Of Boots and 'Girl Things'

Zynassa gets Pulyn to agree to a ridiculously low price for boots, and watches the candidates give each other 'makeovers'.

Zynassa - Tuesday, May 08, 2001, 5:53 PM
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Ista Weyr Living Cavern(#1100RJMs$)
The cavern is filled with people, rider and nonrider alike for the evening meal. The reddish glow of the setting sun filters in through the large bowl entrance to the northwestern wall. Through the constant movement of drudges to and from the northern side of the wall, you can see the four large hearths there, each put to the task of cooking the large Weyr meals. An occasional drudge filters in and out of the entrance to the Lower Caverns entrance on the western side of the room. New riders and others are still filtering in through this entrance as well, leading out to the rest of the lower caverns.
Several huge tapestries, many of them ancient, are hanging on the stone walls. One particularly glorious one looks to be a study on the finger rock. You also see several 'places' to sit.
Contents:
Ouryn
Pulyn
Linna

Pulyn looks up rom his drink, and waves at Zynassa. "Hey there!"

Zynassa comes in, wearing a slightly pensive look. At Pulyn's greeting however, she brightens and offers, "Evening you two. What're you guys up to tonight?"

Pulyn grins. He obviously expected her to walk right by. "Not much, just relaxing. I made too many pairs of shoes today, my hands are beginning to hurt!"

Zynassa doesn't walk on by. In fact, she plops down at the table across from the lad. "I didn't know you make shoes. What kinds? Boots?" She sticks a foot out and looks at her own battered ankle boots.

Pulyn stares down at her boots in shock, stifling a laugh. "Yes, I make pretty much anything you can put on your foot."

Zynassa grins up at him a trifle mischeviously. "They are rather sad, aren't they."

Pulyn, now relaxing his attitude, lets the laugh out. "You can say that again! they look like they've seen better times."

Zynassa admits, "They do see a lot of use these days. Though I'm terribly fond of them. They're comfortably worn." Her tone drifts up, making this last almost a query, as though that might hold some worth, despite their sorry state.

Pulyn rubs his chin, studying the boots with a trained eye. "Hrm....I think I might be able to fix those up for you. Depends on whether or not the tanner is back from his little 'outing' yet."

Zynassa's expression settles into innocent lines. "Really? How much do you think it'd cost?"

Pulyn motions for her to put her foot up on the chair nearest him. "Let me take a closer look."

Zynassa scoots her chair around, thumping her feet solidly into the chair next to Pulyn. "How'd you learn to do this anyway? And would it be easier if I just took 'em off?"

Pulyn considers for a moment, then says, "Yeah, that'd be better." As he carefully looks over the boot, running his hand over it, he adds, "I learnt from my mother, she was a very talented cobbler back at Ista Hold."

Zynassa grins a bit, a hint of a flush under her freckles and tan, before slipping off the boots and offering them over to Pulyn. "Yeah? Ever thought of being a tanner? There's some that work the leather, not just dye it. Though I've heard the smell at the crafthall is enough to knock any sane person down."

Pulyn flaps his hand at her. "Nah, I don't like crafthalls that much. Too tense, plus, I'd rather be a cobbler, I like getting recognition for good work."

Zynassa almost explodes in agreement, "I /so/ understand! I've been trying to decide: apprentice herder, or not. I just want to breed runners. I don't want to deal with all animals."

Pulyn looks up from the boots, and gives her an almost sibling-like smile. "I don't know if you can work with the runners at the stables without becoming a herder, but if you can, I'd /heartily/ suggest you do that instead of becoming a apprentice. If you like the atmosphere of where you live right now, that is." He pauses momentarily, then adds, "You do live here at the Weyr, right?"

Zynassa laughs and nods. "I do. A'zric's my brother. Though I grew up mostly at Bitra. And you can indeed work with them without apprenticing. I'm just not sure how successful I'd be breeding them."

Pulyn picks up the boot, flips it and catches it, then hands it back to Zynassa. He laughs. "A'zric's your brother? He's a pretty nice guy. And I'm sure you could learn from someone how to breed runners, it doesn't sound /that/ hard." Cathing his breath, he adds, in a more serious tone, "I think I could fix these up for you for a mark or two."

Zynassa blinks. "A full mark? that's a bit steep, considering I got /new/ sandals from Radar for a mark."

Pulyn blinks right back, obviously just as suprised as Zynassa. His face turns a little pink, and he replies back in an unsteady tone, "Umm...Well, I usually charge 5 to 7 marks for a new pair of shoes or boots...this...this Radar...who is he?"

Zynassa mms. "He's the weaver posted here. I got a gather gown and a new set of sandals from him for five marks." She considers. "How about a new pair - ankle boots - for a mark and three quarters?"

Pulyn gives her a confused look. "A weaver," he laughs, "Made /sandals/ for you? What'd he make them with, cloth?" His laughter turns to all-out guffawing for a bit, before he calms down. "Hrm....I don't know. Give me a minute to think about this." His head rests on his hand as he considers her offer.

Pulyn says "How about we say....2 marks? The tanner's not here regularily, and wherhide is in short supply..."

Zynassa nods. "Two marks. Brown, rather than black?"

Jai enters from the narrow corridor.
Jai has arrived.

Pulyn gives her a smirk. "That's the plan!"

Zynassa offers her palm out to Pulyn. "Deal! When can I have them by?"

Pulyn takes her hand, shaking it firmly. "I'd say...probably a sevenday at the maximum."

Jai enters to find a seat and sit down near the others with a dramatic sigh.

Pulyn tilts his head to grin to Jai, and call, "Hey there Jai! How are you?"

Jai turns to Zynassa, casting a wan smile in Pulyn's direction, "Is it possible to get a larger press. Perhaps a second one, even?"

Zynassa beams at Pulyn, and then turns a more cautious look on Jai. "A second press, what for? I'd heard you'd been searched. Congratulations."

Salva enters from the narrow corridor.
Salva has arrived.

Alaida enters from the narrow corridor.
Alaida has arrived.

Salva waves to everyone as she enters, settling at a table with her journal.

Jai nods curtly, "Thank you." She holds out a hand as she explains, "The presses in the Candidate barracks are far too small. I have two in the resident's dormitories, but all my things won't fit in the smaller ones."

Pulyn peers over at Alaida, giving her a friendly, comforting smile. He also gives Salva a wave, and a smile.

Alaida slowly comes back into the living caverns, looking much better than when she left. Whatever Mouse told her, it seems to have worked. She walks over to several tables and starts picking up empty plates and bowls with eating utenciles.

Jacinta walks in from the bowl.
Jacinta has arrived.

Zynassa ahs. "Well, you'd have to talk to Grissa about that. There's likely to be upwards of seventy candidates in there by the time the eggs crack. And if you impress, the barracks are even more crowded, I'm told. You might want to put away into storage clothes that aren't used for chores." She keeps a bland face as she delivers this suggestion to Jai, and gives a nod to the new arrivals.

Jacinta waves gaily to Pulyn, Alaida, and Salva, and gives a friendly nod to Jai and Zynassa.

Jai sighs and nods, "That's what Br'nal said, too. He just said that I'd have to talk to you about it." She folds her arms over her chest and pouts, "I suppose I can put my nice things away."

Alaida pauses in working and blinks, looking over at Zynassa. "70 candidates? " she asks in surprise then looks over at Jai. "You have that many clothes? "

Pulyn waves to Jacinta, his arm obviously tired from waving to the rush of new people.

Salva looks up from her journal. "Seventy? Wow. Crowded."

Alaida tilts her head. "Why so many? There are 39 eggs on the sands. "

Jacinta flounces over to where Salva is seated. "Now, Salva, don't tell me you're /still/ working on those dreadful pricelists!"

Pulyn pipes up. "Not everyone Impresses, unfortunatly."

Jai blinks at Alaida and nods, "Of course. A girl should always look her best." She fluffs up her huge head of hair, "That requires an outfit for any occasion, accessories to go with them, and toiletries. I've got two large presses here and much more at home." She clears her throat, "I mean... at Tillek."

Zynassa nods. "Generally, weyrs search at least twice the number of eggs on the sands, to give the dragonet some choice, or so my mother explained to me." She says somewhat sympathetically to Jai, "Well, there'll still be a few things to dress up for. Hatching feast surely."

Salva smiles distractedly at Jacinta. "I'm afraid I am...although I did take your advice and visit the beach last evening."

T'mren walks in from the bowl.
T'mren has arrived.

Jacinta is listening to Jai. "I couldn't agree more! I do like your shirt." she admires.

T'mren ambles into the cavern, waving cheerfully, "Evening, folks."

Jai blinks at Zynassa in suprise, "Really? We are allowed to dress up for that? I was told we were to wear short little white things with holes." To Jacinta, she smiles winningly, straightening out her shirt, "Oh, thank you."

Salva waves to T'mren.

Alaida pauses and looks down at herself, then runs her hands over the clothes. She looks back up to Jai. "Could you make me look pretty? "

Pulyn pulls his chair over into the group of people. "I've actually heard exactly that from the Weyrwoman. She said you have to wear plain white robes, no decorations at all, you can't even do your hair!"

Zynassa nods. "For the *hatching* yes. For the feast afterwards it's gather dress."

Jacinta stares at Alaida. "Now don't tell me you aren't pretty! You have a lovely complexion, and gorgeous eyes."

T'mren smiles, waving to Salva, and he heads to the food table and pours a cup of klah. He then ambles towards his usual table.

Jai ohs at Zynassa and nods, "I'll see if I can have one made. I'm sure I don't have anything quite right for a Hatching Feast." Turning to Alaida, she blinks in suprise, "What are you talking about? You are beautiful! A few new clothes... maybe something a bit more flattering on your figure... how *do* you get your hair that straight and shiney?" Her own hair is a mass of curls.

Pulyn looks at Alaida, a look-how-much-she's-grown-up type look on his face, then replies, "Oh, I must've misheard you. Sorry."

Jacinta nods in complete agreement. "That's it, new clothes. Something that fits a little better."

Zynassa gives a wave to T'mren and watches the girl talk with a fair amount of amusment. Despite the skirt tonight, she's obviously much more of a tomboy.

Salva clears her throat. "Um, Jai? Jacinta? Thank you could do something with me?"

Alaida blinks, suddenly blushing at the compliments. She giggles softly, fidgeting. "I don't have any nice clothes. I was given these when I was Searched. My other clothes were too heavy. " she reaches up to touch her hair, looking confused. "I just brush it. My mom told me to brush it at least 100 times a night. "

Jai blinks in suprise, "My goodness. I'm surrounded by people I can help!" She turns to Zynassa and Pulyn, "What a rare treat. I think I just figured out what to do with my extra clothing. Maybe I won't need that second press after all?"

Alaida fidgets. "And I still look like a boy. I'm all flat! "

Jai adds to Alaida, "Don't worry, love. I once gave cleavage to a twelve turn old boy for a costume gather. I can surely give it to you. You've got something to start with! He didn't."

Jacinta nods at Alaida's beauty tip. "Quite right. Well, you need to see a tailor, dear, and soon! Can't have you wearing that to a feast. And you do /not/ look like a boy. Some well-fit clothes will prove that."

Zynassa turns a rather surprised look on Jai, apparently not expecting such a gesture from the other girl. She says quietly, "I think that'd be a wonderful idea, Jai." Her claim of giving cleavage *does* kindle an interested look.

Pulyn scoots back from the group a bit, obviously feeling the female hormones surging. Putting his .02 marks in, he says, "You look fine Alaida, although some new clothes never hurt anyone." Hearing Alaida's other comment, he scoots back even further.

Salva snickers as Pulyn backs away. "What, don't want to be beautified?" she asks innocently.

Pulyn turns a deep shade of pink, and replies sheepishly, "Well, hey, if you can make me look good, I'd be up for it..."

Alaida looks down at her chest, then back to Jai, grinning. "You can? Really? Does it hurt? What is it like? " Ahh, the curiousity of a girl trying to be a woman.

Zynassa looks to Pulyn, mouth open to respond, and instead she shuts it with a snap. Discretion is the better part of valour.

Alaida says "And I don't have any marks to get something made for a feast."

Jai shakes her head, "It doesn't hurt. You won't miss breathing much, I promise." She hops to her feet to disappear into the caverns, "I'll be right back! Just let me drag out one of my presses! I have plenty of things you can try!"

T'mren chuckles, "Silly, you're young, it's only natural you don't have ..err...cleavage yet." He says, to Alaida, and then smiles in greeting at Zynassa as he sits.

Salva grins excitedly. "This should be fun!" She turns to Pulyn. "C'mere. I may not be good at girl stuff, but guys I can do."

Alaida giggles then picks up the dishes she gathered and quickly gets them into the kitchen for others to clean. She walks back out while drying her hands on her pants.

Pulyn grins sheepishly again, and scoots his chair over to Salva. "I'm trusting you, don't be puttin' makeup or anything on me!"

Jai returns dragging a very large trunk-like press in by one handle. She's grunting and pulling, but she's got a grin on her face as she scoots in butt first, "Here! Here it is!" Drag, grunt, pant, drag some more.

Alaida quickly rushes over to Jai to help her with the press.

Alaida tilts her head, struggling to pick up the other side of the press. "Can I have curly hair like you? I've always wanted curls."

Pulyn sits back in his chair, confused at Salva's hasty exit.

Jai grins thankfully at Alaida. Together they haul the trunk over to one of the unlit hearths and set it up on the stone. She wipes her hands together and grins at the other girl, "Are you kidding? I can wear my hair maybe three ways. I can never put braids in it because they're impossible to get out. You, on the other hand, have gorgeous hair!" She flips open the latches of the trunk and props the lid up, revealing a press filled to the hilt with clothing, all finely made it seems.

Zynassa grins at Pulyn and says lightly, "Maybe there's no hope for you and me. You think?" She wiggles sock covered toes at him.

Alaida wrinkles her nose. "I've always felt it was boring to look at. Even for a small bit of curl is better than totally straight. " she looks down at the clothes and gasps. "They're so pretty. "

Pulyn gives T'mren a distinctively male smile, and says in a quite tone, "Girls are funny that way." He turns his gaze to Zynassa. "I don't know, I think we've got some potential." His gaze now momentarily flips to the two girls at the hearth.

Jai waves a dismissive hand at Alaida, "We'll fix your hair, too. You can do so much with it if you know what you're doing." She rifles through the clothes and comes up with a vest-style bodice, calling out to Zynassa, "Want to see how I gave that young man a bust?"

Pulyn's gaze turns distinctively scared. "I /really/ do not want to know!"

Zynassa grins at Pulyn. "Maybe you. But I think I'm a hopeless case." She then laughs goodnaturedly. "I dunno, would it work on me, you think, Jai?"

T'mren snickers at Jai, "Oh dear."

Jai grins and nods, slipping her arms into the bodice and lacing herself up, "See, the hint to a bigger bust is also a narrow waist and full hips. It all works out into this nice hour glass figure."

Alaida tilts her head curiously, watching Jai. "Wow. " then she looks down at her straight form again and wrinkles her nose.

Zynassa peers doubtfully at Jai. "Uh huh. Well, considering I have only the narrow waist part, what in the world am I to do, and does it involve that torturous thing you're putting on?"

Pulyn gives Zynassa a joking laugh. "Don't kid yourself, you're not hopeless at all." Gesturing to T'mren, he adds, "What do you think, T'mren?"

T'mren glances at Pulyn, "About what, Pulyn?"

Pulyn says "Do you think Zynassa's hopeless?"

Jai ties herself tightly up in the bodice, the laces criss-crossing in the front. She's not a small girl to begin with, but with her waist pulled in, her hips are accentuated and her breasts supported upwards. She grins, putting her hands on her hips, "See? No problem. I have a few in here from when I was younger that I'm sure will fit you two." She rifles through the press.

Zynassa laughs and teases the men, "Don't ask T'mren. We're kinda sorta related. Then again, that could apply to roughly half of Pern..." She looks back in time to see the transformation in Jai. "Uh, Jai? How am I supposed to ride in that thing?"

T'mren grins, "Well, you've lost me, really."

Pulyn says, "Oh. Well then, nevermind, I diddn't know that. Sorry."

Jai turns to Zynassa, her hands still elbow deep in the press, "Ride? Ride what? Did I miss the fact that you have a dragon?" Wouldn't be suprising for her to miss that, self abosorbed wench that she is.

Alaida sighs wistfully. "I want to look like that. " she comments when looking at Jai.

T'mren smiles at Alaida, "Patience. You've got years to grow into a womanly figure. Don't rush yourself into adulthood TOO fast."

Elevan enters from the narrow corridor.
Elevan has arrived.

Elevan wanders into the cavern looking vaguely out of place without any hides in his arms.

Alaida glances over at T'mren. "But I'm tired of being teased! I want to get it over with so I don't get teased anymore.

Zynassa laughs at Jai. "Runners. Ride runners." She grins at Alaida. "Sheesh. Oh! And I'd a question for you, Alaida. Br'nal and I are going to be riding out with his kids and Yina today, do you have any recommendations for mounts for the kids, to teach them to ride? Dosali's um, four? I think? And Yina's five." To Pulyn she grins. "He's a half brother to my sister Jaeleka. So kinda sorta. But then again, I'm half related to half of Pern, so."

Pulyn laughs at that. "Everyone here probably is!" He looks over at Alaida, and nods agreement with T'mren.

T'mren smiles at Alaida, "People get teased all their lives, dear. Just...ignore it."

Alaida grins to Zyn. "Yes I do! If you have ponies, they would be the best for children. Most ponies are calm and aren't too tall to scare a baby. "

Jai snorts, "You don't wear these every day. Just when you want to have a figure." She grins at Zynassa at such a silly question, turning back to the press so her voice is muffles, "I have them for wearing over clothes and under clothes depending on the clothes."

Alaida bounces, suddenly in her league that she knows. "I can help you pick out the mounts if you wish. I can tell you which ones have good or bad tempers.

Jai turns to look at Alaida, "Oh, you work with runners?" Her interest is suddenly peaked a bit away from the clothes.

Pulyn looks around at the people congregated, obviously feeling left out. "Now that Salva's gone, anyone else want to try to make me look good?" He seems half-sarcastic, half-serious.

Alaida nods to Jai,smiling. "I'm an..er.. I was an apprentice Herder, but I've always grown up around runners and bovines. "

Elevan strolls over to the serving table, putting a little bit of most food onto his plate and carrying it over to a table. He shoots a curious glance over at Pulyn to ask, "Make you look good?"

Zynassa nods to Alaida. "I'd like that. I also promised Tamina I'd talk to some breeders up Benden way about a mount for Mahara, her oldest. If you could recommend any..." She trails off, and then cocks her head, considering Pulyn. "Well... I used to suggest stuff to Yaz for gathers..."

T'mren shakes his head in amusement at the various conversations going on around him. He remarks to Alaida, "You miss the runners yet, do ya?"

Pulyn gives Zynassa a hopeful grin. "Whatever you could do would be fine, I'm interested." Snapping his head around to Elevan, he says casually, "We're having a make-each-other-pretty time in here."

Alaida smiles to Zyn. "I could do that. I would need to know his own personality before knowing what kind of mount for him. " She glances to T'mren and nods. "I do miss them, T'mren. "

Zynassa grins goodnaturedly, "Jai started it." Hm back to considering Pulyn as she says absently, "Her, Alaida. And she's, eight turns, I believe? Just something for her to learn on, that she won't outgrow in a couple of turns." A pause and then, "Let's see, Pulyn. I'd want to put you in green, for all it's an unlucky color. It'd really bring out those eyes of yours."

Alaida blushes. "Whoops. Her. Well, being 8, hmm.. I would have to know her personality.

Pulyn straightens himself up, and replies, "Really? You think so?" Obviously, he has a feminine side after all.

Jai grins at Alaida, her interest peaked, "I... could you help me learn to ride? I always wanted to, but never got the chance living near the seacraft as I did." She comes up with an expensive looking brocade bodice in shades of green and blue, "Oh, here we are. This one will look nice with your dark hair, Alaida."

Elevan arches his eyebrows and listens curiously while be spoons up some of his chowder. "Sounds interesting," he comments vaguely.

Alaida smiles. "Of course I can teach you, Jai. We need to get a day to ourselves or between our chores. " She tilts her head at the bodice. "That looks too nice to wear."

Zynassa once again, seems astonished at the idea that someone isn't born knowing how to ride runner. But her attention is called back to Pulyn and she nods. "That or a rich burgandy piped with black. Then again, I like the jewel tones on a man, particularly with dark coloring."

Jai shakes her head at the fancy garment, "No, this is a casual one. The nice ones have gold thread and beading. Want to try it on?" She holds it by the shoulders for the girl to try.

Pulyn subconciously picks at his plain white shirt. "Hmm..that's interesting. Maybe I should talk to the weaver, she could make me something!"

Zynassa laughs. "Go to Radar and tell him I referred you, Pulyn. He does some lovely work."

Alaida grins brightly and nods to Jai. "Could you show me how it goes on? " even as she reaches for the bodice.

T'mren chuckles, "Took a few riding lessons myself. It was quite fun, but I'm glad I didn't go on to do my dream of being a beastcrafter. I was pretty rotten at it.'

Pulyn says "Alright, I will. Thanks for the advice Zynassa!"

Jai nods, pulling a simple loose shirt of blue from the press, "Here, slip this on over your head, then take your tunic off under it. This won't fit over your tunic."

Alaida nods and glances around. She quickly turns her back to everyone before taking the shirt. She slips it on and works to take her other tunic off, showing her bare back, but hiding everything else. She switches the two easily enough.

T'mren smiles, "That tunic looks nice on ya."

Jai grins and walks around behind Alaida now that she's in the shirt, slipping the bodice on behind the girl and up her arms. She sets it properly on her shoulders and moves around the front to begin lacing it up, "It'll be a bit tight and takes some getting used to. Don't wear a bodice or a corset of any sort all the time. Only when you want to look curvier." She pauses when she gets to the girl's chest, "Okay, now take your left hand and slip it inside the shirt to pull your left side in, then do the same for your right. You want to squish them together." Discrete, Jai is not.

Zynassa rises. "Well, I've got some things to take care of before bed. G'night all." She starts for the caverns, though she gives Jai and her 'contraption' a long look before she does.

T'mren snickers, "How romantic you make it sound, Jai. G'night Zynassa."

Pulyn puts his hand in his pocket, and fishes out some string with a ball attached to the end. Lanthia now wakes up, notices the ball, and begins batting at it with her rapidly-growing hands. He looks up from this to say an enthusiastic "Goodnight Zynassa!"

You walk down the corridor.

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