Hesitant Beginnings

All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey. Many thanks to Alec Johnson for his assistance with this information!

Hesitant Beginings

Chailyn's minor crush on F'gon starts to flair, and the older brownrider is completely oblivious.
Setting: Igen Weyr beach, morning
Cast: Chailyn and F'gon

Chailyn - Friday, May 19, 2000, 5:58 AM
---------------------------------------
Main Beach
This is one of the most popular sections of the Igen Bowl, and the reason can't really be mistaken. The lake to the north provides a refreshing change from the heat that characterizes the climate of this area. A small beach of pumice sand runs along the shore here, making it a nice spot to relax. The waters of the lake are a deep blue, reflecting perfectly the sheer cliffs to the north.
The lake looks inviting, and a smaller beach to the north provides a more isolated spot. Eastwards a large field leads towards a pass out of the Weyr, and heading southeast takes you across the center of the bowl. To the south lies the corral.
F'gon ambles over from the center of the bowl.
F'gon has arrived.

F'gon limps by, leaning heavily on his walking stick, enjoying the morning air.

Chailyn is apparently enjoying a late breakfast, seated on a rock near the lake shore. Juice and sweetrolls seem to be the fare of the morning. She looks up and brightens faintly. "Morning, sir."

F'gon smiles. "G'morning...beautiful morning out, isn't it?"

The first things you notice about F'gon are his bright blue eyes shining out from under a brown head of hair, short cut, with a few odd strands of grey hair.. He is approximately 5'9" tall, but seems to be a bit shorter when he is walking. The reason for that is that he limps very heavily, often needing the use of a walking stick to move around. Aside from the limp, though, you wouldn't for a minute think that this man was in any way less than in perfect physical shape. He looks strong, although toned rather than bulky.

F'gon is currently wearing a dark brown set of breeches, fairly loose to so as not to constrict his bad leg, and a button down brown shirt that accents his v-shaped upper body (even after all these Turns). Upon his shoulder is a WingSecond's knot in the black and gold of Igen Weyr, strewn with brown cords and a few strands of the Sandstorm wing colors, marking him as a brownrider and WingSecond of Igen's Sandstorm wing. He wears a sanded, warm reddish-brown polished wooden ring on his left hand's ring finger. On the ring is a stylized side view of a dragon in flight. F'gon walks with the aid of a walking stick, limping rather heavily.

F'gon looks a little out of sorts, a little sad, but is otherwise dressed impeccably and at least looks like he's getting some sleep.

F'gon currently has 53 Turns, 3 months, and 13 days.

Chailyn nods. "It'll be another scorcher today though." She nods to his shoulder, "Heard about you and J'on both being seconds for Sandstorm. Congratulations." She takes a sip of her juice and offers, "I've got extra rolls if you want one."

F'gon smiles. "Thank you....I'm sorry...you clearly remember me, but I can't remember your name...?" He truly does sound sorry. "And I'm already, thank you...I just ate in the Caverns..."

F'gon is brown Hollerith's rider, at Igen Weyr.

Chailyn flushes faintly and looks out over the lake. The wind blows an errant curl into her eyes and she supplies, "Chailyn. I work in the laundry. And you're welcome." She changes the subject, "How's Hollerith liking flying with Linneth?" One might note she got both dragons' names right, but..."

F'gon smiles. "Well thank you, Chailyn" He says, not noticing the flush. "Holly is doing fine. And so is Linneth. J'on takes good care of him, but then again, J'on's been taking care of dragons since he was old enough to start oiling Holly's hide." He chuckles.

F'gon says "Ladonyth's too. She's such a vain gold. She wanted EVERYONE, even Jae and my son, oiling her regularly."

Chailyn says wryly, "Isn't that supposed to be a hallmark of the breed? Golds are vain, bronzes egotistic, greens flighty." She pauses and then asks in mock confusion, "Or is that the riders? I never can remember."

F'gon bursts out laughing. "Its a little bit of both, actually."

Chailyn smiles, pleased at the reaction. "So they keep telling me. And for every rider that admits to the mold, there are five others ready to jump down your throat if you try to buttonhole them. Makes a nice joke though."

F'gon smiles. "Don't let them fool you. 9 out of 10 Riders match the mold. Luckily for everyone, I'm only 1 out of 10."

F'gon winks.

F'gon sits down on a rock with a wince and straightens out his bad leg. "Sorry, have to sit. Only so long I can stand on my bad leg."

Chailyn moves over a bit on her perch. "Shoulda offered rather than taking up all the room." She smiles then, and says, "So you're telling me not to buttonhole you, that you're different, just like everyone else." Her tone is dry, though she's clearly teasing. "It's amazing how you have to really look for those nine of ten."

F'gon chuckles. "Nah, they just hide it well. But deep inside, they really are the stereotype."

F'gon says "I'm just unique, Chailyn. Just ask anyone."

Chailyn can't help teasing, "And so modest too." She takes a drink of her juice, and finishes off a bite of sweetroll.

F'gon smiles. "Of course!"

Chailyn shakes her head, curls bouncing lightly. "I think stereotypes are mainly for people who can't think for themselves anyway. Or those too busy to bother to really look at a person."

F'gon just looks at Chailyn. "Deep thoughts, Chailyn."

Chailyn blushes faintly, "Yes, well, you caught me early enough in the morning. Before all the heat in the laundry's baked my brains too much."

F'gon chuckles. "I know what you mean. A few hours on sweeps in this sun gets me too."

Chailyn mms. "Least you can pop between and freeze your arse off for a few minutes. That's a skill I only wish I had in th laundry."

F'gon always gets serious at mention of Between. "Nah, trust me, Between doesn't exactly comfort you..."

You say "Didn't say it was comforting, really. Just cold." She grins a bit and then says, "Been there once. With K'dar and Craylath. Not really in a hurry to go back. But it only lasts half a second. A body can take anything for half a second."

F'gon chuckles. "True, true." He looks out at the lake. "Beautiful this time of the morning..."

Chailyn points out, bemused, "You said that."

F'gon nods, still looking at the lake. "It always gets me..." He stands, with a slight wince. "Well, I'll let you finish up your breakfast..."

Chailyn's eyebrows arch faintly, "Oh, don't rush off my account." She doesn't offer assistance, though she keeps an eye on him. "I've the morning off, which is why I'm being so lazy. Or've you got sweeps or something you're headed off to?"

F'gon chuckles. "Nah, just going for a walk. Enjoying the morning."

Chailyn shrugs. "Want some company?" She smiles faintly, "Or is a laundress without baked brains too deep for you this morning?"

F'gon smiles. "Sure, feel free to join me."

F'gon walks along the beach, leaning on his walking stick.

F'gon says "So how long have you been here, Chailyn?"

Chailyn leaves juice and rolls behind, falling into step on the weyr-ward side. That done, she can watch lake and rider at the same time. "Oh, I dunno. Seems like forever sometimes." She smiles, "I'd say going on two turns now. Right at that. They keep me busy, so I can't complain."

F'gon smiles. "Aceris can be hard, but fair."

Chailyn shrugs. "She really isn't all that hard, to be honest. Nothing I wouldn't demand anyway, so." She watches his profile. "So were you birthed here? or did they nab you on search ages ago?" She grins, exaggerating the 'ages' bit. "Since you're so *terribly* old and all." Again, that dry tone.

F'gon chuckles. "True. I'm decrepit." He says, full of good humor about the topic. "Nah, I was born up near Rocky Hold, on my Wandering, wandered in here....and a dragon caught up with me in the entry tunnel and his Rider told me, to my surprise, that I was Searched!"

F'gon pages: Ugggh. RL just called urgently. I have to run! For RPing, F'gon just blithely went on talking and chatting, and then had to leave for duty, wishing you farewell, limping to Holly and flying away, ok?

PST