we are all flawed - Candidate Barracks

[Ayla]

Vittoria wasn't used to waking up so late; it wasn't in her nature. Plus, the Candidatemaster didn't exactly like when they slept in. She guessed he was in a good mood, or someone had bribed him with food, because Vittoria wasn't woken up promptly at six. She sat in bed for a few minutes, waiting for the inevitable, but it never came. Slowly, carefully, she got out of bed and got dressed. He was bound to come in any second and yell at her. Vittoria's roommate was equally scared, although she was a few Turns younger and had good reason to be.

Vittoria was ready first, and walked out to the common room to see if anyone else was as surprised as she. This wasn't normal. She grabbed an apple from the bowl on the table and waited for someone she knew to come out. All the Candidates there were younger boys playing a stupid game.

She didn't wait for very long, and another girl who looked tired walked down the corridor. Vittoria wondered if she was trying to impress the Candidatemaster by getting up early on her own. "Hey, did you get woken up?" Vittoria asked quickly. "No, I was really hoping he would; I got up early today!" Suspicions confirmed. "It's really strange, though. Usually he's on us if we're three seconds late to lessons. I wonder if he's getting some," the girl said. Vittoria laughed for a moment, then looked around again for someone who knew what was happening.

There didn't seem to be anyone Vittoria could talk to; everyone was still asleep, basking in the extra few minutes of rest. She almost gave up the search and went to the dining hall to get a proper breakfast, but there was more fruit and it just seemed so... enticing. She took another apple and sat down on the couch, watching the others. The younger boys were still caught up in their game, which seemed to involve a lot of punching. Vittoria watched them for a few minutes before spotting someone who she thought might know something. "Hey! Do you know why the Candidatemaster isn't here? It's strange," she said quickly, trying to get her answer before he showed up/

[Fionn]

Lilia sighed as she slipepd from Panitath's neck. I can't believe the Candidate Master would just disappear so quickly, Lilia raged within her mind as she moved toward the Candidate common room. At least this would give her a chance to see Holent if he was around this morning. Pern forbid a human wants to explore, Mine,

[/color] Panitath chuckled as Her's disappeared into the barracks. Panitath was already back in the air, heading toward the Feeding Grounds. She suddenly felt very . . . hungry.

Shaking her head, Lilia walked into the common room, seeing that several candidates were already up. Which meant most of them already knew something was up. "Alright . . . . Alright, settle down Candidates," she stated, looking around the room, making sure all eyes were on her. "As you may all notice, the Candidate Master is missing. All is well. Even dragonriders need a day off and the Candidate Master is off with his dragon, tending to his dragon and pampering himself. Though that doesn't sound half bad," We have those types of day all the time . . . . T'lyn would watch out for annoying trouble, while Mnelth would pamper me,[/color] Panitath hissed, causing Lilia's jaw to twitch at the mention of the Weyrleader. Hush Pan!

"All go about you chores, study what he has given you, and be ready to learn tomorrow," Lilia stated, nodding to indicate that she was done talking and that the Candidates could start asking questions now. As long as none of those questions dealt with where the Weyrleader was, as it had always been T'lyn who had dealt with the candidates, while Lilia had dealt with the weyrlings.[/size][/blockquote]

[Ayla]

Vittoria's head whipped around at the strange voice. She resisted to urge to let her jaw drop open; it wasn't every day the Weyrwoman came to the Barracks. In fact, Vittoria couldn't remember a single time Lilia had come down in all her Candidacy. Truth be told, a few sevendays is hardly an adequate sample size, but still. Vittoria wondered briefly why the Weyrleader wasn't here, but pushed the thought out of her head.

Vittoria waited until the end of Lilia's short speech. She understood the Candidatemaster's apparent need to take a vacation, since the Candidates were often less than compliant. A few of the other girls giggled quietly and began whispering about where he might be. Vittoria didn't approve of the constant need to know everything; her theory was that everything would be figured out eventually and she need not worry about it.

Vittoria suddenly realized that this was the Weyrwoman, in the Barracks, answering questions. Obviously she couldn't just walk up and ask to meet Panitath; that would be rude and too transparent. She needed a plan. Maybe the fact that Weyrwoman Lilia never came down would be of benefit. Vittoria made her way to the front of the room, trying to get past the Candidates who had come out. Some were talking with each other about chores, figuring out where they were supposed to be and if they really needed to be there. The prevailing logic seemed to be that the 'Master could take a vacation, why couldn't they?

Vittoria made it to the front, finally, and composed her question mentally. She raised her had and waited for a silent moment, then spoke up. "Excuse me, Weyrwoman, but the Candidatemaster told me I would be shadowing a rider today, and he didn't tell me who?" she asked quickly. Please please please just say 'come on, Vittoria, you can shadow me,' she thought. Vittoria planted a small, innocent smile on her face and waited for an answer.

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[Fionn]

Lilia watched as several of the candidates grouped together and began whispering among themselves. Of course, she had been a candidate once, and even though it wasn't very often, she remembered what had happened when her Candidate Master had gone on a day vacation. "No one may slack on your chores. If they are not done by this time tomorrow, the Candidate Master will deal with you as see fit," she stated, knowing she was crushing their dreams of a day-vacation, as the Candidate Master had taken, but at the moment it didn't matter. The Candidate Master was older . . . his dragon aging and needed more rest. They both did.

As she was about to turn away, Panitath stopped her. There is someone trying to get your attention, Mine,

[/color] the Violet dragon stated seconds before Lilia heard, ""Excuse me, Weyrwoman, but the Candidatemaster told me I would be shadowing a rider today, and he didn't tell me who?"" Sighing, Lilia turned and found the female candidate Vittoria standing before her. Mentally, she was glaring and cursing T'lyn, seeing as it should have been the Weyrleader that was doen here, talking to the candidates. She had other things to worry about.

You sent him away, remember, Lilia?[/color] Panitath purred, a mental grin crossing the dragon's maw. Don't start with me, Pan! Lilia snapped, gazing down at the candidate, who wasn't really that much shorter than herself. She sighed once more, and softly shook her head. "You can follow me for the day, but tomorrow the Candidate Master may say differently," she stated, already turning and leaving the Candidate common room.[/size][/blockquote]