Taking a tumble (S'jiro)

Emerene had done a great job of explaining everything to them but the large Weyr was a bit much for Veyani. The noise was overwhelming, the number of people made her feel caustrophobic, she needed a quiet place to get away, if only for a little while. Not being used to the closed in nature of the Weyr was also unhelpful to her current issues. She had some chores outdoors, thankfully but in the meantime she had decided to search for a quiet, lesser used passage where she could collect herself. She needed quiet and space.

She needed not to fall over things in the middle of a stairwell. She thought as she stumbled and rolled down a few stairs. ooomph. "owwwwww." She laid in a ball for a moment before sliding to a wall and sitting up, leaning her back against it. Catching her breath for a moment, she pushed her long blonde hair out of her face, to look up at what she fell over. What seemed to not be a thing, what was actually a who.

Staring at him, she blinked a couple of times. What was he doing here in a stairwell? This place must not be used at all for anything. It seemed to have no cobwebs though so someone came down here at least often enough to clear the passage.

Looking up at the handsome young man, she felt even worse. He had probably come here for the solitude she had been searching for. "I am so sorry! Are you hurt?" She asked standing up slowly, feeling as if she'd been beaten to a pulp. She hoped he wasn't. Obviously she had no serious injuries but she would be sore and bruised from her tumble.

Hearing the quiet footsteps ahead of Veyani's arrival, down the stone stairs, S'jiro had folded his book closed with a finger between the pages in one hand, head tipping back to look up above him just as she arrived. He'd been half sitting, more like laying down on the stairs toward the inside of the stairwell; luckily on her descent, she'd veered a little closer to the middle, so her foot hit his shoulder, catching there just before she went careening down the last of the stairs. Also luckily, there weren't many of them left to reach the next level.

Perhaps not as startled as she was, S'jiro was still shocked that the girl, oblivious of his existence there, had in fact tripped on him. Sitting up so that his elbows rested forward on his knees, book brought between both hands again. His chin tucked in, casting a look of mixed expression down the stairs at her. Though he did look to see that she wasn't hurt, S'jiro said nothing, inquiring not, after her condition. Once he recognized that the most damage done was probably to her self-confidence seeing that she'd just embarrassed herself by so gracelessly falling, he could afford to be more irritated than anything. Of course, that's how he viewed things.

And he did look more irritated than anything. Irritated and daunted by how dense she was not to notice him -or not to already know that this was where he always loitered to find his own peace and quiet. It was rare that anyone ever disturbed him here. Even more rare that anyone ever tripped over him.

Not recognizing the girl, before he responded, he wondered about her rank, always aware of such things. But seeing as she wore clothes which appeared to more suited for hard labour than a proper girl and had nothing else about her persona to mark her rank that he could see, he addressed her appropriately.

"I am so sorry! Are you hurt?" She asked standing up slowly, feeling as if she'd been beaten to a pulp.

S'jiro gave a somewhat inconspicuous, though none the less incredulous roll of his eyes before meeting her eyes then, "I'm not hurt. But you just tripped over a Bronzerider. How does it feel? I guess you'll be more careful next time."

The Bronzerider leaned back again, onto the stairs, extending his left leg down them while he brought the book back up, holding it overhead with pages opened to where he had been reading at.





[rofl! i'm sorry. I can't help but laugh. S'jiro was just suuuch a smart ass there. or maybe just an ass. uhhg!! lol]

Veyani's expectation of what would happen next was completely overthrown. Was he really that conceited? Where was chivalry? Dead. Obviously. He probably killed the whole concept all by his lonesome and would likely brag about his accomplishment later. Patting some dust off of her work pants, "I'm fine, thanks for asking." she muttered under her breath. She had a feeling that not all dragonriders were as accepting as N'kai and she was only getting a taste of what some at the Weyr really were like.

Whoa whoa whoa... was he saying what she thought he was saying. Her brown eyes darkened for a split second. Of all the people at the Weyr the one person she fell over was an elitist jerk. "The color of your dragon makes no difference." Not to her anyway. Falling down a staircase because of an idiot didn't have any bearing on the idiot's dragon. She learned from Kaisoth that dragons, while believed to be extensions of a rider, were actually their own beings and capable of making their own decisions, having thoughts and ideas of their own and distinct personalities.

"I'm really shocked at the level of intelligence here at the Weyr." The comment oozed with sarcasm known to teenagers almost exclusively. "Seems to me, you should watch where YOU are reading, people do WALK down staircases. The purpose of a staircase would be for it to get you from one place to another. Or don't Bronzerider's know the difference between a lounge and a corridor?" She supposed if she was a Goldrider she would have to deal with these sorts of assholes all the time. Ergh. Well there was no use dwelling on it, he could say and do what he wanted and remain isolated and miserable.

She didn't want to deal with him much longer than she needed to. If all Bronzeriders were like him, she might understand the rumors about the Senior Weyrwoman completely.

Maybe this girl was new to the Weyr. He'd heard that there'd been more Searches recently; but that still didn't excuse her lack of respect. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, a dragon's colour did matter. Each respective colour had their own distinctive capabilities, so played differing roles in a Wing dependent on those capabilities. Gold's were superior because they laid clutches and controlled reproduction, the importance of which went without say. Next to them, Bronzes were capable of producing the best clutches and for size and strength alone, naturally played a more dominant role. Their attitudes were generally more fit for the task as well. They knew where they stood in the greater scheme of things and in the natural order of Pern's food chain as top predator. Though they were large still, there was no Brown or Blue or Green that could rival the likeness of the great Bronzes and Golds of Pern.

Yes, colour did matter...it also determined his role in the Weyr and ensured that he would have the opportunity to one day hold a leadership position in the Weyr -something that other dragons had limited or no opportunity to do. But this girl before him seemed to think otherwise.

Turning his eyes down to look back to where Veyani now stood, S'jiro sighed inwardly, sitting back up. Folding the book over a finger to mark its page again, he met her gaze evenly.

The Bronzerider had found himself a little amused at the girl's brazenness, because it was rare that someone didn't know what was usually in store when he or Sh'nar were not treated with proper respects. For the time being, he didn't really care what she had to say. He didn't have to explain himself to her. On top of it, S'jiro wasn't an argumentative person; he was too quiet to make a fuss over opinions that weren't very important to him. It would become a pointless expendature of effort.


Anyway, S'jiro was very aware of how infrequently these stairs were used. He knew that there were more direct corridors connecting to where these stairs led, which was why it was not often that these particular stairs were disturbed. Thus, S'jiro began to wonder just where the girl had been headed. So, after a moment of silence between them, he leaned forward again onto his elbows over his knees and raising both brows, wondered out loud, "Tell me then, where is it that you were going, before you stumbled across me?" And he meant it most literally as well as figuratively.

If the girl answered as he expected she might, she either didn't know where she was going, or...perhaps she was looking for a place to retreat to just as he had. If that was the case, she had no reason to complain to him about finding repose in a place such as this. She had just in theory, done about the same thing. That thought sat snugly in his conscience, determined to deter her methods of trying to guilt him by insulting his inteligence.

Sadly the poor girl wasn't used to people outside of her family and those families who lived close enough to travel to for celebrations and things. The few harpers who had managed to travel through to educate them did not stay long and had always been agreeable. Veya was at a loss as to how to deal with someone like him. She had been in arguments with her siblings but sibling fights were different. Besides he wasn't fighting with her, more ignoring what she said. He'd have ignored her entirely if she hadn't stumbled over him.

he question was definitely a trap of some kind but Veyani had never and would never be anything but honest. "Nowhere in particular." She said with a shrug. Her left hand lifted so that her index finger could twirl some of her long blonde hair. Something she did out of habit when she wasn't moving. "I'm not used to the noise and the number of people. The level of sound and concentration of people is a little much for me right now." The understatement of the day. Claustrophobia was not something she knew she had till she was here, the noise, the people and the cavernous passageways all combined to make her feel completely trapped.

Suddenly she felt like she couldn't breath again. Sliding down the cavern wall so she was sitting, she closed her eyes and took in two deep breaths. Better not to think about it, she convinced herself and reopened her eyes. "Are you from the Weyr?" She asked curiosly while trying to see what he had in his hand. If he wasn't Weyrbred, he must have either been at the Weyr for a while or be from an affluent family of some kind. He could read.

"What are you reading? Do you find time to read often? Why don't you read in your weyr? Is it closed in or something? Or maybe your weyrmate is distracting? Oh I bet your dragon is distracting too? Is he a really large Bronze? I have only been up close to Kaisoth and Gemorath and they seemed huge. I bet your dragon makes them look tiny. Did you always want to be a rider?" She tilted her head like a bird, finding the markings on whatever it was he was reading quite curious. While she was trying to see what he was reading, she spouted off questions and thoughts going through her as if he could answer them all in a single breath and perhaps he could. If S'jiro had come here for peace and quiet, neither was now available to him.

Going nowhere in particular, eh? S'jiro almost laughed, and the faint traces of that smile still crept through to the corners of his lips, even if he didn't. The girl had walked right into his set up; was she really that simple? Though S'jiro wasn't impressed by such a person trying to lecture him on dragonrider intellect, he did find it a little amusing.

And at least, after that, she seemed to take on a more polite attitude. Maybe she was remembering where she ranked. If she really was that simple-minded, he couldn't fault her for a momentary lapse in etiquette, being that she was probably terribly startled and hurt by the fall. Believe it or not, he could be forgiving.


While she talked, continuing to disturb him, he stared back at her still a little incredulous, watching the girl twirl her hair.

How trite. Any comment that was disdainful.

What is?

A sore sight. Sensing Zemarith's hesitance over what exactly S'jiro was referring to, he filled the dragon in. This girl. Not paying any attention to where she's going. Tripped right over me. Maybe she thinks she can get away with it by being cute or something. Anyway, she's not going away. I can't read like this.

S'jiro could feel the Bronzes curiosity over the matter, though the dragon said no more for the time being. He could sense Zemarith's mental prodding for more information or visuals, but in order to listen to her finish what she was saying and make any response, he shut the dragon out momentarily.

Indeed, it seemed as though Veyani was unaware that she'd been picked on. Apparently he hadn't been curt enough with her for her to understand that he didn't want to be continuously disturbed, either. Did she think he'd be more friendly if she continued? In any case, he still ignored most of what she had to say.

Feeling no obligation to answer all of her questions, he answered only one. The first one. "No." And if she didn't know to which she was referring to, then it was just tough luck.

Since the girl had decided to make herself at home in his stairwell, S'jiro decided he would find somewhere else to read -she obviously wasn't going to let him do it here. Uninterested in answering any more, he closed the book and stood up from the stair he'd been sitting on, walking down the rest of the stairs. Passing her, he walked on at the usual, sauntering pace. His other hand tucked into his pants pocket.

By Faranth, I hope she's a candidate and impresses. She'll have someone else to talk to without opening her mouth so much.


Who is it?

Hmmm, well he wasn't much of a talker, not that it was particularly necessary for the two of them to have a conversation. The idea had occurred to her that perhaps he simply didn't want company. He seemed like he wanted to be left alone anyway. Since he had not answered more than one of her questions and seemed bound and determined to get away from here, she stayed where she was and watched him leave. She wasn't going to follow him.

"Farewell Bronzerider. Perhaps next time we will meet under better circumstances." At least she hoped so. She didn't really want to go on being clumsy and awkward here at the Weyr for eternity and she saw no reason why she couldn't convince this Bronzerider he should be her friend and not worry so much about rank and circumstance.

She did not know proper etiquette yet or she would have thought to ask after the dragon as well. Still she didn't think she had behaved that appallingly. Her main concern was that in blaming her for falling over him, he might say something to the Candidate Master and he might have her sent back to the farm.

Well he hadn't seemed that upset about the falling over him thing. He seemed more upset that he had been disrupted at all. She really needed to find a place she could go for quiet where she would not disturb anyone else. This spot was obviously taken and it seemed to be a place where a newcomer would be able to get lost. Oh dear...she really could be lost. Where would she go from this point? Perhaps for now the best thing to do would be to retrace her steps and head outside. Maybe it would be less crowded at the Candidate Barracks.

Those kitchen chores were going to have to wait. Forever.

Coming out of the smaller catacombs, she found herself back in one of the main hallways. The noise and people had not died down at all. Before she went to the barracks she should see the healer, since she was at the Weyr and they had a healer, it would probably be the right thing to do.

As she headed toward the infirmary, she saw Emerene. "Emerene! Hey! Can you point me in the direction of the infirmary? I took a tumble." she paused, "over a Bronzerider. He wasn't too pleased. Do you think he will get me into trouble with the Candidate Master?" There was more than one young good looking, Bronzerider wiht a bad attitude at the Weyr so she immediately felt stupid for not catching his name. How would Emerene know who she was talking about without the name.

S'jiro had meandered his own way and actually ended up making his way back to his own Weyr for a while...but in the other direction -the direction of the infirmary- Emerene had been directing another one of the new candidates to visit the healers over some minor cuts and scrapes. Leaving the boy behind, she was on her way back to the Candidate Barracks when Veyani arrived.

Coming to an abrupt halt in mid-stride, she paused in front of Veyani to address her. "Oh. Hi, Veyani." At first, the girl's eyes showed surprise to see her there, but momentarily, her wit seemed to return about her, and her eyes fell over her fellow candidate, looking to see if Veyani was injured somewhere and had come to the infirmary for that reason? "Is everything okay? Did you come to see one of the healers?"

There were several Journeyman Healers who were assigned to looking after the health of the Candidates and Weyrlings, and with these two groups, had been kept very busy recently. But that was usually how summer months went. Everyone was more active in those months and then there was a drop off in the need for their craft for a couple of months before cold season hit and everyone came back with sniffles.


Listening intently to what Veyani was going on about, her eyes went wide again, trying not to let loose a giggle, "Took a Tumble? Well you're really close. It's right here, around the corner."  

Arcing a delicate brow over Veyani's dubious explanation of things, and her apparent worry, Emerene teased the girl, "Just what kind of tumble are we talking about? My answer might depend on it." After all, there were several really handsome Bronzeriders around, and Veyani wouldn't be the first girl from outside OR inside the Weyr to so easily fall for their charms. Of course her thoughts carried her there first...

But then she wondered again: Veyani seemed honestly worried. Maybe she'd run into a really bossy one. 

Hmmmmm...

Emerene gave a weak shrug of her shoulders. "Don't fret it. It was an accident right? As long as you're both alright." The girl smiled, shady blue eyes brightening, before she ended up becoming more curious, herself. "Did he have light hair and blue eyes? Kind of broad shoulders? Or... who else could it be? Or did he have darker hair maybe? Real lanky with brown eyes?" Well... not the greatest descriptions perhaps, but it would have to do. Anyway, those two were the moodiest Bronzes she knew of: Sh'nar and S'jiro. Of course they were also both very handsome.

Handsome though the rider may have been, Veya had been brought up as a holder and as such she would not easily fall for anyone. At least not until she was accustomed to the Weyr and the way things were. Besides his attitude made her less likely to fall for whatever charms he may have. Although she highly doubted many people considered him charming. They were more likely to consider him an asshole, who only cared about himself. "Well he was lounging on a staircase and I was, well... I was lost in thought. So I tumbled over him and rolled down some of the stairs. Its why I think I should get looked at by the healers. They'll make sure I did no real damage. He was unaffected, so I doubt he was much injured."

Veyani was surprised she had made her way so close to the infirmary and was quite glad she didn't have far to go. As soon as she was outside she would feel better. All of this being closed in was causing her too much trouble. Steering clear of Bronzeriders might be a good idea for a while.

At Emerene's descriptions she said, "Oh ummm, he had dark hair, brown eyes and yes I suppose he was tall and thin." Maybe there were not that many ill-natured Bronzeriders after all. "Do you know him well? Is he always that conceited?" She was curious, of course she was. Veyani was used to knowing everyone she talked to, knowing them incredibly well. Now she was lucky if she remembered seeing someone's face and maybe their name.

Even if she wanted to become friends with such a person, it was likely he would do everything and anything in his power to avoid her. After being so completely rude to her, she almost wanted to befriend him. It was a challenge and a testament to her nature if she was able to do such a thing. She could feel herself almost being determined to have the Bronzerider see the world differently. He was not aware of how he seemed to those who were not high-born. If he had truly been a gentleman, a man of good breeding he would have treated her kindly, no matter what her rank might be.

"I don't suppose he has many friends?" She said with a tilt of her head.

Fell down the stairs? Emerene's expression was horrified to the point that her hand came up over her mouth, looking yet again to see where the girl may have hurt herself. But there seemed to be no real physical signs of injury. It was a wonder she didn't have anything broken. But she must not be too terribly injured to be walking all this way to get here by herself?

She would have to remember to berrate whatever Bronzerider it was Veyani'd tripped over, later.


Crinkling her nose when Veyani confirmed the 'identity' of the Bronzerider under suspicion, she waved the worry away, coming back at her fellow candidate with a rueful twist of expression. " It was probably S'jiro." Of course she fully expected such disdain out of he or Sh'nar either one; it came as no surprise at all. Well, not when it was directed at someone beneath their own social standing.

"There's something you should know about S'jiro and Sh'nar both. Both are Bronzers, and it's generally known that they were childhood friends and arrived at the Weyr close to the same time, though it wasn't really together." Stepping closer to Veyani, she looked around them first, seeing that no one was within earshot before she leaned in to speak more quietly into her ear. "As long as you don't tell, I'll let you in on a sort-of-secret, because not very many people know." Or at least if they did, they wouldn't dream of trying to taunt him over it, "S'jiro was never actually Searched to come here. His parents are the Holders of High Hill Hold -cousins of Fort's Lord Holder. I heard that they paid the Weyr in additional tithes so that he could Stand on the sands as a candidate to Impress. That almost never happens. I'm surprised that candidates like that Impress at all.

"Maybe they wanted the pride of having a Rider in the family. They're lucky he impressed a Bronze, if that's the case." Of course there were other speculations that could be made about the situation, but that was her guess.

"Since he's of a more privilaged class, he expects to be treated like it; and if you don't...well, just know that they're known for being the Weyr's top brass in bullying. I've seen them make boys cry and get beat up. They even embarrassed this one girl so bad that she almost left the Weyr over it. But she was just a candidate."

She met Veyani's expression then with one of her own that was rather matter-of-fact. "They're okay to you if you don't do anything to insult them. Otherwise," Emerene signed with a finger cutting across her throat.

"It's because S'jiro's a Bronzerider and a highborn he can get away with it. And he doesn't do anything himself. They always bribe other boys to do their dirty work for them."

Smiling again, she went on cheerily, "But, if you hang around me, you shouldn't have to worry about them giving you much attitude. They can't pick on me."

Emerene hadn't told Veyani yet who her mother was. She hadn't done so on purpose, but at least in this instance, being the Weyrwoman's daughter had its advantages: the ever invisible birth rank.


"I don't suppose he has many friends?" She said with a tilt of her head.

Emerene perked up even more at that. "Oh, no. They have friends, but they keep a tight, close knit circle amoungst themselves. They're almost all from influential families. You'll see them together most of the time. They even have their own table in the main hall for meals and other events most of the time. They never sit with everyone else unless they have to. I've heard they bribe the Headwoman or anyone else they need to to get their way when they feel its necessary. I've even heard of their parents getting intervening on their behalf when they were Candidates or Weyrlings. They might still do the same." Of course it could have been just rumour. But Emerene didn't care. It was all good gossip to her.

Veya listened carefully to the other girl. Emerene was Weyrbred and understood the way of things here. She had also made it her mission to keep the Candidates organized and help the newcomers out. She appreciated greatly the kindness of the other girl. If roles were reversed, she would look out for Emerene as well. Perhaps the other girl would come to be one of her friends here. She certainly hoped so. Veyani didn’t think she would ever agree with the mentality of some in a hierarchy. Believing that one was better than someone else was one thing, it was quite another to act on it and pretend that every bad thing that happened was because of said person.

Now she did understand Queenriders and Bronzeriders acquired higher ranks. She could not have known S’jiro was a Bronzerider by looking at him. Veyani would certainly try to be polite to everyone here, now that she knew he wasn’t the only one who was too arrogant to care about those whom he perceived as lesser. It made her more determined than she cared to admit, to have him see things differently. He must not have befriended many people who were not of his rank, so how could he understand them?

“You flush just slightly, when you talk about Sh’nar and S’jiro…especially Sh’nar. He must be very handsome.” Even if he sounded like a complete ass…and probably was one. “Do you think they are the way they are because they can afford to get away with it? I mean in a hierarchy like the Weyr, it is probably much easier for them to treat other people in a dismissive manner than at the Hold.”

Veyani’s interest was piqued even more when Emerene spoke about how they couldn’t pick on her. “Oh? Why is that?” Veya might be a simple farm girl but she was catching on to things at the Weyr. Weyrfolk named their children by combining parent’s names. Emerene, Emerene. It sounded a lot like Karene. If she lied about who her parents were then Veyani would know and if she decided to speak the truth, Veyani would be happy to ignore the fact as long as Emerene wanted. It seemed to her, having such an auspicious parentage would put a lot of pressure on a person.

It wasn’t that dissimilar to her own upbringing. Her parents had wanted her to be a good farmer. She was never going to make a good farmer, no matter how hard she tried. She had trouble not being distracted by the wondrous sights and sounds of the world. Her inquisitiveness often took her far from home and back in time to miss most of the work. Her parents expected her to grow up and become more responsible but she had never been meant for the boring life of a farmer. Exploring the world on the back of a dragon would be so much more entertaining.

“Well it won’t be hard to spot them I suppose. Although I hardly think it would be necessary to have their own table. I’m sure they don’t have that many people who would enjoy eating with them. It is far better for people who aren’t brave enough to watch beautiful things from a distance, where one cannot be harmed. Beautiful things always seem to do the most damage.” Veyani had no desire to give up on befriending S’jiro, even after Emerene’s tale.

Normally she wasn’t fixated on anything for long. So clinging to this idea as she was, she felt odd. Why should she not flit onto the next thing? For some strange reason she had a strong desire to learn more about S’jiro. Maybe they didn’t know the real truth. The tales Emerene told her could be mostly rumor. The truth would be far less entertaining probably but it would make more sense to her.

“I’ll be off to the infirmary. I hope I don’t miss the Harpers, they are to teach us the alphabet. I know some of it. My ma, taught us some of it but she mostly used a song. Much like harpers do, so I don’t know what the letters look like but I know the song. “ She said sighing. Knowledge would be hers! She would be able to write down things when she thought of them and then she wouldn’t lose so many brilliant thoughts! She couldn’t wait to be able to do things like that. It would be amazing. Without a second thought, she skipped off to the infirmary.

Emerene seemed to ignore the comment about getting flustered over the Bronzeriders. She got flustered over a lot of boys; and she would have agreed that many of them were good looking. In any case, Veyani went on, and so she tried to answer the next question with due consideration. "Why, of course. Being holderbred and a Bronzerider just means double trouble -they can get away with almost anything. Mmm..but I don't know about the Hold. I've never been to one." It went without saying that a holderbred like S'jiro was raised knowing that he could do just about whatever he pleased, and he knew it. It probably also went without saying, that he was used to getting what he wanted from a young age; even if he wasn't completely pampered from the time he was born, he would have still been presented with more opportunity than most in that regard. But it may have also been the case that his parents had created the circle of friends for him that they wanted him to have, limiting his contact with those they did not see as desirable, or necessary acquaintances, which was kind of sad, when Emerene stopped to think about it.

The girl seemed to flush again, considering the handsome Bronzeriders. She couldn't help it! The rosiness in her cheeks lessened when her thoughts were brought to another topic. Veyani sure had a lot of questions. But being new to the Weyr, that should be natural. Emerene smiled, hoping that her new friend's attitude about her wouldn't change for the worst when she found out about her family. "My mother is the Weyrwoman. That's why." Emerene let that thought sink into Veyani's thoughts for a moment; and though she did not like to find herself recognized for that fact alone, she had found in the past that it was mostly Weyrfolk who treated her special because of it. She'd already had a bit of a chance to cultivate a friendship with the new Candidates outside of their knowledge of her familial relations with the Weyrwoman, and none of them had had any preconceptions about what kind of person she was or with what kind of respects to treat her. It had been a level playing field when they first met. Because of that, she didn't mind being honest with the girl about her parentage. She'd find out soon enough anyway.


Emerene seemed to think that Veyani would have fun in class, learning how to read. Emerene actually tended to like most of her classes, even if she sometimes tired of hearing the same ballads over and over again.

Emerene waved farewell to Veyani, heading back toward the Candidate Barracks.