Who

Selaine, D'ren

What

Selaine chats with a Southern visitor.

When

It is evening of the twenty-second day of the third month of the second turn of the 12th pass.

Where

Igen Weyr

OOC Date

 

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Living Cavern

Dim light from hanging glow-globes cannot fully camouflage the ravages of time and neglect on Igen's busy living caverns, though hints of its former glory peek through in the decorative cuts to the cave's natural limestone and the high quality of dusty, tatty-ended tapestries. Here and there, skybroom tables — stained dark by wood finish and a decade of grime — sit in loose groups, flanked by wicker chairs with pointy, broken rattan that pokes out to invariably find unprotected skin. The seemingly randomly placed furniture, however, at closer inspection, forms a sort of cross-shape of negative space. At the northernmost walls and nooks of the caverns, a long buffet table with tarnished lazy susans hosts an array of finger-foods and pitchers for the interested, refilled occasionally by drudges that shuffle in from the curtained entrance to the south, beyond which lies the kitchens. To the east is a large arch leading outside and, across from that, to the west, a set of rattling doors that open to reveal the tunnels and stairs of the inner caverns themselves.


It's another regular evening at Igen, where riders and weyrfolk alike are gathering into the caverns for their daily evening meal. Selaine is already at a table, mug of klah and a plate of food in front of her. Two firelizards rest on the table, the blue eyeing the food on the greenrider's plate. The girl occasionally indulges the firelizard by giving it a piece of meat, only making it beg for more. "You're eating more than I am.. and what've you done all day?" she reprimands the creature. It chirps at her as if to indicate it doesn't care.

D'ren walks into the main cavern from the inner caverns, fastening the messenger satchel that's slung across his chest and rests by his hip. Scanning the room, one table in particular, when it's seen to be empty the Southern bronzerider makes his way to the tables for a mug of klah and a sandwich before looking around for a spot to sit. A place at Selaine's table is spied and then taken with a nod to the teen as he settles.

Selaine looks up as the Southern rider sits at her table. A smile is offered at the older rider's nod. "Evening." she greets, feeding the blue firelizard another piece of meat. "Lovely night, isn't it?" she comments. When all else fails, talk about the weather. "By the way… I'm Selaine, green Akitith's. Here on an errand?" she asks, curious as she glances at the satchel.

D'ren nods, "It is indeed, especially for Igen." Taking a bite of his sandwich, he's a bit surprised by her introduction and holds up a hand in a 'hang on a second' gesture while he chews and swallows. "D'ren, bronze Aikuonath's, well met. And yeah, just delivering something." The bronzerider shrug and looks around, before smiling again at the teen.

"It is spring, after all." Selaine adds, grinning. There's a light chuckle as her introduction catches him a bit off-guard. "Well met, D'ren." she responds, taking a bite of her food and a sip of klah. "Will you be staying long?" She tilts her head, curiosity apparent.

D'ren shakes his head. "Nope, just going to grab this quick snack and head back to Southern for my afternoon duties." He smiles and sips his klah. "You?"

"Ah, I see." Selaine nods understandingly. "I have evening sweeps, myself. Just grabbing dinner before I go back out." she tells him before glancing over at her firelizard and glaring at him for attempting to steal a piece of meat off her plate. "How's the weather in Southern?"

D'ren nods, emerald eyes watching the firelizard and quirking a grin. "I always loved evening and night sweeps. Something soothing about them. Weather is hot. Like…stupid hot. But i grew up in Ista so it's not that bad. Still. Hot."

There's an innocent chirp from the blue as he backs away a little and curls up next to the green who has been sleeping peacefully the whole time. Selaine grins before looking back at D'ren. "Really? I wonder how different the hot is from Igen? The summers here can get pretty unbearable."

"Humidity," is D'ren's quick answer. "This here is a dry heat. Southern…it's like you're breathing in a sauna. I prefer it, but lots of folks don't. It feels different, tastes different. You sweat a lot more down there."

Selaine wrinkles her nose slightly. "I don't know if I'd like that… but I'd like to go sometime to experience it myself." she comments before taking a sip of her klah. "I guess I can't say if I prefer it either way until I do."

D'ren chuckles. "Come visit Southern soon then, if you want a taste of it. Then you'll see. It's a bit of a shock but like I said, some folks really like it. Others prefer Igen. For me, it's just way too dry here."

"I will! When I get the chance." Selaine says, grinning. "But I love the springs here… It's just the right temperature. What are springs like in Southern?" As she waits for D'ren's reply, she picks at her food.

D'ren shrugs. "Not really sure, to tell you the truth. I just transferred there, but I think that's the rainy season. Or is that autumn…" He trails off, uncertain. "I'll have to get back to you on that one."

Selaine ahs softly and giggles lightly. "That's no fun. I definitely am not a fan of sweeps in the rain." She wrinkles her nose again as she remembers the many drills and sweeps she's had to do in the rain. "So you said you were from Ista? Is that where you Impressed?"

D'ren shakes his head, taking a bite of his sandwich. "No, impressed in High Reaches actually…Ista was just until I was…12, I think. Maybe 11. Dolphincraft apprentice until I was Searched."

"Oh! Really? Wow.. I've always wanted to see a dolphin.. I'm jealous." Selaine exclaims. "That I definitely have to do as well. Seems like I have much to look forward to doing in the future. I was a Harper apprentice, myself. I was originally from Igen Hold, so not too far from here, in fact."

D'ren smiles. "Well, you should go see them sometime! You're cleared for between, right?" She looks /awful/ young, but he's assuming she's a graduated rider. "Harper is important too. I never had the patience for that. Always have to be moving. Ahh, Igen Hold, so you're very used to this weather then."

Selaine nods. "I graduated not too long ago!" she grins, "I just haven't had a chance to go to Southern. Been busy on this end." Her plate is just about empty as she picks at a piece of bread, tearing small pieces off to eat. Another nod. "Yes, I've grown up in this weather. But when it's hot, it's hot, there's no getting used to heat." The girl lets out a soft sigh.

D'ren chuckles. "No, just have to find ways to beat it. Swimming, cool caverns…whatever you can do." Sandwich finished, he sips his klah and smiles. "Excited to have graduated?"

Selaine nods in agreement. "Just so." she comments, grinning as she pushes her now-empty plate away and also sips at her klah. "Oh yes! It's a lot of work but it's very rewarding." she replies enthusiastically. "It's very different from what I could have imagined my life to be, that's for sure."

D'ren smiles. "Your life as a Harper you mean?"

There's another nod. "Yes. I never would have imagined that I would actually get Searched or even Impress! It was quite the shock at the time." There's a flash of some unknown emotion through her eyes but she smiles. "But I can't imagine another life now, anyhow."

D'ren's smile grows and he nods, understanding. "I know how it feels. Think almost every rider knows how that feels. Can't imagine doing anything else myself, either, than being with Aik and doing what we're doing." Finishing his klah, he gets to his feet. "Best get back though. Was a pleasure to meet you, Selaine."

Selaine nods again. "It was great talking with you, D'ren. I hope we'll meet again in the near future. Clear skies."

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