Getting Ready

Writers: Avery
Date Posted: 21st May 2014

Characters: Riveenata, Thereenata, Thereven, Veneena
Description: Riven banters with her family before the Hatching.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 6, day 22 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: F'lin, Lenala and Vilarth, K'mai

One of the perks of not having Craft duties for a sevenday was a lot of free time. Riveenata knew how to long it took between clutching and hatching, which meant she'd had plenty of time to make her plans for the upcoming one. She'd missed Vilarth's last one by being on duty at that time, something she hadn't much minded back then, as she'd still gotten to dance at the feast.

Now she was struggling with her mixed feelings, but she'd decided she was going to make this a hatching to remember. She'd gotten a new outfit from picking out items from the stores and then arranging for some quick modifications. Then she'd made sure company was top of the list. She planned to spend the feast dancing with all her friends, then spending the night with F'lin.

Assuming he agreed to it, of course. He might have already had some plans. Riven was trying to figure out how to express that she was enjoying the extra time they were spending together while also trying not to come across as a clingy holdbred girl interested in weyrmating after a few encounters. It was an easy line to walk with some people, like K'mai; harder with those who had spent time in holds.

She was soaking in one of the larger public pools when the humming began. The man next to her turned his head and his eyes went unfocused, then he called "Hatching!" and headed for the side to dry off. Most occupants quickly finished their ablutions and went to dry off and get their clothes, a briskness in their step and cheer in their voices.

By the time Riven was dry and had ascended the steps to her parents' weyr, the main place for her family to gather, her siblings were already there. She let out a whistle when she saw her sister's clothes. "That looks good."

Veneena had gone with a mid-calf purple skirt that had gold embroidery and a high slit up the side. Her shirt was a low-cut white sleeveless tunic with purple lacings. It was more daring then anything she would have personally worn, but it looked lovely. She had a silver hair clasp with an amethyst in it - Riven recognized their brother's handiwork on the design.

"Good?" Veneena pouted in mock-outrage. "It's outstanding! I still owe Vaishe a quarter-mark, but it's so worth it."

Her brother Thereven was dressed conservatively, wearing plain black pants and a dark blue tunic. His one concession to fashion was a plain leather belt that featured an ornate brass buckle of his own design. "New one?" she asked him.

"Finished two days ago," he affirmed.

Her mother used her good arm to reach into the trunk where the siblings kept their finery, and handed Riven the clothes she'd prepared. "Put this on and Veneena will get your hair."

Riven took the bundle from her mother and disappeared into the back room to change. She'd gone with clothes that were feminine and pretty, but easy to quickly put on. For this Hatching, she was going with an ankle-length green skirt that swirled nicely when dancing, and a cream tunic with a scoop neck and bright green ribbons sewn onto the bell sleeves. She kept her slightly worn boots, figuring she could change to nicer shoes before the dancing. But climbing the stands would be easier in practical shoes.

"What do you think?" she asked when she came out.

"You need to do something nicer than a plain braid falling down your back," her sister said, making a tsking sound when she saw Riven's hair. She patted the couch. "Sit, I know just the thing. What about two braids, then forming a crown on top of your head…"

Riven sat obediently and admired the rest of her family's outfits while her sister ran a comb through her hair and began re-braiding it. She rather liked what her mother was wearing, a floor length sleeveless dress in burnt orange. The thin straps that held up dress meant it was easy to put on without having to worry about how to pull sleeves over the sling her arm was still in.

"Ow!" Riven's thoughts were distracted, and she yelped as the pin struck her ear.

"Sorry," her sister said contritely. "Your hair's not as curly as mine, it doesn't stay as well."

"That's why I keep mine short," their mother said.

"You keep yours short because it's easier to fit under a helmet," her son retorted.

"Curly hair like your sister's stays up better than the long fine hair." Riven's mother had straight brown hair that tangled easily. It was something they had in common, but a stark contrast from her father's curly black hair, which her other two siblings had inherited.

"My hair's fine, right?" Thereven asked. It was a joke, of course - like their father, he shaved his head completely.

"No, it looks like a wherry's nest. You'll have to spend half a candlemark combing it," Veneena retorted. She gave an experimental tug on Riven's hair, then nodded in satisfaction when nothing moved. "Perfect."

Riven stood up and turned around so everyone could see. "Looking okay?"

"You look fine. Let's go!" Her brother moved past her towards the door, spurred by the increased volume of dragons humming.

"So who's sitting where?" her mother asked.

"I told F'lin I'd sit with him. We have a bet going on some of the eggs," Riven explained. "Speaking of, could you have Veyth tell Seneth I'll meet him near the Sands? I think he was going to meet me near my quarters, and then I left my clothes in yours…"

"Done," Thereenata said after a moment.

"You two've been seen around each other a lot lately," Thereven said, as they headed for the sands. "Is it serious?"

She shrugged. "We're friends. He got me in to see Vilarth's eggs. It was a nice gesture."

"And you not a candidate?" Her sister elbowed her in the side as they walked. "Bronzerider friends get you all the perks. Maybe you should re-introduce us."

"Or you could catch one of your own," Riven retorted. They were nearing the main corridor to the hatching grounds. "I'll see you after the hatching for dinner!"

Last updated on the May 28th 2014

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