Happy for the Opportunity

Writers: AL, Eimi
Date Posted: 24th July 2008

Characters: Irlani, T'mahl
Description: Irlani goes to T'mahl and makes a request.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 4 of Turn 4

"Excuse me." Irlani approached the bronzerider, the corners of her
lips gliding upwards into a warm smile. Her gaze danced over him a
bit, not in a lewd fashion, but simply in a manner of one
making acquaintance with a new face. She bobbed her head as she spoke
in a polite echo of her greeting and lifted a hand to push a strand
of hair out of her eyes. "Rider T'mahl?" The question was formed
just as her eyes darted to his knots. Weyrlingmaster. Yes, he was
the one. "Someone recommended you to me."

The bronzerider stood and nodded politely, surprised as much at being
approached as the fact that people had been recommending him for
anything. "Recommended, ma'am?"

"Someone said you made toys for children." Irlani laced her hands
together and then let them drop to her waist. "Is that true?"

"I do in my spare time. Mechanical toys," he clarified.

The smile warmed a bit more as Irlani nodded. "Wonderful. I was
wondering if you would make something for me for my daughter."

"I could, though it might take some time with a new group of Weyrlings
soon. But let me hear what it is you want and I can see if it's
possible. Please," he said, indicating the seat across from her. "Can
I grab you a mug of klah or anything?"

Irlani shook her head. "You are very kind, but no thank you, I'm
fine." She paused, then added, "Do you think you could make a music
box?"

"A music box?" he asked, his eyes widening in surprise. "Why, I was
just thinking the other day that I would like to try to make a music
box."

"Oh really?" Irlani smiled brightly. "What a coincidence. Well, I
must say, then I suppose it's a good thing I came to you. Since you
were thinking about it, do you think you'd be willing to make it for
me?"

"I think that can certainly be arranged." And it would look good in
his Senior Journeyman candidacy portfolio. "Do you have a particular
song in mind?"

"Yes I do, actually." Irlani nodded, thinking of the song she had sung
to Gyta just the other night. "It's a lullabye."

"Do you know the name of it?" He was not too well versed in lullabies,
though he had a feeling he knew someone who might be able to help him.

"I think the proper title is 'Little One'." Irlani cocked her head to
the side as if trying to recall it. "My mother used to sing it to me,
and her mother to her, so I know it's fairly old."

"'Little One'..." the Weyrlingmaster repeated, trying to comit the name
to memory. "Would you mind singing me the chorus, just so I can be
sure to find the right one?"

"Ah, well, it's a pretty short song." Irlani admitted, then cleared
her throat and sang one of the verses,

'"Close your eyes, little one.
Go to sleep, little one.
The stars shine tonight,
The moons are big and bright,
And I'll be here all through the night."

That would certainly make a very pretty music box. "I think I know a
harper who can help me make a nice arrangement of that for you. Now,
do you have any idea what you would like it to look like?"

"Well, obviously pretty." Irlani stated with a soft laugh. "I'd like
it to have dragons on it. Her father is a bronzerider. Perhaps a
bronze and a gold over the hills in the springtime? Or would that be
too complicated?"

"I might be able to make something out of metal, though I can't promise
it would be very detailed." T'mahl thought for a moment, tapping his
finger on the top of the table. "I might suggest, actually, requesting
a casing from a woodsmith or metal smith."

"I think a woodsmith." Irlani stated after a moment, "I think it would
look nice in a wooden box. Should I ask the woodsmith to get in touch
with you regarding the details?"

"Yes, I would need to speak with them to discuss dementions and
whatnot. Now, do you know if you would like it to be utilitarian or
merely decorative?"

"It would be nice if it could have some sort of use other than
decoration. Perhaps a place to keep some of her smaller treasures."
Irlani suggested. Yes, Gyta might like that.

"That would be fine. You can even ask the woodsmith to cover the
inside with some kind of cloth and padding to protect some of her more
fragile things." He wondered if it might muffle the sound though.
T'mahl decided he would have to read up on the accustics of such a
music box to be sure.

"I wish I knew more about such things." Irlani tapped her chin lightly.
Yes, things like that were certainly very interesting, though she would
never have taken time away from her children to craft. "Still, I'll go
talk to a woodsmith to get in touch with you. Thank you for your
willingness."

"I'm happy for the opportunity," he assured her. "So many of the things
I've made are collecting dust in my weyr. It would be nice to make
something that is of use to someone."

"I'll go to a woodsmith today. How long should I wait until I check
back with you?"

"I wouldn't wait. I will need to discuss dimensions with him or her
before I can start manufacturing the parts." After all, it wouldn't do
to find out after the fact that both their hard work was in vain.

"All right." Irlani nodded slowly. "Then I'll be in touch soon."

Last updated on the July 25th 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Happy for the Opportunity