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Date Posted: 10:09:38 09/22/05 Thu
Author: Hale & Halsk; Janis
Subject: >Mutual interests<

At a small table near the entrance to the kitchens, well clear of the celebrating dragonriders, two men sit and share a bottle of wine and a plate of grilled fish. One man is bent and wrinkled with age, but paler than his weathered features would make one expect, and his cloudy blue eyes sparkle with foggy good cheer. The other is young, perhaps in his mid-twenties, with bright tilted eyes and olive skin. They're deep in a happy discussion of mining that has been going on for nearly three hours now; it has long ago passed through the realm of technical debate, and they've now taken to sharing anecdotes of their underground lives. Neither are wearing shoulderknots, but the gist of the discussion would tell anyone with the patience to listen in on them what their respective specialties are.

"-and then Master Rogar had us pump out that tunnel, so we could mine in it again," the younger man finishes, dramatic gestures accompanying his rapid delivery. Janis' enthusiastic retelling of the adventure is tinged with clear affection for his old Master, and even for the foolish Apprentice who had nearly killed them all by ignoring the signs of a gas pocket. "And Daren was manning the lift for nearly a quarter-Turn. So you see, sir, I do know how dangerous gas pockets can be."

"Ah, yes, but had a watchwher accompanied your shift, the danger would never have presented itself," the old man points out, stroking his neat grey beard as he smiles cheerily at his young companion. He doesn't gesture wildly like Janis, preferring to keep one hand free for regular sips at his wineglass, but he does tend to touch his beard when he's pontificating. "I pray that you never forget how essential myself and my comrades might be to the endeavors of the Miner Craft. If, as you say, this Weyr will someday need miners of firestone, I would be overjoyed if I and my companion Halsk could labor beside you."

After a half-hour or so of disorientation, Janis has essentially adapted to the wher-handler's elaborate style of speaking. Still, he simply smiles for a moment as he works his way around the words and translates the old man's meaning. Then his smile brightens, and he nods enthusiastically. "Of course! I won't argue with you there," he laughs. "Master Rogar complained often enough about how useful a watchwher would be; there just weren't enough for the Hall to send one to our little mine. I'd considered trying for one myself, but I enjoyed the Craft too much to move into a sideline." He colors momentarily, realizing that he may have just insulted his venerable companion's line of work. "That is- I mean-"

Realizing both Janis' distress and the spirit in which the comment had been uttered, Hale reaches out and pats the younger man companionably on the shoulder. "Never fear, my young friend," he says reassuringly, the corners of his eyes crinkling up in amusement. "I understand that to a Miner, my glorious Craft may not be the ideal route towards the fulfillment of one's ambitions. Though if you are truly concerned about any offense I may have taken, I can assure you that another bottle of this excellent vintage would soothe any ruffled feelings admirably. I am, after all, an old and frail specimen, and I fear for my safety in this crowd."

Laughing, Janis stands. "You just don't want to get up," he says, grinning at Hale. "But you're right, our wine bottle is empty. I'll be right back." He slips off through the crowd.

"It's only natural that I have no desire to be buffeted by this crowd," Hale murmurs, smiling fondly into the middle distance. "Nor do I wish to put any great distance between you and I. Sleep well, Halsk, for after this celebration, I believe that I shall attempt to engage our young bluerider of earlier and obtain directions to the caves our previously-arriving comrades have found." A soft rumble rises from the closet nearby, a contented sound that's almost a purr, and Hale chuckles. Then he looks up and smiles joyfully as Janis returns, plunking a bottle down on the table. "Gently, gently!" Hale protests, already reaching to refill his empty goblet. "You must treat such a precious vintage with respect!"

Smiling and ducking his head in a nod, Janis sits and watches his dinner companion pour the wine.

((Yes, Hale really does talk like that. REALLY. *luffs him*))

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