Taking it In. (Franny)

[E]

“The tables here in the hall are sorted to wings. As a candidate, it’s pretty simple. You sit at the tables designated to you.” Chedest surveyed the hall that was slowly starting to increase in population as the noontime meal was being brought out. “And those will be the ones over in that corner. Your welcome to sit with the Weyrfolk, but being so new here, it would be a good idea to get to know your fellow classmates.”

Chedest glanced to where the blue rider was pointing and nodded to the man. He had been shown the barracks he was to report to after lunch, so that left him without much to do now but eat. He had just arrived that morning and everything was alien to him. Feeling the rider’s hand pat his shoulder, Chedest watched him walk over to his own wings tables.

“Guess that leaves us to find our own food and seat.” He muttered to the bronze flit who had not left his shoulder since arriving to the Weyr. Tain seemed to be absorbing everything with his bright eyes – everything seemed to be fascinating to him. It made the farmer laugh.

Not sure if food was served to him or if it was a self serve deal, he decided to find a seat first and ask questions later. Moving over to the candidate tables that had been pointed out to him, there were not many people around and he ended up sitting by himself. Putting his back to the wall, he joined his flit in surveying the scene before him while he attempted to decide if it was a self serve or not.

[franny]

Falia noticed the young man who had sat near her shadows, with out even realizing she was around. It was funny how no one noticed her, but right now would be the perfect moment to make this young man a "friend". She could not leave her disguise though of being innocent and shy, so she continued to lay around in the background. It was to bad that her assumed personality made it so that she couldn't go up and make him notice her.

She sat, hoping that he would look her way. Maybe, just maybe he would notice the "shy"girl in the corner. Of course, she had never been anything but pretending to be shy, she had used it since she was little to wrap people around her finger. Innocent and shy people were often more liked than outgoing ones. Once she impressed though, she wouldn't need the fake front she had worn all her life. She could finally be herself.

[E]

Lucky Falia did not have to wait long as it was Tain who first noticed the young woman sitting nearby. Finding her more interesting than people with empty plates, he let out a light chirp as he moved to Chedest’s other shoulder to get a better look. Hearing the chirp and feeling the flit move, the candidate turned as well, knocking the flit off balance. The little bronze flapped its wings and jittered angrily at the man before finally taking good hold of Chedest’s ear so he could lean out and give another curious chirp.

Chedest gave the little bronze a momentary glare before ignoring the little claws holding onto his skin. Giving the girl a good look, he finally put on an easy smile and shrugged with a roll of his eyes towards his flit.

“Sorry about him, and I apologize for not noticing you when I sat down.” Scratching the close cut hair on his head, he looked around again. “I’m new here and I’m not sure how the food is served here, do you know if we help ourselves or if it is served? Are you new here too?”

Chedest’s dark eyes turned back to the young woman, taking her in once again. She had an innocent looking face that fit well with with her dark brown hair and brown eyes. In fact, she was almost pretty – if Chedest had ever thought of any female as such; living in a male dominated home.

[franny]

Falia liked the fact that the boy had a bronze flit. A flit often showed that a person had a good personality, but, sadly enough, as a shy girl, she never pushed and stayed in the shadows of flit hatchlings and had never gotten one.

She gave a slight laugh at the flicks antics, and then said quietly, "There is nothing to apologize for." Even if she wanted to talk, she was shy and a shy person didn't talk much. Just a little longer, she kept telling herself, before she could become who she truly was.

"Food? Serve yourself, lines is over there." She gave a slight pause, pointing toward the line with her index finger. She then thought about his second question and answered, "No, I am not knew here. I simply happen to be unknown." She wanted to know his name, but she could not bring herself to ask. Answer the question, just the questions she kept telling herself.

[E]

The tall man’s eyes followed Falia’s finger toward the table of food where a few people were, upon closer inspection, indeed filling plates. It was her next comment that brought his eyes back to the girl even as his flit refused to be distracted and flew off toward the food.

Unconcerned about Tain, Chedest tilted his head as he pondered the girl. He had not had much experience with women, having grown up without a mother figure in his household and no sisters to speak of. In any case, he couldn’t help but feel as if it was unjust that she should consider herself unknown. It almost made him feel bad for not noticing her at first – almost. Well he could attempt to remedy the situation at least.

“Well you can count yourself ‘known’ now.” He said with a smile offering his hand. “My name is Chedest, what’s yours? Have you eaten yet?”

[franny]

She saw him look toward the food, and in her experience, most people would go to food first rather than talk, and here was this man, trying to talk to her.

When he said, that she was now known, she laughed very slightly and quietly and then said in her quiet and sweet voice, "Oh, but who knows me past noticing? They notice me long enough to see me in the shadows, and then they forget me. They remember me as someone vaguely in their memories." Falia knew what she was doing. Make him think no one noticed her and she could snag this one as a "friend", someone who would remember her just because of that comment. A person to manipulate without them even knowing that she was even manipulating them.

With her eyes downcast she said softly, "Falia, a simple name." Chedest, a good name for a man who would ride bronze, if she was any judge of character, a bronze flit meant something. Or, maybe he would only ride brown.