Friends in the Making?

Writers: Chelle, Yvonne
Date Posted: 10th March 2015

Characters: Nokala, Harki
Description: Nokala and Harki meet at a Lower Caverns party.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 19 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: G'nir

"You have _got_ to teach me the words for that." Harki sat down next to the harper with a thump, narrowly avoiding spilling beer on the woman and ruining her whole introduction. It was a lower caverns party with a few dragonriders sprinkled in for good measure, and Harki wasn't sure how she'd ended up there but she _was_ quite sure that she was drunk. And there were drills tomorrow morning.

Dark eyes turned and took in the greenrider before they were joined by a ready smile. Nokala had taken the opportunity at the small party to make a few more introductions and to have a good time. It seemed she could add one more to the list. "Perhaps, but what shall I have in return?" Her tone was teasing and it was clear the harper was having a good time. The greenrider seemed to be as well.

"Uhhh..." The greenrider looked around the room. "That vase, there," she said, pointing. Hopefully whoever owned it wouldn't be sad to see it go. "I'll even throw in the flower for free!"

Chuckling, the harper saw it for what it was, but she wasn't bothered either way. "Very well some other time perhaps. If I taught you now, you'd be less likely to recall it properly I think. And who are you, by the way?"

"Harki." The greenrider stuck out her hand. "You?"

"Nokala, Journeywoman Harper." She shook the proffered appendage and then began to examine Harki. "You're from here I think. You sound like it and act like it. Very comfortable."

"An astute observation," Harki said. She was Dragonsfall through and through. The greenrider took a rather large sip of her wine before continuing. "I'll wager a guess that you're not."

"No. Came here some months ago from Far Island. I was born there. It's very different, but it makes it interesting. Gives me new things to learn and people to watch. We harpers are avid people watchers." Indeed, Nokala filled her days after work by listening to the folk at Dragonsfall talk.

"Hmm." The greenrider arched her eyebrows. "So, what's the best thing you've seen?"

"Probably the Weyrleader's backside." It was a matter-of-fact reply. Of course Nokala didn't say whether it meant unclothed or not. "Mainly, I'm trying to place people. That way when I get their kids, I know why they are the way they are."

"Hence the Weyrleader's backside. He's a father." Harki chuckled a bit at that. "At least, I think he is. I actually have no idea. Shells... poor kid, if he did have one!"

"I don't think he has any known offspring. If he did, they'd go to the Hold." Nokala had done her homework and read up in the records. "Do you have any?" She turned her head on the greener. She didn't seem like the type but in a Weyr, one never knew.

Harki nearly spit out her wine. "Shards no! That would be an even bigger disaster! Thank the Egg for tea, because otherwise..." She shuddered theatrically. "I don't even want to think about it."

Nokala laughed before sipping some klah, glad for the heat in her belly. "MM well you probably have your hands full with duties anyway. And that's what us crafters and lower caverns women are for, right?"

Drunk as she was, Harki was still able to spot that clump of Thread. "Shells-- babies just happen, and whoever has them has to rearrange their duties around the things, Crafter, worker, or dragonrider alike. Except me, because I avoid them like the Plague. What about you? Have you had kids?"

"Not yet, but maybe someday. Been working and traveling and everything. Besides, like you I have too much to do seemingly. My mother was fertile though so when I do-I doubt I'll have problems." She gave a low chuckle at the reminder of her baker mother who she didn't see too much anymore. Perhaps she needed to write another letter soon. "You can plan babies though if you want to."

"If you want to." The greenrider's mind drifted to all her colleagues who suddenly 'found' themselves transferred to the Queen's Wing. Like it was a surprise. "Well, when you do want to, I hope you have twenty of them."

"Eh I'm no holder but one or two might be nice." Nokala thought about what they might look like then took another drink. "Do you do anything else besides flying and drinking then?"

Harki shrugged. "I ski, I surf, I go where I want. What else is there?"

"I don't know. I like dancing. And hiking when the weather's good. Apparently around here, people go to the vintner hall to taste wines." She couldn't offer up many suggestions since Nokala herself was still learning the area. She was expecting Harki to know everything to tell her.

The greenrider nodded. "Sure. It's pretty over there with the vineyards. But they'll charge you at the tavern... well, maybe not you," Harki added. "Just pack a gitar or something. And plan on taking that hike _before_ you sample the wine."

"Mmm... of course one has to find a ride to get there, doesn't one?" Nokala pondered that question.

"Well, feel free to ask me any time. Can't say if I'll always say yes, but the likelihood is pretty high!" Harki offered cheerfully.

"Noted. I have a brother that rides, but he's at my old Weyr so not much help most days. And just think, maybe if they don't charge me and you're with me, they won't charge you either?" Nokala wondered if that had found her a friend.

The greenrider laughed. "Lucky for me, then!"

Last updated on the March 16th 2015

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Friends in the Making?