Like Putting on a Mask

Writers: Avery, Miriah
Date Posted: 3rd January 2017

Characters: Lanniya, Kapera
Description: Lanniya and Kapera have a snack together.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 9 of Turn 8

Lanniya

Kapera

Kapera was intrigued by the goldrider swap that was going on. She was
going to miss Meledei, for while she personally thought the younger
woman was far too stuffy in her attitudes, she had also gotten to know
her. Lanniya was going to be a new face, and it was going to be
interesting to see what she was like. Especially given her unique
ability.

It was odd that Lanniya was coming over with her gold already carrying
the eggs of another Weyr's sire, but given rising cycles, she supposed
it made sense for it to happen this way. Elleth was due to go up soon,
and they did want to get the transfer done. For there to be such
haste, she wondered if there was a problem. It got her curiosity up,
and a bored Kapera was one who wanted to hunt down answers.

She met Lanniya briefly but didn't have much of a chance to talk to
her since the other goldrider had to unpack and get settled. But the
next evening, she asked the kitchens about private trays, and had
Riyanth reach out to Anaeryth.

}:My rider would like to have a meal with yours and get to know her,:{
Riyanth said, her tone cool. Unlike her rider, she did not have much
interest in the arrival of the other gold; it was not hostility (which
it would have been for an older gold, but a younger one was not worth
much attention either.

}: I'd be glad to. :{ The cool tone made Lanniya pause a bit,
wondering if Kapera would be similar. She'd not really done more than
say hello to her. }: I'll be at her Weyr in a few minutes. :{

She wiped her hands on a cloth; Lenala had scolded her many times for
wiping them on her skirts (though honestly, she didn't think it was so
much of a big deal). But, she did not put on the shoes that plagued
her. She didn't like them and Dolphin's Cove was warm enough to go
barefoot when she pleased.

Making her way to Kapera's weyr, she knocked on the door and waited,
pushing her mass of hair away from her face.

Kapera had already poured herself juice and started nibbling on a
small cookie. "Lanniya, hi. I hope I didn't pull you away from
anything important?"

"Nope!" Lanniya stepped in and tucked her hair behind her ears. "I was
just in the gardens. I like puttering about the plants when I have
some free time." And with Anaeryth wrapped around her eggs, she didn't
have much of that lately. She shifted on her feet and eyed the
cookies; before she could ask, her stomach gave an audible rumble.

"Please, take one. I'm dying for them as well," the other goldrider
said, grabbing one for herself.

"I didn't know you liked gardening," Kapera said after she'd polished
off the first cookie.

Gratefully taking a cookie, Lanniya took a bite eagerly and nodded as
she swallowed. "Oooo, these are good. Yeah, I do. I mean, I just like
getting my hands in there and seeing things grow. Everytime our
caravan ended up in a farming cothold, I always wanted to help with
the gardens. I like the smell of the plants." She finished the cookie
and absently brushed her hands off on her skirts. "I love the herbs
most of all."

"Would you have wanted to live somewhere where you could have one?"

"I don't know. I figured I'd be on the caravans for the rest of my
life. I was kind of next in line and all."

"With the constant traveling, it wouldn't be easy to have a garden, I
suppose." Kapera knew enough about traders to know that much. "Do you
miss it at all?"

"It's impossible." Lanniya agreed. She paused and considered it. "You
know, I've been really too busy to think about whether or not I miss
it." She took a moment to consider it further. "You know, I really
don't. I mean, it was my life, but this life, with Anaeryth, and not
having people think I'm a bit crazy is much much better. I don't
really miss the traveling either. I miss my family, but not the life.
I feel..." she gestured with her hands as she tried to fit her words
to her feeling, "not more important but like my life means more."

"I understand," Kapera said. "When I Impressed Riyanth, I knew my life
was going to change into something much bigger. Being a dragonrider is
important, and a goldrider most of all."

She nodded. "I like being a part of something big. When you're a
Trader, your life is pretty much narrowed down to your little caravan.
This..." She gestured to encompass the Weyr, " this is more than I
ever hoped for. "

The older goldrider thought that was a very sensible attitude for
Lanniya to have. Clearly she understood the scope of her life and her
responsibilities now. "Several Holds and Halls, even some caravans.
All of that falls under the Weyr, so you're responsible for all of it
staying safe. Without a healthy Weyr the territory can't thrive. You
know, I didn't think I realized that until Thread began to fall."

"See," Lanniya was quick to point out. "I think that's so much more
important than if I wear shoes or if my hands are dirty or my hair
isn't perfect. Being expected to some perfect symbol of proper
behavior is ridiculous." There was a hint of resentment in her words,
even as she smiled. "Yeah, etiquette is fine for stuffy people, but I
think it's _boring_."

"Is that something you hated in lessons?" Kapera asked.

"Faranth, yes. It's not like I don't know my manners. And it's so
_dull_." Lanniya made a face, wrinkling her nose. "Well, that and
record keeping. I'd rather be out _doing_ things, not stuck in a dusty
office staring at hides."

Kapera couldn't help it - she laughed at Lanniya's words, they sounded
so familiar to her. A few crumbs sprayed from her mouth. She wiped it
with a napkin before speaking. "I'm sorry, I'm not making fun of you,"
she said. "It's just that I felt that way once."

Lanniya grinned, a little relieved to have some understanding in how
she felt. "And you don't anymore? I mean, it's still really boring."

"It's complicated, for me. There are parts of it I really enjoy.
Wearing the right outfit, doing my hair, I like those because it gives
me a way of presenting myself that can make me feel powerful. When I
go out to the Holds, I like being seen as a queenrider and weyrwoman,"
Kapera said. "That doesn't mean I don't lounge around my weyr in a
sleeprobe like all the other riders. But sometimes it's fun to have
that face."

Lanniya tilted her head to the side. "But I'm not powerful. I'm the
youngest and really, it's not like I'll be a senior weyrwoman for a
long long time. I just like being me. When I'm all dressed up, I'm
more worried about messing up the outfit than anything else. It's..."
She searched for the right word. "Restrictive."

"If you think Weyr goldrider fashion is that bad, you should see what
they expect of Lady Holders," Kapera quipped.

"I have!" Lanniya shuddered. "All those laces and stays and no thank
you. I'd rather be naked."

Kapera laughed deeply at the image. Lanniya was really a lot of fun,
she thought with some delight. Less uptight than Meledei had been.

"It is ridiculously ornate. By comparison a Weyr dress isn't so bad.
And yes, you're not a senior yet, but it's good to start now so you
get in the habit. You might find it grows on you. Think of flying
leathers, how were they the first time?"

"Like a second skin. They felt really snug. I really like my skirts,
but F'lin told me that the leathers made my butt look good."

That got another undignified snort out of the dark-haired goldrider.
"Let me guess, he's a bronze or brownrider?"

"I guess the comparison won't work like I thought. See, the first
times I wore them, I thought they were restrictive and terrible.
Eventually I got used to them as my dragonrider clothes, and they get
me into that mindset. Perfectly done hair and attire is my weyrwoman
clothes, and they get me into the mindset of leading and playing nice.
Or stern, as it needs be."

"Bronzerider." Lanniya agreed with a grin as she took another cookie.
"He was a good friend until..." Until she had /betweened/. He hadn't
spoken to her since, not even to say goodbye. It still hurt. She shook
it off and went back to concentrate on what Kapera was saying.

Her brow furrowed as she considered it. "So, it's like a mask."

"Just like in a play," Kapera said. "You know when you see one, and
you know who the Lord Holder is because he has the nicest outfit, and
you know who the dragons are because they have the masks? The
appearance is the mask that says "I'm the Goldrider" now. And then
after the event, you take it off, and you're just you."

That was a really interesting way to look at it, Lanniya decided. "So,
you really don't have to change, you just have to appear like you're
all stern and stuff, but then kick off your shoes once the performance
is over, right?"

"That's exactly what I do whenever I have to appear in public. I
deemed it my Weyrwoman face. And it was such a relief to come back and
unwind afterwards."

Lanniya made an effort to look stern and it wasn't very convincing as
she burst out laughing halfway through the attempt. "I think mine
needs lots of work!"

"That's what practice is for. I have an idea for a lesson on it,
actually. One that I'll try to make fun." After all, Lanniya was
supposed to be learning, right? Getting dressed up and working on her
manners in a more fun way would count...

Lanniya's smile grew and she nodded. "As long as it's fun!"

"Does trying on different appearances sound fun? I can show you some
of the looks I cultivate, and we could figure out what works for you."

Kapera wondered if Lanniya's previous leaders had just given her
something and told her to 'shape up'. Maybe giving her choice and
framing it as a game would help.

The younger woman beamed her agreement. "It does sound fun. I think
I'd love that!"

"Then let's set it up. I promise, it will be great," Kapera said with
a link. It really had been a good idea to stop by Lanniya's.

Last updated on the January 31st 2017

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Like Putting on a Mask