he was a brownrider. And even if she was off of work, she could still serve him. It would get the Headwoman off her back. Crabby old hag anyway. She slightly blushed at the thought, for she had never insulted her superiors even in the confines of her own mind, but lately nothing Panthea did got her favor from the Headwoman. In fact, lately Panthea had gotten extra chores like stitching pants.

She shook away the thoughts and searched the room for Fellis. Panthea saw the little rascal perched high on a shelf across from the kitchen hearth. The best veiw of the house, I'll bet. For Fellis liked to see everything, be everywhere, and the little mite liked to be seen. Sure Fellis could be sneaky, it could be sort of a game, and Panthea always had plenty of 'memories' flooding in at night right before she drifted off to sleep. Which only seemed to make her vivid dreams more frequent. . .

The man, yes, that's right, she'd better serve him and look busy before Venaru or the Headwoman returned. One of the cooks was friends with Panthea so she'd go to her first with his order, if he had one. The busier women wouldn't stop very soon to help a man get his supper, and Panthea could always use an alliance with a rider so the girl decided to be on her best. Panthea sort of sauntered up to the table, and grinned friendly-like to A'rik, and said none too seriously, "I take it you're hungry, brownrider? What can I getcha, love?"

[Dragon Heart]

A'rik thought about the question, not really paying attention to the girl serving him. He had an appetite for packtail, and wondered if there were any in the kitchen's reserve. "If there is any, packtail would be nice, if not whatever is already hot." he said, after deciding. Li and Tyra landed on the table waiting for the food they knew was coming. Meek shifted position, then went back to sleep.

A'rik knew that Cerenoth was indeed hungry, as he felt the hunger coming from the brown, just a moment before the dragon hid the feeling from his rider. Eat, then I will. [/d] Cerenoth said sternly. I will as soon as it gets here. Maybe you should go on ahead of me and eat yourself. A'rik suggested. I will wait. Cerenoth said stubbornly.

[brimstone81]

"I'm not too sure about that packtail, but I'll check" Panthea left, the man had barely looked at her. It was slightly snubbish to her, but she ignored it. Most men she knew only paid attention to women for only one thing. And Panthea wasn't looking for that sort of attention, so it was best if she were just thought of as a kitchen girl. Or, she bit her lip, a drudge. Panthea wasn't in the least bit dim, though when she worked, she often did so silently and diligently until she was excused, so she could see how one might confuse her as an obidient drudge. Panthea walked up to the hearths where she knew a cook would be good to her. "Hey Mag, do we have any packtail ready to eat?'

To this the very tall and stocky woman shook her head, and said blandly, stirring a pot of meat, gravy and tubers, "No, we're cooking herd beast stew."

"Again?"

"Aye. Take it or starve, milady."

"Okay. Just give some to me, Mag." The cook dished out a bowl. and then handed her a red fruit. "Aw, thanks Mag." Panthea returned to the brownrider. with the bowl and fruit. She looked apologetically at him, "Sorry, no packtail, only herdbeast stew. Again. I think they are cleaning out their stores." She giggled a little.

[Dragon Heart]

A'rik took the stew. "Thanks, I was about starved, and Cerenoth won't eat until I do." he said, as he started to dig in. That's better. Cerenoth said, and A'rik could hear his life mate's rumbling. Cerenoth could be so stubborn sometimes. A'rik could tell the girl wanted conversation, but he didn't know if he could handle it. He had not been to good at conversations since....Since you are hungry and I am also hungry Cerenoth interrupted. Nice save He replied thankful for Cerenoth's not letting him think about it. A'rik could tell that she was not a drudge, and it didn't look as if she were a kitchen girl either. She had too much dignity. "Are you one of the candidates?" he asked, deciding too try to be nice.

[brimstone81]

Panthea had stood there for a little while, she didn't realize for how long. Her eyes had wandered from the hearth to his stew. 'Yes, I'm sorry I could not get you any packtail." He spoke about his dragon, and she smiled. Panthea wanted to Impress, and there was a gold egg on the sands, so she had a chance. (This scene, of course, was before the egg was stolen) She admired the way he talked about his dragon, and how that his brown must be very caring and devoted to His. She was a touch envious like she was of all riders. They were not alone. Minus the dragonless like Jennah, for that must be the worst-but she would risk it. She'd be brave and face a clutch if given the chance.

Then he spoke again after a pause. Are you one of the candidates? He had asked. She nodded dumbly, she had not been quite all there for she had let her mind wander over the enticing topic of dragons and Impressing. Finally, she found her voice, "Yes, I am a candidate. However did you guess?" She giggled a little bit. The fact was probably obvious, and she was teasing him a bit. For if she had been a rider, his dragon would know, and most girls of her age in the Weyr were candidates, so he must have previously deduced the very same. "Did you need anything else?"

[Dragon Heart]

Go hunt, I am fed. A'rik told Cerenoth. I will be back soon. Cerenoth said, A'rik could feel his dragon's relief. They never hid emotions from each other, unless it would distress the other too badly.

A'rik took the first question as a joke, and let a small smile out. He never really smiled anymore. He was still distressed, and would be for a while. "I just have seen you doing work around here that was not in the kitchens." he said by way of reply. A'rik could not for the life of him understand why the girl was giggling. Was she trying to flirt with him? She won't git very far, if she is. he thought. No one could get to you if you think that way was the muffled reply of his dragon, who caught a heard beast right after that. A'rik knew because he felt more that heard the victorious bugle.

"I believe this food is quite enough, but you can take a break with me if you want to. I have nothing to do right now." Yes, it didn't hurt to be nice once in a while.

[brimstone81]

She sat down at his suggestion, not one to hesitate lately, and loked at him. "Yes, I confess, I am actually off of work right now. However I am down here more than other candidates just talking to friends, so many other people think I'm a workaholic or something of that order. Growing up here, I know plenty of people in the lower cavrens and in the kitchens." Panthea, like her mother before her, had to be busy, had to have a list to do, and was usually doing favors for other people. It also didn't help that the Headwoman was good at finding excuses to give Panna more chores. Like the few times that Panna talked back or mumbled under her breath as she turned away from the Headwoman. That had gotten her mending duty. She did end up meeting Jennah, though. He probably didn't want to hear it. He just seemed very distant. This brownrider wasn't likely to want to help her either.

There was a pause and Panthea didn't like sitting in akward silences. A'rik didn't see very talkative so she felt compelled to say something. What should she say? Panthea was interested in all kinds of things, but with an uninterested conversation companion, what was there to talk about. Panthea thought about asking him if he had a craft, but she didn't either so if he didn't have one, they were back at page one. Panthea had wished she was allowed to go to the beast craft hall, but her mother thought it was best staying at the Weyr, learning about Weyr things like hard work in the lower cavrens, first aid kind of things, and the ever popular, mending of clothes. Panthea's mother was also afraid that her only daughter would be lost to her forever, and keeping Panthea close would be the best way to ensure her daughter's safety. Panthea was not ready to get into anything about her family with a total stranger, either.

She couldn't decided what might be the perfect topic, so she let him eat for a little bit. Panthea had always loved dragons, and knew riders loved to talk about Theirs. That should be simple enough. "So," she said, "what is your brown's name?"

[Dragon Heart]

A'rik was mildly surprised by the qestion, but didn't hessitate to answer,"Cerenoth." Tell her I said hello. said Cerenoth, as he flew to catch another beast. Haven't you had enough? A'rik asked. "Cerenoth told me to tell you hello." A'rik relayed to Panthea. Just one more. The brown said. OK. was the rider's reply. He could trust Cerenoth to keep his word.

A'rik didn't know exackly where this would lead, but he hoped to be able to answer the girl's questions. He could at leaast do that. He could tell the girl was uneasy, but he didn't know why. Without the reason, he didn't know how to solve the problem, so he waited for the girl to come clean. A'rik was a patient man.

[brimstone81]

"Well I say hello to Cerenoth as well." Panthea smiled softly, her ands folded and resting in front of her on the table. So asking about the dragon didn't lead anywhere. Most other riders she knew could talk about their dragon for hours at a time. The few blueriders she knew chatted constantly. 'My blue this. . .' and 'my blue that. . .' Not that Panthea totally minded. The candidate loved dragons, and loved to hear stories about them. She had hoped that by asking the dragon's name would have sparked his interest, but instead, she got a sentance. No, he was not a flirty, talkative rider, so she'd adapt her conversation style. Panthea herself was more serious by nature, however in time learned that it was much better to be able to talk to all sorts of people. Even though you couldn't please everyone, why not give it a shot? 'Because in the end, you'll end up killing yourself.' She told herself. She was beginning ot accept that her mother had been a very busy woman, trying to be nice to everyone, and in the end the stress had caught up with her. Panthea wanted her life to be different than her mother's.

Back to the present though, Panthea didn't want to really inquire too much about his dragon lest she be seen as a nosy nora. Panthea did care about her image, and she was careful to appear more confident in herself than she was. Truth was, she did want to be seen in a positive light, and she knew that if she were to Impress gold, there would be eyes upon her all the time. That's why she cared so much about being on her best behavior. She was even working on curbing her tongue and tuning down her temper as of late. Not that she lost her temper often, but usually she had kept it bottled in, not that was good for her either.

"I was just wondering. About his name, I mean. I bet it was exciting to Impress." Again, this would probably lead to one sentance answers, so she must constantly be the motivator. He seemed to look like he was waiting for her interior motive to this conversation. Of which there was none. Well other than the motive of trying to stay away from the eyes of the Headwoman. She could just leave though, so in essence, this conversation was just that-conversation. Panthea was sure this man would be intersting but how do you go about starting an intelligent conversation with somene you don't even know? Panthea liked little debates and things but never got the chance to talk like that. Most anyone around the Weyr, especially those she just meets, seems to be the same convo: where are you from? how long have you been here? Etcetera, etcetera. Now was probably not the time for that anyway.

"So, how big is Cerenoth?" She said genuinly interested. This may not turn into a deep conversation, or a rigorous debate, but she could sit there watching him eat all night, could she?