Many Happy Returns

Jenna returns Master Rodric's tunic after the hatching feast.

Jenna - Friday, August 24, 2001, 11:15 AM
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Your location's current time: 13:44 on day 26, month 2, Turn 37, of the Tenth Pass. It is a winter afternoon.

Main Hall
The Main Hall is the nexus for the Harper Hall, and as such is usually a very busy, well trafficked area. People bustle through, intent on errands, or cluster in small groups to discuss the latest news or chew over a bit of juicy gossip. The smooth stone floors and walls are covered with some of the finest examples of weaver art. Tapestries depicting gather scenes hang next to vistas of the valley, while others portray harpers at work or at play. The chill of the floor is softened by a huge rug in harper blue and white that laps from one side of the room to the other. The centerpiece of the carpet is a meticulous representation of the harper craft badge.
Several doors lead off from the hall. To the south is the vast dining room, while the Great Hall's massive doors lie to the north. Stairs carpeted with a runner that matches the rug climb upwards. A tunnel leads off toward the Archives and Healer Hall and the gigantic doors leading out to the courtyard lie to the east.
Contents:
Jarithal

Rodric comes down the staircase.
Rodric has arrived.

Jenna is just coming in, cleats clicking on the tile and stamped clean of snow. She is redcheeked from the cold and the run, blue eyes already scanning the room. She starts unwrapping the scarf from the lower part of her face, clearing the frozen patch from her nose and mouth.

Rodric seems to have just descended the stairs and is walking across the hall, eyes on a scroll in his hands, not paying too much attention to his surroundings.

Jenna's eyes light on the Master almost immediately, though she takes a moment to catch her breath, attempt to tidy her hair - which consists mostly of pushing it behind her ears - and make herself remotely presentable. Then, slinging the carrysack from her back, she approaches difficently, trailing behind the man and unwilling to interrupt the reading just yet.

Rodric's eyes remain down and he reaches the Dining Room door, before the clinking of Jenna's cleats registers. He looks up and then over his shoulders and his brows lift a little. "Goodnes, you -are- prompt," he says, grinning and then rests a hand on the door to the Dining Room. "You look as if you could use a hot cup of klah though. Please won't you join me?"

Jenna is brought up short by the offer. "Ah, I, um, don't drink klah sir. Bad for the system," Not exactly the polished greeting she was prepared to launch into, though she's anxious to explain the refusal of the cup. Confusion colors her eyes, "But it's kind of you to offer. A mug of juice would be more than fine, sir." Then, the greeting is remembered, "Weyr's duties to you and your craft, Master."

Rodric's lips quirk up at the corners. "On such a cold day, perhaps some warm cider, or tea? Hot flavored milk?" he suggests and pushes the door open. "And thank you, the Hall's duties to the Weyr and her queens in return," he says more gravely.

Rodric passes into the dining room.
Rodric has left.

You pass between the large doors and into the cavernous dining hall.
Dining Room
This room is large, although only half the size of the magnificent Great Hall. The smooth flagged stone of the floor is kept scrupulously clean and has a faint sheen to its surface. The walls of stone are impervious to time, the only breaks in their stolidness being the large hearth inset on the east wall and the massive windows painstakingly carved into the bulk of the west wall. Thick, hinged metal shutters can be easily moved into place in inclement weather or during threadfall. Glow baskets wink from between narrow, painted cloth hangings. Taking up the bulk of the floor space are the tables, with three long trestles and benches in the middle. The smaller ovals of the journeyfolks' tables cluster to the north, with the Masters' large, round table to the south. Close to the hearth is a small table for the paying students.
A narrow door to the south leads down to the lower hallway, with the broader kitchen entrance to the southeast. Two large door, usually wide open, lead back north to the main hall.
Contents:
Rodric

Jenna's face breaks into a cautious smile, "Hot cider would be wonderful. The passes were still pretty icy on the way down. The wings cleared the worst of it, but it's hard, when you're not used to pounding it out on the ground you miss things sometimes." She ohs softly, and then offers out the carrysack. "Cleaned up beautifully, sir. Not a hint of citron or stains. I'd like to apologize again, I hope I didn't ruin the feast for you."

Rodric moves toward one of the tables, setting his scroll down there. His steps take him a brief distance to the kitchen entrance and he hollers down to those below for a mug of hot cider and klah, before returning to accept the carrysack from the girl. "Ahhh -- good, I'd have hated to lose that tunic after just one wearing: it's new," he says with another flashed grin and reaches into the sack to pull the fabric out. He turns the tunic 'round to examine the back, nodding. "Excellent ... excellent."

Jenna winces faintly. "And I doused it on the first wearing. I'm *so* sorry, sir. I should've been watching where I was going."

Rodric shakes his head a little, eyes focusing bluely on the young woman's face. "My dear ... I do believe that the hooligans who jostled you were far more responsible. Will you do me the kindness of not blaming yourself further?" An assistant headwoman comes in with a tray of sweets, upon which also stand two steaming mugs. "Ahh .. here we are, thank you kindly Sembla." The woman sets the tray down and grins. "You're welcome Masterharper -- good day young lady," she says in Jenna's direction then wisks herself back off to the kitchens.

Jenna ducks her head to both the assistant and Rodric, politely waiting on the mug. "Yessir. Still, I am sorry. If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, please let me know? It was a bad enough day anyway, then to douse the one man on Pern who can make *sure* songs can reach all corners of the globe about you." Blue eyes have a spark of amusement in them, despite the deadpan tone.

Rodric lifts up his guest's mug and passes it to her, the liquid redolent with spices and the fruity scent of cooked apple. His own mug is claimed with his other hand. "If it puts your mind at ease -- apology accepted," he says gallantly. "And I promise, I shan't write anything to memorialize the incident," he says, his own eyes sparking with answering humor.

Jenna does grin at that. "That puts my mind at ease, sir. I was beginning to worry that the Weyrleader wouldn't ever let me out of the weyr again. Oh, and I've news for the hall. The Weyrwoman bore him twins last night. Both healthy, I've heard, though I've no idea if they're boys, girls or one of each, nor the names yet. The healers were still abed when I left this morning.

Rodric sips from his mug, nodding and listening. "I'm sure that F'ren would be reasonable enough not to forbid you travel for so minor an offence," he says lightly, then his eyes focus a bit more sharply. "Ahhh twins ... please do convey my congratulations to them when you return to the Weyr. We shall have a song for their naming if such is desired."

Jenna is caught taking a long drink from her mug, and nods, swallowing. "I shall, sir, and pass along the offer. And trust me, it didn't feel like a minor offence when I caught sight of your gather finery." Her tone is rueful. "And if I was to go around throwing juice on every Holder I stopped in on from the traces... Well, you can see poor F'ren's dilemna." She chuckles and adds, "I'm not usually so clumsy, but then again, I'm not often in such a crowd."

Rodric inclines his head slightly. "Surely it would be different if you made a habit of it," he continues in that same light tone of voice. "But I trust that it was simply an unfortunate accident due to the overcrowding of the room -- and Gather finery or no, clothes are just clothes. I'll simply be glad that you prefer juice to klah, so that there was no -hot- liquid involved," he says a bit teasinly, winks, then takes another sip from his mug. "For myself, if you would also let the Weyrleaders know that I greatly appreciate the hospitality of the Weyr and the use of their excellent laundryfolk -- I am quite satisfied with the state of my tunic."

Jenna nods seriously, "Perish the thought of something *hot* being tossed like that. And I shall. I'm glad everything is satisfactory. Everyone was at the feast, and I didn't want it to wait until morning - they always get a slow start after a hatching, so I, uh, made sure that it was clean and ready to come down. One good thing about being a candidate twice over, you get to know how to clean things." Her tone is bemused.

Rodric's brows hike up a little more. "Ahh -- so you've Stood twice, it's always an honor to be chosen to Stand," he says pleasantly. "And I thank you again for your efforts on behalf of my poor beleaguered tunic." He leans a little against the table. "Will you accept Search again, may I ask? Or will you be looking for some other form of employment?"

Jenna mms, caught drinking down a bit more liquid. "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride." Her tone is amused. "I doubt the dragons would make that mistake a third time. I'm a message runner, and I've always been happy to return to it. I feel better out on the traces. My family runs the station at Fallon's cothold, about halfway between Fort and Fort Sea. There's some debate about keeping it open, since my parents are getting on. With the Fort complex so close, it's nice to have the short runs down the Halls and Hold, and the longer ones to Boll and Ruatha. There really isn't anywhere else that a runner can be stationed in a weyr. Quicker to go adragonback."

Rodric listens with polite interest. "Indeed -- I shall be sure to remember your promptness the next time I need a message run to Boll," he says flashing another smile. "As for a mistake ... it is my impression that they do not make mistakes and that it is only a matte rof the right dragon and the right person being on the same Sands at the same time."

Jenna agrees, "So the Weyrleaders tell us. Still, those that've lost marks on me the last two hatchings might disagree." She grins wryly. "And please, do. I've made the Boll run in near record time - of course, it was between Falls, and the weather was wonderful," she allows, downplaying the statement, "And I'm available for the Fort area in general. I've a regular run to Ruatha, Boll and Fort Sea from the Weyr regarding tithes, and I'm in and out down here several times a sevenday when I'm in the area. I'd be honored to serve the Hall as well." She grins, "And the Master, to help make up for the loss of any dances he might've had on the card last night."

Rodric listens again, with polite interest, then ends by roaring with laughter at the message runner's quip. "If I lost any dances, it wasn't due to my tunic's state," he says, grinning still. "And we do often have dispatches on those routes of course ..."

Jenna fairly beams at the laughter produced. "It'd be a convenient excuse though, Master Rodric. And it's a pleasant run to the Hall." She pauses then, lower lip catching between her teeth, "I'm not keeping you from anything, am I? I'm sure you've more pressing things than entertaining a runner who tried to drown you." The laughter evidently went a good way to restoring her humor.

Rodric knocks on the scroll he was reading. "I need to finish this and draft a reply. But I was coming in here to finish reading it over a cup of klah anyway," he says, then bows slightly. "However I will need to excuse myself shortly to get back to business."

Jenna nods. "I don't mean to keep you. If you've any need of me, please just let me know. Runners are also fairly good at picking up news," she comments archly, "though allowably not as good as journeymen harpers." That statement is left hanging, before she adds, "At any rate, I'll look forward to seeing you again, sir. Hopefully you'll get a chance to wear that tunic without the citron for a full gather."

Rodric's eyes sharpen on the young woman's face briefly and he nods. "Yes, the information that runners bring can be valuable indeed," he says neutrally enough. "A good day to you Jenna," he offers in a more affable tone. "I shall look forward to the next Gather at which I will not be drowned with citron," he continues deadpan, and bows a little.

Jenna chuckles softly, "I'll do my best to make certain you're not, Master Rodric. Thank you very much for the cider, and your company, and hope to see you again when your duties permit. Good health to you and your Hall." She gives a rather precise inclination of her head - she does at least have manners, when she's not too flustered to use them. That said, and errand accomplished, she gives a little grin and heads for the main hall, cleats clicking softly as she moves.

You pass between the large doors and into the main hall.

[Travel Deleted]

You walk into the tunnel. Deep in the mountain's depths, glows light the splitting from a single tunnel into two. Turning into the more northerly one, you eventually emerge in...
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 Bowl. Several other hearths are spaced around the huge chamber, lending light and some heat to the room.
Broad marble steps to the southwest lead up to the impressive Fort Weyr kitchen. 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:
Tejas
phoenix
Spirit of Fort Award
Meg and Peg
Fort Weyr Firelizard Perch

Jenna is winded as she comes in, cheeks ruddy with the cold. Her eyes, however, are alight and she appears rather *happy* for someone who was just left standing on the grounds. "Afternoon all!" The greeting is fairly caroled to the cavern at large as soon as she gets enough breath to speak.

Tejas is sitting at a table working on polishing a boot. Next to him, the matching boot stands on the floor, already cleaned and polished. He looks up as Jenna enters and grins faintly in return.

Jenna gets herself a mug of juice, absently slicking sweat from the back of her neck with her scarf. A good hefty swallow is downed, before she heads back towards Tejas, "So, did you want to come with me this afternoon? Or are you full up with things to do?"

Tejas looks back down at the boot he's polishing. "I think I've enough t'do f'r t'day, Jenna, but thanks f'r thinkin' of me." He dips his polishing rag in the little pot of wherry grease next to him and rubs it on the bootheel.

Jenna nods and finishes up her juice. "I'm off again then. Got a ton of things to catch up on. See you later, Tejas." Dropping the mug off, she's out again, moving at a leisurely trot.