A Lot More to Learn

Writers: Eimi, Elaine
Date Posted: 7th December 2005

Characters: Kwiksol, Karaleigh
Description: Kwiksol bothers Karaleigh at the Harper Festivites
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 28 of Turn 3

Keighleigh smiled to herself as she watched the harpers playing the intriguing melody. She hadn't heard such skillful music in all her life.
They were _all_ masters! This was the best of the best that Pern had to offer in music. But even as she watched the musicians on the stage, someone else was watching her.

After the breakneck rush to get as many instruments as possible ready Kwiksol was ready for the break and enjoyment the welcome festival would bring. All too soon his eyes caught the teacher he had already had a run in with. The complete delight she seemed to be deriving from the music appeared to soften her expression. **I'm going in** he thought to himself as he quietly approached Karaleigh, circling around to come up behind her.

"They are quite a talented group, aren't they?" he finally said aloud.

She turned to see who the voice belonged to. "Oh. Journeyman." It was not a completely pleased realization. "Did you ever find your female harper?"

"Who said I was looking for one. Shhhh," Kwiksol responded in a whisper, putting a finger to his lips. "Wouldn't you rather listen to the music then begin an argument with me Journeywomen?"

"Yes, actually," she replied, turning back towards the musicians and trying not to be distracted again by the very friendly journeyman.

Kwiksol was patient though, and continued to stay by her side. He waited for a break in the music to speak again. "You know, I've been at the Hall nearly all my life, and I don't think I've heard anything better. The player's have really outdone themselves for the occasion.
What do you think?"

Shards. He was still there? Well, at least he wasn't hitting on her outright... yet. "They're the best I've ever heard."

Kwiksol laughed. "I guarantee you'll say the same thing at the Hatching, or whatever the next occasion is." The music picked up again and was much livelier. Kwiksol decided to wait, rather then pushing his luck with this one. He instead began dancing a bit in place.

Karaleigh found the harper annoying, but it was no reason to be rude.
She turned away and pretended to start coughing to cover her laugh rather than snicker at his dancing to his face. Shards, but he looked funny though!

"Are you ok?" Kwiksol asked. It seemed as if Karaleigh had gone into a coughing fit.

"Yes, thank you," she replied trying even harder to cover her laughing fit. "I think I just need to get a drink." She turned to go find one, both to hide her laughter and to escape the eccentric little harper.

"No, allow me," Kwiksol said, stepping in front of her. "Stay, enjoy the music, I'll be right back." He said, not giving her a chance to refuse, diving into the crowd, looking for the drink station.

Oh shards. Not only did this mean he would be coming back, but that she had to be nice to him. Ah well. At least he hadn't started hitting on her again. Yet...

"I wasn't sure what you wanted," Kwiksol said returning with two cups.
"So I got some water, and something a bit more _special_."

"Water, thank you," she said with a slight smile of appreciation.

"I thought so," Kwiksol nodded, handing one cup over. "I guess I'll have to have this," he said, taking a quick sip. "Ooo, a little too special, what did they put in this?" he said coughing a bit.

"Be careful. You're drinking with Weyrfolk now." Karaleigh hid a smile behind the rim of her glass. Despite herself, she was finding him rather funny. Stupid funny, but funny.

"Well, a Harper must always keep his, or her, head," he said, making sure to throw in the other pronoun at the last minute. He then turned to the nearest and offered the drink. "Would you like this? I fetched too many." The rider looked at him strangely, but didn't refuse, and muttered a quick thanks while walking away. As the music picked up again Kwiksol couldn't help swaying to the beat.

**Just please don't start dancing...** Karaleigh thought, her eyes smiling despite her stern demeanor. She had to admit, the drink pass off was pretty smooth. Maybe he wasn't quite as much of a fool as he come across as. Maybe.

Kwiksol managed to catch Karaleigh's eyes, and then he stopped swaying. "You know, its really hard to not dance with such good music, and people look quite silly dancing by themselves," he offered an open hand, judging the time to be right. "Will you join me for a dance Journeywomen?"

**Oh shards.** She knew there was no way to politely refuse.
Especially after he had been kind enough to bring her the water. "All right."

"Thanks," he said, walking towards the dance floor, where there he took her hands. Luckily, he wasn't nearly as foolish at dancing with a partner, since then he would follow the prescribed steps.

Karaleigh could hold her own on the dancefloor as well, and was grateful to see that he knew what he was doing. Nothing could have made her even more uncomfortable than standing with a bad dancer in front of everyone.
At least at this rate they had a chance of blending in.

"You're not too bad at this" Kwiksol told her as they danced, flashing his confident smile. "You've had practice," he said, trying to remove the suprise from his tone.

She already caught the surprise in his tone, though and she fought rolling her eyes. "Thank you. I have lots of practice at Hatchings."

"There's another one coming up, isn't there," Kwiksol said, trying to talking fast, hoping to cover up his slip up.

"Yes," Karaleigh nodded, not impressed by the obvious question. "But of course, the Eggs must be _layed_ first."

"I guess I'm just excited," he said in response. "did you, ever have thoughts of dragon riding before deciding you wanted to teach?"

She shook her head. "No, I never petitioned to stand as a candidate. I never wanted to do anything but teach."

"Even as a little girl? I'm impressed you can remember that far back," he laughed slightly. "Why? Its, simply not something everyone is called to. So why did you want to teach?"

Karaleigh shrugged an elegant shoulder. "I don't know. I guess because I knew I had something in me to give. My harper seemed to know everything, and I wanted to know everything too. Turns out harpers don't know everything. But the children haven't figured that out yet."

"Yes, they only decide to start questioning when they move onto their craft training," he said with a bit of a sigh.

"Questioning is a good thing. If we stop questioning, we stop learning."

"Thats not what I meant," he said with a laughing tone.

"Oh? What did you mean then?" she asked, not quite getting the joke.

"More along the lines of questioning authority," he said. "I know you're gonna say I'm wrong, but they seem so much better behaved when their younger. Although, perhaps not as _interesting_."

"I'm sorry, journeyman, but I find my students _very_ interesting,"
Karaleigh said defensively. "Unless you are implying a _different_ kind of interest?"

"I wonder," Kwiksol said, speaking his thoughts aloud, "Is it only around you I keep messing up my words or are you the only one to point it out? You keep me on my toes Karaleigh!" But he rushed in his answer before she could responded to that. "Not what I think you think I'm trying to imply. Children just become more aware as they get older. Sure there's nothing sweeter then the voices of young children, but their conversation usually revolves around play."

The journeywomn was wondering just how long this sharding song was going to last... "And dreams and imagination that we seem to lose the older we get. I happen to find the conversation of children _very_
interesting and insightful."

"Well, I guess I have a lot more to learn then," he said as the song began to draw to a close. "And so do you Journeywomen. You like me, a little, don't you?"

Shards. Really had to answer that? "Um... sure. I like you a little."
After all, he did nothing for her to be out and out _rude_ about.

"See, that wasn't so hard," he replied, smiling his cocky smile. He released his hold on her as the song did finally end.

"Thank you for the dance journeyman. Enjoy the evening," Karaleigh said with a polite, though stiff courtesy and she brushed passed him and back into the crowd, happy to finally be rid of the silly harper.

He sighed, but let her go. He had certainly made progress, but he should take her advice, and start work on enjoying the evening.

Last updated on the December 7th 2005

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