Jenna asks Zalkin to move into her weyr as her foster full time. Then, the two ransack stores for the growing boy.

jenna - Monday, July 29, 2002, 8:58 AM
--------------------------------------

You step out onto Jenna and Niyath's ledge.

Zalkin has arrived.

Your location's current time: 9:12 on day 6, month 3, Turn 41, of the Tenth Pass. It is a spring morning.

Jenna is just finishing oiling Niyath, despite the fairly early hour. Looks like she's been at this for some time. Niyath is aware of the boy before her rider is, and rumbles softly as her ledge is invaded.

Zalkin erms as he climbs the last few stairs to the ledge. He bows to the gold and clears his throat louder. "Hello?"

Niyath eyes Zaklin, and then Jenna's head pops out from around the curve of one flank. "Oh! Zak! I wasn't expecting you yet. Let me just get this last bit of oil on her. She was itching all over this morning for some reason. I think I'm gonna have to go ove her couch too and make sure there's not sand in it."

Zalkin ahs and quietly nods. "Oh, sorry I interrupted. Can I help you with anything?" he offers, taking a few hesitant steps forward. "Brothers wanted me to meet you first thing in the morning. I came here righ tafter my mornin' run." He must have had a bath too for his hair is still obviously slightly damp.

Jenna shakes her head, making a final few swipes and rubbing her hands on a rather messy cloth. Niyath doesn't seem pleased with this slapdash treatment and eyes Jenna reproachfully. "I was going to try to catch you last night, but we just didn't connect. Want to come in and see the weyr? You haven't seen it yet."

Zalkin quietly nods and peeks. "Well, right. I've seen a lot of weyrs here but not yours yet. Looks nice though!"

Jenna pauses, chewing on her lower lip. "You think you might want to stay with me in it?" She hesitates and then goes on, "We talked about me fostering you again once weyrlinghood was over and all. But then you moved into Rey's weyr and I wasn't sure if you still wanted me to."

Zalkin instantly brightens and his usual smile is back -- obviously he wasn't expecting -that- at all when he came. "That'd be neat! I mean, I used to stay a bit with T'rya, a bit with Lu, a bit with Rey and I'd love to stay a bit with you!"

Jenna nods, relaxing. "Well, I'd like it if you stayed more than a bit, but that's up to you. Come on in and we can figure out how to set up the weyr? I really haven't had much of a chance to do anything with it, so you can just say whatever it is you want. Best of all, there's a chute that you can order food from and everything. All the luxuries."

Zalkin oooooooohs and his eyes brighten more. He might start bouncing anytime soon now. "Well, I have to paint Rey's weyr with Ember but livin ghere would be cool," he says enthusiastically. "Tho it's the first time I'll live in a woman's weyr," he casually remarks.

Jenna chuckles. "Well, I don't get much company, so you're safe. Only thing to remember is that, when Niyath's sleeping, don't wake her up." Niyath looks on a trifle sourly, though she does lower her head to nudge at the boy for an eyeridge scritching.

Zalkin giggles and pats the huge snout with a little hand, caresing at first. "Right, I'll remember that. Zarth was like that too. Light sleep and grouchy." He quickly cringes. "Not that I mean that Niyath is grouchy, of course!" Where is this eyeridge, quiiiiiiick!

Niyath doesn't take offense, though she does snort warm air over the boy. Jenna chuckles. "Well, here lately," she says playfully, eyeing her mate. This earns her another reprooving look and she laughs. "So. Come on in then, and we'll figure out how to rearrange the weyr, hm?" She leads the way on in.

You step into the cave that houses Jenna and Niyath.
Niyath's Weyr(#9025RJh)
This large cavern is shaped like a rounded rectangle, no hard corners to amount to anything anywhere. It has a wide opening, easily large enough to accomidate a queen, out to the ledge, which seems more of an extension of it with a stairwell running through it than a seperate area entirely. Niyath's couch takes up nearly half of the cavern, with enough room for her to sleep comfortably. The couch itself is covered with soft hide, painstakingly stitched together to hold in heat for the drowsy queen. A thick curtain, usually kept open, covers the entrance to Jenna's living space. To the left of it, going in, there is a niche that has two barrels, one for oil and the other for sand, and a variety of cloths and brushes hang in orderly fashion. Along that same wall are pegs, from which hang two sets of fighting straps, one for every day wear and the other, more colorful set, obviously for a gather. There is a small table near the entrance which contains a flamethrower tank as well as numerous spare parts.

Out on the ledge, Zalkin pats the gold hide and follows Jenna. "I'll be back for the scritch!" he promises.

Zalkin comes in from the ledge.
Zalkin has arrived.

Jenna pauses, "This is Niyath's part of the weyr, obviously. And where I keep my tank and all. Maybe we can keep your running shoes and stuff out here too? Up to you." She pulls back the curtain, "And the weyr itself is a bit of a mess. Didn't get a chance to tidy up the furs this morning."

Zalkin predictably gapes as he enters, looking around wide eyed, with a lot of 'oooh's. He's slowly ambling behind the goldrider, blinksing and nearly bumping in things. "That's a pretty place!"

Jenna chuckles. "As though Niyath would have it any other way? Go on into the main room. I wanna see what you think."

Zalkin heads into the living quarters.
Zalkin has left.

You duck into the living quarters.
Jenna's Weyr(#9167RFJU)
It's obvious from the getgo that this weyr was built to house a large gold dragon and her rider. There's more than enough space in here to keep a goldrider happy. A huge bed filled with fresh rushes rests against one wall not far from a hearth with a mantle above it. On the far side of the hearth is a curtained opening to a private bathing cavern. A table with two chairs sits in the center of the room. It obviously needs decorating, but the possibilities are endless with a weyr this size.
Contents:
Zalkin

Zalkin is gaping wider -- yes it's possible. "You've got a huge weyr, Jenna! My, two living there when I'm fine with four people in Rey's place." He burst out giggling. "I like it!"

Jenna grins. "Yeah, it's more space than *I* need, but Niyath on the other hand... I was thinking maybe put a screen down the middle, so you can kinda have your own room? There's plenty of room, and you can put a cot and press and all on that side."

Zalkin nods agreeingly. "Yeah, we did that in our weyr, with curtains." He looks around, now measuring the room in his head obviously. "I don't need much, you know. A cot and a place for my clothes... Cart doesn't take much space."

Jenna says mildly, "Still, it's your weyr too now. And I don't mind. I just need the table and space for hides. I only occasionally have meetings up here, and I can easily take those to the council chambers if need be."

Zalkin ohs and nods. "You can take me to Lu's weyr if needed. Or Ta's or Rey's..." He broadly grins, spreading his arms. "I won't be in the way, I promise!"

Jenna grins. "I didn't think you would be. And yes, Niyath and I can easily take you. Though smaller ledges might be harder for her to land on. I'm not sure about T'yra's. So, you like the idea?"

Zalkin firmly nods, standing straight. "I do!"

Jenna grins and spoils the adult effect he was achieving by reaching out to ruffle his hair. "Me too. It'll be good to have you around again. I've missed it."

Zalkin erms and doesn't dodge this time. "Well, it'll be fun, yeah." He frowns a little and adds, "I might need to borrow a little area on your desk, ya know, for writing and exercises the harper gives us."

Jenna grins. "That's more than fine. Just as long as you're actually doing them, I'm not gonna complain."

Zalkin looks mortally offended. "I'm -always- doing them! I'm writing better and better. Almost as good as Tarein -- and -he- is a harper, mind you." All this boyish pride leaking, yup.

Jenna laughs, holding her hands up, "All right. All right. So, want to go get your stuff? Or did you need to scoot to lessons?"

Zalkin hummmms, his tongue half sticking out in concentration. "Well, got the morning off so we can move stuff if you want. Gotta lesson this afternoon."

You say "So, where do we need to go? Stores, obviously, to get a cot and press. I can talk a couple of the caverns boys into carting it up here for us. What else?"

Zalkin looks down at himself. "Nothin'. Just my shoes that are in my press in Rey's weyr."

Jenna adds, "Pillows and all." Her eyes glaze slightly and she clears her throat. "Niyath says that Randoth is still asleep, so maybe we'd better work on getting everything else first, what do you think?"

Zalkin nods briskly. "I just trust you. Let's start with everything else!" He's all happy and bouncy now. Expected a punishment, gets a new weyr, isn't it lovely?

And this is all part of her Evil Master Plan(tm). Jenna nods. "Come on then, and we'll head down to stores. I think you'll like being able to leave too, whenever you like. It's handy when Niyath's sleeping." She heads towards the ledge once more.

You duck out into the weyr proper.

Zalkin trots behind, humming joyfully. "Yeah, I won't have to disturb a rider when I want to leave..."

Jenna nods. "Exactly. Just don't go yelling along Shalith's or Rialeth's ledges and you should be fine."

Zalkin says "WOuld I do -that-?!"

Jenna snorts softly, her expression amused. "Frequently? C'mon, race you down the last length?"

Zalkin grunts an nods. "I'm warning you, I've been training and stretching not even two hours ago..."

Jenna nods. "Okay, well, you're right, I haven't really stretched and - readysetGO!" She takes off in a sprint down the ramp towards the bowl. That wasn't entirely fair now, was it?

Zalkin was -expecting- that so he darts along, just a bit behind but not much. "NOT FAIR!"

You head back down to the bowl floor.

Fort Weyr Bowl, northeastern area
The Bowl of Fort Weyr, a large, featureless plain surrounded by steep mountain cliffs, stretches out before you. It is vaguely oval in shape, long from southwest to northeast; you're standing near the wall at its northern end.
Off to the northwest is the long path leading up to the Junior Queens' Weyrs, while steps to the north lead to the Weyrleader Complex. From here you can see in to the Hatching Grounds to the east, and the steps leading up to the gallery stands in the Grounds to the southeast. Stretching off to the southwest is the center of the bowl, where the Lower Caverns, Weyrling Barracks, lake and Feeding Grounds can be seen.

Jenna slows up, just before the bowl floor, ostensibly so as not to trist her ankle in the gravel at the bottom of the path. At least, that's her story and she'll stick to it if asked. She admits, "You have been practicing, haven't you."

Zalkin proudly straightens and even snorts. "I -told- you I had been keeping in shape and in practice. Believe me now?" Then he slightly blushes as he might have reminded her why she was worried about that...

Jenna nods. "For now. We'll have to get in the habit of morning runs again. Faranth knows I could use the practice. C'mon, let's head for stores."

Zalkin rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "Yeah, 'for now'. You'll see someday I'll outrun you without even think about it," he mumbles. And then clears his throat. Nonono, he hasn't said anything. "To the stores!"

Jenna hieds a smirk and follows along, clearly pleased.

You make your way to the center of the bowl.
You head into the Living Caverns.
Fort Weyr Living Cavern(#199RJa$)
Approaching half the size of the Hatching Grounds, this cavern echoes with voices during the day, and the soft patter of feet during the night. Dozens of tables are spaced throughout, each with open space around to provide small amounts of privacy for the discussions carried on at each. The night hearth, with a cluster of pots of stew and klah, is situated near the large entrance to the Several other hearths are spaced around the huge chamber, lending light and some heat to the room. The far wall is lined with tables that always hold something edible to feed the throngs of people who come into this immense room in search of a meal, a snack, or something to drink. As with most Weyrs, the Living Cavern is the busiest place with the most activity. It is here that Fortians and visitors alike migrate in an effort to find information, share gossip, and just plain socialize.

Broad marble steps to the southwest lead up to the impressive Fort Weyr kitchen. An almost constant stream of activity centers around this staircase: people coming and going with loads of goods for the stores, fresh food, dirty or clean dishes and utensils, and plenty of folks just going in to do their duty for the day or night. The aromas wafting down the stairs are indicators of which meal is being prepared or served at the moment. The view into the kitchens is clear from the Living Cavern, everything gleaming and clean, and the muffled but bustling noises coming from within just add to the air of comfort, family, and hard work done at Fort Weyr.

To the east, a short flight of stairs leads to the hallway to the inner caverns. A stout door to the north has a healer's emblem on it, marking the Infirmary. To the south is a wide tunnel, leading out of the Weyr, and a wide opening to the west leads to the Weyr bowl.
Contents:
Conn
Davienne
Meg and Peg
Fort Weyr Firelizard Perch

Zalkin comes in from the bowl.
Zalkin has arrived.

Conn is seated at a table with Davienne, a Harper-blue cloak slung over the chair behind him

Jenna comes in from the bowl, chatting lightly with Zak. "So. Cot, furs, pillows, a press. And a screen. I think a screen will work better than curtains, don't you? Plus, you can decorate it easier with drawings and stuff. Or maps, if it comes to that."

Zalkin is nodding approvingly each time at each proposal. "Yeah, yeah. You're right. Though I can learn embroidering stuff on a curtain -- I'll do that in Rey's weyr, okay?"

Conn bows from his chair as he sees Jenna enter. "Harper's duties to Fort and her queens," he offers with a warm smile. A moment later, he gives Davi a hapless grin. He can't help it

Jenna nods. "Perfect." She nods pleasantly over at the bluerider, "Morning, Davienne and, oh. Fort's duties to the Harpers, journeyman." A precise, polite nod is given. She's been drilled well, at least. "I hope everyone's well down at the hall?"

Conn nods. "All is very well, Weyrwoman. I've just come up with some songs for the Weyrharper - and, of course, a visit"

Zalkin waves around from behind Jenna with a loud, perfunctory "'duties."

Conn smiles. "Speaking of which, I should make an effort to find them, or I'll have just been slacking off. Hopefully I'll see you all again before I have to head back"

Jenna nods and thaws slightly, "I don't get the chance to get down there as much as I'd like to anymore. Ah... Certainly. Don't want to keep you. And please do stay and have lunch. We can always ferry you back down."

Conn smiles. "My thanks - I'll take you up on that"

Conn walks down the eastern stairs to the Inner Caverns.
Conn has left.

You say "So. We were headed to stores, right? You know," she muses half aloud to Zak, "I'd swear that was that harper I'd been warned about, turns ago."

Zalkin blinsk twice, looking after the said harper. "Warned about? Why?"

Jenna sniffs, "Supposedly he has a way with the ladies. Course, I've never really been formally introduced."

Zalkin aaaaaahs and apparently decides not to ask further. "Er the stores..."

Jenna nods briskly and heads on towards the nner caverns.

You walk down the stairs, into the Inner Caverns.
You step into one of the storerooms.
Clean and Tidy Storeroom(#8772RFJ$)
The true size of this cavern is difficult to determine as sturdily constructed shelves stretch from floor to ceiling blocking the view. Their contents have been carefully organized by type, ranging from cloth items (clothes, towels, rugs, etc.) on the far left to dried and preserved foods towards the center and right. Along the far right wall, the shelves are missing and stacks of disused furniture can be found (desks, tables, beds), some in need of minor repair. The glows here are fresh only by the door, casting long shadows in the direction of the far wall, some unseen distance away. The scent of the air is dry and somewhat stale but not musty and only the indelible stain of turns-old spills on the floor mar the overall impression of cleanliness, organization and functionality of the room.
A door leads back out into the Inner Caverns.
+lhelp is available.

Zalkin steps in from the Inner Caverns.
Zalkin has arrived.

Jenna roots around, finding some half spent glows. "Okay. So, on we go. I loe coming in here - long as I'm not coming in to clean."

Zalkin hummms and instinctively lowers his voice a bit. "Didn't come here often, I've to say -- and only to clean..."

Jenna chuckles, holding the basket aloft. "Well, this is the fun part, actually. Though, we might have to go to the woodcrafters to get a screen made. That'd be neat, don't you think? Something in wood - total luxury. So, let's find you a comfy cot first, hm?"

Zalkin hummmms slightly. "In wood? Won't it be terribly expensive? I've got a couple marks though, if needed..."

Zalkin nods agreeingly. "Right, a cot... A little one may be sufficient -- now that I think of it, mine is still in our weyr, we could have tried to move it, but it's going to be too short in a few months..."

Jenna smiles faintly, "And this is where being a rider has its good points. I can trade a few favors for it. Besides, it'd be prettier than just canvas. Though, I supposed we could dye the canvas and make it really colorful."

Zalkin grins and shakes his head. "Oh no, wood would really be nieat! And you can pin things on it!"

Jenna nods. "That's what I was thinking. Nothing really ostentatious, but something that's sturdy and will last. At least until you're old enough to get your own room."

Zalkin nodnods. "Yes ma'am! And it could still be useful for you -- to pin map as you said, or somethin' like that!"

Jenna nods. "So, that's settled. And if I have to go to the woodcraft, you can come with me to get out a bit. How's that sound?"

Zalkin holds out his hand. "Wonderful! Deal!"

Jenna crosses palms to seal the deal. He's going to be a busy little vtol in the coming sevendays. "Okay. Now to find that cot for you. Want something long enough that you can grow into..."

Zalkin grins and slightly flushes even. "Well, yeah. T'rya said I was going to need new clothes too," he says, looking down at his pants -- not too short yet, but one might notice he's quickly going to outgrown them.

Jenna nods. "Might as well get those while we're here. That way Norri won't complain about us trouncing in at all hours.

Zalkin blinks and erms. "Er, well right now? Maybe after all..." He makes a face. "I like those clothes, Rey gave 'em to me..."

Jenna nods. "These'll be too big for you to wear right away anyway. Now." She starts shifting piles of cots around, carefully, and finally settles on one. "See if that one's bouncy enough?"

Zalkin giggles and rubs his hands together. "Well, I'm a specialist, i'll tell you that!"

Jenna smirks. "So give it a whirl then?"

Zalkin carefully pokes the cot -- just in case it might be still alive -- and stands right in front of it for a moment. Then, all of a sudden, he leaps on it, landing lightly on his back and bouncing twice. "I do think this one is nice enough. Plus I fit in it."

Jenna mms. "But will you in a turn, that's the question. Is it going to be long enough?"

Zalkin extends his arms and legs as far as he can. "Yes, see? I still fit. I don't think I'll grow up -that- much in a Turn. In two or three it might be a problem, granted, but until then..." He looks well in the cot actually. Not willing to get up.

Jenna nods. "Okay, you win. Now, furs are over there, and clothes further back. And a press too. Hm. What say we pick it all out, then have lunch and get someone to haul it up to the weyr for us?

Zalkin snaps his fingers and bounces on his feet. "I like the idea. I don't feel like bringing all that myself to the weyr... We could ask Jamison..."

Jenna nods. "And some others. Gonna take two to haul some of this stuff up the ramp. Let's do clothes next? That'll be the hardest." She moves off towards the trunks and the children's section.

Zalkin tilts his head and starts making a new face. "Why hardest? I'm not -that- picky!" Nor childish, but he apparently didn't dare to say it aloud.

Jenna snorts. "To find something that you can grow into, silly." She puts the glows down and flips open a trunk. "Kay. Lesse..." He's given a measuring look, and then she sorts through a bunch of different trous, holding up a pair or two here and there to get an idea of his size. Finally, "Here, try these brown ones?"

Zalkin huhs. "You mean, try them here, now?"

Jenna nods. "How else can I get an idea of how much longer they're going to be?"

Zalkin shrugs and nods in a surrender way. "Oh well." He quickly gets rid if the current pants to put on the new ones. The first pair is long enough, granted. Much too long. "Er, I'll fit in those even when I'm thirty!"

Jenna nods. "Kay. Fold 'em back up and we'll try again." This time she pulls out a navy pair. Much shorter, though still longer than the boy, and with a tiny bit of room in the hips. "Try these?"

Zalkin obediently fold the pair, carefully putting it down before putting the navy pair on. He smiles a bit then, tho he's still walking on the fabric. "Well, with a short hem, that'd be really better."

Jenna nods. "Okay. Much better. And the hem can be let out as you grow. Now, lessee..." She digs in and finds three more pairs, before turning to look for tunics. "How're your lightweight ones fitting from last summer? Too tight, or do they have some wear left in 'em?"

Zalkin scratches his cheek. "They're still big enough for me, don't worry. It's my other tunic that is too tight for me to wear now."

You say "Have you got something for a gather? - And which one? That long sleeved green one?"

Zalkin shakes his head once and nods once too. "Yeah the green one." He suddenly pouts. "I liked it."

Zalkin:
Just as your glance falls upon this boy, you have to look at him very quickly, for he's seemingly always in motion, and always running even. Rushing, hasting, even stumbling in his haste. You know before anything else that you're in front of a rather boisterous child. And a loud one too, as he's continually giggling or chuckling, humming or who know else.

Then, you will (maybe) catch a glimpse at his pale, long, pointy and totally boyish face. Some teeth are missing when he's widely grinning, but it's nonetheless charming. Especially with those wide, deeply green eyes of his, which seem to catch everything in a single glance, and are always definitely sparkling with mischief. Those eyes are sometimes hidden behind a strand of long, never combed black hair that the boy is continually pushing back from his face.

His clothes are apparently new. Well, new for him at least. The black trousers have been used by at least three generations of little boys, and the grey tunic has probably been blue, once.

At last, you'll probably notice that Zalkin's face, hands or other visible parts of his body, are not covered with the usual bandages and/or bruises, for he's obviously stopped fighting now and then with other children his age... Though he doesn't look overly sturdy, he's still definitely built for friendly wrestling, standing about 4'9", and he looks around 9 Turns and no more than 10 months.

Jenna deciphers that correctly, "Well, then let's see. Those brown trous can be used for a gather. And with your coloring, let's see. Something in a pale orange, maybe? Or rust colored. With a black vest." She goes delving. Girls and clothes. Sheesh.

Zalkin wrinkles his nose and his voice trembles a bit. "Orange?"

Jenna sighs. "Rust then. Why is it boys hate wearing orange?"

Zalkin tilts his head. "'cos it's just a bit too flashy? I'm not picky, I just like blue, green and brown... And black too, though in summer it's too hot to wear."

Jenna compromises, "Green with a rust vest then, if we can find it." She roots around, coming up with a wealth of green tunics, both long and short sleeved. "Sheesh. Think it was an unlucky color or something. Here," she picks two out and tosses them to you, one short, one long sleeved. "Try these?"

Zalkin aaaahs and sounds plainly satisfied with the compromise. "Right." He strips again to put on the short sleeved tunic, first. He wriggles a bit in it for a while and then broadly grins. "Hey, I'm sure I look good in this one!" He turns around slowly.

Jenna nods. "It suits you. Not too roomy, but you likely'll grow enough for next summer that you couldn't fit into it anyway. Try the long sleeved one?" She's still hunting for that vest.

Zalkin nodnods agreeingly and tosses the new tunic on his future cot -- someone is getting into it. He hastily puts on the long sleeved tunic -- inside out. "Errrr, no, that won't do," he says pensively...

Jenna finally comes up with a tunic and turns round to see what the trouble is. "It's right side out, Zak. Give it another go, and toss this overtop when you're done?"

Zalkin looks down and lightens instantly. "Ah, i thought there was something weird..." A bit sheepishly, he gives another go and frowns a little. "It's nice, but honest in two months I won't be able to put it on," he says sadly. "Too bad, it looked nice too."

Jenna rummages through and finds another one, bigger, and likely a bit too big, but not obscenely so. "Try this one. Lucky you like an unlucky color."

Zalkin rolls his eyes upwards. "It's not an unlucky color. Look at all the greenriders -- those are people who like green too. Tarya loves it, and this little assistant we got, he looked like he loved his tunic too," the boy smartly answers. He does eagerly try the new tunic nonetheless. "Aaaaah, it's better!" Sure, the sleeves are an inch too long, and the hem comes down almost to his knees, but well...

Jenna nods. "By winter, it shouldn't be too terribly large. Here. Try the vest over it?" She tosses it at him, and starts repacking the items that didn't fit, all the while pulling out a couple of more short sleeved things in the size that did.

Zalkin hummms and wrestes a short moment to put the vest on. "I'm beginning to feel too hot," he groans, but he doesn't complain long. "Look, does it look fine?"

Jenna tilts her head critically, and then says, "By winter, it will. And it can be worn over the short sleeved ones too, just cinch the back buckle a bit tighter. There! What say we break for lunch?"

Zalkin gives a piteous nod as his stomach is making funny noises. "Now that you say it, I'm literally -starving-!"

Jenna laughs. "Just put all this stuff on the bed and we'll get it later." She picks up the glows, waiting for you on the way out.

Zalkin strips once more, putting his old rags on and looking now a bit awkward in them. He longingly looks at the cot. "You sure nobody's going to take 'em?"

Jenna grins. "Absolutely. They have to fight Norri to get in here most times. Come on."

Zalkin hums and reluctantly follows.