A Verdant Conversation (Genet, Anayeli)

[Eideen]

When morning chores had passed and left room for afternoon breaks, Daikalveth's thoughts stretched out to two younger greens to convey a message to their Weyrling riders.

Mine wishes to meet with both of yours. They will find her in the living cavern. She is reading, but waits for them. Baristath's has allowed this. There was a twinkle of amusement in the older green's tone, and it carried with it the promise that the meeting was to be a casual one. Pleasant, even.

And sure enough, as told, Eideen waited. A small table separated from the main throng. Three chairs ringed the small round space and though a full half of it was littered with scrolls - one of which in the greenrider's hands - there was enough space for a pot of klah, two cups, and two plates with snack-like foostuffs to set and not look cramped. Seems she had planned ahead.

The general bustle of the living cavern had, thankfully, quieted to a soft murmur to allow for plenty of room for thought. And in the wake of Daikalveth's invitation to Anquilith and Ptolemeth, the minty green dipped briefly into her rider's thoughts.

What will you say to them? Dai asked, curiosity brimming.

Shards if I know. H'gar thinks I can help them just by bein' available. If that's the case.. well. I'll do what I can. Otherwise, I'll just answer their questions. If there are any.

[Invisible]

Free time was when Genet usually got away to meet up with G’tet. Sometimes with Silvio when he could break free from his work, but that was not as often. However it seemed today’s free time would be spent doing something else. You’ll be ok? Genet asked Anquilith since they usually still spent free time together. She couldn’t help the nerves that fluttered in her stomach every time she was apart from her green. What if something changed? What if she lost her? You’re being silly, Genet. Why would you lose me? Why would I want to leave? We will have such great adventures together! Anquilith’s promises of adventures stilled nerves once more because she sounded as excited by the prospect as Genet did. Adventures!

With that thought in the front of her mind Genet hurried from the barracks to the living cavern. Genet comes! Anquilith reported to Daikalveth in her distant voice. She is most excited by the invitation! Anquilith wished she could have attended, but would settle for listening through Genet while she prowled about the bowl curiously poking her dark green muzzle into anything that might be interesting.

In the living cavern Genet paused to look around for Eideen. She’d seen her around, of course, but couldn’t spot her right away. When she did she headed for that small cluttered table with a spring in her steps. This was something new and therefore potentially wonderful. How much more exciting could life be?

[Eideen]

Anquilith's approaches. Eideen had been told, and when the figure stood near her table, the woman looked up. Genet would be privvy to a warm grin and a hand indicating that she should sit, and eat.

"I'm glad you decided to come. Anayeli will be coming shortly, also. H'gar asked that I speak to the both of you, what with your newfound situation and all. Daikalveth will be with your Anquilith shortly to play. She's taking her ball with her."

And sure enough, the minty green swooped down near where Anquilith waited, and dropped a large leather ball near the dragonet's feet. Head dipped down, Daikalveth nudged it toward the young green and trilled gleefully. Soon, if yours agrees, I will teach you to play up there. The mint-dragon's head leaned back and she pointed her nose to the sky. It is good practice, and it is also -very- fun.

A few more distracted moments passed before Eideen laid her reading material down and grinned at Genet again. "Are you happy?" She asked then, chewing the inside of her cheek.

[Invisible]

“Well, I miss getting to see my brother, but he was going to hang out with his wingmates anyway,” Genet answered sunnily. And since her twin’s wingmates were the ones involved in the brawl with Genet and Silvio it made sense why she would not want to be there. “Also, the weyrlingmaster didn’t give us too much choice,” she points out with a laugh as she flops into a seat. “Not that I mind.” In case she sounded forced to be here when really she didn’t mind at all! Especially since Anquilith would get a playmate out of it. “Oh! That’s so nice. Thank you. Anquilith is always trying to run places she shouldn’t without something to do. She’s such a handful.” A completely adored handful, of course, as if her tone could leave any doubt of that.

Out in the bowl Anquilith had left the exploration of hanging laundry when Daikalveth was seen coming down. Just in time to avoid being shooed away, ever so politely, by those doing laundry. The dark green was delighted with the ball and leaned her head in to examine every little detail of it before nudging it with her muzzle. What does it do? she asked the older green. It flies? asked with disbelief when Daikalveth said it would go in the air. Now she turned her head this way and that before announcing It has no wings. I have wings to fly, but it does not. Indeed the little dark green extended her wings to show them off.

Within the living cavern Genet examined the food before snatching a cookie. Before she could take a bite she was asked a question and so she held the cookie as she beamed at Eideen. “I am so happy! It’s the most amazing thing ever, isn’t it? I always knew I was going to do something great and I am off to a good start! Anquilith and me are going to explore everywhere and we’re going to find all sorts of amazing new things and it’ll be the best life ever!” She nearly bounced in her chair so excited by the prospect of all they might do. And just to show she was grounded enough to realize potential trouble she added, “And anyone who gets in our way we’ll just knock them aside.” She punctuated this with a bite of cookie taken with snapping teeth.

[Eideen]

The comment about not having a choice in the matter earned the girl an amused snort. The sound wasn't at all pleasant, but it seemed to fit well with the woman's overall demeanor. It was a reckless, devil-may-care sort of aire, but in the face of the younger greenrider, it was lacking in any posturing maliciousness. In fact, Eideen seemed rather giddy. "Good. I don't mind either. Having a captive audience fills me with the kind of glee that should be outlawed in most Weyrs." She sat back, and waved a hand. "No, not at all. Even if I hadn't suggested it, Daikalveth would have gone. She loves to play, and that your Anquilith is attentive is keeping her busy."

We will make it fly. It does not fly alone. When you and I fly, we will carry it up, and then we will pass it. We must not let it fall to the ground - that is the goal. When the dark green fanned her wings, Daikalveth trumpeted richly and did the same. Hers were, for the time being, bigger. And pale. They are good wings, yours. They will be big soon, and they will be seen on the air! It will be exciting.

The enthusiasm that greeted her question pushed a smile back into place on the Frost-rider's lips, one boot curled up and hooked a heel on the edge of her chair. It wasn't until the last statement that the elder greenrider responded. And it was with a single clap of hands and a finger jabbed in Genet's direction. "Now that is what I like to hear. Keep that attitude, do not let it die. You will need that during and after your Weyrlinghood. You may have noticed already, but you will have to work twice as hard as anyone else. You and Anayeli will." A mug was coiled in her hand and raised then in a little salute before she drank briefly. "Anything you want to ask while it's just you and me?"

[Invisible]

“Anquilith is eager to learn and do new things. I love that about her. I love everything about her!” Weyrlings…what could be done? Some of the others may have lost that first blush of amazement over their dragons, but then they actually have had them since their hatching. For Genet there was still a bit of newness over the whole thing. Luckily being an excitable type did excuse her from looking weird over it. Rather than gush more she shoved the rest of her cookie into her mouth to chew.

In the bowl Anquilith studied the ball as she settled large wings back against her. That makes more sense she told the older green. And because she didn’t want to seem like too much of a baby she informed Daikalveth I have flown. Some. Under the watchful eye of Baristath. I look forward to playing your game. It will be most exciting! The dark green twitched with excitement and turned her neck to gaze up at the sky.

With another cookie in hand Genet laughed brightly. “Yea, I’ve noticed. H’gar can’t seem to decide how to treat us. Sometimes he wants to treat us like girls and sometimes like riders. At least it’s not like how he treats Salina.” Nose wrinkling up Genet shook her head. “Ugh. I am so glad not to be her.” Did she have questions? A million of them, but she had to sort through which she wouldn’t mind asking in front of Anayeli. She didn’t mind not knowing it all, but she didn’t want to seem too ignorant, or scared, in front of her fellow weyrling. “I know it’s way too soon to worry about this, but- Well, some of the boys were talking in the barracks. About flights. Is it bad?”

[Eideen]

Again, a laugh snuck out of the older woman and she leaned back, head tilted as she studied Genet further. "I like you already." She said simply. The fact that that statement came out of that woman would likely be lost on the fortunate weyrling. But all the same, it is said with sincerity, and already Eideen's smile for the younger greenrider was growing fond. "It is a wonder. What makes them choose who they choose. And that they choose us.. well. Feels special. We are pioneers into the newness of our bondmates' thoughts and actions. Why we are chosen instead of men."

Good! Flying is wonderful and exciting and fun! You and yours will have to call to me and Mine when you get to do it more. We would like to see! An excited warble snuck out and the green once again nudged the ball forward so that it lands at Anquilith's feet. The game is good. We are best at playing, because we are quick and agile. You will not see larger dragons playing as well, because they do not like to lose - and when they play with us, they lose often. Amusement whirled brightly in faceted eyes.

"He's intimidated." Eideen said around a meatroll, wagging the bitten thing in Genet's direction. "S'cause he hasn't really figured out what you are yet. I told him t'treat you no different than the boys, 'cause as far as dragonriders are concerned, you do the same duties, same stuff. No sense in him going easy on you two just 'cause y'don't have dangly bits to wiggle around and act all manly or whatever it is they do. And I hear ya. If I had been parked in front of a gold egg, I'm not sure I'dve enjoyed it as much, knowing what I'd be treated like during hte learning process." A roll of the eyes and Eid finished off the batoned meatroll, cheeks puffed out with contents when the question is asked. The woman swallowed, and tapped her lower lip with a fingertip before leaning back. She draped an arm over her bent knee and chewed at the inside of her cheek. Of all the women in the weyr, despite her features and long hair that boasted her femaleness, Eideen was among the least feminine - if not the leader of that particular sect.

"No." She said finally, and switched her sights back to the younger woman's face. "It's not bad in the sense that.." Hm. "Let me put it this way." She started again, and straightened her posture. "Before she goes up for the first time, you're going to want to take care of yourself. Find someone you trust and who ain' gonna be a nit about it and take him t'bed. Otherwise, if she goes up, it's not gonna be fun. And it /should/ be fun." Brows lofted briefly at the word 'should' and for a moment the Greenrider's grin turns sort of.. well, whacked. "Cause if it ain't fun, it's hell. And depending on whose dragon catches, you may have to put up with attitude the next morning and.. well. That's no fun either. S'why I say keep your knock-'em-down outlook, 'cause you might have to do just that. If you get stuck someplace you don't want to be and you can't knock 'em down alone, you have Anquilith holler for me and I'll help. But, like you say, it's a ways away, yet, but it's good to know what to expect." A moment passed and Eid leaned back again. "What's next?" She asked then, wearing an encouraging grin for Genet.

[Invisible]

“He’s old,” Genet said in regards to H’gar. “And he’s got some real pain in the ass weyrlings to deal with. I don’t mind if he slips up every now and again. He’s a lot better than my father ever was. Old people just have a harder time adjusting to new things.” Genet was forgiving enough in most things. Sometimes. It was rather refreshing to be speaking to another woman and not a man about rider things. Before this there hadn’t really been anyone and Genet had thought she’d have to suffer without. Thank Faranth for H’gar. She’d have to do something nice for him.

“It’s obvious,” she told Eideen with a wicked grin, “Why they chose us. Because we were a whole sight better than any of their male options! Clearly they had to have the best!” Genet did not need a reason to feel superior to others, but it was nice to have one every now and again! Rather than another cookie she reached for a cup to wet her throat. “Hey, do we have to wear pants? I mean, when not doing riding – things? Cause I prefer dresses.”

Anquilith turned her gaze back to the other green. We will let you know when we can fly together! she said eagerly. It will be most glorious to share with Genet that experience fully. With the ball at her feet Anquilith looks at it and then lifts one foot to bat it back towards the mint green.

Listening to the older greenrider Genet frowned thoughtfully. At the mention of finding someone first she couldn’t help but blush. “Oh, I have someone,” she said unable to keep from grinning either. “Provided he’s still here before the stupid rule is taken away. I guess if he’s not I’ll find someone else, but I really want-“ Him. Well, it needn’t be said further so Genet let it drop. Everything else she filed away to think more on later. “So, we’re the lowest aren’t we? I mean, I know how G’tet gets treated by some for being a greenrider, but at least he has the proper dangly bits.”

[Eideen]

"You're not wrong. H'gar's not quite old enough to be an old goat, but he's getting there." Eid smirked, and leaned back again, propping one boot on the edge of the table and disturbed her scrolls. Oh well. "And no kidding. At least he's making efforts to do this up right instead of gettin' all bent outta shape about havin' to ask for some help. S'nice that he did. Besides, I'm nosy. I like stickin' my nose in his business. Yours too." She winked.

To Genet's next statements, she listened thoughtfully and then roared a laugh. "Too right! Dragons don't make bad choices, they make only the best. And don't you forget to rub that in your classmates' faces if they get stupid." The next question prompted a funny look and a little smirk. "Well. I'd suggest wearin' a pair of light trousers under your dress just in case, but no. Not all the time. Keep yer fancy skirts for whatever, sure." Because you wouldn't catch Eid dead in one.

It is.. the most happy feeling. Because you share it. And you do not have to describe it in words any more. You both feel it. It is natural for us, but not them. For them to be able to fly, it is.. What the elder green lacks in words, she made up for with a feeling sent to the younger. It is thrill, it is joy, it is so much happiness. It is also intense, and before she overwhelmed the dragonet with it, Daikalveth's force of will abated to let the younger green digest what she had been mentally fed. A couple toes leapt out to knock the ball back, and the minty-hued dragon pranced to the side, giving Anquilith a moving target to aim for.

"Oh, y'do?" Curiosity, thy name is nosy Eideen. When the last word wasn't included, Eideen smiled all the same and nodded her understanding. "Good. Make sure he treats you right. Like I said. Should be fun. If it ain't, someone's doing something wrong." The next question gave the older woman pause, and she searched the ceiling, as if hoping to gain the right words from it. "Yes and no. We ride green, which means we are easily outranked. Unless another green rider is a Wingsecond, we are of the same rank of any other greenrider. Just because a greenrider happens to be male does not automatically mean he's above us. He is our equal, and we his. Bottom line, doesn't matter if we're male or female. We're Dragonriders first, people second. I know this, and now you know it. Some folk need reminding, though." Brows flicked up as if indicating that that particular challenge was a favorite for the dark haired woman. "What else? I'm starting to like this. I get to run my mouth off and not get hollered at for it." Her grin grew cheeky.

[Invisible]

“Well, I hear we’re lucky not to have the last weyrlingmaster. He was a bastard.” Genet paused and then grinned sheepishly. “Well, I guess not as lucky as you. Oh, well!” You say things wrong and just move on! No sense worrying! “Well, I have no business but drills and chores,” Genet says with another wrinkle of her nose. “I mean it’s not that exciting right now. I understand having to learn though so I can be patient enough until we’re done and I am free.”

Brushing her hands over her pants she nodded. “Well, I don’t have fancy skirts unfortunately. I guess I am just used to dresses and all. I mean I’ve spent nearly twenty one turns wearing them and all and only a few months in pants. Maybe I’ll get used to them. Who knows!” It wasn’t an important concern, but it was something to think on.

The one responsible for all this talk was out in the bowl focused intently enough that her tail twitched as Daikalveth shared flying with her. It was nearly too much just before the older green pulled out, but Anquilith would need more than that to get too upset over anything. Her eyes whirled faster though and she turned her gaze up to the sky once more. She had no words and it wasn’t until she felt the ball hit her that she was back to the game. Aiming for the moving mint dragon she might have been trying for the front paw, but she came closer to the back.

And inside they were back to the topic of things that made Genet blush. She ducked her head and took a deep breath before looking up. “Oh, I am quite sure he’ll be good,” was her somewhat flustered answer. She knew he was good even if it still was sometimes just a dreamlike feeling. It was obvious this weyrling was going to waste no time when she could finally do something about this. “Well, I don’t want to be in charge of anything. And anyone who doesn’t treat me right will learn that is a mistake!” Again she shoved a lot aside to think on later when her and Anquilith could do so together. Unrelated to riding entirely, but not to this future rider, she asks, “What do you think of the Caminar?”

[blueaid]

Ptolemeth never replied, not to the extent that she warned either Anquilith or Daikalveth that her rider was on the way. She acknowledged the older green's greeting with a pleasant, warm-tinged thought, and she seemed to imply that Anayeli would be along sooner or later, but there was a sense of distraction about her responses, the quality of a dragonet absorbed in some other occupation to the point that she wasn't keen on breaking her concentration.

So, some time well after Genet's arrival, the "other" weyrling made her way into the living cavern. Anayeli looked composed, her hair combed and glossy and perfect, her clothes clean and tidy, her fingernails neat and manicured-- the whole put-together look of a young woman who, despite the daily grind, still found time to fuss over her appearance. Vanity knows no bounds.

Though she entered with surety to her stride, though she held her chin at a proud angle, her eyes betrayed her with the uncertainty of stolen looks around the cavern to take stock of its occupants, to check for anyone looking cross in her direction. After recent events... She approached the two greenriders at the tail-end of Genet's remarks, in time to over hear "of the Caminar," and her nose crinkled unhappily. Prettily, mind, but unhappily.

Anayeli made no gesture to join them, only stood apart with her arms folded and her weight shifted more to one hip than the other, and she waited for someone to acknowledge her illustrious presence.

[Eideen]

"Oh, Shardit, that man was more than a bastard, he was grand duke of bastardness ten times over." She waved ah and at the sheepishness, dismissing it as no-big-deal. "It's necessary, though, yea. Build up muscle, learn to cooperate with your weyrling mates and all. You'll be in wings before too long, and the skills y'learn there are going to help for your future, and blah blah." Let the Weyrling Master tell them that crap. Eid once more shook a hand in the air to dismiss the subject.

On fancy skirts, Eideen was the last person on Pern who could judge either way. "Pants're nice. Keep your girly-bits nice and cozy as well as your ankles." That was.. horrifying but practical.

Out in the bowl, Daikalveth continued to play with the younger green, having turned the game from nudge-ball to kickball or tailball or whatever limb was closest to hit-back ball.


"Arright, arright, keep it to yourself. I don't even wanna know. We're allowed to keep secrets from one another, I promise you. There's no secret kiss-and-tell meeting of the greenriders.. Though now that I think of it." Brows flicked upward briefly and Eideen tapped her cheek briefly. The younger rider's question popped her back to the present and wild grass-green eyes blinked a few times.

But luckily, her other charge chose that moment to show up. The other place at the little round table was empty, save for a mug ready to drink out of and a plate of snackfoods. To Anayeli, Eideen grinned and offered a warm, cheery, and so-very-her greeting. "Hey, 'bout time. Plunk your pretty ass down here and chat it up. Same offer to you, any questions you have about whatever you don't feel like askin' H'gar, or anyone else for that matter, feel free to ask me. By the way, these meetings are between us, I ain' gonna to airin' your guys' linens nowhere."

Eideen turned back to Genet and clicked her tongue. "You'll hear a lot of opinions about the Caminar, probably have already. Those I know I don't mind so much, 'specially a certain one who.. well." Slow down, Eid! "That's another conversation. Anyway. They're.. people. Just like us. Just got a different way of doin' things."

[Invisible]

With Anquilith busy playing with the ball Genet relaxed a little. The dark green had a habit of wanting to go everywhere and if she didn’t keep an ear out was likely to have to try to haul her out of some tunnel she thought she might fit in. It was nice not to worry about it for a little bit as she takes a drink and then reaches for another cookie.

“Well, I wasn’t going to tell you everything!” Genet tells Eideen with a laugh. It felt nice to just sit and talk with someone and she was enjoying herself a lot. Then Anayeli turned up. Dressed like that. Genet found her annoying. She had always found her annoying. That was never going to change. Any further questions would be filtered now to take into account the other girl there. Which means she only nodded to Eideen’s comments on the Caminar.

[blueaid]

Odd-man-out-- odd-greenrider-out, to be more specific, Anayeli sat down with all the sullenness of a teenager sent off to do something she wasn't expecting to enjoy, just short of rolling her eyes at the two of them. These were hardly her usual breed of sycophants, and the likelihood that they could be charmed, bullied, and pestered into becoming a replacement for the clique she'd built up during the "lost months" seemed unlikely, so what use were they likely to serve? Just as Genet had never cared for Anayeli, so had Ana never thought of Genet as anything but a fashion victim and a tragedy of femininity.

"I know what the idea is," she began after Eideen's engaging greeting. Yes, Eideen had charm; it was probably the only reason Ana bothered to speak at all rather than just sitting there in petulant silence. "But I don't think that old man's plan to make us all best-friends-forever is going to work just because we're all in the same green boat. You two finish your chat, I'll just file my nails or something."

Although she very definitely seemed the type to carry around an emery board, she didn't whip it out right now or anything. Instead, crossing one leg, re-crossing her arms now that she'd sat down, she just set about finding some way to distract herself so she could technically say that, yes, she'd gone off to meet with Eideen. Technically. Pouring out her heart-and-soul just wasn't on the menu.

[Eideen]

"Good, there are some things I don't want to know!" The change in Genet's overall demeanor does not go unnoticed, and the elder rider fixes the girl with an odd stare for a moment.

When Anayeli speaks up, that wild green gaze slides sideways to reach her face. She didn't frown, nor furrow her brows, but instead developed a grin the likes of which might have been considered devilish. "His plan ain't to make us best friends, little priss, and by the way your nose is stickin' up in the air you ain't makin' a good impression lettin' me see all your boogers anyway. You can either sit and be an active participant in this, or I'll be suggesting to H'gar that he give you extra latrine duty for a while to remind you where your place is in all this. You'll not file your nails, either. That stuff stinks to no end an' I'm still digestin'."

Through her speaking, the grin grew wider and wider, and soon she sat back and crossed arms over her chest. A look was thrown to Genet and the elder rider changed tracks. "So. Both of ya. Take turns tellin' me what you know about greens and their riders. Using rumors is okay, that means I get to dispell 'em as they come."

Meanwhile, Anquilith's playmate paused with the ball underfoot to stretch her thoughts out and quiz Baristath. Mine wishes to know if yours will allow her to cuff the snotty one should she step out of line. The sheer delightfulness with which the question was asked may seem.. odd.