Who

Ginger, Idara

What

Ginger and Idara find some common ground.

When

It is sunrise of the seventh day of the fourth month of the fifteenth turn of the 12th pass.

Where

River Clearing near Southern Weyr

OOC Date 16 Oct 2018 23:00

 

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River Clearing

Just north of the river delta, the jungle's grip loosens enough to expose the sand-enriched soil and lichen-kissed rocks as the river battles through the rapids before dumping into the gentler delta. Cacophony of sound is made through the roar of the rapids, the spray of white water as it rains upon the nearby shores, and the shrieking of birds and wild firelizards that call from the nearby jungles. Treacherous to cross, most would follow the bank to either the river's delta or the calmer river bank, but a few courageous souls find the lure of the rapids too tempting to not cross as the far bank holds the promise of accomplishment.


The night's storm has worn itself out, leaving Southern Weyr sodden and cool in its wake. A perfect time then to venture out, though with the addition of an umbrella lest the grey clouds still hanging around decide it's time for more rain. With a cardigan to keep her shoulders warm against the mild morning, Idara has wandered her sedate way down to the river, swollen from the night's rain. She's certainly not going to attempt crossing the swirling, dangerous waters; no, the girl is going to amble alongside the waterway, following it as it winds further from the Weyr. Her umbrella is as yet unused, and so is held folded in both hands, at the front of her body. At the very least, her shoes are more suitable for possibly muddy walking - sturdy leather ankle boots.

The complexities of scheduling have given Ginger a free morning, but she's been up at the crack of dawn anyway, and she's on the homeward leg of her run. She's dressed in shorts and a sleeveless top: even with autumn drawing on, that's all she needs for energetic pursuits, though her shoes are robust and have soles that grip. She is breathing heavily as she approaches the ambling figure. Recognising Idara, she waves, then draws to a halt. "Morning, Idara! Out for a walk?" The brown firelizard that's been flying overhead takes the opportunity to land on her almost bare shoulder, provoking a wince. She transfers him to her forearm and cradles him so that claws aren't required.

Running riders: Idara seems to be something of a magnet for them. At least this one she's met before, and hopefully Ginger won't be knocking her over to protect her from wild felines. "Oh, good morning, Ginger. Yes, I thought I'd take advantage while it wasn't raining." Like the brownrider, her forward motion ceases, the better to have a conversation. "Oh - is that your fire-lizard?" A silly question perhaps, but Idara is learning not to assume things around this place, even if Ginger is cradling the brown. There's a hint of longing as she looks at the fire-lizard in the rider's arms, though Idara keeps her polite smile firmly in place as she lifts her eyes to Ginger's face again.

Ginger smiles fondly down at the little brown. "Yes, this is Walnut. He's a bit of an explorer, always out and about, but he's decided to keep me company this morning." She rubs the small brown head with a free fingertip, and Walnut's eyes turn to a contented whirling green. "They're good friends, firelizards. Shokravanth likes him. Anyway, how are you doing? Settled in now?"

"Walnut," Idara says, looking at the fire-lizard when his name is given. "How sweet of him. I suppose it must be a little like exploring for him, to come out here with you." There's a fond smile at the happy green of the creature's eyes. "Oh, that's good. I hear that dragons and fire-lizards tend to get along. I suppose it must be their similarity." In looks, at least. There's only the briefest pause as Idara considers whether she is, indeed, settled in, before she gives a little nod. "Yes, I think so. I'm enjoying the autumn - it's ever so beautiful." She indicates the river with one hand. "It almost makes me not miss Southern Barrier. Have you ever been there?"

"I've visited," Ginger says, almost shivering at the thought. "I'll be able to get there more easily now. Nice place to go in summer, when everywhere round here is miserably hot. And the glacier's spectacular. I really like that. Though," she admits with a show of regret, "I do tend to go to Igen when I want a change of scene, 'cos it's cold there when it's hot here, and the other way round. And I've got family there. When I was a kid, it was easier to scrounge a ride if people thought I was being the dutiful cousin or half-sib, specially if Ma went, too."

Idara's smile grows: she knows exactly what Ginger means about the difference between the two places, though she went from cold to hot rather than the other way round. "The glacier is stunning. There are many places I love and miss there." There's a tiny sigh as she returns both hands to the handle of her umbrella. "Igen? I've never been there, I must admit. I hear it's ever so sandy." Which, by the slightly disgusted way she says it, doesn't appeal to Idara at all. But! If Ginger has family there, she shouldn't insult the place. "It must be nice to be able to go wherever you want, whenever you'd like?"

"And that waterfall," Ginger beams. "The frozen one. That's amazing!" She nods enthusiastically, then gives a dry laugh. "Yeah, Igen is pretty sandy. Not all of it, but the bit where the Weyr is is mostly sand and rocks. That's good in its own way, though - the colours are stunning. If you want to see the place, I'll take you sometime. It is pretty good to be able to do that. When I've got the time between drills and PT and Threadfall and sweeps and…" Her grin widens: she's clearly not at all distressed by her busy life. "

Idara looks pleased that Ginger's also seen the frozen waterfall. "Some people hate that it's so cold, but it's such a beautiful place." Is she biased from growing up there? Perhaps, but her gentle tone isn't trying to force an agenda. There's a hing of surprise that Ginger is offering to take her to Igen - but she accepts with genuine gratitude. "That would be so kind. I hear there's a very interesting bazaar there. They must sell some exotic items." Ah yes, shopping. Clearly the main reason to go to Igen, and not the attractive landscape Ginger's described. She gives a delicate laugh when the rider describes her schedule. "It doesn't sound easy, to have a dragon. Is it the same for all colours?"

"Oh, yes, they sell all sorts of stuff. Igen folk - women - are into wearing lots of gauzy drapy stuff, so you can get amazing fabrics - you like that sort of thing, don't you? And you might get to watch some Zingari dancers. That's always fun. We must definitely go!" Ginger seems pretty keen on this trip; perhaps she realises it. "See how I'm enjoying my new-found freedom, now I can do whatever I like with my spare time? But any wingrider's got the same sort of schedule as me; there's not much difference between the colours, except that greens and blues can't always fly so long. And the bigger ones take more time to bathe and oil, of course."

Ginger really knows how to sell a place! Now that's what Idara is into. "Oh?" Yep, she's hooked like a fish on the end of the line! "Ohhh. I wonder if I could buy some for some dresses…that sounds ideal for hot weather." Southern is a lot more humid than Igen of course, but she's not to know that. "Zingari dancers? That does sound interesting." That word triggers a slow series of thoughts in her, her brow creasing a tiny bit. The thoughts will continue to work in the background as she considers Ginger's explanation. "Oh, I see." And then ding! Her thought is done and ready to be asked, all innocently. "Isn't the Senior Weyrwoman Zingari? Are they all dancers?"

"So I've heard," says Ginger, who would make a point of hearing something like that, but wouldn't necessarily share the juicy details, especially when the syllogism implied by those two innocent questions is so clear. "And I don't think they're all dancers. They trade things, too, and I guess they must have people who do other stuff, like we have people who aren't riders. And they do other kinds of entertaining too. I've seen jugglers, musicians, knife-throwers…."

Whatever images Idara had of a dancing Weyrwoman are replaced with a juggling one, then one playing an instrument, before settling on one throwing knives…all interesting, and bringing an amused expression to her face. All far more interesting than the idea of a simple trader. "Well, I should like to go and see that. Or is there something like it at Southern? We had more dances and balls. Harper musicians, usually." All very civilised-sounding in comparison to the Igen's entertainers that Ginger's described.

"We aren't really into balls." A flicker of horror enters Ginger's eyes at the thought, though it's quickly gone, and she sounds relaxed as she carries on, "Beach parties and hatching feasts are more our style - not that we're having too many of those lately. The harpers entertain, though. Ever been to the Treble Clef? There's often music in there, and it's a harmless sort of place - no booze." That's a plus in Ginger's record. "Not always harpers doing the playing, either: some of the riders and weyrfolk are quite decent musicians. Not really musical myself, but I like to listen sometimes. D'you play something? Or sing?"

Idara and Ginger couldn't be more different in that moment - for the Holder girl, there's a look of wistful reminiscence in her eyes as she thinks about the balls she's been to. "Oh - beach parties sound delightful. I suppose this is approaching the wrong season for them - but there will be a hatching and a feast in the not too distant future, I hope?" Certainly, Southern's only gold hasn't risen since she's been at the Weyr, so there's hope for one soon. Ginger's question gets a softer sort of smile. "I can play a little on the lap harp, but I fear it may not be the sort of music for a crowd." Or for a Weyr crowd she means, perhaps? "I shall have to see the Treble Clef, thank you for telling me of it." Whether or not she, too, is glad of the no booze thing is not made clear. Her body language is more at ease than usual, as she finds a what she considers a friendship in Ginger, their very different lives aside.

"Lap harp. Wow. I can just about beat a drum in time." There's a note of admiration in Ginger's voice that might even be genuine. "And we're all hoping Zymuraith will go up soon. We'd normally have had a lot more clutches, but she can't do it all by herself. I guess she'll fly when she's good and ready." Walnut squirms in her arms, and she releases him to fly off; he circles overhead. "And beach parties are fun. We grill stuff, and sometimes roast a herdbeast on a spit, or do a pit roast. Very casual and relaxed."

Ginger hasn't heard Idara play, but the girl will take the compliment for what it is, a little puffing up of pride. "Drum is still an instrument," she says kindly. There's a glimmer in her eyes at the thought of Zymuraith flying, and all that brings. "Yes, I suppose that is the nature of golds. It will be interesting to see what the Weyr is like when there is a clutch." She follows Walnut's movement with interest, smiling at the sight of the circling fire-lizard. "Oh, how lovely." Grilled food and pit roasts on the beach - potentially sandy, but also exotic enough to her to be intriguing. "I shall have to go to the next one and see them for myself. Do the dragons go to them, too?" Given she's been at the Weyr a while now, and hasn't really met a dragon properly yet, the intrigue is strong.

"Some of them do." It sounds as if Ginger finds that entirely normal. "I mean, they like the beach anyway, so they tend to hang around the edges, or swim. They had one when the last class graduated and my lot became senior weyrlings, and all ours were there. Well, I suppose they had to be for the formal bit, but." She wrinkles her nose. "They only trouble was, they made it a daytime affair, and it was absolutely roasting. Don't know whose bright idea that was. Usually we party in the evenings when it's hot." She stops for a moment with that slightly unfocused look that riders get. "Shokravanth coming to get me, 'cos it's time I was getting back: I'm supposed to be seeing my mother this morning. D'you want a lift back to the Weyr?" A brown dragon does indeed appear in the sky; he can't have been far away, and as he approaches, it'll be clear that he has his straps in place. "There's a smooth place a bit along from here, where he can land."

Idara listens with full, polite interest. The more information she has before going to one of these events, the better prepared she can be, after all. "Oh - yes, I see. The evenings are much more pleasant, as it cools down." Spoken by one more used to snowy conditions, but she's (gradually) adapting to Southern's climate and its ways. "Oh-" That one's a soft exclamation as she sees Shokravanth appear and approach. "That would be lovely. I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting him, yet." Idara starts to step, though slowly, an implication for Ginger to lead the way to the landing spot mentioned.

"All right. He likes meeting people." Ginger too sets off, but slowly, giving the dragon time and space to land before she approaches him. He's obliging enough to offer a foreleg to his passenger, and it's not long before they're on their way back to the Weyr Bowl.
I don't understand that.

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