Who

Selaine, Onari

What

Amidst trying to wear out a toddler and oiling firelizards, a greenrider and a trader take some time to chat.

When

It is afternoon of the thirteenth day of the seventh month of the ninth turn of the 12th pass.

Where

Lake Shore, Igen Weyr

OOC Date 28 Nov 2016 07:00

 

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"I barely see you around anymore, it feels like."


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Lake Shore

Sprawled out beyond the Weyr proper's hustling activity and ambling roads, the cool, blue paradise of the Weyr lake promises escape from the oppressive hammer of Igen summer's cruel climes; the asymmetrical, sandy white shores hook delicately around the deceptively still waters running deep and sure, greedy peninsulas reaching white fingers stretching in crooked lines towards its center. A sturdy shack, weather-beaten and brown as cured leather, resides in isolated splendor upon one such finger, screened shelving offering a variety of brushes and fragrant oils housed in colorful tureens. Out beyond a small and dusty paddock ringed by a white fence, a long rocky pier stabs out into the lake, providing a panoramic view of the Weyr itself, while the southern shores provide varied shrubs and grassed for the massed herds in their pens.


Faranth it is hot. Very very very hot. It is not a temperature to laugh at… and staying inside is suffocating, though the cavern walls do keep the inside a tad cooler. Still, Selaine takes advantage of her day off to go have a swim in the lake with Thesrov in tow. A few other weyrfolk dot the lake shore, being of the same mind as the greenrider to take advantage of its cool waters. She and her son wade into the water, not straying too far from the shore as the toddler plays with the water. "Mama! Wa'er!" He calls out as he splashes about. "That's right, Thesrov. Water. Be careful now."

No matter how many tricks are used to try making scorching air cooler, there comes a point when it's just not possible to get comfortable. These are the times water is more of a relief than the shade, and thus Onari makes her way to the lake as well. Clad in a swimsuit with a robe to preserve some modesty while passing along the pens and carrying a basket with a few jars and a towel, the trader woman follows the strand with her three firelizards gliding low overhead. A familiar face catches her attention, though she almost second-guesses when she sees Selaine in the company of a child…and then remembers that the greenrider is said child's mother now. She shakes her head, chuckling to herself. Faranth, has it really been that long? "Afternoon, Selaine," she greets when she's close enough. "I think we're brave souls to come out in this." Still better than braving a sandstorm, of course.

Thesrov is totally loving the water. He's all splashy-splashy, getting a lot of the water he's splashing onto his mother as she isn't far behind if he happens to wander. Which is totally fine, since the whole point of this was to cool down with the water anyway… There's a moment where he wanders almost a little too far and Selaine practically has to chase him down to prevent him from getting any deeper into the lake. As she's wading a little closer to shore, Onari's greeting is heard and the greenrider turns her head towards the familiar voice. "Onari!" Thesrov, on the other hand, cannot be distracted by new faces and resumes his splashing about. "Perhaps." Selaine will offer with a light chuckle, "It's much better than being stuck inside. This is marginally better." Very marginally. "Thesrov, say hi." The toddler barely looks up to glance at Onari with wide blue eyes with a quick "Hi" before he goes back to splashing.

Onari sets her basket down and kicks off her sandals, shrugging off her robe to fold and set aside as well. "Hello, Thesrov!" she answers the splashing toddler, kneeling down at the water's edge. Her firelizards immediately swoop further out and dive into the water, surfacing to venture closer to the little boy with chirps and burrs of greeting. "He's gotten so big," she observes, impressed and a little chagrined at the same time. "Between Candidacy and getting back to work with the caravan, I've discovered some things have passed me by without me noticing! How have you been?"

Thesrov looks up at Onari again for a moment when she greets him but goes back to splashing again. Selaine frowns slightly. "He's not usually so … shy. Odd." He had been fine with strangers as an infant, anyway… and he's usually around the other weyrbrats… could be getting shy as he gets older. Much to Selaine's chagrin. With the firelizards making an appearance around him, however, he squeals in delight and attempts to 'play' with them… aka chase them down. Selaine keeps a very careful eye on the toddler so that he doesn't wander far from her. With a glance over at Onari, Selaine grins. "He has, hasn't he?" Her gaze is fond as she watches him waddle after the firelizards. "I've been well. As well as I can be, anyway. And you? I barely see you around anymore, it feels like."

Chuckling, Onari watches Thesrov for a moment and shakes her head. "It's alright. Sometimes they do that the older they get. Akayata, one of the caravan's little ones, did that around the time she turned two. Then she grew out of it again." The firelizards skirt just out of Thesrov's reach but enjoy the game. However, little gold Suna soon comes back to Onari and trills up at the Reika woman, flitting over to perch on the edge of the basket. "Oh, of course, my lady," she teases her charge, pulling out a little pot of oil from the basket. "I've been alright," she replies, "though it took me some time to readjust after the Hatching, and I was keeping to myself without really realizing it. Now, though, the Reika have been busy. We've been approached by some of the wealthier merchants needing reputable transport of some wares to Ruatha and Fort, which will mean we'll be on the road the longest we've ever been. It's…a lot of preparation." Her tone conveys an odd mixture of feelings on the matter. She should be excited…but it isn't so simple a thing.

"I do hope he'll grow out of it…" Selaine says wistfully as she watches the firelizards play with her son. There's a curious glance over at Onari as the gold firelizard flies over. As Onari answers her question, Selaine splashes some of the water onto her arms to cool herself down some. A soft 'ah' escapes her lips as the other woman explains how she secluded herself unknowingly after the Hatching…which was understandable. "I can only imagine," she adds in as Onari talks about Reika's preparations for departure. "How long do you think the caravan will be gone, then?" Selaine asks, turning to look for Thesrov, who's wandered a bit too far. Kina, Selaine's gold, pops into appearance to play shepherd, herding the little boy back to this mother by making him chase her.

"Well," Onari replies, dipping her fingers into the oil and beginning to rub it down Suna's back, "I think we might be gone into spring. It'd take us a month to get over to Ruatha, accounting for the weather we're likely to come up against, and probably another two sevens down to Fort…and who knows where Papa will want to connect to while we're there." Her ministrations to her gold slow a bit as she looks to Selaine. "I'm excited for the opportunity. It's just…we have so many connections to the Weyr now. People I wouldn't get to see for months, though our dragonriders would be able to visit with a little hop between of course. Still…" There's just something about knowing they're all nearby that feels right.

"That's quite some time away…" Selaine comments even as she holds her hands out for Thesrov to run into. The toddler waddle/runs into his mother's arms with a 'Mama!' She brushes aside his hair that's gotten matted to his forward before releasing him once more to play with the firelizards. "I can understand how you feel… I felt something similar when I was at Telgar a while back." She turns to the trader with a knowing smile. "I'm sure it's hard to not just see people whenever you want… even knowing riders are just a trip *between* away… You'll all be missed, that's for sure. You always are."

"Aye; I'm hoping it won't actually be that long…" Onari looks up to watch Thesrov run back to his mother, a soft smile tilting her lips. Suna takes the opportunity to make it VERY obvious what she wants oiled next by unfurling a wing across the Reika woman's lap, prompting a chuckle. "I'm glad we've been able to move from being eyed with suspicion to missed when we're gone," she notes happily before glancing to Selaine again. "So you were homesick while you were at Telgar, then?"

"I think you guys have been around long enough to warrant being missed now." Selaine states, smiling wryly at the Reika woman with a glance at the gold 'lizard in her lap. "And yes, very much so. It was quite hard, being so far when my whole life has been in Igen… " Her gaze drifts around the lake before landing on Thesrov again, eyeing his activity level to see if he's near tired out yet or not… Though he's got a lot of energy now, he'll use it up in no time. And chasing firelizards will wear him out real quick. "Weather's completely different too, so there's that. As much as the weather here can be atrocious… I'm used to it, y'know?"

Onari shivers at the mention of Telgar weather. "Faranth. I'm sure the caravan will make it up there someday, but I'm not sure I'm looking forward to it. Bitra was plenty cold; I can only imagine what it must be like up there." After watching Thesrov again for a bit, she brightens. "You know, if you like, you can bring Thesrov by the caravan when you need a nanny or a playmate for him. My niece Alynka is still small, but she likes playing, if he doesn't mind playing with a baby. And there are plenty of others around his age otherwise."

"Not really something I enjoyed during my stay up there, that's for sure." Selaine adds, chuckling softly at Onari's reaction. With the other woman's suggestion, the greenrider's expression brightens. "That sounds like a great idea. I do want to get him more exposure to others and not just the other weyrbrats. Maybe it'll help him get out of this shy faze he's in… I'll bring him over in the near future." It's certainly a good suggestion… Selaine only hopes Thesrov won't mind the arrangements. The toddler wades back to her after a few more minutes, plopping down into her lap and leaning against her. Someone's getting tired. "How old's your niece?"

Onari grins at Selaine's acceptance of the suggestion. "He'll have plenty of eyes on him. And while we're on the road, there will still be a few staying behind. Kal and Dalynn will want to stay to keep up business here. And because they don't want to travel with Alynka just yet." Suna lifts her head as Thesrov returns and settles into Selaine's lap, trilling melodically at him before relaxing back into her oiling. "She's nearly seven months old now. Also growing fast. I think all little things seem to do that."

"I trust you, which means I put my trust in the Reika as well. I'm sure he'll be in good hands with you guys." Selaine tells Onari, patting Thesrov's back as he leans against her, eyes getting droopy. The sound of Suna's trilling catches his attention, lifting his head to look over before he drops it back down. "They go fast when you're not paying attention… especially when they're little." She glances down at her son with a fond smile before cradling him and getting up out of the water. "I'm gonna go put him in the nursery for his nap… It was really nice talking to you again, Onari. I'll let you know when I plan to bring Thesrov over to the caravan." With that said, she walks over to her own basket that's been set aside with some towels before she's off with a departing wave to the Reika trader.

"I look forward to it. Clear skies to you, Selaine!" Onari says as she watches Selaine rise and carry her son off to his nap. There are firelizards to oil and a swim to be had…and then, hopefully, Rukbat will be setting and the air cooling enough for everyone to sleep as easily as a tuckered-out toddler themselves.

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