Rest Day Activities (Nisha and M'ren)

[effluo]

G’eph walked into the Weyrling’s common room with an easy stride. Today had been proclaimed a rest day, so besides the bare minimum of lower cavern people it took to make the food everyone was busying being as unproductive as possible. The sailor was wonderful at it. After laying with his dragon in the sun for the first few hours of the morning, he finally decided to have a bite to eat, but first he had needed a shirt.

It was only moments after pulling the white tank top over his chest that G’eph took a moment to see who was in the common room. A few of the youngest class were about, but it was the curly hair of a greenrider that caught his attention. A greenrider from his own class.

Well, well. I think it’s going to be a very good day today.
You are in a good mood, I think that alone makes it a good day.

“Well, well. Relaxing inside today?” He said, leaning over the back of the couch she was sitting on to smile down at Nisha. “Mind if I join you?” A sparkle lit his eyes as he moved around the couch, not waiting for an answer.

At about the same time, a tall blonde entered the room through the outer door. Full length skirt swished around her ankles as she stopped just inside the room to look this way and that, obviously searching. Hair done up with sticks and a nice blouse on, she looked like she could have come from one of the wealthier families. Out of place in her appearance, however, was the large wooden bucket held against her chest with her thin arms wrapped around it.

[thedreamerlady]

M'ren had slept in. Few people in the Weyr and none out of it would understand how implausible that statement was for M'ren. He didn't sleep in. He went to sleep in the wee hours of the morning and was back away at the crack of dawn. But not this morning. And while he suspected drugs, or the influence of his dragon(probably both), there was nothing he could do about the time he'd spend abed, and thus he was not berating himself(too much) about sleeping in.

Instead he was chewing on a roll he'd filched from the kitchens, not thinking about how late in the morning it was, and pondering what to do with the rest of the day. He had a feeling that if he even tried to reach his office, one of the well meaning, but meddling Cavern's women would have barricaded it closed. And he didn't want to put up with a lecture about taking time off. So he was at loose ends. Maybe he could go check his harness?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nisha was excited about her rest day. She was going to see her son, the rest of her family, work on bonding with Barsamith more(she had gotten so much better as of late), and she wasn't going to suffer from any of the bad side effects. Because she was going to stay linked with Barsamith the entire day. Though she had yet to figure out why, having 'Samith's thoughts in her head muted the lustful impulses she'd been experiencing most of her life, and that had continued once she'd stopped breast-feeding.

She was excited about her entire day until a slight pall was cast upon it.

G'eph, the man she'd been avoiding, had popped out of no where, and was about to sit on the couch next to her. Sure, she should have been out of the Weyrling Barracks but she needed to be sitting to reach 'Samith to start the link, and then she would have been on her way. Her first though was to tell G'eph to leave her alone, or react with some rudeness. However, Nisha had been too well trained to be polite. So she used that instead.

"Oh, that's fine, I'll be leaving in a moment anyway." Then she closed her eyes, and tried to quickly make her link with 'Samith.

[effluo]

G’eph couldn’t help it as he hesitated halfway through sitting down. It was pretty clear that wasn’t the answer he had been hoping for. Finally letting himself finish sitting the rest of the way, he watched her close her eyes for a moment as he tried to decide himself if it would be worth the attempt or not.

He decided it would be worth it.

“Where are you going? Perhaps you would like some company?” His voice was different this time, not quite as confident. Shards and Shells, why does she make me feel this way?

~~~

Eisu let out a small sigh as she decided the man she was searching for was not in the room. Regripping the wooden bucket in her arms, she decided to look for someone she could ask. Many of those in the room looked younger than her and she guessed they must belong to one of the younger weyrling classes.

Two on a couch together, however, looked a bit older and the healer decided they would be the best to ask. Moving forward, she came to stand near them before letting out a light ‘ahem’ to get their attention.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could help me find someone.” She stood there, a little nervous despite her unusually high rank for a woman.

[thedreamerlady]

G'eph's slightly diffident voice got to Nisha a lot more than his cocky, overbearing side did. However, it wasn't like she hadn't met men who changed the way they acted to get with someone. And she didn't want be in a relationship with a man like G'eph, no matter how attractive his body was. She was having enough trouble with having a relationship with 'Samith. Who had obligingly hooked into her mind, so she could open her eyes, and actually talk to the brownrider who continued to sit next to her.

"Today." She said slowly, a gleam shining in her brown eyes that did not bode well for complete honesty. "I'm going to see my son, and his father." G'eph was not Weyrbred, and would hopefully have no idea that her son's father was her Uncle's Weyrmate, and assume that she was already in some sort of relationship. Besides, it was often said that Holdbred were more uptight about children. Nisha reached up and tugged a curl, wondering why she suddenly felt tense, and why she was wondering how he would respond. Letting go of her curl, and forcibly relaxing herself, she dropped her hands down into her lap, gazing at the contrast of her dark brown simple dress, and her tanned hands.

Then a girl who looked remarkably like Elra had walked over to them, and asked for their help. She wasn't Elra, but they looked identical. Nisha stared at her, without any modesty in her gaze.

"Who are you looking for?"

[effluo]

G’eph was surprised that he had to be reminded that she had a son, it was amazing how easy it was to forget such things within the Weyr. Watching her tug one of her curls, he found his own fingers itching to reach up and play with her brunette hair. His attention would not have been pulled away from the rider beside him if it were not for her own attention turning from her hands toward the stranger.

Looking up, he found himself looking at the same girl he had watched talking to Nisha before in the Weyrhall. A smirk crossed his face. Well if he couldn’t talk Nisha into something more exciting than a child today, perhaps this woman could help. Leaning back, he put his arm around the back of the couch and grinned, looking the blonde up and down.

~~~

Eisu almost took a step back as both of the riders openly looked at her. Putting every fiber of herself into standing there and not taking her leave immediately, she looked down and found her face warming drastically. Had it been something she said? Hearing the woman’s words, however, were encouragement and so the Healer raised her head again and found her voice to answer, pointedly not making eye contact with the darkly tanned man.

“M’ren. Weyrling Master M’ren, I mean. I have a favor to ask of him.” As she continued, she felt a little more confident and lifted her chin a little more. “Do you know where he is? Or perhaps you could spare a moment to help me find him?”

~~~

G’eph noticed the blush and sudden withdrawl of the woman and his mouth dropped open. Glancing at Nisha, then back at the girl, he could have sworn it had been the same girl he had seen shamelessly flirting in the Weyr Hall a number of times. Why would she be so… so… shy now?

[thedreamerlady]

Nisha felt vindicated. This certainly wasn't Elra. The dress was wrong, the facial expression wrong, the searching for M'ren of all people, and her shyness. Besides, Elra would have recognized Nisha, of that she was certain. And since she didn't, she was someone else. But if she was looking for M'ren-

Nisha questioned 'Samith, who in turn asked Thoth, who replied, and then Nisha stood up(thankful for an excuse to get up, she didn't like G'eph too close), and glanced around saying distractedly;

"'Samith says that Thoth says that he's in here." And her large brown eyes alighted on the short, older man. And with a gesture that was more something Barsamith would do, than Nisha, she waved at her Weyrling Master, and called to him from across the room. M'ren was hidden away in a stuffed chair, that was easily over looked.

"Hey, M'ren, there's a Lady here to talk to you." Nisha hadn't seen any shoulder knots on the girl, so 'Lady' was as safe a title as any.

~~~~~

M'ren was jerked out of his reverie by a shout from one of his students. He'd been sitting for a few minutes, completely zoned out, having finished his breakfast. He glanced over, seeing Nisha and Eisu. With a wide grin, M'ren stood, and strode over.

"Eisu! What brings you here?" He asked, feeling glad that he'd shaved this morning, and that he'd put on clothing that wasn't completely worn out; instead it was merely a little tattered on the edges. Well worn brown leather pants, and a slightly faded blue shirt.

He glanced at Eisu's bucket with interest, and a touch of bewilderment.

[effluo]

G’eph gave Nisha’s back side a frown as she so quickly stood up. Well there goes any hope for plans. The familiar-stranger just didn’t seem to fit who he had thought she was so he found his attentions back on Nisha while half listening to their weyrling master as he greeted the other woman.

~~~

Eisu noticed where M’ren had been sitting and reprimanded herself for missing him. Even so, she let out a sigh as he strode forward, the tension leaving her. Someone she knew. She even felt a smile tug at her lips in response to his own.

“I have a favor to ask, if it won’t be too much.” Noticing the glance at her bucket, she seemed to suddenly remember she was carrying it and adjusted its weight in her arms, her face warming just enough for her to notice its feel once again.

“See, it’s the time of year that Mullein is in season. We have plenty dried in the stores room, but I would like to gather some…” Holding the bucket out to him as if to show she had come prepared, she continued. “And try to pot it. If I could keep a fresh supply in my pot garden, we could have fresh Mullein in the winter and it is much more potent when it’s fresh.”

As if sudden realization that the other two might be listening, she looked back at them with a meek smile. “Its oil is great for hard, dry coughs as well as the breathing disease.”

Turning back to M’ren, it dawned on Eisu that she had a knack for making a short answer into a speech and looked down, blushing yet again. “And well… I was wondering if you would be willing to take me down to the base of the mountain where I was told it could be found every year… it is too far to walk…”

[thedreamerlady]

Nisha wasn't sure if she should have left when M'ren had arrived. It dawned on her, even as the woman was speaking that if M'ren was trying to work out a rendezvous with his Ladylove, it was unpardonable for her to be listening in. Potting a plant: that was certainly a new line. Gathering flowers was the excuse she usually use- err, that other woman used to get their lovers to take them flying.

Not that it was any of her business. She colored, and looked down, her unusual brashness fading away into nothingness. Then realizing she'd have to excuse herself from the conversation to leave, or else sit back down, Nisha froze. And tugged at a curl of hair.

~~~~~~~~

M'ren's first thought was that the Lower Cavern women had put Eisu up to this. He didn't think that the lovely lady Healer would have sought out the Weyrling Master to go searching for plants without a little outside prodding.

Then he realized that she probably would, considering how she felt about the average dragon. At least she knew Thoth, had helped clean him, and was fair certain that he wouldn't eat her. That almost tore a chuckle from his throat, but considering how that would look, he didn't allow himself too.

"It would be a pleasure, Eisu. It will be a lovely day for flying." And it would be flying, M'ren told himself. Eisu would need a little more flying before Betweening was attempted. "Do you need just me, or would more company be advised?"

[effluo]

As Eisu had been looking down, she missed the change in reaction by M’ren. His words, however, made her feel better about her long explanation and she looked back up with a small smile. She was not going to admit it, but it had taken her several days to decide to ask M’ren to take her flying… and another two to find the courage to do it.

At the mention of others, she took a moment to answer. She had not considered taking more, as Thoth was only one dragon.

“Well,” she said thoughtfully, “I’m not entirely sure how easy it will be to spot the Mullein from Thoth… And extra people would make it easier to find it on foot I think.” After a moment she smiled and her answer was more solid, “Yes, an extra person or two would be great, we could get more than just a plant or two as well, because we can bring an extra bucket.”

Smiling, she ended the decision with a nod to M’ren.

~~~

Ideas had run through his head as soon as M’ren had mentioned company. Sure, G’eph didn’t know shards about plants, finding them or bringing them back, but any excuse to fly was right up his corridor. Not to mention he did not think that Nisha would turn down their superior… and thus G’eph could keep her from wandering off to her kid, at least for a short time longer.

Jumping at the chance as soon as Eisu was done talking – for she seemed to take her time at it – he stood up and smiled down at her and M’ren. Tossing an arm around Nisha to make sure she didn’t slink off too fast, he couldn’t help but have that sparkle back in his eyes.

“Of course we’ll help you two. It would give Nisha and I practice flying sweeps. Not to mention we will be able to make sure you behave yourself with your lady, M’ren.” He said, mistaking the woman – who he was sure was not the same one from the Weyr Hall, though how he had no idea – to be a sweetheart of M’ren’s from the way the two acted.

Care to go flying?
Sounds like good fun.
It does, doesn’t it? Yes, I think today will be a great day for it.

[thedreamerlady]

M'ren listened carefully to Eisu. He, himself, had never gathered Mullein before, and was unsure of where it grew. Or even what it looked like. If it was a large bush, that grew with mostly it's own kind, it would be easy to spot, but not easy to trim back enough to put into a pot. And if it was small, and grew under trees, he'd rather they had a whole host of people, but Eisu was shy, and probably wouldn't appreciate that.

Then, G'eph, the brownrider offered his and Nisha's time. As it looked like the two had been planning on spending the day together anyway, M'ren didn't question his good fortune of not having to spend twenty or thirty minutes trying to hunt someone down, and made a note to mention nice things about G'eph in his Wingleader reports.

"That would be helpful, G'eph." M'ren's tone was warm, and unquestioning. "Thank you, Nisha." Then he shot both of the Weyrlings a narrow, displeased look.

"And Eisu is her own lady, and a Journeyman Healer." His look said plainly that neither of them should make that mistake again. It wasn't like either he or Eisu was really looking for a mate, not that she wasn't a lovely lady to be around. But that wasn't the point.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

If Nisha had had a dagger, it would have currently been resting in G'eph's side. His sudden arm over the shoulder had freaked her out. Her family was not one, no matter how close it was, to touch. Personal space was respected, and if they did touch each other, it was generally something both were expecting; a hug, a pat on the hand. And while she's tried to shrug off his arm, she didn't seem to have succeeded, and now he'd gone and volunteered their day to spend trying M'ren and his lady.

Nisha send the brownrider and outraged glare, that changed into an embarrassed flush when M'ren stated that he and the woman were not lovers. Well, at least it was out in the open. Now if she could find a way to gracefully bow out, G'eph would be stuck going, and she could go see Nishor. The dark glare aimed at G'eph returned, realizing that there was no graceful way out, not since M'ren had welcomed their help. Stupid prat of a Brownrider. A smile slowly formed on her lips. Oh, she would find a way to make the Brownrider pay. Selfish jerk.

(Eisu and G'eph's reactions, and then fade time to them already searching?)

[effluo]

Eisu’s face had turned a bright read as her eyes opened wide at G’eph’s statement after offering to help. Looking down into her bucket, she was too flushed to let herself make eye contact with any of the three. She was thankful that M’ren handled it well.

G’eph’s eyes widened similarly, though he doubted he’d have been able to open them to the same extent the woman had even if he wanted to. Even so, he put on an akward smile and ran his hand over his head as if he had enough hair for it to matter.

“Ah sorry M’ren. Wrong assumption.” Despite his mistake and the feel of Nisha attempting to shrug off his arm, G’eph was not put out. This was defiantly going to be fun. “I’ll go get Vanarth’s riding straps ready.” With a grin and a wink to Nisha, he left to get ready.

~~~
Time Passes
~~~


The flight was not a long one and Eisu thanked the heavens for its uneventful passing. It had taken her a moment to accept M’ren’s help onto Thoth, but the wonderful brown had lain perfect still for her. Once she had been strapped in and they had been gliding downward for a while, she had actually gotten the courage to look around a bit. It was a much more enjoyable experience than she had anticipated and she had thanked Thoth once they had landed.

After explaining to the three that the Mullein she was looking for was knee height with a column of yellow flowers, they set off. She had brought two buckets now that she had extra people and had asked for three plants in each bucket, being careful not to bruise the plants too badly. She would worry about replanting them on her own time when they got back.

The field they were now searching in was a large one and the grass came up to her waist, which made spotting the plants a little more difficult. Even so, she had thought she seen the specs of yellow within the field and hoped they had, in fact, been Mullein. Holding her long skirts in one hand so that the hem was a little farther off the ground, she picked her way through the tall grasses searching.

~~~

G’eph had not complained when the healer took charge, mostly because the woman had taken one bucket for her and M’ren while handing the other one to him and Nisha to find three plants for. Finding himself stuck carrying the bucket didn’t bother him either, as he made his way through the grass tossing glances back to Nisha.

[thedreamerlady]

Nisha had changed into riding leathers, so at least she had some advantage over Eisu. When it came to walking, at least. Eisu at least had someone pleasant to talk too. Well, Nisha did too, but Barsamith was still upset about losing precious sunning/flirting time so that Nisha could go look for plants. And thus, trailing behind G'eph, Nisha looked in vain for a tall, flowering plant. At least she didn't have the carry the bucket along.

Trailing along after G'eph, Nisha peered around into the wilds. There were trees, something not seen in the Weyr, and walking on the dirt was very different from walking on the stone, or sand of the Weyr. And thus, the Weyrbred Greenrider was unprepared for the sudden divot in the grass, which sent her sprawling onto the ground, and send her off into a quiet tirade, meant for G'eph's ears only.

"I could be spending time with my child." She muttered, pushing herself off the ground, and moving off into a path that diverged slightly from M'ren and Eisu's. "I could be spending time with friendly people, and relaxing, but instead I'm trudging through the muck with you."

Sass? Definitely.

~~~~~~~~~~~

M'ren, on the other hand, was having the time of his life. He honestly liked Eisu, and enjoyed the fact that she was an intelligent, level headed woman. If only she wasn't afraid of dragons; then she would be as near to perfect as he could stand. Perfect for what, M'ren didn't know, or wouldn't admit to even himself.

"So, how has your potted garden been doing?" He asked, actually interested. If it worked well, mayhaps he could grow his own. Not of medicinal supplies, but perhaps pungent herbs to keep his weyr from smelling of musty hide, or sweaty leather.

[effluo]

G’eph had stopped his search and turned back when Nisha fell. Just as it had dawned on him to offer a helping hand, he heard her mutter and decided to keep it back just in case she decided to bite too. He was not yet put out, but he was beginning to be. He had thought being out in the sunshine would be much better than cooped up in the Weyrling Barracks or the Lower Caverns, but apparently he had been wrong. Oh well, he could still try to cheer her up and hopeful make this not such a bad thing.

“First off, I wouldn’t call this muck.” He said, moving to follow her as she was clearly taking charge of their path – not to mention he’d rather her not wander away from him again. “I’d call it more of a mess, but at least it’s in the sunshine.”

Moving around one of the few bushes actually going in the field, he added in a bit quieter of a tone as M’ren and the Healer moved out of sight. “Second, I do recall you enjoying the last time I was allowed in your company.”

Of course, G’eph was not referring to the weyrling training they were both required to attend, but the flight that Vanarth had caught her green in. Every attempt he had made to get with her away from classes since then had been thwarted one way or another. For example, in the Weyr Hall when the green rider had left with a Healer look-alike. That, he had defiantly not been expecting.

~~~

Eisu smiled at M’ren as he asked about her potted garden. Covering her eyes from the sun, she sent her gaze back ahead of them keeping her eyes open for her Mullein.

“It’s going well. I’ve run into some interesting things though. My first plant I started in there was a variety of mint leaves. I chose them because they are a small plant, but would still be very useful should it work.”

Pushing aside another portion of grass, the healer couldn’t help but smile as the yellow flowered column stood nestled into the grass. “I found one!” she said happily. Wrapping her skirts around her, she moved down to her knees carefully after beckoning M’ren over.

“The mint took well, I had started three pots just in case, and I found that they do well, especially if I move them outside on the nice days. They are not growing as quickly as they do in an outdoor garden, but I am still hopeful. It makes me wonder if a plant you start from seeds instead of shoots will do better.”

[thedreamerlady]

"And it would have continued being enjoyable if you hadn't sauntered off!" Nisha replied explosively, revealing what was probably the closest thing she had to a reason for disliking G'eph(not that she really did). It had been, in many ways, a blow to a fairly fragile ego, and Nisha hadn't taken to it kindly. And it also said something that the first thing she thought of was her first Flight when it came to thinking of times they'd had fun together.

"And then, you wouldn't leave me along." That was what was confusing Nisha the most. He hadn't wanted her, and then he was always around. And now she was in the wilderness(in her mind at least), looking for plants. Which, from the way M'ren and Eisu looked, had been spotting. Hurrying her pace, she went to go help them.

~~~~~~~~~~

M'ren smiled. "Does the mint help your rooms smell better? And I don't know how the plants would react if you started them off in the pots. You'd have to plant and see."

And then he went down on his knees to help Eisu get her newest plant. Digging into the soil with both hands and dagger that was mostly for decoration, he guessed it wouldn't take to long, especially if he loosened the dirt with a bit of water.

"Did anyone remember to bring water?" He called, still working at the soil.