June 27, 2004
Later, R'hyn and Serriena catch up at the after hatching party.

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You head through the narrow tunnel and into the bustling living caverns.

R'hyn escaped, post-hatching, to clean himself up, it seems - his hair is wet, and his face pink with scrubbing. He's immediately swept up into the crowd of people visiting, emerging every so often from one group or another with a glass of wine in his hand, though he doesn't seem to drink much. He looks bored, though when addressed, he seems to do his best to look attentive.

Serriena is sitting at a table, entertaining some of the family members of those who impressed. "Yes, Dyna is a lovely girl," she says to one man. "I'm sure she'll do Ista proud." Serri excuses herself after a moment, picking up a glass from the table and moving to refill it with a splash of liquor and mostly water added to it. Someone's taking it easy on that tonight.

"Oh, I think Iniya will, er, do well with her green - I'm sure they're a great pair," promises R'hyn to a tall young man who, rumours say, has been courting the new greenrider for turns now. "I'm sure you'll have no problem waiting for her to, er, mature, over the next eighteen months." R'hyn has turned pink, at saying this, and excuses himself to head over to the serving table to pour himself some punch. "Oh. Serriena. Hey."

"Hello R'hyn," Serriena smiles at the bronzerider and says, "It was a fine clutch. Three bronzes, did very well to add for Ista. I'm only sorry it wasn't Niaryth out there with Arisvath." She turns to regard the caverns asking, "How's it been for you?"

R'hyn sets down the ladle, holding his cup gingerly. "Er, thanks. It was, wasn't it? He's pretty proud of himself." Hesitating, the bronzerider smiles quietly. "Erm. Maybe next time, perhaps? Though not any time soon, I hope.I can't believe he's so good with the queens - not much use with the greens, at all." He takes a sip from his cup, and, once he's swallowed, allows, "Decent enough, I suppose. I work hard, keep my head down. No need for E'van to notice me - I mean, aside from this whole clutch thing. How are you?"

"Not doing too bad," Serri grins. "Don't seem to keep out of E'van's sight nearly as well as you." She nods at a passing Lord Holder saying, "Good evening Lord Jarin." She gets greeted in turn and then with the pleasantries dispensed, Serri turns and says, "I'm sorry." She doesn't say for what, though considering the way they parted so long ago, there could only be perhaps one reason.

"I guess you're a little more noticeable than I am," responds R'hyn, a rueful smile resting upon his face. He takes another sip from his glass, turning the ceramic around in his hand. He echoes Serriena's nod towards Lord Jarin with one of her own, then turns his attention back on to her. "It wasn't your fault."

"I'm not going to place blame or anything." Serri looks at R'hyn carefully and says, "I'm just sorry for my part in it." She glances to the side and with a rueful grin says, "I've been to a mindhealer to talk it all out. We figured out I was bitter about alot of things that I had to let go of."

R'hyn nods once, and then a second time. Slowly, as though he's not quite sure how to respond. "I am, too." He lets the words linger, his eyebrows lifting at her admission. "And... you're doing better, now? I mean, working things out?" He swallows, adding, "Not that I think..."

"With time," Serriena nods. "It helps to have someone to talk to. With only Niaryth who has a dragon's logic on everything turning out better, I was.." Serri pauses and then continues, "For lack of a better word, going crazy."

"I can understand that," allows R'hyn, in a very quiet voice. He holds his cup uneasily, in both hands. "I would have listened, you know, if you'd needed to talk. Though," he breaks off again, head bowing, "I suppose it's better you talk to a professional."

Serriena quiets as another high end Lord Holder passes, this one from Nerat as she calls out a greeting and is greeted in return. Once he is gone she says to R'hyn. "I know you would have listened, but somehow I don't think I would have been ready to listen to you." She shrugs, not at all apologetic for that. "Have you seen Rhyena lately?" She switches subjects asking. "I can't believe she's already celebrated her third turnday."

R'hyn echoes Serriena's greeting, smiling politely at the Lord Holder. Once the man has passed, he nods his head again. "I know. I wouldn't have been the right person. Still - if you do, ever..." He shrugs his shoulders, uneasily. "Nearly four," he says, grinning, more comfortable on the subject change. "Which must mean that my turnday is coming up soon, too. I went and saw her yesterday. She's such a lovely, friendly child." He sounds very proud of her.

"So are you going to give her any brothers or sisters soon with that certain brown Wingleader?" Serri asks, nudging slightly with a suggestive tone in her voice, that's teasing and poking fun at him. She takes a sip of her watered down liquor, and reaches out to a passing tray of food, to grab a snack of some pastry.

"I'd say that's pretty unlikely," says R'hyn, shaking his head. "We talked about it, but we're not really inclined that way. Rhyena's great, but I just don't... Well. It's not really on the cards." He takes another sip of his punch, picking out a piece of fruit with one finger.

"That looks good, where'd you find that punch?" Serri asks, glancing around. Spying the punch bowl and floating fruit she says, "Let's go get some more." She heads for the punch bowl, setting her liquor glass down. Grabbing a ladle, she swishes it through the bowl, not even getting a glass but fishing for the pieces of punch soaked fruit. She manages to get a berry and scoops it out, popping it into her drink. She goes fishing for a few more pieces before finally relinquishing the ladle to someone else. Minus a few berries in the bowl.

R'hyn follows, without a word, expression indicating amusement for Serriena's behaviour. "It isn't bad," he agrees, thoughtfully. "I mean, I don't really like alcohol, but it doesn't taste like alcohol, in this."

"I just wanted some fruit." What could be less ladylike than Serri fishing through her glass for a berry and popping it into her mouth. "mmm," she savors it slowly and says, "Delicious. Like always." Looking around she grins, "It's nice to see people so happy. I remember my first clutch I got so drunk and somehow lost my candidate robe somewhere in this weyr."

R'hyn smiles, amused by this, though only quietly so. "It is nice," he agrees, glancing around. "Several of the Impressions were of candidates who'd stood before, which was good to see. I offered to talk to the disappointed ones, but I don't suppose they really feel like talking." He turns back, his eyebrows raised. "Really? I had no idea."

"Well," Serri chuckles. "The second time I lost my robe again although that time it was to my weyrmate who was only too happy that I didn't impress." She grins rather felinelike at that memory. "And of course, the third time.. I finally did impress. Of course by then Weyrleader T'rrent was using me as the example for those who didn't impress."

R'hyn, head shaking, marvels, "All these things I never knew. I mean, I knew you didn't Impress 'til your third time, but... Yes," he adds, thinking out loud. "It must be strange, for those with weyrmates, or whom are in relationships. On one hand, you want your partner to be happy. On the other, it means losing them for a turn and a half. Very strange."

"Did you have to stand a few times?" Serri asks. "Or did you impress on your first time?" She fishes another berry out of her drink, sucking the juice from the middle before eating it. "And did you have a love interest at Southern Weyr? I think you told me you were too young didn't you?"

R'hyn takes another sip from his cup, though there is really on fruit left in it, which he seems too shy to slurp up. "I Impressed my first time," he admits. "I expected a blue, if anything, and-- well. There was Arisvath." He scoots quickly out of the way, as someone attempts to brush past him to get at the table. "No, no love interests. I had-- well, a bit of a crush, but it wasn't mutual."

"Yeah that sucks doesn't it?" Serri chuckles. She drinks some more of her watered liquor and fishes for another berry, getting the last out of her glass. "I really hope we keep all our weyrlings this time although I'm sure there will be one or two that harm themselves before it is over." She glances at some who have already come down into the cavern to eat and drink, those who impressed first.

"Yeah. Me, too," says R'hyn, quietly. "I hate it, when I hear about weyrlings that have been lost. Particularly when they're Arisvath's. It seems like such a waste. Granted," he amends, "I hate hearing about anyone dying. It's just part of life, though, I guess. Another thirty-five turns and at least the risk'll be lessened." He follows Serriena's gaze, smiling brightly at the wide-eyed weyrlings.

"Thirty-five turns," Serri taps her chin and then chuckles. "Has it really been so long? I'm already thirty-one turns old and now I will have to wait until I am sixty-turns old for this pass to be through? That seems so long." She glances at the weyrlings and says, "So long since I was young..when I was new to this as they are." She grins at the weyrlings who come by and greet both of them, having gotten to know them during candidacy.

"I'll be sixty-five," says R'hyn, tiredly. "If I'm still alive. A long time." He smiles more subduedly at the weyrlings, admitting, "I feel quite sure I seemed older than that, when I Impressed. Surely. But it was a while ago. I Impressed before the pass started -- some of these kids weren't even born yet. Even Kiora was just Rhyena's age."

"When did we become old aunties and uncles?" Serri objects looking at R'hyn with an accusing eye as if he were trying to pin that title on her and himself. "Not me. In fact.. I think I'll stay up 'til dawn to prove it!" She makes a muslce with her left arm as if to show she's strong enough to do it. "Wanna stay up with me?" she queries. "We'll make a go of it, see who can keep their eyes open the longest." She finishes off her drink and pours some punch into her glass, getting more fruits floating in there.

R'hyn's expression turns brightly amused. "I'll try," he allows, after a pause. "Though I doubt E'van will let me off sweeps in the morning, hatching or no hatching. At least there are no drills - I can sleep after that." He glances down at his drink again, and finally scoops up another piece of fruit.

Serriena takes a big drink of her punch and says, "Well Ainsley isn't likely to excuse me either but I'm tough. I can do it," Serri says, "I'm not old," Her voice is spoken in high teasing tones, poking fun at herself for a laugh. "In fact, what do you say we dress up as weyrlings and sneak into the barracks just for fun to see if anyone notices?" Her face brightens into a grin. "I wonder if I can still fit into my uniform.." her voice trails off.

R'hyn's eyebrows raise. "Now I'm really going to start wondering how much you've had to drink," he teases, head shaking. "I know /I/ couldn't fit into my old uniform -- I was a pretty scrawny little kid, and that didn't change much until a while later." He fishes out another piece of fruit, adding, "We may not be old, but we're not kids anymore."

"True, but it'd be fun to sneak in as if we were and see if they could tell the difference." Serri says before giving up on the idea with a "Maybe not," As she spies one of the Weyrleader pairs heading their way with the Lord Holders. "Speaking of kids..do you know what you're doing for Rhyena's turnday gift?"

From afar, Cardixa hasn't been drunk, though I find it incredibly amusing to watch other drunk people. ;> Just-- the whole concept is pretty much beyond me. Drinking just to drink. I like a drink in the evening to relax, or with a meal or something, but otherwise? Blah.

R'hyn leans up against the edge of the table, blissfully missing the fact that at least one person was trying to get past him. "Not yet," he admits. "I've been looking, but the perfect thing hasn't actually jumped out at me, yet. I've still got a little while, I guess. What about you?"

"I was thinking of perhaps a pet..or something bigger," Serri admits. "Like a runner." She takes a drink of the punch and then a large gulp, finishing it off to go for more. After refilling her cup she picks another berry out, sucking on it a moment before asking, "What do you think? Perhaps a small one that can be trained as she grows?"

R'hyn's brows raise. "A runner? She's only turning four. I would have thought she'd be too young to be able to ride--" he breaks off, then admits, "Though I don't know. I've never ridden. That'll be something hard for me to beat," he adds, somewhat lamely. "Not that it's a competition."

"You don't really think I could afford a runner by myself do you?" Serri asks. "I was thinking of splitting the cost and getting one gift. And if your mother could help us, it might make her really happy. I was thinking of one young enough for her to grow with it. They do grow to about thirty-turns before they die."

"I guess I didn't really think about it," admits R'hyn, a little embarrassedly. "I'll ask Mother. I think she'd probably be delighted to help out. But do we get a little pony, that she can ride before she grows up, or a full-size runner that will last longer, but won't help immediately? I guess we should be talking to the Herders, or something."

R'hyn finally refills his glass, careful not to get too much fruit with it, since he's already got a glass full. "All right. I'm willing to do that. When? I mean - we've got a little time, but we need to make sure we can get the best we can."

"Well her turnday isn't for another two months," Serri says slowly. "What about next week we go for a first look? We'll fly out and see what they have in the for sale field. And we'll ask if a pony is best or like you said, get her a full runner that's not too old so she can start lessons." Serri looks at the weyrlings as they eat and says, "I know one of the Masters we could talk to."

R'hyn thinks for a moment, and then nods. "I think that works for me. I've no plans - now that I'm off the sands, I'm, you know, fairly free." He takes a sip from his cup, adding, "No hints, though. This needs to be a surprise. I have no idea how we'll top it next turn, though." He's smiling, though.

"Well I'm sure we'll either find a way or perhaps she'll be old enough to realize we can't always give her very elaborate gifts." Serri grins. She drinks her punch up and refills with the last in the bowl. "Who drank all the punch?" she asks out loud. "There's no fruit left." She scrapes the bottom of the bowl. "Did you eat it all," she eyes R'hyn's cup as if he's the culprit.

"Yeah, true," agrees R'hyn, with a smile. He glances down at his cup, and flushes faintly. "Erm. You can have my fruit, if you want. I've still got plenty left. Otherwise, I'm sure there's more in the kitchens..." he trails off, hopefully.

"Thanks," Serri holds out her cup for some fruit to be poured in. "Shall we go see if they have any more in the kitchen? I bet they don't know the punch bowl is out." She looks at the kitchen door.

R'hyn shakes most of the fruit out of his cup into Serriena's, hesitates, and then shakes in the rest. "I think I've had enough," he admits. "It's all yours." He yawns, opens his mouth to say something, and then yawns again. "I think I'm already about to fail in this staying up all night business. It's been a long day. Maybe I should just go to bed."

"I win," Serri pipes up with a smile. "You should get some sleep," She nods her head. "I think I might go see how the weyrlings are settling in and make sure they all got something to eat before bed."

"Yeah," agrees R'hyn, wryly. "You do. Thanks. I'll see you soon. Next sevenday, if not sooner. If you see Rhyena, give her a kiss for me." He nods, then adds, "Offer them my congratulations. Night, Serri."

"Good night R'hyn," Serri smiles. She waggles her fingers and then dips them in her cup, finishing up the fruit he didn't eat.

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

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