August 21, 2004
A group of candidates touch the eggs for the first time.

Previous Next

Standing closer to the wall than the mound of eggs, Geraine appears to be present more as an extra body on the sands than anything else. There's something...off...about the young goldrider, a certain fuzziness to her eyes and a slinkiness to her movements. More than anything, she seems to be stealing serripticious glances at R'hyn while she waits on the candidates.

R'hyn, looking distracted, hasn't been on the sands long by the look of it - he's still peeling off his jacket. Leaning lazily up against the railing, quite a distance from Geraine, his gaze is fastened upon Arisvath, who is crouched in front of the Shadowy Menace egg, staring blankly at it. A tension in his stance is a good enough indication that he's aware of Geraine's glances - and not the least bit comfortable with it.

Trusilwyn trots herself out in the line up of candidates, keeping herself apart from the more exuberant ones but keeping her chin up and her shoulders back. If it can be said she's walking with anyone, it's Avery by dint of them both being towards the back and not bouncing up towards the front.

Kiora comes shuffling along from the barracks, a flock of candidates in tow. She waves cheerily at Geraine and R'hyn, but pauses long enough to give the candidates a few more instructions. "Be real careful, okay? If you touch them, be gentle, and don't run around or anything. Siramyth's fussy about the yellow one, so I'd kinda stay away from it unless she falls asleep." Siramyth snorts -- that won't be happening any time soon.

Avery ambles along and, since Trusilwyn is there, tells her idly, "I must admit, this is rather exciting. It's not often you get to go touch things that a giant dragon would happily crush you under her foot for looking at funny."

T'an brings up the rear of the candidate group. That's to encourage stragglers, of course, nothing to do with the fact that he's the slowest by far. Of course not! Arriving at the sands, he picks his way with extreme caution, sand being nasty stuff that catches unsteady feet, to say nothing of the crutch that's keeping him from going flying sans dragon. He nods towards Siramyth and Arisvath.

Yasmin is among the aforementioned exuberant ones, but she remains quiet, mute even. Now that they are out on the sands, the giddy murmurings between Yasmin and a few of the other girl candidates have stopped. She listens attentively to Kiora's instructions and nods her comprehension.

Geraine might have stayed where she is, making calf-eyes at R'hyn, but the entrance of the candidates mean she has to be on her best behavior. Though, given the look on her face, it is likely that they should be hoping for normalcy more than anything else. Kiora earns a wide smile, something never seen on the face of the junior in previous months. Regardless, she does show a hint of compassion as she heads across the sands toward T'an. "Need some help, you?"

R'hyn hastily crosses the sands towards Kiora, avoiding even a glance in Geraine's direction, and peers at the candidates. "You're sure Siramyth's ready? Arisvath says it's fine, but I'm always... nervous. All these people, and the eggs, and--" He runs his hand through his short-cropped hair, and watches, hawk-like, the first movements of the candidates.

"I guess," True murmurs with as much "bored now" as she can foster in her voice. "I just wish there was a little... I don't know. Dignity to the whole thing. It /is/ important. It shouldn't be undertaken like a -picnic-. 'Hey kids, got nothing better to do? Let's go!'" She folds her arms briefly, but then decides the less body-heat conserving is to place her hands on her hips. Snotty commentary aside, she gives Siramyth the respectful nod the gold deserves, as well as a quick 'please don't eat my face' expression. Nose crinkling, she just tries to blend in again.

The light grows wan as the spring day gives way to evening. A blanket of gray clouds cloaks the skies, blotting out the sky so that everything seems uncommonly dark and chilly. The spring air is cool, still brisk but no longer icy. (55F, 13C)

"My chair's over there," Kiora offers for T'an, pointing in the direction of a well-cushioned seat. "You can sit there, if you want." Geraine gets a rather surprised smile, and then Ki turns her attention to R'hyn, leaving the candidates to do their thing. "Oh, Siramyth's okay with it. I asked her, no worries. If anything happens, I'll take them away -- and I've got something for you, anyway." She digs through the pockets of her skirt, producing a bracelet and holding it out for R'hyn. "I've had it for ages, sorry. Faelan left it in my weyr, and then I just kept forgetting about it. It's pretty." And shiny. Ooo!

"Most things in life should be undertaken with the casual air but attention to detail as a good picnic," Avery counters, and bends over to study one of the unyellow eggs. "Making sure all the pieces are packed, the weather is appropriate, and the route is clear. That, and there should always be baked beans." He reaches forward to gingerly touch the texture of the warm egg.

Slightly timid, Yasmin hangs back a bit as some of the other candidates move forward and circulate. She glances toward Trusilwyn at her comment, a midly admonishing look. Whether anyone were to care for Yasmin's judgment or not, the former seamstress seems to think they do, apparently. But after a brief moment that admonishing look is wiped away and Yasmin begins to carefully, cautiously move forward towards the eggs, picking her way around them. As she gets closer, she looks up and offers Siramyth what she hopes to be a disarming smile, before looking once more at the eggs.

T'an turns a relieved smile on Kiora. "Thanks, I'll accept the offer." Getting there takes him past the others, so he assures Geraine, "I'll be fine as long as I can sit down, thank you," and murmurs, "Afternoon, Weyrleader" as he passes R'hyn. Fortunately, the chair isn't far away, and he settles down to watch, dropping the crutch onto the warm sand. Blue eyes track the candidates, especially the troublesome ones.

R'hyn's face lights - he's even distracted from his candidate worries. "Oh! Thank-- shards. I thought it was really lost. I was supposed to send it to Rhyena ages ago, and Mother's been furious with me. Keeps calling me careless." By his expression, this is not something he takes to kindly. The bracelet is hurriedly stowed away in his pocket, the rider keeping one hand closely around it, and adds, "Thanks. -- Oh! Afternoon, T'an. How's the, uh, foot?"

Trusilwyn is not someone to care in the least, walking around Avery's egg to catch Yasmin's look towards her. Her return volley is to cast a raised, disdainful eyebrow at the older girl. Heard me?, it seems to say. What of it. Shoulders twitching, she turns her back on the blonde and finds an egg of her own to touch. Except she doesn't. She just sort of... stares at it for a second. One hand starts to reach out, but then just doesn't make it. It hovers over the eggs crown instead.

Geraine starts to prowl around the edge of the eggs once T'an is settled. Her eyes are still somewhat sharp--she spies two small candidates getting ready to fight over a chance with one egg, sending them off in opposite directions. Regardless, she seems distracted, stealing glances toward R'hyn and T'an and other males in the cavern.

Kiora turns a rather vivid shade of pink. "Oh ... I'm real sorry about keeping it so long, then. I should've tried harder to get it back to you." She rubs her nose a bit, then looks out at the caverns -- though Geraine does get a wary look every once in a while.

T'an's response to R'hyn is positive, accompanied by a cheerful smile. "It's getting better, thanks. Healers have just let me start to walk on it now." An exclamation of "Bet this one's a bronze!" rings from the vicinity of a nearby egg, and his attention is immediately distracted from the Weyrleader. "Murray..." The low admonition silences the young lad and sets him blushing.

Yasmin's blue-eyed gaze lingers on one of the darker hued eggs and carefully, she reaches out, gentle feeling the texture of the egg, but briefly, before pulling her hand away with a quick, worried look at Siramyth and the weyrwoman. Since she didn't do anything some of the other candidates aren't already doing, she moves along slowly to a brighter-colored egg, and gently strokes the top of it. She doesn't appear to have any longing interest more than the other. She is equally awed by them.

Avery straightens, and finds Geraine giving him an odd look. He responds with a bright, plastic smile, and tips his head to emphasize it, before circling around to consider another egg. "The differences are spectacular," he notes to no one in particular.

"It's all right. You had to figure out it was mine, first," says R'hyn, apparently unconcerned, though his hand stays close to the bracelet. "Erm. Is Geraine looking at me again?" The latter comment is said quietly, as he sneaks another glance around at the Junior Weyrwoman. "I just hope that queen of hers rises soon." T'an is grinned at, R'hyn nodding: "I'm glad to hear it. You enjoying working with the candidates?"

Geraine is looking at R'hyn again, her eyes almost predatory as she studies the Weyrleader. It would have been more trouble except for the fact that there is a movement out of the corner of one eye, a male candidate who is leaning down toward one of the smaller eggs. Luckily, for the bronzerider, he's pretty enough to distract the young woman.

Kiora smiles faintly at R'hyn, and then Ki mumbles something grumpily under her breath as she spots Geraine. She heads in the junior's direction, offering a reassuring look for the candidates as she passes by. "Real nice bunch of candidates, don't you think, Geraine?" Really nice, apparently. "Seems like a good group, so far."

T'an turns his attention from the hapless teenager back to the Weyrleader. "Yes, I am. Though, I'd have been happy doing just about anything rather than nothing, once I'd been out of the infirmary for a couple of sevendays! But they're a good bunch, and there's plenty I can do that doesn't need me on my feet." He shifts in the chair, adjusting its angle.

Yasmin comes upon an egg near the one Avery is studying and nods, smiling softly as she murmurs, "Like snowflakes. Beautiful and unique," then she chuckles softly, "but not like snowflakes in temperature. No, certainly not." She gently strokes the egg, following the marbling patter across its surface with her fingers lightly.

Trusilwyn eventually works the nerve up to lay her hand - flat and unmoving - against one of the darker hued eggs. Her expression is difficult to read, but the muscles on her jaw rhythmically jump. A girl passes her and gives her a snippy chuckle, the insinuation clear. 'Scared?' the girl asks True, earning herself a harsh, narrow glare. Woodenly, True moves her hand. See? She's touching it. Scared? Pft!

R'hyn has an expression much like that of a small animal caught in front of a bright light; he blinks, several times, hurriedly looking away from Geraine and concentrating his attention upon T'an. "I'm sure," he agrees, head shaking uncomfortably. "I think I'd find the idleness, uh-- limiting."

"I found a good rough man for the clutch earlier, Kiora." Geraine says this proudly, as if announcing she found a shiny rock. "Asked him to Stand. He looked a little confused but he'll be OK." That declared, the goldrider smiles at her Senior. "They are nice. You guys are lucky to have such good ones for your clutch." She acts as if she was personally responsible for that fact; big beaming smile on her face as she wipes at the sweat trickling down her face.

"Yes, rather warm," Avery agrees, and cups the curvature of the egg in front of him. "Reminds me of..." The trader trails off, and looks to his right to find a rather young candidate, listening attentively. He pats the egg affectionately. "Um. Rocks. Under the sun."

Siramyth rumbles rather suddenly, glowering in Yasmin and Avery's direction. Kiora usefully calls, "S'okay, Siramyth, you take a nap!" before peering back at Geraine, looking suspicious. "Was he real nice and stuff? Can't just search people 'cause they're standing around. I'd feel bad, getting their hopes up." Ki would probably appreciate it more if Geraine /had/ found a shiny rock. "So long as he's nice, s'okay. I'm glad you're helping find good candidates."

"Yes." T'an's tone is rueful. "Yranth gets frustrated, too. It'll be a few more weeks before she can start to fly again. But she's taking it well, and she was pleased with herself for searching a couple of candidates. It's good for them to have her about, as well." A rapid movement on the Sands is reflected by a sharp turn of T'an's head, but the candidate in question slows his pace without being told, and he gives a confirmatory nod as he looks back towards R'hyn.

R'hyn follows the candidates with his eyes nervously, giving them almost as much of his attention as Geraine gets - she is given a quick, uncomfortable glance every ten seconds or so. "I'm sure," he agrees, glancing - for a moment - back at T'an. "Arisvath's only ever had minor injuries, but... Ugh. Oh, she did? That's good. We've gotten two, as well, though Arisvath doesn't usually have great success."

Trusilwyn, her mouth almost invisible its pursed so tightly, seems to be done with all this. One egg touched, two dirty looks, and she calls enough enough. Whatever's going on in her head is a jumbled affair. With a quick-walk-stalk, she zips past other candidates and takes up a spot near the barracks entrance. The muscles along her jaw pop regularly again.

"He's no better or worse than any of the other candidates," Geraine insists indignantly before eyeing the candidates receiving Syramith's attention. "They'd best keep their attention on the eggs." Its an odd moment of lucidity, her voice back to its normal sharper tones.

Yasmin smirks at Avery's comment, or near comment, as she withdraws her hand from the egg in front of her. But the rumbling from the gold makes the willowy candidate start a bit where she stands and look up at the gold with both an apologetic and confused look. "Look at the pattern on that one," she murmurs softly, clearing her thoat softly as she tries to change the subject, "What do you think?" She asks with a look toward Avery, "Green?" She vaguely gestures to one of the more loudly patterned eggs.

"It's not so much a matter of color as texture," Avery confides in Yasmin, and reaches over to run a hand across the indicated egg. "See, there's the ripples that point towards the smaller end of the egg? It's definately a brown." He gives the girl a certain, earnest nod.

Kiora looks a bit more nervous as Siramyth rumbles again. "Maybe I ought to get them off," she admits, tugging nervously at the hem of her tunic. "I didn't think she'd be fussy, but I guess it wouldn't be wise to risk it."

"Its still fairly soon after clutching, I suppose." Then Geraine goes, "R'hyn looks very nice tonight, don't you think?" Its an innocent question but...several minutes in a row of lucid Junior was apparently too much to ask.

T'an notices Trusilwyn's bid for escape and wonders softlyy, "Now what's her problem?" He tries to catch the girl's attention, beckoning to her to join him, then responds to the heat of the sands by loosening the cords at the neck of his tunic.

"He usually does," Kiora replies distractedly, rubbing her nose a bit. "R'hyn's real nice, so I don't see why he'd look otherwise." She waves her arms a bit, attempting to get the candidates' attention. "Just a couple more minutes, please! I don't want Siramyth to try anything."

R'hyn misses T'an's comment on Trusilwyn - but doesn't seem to have /heard/ Geraine, though that doesn't help the fact that he still looks relatively uncomfortable. He takes a few steps away from T'an and his chair, to wander around the candidates, back firmly turned to Geraine.

Yasmin nods thoughtfully, "Definitely, eh?" She flashes Avery a genuine smile before touching the ridges of the egg's surface that he indicated before glancing over to Kiora as she announces they'll be heading back soon. With visible reluctance, Yasmin withdraws her hand, and then murmurs, "Well, even if it was short, this was really nice." She lingers to see if Avery is coming along with her, and then starts walking across the sands to where the rest of the candidates are already slowly returning to, and where Trusilwyn is already.

Trusilwyn may or may not see T'an's beckon. If she does, she ignores it. If she doesn't, no harm no foul. Either way, she keeps her expression as bland as possible and "watches" the others with a blank, unfocused stare. She notes Kiora's time limit, though, and takes it as a dismissive gesture on the Weyrwoman's part. Only a few more minutes, right? So that must mean it's alright to leave early if you feel like it. She quickly ducks through the archway, heading back into the barracks.

Trusilwyn heads through the tunnel into the Barracks.

Avery gives Kiora a blithe smile, and moves on to another egg, feels it carefully, and pronounces, "Green, this one." The other candidates abandoning the clutch and passing him as they head back into the barracks suggest that he might do well to do likewise, and the trader stands up.

Geraine does at least have the sense to resume her prowl at the edge of the sands, herding some of the more reluctant candidates away from the sands and toward the candidate barracks. And T'an gets just as many looks as she wanders by him as R'hyn. And no few of the candidates, some of whom preen and others of whom look scared.

Kiora just frowns after Geraine, and moves to head off the sands, herding a few lingering candidates along with her. "Thanks for coming out, T'an," she adds, beaming at the greenrider as she passes. "If you're comfortable, you can stay if you want. I've just got some stuff to take care of." And off she scoots.

R'hyn hurries in the opposite direction from Geraine and the candidates, settling over by Arisvath - at least for the moment.

T'an frowns as Trusilwyn leaves. There may be words later. He notices one of Geraine's looks in his direction and acknowledges it with a nod, but he's more intent on rounding up the candidates. He lurches a bit as he gets to his feet, telling Kiora, "No, I'll go back with them." And that's what he proceeds to do, joining them by the entrance. "Quietly back to the barracks, please!"

Geraine is in the midst of gathering the last of the candidates up, heading them off the sands and away from the rather testy gold. As she goes, she ends up by T'an, watching his movements across the sands carefully.

The candidates gone, Geraine huffs out a breath of air and hms to herself. "Guess I should check on them?"

Finding the goldrider beside him, T'an smiles politely. "Well, that seemed to go all right. I'm sure they'll be fine, but if you wish to visit the barracks," He gestures towards the exit. "After you!"

Geraine heads through the tunnel into the Barracks.

T'an heads through the tunnel into the Barracks.

From the galleries, Yasmin comes up the stairs and out the tunnel from the living cavern.

Previous Next