Come and get it while it's hot (open)

[dotta]

Cooking pots and utensils clattered and banged in an array of musical disharmony. The fire crackled fiercely as more wood was applied, and the sound of sloshing water was clearly heard as workers frantically cleaned dishes.

The time had come for the starved to be fed. Already, the sound of their approach was apparent. Booted feet echoed in the halls with each step, while the sound of light chatter increased.

The cook circled her domain, instructing her pawns when necessary. Usually, words weren't even necessary. A scowl was enough for a lazy worker to chop vegetables faster.

But what was Talo's task in all this? Well, actually she was tasked with a little but of everything at times. However, her current task was setting the food filled plates in their appointed area to be taken up by the hungry. She was also the one to refill an empty cup; not the most fulfilling task, but that gave Talo the opportunity to hear chatter folks' stories and she was always fond of that.

[ShadowReine]

The faint rumbling that mingled with the rest of the sounds in the kitchen area was the wheels of a hand cart. Resting on the cart was a barrel, maneuvering through the confusion.

Pushing the barrel was vintner journeywoman Kimara. "Hey. I need to get this to the wine cellar."

That was to Talo, who had managed to be a little in the way as she returned after setting down some plates. Kimara found the boy a little...odd. Not because he was so small, there was just something of about him.

However, she couldn't at all, remotely, put her finger on it. "Sorry...." The barrel had a Tillek seal on it, so it was probably white wine, that had to be got chill as quickly as possible.

[dotta]

After setting down another plate, Talo rose to her full height and wiped her hands against her linen shirt. Then realizing her mistake, she looked down for any stains she left on her shirt. There was none, so all was still well.

Talo didn't hear the cart approaching though, and was surprised when she was addressed. Her head snapped toward the voice only to relax when the stranger was revealed. This stranger was a tall beauty, and Talo had to look up to see her eyes. However, it wasn't her eyes that Talo took notice to first; it was her rank. On her shoulder was shoulder knot, signifying her position within the Weyr: a vintner and a journeywoman at that.

With the clicking of her sandled feet, Talo's hand flew to her head in a salute. Her face was stern and she spoke,

"Tairik, at your service, ma'am!"

The antic was short lived, however, and Talo flashed the woman a smile.

"You must be awfully busy, journeywoman. Allow me to take that in your place." She still offered.

[ShadowReine]

Kimara smiled. "I'd appreciate that, Candidate. It goes on the right hand side of the one with the same seal."

Tairik. She made a mental note of the name. "But there's no need to salute me...or is there? I know riders get saluted sometimes, but I'm not a rider."

Thank Faranth, she had thought fairly often since coming to the Weyr. She saw how hard the dragonriders worked and wanted none of it. Anyone who said they were lazy needed to come spend a day here.

Or just watch the Weyrwoman bathing her gold, a task Kimara had seen her do alone. That was one huge...dragons were more than mere 'animals', but...

Lyeth was intimidatingly large, and Kimara gave her a pretty wide berth.

[dotta]

Talo shook her head with a smile. Her a candidate? Did she really give off such an aura? The girl found this a little amusing. After all, she was nothing more than a kitchen worker. But it would be best to be honest with the woman. It was a great offense to not do otherwise. Taking hold of the cart's handle, she explained to the woman,

"No, I'm honored that you think so, but I'm no candidate."

She took the moment to wheel the cart to its designated area then returned to the journeywoman.

Though you're no rider being a journeywoman is still a privilege. Not everyone is suitable for such a position."

[ShadowReine]

Kimara shrugged. "I know. There's no way I could be, say, a journeyman smith."

The idea of working with hot metal repelled her a little. Vintnering was far from easy, but it was...safer, in many ways. "Just support staff, then?"

She knew Weyrs had no drudges. But she had thought that young men of the appropriate age were encouraged to stand. Was the boy dragondeaf? Or was he not weyrborn, and therefore...it confused her a little. She decided the latter was the more accurate guess. Dragondeafness was a rare affliction, after all.

[dotta]

Indeed. She certainly couldn't be a journeyman smith. That category was still a job for the men. And though women weren't forbidden from venturing into that career, they certainly wouldn't be seen as an equal. That should be reason enough for women not to pursue smithing.

Talo gave the woman a toothy grin.

"Aye, support staff...You don't plan on calling me that, right? Otherwise, you'll have more than one head turning toward you."

OCC: So short...Sorry X3

[ShadowReine]

Kimara laughed a bit. "I plan on calling you Tairik," the journeywoman said, simply. "Names are always best unless you have a reason to be formal."

She moved towards the wine storage. "Are you busy?" she asked. "I could use a tiny bit of a hand here, and I promise it's more interesting than some of the chores that have to be done around here."

The Weyr had its fair share of tedious, boring drudgework. At least she had a craft and thus avoided having to do it...mostly. She'd been told that numbweed harvesting, for example, took every able bodied person, given the amounts the Weyr needed.

And the Weyr had a very strong attitude that one should not make work for others. "Just need an extra pair of eyes."

OOC: Like mine's better?

[dotta]

Talo grinned brightly at the woman then. It wasn't uncommon for a kitchen worker to be treated less by someone of higher rank. Talo herself had never been thrown into a situation like that, but she heard stories from other workers. Hearing that had almost made her weary of conversing with anyone who could have been above her, but this woman was so kind! And she spoke Talo's name. Ah, but she didn't know the journeywoman's...

Just then she had heard the cries of the cook. Everyone quickened their pace, all except her. Ah! SHe had forgotten her job will she had diverted her attention for the journey woman. Perhaps it would have been best to return to work.

Lightly scratching her cheek with an index finger, Talo gave the black haired beauty a slight bow.

"My apologies, but my free time seems to be running thin. But first! I inquire the name of the tall beauty standing before me."

[ShadowReine]

Kimara smiled a bit. "Kimara. Easy enough, if you forget, I'm the only vintner journeyman here right now."

There wasn't a huge need for actual winecrafters at the Weyr...the Weyr did not, after all, produce wine, but... She enjoyed this work, and it was so different from her past.

"You'd better go, before that cook chases you with a rolling pin."

As for treating kitchen workers less...no way, no how. She had to work with them, after all, especially if the queen clutched and there was a Hatching feast to plan.

[dotta]

Kimara. Talo took a moment to digest this. Simple and elegant, much like the woman which stood before her. Then a thought that almost made her snicker came to her mind: What if Talo had called her 'Kim Kim?' Of course, she wouldn't dare try that now; Kimara was a mere arms reach and she wouldn't be able to escape.

Talo gave a light chuckle to the woman's remark. Yes, that did sound like something the cook would do. And Talo didn't want to wait long enough for that to happen. So, with another slight bow, Talo hurried back to her plates to resume her task.

[ShadowReine]

OOC: And end.