Possibilities (Search)

[shouriko]

Everything just seemed to happen so quickly. There was no need for him to help T'ran with the lift when there were those who needed it for that purpose alone. T'ran seemed quite pleased with that and so Fakir just took off his gloves and returned them to his back pocket. Ahiru had by now returned to him having been chased by a few of the new firelizards and found herself missing her master. The green clung to his shoulder and had partially wrapped her tail about his arm.

He had the bag of buckles now and was looking at T'ran as he began to speak of food and luck. Fakir hadn't expected him to have such a warm personality under the hard muscles and aged scars. It gave him a new perspective to look at the man with. Granted as much as he wanted to drop the buckles off in the storeroom, he didn't quite know where that was and he continued to follow T'ran. Surely he would give him directions that he would be pleased to follow.

Finally Fakir decided he needed to know, "Where?" He asked, suddenly stopping and standing where he was. "Where is the storeroom?"

[stolenhart]

He had taken a few steps before realizing that Fakir was no longer following. He turned around just in time to hear the boy's question. "Shards my mind was going in a million directions and I forgot about the buckles", not that it was important but first things needed to go first afterall. "This way, it's not that far now", T'ran replied, stepping up a wide ramp. A few more lengths along and he ducked into a side tunnel. The tunnel ended quite abruptly in a dead end with only two hide doors, one on each side, it's only holdings. "The one on the right here is for riders", T'ran explained, pulling the hide door back. Inside were hung layers and layers of treated wher-hide, dozens in every shape and size. Along one wall were pre-cut lengths of riding straps, needing only to be put together as warranted. On another wall were stacks of sealed wooden buckets, the smell of oil from them was strong. And near the back were linen containers of fleece and lining for jackets and straps. "Just set them in that box there with the other buckles", the box was only half-full indicating it needed more buckles.

"This one on the left", T'ran stepped into it, "Is a basic storeroom for cloth", he explained, walking down the cleared path. On both sides bolts of linen and cotton in whites, blacks and greys could be seen clearly. Balls of yarn and thread were sorted according to color. In one corner tables and lamps were set up along with rocking chairs for those who wished to sew, weave or crochet in private. "The seamstress work in here for the most part, but this is just the basic cloth for bandages and such. Though the yarn and thread is not so basic", there was a young girl working at the loom but that was the only person there.

He stepped through a second doorway into a much longer tunnel. "That's a little short-cut I learned. Otherwise you have to go out and all the way around, too long when you are already late", T'ran winked at Fakir as he continued down the tunnel. Finally he turned into a large opening without a hide. Sunlight was coming from the back of the cavern through natural arches. Tables and chairs were scattered everywhere and the scent of cooking was stronger than the smell of salt off the ocean. "Fresh rolls", T'ran's face quirked in a smile as he headed for the large table where bread, meat, cheese and fruit were piled for midday meals. "Come on Fakir, eat something".

[shouriko]

Fakir was rather relieved that T'ran had both heard and noticed that he had stopped. It seemed almost like the man was in such a good mood that he had become a scatterbrain. It reminded him of one of his elder half-sisters. He followed T'ran and made a mental memory check of the tunnels. He was good at remembering things and this should be good to know for the future in case he needed anything which was quite likely.

The smell of leather and oil was so very strong. It was not metallic, but he could recognize the work of his father in every buckle that was there. He deposited the cloth covered buckles in the bucket and it was a little more than full. Clearly his father was valued for his work, but why were the Weyr Smiths not good enough? Was there some reason for it?

"Right." Fakir replied to the introductions of the storerooms and the presentation of the quick short cut. It was a good thing to know short-cuts, otherwise it would take him much longer to find them himself.

The room they came to was large, it was bright, and it smelled amazingly delicious. He didn't realize that he was hungry until reaching that room. Fakir had slowed as he looked around, taking in every sight, every person who was already there, how the room was set up. He jogged a little in order to catch up and he followed suite tentatively. Fakir was new and though this would be his home, he did not yet know the rules of the Weyr. He took up a plate and looked over the many options. This was not home in the slightest.

[stolenhart]

T'ran made himself a plate of roasted and sliced wherrie meat, strong cheddar cheese, fresh bread and some sort of fried tuber before finding a seat to sit down at. A drudge brought around two glasses and poured some juice for the Weyrleader and waited to see what Fakir would want to drink. "I was hoping the dining hall would be a little fuller today with another candidate or two so they could get you settled but I don't see anyone", T'ran muttered as he made himself a quick sandwhich. "Heleshi would you see if the Headwoman is in the kitchen or storerooms when you go back?", he asked the drudge. "Yes sir", she replied softly, trying very hard not to look at Fakir though that was impossible.

"If she's not around I guess you can stick with me while I bathe Knymawth. I don't have the time to show you the Weyr or go hunt her up either. Unless you know someone here by chance?", T'ran lifted his eyebrow. He could have shown Fakir the Weyr but between giving the bronze a quick scrub and visiting Gimna he'd rather not have someone tagging along. He was doing his best to keep the Weyrwoman's conditiona secret, and it hadn't made a full scale scandal yet, but it would.

[shouriko]

F'kir took longer than T'ran to fill his plate. He was very thoughtful about what he was going to eat and he made sure that he had equal portions. Enough cheese to eat on his bread. Enough tuber to match the wherrie meat so that he did not shame his mother's lessons on proper eating. Once he had accomplished that he turned to find that T'ran had already found a seat and a man with two glasses and a pitcher were approaching. Quickly he joined the bronzerider and accepted a glass of fruit juice. Now he truly had a perfectly rounded out meal.

He began to eat slowly, but kept glancing at T'ran and about the room. He was right about there being much fewer people in the room. Fakir could see that there were no tables full and even then the amount of unoccupied tables were great.

Fakir looked directly at T'ran when questioned and he shook his head, "No." Even the closest relative he had to the Weyr was not near enough and not likely familiar with the Weyr. He was entirely alone and separated from his family for the first time in his life. It was a strange relief.

[stolenhart]

"Hmmm", T'ran said as he started eating, his face blank as he thought through something. Then out of the corner of his eye, "There you are Headwoman", apparently Heleshi had found her and rather quickly too. "Yes Weyrleader?", she asked, crossing the empty cavern. "This is Fakir, a new candidate", he introduced the young lad, "You will be so kind as to get him settled with the other candidates? Have one of them show him around?", T'ran asked, wiping his mouth with a linen napkin.

"It's not a problem. A few of them were coming to help in the kitchen in an hour or so. He can get started on the work for them, then they can show him around after dinner", she assured the Weyrleader. "Sounds like a plan, thank you", he turned back to Fakir and his meal. "So after you eat, just step around the table there and she'll set you to some chores. Probably scrubbing pots and after that the other boys will show you around. Don't let them bully you but please don't get in any fights. The headwoman's husband is huge and as an arm like a rock", T'ran had never been on the punishment end of the Headwoman but he had done some friendly boxing with the man. Even thinking about it made his jaw hurt.

He stood up, "If you don't have anything else, I'll be going. Welcome to Southern Weyr Fakir".

[shouriko]

Fakir still had half a plate left, but he understood that he was truly his own responsibility here at the Weyr. That was simple enough, he could take care of himself. He looked to the Headwoman and looked her up and down. She sort of reminded him of his mother, only she looked like crossing her path was as bad as crossing his father. He would do as he was told for the most part. Aside from chores and waiting for the hatching he would not have much else to do.

"Right." Fakir gave a nod to T'ran. "Goodbye."

This left him to his food. He was effectively a Weyrfolk now. Nothing terrible about that. He would no longer smell molten metal everywhere, he would have more privacy and fewer people who knew of him. In that small way he was quite happy and content. Ahiru, still on his shoulder was inching her way very slowly towards his plate. He looked at her and was happy he had her. She would be a distraction every now and again.

"Here Ahiru, finish up." He let her go towards the plate and went where he was expected to go. His first chores would be the start of his life in the Weyr.