You make a first impression (Open)

[Rei]

Darmori hesitantly pushed open the door and crept into the male section of the candidate barracks. He looked like a small nervous field mouse. Scratch that he felt like a small nervous field mouse. The bunks at least where familiar. He used to live at the weyrfolk apartments with the other drudges. Oh some of the better cooks who had been their longer had their own rooms but mostly the staff all slept together in a set up not to different from this. Hesitantly he tossed his small bundle of belongings onto an empty bunk. The place was actually pretty clean. It was nice.

It was about midday so presumably everyone would be at lunch or lessons. Running his hand over the trunk at the foot of the bed the teen opened it and ran his fingers over the white candidate robe. It wasn’t the dragons he was interested in. It was the whers. Darmori found it strange that the wher candidates where mixed with the dragon ones but he wasn’t complaining. Did one even wear white to a wher hatching? He hadn’t a clue. Tucking his small bag of belonging’s lovingly into the trunk the boy closed it with a smack.

Sitting on the bed he tried not to tear up again. This was all so new and frightening. Ineraya had believed he could do it however. Surely if she thought he had it in him he did. She was never wrong. Still he missed her, he missed the other drudges, hell he even missed Mae. Oh he could go visit them whenever he wished but it wouldn’t be the same, would it? He was a candidate now. It felt weird to admit that to himself. So involved was Darmori in his own world that he didn’t even noticed the door opening.

[Tashe]

"Nnn..." Using his washtowel to clean the water out of his ears, Eliah shot his Green Firelizard a glare. He now knew not to take Leifa with him when he went to take a bath. She had been so keenly interested in a certain soap bubble that when she had reached out to touch it, the Green had fallen into the communal bath. Eliah then had to lurch through the water to rescue her, getting completely drenched in the process. He hadn't wanted to get his hair wet, having only washed it yesterday, but when Leifa fell in he tossed himself after her with out a second thought. Fortunately, he had gotten to her before she could go under. Rubbing his head with the towel, the Candidate sighed and tried to soak up as much water as he could. "Leifa I swear. I'm going to get a leash for you." Looking down at the hatchling, who was happily riding on the back of Rishin, Eliah sighed again. Impressing the Firelizard had not been on his agenda.

Over his shoulder he threw the damp towel, feeling it brush against his ear piercings on its way down. Anyone who knew him would have noticed his gradual wardrobe change, black now dominated his clothes and was usually the only thing he wore. Recently Eliah had taken to painting his nails black, he didn't mind that it was normally only women who painted their nails. Itching his arm he whistled to his Canine as she fell behind. "Rishin come." Running a hand through his hair, Eliah pushed open the door and walked into the room. His gaze not on the barracks itself but Rishin as she trotted through the door. Collecting Leifa from the Canine's back, he straightened up... and blinked in surprise. "Oh. Hello there..." Moving to his own bunk, he tossed his towel onto it receiving a surprised meow from a feline. "Sorry Koulko."

Turning back to the new boy as he shouldered Leifa, Eliah grabbed his comb and pulled it through his strawberry blond hair. "Hey are you new? I've never seen you here before."

[Rei]

Voices. Darmori froze at the sound of voices and kept completely still. Inside his chest his heart was beating rapidly. He felt like he had just gotten caught stealing or worse. The urge to hide was strong but he mentally beat it away. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. Silly Dar. Don’t be so silly. He chided himself so by the time the other candidate entered the room he was mildly calm. Curious light blue eyes followed the dog with it’s fire lizard rider and then the dark dressed boy that followed. He felt kind of sorry for the black feline sprawled out on the bed when the damp towel stuck it. But the boy had been quick to apologize so he couldn’t have been that bad.

Tilting his head the former drudge debated what to say before smiling and offering. “Well I wouldn’t say I’m totally new. I was born here but I just got accepted for candidacy.” Taking a chance he pushed off form the bed and walked over to Eliah. Sticking out his hand he smiled warmly. “They call me Darmori. What’s your name?” He took in the other’s total appearance but was particularly stuck by the other boy’s hair. It was wet now but what color would it be when it was dry? Would it be worth collecting? He would have to see. His own hair was currently longer than he had ever worn it before. It came just to the tips of his ears. It was bothersome but he hadn’t had the time to cut it lately. More’s the pity.

“That is a nice flitter you have. Did you get it at the last hatching in the Main hall? I was working on the kitchen staff then. Mae got one to and she was pretty peeved about it. It was really funny.” Darmori was interested in Rishin to. He had always liked canines. But one thing at a time. His head was spinning as it was. So much was new and different.

[Tashe]

As the other boy offered his hand, Eliah hesitated before taking it. Under normal circumstances he wouldn't have been so out going with meeting new people, but Leifa's emotions plus the fact there was only the two of them in the room diminished his shyness. "Eliah. Hyphen Holder, Dragon Candidate and Senior Apprentice Woodcrafter." Letting the older boy's hand go, he combed out his bangs before beginning to put his bathing supplies away in the trunk at the end of his bunk. "Nice to meet you Darmori." The Candidate plucked his towel off of Koulko, who had not bothered to move out from under it. Giving the feline a tentative pat (for he was still convinced the small male could see into his soul) he stepped down off of the lower bunk's edge and folded the thick cloth before tossing that as well.

"Huh, oh yes. Leifa is from that clutch, Rose's and Azaran's I believe. She's nice, but she's very much like a toddler. Can't let her out of my sight." Leifa, who knew her name, chirped happily at both of the humans. They were obviously talking about her, and they were obviously saying very nice things. She crooned as Her's scratched her eyeridges. It was fortunate that the Candidatemaster decided that he liked giving Eliah Kitchen chores, otherwise he wouldn't have known who Darmori was talking about. "Oh, Miss Mae got one? I guess I didn't notice, I was too surprised when Leifa dove into my lap." He was surprised he'd never really bumped into the young man, it seemed as if he was almost always posted for Kitchen chores. Though it was entirely possible that they worked on different shifts or even different days. Who knows.

"Oh, so as I said this is Leifa. He's Koulko," he pointed up at the feline and then moved the gesture down to the canine that sat dutifully at his feet, "and this is Rishin. She doesn't bark, so the other guys let me keep her inside. She usually sleeps on my bottom bunk." Eliah tucked both of his hands into his pockets and smiled, wet hair flipping into his face. "Uh yeah... oh!" Picking his way barefoot over to the door, he slid a small piece of hide out of a leather holder attached to the wall. Skimming it, he located a name. "It looks like you're assigned to this bunk." Putting the chart down, Eliah walked over to the bunk next to the one Darmori had been sitting on and patted it. "We all sleep on the top, but no one checks so you can sleep on the bottom if you don't like the top. And when we are checked, we usually find out the date so we can make sure that everything's cleaned up." Moving back to his own bed, he dropped himself down onto the floor and leaned against the frame, holding his hands out to Rishin as she came over and sat between his legs. "Do you need any help with your stuff or have any questions?"

[Rei]

“Likewise Eliah.” Darmori returned with a bright smile. Much better. Outgoing was his nature and all this nervousness was getting to him. Shifting from foot to foot he watched as the other boy moved about the room. Dragon candidate huh? A dragon hopeful. The concept was surprisingly strange to him. Truth be told the dragon’s scared him a little. He wasn’t sure why they did, but they did. He liked the whers better. They where ugly yes, but there was something about them that to Darmori was highly attractive. So involved was the blonde with his own thoughts that he almost missed that Eliah was speaking again. Whoops.

“Yeppers. Mae got one she called him Nhim.” He remarked in a conversational tone. “He is blue and he likes to hide down her shirt. It flusters Mae something awful.” He chuckled at the thought. Mae was funny when she was flustered. Not that he would ever tell her that. Oh no. Curiously he watched as Eliah scratched the green. All this time at a weyr and he had never owned a flitter or a mandyr. He just couldn’t get up the courage to get to a hatching. Especially when he wasn’t sure how Mae or Ineraya would have reacted. However now he was free from their thumbs so maybe he would chance it.

Curious blue eyes watched the other lad as he introduced the rest of his pets and then checked a leather bound chart hung on a wall. Huh so much for being observant. He hadn’t seen that. Darmori nodded blankly as Eliah gestured to a bunk and went on to explain the ‘rules’ of sorts. Smiling the teen bounced over to his trunk to fetch his bag. Taking it out he moved to the bunk Eliah pointed out and gently tucked his possessions inside it before closing the lid. He would sort them all out later when he had more privacy. Most people didn’t react well to his…er...collection.

That done he flopped down on the edge of the bed opposite the other candidate. Gingerly he reached out to let the canine sniff the back of his hand. He had learned the hard way about not reaching out to touch canines he didn’t know. “Umm they explained the rules to me earlier. I know all the stuff about curfews and stuff. But I do have one question.” Light blue eyes went to the other’s face. “Do you still wear the robes to a wher hatching?” Yeah it was probably a silly first question but oh well it was better than what Darmori wanted to ask. Can I have a lock of your hair? Yeah that would go over well.

[Tashe]

"Nhim, thats a nice name." Watching as Leifa crawled down his arm to paw at Rishin, Eliah was on guard-duty. Although he doubted Rishin would go after his pretty Green, you just never really knew with animals. "I'll have to ask her about him next time I see her. Maybe Leifa would like to see her brother... her Clutchbrother?" He failed at correct terminology. "I guess I should be glad Li isn't the kind to hide down shirts... although I don't think she understands danger either." The whole bathing pool incident was brought back to mind. He shook his head quietly, both at himself and his Firelizard. Rishin voiced a small whine, the I-really-want-to-go-oh-please-let-me plead. Eliah looked up from the smaller female to see what the Canine was complaining about. Oh, she wanted to say hi. "Rishin." She stood and l wagged her tail, looking at him with her pretty brown eyes. He held up his hand, all but his middle and pointer finger closed, the signal for silence. "Garaht." With that the Canine scrambled over to the other boy happily, sniffing his hand before crowding up close to him. She barked, demanding (kindly!) to be pet. Eliah smiled, happy that despite everything he had to do he still had time to continue working with her training.

Reaching back he felt around blindly for a small knapsack he had hung off of the edge of his bunk, locating it he began to dig through it. Now where were they... ahah! Eliah pulled out two small wooden rods that were covered in what looked to be clear rocks, as if they had been grown on the sticks. He resisted popping one into his mouth as Darmori spoke, leaning forward he offered the new Candidate one after he had stated his question. "Want one? They're Crystalcandy. My mom sent me some." Leaning back when the other boy took it, Eliah put his own candyrod into his mouth. "Nah. You can wear whatever, s'long as its sensible. Wher hatchings aren't as fancy as Dragonhatchings. You have to take extra classes though. 'Cause Candidate lessons focus on Dragons... I think the Wherlingmaster gives like, one or two lessons on Whers. But you have to choose to take them, you aren't required to go." Nibbling a little on his Crystalcandy, he had to reach down to catch Leifa before she slipped off of his leg. "So you're gonna go for a Wher? I don't think you have much competition. I know Emiliah is a Wher Candidate, but I don't think there are many others."

Meanwhile, Koulko was sitting on the edge of his bunk plotting to enact a sneaky plot. One that would be very fun, and probably scare Eliah in the process. His pupils contracted, the yellow irises stood out ominously against his pitch colored fur. He wasn't a bad cat, just a mischievous one.

[Rei]

Darmori laughed at Rishin’s obvious enthusiasm and then set himself to stroking her soft fur. He liked canines. A lot actually. He even tried to make friends with the ones that scavenged around the kitchens. Feral or not he adored them and even gave the little group of them names. Mae and the other drudges viewed them as pests and drove them away. If they had know Tynaris was feeding them and generally befriending them he would have probably gotten his ears boxed. He would have to remember to try and sneak them some food or get one of the other drudges to do it. There where a few of them who liked the semi feral canines as well. Idly he scratched behind the dogs ears and spoke to her. “Right then little lady aren’t you just the most lovely thing I ever did see?” He wasn’t joking either, long flowing fur, liquid brown eyes. She was darling. “Where’d you get her?” He asked Eliah in awe. She was so sweet and so pretty and that fur beautiful.

As his new ‘friend?’ offered the candy Darmori didn’t hesitate. “Thank you.” He said brightly before popping it in his mouth and closing his eyes in pleasure. “Mmmm this stuff is good. Your mom sounds nice.” The candidate let his light blue eyes scan the other boy just a touch of jealousy in them. He didn’t have any parents of his own and although Mae and Ineraya where nice it wasn’t like they could be compared to real parents. He listened with rapt attention as Eliah spoke but didn’t forget to keep stroking the canine. He had to take extra lessons? That wouldn’t be too bad he guessed. At least he would learn a bit about whers. All he really knew was that they didn’t like light and seemed a bit shy. At least the ones he had met there shy.

It was kind of weird that the dragon candidates seemed to have more formalities and tradition attached to them. He was good with it though, Darmori didn’t really know how to be formal. He had only one nice set of clothes that where given to him for his last turn day. They would have to do he supposed, although he could still wear the robe right? He doubted the whers would care. As interesting as his line of thought was to him it would be rude not to answer his companions questions. “Yep. I want a wher. Isn’t it kinda sad that there are only two wher candidates? Just me and some girl you say? How many eggs do whers lay? Surely more than just two.” Two seemed like, well, such a low number. Poor whers. Seemed as if they where just unloved. Why did the dragons get all the attention? Whers where just as good!

[Tashe]

Rishin's tongue lolled in pleasure as the new human began scratching behind her ears. Oh that was the spot, yes, yes right there. Wagging her tail as the boy spoke to her, the Brown Collie wuffed quietly. Wasn't he a nice human! He smelled like a good person, not like bad people who smelled differently. Smelled more like angry pheromones. He had a spicy scent that she liked, but her Master was even better. He smelled like human food and fresh grass. It was a combination that made Rishin feel all happy inside. Her tail thumped quietly against the bedpost as she continued to enjoy the rubbing.

"I got Rishin when I was eight, for a turnday present. My father got her from a Beastcrafter who's Herdcanine had had babies." Eliah didn't add that his dad had only gotten the puppy so that he would stop spending all of his time alone and up in the trees, thinking that having a dog would ground him. It didn't of course, but the Candidate never felt lonely afterward. He even began socializing more, which was a feat because he could be unbearably shy around people. "Yeah, my mom is nice but kinda strict. She was unhappy when I developed a knack for my father's trade but not her's. They have this weird competition thing between them." He shook his head slightly and crunched on a portion of his crystalcandy. "But yeah... I think she sends me stuff because she's trying to bribe me to come back home. Like, 'Hey there Pup, this is what you're missing, you don't need to become a Dragonrider. Being a Holder is much more important and fun.'" Once more he shook his head. "They just don't get it."

"Well as far as I know. I don't really talk much with the other candidates. All of my friends are Junior Weyrlings." All two of them that is, not including the friendly drudges he often found himself talking to. "Whers don't lay that many eggs, not like Dragons. Last time I think there were like five or six. Including the new Gold. I think it will be one of her children who you'll impress, you know, if you do. But I bet you will." Crossing his legs Eliah rested his hands on his knees, the candy sticking out of his mouth like a pipe. "Traditionally Dragons have more candidates than whers, cause Whers can go wild if they don't impress. Dragons go between, its like a one shot deal with them. Dragoncandidates have to be searched, like, it has to do with some sort of mental thing that a Searchdragon senses." He waved his hands around his head comically. "Whers are cool cause they don't care who you are, as long as you like them. They don't discriminate." If he timed out of Dragon candidacy, he'd definitely stay just to see if a Wher would like him. They were odd looking, but they had their charms. He liked to see them run, and since the bulk of the Whers at Selenitas were direct descendants of wild Whers, he had the chance to see them out playing at twilight. "So why did you decide to try being a Candidate?"

Nodding toward his dog,"I've trained her to be a jack of all trades. Hunter, Tracker, Guardcanine... she gets bored if I don't work with her." He whistled a short burst, making Rishin look at him with her ears swiveled all the way toward him. "Tah." Wiggling his fingers at her when she relaxed and went back to enjoying the rubbing, the younger candidate yawned slightly. Bathing always made him sleepy. "Did you ever have any pets?" Which reminded him... where was Leifa? Looking around he located her under his bunk, playing with a dustkitty. He pulled himself under the bunk slightly so he could grab his flit.

Picking himself up, Koulko crouched and swung his tail from side to side. Landing on his Human's belly in three... two... one...

[Rei]

Darmori continued petting Rishin as he listened politely to the other speak. It sounded great that Eliah’s parents had gotten him a puppy. He didn’t have parents so he hardly ever got gifts. Occasionally the kitchen staff would get together to try and get someone something for a turn day or something but that didn’t really compare to having your parents buy you something. Or did it? The ex drudge hadn’t the slightest clue. Still he listened politely and nodded in what he hoped where the right spots. All the while he sucked on the candy while his other hand was busy supplying Rishin with all the scratches she could want.

The candidate paid better attention when the topic moved on to whers. So whers didn’t lay that many eggs? Well six was still a few but yes no where near the amount of a dragon clutching. He had seen the gold handler about occasionally in the dining hall. So it was his wher he might be getting a baby from? That was kind of exciting. He also knew that whers could go wild. In fact he seemed to recall that pretty much all the surviving Selenitas whers came from wild stock. It was strange how that happened. As far as all the stuff with the mental senses was concerned Darmori wasn’t sure he cared enough to know all that. Whers made mental bonds as well so he wasn’t sure what the difference was. Letting sleeping dogs lie so to speak he just nodded along. The other boy was doing a fine job keeping the conversation going without his input for now. It was really a lot to take in so he hoped they would go over it more in lessons.

Then came a question for him finally. Darmori considered for a moment before removing the candy from his mouth to speak. “Well I think I finally decided I wanted to do something else when the Siege happened. I don’t know if you where around for it or not but all the weyrfolk got escorted into the canyon by a large group of whers. I got to see them in action and I kind of wanted to be like them. Protecting my home and stuff. After that I spent a lot of my free time wondering about it and Ineraya told me I should give it a shot. She talked to Miss Mae and Emoyan about it and here I am.” There wasn’t much else to say. Selenitas had always been his home. He was born here and he had an obligation to protect it. Or at least he believed he did. “I could have decided to be like you and be a dragon candidate but well dragons kind of scare me a little.” He admitted hoping the other boy wouldn’t laugh. “Plus I’ve always liked the dark. I feel more comfortable at night.” The night could hide things in the way daylight never could.

The candidate watched as Eliah gave some sort of verbal command to Rishin and then mulled over his question. “Nah I never had a pet. Unless you count the wild canines and felines I used to feed at night when the other cooks weren’t looking. I woulda got in trouble for sure if they knew but some of em almost got tame like. I never went to a impression for flits or nothing cause I was afraid Miss Mae would get mad. I really want to though. I for sure am gonna to try for one next flitter hatching. Although I kind of want a dog now. I always wanted a canine and Rishin is so sweet.” He then realized he was talking to the other candidates back. Oops surely he still heard? Out of the corner of his eye Darmori saw the black feline crouch and almost opened his mouth to warn Eliah. Instead he just stuck the candy back in his mouth and waited to see what happened. It might be amusing. Who knew?