[Statistics] [Candidate] [Hatchling] [Adult] [Frenzy]

The Dining Cavern was one of the larger rooms in the Weyr - after, of course the Hatching Sands - but as Haalas entered he was almost immediately overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people crammed into the place. Why, the whole Weyr must have shown! He wondered idly what was so attractive on the menu tonight.

With a sigh, he stood in line with everyone else and waited his turn to approach the buffet-style serving bench. Drudges and other kitchen staff doled out pile after pile of sticky mashed tubers and marinated wherry-steak that smelled delectable. Fresh hot klah was available for self-serve at the end of the bench and a huge platter of bubbly pies waited on another bench.

Haalas stood on tip-toes to see over the crowd, he was perhaps 5'7" and thus didn't achieve much vision. His diminutive stature along with pale blonde hair and bright pale blue eyes would have lent him an almost Angelic appearance, were he on Earth. On Pern, with no Heaven or Angels to speak of, he was simply a small, blonde young man. He was neither attractive nor unattractive, and had a generally cheerful disposition.

Finally reaching the end of the line, Haalas was pleased to see fresh batches being set out just as he arrived, and gathered a recently-washed plate, asking the drudge for all he could fit on the platter with a hungry expression. When the slightly simple boy had done his job, Haalas threw him a wink and received a childish grin in return.

Haalas had just sixteen-turns, but had never really acted his age. He hadn't taken an apprenticeship when his family had decided it was time for such, instead had satisfied himself with helping out the Headwoman - a close family friend. He filled his days with running errands and doing random chores, not thinking about where it might be leading him. After a number of months of pestering from his parents - with whom he still lived - he had been Searched and put the whole matter to rest. If he were to be a dragonrider, he reasoned, what need did he have for a craft? If he failed, he could continue to help out around the Weyr - perhaps even get some sort of rank within the Lower Caverns when he was older. Either way, he wasn't particularly fussed.

A bench opened up suddenly as half a Wing of riders rose noisily and Haalas leapt to grab a seat, along with another group of nearby riders.

Finding himself squished between a burly sort of fellow - a bluerider by his knots - and a flirtatious greenrider, Haalas ate his meal slowly since he didn't really have the space to do so any other way.

The burly man - a brown-haired gentleman in his mid-twenties - took a swig of his klah and set it down rather heavily, causing it to splash towards both himself and an unfortunate Haalas.

"Ug!" the youth exclaimed, leaning back and almost falling off the bench.

The bluerider said something a little harsher, then looked mildly apologetic. "Uh... sorry," he said, his voice rough but warm.

Haalas couldn't help but smile. "Not a problem. I was beginning to smell anyway," he lied with a shrug and a grin. "About time for a change of tunic."

With a brief guffaw, the bluerider nodded approval, then continued, "K'larn, of blue Terrinoth."

"Haalas, candidate and occasional catcher-of-klah," he replied with twinkling eyes.

"You're my sort of fellow, Haalas," K'larn said with another loud chuckle.

The candidate laughed along, though wondered mildly uncomfortably if the bluerider perhaps meant it in another way. He had grown up in the Weyr, and so had no aversions to homosexuality that male greenriders and most blueriders showed. He just wasn't particularly into it himself. At least so far. Of course, not all blueriders were that way inclined.

They talked for a good half a candlemark - receiving various unappreciative glances from those waiting for a seat - then with a final comment on the merits of clouds, Haalas excused himself.

"See you 'round then, Haal," K'larn said, using the candidate's recently-adopted nickname.

"See you 'round, Larni," Haalas replied using the same.

The candidate wove his way through the still-crowded Cavern and stopped once outside to take a deep gulp of fresh air. There were some lovely fellows in the Weyr, he mused idly as he sauntered back to the candidate barracks. He made a mental note to take some time to meet some more of them one day.