Theivery and Fun (Open)

[ace]

Well, she had done it. Mina stared at her handiwork with a feeling of immense satisfaction. Laying in front of her was a pair of... undergarments, that she had 'borrowed' when she had been recruited to help wash the dirty clothes. The candidate could make out the letters T-A-H, on the inside of the stolen clothes, and in the other pair of undergarments T-A-L but Mina didn't think much of it. Who ever's the undergarments were would find them plastered on the wall's of the Main Hall for all to see.

After an hour of tedious work, the various undergarments were hung on a wire that had been successfully strung across the room. But instead of their regular color, they were died bright pink thanks to the help of some of the older weyrbrats.

They had known were the red dye was put away in the storage, and one of the boys had been only to happy to go retrieve it for her... for the right price. Once she had gotten the dye, it had been a simple matter to mix it and apply it to clothing. Luckily, it this had only taken a few precious minutes to do.

She had even taken up the suggestion that the weyrbrats had given her, and written In black across the back of the underwear was INSERT ASS HERE. Mina had been careful to not let her work be viewed as she carefully wrote the words, and was somewhat disgruntled to realize that she had not thought of this particular brilliant idea herself.

As people walked by the small spectacle that had been erected in the Main Hall, snickers and smiles began to be heard and seen, though nobody made an attempt to take down the Undergarments.

Satisfied, Mina sat down right underneath the hanging clothes and waited for the owner of the garments to come looking for them. This was turning out to be a very productive afternoon, Mina thought happily.

[kat]

Tal was rather confused. He'd lived at the Weyr his entire life, and never once had they failed to return all his laundry once it had been done. Today, however, he was decisively missing something important. He checked three times, just to be safe. He even checked inside his other clothing, but it was to no avail. Tal's undergarments were clearly not there.

Tal was sure there had been some mix up. He could probably go to the laundering area and retrieve them, perhaps they had forgotten to send them to him with the rest of his things. Still, it was a mite embarrassing to have to go ask for them. Well, not that embarrassing, since they were the ones who washed them, in all honestly. Still, the newly made wher candidate figured the only way he was going to see them when he needed them, was to go rectify the problem himself. It probably happened a lot--to more than just him. Likely, just because this was the first time it had happened to him, didn't mean it was the first time to happen, period.

As it was, the main hall connected just about everything on the main level. That included the laundry room, where Tal had to go. To him, there was nothing overly out of place about going there, to retrieve something of his. If they forgot, they forgot. Or so he thought. However, it was not to be. There was something...pink...hanging from the ceiling. It hung in clear view of everyone, and he curiously walked a little faster. There was a feeling in his gut, just some odd, unknown, feeling. He couldn't have explained it but the anxiety feeling seemed to increase as he drew nearer the objects hanging from a drying string. There was just...no...way. He looked to the left, and then to the right. Then he couldn't help it. He looked at the undergarments hanging from the string. They were dyed bright pink, and had 'insert ass here' written in bold, capitalized lettering on the backside. He looked at it from one side, then walked as discreetly as he could to look at it from the other. No. Sharding. Way.

Tahlor, tanned though he was, proved he could still turn as crimson as a redfruit in its ripest state. His mouth dropped open a little, and he looked around frantically at the people snickering as they spied the undergarments. HIS undergarments. There was no mistaking it. Even dyed pink, even with the writing, they were unmistakably his own. There was another pair beside them, given the exact same treatment as his own, but that didn't serve to make him less mollified. They were dyed pink, for Faranth's sake! They were exposed for all the Weyr to see! He swallowed nervously, not sure what to do. He certainly couldn't wear pink undergarments, and he wasn't about to reach up and retrieve them. He had already made it far too obvious that the owner of said prank was he, himself and him. He wanted to just turn and walk away, but he was still stuck standing there, rooted to the spot, until another voice broke in, startling him out of his horrified state. His undergarments. Everyone could see...dyed pink. Shells, why did it have to be PINK?

~~~~~~~

"Well, I'll be darned."

Tahlor had also seemed to have had his laundry returned, minus his undergarments. Unlike Talien, he wasn't sure if that was a regular mishap or not. So, he'd done the same thing: gone to find the laundry room and get them himself. After all, walking around commando could only go on so long, and he wasn't about to do it longer than necessary. Not that he was shy about the ladies seeing anything--he had nothing to hide, and he had lots to show 'em! It was merely a matter of what you did and didn't do. Undergarments were the right way to go, and so he'd gone to fetch them. Besides, it was kind of uncomfortable without them since he'd never been without, save for in his swim things!

Tahlor also had to head down the main hall to go to the laundry room, and therefor, he saw exactly what Tal had. At first, the pink hanging things with writing on them, he mistook for a sign. But as he drew nearer, it was hard to think that. No, there they were. His undergarments, dyed pink as some pretty flower or young girl's dress, and labeled fancy, too! And thus came the, 'well I'll be darned'. Tahlor looked at the front end and then the back, all the while grinning and holding his chin in sheer amusement. Really, he had to give props to whomever pulled this one off. He was almost sorry he hadn't done something akin to this when he was a Weyrbrat, or younger and could do this kind of thing. It was sharding brilliant, and he better than anyone could appreciate the true beauty of a thing like this. True, he was out a pair of undergarments, but another pair? Could be easily got.

He saw another boy there, staring at him in what looked like mute horror. Jerking a thumb at the pair beside his, he asked with a smirk, "Ah'm assuming this pair here is yours?" He chuckled, shaking his head and then spying a girl, sitting a little too conveniently underneath the garments, against the wall. He approached her, kneeling down and asking, "this your handiwork?" If it was, he'd completely have to give her props! The other boy, meanwhile, was looking at him as if he'd lost his mind.

[ace]

Mina'a eyes narrowed as an apprehensive boy about her won age approached her 'masterpiece'. Was he one of the unfortunate owners of the brightly colored underwear? A smirk appeared on her face as her suspicion was confirmed. Mina was extremely pleased with the boy's flustered behavior; the other boy was obviously thoroughly embarrassed.

"Are you enjoying my artwork," Mina drawled as she watched the candidate attempt to discreetly examine the florescent undergarments from all sides. "You have to admit, my handiwork is rather impressive," the girl added in a smug tone; quick to claim credit for her little bit of mischief. It didn't matter who knew she was responsible, as long as Mina had had some fun, that was all that mattered.

As a second boy approached, Mina realized she didn't recognize him. He seamed a few years older than she was; was he a fellow dragon candidate like herself? Watching the scene unfold, was astounded to see that the second boy seemed amused; that was far from Mina's desired reaction. Nevertheless, A genuine smile broke out over her face. She had finally discovered somebody who could take a joke or two.

Taken aback as the older of the two boy's approached her, she stammered her answer (which was extremely uncharacteristic of her). "Y-ye-yes." Picking up steam, Mina continued. "Are you both dragon candidates? I'm Mina by the way. I recognize you," she said pointing to Talien, "but not you," she added indicating to Talhor.

[kat]

Talien couldn't believe that this guy was finding this funny! His undergarments were dyed pink and had writing that was less than flattering on them, and he was laughing it up about it? Okay, sure, sure it would have been funny if no one knew they were his! However, now both this guy he'd never seen before knew, and anyone else who was standing around, pointing fingers and snickering. It was just a tad embarrassing, and why didn't the other guy even care? He scowled and crossed his arms over his chest, but then a girl he'd hardly noticed in all of this spoke up, and he looked over, eyes widening a bit. This was all her doing?

"T-this is your doing?" Tal finally managed. This scrap of a girl had done all of this by herself? What on Pern prompted her to do something like this? She looked too old to be a Weyrbrat, and yet a bit younger than him--though not by much. He should have just pretended not to see this. Why, oh why, had he just not kept on walking? Now she knew that these were his, and so did everyone else! Finally, he retaliated, "I wouldn't go calling this artwork. It's more like a Weyrbrat prank." He glanced over at the other young man, who was raising an eyebrow and chuckling. So, he asked, "why are you laughing? Those are yours up there, right beside mine!" This only seemed to cause the other boy to laugh harder, so Tal gave up, throwing his hands in the air.

"Okay, fine, so it's a bit funny, I'll admit. But you'd think someone your age would have better things to do than go around stealing boy's undergarments and doing...well, this!" He waved an arm pointedly at the hanging things, reaching one arm up and taking his off the wire. The other boy shrugged, but didn't make any attempt to retrieve his own. Tal wasn't really upset, just embarrassed, and a more than a little surprised. Still, he recognized the girl, and narrowed his eyes at her. When she said her name in response to the other boy, he proceeded to do nothing short of face palm. He should have known it would be her!

"Mina. Right. I should have known." He sighed and rolled his eyes, pink dyed undergarments held in one hand. She was that tomboyish prankster of a girl who was well known for having fun at the expense of others. He shook his head and smirked, replying levelly, "no, I'm not. I'm actually a wher candidate. Name's Talien, but Tal'll do." He'd lived in the Weyr his whole life, but it was just the other day he'd become a wher candidate. He looked over as the other boy spoke up again, amused, to say the least.

~~~~~~

"Well, Miss Mina, I gotta' give you props. This here's one of the best pranks ah've seen in a good while, an' I gotta' say ah've seen quite a few good ones. Th' name's Tahlor, an' the reason you don't know me is I just got here yesterday. An' to answer your question, yes, ah'm a dragon candidate as well," he finished, grinning at Talien. He stood up, then, glancing once more at his undergarments before offering the younger girl a hand up from off the 'floor'. No point in her remaining sitting down there now that she'd found her prankees!

Tahlor was too easygoing and with too much of a sense of humor--and a bit of immaturity in the mix!--to care about things like embarrassment. It was neigh impossible to embarrass him, pranks or no pranks. Not like Tal, who was still young enough and while not at all uptight, had enough modesty yet to be embarrassed by the display. Tal was actually more easygoing than most for his turns. Tahlor found humor in most things, fun in anything he could. Pranks, whether on him or someone else, were fun!

He really saw no point in taking his undergarments down. They were of no use to him, and he wasn't sure why Talien had bothered with his, either. Perhaps it was the principle of the thing--which was precisely what it had been--but Tahlor didn't get that being so big of a deal. When Tal rethought that later, he'd probably be reconsidering having taken them down, too. They'd just end up being scrap anyhow. Clutching them in his hand was doing nothing to avail the situation any. Tahlor, meanwhile, figured that they'd be fine where they were.

[ace]

"Tal, I'll be sure to remember your name," Mina said as the wher candidate told her his name. Feeling slightly disgruntled about Talien's comment about how playing games and pranking people were beneath those of her age, Mina retorted by saying, "You may think that to be true, but what else was I supposed to do on this boring day, pick flowers?" She snorted indignantly. "If you know me, you would know thats just not the way I would chose to spend my time."

The female candidate couldn't couldn't help but smile slyly as Talien placed her name with her face. Mina's reputation had grown and flourished as she aged among the younger inhabitants of the weyr; and whenever anything went amiss within the confines of the weyr, she was usually one of the first placed under speculation and she became intensely scrutinized until the problem was resolved.

"By the way," Mina added sheepishly, looking at the colorful undergarments, "The dye is not permanent. I only destroy the property of those whom... displease me in one way or another. A good washing or two and your dedicates will be restored to their previous splendor and glory."

Turning to Tahlor, Mina said "Nice to meet you both Talien, Tahlor." Addressing the other dragon candidate, Mina said candidly, "Why thank you. It took me a good hour to plan and complete this little prank. Usually, I specialize in more grandiose plots, at the expense of the dragon riders."

Smiling, Mina grasped the older boy's outstretched hand and pulled herself up. Unfortunately, the girl's foot had fallen asleep, causing Mina to stumble slightly. Grimacing, she quickly regained her balance. Turning back to both of the boys, Mina said in the most unconvincing tone, "I am sorry that you to had to pay the price for my little fun." Enthusiastic once more, she continued on to say, "What were you guys doing before you're clothes went missing? Anything particularly interesting?"

[kat]

The corner of Tal's mouth turned down as Mina replied. He supposed as a candidate, there wasn't all that much to do. But didn't she have some hobbies, or friends she could hang out with when she wasn't doing candidate's duties? So, he uncrossed his arms and said tersely, "well, I didn't say you had to go around picking flowers. Don't you have any hobbies? Friends you could spend your time with?" He noted Tahlor give him a sideways sort of look, but couldn't quite decipher what it was so ignored it, continuing, "I would guess you're bored out of your mind to do these things, huh?" Of course, that was just a guess. Maybe it wasn't true that all girls matured faster than boys, and maybe Mina was one of these said girls. Or maybe she just liked to pull pranks. Either way, while he found pranks humorous enough, from what he'd heard she pulled them more than anyone he'd heard of--Weyrbrats excluded...maybe.

Tal smirked wryly when she mentioned that the dye and writing would come out with a wash or two, and then chuckled. "Remind me never to piss you off then, would ya?" He was feeling a little more at ease now that people were dispersing and not staring and snickering anymore. It would probably be talked about for a few days around the Weyr, but people would forget as soon as something else interesting arose. He had a feeling Mina would make sure it did, too. "You know that saying?" he asked her, and then finished, "turn about is fair play?" He grinned, then, and said casually, "one day, someone is going to turn your pranks right around back at you if you create such a reputation for yourself and let everyone know it's your handiwork." With a shrug that said it wasn't his problem one way or the other, he shoved his hands into his pockets.

"I was actually going to find out where I go to get my candidate chores. I can't dodge them forever, I figure," he admitted with a mischievous smile. Yes, he'd been dodging getting chores. As a hunter he'd had relative freedom to come and go as he'd liked, to do what he wanted. Being a candidate meant you got assigned duties, and not all of them likable. He didn't mind dishes like some did, but if he had to do something less pleasant? Well, hence the avoidance. He glanced over to Tahlor as the other began to speak again. Tahlor was quite the character, that much was certain. If he became a rider, the riders were going to have a lot of...fun?

~~~~~~

Tahlor shrugged carelessly, and then said cooly, "nah, you kin' leave 'em up there if yeh want. I figure it'll give people some more amusement before they come down. Ah kin' get more where that came from, after all." It was true, what was one pair when there were tons more where it came from? He had a feeling Talien would be washing his. That boy seemed nice enough, but seemed a lot more the responsible type than he was. Waste not, want not and all that. He noted Mina's foot was asleep due to the way she stumbled when she stood, and suppressed a snicker though he didn't bother hiding the smirk. He would need to procure another pair of undergarments, however, before much more time went by. Still, it had taken her an hour to do this? That wasn't too bad, really.

"D'you let the dragonriders know it was you that went and done the pranks on 'em?" he asked curiously, leaning carelessly up agains the wall. As to her query, he responded brazenly, "why, getting dressed, of course! How else d'yeh think I noticed somethin' vital was missing?" It was obvious Tahlor had a bit of an accent. It wasn't anything too heavy but definitely there, and notable. Girls usually found it charming, but Mina looked all of fourteen or fifteen turns, and Tahlor preferred it when the girls he flirted with were a couple of turns older. Sixteen was his limit, and girls around his own age or younger by a turn or two? Exactly the type he liked. Still, he wasn't above flirting with pretty things in their early twenties, so long as it was no older than 23. Yes, he had it all laid out. Playful flirtations, however? There was no bar on that!

Mina seemed like she was interesting enough compared to the girly sort of girls Tahlor knew could be found in most Weyrs. Sure, they had their tom boys and their more stoic, down to earth types. However, most girls he liked knew how to have a good time. Same for most guys, in a different respect, of course. He could see Mina being a decent sort of friend to have. Besides, if she were going to pull pranks, better he be part of them than the butt of them!

[ace]

“Isn't it obvious, my hobby is playing pranks,” Mina said not at all abashed. However, Mina's mouth turned down into a small frown as Talien inquired about friends. “Friends? Well, not many of the candidates are my age you see, and they would rather not hang around somebody as young as I am. You see, I'm only fifteen.” She pondered this revelation until Talien said something that drew her attention back to the present. “I doubt that anybody would manage to prank me, and if by the small chance they succeeded, they would get my full congratulations.”

Mina couldn't suppress a small grin as Tal continued on to say how he was dodging chores “You'd best do them you know. I once, accidentally of course, forgot to do mine. The candidate master was in a right fury. Dropping her voice to imitate the dulcet tones of the candidate master, Mina said in a good likeness and imitation of him, “Being a candidate has certain responsibilities, and if you can't handle the, you've very sharding well might as well get out of my sight!” Mina gazed out the window, reminiscing. “You know, after that he never managed to find the new saddle knots he had braided earlier that week. I believe they are currently at the bottom of the lake.”

As Tahlor spoke, Mina's eyes flickered over toward the older boy. “Your choice,” the candidate said. “They do make quite a specitcal don't they.” As she noticed the boy's smirk, she deemed to ignore it. In response to his question, Mina snorted indignantly. “Well if the dragonriders thought that I had been the one responsible for their trouble, they would never be able to prove it.

The girl couldn't help but giggle at Tahlor's brazen response. “Vital Importance? Yes I could see how they might be!” As for the boy's accent, Mina couldn't help wonder where he had picked it up. It didn't sound like it was from a particular region, perhaps it was a mixture. A look of blank shock crossed Mina's face as she realized that Tahlor was trying to flirt with her; albeit playfully. She was not used to that sort of thing, she had never 'liked' anyone in her entire life. The boys she tended to hang around with, she considered friends, nothing more. But, a little fun couldn't hurt, even though she was completely unexperienced.

Looking up at Tahlor through her eyelashes, Mina said in a questioning tone, “Where do you come from? You're accent is not something I can place.”

(haha, I love Mina. She is to awkward)

[kat]

Tal frowned a little himself at Mina's words. Only fifteen? Well, he was only sixteen, if that counted for much. Still, she was a dragon candidate and there was a clutch on the sands, hardening by the day. Soon, she might not have to worry that none of the candidates wanted to hang around her, she could very well have a newly hatched dragonet by her side. So, he replied honestly, "I wouldn't worry so much about that. I'm only sixteen, if that counts for anything. Besides, given the ages of most candidates I don't see how there would be none around your age. Maybe if you asked you'd find out some of them are younger than they might look?" he added helpfully, and then, "besides, isn't that clutch of Hepaticath's due to hatch sometime in the near future? I doubt you'll have time to think about making friends if you Impress there. Every single one of the Weyrlings will probably be at least a close acquaintance, and you'll probably make some friends there." It was true. Usually Weyrlings who went through Weyrlinghood together ended up making friends there. He wouldn't know first hand, but he'd lived her long enough to see Weyrlings Impress and then later graduate, some forming lasting bonds of friendship. It was something that could bring people together, and he had always liked that. Would being a Wherling be the same? If it was, it was kind of nice to speculate about. He hadn't yet met another candidate for a wher. However, didn't mean they weren't there, and he'd find out soon enough, as he'd be in the barracks with the rest of the candidates.

"Some hobby," Tal said, purposely being playfully sarcastic, before going on, "you really shouldn't put it past someone to return the favor, though. I think you'd find that there are plenty of people in this Weyr who know how to set up and pull off good pranks," and here he looked pointedly at Tahlor, who feigned surpise by pointing at himself then looking from side to side as though Tal were directing that comment at someone else. Still, a devilish grin flashed across his face, as though to affirm that what Talien said? Had some merit.

"Is Candidate Master Emoyan really all that bad?" he asked, the corner of his mouth going down a quick second, before he ran a hand through his hair, sighing audibly. "Well, guess I'd better not slack off on getting my assigned chores, then. Doesn't sound like he's someone I'd want to be at odds with, since he 'does' have the ability to make me regret it now that I'm a candidate and all," he finished, smiling. He looked incredulously at Mina. She'd thrown his saddle knots into the bottom of the lake? She really was the brazen one! He'd never have done something like that, not even if someone made him angry over something they'd said or done. Destroying or stealing someone's personal property was beyond something he'd do to get back at them. If he'd only yelled at her and she'd went and done that, what did she do to people who really made her mad? The thought wasn't pleasant, and Tal made a point to never, ever, tick her off. Then her attention was diverted back to Tahlor, who seemed to be casually flirting. Well, why didn't that surprise him in the least? He allowed himself a smirk and glanced over as the two began to talk again.

~~~~~~

Tahlor's eyes flitted up to the undergarments once more, and he said with a playful grin, "ah'll leave 'em up there, then. 'Yer right, they do make a good spectacle and who am I to deprive anyone of such an interesting sight?" He turned his back on the undergarmets, then, laughing inwardly at Mina's words about them being 'vitally important', as she confirmed what he'd said, looking as though she were rather enjoying this whole interchange. Once again, she was a bit young for his interests but in the name of 'all in good fun', couldn't hurt a thing, so long as it didn't go anywhere past this sort of playfulness.

Tahlor was well aware that he and she might Impress from the same clutch and maybe he'd have someone interesting to keep him amused during Weyrling training. He wasn't about to dismiss her as too young to befriend. That was more a thing for shallow sots who didn't realize people were all in this world together and so long as you got on with them, why should age be any barrier to friendship? Besides, she was really only three Turns younger than he was. That was hardly anything to write home about, in all fairness. Chances were, that once she Impressed, all those candidates who were a couple years older than her like he was would forget they'd had any issues whatsoever with her being a couple of years younger. If she Impressed green, boys would definitely start taking more notice of Mina in a turn or two, he was willing to place marks on that!

He was a little surprised that Mina looked a bit taken aback by his idea of harmless fun flirtations. Seemed to him she wasn't all that used to it. Then again, many guys didn't flirt unless they were trying to get it to go somewhere, and like she'd said: she was only fifteen Turns. Still, she seemed to catch on that it was all in good fun right quick, and so he merely grinned and replied, "I wouldn't say ah'm from anywhere in particular. Probably why you can't place mah' accent to anywhere specific. I come from a traveling merchant and trader caravan. We go all over the place, an' I s'pose mah' accent is a fair mix of this an' that. How 'bout you? Where did you come from, or have yeh always been here?" He wasn't sure on that one, since candidates came from all over Pern these days. He doubted she was from either Benden or Fort, though. From what he'd heard? They wouldn't ever let one of their own come here. He was suddenly glad he was from neither. All that warring stuff was just pointless stupidity, to him. Why couldn't everyone just get along and have a jolly old good time?

[ace]

“True,” Mina responded. “And if I do manage to impress a dragon, I'll always have a close friend with me where ever I go. And the clutch will probably hatch in a few sevenday's.” Thinking about the imminent dragon hatching, the girl questioningly glanced at Talien. “Do you have any idea when the the wher hatching will be? There hasn't been one for a while.”

“I'll be sure to watch my back,” Mina retorted sarcastically. A smile crept across Mina's face as Tahlor looked from side to side. “However, I'll be sure to watch some people more closely than others.” Smirking now, Mina finished off by saying, “A word to the wise, If you ever catch me smiling sweetly in your direction, it would be a good idea to turn around and back away slowly.”

As Tal queried about the candidate master, the girl couldn't help but pull a face. “Well, is not that bad if you don't push his buttons...” A mischievous light entered the girl's eye. “And that man has many buttons to push.”

Mina could see herself befriending both of the boys quite easily. Tal was about her age, and seemed extremely sensible. Mina would almost say that his personalities balanced her's and Tahlor's out. She would have to get to know both of them better in the future. It might also be a good idea to lay off the pranks.. at least on the candidates. With a clutch so close to hatching, everybody's minds would be somewhere else as they prepared for the hatching. Still contemplating, Mina's attention was brought back to the conversation as Tahlor, answered her question about his origins.

“I've always been here, born and raised in the weyr. I'm lucky I was born in Selenitas rather than Benden...” cutting her sentence short, Mina looked up at the two boys and said, “What were your parents like?” Mina always inquired about people's parents, seeing as she really didn't have any parental figures of her own. Her only remaining parent didn't even seem to know the girl's name, much less acknolaged her existence.

[kat]

Tal was well aware of the clutch hardening on the sands, and he had, at one point, wished he might be standing there. However, there were far fewer wherhandlers than dragonriders. What with the siege he had heard mutterings and rumors that people of Selenitas believed that more whers would be of use around the Weyr. He supposed they had a point, and he'd therefor taken that route. Still, a part of him wondered if it was really what he wanted, if it was the right thing to do. He didn't know much about whers, though he was planning to go tonight to visit the wherhandler apartments in hopes of meeting one first hand, and getting a few queries answered. If all went well, at least he'd have a better idea of what he was getting himself into. Still, there hadn't been a wher clutch in a while, it was true. However, he had lots of patience, and time. He was told that one would come sooner or later, and until then he could wait.

"I guess there hasn't been, and I have no clue when there will be," he admitted to Mina, and then, "still, I offered to be a wher candidate because there aren't many handlers in the Weyr. What with the siege I figured that if I become one, maybe I can prevent any surprise attack. Whers are for guarding, after all, and they can fight, too...just like me." His eyes took on a resolved and almost fierce look. He hated that all he'd been able to do was pick a few people off with bow and arrow. He'd been too afraid to confront them hand to hand, since he was only sixteen Turns and most o them had been older and stronger. Since then, he'd been working out every day to strengthen his muscles and body, and had been practicing with knife and hand to hand combat. Next time, maybe he'd prevent a few deaths. He hoped there wasn't a next time, however.

Tal could tell Mina was fairly confident, and it would have been fun to prank her, just to let her see it could happen to anyone, really--including her, who seemed to think herself the ultimate prankster and therefor untouchable by other's pranks. So, when she mentioned she'd watch some people closer than others, he whistled innocently and then grinned, eyes narrowing almost devilishly as he replied casually to her other statement, "I'll be sure to keep that in mind," before she said her bit on the Candidate Master. "Really that uptight, is he?" His brows furrowed a little, as he wasn't overly fond of uptight people, or those who were more than a little strict. This Emoyan sounded like both. He had yet to meet the man, but he found himself not looking forward to it very much, at this point. Still, he found himself diverted from that thought when Mina began speaking with Tahlor again.

Her next question caught him rather off guard, however. What were his parents like? That was rather an odd question to be asked, since they'd really only just met. Most often, queries like that were left until later on, when a person knew the other people better. Still, he couldn't think of a viable reason not to answer it. It was just a curious question, after all. Well, he'd answer it, as best he could, and so, "well, I guess I don't know them that well," he began, and then, "I mean, they're both riders, I grew up here, at Selenitas, too. That's why I know about you," he said with a pointed look and a slight smirk at Mina, and then went on, "they send me gifts from time to time, but other than that, nothing much," he admitted with a shrug, going on, "my mom is a greenrider, and my dad is a brownrider, you see. Occasionally I get letters and a couple of times a year they'll visit with me. I know they hoped I'd be a rider one day..." he trailed off, glancing ceiling wards and then looking back at Mina, finishing, "I don't think that's gonna' happen, though. Still, if I bond a wher I think they'll still be proud of me. They always said so long as I did my best and did what I feel is right for me, they'd be proud. What about yours?" Turnabout was fair play, and she hadn't said anything about her own parents.

~~~~~~

Tahlor listened to Mina and then Talien, watching as people walked by and stared and pointed at the undergarments. Yes, they'd be the talk of quite a few people tonight. Pranks weren't always fun for some, if they were pulled on them. Still, they provided a lot of amusement for others. Therefore, Tahlor was great about being the butt of said pranks. He never really minded so long as no one got hurt, and he was more than willing to dish out a few himself. He figured he might or might not have a go at pulling one on Mina--see her reaction to turnabout being fair play. He had a feeling she'd be surprised, but would take it with the same good nature he had.

He, too, was a bit surprised by her question. Not because he thought it forward or anything. It just wasn't a common question to ask out of the blue. He wondered what she was getting at by asking it, but it didn't phase him any to give her an answer. After all, he loved both his parents and he had come from a great family. So, he answered with a smile, "well, ah' kin' tell you truthfully I love mah' parents half to death. We're real tight, bein' from a traveling caravan an' all. My dad taught me how to fight, and mah' mom is an amazing cook. All of us from mah' group of caravan folk kin' fight--to protect against bandits an' all that, y'know." He paused, then went on, "my parents, they're both good people. They work hard an' they're real fair and treated all us kids equally good. Ah' have two younger sisters, y'see." He grinned, and then, "my mom's a real fine lady, but she kin' keep up to any man. I hope if I find a girl she's like mah mom n' some ways." Then, "my dad, he's always putting family first, an' he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty an' work double hard as anyone else." He didn't need to ask about her parents, since Tal had just done so, but he shrugged when he was through, and said, "they raised me best they could, an' I miss 'em already, really." His eyes followed a couple of young girls who were snickering at the undergarments, smirking before looking back at Mina.

Truth be told, he loved his family to death. They were all good people, even his little sisters. In his caravan, though, everyone felt like family. It was it's own little close knit community, smaller by far than any Hold or Hall, and everyone knew everyone else and mostly they all got along. Those that didn't learned really quick to just brawl it out and then be civil, because a traveling caravan had to work together. Those that couldn't get over their issues were just trouble and they soon learned that no one tolerated that kind of trouble. They could either be civil, or go elsewhere. It was how things had always worked, and it kept the peace. Tahlor even missed his younger sisters, but he was no sap and it wasn't like he'd been at the Weyr more than a day or so. He was just not used to not having their constant presence all around him, talking, laughing, cooking dinner over a fire...he wiped his mind clear of that. He was here to try a new adventure! He was here to try and Impress a sharding dragon, why was he getting so reminiscent all of a sudden. Ridiculous, really! He shook the thoughts free, and waited to hear what Mina would say.

[ace]

Mina almost did a double take Tal took on an almost vicious appearance. I'd not want to cross him in a temper, the girl thought. As Talien talked about fighting, it got Mina thinking. She really needed to learn how to defend herself. She was pretty handy with most types of blades, and she wasn't afraid to use underhanded tactics. But at a fair, hand to hand battle, she would be at a disadvantage. With a new resolve to learn how to fight, Mina turned back to listen to the conversation.

As Tal and Tahlor discussed their parents, Mina couldn't help but feel slightly envious. Pushing back that petty feeling, she answered their question. “My Parents? Well, I was a product of a flight, and my mom died in the first fall. My Father... well he doesn't particularly care for me. I doubt he even knows my name at this point.” Though Mina didn't like her situation, she had a good childhood. She was raised by the weyr in the lower caverns. “It's not unusual however,” Mina said as she shrugged her shoulders.

(VERY MUSELESS POST! is sorry)

[kat]

Tal and Tahlor shot each other a brief yet meaningful glance. So that's how it was, Talien mused. She didn't know her own parents and felt they didn't care. Was that why she was curious about theirs? It had, after all, seemed a bit of an odd question to ask right off the get go.

There were hundreds of children born to the Weyr who barely knew their parents. Some didn't even know who they were, as children of dragonriders were called 'Weyrbrats' for a reason: they were the children of the Weyr. All the Weyr raised them, in a sense. They were not without love, and it was meant to spare the children from the pain of possibly losing a parent to Threadfall...just like Mina had lost her mother to it. It was sound reasoning. Besides, the dragonriders were usually too busy or too preoccupied with their lifebonds to raise a child. Yes, it made sense, and most children accepted it. Some parents gave them gifts and asked about their progress, or visited them a few times, with frequencies varying, throughout the Turns. Still, there were yet some children who wanted a closer family tie--or even some where there was no familiy tie at all--and Mina was likely one of them, from what he gathered.

He knew better than to act affected by what she said, but still said, "sorry to hear that. Still, it's common in a Weyr, you know? There's lots like you, and some don't know who their parents are at all." He offered a reassuring smile, but didn't know what else to say. Luckily, Tahlor was apt to fill in for that, being far more 'care-or-less' in attitude. Or maybe the word was 'easygoing'?

~~~~~~

"Well, it happens often enough, like yeh said, Mina. Dah'lin, I wouldn't even worry yer' pretty head over it none. As much as ah traveled I saw enough of them that didn't know their parents, or their parents were dragonriders an' too busy for raising a kid. Weyr's children lead charmed lives, most of 'em. I wouldn't worry about it, if I was you. Still, ah'm sorry to hear about your mom. Ain't no easy thing, even if you didn't know her much." He stretched luxuriously, shifting stance so that his weight now rested on his other foot, instead of the one he'd been leaning on.

"Anyhow, 'nuff said 'bout that. You grew up here, then? This yer' first time standing?" he asked, changing the subject as though it were easily done and no more need be said. Emotional subjects? Not Tahlor's forte. He was just too carefree and easygoing to be bothered talking about that sort of thing, when there were better topics to be had. Like the upcoming hatching! He was excited for it, whether he Impressed this time around or not. He'd seen quite a few, but standing for one? He'd always wanted to try that one at least once! Tahlor believed in doing all you could do with your life, and that meant not turning down any offers or chances to do things that you hadn't done before. It was a good way to live, really, and he made each day count as much as he could. After all, a person could die any day...you only lived once.

[ace]

Mina missed the look that the other two candidates gave each other, instead she was drawn back into the conversation as Talien expressed his regrets for her position. Shifting uncomfortably, she realized that she had put herself in a vulnerable position. She hated having others give her pity; even more, she hated to feel weak. She continued to shift uncomfortably as Tahlor began to speak.

Mina's position relaxed as Tahlor changed the subject easily, something she had been trying to figure out how to do. Smiling gratefully, the girl answered his quire eagerly. "Since I was born in the weyr, I've had the right to stand since I was old enough. Unfortunately, right before the first hatching that I had been eligible to stand for, I broke my leg badly, amongst other injuries and I was not permitted to stand. I stood for the next clutch, but unfortunately, didn't impress."

Reminiscing, Mina remembered back to when she first stood for a hatching. The dragonets had burst out of their shells, Scattering fragments of shell all over the sands. The dragonets had paired off one by one, until there were none left. Mina enjoyed the experience thoughrouly, not minding that she didn't impress. Perhaps her dragon just hadn't been shelled yet. Smiling, she asked both of the candidates in return, "Any particular color you are hoping to impress?"

[kat]

Tal grimaced when Mina mentioned breaking her leg. He'd never actually broken any bones before, but he had fractured his wrist and ankle once, and could only imagine a break being ten times worse. She definitely had his sympathy, that was for sure! He, too, had been born to Selenitas, but for some reason? He'd been so busy with his life that he'd forgotten he could stand at any time. The thought kind of made him sorry he hadn't, but nonetheless he would now. If he didn't Impress a wher after a try or so he'd also try for a dragon. Still, something about joining the ranks of Wherhandlers? Still sounded appealing. He was more a night person to begin with, often taking a nap or two during the daytime. Maybe he was better suited, therefor, then some who had to totally switch around their sleeping habits. Yes, a wher sounded like it might suit him, indeed.

He wasn't standing for a dragon, but he could still reply to the question in retrospects to a wher. The colorations were the same, after all, and so, "for whers? I don't know what I want to bond to. I'm guessing it won't matter much to me, so long as it's healthy, and larger for its color. I'd prefer a male or a gold, though, to be honest. Greens are the smallest, and so are blues. I want something that will be able to fight alongside me really well. Bigger is kind of better for that, maybe?" He didn't actually know, so he added, "still, the smaller ones are faster, aren't they? Maybe a green or blue wouldn't be bad on that angle, speed is often a great advantage." Now that he was talking about it, he really didn't know what he wanted! Speed was often enough to overcome size. He'd seen it in people, and in dragons. Greens were agile, but did that only count for in the skies? He was suddenly sobered by the fact he knew practically nothing about whers. He was going to find out, though, and before he bonded one!

He was aware that there were a lot fewer candidates for whers than dragons. He wasn't sure how they'd have enough if a clutch were to come up! Maybe they'd announce that people could feel free to stand for it, like with dragons, and that would attract some to try and bond? He hoped so. He didn't want to be one of the only wher candidates, and he had just become one so hadn't even met any others. How many were there, exactly? He'd met a lot of dragon candidates, but wher? None. The fact was a little miffing, really. He planned on finding out who, other than him, would be trying for one, though. There had to be at least a couple others...or so he hoped. Maybe Mina knew? And so, "do you know if there are any other wher candidates? I haven't met any, but since I just opted to become one, stands to reason that might be why," he finished, shrugging. He glanced over as Tahlor spoke up, figuring Mina would answer when he was done.

~~~~~~

Tahlor had only just arrived, so he wasn't capable of answering Tal's query about wher candidates. So, instead he said confidently, "Ah'm sure you'll Impress some dragon someday, Mina. Even if it isn't this time around, I hear there are people who can stand four or five times an' not Impress, only to Impress the sixth or whatnot time around. So not like you haven't got lots of time for that. Yer' young enough yet that you can stand lots more." He himself was eighteen Turns, so he had less Turns to stand than either Tal or Mina. Still, he was pretty confident there was a dragon out there for him, and that he'd Impress before he got too old to do so. Maybe even his first time around, if he was really lucky!

What color did he want? Well, that was easy! "Bronze, of course," he answered smugly, and then explained, "ladies like the bronzeriders, I noticed. Still, wouldn't be sorry to get a big brown, either." He knew it sounded kind of egotistical to dismiss the blues like that, and so, "anything but green? I ain't no girly man and ah want a male dragon t'boot." He grinned, and then admitted, "bronze is the biggest, an' most any guy is lying if he tells you he doesn't want one. Ah recall playin' at being a rider as a kid growin' up, and every single one of us boys fought over who'd be bronzerider. Brown ain't bad an' if I get a blue, well, then that's what was meant for me. However, I'd be lying to say I wasn't hoping for a bigger dragon. So that's what I want. How 'bout you, Mina? Aiming for gold like most of the girls? Or are yeh' thinking of green or blue?"

He couldn't really see Mina on a gold, but that was just because he knew how restricting the role of goldrider was. You didn't fight Thread. You were in a position of leadership and were expected to set some sort of an example. He wasn't even sure if he was good for bronze for that reason, though he claimed easily he wanted one. With the biggest of the dragons came responsibility that a lot of people didn't want. Mina was so free spirited he figured she'd do best with a green--or negating that, a blue. He didn't say that aloud, though. Not until she said what she wanted would he make any form of commentary. Just it seemed to him she would say 'not gold' for some reason he couldn't quite place. Mostly all the girls wanted gold. They were only thinking about the honor and prestige of it, and that they were the biggest and 'shiniest' of dragons. Well, most had another thing coming to them, and seemed the golds knew what they were doing when they picked.