Who

Linden, Niyati, Sabina

What

Sabina was assigned a day off. Linden and Niyati help her enjoy it.

When

It is the forty-third day of Summer and 28 degrees.

Where

The Ice Fields, Southern Hold

OOC Date

 

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The Ice Fields

The air is fine and crisp and sharp and spare, threatening to vanish within the lungs of those who risk such altitude. Vast and sprawling lies the ice shelf of the Southern continent, bleak as far as the sharpest of eyes can see. Here there is meddling by mortal forces, a road ice-cut and gravel-trod from the mountain pass below to the looming caves ahead.


The day of Sabina's First Day Off dawned bright and clear. Cold, of course, but without winds or clouds to threaten the day that Linden has planned. The youngest Candidate waits in the courtyard, on the edge of the ice fields, bouncing in place and eager to be off. Dressed in his warmest clothes, he's got a hat on and dark lensed goggles, gloves, scarves, the works. Beside him is a satchel containing many Things, as well as two pieces of wood he's lashed rope to in an effort to make makeshift sleds.

Cold weather gear seems to be the name of today. Sabina wanders out into the courtyard decked out herself. A young girl had arrived early this morning with the necessities Bina would need. Which leaves her wondering if she has the sadly absent Niyati to thank. Regardless here Sabina is, all bundled up and for once actually matching. “Ahh there you are,” Sabina calls and trudges in Linden’s direction. “I thought we were meeting by your dorm. I apologize for my delay.”

Linden bounces a bit when he sees her, grinning behind his scarves. "Oh! Sorry, maybe we were…I can't remember. Are you ready? You look warm, did Niyati give you all of that? She's a great Weaver."

“I am assuming so,” Sabina says of her gloves, mended coat, and oh so pretty scarf with matching hat. “A young girl brought it all to me early this morning, dropped it on my bed, and skittered off giggling.” Unsure what to make of that Sabina looks mildly confused and shrugs her shoulders. “In any case it all fits and I’m warm. I’m not asking too many questions.” She eyes the pack of Linden’s things and takes a deep breath. This should prove interesting. “I’m ready when you are.”

Linden grins. "Well you look great. And warm." Bending, the teen scoops up the satchel and then offers her one of the sleds. "I didn't have time to sand them so there's some rough edges, be careful when you carry it. This way!" And off he bounds, eagerly towards the ice fields.

Poor Sabina is unused to compliments and so she glances at Linden baffled for a moment. “Thanks,” she says finally as she accepts the ‘sled’. “Okay,” she gingerly hefts the wood and follows after the teenager. “What is it exactly?” Turns upon turns of walking various hallways have left her well prepared to keep up with the young man. At least for now anyhow.

"It's a sled!" Linden says brightly. He and Sabina are tromping away from the courtyard and out towards the ice fields, each one with a makeshift sled. It's a cold, clear morning, perfect for the start of Sabina's day off. "We'll sit on it and slide down snow and ice. It's a lot of fun."

Sit on the wood and slide down ice? Sabina looks askance at Linden as she meanders along beside him. “I’m going to end up on crutches too I have a feeling,” she mutters with a chuckle. “Are you sure that’s a safe idea? I mean how do you stop once you get going?” A logical question for an adult to ask. Especially considering she’s never done anything like this before. “Is it sort of like sliding barefoot down a hall soaked in mop water? You stop when you hit the wall?”

Niyati is dressed for the activity as well as the weather. "You'll absolutely love it," she says by way of greeting. "You lean forward as much as you can to put all the weight forward." She shakes her head and chuckles. "I doubt you'll be on crutches. Mmm… kind of. You usually stop when you either run out of momentum or you hit snow." Or ice, or rocks, but she's not going to say that!

Linden giggles. "There's no wall! You stop when you get to the bottom. I'll find a safe hill for us to start on, promise. Niyati! Yeah, see? It's great fun." He tromps along the gravel path, careful to keep in sight of the person assigned to watch them for their little excursion.

Sabina looks over as Niyati joins the conversation. Idly wondering where the woman appeared from. “I’ll give it a shot anyhow,” she says with a shrug. Nothing gained if nothing is tried anyhow. “Hitting snow sounds softer than bouncing off walls at least.” She follows along with the pair and trusts they know where the popular spot for this activity exists. “Do I have you to thank for the snow gear?” This is asked of Niyati with a smile. “Some girl dropped it all on my cot this morning and took off laughing. I didn’t have a chance to ask her where she got it.”

Niyati looks thoughtful. "Well, I did send some along. If you've a wonderfully soft red sweater in there then it's my delivery. All the coats look alike, unfortunately. I've tried to get them to let me dye them different colors but function over fashion, I suppose. But there's no thanks needed unless you want to let me make an outfit for you before we're out of this place. You don't know what it's like to be a designer and not be able to actually design." Oh the trials. But! There's sledding to be done! "Did you wax the bottom of it, Linden? You nearly fly over the snow that way."

As far as Linden can tell, these are the first and only sleds in the Ice Hold, so they're breaking new ground in more ways than one. "Here!" the Candidate says happily, pointing upwards. Above the road is a snow drift, sloping down gently to end in the gravel. Since this road isn't often used, it's not a bad place to end your run. "Let me show you." He sets his satchel down and scrambles up the drift, sinking in nearly up to his waist as he forges a path. "I couldn't find any wax! But this should still work," he calls down to Niyati, dropping the sled at the top of the hill and climbing onto it. "Wheeeee!" That's Linden as he races down the hill, skittering to a stop on the gravel pathway. "That's perfect!!!"

Sabina is the oldest of the group and yet the shortest. From a distance no doubt it appears she’s just another young person gallivanting with a group of friends. In truth she’s wondering how she’ll keep up with young Linden. “I do have a lovely sweater! So thank you indeed. Though I saved it in my footlocker. It’s far too nice to risk damaging.” She wore the thick black turtle-neck style top instead. Saving the other for special. “If you think you could design something useable it would be appreciated.” Sabina isn’t going to turn down clothes as she has few enough. Turning she watches Linden scramble up the hill and fly down it on the board. “Oh my! That is sledding?!”

Niyati shakes her head. "Do me a favor, give it the wear it deserves. If I have time after the hatching is done I'll knit one that you can keep for special occasions. I do so love knitting, but there's very little need for it in the Weyr. But I'm glad you're happy with the clothes!" Linden's antics earn a delighted laugh and a mitten-muffled clap of her hands. "That is sledding. You should give it a try next. It's probably a good thing you didn't find wax, Linden. You might have become airborn!"

Linden laughs, delighted at the ride as he bounds to his feet and grabs the rope attached to the front of the sled. "C'mon, Sabina! Up!" And off he goes, tromping to the top of the little hill again. "You wanna go down next? Niyati! Come up! You can borrow my sled."

“Alright. I’ll wear it tomorrow then,” Sabina agrees with a nod of her head. Niyati looks so delighted by the slide of death that she cracks a smile. “If I live through today a knitted top would be lovely.” That said, she follows Linden’s order and trudges to the top of the hill with the board and drops it on the ground as Linden had. Looking at the pair with a mixed expression. It looks as though she’s preparing to die. And she probably is! “Here goes everything,” she calls and sits down on the board. Her slight weight is just enough to get the thing going. With a high pitched scream of terror she flies to the bottom of the hill, skids to a stop, and falls over sideways off the board. “Mercy!! That really was fun.”

"Oh, you'll live and you'll really enjoy this." Niyati informs then cheers as Sabina makes her way down the hill, laughing once the ride is pronounced fun. "Isn't it wonderful? And the higher the hill, the faster you go." Clearly there are some childhood activities she's just never going to let go of. "And this snow is nearly perfect for it. Nice and powdery!"

Linden laughs, clapping gloved hands at Sabina's sledding adventure. "You okay? Come do it again! It's SO fun." And he looks thrilled and downright relieved that she's enjoying herself. He was worried. "Niyati!" He waves his sled invitingly. "C'moooooon."

Rising to her feet, Sabina dusts the snow off her shoulders and chest. “I’m alright,” she calls back to Linden with a wave of a gloved hand. To Niyati she nods her head and smiles. “It’s rather enjoyable. I can’t believe I missed out on this all these turns.” The sled’s rope is gathered in a hand as Bina turns to haul the thing upward again. “Looks like it’s your turn,” she tells the other woman with a chuckle. “I hope I don’t scream aloud next time..” Because that was embarrassing.

Niyati takes hold of the sled and positions it in the snow before settling onto it and using her hands to push herself over the edge and onto the slope. Once she's moving she leans forward to give herself more speed, laughing delightedly until she reaches the end and makes her dismount in a tumble from the sled into the snow. Laughter emerges from the powdery stuff as she stands and brushes herself off. "Oh, you're not the first person to scream their way down," she assures, still laughing. "Bringing it back to you, Linden!"

"Screaming is half the fun!" Linden calls down with a wide grin. Eager for another go, he takes the sled from Niyati and this time he's going down head first, laying on his belly with arms and legs outstretched. And true to form, he yells and whoops the entire way down until he's rolling on the gravel road with a long laugh. "I could do this all day."

Sabina was making her way up the hill and watching Niyati’s decent. The tumble dismount draws a worried gasp from her at first. “Well I suppose I’m glad not to be the first to scream,” she says once she can breathe again. On up the hill she trudges until she’s standing atop the hill and watching Linden fly downward belly first. “There is no way I’m doing that,” she announces with a shake of her head. “My ribs would never forgive me.” She drops her sled on the ground and waits for Linden to clear out before flying once more downward on the sled. This time there is no scream, but her expression is one of someone constipated but delighted about it.

Niyati shakes her head. "It's fine as long as you keep yourself braced and as long as there aren't any rocks under the snow. You just brace your arms against your … your chest, crossed so you don't smack your face." Example is given as she places her arms in the right spot. "LIke that!" Linden earns a cheer as he goes down the hill and it's safe to say that she hasn't had this much fun in days.

Linden giggles, grinning widely at Sabina when she reaches the bottom again. "Happy?" he asks, eagerly, literally bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Sabina watches the demonstration that Niyati gives and still shakes her head. “I think I’m fine sitting on the thing for now.” Acrobatics are for those brave enough and she is not one. “You know..” Sabina considers Linden’s question a moment before nodding her head, “I really am. Thank you both for talking me into this.”

Niyati nearly claps at Sabina's answer. "I'm so glad you gave in to the temptation! Linden can be quite convincing. I've learned that if he says it's fun you'll do yourself no favors by saying no." Now that it's her turn, she settles down on the sled on her belly, pushing with both feet and hands to get the best speed possible before bracing her arms under her chest (because yeah. Ow.). Now it's her turn to make those delighted shrieking noises.

Linden grins widely, as if Sabina has just made his entire day complete. "There's more to come," he promises, before he's scrambling back up the hill to take another turn at it. Then he blushes (or is that the cold?) at Niyati's words. "Awww. Well, there's lots of fun stuff to do! You guys want to build snowmen now? Or have a snowball fight? Or keep sledding?"

Sabina follows Linden back up the hill and turns the sled over to the young man. “I’ll just rest up here a moment.” Her stomach can only take so much of being lodged in her throat before it needs a moment to crawl back into place. “I dare say he’ll be a menace when he gets more age on him,” she says to Niyati and winks at Linden. “Who can resist the charm?” Still the thought of yet more to do has her flopping backward in the snow. “I’ll leave that question, Linden for the two of you to decide. I was ordered to follow instructions from the pair of you as to fun remember?” She laughs softly at that.

Niyati makes the best snowball she can, warming the snow so that it sticks before tossing it in Linden's direction. "Let's build a snowman!" She's already pushing snow together to make it easier to get the ball rolling. "I brought buttons for the eyes and mouth, too." Which she holds out in her gloved hand. Two large black buttons and a few smaller red ones. Sabina's sentiment is given a nod. "I haven't been able to yet, but where's the fun in trying?"

Linden grins crookedly at Sabina, blushing for real this time. "I promise to only use my charm for good, not for evil." Then he's hit by a snowball, but before he can retaliate, Niyati is suggesting another activity. "Okay! Oooh, that's perfect, Niyati!" Bending, he starts his own ball.

Sabina hauls herself out of the snow and onto her feet. Laughing aloud when the snowball smacks into Linden. “I suppose that’s a promise that will have the girls your age breathing a sigh of relief,” she tells him with a grin. The buttons are given a look before Bina nods her head, “Those will look right nice.” Snowmen she knows how to do and walks over to help pack snow to the ball. “I’ve not done this since I was a very young girl.”

"Well, there's a relief. Otherwise you'd be set to break every young girl's heart in the Weyr." Niyati stows the buttons back into her pocket before helping to form the snow. "I've had more fun since becoming a candidate than I have had in ages. We should definitely do this again. I'll have a sled to use next time and we can race!"

Linden shrugs. "Eh, no one's noticed yet." He and girls don't mix quite yet. He's still too much of a boy. He grins widely at Niyati. "If we impress, after we can between, we should bring our dragons back here. And race too! That'd be great! Sabina, are you staying here? Or are you going to the weyr?"

“That he would,” Sabina agrees with Niyati and chuckles. She glances at Linden and shrugs a shoulder, “Give it time. They will.” They always do in her estimation. “Having you candidates here has been a delight I hadn’t expected.” Especially today she muses. The question as to where she will reside rocks her back on her heels. “I’d not given it any thought actually. I just go where I’m told that service is needed.” She smiles, “Where ever I end up I’m sure you two with your lifemates will be able to show up. I’m sure the two of you will make fine choices for the dragonets.” Hopeful speaking to be sure.

Niyati chuckles. "And not much of it at that. Oh, you really should think of where you'd like to live. There's always work to be done no matter where you are. I settled at the Weyr because it sounded exotic and I figured that if an designer was needed anywhere, it would be there. People need clothes everywhere. Every place needs free hands. Always get the best price for whatever your product is." That said she pokes her thumb toward Linden. "I'm sure this one will, at least. If I end up a Weaver again, I'll be just as content. That's the great thing about loving your work."

Linden dips his head to the snowman and blushes. "I'm trying not to hope too hard," he admits quietly. He does give Niyati a grateful if almost shy smile at her vote of confidence. "I'd love to be a bronzerider like my dad," he says quietly. "So either way you'll be happy, Niyati? If I don't impress I want to go back to Southern and maybe work for Renalde. Be an assistant. Help with running the weyr."

“I suppose if I had a choice I’d stay here in the mountains,” Sabina says with a shrug. “This place sure seems to need a lot of help. And there is quite a bit of work to be done here yet.” Making a place a home for others is what she does after all. Linden’s comment about working for Renalde gives her pause for a moment. Staying here means she’d not ever see him again most likely. How sad. She shakes the idiocy off with a visible move of her shoulders. She is a drudge, like he would give a thought to someone the likes of her! “I think you would be a wonderful asset to Renalde,” she tells Linden with a genuine smile of encouragement.

"It seems to me you both would." Niyati rubs her hands over the ball of snow to make it smoother. "He may even need more help once Linden's off to the weyrling barracks. But if the mountains are where you want to be, then that's where you should be. There's going to be so much going back and forth between them that I doubt you'll be long between visits!" At least she's trying to put on cheerfulness when it comes to Renalde, which means she doesn't downright hate the man. "Either way. Actually, when I accepted it was more to tell Desmeth yes than because I'd ever given any thought to dragons at all." The laugh she gives is directed solely at herself. "My workroom is the first place I've ever been able to honestly call home, so if I go back to that I'll be perfectly happy and I'll raise a glass of wine for all who did impress." Oh how she misses wine.

Linden nods. "But yeah, like Niyati said, there's work that needs done /everywhere/." He smiles, blushing again as he works on the middle section of body. "Thanks, Sabina. I think you would be too, if he needs an assistant while he's here." His eyes gleam with something…mischief? And then he's back to the snowman. For Niyati, the teen smiles. "That sounds great then, no matter what happens you'll be happy."

Sabina smiles sweetly at the pair while shaking her head at the same time. “I’d be no help at all to someone like Renalde. Unless he had need of someone to run his errands. And there are always folks nearby to snag for something that simple.” She is a scrubber of floors not an assistant. At least that’s how she sees her lot. She looks up from scooping snow to smile at Niyati. “I feel that way about the Hold. I didn’t feel like I really fit in down at the Weyr. Like I was always stepping on someone’s toes. Up here there is so much to be done that I feel like I’m making an actual difference.”

Niyati gives Sabina an amused look. "Well, you got a note of apology out of the kitchens. I'd say that's quite something. If you can run that kind of errand… I take your meaning, though. Here it's a whole new start. It's a pity, soon this place will be completely finished and there'll be no more climbing about or finding new things. All the new will be used up and all that will be left will be warmth, comfort, and certainty. Well. As much as one can have, I suppose." The buttons are brought out to be put on the snowman's face. "I bet you could become an assistant to the headwoman. I can't imagine a better person to get things done." Linden is given a nod. "It puts me in a no-lose situation, really. And the excitement of seeing a hatching right from the sands!"

Linden laughs. "Right now he needs someone to run his errands. Don't sell yourself short Sabina, you're smart. He could use you." Then he casts Niyati a curious look. "What's wrong with warmth, comfort and certainty?" Rolling over the middle bit, he hauls it up on top of the base, patting it in place. "This is just like building things with sand…" Only not at all.

Niyati’s comment has Sabina laughing for a moment. “That was different. The cook could have poisoned him!” She is still smiling when she shrugs her shoulder, “It would be a disaster if that happened after all.” Not to mention her own feelings on the subject which the Hold is still buzzing with rumor on that front. “I think some warmth and comfort could do this place some good. Make it feel like a real home.” She slants a smile at Linden, “I very much doubt he’d care to have me under foot over much. He seems like a very self-contained man.” She frowns slightly when she thinks of the hatching itself. “I’ve never seen a hatching. All the way up here I doubt that I will too. I do wish the best for you two though. You’ve been quite good to me and I appreciate it no end.”

Niyati nods at Linden's words. "Oh there's nothing really wrong with it. All new places end up there eventually, but then all the adventure is drained away and it's never quite the same again. Then again, I grew up everywhere so I never really got to see the new and different wear off a place first." She chuckles. "Except cold and white!" Sabina's words earn a shake of her head. "Well, whatever it was, you got results. It would be the same if someone tried to put bad meat on the spit or off vegetables in a stew. With you there no one would get away with it." Her grin turns to a frown at the mention of the hatching. "Oh but you really must. I've never seen one, either. My parents aren't able to come this far right now, so why don't you come in place of them, hm? You could cheer us on from the stands and give us someone to wave to. You're just as new here as we are, we have to stick together."

Linden steps back to look at their creation for a moment before moving in to make some subtle adjustments. He just grins when Sabina talks of Renalde. "Maybe you can come see it! I'm sure there'll be riders here taking folks. Riders go everywhere to take folks to a hatching. You should come! See us!" His head bobs in eager agreement with Niyati. "And don't say you can't."

“So long as it doesn’t end up like Bitra I see no problem with the new fading,” Sabina comments aloud. Straightening up with the others she steps back to eye the snowman. It looks like round lumps of snow to her. She looks over at Niyati for a moment, “I’m sorry your parents won’t be here to witness it dear.” She looks as though she’s about to make an excuse but then they are ganging up on her. “If there is a way that I can go then I’ll try.” She raises her hands and flops them to her sides, “Keep in mind though that there are more important folk about who will take precedence over the likes of me. So I’ve no idea if I’ll be able to get a ride to the Weyr or not.”

Niyati gives a nod. "We should ask someone if they'd see to it. Maybe T'lar? K'ane? Yules will be busy, obviously." Mention of her parents earn a shrug. "Growing up with Weavers, you learn that there is nothing that is more important than staying put while the orders are coming in. They never really had it in them to post to one place and stay there." There snowman is considered and she reaches out to steady a button. "Now he's a handsome and frosty looking fellow."

Linden frowns. "That's…sad, Niyati. I'm sorry they can't be there for you." He takes a step back. "I think you could secure a ride beforehand, Sabina, so someone knows to come and get you." He grins. "He looks real good!"

Sabina looks between the two candidates and rolls her eyes. “That is up to the pair of you. So long as it’s clear that I had no hand in it.” She’d never ask such a favor for herself! It’s well above her station in life to do such a thing. She smiles at Niyati and nods her head, “Everyone has to make a way for themselves in this life I suppose.” She looks at the snowman in question and agrees with the pair of them, “It looks right nice.”

And the day continues, with lots of laughing and snow, ice, some food and some beverages. They go sledding, try out skiing, even skating briefly before heading back to the hold where Linden will bid farewell to Niyati and usher Sabina into the hold, for his next surprise. He looks /excited/ about this one.

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