Simple Chores

[wyren]

A small cloud of floated out of the female Candidate sleeping area. There was a light sneeze from time to time, but other than that, the constant sound of sweeping could be heard through the Candidate Barracks. Filonna stuck her head out of the sleeping area, hoping from some fresher air, but found that the dust from the sleeping area was now settling in the Common Room. She groaned, knowing she would now have to sweep the Common Room, even if she had planned to already. No amount of cleaning would ever rid the Barracks of the dust tracked in from the Lower Caverns of Weyr Bowl.

Sighing, Filonna pushed her ebony locks from her face and finished sweeping out the sleeping area, before moving on to the Common Room.

As she swept out the Common Room, Filonna found herself thinking about her home and her family. She wondered what they were doing now that she had been Searched. It seemed that from their latest letter, that they would be coming to next Hatching, if word reached them in time. That was, of course, if Weyrwoman Talaria and Weyrleader A'dion decided to allow Hold and other Weyrfolk to attend.

Of course, the thought of her parents brought on the thoughts of the next clutch, the clutch that was on the Sands at this moment. With those thoughts came the ones about her possibly Impressing one of the Hatchlings. It was every Candidate's dream, to Impress a dragonet and walk off the Sands a Weyrling. Alas, some didn't, and for the past couple of Hatchlings, Filonna had been one of them. She sighed again, her thoughts turning dark, while she did her best to keep her hopes up. The good part, she was only sixteen, leaving her many chances to Stand before a Queen and her clutch and possibly Impress one of the dragonets. It would just take time . . . and she would have to be patient. If she could be.

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[brete]

Arriving at the weyr had been an ordeal all of it's own, Brete was still in shock after being searched and, truth be told, was a bit homesick already. How odd to think she would not being in classes tomorrow. Even worse to think her singing lessons and composition lessons were no longer going to continue. Would there be someone at the Weyr to teach her. She was, of course, excited to be a candidate but at the same time she had always loved being a harper. It was still her dream to reach Journeyman status. She knew with time she could slowly attain the knowledge needed to teach like her mother but she would never be a member of the harpercraft if she impressed. All in all the day was a sad and triumphant one.
After being fed, and introduced to whoever was about, Brete was told how to reach the female candidate sleeping area. She was a bit tired from the trip between and her time was off. So needless to say she was more than happy to be given a chance at a nap. It occurred to her that she would be sleeping with other candidates, rivals if you will, which was a bit awkward for the competitive girl but at the same time it could be nice. Maybe she would make a few friends before the hatching occurred. It would be nice to not feel so out of place and alone. The outsider feeling was a new one for the big eyed girl. Her ability to take control of a situation and her loyalty had always made her a welcome lady in her hold; here it might not be so well prized.
Turning a corner that she knew led right to the commons area, Brete was a bit surprised to walk into a cloud of dust and sand. Covering her nose and mouth and coughing she followed it to it's source, which she; making an educated guess, assumed was her new quarters. Seeing a younger girl sweeping Brete drew her shoulders up in an attempt to look confident but friendly.

"Hello? Is it always so dusty? It's hard to believe a room could gather up this much mess." she said with a sideways grin and a shake of her now dust speckled hair. Said tresses falling in long straight locks of blackish brown smoothness.

Looking at the other girl Brete couldn't help but admire her deep black locks. Such were the desire of her secret heart to have since she was a child watching her mother brush out strands of nearly the same beauty.

[wyren]

As she was working on getting the Common Room cleaned up, Filonna heard a voice call out to her. Stopping her sweeping, she turned toward the voice, finding a slightly older female standing in the archway of the Common Room. The female had a slightly lighter tone of skin that herself, with straight black hair, shiny, and long. Envy popped its ugly head up, as Filonna had always wanted straight hair but found that she had her mother's length but her father's curly hair. "Oh my . . . I apologize. I pulled cleaning duty today for the Barracks," she stated, finding herself actually wiping her hand on her breeches, but it didn't really help.

"I'm Candidate Filonna," she introduced herself, leaning the broom against the wall and moving toward the female. This was normal for her, being so forward and right there, but then again, it was simple Filonna, having been at the Weyr for three Turns. After so long, you forget that there is a different style of life in the Holds and you adopt a Weyr outlook on life and meeting others. "You must be newly Searched. I haven't seen you around the Weyr," she stated, head slightly tilted to the side, brown orbs taking in this female.

When they stood on the Sands, they would be rivals for the chance at Impressing a dragon, but off the Sands, they could be friends. If they both Impressed, their dragons could be friends, so why not start now?

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[brete]

Brete was impressed with the younger girl's poise and confidence, she always had more respect for someone who could approach her calmly and naturally. Smiling an easy going little grin Brete took a step farther into the room herself so as to be close enough for polite conversation. The dust and dirt having begun to settle made the room much easier to breathe in and to so the other girl more clearly. The older girl having a bit of a hunch that the two of them would get along just fine, and maybe even be friends despite egg rivalry. Brete would be the first to admit she was a bit overly competitive but she also appreciated a good opponent and even competing against friends.

"It's nice to meet you Filonna, my name is Bretella but please call me Brete. I am very much newly searched. I came from the Harper hold. So Weyr life is going to take some getting used to for me...though I see they still make us pull cleaning duties." here she sighed laughingly.

It was nice to know that some things never changed no matter where you were. It wouldn't feel like she was so far from home if some things were the same. Her mother always said that anywhere could be home, and Brete had a feeling she was going to have to adopt this idea. It would never do to be dragging about all homesick when she was going to be bogged down with new lessons and the responsibility of candidate status. You always need to make the best of things, because if you didn't life would just be miserable.

"Have we gotten many candidates in just yet? The dragonrider who searched me said that there was an actual clutch on the sands now. I do hope they let us go look. I've never been to a hatching. Have you?" realizing that she had just rambled on Brete grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry I'm a bit tired and I tend to just let my tongue go at that point."

[wyren]

Filonna couldn't help but join Brete in laughing. "Daily. If your lucky, you might get the easier duties, at least until you get use to Weyrlife. I've always lived in a Weyr, so I wouldn't know much about the change between Hold to Weyrlife, but you don't have to worry about anyone pushing you away. Everyone here is really nice," she stated.

As Brete asked about the other Candidates, Filonna suddenly felt rather foolish. "Since the last clutch, a lot of the older Candidates either Impressed or left. I think our numbers are really down for having a clutch on the Sands . . . but I'm not really sure. I haven't really left the sleeping area in awhile," she stated, looking over her shoulder to the sleeping area. "I've been on bed rest due to a slight headcold and the Candidate Master just let me out of bed the other day," she admitted, hating that she had somehow gotten sick so shortly before a clutch went on the Sands.

"I've been at Western Weyr for about three Turns and have Stood at a few clutches. It is mostly a lot of confusion and fast paced event, but I promise you'll love it from the first sight of the eggs, til the end, whether you Impress or not," she grinned, nodding and remembering her first Hatching. It had been a wild ride. Walking out onto the hot sands, seeing the eggs, hearing them crack, and seeing the dragonets. "I'm sure you will," she whispered, nodding her head once more. "If you wish to rest, the sleeping area are right over there," she pointed, "I need to get back to cleaning, but we can talk some more after you've rested if you like." Yes. They were going to have an interesting relationship, one full of friendship and rivalry, but it would be a fun time.

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[brete]

Shrugging at the chores comment Brete looked around the barracks while she replied, "I don't mind hard work, at the hold you have to do all jobs before you become a journeyman...I was just a few years away from getting my journeyman knot." she added the last part quietly and a bit sadly. She loved her music and was going to miss her chance to teach the next generation of children. Though maybe she could help teach the weyrlings here if she stayed, and besides, she could always continue composing. She had brought her guitar and drums. As long as she had her instruments and voice she could continue to learn all she wanted. She had to keep telling herself this.

"I will admit everyone has been very kind so far, and I like how easy going you all seem to be. Everyone introduced themselves with no pandering. Which I gotta say is a change from spoiled hold girls." here she laughed. "Then again I'll admit I might be a bit spoiled myself. Though I'll do my best not to be a pest."

Seeing the way Filonna looked when talking about how the others had impressed before her brought a sympathetic chord in Brete's chest. She knew how it felt to be passed over for something you really wanted. Hadn't she been ready for Journeyman status for over two years now? It was hard to see it happen and it must be even worse to be a candidate and wait to impress. "You have waited but I think that might be the world preparing you for something. I have a feeling you might have better luck this time. I hope we both have the luck and privilege honestly. To impress is even more amazing than being a harper, I can't believe I was even searched...mom always tells me I'm too stubborn for a dragon." grinning again she moved a bit farther into the room. Trying to give it a good look over. For Brete to admit that impressing would be better than harpering was a huge step, she was so obsessed with her harpering it was almost impossible to think of her wanting anything else.

"You know now that I've talked to someone in my position I don't think I could sleep if I wanted. I'm so curious now about the weyr. Would you like me to help you clean up quickly? All I ask in exchange is a bit of a tour from someone who knows the layout." here Brete smiled at Filonna winningly. She really did hope Filonna would let her help and take her about. It was so different from home she'd love to get a look about. Besides it would be miserable to get lost on her first day, so why not take steps to prevent such happenings?

[wyren]

Grinning, Filonna only waved to the Common Room. "After this room is the Candidate Master's living area, along with his Blue. Seeing as the Candidate Master is male, the chore of cleaning his living area goes to the male Cadidnates. There is a male who has pulled cleaning duty and must clean out the male sleeping area and the Candidate Master's sleeping area," she informed, turning and moving to her broom. As she picked up it, she turned back to Brete.

"I would be honored to show you around, but as far as helping, I believe there is one other broom in the alcove just behind you. We can both start at the edge of the Candidate Master's sleeping area and go forward, to the Lower Cavern entrance," she said, grinning, her face lighting up at the thought of having help in exchange for a friend.

As she went to the back to the Common Room, she waved to the area around her. "Well, you can pretty much guess the layout of the Candidate Barracks. Girls in front, Common Room, Candidate Master in the middle, boy in the back. There are two entrances to the Candidate Barracks. Girls side leads to the Lower Caverns, boys leads to the Weyr Bowl," she stated, beginning sweeping again.

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[brete]

Listening as Filonna talked Brete went and grabbed the other broom and began at the adjacent side of the room so they could sweep out together. It was no wonder to her that the boys and girls were separated by the Candidate Master. Who would want hormonal hopefuls that close to each other? It was like asking for trouble. Granted, from what she heard, there were girls that liked girls here openly and vice versa for the boys. So it was a bit hard to keep all hormonal trysts down, but at least it wasn't an all out love fest. When under so much emotional stress people tended to try and drown it out with, well, distractions. With eggs on the sand it was best if everyone concentrated on what was coming up more so than what they could have at present.

"I guess it's good that they separate us..it would be a bit distracting to have cute guys hanging about when I need to be more worried about what's up and coming." she said with a huge grin. Brete would be the first to admit that a handsome face was always welcome, even if she wasn't going to pursue it.

"The set up here is nice and simple but what about the rest of the Weyr? Holds can even be complicated for those who have lived there their whole lives. I have an unadulterated fear of getting lost and ending up some where I shouldn't be. When I was 11 turns I did just this...ended up in the Master Harpers private quarters and saw things I really shouldn't have." here a chill ran up her spin as well as a giggle. "I thought my mother would skin me alive."

Brete was a bit surprised to find herself talking so freely to the younger girl. Normally so reserved it must be that she was so on edge that she just let her mind out through her tongue. It probably helped that Filonna seemed so easy going. Brete felt like it was inevitable that she would end up being like this in the Weyr, all the others seemed to be fairly open themselves. Almost like everyone here was family. It would be weird to think of having such a large extended family when she had come from such a small one.

"Where does everyone tend to gather? I mean if you wanted to talk to people where would you normally go?"

[wyren]

Nodding as Brete spoke about having the male and female Candidates separated being a good thing, Filonna couldn't help but feel her face light up bright red. "I've been at this Weyr for three Turns. From what I've seen once you Impress, it gets a little easier to ignore all the cute guys. I knew one of the Weyrlings, Wy'ren of Black Shwarzth, before he Impressed. He's cute and all, but once he Impressed, all of his focus went to his Black, so I guess you could say the dragonets will keep you busy once you Impress. It's up to you to keep your head clear before that," she stated, pausing in her sweeping as she thought of Wy'ren.

However, she was knocked from her thoughts as Brete spoke of wondering around the Weyr. "It's not like that here. Everyone here pretty much knows you're a new Candidate and their real helpful. If you wonder somewhere where you shouldn't be, they'll point you in the right direction. Most you have to worry about here are the dragons getting a bit protective over their food," she mentioned, picking up her sweeping once more.

Hearing Brete ask about gatherings, Filonna had to think for a moment. "If you're wanting other Candidates, the Common Room is the best bet. Anything else, your best bet would be the Bowl . . . or the Lower Caverns. We all pass through the Caverns at least two or three times a day, depending on who you are," she stated.

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[brete]

Interest struck Brete, she was by no means a boy hunter or flirt but if this calm creature could blush over the mere thought of him he must be something to look at. Brete had to admit that there were a a few very attractive men around here. It was hard to be attracted to men you grew up around so this switch to weyr life might have some perks. It might be nice to have a cute face to dance with at a gather or to talk to at meals. Besides, boys were sometimes a bit more fun to talk to. Girls at the hold tended to be stuck up and hung up on rank and power. Filonna was the first girl she had talk to in a while that didn't immediately ask her her rank and family.

"Oh well I'm sure once they become adult dragons girls start to become interesting again. After all that is when dragons become interested in them as well. At least that is what I hear. Granted I doubt I'll have many interested in me. I've already basically had someone tell me I was a backwards hold girl." here smiled she a bit at the memory. People here were just going to have to get used to the fact athat she may be a holdbred girl but she was a quick study and wasn't the type to let others look down on her.

"As to where to meet people...I'll keep it in mind. I am about ready to get to know everyone. The quicker I meet people the sooner I stop feeling like an outcast. Though I will say you were a wonderful first person to meet. I don't feel so awkward around you. Which for me is saying something. I'm not usually a people person. I'm used to staying with my instruments and compositions." Here she laughed and gave the girl a bright grin. If Filonna was any indication of the weyr then it was going to be a very wonderful place indeed.

[wyren]

Hearing that Brete talking about the dragonets and after the Weyrlings become full fledged Riders, Filonna could only nod as she swept at the last bit of dust on the ground. Yet, hearing Brete stated that she didn't think anyone would be interested in her caused Filonna to stop sweeping and turn hard orbs on the slightly older girl. "Don't put yourself down like that," she said, her voice slightly rough, but otherwise still the same. "You are a beautiful young woman . . . Anyone would be flitter-brained to not want to be with you!" she suddenly stated, turning from the other Candidate and moving toward where she had shown Brete the brooms were.

Placing her broom in the alcove, she turned back to Brete. "Well, I have truly enjoyed meeting you," she grinned, the smile true and unmasking Filonna as a kind and caring, truthful person. "But you are right . . . You can't just go through Weyrlife not knowing others. Come on!! Let's go see if anyone is wondering around!" she grinned, motioning Brete to put the broom up and follow her out of the Candidate Barracks.

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[brete]

Filonna thought she was beautiful? That was unexpected, all the hold daughters told her how weird and freakish she looked. Granted she didn't think she was freakish per say but just different. Her mother said she was a throw back to their ancestors and that made her special. Brete preferred her mother's version of it. Her large almond eyes looked down as Filonna was saying this, not sure what to say in response. How does one compare ones self to someone so statuesque as Filonna, then again girls always thought the next girl was better looking right?

"Thank you for the compliment Filonna...I'm really not that insecure....force of habit from the hold. Holders tend to like the blue eyed beauties rather than the large slanty eyed ones." she grinned sheepishly. "Though this is a weyr...and we all will be fairly distracted for a year before we can think of the opposite sex...if I impress that is." Looking at Filonna seriously Brete tilted her head and smiled. "You know I bet you have a ton of admirers. You have that statuesque quality about you that guys would appreciate. I've always died to have hair like that..." she sighed as she put her broom away as well.

Brete guessed that was the end of the chore then, that was far easier than she thought it would be. She wondered where all the other candidates had pulled their duties. What would the other females be like? It was going to be hard to see them as anything other than competitors till she got to know them better. The older girl had a feeling that was an uncomfortable way to view the people who shared your living space. Filonna was nice though so maybe the others would be like her and she wouldn't have to worry about wanting to beat them to pulp for a dragon. "It was an honor meeting someone so sweet as well. However, I agree I need to get out there while I have the nerve and meet the others. So where to first oh great leader of the new candidates?" Again Brete used a sing song voice and a smile that could melt hearts, her long dark hair falling in a wave down the middle of her back as she practically bounced to the door and the people she would have to meet soon.

[wyren]

Shaking her head, Filonna slowly reached up and pulled at one of the many curls in her hair. "I've been at this Weyr so long that most have stopped looking at me. And that's how I like it. If I had come here of my own free will, not being Searched, then I might sing a different tune, but I came here to Stand at the clutch and possibly Impress a dragonet. I will not be distracted . . . at least until I have a pretty dragonet by my side, or I am no longer able to Stand," she stated, shrugging her shoulders and grinning.

As Brette mentioned her hair, she tugged at the strand again, releasing it and then pushing it over her shoulder. "I would trade with you in a heart beat," she stated, grinning again. It was funny finding someone with such lovely straight hair that wanted her hair. Yet, each had their own wants and it just went to show you that most wanted something they didn't have, at least that was the case with Filonna and Brette.

"Onward!" she suddenly shouted, almost running out of the Candidate Barracks. There wasn't really a point of destination, just heading somewhere where Brette could meet more people of the Weyr.

--Shall we just call this the end and allow Brette and Filonna to meet up somewhere else?--

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