A Gift From The Heart (Rhia)

[Kiran]

Fyska barreled through the lower caverns with a basket in hand, trying hard to reach the forges before the crèche mothers came after her and before the special thing she had made cooled off. It was desperately exciting, now that Fyris was so close to graduating! Oh, oh, she hoped that N'tharon would like and accept this. She knew it wasn't quite enough or what he usually wanted or asked for but Fyska so desperately hoped....

And he wouldn't break her heart, would he?

She came to a stumbling halt at the entrance to N'tharon's workshop to both compose herself and not get yelled at for doing something dangerous. After all, she was eight Turns old now, and that meant she was practically a grown-up, and that meant she could go running around and being reckless anymore. No siree! So Fyska peeked in and glanced around, spotting the man at work. A grin split her face. He was right where he usually was, and that worked out perfectly for her! She strode in confidently, proudly placing the basket on an empty spot on the table.

"Rider N'tharon," she began, putting in a dreadfully serious look on her face and behaving with all seriousness. "I wish to cont... Coms... Commission a piece of jewelry from you. Fyris is graduating in two months, and I want her to have a gift that's worthy of a rider. I can't pay you marks, but I can trade, I learned how to bake from some of the drudges - they said I could watch and they'd help me of I stayed in the corner - so I did and I can make more if you'll help me!" She lifted a corner of the wrap keeping them warm so that she could show off two irregularly-shaped and slightly darker than average loaves before letting it fall back into place.

"And if Fyris says that you better watch out because my teeth might be in there, she's lying! Don't listen to her!" The girls tone went a bit grumpy as she declare that. Her two front teeth had fallen out at the same time and had (unfortunately) been swallowed by the girl when eating dinner, so her older sister had teased her a bit about it. But her expression lightened when it went back to thinking about Fyris' graduation. "So. Will you do it, please?"

[RhiaBlack]

Acetone perked up at the sound of footfalls on the corridor floor, the Black firelizard flitting from his ledge off Nel's right shoulder, to the edge of his worktable. He skittered to one side as Fyska came in, craning his little head at the basket the eight-turn-old carried. He looked to it, then back to Nel, then back to the basket, and finally to Fyska. A cheep, before he sidled over warily to see what was inside. It certainly smelled good, and N'tharon glanced up from where he was soldering a piece of a bracelet. Pushing the small magnifying glass upwards from its stand, he looked to the excited young girl curiously.

"A Commission? I'm impressed..." It took everything he had not to crack a grin at the super-serious look on the girl's face. "I would be more than happy to trade. Do you have anything in mind for her?"

He peered at the bread, stomach pulling at him. With some butter, that would serve to make quite the snack. Let alone some pretty viable sandwiches. Mmmm. Acetone hopped up on the edge of the basket, then scaled Fyska's arm to wind himself around her shoulders. Unlike his perch on N'tharon, Fyska's much smaller ones made him more of a slinky black boa; though he was still small by comparison. His little foot-long body was all tail and wings in the first place.

"Since the pair of you like keeping me company down here, I suspect I should put something into the deal, too. So this will be more than good enough, just don't tell anyone. Don't want to end up with more food than Marks, eh?" He grinned, rubbing his face and eyes. Focusing on tiny work tended to wear on him after a while.

I'll tell you what. I've some hide and pencils here. Do the crechemothers know you're gone?""

[Kiran]

Fyska nodded enthusiastically when the blackrider asked if she had anything in mind.

"I do! I saw the bracelet you tried to give her at the Gather, and it was so pretty! If you still have it, then I was hoping that maybe you could make a necklace and earrings to go with it. They don't have to be anything fancy, but maybe a flower medallion on a choker and plain earrings, so she wouldn't have to worry about anything dangling. And then she'll have a nice set for graduation and I'll bet she'd wear it, too! Fyris doesn't like taking anything for no reason, but a graduation gift isn't no reason. And since part of it is from me she wouldn't say no anyway! And she'll be turning twenty-two Turns anyway next season, so it's also a Birthing Day gift. Two reasons to take 'em."

She puffed her chest out proudly as she shared her idea, thoroughly enamored with the idea and had been ever since she had seen the bracelet that N'tharon had made her. It still astounded the girl that her sister didn't have any sense to be grateful for nice things that came her way no matter who they came from... And Fyska suspected her sister wasn't as indifferent or turned off by the blackrider as she occasionally acted. In fact, the girl would go so far to say that Fyris might actually consider him a friend.

She let out a giggle and whooping cheer when N'tharon said that he would help out. Keeping in mind that she had Acetone around her shoulders, Fyska moved enough slowly enough to not disturb him too much, but made her way over to the other side so she could give him a hug. "Thank you so much! I promise if you ever ask for more than I'll be happy to make some. And next they're teaching me to make meatrolls and sweetbreads, too! I could do an entire meal!" The weyrbrat was flushed with pleasure, both with having gotten a hug from the handsome rider and because he seemed to like what she had made. It was so exciting! And maybe he would even take her to the beach and have dinner with her, like they were courting! The thought made Fyska positively giddy.

But her happiness was brought to a halt at the mention of the crèche mothers. Stepping back and giving Acetone a quick scritch behind the headknobs, she gave a sheepish smile and shake of her head. "Naw, I didn't tell them. They don't like us coming down to the forges a'cause they're dangerous, and they don't know I've known you for close on two turns now and know not to be stupid down here. You'll write a note and let them know?"

A look of hope shone on her face, and Fyska began rocking back on her heels. "I'd love to stick around for a bit, I can do some sorting or help keep the fires up. I'm big enough to help with that now, too, you know." She felt confident enough from helping in the kitchens and watching the rider stoke his enough, though whether N'tharon would let her was another story. "Also, gonna tell Fyris I'm here, too? I think she's still at lessons for a bit longer, so we'd have time before she got here." Something else that made her little heart flutter. Being alone with him! Fyris teased her often enough on how starry-eyed she was about N'tharon, but he was nice enough to her and yes, she knew he was too old. But still!

[RhiaBlack]

That one is going to be a handful when she's of-age, MineOwn.
You're telling me.
You aren't considering it...
Of course not. She's only a child. How demented do you think I am, that's disgusting. No, her sister perhaps when she's graduated, but this one? No. And even at that, far be it for me to incite jealousy among siblings. I got quite enough of that at Ista.
I was beginning to say...

"Of course I'll write a note," he nodded, pulling out another piece of hide and a writing stick as well at the thought. "They can tell Fyris when she comes looking for you, I'm sure. Acetone can take it up to them, I'll walk you back once you've gotten everything sorted."

A quick note written for the Crechemother, to tell her that Fyska was down in the Lower Caverns with him, on account of making a graduation gift for her sister (as well as a notation that it was a surprise, would they please not tell her, only that Fyska came down to show and gift him some bread she had made); he signed it off with the notification that he would be escorting her back to the Creche to make sure she didn't find herself lost or into anything, and handed the note over to Acetone.

The Black crawled off Fyska's shoulders, taking the rolled piece of hide between his paws and setting off to fly along the corridors to courier it to the proper hands.

"He doesn't like betweening, so it will take him a few moments to get there. I don't have the bracelet anymore, it was sold at the last Gather, but I think I can make something better. Sketch me out the flower design you want, and I'll make the earrings and such to go with it. What kind of metal do you want it in? Gold? Silver?"

The mention of helping out around the forges got a shrug from the Blackrider.

"I've another boy, a Candidate, who comes down to help when he has the time. I've been learning him for Smithcraft, the easier things, that is. Otto, I believe he said his name was. He's still mending from where he was mauled at the Hatching, so there's some things that he isn't yet able to do that I imagine you can help with. You'll have to get the Crechemothers to agree, that is. I don't want you coming down here and making them angry, then they're mad at both of us. If they're all right with it, I'll send them my patrol and Threadfighting schedule, and Acetone will check on the days that I'm free. If I have nothing else to do and time to work the forges, he'll let them know. If they're all right with it, you can come down and help out."

[Kiran]

Fyska couldn't help the huge grin when he said she could stay. Best. Day. Ever! "That sounds wonderful! I can do it, I'll be good and stay out of trouble and everything, so thank you!" She waved to Acetone has he went off to deliver the message, humming in understanding when N'tharon told her about not liking Between. She didn't care for the idea, either, from what Fyris had told her about it. But chances were she wouldn't ever have to do it herself.

"Aw, that bracelet was really pretty. Fyris was a dimglow for not taking it." Fyska couldn't hide her disappointment in the jewelry having been sold, but oh, well. She grasped a hide for herself and set herself up on the spare stool that was in the corner for guests and customers (as few and far between either of those things were). "I think that silver would be really nice for this, though. One of the other kids showed me a moonflower, they called it, and it was so pretty!" She started to sketch out what it looked like, but then paused and took account for the round shape of the medallion and made the flower look like it was curling in on itself and then filled in the circle with delicate curling vines. She took her time with it, trying to get everything just perfect so that N'tharon would know my exactly what she wanted.

As she drew, she listened and spoke some more. For a moment a thought crossed her mind that silver was pretty expensive anyway and Fyris would be pretty suspicious about her ability to afford it. But that disappeared when she remembered N'tharon would also be taking part in this gift and he wouldn't offer if he couldn't afford the difference.

"I'd love to be able to come down here and help more often! You know, if I don't get Searched when I'm old enough then I want to be a Smith like you! Everything you make is so pretty and it makes people happy and I think that it would just be the most neatest thing to do. Otto is sooooo lucky, I have to wait four more turns to know if I have a chance of getting a dragon or even Apprenticing at Smithcraft, and I'll be happy to do what he can't or help him if he ever comes by when I'm here or I come by when he's here! If I can get the crèchemothers to agree. I don't want them to get angry either."

The words tumbled over themselves like the usually did. Fyska's siblings and some of the other crèche kids teased her about how she could talk an ear off when she wanted to, but when she had said everything she needed to the flow ended. And she most certainly had said her piece. N'tharon was the best! The absolute best! She hoped that she would be able to apprentice with him when she was old enough, but that remained unsaid for now. Especially since he was only a journeyman and Fyska was pretty certain she might have to talk to a master if she wanted to apprentice.

A curl of hair went between her lips to chew on as she looked over the drawing she had made of the flower. It seemed okay to her... But what would the blackrider think? She glanced up at N'tharon. "I... I think I'm finished. Do you think she would like this? Is it pretty enough? I can change the design if you think it doesn't look any good, I just want it too look nice for her." The burst of worry made her eyes darken. Fyska didn't know anything about designing jewelry or anything like that, just what she had watched N'tharon do. Was that enough? Her eyes slid over the pieces he had out or was working on. They were all so nice!

[RhiaBlack]

N'tharon smirked, shifting in his stool to turn and retrieve some different pieces of wire, in order to solder the design he wanted. The basket of bread was set to one side, out of the way so that the space on the table could be acquired for Fyska to do her designing work, while Nel worked over his piece. A small bird, from the looks of it, for either a charm bracelet or a pendant of some sort.

"Your sister is honorable, I haven't ever met many who don't take free things and never look back. She didn't feel as if it was warranted, and that's all right. It will take her far in life, not expecting things given to her. All the same, sometimes we must accept that there are those who want to give us gifts, and don't expect anything in return, hmm? She won't have much to say about giving this one back, I think. Might balk a bit when she finds out we worked on it together, but it's her Turn-day gift, so she can't say much at all."

He paused his work on the winged creation, peering over at what she was working on.

"You have a knack for drawing, it would seem. Perhaps an artist of sorts in the future, for you? I think it looks fantastic. Actually, I have an idea..."

N'tharon shifted once more in his stool, bending down to rummage in the alcoves of some shuttered cabinets to one side. Hmm...where did he put...aha!

A small, flat container with some multi-hued chalk sticks were set before her; all the basic colors of the spectrum, with a few in-between hues. Ones he used to mark designs in varying colors, so that he could sort out what colors were being used for what parts.

"Now, these aren't all that great as far as coloring things in, I'd think, but it gets the point across. You can use them to make new colors, too - just put a little of one somewhere on the side, and another in its own space. Use your fingers to smudge them into the new color, and you can fill in the spaces if you want. I can find stone or mother-of-pearl to try and match it up. Be careful, it's a bit messy and I don't want the other children getting upset because you got to do something fun, and they didn't. Don't want the Crechemothers complaining that it's all over your clothes, either. She'll need earrings designed, too - like you said, something that doesn't dangle, and matches."

That would keep her busy for a time, he suspected. She certainly seemed to enjoy being down here with him, so if anything, it might keep her amused for a little while, at least. Most children he had the misfortune of meeting (normally for them, not for him, though he wasn't fond of kids much), seemed to enjoy art of some form or another. Making things, crafts, generally creating things out of other things. Imagination was a wonderful thing, he had to agree, and he'd be quite at the loss without it.

Fortunately, there seemed to be no lack of it for either himself, or the eight-turn-old propped in her stool at his table.

"Now, I told the Crechemother not to tell Fyris what we're working on, so you'll have to keep it a secret, too. Don't tell anyone else, unless it's a Rider like me. None of the other Candidates or kids. They might tell her, and that will ruin the surprise. Do you like Klah?"

[Kiran]

Fyska pursed her lips and glanced down guiltily when N'tharon said that her sister's refusal to take the gift was more honorable than anything. Well, if you looked at it like that then yeah Fyris' refusing the bracelet wasn't so bad. But still! It had been a nice gift and it hadn't been for nothing, and N'tharon couldn't convince her of that. Especially since it had been from the blackrider himself!

At least she was able to perk up at the mention that Fyris couldn't deny this one. "Yeah! She won't. Not if I had anything to do with it, she won't. She loves me too much for that!" Another small puff of pride made her grin. "So I'm glad, because your hard work won't go to waste, and it will look so pretty!" Fyska blushed when N'tharon complimented her drawing. It made her so happy she couldn't really say anything, just look down at the picture with shining eyes. Her fingers moved to trace around the lines so she wouldn't smudge them. An artist, huh? Well, if he thought she would be good at it, then she would practice at it, and try!

The next moment her eyes went up, caught by the flash of color that the blackrider set in front of her. Her mouth dropped open a bit, fingers twitching in anticipation of using them. "I will! I'll be super careful and won't make a mess at all! And if I do I'll wash up before I go back, I'll have to for my hands anyway so thank you so much!" Her eyes shone brightly as her hand moved over the colors, carefully deciding on what color she wanted to use before putting it to paper. She hadn't gotten the first few streaks of color down before N'tharon assured her that this was a secret - her secret and his - and that Fyris wouldn't know about it. It almost made her lip quiver a bit, touched by his help.

"I'm not gonna tell another soul. Not even my plush dragon that Fyris made me! Just in case. I mean, I know it can't talk but in case Fyris overhears me or one of the other crèche kids! Thank you!" She couldn't say those words often enough today.

Taking advantage of N'tharon's generosity, she got down to drawing, putting all her concentration into carefully choosing what color to make one petal or another and what shade of green to make the petals. Fyska carefully mixed colors together on the edges of the hide to make sure it was perfect before putting them to the paper. She chose to do the work in deep blues, purples, and greens, deciding that the deep colors suited her sister best and would go well with the silver. Engrossed in the artwork, Fyska feel totally silent for long minutes. She designed small, flower-shaped studs to match the one on the pendent and made sure they were as lovely as the choker.

After what felt like forever to the young girl, she sat back up and flexed her fingers. They felt stiff from having worked so hard at staying steady and not ruining anything, but she was feeling confident in her work. Fyska glanced over at N'tharon. "I think I'm done. I think I got everything perfect." Finally, at last. Perfect for her sister. She slid the paper over to N'tharon so he could see what she had done. "And I didn't get any of the color on anything but my hands, too!"

She waited for N'tharon's approval. As she waited, a small green flit popped from Between carrying a scroll. Glimmer! Fyska grasped the scroll as the green settled down hear her. She opened and read it. "Fyris says she is glad I'm okay and thanks you for looking after me." Slight liberal interpretation, but it wasn't going to hurt either of them. "She expects me back in the crèche soon, or she'll come looking."

Fyska looked up with a wide grin. "I can't wait to tell her that you're going to let me help here! I bet she'll be really impressed that I'll be learning little bits of crafting, helping out here, since she wasn't able to do it. And I think that she will love our gift, too. Her gather dresses are usually blue so it'll go great with them, and she likes blues anyway so it'll go great! And again, thanks so much about this. Are you going to escort me back now?" Her feet swung back and forth eagerly. It had been such a wonderful day so far, it was a shame it was coming to an end!

[RhiaBlack]

N'tharon wasn't easily distracted, least of all by people working beside him. While Fyska worked over the hide with the chalk-sticks, he briefly paused his work time to time, in order to get a gauge of what she was working on. What colors, what order he would have to do the pieces in, and how thin the precious stones would have to be cut in order to coincide with what she was doing. It would take work, but in all truth he was glad to have something to occupy his time outside of Threadfall and filling orders from the Weyr as far as his more useful Smithcrafting. Rigging repairs, fencing, et cetera.

"Looks quite fine to me. I'll start on it once we've gotten you back to the creche."

The wing of the bird he was working on was taking shape. A hummingbird, by the sight of it. Quick little beasts, not seen around here, but certainly at home in the warmer climates. Small works always required so much of his patience and attention, and this had been no different. Though it lacked the gemwork he was notorious for putting on things like this, it did have several different colors of wire soldered into solid plates in sections for the body, beak, feet, and wingtips.

"I will have to tell you about what is dangerous down there, so that you don't go getting hurt. If you burned yourself on something, I can only presume they would no longer let you come down to help. Learning this aspect of my Craft requires I teach you some things about Smithwork, too. So without a doubt you will probably encounter Otto down there as well. I suspect the boy has little interest in jewelry, he seems more fond of the less-glitzy and more raw aspect of it all, which is fine by me. When you get back, I will need to have the Crechemother take you to the Tanner to see about gloves and an apron to fit you. I'll have to take Otto myself, I suspect, or get measurements proper and take them down myself."

Momentarily thoughtful, before he shifted the small bird and turned it to settle the fusing of the second wing. That took a matter of moments, and turning it again, he started on the tail.

"Do you get along well with the other children? I've never had any of my own, no time for them. I always thought them annoying and into everything, but you don't seem to be that way. Does Fyris always mother-wherry you so much?"

His lips tugged into a smirk. It was no lie that he found most children in general to be a pain in the tail. Always into things, always talking his ears off and being in the way, but Fyska seemed to be very aware of when she was being too talkative or overly irritating. Not that she really ever had on the latter - he didn't see her often enough for her to actually become a problem, but he figured there would be some measure of it when he started showing her how to do things. Both she and Otto had a tendency to be a bit chatty, so it would stand to reason whether he could handle it or not. It probably wouldn't be too bad - Otto was still recovering, had Candidate Lessons, and would have chores to do once his leg had been handled, which meant it would probably be rare to have them both in his Forges at the same time. There were only a few at this Weyr who actually used them for anything, and the times he saw those persons were few and far between. He was usually on his own for much of his time there.

The tail was finished and left to cool alongside the rest of the finished piece, while he took the hide Fyska had completed her work on, and laid it against a ledge on the wall. Blowing the dust off it, so that it wouldn't smear anywhere near as much, he took a smaller pump-sprayer - not unlike the flamethrowers used by Queenriders - and sprayed a layer of clear oil over the hide. When it dried, it would preserve the chalk so that N'tharon could move it without worrying about smearing it. Laying it out to dry, he checked it in places; when his fingers came back with oil and not with color, he wiped his hands and directed Fyska to the basin of water in the corner. Retrieving a cloth from an alcove, he handed it to her for her to dry her hands off, and plucked the small bird-charm from his table. The tools he had been using were put away, everything cleaned up, before he gestured that she come there to him.

"Let me see the bracelet I gave you."

It was a new charm meant for it; an addition to the dragon one he had made her prior. In time, it would fill up with small things to signify her travels, but for now, it looked rather sad with only the one there. Two would be better.

Everyone needed at least one friend, after all.

[Kiran]

Fyska gave a relieved smile when he said that he would start working on it. She had full confidence in the blackrider. It also meant that she could leave the picture alone and watch him as he worked on the charm he was making. As she watched his hands give shape to the little bird, the weyrbrat listened and nodded at N'tharon's instructions. She chirped a happy agreement about going to the tanner's to get fitted. It meant she was learning something! Almost as good as being an apprentice.

His next questions caught her a bit off-guard. "I get along with the other kids just fine. I have my brothers, too, but I play plenty with the other kids my own age." It was answering the next bit that made her gaze fall onto her drawing once more. Her voice was low and sober. "It's my fault she mother-wherry's me, so I can't complain too much about it. Isis, one 'a my sisters, she says Fyris was a lot more fun before I was born. But dad died and left mom pregnant with me, and after she gave birth... Isis and the others said she died of a broken heart. Just lay in bed and wasted away."

Her hand reached out to grasp a nearby stone, running her fingers over it as she continued to speak. "The reason Fyris didn't get to apprentice anywhere is because while mom was laying there dying, so was I. The healers didn't think I would live, I was so sick. And Fyris went and called them a buncha things Isis said I'm not allowed to repeat, and became a drudge so she could watch over me and nurse me at any moment if I needed it. She got help from one 'a the drudges that lost her own kid for feedings, but anything else she was there and did it. And by the time I was really well, Fyris was sixteen turns and making sure that we were all growing up okay and thought that starting a craft then would be silly. So."

Her eyes glanced up long enough from the stone to watch him spray the picture with oil to set the chalk. "It's part of why I want this present to be so nice. She gave up lots for me, and she deserves something nice back. I can't give her back a craft or anything, but I can give her this." She set the stone back where it had been. In a far more upbeat tone, Fyska went ahead and shared with him the rest of it.

"Isis also told me that the day Fyris was truly happy was the day she found a man, so I'm hoping that it will be pretty enough that it'll make one of them take notice of her. Though she also said that second best would be a good long lay instead of the quick tumbles in the furs Fyris normally took, but I'm not entirely sure what that means since whenever I saw Fyris sleeping she looked like she was sleeping pretty soundly and she always scolded me when I bounced in the bed, so I don't think she did that either. So I'm not sure how much I can trust Isis, but she seemed pretty certain about this bit so I'm hoping she's right. Though when I told Fyris what Isis said she went and smacked her, so who knows?" The babble ended with a shrug from the girl, always and ever confused by her elder sisters.

Fyska's eyebrows raised in surprise when N'tharon asked for her bracelet, but she handed it over happily, willing to do anything for the blackrider. The smile turned to a grin when she saw the hummingbird placed next to it. "It's so pretty, N'tharon! Thank you so much!" She took the bracelet back and delicately fingered the charm. Glimmer, who had stayed quiet through the whole thing, finally gave a croon and lifte her head to see. Fyska moved her hand so that the green could look and paw at it to her hearts desire. "It's perfect with Acetone. I love it." Two charms! It was wonderful. Fyris wouldn't approve, of course, but when did she ever?

[RhiaBlack]

There was a frown that etched his features, his back to her while he sprayed down the piece she'd drawn. A pause in his hands, that traveled along the rest of him. His brows furrowed, and there was a pang of empathy that made Sintharith not only waken, but push himself up off his couch to a standing position.

NelMine, you are all right?
Fine.

The shadows reached across his thoughts. This was information he could use. Sintharith grinned, and N'tharon's teeth set against themselves. No. He wouldn't take advantage of her like that. It made him no better than anyone else. It made him no better than he had been, and he was striving not to be that man anymore.

The one that enjoyed the looks on the faces of Sintharith's chosen's riders. The lust, the need, the surprise when he caught them in the hallway outside their weyr, or elsewhere, and let his Black's tail-twining do his work for him. His lips curled in a sneer.

No.
Why not?
She's not graduated yet. It will kill her Green. I am not so cruel, you should be ashamed of yourself. Let alone so stupid as to do something that would see us exiled from this place.
Right. Sorry, Mine. I forget.

Sintharith laid down on his couch with a sigh, and N'tharon shoved the hunger away from his mind and buried it. He had enough Drudges to occupy his respective needs with. He would save the lot of his pointed interest in specific riders for when Sintharith actually chased. They could decide if he was worth their time, then. Hopefully without the maliciousness and the remarks that fueled the fire which had burned through the vineyard vines at Ista.

When he finally turned, there was a mostly serious expression across his stubble-bound features.

"It is not your fault. You were a baby at the time, it wasn't your fault, what happened to your father and mother. What matters is that you were lucky enough to have a sibling who cared for you and looked after you. Your sister is very strong, both in personality and in strength of will. I see much of her in you, they say we take after what we are raised by and in. You have become so much more than your hardship, as has Fyris. You should be proud of her, and she should be equally as proud of you."

The rambling that followed, however, saw N'tharon's eyebrows shoot up. He had to resist the urge to bust out laughing, though he had to turn his back to keep the humor out of her sights. He had been scolded for egging on children before, and the last thing he wanted was to be the one that explained such things to an eight-turn-old. That was the Crechemother's responsibility, of course.

"Our siblings can be confusing at times. I've barely known two of mine, the other two came here with me and died when Thread first started to fall. I never knew my father, and my mother left me in the Creche as soon as she was able to. I wouldn't know the first thing about family, let alone having one of my own. Much better off on my own, at that. Hopefully your sister finds someone that will treat her well, though I suspect she won't have any trouble with that now that she has Dreaneth. They will have to be mindful of her, that Green strikes me as having a mean streak ten miles long when it comes to those who wrong Hers."

Let that be a lesson to you, Ashbrains.

Sintharith grumbled in resentment. N'tharon watched Fyska with a smirk.

"You're welcome. Are you ready to go back? Or am I to find more hides for you to draw on?"

[Kiran]

Fyska took in his serious words and equally serious expression and nodded slowly. She didn't fully believe him, but it was nice of him all the same to say so. But she did have a smile creep up when he said that she should be proud of her sister. She was. She was beyond proud. And she hoped desperately that she made Fyris proud as well.

Her face fell a bit when she heard about his family, though. "N'tharon, I'm sorry your siblings died. That's terrible! We got lucky that none of ours did, so I have so many you can have a few if you want! I don't mind sharing Fyris, either, even though she's my favorite. And I don't mind being one, either! So.... Just ask!" She nodded emphatically, her look recalling the somber, serious one that she had come in with. Right up until it was ruined with a relieved grin. "But it's good that I'm not the only one who thinks their siblings are strange. And yes, if any man ever hurt Fyris, Dreaneth would avenge her. You know, when we were first introduced I had done something to irritate her and Dreaneth threatened to shove me off of the top of the Weyr! I couldn't believe it! But I think that now she's grown and can fly she would actually be able to do it, too. She's a lot calmer now, but still really sensitive to how Fyris feels about people."

As she spoke, Fyska's face had slid from one expression to another, everything she was feeling showing on her face. It was something she had in common with her older sister. When the mini lecture ended she sat back and tapped her fingers gently on the table in front of her. To draw or not to draw? The possibility of staying with N'tharon was tempting, and it meant getting a chance to use the chalk again, and that had been beyond fun! On the other hand, Fyris was probably on her way down to gather her up right now, so how much time would she actually have to do it?

"Chalk, please!" The decision was easy. When Fyris saw how much fun she was having, how could she demand that Fyska leave? Her fingers grasped a lovely shade of yellow as her eyes gleamed with eagerness to get drawing again.

Glimmer gave a cautious chirp when she saw that Fyska wasn't moving. Fyris was clearly sending pictures that meant the girl was supposed to be going somewhere else. The green didn't have the heart to send Fyska scurrying but did nuzzle her worriedly. Fyris was getting agitated! Why wasn't Fyska listening?!

[RhiaBlack]

N'tharon's amusement glinted at the corners of his eyes, though his lips didn't pull into a smile as they should have. Something lingered behind those darkened orbs of his, and he spared the Greenweyrling's sister the sinister, belittling sort of look that had shrunk much bigger men than any she had probably encountered. Share her, indeed.

The thought almost made N'tharon's mouth water. He bit back the remark that would blow his cover of sorts, and turned his back to rummage through the pieces of hide he kept on hand. Keep her occupied, see if Fyris came to retrieve her so that he wouldn't be forced to escort her back to the Creche. The last thing he wanted was people talking, then again he could always pass it off as precisely what it was - her coming down to ask him for a present for her sister. He knew people had seen Fyris speaking with him before, it wouldn't be unheard of. Hopefully nobody was as uncouth as to suspect or suggest that he would do anything with a child. The thought turned his stomach sour so quickly he could feel the bile rise in his throat.

He turned, sliding another two pieces of hide under her hands as he plucked an in-progress work from a drawer not far from his work table. A rather elaborate chain-and-pendant design, the latter of which reached far down the neck and chest of the wearer. Something extremely fetching, that would net him quite a profit at the next Gather - if he didn't sell it personally before then. It was a clearly very, very expensive piece, and the price of it was foretold in the careful way he handled every part of it.

He wouldn't start on Fyris' piece until after Fyska was back in the Creche - if he were to start work on it and she came down to retrieve Fyska, the surprise would surely be ruined.

"I still have two siblings, if the need arises for me to feel that social. I'm not overly of the out-in-public sort, if you haven't been able to tell already. I like my quiet time, so to speak. It's less daunting to have places to myself, versus being forced out into public. I fly Thread, I do my patrols and Wing Drills when I have to, I handle things when Sintharith chases, and I oil him and Acetone when required. Other than that, I'm very much content to be left alone in here. My half-brother and half-sister understand that, they stay in their respective Weyrs. Sometimes I meet them at Gathers and we catch up on things, but I'm much happier being left alone. All the same, I appreciate the sentiment."

His full attention was on his work, and it was eluded to in the manner that his voice softened. His eyes did the opposite, however - intense in their focus, almost absentminded in anything that wasn't the work in front of him.

"Our Dragons are very protective of us. Think about it - you're bonded to someone, body and soul, who if something happened to them it would quite literally tear you apart. Wouldn't you be protective of Yours, too?" He shifted in his stool, scooting forwards to hunch over the pendant and twist a particular section of gold. "Sintharith has threatened to eat people before if they laid a hand on me. Not that he would actually, but those without the knowledge of Dragons tend not to question when twenty-one feet of black shadow and white teeth is telling them to step off from His' face. He doesn't question anything, where my safety is concerned, and I do much the same for him. He is all I have, and I am all he has. There are no other priorities, something your sister will learn in time. If she hasn't already, and I would hope she has. Family, friends, it means nothing next to our bondeds."

There was a whisper of hint to the strife and turmoil that N'tharon had faced with Sintharith back at Ista. That things hadn't been fine and dandy, and that maliciousness had bordered from mere words to actual threats of violence - though he never in a thousand Turns would have admitted that he had ever exchanged blows with anyone else. That had been the final straw, and Sintharith had pushed him into leaving shortly thereafter; it had been in self-defense, of course, but all the same most Weyrs did not tolerate violence of any form outside of Hatchings and Flightlust, and even at that the latter was questionable. Nel was by no means a troublemaker, but he was also aggressive enough not to back down when someone came at him; be it for whatever reason. He answered force with force, and his Smithcrafting background tended to mean that sometimes his was a bit more than the other side had been particularly bargaining for. He was far, far from impressionable or passive, when roused to that point. The point of no return, he liked to call it. The point when Sintharith had to intervene to make sure His didn't do anything stupid.

"I presume your sister will be down here to get you eventually, so I may not even have to walk you back. She doesn't mind you being down here, I hope? Unless of course it's purely because she doesn't want me giving you anything else for free..."

He paused to peer at her with a smug sort of grin, before going back to his work. Glimmer hadn't evaded his attention, or Acetone's; the little Black had returned in the span of Nel's lecture, and was perched on the edge of the table. He crooned at Glimmer in greeting, but remained where he was. Half hoping that His would let him at some more of that bread. He couldn't help it! It smelled so -good-!

[Kiran]

Fyska hummed, not quite convinced by N'tharon's talk of how he preferred to be alone. She couldn't understand it, having come from such a large family. Didn't everyone like having siblings? They were people to depend on, to come to, to be friends when no one else wanted to play. They were the absolute best! But he seemed pretty sure of it, so the girl decided to leave it be. That thought was abandoned entirely as a hide was placed before her and she began sketching out a few new things on them, mixing chalk colors and having fun with the whole endeavor.

Her attention was drawn upward momentarily when the blackrider gave a small lecture on dragons and their bonds to their riders. It wasn't something that Fyska was unfamiliar with, given that Dreaneth had been fiercely possessive of Fyris when they had first impressed, and Fyris had to explain the bond that had formed between the two since Fyska had been too young to take it in when they'd first arrived. And Fyris hadn't even really explained it, since she had fully expected to age out. Her fingers paused, the chalk still on the hide before her. "She knows. It was the hardest thing for her to learn, and she and Dreaneth were on the outs for quite a while because she had such a hard time letting go even though she loved Dreaneth as much as all of us. But things are better now." The arguments and upset had caused absolute chaos the first few times it had happened. The green had a mischievous side to her that turned destructive when she felt she wasn't being paid enough attention.

Fyska couldn't imagine adoring someone like that. Well.... She could. Fyris. If she lost Fyris her whole world would be gone. Was that what it was like? Probably. Worse, even. But Fyris gave her a point of reference on the pain and grief that Fyris and Dreaneth would feel if they lost each other. "I don't think I'd want a dragon, if I was at risk of that. It's scary." Her admission was quiet, her eyes focused entirely on the picture that was growing beneath her fingertips. "'Course, I might not be Searched, but I don't think I'd Stand if I had to face that. Isn't it scary? Knowing that just one slip up could just destroy you like that?" Fyska still didn't look up at the blackrider. She didn't want her expression to be seen.

"Fyris doesn't mind be being down here, no. She said that if you were going to let me get hurt or chase me out you would have done it by now. But she does hate it when you do that, if she knew about this new charm she would have a fit." The movement of the conversation back to her sister and being down here was a welcome change from the darker tone it had taken. Fyska was able to give N'tharon a small smile. "She'll come down to get me, for sure." Her fingers abandoned their play to adore Glimmer for a few moments before the green flit crept up to Fyska's shoulder and gave a return greeting to Acetone.

Her words were true. Within half a candlemark Fyris appeared in the doorway, leaning against it and observing her sister and the rider. "She hasn't cost me anything else, has she? That chalk and those hides, they aren't difficult to replace, are they?" Her questions were the first words out of her mouth.

Fyska grinned and waved at her sister from where she wa sitting, her rainbow fingers showing off what she had been doing. "Fyris! Guess what?! N'tharon said I could come down here and help him out if I wanted to learn a few things. I'm going to be an almost-apprentice!" The girl was careful to not say anything about the gift or why she would be coming down to the forges to learn in the first place, but certainly was far too excited by the prospect of working down there to not share that part!

The green weyrling frowned deeply, eying the blackrider. "Is that true? And.... why?" She was thoroughly confused and her spine had stiffened as a result. People just didn't do that sort of thing from the good of their heart. She had never found that to be true, at the very least.

[RhiaBlack]

"You don't have to be Searched," Nel murmured quietly, attention fully on his work. "You're already here, you can stand if you want. Unless you intend on picking up a craft and doing something in that respect, you're probably better off Standing. The only other options are pretty likely that you'll become Weyrfolk here, maybe a Drudge, or they'll ship you back out to a Hold somewhere. So if you're interested in sticking with your sister for a while, I would suggest Standing as soon as you're able."

N'tharon's hands were large like the rest of him, but the degree with which he maneuvered small tools held such a precision that it betrayed the underlying attention to detail he maintained. Small things that required focus tended to steady both his hands and his mind, and it was never more obvious in the end result. The more elaborate the design, the more focus it required, and he enjoyed having that sort of project. It kept his mind off a lot of other things.

"It's worth it. Sintharith has his moments, but there's no real word to describe what having a Bonded is like. Sintharith knows how I feel without having to ask. He knows what I think, he knows what I see and hear. He feels the same things I do, when I feel them, and I'm never alone."

Nel suspected that was what he liked most about it. He had been truly alone before; it wasn't something he was keen on. Before Sintharith, after Synestria had been murdered. When the shadows and darkness were not only the sole place of refuge for him, his personal sanctuary, but made him want to disappear into them forever.

"It was a bit scary when he was small, when I first Impressed him. Some things had happened, I wasn't of the same sound mind I am now, but he helped with that. He got me through it, and I probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. It's a mutual thing; they are put on this world for us, to help us fight Thread and maintain life here on Pern, and we are put on this world for them, to bond with them and guide them. Being bound to a Dragon is a powerful thing. It's important, and I'd be a fool to tell you it wasn't worth every hardship I've endured with it. Even the bad parts were worth it."

For the half a candlemark or so before Fyris showed up at the doorway to his workshop, N'tharon was content to remain in silence. When Fyris' voice resonated into the air upon her arrival, N'tharon's lips had to resist the urge to pull upwards in a smirk. He didn't look up from his work.

"Even if they were, I wouldn't let you pay for them." It was a bold statement, at that. Perhaps a bit challenging, though there was no snap behind it in tone. More a half-breathed commentary, as he carefully affixed another gem into place against the piece he was working on. "One day, you will discover and understand that people are capable of occupying others without the need for repayment. She was kind enough to share with me some bread she learned to make, so it's only fair that I let her watch me for a while, and occupy her with something to do. The Creche can be absolutely and mindlessly boring, and she is causing no trouble here with me. If anything, one of the few children I find myself able to tolerate."

He left the question of whether the almost-apprenticeship was truth or not, and why, to linger in the air between them for a time; long enough for him to inset several more gems, and let the precious metal soldered into place harden. Using a small length of iron with a three-prong grasp on the end, he tested the integrity of the stone, making sure it didn't move within the socket he had made for it. Each other gem he'd inset thus far was checked for the same, before he laid the tool aside.

"Yes, it's true. She enjoys coming down here, and I felt the need to find her something to do. She now has a reason for being here, and it helps me when my other somewhat-Apprentice isn't here. She is more able-bodied than he is at the moment, so it will take a lot of work off my plate as far as cleaning up and sorting things goes. Things that will make sure she stays safe, but helps me and keeps her out of trouble. Not to mention that any applicable work she helps me with, I intend on paying her for in the form of new charms for her bracelet." He paused to inspect the metal around another gem's intended home. "Surely you can appreciate her working for what she obtains. She learned that from you, I suspect."

There was a measured breath, waiting to see if Fyris believed him. He knew Fyska wouldn't tell; it was as much her surprise as anything else, after all, and he couldn't see her willingly ruining it, even by accident. It was important to the girl, and therefore it was important to him.

"Your sister has an eye for artistry. It will take her far in this world, especially with me."

[Kiran]

Fyrska shook her head gently. "I have to be Searched. My parents weren't Riders. Fyris might be, but she's not my mother, so I have to be Searched. I'll have to ask someone, but keep it from Fyris since I don't want her to know until I've been told for sure that I can Stand or not, and that can't happen for another two Turns. I think she'd be happy, though, if I were able to Stand. If not, then I'll take up Smithing like you. This is all so nice, so pretty. I'd love to be able to make things like these." Her eyes were fixed on his hands as he maneuvered wire and stones together. It was amazing to watch him work, and she hoped someday that she'd be able to do the same.

Her gaze fell back to the hide that she was decorating. Though her eyes and hands were preoccupied, her ears weren't, and she listened to him with all the proper respect. "That seems wonderful, having someone that is always there for you. I suppose Fyris is like that for me, but.... Not. If she were I wouldn't be able to do this for her." A bit of tongue stuck out as she concentrated on a particularly difficult bit of coloring. "And I want to fight Thread, be like you and Fyris. It's gotta be amazing, saving Pern like that. And a dragon besides." She glanced up for a moment. "I'm definitely going to Stand if I can."

With that she kept her head down until Fyris came. Fyris's brow furrowed at N'tharon's statement. She crossed her arms and tried to keep herself from sending him a cold look. It sounded like some sort of reprimand, that the blackrider was dictating what her sister could do given his permission. "I'm glad that she shared something to make your time worthwhile. I'd be highly" That was easy enough to get out though her voice was tight. Her eyes strayed back to Fyska in the lingering silence as she put the chalk back where it should be and delicately gathered the hides she had drawn on.

But when N'tharon started speaking again she ended up looking at him again, trying to discern if he was joking or making a fool of her and her sister or... something else. He'd managed to rile her up, but after a few moments she relaxed, not sensing any untruths in his words. "I'm glad she'll be useful. And yes, I don't have any objections to her working for new charms or learning anything." Honestly, she was a bit torn. On one hand her sister would be here and working with N'tharon, but on the other.... Her eyes softened at the mention of Fyska's artistry. "Yes, she's a wonderful artist. If you feel that she's good enough and smart enough to work here without getting hurt or in trouble, I have no objections to it."

Fyska's shoulders had been stiff and tight as she awaited Fyris' verdict, but now they slumped with relief and happiness at the smile on her sister's face. A rare, true smile, something that Fyris didn't give too often.

"I can't begrudge learning something useful. It's an honor for you to allow her this privilege, so that she might have the opportunity to be a Crafter when she is older." Something she had refused when Fyska had come along, though she herself had an opportunity for it. A spark of sadness shone for only a brief moment in her eyes before disappearing. "I suppose that you can't be all bad for allowing that." Fyris' fingers ran through her sister's hair, not able to look at N'tharon as she said so.

Fyska's lips pursed. "Fyris, you told me that if you thank someone, you have to do it properly! You haven't even looked at him! That's not a proper thanks!" The younger girl was indignant at the perceived slight towards her crush and how Fyris was ignoring something important that she'd impressed upon her younger sister. Giving a slight huff she turned on her heel and looked back at her sister. "I'll be right outside waiting for when you manage it." With that Fyska did exactly what she said and marched outside the door.

The expression on Fyris' face had turned wry with her sibling's miniature lecture, but gave a small shake of her head and moved so that she was standing directly in front of N'tharon. "She's right. You're doing her a great boon and me a great favor. One that I most certainly couldn't repay, but like you said.... Occasionally things don't need to be. And you feel that what she's giving for it is good enough, so I can't argue." The words were almost painful to get out but she managed. "Especially since you're giving her a chance to hone her artistry. You're right, that will take her far. With anybody, if she takes up a craft."

She pursed her lips for a moment before relaxing into a half-smile. "So thank you. I appreciate it. It's something I never thought I'd be able to give her, here at a Weyr. You're still irritating, but underneath it all..... You're a good person." She hadn't doubted that, not really. But it was something that had to be said regardless. With that, Fyris turned and headed out to gather her sister for the creche. It was time to go.

[RhiaBlack]

Nel watched the exchange between siblings, his expression largely neutral outside of his eyes. His eyes betrayed his humor, especially when he leaned on his elbows with his chin on his knuckles. His fingers shifted, laced together as he watched them.

It hadn't evaded him, what Fyska had said. That Fyris had given up everything to raise her siblings. It just meant that he would have to make the piece for her that much prettier, for the sake of doing what Fyska said she had done justice.

Among other things.
In time. She hasn't graduated yet. I won't even consider it until then. And you will have your respect when the time comes.
Of course, NelMine.

"Don't go telling anyone. I avoid friends and social settings like the Plague. The last thing I want is more people down here getting in the way and milling about. Your sister knows how to make herself useful." He had yet to move his hands; not until she brought herself up before him.

He half wondered if that was why she hadn't prior. If she knew how hard he could critique someone just by looking at them. How lightless his gaze could become, how unnerving he could be, but she hadn't ever seemed to be afraid. Or if she was, she hadn't said anything. He uttered his words towards her back as she walked away, almost as she vanished around the edge of the wall.

"She speaks highly of you. Of you, of everything you've given up for her, and she looks up to you. I offer my aid, if you ever decide to settle on a craft in the future. I will back you when you look for a teacher, if of course you need someone to speak for your work ethic and such."

He left it at that. It was an exceedingly rare glimpse into a side of him that could be reasonably warm, but as quickly as it was there, it was gone; he dismissed the pair of them entirely and went back to work, giving it several minutes after they vanished from his door before he pulled the design Fyska had drawn from the ledge.

Setting his more elaborate piece aside, he began his work.