More Freedom

Writers: Avery, Chelle
Date Posted: 2nd January 2016

Characters: Asley, Ikalis
Description: Ikalis and Asley have a late night chat.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 6 of Turn 8

The printer had been working long candlemarks into the night and had
finally come to a stopping
point. Knowing her stomach was dreadfully empty, she headed to the
Lower Caverns to see if she
might manage a little something to fill it with before crashing into
her bedfurs. After all, Dolphin
Cove's kitchens still usually cooked mostly at night, albeit now in
the Weyrbowl and everywhere
else thanks to those improvements everyone kept complaining about.

Ikalis was in the process of cleaning it up, getting rid of the
detritus of mealtimes and making sure it all looked good so as not to
call down the wrath of the Headwoman. When she saw someone head into
the empty cavern, she waved. She liked the idea of a break from the
cleaning.

Asley saw the movement and stopped for a second, searching. **Is it
someone I know?** She wasn't the only crafter that kept odd candlemarks
she knew. When she saw a young female at the end of the arm, though, she
became curious.

"Hey there," Ikalis said as she walked over. The rags she'd been using
were still in hand, but she'd left the bucket. "How's your evening?"

"Oh hi," Asley offered easily, quietly sizing the drudge up. "I was hoping
there might be something still left to eat." If not, she had a few things
squirrelled away in her quarters but fresh food was always preferable.

"I can find you something for sure. There's simple fare like fruit spreads
on bread, or there's some leftover stew from dinner if you want something
hearty."

"Well....a sandwich would honestly do the trick." She didn't like real heavy
stuff before bed. "A grilled cheese on toast?" It was easy and quick but
delicious and
melty in your mouth and it was one of her favorite things.

"It would take a couple minutes, but you're welcome to sit and wait," the
worker offered.

"That would be fine. It just...would hit the spot." Every now and again
Asley
had a craving. This was one of those times. Smiling at Ikalis in thanks for
her
efforts, she sipped the drink she'd brought with her. "Thanks though. Hope
it
isn't too much trouble."

"I'll be right back." Ikalis set the rag down carelessly on a table and
headed back into the kitchens.

It was nearly 10 minutes by the time she'd cleaned her hands, selected
bread and toasted it and melted the cheese. But when she emerged, she had
3 sandwiches and some juice. Asley was easy to spot, given the lack of
people. She settled down next to her.

"So I'm Ikalis," she said as she passed the food over, nicking one
sandwich for herself.

"Oh wow....this is..." Grabbing a sandwich, she bit off a piece, chewed, and
swallowed. "Just what I needed for sure. Asley, journeywoman printer, at
your
service."

"Nice to meet you. You must have left when the Hall did, right? And now
you're back." Ikalis sighed. "I miss having the Harpers and Printers here."

"Yeah I did. I got my knots and Master let me come back here. So far I've
managed enough work to support myself. Then again, I'm pretty creative too."
If things dried up, though, she'd have to head out to a hall or Hold that
could
use someone like her. She dreaded that possibility. "There are still some
harpers
here, though I think I'm the only printer now."

"What kind of work do you wind up doing?" Ikalis asked. She didn't know
very much about what they did - nothing she did overlapped with them, as
far as she could tell.

"I make ink-been doing that some for the technicians too. And I've made some
books for the healers, a greenrider, and some others. And patterns for a
weaver.
A few other things here and there. Like hatching invitations and the like."
Asley
enjoyed those-they were rather easy once everything was set.

"That sounds really interesting. Is it something someone could come look
at, or too dangerous or doesn't look like much?"

"It doesn't really look interesting. Just mixing some things and
producing the desired
result. Honestly, the printing itself is the most interesting thing I
think. Tedious though,
setting the plates." Asley wasn't a fool. Outsiders usually didn't care
much for spectating
her craft.

"Ahh, I see. Well I hope you've got plenty to do for sticking around
here. Who'd wanna go back to a Hall or Hold," Ikalis said with a shiver.

"Honestly...some of the halls aren't so bad. I think it depends on the Hold.
Emerald Falls though...they're a bit more hidebound. Turns down the road
maybe it'll change but for now I'd rather be here." Eating another bite
of the
sandwich, Asley considered the juice and took a drink. "If I was a
different sort
of person...like my mother maybe..I wouldn't mind living my life in a
Hold and
having a few babies. You're protected, fed, and looked after. But I
wanted more
than that."

"It just sounds like a gilded cage to me. I can't blame you for wanting
more than that," Ikalis said seriously.

"I was at the Baker's Hall. They take girls for lessons, as students,
but not as apprentices. like the Harpers used to before they started
taking girls as real apprentices. I saw some people who loved it and
others who were really unhappy with it, who took their lessons as a
chance to have a bit of freedom to themself."

"Hmmmm it can be freeing...when we first came to the south to the Hold...
I saw the printers and thought to myself...I could do that. Of course I was
used to the north so the Seahold here in the south was very different." She
was quiet as she remembered those days. She had been young. Asley considered
what Ikalis had said. "And you now? Do you want to be a serious baker?"

"I thought about apprenticing, but I like having freedom," Ikalis said.
"Don't get me wrong. Baking is my hobby and my favorite thing, and I
gladly do it for all the big Weyr events, or make special treats for
people. But to be able to change my mind and spend a sevenday doing
storage inventory instead of the kitchens instead is nice. Plus, if I
stay a general worker, maybe I can work up to Headwoman eventually." She
was ambitious.

"Hmm maybe. There are other places that need Headwomen too you know."
Asley could respect that. At least the girl had goals. And if she was
doing things like inventory that did mean she had the headwoman's trust.

"As long as it's a Weyr. Wouldn't want to do it at a Hall or Hold,"
Ikalis said firmly.

"Ahh cause you want your freedom. I get it." Then something occurred to her
and she debated about asking but thought why not and did it anyway. "So you
don't want to get married and have babies either then?"

"Shards no. That's the worst fate I could imagine." Ikalis shuddered at
the thought. "I don't mind helping Cyradis with her kid, but having my
own...being married to a man...Couldn't do it."

"Ah but you have boyfriends then?" Women in the Weyr often did. That was
just
the way of it. Ikalis was pretty too. Asley didn't think she'd have a
problem.

Polite conversation, or fishing? Ikalis decided to be a bit cautious. "I
haven't dated anyone in awhile. But no boyfriends."

"Oh so just passing fancies. I've never really had a long relationship, just
friendships. Maybe someday though. It would be nice to have someone to
talk to and share my time with." Her voice sounded wistful.

Ikalis decided to poke more. "So no boyfriends for you, either?"

"No. No boyfriends," Asley spoke softly. Her eyes focused on Ikalis' face,
considering. It was a difficult gamble and she didn't really know this girl
too well. Still, if she was reading between the lines correctly...

"Hey, do you want to get dinner sometime? Somewhere quieter than the
main Hall?" Ikalis asked.

"Sounds good. I'm usually in my quarters or working so I'm pretty easy
to find
around that time." Asley had had friends at the Weyr but most of them were
either at the Hall or had gone elsewhere. She did crave human contact.
Her work
was a source of pride and accomplishment but it wasn't everything. She
just couldn't
openly ask for what she wanted.

"Well, let me know where you're living, and I'll drop by." The caverns
worker gave her a little smile. It would be nice to branch out who she knew.

Last updated on the January 12th 2016

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