The first infamous twirl...
Main Hall
Running through the cavernous Main Hall of Ista Sea Hold, a ten meter ledge of sea-worn stone comprises the main working area along with a lane of seawater the flows parallel to the shelf. Upon the ledge are six tables used mostly for classes or cleaning dive gear. To the west a large archway leads to the entrance foyer and the dormitories, as well as the Crafthead's office. Along the other walls are smaller archways, leading to the other areas of the Hall. Opposite this area runs a wide bridge that crosses the sea-lane towards the other side, to the other archways that lead deep inside. On non-Thread days, heavy metal shutters are opened from large windows, letting fresh sea air and sun... [look closer]
Gliding above is a brown firelizard.
You see Cindy the Drudge here.
Lebryn is here.
Obvious exits:
Records Room Office Corridor Bridge Docking Cavern Kitchens Courtyard
Jessa is the amazing hopping apprentice! Watch her hop in circles around the main hall. Isn't she amazing? Running around on the ground a ferret chirps in irritation at her.
Lebryn notices Jessa chasing her ferret. Or is her ferret chasing her? It's hard to tell, but it's easy to tell that it amuses Lebryn. He snickers not so quietly, and stops to watch Jessa for a minute.
Neither is chasing the other. The ferret is spazzing and running around aimlessly, or perhaps not so aimlessly, while Jess is hopping in circles. Jess pauses in her circles to hop on one foot and eye the new arrival. "Hello!"
Lebryn raises an eyebrow. "Hello. I'm Lebryn, from Raskwater Cothold. Who are you?" Some of his mother's lessons on politeness seem to have sunk in, but definately not all of them. Walking closer, he narrowly misses stepping on the ferret as it runs almost under his feet.
Jessa gives the boy a glare as he nearly steps on her ferret, but continues to hop away on one foot. "You're from Raskwater? Where's that?" She switches from left foot to right foot and hops some more in place.
Lebryn gestures vaguely towards the center of the island. "Up in the hills, next to a small lake. Most people haven't heard of it..." He smirks in an amused fashion at her hopping. "Say... Who would I talk to about apprenticing to the Dolphincraft?" Surely it's not her. Please tell him it's not her.
Jessa beams and continues to hop on one foot. Hop. Hop. Hop. She stares intently at the boy, despite her hopping and shifting gaze. "So, who are your parents then? Do they live there? Do your brothers and sisters live there? You do have siblings, right?" Whee, she can ask questions, lots of them too. "Oh, you want to be a Crafter, hm." she ponders this for a moment, waiting for an answer to his questions before telling him this information.
Lebryn rolls his eyes. Girls always ask so many questions. "My father is Victor, my mother is Laesien. Yes, they both live there, and no, I don't have any siblings." There. He answered all her questions. Clasping his hands behind his back, he waits for her answer.
Hop. Hop. Hop. The amazing hopping apprentice continues to hop on her right foot, switching briefly to her left foot. "Ah, you have no siblings? What a shame. I had a twin. And later I had a younger brother." Poor deprived thing the boy is. "So, what's your name? Laren?" She hops more.
Lebryn eyes her. "I already told you. Lebryn." He's half annoyed, half amused. It's hard to be annoyed at someone who's so odd. He doesn't hop. He just leans up against the wall and watches her. He's still waiting for his answer, although he's beginning to think that maybe he should ask again. She seems to have a short attention span.
Jessa beams and continues to hop. She got some good answers, indeed. "I'm Jessa, from Keroon." Odd? Jess? Never. Jess is perfectly normal. And dontcha know, they don't let any -sane- folks into the Dolphincraft. Would ruin the reputation. "So, Lebryn from Raskwater," yes, she does have an attention span, sometimes she just ignores it or forgets to use it. "You want to be a dolphincraft apprentice?" All the while the apprentice is -still- hopping.
Lebryn nods, and then shakes his head absently, as if too himself before going on. "Yes, I do." And who's to say that Lebryn doesn't have some deep dark secrets of his own? After all, if he was sane, why would he be joining the Dolphincraft. Everyone /knows/ how crazy they all are.
Jessa is part of the proof of insanity. What apprentice would just hop around in the main hall for no reason? And ... she's even wet at that. Looks like she's been swimming recently. She smiles at him, and continues to hop. Now what was his question?
Lebryn gives up on waiting for an answer, and clears his throat. "You were going to tell me who I should talk to about joining the craft?" He taps his foot. In rhythm with her hopping, although he doesn't seem to realize that. After a few seconds, he does notice it however, and twitches, forcing himself to stop tapping his foot.
Jessa continues to hop and beam. "Oh yeah! I was!" That said in her typical tone, which is loud. The apprentice resumes to hop in circles. Ok, so maybe she just forgot again, or maybe she's just plain odd and needs to be asked a multitude of questions or something to get the answer he's looking for.
Lebryn rolls his eyes. "Generally when someone asks you something, you're supposed to give them some kind of answer." He seems to be growing slightly impatient, though there are still hints of amusement in his face, as the corners of his mouth twitch upwards slightly.
For once the apprentice pauses, but only for a brief moment. Jess gives the boy a rather sour glare, and then resumes hopping around with a beam on her face. "So, what's Raskwater like? How far is it from here? Have you ever seen a dragon?"
Lebryn gets a mischevous grin. "I'll answer yours after you answer mine." There. Maybe that will get some results. Crossing his arms across his front, he waits, and smug expression on his face.
Jessa shrugs, although that shrug could easily not be seen, given that the silly apprentice is still hopping. "I've seen dragons, I've ridden on one of them before too." As if his threat is really going to get him anywhere. Please.
Lebryn raises an eyebrow. "Really. That's facinating." He peers deeper into the hall, wondering if maybe he can find someone slighly less insane than Jessa. Not much, you understand. Just slightly.
Jessa continues to hop around, being quiet for the moment. The apprentice senses that she just might be loosing him, and doesn't want to stop annoying someone, "Well, if you -really- want to join us and all, I guess you'd have to go and find a journeyman or master."
Lebryn makes progress at last! But was it really worth the effort? He /knew/ he needed to find a journeyman or Master. "And where would I go if I wanted to find one? Maybe you know a Master? What's their name? Are they nice?" He turns her own tactic back on her.
Jessa continues to hop around, and then looks surprised. He's asking her questions. Well, why not try his tactic. "Hey, you still have to my questions first." Hmph. She hops around in circles some more, making tighter circles until she's hopping in place again.
Lebryn blinks innocently. "What did you ask me again?" It's been so long see, and he was distracted by her hopping! He just can't keep it in his mind what it was she asked him.
Jessa finds this boy less than humorous. Oh no. Try aggravating. If he ever becomes an appie, it can be certain that Jess will never be nice to him. Oh no, there just will be no such thing as peace between them. And Jess already has a rival to boot, no need of a second. Well, if he really insists ... She continues to bounce and smile, "Where is Raskwater? And have you seen a dragon ever?"
Lebryn is very very patient when he wants to be. "You haven't heard where Raskwater is? What a shame. You really should visit there some time in the fall after harvest. My mother makes the most incredible bubbly pies. Have you ever had a bubbly pie?" He's determined now, and isn't going to let her win easily.
Tseyrin walks in from the Ista Sea Hold Courtyard.
Who hasn't had a bubbly pie? Jess grins, "Bubblies are soooo yummy!" Neutral questions, they're good. "Nope, never been to Raskwater, but then I'm new to Ista myself." She grins and continues to hop around on one foot, resuming her circular pattern, "Hi Tseyrin!" she greets, as Tse enters.
Lebryn snaps his attention to this new person. He doesn't know her, but surely she can't be as crazy as Jessa!
Tseyrin stalks into the main hall, a predator on the prowl. And -- she spots her prey, her expression turning forboding as she is greeted by an apprentice. With brisk, measured and precise steps, she strides over to Jessa and glares down her hawk-like nose. "Are you fraternizing?" she accuses, giving a pointed glance at Lebryn. She completely ignroes the vast differances in age. "You do realize that such liasons are not permitted to apprentices?"
Jessa is still hopping on one foot, "Fraternizing? No, I'm just talking to him. He's new to the area. He wants to be a 'phincrafter." The fact that Tse would even consider such a thing is, well, disgusting. He's just a babe. Yucky. So not Jess' style.
Lebryn perks up. This person has the air of authority about her. His mother was that way. She can probably help him join the craft! He clears his throat. "Uh... Tseyin?" He gets her name almost right. "I wanted to join the craft... Jessa wasn't answering my questions about who I should talk too... Maybe you can help me?" He's the perfect picture of innocence.
Tseyrin wrinkles her nose delicatly, watching Jessa bounce. "If I find you are lying to me, young lady, you will be in deep, /deep/ trouble. Not only will you have extra chorse, but you will be /restricted/ from swimming with the 'phins." Whether or not she's allowed to make the latter half of the threat, Tse doesn't care. She levels her gaze on Lebryn, absently straightening her braids, at his question. "What is your name, son?"
Jessa is completely innocent, of course. What would /Jess/ want with a boy. So not Jess' style, nope, she's only got her eyes set on one male, and that male is far far away in Keroon. Jess continues to hop around, switching feet quickly, and nods her head, "Yes, Tseyrin." Of course, she's innocent, she has nothing to fear from the journeywoman. And Jess will -always- find a way to break out of the chores and such, it's just the way of apprentices.
Lebryn clasps his hands behind his back. "My name is Lebryn." He's not quite sure how to address her, so he just leaves it at that. It should be safe, unless she's a real stickler for rank. But... he isn't familiar with the rank charms of the Dolphincraft, and doesn't know what hers mean.
Jessa continues to hop. Oh, so the boy is more comfortable talking with a hopping loon, than he is with someone of rank, is he. Hmph, and what if that loon had happened to be someone of rank, wouldn't he be upset now? Well, luckily for him Jess is just a lowly li'l apprentice.
"Lebryn, then," Eyin nods curtly. "You may address me as Journeywoman Tseyrin. Recently of Ista hall, though originally from Southern. Where they actually have some /discipline/ in the sharding craft," Tseyrin turns a burning glare to Jessa at the last, as if the apprentice was personally responsible for the failings of the ista hall. "You wish to join the craft." This said as a statement rather than a question. "How old are you? You are hold-born? What hold?"
Jessa is not responsible for /all/ of the failings of Ista Hall, if Ista Hall could really be counted as a failure. It's rather a success, in Jess' opinion though. She can only be responsible for some insanity, and she doesn't start -all- the fights, nor is she involved in all of them. Just *cough* some, if that at all. Nope, our Jess is the picture of innocence really. Erm, yeah.
Lebryn manages to keep himself from raising one of his eyebrows in amusement. Does everyone in this craft ask four questions at once? Clearing his throat, he answers simply and quickly. She doesn't seem like the type to cross, and he knows how to handle them. "I'm 13, I am holdborn, and I was born and raised in Raskwater Cothold, Journeywoman."
Of course they all ask four questions at once. They'll all very inquisitive folks, and are busy too. Gotta tend to those 'phins y'know. Thusly, it's four questions, or more, at once. Jess continues to hop around on one foot, but remains rather stationary, and isn't going in circles.
Tseyrin doesn't believe that /any/ apprentice is innocent. They're all up to something, getting into trouble of some sort. Its just a matter of catching them in the act. "Lebryn of Raskwater, then," Tseyrin files this information away mentally as she looks him over, taking in his baggy clothing and lanky appearance. "Do your parents know you're here? You wouldn't /believe/ how many runaways we get in the craft," Tse muses somewhat distractedly.
Oh, and the journeywoman Tseyrin was an innocent and diligent apprentice. If so, she must have been quite the oddball. After all, what innocent really truly -is- innocent? None, not even Jess, the hopping apprentice.
Lebryn is carefully ignoring Jessa for the moment, but he'll tackle her later, oh yes he will. He saw that look of distain in her eye with Tse suggested that she might be flirting with him. While he may not be interested in her (Girls. Yuck!), he wants some respect. "Well, they know I'm looking for a craft. They sent me down here to stay with a distant relative, and try to find a craft to join." See! He's innocent! (If only of being a runaway...)
Tseyrin studied long and hard, and then moved an entire ocean away from anyone who might be able to contradict her. So there. Want to prove she was a less-than-perfect apprentice, you'll have to go to Southern. "Good," is her only response to Lebryn, as she diligently ignores Jessa. There are no hopping apprentices here, nope. "Know anything about dolphins, ships, swimming, the ocean, fishing, navigation, healing?"
So Lebryn thinks that he'll get Jess, there's been more than one apprentice, and male at that, that has tried to get her. If Lebryn so much as tries anything, he'll get punched by the apprentice from Keroon. Oh yes, he will learn, as a certain other apprentice has, that messing with her can lead to a bloody nose. Jess has already decided that she just rather does not like this boy. Hmph. Pitiful creature he is, and obnoxious, and too young. Can't believe Tse thought Jess would go after -him- of all the males that are running around. Hop. Hop. Hop.
Lebryn can't help it. This time his eyebrow does rise. That's a lot of questions. Let's see though... He has a pretty good memory. Rattling of his series of answers, he doesn't bother to specify what they're each for. "A little, some, yes, some, a little, no, and no." There, that should cover all her questiosn.
At least someone is there to distract Tseyrin and keep the wrath of the journeywoman off of Jess. Not that Jess won't get it later. Jess continues to hop around, and even ventures so as to resume hopping in circles around the room, keeping mind to not circle around Tse and Lebryn. Afterall, that would just be -too- annoying, even for Jess.
Tseyrin is taken aback for a moment, actually pausing to remember the order in which she asked him stuff, her lips moving as she mouths the words to herself. "Right. You wll have a swim test, then. What do you know about dolphins?" Unable to ignore it any longer she gives a half-whirl to face Jessa, eyes narrowing, "Would you /kindly/ stand still, apprentice."
Aw, the journeywoman is no fun. Mailli always lets Jess hop around and run around and such. Hmph. Well, at least Jess doesn't have Tseyrin as a mentor. That would just be no fun. Jess might have to run off then. Jess looks unhappy, but stops her hopping. Mean journeywoman, hmph. So unfair that they always use their rank, and *gasp* how mean of Tse to not even mention her name! Apprentice, how wonderful, Jess is no longer Jess, rather an apprentice, robbed of her individual identity. Tragic.
While Tse's back is turned, Lebryn grins momentarily. See! She's already getting what she deserves. Not from Lebryn of course, but that hardly matters. Before Tseyrin turns back, he returns his expression to that of an innocent teenage boy. "Not much, Journeywoman. Just that they can talk, that they used to be called shipfish, and that they help fishermen a lot." Most of this he gathered from his distant relative, who happens to be a fisherman locally.
Jessa gets lots of things that she doesn't deserve. Jess never deserves /any/ of the punishments that she gets. Really. She truly doesn't. And if this newcomer thinks he'll survive an apprenticeship with Jess nearby, he's wrong. Not that Jess would do anything. She's completely innocent.
"Help fisherman? In what way, any idea?" Tseyrin tilts her head after nodding curtly at Jessa's obedience. Good apprentice. Sit. Stay. "Why do you want to join the craft, just because you need to find something to do with yourself, or..?" You'd never know that Tseyrin herself actually /wanted/ to join, she isn't exactly the msot happy of people. Unless you see her around dolphins, at any rate.
Jessa is indeed shocked by Tse. Whatever happened to that nice Tseyrin that Jess saw earlier during her lesson. After all, it's not as if Jess is really harming anything, or anyone, by hopping around. Albeit it's not necessarily the most constructive activity, but it's not destructive.
Lebryn is beginning to wonder if being a Dolphincrafter changes you in some way to make you want to ask so many questions. "Well... I heard they can guide the ships to where the fish are... And there's lots of stories about them rescuing sailors..." Why does he want to join the craft? Somehow he doesn't think: Because it sounds fun is a good answer. Then again... Maybe it is. Hrm. "And well... I want to join because I'm curious about the dolphins. They sound interesting." Better go with the 'good' answer though.
Since she can't hop around, at least in Tse's presence, Jess moves a few steps back from the journeywoman. And then Jess twirls. It's a silent thing, you can't hear her twirling, whereas you would hear her feet connecting with the ground with each hop. Twirl. Fun. Exciting. Twirliness. Oh joy.
"Curious," Tseyrin's lip curls, her tone dripping with condescension. "Curious, he says. Do you realize that you will have to /work/ in the craft? The sea is not forgiving of the weak, and we're out on the sea as much as seacrafters, if not more. You could /die/ in the ocean if you shirk in your lessons and go out there untrained. Are you willing to devote yourself to your classes and learning to the best of your ability?"
Jessa may be silly and twirling, but she's diligently gone to her lessons and practices with diligence as well. And hey, as loony as this apprentice appears to be, she can be all mature and responsible and such. Really. Twirl.
Lebryn straightens up, a small swell of indignation filling him. She questions his ability to /work/? Why, if she'd seen how much and how hard he worked on the cothold she'd be whistling a different tune! Of course, no one locally can confirm his stories, should he choose to tell them. Convienient. "I can work hard. I have all my life." He keeps his tone polite, though there is a very slight edge too it that he couldn't quite hide. Noticing Jessa twirling, his eyes shift from the Journeywoman to Jessa, and one of his eyebrows rises again.
Jessa is oblivious to the boy, for the most part. She does hear their conversation, and all, but isn't noticing that the boy is, well, looking oddly at her. She twirls again. Ah, the joys of not being initiated into the Craft by Tse, for Jess was fortunate and joined at 'Cliffs, where Geraint gave her her knot. Twirl.
Tseyrin says nothing, once again trying to pretend Jessa doesn't exist, ang gives Lebryn a long scrutinizing stare. She studies his expression and physiognomy, her eyes again trailing over his appearance from head to toe. Finally she settles on just glaring at him down her hooked nose. After what seems like ages, she relaxes and gives a soft snort. "Alright, then."
Jessa twirls again, and smiles a bit. A new member. How fun. Jess will have fun toying with him and annoying him, and she's off to a good start at that! Twirl. Tse should at least be thankful that Jess isn't making noise, as twirling is a silent activity. Twirliness, what a wonderful state of being.
Lebryn shifts uneasily as she stares at him. She didn't take his hint about Jessa. He was hoping she'd get mad at her again. That annoying girl deserves it. Really, she does. He's so busy being annoyed at Jessa that he misses what Tseyrin says, and nervously clears his throat. "Uh... What was that again, Journeywoman?"
Jessa is so not annoying, she's quiet and non-annoying. Well, she -could- be annoying, but chooses not to be. Hmph, wierd boy he must be, to find twirling annoying. Jess finds it beautiful, and a whole lot of fun.
"Your request to join the dolphincraft has been accepted," Tseyrin enunciates formally. "I expect you will be able to move into the dormitories as soon as possible? I will try to find a charm for you, somewhere; I do not have any with me at the moment."
It is not Jess' fault, that the newcomer is easily distracted. After all, you have to learn to not be distracted. Distractions can cause accidents. Yup. So, learn to ignore distractions like twirling or hopping apprentices, or join them. Because joining them is fun.
Lebryn breathes a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Journeywoman. I can move in tonight." He glances at Jessa again, and suppresses a mischevous grin. He really must think up something to do to annoy her. Because annoying annoyying people is what's really fun. And it's not annoying. Really.
Jessa annoys not so easily. Lebryn will have a challenge, and a dangerous force to reckon with if he annoys her or pranks her. And besides, Jess is a sweet and innocent person, not an annoying person. Twirl.
Tseyrin stalks off down the office corridor, returning briefly with a bracelet and set of apprentice charms. Both are presented with little flair, an explanation provided: "Dolphincrafts wear charm bracelets instead of knots because we spend so much time in the water. You are expected to wear these at all times." After a pause, she givs one of her rare, approving smiles, "Welcome to the craft, apprentice Lebryn. I do hope you'll enjoy your time with us."
Jessa twirls and beams, "Yup, welcome Lebryn." Another twirl, careful to avoid hitting anyone, that would be bad, for Jess does not want to hurt anyone, just have fun twirling, or hopping.
Lebryn accepts the bracelet, eyeing it skeptically for a moment, but shrugging, and putting it on. Whatever works for the craft. "Thank you, Journeywoman." He ignores Jessa for the moment. Maybe that will annoy her.
Jessa most definitely is not annoyed by being ignored. It means she can continue her twirling. Twirl, twirl, twirl. Look at the silly apprentice twirl. Go Jess go.
All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are © Anne McCaffrey 1967, 2000, all rights
reserved, and used by permission of the author.
|
