Candidate's Lament [ORP]

His life was over.

Okay, so it wasn't the laying-flat-over-the-edge-of-the-bed-with-blood-dripping-from-his-antagonostic-but-oddly-nice-lips death... but it was close. He felt as if the roof over his head had suddenly caved down on top of him, or better yet, some past lover walking up to him and punching him in the face. It was an odd mixture of a wake-up call and the dull ring of impending doom. Both were equally horrible on their own, but put them together and they were catastrophic. If he was prone to panic attacks, he'd be having a full-fledged one right now. If he was prone to random suicide attempts, he'd have kicked a dragon in the shin and called it a wherry. If he was prone to the idea of running away, which he was, he would do it... but that was also a suicide attempt. So, he remained in place.

It wasn't a great place to be in.

Erisi was in the Candidate Barracks, and more exactly standing right outside his room. If he went in, he'd probably never come out, not unless they tempted him with a great piece of manflesh or physically carried him out. "I can't believe this," he groaned. Running a hand through his thick hair, he looked around himself for any feasible excuse to get take his mind off the fact that the wherry of a Gold had clutched.

He wasn't a juvenile, he knew what happened when dragons got all hot and sweaty, but he had held his hopes up for some devastating tragedy. Oh, no, our precious Gold flew herself right into a tree! All eighteen precious eggs exploded out of her abdomen to reveal white bug-eyed monstrosities that ate every dragonrider in sight! Those poor Candidates, they have no dragons to Impress, and very few dragonriders left to take after! The tragedy!

It would have been a dream come true. Erisi would have cried tears of joy instead of ones of panic. He almost did cry, but Erisi prided himself on keeping control over his emotions. So, he pouted, an upset, almost broody pout. Erisi doubted there could be anything done to keep those eggs from Hatching now. He was going to have to Stand, and if he Impressed he really would kill himself on the spot. He hated the idea of Impressing because that was what they wanted. Sharding dragonriders. Maybe it was time for a revolution. There had been rumors, of course, but Erisi didn't think they really had any solid backing.

Perhaps it was time to give those rumors just that.

But... maybe not. Candidate Isle was a horrible place of heat and sunshine. "Anyone want to Stand for me?" No takers? Well, that wasn't surprising.

The cider had  finally stopped bubbling, and now it just needed to wait a sevenday before it would be ready to drink. This batch was strictly for the candidates, as a sort of celebration of the clutching, and to get to know each other better in a casual environment. Or at least that was the plan for the moment. Things could change.

"What?" Echlerov frowned as he heard the comment from the hallway, unsure if the voice had been joking or not. Perhaps this needed to be investigated, and the vintner leaned out of his room, glancing to see who had spoken. "I don't think it works like that." It was one of the younger candidates, Erisi, or so Echlerov thought his name was, and he smiled warmly at the other. "Do you not want to stand then?" He couldn't imagine why not, though he supposed that not everyone was as happy to be here as he was. Rumors certainly implied that.

Was he one of the ones plotting rebellion?

A frown crossed his face briefly, only there long enough to be seen if the other was paying close attention to him. He hoped that they were just rumors, as he wasn't looking forward to things if they weren't. Still, there was nothing to be done about it now, and the boy looked like he could use a distraction. And Echlerov was pretty good at distractions. He did have a skin of wine that he wouldn't mind sharing and perhaps that would help both of them relax as well.

Lymsleia had come to check on the batch of cider, and perhaps to see Escherlov. But she looked up at Ersi with was raised eyebrow. It was him. The boy-- for she couldn't rightfully call him her equal in anything-- who had  chidded her for being and asking intelligent question- or so she thought.

"Making delicious.." she smelled the air and then glanced at Esherlov with a grin. "Cider then?" she smiled a small smile. "I heard the eggs finally showed themselves... perhaps we should go see them.. maybe." she whispered. she snuck a glance at Eirisi.

At the question of it anyone would stand for him she simply rolled her eyes. "No one apparently can stand for you." she snapped. "And what is your name?"

"But wouldn't it be a sharding miracle if it did?" Erisi responded to Echlerov in a somewhat sad, but wistful tone. Oh, his life would be complete if he could find someone to take his place, and that person be considered a decent substitute for him. He was sure the task would be trying and take sevendays upon sevendays, but it would be worth it. Erisi was not going to allow himself to be condemned to the lifestyle of a dragonrider. The lifestyle wasn't particularly bad, it was just... well, he had predisposition to hate every last dragonrider in this Weyr after they had him kidnapped. He did not dare give them the satisfaction of him Impressing. He was not going to add to their brood. What small contributions he had made to the Weyr were good enough. They should be satisfied that he even cleaned their dishes for them.

"No, I'm a Harper, not a dragonrider. I'm not particularly thrilled with the idea of Standing at this clutch for a bunch of dragonriders who had me kidnapped. It's not a particularly pleasing idea. Hey, whenever the Hatching happens, do you want to poison me or something so I can miss it?" While he sounded angry, the anger wasn't necessarily directed at anyone yet. Rather, he seemed to be angry at the Weyr as a whole. It was a whole lot of anger spread across a whole lot of space. It could sometimes be nightmarish when he fixated it on a single thing, or worse, an individual.

Unfortunately, there was someone who was quickly turning herself into an outlet for his temper. He turned his head subtly, just enough to be able to see Lymsleia out of the corners of his eyes. His aggrieved expression pulled itself together to form a slight sneer. Great, it was the girl who had been determined to be the dimmest glow of them all during their Candidate Lesson. He hated people like that, those who pretended to be smart and intuitive when in reality they were not. Of course, he had this same opinion for plenty of people. Lymsleia was just daring enough to risk another confrontation with him. Since there were no superiors about, he felt obligated to let venom drip into his voice. Every consonant he then spoke with was hardened with brindled aggression. "I don't feel particularly bothered to share my name with a kiss ass. I'm surprised you're even here, because I see no worth to you other than feeding your dragonrider buddies' egos.

I imagine they are pretty bruised right now, you should scurry on your way and go fix that." He was in a bad mood already, and Lymsleia was his perfect target.

This, however, meant that Echlerov was free from Erisi's aggression. It was possible that Erisi already liked the boy a whole lot just because he wasn't Lymsleia. At times like these he could feel shallow, and at times like these he did not care.

Ah. So that was where the boy's thoughts were, and he couldn't blame him. Even he, who was glad to be here, grew bitter occasionally over the fact they were kidnapped. "I'm sure we can think of something that doesn't involve poisoning you." It was a pity that he wasn't a girl, that would have been the easiest solution, but there had to be something. That would have to be thought about.

At least for this hatching. Perhaps after he had been here for a while, things would be different. It had happened with some of the others, the ones who had been brought for the Renewed Hope Clutch with him, and he wouldn't' be surprised if Erisi adjusted as well.They would just have to see.

He grinned brightly at Lymsleia, glad to see the lovely healer again. "Yep. It's not quite ready for serving yet, but once it is, i figure we'll have a grand old party for all of  us candidates."

It seemed like the two other candidates had met before, though not long enough to get to know each other if Lymsleia's question was to be judged by, and Echlerov just shrugged. They could deal with that themselves, being grown adults and all. He was sure that Lymsleia would forgive him if he chose to hang out with Erisi at the moment, but he wasn't sure if the boy would respond the same way if the things were reversed. And right now, it seemed like Erisi needed a friend more.

Completely bored out of her mind sewing clothes together horrendously, Volfetti had left the Craft Hall and was now walking into the Candidate Hall. Wiping her forehead with the back of her hand she grumbled, even with her hair pulled off her neck and face sweat still dripped down them. She could feel fatigue setting into her limbs, with Katila's large and spacious layout even walks between the main Halls were becoming extremely laborious. 'As soon as I get there, I'm going to have a nap.' She thought determinedly to herself as she walked through the large open doors at the southern end of the building.

While she walked down one of the corridors to her own sectioned off room, if you could call it a room with a thick curtain acting as the walls, she saw a small group of Candidates gathering. Nearing them, she heard Erisi's whine about dragonriders. Normally she would have held her tongue and continued walking, Volfetti was most certainly not the kind of woman to seek the spotlight. But in her tired and exasperated state, she simply couldn't walk past hearing him whinge.

"You sharding little wherries think you have it bad? How long have you been here? I've been here four damn years. They took me from my four year old daughter, and if you try to escape you earn yourself a rider escort everywhere until they decide you can be alone. And then this! They did this to me. A baby without a father lives half a life." She growled, breathing heavily from her anger-filled outburst and long walk. Shooting a dark glare at Erisi she turned on a heel and stormed off, well, as best as a heavily pregnant woman could do.

---

[Do something dramatic and keep her there, or let this just be a passing post, I don't mind! Incur the wrath of the pregnant lady!]

Looking at Volfetti's arrival, and her Comment Lymsleia paused. "A child without a father, can do perfectly well." she pointed to herself. She smiled though at Volfetting's insitance. "And from what I've seen,  kids aren't so bad. They're cute and amazing. Humans are just so... intruiging. I mean.. we go from these defensless little things.." she gestures to Volfetti's belly. "To people like you and me."

She nodded though. "Though I am sorry about you being take from your daughter, Volfetti." She watched Volfetti storm away.

Though Escherlov, the kind vinter had her utmost attention. Erisi could die for all she cared. He was so... unpleasant to be around. He was unpleasant, uncouth and un...well she couldn't say unintelligent. He spoke, that was a sign of intelligence, he just didn't say anything particularly intelligent.

She grinned to the vinter. "I see, delicious cider, we should probably make  couple of batches and make consider a batch of wine that we can save and share it after we alll impress and umm graduate?" she seemed unsure about the process of Weyrlingship.

Erisi looked mildly shocked, not from anything outrageous or ridiculous... but because Echlerov seemed inclined towards aiding him in avoiding the Hatching. He had expected him to be like Ly-slime-ah and 'tsk' at him for not wanting to Stand. Erisi was pretty sure that Echlerov was not likable, and a good candidate for friendship. His method of picking friends was disgustingly simple. They had to at least be good looking, and they had to be able to not annoy the wherry dung outta him. Echelrov was doing okay on both fronts, so Erisi would happily risk further association with the other Candidate. "Oh, it could just be a mild poisoning, just enough to not kill me so I'm not dragonling bait on the Hatching Sands." His tone was even mildly playful when talking to Echlerov.

It was almost startling how quickly it could turn sharp and aggressive. But, Erisi considered it to be one of his finer attributes.

His lips had parted to say something nasty at Ly-slime-ah again, but uh... a particular ex-Candidate showed her face. He arched an eyebrow at Volfetti's sudden angst explosion, one that was so great that it could rival his own. It was probably the first time in his life where someone had managed to shut him up without the excuse of macking on him. He admitted that he had it bad, but it was clear that there was one person who had it worse. His blue eyes glanced down to Volfetti's stomach, and his lip curled in visible disgust at whatever parasite was growing inside her. Oh shells, it was probably dragonrider spawn. Erisi would write a song of mourning just for this miserable girl. "You sound like you need a drink, but I'm not exactly sure it'd be okay for your... spawn."

Maybe 'spawn' was a bad choice of words.

Maybe he just did not care.

Now that all he could do was watch the pregnant girl stomp her feet and storm off, he could return his attention to another particular female that need a baby shoved up inside of her stomach so she could pester it instead of him. So, she had stopped responding to his antagonistic remarks. Usually someone would let the issue go. But, Erisi was not that someone. Not by a long shot. "You know, if you wanted to prove me wrong, you'd say something in your defense. Ignoring me outright reaffirms the idea that you probably sucked some dragonrider cock to get yourself here."  He loved arguing, even if it was inelegant arguing sometimes.

Lymsleia listned to Erisi whine and moan. She tried to keep her eyes from rolling slowly, but her blue and grey eyes rolled towards the  ceiling. He was not worth her breath. Until he called Volfetti's child spawn. She rounded on him, stalking towards him. "Take that.. back... you dung-slinging beetle." she snapped. He'd set her off apparently. No one called her patient's child 'spawn'.

No male ever  had insulted her profression so badly. "Oh I am sure you've sucked." she shoots it back no need to think beyond his last words. "E-rsi, wasn't it?" she thinking about his name. She'd heard him spoken about rarely, hell there were more rumors about her and Talian than about him.  She stalked towards him in long slow strides. "You know... I would love to know why.. you hate me so much.  And no I haven't sucked any male's penis. I personally find that... untowards, at least in the grand scheme of things. Where did you grow up? I mean to have such a mouth on you." she finds a comfortable place on the bed next to Erisi.

Lymsleia took her a deep breath as she tried to break down the walls that surrounded Erisi. "I'll you this much, my name is Lymselia, I am a journeyman Healer and I specialize in Midwifery, and you've just insulted my one of the children of my patients-as of yet unborn- but I cannot abide but such rude behavior." she glanced as to Volfetti stormed off. She felt the blood in ears pounding but oh it felt good to vent. Even if it was for a few moments.

What?

Out of everything he had said to her, every insult he had flung carelessly in her path, she chose to nitpick at him for calling someone's unborn child a spawn? Volfetti didn't even seem to care that he had, and yet this woman was ready to defend a child that wasn't even her's, and thusly had no right to really defend? What was a child going to think anyways, since it didn't understand words. It was still in her belly, shardit! "Uh, how about... I don't?" Erisi drawled, a single eyebrow arching high on his forehead. He would have laughed, if this really wasn't so pathetic. "I imagine if the spawn's mother was upset by my comment, she would have said so."

Okay, now he had to laugh just a little. It was only a chuckle... or two. Of course he sucked, he had an active lifestyle! How was he supposed to be insulted by that? "Honestly, I was thinking you would have to, because no man would really want to sleep with a face like your's unless your hair was in the way." Now both eyebrows were arched in mock surprise, as if he couldn't believe she could even get herself laid! Actually, he really did believe that it was hard for Ly-slime-ah to find someone to sleep with. Who'd want to get with a girl with a personality like her's? Erisi would sooner kill himself than crawl into bed with a girl like her.

"Okay, Ly-slime-ah. Got it." He gave her the universal gesture of approval - a thumb's up. Finally, the name he had conjured up for her in his head was given birth through his voice. She had grated on his nerves enough to deserve the nickname. "And really, I don't think you've got much choice but to listen to it, unless you walk away. But, that would probably be too dignified of a response for you. It's okay, I understand, really." He stretched his hand out in front of her, signaling her to hold back her words. There was no need to defend herself from the truth, after all.

Lymsleia relaxed. She would let him rant. She had pride in her work and pride in herself. Narrowed her eyes at  Erisi. "You're mistaken. I have no need to  sleep with anyone.. well not anyway. Mutual companionship, will happen when it happens." she waved him off. "You're really a peice of work. How does anyone stand you with such an attitude?" she questioned him with a tone of disdain. It wasn't that he was beneath her notice- no he deserved it. He was sad and miserable, like many here but he choose to be a severly negative person about it all .He choose to wallow and only drag others down to his level.

"Perhaps i am wrong for believing the stories of dragonriders. I mean, they did take us.. but perhaps I am inclined to believe that there was some meaning it in." she tried to keep her voice neutral and calm. He was so repulsive just his attitude was unattractive. "What's I'd love to know is how can one stand to be around you with that fowl attitude. And I haven't and will probably never suck..." she stated bringing her foot down in an assertive tap. "I do need to sink to such an act. I could have anyone I wanted.. really." she bite her lip as she said it. It was a nice thought and she realized as it left her lip. "Bet I could even bring you to your knees to /want/ me." she said, stepping towards him.

The glove had been thrown. "As for  Volfetti's child, I am going to say sometihng because Volfetti left. You really wouldn't understand what kind of a... honor and job, being a Healer-being a midwife is. You wouldn't last a several candlemarks."

Valerian had only wanted a quiet evening in his tiny little room. Was that too much to ask for? Clearly it was when people started shouting at one another in the hall a couple of doors down from his room. This was why he snuck out to the forest to nap under his favourite tree he had bargained joint custody with Erisi over. It was always guaranteed to be quiet there! Speaking of Erisi, the loudest voice definitely belonged to his fellow harper but he couldn't make out all of the words of the people he was arguing with so he was left slightly in the dark as to why the man sounded like he was close to killing someone, which would only mess up the man's hair and clothes. Valerian didn't think the weyr would stay standing if that happened.

Considering it his good deed of the day, Valerian slid from bed and meandered out to the crowded hallway where several Candidates were bunched close together. He caught the tail-end of Lymsleia's ranting and all of Erisi's reply and shook his head. This wasn't going to end well and all they needed was a rider like G'rem to come waltzing in here and lay a good smackdown on them all with his stick. He wouldn't have cared if it likely wouldn't come down on him as well now that he was standing amongst the commotion.

But before he spoke, Lymsleia went off again. He tried to cut her off but it was useless and simply waited until she seemed finished and quickly jumped in. "Erisi," he worked his way through the group to stand near the man he considered to be one of his few friends and laid a hand on his shoulder, "you know most people here don't understand multi syllable words and you're wasting your precious time with them. Come with me instead to see if we can get our hands on some wine and enjoy some time elsewhere."

Lymsleia had asked how anyone could stand him with the attitude he carried, but in asking show she confirmed that people did withstand his attitude to hang out with them. She had perfectly defeated the purpose of her insult, and that alone brought a wicked smile to his face. She didn't have to understand where she blundered, and Erisi couldn't be bothered to point out that one tiny flaw in the entire spectrum of flaws this girl possessed. He was content to have the knowledge for himself to laugh about later. As she continued to talk, Erisi was quickly becoming convinced that this girl was delusional. She honestly seemed to be happy to have been kidnapped. This was a sharding dream come true for this girl.

Wait -- what?

He swore that his stomach was churning with disgust when Lymsleia spoke, 'Bet I could even bring you to your knees to want me.' To add insult to injury, he made an exaggerated vomiting motion. He was fairly convinced that it was closer to his true reaction than a mockery of it. He really would get sick at the idea of sleeping with Lymsleia. By the girl issuing such a challenge, it was clear that she was desperate to get laid, despite her earlier claim that she didn't need to sleep with anyone. For Faranth's sake, this girl was messed up. Sorry, but Erisi was not inclined to even touch a hair on her head. He'd jump off a cliff, and would not even care what people thought of him for it.

In his position, they'd probably do the same.

A long-winded reply to Lymsleia was overdue, but a hand clapped over his shoulder to distract him. For a moment he was upset to be interrupted. That moment passed quickly when he realized they had stirred Valerian out of bed accidentally. He arched a brow at his friend, wondering why Valerian had been so encouraged to interrupt him... but, his friend's words quickly made him smile. It was a small, feral smile of pleasure, because honestly... Valerian was speaking the truth. Perhaps his more defined and expressive words were far too much for someone like Ly-slime-ah to handle. "Val, seriously, it's me. I have wine in my room." He was fairly receptive to the idea - Erisi wasn't one to turn down wine and a drink with a friend.

Ly-slime-ah was nearly completely forgotten in favor of golden opportunities.

Typically, it wasn't in his nature to break up a verbal sparring. Valerian enjoyed being in one himself some days though if he was a spectator and grew bored, which was often the case, he simply walked away to leave the particpants to it, caring little of the outcome. But this time was different since it not only disturbed his peace but someone he had started to think of as a friend was being pushed to a breaking point. Whichever was motivating him the most right then didn't matter as it had been the right choice given Erisi's already changing demeanour into something a bit more relaxed. The comment about already having wine on hand earned the younger Harper a grin as Valerian wasn't surprised at all, having only mentioned finding wine initially as a means of distraction.

There was just one final thing stopping him from following his own advice of leaving the girl behind and announcing her as not worth their time. He had more or less tuned out her rant when he showed up, intent on simply removing Erisi from the stressful environment but there was one comment that seemed so out of place given things that he had overheard and so daring to assume she possessed such skills that Valerian had to speak up. "Sorry, little girl, not only do you lack the skills but he's going to be busy on his knees elsewhere." He wasn't sure how his friend would react to that statement that implied as much as his arm he slipped around Erisi's waist but he imagined it would leave Lymsleia silenced and possibly even embarrassed to the point she'd leave them both alone.

As he guided Erisi away from the source of his current irritation, Valerian glanced back at Echlerov and gave him a silent invitation with a slight jerking of his head towards Erisi's room. He didn't really know the guy and had no idea where he stood in regards to taking sides in the fight but he was in a generous mood and felt inclined to offer him a way out if he leaned more in favour of the Harpers. Then again, given his parting words to Lymsleia, he wasn't sure anyone would want to interupt them. Unless of course that was the sort of thing Echlerov was into. It was a weyr after all and anything seemed to go.

Erisi laughed.

The sound was surprisingly rich for someone so cold. Many people were likely under the impression that Erisi could not laugh at all, since the young Harper seemed to instead constantly wear a scowl upon his face. One was more likely to run into that scowl than a genuine smile. That was what Lymsleia had been faced with, and she simply wasn't the right type of person to get on Erisi's good side. Valerian, on the other hand, seemed to do it effortlessly. A comment that Erisi would likely find offensive when stated so bluntly was accepted with ease, and even appreciated. He did have to give Valerian credit for that one. Erisi was far more likely to be on his knees elsewhere than in front of Lymsleia. In fact, glancing towards Valerian now, he was definitely a good option.

Erisi didn't think the man was being serious, but if he was well, Erisi was never disinclined to the idea. Again, while Erisi wasn't fond of displays such as the one Valerian was putting on, he seemed content with it, even appreciative of Valerian's 'rescue'. So, when Valerian's arm came about his waist, he draped his own arm around his friend's shoulder, leaning against him effortlessly and with a slightly cocky grin. "To be honest, I'd rather be on my knees in front of an obese, fifty-turn old man, instead of you. If I had to pick between you and him, I wouldn't even hesitate to pick him.

Fortunately, my friend is offering a better option," he answered with a playful wink towards Valerian. Really, he expected they'd just return to his room, drink, and write terrible ballads about how mean dragonriders were for the rest of the day. Erisi was feeling particularly inclined about writing a ballad about how every egg the Gold dragon lays is infertile. It probably wasn't true, but Erisi would gladly take the small comforts in life. So, with Valerian beginning to guide him away, Erisi saw no better option than to walk with the Harper.

Lymsleia took a step back; Erisi was laughing. "You can... be normal." she managed to say, glancing at Valerian. "Go have fun." she said shooing them away with a bit of a smile.  She let the found the edge of the bed. She was drained. She simply looked between Valerian and Erisi with a grin. "No really, go have fun." she  stood up after a few moments. Erisi was annoying but the laughter proved to her that he was human. At least she thought it might make him human.

She got to her feet and then said. "Erisi, can we just be friends?"