To Plan A Surprise Party

Writers: Anika, Avery, Yvonne
Date Posted: 1st April 2015

Characters: Alina, Ikalis, P'ton
Description: The trio plots a surprise for the Weyrlingmaster's Third.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 4 of Turn 7
Notes: Notes: The beginning of the Surprise Party series.
Mentioned: L'pin, Meledei, Chaysea, R'taran

Alina

Ikalis sat on a bench outside the weyrling barracks, wondering who'd
get here first. Dinner was ending, which meant the junior weyrlings
had their limited free time but needed to be near the barracks. So she
ought to see P'ton soon, unless he was gonna be skipping out. And
she'd sent Wavecrest with a scribbled note reading "barracks, dusk" to
Alina. She was pretty sure the blue flit had delivered it, since he'd
come back without any hide attached to his leg. Now she had him
watching out for a certain bluerider who she didn't want overhearing
this.

"Hey gorgeous, did you bring me something sweet?" P'ton teased,
slipping in to sit beside Ikalis on the bench while her head was turned,
obviously watching for someone.

"No, I didn't," she said, half-distracted. "I swapped my extra muffin
to get off cleanup duty so I could talk to you tonight."

"Is something wrong?" he asked, noticing that his friend wasn't quite
herself.

"Not with me. I have a bright idea." She refocused her attention,
figuring Alina would show when she did. "You and L'pin get on well,
right?"

"Sure thing," the young dragonrider agreed. "He's probably my
favorite of the weyrlingstaff, well of the male riders at least,"
P'ton amended with a wink. "He's helped me a lot since I've come
here." If truth be told, P'ton would go to L'pin with a problem
before anyone else in the Weyr including his brother. He loved
R'taran and appreciated his brother bringing him to the Weyr, but
L'pin was a better listener and didn't treat him like a little kid.

Alina breezed in then, her cheeks whipped red by wind and her hair
tucked neatly beneath a blue crocheted net that looked more like
something a granny would wear than a young lady. The blue, at least,
was electric. "Sorry I'm late! I couldn't get away." She slid onto the
bench beside Ikalis and nodded a greeting to P'ton. Apparently those
two had become closer friends than she'd known. "What's going on?"

Ikalis turned to greet Alina, her face lighting up with a special
smile. "We're helping L'pin out," she answered. "I want to do
something really nice for him this month so he knows there are people
who care about him and he doesn't get overly sad."

The greenrider pursed her lips. "Because of his son, right? The
anniversary's coming up, isn't it."

"It would have been R'min's birthingday this month." Ikalis turned to
P'ton. "You might not have heard the gossip yet. L'pin had a son, who
decided to Stand and Impressed first time out. In Meledei's clutch I
hear. And then he died in the Blooding, so he quit his job on the
'staff."

She probably could have phrased it all nicer, but that was Ikalis,
just blurting out the terrible things.

"Shells! That's terrible!" The teen shook his head, feeling awful for
the Weyrlingmaster Third. "I'm willing to help with anything you have
in mind."

"I was thinking a party. A small gathering. We'd need space...permission
for you two to have time off..." She looked at them to gauge the mood.

Alina wrinkled her nose. "I like the idea, but there is no _way_ that
we'd be allowed time off for a party. Perhaps on a rest day?"

"You're right there, Alina. It's gotta be a restday. How many people
and where?"

"At least 5. I'm not sure who else he's close to that we'd invite...
us three, Chaysea, maybe your brother?" she asked P'ton. "Plus some
space for others to stop in, but not for too long."

"Yeah, from a guy's perspective, I'd keep it small. I know R'taran
would be willing to come, he has a lot of respect for L'pin. Besides
he likes to read the same old musty hides. I might be able to talk
him into using his weyr unless you have a better location. It's not
too big but I think we'd be okay."

"Wait-- I thought you came from a Holding?" Alina asked, puzzled. "I
didn't know you had dragonriding family." That explained a lot,
actually.

"I _am_ from a Hold, one steeped in all the good southern traditions
we've all come to know and hate," P'ton answered. "But my older
brother was searched more than six turns ago. He's a rider in
Hurricane Wing. He's a bit stodgy, but a good guy."

Alina refrained from rolling her eyes as the 'good Southern
traditions' comment. Some people didn't appreciate where they came
from. "Oh. Well... that might be a good idea, then. Otherwise--
Ikalis, if you asked Chaysea, I bet she
could find somewhere if P'ton's brother doesn't want to host."

"She'll have to give us a place, I can't imagine her turning down
helping out L'pin," Ikalis agreed with a beam. "Anything else you two
can think of?"

"Don't we want to have snacks and something to drink?" P'ton asked.

"Kitchen worker, I can handle it," Ikalis reminded him.

"I know, but I didn't want you to forget," he replied with a grin.

"Do... either of you know any harpers?" Alina asked quietly. "I
think-- I think he misses playing music with others." And she was a
poor substitute, when she barely had time to do scales on the pipes
he'd given her.

P'ton gave that some thought. "Well, I've met R'haran, when I was
Searched, but I wouldn't really say I know him very well. You seem to
know almost everyone, Ikalis," the young man turned to the blonde
kitchen worker expectantly.

"That's a beautiful idea, Alina. I can scare someone up for sure," she agreed.

The weyrling nodded. L'pin missed music and although it wasn't his
birthingday, it was the best gift she could think to give him. "If
you're finding harpers, a room, and refreshments, what do you want me
to do to help?"

"Want to be the person who gets him to show up? I'll be too busy and
P'ton is gonna make it look like a plot. no offense," she added with a
laugh.

The young man chuckled, "None taken. Do you need anything from me?"

"I'll let you know if I do," she said, before turning back to Alina.

Alina nodded, her mind already starting to put together the pieces of
the lie that would fool L'pin. "He'll be there," she promised.

Last updated on the April 29th 2015

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To Plan A Surprise Party