June 14, 2004
R'hyn makes a mess, which Dydaree helps him clean him. Shiae, meanwhile, Searches the young woman for Arisvath and Siramyth's eggs.

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R'hyn is guiltily trying to sweep up the dark sand that has crept into the caverns after him, and is doing a fairly ineffectual job - not least because he keeps stepping in his little pile of swept sand. The bronzerider's sleeves are rolled up, showing arms that are equally sand-covered. He pauses, to wipe his (sandy) brow, and glances down at his work mournfully.

Shiae comes in through the narrow tunnel from the bowl.

Dydaree makes her way from kitchen to cavern, a plate of fishrolls balanced easily on one hand. Her easy strides bring her quickly to the serving table, and she settles her platter beside the leftover rolls. A quick nod of satisfaction is followed by a brisk wiping of hands on trouser, and she turns on her heel with that finished. This of course brings the sight of a guilty looking bronzerider complete with sand. "Need a hand there? Ismaye'll have yer hide."

Evening twilight disperses and the true darkness of an autumn evening settles in fully. Full winds stir the air considerably, enough to send branches swaying thoroughly. A few clouds dot the otherwise clear skies. The autumnal air still clings to the ends of summery humidity, but is cooler and fresher. (63F, 17C)

R'hyn, busy making an utter mess of things, doesn't note Dydaree's entrance, nor her concerted efforts. He comes to a complete halt, however, as the young woman addresses him. And then he turns pink. Flushing furiously, he turns about, clutching on to the handle of his broom as if his life depended on it. "Uh-- Yes? Erm. Thanks. I just..." His free hand is waved ineffectually.

Dydaree closes the distance to the blushing man with a few quick strides and a grin. The piled and not so piled sand fall under her brown-eyed gaze and he reaches out a small hand for the broom. "Sand sort of clings to everything, doesn't it. Working in the kitchens has made me a good enough hand with the broom- lemme' see what I can do." Her grin tips lopsidedly, settling into an amused sort of smirk. "You might want to back up a bit so you stop tracking through it though, or we'll never get it all corralled."

R'hyn relinquishes the broom without hesitation, nodding slowly. "It-- yeah, it does. Been on the sands," he adds, face still pink, but far less so, "and... I don't think I'll ever get it all off." He takes a few nervous steps back, expression grateful. "Thanks," he concludes, somewhat lamely.

In tromps Shiae just then, the greenrider looking decidely distracted. She heads for the food tables on automatic, nearly walking straight into R'hyn before stopping and taking her own steps backwards. "Whoa - watch where you're walking, hmm? --Oh R'hyn, it's you." Her tone becomes immediately understanding and - almost - patronizing.

"Capital T, capital S, the Sands?" Dydaree asks even as she takes the broom. "And how are all the little eggs doing this fine evening?" She steps back out of the smattering of sand and begins to round it up with quick little strokes of the broom. Eyes on her task, she pauses only to add a quick, "Welcome," before going back to sweeping it all towards one central pile. The arrival of Shiae gains the 'rider a quick smile. "Running into R'hyn's alright but don't track through the sand, eh?"

R'hyn turns predictably pink again, and backs further out of Shiae's way. "Sorry, sorry." If he's caught the hint of patronage in her voice, he doesn't show it; instead, he seems all the more intent upon the clean-up process. "Yeah," he agrees, head nodding. "They're, um, eggy, I guess. Arisvath likes them. He always likes them."

"Arisvath would," Shiae agrees blandly. "How are you and Kiora getting along?" As directed, she doesn't tromp through R'hyn's sanding leavings but waits patiently for the girl to clean up the mess. It's not so much that she's actively ignoring Dydaree as that the girl hasn't properly come into her notice.

Once the last trickling grains are appropriately cordoned off into one neat area, Dydaree flicks a glance at R'hyn. "Dustpan?" From the way she thrusts her hand at him, it would be safe to assume she's asking him to give it to her, not so much whether or not he thought to grab one. It seems she's not overly concerned with Shiae's lack of formal greeting seeing as how the girl doesn't say anything to the other 'rider, and instead leaves her focus on R'hyn.

"Well, they are /his/," says R'hyn quickly, as though seeing an insult. "Oh-- fine, I guess. You know." He glances blankly at Dydaree a moment, then, comprehension dawning, looks around confusedly. "I knew there was something I... Erm, where would I find one?"

Dydaree arches one auburn brow at this singularly unsatisfactory response, but the expression melts away quick enough, to be replaced by that tilted grin. "No wonder you were having such a hard time sweeping it up. There should've been one wherever you found the broom- but I guess we could also just sweep it back out into the bowl or something." She stands on tiptoe, craning her neck to see if she can spot one sitting around the cavern somewhere. "Is it his first time to sire a clutch?"

R'hyn, still blushing, nods hesitantly. "I guess I didn't think to look," he admits, shamefaced. Turning, he glances back out towards the bowl, then nods. "That should work. I mean - plenty of sand out there, right?" He smiles, hesitantly. "No, his-- third, I think. Siramyth's his own great grand-daughter."

Shiae rolls her eyes behind R'hyn's back, not particularly caring if Dydaree can see. "You didn't bring one?" No, she doesn't sound particularly surprised. "...Oh fardles, R'hyn, you know that doesn't really apply to dragons. It's not like -they- care, after all."

Dydaree lets a hint of a grin tug her lips at the eye roll, but manages to refrain from comment. Especially as she spots a discarded 'pan along with a bucket of soot near one of the hearths. "Once in a while lazy drudges actually /are/ worth something," she mumbles as she trots over to fetch it. "The dragons don't care if they mate with their own grand daughters?" On her way back, dustpan in hand, she fixes each 'rider with an incredulous look. "Doesn't that make for messed up baby dragons? I mean, when cousins marry cousins weird things happen, right?"

R'hyn shrugs his shoulders, cheerfully. "I know. But /I/ like to know who carries his line on." He explains, holding his arms somewhat uncomfortably, as though he feels he ought to be doing something to help, "No, they don't - they don't really have the same sense of relationship. It doesn't seem to hurt them at all. We're just not really like them, I think." He wrinkles his nose in thought, adding, "Don't know why."

Dydaree crouches down with the dustpan in one hand and the broom handle in the other. She peers up at the too-long handle as it wavers over her, the balance hard to maintain when she's holding it down near the bristles. "'Sthat so? I didn't really mean whether or not it hurt their feelings or something. I'm talking about one-winged or two-tailed hatchlings. In the little cotholds that sometimes happens when they marry so close together-- that or the kids are really dumb." A scowl flickers over her features as her attempt at manhandling the broom from a crouch fails and the handle slips out of her hand and to the ground with a resounding clatter. She clears her throat up at the bronzerider. "No disrespect to the hatchlings of course- you wanna' hold the pan or sweep the sand in or something here?"

"You don't know why?" Shiae echoes, incredulous. "You mean, other than the 'we don't hatch out of eggs, have wings and possess long term memory?" She gives R'hyn up as a bad job with an exasperated sigh, then turns to put Dydaree under her gaze. "...What's your name, anyway? I know I've seen you around, but I can't put a name to your face."

"I've heard of that happening," agrees R'hyn, levelly. "I was talking about that, Shiae. Not that we're different at all." He's turned pink again, and turns to glance at her, uncomfortably. "I'm not that dumb." He speaks softly, but not with irritation, adding back to Dydaree, "It is a good question. Oh--" He kneels, grasping at the pan. "Sorry."

Dydaree waves off the apology with a vaguely dismissive gesture and a mumbled "No worries," as she pushes herself back to her feet. "Dydaree- I work in the kitchens." Her tone is matter-of-fact and there's no indication that Shiae's lack of recognition phases her. She bends to gather up the broom and looks down at R'hyn as she prepares to sweep the sand up. "Push down so the sand doesn't go under it instead of in it, please." So saying, she brushes the fine sand up into the pan.

Shiae waves off R'hyn's explanation with a flick of one hand. "I misunderstood, then. I know you aren't, R'hyn. ...And I'm Shiae." Manners must be followed despite the fact that Dydaree almost certainly knows who she is already. "Have you been out to see the eggs?"

R'hyn gives the pan a hesitant glance, then attempts to get it into position -- "Like this?" -- he wonders, conscientiously trying to push down, as requested. He doesn't respond to Shiae, save with a brief lift of his eyebrows, quickly noting, instead, "R'hyn. I mean-- that's me. R'hyn."

Dydaree gets the majority of the sand into the 'pan after a few quick swipes with the broom, then pauses to incline her head Shiae-wards. "Nice to officially meet you both, though of course I already knew who you were. It's a lot easier to be forgotten as a kitchen hand than it is as Weyrsecond and clutch father I guess." She takes it with apparent good nature, her tone light and a smile lingering on her lips. "R'hyn, could you move it back a little so I can get this last bit?" Then to Shiae, a quick shake of the head. "Haven't been out there yet, no. I suppose I /should/ go see them, but-" she breaks off, finishing with a shrug instead of a word.

R'hyn gives a slow nod, though he quickly notes, "Though your job is just as important, of course." He glances down, hesitates, then slides the pan back a short distance, remarking vaguely, "I hadn't realised how much sand there was."

"I'm surprised there's any left for the eggs," Shiae teases, her tone almost gentle. Then she offers a surprised, "You haven't gone to see them yet?" to the girl. "...Weren't you Searched, once?"

A few little sweeping motions push the last few grains of sand into the dustpan and Ree dips a nod. "Thanks for thinking so, or at least saying so. And it's not so much that there was a lot of sand- it's just getting those last little bits up into the pan that's the trick." To Shiae she simply nods. "I was. I've been a little busy though and every time I think about heading for the sands it seems like there's a flock of skirts giggling and flouncing towards them." Her tone implies that that should say it all.

"I do mean it," promises R'hyn, smile on his face. "I mean... We need everyone around here. We'd be in a sorry state without kitchen staff, or laundry workers, or anything." He glances down at the pan, nodding, "Guess so. Thanks. Again, and all. For helping."

Dragon> Arisvath senses that Carianth, sleepy and pricklier than usual, informs you waspishly, << Shiae wants her for your eggs. >>

"Watching the eggs -is- a popular activity," the Weyrsecond agrees, considering the girl as if pondering where to start the dissection. "Don't you think so, R'hyn?"

Dragon> Carianth senses that Arisvath, warm with sand and a fluffier heat that permeates his mind, responds with a quiet touch, << You mean, you do? Or does she? >> He's unconcerned, apparently satisfied with this. << That's nice. >>

Dydaree twirls the broom so the bristles are pointing at the ceiling, then settles the end of handle on the floor. "Well, thank you doubly for meaning it, and you are quite welcome. I don't want the Headwoman clucking about sand in the cavern any more than you do." One dark brow arches a bit at Shiae's vague comment and she snorts. "Well of course he does- it's common knowledge. Did you want me to go look at the eggs? I'll go right now if you guys need to "talk" or something."

R'hyn glances up, brow furrowed. "Wha--? Oh. Well. Yes. It's always busy in there. People staring. Arisvath really likes that, but it makes me feel kind of nervous. Too many people." He gives a brief shrug at Dydaree's response to his words, smile curving with quiet enjoyment. "I suppose."

Dragon> Arisvath senses that Carianth only snorts her opinion of Candidates - stupid - and eggs - worse. << She does. >> Faranth only knows why.

Dragon> Carianth senses that Arisvath does not understand this, but does not press it - warm, in the sands, with his eggs. << I suppose that's fair enough. She'll be nice to my eggs. >>

"You can do whatever you'd like. ...Candidate." Shiae thoroughly enjoys popping this sort of thing too, judging from the twist of her lips. "That is, assuming you'll agree to Stand for Siramyth and Arisvath's clutch."

Dydaree reaches down for the dustpan, carefully balancing it so no sand can go winging off. "Arisvath liking it is actually a better reason to see them than my own curiosity. I might just have to go check them ou-" Her words fall of to an abrupt halt as Shiae's words sink through, and the girl blinks at her with brown eyes that are suddenly a bit wider. "Stand? Again? I mean, didn't the hatchlings already make it pretty clear that li'l ol' Ree isn't their cup of tea?"

R'hyn's brows raise. "Arisvath didn't say," he murmurs, mildly. "Oh! No - lots of people stand more than once. Serriena did. Mechelle did. Sometimes your lifemate just isn't there, you know? But they may be later. This time." He backs away from the retrieved dustpan, rising slowly to his feet again.

Shiae says, "Not everyone is lucky enough," she puts a sardonic twist to the words, "to find their lifemate on their first go. I don't believe E'van Impressed the first time he stood either."

Dydaree draws the dustpan closer to herself, dusting her middle with black sand as a result. "Really? Well, I certainly wouldn't turn down the chance. I'd love to Stand again, Weyrsecond. Thank you." Though she pales a bit beneath her tan, she manages to draw a smile to her lips.

R'hyn looks quietly pleased, and smiles. "Good! Oh - it's always so exciting. I do hope you'll Impress this time around." He wipes at his knees, adding, "I should get back. Nice meeting you, Dydaree, and good luck!"

Shiae returns the smile without the corresponding paling. "You're welcome. Go ahead and get that cleaned up, then..." she nods after R'hyn before turning back to the Candidate, "Then you'll have the rest of the day free. Get your things moved to the Candidate's barracks, and I'll get your name up onto the chore rotation."

Dydaree's smile deepens a bit and she nods to R'hyn. "Thanks and it was nice to meet you, too. Quite an eventful day I guess." She's almost a little breathless as Shiae relays the rest of her instructions, though she nods along. "Yes ma'am. Though if I'm ever Searched again could you do it a bit earlier in the day? The day off isn't worth nearly as much when it's three quarters gone." Her tone is jovial and she glances toward the dorms. "Thank you again- I guess I'll go get moved in."

R'hyn nods back to Dydaree, then Shiae, then turns to trot out of to the bowl. If he came in for a break, he doesn't seem to have gotten much of one.

You head out through the narrow tunnel to emerge in the bowl.

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