All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey.

01-10-09: Settling In
Making himself at home at one of the tables in the far corner, Relian has a hide spread about in...

Making himself at home at one of the tables in the far corner, Relian has a hide spread about in front of him, his head lowered diligently over it, apparently hard at work.

Breena wanders in to the living caverns green eyes take in everything. A terse nod is given the stranger, probably not noticed. Which is probably a good thing, Breena's not good with strangers. Dissappearing into the kitchen briefly she returns with a glass of redjuice and take a seat near the stranger, her back to the wall.

Relian, indeed, fails to notice the nod, but the seat-taking results in his tawny-head raising from the hide, an easy-lipped smile presented by way of greeting. Shifting his hide closer towards him, as if to make more space, he notes, "Evening."

Breena glances over at the boy. Looking him over once she gives her costimary half smirk-half smile. "Hello." She glances at the hides and takes a sip of her juice. Setiling her feet on the bench and resting her back against the wall. "I'm Breena." Yes, she does have manners....sometimes.

"Relian," returns the young man, diligently smiling towards Breena. "Well met." He rolls up his hide, carefully fastening a band about the middle, and shifting it to his lap. "Fine day, it was, today."

Breena sips her drink slowly watching the male out of the corner of her eye. "Nice and warm." Doubtfull she'll miss the snow. Never did like the freezing stuff. "How long have you been here Relian?" And she's even making conversation, she's being nice! Breena shifts slightly, one leg straightening out in front of her and slouching down the wall a bit.

Relian pulls his shoulders back, posture held in firm check. "Warm, indeed," he agrees, still smiling. "Been here? Four days, give or take." His voice holds a measured drawl to it, a southern twang, perhaps indicating his origins. "I'm here from the south, for research purposes."

Breena nods, chewing on her lower lip. "Longer then me." She takes a long drink of the juice. Good stuff, though she's going to have to find something else to drink before long. "Research, hmm? What kind?" She's never met anyone with that particular accent before, interesting. Clear green eyes forcus Relian, he's got her curiosity going.

"Really? Where are you from? How long have you been here?" queries Relian, leaning forward in interest. Taking a deep breath, he continues, "My family. I'm making our family tree." He pauses. "Only, it's circular."

Circular? "Benden. 'Bout two days." Ignoring her skirt, Breena swings her legs over the bench to face the young man, leaning foward slightly she has both hands on the glass. "Your family tree is circular?" Doubt and a bit of confusion can be heard in her alto voice.

Relian pushes a wooly clump of hair away from his face, still smiling. "Benden. I've never been there. I'm the son of the Black Rock River Holder," he explains, almost apologetically, "Way down South." A firm nod is made, as he smoothes his hands over the hide in his lap, "Circular, yes. My oldest known ancestor in the middle, his children in a circle around him, their children in another circle around that one."

Breena nods, "Oh, that kind of circular." Confusion is still evident in her eyes and voice. "Sorry, never hear of Black Rock." Of course she hasn't heard of much....but that's another story. Breena takes a long swig of the juice finishing it off. "Is it near Southern Hold." The one and only hold she's hear that's south.

"Most haven't," admits Relian, philosophically, "We're only a minor hold." Shaking his head, he explains, "No, not really close. We're on the coast, but not the coast near to Southern." His hands are moved to rest upon the edge of the table, fingernails tapping against the wooden surface.

Breena leans against the wall, using it to hold her head up. "I've only heard of the major ones." Shrugging she contemplates the bottom of her glass. To get more juice, or not to get more juice? "At least you don't get cold. 'S it nice?"

Relian tangles his fingers around each other, twisting the sun-bronzed digits. "I've only heard of the major Northern holds, too, so we're even," comments the young man, grinning. "No, we certainly don't get cold. I suppose you would have, at Benden. It's nice, yes. Well, *I* like it."

Breena shoves the glass lightly away from her, desion made. No more juice. "I hate being cold and I was always cold at Benden so I came here." Of course she hasn't been around for winter yet. Pushing away from the wall, Breena sits up once more, "Maybe I'll go south sometime." Yeah, that'd be good.

Relian nods. This seems like a reasonable decision, after all. "Nice, to be able to drop everything and move," he comments, quirky smile registering upon his lips. "South is good. Plenty of nice little places, nice people. Spicy food."

Hm, spicy food, now that could be a problem. A shadow crosses briefly over her face, quickly Breena schools her features into a more pleasent, if not normal, expression. "Yeah, just pick up and move." Away. "So how long will you be at Ista then?" And the smirk is back, as Breena leans back on the bench, back rounded in a slight slouch. "Wouldn't want to get homesick."

"Nice," repeats Relian, still sporting his effervescent smile. "My father would never let me do that." Parting his lips, whilst his fingers continue to twine, the boy adds, confidently, "Until I find the information I'm after."

Breena tucks one leg up under her skirt, placing her a little higher in her seat. "You could be here a while then." Depending on how many records he had to go through, that is. Eyebrow raised, and smirk in place Breena raises gracefully from her seat. "I'm getting more juice. You want anything?"

Relian nods, and there's no lack of a smile there. "Could be. I could be here forever, too, if I never find what I'm after, but I don't believe that will happen." He shrugs, adding, "Doesn't much matter, anyway. I'm the youngest son. -- Oh, juice would be some nice, thank you."

Breena picks up her glass and walks double time to the kitchen and back a few moments later with two filled glass. Redjuice, of course. Skirt twirly about her legs, Breena sets the cleaner glass before Relian and resumes her seat. Maybe he never frowns. "Doesn't matter? What, no girl? What about your family?" Not that she thought much about her family anymore, but other people must.

Accepting his glass with a smile, Relian explains matter-of-factly, "I'm the youngest of seven. My eldest brother will be Holder, my second eldest will be Steward, my sisters will marry into other holds, and I'm free to be Hold Historian. No girl, yet." He grins, "I like it, having just a family tree to do. So that's my main focus." He takes a long sip of his juice, swallowing.

Breena listens to his litany with a tilted head. Her smirk falls and her eyes cloud over, and still she refuses to admit it. "Must be nice." She takes a drink of the juice before her. Apparently fasinated by the swirling patterns of the liquid, when Breena looks up again the clouds have past and the inate curiousity is back shining in her clear eyes. "The why Ista?"

"You okay?" requests the boy, noting the cloudedness and faltering briefly. "It is. I like it, anyway. Why Ista? My -- " he pauses, thinking, "Great, great Uncle came this way, about eighty turns ago. I have no records of what happened, if he had children, anything."

Shacking her head slightly to clear it of any lingering give aways, "I'm fine." She sips her juice contemplating Relian's responce. "Have you found anything yet? You might try Ista Hold to. I bet they'd have something."

Relian nods, perhaps not quite believing his companion, but knowing better than to dig. "Okay, then." His head shakes, as he explains, "From what I do know, he came here, rather than to the hold, so it's a matter of finding reference here, and tracing him to wherever else he went -- if he did."

Breena finishes off her second glass. "Sounds interesting." Oddly enough her interest has been caught, which means it will probably be held for awhile. Standing slowly, Breena twists, streching her back. "I've got to go but it was nice talking to you." With a smile, a real one this time, she turns to leave with a wave.

Relian sets his glass down, tilting his head towards Breena. "See you around, then."

Breena walks to the Northeast Caverns.