9/9/2002

09:57 PM

Logfile from Taire.

 

Lake

From the azure waves lapping gently at the blackened shore to the north, to the lightless indigo of the central depths, the lake enjoys the balmy benefits of thermal currents flowing endlessly beneath its surface.  Despite the weather, the waters are always enjoyable and never frigid, drawing draconic and human residents alike all-Turn-round.  The coming of wintry months brings a remarkable sight to this curve of the Weyr's bowl -- soft clouds of steam billow across the rippling surface, shrouding it and the land beyond in a thin veil of fog.

The morn was fair, the skies were clear, no breath came o'er the sea. Or to put it another way, summer arrives with the ending of the nightly spring storms and warms the planet with its radiance.

You see Seawave and Daishoth here.

Murkat and K'rah are here.

Obvious exits:

Beach

 

It's the best time of day, really, at least Daishoth thinks so, he's ever so fond of a nic bath in the lake after a hard morning's work.  The blue does quite a good job of exhibiting his happiness, splashing rather raucously as he makes his entrance into the warm waters.  On a day like this, the fish had better watch out, because he's planning on giving them a good run....or is that swim?

 

Murkat sits just off the shore in the shallow water, legs dangling over the large rock he's perched upon, while his bare feet just brush the top of the water. Staring off onto the horizon, his thoughs are suddenly interupted at the sound of a splash as a blue dragon enters the water. Glancing quickly around, he tries to spot the source of the disturbance and just who it, or rather they, since where there's a dragon there's usually a rider, might be.

 

Sullaketh swoops low over the waters of the lake, tummy tickling the low waves. But with the wing-sweep, fingersails and spar's tips slice through the water well and to the side of Daishoth before the green continues on towards the beach. Sukie turns about to backwing with great sweeps of her rings, kicking up sand before feet touch the beach in landing. A breath later and Taire is slipping off the green's lowered shoulder and to the beach sands with bare feet, loose shorts, and not a sign of riding leathers in evidence.

 

K'rah too has taken up residence in the shallows, afterall, Dai's not the only one overly warm from the morning's exertions.  The sound of a dragon's backwing warns her to put up a hand to guard her eyes before the sandstorm hits, a reaction that is now instinct.  As the sand settles she waves a greeting to those gathered enjoying the lake.  A sudden splash washes over her as Dai emerges from the water not far from where she's reclined.  Watch out, lake's waters about to become turbulant, it happens when your lifemate likes to think he's a shipfish.

 

Murkat sighs as it looks like not one, but two people have come to disturb his rest and relaxation time. No doubt they probably want something of him or need him to take care of something that he forgot about. Another sigh as he pulls his feet out of the water and begins to stand and turn to face the two riders. It's not soon enough though, and the waves from the splashing dragon reach the boulder and sweep over the top, wetting him from the waist down before he can stand. Pausing a moment to mumble something and to shake off as much of the water as possible, he shields his eyes as he looks toward the shore.

 

Taire is turning about to strip the riding straps from her lifemate, fingers making quick work of the buckles. With a slithering whisper, the straps are tugged from the green's neck and rolled onto the sands carefully. Of course, Sukie refrains from wasting time to join Daishoth in the welcome waters, crooning a note of greeting. Taire manages to grab the spade-tip of the green's tail, scampering behind the dragon toward the waters. Just as her toes splash into the water, the girl is releasing and cursing up a storm, one innocent word peeping through now and again: Cold. It is while she is dancing in the ankle-deep water, when her gaze lifts to land upon the half-drenched steward. *blink-blinkblink* And now, she will just stare. Give it a moment and she'll start giggling.

 

K'rah too smiles, albeit apologetically in the direction of the steward.  It's the one time you'll catch Daishoth letting his guard down - when he's swimming.  All matters of importance are suspended when there are fish to catch.  Emerging from a deep dive the blue bugles a greeting for Sullaketh to join him in a rousing game of 'chase the fish' something he's perfected over the turns.  The unfortunate aspect of that game is, it usually becomes 'drench the lifemate' before it's over, and anyone who happens to be standing anywhere in the vicinity.

 

Murkat shakes his head as he hops off the rock and into the shallow water, heading for shore. No reason to try to stay dry since he's already soaked. Thankfully at least, he did change into shorts before coming, though he didn't bother to bring a towel since he wasn't planning on getting wet. Once on shore, he pauses, looking down at the sand which is now begining to stick to his wet feet and legs. Oh joy, one of the many reasons he's not often found frequenting this local.

 

Sullaketh isn't so much a chaser and a dragon that appreciates a good float. The green pushes into the deeper waters, bobbles once, and then sinks under the surface. A ripple and a moment or two later and she surfaces, belly up -and isn't that the most striking green belly you ever did see? Or something. "Grumpy," Taire accuses as she passes by Murkat, flicking a couple of grains of sand at him on her way to the rock he was perched upon, only to use it as a launching pad to dive into the waters still in her shorts and spaghetti-stringed top. *swish*

 

Daishoth surfaces out in the deeper waters not far from where Sullaketh floats, and with a call of challenge he chases off for the shore, diving once more as the depth of the water permits and then surfacing as he's forced to by the shallow waters, sending massive amounts of water spashing onto the shore.  K'rah stands and takes a couple running steps back to try and avoid the brunt of the splash, though she knows she won't escape it completely, and the poor steward? Well, it's a good thing that he's clad for swimming. 

 

Murkat eyes Taire as she passes by, trying his best to come up with some kind of retort, though failing. "Well what do you expect!" he finally calls after her, though it's questionable as to whether or not she actually heard him since it would appear that she's somewhere underwater. But then, then comes the wall of water that completely soaks him from head to toe, leaving him wiping water out of his eyes and shaking out his hair. He is very not happy and as a result, takes his anger out on the only person that he knows there, even if she is swimming. "TAIRE!!!! This is your fault!!" He's knows it's not, but that's not going to stop him from blaming her. She distracted him so that Daishoth could soak him. Yeah! That's it!

 

Sullaketh has just finished with this whole proddy thing, and so isn't exactly up for more chasing and fleeing and well, you know -which she makes sure to impart upon dearest Daishoth as kindly as possible. Just rest, relaxation, and bellowing humans? Taire surfaces, dark hair plastered to her face. Did she just hear her name? Squinting eyes peer in the direction of the soaked and possibly red-faced steward. "Oh, go jump in a lake." Literally and figuratively. Eh? "What's my fault?"

 

K'rah winces as she runs her fingers through her hair, pushing the stray locks out of her face. That wall of water was supposed to be for her, but Dai, well he gets over exuberant and he sometimes hits more than his intended target.  The bluerider shakes her head as she looks to the steward.  "Sorry about that.  Dai was aiming for me, and well, you just were lucky enough to be in the right place at the wrong time."  She's hoping to diffuse the situation, or at least claim the blame from Taire, it's truly not her fault.

 

Murkat doesn't have to go jump in a lake now, he's quite wet enough thank you very much. "It's your fault that I'm wet! You distracted me on purpose!" His anger subsides somewhat though as he remembers that there's someone else on the shore with him. Raking off as much of the water as possible, he throws one last look at Taire before making his way towards the other rider, and to the safety that lies further up the shore. "Ah, ok," is all he says. She can't claim the blame from Taire, since he always blames her anyways. Always has and probably always will. It is, however, apparent that his anger has subsided quite a bit.

 

 

Oh yes, Taire distracted him with her feminine wilds and musical voice. And the lifemate was all part and party to the master plot by dazzling him with her very presence and glimmery aura. Whatever. "You truly do have the brains of a bovine, a seven-day dead and rotted." The girl rolls her eyes and she dives back under the waves and surface near to Sullaketh, only to clamber up the green's side to sit upon the dragon's rather rotund belly.

 

Daishoth /almost/ looks apologetic as he ambles out of the water and onto the shore to stand next to his lifemate.  He carries himself though as if he's just a bit too proud of that monsterous splash for it to be believable.  Even if he is peering over K'rah's shoulder and giving Murkat the most peculiar once over.  "Yes Dai, it's your fault he's drenched," the bluerider says after a moment.  She's laugh, but from what she's heard from Taire's direction well, the poor man's getting enough taunting that she doesn't need to help the situation along.

 

Murkat says, "If only things were like they used to be," he yells right back at her. Not that it would have made much difference, for even then she never listened to him. Turning, he eyes the dragon sternly for a moment, but finally ends up shaking his head as a small smile begins to form at the corners of his mouth. "Are you proud of yourself... Dai was it?" The question, while honest and straight foward, holds no anger or malice. Perhaps he's begining to see the humor in the situation. Not that he would admit it of course."

 

"If only things were like they used to be," he yells right back at her. Not that it would have made much difference, for even then she never listened to him. Turning, he eyes the dragon sternly for a moment, but finally ends up shaking his head as a small smile begins to form at the corners of his mouth. "Are you proud of yourself... Dai was it?" The question, while honest and straight foward, holds no anger or malice. Perhaps he's begining to see the humor in the situation. Not that he would admit it of course.

 

Taire has plenty more where that came from. But, she refrains from more scathing commentary for the moment by rolling up her sopping wet shirt to just under her chest, and then actually laying out right there on the floating green's tummy. She folds arms behind her head, eyes closing as she sunbathes. Its as good of a place as any. "Like what? I can still take you."

 

K'rah is rather amused by the banter passing back and forth between greenrider and steward, obviously there's some history here that she's not aware of, and well, truth be told, it's likely better that way. She nods in affirmation of the question. "Daishoth officially, and he's quite proud, though he'll not readily admit it." She smiles again rather apologetically, "I am terribly sorry about that though, can I get you a towel?" Luckily the bluerider brought two, always prepared, or something of the like. Dai's got a reputation.  As she speaks however the blue ambles closer to the steward, *whew dragonbreath*, his expression again something shy of apologetic.

 

"You could never take me in the first place," the Steward yells out toward the floating green, "So what makes you think you could take me now?" Realizing that he's having a yelling conversation with someone that might as well be half across the lake, he shakes his head and turns back to the bluerider, who is a much more comfortable range. A nod, "Daishoth." Looking himself over real quick, he nods. "I would be most thankful actually. By the way, I'm Murkat," just in case she didn't know. He's usually recongnizable, by rank if nothing else. "I don't believe I've ever had the pleasure..." He trails off as he eyes the blue warily. Never trust a dragon is his motto. They're always out to get you in some way or another. His present condition can attest to that belief.

 

Taire either gives Sukie a little mental nudge or the green just happens to drift that way, but floating green slowly makes her way closer towards the shore. "Turns of practice throwing firestone sacks and sheer determination." Quiver in fear. "And I don't think, I know. I could take you-" The girl cuts off abruptly as apparently Sukie's big rear finds the shallow sand, bringing her to a staggering halt, and causing the greenrider to roll off that slick tummy and slip none-to-prettily off. A bit of a splash, but she manages to keep her feet. "Weenie." Needs a towel. Pathetic. She shoots a glance at K'rah, "Be careful of this one, K'rah. He sure smiles pretty, but don't let that fool you. 'Snake in steward's clothes." She shoots Murkat an honest to goodness teasing wink before grinning at the fellow rider.

 

K'rah shakes her head and tries to stifle a chuckle but fails as she catches the oh-so-friendly banter between these two. She nods as the steward introduces himself, and, Taire's taken care of the rest, fantastic, we all know each other.  "I'll keep that in mind." She says with a smile in regards to Taire's words, though her tone betrays that she's not at all worried about the situation.  "I'll grab that towel." She says to the still soggy steward and quickly jogs up the beach to do so.  As soon as her back is turned, Dai lowers his head to Murkat's chest level and gives the man a good solid, but not overwhelming, nudge.  Towel in hand, the bluerider spins on her heel in time to catch the motion. "DAISHOTH!"

 

Murkat raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms as he lets Taire go on and on. Ah, just like the good old days back at Xanadu. As she gets pitched forward and thrown into the water, he smiles a bit. "Are you finished?" Well, apparently not he decides as she starts right back up again. Once she finally falls silent, he leans toward K'rah, intent on divulging something to the bluerider, but making perfectly sure that Taire can see and hear it. "Don't mind her. She's just jealous. I mean, she's persued me for so long and to not gain what she so desires... It has to be really hard on her. I'm sure you understand." Was that a bit of a return wink? Nah, couldn't be. "Ah, thank you," he replies to the bluerider. With his attention still on the rider, he's totally forgotten about the dragon, but not for long. He suddenly finds himself sitting in the sand, looking up at the blue, wondering what exactly happened and how he got there.

 

Sullaketh waggles a hind leg in the air once, twice... come on! Third time is the charm. Yes! On the third try, the green finally manages to roll over to be set back to rights, never mind the wet sand streaming 'tween her ridges and down her sides. Rather like ooze, it looks. Beautiful. Truly. Taire stumbles a few steps away from the green, but still gets slopped on by the wet sand over a cheek. Ew. Finger wipes the ick away as she shoots a narrow-eyed glance at Murkat. "In your drea-" A blink and then the laughter just spills from the little rider. Oodles and oodles of gut-busting laughter, complete with pointing finger. "Ohhhhh-hohoho!" Precious. "Beeeee-utiful, Murkie." Meanwhile, sand-streamed green toddles over to stand just behind her rider, neck curving up and over to watch the proceedings with a warbling interest.

 

K'rah nods almost imperceptably as she finally begins to understand the connection between these two.  The way they act, what he's said, what she's said, it all ads up, and she decides that she'll stay far far away from that subject, it always ends up badly for her if she doesn't.  That aside, there is the /other/ issue.  She hurridly makes her way to the steward offering him a hand for help up and a towel to wipe some of the water, and now sand off. She rolls her eyes as she convinces Daishoth to give Murkat just a little breathing room, but for some reason or another, the blue's not wanting to give up his interest in the man. "Again, I'm sorry." Twice in one day apologising for Daishoth, not a common occurance.

 

Realization finally dawns on Murkat as he looks from one person to the next, and then from dragon to dragon. See! You can never trust them! They're always out to get you, every chance they get. And not only that, but they corrupt their riders too. A glare is thrown Taire's way as he gratefully takes the hand up and the towel. Brushing off as much of the sand as possible by hand, he then dries off his face and hair. "I don't know whether to be amused, or afraid." Either way, he's giving the blue a /very/ wide berth. Once he's drier, he gives the towel back and moves away from both. Not far enough away to impede conversation, but far enough back to avoid the blue incase he has anything else in mind. Turning suddenly toward Taire, he yells, "As for you, you hush!"

 

Taire dabs at her eyes with the back of her hand. You know, tears of mirth. She sniffles once, flickering one very amused glance at the steward and then takes one long step back to stand just off to the side of one of Sukie's forelegs. And the shoots right on back, "Make me." Ahhh, it is so very fun to revert back to one's juvenile days. Or, maybe she (and Murkat) never really left them. But, yes, times have changed, and she has one of those big, nasty dragons. Sullaketh warbles some comment or another to the blue before Murkat moves within her range. Her turn now. Muzzle is lowered, and one wet and sandy snout is shoved right at the steward's chest as well.

 

K'rah notices the wide berth her lifemate is getting from the steward, and well, with the things that have happened she supposes she understands why.  The blue however has every intention of not letting the steward our of his reach.  Even as Sullaketh nudges the steward, Dai approaches again and nuzzles the mans hair.  It's official.  With a smile broadening on her face K'rah shakes her head, she should have /known/.  "Murkat, Daishoth has just informed me that he and Sullaketh have reached a decision.  They would like you to stand on the sands as a candidate for the clutch of gold Teyrth and brown Peyth. Do you agree?"  She asks curiously, hoping that will give the man a chanc to breathe, and get the dragons to give him a little space.

 

Not this time! While Murkat was distracted, he's not as oblivious as he was before. This time he's watching both dragons much more closely. Fool him once, shame on you, fool him twice... While he is paying closer attention, he can't quite react in time and as a result he stumbles back a couple of steps, trying his hardest not to end up on the ground again, but to no avail. "Ok," he says tiredly, "Now just try and tell me that you had nothing to do with that." He's practically daring her. The amusement has begun to fade from his voice, though it hasn't quite yet been replaced by anger. Instead, it's rather neutral. "Just what is wrong with these creatures," he yells right as he's being informed. An announcement that causes him to scurry backwards across the sand without even getting up. "THEY WANT WHAT!?!?"

 

Taire blinks owlishly at her lifemate, combing her fingers back through sopping wet hair in the midst of all this staring. "Are you kidding me? Him?" Incredulous. She shoots a glance back at the quickly retreating Murkat, only to blink once more. A pregnant pause, and then the young greenrider is pouncing forward as if to try to wrap fingers in the guy's shirt and haul him back. She nearly coos, "Ohhhhh, Murkat. You as a candidate. You've /got/ to do this!"

 

Daishoth scoots forward as quickly as Murkat scoots back.  Nope, he's not letting /his/ potential candidate get away.  Between Taire, and Daishoth, well, the poor steward doesn't have a chance. "You heard right, Murkat, they want you to be a candidate.  You're being Searched.  What's your answer?" The bluerider queries, as she smiles broadly.

 

Murkat suddenly gets this sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. He knows he heard K'rah right, and he /really/ doesn't like the look on Taire's face. He remembers what he put her weyrling class though and by the looks of things, she just might have payback on her mind. What else could account for the sudden mood swing? Lying there on the sand, he stares up at both the dragons and people looming over him. "I don't suppose I'd want to know what would happen if I said no, would I," he asks the four of them together. Another quick glance around the four faces before he sighs. "I guess when you put it that way, I have no choice but too accept." There goes his life, his job, and in his eyes, his pride.

 

Taire was more than ready to launch into quite a few more encouraging words to get Murkat to don that delightful little white knot, but it seems as though they really aren't necessary. The girl nearly squeals in something between excitement and mirth, "Oh! This'll be so much fun. Just imagine it, Murkie. Sleeping in the barracks. Sewing your own robe. Egg touchings. Peeling tubers and playing a gopher for the riders. No drinking or other pursuits *eyebrow-waggle* for a couple of months. You'll love it." And before he can change his mind, she is gonna do her level best to try to tug him toward the caverns. "

"Lets go get you set up!"

 

K'rah too is ready to whisk the man away to the barracks. "Fantastic, I'm glad to hear it, you won't regret it." She smiles at his answer, and openly laughs at Taire's answer.  Maybe she'll refrain from mentioning the pre-dawn runs that she's so fond of taking the candidates on...and the weyrlings after they've impressed. Muhahahah welcome to boot-camp...errr... yes. That.  "Being the steward here already you'll have no problems getting settled right in I'm sure." Nothing like going from private quarters to the community life of the barracks.

 

Murkat sighs as he pulls himself up out of the sand. Taking his time, he brushes himself off, trying to salvage as much of his dignity as possible. He shakes his head slowly. "It's just like being an apprentice again..." Turning to K'rah, he raises an eyebrow. "I already do." Slowly, he allows Taire to drag him off toward the caverns, but not before getting one last barb in. "No 'other pursuits' for a couple of months," he gasps. "What are you going to do while I'm unavaliable for all that time." Is tone is all sweetness and light.

 

"Oh, I've got my pursuits. Maybe I can get you to help me kill Menace. After all, we've got to keep you candidates busy. Idle hands and all..." Taire comments lightly, still tugging him off. "Come on, K'rah. I wanna see the look on everyone's face when they see him in a candidate's knot." No evil cackles, but it is a near thing.

 

Passage to the barracks...

 

 

Candidate Barracks

This vaguely rectangular room contains cots, cots, and more cots, which either stand in neat, pristine rows, a clothespress at each foot, or in jumbled confusion, depending on the current residents.  Metal brackets mark the smooth walls every four cotlengths, hosting shieldable glows that, when open, shine gentle circles on the low ceiling and worn floor.  A desk holds a prominent place at the back of the room, opposite the lower caverns' exit and below the large slateboard that lists the room's 'occupants' and their assigned chores.  Beside the slate hangs a wide 'tackboard', pinned full of important notices for the candidates to read.

 

OOC Note: Be sure to 'look tackboard' & 'look occupants' for more information.

You see Vana here.

Murkat and K'rah are here.

Obvious exits:

Lower Caverns

 

K'rah makes her way into the barracks, with Taire and Murkat.  "You're lucky, you're one of the first to get searched, so you get a pretty good choice on which cot you want." That's thinking positively.  On the down side, he'll have a nice full candidacy, and she'll make sure to help see to that.  "Well I'd say welcome to Fort and all that, but well, you're hardly new here.  My best advice, get to sleep early, mornings come faster than you'd expect."

 

Murkat drops into the closest bunk, not really paying any attention to which one he's chosen, nor really hearing anything that K'rah said. There was one thing that caught his attention though. "My knot?!? Wait, wait... Let's not be too hasty. Why don't we just thread through a white strand and be done with it?" He's worked long and hard for that knot and is not inclined to give it up. "I mean, it'd be the same colors and everything. Everyone would know..."

 

Taire makes sure Murkat makes it to the doorway before she remains behind, leaning against the jam. Ahhhh, memories -or something like that. A sigh as she pushes off to slip over to Murkat and reach for his steward knot. You know, with the intent to tug that thing right off his shoulder. "Early to be searched, and the longest to have to stay in here. "Nope. You get the all white kind. The lowest of the low, but I'll keep your steward knot for safe keeping. You never know, you might or might not need it afterwards."

 

K'rah nods in agreement with Taire's words. "Sorry, the old knot's got to go.  You'll wear white like the rest." She glances around the barracks noticing that at least one other has moved in. "Well, Murkat, I don't imagine this was how you were planning to spend the rest of your free time." She smiles remembering when she was searched and what an abrupt transition it was. "I'd suggest moving your things down to the barracks as quickly as possible, and getting settled.  If you have any questions about candidacy feel free to ask, now or later."  With a sigh she realizes that she's got commitments she's likely now late to, "I fear that at the moment however, I need to leave you to getting organized."

 

Murkat watches as his knot, the one he's work for and labored over, is removed, and with relish nonetheless. Shaking his head, he falls backwards onto the cot, staring up at the ceiling. Guess this means he can't send for his stuff, he's actually got to go get it himself. Boy, rank sure has some prividges that he's going to miss. "By all means, don't let me keep you," he mumbles to the bluerider as she heads out. "You're just loving this, aren't you Taire," he asks without even looking at her.

 

Taire tucks the steward's knot into a pocket of her shorts. That would be a very wet pocket too. Devilish smile actually softens at his voice, eyes twinkling in mirth even if he doesn't see it. "Absolutely." A sigh, and then a lowered voice, "You'll do fine. How could you not?" She shrugs her shoulders indolently and the patters to the door, voice calling out after she is gone, "Boreas will be needing fresh sweetrolls and klah tomorrow morning before sweeps. Be sure to have it ready for us. Toodles."