Work and Other Things

[Deleted]

“Talera, mind giving me a hand? I've got three babes today, and none of 'em are off the teat.”
“Mardi, I can't. Lessons are in less than an hour, and I still haven't grabbed the oil pails yet.”
“Eh?” The older woman scrunched her face up in a confused look, “Pails? What, you were serious about candidacy? Girl, get in here and help me!”
Talera waved the woman off, “I can't. I'm on dragon duty today. Catch me later tonight, and I'll do whatever you want, but I have to go!”
“Hope you catch shards from the master, y'silly girl!” Mardi called after, though Talera wasn't certain if her tone involved spite or amusement.

If she had to be honest with herself, there was more than enough reason for anyone to be skeptical about Talera's recent change in rank, identity, and mental state. One normally didn't just go from fostering babes in the creche to hoping for Impression. Most foster mothers, however, didn't envy their charges for Impressing.
Talera heaved the pail up and under an arm, eager to get to work. If she was going to vie for an egg, she might as well put all of her effort into her new sets of chores and lessons – she just hoped it wouldn't be for naught; the women of the caverns could be vicious with their gossip.

–

Talera felt slick. It was an altogether unpleasant feeling, and she'd quickly understood why so many riders “volunteered” their dragons for care. The oils used were greasy and managed to get into places on Talera's body that she hadn't thought possible. Even her hair, though tied back in a knot, had not managed escape.

Sour mood and hunger plaguing her stomach, Talera had mustered the energy to forage for a meal in the kitchens. Cold cider, dry roast, and mashed tubers made for a heavy meal, but the woman was grateful. As the rumbling ache of hunger subsided, her mood improved – but only insofar as one of her complaints had been met. The other would involved a long bath that Talera doubted she was up to that evening. No, better to relax in the dining hall and get a good night's rest later, than try to wash herself off quickly enough (and sufficiently enough) before bed.

Leaning back in her chair, she sighed, trying to sort her duties for the remainder of the sevenday. Was tomorrow her day for craft lessons, or was it a trip to the sands? Lectures or trips between?
She was too tired to recall correctly. In the morning, she'd look at her journal. Tonight, she couldn't care enough to think.
Talera laid her forehead against the hard table, groaning.

[Rose of Pern]

She wasn't the only one in the Kitchens at this hour. Many people were working in the Kitchens but some people were actually there looking to get food. M'ker did not like eating in the Offices nor did he spend much time in the weyr he had once shared with his weyrmate. Which was why he came here despite it being so much later in the day.

The dark haired bronzerider hardly looked his age, or the fact that he was the de facto Weyrleader. He'd remain such until the next Gold Dragon rose and he was rather fine with the idea of passing the torch to someone else. He could do with a vacation.

So as it was, he was stepping along towards where the young woman was resting on the table. He knew her from the Lower Caverns but only one of those vague kind of knowledge. He didn't know everyone by name as most of those in the Lower Caverns answered to the Headwoman.

"Mind if I sit?" He'd ask it simply enough as he waited for a response. He had a plate piled high with food but more because of the kitchen staff thinking he required more food then what he had originally picked up. He wore his knots on his shoulder, the bronze mixing easily in with the purple and grey Weyr colors but he spoke just like a normal rider. Nothing special, just M'ker.

[Deleted]

Talera had been thoroughly enjoying her solace when she heard the sound of heavy boots against the hard flooring. Assuming the intruder would walk past without inspecting her, the woman kept her head against the table, eyes shut, and shoulders slumped.
She hadn't expected someone to speak.
She definitely hadn't expected someone to speak toward her.

Talera grunted a non-committal reply without looking up. If the man wanted to sit, he would. If he found her rather bland company distasteful, he wouldn't. Sleep was good. The cool feel of the table against her head was good. Little else mattered.
Talera stayed like that for a moment longer, before realizing that there had been no sound of footfalls in retreat. Annoyed, the woman her head to meet the eyes of the overly-inquisitive man, a scowl clear on her face.

What she saw woke her faster than any mug of strong klah ever could. The knots, the coloring, the face – it all served as a jolt to her nerves. Immediately, her features shifted from cross to contrite, and her posture went stiff.
“Shells! Weyrleader! I – Of course. Be my guest. I'm sorry,” she replied, though the apology was in afterthought, “I hadn't expected you.” A pause, as she calculated the amount of food on his plate. A grin crept onto her lips, despite her anxiety of looking to be sleeping on the job.
“Ah, stockpiling for the winter, sir?”

[Rose of Pern]

While he was the Weyrleader, he did like to know who the Candidates were. No where near the traditionalist like his father, he was quite fine with the influx of females requesting to be a candidate. There was a bit of a chuckle as he watched her realize who he was.

"It's alright, no need to call me Weyrleader. M'ker is fine." He was only Weyrleader by default at this point. Sure, Kaelisth had won the last gold flight but it was rather hard to be a Weyrleader without a Weyrwoman. There was another chuckle as she hurried to explain herself and he'd shake his head ruefully before speaking. "Seems the Headwoman thinks I've been getting a little lean in my Turns."

He'd move to sit down in one of the empty chairs, the plate sat in front of him with that massive amount of food piled high. "Apparently trying to get away with just a few sweet rolls wasn't in the cards today." He had no qualms with the young woman resting at the table as there was more then one who ended up overworking themselves when a hatching neared.

He made himself comfortable even as he motioned towards the food. Offering her the opportunity to take some if she wished. "I can't eat it all and there is no point in it going to waste."

[Deleted]

Talera took up a redfruit from the man's tray, feeling only minutely more at ease in the man's presence. She was of a traditional mind, and as far as she was concerned, M'ker was Weyrleader, with or without his Weyrwoman. Well, at least the fruit was good. Talera took a bite of the crisp redfruit and suddenly wished the cider tasted half as great as its predecessor.
“You can hardly blame them for wanting to keep you fighting fit. Imagine what all of those sweetrolls would do, if they let you run off with just that for a meal?”
The ease of his company – and not to mention the bribe of a good piece of fruit – had quieted the woman's concerns. After taking another bite of the fruit, she set it down onto her own plate. The change in texture, taste, and quality of an entree was drastic compared to the dry herdbeast and thin tubers on her plate, and Talera felt it tasted more like a dessert than any proper side item. She turned her fork to the potatoes and took a bite. At least they were peppered well.

After some moments of dining in silence, a thought entered Talera's mind. Setting the fork down, she looked up to M'ker.
“Sir,” she began, “Do you think we'll have enough candidates in time for Gelwinth's clutch? We aren't exactly the most favored of the Weyrs – do you think the search riders will be able to find enough with potential?” Talera herself could give a good estimate of how many brats were of age to even attempt at a clutch, and even out of those, some would be left standing. Should the search riders not find – or worse, not be permitted to bring back – the numbers of candidates the eggs would require... The concern was obvious on the woman's face.
Cavern-raised, her first instinct was to look within the Weyr, but that wouldn't be enough – not, at least, to give the dragonets a fighting chance. Searching was tricky, and even if they found the numbers, the past had shown that the Weyrs did enjoy taking the best of Cepju's chances out of the Weyrhold.

As she awaited the man's response, Talera wondered if she hadn't been too forward. Surely, he would have a better idea of what they needed than she; but she couldn't halt her concern. The questions were on her mind – and the minds of the women she once worked with, if Mardi's lengthy talks in the halls were any indication.
She took her wares back up and attempted to cut a slice of the roast. Frowning at it, Talera wondered if there wasn't some sort of saw in the back that she might be able to use. Resigning, she returned to the tubers.
“If I'm out of line, I apologize,” she added in long afterthought, realizing just how often the man must receive such questions, “A few of us in the caverns have been on edge, what with Gelwinth about to go.” Her tone had softened at the end; she'd been one of the few that had enjoyed Gerra's reign as Weyrwoman, and the recent loss had been a blow. She couldn't imagine what the late woman's weyrmate felt on the subject, and hardly wanted to step on bruised emotions.

[Rose of Pern]

There was a brief chuckle at that before he moved to take one of the sweet rolls right off the bat. The Headwoman wasn't there and no one else would scold him for eating something sweet instead of the 'meat and potatoes' of the food he had. "I doubt the Headwoman would even send any more sweet rolls to my offices if I just ate those." M'ker was born and raised in the Weyrhold, he saw no reason to be as stuffy as the dragonriders from other Weyrs. Even the ones that came here always seemed to have an issue or two with everything they did and how they acted.

The question brought him a brief pause as he thought about it. "As long as we have a few more sevendays, I know we'll be able to get enough candidates to stand." Since he'd become Weyrleader, there had only been one gold laid but a numerous amount of clutches. Worst of all was the hatchings he could remember as a kid. "If it comes down to it, I'll appeal to the other Weyrleaders myself. Even if they demand their hopefuls back, it's better then leaving the sands empty." He said it to try and offer some relief to the young woman, saying it with conviction he didn't quite believe. He knew better. Their current clutch was larger then the Weyrhold had seen in turns and it was always best to have more then less when it came to the hatchlings.

There was a bit of a soft chuckle before he shook his head. "No, you're not out of line." He took another bite of his sweet roll before speaking again. "With the gold on the sands and Wirith, we should be fine. This won't be the first time that we've faced such a dire situation." He didn't mention that Wirith's Rider had already thought of leaving the Weyrhold to venture to one of the other Weyrs or the fact that many arrivals to the Weyrhold were predicting horrible events. He was trying hard to keep an open mind and prepare the Weyrhold as best as possible.

"Gelwinth won't let her eggs remain unattended." He said with a nod. He did not think too much about Gerra and her passing, not wanting to really deal too much with that when there was a clutch that needed protecting, a Turn's end gather to plan and so many new riders to deal with. Work was his coping mechanism. "We may postpone the usual Turn's End celebration until after she passes on." His tone wasn't cold or calculating, more just to the point like he was reciting facts.

[Deleted]

“It's best,” Talera responded, before taking a bite of the roast from her plate. When her mouth was clear once more, she added, “If the hatching were to occur during the celebration, her passing would dampen two events.” The woman shifted in her seat, realizing one leg had fallen asleep while she'd been in her earlier slumped position. She winced, and moved it to wake up the nerves.
Her hunger abated, Talera was of conflicting minds. Should she leave the man to his tower of food and alone with his own thoughts on the current situation, or should she stay despite her fatigue and keep her Weyrleader company?

She stayed.

It was the least she could do, to give him some sort of company. Besides, he's asked to sit beside her, not the other way around. If the most she'd have to do tonight was sit and talk, then so be it. It wasn't as if she wasn't interested in what the man thought; Talera had an ear for news, and where better to find it than from one of the ranking riders of the Weyr?
She took another look at the man's plate, then grimaced. She'd hit that stage of fullness where she couldn't bear to look at food. Talera turned her gaze to the rest of the dining hall. Caverners, crafters, and riders alike were in the midst of eating. Finding little solace in that direction, she looked down to her mug. Cold cider was still sitting in it. Bleh.

She needed something to occupy her mind.
“So, how's the training going, with the weyrlings? I've a former fosterling in the group, and I never see enough of him to ask.”

[Rose of Pern]

He had agreed with that thought to begin with, hence why he had decided to post pone the Gather until then. It made more sense then having to wait until things were all cleared up then to have things go south so quickly. "Precisely. I'm also hoping to have the MasterWeaver and the MasterTanner there to entice them to actually open a minor hall here." They did have Tanners and Weavers but a hall would go a long way to encouraging more people to remain there. Less trading for goods was always good for a Weyrhold that was supposed to be self-sustaining.

If she had wanted to leave, he would not have stopped her. He knew most were quite content to go about their businesses and he had no intention of impeding anything someone else wanted to do. Well, so long as it was within reason that was. He was, however, grateful that she decided to sit and humor him.

"Good." He said with a smile. His own daughter was among the Weyrlings so he kept incredibly close tabs on the group, far more then he had for previous groups of Weyrlings anyway. "Their training is almost complete. I'm discussing with the other heads of the Weyrhold whether to have their graduation at Turn's End or to wait so that it's not jam packed into the Gather." He paused, clearly waiting to see if she had an opinion on the idea. While the decision lay with him, the Weryling Master and the Wingleaders; he did like knowing what the non-riders decided on. It was much better to take everyone's opinion into the grand scheme of things rather then have a few unhappy individuals when the problem could have been avoided.

He was still eating. Picking random things off his plate without so much attention. He clearly had no preference when it came to his food. To him, food was food.

[Deleted]

“A new crafthall?” The thought was surely one that needed entertaining. With more folk coming in and out for Hall purposes, it would give the Weyr a better chance at survival in the long run. Not to mention the youths that wouldn't do as well within their crafts and would be looking for a place to start anew. She grinned, obviously pleased with the news.
“I'm glad to hear it. Faranth knows we need the supplies a Hall could give us. But, just the clothmakers? I'd've thought petitioning the Masterhealer would have been the first attempt. Between the Games and training, shells, even the occasional sparring session gone awry – but, any hall is better than none.”

Talera stretched out her leg, hoping the constant needling feeling had subsided. A curl of the toes followed, and eventually the woman rested the leg against the brace of the table. She took a drink of the cider, allowing the taste of the mulled drink to settle on her tongue before swallowing. The pulp was heavy, and hardly strained out – perfect. Still, she set the cup down before she could allow herself to finish it off; she rather disliked the notion of topping off a full stomach with half a mug of drink.

“Frankly, I see no reason not to hold it during the belated Turnover celebration. It'll antagonize some of the weyrlings, no doubt, and I'd hardly think that the congratulations of a new group of riders would interfere much with a Gather.” If she were honest with herself, Talera had completely forgotten that Gather was on the horizon. Still, it didn't make sense to her to postpone the graduation if it meant a small wing's worth of new riders to present.

[Rose of Pern]

He said with a nod, glad to see that someone else was liking that idea as much as he and the other leaders were. "Since we have a few of those miners here for enlarging the Weyrhold, one can only hope that they'll all take an interest and want to stay." But he knew better. Not that many wanted to remain at Cepju Weyrhold when there were other 'better' places to be.

"Well our Healers and Harpers have been well on their way to making their halls here." Both had been here for quite a few turns now. The Singing Stones had attracted the Harpers and the illness that had swept through Cepju Turns before had encouraged the creation of the Healer Hall. "The clothmakers are just the first step to getting more. It'd be easier on the Headwoman, I'm sure, if we didn't have to barter for as much cloth as we do." He chuckled before glancing in the direction of the store rooms. Those records were in the hands of the Headwoman, she dealt with all the things of the Weyrhold that had nothing to do with dragons.

He paused mid bite for a moment as he thought about it. "More worried that some of them might think we're trying to overshadow their graduation with the Gather." There was a bit of a chuckle as he shook his head. There was one Weyrling in Particular he was sure would feel that way. The rest usually reacted in far more respectful ways to him then that. "It'll be soon regardless. Turn's End is only a few sevendays away."

Thinking about it made him wince. He was sure the Headwoman was going to give him hell for how closely everything was this Turn. Wasn't all his fault, of course, but he was the easiest target.

[Deleted]

“Well, at least it's an improvement. Faranth knows we've been needing a few of those for Turns.” Talera agreed, stifling a yawn as she went. Weyrleader or not – Weyrhold conversation or not – she was quickly growing tired to the point of exhaustion. She shifted in her seat once more, in an attempt to better wake herself up.
Crafthalls would always been a grand notion, even if most wouldn't stay local. The major halls were usually too full to take in every hopeful apprentice that came their way, and if they could ensnare older masters, or ones that hoped to strike out on their own, then would it matter if as journeymen few stayed on? Just saying they were from the Cepju region would be enough to strike interest in others, surely.

“Personally,” Talera said with a scoff, “I'd say the more healers around here, the better.” Though she hadn't yet been born when the Weyr had suffered so many wan losses, she knew enough from her own foster mothers how devastating the sickness had been. Better to have a surplus of medics than the bare minimum, the woman thought.

Talera caught the man's glance to the storerooms and laughed outright. “True enough. Miniature looms only work so well in the caverns, unfortunately. Having a Tanner Hall wouldn't hurt for riding gear, either.” She chuckled at the thought of annoyed weyrlings. “Because the Weyr will always take Hold events over their own, right?” The thought was laughable. “They'll get over it when they're assigned to fighting wings.”

The wince, too had not gone unnoticed. The grin returned to Talera's lips. “I don't envy you. Without a Weyrwoman to buffer against the Headwoman's requirements, I can only imagine what hoops the woman's putting you and the council through.”
She rose from her seat, finally deciding to leave the hall for the barracks. However much that she wanted to continue their talk, she didn't have the energy for it.
“I don't suppose the Weyrleader would mind walking a lowly candidate to the barracks? Tired as I am, I might just bed down in the caverns, if I'm not watched.” The idea amused the woman; M'ker was hardly the stodgy type, if tonight's conversation was any indication. And while she wouldn't call what she was attempting to do imposing, she knew it was teasing of the barest sort.

[Rose of Pern]

He chuckled as she tried to stifle a yawn. "We've been needing more then a few of everything for Turns." It was probably why the Weyrhold was so small, not enough beyond the basics to warrant very many people to staying there. He did notice that she was getting tired but was enjoying the conversation a little too much to send her off to the Barracks for rest. If asked, he'd blame that he was tired of talking to other people that seemed keen on his rank rather then his person.

"We can never have enough Healers, or Crafters for that matter." He said with a nod. "The more we have, the more people that will want to be here." He had thought of approaching the Lord Holders regarding Cepju but too many would want to send their sons to the area to try and Hold land. He could do without the fighting that would cause when they found out they'd try to hold land that someone else felt entitled to. "I know I'd enjoy some new riding straps." He said it in jest. He as the Weyrleader after all.

"Too bad there isn't enough in numbers to create a new wing." That was another thing he wasn't looking forward to. He was sure some of the young men were going to put some issue towards having to be in the Queen's Wing. That was going to be one heck of an interesting conversation when he dealt with that. "But you're right, I'm sure most will be happy to be out of training and actually afforded some measure of responsibility."

He laughed at the comment before nodding. "It's not too bad." There was almost a boyish grin on his face before he spoke again. "Luckily it'll be less then a Turn before someone else can take the reins and be Weyrleader." Or at the worst, a few turns after that. He still wasn't thinking too heavily on whether Wirith and Gemma were leaving the Weyrhold and he was quite fine with being oblivious to it at the moment.

He'd glance at the food before chuckling and getting to his feet. "Certainly." He glanced towards the workers. "Besides, I think it's better for me to get out of here before someone else thinks I should eat some more." Chuckling a little as she waited for her to get up. "And wouldn't do to have a Candidate asleep in the corridor on the way there."

[Deleted]

“What, you? No longer Weyrleader? Perish the thought,” Talera teased. As it was, the only surefire chance he had at not becoming Weyrleader again was if Gemma's Wirith rose next. Other than being grounded, wouldn't bronzes always fly for a gold? “We could do a lot worse than having you for another term, sir.” And it was true; they needed someone amicable, and M'ker was just the sort. Who better to head a Weyr in need of supplies than a man capable of getting them?

She offered her hand by way of mocking gentility, feline's grin still firmly set on her face. “And why couldn't there be a new wing formed? You only need twelve lads for the bare minimum, and it'd give some of the lower-ranking lads a good chance at responsibility – and out of the queen's wing. The Egg knows none of them want to be stuck around the flamethrowers when they set off.”

As they walked on, Talera chuckled. “Now, whoever said that I was going to sleep in a corridor? I wasn't always a candidate, you know~” The implication was there, but it was another matter altogether as to whether or not the man would see the jest.

[Rose of Pern]

There was another laugh as they walked. "Time to give someone else a chance at Leadership." He already knew that there were quite a few Bronzes eagerly waiting in the wings to get the chance to successfully win a Flight. He also knew of a few riders that would be more then content to see him gone but that was beside the point. He had no intention of letting Kaelisth chase if Wirith rose within the Weyrhold. It was simply his choice on the matter. "Oh have no fret, I'm not going to be running off to another Weyr." He laughed again as he shook his head. "Most likely the new Weyrleader would keep me around to ensure things don't go too pear shaped."

He had a wry grin on his face as he took the offered hand but merely moved to link arms instead. He was a good natured sort, not caring as much for pomp and regulation as his father had been and many of the transfer riders were but it worked just fine for him. "Twelve good lads." He corrected. "I'd rather see them tested in an existing Wing then have them careen about in a new one without more experienced Leadership." He'd rather be safe then sorry in this case. He didn't want their already small number of dragons to drop down any further all because one boy thought it was funny to do a certain trick. "Most of the Wing Leaders have decided who they're taking as is."

He nodded before laughing at her. "Aye, we were all Weyrbrats once." Of course he knew she had meant something else entirely but he couldn't help but tease back. He was a person after all. "Though would hate to not have you in your Barracks at curfew's time. N'ven still scares even me." The teasing continued as they walked, the Weyrleader acting every part like he was someone else for the moment. Let the worries and cares of the Weyrhold wait until later, he needed a break anyway.

[Deleted]

“I'm glad for it,” Talera replied, “It wouldn't do to have Kaelisth at another Weyr – nor you, for that matter. You're too important around here to just go missing.” Let other bronzes vie all they wanted for the rank; if Wirith wasn't by some event the next gold to rise, she'd be rooting for Kaelisth. Talera had been fond of the reign of both of her leaders, not just Gerra.
If Wirith did rise next, then she hoped the girl would be able to handle the responsibility of it all.

Talera gave a small chuckle as the man linked his arm into hers. Playing the fool, rather than the gallant, was he?
“Oh,” she began, “I hadn't meant to imply you just throw together a random assortment of the younger riders. Have older browns in the ranks, keep the youths sorted. You make it sound as if I'm suggesting throwing one of the weyrling bronzes into a leadership role the minute he graduates!” She laughed at that, but continued. “But, if your wingleaders have made up their minds, then I suppose my wild notions can wait for another day.”

They were reaching the barracks, now, she realized. Talera almost didn't want them to stop there, despite her fatigue. At his reply, she frowned, then gave a soft laugh when she realized the man was teasing her right back. “You, sir, know exactly what I meant. But, I suppose I can let you off the proverbial hook, as it seems we're reaching my stop.” Smile still set on her lips, she detached herself from his looped arm, and gave the man a small salute.

“You surprise me, M'ker. I suppose from the caverns, all we tend to see of our leaders are during feasts and when there's trouble. I'll admit, I'd expected you to be more – and you'll have to excuse me for this – professional. I enjoyed tonight, even if I likely wasn't the most stimulating of companions.”
She turned, about to head into the barracks, then stopped herself. Looking back to the man, she grinned.
“And frankly, I don't see how anyone could be afraid of N'ven. But then, I've always preferred a firm hand.”