Personal Talk

Writers: Avery, Suzee
Date Posted: 2nd September 2014

Characters: Cyradis, Ikalis
Description: Ikalis talks with Cyradis and thinks about family.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: K'deren, Chaysea

Cyradis

Ikalis had been a little droopy since the Hatching, but the existence of
Cyradis' new child was a nice thing. It meant she still had a place and
some tasks, right? To be put back to regular work and be sad would have
been too much to bear, she thought.

So when she came bearing drinks and snacks, she was bouncing up and
down. "How's the babe?"

"He's a lovely little guy," Cyradis looked up with a smile. "How are
you today Ikalis?" Cyradis liked the young woman who had been nothing
but smiles and helpfulness all through the time leading up to the
birth.

"You must be so happy getting to know him," she said a little wistfully.
Children was cute. She never wanted to have one herself, but... "I'm okay.
The Feast went off really well - I had plates sent to your weyr, but I
never heard what happened." She'd stayed up all night cooking and
cleaning.

"Yes you did, and thank you for that," Cyradis smiled. "I was so
hungry after the birth was all over." She shifted the baby to her
other breast and then looked back up again. "We really appreciated
it."

"I really like working for you, ma'am," Ikalis said simply. "It's a lot of
responsibility but it makes me proud."

"I'm glad you feel that way Ikalis," she smiled. "Because I find your
help has freed me for other thing and I do believe we'll need to
continue our arrangement for the foreseeable future. That is if you
agree?"

Her eyes widened at the idea. "I would love that, Weyrwoman."

"Well then," she smiled. "Thats settled. Would you like to stay awhile
and hold the baby while I have a bath?"

"Could I really?" That idea had some appeal. Maybe she;d get to know more
about what having a child was like. "I remember how to change nappies."

Cyradis stood up with Kendran in her arms and smiled at Ikalis. She'd
been responsive and even proactive in seeing to their needs and that
was a valuable quality to the Weyrwoman. "Sure," she said. "The
supplies are right here," she pointed to the basket near the baby's
cradle. "And you can change him on the bed. Just make sure to put the
oilcloth down first so he doesn't accidentally squirt the bed."
Cyradis smiled and handed the baby to Ikalis. "Just call out if you
have any questions."

Ikalis cradled him and made an interested coo at the baby. "Yeah, you're a
good one, aren't you? You have the most impressive set of parents..."

She continued to praise him and play for a bit, enjoying spending time
with the boy. These were the times when she understood how holder women
could be content with their lives - who couldn't find kids endearing?
Except maybe for some smells...

Cyradis shed her clothes and slipped into the warm waters with a sigh
of appreciation though she knew she didn't have long. Her breasts were
already getting heavy with milk so she knew Kendran would become fussy
soon. In too few minutes she was back out of the bath and pulling on
a fresh shift and dress before padding back to smile at the other
woman.

"Not bad," she grinned. "You must have a good touch, He doesn't stay
quiet for long."

"Feeling better?" she asked, knowing that being clean worked wonders on
one's state of mind. "I think I'm okay with the little ones."

"Oh yes," she sighed as she toweled her hair. "You're doing fine," she
nodded. Though she didn't think the younger woman would really want to
care for babies full time but she wouldn't hold her back if she did.
Children were a wonder and if her own duties weren't to the Weyr and
Panitath she knew she'd have been content to raise a pack of them.

"Sometimes I think I'd like to have one of my own, but then how can I
become an assistant and then a Headwoman? One day. Turns in the future,"
she added, not wanting to replace Chaysea immediately yet.

Cyradis smiled. "It's good to have ambition Ikalis," she said. "But
don't put off children because of it. You can still have your family
_and_ your job." Then she smiled at the younger woman. "Do you have a
father picked out?"

Ikalis shook her head. "I haven't really thought about it that far," she
admitted. "I don't have anyone special."

"Well thats the most important ingredient," Cyradis smiled and patted
her on the shoulder. "I don't think I would have done it again except
for K'deren."

Kendran had begun to squirm and turn his face seeking for his food
source so Cyradis chuckled and tossed the wet towel on the bed. Taking
her son from Ikalis she sat in her favorite chair and began to nurse
him. "He's such a little glutton," she chuckled.

"I guess we all were, at that age?"

"Yes," She chuckled. "Just like baby dragons, eat and sleep, eat and
sleep, that's how dragons grow." She sang that last line from the
childhood harper melody." Cyradis sighed. "I'll have to give him to
his foster mother soon enough, but for now I can just enjoy it."

"Before you have to go back to being the Weyrwoman and making all the
decisions?" Ikalis guessed. "It must be nice to have a change to be family
for a bit."

"Yes," Cyradis looked up with a smile. "You have to enjoy these
moments because they go by too fast."

Ikalis smiled back. "I like working with you because you really teach me a
lot, you know?" she said after a moment, her affection for the Weyrwoman
shining through.

Likewise, Cyradis' smile broadened. "I'm glad Ikalis. We can benefit
one another!"

Maybe she could even count the Weyrwoman friend. What a strange thought.
"I'm really glad you let me hold him today."

Last updated on the October 3rd 2014

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