| Characters | Arratreayu, Karmelia, Ligeia & Verzhuqueth |
| Synopsis | An egg touching! |
| Out-of-Character Date | November 25, 2023 |
Igen Weyr - Hatching Sands
As if temperatures in the rest of the Weyr weren't uncomfortable enough, the sands are positively blistering. The air shimmers from the onslaught of heat, leaving the area with a hallucinatory feel. Black sands stand currently empty but for the occasional egg-shard or 'print not swept clear. A raised platform of smooth stone provides a lounging-spot for queens or their mates, or a retreat for the lifemates that accompany them from whence they can cool their feet somewhat.
Maybe it's fitting that it's the thirteenth day of the eighth month that Verzhuqueth finally permits the candidates to touch her (and Qhatiratrixth's) eggs. Ligeia's leading the charge onto the sands, as it were, with a handful of candidates having been collected and left in her care. "No yelling or running or anything that will get their - I mean, the clutchparents's - attention. Touch the eggs gently with your hands, but don't hog an egg - if someone's waiting patiently, move on and come back to it. Um. And bow to the dam and sire once we're out there," and they're out there soon enough, with Verzhuqueth slumbering - or seeming to. "Once you bow to her, you're free to touch. If you need a break, it's okay! Just step off to the side over there and we have some water and snacks."
Karmelia comes jogging up to the group just as the Weyrwoman is telling them how to proceed. She's got laundry duty today, and somehow ended up drenched. But thanks to the heat, both inside and out in some cases, her clothes are almost dry. "Yes Weyrwoman." As the group begins to spread out she spots a fellow Monocoan and waves to Arratreayu. A respectful bow to Verzhuqueth before she decides distance from the snoozing queen is probably better. After a glance around the eggs, looking at them close a moment. "They are a bit intimidating from down here." She keeps her voice to just above a whisper and wanders around the eggs til she stops at A Parade of Creatures Egg. Not know what to expect really she stretches a hand out and gently rest her fingers on the shell.
---< Karmelia touches egg 7 - A Parade of Creatures Egg >--—
Arratreayuis excited, nervous and awe-struck all at once. He bows low to the cluthparents. Another wave of awe strikes him as he thinks could there actually be a dragon inside one of these eggs just for him? It was a humbling thought, making his face fall into solemn ways…but his eyes still show childlike awe. Well standing there gaping wasn't about getting anything done. He moves here and there, just wandering around until finally he chooses to touch the smooth shell of the Boiling Cauldron egg, standing , fingers resting gently on the shell, eyes wide, spirit open, ready for anything
-— < Arratreayu touches egg 13 - My Cauldron Boileth Over Egg > --
Karmelia 's eyes widen a bit, perhaps getting more than she expected when she was called away from her duties moments ago. Her gaze drifts around the egg to the chaotic and colorful shapes overlapping the next. Her fingers trail downwards as her steps move a couple paces around th fragile egg. Crouching down, contact is briefly broken before letting her palm settle at the roundest portion a moment, then reaching over to touch at a purplish blob further up.
Arratreayu is not frightened of the touch, the exchage of spirits leaving both members to benefit. Had been off Pern and returned magically? Or had he stepped into the spirit of another mind?
Karmelia grins to herself, and probably the egg too, as she keeps a very tender touch on the egg. Peering at the images wrapping around the shell she stands fully again brushes fingers over a purplish blob. The candidate seems to have a sudden bounce in her step as her contact with the eggs continues.
---< Karmelia leaves egg 7 - A Parade of Creatures Egg >--—-
Karmelia realizes she's she's hogging an egg and steps away, murmuring a "Sorry." to a young candidate. Offering the girl a smile, Karmelia wanders toward a couple more eggs, slowing to admire one that catches her eye. This time, her hand extends to By Lamplight Egg. She takes a slow breath before pressing gently on the shell.
----< Karmelia touches egg 11 - By Lamplight Egg >----
Arratreayu has many memories, but never look at it quite that way. Power memoriess and dreams? Until his Search had almost given up dreaming…It was time to dream again. He feels the fadeout of the other mind and breaks off contact, looking now for his next egg. Again he rests his hand on top of the egg and squats down again.
Meanwhile, Ligeia walks around to keep an eye on things, offering soft-spoken suggestions to candidates that seem hesitant, or encouragement to those that aren't sure if they should touch another egg. "If you only wnat to touch one egg, that's okay, Davimi," she says to one of them, offering the lad a smile. "But you should try to touch one more tomorrow."
-— < Arratreayu leaves egg 13 - My Cauldron Boileth Over Egg > --—-
Arratreayuis getting the hang of this quickly, si squattind as before, one hand resting delicately atop the egg>
--< Arratreayu touches egg 12 - It's Probably Haunted Egg >---
Karmelia looks at the egg she's touching, even squinting at it after a moment. Finally she closes her eyes since she's finding it's appearance distracting. A smile tugs at her lips from whatever the egg shares with her. A little chuckle before she removes her hand and uses it to fan herself a few seconds and looks over the egg again. Some long seconds of fanning pass before she reaches to touch the egg again.
Arratreayu stiffens slightly. This was more disturbing, kind of like the funhouse that came through Bitran territory when he had been only six. But he was unharmed and brushes the egg's surface gently, letting the little one know he is there
Karmelia touches the egg again, but this a frown begins to settle on her face. Her ace goes through a range of emotions. Confusion, stubborness, even irritated, then back to frowning. Still touching the egg, she reaches up with her other hand to tap the shell lightly with a finger, like a silent 'HEY! I'm not done yet.'
----< Karmelia leaves egg 11 - By Lamplight Egg >---—
Arratreayu licks his lips, a little nervous at first but then steadies as he realizes 'tis but a show of light and shadow, and a beautiful one at that. He understands now…three visions and then move
---< Karmelia touches egg 9 - Full of Sweets Egg >----
Karmelia steps back from the egg, giving it a thoughtful look as she fans herself. Using her sleeve to wipe her face and neck some, she moves along to a interesting purple egg. Well, half purple at least. Stopping at Full of Sweets Egg she reaches towards the explosion of colors near the top of the egg, dragging her fingers lightly as if expecting something to fall off the pile.
Arratreayushivers. The ghost remind him if fog and if there's one thing he hated he hated fog. It tried to lead you from the path and engulf you in itself. He breaks the link almost abruptly but gently and he heads for another egg…selecting another one and clam once more
---< Arratreayu leaves egg 12 - It's Probably Haunted Egg >---
Verzhuqueth stirs a little, just enough to elicit a sidelong look from Ligeia. Her mouth pulls to a side in thought but, for now, all seems to remain calm. Still, a few candidates are already on their way off the sands and a few others seem to be at their limit as far as actually touching the eggs is concerned. "One more for all of you that remain," she figures, with another glance to her gold.
---< Arratreayu touches egg 11 - By Lamplight Egg >---
Karmelia settles her hand more firmly, but still gentle, on the egg. Her expression seems quite pleased by the curiousity of the shells occupant. Pulling her hand away from the top part of the egg, she bends down to examine lower portion a bit better. Carefully, she brushes away some sand stuck to the side and lays her palm on it again.
Karmelia notices the sleeping queen begin to stir and stands fully as if about to quick step it right off the sands. But the Ligeia's words keep her feet in place. Still watching the large queen, Karmelia's hand slips to the egg one more time.
----< Karmelia leaves egg 9 - Full of Sweets Egg >----
Arratreayuwas also aware of the queen's rousing but the young man holds place. This egg is interesting…all those questions to make him think. And he'd have to put a ear out the queen rousing fully. But he knew she wasn't rousing just yet. One finger traces the smooth curve of the egg's flank
Whether it's the heat or what the eggs chose to share with her, Karmelia steps away from them all, moving to the far edge where she gets a glass of something cold and wet. She doesn't even care what it is, as long as it's cold.
More questins! some of them he'd had asked himself many times as he'd gotten older. A quick pat on that cool hard shell, a very gentle pat.
"And- oh. Yeah, there she goes," Ligeia half-mutters under her breath. "Yeah, I think we should all go now. I suggest going to the Stands to sit and ruminate if you want, but it might be best to take it to the barracks if possible." Because Verzhuqueth is rising to her feet now, one wing draped over the trio of eggs jealously kept near her. Though she makes no noise, the red gleam in her eyes tells all that one would need to know of her mood.
