StarCraft Area (51)
Comfy chairs and couches are arranged invitingly about this spacious lounge; a thick llama-fur rug promises to keep feet warm in the chilly evenings. To the left is a cozy-looking hearth, complete with grates for klah pitchers and the obligatory firelizard perch. Various tables and cabinets line the opposite wall, the entire area generously supplied with an array of large glowbaskets to provide ample light for the study and hard work that must certainly occur here. On the far wall, a pair of arched doorways, heavily curtained, lead to the crafters' sleeping quarters--a simple dormitory for apprentices, and private quarters for ranking crafters.
It is an autumn noon.
On the perch are Fury, Panha, Rikan, and Kimber.
You see Jandro here.

Linora
Honey-blond tresses, sunstreaked with platinum highlights, tumble heavily to a spot just above her hips, although her hair is generally worn in a single thick plait down her back. Short in stature, girlish in appearance; nonetheless she has a look about her pale blue eyes that's old beyond her Turns. Set in a warmly tanned oval face, they remain her most striking feature, more for the odd gleam that lights them than for color or shape. Full lips are just a fraction too wide, quick to warm her distant expression with a genuine smile or merry laugh.
Linora has finally resigned herself to cooler weather and got some warmer clothing... Soft flowing skirts of deepest indigo flow over her hips and legs, hemmed just above her ankles. A thick woollen sweater, cableknit in a fisherfolk pattern and dyed a brilliant shade of lilac, covers her upper body from neck to hips, too-long sleeves often slipping down to cover her hands. And the final indignity, thick woollen socks and solid shoes of sturdy wherhide cover her feet - but rest assured they'll be kicked off at the first opportunity.
Red and silver, royal and black -- four cords form a single loop at her shoulder, with a small tail to denote her status as StarCraft Senior Apprentice posted to High Reaches Weyr.
Linora is 20 Turns, 2 months, and 25 days old.

Kh'ryn
This young man stands over 6 feet tall, with sandy blond hair that's cut quite short and hangs in unkempt tufts around his ears. The sun has died his skin a light tan, and the tips of his hair an even fairer shade. These highlights then accentuate eyes the color of ice, which stare out from behind thin and fair lashes, while tapering nose protrudes slightly from oval face. The faint beginnings of a beard can be seen upon his dimpled chin, if one cares to look close enough, and full lips beg for the chance to smile and laugh. Overall, a handsome young specimen of the human race, especially now that he's been working on his physique. Still on the thin side, but with the appropriate and complementing muscles added in /all/ the right places.
Warm sorrel tones flow evenly across Khory's loosened leather vest, which flaunts decorative charcoal stitches along the collar lapels and arm openings, and partially conceals the crisp white cotton shirt that rests closest to his skin. These items of clothing then hang smoothly over hips and legs swaddled in hide of the same sienna shade; stretched fabric divulges the masculine lines and curves of lower physique, and therewith extends down adequately to cover dusky boots.
He is awake and looks alert.
Kh'ryn is 24 Turns, 4 months, and 20 days old.

Linora is sprawled across one of the couches as if she quite forgot to drag herself to the apprentice dorms when she finished her work last night. Several scrolls are spread around her in varying states of completion, many on the floor rather precariously near the hearthstones.

Kh'ryn pokes his head through the Starcrafter lounge door, looking around for any occupants who might be able to help him. "Um, hello?" he calls, sounding unsure. It's not like it's the first time he's been here, but still.. He always feels odd walking into any of the craft areas. Seeing Linora, he clears his throat and excuses himself. "I was looking for Keris," he then states to the young woman.

Linora stirs at the voice, sitting up a bit groggily and rubbing her eyes. "Huh?" Once she gets her hands out of her eyes she takes a look around the room, pale eyes settling on the unfamiliar bluerider just as he states his business. "Keris? Um..." She looks around the empty lounge. "Well... he might be in his quarters. Or he could be ... um..." She grins at last, straightening her sleep-rumpled clothing. "I have no idea."

If Kh'ryn notices the girl's rumpled state, he doesn't comment. Instead, he casts his gaze around the room once again, as though hoping Keris might come out anytime.. Hmmph. So maybe not. "Uh.. I was sent here to pick up some recent Fall charts from him, as well as a list of some constellations that.. ah.. someone was interested in." Actually, Zylph was curious of them, but telling an apprentice this might make him, as the blue's rider, sound.. well.. Odd.

Linora tucks an unruly wisp of hair behind one ear and hauls herself to her feet rather less than gracefully, her thick braid swinging behind her as she turns to pick up the scattered hides on the floor. "Um... Fall charts?" She puzzles for a moment, finally standing with the hides clutched against her chest. "I'd hafta check... I can get you the constellation stuff, though. That's kinda what I've been working on and stuff." She takes half a step back, as though not sure what her next move should be. Maybe he'll say something helpful.

Unsure if he should just get the apprentices help, rather than wait for Keris, Kh'ryn just stands there, looking stupid for a moment or two before deciding. Finally, he goes with getting her help. "Sure! Why not.." And with that, the bluerider finally steps through the doorway and into the lounge. "Um.. It's the Dolphin stars.. Whatever those are.." He's unsure of the proper Starry name... Rubbing at the back of his neck, he decides to also tell Linora who the person..er.. dragon is that would like the charts. "Actually, it's Zylpheth who's interested. He's been watching the 'phincrafters over at Ista when we were there for the games, and they filled his head with a bunch of nonsense about dolphins who died and turned into stars.." He looks embarassed about telling her this...

Linora frowns thoughtfully. "There's a couple constellations with dolphins in 'em," she begins, taking the stack of hides over to one of the worktables and flipping open a glowbasket for some extra light. "Um... you know that stars aren't really dead dolphins, right?" She peeks very seriously over her shoulder at him. "Those are just stories." She flips through the hides for a moment or two, then turns again. "Zylpheth? That your dragon?" She's been at the Weyr long enough to recognize a rider's knot.

Kh'ryn rubs harder at his neck, blushing at the girl's belief that he's not aware that stars aren't dead shipfish. "Aye, I know that.. but Zylph is.. well.. Impresionable. And yes, that's my dragon." Silly blue that he is. "You should have seen the time when the other dragons teased him about the difference in anatomy between him and humans, and he followed me around the weyrling barracks for two sevendays, asking to see my..." Here he stops, suddenly realizing just /who/ it is he's talking to. "Ah.. Anyway, it's the grouping in the northeast sky, holding about 8 stars or so. Does that help?"

Linora follows the story a little absently, still flipping through the charts on the desk, but she peeks back from time to time, grinning broadly at the unexpected blush. And when he gets to the 'difference in anatomy' story, she barely manages to stifle a giggle with her hand, pale eyes sparkling. "Didja show him?" she teases, turning toward the charts again. Then, of course, it's back to business. "Um... eight stars?" She pauses over an older-looking chart. "There's this one, Dancing Dolphins... but that's kind of a southern thing. But you said Ista?" She turns again, any trace of a tease vanished from her serious gaze.

"Of course not!" the bluerider exclaims, blushing further. Though Zylph found out anyways, since they had a hard time staying out of each others thoughts when they first lifemated. But that's not the point now.. The point is.. those stars. "Aye, it was in Ista.. Actually, now that I think about it," and here Kh'ryn blushes for a good reason, mixing up his directions like that. Faranth help him; he might just end up lost in ::between:: one day if this keeps up! Thankfully his blue has more smarts than that. "It was South East..." And Dancing Dolphins sounds like something his dragon would enjoy.

Linora had almost forgotten the question and blushes herself at the answer, lowering her gaze momentarily as she busies herself with spreading out the appropriate chart. "Ista's about as far north as you could see it from mostly," she says, delicate fingers pointing out the various bright stars that make up the interlocking circles that represent the dolphins. "Seacrafters use this bright star t'navigate southern waters." She pushes the chart in his direction, stepping aside for the 'rider to come closer and look.

Kh'ryn takes those steps nervously, more worried about the starry will ask him next, than he is about being in the girl's proximity. He's not /that/ blushy anymore.. ahem. As he advances, he chances a glance at the many other charts scattered about, and blinks at the details of them. Woah. He's glad he's got a dragon with telepathic abilities to navigate for them from visualations, 'cause there's no way he'd be able to pilot from this dots alone. "That's a lot of stars," he mumbles, before his eyes alight upon the one he was looking for. "That's it,' he says, stabbing a finger at the chart. Gaze goes distant as he communicates with his lifemate, and he nods again, sure this time. "Yep. Even Zylph agrees. Do you have a copy, and perhaps the history of this particular constellation?"

Linora peers at the chart for a moment, thoughtful. "Not here, I don't think. I got the materials to make a copy of this one, if you don't need it right away. And I could tell you the story prolly." She shrugs a little, a tiny frown creasing her forehead as she tries to remember. "I might have to look it up, though." She glances up with an apologetic little grin. "I'm almost done with the stuff I'm supposed to be doing for my project, so I got a little time. Maybe even tonight."

Kh'ryn nods his head. "Aye, a copy would be nice, but no rush.." He'd have though that Keris might have had one made already, but since he hasn't seen the Starry master in a while, he's therefore glad of the apprentices help. "I'll stop by again in a few days, if that's alright? As for tonight, I made a promise to a kidlet to let him scrub Zylph, and since it's so cold outside, I do think I'll let him give it a go.." Blushy he may be, but he can be crafty too... sometimes. "I do thank you for your help though.. ah..." The bluerider tilts your head. "I'm sorry.. I don't believe I got your name. I'm Kh'ryn, by the way."

Linora sticks out her hand in the traditional greeting. "Linora," she replies immediately. "Nice to meet you and stuff." She flashes a quick smile and nods. "Go on then, an' come back whenever." Turning, she scrawls a little note to herself before looking back with a grin. "Won't take long."

Kh'ryn shakes the girl's hand, and nods his head. "I'll try to be back after the bath.. but if not then, then tomorrow at the latest.." Zylph really wants those charts to pour over, though the star-struck blue surely can't put them to any use, other than strengthening his believe in the 'phincrafter's stories. "Well met too you too Linora." With that, the bluerider retrieves his hand and cuts a smart bow. "See you later." Out through the same door he dissapears, whistling a tuneless song as he goes.

Kh'ryn goes home.