Opportunities

Western Weyr - Rooftop Herb Garden

Soft grasses form a lawn central to this open air garden, producing a pleasant picnic space. Surrounding this greenery is a sanded and bordered path that wends around it and continues toward the front of the roof, where the pleasant aromas of cultivated herbs waft on the breeze. Rock gardens and low-hanging tropical trees form shelter from the elements, combined with an overhanging jut of the caldera wall, underneath which benches and sun chairs have been arrayed, rather like a natural gazebo.

The vast majority of residents bustle back and forth on their many errands, keeping Western Weyr running smoothly. Children released from lessons scamper across the bowl while weyrlings bathe by the lagoon and practice. Delivery wings can be seen coming and going all day long overhead.Winter has descended once again upon the Western island, though those from the north would never be able to tell it, but the short days and the cooler nights are painfully obvious to those born here.


Free day! Yay. What is Kiley doing with hers? Well, she is settled up in the garden again without her ever present laptop. A book is settled in her hands as she leans back on the bench she sits upon. It is a relatively quiet evening with most of the garden work done with for the day, most of the people that linger in the garden have various reasons, one of many being leisure. There is certainly no lack of people, but the sounds of nature and soft talking are the primary sounds that are filling the garden.

Oh, look at this: there's someone in the garden already. Crimeny. Draval, however, swallows his disappointment and clambers into the garden anyway. Plopping himself down with his faithful, dog-eared sketchpad, he starts drawing. Random flowers, and other unusual things; most of which really amount to nothing.

It is the movement of another that draws Kiley away from her book, brows lifting as she curiously looks towards the other. The sketchpad is taken into account and then she's shifting partially on the bench to get a better look at Draval. "Hello." It is a simple greeting. Her gaze shifts and a bookmark is taken and slipped between the pages so that she may pay full attention to the other candidate she just extended greetings towards.

Draval glances up from his sketching, cocking his head to one side to consider Kiley carefully. "Hi." He greets cautiously, holding his pad protectively against his chest. "What, you hiding from all the chores?" He asks, leaning forward to watch Kiley carefully. Apparently, he's assumed she's got some to hide from.

"I'm Kiley." She offers, before there's a shake of her head in response for his question. "No. I have a free day. I decided that I would use it for reading rather than worrying about craft duties, seeing as I do them on chore days normally." Kiley tilts a look towards him, brows lifting curiously. "Are you?" Her gaze doesn't linger on him, however, as she leans back in her seat to consider the sky and the surroundings of the garden. "If you're skipping, I'm not going to get on you about it. You are free to make your own choices."

"I'm Draval." He sets the book aside, assured that Kiley doesn't seem interested in it. Tousling his hair absently, he heaves a shrug and glances down at his dirt-lined nails before regarding Kiley curiously. "No, I just got done with all of mine. I was just curious. My ma tells me I'm nosy, though." He grins cheekily, all too impudent of such an attitude.

"Well met, Draval." Kiley looks to him once more for this, smiling pleasantly and focusing all of her attention on him. "That is great. I find the chores to be an interesting fill of time." Her brows lift a fraction before her grin grows wider and she shakes her head. "Curiosity is never a bad thing. It gives answers, makes you seek new questions, and them you seek more answers. You can solve many things by simply being curious about what surrounds you, or being curious about a subject. I am always curious about things, and learning new things is exciting."

Huh. Whaddya know, someone who agrees with him. Draval relaxes quite a bit at that, kicking his legs out before him and grinning with boyish glee. "Well, I kinda like 'em, too. Just sometimes a man — " What, where? He pokes his thumb into his skinny chest for emphasis. "— likes to relax, and stuff. I do like the computer chores, though. All thast stuff you can build."

"A lot of people say are boring or pointless or that they would rather not learn something new. Even by cleaning you can learn something about something or another." Kiley insists. The notable excitement of the other brings out a bright smile on the computer crafter's lips. "Relaxing has its time. Just like everything else." Then, there's a notable lowering of her brows as her eyes focus on him. "You like computers…? And yet you're not a computer crafter? Or do you simply like technology?"

Draval laughs at her. "Well, cleaning ain't for everyone, you know. I don't like it. I get /why/ it's needed, but I don't enjoy it." Draval explains, leaning forward intently and illustrating his point with a jab outward of graphite stick. "Yah, I like learnin', though. Keeps the mind healthy." Browws raise, all too innocently. "I like technology. Dunno that I'm ready to go apprenticing yet, though."

"Certainly, but you can hear interesting things as you clean." Kiley points out simply, grinning as well as she leans forward to rest her elbows on her knees. "See, not everyone understands that learning is a great thing. Keeps your mind healthy and keeps you active and is always helpful." The computer craft considers him a little longer, "apprenticing allows you to learn all parts of a craft. I'm a journeyman computer crafter."

"Now that is something I never considered." Draval drawls gleefully. "I want to know everything." Curling his feet under his bum, he taps his chin thoughtfully, eyeing Kiley. "You are?"

Kiley laughs at his gleeful statement, "of course. People are always talking and chatting. About all sorts of things. And you'll be quickly on the path to knowing everything." Pause, "Landing is a good place to go as well. They have so much information there, as well as Harper Hall." Her gaze focuses entirely upon him. "Yes. I have my laptop in the barracks."

"Can I… see it?" Draval is all hushed reverence, the potential for information gathering forgotten in the hazy-eyed lust to touch the technology. "I mean, a laptop. I want one."

Kiley laughs at his reaction, "yes. Of course, I'd be happy to show you." The computer crafter grins a little wider. "Journeymen get laptops of their own depending on what they specialize in. Or, you could build one yourself. Or, with what you make as a journeyman you can purchase one." She considers him with a careful look, "how about this: After the Hatching, if neither of us Impress, I will see about getting you into the Craft and I will mentor you?"

Oh, but there is so much glee happening here. Did the world just open up a pot of gold? "/Would/ I!" He leaps up, dancing a little jig of pure happiness. "I'd /kiss/ you if I could."

Kiley's laughter grows louder and far more delighted as he jumps up and dances his jig. "That is not against the rules." Pause, "but please don't. Thank you would be a sufficient response. Or, simply keeping your enthusiasm for learning and knowledge. There is a lot that we can do for you, after. But for now? We should focus on the unknown variable ahead of us."

Oh, darn. "Aww. And I was just gonna show you my /skills/." Draval laughs at her, but settles down. "Thank you." Oh, yeah, the uncertain goal ahead, "S'pose we should concentrate, and whatnot. So weird, thinking about a dragon, and whatnot. It isn't real yet."

Kiley lifts a brow and gives a very slight shake of her head. "That is alright, if you insist you have skills, then I will be content to know that." The computer crafter leans back into her seat and folds her hands upon her lap. "You're welcome." A pleasant smile and she tilts her head back to consider the sky. "It is real, it just isn't ready to Hatch yet. We'll be touching the eggs and learning about them soon enough."

Draval nods in agreement. Oh yes, his skills are never to be questioned. "But the whole thing… I don't know. Don't really think about it, you know."

Kiley chuckles softly, "the whole thing… Yeah. It is really hard to grasp." Her gaze shifts to settle upon him and she offers a smile, "just take some time to speak with the riders? See about things that you don't understand? You learn a lot from speaking with them, and asking questions. You just have to ask what is on your mind." Fingers tap carefully along the book before she hums in consideration. "It is something you have to seek on your own, really."

Now cross-legged on th ground again, Draval sets an elbow on his knee, cupping chin in hand. "Yeah, maybe. Maybe not. It's all kind of a grand lark right now. But I do know how it's gonna be a whole new ballgame should I get myself attached to a dragon. They're ruddy /different/."

It is all unknown, yes. That makes it the variable. But the variable can never be ignored. Kiley gives him a serious look, fingers lacing together on the book. That is why you need to ask questions, so you know what you're getting into. You won't know if you don't speak to people who have experience. Her gaze drops to her hands and focuses there, I didn't understand when I first agreed. Then, everything made sense after the questions.

"It is all unknown, yes. That makes it the variable. But the variable can never be ignored." Kiley gives him a serious look, fingers lacing together on the book. "That is why you need to ask questions, so you know what you're getting into. You won't know if you don't speak to people who have experience." Her gaze drops to her hands and focuses there, "I didn't understand when I first agreed. Then, everything made sense after the questions. But even then? Touching them changes things, too."

"Not because I was bored." Kiley considers him with a lift of her brows, "but because I was Searched in Xanadu Weyr and was left on the Sands. Everyone Impressed around me, and it was… Amazing and frightening. It was a little upsetting to be left behind, but, it was an interesting experience." Fingers tighten and she murmurs, "it is really something else. I can't really… Explain it other that I came back for the things I learned."

"Oh. Suppose that's as good as a reason as any." Draval acknowledges. "So… was it really crazy? I do wonder what it's like to have a dragon, and stuff. Maybe I will ask."

"Just… See what you find? See what it has to offer." Kiley considers and then nods, "it was rather crazy. It went so fast. Especially the final ones and then there was nothing." She slowly pushes up to her feet and beams a smile, "the best thing you can do is ask and try to understand." Her head inclines partially in a sort of farewell. "I'll show you the laptop a bit before bed." And with that, she starts back down into the Weyr.

Draval nods thoughtfully, watching her go, then returning to his drawing in a much more thoughtful frame of mine.

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