6/17/2003

01:37 AM

Logfile from Kibai.

 

 Like any other typical entrance into the cavern, Kibai has to follow with the conventional and simply walk in. No tripping, no entering backwards or with a cartwheel or in a bunny suit or anything like that. Really now, just imagine the damage that would do to his reputation.... Uhm, what reputation? Anyway, back on subject, in he comes, hands tucked into the pockets of his trous and apparently not doing a single thing. Ah, idleness. Gaze sweeps the caverns for any hapless victi- er, people to talk to, and naturally his gaze alights upon the slumbering teenager. And so, he smiles faintly and approaches Lauria, coughing once and none-too-quietly.

 

Lauria's lids open only slits, revealing the dark abyss of eye beneath. "Wha...?" She mumbles, as a sudden cold sweat flies down her back-- exactly where is she? Not in her bed, and not in the nursery, that's for sure. With more than the effort it ought to require her, she lifts her head. Lead weight. And immediately brings a hand to wipe a bit of a spit string from her face to the table. That's attractive. "Who..?"

 

Kibai has moments like that some times. You know, after having a little too much alcohol but he isn't about to admit that right now. "Oh, excuse me... did I wake you?" He doesn't exactly sound all that penitent, but there is definitely a touch of reproach in his voice for her. "Yes, you have a little..." His own hand brushes at the corner of his mouth. "Oh good, you've got it. Have a nice nap?"

 

Lauria still has a hand wiping at her mouth before recognition seeps its way into her mind. "A little? Oh-- A little--" Eh-heh. Reluctant to even drop her hand (there's a nice red mark on her cheek where the table was touching), she just attempts to look as though she's situating herself, resting chin (and covering up red mark) in her hand and elbow on table. "I must've slept for an hour." This is after she's used those dark eyes to peer into the crustiness that is her klah.

 

Kibai

The slightly tousled brush of this teen's hair tickles at the nape of his neck just as the dark fringe cascades in a mad rush over his forehead to oft overshadow perceptive gaze. Light plays havoc along his ebony locks, often shining to sloe-black at the least provocation. Irises of a glacial blue-green are set in almond-shaped eyes and framed with lashes just as dark as his hair. His youthful features are finely angled, the lines drawn with the same subtle touch that grants his skin its dusky cast. With his nearly aesthetic features and despite the almost gaunt appearance, a lithe grace characterizes this youth's slightly less than average height as the low swell of toned muscles leave his wiry form distinctly svelte.

Draping from his slim shoulders, a shirt of an almost frail weave in a pale olive descends to fall along his thighs, drawn close to his body with a leather-woven belt that loosely hangs from his hips. Loose sleeves are oft rolled up and pushed beyond his elbows, hiding the green ivy embroidery about the cuffs, but the fine work is still visible about the shirt's V-neckline. Trous of dark sienna, made of a sturdier stuff, loosely envelope his legs until they drop in a wrinkle of fabric upon a pair of well-worn boots that have clearly seen quite a bit of distance.  A green firelizard is perched on his shoulder.

Kibai wears the knot of a High Reaches Weyrfolk.

He is a teenager of about 17. He is awake and looks alert.

 

Kibai peers down at Lauria. Yes, peers. Because what she is doing demands peering. A faint grin draws at his lips before he is nodding, "And without a single 'brat trying to play on you. Lucky girl." He flashes her a wink before moving off, on the hunt for something, preferably wet and sweet. You know, fruit juice. "Long day? Long night?"

 

Lauria is still attempting to hide that red mark, and doesn't move to look up as Kibai goes to retrieve that fructosey liquid. "Long day," she mutters, "plus the succession of long days for a long time." She blows upward into strands of hair hanging about her face, warding them off. "No brats hanging on me, not right now, and not for the rest of the day- Faranth willing. I have assistant-y things to do. That have to do with nannying, but with none of the Nanny Fun." No Nanny Fun.

 

Kibai chuckles faintly. He moves over to take up a chair, spinning it about upon one leg and then pushing it closer to Lauria. He straddles it, looking back over to the young woman, "Sounds wonderful." Okay, so there is a touch of sarcasm in there. "Free now, then?"

 

Lauria finally feels ready to remove that hand from her face, though the red mark is still there (however, she can't feel it). The hand reaches for the empty klah mug, and she leans back in her chair. "Actually..." Since when did she say she was -free-? "I was supposed to be looking at-- looking at this," her left hand, the free hand, points an index finger to the hide. "This roster.  And I was looking at the roster until I fell asleep..."

 

Leolin walks in from the Central Bowl.

Seabert arrives from deeper in the Weyr.

 

Kibai looks across to her, blinking blandly, and looking not all that impressed. "And have you looked at it? I would imagine that looking at a roster wouldn't take all that much effort. Or am I wrong in thinking that?" Somehow, he manages to keep a straight face. Must - not - grin.

 

Rondalo walks in from the Central Bowl.

 

Lauria pauses in her thoughts, smirks, flicks at the roster. "I... looked at it. It has names." Just what sort of names, she might not know. "The nanny said it was the new kids coming to the Weyr this sevenday. I'm supposed to pick one out to show around for two days at a time. I'm looking forward to it." Now -that- is bland. She slumps slightly. "Really. You'd think they wouldn't do this to me, I just spent two days with a four turn old on my own. But I suppose this is some sort of training, or something." She sighs into her slump again. "How're you faring?"

 

Leolin walks into the caverns looking either very tired and worn out or just real depressed. With a sigh he flops into a chair, only after he gets his hot water. Doesn't seem like a good day for the young guard.

 

Tye prowls with caution in from the Central Bowl.

 

Leolin walks into the caverns looking either very tired and worn out or just real depressed. With a sigh he flops into a chair, only after he gets his hot water. Doesn't seem like a good day for the young guard. (reposes for Tye)

 

Seabert wanders in lazily from the inner caverns of the weyr, tiny fists rubbing sleep out of his eyes as he settles himself comfortably in one of the chairs by the hearth. Grabbing a mug of klah he sips slowly, watching the others in the room, eyes weighted down and blinking heavily.

 

"Egads what a day." Tye announces the moment her foot touches the inside of the caverns. "Thought those bleedin' drills would never end." She scowls to herself as she makes herself through the busy caverns. No food is grabbed this time as the bluerider makes her way over towards a table, though a wine skin and a few glasses are. Never know who might also need a drink. Leolin is spotted right away, and Tye makes her way to his table, sitting opposite to him. "You look pretty dead tired there, Leo. Rough day?"

 

Hiding among the shadows, Rondalo sneaks into the caverns on his way to the kitchens for a snack or two. Noticing the crowd of people, he lets out a mischievous grin. Fun time! Sneak sneak... they can't see him!

Leolin hrms softly and looks up from his untouched water. "A bit. I'm not real tired just down. One of them things I guess." He rolls it off his shoulder and hten finally takes a drink of his water. If Tye only knew how many people have harassed him about Dira today...he could scream.

 

Kibai smiles faintly at Lauria's explanation, nodding his head slightly, "And have you picked one? I'd imagine they would all be about the same on that hide. You know, as simply... names." He finally allows something of a smile play upon his features, and then he shrugs, "Not all that much. Boring, eh?"

 

Tye being one of those people. "Ah, c'mon now Leolin. Cheer up a little bit. Anything I can do for you to make you smile once or twice? I swear, you look more down then Valedath after he loses a flight. And that's a sad sight." An annoyed budgle can be heard from outside in the bowl, Tye only chuckling in response. Wine is remembered and poured into her cup, this starting to look like a repeat of a few days ago. However, the bluerider only sips at it, while watching movement from the corner of her eye.

 

Leolin shrugs slightly and stares at the water. "I think I just got to put it behind me again. The past isn't something I can control." Nor is the future really but what is he to do? "People have just been on my case alot today." He takes a long drink of his hot water, ignoring the burning feeling of it going down.

 

"Oh shards," Lauria's eyes widen briefly at the entrance of two 'brats, and she attempts to slide down in her chair, eye-level with the tabletop. "Hide me..." she mutters. "Not much? Well, lucky you. I wish I was bored. And I often as not pick the girls," she relays, "and you can usually tell by the roster." Usually. Mmmhmm. Dark eyes are flickering from Seabert to Rondalo and back again, watching them as a mouse does a cat.

 

Large innocent eyes continues to watch the crowds of people as he notices Lauria watching him carefully. Rondalo's good. Really! All he's here to do is to get some food... Mmm... he watches people around him drinking and eating as his stomache grumbles. Okay... time to get a bite.

 

Seabert catches sight of Rondalo, giving a slight wink to encourage whatever mischief he might be up to. Yawning broadly he curls back up into a ball in his chair. Flickering eyes examining Rondalo's every move while careful ears pick up all the conversation surrounding him. Good gossip can always be a good bargaining tool with his mother later on, she can never pass up a bit of juicy news.

 

Hide what? Kibi blinks for a moment, turning around in his seat to look after whatever 'brats might have caused the young woman to slump quite charmingly in her seat. Again, managing to keep a straight face, he does his best to try to scoot over and block their line of sight from Lauria. Of course, it is pretty much well a lost cause as his lips tickle with a grin, glancing over to the various newcomers with a greeting grin.

 

"Aye, ya got that right. The past is just that, the past. No need worrying about it now." That being Tye's theory of the day. "S'all about what's going to happen tomorrow, not what happened yesterday. So try to cheer up a little bit, will ya? Just tell all those people on your back off." Regardless that Tye was one of them just this morning.

 

Leolin smiles slightly at Tye and nods. "It's a bit harder then you just made it sound but...." long pause. "I'm working on it." His smile grows a bit as he watches Tye and then he shrugs again, not really sure what else to do at this point. "So anything else interesting happened in the springs or today with you?"

 

"So then," Lauria mutters with attempt to make herself look inconspicuous (which of course is just so feasible with a man sitting in front of her, her half-slumped) "You wanna hand me my roster while I'm down here? And quit laughing like that, they're gonna catch on." What is she hiding from? "I'm not in the mood for anyone climbing over me right now." Weyrbrats. She leans to the side, briefly, keeping Rondalo in view. "And that one in the big shirt looks like he's up to something."

 

Rondalo whistles quietly, hands behind his back, looking like the most perfect little weyrbrat ever. Lahlahlah. Step forward. And with a quick dash when no one's watching, he escapes to the kitchen to the place where food is endless.

 

Kibai blinks up at the philosophy being bantered about the cavern. His smile twists as he adds lightly, "Learn from your past and look forward to the future... there is something in that." But his attention is shifting back down to Lauria, grin as lupine as ever. "Well, there goes my plans for the evening. Here I was going to ask if I could climb all over you." He sounds serious, but there is quite the mischievous twinkle to his eye. He leans over though to pluck the roster from the table and offer it to her.

 

Seabert shifts and turns in his chair trying to find a comfortable postion to nap in. However, with all the comotion he rises and heads straight towards the couple sitting on the couch conversing quietly. "'Ey there," he nods to them with a sly grin, "whatcha all looking at.

 

Tye smiles a little, nodding at the guard. "Just take each day one step at a time. S'all come together someday." Since that's just the way life works. "Eh, not really. Talked with that Jycarl boy a little. Nothing really exciting happened. Though that is one cute kid. Got a good head on his shoulders. Other then that, I had to do the normal drills. Nothing fantastic happened there either." Tye leans back on her chair, tipping it just so she was standing on only two legs.

 

Lauria snorts, audibly, Kibai's answer having seemingly come out of the blue. She shakes her head (her dark hair knotting up around the back of the chair) and plucks the roster from Kibai's hands. "Well, I apologize if I ruined your evening," she finally adds, a smile set on her lips. "What're you talking about with the past?" You see, she's not paying attention to the room's audible speeches at large. She's watching that young one and "Hey-- the little guy just ran into the kitchens. I don't think he's allowed in there..."

 

Rondalo came back, striding steadily from the kitchens, crumbs covering his face and a small smile tugging at his lips. "Boy that was some mighty good food," he couldn't help saying, "Nice cooks." Oopsies... he wasn't supposed to say /that/ aloud! Ahem. "I mean, mighty nice kitchen. Clean."

 

Leolin nods slightly and leans back himself a bit. "Sounds....exciting.." He teases a bit before he shrugs. "I was wondering about the two guys in there. Seemed like there was a bit more going on then met they eye. I could be wrong." His eyebrows lift and he makes a strange face as he thinks. After a moment he just shrugs it off and takes a drink of his hot water. "I do apologize for sorta storming off like I did. Had to get away I guess." He tends to have his moments like that.

 

Kibai is going to simply drop he facade as pointless, instead grinning rather pointedly down at Lauria as he rests his forearms upon the back of his chair, rest his head upon them, and peer though the dark fringe of his hair. "Oh, no need to apologize. I'm sure I'll just find someone else to do that with. More is the pity though." He'll also flash her a teasing wink, before gesturing with a wave of his hand towards Tye, "Just idle comments about a fragment of conversation that floated it's way over here. Maybe, if you weren't hunched down so, you might actually be able to eavesdrop better to hear it."

 

Tye flicks her hand, "No problem, I do the same thing. Always get huffy and then bound off. Better then having to comfront someone." She reaches a hand out and plucks her cup up, swirling the liquid around before downing some of it. Leaning her head back, Lauria is spotted, "Oh, we are just talking 'bout how you can't change the past and what not." The chair then falls foreward, forcing Tye into the table. "Shells, that bleedin' hurt." She grumbles, rubbing her ribs where she had hit. "And I don't think Jycarl is like that, Leolin. He was talking to me about girls and all. So... yeah."

 

"And he's come back with something too," Laur mutters to herself, watching the child sneak back from the kitchens. And she also catches the teasing wink from Kibai, probably misinterpretting it because of the slight color to her bland cheeks-- before she turns towards Tye-ignoring *whatever else it was* that Kibai happened to say. "Bleedin' hurt?" She mutters. "Excuse me, 'rider, where are you from?" Though that might seem a bit prying, something seemed to her close to home.

 

Leolin snickers softly and shrugs. "I don't know. I just heard something about teasing and I tuned out after that." They were wrapped up in a different coversation after that. The rest of his hot water is drained and the cup is set on the table and stared at.

 

Tye turns her body this time, instead of leaning back, to look over at Lauria. "Where am I from? Kinda hard to say, was a trader before I got fostered to family here at 'Reaches. Why do you ask?" She tilts her head in question, though does break her staring eyes for a moment to look back at Leolin. "No, no. Don't know about that Llew-boy, but I'm pretty sure Jycarl likes the ladies. Though.. I could be wrong. I'm not exactly the best to come to when it comes to kind of relationship.. things. By the way, you want some wine? Got half a skin here, so help your self."

 

Kibai briefly takes this moment to squint after Tye, peer a little harder, and then glance away. The teenager reaches for his drink, curling fingers about the cool cup. "Why don't you go punish the kid or something. Might make you feel vindicated." And then he is ignored. Okay, this will definitely provoke a grin.

 

Leolin looks at the skin for a few moments before he shakes his head. "I don't want to take the chance of having anouther night like the last time I drank wine. It's still haunting me. Can't seem to control my mouth when it goes to my head." Or anything else from that matter if people listen to the drudges gossip around here.

 

Lauria frowns, suddenly. "Well," she begins, "--well, though it's changed a bit, I used to have an accent... It was regional, I think. But it was sort of a curse, 'bloody this' or 'bloody that'. I quit when people thought that things I referenced really were... bloody. You used 'bleedin', and I was just wondering if you hailed from where I did." And now that she's said that, she can scrunch up in her chair again. "No," she informs Kibai in a mutter. "No, I'm off duty, I'm ignoring him, I have nothing to do with him..." Is she talking to Kibai or is she trying to persuade herself? More than likely it's the latter.

 

Tye smirks at Leolin, "That's the truth. You have some quite nice pick-up lines, by the way." Eyes glitter with extreme amusement as the bluerider slowly looks away. "Still, one cup can't hurt you." Kibai, the poor lad, is just now finally noticed, the bluerider giving a small wave to him before nodding to Lauria. "I see. Well, my families trading caravan was located around Keroon, if that's any help. And we kinda just.. well.. traveled for lack of a better word around the more northern holds."

 

"Llew has nothing against kissing a person of the same sex," Kibai just sort of adds into the conversation, muttering it with something of a sly grin. Blue-irised eyes flicker back up and away from Lauria at her words, chuckling under his breath, "You are off duty, but not free? Done /looking/ yet." At the roster, that is. The wave from Tye is responded to with a twiddle-fingered one from him. Oh, and a grin. Can't forget the grin.

 

Leolin smirks at Tye and shakes his head. "I don't want to touch it. I may end in bed with somebody by the end of the night." Kibai is heard about Llew and an eyebrow lifts. With a soft sigh and a shrug he turns his attention away, shuddering at what most likely is the thoughts popping into view.

 

Lauria grunts at the roster-- which hasn't even been scanned yet-- and frustratingly tosses it on the table. "I'm free," she offers, "Yes I'm off duty, but even for you, it can't mean that you're not done doing -work-. Who's Llew?" Did she miss something here? "And-- and my family is from around Benden. If you know Wyn? Her father? My father." There's a connection there.

 

"Really now?" Tye peers back over by Kibai, head tilted. "Never would have known that." She only shrugs now, not seeing anything wrong with that, though a small smile does erupt on her face. "Maybe that'll do ya good, Leolin!" The bluerider states, winking at the guard, before clearing her throat and nodding to Lauria. "You're another one of Wyn's sister? Shells.. how many family members does she have?" Tye shakes her head, "Benden, you say? Well, we went there, but didn't lived there." Wine cup is drained now and placed back on the table, this time upside down.

 

Leolin lifts an eyebrow at Tye and shakes his head. "If I wanted to get laid I could do it without wine." Is commented dryly as he gives Tye a bit of a blank stare. But the wine is eyed a bit again and he shakes his head. "I don't need Tekin down my troat for getting drunk two times." His hand runs threw his hair and Lauria is examined carefully, only because he knows Wyn.

 

He did it all for an eyebrow-lift. Kibai flickers a glance sidelong to Leolin at the other's reaction, smiles rather softly at the other, and then finally looks away. Snickering at Lauria's tossing of the roster, he reaches a hand out to stop it from sliding over the rest of the table and to the floor. "Free? Oh good. I can be done, for you that is." Yes, followed by yet one more wink. He is good at that winking thing. "He's a stablehand. Gave me the sweetest peck on the cheek." And a not over to Tye in affirmation.

 

Lauria flushes cheeks again at Kibai's wink--and attempts to hide it by turning towards Tye. "About twenty, last count. It's really just our father's fault," she chuckles, "My mother didn't much see him after I was born anyway. The only reason I know about her is because I did a little research before I decided to move here." Leolin's eyeing is noticed, though ignored, and Kibai's remark-- Kibai's remark is given wide eyes. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that... And I also believe I may look out for a-- what was his name again? Next time I go into the stables with the weyrbrats."

 

Tye chokes back some laughter as she slowly rises to her feet. "Shells, you sure do know how to be blunt, Leolin. Think that's one reason why I'm so fond of you. Say it how it is." The 'rider pushes in her chair and turns to everyone. "Twenty? Faranth, that's.. a lot." Tye makes her way towards the exit, turning and giving a quick wave. "Nice talking to you all, but I need a long soak in the lake." That said, the bluerider disappears into the bowl.

 

Tye exchanges the protection of stone for the bowl outside.

 

Leolin shrugs off the comment about him being blut, "What can I say.." He smiles softly at Tye before she leaves before looking back at his empty mug. "I best be off too. Before Tekin has my head again." Getting up he yawns softly and takes his long agile strides out of the cavern, only putting up a hand as a good-bye to those left in the caverns.

 

Kibai chuckles under his breath, glancing back over to Leolin with a broad grin, "Now that is definitely a young man with a clear sense of self-worth." No, there isn't any mocking in his tone, but actually a touch of admiration there. He looks back over to Lauria, smiling faintly at her wink, "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. He is fine." He looks after Tye as she leaves, and then nods to Leolin as he heads off as well. "Bye."

 

Leolin exchanges the protection of stone for the bowl outside.

 

Lauria grunts softly at Kibai's admiration of Leolin. "Or ego," she mutters. "You wouldn't worry? Are there any more details about this man I should know?" Because whether or not he says she wouldn't worry, she's going to worry. "And goodbye," she adds absently after the rider and guard, though doesn't seem quite so interested in them as she was originally. "Anyway, Kibai, why in the -world-  would you care whether or not I'm on duty? Because I really ought to be looking at that roster..." Not that she hasn't had about ten tries before.

 

Kibai just manages to stifle a snicker at the 'ego' addition, glancing over to Lauria with a faint grin. "I honestly don't know him all that well, Lauria. He is really fine." And he seems to mean it. "Because... before we were suddenly interrupted, I was planning on trying to make your sleepy existence a little more... well, worthwhile to be awake. /That/ was why I asked if you were free. If not, I would have been rather corrupting and told you to just play hooky, but you never heard the assistant to the steward say that."

 

Lauria blinks suddenly, and sits up, noticing the lack of weyrbrats-- they must've scurried away while she wasn't looking, eh? "He's fine? So really you don't know at all, and-- and I don't really take the weyrbrats in the stables, anyway, because I really was just joking-- but now I'll probably be avoiding the stables, myself." She crosses her arms. "Worthwhile? Neh. There's not much you can do for me, unfortunately. The only thing I like to do is write and watch weyrbrats, and at the moment, I'm not watching weyrbrats for the life of me. The only thing left is to write. Not much you can do to pep that up. And if I played hooky, they'd probably notice after about-- say-- five minutes of watchless kids writing on the Weyr walls."

 

Kibai shifts a little in his seat as Lauria is sitting up, watching her curiously. "Now, I'm sure stables are very educational, somehow...." That is if you can get around all of the kids whining about the smell of livestock. "No? Now that sounds like a challenge." And Kibi is always up for a good challenge -well, that is if it interests him. He moves as if to stand, extending a hand to her. "Lets go."

 

"Well, I was thinking," Lauria continues, not giving much of a pause between Kibai's remark and hers. "The stables could be a good place for the little ones to go, the 3's and 4's, so they can learn about what animal makes what noise, and once they reach 7 or 8, they could take a ride on some of the smaller runnerbeasts and--" She takes the offered hand, if only to be polite. "Where're we going, then?  And it is quite a challenge, seeing as how I can't even think of a way to make writing any more fun sitting in a corner thinking up stuff." She's rather verbose, at the moment.

 

Kibai levels her a glance. "We aren't going off to write. Although maybe later you could write about it if you are so inclined?" He does enough of that during the day. Sure, it is messages and accounts, but that's close enough to being the same thing, right? Okay, maybe not. Yes, he is going to try to lead her towards the cavern open, the direction to the bowl.

 

Lauria is reluctant to follow, though why is a mystery. She's been out in the bowl enough times. Following Kibai, it almost seems as though-- with eyes as wide as she has them-- she's expecting something to jump out at her. Because though not particularly pleasant, that would certainly give her something to write about. "Careful where you go, I don't want weyrbrats to catch sight of me and recognize me or something. You don't happen to have a hat or something I could wear to make me look unrecognizable?"

 

Kibai bites his lips to try not chuckle too much. He hesitates though, turning to look more fully at the fellow teenager. "No, sorry. I'm all out of hats. Maybe we could..." His gaze shifts over the air, scanning the tables until he notices one with what isn't exactly a hat on it. No. Looks like what could be a rider's Fall goggles with the strap looped about a chair. The guy releases her goes to retrieve it and offer it to her. "This will hide your face some?" Evil grin ensues.

 

Lauria gives the goggles a wry look, scanning the living caverns for -- something else? "A resident wearing goggles-- and only goggles-- in the middle of a bowl. Oh, that's really going to draw attention away from me." She plucks them out of Kibai's hands. "And don't you think the rider will notice these gone?" But, with what dignity she still has bottled inside of her, she slides them around her head. "Erf. Tight fit." But she doesn't slide them over her eyes, merely pushes her hair back and keeps them on her forehead. "They might not want to come near me with these on anyway, some of them are still frightened of big dragons."

 

Kibai watches Lauria for an amused moment. He then reaches over to try to give them a little adjustment atop her head as well to straighten out things. "Well, it's something. Either that or you can try to hide your face against my neck, and I doubt you would be able to walk across the bowl all that well." Besides other reasons. He gives her a soft smile, reaches to try to take her hand once more, and lead her outside.

 

Lauria does not want to move.

 

Beach

Ancient dunes have been flattened by the endless parade of people and dragons that tramp northwest across the bowl, leaving a mere skiff of sand here along lake's beaten edge.  Footprints litter the curve of beach, some left turns ago and caught frozen in the heavy clay earth near the water's edge.  As the sun sets, shadows invade, creeping like fingers across the gently sloping ground and darkening the distant ledges on the far side of the lake. A somewhat lumpy mound of sand almost goes unnoticed here.

To the north, dust rises from the redolent pens while the flattened disc of the main bowl is just a step to the northwest.

  It is a summer afternoon. 

To the north, you see a blue dragon.

To the northwest, you see four dragons and one person.

Darting here and there are fourteen firelizards.

Bronze Oirfeath, green Fiareth, brown Druseth, and blue Sakuruth are here.

You see Shadow, Jay, Acid, Beach Bonfire, and Matty here.

Obvious exits:

Stables     Feeding Pens     Central Bowl     Lake

 

Lauria walks in from the Central Bowl.

 

Kibai leads Lauria across the expanse of the bowl, flickering a glance to her and offering up some idle banter about how pleasant the weather this afternoon seems and hopefully the weather will hold. All the while, he is drawing her ever closer towards that inevitable glimmer of the lake.

 

Lauria follows, not quite understanding the banter about the weather through the straps that cover her ears, but nodding an "Mmhmm," to every remark. The goggles wobble as she walks, slipping around on her hair and threatening to fall off backwards-- if she didn't keep adjusting them with a hand. No weyrbrats recognize her, no, but she's concerned so much with her goggles that she doesn't even notice where they're headed.

 

Kibai stands upon the embankment before the waters of the lake, shooting a glance askance to Lauria with a faint smile. He glances behind them, makes sure that the coast is clear, and looks as though he is about to try to reach over and tug those goggles from her. "You can swim, right?"

 

Lauria tugs the goggles off herself, the bulky things having also given her tunnel vision-- she can't quite see the hand from Kibai that reaches to take them off. No matter, though-- but it is a matter of where to put them. "Yes, I can swim-- it's sort of a requirement to watch a child, especially around water. And there is no doubt in my mind that my days would take twice as long as they do now if we couldn't lead the 'brats to water on the warmer days." She pauses, briefly, "Is it swimming -now-, you're thinking?" She's still got the goggles in her hands. "... and where should I put these..."

 

"Well, generally goggles are placed over the eyes, but it is up to you if you think you want to wear them in the water. Otherwise, I'd suggest you just put those with your clothes before you get in?" Kibai suggests, a hint of humor to his tone. He continues on down the slope, leaving Lauria to ponder goggles or not. "Coming? Or do you plan on writing about ocular accessories?"

 

Lauria settles for 'behind her', as she tosses the bulky goggles on the sand. "I don't write nonfiction," she notes to Kibai, but, reluctant to actually get in the water-- she slides her shoes off by the heel of each and pokes her toes in the water. "It's awful cold, isn't it? I don't usually swim when it's this awful cold... Though I must say, the brats don't seem to mind at all."

 

Kibai stops in the middle of the motion of tugging off his shirt. Now, he will just stare at the young woman with something close to disbelief with maybe a dash of exasperation. Shirt is tugged back down. "Are you kidding me? Alas...I haven't an easy means to take you to Boll. If I did, I would, but I don't. I could just throw you in, then you would get used to the cold very quickly? Afterwards, I'd be happy to warm you up again." Oh, the smile.

 

Lauria continues to tap at the top of the water with her toe, reluctant as ever. "Well, seriously, it's -freezing-. I'll bet it isn't half the air temperature out here. You sure you want to swim? And if you push me in, I'll probably sink at the weight of this dress..."  Or perhaps she's just not got a bathing suit to wear. "It's also been a while, you know..." Stalling. Stalling.

 

Kibai will now blink at her, because that is about all he can do now. "If ever I met a woman who most needs to be thrown in the water, it is you... it is a good thing I'm a gentleman though." Or something like that. He straightens, hand smoothing over the front of his shirt, still peering at the woman.

 

"Nah," Lauria tiptoes through the point at the water's edge where the lake seeps into the clay, wincing at the coldness. "You can go in, if you want. I think I'll just stay out and watch." After this bluntness, she backs up away from the clay and moves out of the way. For Kibai. To go into the lake alone. Because that's just like Laur-- modesty is the best policy.

 

Kibai has actually taken rather well to the ways of the Weyr, despite his holder origin as well. But apparently Lauria's obvious sense of modesty as she demurs causes him to shake his head slowly from side to side. "And watch? Writing from a standpoint of watching? Now, Now, Lauria. As everyone well knows, you can't sit back and let it just happen. Best is to be a part of it yourself." And that is the only warning she is going to get (if you can even count that as a warning) as the boy moves over as if to try to pick the girl up off of the sands of the beach. Hrm, not really all that hard to figure out what his intentions will be after that.

 

Lauria seems reluctant to shake her head, though if only because she doesn't have the courage to strip and go. She hasn't taken to the ways of the Weyr-- because she never cared. Those who wanted to go in could, she would just get a suit beforehand. "I can just watch, that's what painters do---ooooh!" Cue the girlish kicking, the girlish screaming. She's not going to heed any warnings, as she didn't recognize any warnings. "Put me down! You're gonna throw me in in my -dress-! I'll sink!"

 

"Well, if you took it off before hand *grunt* you wouldn't have had to worry about that," Kibi answers, wincing a little as suddenly the bundle in his arms starts to fidget, and squirm, and generally make holding her a Very Bad Idea. Ah well. If she falls, it'll be on her pride and in the sand. But not for long as the boy simply strides out into the water, barefoot but still wearing trous. "Good think I know how to swim, because if you sink, I can always play the hero and rescue you." Never mind he would be the one to dump her in though.

 

"Eeeh!" Again, Laur squeals, as Kibai walks out into the water. But now it isn't 'put me down', it's "Don't drop me!" Arms lock around Kibai's neck, if he doesn't pry them off, and though her feet are dangling in the cold, she's still safe from the water. That is, unless he decides to get much deeper into the water. In that case, Lauria is going to be attempting to get as far away from the water as possible-- and climbing up and away on the one that carries her.

 

Kibai is beginning to rethink this whole idea of putting Lauria in the water. Namely as his mentioning before of climbing all over her, becomes her climbing all over him. This could be a problem. "Lauria! Wait... I'll just... Stop. I-" Oh fardles. As was inevitable, his footing on the smooth stones at the bottom of the lake is a very precarious thing. One step to the side to try to retain his balance only has him toppling forward and *SPLASH* Guess that took care of them both being drenched.

 

Lauria burbles, the whole fall seeming to take forever, but as she hit the water arms immediately went out to stablize herself. "Cold!" She screams as soon as she gains footing on the rocks and gets her head upright. "Cold! Cold! Faranth, it's -cold-! /Kibai/. It's -cold-." No duh. "And I can't move in this dress!" Which is true, as she waddles about in the fabric, it sits like a dead weight on her.

 

Kibai is sputtering as he comes back to the surface, dark hair plastered to his face. Head shakes from side to side to try to clear his vision of a wet forelock and lake water. He is immediately bursting to his feet, clothes clinging to outline his body. "Shaffit!" Head shakes once again, taking on the curious appearance of a canine until he spots the waddling Lauria. Alright, that sight alone is going to cause a broad grin from the boy, but it is quickly stifled as he fairly croons to her. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Are you alright? Here, let me help you." Yes, the boy is actually going to offer to guide her back out onto the beach. "Maybe we should just get that off of you."

 

Lauria sputters, herself, shooting an awful glare at the smile. "Fine!" She spits, in as good a humor as a drowned rat can manage. "Fine. It's going to need to dry, anyway. I should've brought my water suit, though, if you wanted me in the water so bad." She's reaching for him, to let him guide her back, but mostly because she has little choice.  She'll never get herself back to the shore in the pounds of water-drenched fabric she has sitting on her. "Though any other time I go swimming I always have my clothes to wear in the water."

 

Kibai reaches a hand up to drag fingers back through his hair, pulling it away from his eyes as he watches her. Careful to help the woman back out of the water, he reaches over to try to wring some of the lake water out of her dress -that is if she doesn't bat his hands away though. Naturally, he is chuckling the entire time. "I bet you would be quite an amazing shade of red if you weren't so white from the chill." He looks back to her, "Want me to help you out of your clothes... or would you rather an escort back to the caverns so you can take them off there." Naturally, he'd much rather the first option.

 

"I--uh..." The choice exists for Laur! She wasn't aware she had a choice, or she might've gone back in the first place. However, she's not batting away his hands-- the more hands to let out water, the better. "I don't-- really know how well I'm going to... get back to the caverns in this thing. Unfortunately." However, she needs to get out of it soon-- her lips are purpling, and she's shivering as if she were in winter. "Not that it isn't your fault I can't get back there," she stammers, still joking through her shivers. "Just. Help me out of it, I guess..." Against all modest proposals in her head, she doesn't see a better option.

 

Kibai smiles the smile of quite the smug teenager. Dashing the dark hair from his eyes once more, he is reaching over to try to undo the fastenings of her garments with agile fingers. "Your wish is my command," he murmurs. Hrm. Don't think the goggles will be much use now in hiding who she is from the 'brats. So, instead, when she is free of the dress, he is going to try to peel off his wet shirt and offer her that instead for modesty's sake, and from there lead her back to the caverns -naturally with her very heavy dress in his arms. "Water suits are over rated. See, now you have something to write about, and please feel free to  use as many color phrases and metaphors in describing me as possible. Anything less and I might be disappointed."