|
Post by kat on Jul 15, 2009 10:38:44 GMT -5
Tahlor hadn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon. He'd only just arrived, and he'd been too busy saying his goodbyes to all the lovely caravan ladies and spending the evening with his younger sisters to have been bothered with eating. Nor, he recollected, did he eat breakfast. A man of eighteen turns needed to eat breakfast, after all! So it was that the newest dragon candidate to Selenitas found himself strolling on his way to the dining hall. Shouldn't have been too hard to find, and after asking directions--he wasn't so much a man he couldn't at least do that!--and stopping to chat with a couple of pretty lower caverns girls and even a couple of riders, he found himself in the dining hall, just in time for the mid day meal, too!
"Well, what fine luck!" he said aloud, more to himself than anyone in particular. He strode over to a table and took a seat, waiting the arrival of a plate of food. He'd been in enough Weyrs in his turns to know how eating in the Weyr's dining halls worked. You came. You sat. You were served food when you were taken note of, and you ate. Only at feasts and gathers was the food more akin to a banquet. Besides, there was something to be said for being waited on--especially by some of the cute serving girls! Yes, Tahlor had been here all of a few hours, and he was already scoping out the entire Weyr! So far, he liked what he saw, to boot. Plenty of girls here, and probably lots more to do than he could even think of. He'd heard there were 'rules' about being a candidate, but until someone laid them down in black and white, no need to be worried about them, not a lick!
It was as good a place as any to meet people, here in the dining hall, where people gathered to eat. Those who already knew each other could pick one another out for some pleasant companionship, and those who didn't? Well, he was new. Rule of thumb was that most people were interested in anything new. It was like the shiny new toy--everyone wanted to have a go at trying it out. He wasn't in the least worried that he'd be left alone for this meal, and when his plate was delivered, right as rain, he nodded his head and flashed the young woman a smile. "Thank yeh' kindly, miss," he told her, before taking a swig of fresh citrus juice. Yes, he was going to like it here indeed! Now it was time to play a little game called 'the waiting game'. Sooner or later, someone would notice he wasn't a regular face around here. In the meantime? He had a good meal to enjoy!
|
|
|
Post by Sheari on Jul 15, 2009 12:36:52 GMT -5
If Ramen had a "new kid" sense it was tingling. The candidate promptly stood up, turned to the table behind him and sat down across from said new kid. He set his plate down, adjusted himself and looked at him. He said nothing but just looked at him. No words were warranted as of yet since Ramen had the sudden notion to try to make someone uncomfortable by staring. His face was blank and he was motionless as he examined the face of this strange person.
Yes, he knew that this might have the adverse effect that he wanted. The person might actually ignore him or try to strike up conversation. Perhaps he needed assistance. Maybe wielding something would encourage a disturbed reaction? With as little movement as possible Ramen grabbed his knife and held like one would hold a dagger. The blade was pointing away from his thumb in his right hand. The point was held level with the handle and it looked more like a weapon than dining-ware.
Come on, leave all slow like. You know you want to! Freak out!
Those words repeated in his mind until he couldn't stand himself and he stopped thinking. Or tried to stop thinking.
His eye twitched.
|
|
|
Post by kat on Jul 15, 2009 12:50:58 GMT -5
Just like predicted, someone took notice of him. It wasn't quite the pretty young girl he would've liked, nor was it a rider, or something of that ilk. No, it seemed it was someone else altogether. Only, that someone? Wasn't behaving like expected, no, not at all. The other guy just sat down across from him, and started staring at him. So, Tahlor stared back. He stared back, he ate, he had a wicked smirk on his face, and he ate some more. The guy kept staring, so Tahlor did the same. Was he ever going to say something? Tahlor hadn't a clue, but didn't matter. Some things were a lot more fun than words, after all. Like staring.
Then the guy did something else unexpected. He stopped staring, and he held up a knife. One of the dining hall knives, wielding it in what Tahlor figured the guy thought was an imposing way. So, Tahlor stopped eating, and then...then he laughed.
"You got a few marbles loose there, boy? That ain't no way to intimidate no one. When you mean to pull a knife on someone--when you really aim to use it for real? You gotta' be like this." Quick as a whip, Tahlor had flipped his own dining hall fork up and off the table, holding it so that the points were at the angle the sharp side of the knife would be--right at the stranger's neck. Just as quickly, he was sitting back down again, grinning, while he popped another bite of roast wherry in his mouth. This guy was a real piece of work, and he could respect that he'd been trying to do something, there, but it wasn't fooling Tahlor, not one bit. He just kept right on eating, right on waiting for staring, knife wielding boy to do something else interesting. Sure was an interesting place, this dining hall!
|
|
|
Post by Sheari on Jul 15, 2009 13:50:04 GMT -5
The boy in front of him laughed and proclaimed that he, Ramen, was missing marbles. Then, quick as could be, he whipped up his fork and pointed it at the candidate's neck. He then sat down and resumed eating. Ramen laughed and set the knife down. Shards, he hadn't run off. "I've got something loose, what it is I haven't yet figured out!" He was known for being spontaneous and crazy and wasn't quite sure what to make of himself sometimes. He took another bite of the sandwich he had been eating; chewing carefully so he could think of something else to say to get the ball rolling with conversation.
Of all things he was good at when it came to people skills the candidate had never been really good at conversation starters. Yeah his smalltalk was great but anything beyond that he utterly failed at. He decided to give it another try. Extending his hand he introduced himself, "I'm Ramen, candidate."
It was sort of sad that he couldn't think beyond that. Of all the things he could have said he never really had struck off with anything weird to say. Ah well, better luck next time. There would always be new people to meet, freak out and, befriend.
|
|
|
Post by kat on Jul 15, 2009 14:59:16 GMT -5
Tahlor retained the grin and replied, "we all got something loose, an' I'm pretty sure I don't know what that is with me, neither!" He liked this guy already, and when the hand was extended and introductions made, he took it readily and offered his own. "Th' name's Tahlor, an' I just got searched myself." It was true, he'd only just been searched the other day, and of course anything new and adventuresome sounding, the eighteen turn old was all over it. Still, he was already sort of missing the open air, and the constant moving around. It had only been one day, to boot. Still, he'd stick it through on the chance of standing. Girls would be so impressed that he'd been Searched for a dragon. It didn't quite register yet that if he didn't impress, he'd look a fool for saying he would. In Tahlor's mind he was going to impress, and do it with style.
"You a dragon or wher candidate? I hear they have both sorts, here. Maybe it's everywhere, I guess, but here too." He withdrew his hand, and stabbed some more food, enjoying a good conversation with his meal. This guy was no dull and uninteresting sort. Nope, he had the makings of a person Tahlor was pretty sure he'd get on with great. Friends were important to have, after all. They had your back and you had theirs, and there was nothing more unshakable than family and friends. Even a pretty young lady didn't compare, no way, no how.
Tahlor had his own ideas on what was important. Freedom, adventure, friends...all the good stuff. He was still immature but he was only all of eighteen turns and maturity came with time and experience, not anything else. So far, he hadn't a real responsibility in his life. He protected the caravan, made his carvings, helped out anywhere it was needed. That was responsibility, after a sort. He'd led a fairly carefree lifestyle, though. He'd never had to work really hard at such things that came natural, that were enjoyable. Everything he'd done, he enjoyed. He was in for a huge surprise if he though being a Weyrling, or a Dragonrider, was a walk in the field. Still, it was likely he'd rise to meet it as a challenge...and make it fun even if no one else would have thought it was!
|
|
|
Post by Sheari on Jul 16, 2009 15:13:42 GMT -5
Ramen liked this guy. He seemed to be in the same boat of crazies that people he knew often claimed he was in. heck, even his sister said he was crazy! But then she was too and he sort of missed the antics they got into as kids in the kitchens. When she'd been taken in by an archivist he'd had nothing left to do but run klah up to the recordsrooms and sit and talk with her while he could. Then the cravans and thithing trains took him and he got to see the other holds and the Weyr. "Yup, somthin' loose," he muttered.
"I'm a dragon candidate," he said. He had to menuver the words around a mouthful of sandwich. A mouthful of really good sandwhich to be exact.
"What are you hoping to Impress, if you do?" he asked. He personally was good for anything but like any hopeful boys he had dreamed of a bronze or a brown. To be entirely honest, though he still had hopes, he couldn't care less what colour his mindmate was if he Impressed. As long as it breathed fire and fought Thread he was happy. As long as he was useful.
Ramen chewed mindfully. He and Tahlor could wreak havoc together, he was sure. He could see the friendship forming much like it had with him and Fuiley.
|
|
|
Post by kat on Jul 16, 2009 21:04:37 GMT -5
Tahlor grinned and continued chewing thoughtfully. When Ramen answered he nodded. He'd sort of thought dragon candidate, though where that hunch had come from he had no clue. Still, it was rather nice to know that Ramen was of the same kind of candidate as he was. He found himself rather hoping that if either one of them Impressed, the other one would too. After all, having a buddy to go through all that Weyrling stuff would be nice. Tahlor, however, was in for one big surprise if he did Impress. He figured Weyrling training, having a dragon? Was all going to be fun and games. No indication that it took actual work had ever been given to him, and therefor he was expecting a total joyride. Yep, he was in for a huge surprise!
"I'd sorta' been reckoning you were gonna' say dragon candidate, though don't go askin' me why, 'cuz ah'm not sure myself," he admitted, with a nonchalant shrug, before looking thoughtful a moment. From what he knew about dragons, they all had ranks based on what color they were. There was no way he wanted to be on a green. Not that he had anything against them--but they were just not for him. Blues were the smallest, and he'd never known the girls to talk about those who rode blues much. They always fawned over the ones who rode the bronze ones. Browns, too, but those bronzeriders? Yeah, the girls liked to talk lots about them. So, he answered with a smirk, "Ah'm thinking that I'd like to Impress a bronze at this point. Not that I think color makes too much of a difference in general. But you won't see me on no green, what with them being for men who like mah junk like the women do! I ain't no sissy boy so I want somethin' big, is all I kin' say. The ladies wherever I went were always fawning over the guys who rode the bronzes. Sometimes the browns, so ah'm just gonna' say that for now," he finished, chewing the next mouthful of food before adding, "not that I'd be opposing a blue, mind you. So long as it's a big one that knows how to have a good time. That's gotta' count for something, too. Personality is what makes up a being, you know? If yeh can't be good looking and big, an' even if yeh are? Gotta' have lots of that, too!"
He took a swig of citrus juice before setting the cup back down, swallowing it and then asking, "how 'bout you? You have some specific color in mind, or don't matter to you?" A dragon was a dragon. While he was hoping, and nearly expecting, he'd Impress, really at the core of it color? Didn't matter a lick though he wanted to impress--no pun intended--the ladies with his. Why was it that size always mattered to them? Always 'the bigger the better', and they always made a fuss over the bigger...he had a laugh over that inwardly, since he would know! Not that he was a man whore or anything. But if he took a shine to a girl he wasn't shy about bringing her over for a romp in the sheets!
|
|
|
Post by Sheari on Jul 22, 2009 10:10:03 GMT -5
"Ah, nothing directly comes to mind," he said. He'd only just been Searched and hadn't thought much about it. Ramen found it to be funny that he happened to be spotted and taken to the place he was headed for anyway. He was still trying to grasp the fact that he had been found at all, for he'd thought he was too old to Stand.
"A bronze would be nice, but it's a funny thing with dragon ranks," he said, "boy's can usually Impress Bronze, Brown, or Blue. All middle ranks. Girls generally Impress either Green or Gold. The top or the bottom while us guys get the middle." He had to admit his response was bit long-winded.
As for the ladies fawning over bronzeriders, like any guy, he found the thought appealing. Most did prefer bronzeriders and he couldn't honestly say he'd object to the attention. Even some of the brownriders got attention. Anything below brown was usually overlooked. In a sort of twisted way, Ramen hoped he would bond to a brown. That way he was smack in the middle and he couldn't get razzed too much. He could simply turn away from the attention as well if he so chose to. Browns could fight Thread and Chase golds! Heck, some of the larger browns could rival some of the bronzes in size as well.
"You nervous about the Hatching?" Ramen asked. He had a few butterflies.
|
|
|
Post by kat on Jul 23, 2009 11:13:30 GMT -5
Tahlor shrugged and mulled over what Ramen had said. It was true: girls were stuck to Impressing either the lowest or highest rank. Personally, if he'd been a girl? No way on Pern would he ever want a gold. Too much responsibility, and expectations, and usually? Goldriders were the first to be picked off, along with the Weyrleaders, in wars. The thought made him rethink what he'd said. Maybe brown was best...? You had a lot more freedom that way--and a lot less people looking to kill you. It wasn't a nice thought, but then he thought of something else. "Don't girls Impress blues here, too? Thought I heard something about that."
He figured he didn't mind if girls Impressed blues, too. Pity they couldn't Impress brown, though. Might have given them something mid-range to aim for, too. He didn't fancy Impression to a green, though. Sure, it was a dragon. However, he didn't need to be sleeping with any men. Or men thinking he wanted to sleep with them. He shuddered inwardly at the thought, doubly hoping that he'd get a male dragon now. He'd even go so far as to keep whatever he got from chasing any greens who were ridden by male. He wasn't homophobic or anything. Nope--he was non judgmental and had no issues with men who preferred what they did. That was their business and they were all still decent people. So long as they didn't hit on him once they knew he didn't swing that way, and he didn't have to sleep with them? Fine by him. However, if he was ever in a situation where he woke up beside some guy because he--Faranth forbid!--Impressed a green? He'd want to crawl under the nearest large rock and die.
He raised an eyebrow at Ramen, then, and chuckled. "Why, you nervous?" Then, because it had been merely throwing the query back at him and not answering, he shrugged carelessly and replied honestly, "nope, ah'm not nervous. More excited and anticipating. Ah figure if we have dragons in that clutch, we'll Impress. If not/ There's always next time, y'know? There's an experience to be had, and that's why I opted to stand in the first place. The chance at Impressing, an' getting to be there on ground level when they hatch? That's worth more'n'Impressing the first go around to me." He popped another bite of wherry into his mouth, grinning. Was Ramen nervous? Mostly everyone claimed to be, and there was nothing wrong with that. He didn't fancy getting mauled--that wasn't a nice thought. However, optimistic as he was? He would deal with it if it came, and if it didn't? Well, he figured it might not, so he wasn't about to ruin the thought by fussing about it in his head.
|
|