Outstretched upon one of the long wooden benches, Auralia's eyes are half closed, the hides sitting within her lap folornly forgotten in the shadow of her--nap? Whatever.

L'mir walks along at a quick pace, bound for the northern weyrs. He almost passes you by, but when he's almost beside your bench, he stops abruptly, surprise registering quickly. Standing there, he looks at those hides then takes a step closer, hand giving the sole of your boot a light smack.

"Ow!" Rubbing at her eyes, Auralia lifts herself up with her elbows, peering up at you. "What'd you do *that* for, L'mir?" Shifting herself into a far more conservative pose, the hides gathered up within her arms, she adds, "Aren't you supposed to let napping greenriders lie?"

L'mir chuckles, shoving his hands into his pockets in a casual gesture. "They too boring for you? Or are you so fast at getting them done for me that I should send you more?"

Auralia's eyes trail down to her hides, glaring at them. "Oh, no! No need for more, I assure you, Weyrleader. I was just tired. Just *tired*."

L'mir sits down on the very edge of the bench, leaning back to relax. "Tired of what?"

Auralia shuffles her hides, placing them on the other side of the bench, shoulders shrugging lightly. "Tired, as in not-getting-enough-sleep, and therefore in need of sleep?"

L'mir pursues the thread, folding his hands over his chest. "Not getting enough sleep from what? Someone making too much noise nearby? I'll have a talk with them."

Auralia raises her right eyebrow, turning her head to face you, watch your expression. "You're concerned about this? Congratulations, L'mir, you've surprised me." Sarcasm shoots through her tone, then subsides, as she adds, "Truthfully, it's just a--phase, I suppose. No one's fault, but my own."

L'mir raises a brow at your tone, sighing. He moves to stand, saying, "I believe it's probably best for us not to try anything civil. Or so it seems, hmm? Good day, Auralia."

Auralia raises the other eyebrow--"I didn't mean it like that, L'mir. Faranth, you're edgy. What's up with you?"

L'mir stands, plucking at his jacket with his fingers to straighten it out. Odd, it's not wrinkled. "Edgy? I'm not edgy. I just get tired of the sarcasm."

"Apologies, then. As I said, I'm tired." Auralia notes this quietly--"You've never expected anything less from me before; is *everyone* being sarcastic, then?"

L'mir hmmphs, giving his jacket a hefty tug or two. "No one but yourself that I'm aware of. So what's making you tired?"

Auralia restrains her lips from holding a smile, right hand moving to smooth at the hides beside her. "I'm glad to hear that," decides she, civily. "Life. Lack of sleep. Baby brothers all grown up."

L'mir picks up on the baby brothers part. "Your baby brothers are all grown up and that's bothering you? Why? Because you feel alone? What about your little?"

"Twenty questions, is it?" Auralia leans back against the edge of the table, considering, "No, because it makes me feel old--even though I'm not. You're older." A wink -- it's a jest. "Last time I saw my brother, until just recently, he wasn't much older than Aurevi is now."

L'mir pffts, shrugging. "I don't think much about age." Considering who he's seeing these days. "And dwelling on it? Well, that's fruitless. There's much to be done. That's where you should be thinking."

Auralia's eyes begin a roll, but she restrains them, commenting mildly, "Good for you.-- Oh, I see. So personal crises -- well, not really -- are far less important than all the work that should be done. Public life above private, eh?"

L'mir blinks, as if what you ask is totally odd. "Of course, work is more important. It's the cure-all for being depressed. Work hard, and there's not much to think about after that. Well, almost."

Auralia's right eyebrow raises once more;

Auralia's right eyebrow raises once more; "Really? I would've though that *that* was a pretty unhealthy way to live. Is that what you do, then?"

L'mir considers that, but just briefly. "Unhealthy? Why? It's more healthy to not be able to sleep and mope about?"

Auralia counters cheerfully, "But is it really healthy to forget that you have a life, and personal issues, for the sake of a job? Not that I don't like my job, mind you."

L'mir raises a brow again to your question, shrugging. "You like your job, it's your weyrleader that you don't like. That makes it different."

"Did I ever say that I didn't like you, L'mir?" retorts Auralia, crossing her arms in front of her. "We have different ideas, but that's not dislike." Honest.

L'mir shrugs again, shifting to one leg. "I always get the impression you think I'm a wherry brain, but that's fine. I don't expect to be liked by you. I just ask you to be good at what you do. That's what I mean about work. What would I do if I worried about why you don't like me? I wouldn't do my job very well and that'd be bad."

Auralia simply nods her head, placidly. "You *are* a wherry brain, but that's what makes you L'mir--I don't dislike you for it." She straightens her posture, noting, "I don't let my work get really distracted by my sleeplessness, L'mir. If you'd noticed a decrease in quality, then you could be worried, but otherwise?" She pauses, adding, "There's room in a person's life for work *and* worry. All work and no play makes everyone dull."

L'mir is quiet for a while before he speaks. "I don't work /all/ the time. In fact, I'm planning a surprise party for Telinda in a few sevendays. You should come. Bring a date. Maybe that'll lighten your mood?"

"I'm glad to hear that," decides Aura, stretching out her long legs in front of her. "Perhaps I will. Although that would require finding a date, first. Mayhap it will."

L'mir chuckles lightly at some inner thought. "I could assist if you like. There's always K'run."

Auralia groans loudly; "I'd rather show up alone than go with K'run. Who else could you suggest?"

L'mir's fingers digress down to the bench, probably looking for a sliver. "Well, I'm not sure. How about G'rden? He always watches you when you walk by. You know. That wiggle women have that gets a man's eye?"

Auralia shakes her head, cheerfully noting, "He watches most women; he's wiggle-obsessed." Grinning, she decides, "I think I'd rather go with a friend than someone I don't know all that well. Mayhap I can start chasing that bluerider of mine again. Or K'yae."

L'mir wrinkles his nose. "I think you and V'tali should go together." That's rather blunt. "He needs some spark in his life. He's boring as anything, anymore."

"V'tali?" queries Auralia, considering. "Some spark, eh? I can't say that I noticed a lack of it, but if you say so...What's up with him, that he's suddenly so boring?"

L'mir has found what he's looking for. *snap* Off comes a small wood sliver that goes to his lips. "I don't know. He used to be more interesting to intimidate. Now? He watches me too much. Not as many opportunities."

Auralia rubs at an itch along her right leg. "Oh. I guess he takes himself -- and his job -- very seriously."

L'mir chuckles. "I guess. Something like that. Anyway, what's wrong with him?"

Auralia nods, lank hair flopping about her ears, promptly pulled away from her eyes. "Nothing, I don't think. He's nice enough, I suppose."

L'mir is ever so helpful. "Want me to ask him for you? He'd need a new outfit though. What he wears? Well..." A shake of his follows, along with a wrinkled nose.

"L'mir, matchmaker?" Aura laughs, a rueful glance going down at her own attire--"We're hardly unalike, then, my dear Weyrleader. Or haven't you noticed what I wear?"

L'mir does look down, then chuckles. "Well, that's probably true then. I'm positive you'd make sure you had suitable attire for a party for the Weyrwoman." Then he quickly adds, glancing your way, "Wouldn't you?"

Auralia stretches her arms over her head, commenting, "I might have an old outfit I wore when I was proddy, once...That might do." She winks, adding, "Of course. I've got some stuff aside, for occasions. It's all in the job description."

L'mir looks over the copse, thoughtfully. "It'd have to be something to ride runners in, you realize. Where we're going has to be found on runnerback. I presume you ride?"

"Iesath," comments Aura, rapidly. "But never a runner; *this* is going to be interesting, isn't it. I'm sure you'll show the rest of us proud, though."

L'mir looks away quickly. "I'll have to get a little practice in beforehand. I.. well, I don't ride very well." Then, quickly, "But I learn fast. Telinda's an accomplished rider, you know."

Auralia restrains a giggle -- but not very well. "Oh. Oh dear. Well, at the very least, she's going to get a lot of amusement out of our pain."

L'mir moves the sliver to the other side of his mouth. "Pain? I don't intend on having any pain." he says with emphasis. "I'll be fine by then. Runners don't require much to ride them."

Auralia raises her right eyebrow for a third time--"L'mir, you haven't even tried yet, have you?"

L'mir hmms? "Tried? Tried what?"

"Riding," explains Auralia, patiently. "I can't say that I have either, but I know for a fact that it's painful, if you're not used to it."

L'mir flutters his hand in the air, dismissively. "Of course I have. Several times." Like maybe two? "Just how hard can it be, anyway? We'll be following a path to the glade. Nose to tail. There's nothing to that."

Auralia's head shakes back and forth, her amusement evident. "I'll take your word for it. Hope it isn't scheduled the day before threadfall, though."

L'mir takes a few steps toward another bench, pausing to look around him. "The only thing that'll make a difference is if we all get too drunk and get back late. Now /that's/ something to worry about. Not runnerback."

Auralia's eyes roll. "If you say so," she decides, almost wearily.

L'mir continues, "And I think you better get some sleep. I don't want to worry about you up there." he points to the sky. "And if I think you're going to be in danger of falling asleep on your dragon, well.." One brow raises emphatically. "Get some sleep."

Auralia's lips twitch with mirth as she notes, "I'm thusly threatened. Unspeakable horrors, indeed." She leans down, to gather her hides up into her arms, adding, "Imagine--the glory of being *worried about*. Good day, L'mir!"

L'mir notes the hides, asking, "You need some help there? I'm walking back your way." He was?

Auralia raises an eyebrow; "I always thought your weyr was elsewhere, L'mir. Where're *you* headed?"

L'mir pauses, too long for comfort. "I was going back your way." he repeats, eyes sliding to the left when he speaks. "But if you don't need any help.." His voice trails off.

Auralia shakes her head, confused, but decides, "If you're going my way, you might as well help." Half the hides are gathered into her own arms, the others left sitting upon the bench.

L'mir scoops up the rest of the hides, once again shrugging. "Ready." he finally says, face not letting on whatever he's thinking.

Auralia's head turns back, to glance at you for a long pause, then it nods, and she begins to move towards home; "Come on, then."

You walk over to the Northern Weyrs.

L'mir strides over from the Copse.

L'mir follows along behind at a casual pace. He's even whistling.

Auralia turns her head back once more, expression confused; "You really strange me out, sometimes, L'mir, I tell you."

You walk toward the Courtyard.

L'mir walks over from the Northern Weyrs.

L'mir is still whistling, not answering Auralia as he follows her with half her hides in his arms. They're shifted to the side, now tucked under his arm.

Auralia's expression is unreadable, now: she simply waltzes along, arms holding tight to her bundle of hides; "Weirdo."

You walk over to the Lakeside Meadow.

L'mir walks over from the Southern Courtyard.

L'mir is carrying half of Auralia's hides under his arm, his whistling is a happy tune. As he moves closer to her, he smiles at Maximus, nodding, fingers wiggling a greeting.

Auralia, by reference to her troubled expression, is less cheerful, although she switches her hides through her arms, a nod of her head made to Maximus as she passes.

You walk over to the Southern Weyrs.

L'mir walks over from the Lakeside Meadow.

L'mir is keeping up rather well, considering he's, <cough> older. The tune has only gotten louder, his smile ready for whenever Auralia might turn to look his way.

Auralia stops, short, right by the path that leads through into her weyr. "Can you *please* tell me what is going on? You're *really* freaking me out." One hand goes to her hip, the other clings on to the hides in her arm. "Faranth's hairy hind."

L'mir's free arm lifts into the air, his expression turning to one of confusion. The whistling did stop, anyway. "I'm helping you back. Isn't that clear?"

"It isn't," Aura attempts to explain, "the helping that I'm worried about. Although that's strange, too. Why the whistling, and the smiles?"

L'mir shrugs, trying to offer that smile again. "Can't I help you, sometimes? And why shouldn't I whistle and smile? You don't think you deserve them?"

Auralia, frowning, shrugs. "I suppose you can," she decides. "But--Oh, never mind."

L'mir looks up the path, hesitating. "You want these now?" he asks, glancing down to the hides under his arm, then back to you.

"Oh!" By her face, Aura'd forgotten the hides. "Yes, I suppose I better. Here." She offers her other arm, curving it to create a place for the hides. "Thanks."

L'mir pauses, as if that wasn't the answer he had in mind. "Sure. Here you go." The hides are successfully transferred. "Thanks for the talk. I enjoyed it." The smile's not there, but he does tug at his jacket to straighten it out. For real, this time.

Auralia, warily, accepts the hides, head shaking slightly. "Oh, it was interesting. Maybe we can do it again, some time. Um." She pauses. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."

L'mir looks from hides to your eyes, then back again, before he replies. This time, that smile is stuck on his face. "Sure. Soon." he replies, nodding, before turning on his heels to head back.

Auralia hesitates, then smiles. "Great." And then she's gone--frowning again.

You walk into Auralia and Green Iesath's Weyr.