hot enough to melt(open)

[yankeegeek]

Jarev had finished chores for the day just before lunch. He wasn't especially hungry, however, and feeling restless. The Barracks was comfortable enough, but it got to feel confining after awhile.
The weather was clear, for now, though gray clouds overhead hinted at a possible storm later.
Oh, well. It wasn't like it would kill him if he got wet.
Wandering outside, he hiked through the Bowl, heading out of the Weyr proper. There was no harm in a short excursion, he reasoned; the clutch wasn't due to Hatch for some sevendays yet. At any rate, this Weyr seemed much less stringent about Candidates than Benden. A good thing as far as he was concerned. He wasn't fond of rules that were so detailed one barely had room to breathe.
A dragon flew overhead. He stopped to watch, raising a hand to block out the sun that was almost blinding him. It was so hot!
He changed course slightly, trundling toward a nearby patch of shade under a tree covered in vines.

[Lucius]

Ah, now what to wear today? She had a wonderful selection of a light brown dress, a wherry-hide skirt, a coarse white linen tunic, or a skirt made of blue wool. What a wonderful closet--certainly nothing for the upcoming Hatching! Granted, she doubted she'd Impress. None-the-less, she set aside the blue skirt, deciding that it was the finest thing she brought from Fort. She pulled the top over her head, tied on the hide-skirt, and pulled on her boots to prevent herself from cutting open her feet.

Back at Fort, M'ril and F'tor had spoiled her rotten. They loved to buy her things at Gathers, including the best leather belts or skirts or tunics that their marks could purchase. Yet when fleeing Fort, she had taken so little. At the time, she had not regretted it--riding a runner was hard when loaded down with unnecessary items.

Out into the open came the thin woman, instantly regretting her decision to walk around. Even if the storm clouds hung over head, it was so hot! Ingasa groaned, brushing back her short black hair. It wouldn't be too long before she started sweating.

At that point, she caught sight of one of the other candidates--a boy whose name she could not remember. Seeing no other alternative besides jumping in the lake for cooling off, she followed him to the shade.

Once beneath the tree, she shook her head. "I shouldn't have left the Lower Caverns, but I figured it'd be nice to get some sun before chores begin. Guess I was wrong."

[yankeegeek]

Jarev found a dry, sandy patch of ground beneath the overhanging tree limbs, and sat, cross-legged. The shade was a
blessed relief after the brassy heat. He'd worked in forges that didn't feel this hot, during the time he'd spent apprenticed, or maybe it was only because he'd been so busy he hadn't noticed then? Still, he breathed a happy sigh, eyes closing for a moment.

The sounds of someone approaching made him open one eye, warily. The girl who appeared wasn't familiar, though he thought he'd seen her around the Candidate Barracks. He shrugged at her comments, sitting up a bit straighter. "The kitchens or whatnot are probably a little less hot, but then, there's so many people in there you can hardly move." That wouldn't be an improvement as far as he was concerned.

"Did I see you with the other Candidates?" he asked. Straight to the point, as was his usual style. He was mildly curious now, he'd admit. "There's enough of us, I don't have everyone's names." It was as close to an apology as he was likely to come for not recognizing her.

[Lucius]

She paused, her face flushing. She had interrupted him! How rude could she be!? "Oh, oh I'm so sorry. I didn't notice you were sleeping!" She shook her head and tugged at her hair. "Oh, I'm so stupid..."

Once recovered from this, Ingasa stood and sighed. "Well, sorry again. I... I'm fairly new here, so you wouldn't..." She wrung her hands, long fingers twining and untwining again. "I'm Ingasa. I slept in today; jet-lag, they call it. I'll start my chores this afternoon, though. I like to be helpful." She managed a smile. "And what's your name? You're a candidate too, right? I think I saw you when I arrived last night."

[yankeegeek]

Jarev's eyebrows rose at that. He pushed up onto his knees, then stood, shaking his head.
"Trust me," he said dryly, "you didn't. I snore. And if I fell asleep out here, I'd want to be shaken out of it pretty quick. Being eaten alive by bugs or snakes isn't my idea of fun." He glanced up, seeing something slither through the branches overhead and
vanish.
He moved slightly away from the tree, before turning his attention back to her.
"No harm done." He held out a hand. "I'm Jarev; I was Searched from the Smithcrafthall near Benden, two turns ago. No luck at their Hatchings so I thought I'd try here."

[Lucius]

She was able to smile a bit at that, and even laugh. Eaten alive by bugs and snakes... Ah, amusing. Yet a bit of guilt still remained, for Ingasa was not the kind to allow herself to make mistakes. "Well, if you ever did, I'd be certain to wake you up, then." She glanced up as well, but was lucky not to see the snake. She was afraid of them, and that was something no one needed.

"I..." She stopped, deciding not to tell him that she had stolen a runner and took a six-day trek across the Northern continent. "I came here from Fort Weyr. I've been around dragons for quite a while. I have yet to get one of my own, though..." A hint of sadness appeared in her eyes, but she soon perked up again. "Maybe this time. I'm hoping. If not, I could always find something else to do. I helped healers at Fort. I could always help out."

[yankeegeek]

Jarev noted her hesitation, but he wouldn't ask. She seemed nervous, as well as embarrassed. He knew something of how that felt. He wondered if she were homesick, too. This area was beautiful, but it certainly wasn't much like the Northern holds or
crafthalls.
Being left standing hadn't been fun, or easy, but even if he never Impressed, he knew he could make something of himself.
He brushed bits of leaves and dirt off his trousers, giving her a moment to try to regain some calm.
"You should speak to Masterhealer Yimian sometime," he suggested. "I heard her say she was looking for people to train as possible apprentices. If you have the stomach for that sort of thing, I'm sure she'd be glad to take you on." He grimaced faintly.
"Not me. I do fine with tools and metals, but sewing up people or the like? Ohh no."

[Lucius]

Yimian. She made a note to remember the name--she'd probably need to, given her history of Impressing. And even if she did Impress, which wasn't likely, Ingasa could use the ability to properly mend wounds. It would come in handy when a rider or dragon got injured.

"Oh, I have the stomach," she said. "I love helping others recover. It's the... It's the failure I can't stand." People dying when they were in her care... She never had that experience, but to picture it was a horrid idea indeed. "But as a healer, you help so many people. I... I love the feeling. It's amazing--you feel like you've done something right for once."

[yankeegeek]

"For once?" Jarev was surprised, and it didn't occur to him to hide the reaction. "If you've worked with healers, that's already doing something right. I--" he winced. "Yeah. Sometimes you can't help everyone. But at least, they're not alone when it goes that badly. Solving and helping aren't always one and the same."

"And I'm going to need to visit the Infirmary m'self if I keep forgetting to bring a hat, or water, during midday." He ran a hand over his head, as if looking for something that wasn't there.
His skin was slightly red, the remnants of a fading sunburn he'd got a couple of days ago.
"What color are you hoping to Impress?" he asked curiously. Of course, the dragons would decide, but that never kept anyone from speculating or hoping.