Always Landscapes and Dragons
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Halyonix, Sia
Date Posted: 3rd July 2025
Characters: Aleriand, I'serin
Description: I'serin visits the Printer Hall and gets more than he expected.
Location: Printer Hall
Date: month 7, day 11 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: K'mai, N'kevyn, Shassene, Saibra, Zariah
He debated on whether or not to hide his knots. He usually did when he visited places surreptitiously. However, he had been here before, and he did not think the printers would forget his face. So, the knots stayed on as I’serin wandered into the part of Printer Hall that was the bookstore, nodding a greeting to the apprentice working the shop.
Though, working was an inadequate word for what the apprentice was truly doing. Which was quickly another reason why I’serin was glad that he had chosen to wear his knots, as he saw Master Aleriand coming into the shop, seemingly on a mission.
The apprentice immediately snapped back to attention when the Hallmaster appeared and scurried away, a stack of books in their arms.
Aleriand wasn't in a rush anywhere, but the news of a Weyrleader's appearance travelled fast. "Weyrleader." Aleriand said, "I don't believe we had an appointment scheduled. What can I do for you?"
I’serin made a placating gesture. “My apologies. I did not intend to disturb your work. I am not here on Weyr business. I am…looking for a gift.”
"We have lots of those. Books, trinkets, wallpaper. Art. My Hallsecond is doing some intriguing things with portraits, if you're so inclined." Aleriand said, figuring a Weyrleader would at least be amused by Shassene's more scandalous pieces. "She just finished a commission for another rider, and I'm sure she'd be happy to show you the sketches."
A sketch might be of interest. K’mai did prefer pictures. I’serin motioned for Aleriand to continue.
The art prints weren't too far; a small stack were at the front counter, casually fun prints that were mostly Wyndall's experimentation with the presses, but Aleriand led I'serin into a small annex that doubled as an artist gallery. "The harpers use the space too for their art, when we're feeling generous." Aleriand said by way of explanation. "Shassene's prints are over in the corner. Many of them are sketches; she requires models to commit to several sittings.You'll see why."
Most of the sketches were too scandalous for the hold. Many of them were fine-art nudes and boudoir scenes, tastefully nude or suggestively so. A few depicted a certain Barrier Lake bronzerider, sensual and self-assured, reclined in a chair with a half-grin playing beneath a neatly kept beard. Threadscores and old scars traced his skin, only drawing more attention to the strength in his frame.
Of course, I’serin would recognize that bronzerider.
It did not matter that it was tasteful or artistic, it was still a mostly naked N’kevyn. And it packed a sensual punch. While I’serin quickly shoved thoughts about N’kevyn with K’mai and other bronzeriders aside, he swallowed, hoping that his voice did not betray his stuttering mind. “They are quite the subject matter. Skillfully done. And…there is a market for this in the Holds? Forgive me, I ah…expected to see something like this in the Weyr.”
"There's always a market, whether someone has it out in the open or not." Aleriand said conspiratorially. "It must be our Weyr influence. We used to be at Dolphin Cove, you know. But even before that, Shassene had developed _quite_ the reputation for her art. Holders like to request a special gift for their partner ahead of their wedding night, for example, or an important anniversary. A direct commission like this doesn't usually reach our heavy-duty presses, but we do limited print runs of pieces where the face and identifying details are obscured. Something like this would require sitting for a couple separate sessions, where the two of you would talk out what kinds of poses you'd be the most comfortable in along with the state of undress. You don't _have_ to be fully nude, both in the art and in the sitting."
This was quickly becoming the type of conversation that I’serin desperately wanted to avoid. He could only imagine what sort of poses K’mai would suggest. None of them would be half as artful. The bronzerider swallowed nervously. “How…interesting,” he remarked. “I uh…do not think I am the intended audience for this but I…will keep her…skills…in mind.” Politeness dispensed, I’serin found his mental footing again. “Perhaps something with dragons? Or a landscape?”
"I suppose." Aleriand said with a long-suffering sigh. Landscapes and _dragons_, Faranth forbid anyone request anything else than _landscapes_ and _dragons_. "We have a few over here that we do limited print runs from time to time, and we can either make it black and white or we can substitute colour to match the dragon hide you prefer."
I’serin perused the prints until he found a few to his liking. And what had started as a simple gift for one, now sparked the idea of gifts for others. “This one,” he said, selecting one of a dragon high above the clouds, “in jasmine gold if possible.” Saibra’s birthingday was later in the Turn. It would be an acceptable gift. “This one,” he said, pointing to a pose of a dragon perched on rocks, “in coppery bronze.” It resembled Aluneth in how he liked to watch over the Weyr some days. And even though his heart clenched a little, fearful that he was somehow giving himself away, I’serin selected a third print of a dragon sleeping. “Midnight blue for this one, please.”
Aleriand made careful notes of the colours and attached them to the print order, his shorthand scrawl barely legible. "Any other personalization that you'd like?" He asked.
The Weyrleader shook his head.
Aleriand quickly wrote a purchase order and passed it to I'serin. "Hand this over to the kid at the counter and he'll charge you the marks for it. Zariah can deliver them along with your print subscription. I don't charge an extra fee for it, but she might require a tip. She's persuasive. She somehow conned me into taking her kid as an apprentice." Despite the generally grumble to his tone, there was no actual bite to the complaint. It was well known that the Hall would take almost anyone interested.
The left corner of I’serin’s mouth quirked in a smile. He liked Zariah. “I thank you, Hallmaster. These will make fine gifts. I appreciate you giving up some of your time today.” Though he could have gone without seeing N’kevyn nearly naked.
"The Hall appreciates your continued business." Aleriand answered politely. He filed the colours away easily enough. The bronze matched Aluneth, the gold likely Saibra and Chioneth. The blue was harder to picture. There were so many of them. A brother or friend, perhaps. Not nearly as interesting as he'd hoped. "Let us know if there's anything else we can do."
Last updated on the July 7th 2025