When Hunger Calls {Open}

[wildfire]

A slender brunette teen walked into the kitchens. She was dressed in a simple cream tunic and black trousers since she'd just come in from a run. She liked keeping herself fit and since becoming a weyrling it had become even more important. On one of her shoulders sat Cloud, a blue firelizard, and on the other sat her conjoined twins, Sky and Sunny. They were chirping happily glad that she'd come inside not only cause it was cold but because they were hungry.

"Alright, alright I'm getting some food." Ariya laughed. She quickly got a plate and loaded it up with some rolls, fruit and meat. Grabbing a cup of klah she made her way to an empty table. She sat down and her pets scrambled down her arms to the table. She rolled her eyes as she started feeding them. She loved her pets dearly she did.

She also loved her bonded. Faith was her partner and her best friend for life. Nothing would separate the two. At the moment Faith was sleeping in the barracks. She was still growing though she wouldn't get all that big to be honest. Not that size ever stopped Faith and Ariya. Size was relative after all. Cloud tried to steal a piece of meat from Sunny and Ariya popped him lightly on the nose.

"No sir. Here eat this." she said shoving a piece of meat under his nose. He gobbled it up and the teen smirked a bit. Cloud was the troublemaker of her trio of firelizards. She loved him though. Ariya had introduced the trio (and Faith) to her mom who'd fallen in love with them. Ariya was glad that her mom liked her bondeds. It made life much easier.

[RaynePOTM]

Arriving at the weyr is a stressful experience for anyone, even at this joyous time of year, however today had been more stressful than Jasmine-Rodriguez had imagined. First he had to say goodbye to his mother. A horrid job to do on a regular day of work, but when moving away to the weyr, the horrid-ness was received tenfold. It was a wonder he'd managed to get out of there alive.

"When are you ever going to learn that the world is a terrifying place. Pirates, Murderers, Women, they're all waiting to lure a nice boy like you into their traps and then squeeze the life out of you!" Rant, rant, rant, that's all his mother did for three hours, before he finally managed to distract her with the message boy. The poor child had an extreme swayback posture that was going to give him chronic shoulder problems within the next two years, but what Jasmine needed was the food stains on his shirt, which he pointed out to his mother as he left out the door. Because she was now telling off the boy she hadn't been able to follow him or attack the dragon rider who was his ride. And who had a nose injury that he hadn't sought help for and it was now affecting his breathing, the only way to repair it was to re-break it, and that would hurt.

He'd only seen two new people today and he still hadn't managed to find anything remotely faultless in either of them, they were doomed to a life of imperfection. Which saddened the young healer.

After that he was rushed between lots of disgusting and deficient people, even the WeyrLeader had numerous problems. It was all quite painful, especially when he was introduced to the current WeyrHealer. The man was as fat as a pregnant dragon! His arteries were so clogged with unnecessary lipids that it was an effort for the man to walk. How he could have became the most important man in the weyr and yet be so close to going into cardiac arrest, it was a wonder to Jasmine how he managed to do a lengthy surgery, his legs would just collapse from underneath him.

Anyway, Jasmine-Rodriguez was both tired and appalled when he excused himself for lunch. Trying to avoid as many people as possible, the healer made his way to the kitchens. It took a while, but he eventually made it. Only to be greeted by a person, sitting with three fire-lizards. She had brown hair and was quite pretty, however her pale skin made Jasmine cringe, the amount of times the child must have her skin peel...

He just crept very close to the wall, maybe if I keep quite she’ll ignore me...

[wildfire]

Ariya might not have noticed the man arriving in the kitchens if it hadn't been for Cloud's hiss of warning that was joined by a confused chirrup from Sunny that made the teen pause. She glanced up in time to see the young man coming into the kitchens. She tilted her head curiously. She had to wonder why he was skirting by the walls.

Maybe he was shy?

She would have waved but then Cloud decided he didn't like the sneaking man at all and spread his wings to take off. Ariya put a hand on his back effectively pinning the young blue without harming him.

"No, Cloud he's not doing anything. Let him get some food in peace." she scolded lightly shaking her head a bit. She glanced over at the man amusement and slight curiosity in her eyes.

"You don't have to sneak. My lizards might bite but I don't." she pointed out laughter in voice. She wasn't flirting just amused and curious about why he was so obviously trying to avoid people. Maybe he just didn't want to talk right now. He looked like a healer so maybe he'd been having a bad day?

Maybe.

She turned her attention back to feeding her firelizards. Luckily Cloud, Sky and Sunny forgot about the man as soon as food was in front of them. It was amusing to see how easy her lizards were distracted by food. Just plain amusing.

[RaynePOTM]

Curses....

Jasmine thought he might have made it past her, but he wasn't actually looking her way to check. He should have realised that her flits would have alerted her. Mostly the small dragon-relatives were cautious of him, he must have smelled weird to them or something like that, either way he hadn't met one that liked him, this must not have been any different.

She was polite about it though, he would have been grateful of her silence, had she kept it. Not that it was her fault, but now he had to say something to her. Which wasn't what Jasmine had had in mind. At first she was just talking to her flits, but then she spoke to him, and he had to look at her. He realised she was prettier than his first glance told him, slender and feminine with quite beautiful eyes. Very nice. Even so, he wished she wasn't there.

"You don't have to sneak. My lizards might bite but I don't." There was humour in her voice, though she didn't pursue the matter, instead she turned back to her lizards. So she was polite too? That made matters worse, he had to match her polite-ness and offer an excuse for why he was avoiding her.

"I am sorry, I wasn't intentionally avoiding you. It's just been a long day." His baritone voice was confident, and he finished with a small bow of his head, before turning away from her again. He'd been polite and dignified, now he was going to get his food and then try and hide in a corner.

[wildfire]

Ariya blinked at the man's comment and glanced over at him nodding. He did seem like he'd had a very long day. She knew what that felt like. Being a weyrling and having three firelizards to care for she was always doing something, be it oiling, washing, or training. She watched the man's retreating form for a moment then tilted her head.

"Why don't you sit here? I'm done feeding them and I'll be leaving in a minute." she offered. She wouldn't be upset if he turned it down. She could understand if he wanted to be left alone for the time being.

[RaynePOTM]

Jasmine-Rodriguez was not expecting that. He turned swiftly, an empty plate hanging limp in one of his hands. His eyebrows wrinkled as his face moved into a confused frown, but his eyes were alight, because now this young women held his curiosity.

"Why would you ask me that? So far I've attempted to avoid you, which you knew perfectly well what I was doing, but then tried to hide it with some pathetic excuse, which should be even more insulting. Only because I'm sure a woman with looks such as yours gets excuses all the time. But usually from men who aren't trying to avoid you.

It may not have been personal, my lying to you, but it was still a blatant lie. Why would you put up with that?"

It made perfect sense to the healer, she was pretty and young, she must have boys fawning over her all the time. So why when someone was lying to her, even if they were doing it politely, would she continue to be polite? She should just ignore his rudeness, shouldn't she?

The young healer was now very intrigued.

Good luck Ariya.

[wildfire]

Ariya blinked as the healer turned to her and asked his question. The weyrling laughed a bit.

"I'm flattered that you think I have boys fawning all over me but I can assure you I don't. It's not that I wouldn't mind it but I've been busy with taking care of Faith and these three." she replied and added, "As for the answer to your question, I'm in a good mood and feel like being nice. Take it as you like it my offer still stands." Cloud gave a grumble at the man and Ariya shushed the blue.

"Oh hush, he's just talking." she muttered shaking her head.

Mine is something wrong? Faith's voice filled Ariya's mind and a smile tugged at the corners of the weyrling's mouth.

I'm fine love. Nothing's wrong. I'm just talking with someone who has an interesting view on a topic. she answered silently.

I see. Are the little ones behaving? the spiral asked.

No but I have them in hand. Ariya answered silently her eyes still on the healer as she waited his reply. She wasn't sure what to make of him yet besides the fact that he was bluntly honest. Must be a common trait among healers but since she wasn't one she didn't know.