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.

10-06-01: Dust
Hanneke pushes at the broom in her hands, as if sweeping half heartedly, which would probably be exactly what she...

Hanneke pushes at the broom in her hands, as if sweeping half heartedly, which would probably be exactly what she is doing. Dust flurries into the air, rather than into a nice neat pile, and she sneezles, wiping a strand of lengthy, unbound hair away from her face as her nose wrinkles. "Atishoo!"

Saldia sneezes lightly as some dust attracts her way and she turns away from where Hanneke is sweeping, setting the clean laundrey down "be careful where you are sweeping Hanneke." She rubs her nose as it itches and then starts sorting out the piles, glad to be out of the laundrey "You got stuck on sweeping did you?"

"Sorry!" trills Hanneke honestly, raising her head to smile brilliantly in Saldia's direction. "It just won't sweep properly! I don't think it likes me." The feeling is mutual. She sidesteps a pile of dust that, by some freak of nature, has managed to form itself, adding, "I'm on sweeping, yes! I was supposed to be in the kitchen, but they told me to come here instead."

Saldia grins and does not comment why they might have sent Hanneke out of the kitchens and she nods "I don't suppose you did do it on purpose. I know Zureile was tired of all the mud being trekked in and now it is dried you get stuck with it." She shakes out a shirt "I just did now want these clothes to get dirty, i did not feel like folding them in the laundrey, too steamy and hot in there and so damp, I had to get out." She tucks a lank piece of hair behind her ear "How much longer do we get stuck on these chores?"

Hanneke gives a sage nod of agreement; smile and nod, and all is well. "Oh, no! It's horrible, all this dust. If it didn't rain, then there wouldn't be any mud, and therefore, no dust. I don't like the rain." She peers at Saldia's laundry, adding, "I like laundry. Steamy air is good for the complection." If not for the hair--but don't tell her that. "I don't know," she adds, finally, with honesty.

Saldia smiles and folds up the clothes deftly and nods "Rain and mud are definetly not fun, I suppose it is better being indoors than getting wet but I really cannot handle all the dampness in the laundrey, I just feel I will never dry out." SHe shakes her head and wrinkles her nose at a funny pair of bright green underpants "Strange" she sets them aside and continues folding the other items "I am just tired of being indoors I think."

Hanneke opens her mouth as if to say something increasingly intelligent, but comes out with only, "Oh. Yes." She prods the broom again, another cloud of dust floating into the air, making her sneeze once more. The green underpants are given a long, disgusted glance. "Ew! That's not as bad as--as--the *thing* I had." She looks away, rapidly. "Oh, I love being indoors. Much nicer."

Saldia glances up to examine Hanneke "What thing?" She glances at the underpants as she tosses a pink pair to join them "They are pretty bright, no idea whose they are. But what did you have that was worse." Saldia smiles and shakes her head "I miss working in the herb gardens at Healer Hall though after doing the weeding the other day I am not so sure I miss it." She rubs her back in memory and shakes her head.

"A *thing*" Hanneke repeats Hanneke, with a moue of disgust. "Lacy, and silky, and--" she shuts her eyes, whispering, "--y." Shhh. "I worked inside. At the Harper Hall. Because that's what we did." A rapid nod follows, and another shove of the broom.

Saldia looks quite curious "You had a pair of lacy underwear?" She giggles at the thought "Had to be nicer then these monstrosities" She shakes her head and then smiles at Hanneke "I suppose you had to do most of your music lessons indoors but you had outdoor chores didn't you?"

Hanneke nods miserably, adding, "Not me, though! I mean, they weren't *mine*. They were--someone else's! Nasty!" Her enthusiasm, at least, is commendable. She wipes the fingers of her left hand upon her skirt, adding, "Well, yes. But not often! And some of the boys did my outdoors ones, sometimes." So that she could go in the kitchens, and break plates

Saldia laughs again, amused at Hanneke's reaction and she shrugs, tossing a bright red pair to join green and pink and then she pulls out some socks and examines them "How come I can never get the socks to match? I think they do it on purpose." She studies Hanneke and shakes her head "Were you allowed to swap chores were you?"

"Mother says," announces Hanneke sagely, returning to a trait almost lost over the past months, "that socks are taken up by the wherries every night, and deposited in front of little children who don't have good hides to read and learn from. She used to tell me about the Sock Wherries all the time!" Her favourite story. "Swap chores? No-o. But..."

Saldia looks almost incredulous at Hanneke "Sock wherries? How on Pern do wherries get in the hold and why would they want socks? And why don't they return them here?" She shakes her head and continues pairing socks, sometimes the socks not quite matching but she does not care. She glances back at Hanneke "but?"

Hanneke's brow furrows slightly. The logistics of the Sock Wherries have evidently never been brought to her concern. "I don't know, but I'm positive that it's true. We don't get all the others ones, because we all have hides to read!" Imagine that. She pushes the broom about again, explaining, "Oh, they didn't mind doing it for me."

Saldia shakes her head "So it is dependent on whether you read or not?" She shakes her head and decides not to pursue the sock wherry thought any longer and she smiles "You mean you didn't swap but they did their chores and yours for you? Hanneke! How could you get away with that?!" Her voice is quite shocked as she stares at Hanneke in dismay, her fingers still, pausing in her folding and sorting.

"Yes!" Issue solved, Hanneke nods rapidly, smiling her prettiest. "It's nice that those who can't read can have socks, anyway." She pauses, the sneakings of a smile fading from her face, as she nods once more--this time more seriously. "Well...almost. I broke some plates in the kitchens, and they told me not to come back. So I never did." She blinks across at the other girl, almost frightened.

Saldia shake sher head "But they get missmatches socks because you only ever lose one song and not the whole pair." Saldia is not sure which one astounds her more, the sock wherry theory or the chore missing "So you don't do your chores at Harper Hall?" She glances at Hanneke "I see that no one ever let you get away with that here then Hanneke"

Hanneke's brow furrows once more, and she nods dumbly, finally enunciating, "I suppose so. P'rhaps they make a second." The Sock Wherries, probably. Again she hesitates, agreeing, "Not really. I did some laundry, and some serving. But the dust makes me sneeze, and I don't like it outside." Sullenly, she nods, "No one would do them for me, here." Disappointment. Sniffle.

Saldia shakes her head "What if you impress Hanneke, do you expect someone to take care of your dragon for you?" Saldia is now ignoring all thoughts of the existence or non-existence of sock wherries and concentrating on the chore avoidance "You mean you don't actually do many chores here?" She shakes her head "WHich means your fellow candidates have to pick up what you don't do. We don't particular like them either, I would prefer to be in the infirmary but I have to do the indoor and outdoor stuff." She shakes her head

"No!" Horror fixes itself upon Hanneke's face. "Of course not! It would be *my* lifemate. I wouldn't do that." She furrows her brow, head shaking. "I do chores here. Lots of chores. They don't let me go in the kitchen much, but I do all the other chores."

Saldia smiles and nods and starts folding again "That is a relief then Hanneke, you had me worried for a moment there." She sighs and finally reaches the bottom of her basket, another pair of brightly coloured underwear. She then proceeds to layer everything back into the basket, the larger heavier items on the bottom and the small things on the top and she sits herself down before tramping off to return the items to the laundrey. "What colour would you like to impress Hanneke?"

Don't worry, be happy. Hanneke resumes her broom-pushing, half heartedly moving around the room, and increasing the general mess upon the floor. The activity takes her back towards Saldia just in time to hear the question, which she considers with much concentration. "I don't know. I don't want a green--they're too flirty." She all but whispers the word--scary word. "And I don't want a gold. Too big. And scary." She pauses for a long time, then adds, "I don't want a male, either." Yes, she amazing decisive conclusion.

Saldia adds on her finger "No greens or golds and no males, which leaves you with what? Do you want to impress Hanneke. I hear blues are quite nice." She pauses "Greens do seem to make their riders act funny but then again a lot of the riders act funny so who knows if it is the rider or the dragon." SHe shrugs "I think a green would be fun."

"Of course I want to Impress!" Because everyone says they want to. It must be a good thing. Hanneke nods her head rapidly, adding, "I hope you get a green, then! I bet there's one waiting there, just for you."

Saldia laughs and shakes her head "Just cause I said a green would be fun, doesn't mean I want one, I mean no dragon picked me last itme I stood so maybe one won't this time and then there are my healing studies to think of, I mean if I impress I have to give them up?" SHe shrugs, in this area she is very confused.

Hanneke leans upon her broom, pensively staring at Saldia, finally allowing, "I suppose! What do you want, then?" Easily confused. She nudges the broom's bristles with her toe, dislodging herself, and the stick, in a flurry of movement that has her hair, dust, and broom flying. Sneezing, she rubs at her nose.

Saldia looks in dismay as the dust settles over her clean laundrey "hanneke!" she whines as she sneezes as well and she picks up the smalls and shakes them to get rid of the dust and she shrugs "I don't know, I mean it is an honour to be searched twice and I would not say no to a dragon who wanted me but that does mean giving up healing which is what I have wanted to do for most of my life so it is all just so confusing."

Hanneke's nose begins to turn red, and she sneezes again, coughing. "Sorry!" With one hand, she attempts to clear the air, smoothing her hair back into place, whilst the other reaches, somewhat too slowly, for the broom, which hits the floor with an audible thud. "Oh. I suppose so." She nods rapidly.

Karei wanders in, mingling with a group of weyrbrats -- it's the best way to keep out of sight, you see. But she diverges from the crowd, after a moment, shuffling towards the klah with a yawn and a wave towards fellow Canditypes. Sleepykarei. Aaw.

Saldia grins at Karei "Still got those younglings convinced of your goodness?" she asks and she keeps shaking out clothes to get rid of the dust, her neat folding coming awry. She shakes her head "No wonder they don't let you in the kitchen anymore"

Hanneke peers at Karei--consorting with children? Ew. "Hihi!" is her greeting, nonetheless, as cheerful as always, as she scoops up the broom, letting it rest, carefully, against the back of a chair. This same chair is pulled out against all logic, the broom returning to the ground, as the candidate moves to sit. "Oh, that was because I broke some plates! And cut my fingers. And made a mess."

Karei shakes her head. "No -- but I saw some riders wandering by, and it was the best way to keep from getting anymore chores." If Karei walks with the 'brats, you can't tell she's there. Half of them are taller than her, anyway. Sagenod. Klah-mug is waved carefully towards Hanneke, and then at Salida. "Hullo." Pause. Blink. "Eh. Cut your fingers?" Blood. Ew. Ick.

Saldia shakes her head "Just carry something in your hands and look like you are on an errand, that is what I do." She pauses and breaks off an dlaughs "Well when I think I need a break that is." She sighs and starts refolding the articles again, thankful no dust is on them now, at least sh ehopes.

Karei sees the brats returning. Small children. Ohdear. "Um. Good tip." Twitch. "I'd ... better go." They're returning. Kare must flee. Aaaack. "See you all ... later, I suppose." And then she's off.

Hannekeignores the broom at her feet, peering after Karei--"Bye!" Too late. She wrinkles her nose. "Breaks are good! I don't like sweeping. It takes too much energy." To push a broom around, indeed.

Saldia is seated and folding the clothes and she nods "I think they forget that breaks are essential." She looks around the cavern, where the dust seems to have been spread rather then collected together and she shrugs and tosses the articles back in the basket.

There is certainly more dust around, or seems to be, than when Hanneke started, and her kicking at the broom is doing no good whatsoever. "They must," she decides, affirming.

Saldia shakes her head "Hanneke, stop spreading the dust around, if you cannot sweep it up ignore it." Saldia sneezes as she snaps at Hanneke, tired of the dust springing up around her and her clean laundrey "I will make you rewash these clothes if you don't watch it."

Hanneke drops the broom with a resonanting *thunk*, her gaze turning back towards Saldia, jaw dropping. "Oh. Okay!" She sneezes, once more, coughing up the cloud of dust.

Zureile trudges into the weyr, and is immediately beset by a fit of coughing. Eyes streaming and face flushed, she covers her mouth with one hand in an effort to maintain a level of decency. Not that it's helping much. Her coughs are so loud that even a few drudges from the kitchens poke their heads out to see what is the matter. Of course, with all the dust flying around, it's pretty easy to see what started it.

Saldia shakes her head "See what you have done Hanneke. You alright Zureile?" She looks slightly worried, too much dust is not good for anyone "It is a pity that it is raining or we could go outside for some fresh air, is it still raining Zureile?" she asks softly and she eyes her laundrey, making sure no dust settles on it again.

Perhaps coughs are contagious: Hanneke, too, begins to cough again, spluttering, even as the dust settles. She sniffs, rather undignifiedly, murmuring, "I'm sorry, okay?" The broom is left as it is, covered in dust. "Hihi, Zureile!"

Zureile would answer... really she would. But it's a little difficult to make idle conversation while your lungs are spasming. So, instead of remarking back, she sits herself down at a nearby table and waits for the flurry of coughs to pass. Finally, breathless and tight-voiced, she is able to reply. "Fine," she squeaks out. "I'll be fine." Okay, so maybe it's not a ballad-material response, but it gets the point across.

Kr'lin enters from the Weyr's bowl, outside.

Kr'lin wanders into the cavern, scratching at the back of his head. "I tell you, nothing itches more than hair growing back in.." is said to no one in particular, he's just talking to the room, really. That is, until he spots Zureile, "Hey, you. You still owe me a spanking for cutting my head open." He points at the smallish slit just above his right ear.

Saldia pours out some water into a glass and passes it to Zureile "here drink this, it will at least clear your throat and make you more able to breathe and talk." She shakes her head "There is too much dust and sand in here." She glances at Kr'lin curiously "A spanking, you got what you deserved if your head got cut, I cannot see anything. You are just complaining because you want to"

Hanneke coughs turn into chokes; she stares abjectly at Kr'lin, her gaze turning back towards Zureile. "Spanking! He'll hurt you, Zureile!" She sniffs, adding, "You didn't give *me* any water, Saldia!" No fair. She, however, has, notably, stopped coughing, and her sniffling is minimal.

Zureile would make some sort of snappy remark to Kr'lin. Really, there's so much stuff she could say. Like "Okay, well since I owe you a spanking, you'd better take it like a man", or even "Cut your head open? I should have cut it off, it'd have been an improvement." But Zureile's not really good with comebacks like that. Especially when she's been utterly surprised. Saldia's glass is taken by reflex, and she gives it a swallow before setting it behind her. Of course, her eyes never leave Kr'lin the entire time. "Spanking?" she finally says, as if she's never heard the word.

Kr'lin is suddenly jumped upon, verbally atleast, "Hey, that was part of the deal for her getting to shave my head. I told her that if she cut my scalp, I'd get to spank her. And..." He points at the scabbed over slit. "Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but these things just don't come with your head." A few nods are tossed in for good measure, to emphasise the point he just made, and the other purpose, to agree with Zureile, "Yes. A spanking. Remember? You ran out of the galleries like a screaming wherry."

Saldia shakes her head "I am not sure Kyla or the others would agree with that version or Dalas for that matter. It is only a small cut and you could have got that hitting your head and it is almost healed anyway, you cannot spank her. You are not the boss of us Kr'lin." She shakes her head and then smiles at Hanneke and pours her a glass of water "here you go, though I think you could pour yourself one"

Hanneke positively beams, accepting the water with her grin widely in place. "Thank you," she announces, decisively. "I was coughing!" she insists, "I couldn't." She's lazy. Kr'lin is peered at about the rim of the glass, "Only mean people give spankings."

Zureile did not run out of the galleries like a screaming wherry. She ran out like a galloping runner. There's a difference. And, it looks like she's preparing to repeat the act. Her muscles are stiffening, and even if she's still sitting down she's balancing her weight on the balls of her feet. "That was not part of the original deal, it's something you said right before I accidentally nicked you." She straightens her back, doing her best to look down at him from over her nose. Of course, the fact that he's standing and she's sitting makes it a little difficult. But she's definitely giving it a hearty try. "And I am fifteen years old." She makes it sound like she's thirty. "Spankings are given to children, not candidates."

Kr'lin lifts a finger, "I hate to have to correct you, Saldia. But until those eggs hatch, everyone at this Weyr is your boss." He ignores the mentioning of the others, because, really.. That has never stopped him before. He takes a few steps towards the Candidates, apparently trying to sneak up on them or something. "I would have thought me being a.." He pauses to make sure he is using Hanneke's word, "...meanie is fairly well self evident." A head jerk towards Zureile and the wig upon her head. Zureile gets a, "You are never too old for a spanking. Just, after awhile.. They get a different meaning..." He wiggles his eyebrows a few times.

Saldia shakes her head "Ok maybe you do get to boss us around but that does not mean you get to hit us." She shakes her head, not appreciating his wiggling eyebrows "Well as candidates we are definetly not allowed to partake in that either. Go and bother some other people if you are bored because you are certainly boring us." Saldia returns her attention to the laundrey again, though fully folded it saver her having to focus attention on Kr'lin.

Hanneke *could* pick up the broom and begin sweeping again--that's enough to drive anyone off. Unfortunately, she's not that inventive, and, instead, she sits there, and attempts to work a knot out of her hair, smiling prettily as she turns her gaze around the group. "I think you could just forget it. Or Zureile'll try and get Kr'lin back--again."

Zureile's been at the weyr long enough to get the basic idea of what Kr'lin's insinuating. And it shows, because a very hearty blush begins to stain her cheeks. Okay, she's been there long enough to understand, but not long enough to be comfortable with it. Rising to her feet (it gives her a better vantage point!), she begins to get a little angry. But hey, it's Kr'lin. What's new? "I am certainly too old for the type of spanking you'd /better/ be talking about. But it doesn't matter. You're not going to spank me, no matter /which/ way you're talking about." Zureile is not wiggling her eyebrows in return. She's folding her arms angrily over that flat chest Kr'lin likes to point out so often.

Kr'lin is starting to feel a little outnumbered, but, that's okay, they are just girls, he can take 'em all if push comes to shove.. And that not being the case, his dragon is just outside.. He can bid a 'hasty' retreat and be on dragon in no time. "Just think, if any of you do Impress," He adds the tone of doubt in his voice, "then you will be mine to order around." He would toss in a bit of evil laughter, but, really.. He doesn't feel evil at the moment.

Saldia shakes her head "Within reason, I don't think if we impress our dragons would take too kindly to you spanking us and if we don't impress well you have nothing to do with us." She shakes her head "I think you are harrassing us and if you keep it up I will complain." She too stands to show she is determined and not willing to let Kr'lin boss her around, she just hopes she doesn't impress now and fall under his power.

Hanneke hesitates, then giggles, "I bet Zureile'll Impress gold, so that her dragon'll be bigger than yours!" Her wit is astounding, as is her abillity to be serious--she chokes upon her next sip of water.

Zureile's not exactly thrilled that Kr'lin was going to be assistant weyrlingmaster. But for the moment, she'll take whatever excuse she can to take his mind off of spanking. She gives Saldia a warm grin. Ahhh... she'd never realized until this moment how much she loved that candidate. Hanneke is also at the receiving end of a very big smile. Beautiful, beautiful Hannneke. Such loyal friends. It'd be a very lovely morning, except for that squat little man attempting to sneak up on her. "Kr'lin, I think Saldia's right. You have no right to lay a hand on me. So you'd better not take one more step forward, or I'll....." Shardit, why did that "or I'll" have to slip in there? Now she has to think of a suitable threat. "Get angry," she finishes lamely.

Kr'lin is apparently rather threatened by the pair of standing Candidates, because he sits down, just to be contrary, perhaps. "Hmmm, I'm not afraid of people complaining about my actions. You can't commit an offense without being able to accept the punishments." As long as the punishments are handed down from the people with that responsibility, "What do rights have to do with anything? Rights are just something that weak people use to get their way without working for it." Zureile on Gold is just too horrifying for Kr'lin to even acknowledge. Horrifying.. Very... Very... Horrifying.

Saldia shakes her head "And you think just because you are big and strong and a dragonrider you can come in and threaten people, just because she accidently nicked you, I am sure she did not mean to." She puts her hands on her hips and glares at him "I am off to find some people who will tell you that you cannot do this." She picks up the laundrey and stalks off in search of others, namely Dalas or someone like that.

Saldia disappears beneath the arched entrance to the Living Quarters.

Hanneke in a belated movement stands up, jumping to join her friends. Yes, it's jack-in-the-box. "You're being mean! Mother says that people who are mean are no good, and that we should avoid them!" Notably, she doesn't move. She peers after Saldia. Maybe Saldia has the right idea. SHe still doesn't move.

Did it work? Did it actually work? You mean she, Zureile, queen of lameness, actually threatened someone into submission? She puffs out her thin chest importantly. That is, until Saldia leaves. Wooooosh. Great, who to rely upon to back her up now? "Kr'lin, cutting your head isn't an offense. It's more of a, let me see, well a mistake. And you can't run around punishing everyone in the world who makes mistakes, can you?" There, that was Zureile's attempt at logic. Not very good, but it's the best she can come up with to defend herself.

Kr'lin is suddenly only facing a two front war, but for how long is the real question.. Saldia did say she was going to get help. Oh well, best to live for the moment, so to speak, "Mean people keep life interesting, neh? I mean, really? What would you be doing now if I hadn't come in? Sweeping the floor?" See, not quite as dense as they might have thought, he did notice the dust clouds and coughing people, just didn't comment on it. "Well, in that case, I had a mistake in judgement when I shaved your head. Does that mean I can get my hair back?" And get rid of that pesky knot he was given, but isn't wearing.

Hanneke's still there! She's not much use, but she's there. Rar. "We were making a mess," she announces, firmly. "That was more interesting." Er. Yes. "I don't think that's possible," she finally adds, frowning, as if she is taking this entirely serious--which she probably is.

Zureile sputters angrily, flinging her hands up in the air. "That's entirely different, Kr'lin. You had your head shaved because you cut my hair without asking... and, well... spanking me because I cut your head is an entirely different matter!" How? She doesn't know. It just is. She brings her gesturing hands back down to fold across her chest, regaining her angry, defensive posture.

Kr'lin just can't let Zureile's comment go without answering, well, correcting, really, "If you will remember, Zureile, I did ask you several times if you were sure that you wanted to have your head shaved. You practically begged me to do it." Of course, this is after he convinced her it was the only way she could have normal hair again. "Sweeping is not more interesting. Atleast make it believable, Hanneke." Said like a man who has used every excuse in the book, and been caught with a vast majority of them, "And, if I remember correctly, you are supposed to be cleaning the Living Cavern, not making a mess of it." See, now he has something he could get /them/ in trouble for.

Hanneke doesn't even have the grace to flush. In fact, she positively beams, explaining, "I didn't *mean* to make a mess! It just happened, because the broom slipped, and it fell, and it--I didn't *mean* to!" Yes. Exactly. "And it was fun! We were talking about the Sock Wherries--don't you just love that story? It was always my favourite. Mother used to tell it to me whenever she began to teach me!"

Zureile's attention is momentarily diverted from Kr'lin to Hanneke. "Sock Wherries?" It'd probably be best not to ask. And to Kr'lin she says, "I did /not/ beg you to cut my hair. I didn't!" Her foot begins tapping impatiently at the very dirty cavern floor. "And my chores are not cleaning the Cavern today, it's cleaning up the runners. Which you are distracting me from by coming in here and making all manner of rude, ill-bred comments."

Kr'lin gives Hanneke a very confused look, the ever popular 'What the heck are you talking about, freak?' look. He even echoes Zureile, "Sock Wherries?" This girl can't be right in the head. Then a realization hits, "And if you were talking about them before I came in, why doesn't Zureile know about it? Hmmm?" Which brings up his next point, "And you are a fountain of civility and graze, Zureile? If I remember correctly, you ran away from home for some rather trivial reason. Not to mention the several stories I've heard about you attacking fellow candidates.."

"Zureile wasn't here," Hanneke explains, "So she didn't hear. No one knows about the sock wherries? How--horrible!" Dashed, to bits, that dream of hers. Where sock wherries and--other funny things play togheter. Poor, dejected, freak. "You're all looking at me funny!"

Zureile's eyes bulge slightly, whether out of surprise or anger or even a mix, it's not entirely certain. And the bulging eyes do little to improve her already mottled looks. "I do /not/ attack candidates! That appears to be your job, Kr'lin." Hey, she can make a decent comeback! "And I don't know about sock wherries because I wasn't here," she says, gesturing at Hanneke for proof. And why I ran away from home is none of your concern. Stay out of my business." Yeah, Zureile's obviously at that full-of-rage-near-breaking-point that she gets to so often when hanging around Kr'lin. Turning slightly to angle past him, she begins to walk in the direction of the bowl. "So, if you'll excuse me, /rider/, I need to see to my chores."

Kr'lin places one of his feet on the bench beside him, he's in relax mode, "What are sock wherries, Hanneke?" He's curious now, something as strange as that has to be interesting. Fairly interesting at least. The departing Zureile gets, "I haven't attacked any Candidates. I just shaved one's head." A broad smile parts his face as he looks at the shavee, "As for you running away, it will be my business if you Impress. So, if you do, we will be having that little discussion." He's a little more serious now, but his attention has drifted back to Hanneke, curious as to her response to his question.

Zureile, who was nearly out the door of the cavern, stops and spins around. "My running away has absolutely /nothing/ with why I am at this weyr, and whether or not a dragon impresses me. It doesn't affect the way I ride that dragon, so it is /so/ none of your affair, and it will stay that way." She's not returning his smile at all. "So you can "discuss" it with me all you like, but until you prove to me it is your so called 'business' you won't be getting a word from me." Yeah, right. Zureile quiet? That'll be the day. But she appears to be making good on her word at the moment as she whirls around and marches through the door without a another sound. Kr'lin has been effectively dismissed.

Zureile walks out of the Living Caverns into the bowl.

Hanneke peers after Zureile, waving, "Bye, bye!" The point is lost within the vaccuum that is her mind--doubly so at Kr'lin's question of her. "Oh! You must have been deprived, as a little boy." Double take. Was Kr'lin *ever* a little boy? "I mean, when you emerged, fully grown." From Zeus' head, no doubt. "They take socks, and give them to little children who can't read, so that they're not deprived anymore! That's why we have odd socks. It's very important." Nod, and nod again.

Kr'lin tsktsks at Zureile's parting comments, adding one of his own, under his breath, but still, "That's what she thinks.." The girl gone, his full attention is on Hanneke. He blinks a few dozen times at her explanation, and the comments leading up to that explanation, "Umm.. Hanneke.. Just out of curiousity.. Were you ever dropped as a baby?" He's trying to think up some reason as to why she always seems to be out of sorts whenever he speaks to her.. As limited a number as that has been, but still.

Hanneke's brow furrows as she reaches for her somewhat ignored glass of water, now slightly grey with falling dust -- much like, in that respect, her hair and person -- considering Kr'lin's comment. "Dropped? As a baby? Would I remember that?" Genuine in the statement, she pauses, then adds, "I don't think so. Why?" The insane person always feels fine.

Kr'lin just shakes his head a few times, "Oh... No reason... I was just wondering..." Like that is a question that one asks a person on an everyday basis. "Although, I would suggest that you ask your mother when you see her next..." Hey, he's only looking out for her best interest, right? Knowing is half the battle, etc, etc. "So, do you know how to read?" Seems fitting, you never know, she might have a few socks from the sock wherries.

"Oh." Hanneke is known for these oh-so-intelligent comments, and this one is delivered with nothing less than her usual hundred watt smile. "Should I? I suppose I should. She says she'll come for the hatching, but I don't know if she'll be able to get here in time for the hatching, or if a rider be around to give her a lift. Maybe she should come now, and then she'll be able to be here?" Yes, let's inflict Hanneke's mother on Ista. Do. "Of course I can read! Mother says that I read very well, and always have, for my age. She always told me that I didn't want sock wherries delivering their gifts, did I? So I learnt."

Kr'lin nods a few times here and there throughout, eyes somewhat glazed over. She seems to have lost him at some point after 'Oh'. But he did catch a few parts, "They generally send dragons to a Candidate's home to collect their parents, but if you want, I'm sure we can put your family up in the Guest Quarters. Although, you'll want to check into that with the Headwoman." A pause as he tries to assimilate some of the stuff she was saying... Hey, possible witty comeback, "Why wouldn't you want the sock wherries to come and give you socks? They seem cute to me."

Hanneke could have lost him at the very sight of her, but, thankfully, she's getting better. "They do? Oh, goodie! I do so want them to be here, Mother wants me to be a Harper, like her, so that we can work together, and everything, but I just know she's proud of this, too, don't you think she is?" She nods rapidly, at ease with this topic of conversation. "Why would I want the sock wherries to come and give me socks? I have plenty of socks! And...Mother says that it's a bad thing. Because we should all be educated!"

Kr'lin just shakes his head, really, that's all one can do at this point, "I don't think you should become a Harper, Hanneke.. Really.. That would be bad." Just what Pern needs. Hanneke in charge of spreading the tales of the planet. "I don't see why it would be a bad thing, really." He doesn't explain what 'it' is, because he knows it is the sock wherries, so therefore, Hanneke must know it is too.

He must have heard Hanneke sing already, if he's come to that conclusion so quickly. Hanneke raises her left eyebrow in a querying movement, asking, "Why not? Why would it be bad? Mother says that I will be a very good harper, when I learn how to think. I'm sure that'll be soon, don't you think? It's a very noble ambition, Father says, learning how to think, so that's what I'm going to do." Her incessant babbling comes to a rather abrupt halt, as she pauses for breath. "You just said it would be a bad thing! Why are you now saying it's not?" So easily confused.

Kr'lin returns to the shaking of his head, he really hasn't stopped since he was left alone with Hanneke, "You being a Harper /would/ be bad, Hanneke.. Most definitely." He offers a word of wisdom too, "Thinking isn't really that hard. You just have to make sure what you are about to say makes sense to you, instead of just rattling on." Like Hanneke just did, very odd, this one. "And the not bad was about the wherry socks..." he said it wrong, but, he's new to that phrase, "Them coming to visit, that is. You can never have too many socks."

Hanneke's expression shows befuddlement in the extreme, as she leans forward, tilting her head to the side as if a different perspective would somehow add another, more understandble, slant onto the conversation. "Oh. Okay. Mother says that--I can't remember." That's a distressing though, which she evidently ponders over for a long moment. Finally, she decides. "Right. Oh. Okay. But if they're odd socks, I don't think they're good?"

Kr'lin ahas and lifts a finger, finally finding something he can understand and respond to in a hopefully positive light, "But if she says you can't remember, but you can remember what she said, doesn't that mean that you can remember?" Hmm, maybe he should have listened to his own words of advice.. About making sure you make sense before you speak. Then it is back to the sock wherries, "You just have to make sure that you get generic socks. You know, ones that don't have any added embellishes on them. That way you have a better chance of the sock wherries bringing socks that match."

Hanneke wiggles around to the side of her chair, taking a long peek at her socks. "Maybe that's a good idea! Then, the socks I get won't--oh. But I can read. So the Sock Wherry won't come and visit me, will he?" No, of course not. She nods, firmly, moving to her feet, which sends a cloud of dust rising. "I better go! Byebye, Kr'linny!" And thus, she trots--no, skips--towards the lower caverns, as happy as Larry.

You head into the Living Quarters.