The Dangers of Boredom (Open)

[Rowana]

Boredom was a highly dangerous state of being, especially if you were a young weyrling. There was no telling what kind of trouble one could get into just to make the day more interesting. Weyrling Masters and other authority figures beware, or else become the subject of amusing pranks and jokes. One would think between classes, dragon care, and chores that weyrlings wouldn't have time for such things, but you would be wrong.

Merridan was flopped on a chair in the common room, trying her best too look like she was interested in working on Chaoth's new riding straps. The straps, in fact, had been finished long before and didn't need much more than the occasional adjustment and cleaning, which she had already done. Mer sighed, setting the leather aside. So much had happened of late and she wanted to help, but she wasn't much good at anything useful. Healing and so on was beyond her and even cooking and simple chores like that often ended in disaster. She did her best, but that didn't mean the labor didn't bore her out of her mind. She wanted to do something! But what?

You could come outside and practice? Chaoth suggested. He was already getting too big to sit around the common room comfortably, so he had taken up sunning himself outside instead. Though at the moment he was doing some wing exercises. Even outside of class, he was determined to be the best possible. He never did it to show off. He just wanted to work hard. It was in his nature. I suppose I could, she murmured. Weapons practice was more fun that most thinks, but it would be better with a partner. Maybe she could convince some of the other weyrlings to let her teach them some things. That could be a good way to pass the time.

[subtlemystery]

If you are bored, then wouldn't it make sense to find something to do? Huath's voince interupted her pondering of the ceiling and Kalia instantly wrinkled her nose in reaction to the green. She could, of course, be finding something to do while the green sunned herself between exercising, but that would require having some sort of inkling as to what she'd like to be doing. Chores were done, and chores were boring. She didn't have any special skills or crafts that she could be practising, all she'd ever wanted to be was what she was. A weyrling.

Yet, she was bored. Surely there would be other weyrlings as bored as she was? Why couldn't they be walking around, looking bored, so that she could then attempt conversation? That, though, was simply relying on other people to make her life easier, which wasn't the way to go about things. If she wanted someone to talk to, she had the chance of going and finding someone, or going out to see Huath. The green, however, didn't seem to be fussed either way.
A preference would be nice.
You need to make the decision yourself. Of course I would welcome your company, but Chaoth is out here too, so I am not alone. Whether the brown was aware of her presence, wasn't a bother to the green, she was content to merely watch him stretch and perhaps go talk to him when she felt like it.

Chaoth. That was.. Um.. Merridan's brown wasn't it? Kalia wasn't the clearest on her weyrlingmates by name, but she was fairly certain about Merridan and Chaoth. A brown Impressing to a girl was rare, but she seemed to be fine with it. The other worry was that Kalia wasn't close to any of her weyrlingmates, though that was entirely her fault... Still, there was no time like now to try and start a friendship. Making the decision, Kalia rolled to her feet, off the cot. If anywhere, when she wasn't outside, Kalia would bet Merridan to be in the common room, it was the lounging area for most weyrlings...

Good day, Chaoth. You are working very hard, it is good to see. Would it be acceptable for me to join you? Polite as ever, that was Huath, but her rider didn't have that same ease with words. After locating Merridan, she merely stood slightly distant, hands twisting for a moment before giving up adn smiling,
"You look as bored as I feel."

[Rowana]

Merridan glanced up at the voice. It was one of the other girls in her class. Finally some one to talk to at least, and maybe even do something with. Mer gave an sigh and nodded. "Bored is right," she agreed. "Kalia, isn't it?" She didn't know all the green riders well, and this one had never really spoken to her before. She mostly identified her by process of elimination. Mer stood up and looked the other girl over more closely. "Would you like to practice knives with me?" she asked suddenly.

Chaoth paused in his wing strokes to look at Huath. Good day, Huath, he returned pleasantly. He nodded his head and thrummed in greeting. He was always pleased to see his clutch siblings. Please. I would be delighted for you to join me. He started exercises again, a little more slowly to be sure Huath was keeping up alright. He wanted all his siblings to be as strong as he was.

[subtlemystery]

"Kalia's right." Smiling easily at the other girl, Kalia was secretly surprised that the other remembered her name, or recognised her at all. She didn't think she stood out that much, but then again, she supposed Huath was. With that dragon frown on her features, and then the darker areas of her hide and even just her commanding personality and self assurance set her apart from other greens. Not that many of them were the stereotypical air-heads many people seemed to assume greens were, except Kunth.

The next question snapped her out of her thoughts and into reality again. Surprise was her first reaction, she'd be delighted to have something to do, but she didn't actually know anything about fighting. She'd love to learn... But she was pretty sure Merridan wanted someone she could sparr with, not someone she had to teach. Smiling almost sheepuishly, Kalia shrugged one shouler. She may have grown up in Fort, but she'd used her brains to stay out of harms way, not her fists.
"I don't actually know how to fight with knives. I know some basic self defense, but that's about it."

Huath paid no heed to her rider's embarrasment as she stretched her wings out first. She didn't want to injure herself when practising, since that would ruin the idea of it. The wing exercises weren't hard, or Huath didn't think so. She liked to try and work at the level of others, but she was pleased to see Chaoth slow down slightly to accomodate her smaller size.

[Rowana]

Merridan shrugged. "That's alright, I can teach you if you want to learn." It would probably be useful for all of them to learn, though Mer hoped they would never have to use it again. Fighting for ones life had been exhilirating and terrifying all at once. It wasn't something she wanted to repeat, even if she didn't regret it. Well, not too much anyway, but there was no sense dwelling on it. "Wait just a second."

Mer ran back to her room, which was scattered with her things. Since she didn't have a room mate, she had made probably more of a mess than she would have otherwise. She knew how to find things though and soon came back with two small knives. They were old, the leather straps on the hilts cracking and the blades worn and dull. She handed one to Kalia. "We can use these to practice. Don't worry, you won't be able to hurt much of anything with it." She grinned. "Shall we go outside?"

Chaoth was pleased to see Huath keeping pace with him so well. Your wings grow strong, he complimented. They would be flying soon, and he was sure the hard work would pay off for both of them. Strong wings would mean they could stay air born longer without tiring or cramping muscles. Chaoth wanted to be in the best shape possibly when the time came.

[subtlemystery]

"Sure, I'd love to learn." If ever the time came where she had to fight for her life or Huath's, she wanted to be able to, not fumbling around and hoping something might come out of it. Being unprepared was how people got killed, so in a way, it was a relief to her that Merridan had offered. She didn't expect to be fighting any time soon, things had seemed fairly quiet, but there was such a thing as a calm before the storm.

Looking up as Merridan returned, Kalia took the knife almost hesitently, turning it over in her hand, weighing it up. It was heavier than she'd thought, but lighter than it looked. These didn't look dangerous, but if the edges were honed and the hilts new... She'd think twice about saying anything to someone holding it in their hand iwth experience. Smiling back, Kalia found that she was actually... Rather excited about it.
"Definitely. I can't wait to learn."

The comment from Chaoth got a pleased looked from Huath, her eyes brightening as she nodded politely to him,
As do yours. She murmured, returning the compliment. She personally couldn't wait to fly, it looked like such fun but she knew that to do that, she needed to train to her absolute best. So she did, and it was enjoyable to have someone of like mind.
I am glad Yours is willing to teach Mine. She has been lacking of anything to focus on, I am sure she will be glad of a skill to hone.

[Rowana]

Merridan hefted her practice knife easily in her hand and led Kalia outside. She was glad to see no one was around. Not because she didn't want people to see, but because she didn't want to accidentally hit anyone. Chaoth and Huath were nearby, but not close enough to worry about. "Alright." She turned to face Kalia with an excited smile. "First I'll show you how to stand." Mer positioned herself with her feet about a foot apart and her knees slightly bent. "You need to be stable enough so that you can't be knocked over, but loose enough so you can dodge." She waved, indicating that Kalia should give it a try.

Chaoth rumbled, pleased by Huath's words. Yes. It will keep Mine from being bored as well. She has been lonely of late. He stretched his wings to there fullest and swooped them down so that they caught the air. His forelegs rose slightly off the ground. Soon they would be flying for real. He could feel the strength of his wing muscles. It would be a joyous day. She would never say as much, though. he added. Merridan was a stubborn girl, but it was one of the reasons he loved her.