Garden

With imported soil giving fertility to enhance Fort Weyr's diet the garden doubles as a small, quaint Eden. Priority of space is given to conventional rows of annual vegetables and herbs that must be carefully maintained during the brief summers. There's a central path where two may walk abreast, large enough for compost and harvesting carts. The small nearby lake provides a rudimentary form of irrigation with much manual labor. Several constructed posts support the wild growth of climbing varieties of peas and beans. This arrangement supports a small canopy of matted summer vines to present a sufficient screen for those who seek a carefully placed bench made of expired woody vines. The garden is no great expanse - a poor location and northern latitude limit plant composition - but it's a local piece of self-sufficiency and practical composure.

You see Talia and Shark here.

Madri, R'ish, W’ren and Thera are here.

Reports? Thera was supposed to be writing reports? Well no one told her! She is trudging through the detritus of fall foliage trying not to sink further into a depressive state. She spots Madri and scuffles her way to the bench and flops down on it, drawing her knees up, though they're spread wide apart to accommodate 'the creature'. A low exhaled breath and a bit of a pout, "Hi." The rustling is not noticed or assumed that it's some tunnelsnake to be dealt with and then R'ish is approaching and she gets a look.

R'ish is just making her way into the garden. Someone tattled on Madri.. and Now R'ish knows where she's at... and she's heading her way with a few more of those reports.

R'ish

Feminine? No. R'ish could quite easily pass as a teenage boy what with her narrow hips and small chest. Her hair is kept on the shorter side, and always a mess. Her sense of style fits her attitude and the tough look she goes for. Long legs add to her height, just a few inches short of six feet, while the body of an athlete does nothing to help her look female. Generally, she appears is as if she just got out of bed.. Someone else's bed. There is a confidence that seems to ooze from R'ish that is somehow, in a way that likely can't be unearthed, intriguing. Possibly the way she moves without a care towards others, who knows..

R'ish wears the complicated knot of a Fort Weyr Assistant Weyrlingmaster. Brown and black twist together in a complicated double loop, with a silver tassel hanging down. A lighter brown cord winds its way through the knot to indicate the color of her dragon.

R'ish wears a set of comfortable clothes today. Comfortable for her at least. She wears a mid-weight cream colored tunic laced up with a thin strip of leather at the collar, and the wrists. The laces at the wrists are tied a bit looser than the one at the neck, so that the cuffs of her sleeves drape slightly over her hands. The tunic is belted at the waist with a long black ring belt, and drapes over a pair of worn brown leather pants cover her lower body, worn at the thighs and knees so that the color is much more of a tan than the rest of the darker brown hide. These pants may have seen better days but they're still wearable and functional. The pants are tucked into the tops of a pair of black hide boots. The boots themselves, like the pants, are well worn, but still in good condition. It's obvious that the clothing this woman wears is of top quality.  On the outside of boot, hanging over the sides is an odd shaped metal piece. These odd metal bits are, upon closer inspection, attacked to a pair of boot knives that the woman has. Odd knives, and likely a specially contracted set of weapons. R'ish loves her knives, it's obvious. She normally carries several other blades, besides her boot knives. Today she's got a small belt knife, as well as a longer dagger, and yet another, of a length in-between the two hoped on that black ring belt of hers. In between the knives on the belt she wears several leather pouches; it's hard to say what she keeps in those. Though likely at least one is used for the more traditional things, like money.

R'ish is 45 Turns, 4 months, and 7 days old.

Madri

The Turns have been kind to this woman: few lines mar features save the fine creases that mark humor and nature and the jagged scar that now highlights her right cheek from apple's crest to angled jaw-line. A lasting reminder of her recent encounter with Thread. One time sun-caught wavy brown hair has been bleached a lighter brunette by daylight's kiss, while rich caramel-hued rivers cascade into loose curls and layers that swing mid-back. Skin, now caressed with the sun's golden light would have been fair were it not for the long hard days working out in the elements. Evenly set eyes slanted just enough, reflect a more amber tone rather than the one time hazel, but still glow with an inner exuberance that can only be credited to her adored lifemate. Full lips, high cheekbones, and a firmly set chin add to her overall appearance. Height is on the average to tall-ish side and the overall frame of her body is curvy with lean and toned muscles keeping things slender and fluid; a 'gift' from long turns of active riding.

Light has been eclipsed by night: blackness dominates across a tunic of nubby linen plunging neckline nearly meeting the hem as it falls only halfway down her torso.  Raven hues of the outer jacket drape shoulder from round neckline, edged in fine woven trim.  Shadows play along fitted sleeves, designed not to impede but yield to Madri's movements.  The night is again confined by the blackened skin tight leather of her trousers that follow her legs to greet her boots a study of midnight indifference.

Madri is 44 Turns and 9 days old.

Thera

Long and lean are apt adjectives for Thera's physical and facial characteristics. Hip length black hair with indigo hues threading in the half light fall usually in a loose braid straight down her back. A darkened oval frame to a pale complexion. Bangs tendril freely over a deeply set bistre colored and myrtle flecked gaze that is ringed with shadows from lashes and made blacker still by dusky circles beneath her gaze. With high and angular cheekbones, a slightly hawkish nose and wide set lips that rest above a pointed and narrow chin, Thera is anything but beautiful. Weyrling life attempts to add muscle to her form but it is all sinew and bone beneath a weedy form. Pragmatism and practicality are the veneer brushed over a bundle of raw emotions that simmer beneath.

A thin piece of leather cord holds a bronze wrapped shell that slips in and out of her clothing. Another small pouch of cloth tangles around the first, its contents can't be more than a hair's weight.

Thera's hair has been gathered to one side and braided into a long low runner tail that drifts across her shoulder.  Crisp white cotton billows down from a scooped neckline in a midriff skimming short cap sleeved blouse. Cool and airy even at the worst of summer's heat. Midnight blue pants hang low on her hips, dipping to a gentle V just below her navel.  White lacing secures them at the hips and ankles.  Light leather sandals are strapped precariously to her feet. Tugger regards you, perched atop Thera's shoulder.

Thera is 20 Turns, 6 months, and 10 days old.

W'ren

Unruly sable locks curl impatiently in a flop of tangled top, pulled back tightly in a pony tail of longish hair, crisp, military style, accentuating thick black eyebrows and an old soul's cobalt eyes against his bronzed complexion.  Marred at chin and jaw's line by the unkempt growth of a week-old beard, his face tilts to the right side carefully, no longer able to hide the imperfection of one ear, truncated at the tip, set upon his small, rugged shoulders with secretive impunity.  The slightly bowlegged but sure-footed demeanor of his easy stance and the roughened surface of his hands give hint of balance to his slim, fit musculature, honed stable and hard by a rider's rigorous regimen.

W'ren wears the double twisted brown and black double loops of a Fort Weyr Assistant Weyrlingmaster. A single silver tassel bound in silver thread hangs down, and a bronze ribbon entwines all.

Slinky sea-green sisal lines the shimmering crocheted netting of Wae's deep Mediterranean blue tank top, clinging liquid-smooth to his dark skin beneath.  Blue netting over sea-green sisal also, the shorts which slip in sultry tightness over every curve and dip of his muscular butt, trim with groin-high blue edging.  The outfit tops off with a matching sea green and blue floppy hat to keep the sun out of the eyes. 

W'ren is 23 Turns, 7 months, and 11 days old.

Tunnel snakes, trundle bugs, avians. Whatever it is, it's incredibly annoying and wouldn't you know it? Madri just happened to have finished off enough of that redfruit to wing it hard and off to that one side. Right /there/. Where that bush is waggling about. Ahem. Did anyone mention she's got a good arm? R'ish will be spotted first along with the reports she seems to be towing about and a raised eyebrow will be given in response. Thera gets the smile first and an inquisitive glance, "Hi there yourself." She glances again. "Something on your mind, or just escaping away to this greenery?"

"OUCH!" the rustling bush yells. UP pops W'ren's head with a huge blue floppy hat on it, garden-gloved hand upon /that/ and rubbing, one whom it seems /is/ annoying to Madri these days, no matter what he does. "Why did you do /that/, woman?" And it's no secret that in this weyr, the woman with the creature, aka Thera, has always found the bronzer annoying, or at least that is W'ren's impression, so he's staring right at her when he asks the question. Of course. He glances at Madri and R'ish. Surely /they/ are not the responsible parties. Then he glares back at Thera.

R'ish smirks "Just inventories..." R'ish says with a little laugh as she hands the hides over. Looking over to Thera and offering a smile. "Thought you could hide from me, eh?" Though this is to Madri. "How's the babies?" She asks as she plops down on the ground in front of the bench.. Then to Thera.. "and.. How are you today?" Though the OUCH from the bush.. draws her attention and she... just looks over at W'ren when he pops up. Both eyebrows arching.

Thera shakes her head, "Nothing's on my mind." She just likes crashing parties. Her knees will drop because that's way too uncomfortable a position to stay in for long. R'ish gets a shrug, "I'm fine. My ankles are swelling and my boobs feel like they're going to explode!" is explained in rather petulant tones, but other than that she has no complaints. She will shift to the side to stare into the bushes and then frown right back at W'ren when he pops out, "Do what!" Of this she's innocent. Don't mess with the pregnant girl, the hormones have taken over!

"I'd say she did it because anyone who wears a hat like that W'ren, needs a good bop on the head." Madri snorts but follows that up with a rather innocent glance and fluttering of eyelashes. "As it is, the fruit was my doing, as non-deliberate as it was." She motions in his direction, "If you're going to loiter about in a bush unannounced then don't complain about random flying fruit." That is, at least her thoughts on the subject. "More inventories?" How many things do the weyrlings truly need? She'll eye R'ish, but then smiles, "Doing well, eating more than I can keep up with at times." Absently she'll wrap her arms about her chest in one of those defensive motions. "Thera, if you think they hurt /now/..." Just wait until feeding time. She'll still offer the newest weyrlingmaster a smile though, "It will ease off soon enough."

Let's get this straight: Madri's redfruit explodes on W'ren's head, Thera's boobs explode, then W'ren explodes none too reverently on she of the hormonal boobs, "You know what you did!" Three to one the score, and all full of those womanly niceties, it's not such a great thing to be he in this garden -- gotta love the timing, though. W'ren glares at Madri's eyelash fluttering. "Did you see me come into this garden? I say that means I /was/ here first." You know, it's almost as if W'ren were hormonal -- never mind that he spent the last 24 candlemarks, before he came into the garden to get it out of his system, in his weyr writhing in pain because he had no one to assuage him of the dragonlust of the previous night's gold flight. Fitting that he should come to Imo's garden to get it out. And that's when he notices Thera's new knot. Oh /joy/. "Sorry, Es," he offers begrudgingly, righting the hat on his head with a defiant glance at R'ish and Madri.

R'ish smirks again. "Just wait until they start getting /teeth/ in." R'ish says with a wrinkle of her nose. Though to W'ren she nods.. "Madri has a point.. Why... are you wearing that hat?" R'ish just listens to the Man, leaning back propping herself up on her hands.. she just.. looks at the man. "So?" She says to him being in the garden first.

Well it wasn't a walk in the park for her either, she had to sew up a dragon while R'ish got to go look at L'ton's loins. Talk about unfair! Thera narrows her eyes back at W'ren but the damage is done and she turns away from his pointed and crosses her arms over her stomach. R'ish and Madri don't help much either. Depressed and in need of sympathy, helloooo, anyone home! "Doesn't matter," is grumbled and then she'll remember manners and look at Madri, "congratulations on the babies. I'm glad they're all doing well." Or at least she hopes they are.

"/Ah/. So if you were here first, that means /you/ should have announced your presence first. How would I know you're here, scrunched down in a bush doing Faranth-knows-what to that poor bush." She waggles a finger at him, obviously in better spirits than the last time. "Really, behavior like that is almost... stalker-ish. Right R'ish, Thera?" She'll pull her two accomplices in with a wink, but focus her attention on Thera. "Thank-you and yes, they are doing rather well. All things considered."

"Because I was gardening, and this is my gardening outfit," the tourquois-hatted, tank top and shorts wearing bronzerider answers R'ish simply and without shame." Ah... /duh/. "I wasn't hiding. I was here first," he repeats for R'ish's benefit. "And I wasn't stalking. I didn't hear you come in. Gnaedath's been shardling singing some fool blues tune about a bronzerider getting stuff lobbed at him post flight sex all afternoon!" Over and over and over.... And don't ask him what that plant is, but here's a hint -- it made him rich when he first came to this weyr and hadn't yet impressed. W'ren blinks Madri-ward. He's being ganged up on! But then it dawns on him. "You had your babies, Mads?"  

"Very stalkerish.. actually." R'ish chimes in as she looks back to W'ren. Shaking her head. "And Madri yet again has a wonderful point. You should've made yourself known.. and you might've avoided the redfruit to the head." Then.. at his question.. she just stares at W'ren. "Where have /you/ been?" She just shakes her head.. glancing back at Thera.. He didn't /know/?

Eyeing W'ren with an incredulous blink as well, "Uhm, she's no longer the size of a cothold, that didn't clue you in?" Thera gives Madri a sort of an apologetic look 'sorry, but you were HUGE'. Never mind that her day is coming. Speaking of itches, she turns and looks at R'ish, "How was L'ton?"

Madri just blinks back at W'ren. "Umm... ... No, I just got tired of seeing my figure get worse out of shape?" She glances down at where - as Thera so delicately put it - the huge belly /used/ to be. "Right, so you were hiding from something." She clears her throat and just /grins/, not unlike a Cheshire cat. She'll nod to Thera understanding that apologetic look. If you thought she /looked/ that big, imagine how she felt! "Ah right... and whatever did happen to N'tan after I left? Earn any other bruising?"

Writhing in his weyr. We established this? But W'ren doesn't qualify R'ish's question with an answer, however. One doesn't share that one didn't get laid during a Gold flight (and one's /first/ flight at that) when one is impersonating a respectable bronzer. Which is quite hard in this crowd, W'ren might add. And /L'ton/ got some? "I wasn't looking at her fat belly!" The man counters Thera, but fails to think first. "Uh..." he pauses, looking at Madri, "not that you were fat... just pleasingly plump." He glances at R'ish, then back at Madri. "I mean... you were just the right big for someone with three people in her belly...er..." W'ren swallows and... just shuts up. Gulp.

R'ish found some later. She's not beyond interweyr booty calls. R'ish chuckles softly. "Yeah.. he got a little more bruising.. Not much though before he decided to leave." She answers Madri. "And L'ton turned out alright. I suggested he see the healers though." If he did or not.. R'ish doesn't know. Then... Then there is W'ren. "And.. just where /were/ you looking?" She asks the man, and those eyebrows arch up ever higher as he continues to shove his foot further in his mouth.

Actually no, L'ton may not be getting some for a very long time if what N'tan said was true. Thera continues to stare at W'ren, eyes narrowed, "Talked to your Dad lately?" She is the Hitler in this family relation thing and T'jano is her Eva Braun and she will keep poking at him until he clues in. Tossing her braid over her shoulder she turns away from the bronzerider and focuses back on R'ish and Madri. "Exactly what am I supposed to be doing anyways?"

Madri will echo R'ish. "Indeed. Just /where/ were you looking?" Inquiring minds would like to know! To the rest of his ill-placed comments her hazel gaze narrows just a hint, countered by the raised eyebrow. "Hmmm." R'ish draws her focus away with a nod, "I wish my punch had knocked some sense, if not manners into the man, but some just can't be helped. Right W'ren?" Ahem. "Doing? Oh /right/. Working with the youngest 'lings for now. Now heavy work, doing most of the theory and healing basic. Hadamarth, if he doesn't mind, might be used to coach the dragons in some of their flight patterns and betweening?"

"I was looking at Thera!" W'ren defends himself to R'ish, glancing at the pregnant woman whose knees are down, legs spread, slouching on that bench which seat is about eye level to him. And he points to her. Of course. For the sake of inquiring minds. "Yes," he answers Thera quickly, though the last time was before Teej got jailed the last time. And, by the way, turquoise and teal do not go with vibrant funny weed green, that which surrounds him and towers him sitting in that bush ---but it might if he gets himself any deeper in this jungle conundrum flock of womanspeakers.  But Madri's last comment takes his attention. "Sure, Es. I could always use another rider to help demonstrate those formations and betweening. You know how I trust the two of you as 'seconds."

R'ish just really tries to hide that smirk. "So.. you were looking at /Thera/ then?" She'll ask the man. Still chuckling softly.  She just... looks at W'ren as he looks at Thera and how she's sitting. "I seee." She clears her throat softly and reaches a hand up to scratch lightly at her forehead. Her eyes sliding back over to Thera for a brief look and finally to Madri. Heh.

Which further proves the man is an idiot in her view and Thera's eyebrow arches high, whether because he was looking at her - which is sort of sick really, considering who her weyrmate is - or the praise. "You're fibbing!" She shoots this back at him with a sigh of frustration. "Hadamarth's good," is all she'll say, honestly. She, however, sucks. There's a reason she got the perfect dragon - he completely counters the imperfections in his lifemate. Any other beast and they'd have been dead before their first turn - truly! Thera doesn't focus well, lately. "Betweening?" She sounds dubious as she looks between Madri and R'ish, just a little worried and more then a little discomforted because everyone's staring at her. "Whaaaat?" is wailed softly as large dark eyes blink, "Do I have something on my nose?"

"Thera and Hadamarth are your equals W'ren. Not seconds." Madri will correct with a minor note of irritation in her voice. "The only second of note in our group is R'ish, who replaces me when I am otherwise unavailable. Unless of course I ask one of you to step up and it could be anyone." She shrugs to that. Her intention is to train each and every one of her assistants up to the level where she'd feel comfortable leaving them to run the position on her own. But she really doesn't want to be on duty right now. Motherhood and all. "You all have outstanding qualifications, that's why I asked you to join," or in W'ren's case, "or stay on."

W'ren's mouth drops at R'ish's comment, and then he stammers to correct her assumption. "No, I wouldn't look at /her/ like that..." Quick as his thoughts, he glances at Thera, opens his mouth again wordless (mercies never come when you want them the most), until he manages to stammer out, "I mean, you're /beautiful/ Es and a /great/ rider and a shardling smart cookie, but you are my best frie..." He stops short of finishing the sentence, blanching visibly even for him, almond complexion and all. He takes a deep breath, totally confused now, and asks Madri point blank. "Did you or did you not tell me that I was in charge of the senior weyrlings and should continue running the leatherworking, formations and betweening lessons, Weyrlingmaster?"

R'ish shakes her head at Thera. "Nope.. nothing on your nose.. I promise." She says.. and spins around a bit to lean her back up against the seat of that bench.. and perhaps make W'ren's view a little more obstructed.  Buuuut.. speaking of Weyrlings. "I think we should perhaps take the older groups out for a practice thread drill, soon.. Tomorrow or the next day. They'll be flying it for real soon."

Thera just looks confused, thankfully, and stares at W'ren in consternation, though she'll blush quite profusely when he starts stammering. "Well..." and look down at R'ish, one eyebrow rising. Talk about confusing the heck out of the poor girl. "I only have a few more sevens where betweening is going to be safe." It's a nice safe topic betweening, dark, cold, can she go there now? Blush.

Madri responds pleasant, "I told you to continue on with your duties, /yes/. I did NOT however, indicate that you were to outrank any of your other assistant weyrlingmasters. If I assign someone else to assist, they are equal to the task." Really, this is something she should not need discussing. So a sigh follows. "Thera, I'll have you be working with R'ish a little more doing some of the reporting side, but if you can ask Hadamarth to work with the dragons that would be appreciated too." She motions to R'ish, "Show her some of the reports you've been doing? They're excellent by the way." Just too much. /Way/ too much.

R'ish nods to Madri. "Aye. I'll do that." R'ish is... a good record keeper.. she just.. keeps records on everything. Everything. R'ish looks to W'ren. "I wasn't trying to take over your job, W'ren. I was just suggesting that we start running the senior weyrlings on thread drills." Or if they already have been.. to run another one soon. Though she tilts her head back up to look at Thera. "yeah.. but, there are other things than just Betweening, and that won't stop you from working with them on the theory of it, without having to go between yourself."

Thera looks down at R'ish and nods. She finds herself focusing on the woman's lips, eyes glazing over for a moment. Stoopid hormones. "Uhm.... okay. I've got a good memory and can teach them from that." That part is true, though lately it's been a distracted memory. They're very nice lips. Thera blinks, "I don't have my dragonhealing knot yet, but I know some stuff." They kind of curve up a bit in a natural smirk. "T'jano's better though, way better than I am." Very pink.

R'ish lets her head rest back on the seat of the bench looking up at the woman. Her eyebrows knit slightly at the glazed look from Thera. R'ish can't help but smirk softly, though. She nods. "Right, there's alot of things you can teach by lecture before someone actually does a practical exercise." R'ish re-states. "You don't need a dragonhealer's knot to teach the basics that everyone should know. And you can work with them on the parts of their dragons. Because.. that's something they'll need to know."

"Uh huh," Thera says, not really listening to the pep talk. They look soft... "I'm trying to remember what we were taught. Nigo did give me booze, said it would help." This might explain some things. And plump. She leans down a little further, entranced. This is going to be blamed on 'the creature' since T'jano has not come near her in MONTHS. Her own mouth opens a little and she licks her lips before biting the bottom one... closer.

R'ish has stopped talking by now... Though she keeps her head right where it is... maybe lifting it up just a little... Just a little. Though one eyebrow hikes up as Thera gets closer. "Said booze might help what?" R'ish asks.. though her voice is much softer now... you know.. considering that Thera's much closer than she was now.

"I forget," she doesn't, is lying through her teeth, but doesn't want to talk about that right now. Thera's as bent as she can be given the protrusion and her breath is soft and just a little hesitant. Dark eyes with their myrtle flecks continue to be entranced by R'ish's lips, fluttering half lidded as her head shifts position. She watches them speak, mesmerized and her own mouth drops open when she's just mere inches away.

Screw it. R'ish smirks softly and lifts her head up just a little more... scooting slightly to make it more comfortable. Now their lips are.. quite close, though R'ish didn't close the distance entirely. "Forgot what the booze would help you with?" R'ish asks softly, and with how close they are, the breath from her words might tickle. She watches Thera intently though, it's hard not to when they're this close. "You okay?" Smirk.

Thera hates it when R'ish smirks and hates that it turns her on too. Hates it! Well maybe not really hates it. A little bit. Tiny. Infinitesimal. She blinks for a moment and when R'ish asks her that question she is pulled out of her reverie (daze, hypnotic state, mind control, overwhelming lust - whatever). Pulling back she blushes brightly and clears her throat, "Ahhemmm, Yes, I'm sorry." She will look wildly around and focus on W'ren, poor W'ren. He's not picking his nose is he? No of course not. She twiddles her fingers on her stomach, "Soooo, numbweed harvesting should be happening soon." Blink blink.

R'ish just lets out a low soft laugh. Wearing a very amused smirk. She sits up a bit turning her head to look at Thera and tilting it slightly. "Don't be sorry." She says in that laughing tone. Pause. "Yeahh.. The lovely smell of numbweed." R'ish wrinkles her nose up. "Can't wait." Ugh.

Thera is still blushing and nods distractedly at R'ish, "I should go.. uhm, er... scratch my dragon." And up and off she is waddling as fast as her long legs can allow, which is actually pretty darn fast. This is going to get sooo complicated.

R'ish just... snerks as poor Thera suddenly has to go and waddles away.. Though, R'ish herself gets up. Glancing between Madri and W'ren she gives a little shrug. "Actually.. I've got a meeting with someone.. I'll talk to you all later." And she'll head out, Passing Thera. Though she will offer the woman a little wave as she passes.