Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman 
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 6, 2011 1:29:03 GMT -5
For good behavior, Qosis had been permitted a return to the kitchen hearths. It meant that sometimes he could catch his meals quickly, outside the rambling populace of the dining hall. In fact the trader much preferred the company of many semi-known people to utter solitude, but at late he could not find a moment for himself at all. His room had been invaded, nightmares plagued his resting hours, and the occasional discordant pulse of anticipation shot through his blood. His morning and evening exercise rounds in the Weyr occurred, but he rarely had good memory of them. He thought it might be only because he had done the same work in the same places so many times, and he was humorously enough losing his place over it.
The only solid evidence he had that he still incurred his daily grind was that he remained tremendously hungry most of the day. Therein lay another advantage of being readmitted to the kitchens: leftovers everywhere, free to recycle. He could not linger after breakfast or lunch usually, but in dinner he could hunt down enough to quell his stomach. At the moment he was filling only on wine, his empty plates set at the hearthside table. And he was, all things considered, fairly content as he leaned back in the padded chair he had claimed in front of a crackling cookfire. Drudges had long since cleared what remained of the food necessitating that particular flame, but Qosis kept his heat source alive with an occasional prod at the ember pile.
He glanced at the wine bottle beside him as he tipped his third glass of the stuff against his lips till it was empty. The wine was hard, tart and had a curiously flabby finish. Not exactly prime tithe. He decided not to attempt any more of it and corked the bottle. The Candidate stretched out his long legs, adjusting for the chronic shortness of many Weyr chairs as he had hundreds of times since being delivered to Dalibor nearly three seasons ago. Aside from that little quibble, he really was comfortable. The meal, rather than the wine, had put him into the gentle stupor that preceded sleep...
|
|
Gray
Wingrider 
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
|
Post by Gray on May 6, 2011 2:40:38 GMT -5
He had a mission! A super special secret mission! Normally, Prince wouldn't be up for it. But his kinda scared him. She was always kinda angry and when she wasn't angry she was asleep. So he had quickly learned that helping her with her schemes kept her on his good side! When he was good, she cuddled him and pet him and scratched him lightly when she oiled him. It was pure bliss for the purple flitter.
Usually it was something simple, and today was no different. All he had to do was follow someone! He could follow people! Well, he kind of could. Often he would lose track of time in something eyes, be it a shiny bowl or a scrap of food, only remembering to check on the other candidate when he felt something down their emotional link. Looking up, he rapidly scurried to find his prey. Prince wandered around the kitchens a bit until he found him! Ha!
Carefully, he scaled up the chair Qosis was sitting on. If he stayed here, he could watch the sleepy candidate. Why did His have any interest in this? He was sleeping. So boring. He was no shiny! His clothes were nice. The flitter took a moment to admire the colors. So pretty, so very pretty. It was this that was his downfall though. He wanted to touch those colors. Creeping a bit closer, he reached out to nudge him with his nose when he tripped a bit. He was still young, and still just a tad bit clumsy. Wobbling, he tried to regain his balance by flaring his wings out. Nope. One decided to knock against Qosis which only caused him to fall from the chair and land in a discard bowl. Tasia should have known, Prince was not the best secret special spy. |
|
Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 6, 2011 10:26:49 GMT -5
The Dragon Candidate's eyes opened to the sloppy sounds of movement in the discard bowl. He lifted his hand to the side of his face, where there had been an impact or a line drawn in his skin. It stung faintly, familiar. Still pressing his fingers to his cheek, he leaned over the arm of his chair and looked down into the bowl. At first he thought he might be mistaken, and that the guest was a 'snake, but then he saw the verifying flex of one tiny wing and relaxed.
He reached down and picked up the bowl, smudging his fingers with the bloody sauce that ringed the brim. Qosis carried it out of the hearth room and into the adjacent washing room. He dropped the bowl, and its passenger, into a basin already steeped in warm water and a few dishes. He stayed long enough to clean his hands, and took stock of the young flit's newly revealed color. He turned up a mug for Prince to climb upon in the event that he forgot how to reach safety, then left the kitchens.
How far would the master be from her spy? He examined the emptied dining hall briefly before heading out into the Bowl, pausing on the precipice to see if there was anything to be made out in the shadows.
|
|
Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
|
Post by Gray on May 6, 2011 22:30:15 GMT -5
Prince creeled a bit when the bowl moved. What was happening? What was carrying him? He panicked, flopping around in the bowl until he could pop his head up. Just in time to get a face-full of warm water. This was not good. He was rather clumsy in the water, flopping about until he finally climbed out.
It was the panic that tipper her off. For a moment, Tasia's mind swam with confusion and fear. What was happening? She was still getting used to the link she shared with the purple firelizard. Rubbing her forehead, she took a deep breath and braced herself for the on coming storm. She figured it would be best to meet him head on. Standing from her bed, Tasia paused to brush hair from her face before leaving the barracks. She walked quickly, almost jogging to meet him at the door to the lower caverns.
Seeing him, she would give him a small nod of greeting.
“Hello Qosis.” She wore a mask of aloof calmness, not looking the part of a spy at all. In fact, she didn't even have an inkling of guiltiness about her. It was obvious she saw nothing wrong with what she had done even though she knew she had been caught. |
|
Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 6, 2011 23:06:57 GMT -5
Though the detail in Tasia's figure was not apparent till she was close enough to meet the glows guarding the tunnel entrance, Qosis knew it was her. The gawky silhouette, the slightly panicked strokes of her legs. He assumed the firelizard had managed to free itself from the wash basin, or its master would have been shrieking too. The trader did not have to look down too far to observe her face when she finally stopped in front of him. He did not return the nod of acknowledgment.
"I am surprised I remembered exactly whose little whersport he was," he greeted. "It's a curse, I think, to recall all of the beasts so easily. Tell me, do you have the slightest idea what you are doing? What you are asking it to do? It has neither the maturity nor the intelligence for the task. Try again in a few Turns. Or better yet, send it away now and save yourself the trouble. You can then just step forward and ask me whatever it is you want to know about how my free time is spent, stupid girl." If Tasia had been looking to verify whether his mood lasted the sevenday from the Wher Hatching, Qosis had already answered.
But for all the hardening of his voice, and a choice of insult better suited to someone he found genuinely foolish, Qosis remained as still by the end of the speech as he had been at the beginning. And then, without notice, he spurred forward and walked straight past her toward the barracks, Even his legs would see it a long journey in the dark and the cold.
|
|
Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
|
Post by Gray on May 7, 2011 16:10:12 GMT -5
Tasia was surprised as well. From what she knew, he had only caught a glimpse of Prince at the hatching before the purple blinked back to the room to hide. She let him go on his tirade, nodding a bit.
“Train him? Ha. No, Prince is generally a good boy but sometimes he gets to be rather bothersome. So I give him a small task so I have peace and quiet. You didn't think I really wanted to spy on you, did you?” She laughed a bit, the woman weaving up a lie real quick. Truth be told she had been spying on him. And on S'id. Though she wouldn't admit it, Tasia wasn't very social. She was like a cat in that regard. You got affection and attention only when she saw fit to give it to you. She wanted to know what they were up to with out having to actually speak to them. Too bad Prince was still to young to do the job with out being caught. It created awkward moments like this.
Turning, she took a few long strides to keep up with him.
“I see you are still rather peeved. You know, Traders should be jolly. You aren't jolly.” Arms crossed over her chest and small smile quirked on her lips. Her good mood wouldn't last long though. Prince had betweened to her room and was currently rolling his wet self all over her bed. But for the moment Tasia was in a fairly decent, if not antagonistic mood.
“Since Prince has pretty much failed to gather any information, do tell me. What have you been doing lately? I haven't seen you around the barracks too often, and we haven't had any chores together.” |
|
Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 7, 2011 17:52:53 GMT -5
"I did think that," Qosis snapped, disliking (among other things) the questioning of his intent. "What do you think the first thing is that people do when they realize their flits send images? Everyone does it." He leveled an accusative glare over his shoulder, but his fury was darkened by other feelings and the expression was already receding when he turned away. "And you think you have cause," he added, softer, but defensive.
Tasia's height was one of her commendable points, but Qosis did not realize how easy it was for her to keep up with him till he took a more experimental glance back and saw she was still right at his heels. He stopped in his tracks and whirled around to face her, mouth twisted in stony disapproval but the flash of fury in his eyes gone. Or maybe it was that starlight did not cast it so easily as the green of a glowbasket.
Qosis raised his eyebrows at her. "I am sure you realize we are only jolly when we are trying to sell you something." He stuck out his arm and wagged his hand dismissively at the whole of Dalibor Weyr. "These people do not know the meaning of trade. They take what they require. There is no need for me to practice my life's work. So you just get me. And I am subject to no more happiness than anyone else on Pern."
He sighed at her next question, the sound shuddering from a tightening throat. His narrow eyes were fixed on her. "...there's a man in my room," he complained after a substantial pause. "He has a gitar. I have been trying to get him to play it when I am in the mood." The slight shake in the trader's tone indicated the harper's strings had not seen many demands. "I have been doing what is directed by the assignment board," he continued. "Nothing more...except for my exercise." Qosis really meant it. He had been playing the drone since the Wher Hatching. The routine was safe. "You shouldn't have kicked me," he said with a sudden return to anger.
|
|
Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
|
Post by Gray on May 7, 2011 22:37:08 GMT -5
Wrinkling her nose a bit, Tasia waves her hand dismissively.
“Ugh. How cliche. Perhaps next time I'll make up something shiny for him to chase.. Or send him to visit Lyr.” Or perhaps Prince would out grow his hyper spikes and continue to just chill out on her bed like he often chose to do. She could tell his didn't like the firelizard, and from his tone, he didn't like any. She was curious about that, but for the moment she wouldn't pry. He was already too upset.
The air felt nice today. It was cool, and Tasia was starting to enjoy the cold more. She had never been a fan of too tropical of climates. She liked the fact that the seasons here had noticeable change. His quick spin caught her off guard and she jumped back just a tad, watching him with slight apprehension. He looked angrier than Tasia had seen him before. She was starting to wonder if she had gone too far.
Tilting her head to the left a bit, she pondered over what he said. He had a point. Who wouldn't be jolly when trying to sell items? No one would buy wares from a dour person. That was one reason Tasia would never hack it as a trader. Being jolly all the time was just too difficult.
“Now now, some of us do still trade when traders come about.” Tasia had a new gather dress that she had bought last time someone had ventured near. Though thinking back, she wondered if she would be able to use it any time soon. Did Weyrs even participate in Gathers?
“A man eh?” She chuckled a bit. If he were in a better mood, she'd tease him about it.
“Oh so you room with a harper?” The idea intrigued her a bit. Tasia did enjoy music from time to time.
“Perhaps he could teach you! I bet you have a bit of musical talent in you.” Everything was going well until he mentioned the kicking.
“Well to be fair, I could have punched you and bruised your pretty face if you'd have preferred. But you were not quite in the right mind to answer questions so I did what ever was necessary to stop you before you got yourself turned into hat Wher's first meal. As surprising as it is, I rather enjoy your company.” She spoke softly, looking away quickly. She didn't like to admit that she needed people sometimes. The fact that she craved some social interaction bothered her. |
|
Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 8, 2011 17:10:54 GMT -5
"Dragonriding does not require musical talent," Qosis noted with a wry gentleness that better suited one of his good moods. He might have indulged the point too, were that the case. Harpers certainly liked to kidnap traders for their craft-- there was a lot of similarity in the work each group did. He studied the profile of Tasia's face, then bridged the gap between them with his arm. His thumb set to one side of her chin, his tipless forefinger at the other and he turned her face back toward him. Qosis' lips lay flat and unassuming, his eyebrows taking on a rare relaxation.
After he had adjusted her, he let go. "Whatever you felt did not give you the right to interrupt me. It had to be done, and instead that thing got its mate. At least it bonded well. Damali can control it. She doesn't feel..." But he had made his point. The supporting evidence required more time than he wished to spend on Damali's merits and how they could counter the Red's insanity.
He straightened his shoulders. "Next time we will be the ones burning our feet. And if I see anything like that again, I will stop it if the mother will not. I told you, 'better a man.'" Qosis frowned, for what needed to be done would have its price, and he was not entirely given to death. "You can always help too. You are taller than the other girls, and if you ate more you would be stronger too...though you do look better than before. If there is a queen egg, you will be allowed to stand by it, won't you? You can keep her safe better than I, if the mother does not let me near. Thread is coming. We need every dragon. And you cannot worry so much about who is going to be here or not." The trader's voice had lost its growl, even as he laid out his fatalistic devotions. More than anything, he sounded tired.
|
|
Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
|
Post by Gray on May 8, 2011 18:09:31 GMT -5
“It doesn't... But it could be fun. You know, we can do things other than ride dragons. We don't have any to care for now, why not take the opportunity to learn?” Tasia didn't quite understand why she was saying that. She hoped that maybe music would make him happier. Part of her wished she had never spoke of the last hatching. When he turned her face to look at him, she quirked one brow quizzically.
“Damali? Is that the girl's name? I hope she is strong. You know, killing her wouldn't have done anything right? The red I mean. It would be just another carcass. Yes, she killed her siblings. But that is what reds do. The copper from the last hatching was just as violent. The red only killed her because she killed her siblings. I think the better dragon won.” Tasia felt bad for the copper, yes. But she had killed her sisters for no reason.
“The copper was just like that little red wher. But I am glad she impressed.”
“You better not get yourself killed trying to save some dragons. If you do, both your dragon and I will never forgive you. Ever. If you die and your dragon hatches after that, you will just be killing another.” She glared at him for a moment. He didn't seem to understand.
“Qosis. I will help guard that queen egg, if there is one, as best I can. But I won't let you be stupid and get yourself all crunched up because you think you need to save one dragon. This is how dragons are. The weak are culled. If a queen is not strong enough to fight back until she can impress, then perhaps it is for the best. She will be a mother. She needs to be strong. We can not have weak dragons, because as you said. Thread is coming.” Tasia practically unloaded on him, her hands on her waist as she looked down to him.
“Every man and every dragon is needed. A dragon can not fly with out it's rider.”
|
|
Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 8, 2011 19:03:22 GMT -5
Not that he would ever be able to rise from this mood to enable an affirming of Tasia's suggestion, but Qosis had to wonder at her perceptivity. He did enjoy those songs simple enough to allow uneducated commoners such as himself to pick up after one or two rounds. Instruments like the gitar were a different matter. Traders did not pluck and pry at their wares on the caravan unless they wanted to wear the strings and thin the drum skins. But singing required only one's native instruments, and he had the throat and chest for it. No wherries took panicked flight at his notes.
When Tasia filled in the details about Kalith's doomed little Copper, Qosis' lips pressed together till they were starting to pale against each other. He was on the verge of announcing his anger at the fellow Candidate for not pointing out the hatchling queen's flaws before when Tasia moved on to the subject in more general terms. Terms he had never considered before.
"Like firelizards?" he mumbled, voice always as dull as he felt. He noticed her arresting glare and held it, making motions with his hands that seemed to be indicating a battle of tiny, starved forms. "When the cotholders get them and don't know what to do, and all the babies eat each other," he detailed. Despite everything, he always thought that was a little funny. A hatching right under the noses of the holders, and they still could do nothing to prevent the deaths. Because in that case Tasia was absolutely right-- in the wild, only the strong deserved to remain.
But... "Just because they die does not mean they are weak," he said, though he did not sound very certain. Just hurt, like one of those crushed wherets had been destined for him. "And you are...you are young. You are no rider yet. You are a woman who should not have to think about these things anyway." The old bull wherry in his brain had lifted its head and fanned its tattered wings to block all logic. Qosis shook his head. "The new colors," he snorted derisively. "What can they do to Thread that was not already accomplished by Gold, Bronze, Brown, Blue...the rest? There is no purpose to them."
And as Qosis had already made noted, everything required purpose to exist on his Pern. He refused to look away from Tasia's challenging stare now, though his own was beginning to show signs of new internal distress. Everything she said sounded right. "You trade?" he broached suddenly. "With the tithe trains?" All frustration had receded from his voice, so eager he was to switch tracks. "I have some things you can sell for me. You can keep five percent of what you make from them, however since I expect you know nothing of math, just bring me all the Marks when you are done and I will give you your share."
|
|
Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
|
Post by Gray on May 8, 2011 20:08:51 GMT -5
Tasia watched him with growing regret. She needed to learn to filter what she said to him. She kept giving him things to think about. Shaking her head some she sighed. It wasn't until he mentioned Firelizards that she was sure he had lost his mind.
She waited as he continued, his comment making sense. That was one tidbit she hadn't known, in fact, she didn't know much about firelizards. She had never spoke with any one about them.
“Ugh, kind of barbaric.” She made a face. She couldn't even think of her Prince devouring his siblings.
“Now I see why you might dislike the little things.” Being woken up by the squawks of cannibalistic baby lizards didn't sound quite appealing.
He made some sense. They were not inherently weak but at the same time...
“If they were not weak, wouldn't have they fought harder? Though most didn't really get the chance.” She remembered the copper being like an angry storm, ripping up everything in her path. She laughed a bit at him.
“I am a young woman, and I figure I can think on what I want. You are so odd Qosis, do you know that?” She asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She grinned a bit. Tasia didn't make friends often, but it seems that when she did, they were rather strange.
“Look at the original colors Qosis. They have to large of gaps between them. Their sizes are to varied. The new ones seems to fit right in those gaps. They give us greater variety, they make our defenses stronger. It is like patching up an old boat with new wood. Just because it is new does not mean it is bad.”
Then he changed the subject abruptly. Randomly almost.
“Yes, I trade every now and then.” Smirking a bit, she leaned a bit closer.
“As odd as it may be some of us do have talents to help with making marks.” Inspecting her fingernails for a moment, she listened to his proposal. She frowned a bit. She could do math! Well... A little bit of it at least.
“I can, though I have to ask, why not trade it yourself? I'm sure you know all the tips and tricks of the trade, and can get better deals that I can.” |
|
Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 8, 2011 23:35:27 GMT -5
Qosis, who did not think he was strange in any way, frowned at Tasia's judgment. And he refused the bait of further logic on the other Candidate's part, much preferring the subject where his experience went easily unchallenged. He turned back toward the barracks, but this time he waited for Tasia to step beside him, keen on filling in his willing servant as they returned.
"I am not trading with any of those thieves from the other caravans," he announced primly. "...and I am not bothering with my own till I can greet them a-dragonback. Do not trade my things with them either. They will know where they are from. Their flag is blue and purple, with a whersport on it." That left Tasia with the trading option of thieves. "I do not have a ledger, so you will have to memorize the value of each item."
Curt, business-minded Qosis seemed to have none of the troubles of the one trying to argue death before dragons. He even put on the appearance of a good mood, complete with a smile. "I don't dislike firelizards as a whole," he added, enjoying his confidence a little too much. "Only stupid ones that little girls send to stalk me." Of course, the trader's genuine happiness did not generally include such specific insults, delivered behind the veil of a grin. When his attention flickered off the path ahead and toward Tasia again, he immediately renounced the expression. "I have not been feeling well," he said.
|
|
Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
|
Post by Gray on May 9, 2011 15:31:08 GMT -5
Again with the walking away! Tasia huffed a bit. Sometimes she wondered what would happen if she didn't follow. She did this time though. There was a deal to make. So she followed him to the barracks, stepping beside him to await what ever he did next. Lips quirked into a slight smile when he mentioned thieves. She was sure all caravans felt like that about the others.
“Thieves? Hm. Then perhaps I shouldn't trade with them either...” She didn't mean that and it was quite evident in the aloof way she shrugged. At the mention of dragonback, her slight glare was back.
“Yes. You will. Which means you can't die in the throws of faux-heroics.” She was intent on boring that idea into his skull. Part of her was tiring of this strange obsession he now had. Memorizing. That caused her to frown a bit. Tasia was never a huge fan of having to memorize things, even from her parents or the harpers. But she hoped this wouldn't be too hard.
“Alright, I will try my best. I'm sure you will be able to find some way I can remember it all.” Part of her hoped it wouldn't be too much. If it was a very long list, she knew she'd forget at least a thrid of it by the time the Traders came again.
The change in demeanor startled her a bit. He was too good at doing that.
“Hmm really? Because I remember you mentioning we should all chuck our eggs in the lake.” She crossed her arms over her chest again, nodding once to punctuate her point. Her expression softened a bit when he mentioned not feeling well. A look of concern flickering over her features before she hid the emotion.
“Like, physically? Or emotionally?” |
|
Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 9, 2011 16:37:00 GMT -5
A ring of light outlined the barracks ahead, but Qosis slowed before they reached the edge of the halo. What remained was just enough illumination to read Tasia's face, which seemed to be exercising out of its usual bounds tonight. And her questions sometimes strayed into specifics the trader had never really concerned himself with.
"Do I look sick to you?" he asked in reply. The circles under his eyes were much darker than usual. But the pallid cast his skin had taken on at the Hatching was long gone, and his meticulous self-grooming wore each eyebrow smooth and kept his beard cut sharp to the frame of his face. "It was an apology for my remarks, woman, not an invitation to write a song about it!"
The trader folded his arms across his chest, examining her like he might a defective product. "Such worrying," he wondered aloud. "Or did you just not like being woken up that much, that you now see fit to send firelizards after me in a fiery vengeance flight?" Given that they both knew precisely how well Prince could fly or exact vengeance, this sentiment could be identified as humor. Qosis started to confirm it with a smile, but various internal restraints tugged his lips back flat. "Everything will be fine after the next queen goes up," he suggested. "Your concern is unnecessary and really..." He squinted at her. "A little telling. You're in a dangerous place for a cold-skinned fish worshiper with no heart."
|
|
Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
|
Post by Gray on May 9, 2011 17:10:50 GMT -5
Tasia shrugged.
“I'm not a healer man. I do not know if you look ill or not.” She eyed him a bit. He looked fairly normal. Perhaps a bit tired, but other than that he looked like Qosis. Just like he should.
“Hm. An apology? I guess that makes sense. Next time you might not want to veil them so. As you said, I am a 'stupid girl'.”
She scoffed a bit.
“I'm sure if I was still sore about that I could do better than send Prince after you.” she lifted a hand to rub her temples a bit.
“He means well, and he wants to listen but he is just so...” She couldn't even find a proper word to end it with. Prince was just Prince.
“But no, if I felt you still deserved my ire, I would find some way better than sending firelizards after you. You can be sure of that.”
She paused to stretch a bit, yawning some. Her muscles ached a bit from her earlier chores. Her shoulders mostly sore from helping scrub.
“Hopefully. You never know with dragons.” Rolling her shoulders, Tasia rolled her eyes.
“Cold-skinned fish worshiper I may be, but I'm sure I have a heart. Somewhere. It may be many sizes to small, but I'm sure it exists.” |
|
Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 9, 2011 20:23:50 GMT -5
Chewing on the corner of his lip, Qosis refused to deflate at Tasia's non-confirmation of his health. But a sour wrinkle moved through his eyebrows and only lightened as Tasia unintentionally mimicked his annoyance, with different cause. At last a smile crossed him, pulled long by weariness.
"But I apologized for that," he noted, unable to resist turning the words around one more time. Tasia was already going after her temples so he might as well help her along! He tilted his head at her complaints on the 'lizard, eyes illuminated at the corners by the barrack glows as they followed her arms up her stretch. Qosis dropped his attention purposefully to the ground after a moment.
He blinked back up at her. "Your ability to be concerned is poorly matched by your ability to comfort," he drawled. "Go to the east wall of the barracks and wait for me there. I will get my things." According to Qosis the deal would be conducted right now, under the dim helping of the sidewall glowbaskets and the starlight. "Hopefully the man will not be there to distract me with the latest from the Harperhall. I would not want to leave you out here for a few extra candlemarks." His teeth flashed in a slightly broader crescent. "Call your firelizard out to you." And he walked off again.
|
|
Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
|
Post by Gray on May 10, 2011 1:54:46 GMT -5
She gestured a bit, as if she were weighing something than shrugged.
“I guess your apology makes up for it.” Despite the cool tone to her voice, it was obviously a joke. A quick grin punctuated the point to drive it home. He was of course, quick to exasperate her though. Once again Tasia shook her head, murmuring something about traders beneath her breath.
“It's all about intent. I intend to comfort you. I just don't seem to have the warm, motherly abilities to do so.” Perhaps caring for a dragon would create those feelings in her. Perhaps not. Tasia and others would have to see on that one. Though it was hard to ever see the young woman as 'Motherly'. At his directions, she gave a slight scowl.
“If you leave me I will come after you, you know that.” She wouldn't stand there like some lovestruck wherry waiting for her buck to appear. But with that warning, she strode off.
Prince was a bit worried. His had not yet appeared! Plus there was a flaky patch on his shoulder that itched him so! She must come and oil him. But she did not answer to his soft questions. Slightly dejected, the firelizard found things in her room to amuse himself with. It wasn't until he had forgotten about Tasia and the oiling that she actually called. He was quick to between to her, excitedly chirping and fluttering around her all the while projecting his itch.
Sighing a bit, she held out her arm allowing the dusky purple to land and watch her with whirling eyes.
“Calm down you.” Her tone was softer and more gentle. Looking him over, she brushed her fingers against the flaky patch with a frown. She cared more for the firelizard than she would ever tell. But since no one was around, she cooed softly to him, one finger stroking the top of his head.
“Don't worry little one, I'll oil you once my business is done.” Quickly she glanced around the dimly lit area before scratching Prince's eye ridges again, a soft smile upon her lips. |
|
Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 10, 2011 13:43:42 GMT -5
His enormous shadow prowled out of the barracks ahead of him. Qosis had not taken long at all, and came bearing a few packages wrapped in cloth, and two pillows. He aimed and threw one pillow between Tasia and the wall.
"Sit." The trader had taken a larger, puffier pillow for his own throne. The wall behind them was soft enough not to be uncomfortable for the expected period of discourse. Of course it was still cold out, but Qosis at least was dressed for it. He refused to deal in the commons, where just any ratty little Candidate could listen in. Two packages he lobbed dispassionately in front of Tasia, then opened a third to show her the contents. The gleaming of at least a dozen polished belt buckles peeped out at them, glowlight tracing the clean leather of the belt material and in some cases flashing off pieces of inlaid metal and gemstones.
Qosis seemed to be admiring his own property for a time, but he suddenly reached in among the belts and extracted a small, plain dagger. It was transferred quickly to the inside sheath of his boot. "Alright. Those other two payloads are just clothing. You will have to sell it out piecemeal, just for the fabric. It will not earn even half of what it should. But these..."
He raised one of the thick belts: it had gold studs along its centerline and bright green embroidery tracing serpentine lines along the upper and lower edges. "...have work that must be respected put into them. And more importantly, the excess can be pinned or trimmed to fit lesser men. You need to do everything you can to appear like some Lord Holder's seventeenth daughter who is selling off her ex-fiance's things after being Searched. They will not believe a fish-girl with Journeymans' work long enough to actually confirm it with their eyes."
The trader lowered the belt back among the others and raised an eyebrow at her. "Bring the firelizard with you. He is rare enough to recommend your backstory, and catch eyes." Qosis made a snatching motion at the air, then opened his fingers away from his palm to show her the nonexistent eye he had seized. "I hope you know never to take the first offer, regardless of how sweetly it is delivered."
|
|
Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
|
Post by Gray on May 10, 2011 17:09:28 GMT -5
Turing quickly, Tasia looked in time to catch the pillow that was flung at her. Prince skwaked indignantly, and looked at Qosis with faint annoyance whirling in his eyes. Sulkily, he crawled along Tasia's arm to her shoulder and sat there. Dropping the pillow near his, Tasia sat, crossing her legs as she did.
Carefully she leaned over a bit to look at the belt buckles. Her eyes widened a bit. They were rather lovely little things. Her attention switched to the other parcels quickly. Clothes eh? She picked up one and felt it. There was a fairly decent amount of it here. Pity he wouldn't get too much for it. Again her attention was pulled to the belts.
Adjusting her glasses, she peered at the belt he held.
“Very nice work. Did you do this?” She asked. If he had, Tasia had underestimated him. She had assumed he only sold other people's creations. At them mention of having to look like a holder's daughter, she laughed a tad.
“I'm sure I can pull this off. I've been told I can look rather nice when I put effort into it.” She scratched Prince's eye ridges softly. Tasia certainly had the attitude for it as well.
“Ah yes, he does seem to have that effect on some.” At the praise, he crooned a bit rubbing his face against her cheek like some small cat.
“I know that. My mother did teach me things.” Looking at the belts she pondered a bit, trying to guess their worth.
“How much are you going to want for these?” She asked. It was better to have goal, than to just try and get as much as possible. If she went over? Great. But she wouldn't accept less. No. Tasia was to shrewd for that. |
|
Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 10, 2011 18:48:59 GMT -5
"Did I...make the belt? No!" Qosis stared at Tasia, offense becoming a snarl on his bearded face. "Don't think me some...secret tanner apprentice..." he continued to grumble, then stabbed the belt with his shorter forefinger. "I made enough profit to buy things like this. I was doing very well for myself prior to...this." He indicated the whole Weyr again. Tasia might as well have asked a Lord Holder if he had spent the day peeling potatoes with his drudges! "The mark of each belt's maker is here.." He flipped the belt over and indicated the tiny sigil on the leather nearest the buckle tongue. It took good light and concentration to make out each one. "I know for a fact the senior Journeymen involved in most of these went on to become Masters. So present it the way you would a Master work."
Raw irritation cleared out of his eyes as the other Candidate attended her firelizard's vanity, and Qosis took a deep breath to abate the sentiment's return. "For the ones with any gold or gems, do not take less three Marks. Do not take less than two Marks for any of them. The fabric..." Qosis grimaced as he pulled over the first package, somewhat aghast at the thought of some unknown trader slicing apart his good clothing. "The cloth is all basically the same stuff, but the dyes have different rarities. For example, this particular blue shade is from Igen, and the plant only blooms every few Turns when it receives direct rainfall..."
He frowned. "Actually, I have a different idea. Go and find the women they will have minding their youngest children. Show them the fabric and see what they think of it. They will be more excited about the ones rarer to their caravan. Use that as a gauge. No less than a quarter-mark for any of these, though. Stop playing with the flit and look at me, Tasia. This is important: before they show you any of their hard-earned Marks, they will try many different barters. They will have dresses. And shoes. If you trade any of my things for dresses and shoes, I will find them and burn them. And you with them, most likely."
Qosis leaned back against the wall, nudging the packages closed with the toe of his boot. He rubbed the black scruff on his chin. "Don't deal with the traders that dress like I do unless none of the deadglows under them are allowed Marks. They all have Marks, but there's only so much they can give you out in the open if the boss has restrictions in place. And, if for some reason they have women trading, just ignore them. Don't deal with them. Go to the men. It's good that you will clean up well."
Primary business concluded, the trader scrutinized the dainty Purple firelizard Tasia spent so much time fawning over. He snorted in immediate disapproval. "Go and oil him! I cannot help you with him if he is flaking like that."
|
|
Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
|
Post by Gray on May 11, 2011 1:04:05 GMT -5
Tasia didn't understand the indignant tone to his voice.
“I'm sorry, I thought you perhaps had a hobby, that you might do something creative.” Shards, evne Tasia had picked up something to waste her time with. When prompted, she looked at the sigil rather rather intently.
“I see... A master's work hmm?” That explained it's quality. She'd commit that tidbit to memory. Some how Tasia would fine a way to drop that information before ever accepting a mark.
Peering at the items, Prince chirped a bit. Part of him wanted some of the shinier ones to keep. To hide. But Tasia was quick to stop that feeling in him. She wouldn't stand him being a hoarder. Her eyes lit up a bit when she looked at the clothing. The colors. Surely these would be worth more.
“These are some very pretty colors. I'm sure I'll be able to find someone who will appreciate it.” Reaching down, she picked up a emerald-colored shirt peering at it intently as he spoke, only glancing at him over her glasses when he demanded her to.
“I am not some frivolous girl Qosis.” She frowned a bit. Surely he knew her better than that.
“I'm not swayed by clothing and shoes. I don't dress up much.” That was a partial lie. She loved beautiful clothing. She actually had several overly flamboyant outfits stashed at the bottom of her trunk. But he need not know that information.
“These are not mine. If I want, I can save up for more outfits.”
The shirt was folded and placed with the others before she focused on him again.
“I'll be sure to avoid those who dress like you do. I doubt it would end well.” A wry smile crossed her lips as she reached up to let Prince climb down.
“If you are speaking about the patch, I noticed.” She wrinkles her nose a bit.
“He gets them fairly bad, yet I oil him every night. I can't figure out what's wrong.” |
|
Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 11, 2011 14:33:59 GMT -5
"I have hobbies," the Candidate protested, then paused for a moment to think of what those were. He thumped his bicep. "I am in the hobby of being stronger and faster than the rest of you." Not that he regularly bragged about it. In fact he might not have thought of it, except it was the one thing that predominantly took up his spare minutes each and every day. Qosis actually frowned at the surfacing notion, then perked again with another suggestion: "And you have never seen me lingering about on a Rest Day. Not in the commons, not bellowing in the boys' hall...nowhere, right? See? Hobby!"
The trader shook his head at her. "That is what all you women say," he sniffed. "You are all just good, shy holder girls with no ambitions to glamor. But I find the right color, the right pattern, and you turn into giggling, preening, self-absorbed idiots. Every last one of you. And you overpay, because it's not your Marks or barter you're spending anyway. It's even easier if I spend a night with one of you-- this is assuming a normal girl, with functioning interests, Tasia --because then you take anything I have, and you make all your friends buy it too. It doesn't even matter the quality or how stained and roughed the caravan women's fingers got in preparing it. My mother's, and my sister's." Despite this flood of callous sentiment, Qosis smiled. "But I appreciate your commitment. You do make me feel better."
He was significantly less appreciative of the other Candidate's attempts to talk out her firelizard's problems rather than following his orders. "I will tell you what I know if you go and oil him now, then bring him back when you're done," he answered, then looked away from her.
|
|
Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
|
Post by Gray on May 13, 2011 4:37:08 GMT -5
It took all she had not to laugh.
“That's quite a hobby.” She managed to say it with a straight face though her lips curled at the edges. The added part just made her lose it. She laughed.
“I'd actually call it being anti-social.” But then again, who was Tasia to talk? She stayed to her room with Prince and carved things most of the time. She wasn't sure if she would calls his exercising a hobby though.
With head word he spoke, Tasia got sourer and sourer. Soon she was delivering him a look that would kill tunnel snakes and stop dragons in their tracks.
“Ambition is all good and nice. But really? I've never understood the way people fawn over clothes. A person could be decked in the rarest of dyes and it still wouldn't mean much.” She paused for a moment to breath, knowing her words before were rather sharp.
“I have functioning interests, though I guess you could say I'm a bit more picky than the rest of you. I have a feeling that you might be over exaggerating your skills though. One night? That seems a bit much. Shouldn't you be able to open your mouth and pretty words flutter out, capturing their attention and affections right there?”
The patch. It really really itched! The flitter's agitation even made Tasia reach up and scratch her own shoulder some. With a sigh and a roll of her eyes, Tasia sulked off to go oil her firelizard.
“I'll be back soon.” Soft trill came from a rather elated Prince as she walked off. |
|
Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
|
Post by Azhdarchid on May 13, 2011 14:07:30 GMT -5
He was being social, just not with his fellow Candidates. Tasia could have asked. And she might not think it mattered what a person dressed like, but she had still been drawn to the shine of his belts and the color of his clothes. He had seen the brief, shrewd flash in her eyes even in a light so dim. And appearances did matter, regardless of what some misplaced fish-wife believed. He kept his silence regardless of her questions. She might as well have been talking to the wall till she returned with her firelizard oiled and sated.
Qosis adjusted the packages he had prepared for her into a single tower, sliding them up to one of his sides and looping his arm over them as if to grant the inanimate comfort. He stretched his legs out one at a time, reaching down to rub his calf through the hard leather of his boot. Any minor movement would do to keep him from contemplation. He was not very good at it, and in this brief solitude he did not really want to fall all the way back to the state Tasia had found him in. He looked up slowly, but hopefully, at the sound of her return.
"That is not what you said before," he greeted. Friendly! "It had nothing to do with pickiness." Full of accusations now that he was feeling better, his brows set in a skeptical furrow as he forced himself to consider Tasia's Purple companion. "The first rule of a firelizard is that you keep him fat and oily at all times. You find the patches before he feels them." He held out his left hand, the palm turned up and fingers flat rather than caging toward the center. "See if you can get him to sit on my hand. I want to have a look at him." Despite the desire for inspection, Qosis did not even keep Prince in his peripheral vision when he spoke. Whenever he accidentally looked, he had a hard time staring anywhere but the ground afterwards.
The trader moved his right hand to his belt and detached a small leather bag, which he showed to Tasia. "You have something like this to carry scraps in?" He tilted his head to look around her person. "No, of course you don't." He withdrew the palm intended for Prince a moment and opened his bag, then emptied a bunch of thread spindles onto the ground. He tossed the empty bag into Tasia's lap, then stuck out his hand for Prince again. "Use that. Dry out some red meat, mix in a few shreds of fish, and keep it with you. If you want you can sew in a divider and keep some fresh scraps there too but..." Experience reared up in his grimace. "...I don't recommend it. Feed him whenever he does something good, even if it is just being silent when he should be. He doesn't give an egg about your praise unless it comes with rewards."
The thread he had abandoned on the ground was brand new, and the spindles came in white, black, red and blue. Qosis made no move to retrieve them. "They outgrow their skins. And I think this season and place is not ideal for them. The cold chafes. The 'lizards we had on the caravan all tended to flock off whenever we even whispered the name 'High Reaches.' It is not so bad here at Dalibor, but it is still Winter."
|
|
