Well, Hello.

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 24th January 2016

Characters: Ikalis, Crea
Description: Ikalis gets a date!
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 6 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Alina

Working with clay was a surprisingly sensual experience, one Crea could focus on completely. The spinning and humming of the wheel, the slippery firmness-softness of the clay, the pride of taking something from her thoughts and making it real; she truly enjoyed all of it. Right now she was putting the last touches on a vase that had been commissioned, pulling out the lip at the top ever so slightly.

"Hey, Crea!" another potter called. "One of the kitchen workers is coming down with a cart of food for us since we're all busy. Can you go meet her?"

Her? "In a minute," Crea said, and slowly let the wheel stop spinning. "Ah, there we go." The vase was complete. She got up, washed her hands in a basin, and set her apron aside, smoothing her pink dress as she walked to the entrance of the potters' workplace. Clasping her hands in front of her waist, she waited patiently.

Ikalis pushed the cart down the hall. She loved delivery duty. It meant going to parts of the Weyr she never normally went and meeting new people. Plus, it got her out the kitchens for a bit. She'd be there the whole estimated sevenday of Panitath's hatching, so she might as well have time outside of there now.

She knocked on the door of the potter's room. "Food delivery!" she singsonged.

Crea opened the door, and at first said nothing, instead giving Ikalis a long look from head to toe and back. When she met the cavern worker's eyes, her own had an expression the more hidebound sorts would complain should only be seen on men: Unadulterated interest. "Well.... Hello," Crea almost purred, smiling slowly. This young lady was delectable. Crea would have to draw her face from memory later. "Please, come in." She stepped back, pushing the door open wider.

Ikalis had been dressing for work and not for fun, but was it true that her shirt was tight and her blond hair curled attractively around her neck. "I bring delivery, just as ordered," she said as she pushed the cart in.

"We're very thankful for it," Crea told her, putting an eye-catching sway in her hips as she walked three steps ahead of Ikalis. "Lately it's been busier than usual. Hey, everyone, wash up. Soup's on," she called to her fellow potters, and got a chorus of slightly tired cheers. "See, it's been that hectic," she added to Ikalis with her usual crooked smile.

"Soup, fresh bread, and salad. I brought a variety of items," Ikalis added as she started pulling the cover off of the tray. "I made the bread myself just ten minutes ago."

"You are akin to an Ancient," another potter said as a rush to wash hands in sinks and basins commenced.

"I'm inclined to agree- I'm sorry, I didn't get your name," Crea mentioned, taking a couple steps closer to Ikalis.

"I try to be the best kitchen worker around," she said with a note of pride in her voice. "Oh, and I'm Ikalis. You are?"

**Extremely interested in asking you to join me for klah.** "I'm Crea. A pleasure indeed."

"Crea. Nice to meet you." Ikalis wasn't sure how she'd never noticed her before. "So what's everyone working on making?"

"We're fielding orders for more goblets, tankards, bowls, plates -those are especially important with an upcoming hatching-, and some luxury items like vases and cosmetics pots-" Crea suddenly clasped Ikalis' bicep gently and drew her away from the cart as the other potters swarmed it. "Hey, some manners," she chided, but they only waved apologetically. "I'm sorry, we really have been working too hard," she said, releasing Ikalis and lowering her hand.

"Huh, I never really realized how much you guys _did_."Ikalis feltbad for overlooking it. After all, people never realized how much the caverns workers did for the weyr either. She knew that as well as anyone.

"They're like hungry dragons on a herdbeast."

"That's probably the most flattering description you could give them," Crea laughed. "Anyway, it's okay. We know what we do, and that's fine by us." She raised her voice again. "At least leave me a sandwich or something, huh?"

"All right," another called back.

"Yeah, I coulda compared them to Thread," Ikalis joked.

Crea laughed another time. "Come on, they're not that bad," she said as the crowd began to disperse from the cart. She double-checked to make sure there was a plate left for her, then nodded to Ikalis. "Let me walk you to the door. I'll bring the cart back after the shift ends."

"You do that. I'd hate to lose the cart," Ikalis said back, wagging her finger and with a mock-stern impression on her face. "Us lower caverns workers would be _very_ disappointed in you. We might have to stop doing food deliveries. The special ones, I mean."

Shards, she was babbling on. But she really _did_ hope that Crea brought the cart back...

"Artisan's honor, I'll bring it back," Crea promised as they reached the door. "So." She took Ikalis' hand in hers, thumb caressing the other young woman's knuckles. "I don't suppose I could I convince you to join me for breakfast tomorrow?"

Ikalis' skin flushed with little bumps at Crea's touch. "Er, what time? I'm making bread but - I think I could spare it."

"The ninth hour, if that won't get you in trouble," the potter said. "And after that, I should like to get to know you better, if it's not too forward of me to say that." It seemed some of her holdbred manners hadn't left her entirely yet.

Ikalis' head was spinning. All those months she'd been pinning so much emotional hopes on a girl who wasn't looking her way like she hoped for. And now here was someone she'd just met who was seeming interested in her. In breakfast, sure. But who knew where else it could go? Wouldn't diversifying her friendships be a good idea? That way if Alina stopped talking to her again, it wouldn't be quite as bad...

"We'll have to talk about it over breakfast. That hour should be fine," the worker responded.

"Perfect. I'll be glad to discuss more with you." Crea gave her lopsided smile once more, and then proved she had shed more holdbred manners than she gave herself credit for by raising Ikalis' hand to her mouth to kiss her knuckles. "Have a good night, lovely."

A warm flush spread over Ikalis' face at the press of soft lips against her hand's skin. "I - I will. See you at breakfast," she stammered.

"Looking forward to it," Crea said, and sashayed back into the room, shutting the door gently. After making sure no one was paying attention, she performed a victorious fist-pump.

Last updated on the January 27th 2016

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