Dwelling on the Future (Open)

[Alyx]

Curling in a chair, Cleissa seemed to have been reading. Truth be told, she hadn't read more then a handful of words in the book since she had opened it - her mind millions of miles from the common rooms of the Candidates Barracks. The book, some tale she had read a few dozen times, rested in her laps, forgotten as she worried on more pressing concerns. Head tilted back, her gaze would have been pinned on the ceiling above her if her eyes hadn't been closed.

The Egg Touching had gone about how it always did. Nothing to crow about - and she found herself wondering more and more if she should keep on trying. She hated that feeling - the standing on the sands, left behind when the little dragons and their new riders where lead off. Just to come back down here, to sit on her bed and wonder what she could have done different to have improved her chances.

Maybe... maybe, after this time, if it didn't happen... maybe she should just go home? How many times did they let you on the Sands to Stand before they decided that you weren't going to get paired? She didn't know... and she was seriously too afraid to ask.

(OOC: Thought it might be nice for her to meet some friends??)

[brete]

Raw meat, lots and lots of raw meat and it was every where. Salar had had to bathe for a good hour before he got it all out of his nails and clothes. He had pulled butcher duty for the day and it was one of his least favorite things to do, not that he was squeamish it was just that it got all over and made you smell like death, sweaty, dirt covered death. It was not a smell that made you want to eat let alone be around others. So he had bathed and was now making his way to the barracks, having to pass the commons on the way. He was a bit surprised to see a girl sitting there with a small book. It was a rare sight indeed to see anyone reading around here these days that didn't have to do so. It was actually a refreshing thing. It also spoke of the girl's personality, a bit reserved it seemed and smart, maybe a bit dreamy like Lellen. Thinking of Lellen put a rueful smile on his face, Lellen was the family flirt and would have taken this opportunity to approach a pretty girl and flatter her shamelessly. Walking over to a near by chair he sat down heavily towel drying his still wet hair. Smiling at her sleepily had took his hands off is towel and waved at her gently.

"I'm glad to see someone reads more than the required material. I'm not sure I know you just yet. I'm Salar, you might know my twin Lellen. What are you doing up here all by yourself at this hour? Most candidates are down in the dining cavern by now. Are you doing the solo thing? You know it's generally more fun with company. Trust a career loner." he grinned at her rakishly and resumed his towel drying. "What are you reading? I thought I had read pretty much all there was to read in the archives so far."

[Alyx]

Salar's arrival wasn't unnoticed but Cleissa wasn't expecting the stranger to really talk with her. Lifting her head with a smooth motions, the brown curls bouncing around her features as she looked up at him. Shifting around to face him better, her fingers caught the book and flipped it shut as she smiled softly. "Thought I'd catch a little time to myself, was trying to read but really failing at it. Thinking too much I think."

The boy was one she had seen at a glance she thought but she wasn't quite sure; she really did her best not to get too attached to the other Candidates encase she didn't move on with them to the Weyrling Barracks. Still tho... it was nice to have someone to talk to, and Salar wasn't bad looking at all. There were some fairly good looking boys in the group this year; it was at least nice that there were plenty of boys this time. At his question, she dropped her eyes to the book cover, then back up to Salar.

"I think its on Herbal Remedies. I'm not sure anymore actually- I just kinda grabbed it off the shelf for something to busy my mind. It really didn't work though, sadly." Settling the book on the chair's arm, she gave Salar a shrug and a little laugh. "I'm Cleissa; and I'm not trying to be a loner. Just not hungry and don't want to bring down the mood of others with my own personal what if, you know? Don't want to be the one raining on everyone else's good moods."

It was true tho. Since the Egg Touching, Cleissa had been in a darker mood - it happened every time. Every time you walk in the Sands, touch the Eggs... then nothing. You come back here and sit, wondering what you could do to get Impressed and ultimately, nothing would help. But thankfully, Salar's arrival shook her at least a little out of that mood. "What brings you into here? Cleaning up before you hit the Dining Hall?"

[brete]

Salar could relate to that easily. They were all thinking too much lately. He knew it was probably even more competitive with the women since there were so many of them this year. All the girls were probably on eggshells over who would impress what. Cleissa was such a calm person right now though that he was sure she was one of the few girls who hadn't gotten rowdy yet, well her and Zyika of course. Zyika was as gentle as a baby. He wondered if the two knew each other yet. They were both veterans of the sands and seemed similar in personality, he should get the two of them together, along with that holder girl Brete they were birds of a feather so to speak. Though he was a bit afraid the holder girl would over power them. She was nice the few times he'd talked to her but she was very self confident and motherly as well.

"Well being distracted is the joy of being a candidate, the good thing is is that it's almost over. I have a feeling it will be a full sweep this year. Everyone to an egg and every egg hatched to a mate. As to spreading her feelings...who cares. We are all in this together with the same feelings. It took me years to get searched, my brother still hasn't impressed, Zyika hasn't either...I mean we all have a funk right now, we might as well share it and help each other. So I've determined that it is now my duty to cheer you up and get your mind on positivity. My brother is usually the fun one but I can hold my own." he smiled at her rakishly and reached out to tweak her nose playfully. She was very cute after all and a little flirting might do her some good. Instill a little more confidence in her.

"As to my newly washed self, yes I came here for a change of clothes. I pulled butcher duty today...let me tell you I have no love of bloody death smell all over me when I'm trying to eat. You should have seen it I had blood in my ear even. I'm no squeamish guy but that is without a doubt the worst duty other than dung shoveling." he laughed again and smiled at her charmingly.

"Now what can we do to get my ladies mind off of meh and on to fun?" Running a hand through is wet hair he did a quick sweep of the room trying to find something to amuse her with.

[Alyx]

A clean sweep huh? Cleissa would like that - it would be good to have everyone paired up this year; it would mean also that she wouldn't be spending another cycle in these dorms. "I hope you are right, Salar. I'm really getting tired of being stuck as a Candidate." She tried to seem a little more upbeat, as if sensing the boy was trying to make her feel better.

At the thought of Butchering duties, Cleissa winced and wrinkled her nose up. Shivering, she gave a dry laugh. "Yuck. I hate drawing that duty. Normally I'm in the kitchen, helping with the baking. I was a baker's assistant before I got snatched up to hang out here." She didn't mind red meat, or the smell of it normally. But on that duty, it was chokingly thick and seemed to get into everything. She had only been on that duty once this cycle - she had managed to trade off with other Candidates to avoid it since. How long that would last would have to be seen.

With a bounce, Cleissa perched herself on the arm of the chair she had been sitting and tilted her head, looking at Salar. "I don't know really; there isn't alot they let us do other then classes, chores, and sleeping. I assume we should probably join the others and get something to eat, but like I said - I'm not exactly hungry.''

[brete]

"It is pretty gross to have butcher duty. The only advantage being that it helps build muscle...sadly I'm not that interested in that. I'd much rather do the baking...my mother is head Baker...I can make a bubbly pie quicker than most people can count to ten. I'm a kitchen brat born and raised. So that is why I want a clean sweep this year...I would prefer I didn't have to apprentice out you know. So to stay positive I just keep thinking about what my dragon will look like...as if it's already decided..then I think about Lellen impressing...and now I'm going to think of you impressing." he grinned at her and winked.

Salar could be quite the ham when he took a mind to it and at the moment he was hamming it up for the pretty girl. She had such nice eyes really. He wondered what it would be like to have a dragon that could chase her dragon, then shook his inner mind. What was wrong with him? He was not allowed to think of girls like that just yet. Focus on dragons was the most important thing right now. Ah but she was nice wasn't she. He truly hoped she would impress. Salar would hate to think of her left on the sands for another year. She didn't belong there she belonged on dragon back, wind in her hair, and free.

"Now that you mention it I'm not particularly hungry anymore myself. I guess all that raw meat takes away the appetite. Would you like to play a game or something while we wait for classes and the other candidates?" he asked slyly. He actually was a bit hungry but why pass up a chance to get to know her better. Besides it would be rude of him to leave her all by herself up her mopeing wouldn't it? Salar was nothing if not polite, when he wanted to be that was.

[Alyx]

He had tipped her interest, that was for sure. So far, she actually hadn't talked to alot of the boys in this group of Candidates - it had almost become a defensive thing to keep them at a little distance. Nothing worse then making friends and then having them all leave you when the Hatching was done cause they had Impressed and you hadn't. But Salar seemed determined enough to keep her focused on him - determined in someway to keep her from dropping into the darkness of depression.

"What kind of game did you have in mind?" She couldn't help it. He was cute, true. But there was something more she couldn't quite put her finger on when she spoke with him. Maybe it was cause they had something in common besides being here as Candidates? Kitchen upbringings instilled something in you other then fear of open flames and hatred of burned odors, dispite what people said. "You sure you don't want to help up and get something to eat? Maybe something to wipe the image of raw meat from your thoughts?"

[brete]

Salar counted it a personal triumph that she didn't turn him down flat. Other than Zyika most of the girls avoided him thus far. Salar had a feeling they prefered Lellen and his easy manners to Salar and his rough and go attitude. Cleissa however, was intelligent, which probably meant she wasn't easily intimidated...which is probably what saved his hide from being ignored. He wouldn't outright say it but he appreciated being given a chance. IT was hard to make friends here, everyone was so concentrated on hatching, or keeping their distance in case they impressed and you didn't that they didn't take the time to get to know one another. Sad really when you think about the fact that they all had to work together if they impressed.

"You know I don't know really. We could grab a strategy game from the candidate barracks. The boys have tons. Granted that is a lot of brain work. Hmm...we could go for a walk? That requires less thought and more talking...and seeing as you are one of the few who is willing to talk then I would love the chance to talk to you more. Get to know each other as you will." he gave her another rakish grin. She was a fellow kitchen brat, and as he told Zyika, they had to stick together. "As I say to all kitchen brats...We have to stick together...who else is going to save the kitchens from buring?" he laughed softly at this...save or doom....it really was the same.

"Maybe while we are at it we can avoide the dining cavern and pop in the kitchen and snag a snack. Dinner on the go?" it made it sound like he was asking her on a date of sorts. He wasn't about to clarify it though. Either way he would really enjoy her company. "You could start by telling me about your family?"

[Alyx]

"Thinking bad. Walking sounds better." Her reply was almost right on the heels of Salar's words ending as she hopped down off the arm of the chair. She would much rather be talking with someone then thinking about some game. Thinking lead to dwelling in her books, and wasn't that what they were trying to avoid?

She hadn't been hungry, really she hadn't. But the more Salar mentioned food, the more her tummy seemed to warm to the idea. The thought of stealing off dinner and wandering from the mundane aura of Candidates' dining hall seemed very much appealing now. Talking about her family didn't seem too interesting, but -

"Dinner on the go sounds good; if we go down the south tunnel, we might be able to actually sit outside if we want some fresh air." She gave him a wry smile. "But if you want information on me, Salar, you'll have to offer up details on yourself in exchange. Only fair, after all."

[brete]

"A girl after my own heart...I never enjoyed those games much anyway, what is the fun in taking a test for a game? I understand theya re supposed to teach us strategy...but really we have enough work to do right now. SO yes Thinking bad walking good!" he laughed as he stood up as well. Tossing his towel on the chair to pick up on his way back. Thank Faranth he had washed up before coming here, or he would have looked pretty rough going about the weyr. Roughing up his hair a bit he gave himself a once over, shrugged as if to say..'this will do' and then turned back to Cleissa.

"You sure you don't mind being seen with me? I'm a bit rough right now...well I guess I'm always a bit rough. Lellen is the nicely put together fellow in our family. Food on the go....mmm I bet my mother has roasted fish right now. She makes it so well, something with the seasoning I can never seem to get the same as hers. I'd also love a bit of fresh air. I think I might still smell of death. I really think that job is a mean way of getting candidates to behave." he shuddered again.


Hmm so she wanted to know about him huh? What was there to tell really? He was Salar, a twin, father was a dragon rider, mother a cook, and twin was a day dreamy good guy. "Well whatever you'd like to know in exchange for knowledge of you is perfectly alright to me. My family is easy. My father is a pushy, arrogant, dragonrider....mother is a loving, sweet, baker....Lellen....well Lellen is Lellen which is to say he's my twin but we are complete opposites...he is daydreamer I am an over achiever. I love him though and it seems so does most everyone else...I tend to be the twin people notice second...even if I'm louder and more obnoxious." he grinned at her.

"What about you oh great mysterious one?" he winked at her as he leaned down to tie up his sandles. He wouldn't want to trip in front of the pretty lady now would he?

[Alyx]

Glad that Salar was more then willing to talk the walk over the games, Cleissa watched him finish drying his hair. It wasn't that she didn't like the games.... she sucked at them, big time. She wasn't good at strategy period; she would never be a Wing Leader, that was for sure! And last thing she really wanted to do was embarrass herself in front of Salar after just meeting him.

His words made her want to frown a little tho. Why did he keep putting himself down? Cleissa was pretty sure she had met Lellen at least a time or two, since Salar had said they were in both Candidates, but she didn't see anything that would make him anything less then his brother. "I don't mind being seen with you, but I think you are selling yourself short though. Don't be so negative. And some roasted fish and fresh are sounds great to me - the company will make it better."

Cleissa was actually a little surprised how quickly she was warming up to this guy. She normally kept everyone at arms length; It made it less painful if she failed to Impress again. Mostly for her, but them too - you don't think or worry about someone you don't know, and she didn't feel the gaping hole in her heart when her friends moved on to Weyrling Lessons without her. Shards... she thought she was better then to let others in right away.

She left off cursing herself tho, listening to Salar talk. A Dragonrider father? That meant he was Weyrborn, right? How was it she hadn't met him before? Then again, it was probably best she hadn't - with her seemingly instant like and common background with Salar, if they had known each other longer - She killed the thought, responding to his question as Salar dent to tie his sandals.

"Oh great mysterious one? Now you are just flattering me Salar. No, I'm nothing great or mysterious; pretty normal actually. My family is from High Reaches Hold. My father is a herdsman and my Mother is the midwife; last time I checked I had two brothers and three sisters, but-" Cleissa gave a low laugh and bounced her shoulders in a shrug, " knowing my parents, they could have added to that without me knowing since I've been here."