Pies are for wondering

[brete]

There were advantages to having a mother who worked in the kitchens. Whenever Salar got hungry he knew he could sneak down for a snack and him little mother would gladly give it to him. He loved his mother more than anyone else in the world so far and that was saying a lot for Salar was a loyal soul even if a bit aggressive. Walking up to the kitchens he put on his best feed me face and looked for his mom. At the moment she was making bubbly pies, a favorite among children, and as it happened one of Salar's favorites as well. Seeing a new stack of freshly cooling ones he thought it might be worth a smack to steal one then and there. Deciding to take the plunge he quickly grabbed one, dodged a well aimed smack, and ran out of the kitchens tossing the pie from hand to hand so as not to burn himself. Salar knew he was too old for such behavior but it was fun, and all the kitchen ladies knew him for what he was.

Laughing he sat on the step just outside the kitchen giving the ladies his best rouge smile and waving in appreciation of their delicious pie. They really were all fairly nice and accepting of his silly antics. After he was searched they all started to baby him a bit more. They knew he was the champion of their sector of the Weyr. He was a child of one of their own and someone who wasn't ashamed to be seen with them or to do a little work here and there. His mother was doubly proud since both of her boys were now candidates, it was like the family was made for impressing dragons in her eyes.

"I wonder what will happen if we both fail to impress?" he said to himself, not caring who heard but not really saying it to anyone in particular. Salar knew that if he and his brother did not impress his father would be very disappointed, after all he was a rider himself why shouldn't his boys be as well? Salar had lived with that weight on him since he became a searchable age. When he wasn't searched for years he knew his father resented it. It was like a slap to his father's pride, or at least that is how Salar thought his father viewed it. Salar's own pride smarted from the time it had taken to be searched. Why was it that things never seemed to go your way?

"Oh well I'll just prove them all wrong and go out there and see." he mumbled through pastry shell.

[kyra]

Zyika was helping with pies. She felt like she would rather be studying on all the different colored dragons again. Sure she has stood as a candidate for the last five years and have yet to impress one single dragon. 'I would be happy with even a little green' She thought sadly with a shake of her head. "Zyika, watch what you are doing!" Her mothers voice woke her from her thoughts. Zyika gasped when she noticed she had burned the pies. Her mother was frowning, "Why don't you just take a break, its obvious you are not here today."

"I'm sorry mom..." She muttered slightly before grabbing a carrot and walking off. She sat in the corner of the kitchen on a stool just watching the others cook. Her mind wandered again to all the what ifs in her mind. She hoped she would impress this time. It was starting to get disappointing each turn she does not impress. Her mother told her that after this year she should stop trying, after all it was taking a tole on her as she watched each new dragon rider walk off with their new companion. Taking a bite out of the carrot she began to wonder what it would be like to ride a gorgeous queen dragon and how much attention would they need.

She was lost in her thoughts until she heard footsteps coming. Her eyes turned to the boy who walked in. She couldn't remember her name, which was sad considering their mothers worked together. Taking a bite out of the carrot in her hand she shook her head once more as she watched him running out of the kitchen with a pie in his hands. Laughing slightly she looked at the ladies then looked back at the boy. "I'm impressed he didn't take the burnt one." She said as she walked out of the kitchen to meet him.

"You do realize that pie wasn't made for just you right?" She asked with a smirk on her face. Leaning against the wall she tilted her head. "You stood with me the last couple of turns correct?" She asked still searching for his name. Slightly feeling bad that she could not remember it, but at the same time it didn't really bother her too much. She could easily ask her mother his name if she really wanted to know.

[brete]

Grinning up rakishly at the girl he shook his head, she had gotten him confused with Lellen, which happened a lot these days. His only comfort at being late to search was that his brother had yet to beat him to an impression. He knew the girl as Zyika, there mother's worked together and he could remember thinking she was a nice girl, though they hadn't really talked much. Salar was a fly by the seat of his pants guy so it was hard for him to think much about females just yet.

"I think you have me confused with my twin Lellen, I have only just recently been searched. Though I know you Zyika...I've seen you around...after all are mothers make lovely bubbly pies. And yes I know they were not made strictly for me...but you see I'm an incouragable man and had a childish spark and decided to just snatch one. However I'm willing to make a batch as compensation for my ill deeds." he again smiled at her and put his now empty hands out in a placating motion.

"You know you shouldn't get so down about not impressing yet...at least you were searched young...I'm such a late comer you know. Besides usually the more mature a woman is the more frequently she impresses high I've noticed." he added rather sweetly for him, after seeing the bit of distraction she was in in the kitchen.

He knew how it felt to be so left out watching those around you get their chance and you left behind. He felt a bit of a connection with her due to this and the fact that she was not above working in the kitchens. He respected anyone who would pick up and help at the lower level jobs. Most candidates stuck to their barracks and each other, thinking themselves better now that they were no longer common weyr folk. Which was of course silly, until they impressed and even after they were the same as everyone. At least this is how Salar viewed it. What was the point of having such a privaledge if you were just going to abuse it?

[kyra]

She laughed slightly of course, when she figured she might know the person from standing he was really the twin to the one that had been. Shaking her head she smiled, "Sorry I guess I'm not good at telling the difference between twins." She raised an eyebrow slightly impressed that he could remember her name. 'Hmmm Lellen is his twin so that must make him...' "Salar correct?" She asked remembering some talk of the kitchen mothers. Yes, it must be Salar because he said he would whip up a batch of the pies for just taking one.

Her eyes wandered back into the kitchen, "Perhaps so, but I have decided if I do not impress this turn I will just go and continue to work in the kitchens." Her eyes wandered back to him and she shook her head slightly. She couldn't help but let the sadness show in her eyes. She had heard from all the others that have impressed is that they have found what was missing in them. She has hoped that by impressing that maybe she could fill the hole in her heart as well. "I do not think I can watch everyone else impress and not me anymore." She sighed. Really she hadn't told anyone that besides her mother, but for some reason she had to say it out loud once more as if to see if those words were still true to her.

Even if the more mature a girl is the likelier chance of them impressing a queen, Zyika couldn't do it anymore. It was just too depressing for her to even stand there anymore. She frowned slightly at the thoughts but then quickly smiled, "Well you can help me make more. I know they are already behind because I burned a few from not paying attention." She said with a laugh.

Turning around she looked back at him, "Come on, might as well catch them all up."

[brete]

It was sad to know that a mother was discouraging her child from staying in the candidates seat till the very end. Didn't they know that sometimes at the very last year is when someone impresses. The dragon was just not born yet, you had to wait for the dragon to find you. He got that urge he gets sometimes when someone struck a nerve of common hardship. Looking at the girl he smiled oddly gently for him and said nothing as he followed her into the kitchen. In fact, he let a few minutes pass as he kneaded the dough and did other small parts. Finally he looked up at her and sighed.

"You know it seems to me that if you were searched then there is a good reason for it. So what if it takes you till your 25 turns, it is something worth waiting for isn't it? I don't think you should let anyone, even your mom disuade you from that. I mean look at me....I was searched years after my brother, but I'm still willing to get up there and try my luck till they pull me from the sands. Don't you feel like a piece of you is missing? Like it's waiting out there on the sand for you? I think you do or you wouldn't be so discouraged. It would be sad indeed if a dragon never met her rider because her rider gave up." he said this all quietly in his soft scratchy voice. None of it was said harshly but with enough feeling to let her know he meant it.

Looking around the cavern he made sure no one was watching before he reached over and patted her gently on the shoulder. It would start rumors for her if anyone saw Salar paying too much attention to her, he was sort of known as a flirt. "Thicken that hide and wait it out Zyika, the game isn't over till the last shell cracks." With that said he deftly cut the dough into five shells for the bubbly pies and filled them, closed them, braided the edges and smiled at her rakishly again as if to say, "See I can do it to."

[kyra]

Zyika watched him, not really wanting to burn anything again right now. She tilted her head impressed that he really did know how to make them, but all of the children of kitchen people most likely knew. She frowned slightly at what he said. Holding back the tears in her eyes. Yes of course she felt like she was missing something but at the same time she was afraid she always would. "If I do not stand after this turn, I will still stand watching." Her eyes watered slightly which made her look away from them. She hated crying, especially in front of people.

"You're a good cook." She said softly her voice shaked a little. Walking just only out of the kitchen to be out of sight of the other Kitchen Mothers as she liked to call them. A tear fell from her cheek, what was she to do. She was torn. She wanted to listen to her mother to avoid any chance of hurting again at not impressing, but at the same time she wanted to stand with all the others in hopes to impress for sure.

Leaning against the wall that separated the kitchen from seeing her she shook her head and whipped the tears on her face. Taking a deep breath she slowly pulled herself together. Even if she would always feel this whole in her heart she wasn't sure if she could stand again after this turn. Maybe it was the right thing to stop standing, but at the same time perhaps Salar was right as well. She frowned once more thinking.

[brete]

Oh man now he'd done it, how could what he said make a girl tear up? Jeez he thought he was doing the right thing and instead he was making girls cry. His mother was going to take his hide off if she found out. That was a cardinal rule when you were your mother's favorite, you are nice to women. Sighing heavily he finished both sets of pies and put them in to bake, signalling his mother to watch them. Walking out the way the girl had gone he couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed with himself. When was he going to learn that not everyone reacted to things like he thought they would? It was like he just acted and did anything with out worrying over the feelings of others. Which wasn't his intention really.

Rounding the corner he almost ran right over the girl. Stopping and backing away a bit he looked a bit awkward as to what to say. He was afraid if he said much of anything she'd burst into tears and then he'd be even worse off for trying to make her feel better. Girls in general were so hard to understand sometimes. It was like they were a completely different kind of egg. Shards he was going to regret this no doubt but by the first egg he couldn't just let her cry.

"I'm sorry if what I said hurt you or upset you. I just didn't want a fellow kitchent brat to give up. We have just as much right as anyone to impress and I was hoping you'd stick it out just to prove everyone wrong." he said this as softly and kindly as he could. He was scared to speak to loudly for fear she would bolt like a frightened tunnel snake. "Now what do you say we go finish helping out and forget this whole mess? After all you are standing for this hatching and this whole conversation may be moot. I think you will impress you just need to think it to!" he smiled and patted her shoulder again.

"Besides if my mother thinks I upset you it's my hide you'll have to be sorry for as it drys by the hearth fire." he grinned his most rakish and charming grin in an attempt to make her smile.

[kyra]

“No its fine. Just torn is all.” She laughed slightly trying to show she was fine. She saw that he felt bad which made her feel bad as well. She didn’t mean to start crying, she rarely ever cried. She couldn’t help but laugh as he spoke of his mother. Shaking her head slightly she smiled, “No worries. Let’s hope you didn’t burn your pies.” She pulled her hair out of the up do that it was in to fix it. She had been cooking most of the day and knew that it was a huge mess anyways.

Smoothing her hair she put it back neatly in an up do, “I think they are almost finished with making pies, I’ve forgotten how many they had planned to make.” She sighed and shook her head, “After burning a few I’m not sure how far behind they are.” Nodding to him, “And you did eat one full one.” She teased slightly.

She didn’t mind his company at all very much, he seemed like an alright person to be friends with. She didn’t have many friends, but that didn’t bother her much really. She sighed and wondering when the egg touching was going to be. Most likely soon was her guess. “Come on we better get these pies done so I can go have some fun.”

[brete]

"All you need to think about is what you truly want for yourself and then go for it. At least that is what my mother is always telling everyone. She doesn't believe in giving up on things. It was drilled into her from young weyrbrat age that she wouldn't be anything and she refused to believe it. So I was raised to think like her and I'm glad of it. You just make up your mind and run full force at it." He said grinning like a child. It was nice to see a little life come back into her face. At the mention of burning pies he shook his head. "I have mother watching them. I'm to make you go and do something nonproductive.

Again smiling like a boy he gently nudged her shoulder to get her going. "Don't worry about pies, I could eat five and we'd still have extra. Mother likes to give extra to the children who help out in the kitchen clean up. Now if you could go have fun what would you like to do most?" he asked raising an eyebrow evily. He knew he was a ham but as long as it worked he was okay with that. After all the girl looked like she could use some fun of any sort at the moment. It was never good to stay locked up in the lower caverns working your butt off all the time.

[kyra]

Nonproductive…she didn’t even know the meaning. Well she did, but she rarely did anything fun. Her version of fun was sleeping or man she wasn’t sure. “Uhh….uhmmm I’m not sure.” She laughed. She was trying her best to think of something fun, but nothing could come to mind. With a slight frown of thinking too much she sighed, “Okay, how about you pick?” She asked thinking that would be easier then her trying to decide on what to do.

“Just no where too public, I look horrible.” She laughed as she looked down at herself. It looked as if she had been baking all day, she had no doubt about it. She was usually in the kitchens or sleeping in her bed. Occasionally she could explore, but she hadn’t done that in a while. Scratching her head she shrugged her shoulders, “I can’t think of anything.” She laughed.

[brete]

Laughing at her nervousness he wondered if she thought he was asking her on a date of sorts. He really wasn't, with the egg touching getting ready to happen he had no time for those sorts of thoughts, but he was trying to make a friend. Zyika looked like the kind of girl Salar would be interested in someday but she also looked like someone he could be good friends with without the worry of judgment from her for his ambitions. She was that wholesome kind of girl you only found in a place like the kitchens, she knew what work was and wasn't afraid to get dirty. That was a highly sought after trait for Salar. "You know we could go swimming, before it gets too cold. There shouldn't be many people there other than a few dragons, which in itself is good right? Besides you look like you haven't seen outside in a while." here he grinned. "Also it has the added effect of washing off kitchen stuff and helping you look fresh."

"Though I have to be honest I think you look fine. A little flower dusting makes a girl look homey and approachable. I'd have thought you were cute if I saw you out." not thinking what that could imply he just spit it out there. He liked to compliment people when he thought they deserved it. "Anyway you are way better than a spoiled girl who doesn't even know how to knead dough."

He nodded his head matter of factly and walked over to the corner and waved at his mom. "We are going for a swim mom we'll be back later to help eat those pies." ducking quickly as a spoon came flying at him in good humor. "Now I think we should go before she asks me to take out the scraps or some other such "man" job as she calls it."

[kyra]

Swimming?? That sounded fun enough, besides it would give her the chance to look at some other dragons. She laughed slightly, “Well why not. It does sound fun, but if I start to drown you better come save me.” She shook her head and smiled. It was a small smile but it was still a smile. She knew how to swim of course, but she wasn’t Pern’s greatest swimmer. She would mostly just float instead of really swim. To be clean sounded very nice. Give her a chance to perhaps get a few tangles out of her hair. Her eyes flickered back to him when he said that he would have thought her cute. She hid the confusion in her face and didn’t dwell on what he said. The egg touching was so close, which also meant that the eggs would hatch soon as well. So it was getting closer to the time everyone should impress, she didn’t really have the time to dwell on what the boy meant.


She looked down at herself again and knew that she really hadn’t been outside in a while. Mostly was just doing her duties and sleeping. She hadn’t been told to go to the candidate lessons, since she had been through those so many times that she herself could probably teach them which meant yes, she was always inside just about. The sound of the spoon dropping on the floor made her look over and laugh, “You just love having things thrown at you.” She shook her head and just smiled slightly. “Alright, let’s go.”

[brete]

"It seems I have an affintity for thrown objects it's true, as for liking it...not so much. If you had ever had a pot thrown at you you'd understand my great ducking ability. Maybe that will help me someday but for now it saves my skull from my mother's great throwing arm." he grinned broadly as he pushed her toward the stairs. He knew they would have to grab a change of clothes and all before they headed out so he would have to get her to the candidates barracks. He knew he had a good pair of cut off pants that he could wear into the water. It would do him no good to get his regular clothes wet, it would be no fun to walk around damp in his work clothes for the rest of the day. Since they were required to be in work clothes till chores were done he knew it best.

"Now my lady off to the barracks to get changed then straight to the lake to play and maybe see a lovely dragon or two. You do know how to swim right? I don't mean to be rude but if I have to save you from the water I will expect a kiss on the cheek in recompense." he said rougishly to try and make her blush and giggle. He loved to make girls nervous in a good way. It was a perfect option for getting their minds off their problems and on to girly type areas where they could feel pretty and happy. It was never fun to be stuck in the same rut, he would know, so he was bound and determined to help his fellow canddiate find a happy place.

ooc: if you would like we can open another at the lake...maybe invite our brothers...and I could send Brete along to give you a new female friend.