Trio and One [Kaya/open]

[Shoki]

“It was a pleasure doing business with you.” Shri shook the hand of the man who now had a lovely firelizard egg in his hands, before he walked away with his prize. She watched him go and then let out a long breath. She remained alone for a time, sitting in her seat, before getting up and heading outside. It was the last one, which was good. Not that Shri needed an exorbitant amount of marks, but enough to keep her and her firelizards happy, then enough for travel expenses when going out to sell more firelizard eggs. Fortunately, times like today just had her in her backyard getting marks.

As she exited into the Bowl, there was a sudden whirlwind of activity around her. She hardly blinked as a trio of firelizards swooped around her, clinging to the sash she wore. She continued walking, but reached her hand up to the Firelizard on her shoulder.

“It’s alright, sweetheart, it is okay.” She stroked the chin of the Gold Firelizard, who was trying to look aloof but crooned in the face of the attention. Analis was ‘sweetheart’, though there were times where she was far from sweet. Right now, she would take the attention now that the last of her clutch had been sold. Though now that Analis was getting attention, there was hissing from Shri’s back. The firelizard back there was not pleased.

“Darling, quiet.” ‘Darling’ didn’t want to be quiet. However, the Copper firelizard got silent and crawled further down the sash, poking her head out to look forward. Dea could be a handful, and the nickname ‘darling’ was comical at times. Still, as Shri gave the creature a pat, her eyes went from annoyance to annoyance streaked with enjoyment. Dea often wished she didn’t have to share Shri, but at least she had a piece of her. On the other side of her, another firelizard brooded on her pouch. The Flame tried to stay far away from the females right now. They were greedy, Selt just rather have a little peace. He tried to perch himself out of sight of Dea.

All the while Shri moved to a tree in the Bowl. She had to get back to the Aerie, in the evening, but now she wanted to relax. She didn’t have to say anything as she turned her back to the try, Dea jumped off and clung to the tree instead while Analis went to perch on a branch. Selt merely hopped onto her sash, so that when she sat down, he was in perfect position for a pet. Shri let a little smile play on her face for a moment before petting him.

“Nice to see you too, handsome.” Selt crooned as she spoke. Shri’s expression went to neutral soon enough and she watched people funnel in and out of the Bowl. There was a tension though, something that she didn’t remember from her youth. Was this what war looked like?

Hard to say.

[Kaya]

"Okay, yes, I'll admit, I am rather good looking," Kh'sol butted in. "Though I'd say maybe it's a little early for that. Kh'sol Yorntas, at your service," he threw in a wink for good measure.

He had been walking through the Bowl, about to hike up to the heights before he and Ornoth took off on deliveries. There were a lot of things moving around now that the war had been announced. Best to be useful as a new Rider, it was all something new to do anyway. So when he heard that line from a firelizard besotted young woman, well, he couldn't let that opportunity slide.

He looked at her trying to recognize the face. The Weyr was a big and bustling place. Where had he seen her before?

[Shoki]

Shri looked up as someone came up to her, latching onto her words for the Flame firelizard. She raised an eyebrow, a slight twitch from her lips coming to her face as she reached forward to give Selt a stroke with her fingers. The Flame, who was starting to bristle, cooled under the featherlike stroking under his chin, while Shri spoke.

“Hmm. I’m afraid I like my gentlemen brightly colored, sorry.” The woman wasn’t easily flustered, which was good. One of them had to be, and it wasn’t going to be her flitters. “You might have better luck with another of the ladies here.” Her free hand loosely gestured above her, where Analis and Dea perched. Dea was looking cross, but remained silent, which Analis watched the proceedings primly. Ah, she loved her darlings. Even if they could be prickly.

“I’m Shri Kestrel. I take it you are well, I haven’t seen you around of late.” She was used to remaining unnoticed. Unless she was trying to make a sale, she preferred it. Other than that, she was merely a message to be paid attention to, faceless but important. Such an interesting paradox.

[Kaya]

"A few scrapes a while back, but doing well now, thank you," Kh'sol said, rubbing his thumb across his other hand. He'd gotten a pretty bad cut on the right one a few months back. It was doing much better, though he could still see the place where it had been. "But I'll note of the others then, and send a the brightly colored ones your way. Well met, Shri. You're the one that sells so many firelizard eggs, yes?" he asked, smile suddenly taking up its place on his face.

He placed her now, with a name. Names helped. Shri Kestral, sold a bunch of firelizard eggs. Telriol was doing better these days. Maybe when his brother felt fully together and back on his feet, he could manage to get one of Shri's wares for him.

[Shoki]

Shri didn’t make a habit of keeping tabs on every person that walked into the Aerie, and didn’t really deal in gossip, but living at the Aerie meant she knew more than the average person about who was getting healing done. It was good to hear people getting better though. She might not be a healer, but it was better when people were more fit. Easier to keep things running smoothly.

“Good to hear.” She inclined her head to his question before speaking smoothly. “So I am. I am currently out of stock, but firelizards will fly as they want. I can alert you when Dea rises if you wish.” The Copper’s tail whipped back and forth. She did not want humans taking her babies! But away they would go, Shri saw to that. After all, if the woman kept every egg that her firelizards laid, she would have an army by herself. Best see them to better homes, and see herself with more marks. Perhaps a celebration was in order for a job well done. A little something for her sweet tooth. Maybe.

[Kaya]

"That would be much appreciated, yes," Kh'sol agreed. He wasn't sure if Telriol would be up to it by then, but it was probably good to be on the list sooner. His family did have something to say about resilience. Now if only he could be that optomistic about Telriol. He was doing fine, really, but his brother's brush with death still left him wary.

"Say, have you eaten yet?" he asked. He wouldn't mind some casual company. He wasn't all that hungry, so maybe he'd grab a cup and not a plate, but she was a nice looking girl and if nothing else it would be good to continue expanding his list of people he knew. Better to navigate and call on favors, and with his lack of reading skill, he often needed favors.

[Shoki]

The woman’s head nodded once, and she noted the name for later. She was good with faces and names, as she tried to remember everyone quite clearly. The better she remembered, the easier it was if she needed to send a firelizard to them.

As Kh’sol spoke again, there was only a flash of surprise before Shri looked the rider up and down. Selt, feeling neglected, climbed a little further up her sash as she examined the man. She twitched a smile as the Flame rubbed his head under her chin, raising her fingers to her firelizard before speaking. The faint sound of Selt’s crooning overlaid with her words.

“Do you always invite people you just met to share a meal? Or perhaps…” A coy smile spread onto her face. “You have some other reason?” Oh dear, she would have to take care, sometimes her dears rubbed off on her a bit too much. Regardless she spoke again, her face resuming a more neutral expression. “However, I shall be here for the near future. I am waiting for my ride back to the Aerie.” It wasn’t that far, but she did like to get a ride when she could manage it. Today was one of those days.

[Kaya]

Kh'sol felt a faint flush when she looked him over. His eyebrows creased and he objected to her insistence that his invitation was somehow odd. Were Weyrfolk so different from herders? Maybe she thought so.

"Well, it looks like you have some reasons in mind, trader Shri, but I would be a fool to voice them," he commented on her unusual smile. Odd one, this. Maybe it was a sign he was better off getting back to his deliveries.

"Ah, but I'm just looking to dodge deliveries a little longer. Ornoth's been in a mood," he said, but did he even need to explain that much?

That's private.

It practically drips off ya, bud. Lighten up.

Maybe tomorrow, the Brown snorted. Though he was quite a ways off, up on the heights and waiting to go, Kh'sol was certain that was the case just as if he had heard Shri sigh. So it was with having Ornoth in his head. And they'd been doing rather well until now. Growing into his own and adulthood had been an unwelcome transition for the Brown.

[Shoki]

Shri watched his reactions, but kept her expression level. She was getting a feel for how Kh’sol acted normally, at least she assumed normally. She gave a feather light smile when he mentioned how responding to that question was a trap. Well, answering this way was information too. Shri wasn’t in the habit of using people, but especially when she was selling eggs, she wanted to know about her customers. She wasn’t as good at some aspects of trading eggs, she had been told on multiple occasions that she needed to smile more for example. However, she did pride herself on getting a feel for what they needed, and used how her firelizards guarded the eggs to figure out what egg might be best. It wasn’t an exact science, but she had her share of perfect matches that she attributed to taking these steps. So, even though it appeared as though she would prefer to go about her business she spoke regarding how his dragon was in a mood.

“If your bonded is in a mood, perhaps it would be best to wait. I am sure it would be best for you both to be at a hundred percent for work.” She tilted her head slightly after catching a flash of gold, letting Analis land on her shoulder. The Queen firelizard made herself comfortable, wrapping herself around the woman’s shoulders and rubbing her nose against Shri’s check. Shri continued to stroke Selt.

“Fortunately the Bowl is a wonderful place to wait out bad moods and for a rider. Wouldn’t you agree?” Dea hissed softly from her perch, finding a spot to curl up and ignore the humans. “Although sometimes attention should be paid in other ways. It can be difficult to tell which is which.” She tilted her head to look at the Copper, who was ignoring them. Dea was the most troublesome of her trio, at least on a consistent basis. Right now she would let the firelizard cool off, but attend to her when she got back to her room. All of her firelizards wanted their alone time with her, but it could be hard to balance. She took her job with them seriously though, so she didn’t let herself slack off.

[Kaya]

"Perhaps you're right," Kh'sol agreed with her suggestion. Ornoth would probably be such until Kh'sol found out what exactly the Weyrling Master had tried to fit into the heads of those born outside the Weyr. Though each Rider did things their own way. Differences in a group of similars, like his herding family. "Though I'd take a cool hillside myself," he commented, sliding down to sit next to Shri. "I haven't found Ornoth's place yet. Everyone's got a place you know. Place that cools you down, n'matter what. When you live in a family big as mine, oh it's great, but you need a place." His expression turned up to a smile at the end of his statement.

"So, is this your place?" he asked, staring out into the bustling Bowl. His third and forth fingers twisted his earlobe. A thinking maneuver, idle habit.

[Shoki]

Shri nodded along with the conversation, noting, but not really speaking up beyond silent agreement. However when he asked her the question, she thought briefly before speaking.

“It’s not a singular location in my case. If the correct conditions are met, I am at peace. Simple as that.” She looked at the dragon rider sitting next to her and added, “Though the Weyrbowl is a fine enough place. I am well accustomed to it, and it affords a certain faceless privacy. I do not find it relaxing, but it is certainly satisfying.” She stroked her firelizards, and looked straight ahead at the Bowl, catching sight of the little streaks of color that most ignored. Satisfying indeed. Analis puffed out her chest, proud as always. She could tell what Shri was paying attention to, so the pride was more evident. Dea stretched her neck out from the perch, having a smug satisfaction in her heart. Oh, she had her pride as well, but her bratty companion was not just the star. Dea knew better.

[Kaya]

"If that's what works for ya," Kh'sol agreed, lazing against the wall. He still felt hungry, but he was caught up in talking to this one now. Better to wait. Something she had said, about being faceless... He had never had that at home. Everyone knew who you were and who you belonged to. But here, he could just be nobody. It was lonely some days, but most of the time, it helped him out a great deal. That was the word for it then. Being faceless. He wasn't much help around here, just a fill in when others needed a day off. If no one noticed him, no one could disapprove-

And speaking of. Kh'sol turned to the side. There was the Rider he was supposed to be filling in for. Did he know who he was? That he hadn't gone yet? Something must have just let out because the crowd in the Bowl started to increased rather rapidly. "I gotta get going, Shri," he excused himself. He rose to his feet with none of the relaxed vibe he had been afforded a moment ago. "Guess I can't stay after all. Now," and he was already starting to get going. "Don't forget about an egg!" he shouted back and melted into the crowd.

[Shoki]

When the dragon rider got up, she regarded him critically. He had the look of one who had been slacking off, but now his boss was coming down the hall. She didn’t have time to do much then observe, since he was well on his way by the time she responded. She did raise her voice to call after him.

“I will not forget. I shall see you around.” She watched the rider disappear, before leaning back against the tree. At the very least his sudden departure gave a better feel for how the rider was like. She didn’t know if it would extend to his brother, but the information was there regardless.

The Bowl was now a flurry of activity, and Shri watched them with detached interest. It really didn’t feel like there was a war yet. When it did, would she feel useless for not being a rider of any sort? She thought about it, before a wide smile placed itself on her face. Not at all. She would do her best, and support her riders as well as she could, but anyone who thought her job was easy could very well try it themselves one day.

Analis, Dea and Selt looked at their master, and seemed to silently agree.