Late Return [Sketchy]

[Sparrow]

Something had frightened Squeak, exactly what was hard to say, since Kora had come in to the kagen already hidden under her bad, Lilac chatting up a storm trying to coax him out again. For a few minutes, Kora left her pets to their own devices; eventually Squeak would recover and come back out, no need to go fighting him before he was ready. But before long his own frightened noises let Kora know that there was something barring the kagen’s escape. Hopefully not whatever had frightened him in the first place, she mused to herself as she knelt to help extract the Kagen. But if it were a tunnelsnake, there would be much more of a ruckus.

As it turned out, he had merely gotten a foot tangled in mess of rags and rescuing Squeak was an easy matter. More unsettling was that amidst those rags was a jacket, and not hers either. Kora drew it out with a suspicious look at the kagen that so clumsily nested beneath her bed, but how it ended up there was not as big a question as how she had let it stay there for so long. It should have been returned to T’ien long ago. By now he had probably replaced it, and Kora’s unease at the idea of giving it back after so long was almost enough to keep her from doing so. But it would hardly be setting a good example for the Weyrwoman to go “borrowing” and never returning things. Even if T’ien wasn’t the sort to blab about it to others, his respect was something she would rather maintain… and stealing his jacket wasn’t the way to do that.

Kora gathered the coat under her arm and called Soot to her shoulder. Nayarath was asleep, so Kora couldn’t take advantage of the convenience of asking her dragon to find the bronzerider, but weyrlings didn’t often leave the Weyr, and Bronzes were hard to miss. The Bowl, however, did not greet her with the sight of Minalth’s telltale bulky build. The Weyrling Barracks would be the next easiest place to search, and she headed that way.

Soot buzzed in ahead of her. If T’ien was inside, he would be easy to find, would hopefully recognize the little tan, and follow him out, simplifying the search as well as keeping ladies out of the boy’s barracks. Probably both good things.

[Sketchy]

T'ien was napping. It was a rare afternoon that he had time to himself, let alone when Minalth wasn't demanding something of him. He was happily drowsing, one arm flopped off the edge of the bed.

D'cien, however, was awake, talking in the hallway to another weyrling. Hiarth was dozing along with Minalth, the two making a lump of dragon in a small area that wasn't really meant to fit two growing boys in. D'cien had taken the time to chat up a cute looking weryling who had Impressed to a green. He was making rather good progress, too, when he was interrupted by a tan flit. "What," D'cien barely got anything out before the flit was tugging at his shirt sleeve, insistent and chittery.

"Okay, okay." Making a brief apology (with a promise to follow up), D'cien decided to take the hint and follow the tan flitter before he tore up one of his more decent shirts all that much. The flit led him out of the boy's barracks area, and to... the weyrleader. An eyebrow cocked at it, he mentally asked Hiarth: What have you broken lately?

Hiarth, still mostly asleep, didn't even bother with a reply. "Weyrleader Kora," he said formally. "This is a surprise." His eyes wandered over her, taking in Soot (who, in a bit of god-modding, was happily rejoicing over a job well done), and finally the jacket. His eyes narrowed as he thought, hazel eyes flashing back up to her.

"Is that T'ien's?" A small smile quirked his lips as he thought it over. Well, well. Seems brother had more to him than he'd thought. And if not, Kora was in for some explaining. "I can go get him, he was napping last I saw." He'd thrown her a bone, because either way, her reaction would be worth it, he bet.

[Sparrow]

Soot was certainly proud with his prompt success, and started preening proudly once he had finished h is rejoicing and settled on Kora's shoulder again. The Weyrwoman, however, was not as pleased as her fire-lizard. This wasn't T'ien.

She was... surprised too, and not sure how best to reply to D'cien's greeting, particularly not when he recognized her bundle... and likely made the wrong connection, judging by his expression.

"Yes it's... his," Kora replied, her tone only slight more intelligible than a mumble. "But you- you don't need to wake him! If you could just... give this back to him." She held out the jacket awkwardly. "He let me borrow it once, a while ago, because-um, well, it was kind of silly, really-" now her speech was rushing instead of reluctant; she just wanted to get out of this situation, but, naturally, was going about it all wrong. "If you could tell him I'm sorry for keeping it so long, it was an accident..." Blame the kagen that had gotten her into the mess in the first place. And that situation... even if it wasn't the situation that D'cien likely had in mind, she still didn't want to explain it to him!

"I'm sorry Soot grabbed you instead of him, too," she spluttered. "But I... I should get going. Sorry." D'cien hadn't even taken the jacket and she was backing away.

At least Soot wasn't preening any longer, but instead pressed himself as flat as he could to Kora's shoulder. The Tan had realized he'd messed up somehow, but had no clue how to remedy the mistake. Best to hide.

[Sketchy]

As her speech rambled on, getting quieter as she tried to find a way to explain it, D'cien's grin only grew. In the corner of his mind, he knew that T'ien wasn't likely for flings; especially not with the weyrwoman. And if he had, D'cien would have known for sure. His brother wasn't so good at keeping secrets from him, after all. Dominant twin or not, T'ien couldn't fool D'cien.

But Kora didn't know that.

"An accident, of course." Trying not to laugh, he straightened his smile out a little, but it trembled as she tried to hand him the jacket. "Can't expect him to know, it was an honest mistake."

Before D'cien could insinuate anymore, T'ien came busting out of the barracks, eyes searching frantically for D'cien. "Minalth said you were out here," he growled a little. His hair was tussled from his brief nap, his clothing slightly dishevled.

"I was just going to bring you your jacket, T'ien." D'cien grinned a little as T'ien shoved him back towards the barracks.

"Go feed Hiarth or something, he's hungry, I'm sure."

D'cien was still laughing under his breath as he returned to the rooms. He could question T'ien later. He planned on it.

T'ien ran his hand through his hair, eyes darting to Kora. His cheeks mantled a little as his back straightened and he cleared his throat. "Sorry about that. D'cien is... well, he just has his own personal brand of humor, I suppose." There wasn't really a way to describe D'cien, but T'ien knew that in their own way, it was (and had always been) a contest between them. If only he knew what they were contesting over. He sighed and looked over his jacket. "I forgot you had that, honestly."

[Sparrow]

Kora was more than ready to turn and run while the twins talked. Maybe, by some miracle, T'ien hadn't noticed her. He did seem much more focused on D'cien, but he was shoving the Bluerider back towards the barracks and leaving himself alone with her before she could back off any significant distance.

And of course, with D'cien out of the way, he turned and spoke to her, sounding much more collected than she felt at the moment. She wasn't sure what T'ien meant by humor, unless by "D'cien's personal brand" he meant not funny at all, as she didn't feel like... or maybe she had been too nervous to notice.

"I forgot too, I'm really sorry I kept it for so long," Kora apologized again, although at least this time it was to the person she actually meant to be talking to. "And sorry about waking you, and the whole mix-up... Soot came out with D'cien before I'd even gotten here."

Not that she was at all mad at the flitter; it was an honest mistake. The twins looked fairly similar, and it had been a while, once again, since she had seen either. She wasn't even sure Soot had ever even been with her; he would only have been running off her flustered memories. Each sporadic visit was apparently doomed to turn out like this- and this one had hardly started! Despite that, Kora was quite ready to leave.

[Sketchy]

T'ien was good at sounding collected- but that was as far as it went. His heart was jumping around a little faster than it should have been. That was most likely due to Minalth and Hiarth's decision that he would be woken by first being rolled off his cot (it was surprisingly shocking to wake up on the floor), then to be told that D'cien was not only doing something obnoxious, but pertaining to him.

It made for a rough wake up call.

"It's fine, it hasn't been all that chilly out." He lifted a hand to gesture at the weather, trying to calm his pulse a little. He was sure he looked a wreck, as he had, after all, just rolled out of bed. He tugged at his clothing a little, shrugging after a moment. "Not a problem. Sometimes I have issues telling us apart."

Finger combing his short hair into some semblance of order, he looked at the jacket. "If you're not planning anything else, how about some food? I haven't eaten since training." It had been a packed day, and his down time had already been a little more exciting than he was hoping for.

"If I go back in there right now, D'cien won't leave me alone," he added a little pleadingly. "You can help postpone it." Hopefully she was game- T'ien felt bad for letting D'cien loose on her for something that was obviously not true at all. Maybe a calm meal with decent company would help make up for it.

[Sparrow]

No, fortunately it hadn't been very chilly at all. Quite the opposite really; it had been a very hot summer, although that wouldn't be lasting much longer. She watched T'ien fiddle with his appearance, her thoughts wandering from the weather to the idea that maybe he wasn't as calm as he sounded. But even if that was the case, he was still far less visibly flustered than she felt she was.

But his comment... she smiled a little. Mixing yourself up with someone else couldn't be very easy.

Food, on the other hand, sounded like a good idea. She had been working all morning and hadn't taken an opportunity for anything more than a cup of klah. "That might be-" she cut herself off when he brought D'cien up again, flushing.

Kora was struggling to regain her composure, but eventually she managed to smile and nod through her red face. "Yes, something to eat would be nice." She did not, however, want to dwell on whatever conversation T'ien was postponing with his brother.

[Sketchy]

T'ien had practice looking more put together than he actually was. It had saved his skina few times while entering not so.. friendly territory. It would probably come in handy again.

"Food makes for great conversation?" He offered, putting his hand out to take his jacket. "Thank you again for returning it. This jacket's been a lot of places with me." It was very obviously patched, but it wasn't quite threadbare. T'ien kept his clothing functional, at the very least.

He was also glad that he could put off D'cien's questions. Maybe Minalth would field some of them for him. Though he wasn't holding his breath on that point.

"Been keeping busy lately, then?" T'ien had been both thankful and embarrassed by her absence. Maybe he had really offended her with his mis-step. Then again, maybe she'd just been busy. She was a weyrleader, after all.

[Sparrow]

Kora smiled weakly at his comment. Hopefully it would. She relaxed a little as she was finally able to hand the jacket over, some relief stemming from completing that task. "Guess that's just another adventure for it then." Not that being slept with by a kagen was much of an adventure. Hopefully Squeak hadn't damaged it at all; she hadn't even thought to look. But he was usually gentle with things.

Not that he had set that great an example of that behavior thus far. Today was not the day for him to mend that though. Particularly since this was turning into an extended visit, Kora was glad she hadn't brought him along.

She nodded. "There's a lot to do to prepare for Jorindath's clutch." Not as much as when it was her own queen's eggs about to go on the sands, but still plenty. Fortunately, Nayarath was keeping out of the way of things this time around. The gold's fading jealous behavior around younger, eggbound queens was the greatest relief of all.

Of course, Jorindath was only barely beginning to show signs of the eggs growing, and it would be a while yet before they had a clutch on the sands. Nayarath's behavior had plenty of time to revert back to something less likeable... but so far, things were going better than in the past. Hopefully they would keep going in that direction.

[Sketchy]

Tucking the jacket under his arm, T'ien gave it a small squeeze. It didn't smell like it had before- the smell of smoke and far off places, but it was still his. "Hopefully it'll have many more."

"I can imagine." While T'ien had only seen the hustle and bustle of preparing, he knew how much work something like that could take- at least, in theory. There were so many people involved - candidates, candidate masters, search dragons, and more, he bet.

"So there'll be a hatching yet again," he mused, starting towards the dining hall. "It will be a relief to not be on the sands, this time." While it had been exhilarating- a once in a life time experience (for him, at least), he wasn't likely to press it again. It had also been terrifying, intense. He would be glad to stand back and watch as other candidates took a step towards changing their lives- for the better, he figured.

"Hiarth will be so happy to have dragons smaller than him again." He smiled a bit at the thought. Minalth, he knew, wouldn't care either way. He was solid and reliable, set in his ways, and would always know his place. New dragonets meant little to him in the long run.

... unless there were queens. Then perhaps he'd notice.

[Sparrow]

Soot soon caught on to where Kora and T'ien were headed, and once again took off to fly ahead of them. No need to wait for them now. Feeding himself was something he couldn't make any mistakes doing. Kora missed a few of T'ien's words watching her fire-lizard, but the word 'hatching' got her attention back- it was a bit of a buzzword for queenriders.

She nodded. "Within the next couple months. It'll be interesting to see what comes out of it." Then she smiled- almost laughed, in fact. That someone was relieved to not have to stand again, she was pretty sure that wasn't something she had been told before.

"Yes, it's nice to already know, huh?" None of that anxiety, waiting and wondering which dragon would pick you and when- if any did at all. Not getting a dragon was what she had been most scared of. It seemed somehow like failing, even though the fault couldn't lie with the Candidate. Or at least that was how she had felt those seven or so Turns ago when she had stood, and it had been a terrifying feeling. She hadn't been alone in it, at least, and now, even better, it was well over with.

Kora grinned. "I'm sure there are dragons now that are smaller than him. The greens, anyhow." Maybe other blues. She didn't know how D'cien's blue was growing. "You don't think Minalth is too concerned though?"

[Sketchy]

T'ien ran a hand through his hair a little bashfully, watching as Soot raced ahead. Hopefully food would perk his spirits after his mishap earlier. "What? It's nice to be... sure."

He grinned in return, laughing easily along with her. If D'cien wasn't so intent on making things awkward, T'ien was pretty sure he could consider Kora at least a casual friend, of which he had few and far between. But she understood things like responsibility and being in charge, about having to do what's needed. Those were things most people didn't get, and as a result, they didn't understand him. He could almost relax in her presence.

"Perhaps. But Hiarth just wants smaller dragons to tease and play with, I'm sure." He shook his head at the thought of the blue. He was just so... perky.

"Not a bit. He seems fairly confident in his place here at the weyr." He paused in thought for a second. "Then again, maybe that's just something I'm feeling too. This is starting to feel like home, and I'd missed that." He hadn't realized he'd missed it, of course, until he'd settled some here. But now that he had it, he found the comfort of it a nice feeling.

[Sparrow]

Food had likely already brightened Soot's spirits. It was unusual for the flitter to stay down long, and something to eat was always the best way to fix those odd moments. Reaching the dining hall to see him already settled down with some scraps of food, too cheerfully intent on devouring them to pay attention to the entrance of his keeper, proved this.

"Well, I'm sure he'll get a plenty of those." At least temporarily. But there would always remain dragons smaller than any blue, almost regardless of age. And they were almost all greens, which of course were always happy to play and tease. New hatchlings were particularly fun though; Kora could certainly agree with looking forward to them.

"That's good." Even if she could hardly imagine a bronze, even one only of weyrling age, not feeling confident. It was something that seemed to come naturally to them, even well before it could be of much use attracting queens.

"That's good as well," Kora added a little uncertainly. "I think I felt a lot less at home here after Impressing Nayarath." So abruptly and unexpectedly inheriting the place had made her feel much more uneasy in it. "Fortunately that's not the case anymore," she added with a small laugh.

She felt it had more to do with the people than the place though, Nayarath in particular. She could probably feel at home anywhere so long as her dragon was around.

[Sketchy]

"I think both D'cien and Hiarth are just happy to have someone around who is younger than them, as far as training goes. D'cien doesn't like being the new dimglow of anything." Spotting Soot eating happily reassured T'ien for the time being, bringing a small smile to his face.

T'ien seemed surprised by her admittance of unease. "Really? I'd think golds would be welcomed anywhere," he commented, glancing around to see what could be found food-wise. Managing to grab some cups and klah, he juggled them deftly as he set them down near Soot, giving the flit room to enjoy his scraps. He had earned them, after all.

Obviously T'ien forgot that bronzes also were of "rank" with golds, and didn't feel as entitled to recognition. But perhaps that would change, as Minalth got older. As it was, he often felt like "just another weyrling". Not that he didn't like it, but it was his way of life currently.

"How does Nayarath feel about the new clutch?" Having never really been around dragons in general, T'ien was interested in how queens reacted to other queens. He knew bronzes were usually more aggressive, but he was unsure on golds and violets in general. Especially violets.

[Sparrow]

Kora nodded, laughing a little. "That makes sense." She grabbed a plate and started filling it, then noticed T'ien gathering cups and klah. "Want me to grab you anything?" Not they were in any hurry, nor were there many other people about competing for the food, but he had gotten something for her... she could handle two plates. Soot paused briefly to chirp at T'ien.

"Nayarath was plenty welcome, and me too," Kora replied. "That wasn't the problem. It just takes a while to get used to the idea of having a queen, and everything that comes with that. The Weyr's a whole new place when you know you're going to be running it."

It was really only the period between Impressing Nayarath and taking her place as Weyrwoman that had been uncomfortable though. As much as she had dreaded being entirely in charge, once the change had occurred she quickly discovered that it was preferable to be the person that people deferred to, and not the other way around. She always felt like she was stepping out of her place when someone else set the orders for her.

"Nayarath? I don't think she's nearly as concerned with new clutches as she is with the queen that's laying them. If it's not her, that's a problem." Kora shook her head. "She doesn't like to share glory." She was getting better at it though.

[Sketchy]

"Uhh, sure." T'ien had set the cups down, and was arranging them across the table before glancing at her plate. "I'll take some of whatever you're having, I'm not picky." Having been on his own for so long, T'ien was used to making do with what was around. As far as the dining hall food went, it was pretty safe.

T'ien gave a brief look towards Soot, an eyebrow raised at his chirping. "I suppose that's true." He fiddled with his cup for a moment before pouring some klah into his cup and Kora's, watching as steam followed the hot liquid. "A lot is expected of gold weyrlings, I imagine." It would be a lot of work, too.

T'ien laughed. "That sounds like a gold, there. From what I'd heard of them, she seems to be doing okay." He paused, "Unless the stories of them are exaggerated." He knew they could be, and probably were on some points. "This next clutch is a violet, yes?" He blew on his klah, watching it cool before he took a drink. He knew not to rush it, or his mouth would face the consequences.

[Sparrow]

Kora loaded up a second plate with renewed unease at T'ien's hesitation, however slight it had been. She had quickly regretted even asking, and that didn't help particularly. This was certainly a favor more commonly carried out for children, not perfectly able riders... but she needed to stop herself from dwelling on it. She set down T'ien's plate near him and then sat down herself.

"It's pretty different from the other weyrlings," she said quietly. There was plenty expected of the other colors too though, and while she hadn't experienced it herself, it seemed like their training was more rigorous. One set would be risking their lives; the queenrider was in charge of making sure they were able to.

...That wasn't the best way she had ever worded the thought.

"Stories of golds, you mean? Some of them are exaggerated, I'm sure." She knew it, really, having seen plenty firsthand. Nayarath had plenty of stories circulated about her. Not recently though. The gold had been on good behavior. Jorindath's clutch would likely revive a few of the old ones though.

Kora poured herself a cup of klah. "Yes, Jorindath's. It'll be her second." Her first had held some... surprises. Kora wasn't hoping for a repeat of that.

[Sketchy]

"Thanks." He smiled, genuinely. He hadn't taken it as a slight; he had been surprised. "It's not often I'm served." He grinned as he pushed her cup towards her. "But I suppose this is more of a trade."

"I can imagine. Being a bronzer makes it a little different, but a gold is a whole different story." He looked over the plate of food, picking at each to try different bits. Most things he knew, though a few were different than usual, which was nice. Variety was the spice of life.

"Gold weyrlings know, one way or the other, they'll eventually have influence on the weyr. That entails loads different training, I bet."

"Yes, stories are often exaggerating. But that's why we tell them, isn't it?"

"Her second?" His interest piqued, T'ien leaned forward a little. "That means different colours than we're used to, yeah?" Unlike those who were unsure of them, T'ien was intrigued.

[Sparrow]

She smiled a little easier, relieved by his sincerity. "Glad I could change things up for you a little then." Soot was rapidly finishing off his food so he could also take advantage of Kora's service, something he was far more used to. She always grabbed a little extra for her ever-hungry flitters. Soot had to get to it before Lilac caught on and joined them.

Kora nodded. "Although a lot of it has a lot less to do with dragons, so don't think you're missing out at all." She laughed. She had felt like she was missing out sometimes; when the other weyrlings were learning all about fighting Thread she was doing paperwork. She wasn't sure anyone ever felt the other way around. That would be surprising.

Kora grinned. "True." She didn't like it as much when she or her dragon were at the butt end of them, but sometimes the stories became so outlandish that even Kora could get a good laugh out of them.

"Last time she clutched some teals and charcoals, so we may get more of those. It's the same sire, anyhow. Apolloth." So it seemed likely. So far each clutch that crossed a violet and tan had contained those, not that there had been many.

[Sketchy]

"True. Being a bronze weyrling just means I get to learn more tactics." He grinned at her. "Though I'd guess, being in charge of the weyr, that you'd already know that." T'ien had cleared off most of his plate already, though he was steadily working on it, careful not to talk when he had a mouth full. He was always polite like that.

"Teals? Haven't seen any of those around, or charcoals for that matter." Picking a piece of meat off his plate, T'ien pushed it towards Soot as an offering, watching to see if the flit took it. He knew some were picky about taking food from people other than their own, but it was worth a shot.

"A tan and a violet then, hmm." T'ien was sure he'd be at the hatching with Minalth then. The bronze himself seemed vaguely interested in who future clutchmates would be, even if he wasn't that interested. It was good to know, however.

"Nice rounded bunch of candidates coming up, then?"