Chores can be fun! (Tivax/Candidates)

[Cait]

Early afternoon | Weyrbowl | 73.13.05

Chores, chores, chores.

Really it wasn't so different from being at home; well aside from the fact that there were dragons all over the place and she wasn't constantly having to keep an eye on her younger brother; or her older brother for that matter. Davquil had never minded much doing chores at home and truth be told, the chores at the Weyr were far more interesting than carding or dying wool for her father and brother or sweeping the workshop or house. Here at the Weyr she got to help in the kitchen--granted it was usually things like peeling tubers--or run errands for the dragonriders. Of course there were slightly less fun chores as well like chipping ice and shoveling snow, but that came with the far Northern territory, and snow was rather fun if you let it be.

Currently she was tasked with knocking down the ofttimes dangerous icicles before they could get too big where they hung over the entrances to the Weyrbowl. Of course this was one of the chores that was more like a game. Wearing a light jacket over her wool dress as well as a pair of warm boots, Dav was armed with a basket of fist-sized rocks and a delighted smile, her cheeks pink and chapped by the cold air, her breath creating a misty fog as she pulled her arm back and hurled her rock at the base of one of the larger icicles then let out a whoop of pure joy, jumping up and down as she hit her target and the ice cracked before plummeting to the ground to land in three large pieces in a snow bank. "Yes! Ha!"

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Three days, or had it been four, since running smack into someone else at the kitchen counter. Four, it had to have been four, because today was the 5th day of the 13th month, and that had happened on the first of the month. Sighing, Tivax trudged towards the WeyrBowl with a bucket of rocks, having been told to de-icicle the entrances. The Candidate Master had given him a glare that his father would have envied, and informed the young man that there was to be no recruiting of dragons to help, unlike the last time.

Tivax had tried to protest that it had been the dragon’s idea, which it had been, but the Candidate Master was in no mood to listen, so… Tivax rounded the corner, only to have an icicle fall right in front of him. He stopped and stared. In the Bowl, next to a bucket of rocks, was an olive complexioned girl with dark brown hair hair. From her posture, she’d launched a rock at the icicle that had fallen in front of him, but that wasn’t what had him staring. She looked familiar, though he couldn’t determine where he might have seen her before. It wasn’t with his father… Tiberax’s gang of outlaws, but…

“Have we met?” he asked. He had to admit, her way of clearing icicles looked like a lot of fun.

[Cait]

Letting out a squeak and clapping a hand over her mouth at the sight of another Candidate just short of having been knocked over the head by the falling ice, Dav stopped her bouncing and stared wide-eyed at the boy with his pale hair and took in the basket he carried as well as the scar on his face though she didn't linger on it over long. Instead she finally blinked and let her hands fall, catching her lower lip between her lips and bouncing on the balls of her feet, snow crunching beneath her. "Sorry about that, didn't see you coming."

As she tilted her head, her hair broke free of the tie she'd used to hold it back and settled about her face like a thick mane. Her smile wasn't gone long as she shifted under his intent gaze, her fingers toying with the fur trim on her jacket. Just as she was about to ask if she had something on her face, laughter already sparkling in her dark eyes, he spoke and her head tipped to the other side. Had she met this boy before? Surely she'd seen him around the Weyr as he was a Candidate, but she wasn't sure that she'd actually had a chance to speak to him. Between chores and helping out in the Creche, she had really only interacted with the other female Candidates. However, now that he had said something she was aware of a faint recognition; it was the hair, she was sure of it. Very few people had such pale hair, even so far north.

"Perhaps. You do look a bit familiar." She gestured to her own hair then waved her hand in his direction. "My name's Davquil Varshay. I'm from Icy Caverns Hold. Of course you might know my brother, he's a rider here and we look a fair bit alike; D'ill?"

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Tivax walked out into the Bowl. As soon as the girl mentioned her name and where she was from, it all clicked over in Tivax’s head. He’d met her during those few months spent at Icy Carverns. Of course, the girl with the dragonrider brother, the one Gillian had asked for stories about what was currently going on at the Weyr.

Of course, that had been almost three turns ago now, but… “We went to class together,” he said, neglecting to add that he’d only shown up when he could escape his father’s notice. “At Icy Carverns, I’m Tivax…” he hesitated, then decided he might as well commit. “Tivax Cavernborn. You would have known me as Tivax Noixay.”

Suddenly, Tivax was possessed of an irrational desire to show off, which he accomplished by twirling and launching a rock at one of the larger icicles. It hit, but didn’t crack the thick ice through enough for it to fall.

[Cait]

Her eyes flicked back and forth slightly, a physical manifestation of the way she searched her mind, trying to place this familiar presence. It wasn't until he finally spoke again that she found the right memory and her smile quickly blossomed into a dazzling grin. She remembered him! He'd been the curious one in class--though she remembered that he hadn't been there often--bouncing once more on the balls of her feet she hopped forward through the snow, clapping her hands up in excitement.

"I haven't seen you in turns!" She seemed genuinely glad to see an old face, though her memory of him hadn't been marred by the rather prominent scar beside the right eye. Her own dark eyes sparkled merrily as she flailed her hands, beckoning to come forward and join her. She wanted to get back to laying siege to the icicles that hung above the entrance and found herself delighted when Tivax plucked a rock from his own basket and spun around rather neatly and hurled the rock at one of the larger icicles that she yet to strike a hit on.

When the rock smashed against the base of the icicle, Dav whooped in delight, despite the fact that it seemed to remain firmly intact and clapped again. Stooping down she scooped up two of her own rocks and wide grin still on her face. "We'll teach that frozen water a lesson!" She declared, being rather silly, then hurled one of her own rocks, pouting rather comically as it hit just to the left and below where she'd intended. "Slippery thing, isn't it?" Her face was completely somber but the laughter was in her eyes. Yes, the pun was intended.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Tivax raced forward, sliding to a stop right as Davquil launched a rock of her own at the stubborn icicle. He spun around, flailing his arms like he was about to fall, even though he was no such thing. Her rock struck the icicle, but further down than his had, so that the icicle still didn’t break. He laughed aloud at Dav’s fake pout, and even harder at her comment that the icicle was a “slippery thing”. With the laughter, he felt all of his stress melt away. Life was so much better in the presence of friends.

“Together?” he asked, catching his breath, though he was still grinning, and holding up one of his rocks. “On three? Or three thousand?” he was still grinning, still basking in the joy of having someone to play with, to hang out with, to discuss lessons with.

[Cait]

Dav let out a bark of laughter at Tiv's antics, a feeling of camaraderie settling over her. She might not have known Tivax very well, if at all those few turns ago, but here and now, as Candidates, she was certain that they would be good friends. Then again, Davquil got along with just about anyone who wasn't completely and utterly horrible. She noticed a faint change in him as he laughed; perhaps just less tension around his lips or between his brows but she noticed it and was glad. It was ever her goal in life to bring happiness.

Stepping up so that she was alongside him she passed the rock in her left had to her right hand and grinned with determination, nodding vigorously as he suggested they throw together. Pulling her hand back she blinked then looked over at him, startled for a fraction of a second before letting out a laugh, returning his grin, her eyes wrinkling at the corners as the cold breeze picked up and teased curling clumps of her hair into dancing. "I can't even count to three thousand. Maybe three hundred?"

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Tivax pretended to think for a moment. “Naw, takes too long,” he said, his grin breaking through the fake serious cast to his face. “What about on three?”

This was, easily, the most fun Tivax had had since coming to the Weyr. Actually, in honesty, it was the most fun he’d had since his family had left Icy Caverns Hold after his memorable encounter with a visiting dragon. They had only stayed at the Hold for a handful of months, but such was life with Tiberax for a father.

“Aim for the old crack,” Tivax commented. “One,” he pulled his arm back, “two, three!” he hurled his rock, his gaze tracking it through the air. He could practically feel himself willing the rock to hit, to strike the crack.

[Cait]

Nodding in agreement, Dav readied herself and bounced a few times on the balls of her feet, fixing her eyes on the icicle. Having no clue just how much Tivax appreciated her silly ideas, yet knowing that he was having a good time, she was simply glad she'd found someone other than a three year old who would play along with her. Even her younger brother had grown tired of her ideas.

The tip of her pink tongue peeked out in concentration as she focused on the crack, tensing as the boy began to count. She found herself whispering the numbers after he'd said them, until finally he shouted the final number and she let out a squeal as she flung her rock at the icicle, practically exploding with glee as both rocks connected at nearly the same time, bringing the massive dagger of ice toppling to the ground where it shattered despite the snow bank.

"Yes! We did it! Ha!" Fairly bouncing around she flung her arms around Tivax in a spontaneous hug then pulled back just as quickly and began to hop about in a strange parody of a victory dance, her hair bouncing around her face.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Tivax threw his hands up in the air with a whoop as the rocks collided, slamming into the crack at nearly the same time and right next to each other. He stiffened slightly as Davquil enveloped him in a spontaneous hug, but then she was hopping about in some kind of victory celebration. Tivax immediately joined in, bouncing around in a circle while spinning a fist above his head, rock clutched tightly in it.

Laughing, he finally stopped circling. “Hey Dav!” he called. “I bet I can hit that one over there!” He glanced over his shoulder to Davquil as he spoke, his face open and full of laughter. Not at anything funny, just laughter of exhilaration, laughter of life.

Turning back around, he took an exaggerated throwing posture, his eyes locked on his target, a fairly large icicle about halfway along the Bowl from their current position. He brought his arm back, then continued the circle so that it was in front of him again. He clasped his right hand around his left, turning his right shoulder forward and raising his right foot off the ground. He could feel the rock, smooth and the perfect size, held in his left hand, ready to be thrown.

His focus narrowed, consisting only of the icicle. He raised his arms, tipping his shoulders so that his left was below the level of his head, and then stepped forward, down onto his right foot, and threw. He watched the rock sail through the air, not even changing his posture until the rock crunched into the icicle and brought it crashing down.

[Cait]

When Tivax joined in her celebration, the pair of Candidates probably made a rather amusing sight; dancing and hollering in the snow for no apparent reason--or so it would appear from a distance. No doubt if the Candidatemaster caught them, he would think they were slacking. Uncaring of such things, Davquil turned her head as she stoop to grab more rocks as Tivax called out to her.

"Oooh, a bet! Alright, let's see what you've got, blondie." She grinned cheekily and straightened up, a rock in each hand as she folded her arms across her chest, watching as he took a rather comical pose. The icicle he'd picked was a good distance away and her expression settled into a skeptical smirk, one dark brow arched as he slowly settled into a throwing stance that was enough to elicit giggles from the girl.

As he pulled back to throw the urge to shove him into the snow crept up on her and so she crept up on him. Dropping her rocks into the snow, she slipped up behind him and once he'd thrown the rock, she didn't bother to see if it hit its mark but thrust out her arms to shove the boy in the back with a shout of laughter. The sound of shattering ice had her head snapping to the side to stare incredulously at the downed icicle. He'd done it! Impossible!

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Tivax staggered forward and, predictably, since his weight was still settled forward, staggered and he hit the snow. Face first. Spluttering he pushed himself upright. “What the…?” he began, trying to glare at Davquil. He managed it do, for all of a second, but her obvious incredulity and shock as she stared at the downed icicle prevented it from remaining longer. He was definitely basking in the implied admiration. He decided that expanding this into a game would be much more fun, and they’d get the chore done too.

“I propose a game,” he declared. “Whichever one of us knocks down the most icicles shall be the victor, and the other…” hurriedly, he searched his mind for a suitable forfeit “shall do everything they are commanded for precisely one quarter hour.”

[Cait]

Grinning impishly at Tivax after he took a rather spectacular spill from her shove, Davquil clasped her hands behind her and rocked forward and back on the balls of her feet. Certain that he wasn’t hurt she allowed herself to be amused and it seemed to be contagious as Tivax was only able to scowl for a short while. In fact he seemed almost pleased about something. Before she could inquire as to what, though she did have a feeling it had something to do with his one in a million throw—okay probably closer to one in a hundred—as he issued a declaration.

”A game?” She listened with interest as he continued, lying out the rather simply goal of the game; and consequently of their chore as well. To knock down as many icicles as possible. But what made it much more fun was the fact that there was a forfeit; something that the loser had to do. Dark, chocolate brown eyes sparkled as she stuck her hand out to help Tivax up. ”I agree to these terms. I hope you know that I plan to utterly humiliate you.” She informed her fellow candidate with the sweetest of smiles and only a hint of seriousness.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Tivax grinned. He didn't particularly care if he won or lost, though of course it would be far better to win; the whole reason for doing this was to enjoy the presence of a real friend, which was something he'd been lacking for several Turns.

"In that case, let the game begin!" he cried. Pointing to an icicle, one much closer than the one he'd just knocked down, he added: "That one's my first target."

He didn't bother with an exaggerated throwing posture this time, simply let the rock fly, though he still brought both hands up and behind his left shoulder, the right cupped around the left. He launched the rock, but it missed the icicle by inches, smacking into the wall above it.

"Not fair!" he shouted, immediately grabbing another rock and hurling it at the icicle. The second rock hit, punching through the base of the icicle and sending it crashing to the ground.

[Cait]

Hooking the handle of her basket of rocks with the toe of her boot, Dav pulled it over then grabbed two rocks even as Tivax picked out his first target. If she had known when she was younger that this boy was able to have fun she probably would've talked to him more on the occasions when he did show up to class. But now was not a time for what she might have done; now was a time for doing as even as Tivax let loose a rock, she picked her own target and lobbed her fist-sized rock.

Her gaze followed the rock and she bounced on her toes once before frowning as the rock hit midway down the icicle, taking only half on it. Well that wouldn't do. Taking another rock she shut her left eye and squinted at the remaining bit of the icicle then launched a second rock. Success! The rest of the icicle crashed to the ground. With a whoop, she turned her head and stuck out her tongue at Tivax, just in time for him to launch his second rock and bring down his intended target. Oh darn, they were tied still.

Turning her gaze back to the ice, she picked another icicle close enough to hit with some amount of accuracy and stooped to grab more rocks. Straightening up, she hurled a slightly larger rock and hissed as it flew wide of the target only to hit a smaller icicle and completely obliterate it. That counted right? "Ha! Yes!"