If You Need Any Help Causing Trouble...

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 15th July 2024

Characters: Casmari, V'dryn
Description: Casmari and Videryn work on a problem and get to know each other
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 11, day 25 of Turn 11

Casmari

"Well," Videryn observed, Mora perched on his shoulder, "at least it's
not a total mess."

The room in question -- one of the supply rooms used for what appeared
to be dried goods -- had sprung a leak during a recent storm and now
those aforementioned dried goods were a bit...not. The water had been
mostly removed but overnight, a few crawly critters had gotten into
the stores and opened up the wet trappings, so now there was
additional detritus. The Headwoman had asked for a few Candidates to
help clean up and present what could be saved versus what had to be
thrown out.

Still taking in the scope of the project, Videryn stood at the door
quietly, waiting for the rest of the help to arrive, since it would be
wasteful to begin only to have to stop and adjust for additional
hands. Mora did not mind getting some absent-minded petting in the
meantime.

Casmari was whistling a bright, lilting tune as she rounded the corner
to find Videryn. The tune quickly ended on a low, sour note as Casmari
surveyed the ruin inside of the supply room. "You know, the real irony
here is that this is a newly built supply room and it's _already_
sprung a leak?"

"Then we built something incorrectly," Videryn said flatly, obviously
displeased with the error. When he heard his own tone, he shook
himself a little, snapping himself out of surveying mode and back into
personal mode. "My apologies! I was thinking far too much about how to
fix the issue." He inclined his head politely at Casmari and smiled.
"And how are you today?" Plenty of time for pleasantries before they
began their work. Mora cheeped a welcome at the other Candidate as
well.

"Good, considering," she said, gesturing to the mess they would have
to clean up. "Rumor has it that Riyanth _might_ allow us onto the
Sands to see the eggs." That had certainly put a spring into her step
when she'd heard.

"A rumor has it?" Videryn echoed. He made an intrigued sound
afterward. "That would be a far better way to spend the afternoon
than...this." And he waved his hand at the mess. "I suppose we should
get started, either way. I was thinking that perhaps we should divide
and conquer. Salvageable items there, unsalvageable there." As he
spoke, he pointed to nearly opposite sides of the room before looking
at Casmari to see if she had any thoughts or objections.

"My mom. My mom is the rumor-er. So, we'll see if she's correct."
Casmari rolled her sleeves up. "Let's do this," she said, grabbing the
first dry box and stacking it over on the salvageable side.

Videryn snapped his fingers. He was putting something together. "Your
mother is Rasme, Piketh's rider," he said, mostly a question that
sounded like a statement.

"That's her," Casmari said as she grabbed a broom and dustpan and
began sweeping soggy, wet rice into it. "Frizzy blonde hair. Eye
patch. She's hard to miss."

"Not to mention astride a gold dragon," he added. He tilted his head.
"Eye patch? That sounds rather...badass, if I may be honest." He
grinned, adding levity to his words. As he spoke, he moved towards the
opposite side of the room from her to begin sorting that area.

"It is," Casmari agreed. "What are your parents like?"

She couldn't see it since his back was to her but Videryn's grin
faded. He was quiet for a long enough moment to be felt before
replying, "Proud. Strict. They have...had...high expectations for me.
I'm afraid I'm on track to fail them all." A pause and then he added,
"Willingly, of course." He looked over his shoulder at Casmari to see
her reaction.

Casmari's head snapped towards him, her eyebrows dancing towards her
hairline. "_Willingly_, huh? Bit of a rebel, are you?"

He shot her a dismantling smile. "Of course! Even in failure, I have a
high drive to succeed. I endeavor to disappoint them spectacularly by
kissing every boy and girl I meet, to never settle down except to
Impress a dragon, and even then, who knows!" he said grandly. "Oh, the
kissing part is with consent, of course. I do have manners." That was
added with a bit of a blush to his cheeks.

She laughed, thoroughly enjoying Videryn's candor. "You're starting to
make me think I need to do a little more to give my parents' grey
hairs."

He wiggled his fingers flirtatiously. "If you need help with that
after we finish this task..."

"Sadly, I think my parents would find it _refreshing_ if I was off
doing typical Candidate things... Like exploring with boys," she
winked. Honestly, she wasn't sure what she could do to give her
parents cause to worry - they seemed to take everything in stride and
supported all of her decisions.

"'Refreshing?'" Videryn echoed. "Oh dear, that sounds ominous. And
here I thought that _I_ was out causing trouble. What on Pern do you
get into?" His tone was playful, curious, as though if she answered
correctly, he'd ask to be invited along. Videryn was, after all, on a
mission to explore everything that he could now that he wasn't bound
to the Hold.

"Oh no, that's the opposite of what I meant," Casmari said, blushing.
"I'm such a goody-two-shoes that my parents _wished_ I got into a
little more trouble."

"Oh," Videryn said, comprehending. A slight blush appeared on his dark
cheeks. "My apologies for misunderstanding then."

"It's fine," she assured him with a grin. "I _do_ need to live a little."

"Well," he said as his attention turned back towards the mess they
were working through, using it as an internal shield because he was
absolutely not about to ask her out or anything. "If you'd ever like
to change that, I'm certain that I can secure a wineskin or two. And I
know of a breathtaking place to go cliffdiving."

Casmari's eyes lit. "Cliffdiving! Now _that_ sounds fun!"

Last updated on the July 27th 2024

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