Freedom

[M'kel]

The sun was already well above the rim, though it was not yet midday, by the time M'kel deigned to slip from his weyr. Tirenth rumbled, also quite pleased by the restful night they'd taken, and drifted to the Feeding Ground to hunt. The two had the day off, as most did on this free day: a treat in celebration of the work that had been accomplished in the time since the dragons had come forward. At supper the previous night, the bronze rider had heard murmured discussion on seeking 'old' favourite coves for a day in the sun, and this idea suited the rider just fine. There was one cove, that many dragonriders had frequented in the past, that he would particularly like to visit again.

First, though, he would follow Tirenth's example and find something to eat. It was true: the jungle was plentiful with red fruit and other delights at this time of year, but M'kel had something else in mind as he made his way down the stone steps to the Bowl, then crossed to the Lower Caverns. He was hoping to find some companion for this venture.

The Weyr was just brimming with new Candidates, and there was many a rider he wouldn't mind catching up with either. With so many new faces around, and M'kel determined to win the Weyr's favour for his eventual ascension to Weyrleadership, the lad was determined to impress some unlikely young person by offering them an escape from their chores, not to mention a ride on a bronze dragon.

M'kel strolled into the dining cave, then crossed into the kitchens to glance around among the workers. He scooped a few meatrolls lying on the counter, then casually made his way into the Dining Caverns to search the faces.

[M'kel]

OOC:

Note: This has been updated so anyone can reply to it.

[Journye]

L'kas stretched and yawned, wincing a bit as his jaw popped with the wide gesture. He leaned his chair back on its back two legs as he looked around the Dining Cavern, nodding and smiling to any glancing his direction. He took a leisurely sip of his klah, truly enjoying this free day.

Seath was sunning himself on a wide ledge, every once and a while a contented rumble echoing up from his chest as the warm rays soaked into his bronze hide.

L'kas shifted so that all four legs of his chair were once again resting on the floor and looked around again, shards he was bored. His brown firelizard chirped softly from his perch on the edge of the table beside his human. L'kas absently scritched the brown's eyeridge, perking up a bit as he spotted a fellow bronze rider walk in. He waved and called out with a grin "Hallo,"

[M'kel]

The scraping of a chair as it settled against the stone drew M'kel's attention. Upon viewing the user, the young rider wished he could turn away again, but L'kas called out a greeting before he could. Smiling easily, though his eyes narrowed slightly, M'kel changed his course. He made his way to stand by L'kas, cordial as always.

Although they could have been friends in a different world, here on Pern, in a Weyr, both bonded to bronzes, they were competitors. It was difficult for M'kel to view his fellow bronzeriders as anything but threats, because he never felt nearly as confident as he appeared. The young rider was well aware that Sitareh had enticed all of the bronzeriders with the same promises. Though he wished to believe she had been speaking truthfully with him, it was impossible to know. Until the Flight, he could feel nothing but suspicion towards his fellows.

"L'kas," he drawled, pausing to lean against a table. "How are you planning to spend your 'day off'?" His eyes flicked down subtly, emphasizing his position over the other rider.

[Journye]

L'kas leaned back casually in his chair, not at all affected by the fact that the slightly younger rider was standing over him "Well I was thinking of seeing if Sitareh needed any help with anything. You and I both know that he has a list of things a mile long and would love any help she could get," he said with a grin, not trying to hide the fact that he clearly meant to go flirt with the Weyrwoman.

"What about you M'kel? Anything adventurious planned for you?" he asked casually, hooking an arm across the back of his chair as he looked his fellow bronze rider over. He knew the man say him and the other bronze riders as rivals, well he felt the same and so things would be till the queen was flown. His brown flit sensed the tension and gave soft chirp as he back up to the middle of the table.

[M'kel]

The bronzerider noted his fellow's disdain for M'kel's attempts at superiority. So L'kas, too, was confident of himself. That the other rider was planning to spend his day trailing Sitareh didn't surprise M'kel, for the other bronzeriders desperately needed to make some impression on her. M'kel, however, was feeling rather secure thus far, and didn't want to interrupt the Weyrwoman on her free day. She had enough to contend with without bronzeriders fighting over her attentions on her one break since jumping forward.

"I've always got an adventure up my sleeve," M'kel replied. He then glanced about the full Dining Caverns, taking in the candidate tables. Everyone had been working extremely hard in the past weeks, and he was confident that others were also seeking a short escape. "Does anyone want to escape to a cove today?" he called.

((OOC: Anyone need a dragonride to a nice beach?))

[Journye]

L'kas smiled and nodded as his fellow bronze rider called out to the candidates, reassuring his brown firelizard by gently scritching his eye ridges. He stood and stretched slowly "Have a safe trip M'kel." he said cordially before heading out of the dining cavern in search of the Weyrwoman.

~Seath could you try to bespeak Aviciath to see where she and Sitareh are?~ He asked his bronze and chuckled at the sleepy reply he received. He leaned against the doorway leading outside as he waited for an answer.

[Shikai]

A faint smile crossed Myra’s face as she gave a grand, final sweep of her broom, sending the dirt and dust of the Dining Cavern’s floor out of the way, where a fellow candidate would remove it in a moment. Ah, chore finished! However, Myr’s relief was but momentary, because she then realized that she had nothing with which to occupy herself.

Since her arrival, Myr had been immersing herself in the chores she was assigned, as a candidate. If she was working, no one would question her, and she wouldn’t have to sit around with nothing to do. She felt more awkward than ever at those times, for she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something she needed to be doing, anything! She was in a weyr, the place of her dreams! She couldn’t just sit around when they had done something so amazing for her: given her a chance to accomplish her lifelong wish! So slowly, unhappily, she placed the broom back where it belonged, and stood for a few moments, her back to the wall in an attempt at being inconspicuous, very difficult given her height, and tried to think of something she could do.

However, a bronzerider strode into the room, and began to converse with a fellow bronzerider. She couldn’t just leave now; it would cause them to wonder why she had been but standing there in the first place! But neither could she stay, or they might think her an eavesdropper! Uncertain of what to do, she remained frozen to the wall, like a frightened animal. She would take anything to rid her of her uselessness.

"Does anyone want to escape to a cove today?"

Well, that would do! It was probably nice at the cove, she thought, and plus, if she was with a bronzerider, she wouldn’t be questioned. Besides, she had completed her chores for the day anyway. Being a very hard worker, Myr was always very efficient about getting her work done, and quickly. Too quickly, unfortunately, she found.

Rather nervously, Myra stepped away from the wall, toward the bronzerider.

“I…I would like to go.”

Myra stated, trying to sound confident. While she had a shaky start, she was able to calm herself.

[etoile]

Elkie stretched, restless. She had found some rope, but hadn't found a bar or a room yet... And all these chores she had to do did not leave her enough time to go look! She scowled as she poked her food. She had already eaten her fill, yet there was still more food on her plate. As she considered thinking of an excuse to herself to not eat it, she lifted her dark head up at the sound of a trip to the cove. She grinned. She had found her escape.

"I would!" Elkie announced, standing confidently. After the all the chores, she thought without any guilt, she deserved a chance to try and do what she loved doing. Maybe there were some good trees at the cove with long, sturdy branches to make a nice bar, she thought with relief. Or she could just swim around... swimming was always fun.

Or she could even ask this bronzerider if he knew any good rooms to practice... or maybe she could see if his bronze would be willing to be an experiment for testing out dragon dancing, she thought wildly. She grinned at the man, and the other girl who wanted to go.

[Journye]

L'kas shook his head and turned to head back into the Dining Cavern, hearing the two girls say they wanted a ride with M'kel. A bronze could easily carry three riders, and well since the Weyrwoman really deserved a free day more then anyone he spoke up "Seath and I can also offer a ride," he called out as he steadied his brown firelizard on his shoulder.

He glanced at M'kel and shrugged, smiling at the other bronze rider "I know you wouldn't want to make more then one trip and well a trip to a nice beach sounds restful," he said in way of explanation and in his own way asking the other bronze rider's permission.