Who: Cathryn, Jacta, and Harlan
When: Anesus 1, from 6 AM until ??
Where: To start, the kitchens of the Compound.
Cathryn had found herself wide awake and clear eyed at 6 on the dot, despite having gone to bed less than five hours before. Longstanding habits were having a hard time breaking, and she'd not been up late enough consecutively to change her circadian rhythms yet. The sun rose, and so would Cathryn.
The halls seemed mostly quiet as she walked toward the stairs, and then up them. From somewhere, probably outside, she heard birds chirping. The relative normality of birds making themselves a nuisance put a spring in Cathryn's step, and helped guide her mind towards things like eggs and bacon. Whether or not these were actually in stock Cathryn figured she'd found out once she'd scavenged the kitchen. Granted, as she entered the (to her) vast hall of the kitchen, a search might be time consuming, but the rewards would be well worth the time spent becoming familiar with the placement of necessities and niceties around the kitchen.
When: Anesus 1, from 6 AM until ??
Where: To start, the kitchens of the Compound.
Cathryn had found herself wide awake and clear eyed at 6 on the dot, despite having gone to bed less than five hours before. Longstanding habits were having a hard time breaking, and she'd not been up late enough consecutively to change her circadian rhythms yet. The sun rose, and so would Cathryn.
The halls seemed mostly quiet as she walked toward the stairs, and then up them. From somewhere, probably outside, she heard birds chirping. The relative normality of birds making themselves a nuisance put a spring in Cathryn's step, and helped guide her mind towards things like eggs and bacon. Whether or not these were actually in stock Cathryn figured she'd found out once she'd scavenged the kitchen. Granted, as she entered the (to her) vast hall of the kitchen, a search might be time consuming, but the rewards would be well worth the time spent becoming familiar with the placement of necessities and niceties around the kitchen.
An hour and a half later, and Cathryn had something approaching bacon (the venison would make do, if be a bit gamy) in an iron skillet, a decent fire in the cooking fire of her choice, and eggs she'd been lucky enough to find and were close to turning into a less than lucky find. There was even a load of older bread that was being fried up along with the jerky, and the smells were mouth-wateringly good.
It had taken that extra hour or so for Jacta simply to get up and active, even if the sun was up and she usually woke at an early hour. She felt stiff and sore, and when confronted with the thought of rising and shining, both were the last things on her mind.
She had spent a good long time examining herself in the mirror, since this was quite literally the first time that she'd had utter and uninterrupted privacy since she had arrived. The caravan that she'd called home had had latches on every enclosed wagon but they just didn't stand up to a solid, locked door. Anyways, she couldn't see a change, yet, when she looked in the mirror. She didn't really expect one, not so early in. She was even fairly certain that the back stiffness was purely due to the long ride she'd undertaken in the past days, rather than any internal reaction. But that didn't change the fact that she knew. She was no life mage, but Jacta was more sensitive to magic than average, as far as she had discovered when the topic came up.
After standing sideways, puffing out her belly, turning the other way, and generally trying to come up with a plan to deal with this... change, she got herself dressed, washed her face, and determined to stop worrying about it. She'd simply take things as they came.
Jacta was slow on the stairs, feeling a little leisurely without the impetus of packing up and moving on. There was no road to travel, no next stop to make. There was however, a friend in the making to meet, and the young human realized that she'd probably been making Cathryn wait. At about the same time, that smell of game and eggs wafted over, enough to make the woman realize that she hadn't eaten for quite a while.
Glad that she wasn't (or at least wasn't yet) displaying the nauseousness that she'd seen in other women, Jacta hurried down the last dozen steps and out into the kitchen. She caught sight of Cathryn tending to a cooking fire, the smells of breakfast thick in the air. "I should have known the smell of good food in the air was your fault," Jacta greeted, smiling brightly, feeling more awake and comfortable now that she was in the company of a possibly-friend. "I'm sorry I didn't come down earlier. The travel was a little harder than usual." She swept closer, scanning the situation. "What can I help with?" she asked, noting the venison and eggs and deciding that finding something on the leafy side might be in order without even having to be asked.
She had spent a good long time examining herself in the mirror, since this was quite literally the first time that she'd had utter and uninterrupted privacy since she had arrived. The caravan that she'd called home had had latches on every enclosed wagon but they just didn't stand up to a solid, locked door. Anyways, she couldn't see a change, yet, when she looked in the mirror. She didn't really expect one, not so early in. She was even fairly certain that the back stiffness was purely due to the long ride she'd undertaken in the past days, rather than any internal reaction. But that didn't change the fact that she knew. She was no life mage, but Jacta was more sensitive to magic than average, as far as she had discovered when the topic came up.
After standing sideways, puffing out her belly, turning the other way, and generally trying to come up with a plan to deal with this... change, she got herself dressed, washed her face, and determined to stop worrying about it. She'd simply take things as they came.
Jacta was slow on the stairs, feeling a little leisurely without the impetus of packing up and moving on. There was no road to travel, no next stop to make. There was however, a friend in the making to meet, and the young human realized that she'd probably been making Cathryn wait. At about the same time, that smell of game and eggs wafted over, enough to make the woman realize that she hadn't eaten for quite a while.
Glad that she wasn't (or at least wasn't yet) displaying the nauseousness that she'd seen in other women, Jacta hurried down the last dozen steps and out into the kitchen. She caught sight of Cathryn tending to a cooking fire, the smells of breakfast thick in the air. "I should have known the smell of good food in the air was your fault," Jacta greeted, smiling brightly, feeling more awake and comfortable now that she was in the company of a possibly-friend. "I'm sorry I didn't come down earlier. The travel was a little harder than usual." She swept closer, scanning the situation. "What can I help with?" she asked, noting the venison and eggs and deciding that finding something on the leafy side might be in order without even having to be asked.
Cathryn spared a look over her shoulder, the subdued, mostly-smile that passed for her friendly on her lips. "Morning!" Was her first sunny remark, followed by, "I wondered just how far this scent was carrying. I think I've heard a few curious noses this morning, but no faces have shown up to go with the snufflings." She gave a pragmatic shrug, having no idea how the Lykos, who she was presuming had been the earlier noses, interacted socially anyway.
"If you'd like to make up anything else, a salad, fruit if you can find some, flat-cakes if you're inclined to spend the energy, I'd be right thankful for anything you'd like to contribute."
Offloading her current skillet-full of goodies onto one of the hardy plates she'd scrounged up earlier, Cathryn took a moment to gather her hair back up and out of her face. She had a healthy flush going on, from working near the fire. "Nice to sleep on a bed after traveling, I have to say. Even if the bed is a strange one, and the wool could use a good airing out."
"If you'd like to make up anything else, a salad, fruit if you can find some, flat-cakes if you're inclined to spend the energy, I'd be right thankful for anything you'd like to contribute."
Offloading her current skillet-full of goodies onto one of the hardy plates she'd scrounged up earlier, Cathryn took a moment to gather her hair back up and out of her face. She had a healthy flush going on, from working near the fire. "Nice to sleep on a bed after traveling, I have to say. Even if the bed is a strange one, and the wool could use a good airing out."
"You too, huh?" Jacta had gone rummaging in the pantry, but couldn't find anything fresh, aside from the staple of apples and some some barrels of what appeared to be... juices? Interesting.
So she brought out some of the dried fruit and got to work on some flour, thinking that at the very least a fruity bannock would be worth the making. She'd found a bowl in which to mix the various components she'd scrounged up, and began to add and stir as she continued, "I was thinking the exact same thing -- I'm pretty sure that a man must have had my room last. That or a dog," she caught herself just as the word slipped out, then shrugged. If any Lykos wandering by was offended by her words, she had a right to defend herself... whomever had lived in her room before had left a smell something like dog in the wool of her mattress!
"Has anybody else been down here?" Jacta asked, having noticed that the kitchen was barren even at this ripe hour.
So she brought out some of the dried fruit and got to work on some flour, thinking that at the very least a fruity bannock would be worth the making. She'd found a bowl in which to mix the various components she'd scrounged up, and began to add and stir as she continued, "I was thinking the exact same thing -- I'm pretty sure that a man must have had my room last. That or a dog," she caught herself just as the word slipped out, then shrugged. If any Lykos wandering by was offended by her words, she had a right to defend herself... whomever had lived in her room before had left a smell something like dog in the wool of her mattress!
"Has anybody else been down here?" Jacta asked, having noticed that the kitchen was barren even at this ripe hour.
"The fire wasn't cold when I woke up, but no one's said a word inside of here. Either everyone's a late riser, or the older residents are giving us as much space as they can until tonight." Cathryn wasn't clear about the mechanics of the Compound, but it did at least appear to be a possibility.
"Outside of hearing a few curious noses, there's only been you and the birds."
Cathryn ended up by the washing tub, where some of the bowls she'd been using currently say in. "I'll nip out for some water to start heating," she said to Jacta, indicating the sink in case the other woman looked her way. Cathryn had been snacking off and on as she cooked, so didn't feel an immediate, pressing urge to sit down and inhale her own share. After all, she'd certainly made more than enough! Who knew if any of the other new arrivals were decent cooks? Jacta appeared to know what she was doing, and that gave Cathryn faith, but two was a very small number when compared to the Compound as a whole.
Stepping into the well-room, Cathryn concentrated on filling up one of the buckets lined against the wall. She came back, not sloshing (no effort wasted, or doubled!) with her steady, sure pace. She'd need a cauldron to heat the water in, but there were several of differing sizes littered throughout the kitchen as a whole.
"Outside of hearing a few curious noses, there's only been you and the birds."
Cathryn ended up by the washing tub, where some of the bowls she'd been using currently say in. "I'll nip out for some water to start heating," she said to Jacta, indicating the sink in case the other woman looked her way. Cathryn had been snacking off and on as she cooked, so didn't feel an immediate, pressing urge to sit down and inhale her own share. After all, she'd certainly made more than enough! Who knew if any of the other new arrivals were decent cooks? Jacta appeared to know what she was doing, and that gave Cathryn faith, but two was a very small number when compared to the Compound as a whole.
Stepping into the well-room, Cathryn concentrated on filling up one of the buckets lined against the wall. She came back, not sloshing (no effort wasted, or doubled!) with her steady, sure pace. She'd need a cauldron to heat the water in, but there were several of differing sizes littered throughout the kitchen as a whole.
A moment later, a blonde, bespectacled young man came in after Cathryn, hauling another bucket of water. His was rather less full than hers, and he looked rather less comfortable carrying it, but he was doing his best. "Ah, people are up. You two are certainly early risers." Ah, he remembered that, from back on the farm... he'd kicked that habit rather quickly, actually, once settled in here. Staying up past midnight to see what, if anything, immediate the nightly test might bring tended to make one sleep in later.
He did look a little older than them, for all he wasn't terribly tall and was really quite slender, but it was probably hard to tell. He, however, could definitely tell they were new. He heaved his own bucket up onto one of the tables with a heavy sigh. "One of these days we need to make the Vrykolas design something, some kind of pully or wheel system, to get water in here without all the lugging," he complained amiably, sounding a bit out of breath.
He did look a little older than them, for all he wasn't terribly tall and was really quite slender, but it was probably hard to tell. He, however, could definitely tell they were new. He heaved his own bucket up onto one of the tables with a heavy sigh. "One of these days we need to make the Vrykolas design something, some kind of pully or wheel system, to get water in here without all the lugging," he complained amiably, sounding a bit out of breath.
"Me and the birds are the only ones who know better," Jacta joked, settling back to task as Cathryn left the room. When she returned, the darker woman had taken over the cooking fire, setting the doughy mixture over a makeshift spit to cook. It wasn't particularly fancy fare, but it would make a decent addition to what Cathryn had cooked.
Speaking of which, by the time that the farm-girl had returned with her water and was looking around for a cauldron, Jacta'd crammed a smaller piece of venison into her mouth and was chewing on it happily enough. She noticed that they'd have need for a second fire if they were both going to get morning work done, and hopped to the nearest pile of stored wood. "Yn wb en'ubb'r b'r?" she asked around her mouth-full, looked as though she was concentrating, swallowed, and repeated, "you want another fire started?"
And that was when she saw a strange face. She set the wood down half-in the second fireplace, returned to the bannock and shifted it, and greeted him. "It's nice to see another face around here after the sun rises. I take it you're not one of us new arrivals?" She had looked him up and down and apparently wasn't entirely impressed with him -- he looked and acted weak -- but the fact that he was the first one up who'd introduced himself, and the fact that he very likely was familiar with the grounds earned him quite a few points in her book.
Speaking of which, by the time that the farm-girl had returned with her water and was looking around for a cauldron, Jacta'd crammed a smaller piece of venison into her mouth and was chewing on it happily enough. She noticed that they'd have need for a second fire if they were both going to get morning work done, and hopped to the nearest pile of stored wood. "Yn wb en'ubb'r b'r?" she asked around her mouth-full, looked as though she was concentrating, swallowed, and repeated, "you want another fire started?"
And that was when she saw a strange face. She set the wood down half-in the second fireplace, returned to the bannock and shifted it, and greeted him. "It's nice to see another face around here after the sun rises. I take it you're not one of us new arrivals?" She had looked him up and down and apparently wasn't entirely impressed with him -- he looked and acted weak -- but the fact that he was the first one up who'd introduced himself, and the fact that he very likely was familiar with the grounds earned him quite a few points in her book.
Cathryn had looked over at Jacta, again, when Harlan had spoken up behind her. His comment about the Vrykolas did prod her into thinking, as reluctant as she was to wake the limited multicultural section of her brain. "That's right, the Vrykolas are the inventors, aren't they?"
She shook her head, then finally responded to Jacta's earlier question. "Yes, another fire would be good." Still near the new arrival, Cathryn returned her attention to him for the moment. "The name's Cathryn Ivensbury. Who might you be?" She noted the slight shortness of breath, but given his similarly slight frame, currently figured this was a likely indication of how much hard labor he was used to inside the Compound.
She shook her head, then finally responded to Jacta's earlier question. "Yes, another fire would be good." Still near the new arrival, Cathryn returned her attention to him for the moment. "The name's Cathryn Ivensbury. Who might you be?" She noted the slight shortness of breath, but given his similarly slight frame, currently figured this was a likely indication of how much hard labor he was used to inside the Compound.
"Yep, they sure are," Harlan said, smiling a little and pushing his glasses down his nose a little, so he could see the girls' faces a little more clearly. "Inventors, I mean. Excellent at it, I kind of wish they'd share a bit more, personally."
He shook the little ramble off with a rueful smile. "I'm Harlan. Harlan Porscoli. And no, I've been here two years now-- pleasure to meet you both." They seemed human, to him. Plenty of clothes, no manes of hair down the back, and he doubted they'd be in the kitchen this time of day if they were Vrykolas.
He shook the little ramble off with a rueful smile. "I'm Harlan. Harlan Porscoli. And no, I've been here two years now-- pleasure to meet you both." They seemed human, to him. Plenty of clothes, no manes of hair down the back, and he doubted they'd be in the kitchen this time of day if they were Vrykolas.
Jacta ignored the conversation for the moment, instead focussing on getting a fire started. She'd found some kindling and uttered a word to help the incendiary process -- a little wave of chill rushed away from her hands as she channeled energy from a lit match into the kindling proper. The fire needed a little more coaxing, but Jacta was confident that it wouldn't gutter. She'd made more than enough fires in her time to know how to start one in these excellent conditions!
When that was done, and enough small logs were tented over the kindling to catch light, she turned her attention back to the other two humans. "Jacta Serosum," she greeted, smiling, nodding. Turning her attention back to the other fire, she checked the bannock and then removed the first batch from the licking flames, handling the spit with the balled up fabric of her over-skirt. Moving with business-like fluidity (hampered mostly by her lack of knowledge about her work-space), the human found a fork with which to scrape the crispy looking pastries onto a plate. She talked over her shoulder, not so much as pausing in her work to address the others. "So if you don't mind my asking, Harlan, what's the story with all of the other late-risers? I'd have thought that this place would be teeming most of the time. What is it, a hundred residents that live here? I'd've thought more than three of us would be ghostly visitors!"
When that was done, and enough small logs were tented over the kindling to catch light, she turned her attention back to the other two humans. "Jacta Serosum," she greeted, smiling, nodding. Turning her attention back to the other fire, she checked the bannock and then removed the first batch from the licking flames, handling the spit with the balled up fabric of her over-skirt. Moving with business-like fluidity (hampered mostly by her lack of knowledge about her work-space), the human found a fork with which to scrape the crispy looking pastries onto a plate. She talked over her shoulder, not so much as pausing in her work to address the others. "So if you don't mind my asking, Harlan, what's the story with all of the other late-risers? I'd have thought that this place would be teeming most of the time. What is it, a hundred residents that live here? I'd've thought more than three of us would be ghostly visitors!"
Cathryn was impressed with Jacta's creation. "smells wonderful," she said, nodding toward where Taito had been working. She, too, was interested in hearing if this morning quiet was entirely normal for the Compound. "Halle you eaten yet, Harlan?"
she waited for his answer to both their questions. She had a few more for this senior member of the Compound.
she waited for his answer to both their questions. She had a few more for this senior member of the Compound.
"Haven't eaten yet, no," Harlan answered the-- in his mind, given it was his stomach wrapping around his spine at the thought of food-- more immediate of the questions first. "Was coming down here to do so, actually." And to bring something up for his sister, but that was neither here nor there. "Want some help with yours?" he offered, sliding his bucket over to join Cathryn's and peering at what she was making, this time through the spectacles.
"Mostly, everyone was up so late last night," he added for Jacta's benefit, "that we're all sleeping in. And the Vrykolas probably just went to bed. I'm surprised you two are up this early, you can't possibly have been in bed, what, before two? You'll find we sleep well past dawn around here, since most of us stay up for the challenges at half-past."
"Mostly, everyone was up so late last night," he added for Jacta's benefit, "that we're all sleeping in. And the Vrykolas probably just went to bed. I'm surprised you two are up this early, you can't possibly have been in bed, what, before two? You'll find we sleep well past dawn around here, since most of us stay up for the challenges at half-past."
"Oh?" Jacta asked of these 'challenges', settling a second spits-worth of dough over the already prepped fire -- this time to the side so that a cauldron could take main stage. The young woman smiled again, this time Cathryn's way, and gestured to the half a dozen or so finished biscuits. "Feel free to have some. They taste best with jelly." She did help herself to a plate full of the venison and eggs before they got too cold, leaning back against one of the counters to eat and to converse more conveniently.
Cathryn nodded thanks to Jacta, deftly picking up one of the biscuits before adapting a similar position to the other woman. "Help yourself to the eggs and such as well," she said to Harlan. "More than enough to go around."
the looming probability of a schedule shift was somewhat peculiar, as Cathryn's life had, like she was sure was the case with many other of the new arrivals, been closely linked with the rising patterns of The sun and not the necessity of late evening. "Everyone's awake for these challenges, then. Do they need to be so immediately answered? Maybe for the sake of those inclined to be up an night, anyhow?"
the looming probability of a schedule shift was somewhat peculiar, as Cathryn's life had, like she was sure was the case with many other of the new arrivals, been closely linked with the rising patterns of The sun and not the necessity of late evening. "Everyone's awake for these challenges, then. Do they need to be so immediately answered? Maybe for the sake of those inclined to be up an night, anyhow?"
"Well, only most of us stay up for them," Harlan clarified with a smile. "And really, it depends on the challenge. Some of us, like me, hate to be surprised, so I want to find out what's going on as soon as I can." It was to the point where if, at half-past midnight, something wasn't obviously changed, he'd get tense and uncomfortable until he found out what it was. "Sometimes we don't know until later, sometimes we find out then and there and have to deal with it then and there."
He did, indeed, help himself to the eggs and meat, with a grateful, "Thank you. I'm not so good at cooking, honestly... though I get by when I have to."
He did, indeed, help himself to the eggs and meat, with a grateful, "Thank you. I'm not so good at cooking, honestly... though I get by when I have to."
"So what kind of challenges are we looking at?" Jacta asked, finishing the eggs that she'd shoveled down, setting her plate down to attend to the second batch of biscuits. One more batch and she'd start on washing up... but the thought of facing challenges every night at the most awkward of hours...
Things weren't looking promising. And here she'd thought that her worst worries were going to be lazy or late-rising compound-mates!
Things weren't looking promising. And here she'd thought that her worst worries were going to be lazy or late-rising compound-mates!
Cathryn put the water to boil over a second fire, having finished with what she wanted for breakfast. "Then we all fend for ourselves, in cooking, do we?" she said, loud enough to be heard, but not directed toward either of the kitchen's occupants.
She was interested in knowing what sorts of challenges awaited her, much like Jacta. She awaited Harlan's response while the water heated slowly to a boil.
She was interested in knowing what sorts of challenges awaited her, much like Jacta. She awaited Harlan's response while the water heated slowly to a boil.
"Not necessarily," Harlan answered Cathryn first, after swallowing his bite of eggs. "There are people who make it part of their chore list to work the kitchen. But sometimes you need to fix something on the go, or you want something the kitchen workers don't like to make. As for tests...."
He paused for a hastily-bitten-off bite of not-pig bacon, and made a near-blissful face as he took a moment to chew. "This is very good," he said, "thank you. As for tests, it varies. It could be anything from, say, all the bedrooms in the castle suddenly being locked, so no one can get into them, to a great storm we have to weather. Sometimes a test will be personal, focused only on you, or species-oriented, focused on a one of the three species, or compound-wide. The mages in charge of this place use the natural and social as well as the magical to challenge us."
He paused for a hastily-bitten-off bite of not-pig bacon, and made a near-blissful face as he took a moment to chew. "This is very good," he said, "thank you. As for tests, it varies. It could be anything from, say, all the bedrooms in the castle suddenly being locked, so no one can get into them, to a great storm we have to weather. Sometimes a test will be personal, focused only on you, or species-oriented, focused on a one of the three species, or compound-wide. The mages in charge of this place use the natural and social as well as the magical to challenge us."
The idea of fending for herself for cooking, or being assigned to cooking chores throughout the day was something of a disappointment... but something that Jacta assumed that she'd adjust to. She was used to doing a number of different, equally important tasks every day to help keep everybody moving, and she supposed that nothing would be different here, either. She simply hoped that she could come to trust others to do their part!
The variety of tests seemed far more impractical, and as Harlan kept talking, she found a temporary drop in her appetite. "Those sound almost cruel," she finally said, then finished off her portion. "Do the tests at least follow a schedule?" She cast a look at Cathryn, expecting the other human to feel similarly to her about randomly being locked out of her room or cast into the middle of a hail storm.
The variety of tests seemed far more impractical, and as Harlan kept talking, she found a temporary drop in her appetite. "Those sound almost cruel," she finally said, then finished off her portion. "Do the tests at least follow a schedule?" She cast a look at Cathryn, expecting the other human to feel similarly to her about randomly being locked out of her room or cast into the middle of a hail storm.
Cathryn, for her part, looked blatantly unsettled. "They really do pool the best and the brightest to run this place, don't they?" She shook her head, sighed, and determined to start working on the dishes she could. "Pardon," she said as she managed to get some of the hot water into the bucket again, bringing it back toward the drain.
"I can understand weathering what could be real, like these storms you speak of, but why target individuals? Life's hard enough as is, tossing more mud in the face of those already battling the extremes does seem cruel. When you say individual, Harlan," she said, turning to look at the older man. "How individual do you mean?"
"I can understand weathering what could be real, like these storms you speak of, but why target individuals? Life's hard enough as is, tossing more mud in the face of those already battling the extremes does seem cruel. When you say individual, Harlan," she said, turning to look at the older man. "How individual do you mean?"
"The schedule is simple: one change a night," Harlan said, voice apologetic. "Sometimes the change is related to the previous test, sometimes it isn't. It really is fairly unpredictable, I'm afraid. And by individual, I don't mean that something will affect only you-- because unless you are completely isolated here, it will affect everyone around you. Your friends, your enemies, anything. For example, last year, my key vanished. I couldn't lock my room. I had to come up with ways to keep people out of my room, or they would take my things." Still did, sometimes, when they managed to get through the locked door....
Jacta was simply staring now, work forgotten. If the maintainers of the compound were cruel enough to cause a crippled young man to have to fight for his right to a moment of peace, she didn't want to know what they might have in store for her in the coming months. She made a noise akin to a 'hmph!' and gathered some of the plates and bowls she'd used, making ready to help with washing once she'd finished with the last of the bannock. "I can see how it would be an act of committing to solidarity, at least theoretically..." she didn't sound impressed. Then again, Jacta rarely did, when things reached the theoretical level. "But that's a damned cruel prank to pull. How did you get another key? Or did they return it to you after a fashion?"
"Too well done," she huffed, "Too well done to provoke both the virtues and the vices! What a pain." She shook her head, and took to washing dishes with a vengeance. "No bad intent meant, Harlan, but when it looks like a good wind would blow you over, I hardly see what else you learn outside of how likely the dishonest will be to cheat you!"
She set her lips in a frown, shaking her head as if the more she tossed the ideas around, the better sense Harlan's answers would make. "What about illness? Or injury? Are any of the Life mages in this school actively practicing? And what about maintenance? How are chore rotations set up? Is everything volunteer run?" Her mind, sometimes inquisitive, was simply trying to make the Compound make sense according to the world she'd been familiar with.
As for the Life mages... in the next few years, with diligence, Cathryn knew she'd progress fairly stably. The unfortunate side of that paradox being that unless she found a Partner, the stability of that progress would hold only so far.
"Must have been set up by women," she muttered. "We're the only ones wily enough to be so creatively difficult!" The impression Cathryn gave off was that this quality she saw in herself and several other females wasn't, exactly, highly prized.
She set her lips in a frown, shaking her head as if the more she tossed the ideas around, the better sense Harlan's answers would make. "What about illness? Or injury? Are any of the Life mages in this school actively practicing? And what about maintenance? How are chore rotations set up? Is everything volunteer run?" Her mind, sometimes inquisitive, was simply trying to make the Compound make sense according to the world she'd been familiar with.
As for the Life mages... in the next few years, with diligence, Cathryn knew she'd progress fairly stably. The unfortunate side of that paradox being that unless she found a Partner, the stability of that progress would hold only so far.
"Must have been set up by women," she muttered. "We're the only ones wily enough to be so creatively difficult!" The impression Cathryn gave off was that this quality she saw in herself and several other females wasn't, exactly, highly prized.
Harlan had to laugh at Cathryn's last comment. "Well, considering our people are the ones running most of the tests, you're probably right. I got my key back a week later, after I'd figured out some rather clever, if I do say so myself, booby traps on my door, bartered myself a door guard, and finally made peace with the worst of my tormentors. It's all about making you think creatively and work together with other people. And I take no offense to something spoken in truth," he added serenely. "I do look like I could be knocked over by a stiff wind. I have, in fact."
He took a pause to eat a bit more, stealing one of Jacta's little cakes, as well. Information for food: seemed a fair trade, to him. After a few more bites, he got back to the questions. "So chores. They are, largely, volunteer-based. You sign up for chores you would prefer to do-- you don't always get them, if the chores you sign up for are popular, but they do try to be fair about it. It's all on an honor system, as we really have no way to make you do your work-- but if you don't, things won't get done, and people will know it was you who shirked. Any heavy maintenance is done by a combination of our work and the outside mages, and any healing is handled in-compound. There are a few aspiring Life mages in here, and the older Vrykola get better with their healing magic, but we do a lot of things by hand."
He took a pause to eat a bit more, stealing one of Jacta's little cakes, as well. Information for food: seemed a fair trade, to him. After a few more bites, he got back to the questions. "So chores. They are, largely, volunteer-based. You sign up for chores you would prefer to do-- you don't always get them, if the chores you sign up for are popular, but they do try to be fair about it. It's all on an honor system, as we really have no way to make you do your work-- but if you don't, things won't get done, and people will know it was you who shirked. Any heavy maintenance is done by a combination of our work and the outside mages, and any healing is handled in-compound. There are a few aspiring Life mages in here, and the older Vrykola get better with their healing magic, but we do a lot of things by hand."
Jacta didn't seem to mind the theft of the biscuit -- there was an entire platter of the fruit-filled pastries, after all, and one or two were enough for her besides what Cathryn had made. "Working together with others I can handle," she mused, "creativity though..." She shrugged.
A worse thought came to mind. "How on Trivald does work get done on an honor system where we barely know one another and are disrupted every night of the week?" This was beginning to sound more and more ludicrous!
A worse thought came to mind. "How on Trivald does work get done on an honor system where we barely know one another and are disrupted every night of the week?" This was beginning to sound more and more ludicrous!
"Particularly," Cathryn added, "how are the less creative of us also to fend for ourselves? I admit I am not exactly meant for pondering outside of the practical realm of life." She paused, having quieted herself as the water sloshed around her hands.
"Jacta, I suppose we need to believe in enough honesty from each other to hold this place together." She snorted, looking somewhat dubious, turning to directly regard her two current companions as much as she could. "After all, somehow it's managed for eleven years by now." She eyed Harlan again, looking him over. "Does anything ever stick to those bones of yours?"
"Jacta, I suppose we need to believe in enough honesty from each other to hold this place together." She snorted, looking somewhat dubious, turning to directly regard her two current companions as much as she could. "After all, somehow it's managed for eleven years by now." She eyed Harlan again, looking him over. "Does anything ever stick to those bones of yours?"
"The disruptions aren't that bad," Harlan assured her. "Not all the time. And not all the tests will affect you, either-- having my key disappear didn't bother anyone else or disrupt any schedules except my own and whomever decided to pick on me. And there are <u>some</u> people who will try to make you do your chores if you don't. There are always slackers and there are always would-be militia."
After pausing for another of those terribly tasty pastries, and another compliment-- "These are really wonderful, Jacta, and no, I've always been reedy, Cathryn,"-- Harlan continued. "If you aren't the creative type, there are plenty of people who will help you out. I refuse to be pessimistic about the entire world's population; there are some decent ones among us, at least."
After pausing for another of those terribly tasty pastries, and another compliment-- "These are really wonderful, Jacta, and no, I've always been reedy, Cathryn,"-- Harlan continued. "If you aren't the creative type, there are plenty of people who will help you out. I refuse to be pessimistic about the entire world's population; there are some decent ones among us, at least."
Jacta smiled and nodded. "Very simple to make. I'll show you next time, if you want."
Then back to the topic at hand, "Well, I know two people that I wouldn't mind relying on," she indicated the both of them. "I'm certain that there are more to come in the next six years... it would be nice to see some more order here from the very get-go, though." She enjoyed order. It was one thing that was constant in her life since she was very young: bringing order from shambles, helping to enhance everybody's quality of life. Not that she did all of this on her own, but it was her family's and her company's strongest value set, so of course she wanted to continue to follow it!
The dark young woman brought her dishes over to the bucket that Cathryn was working in, scrubbing at the gluey mess of batter that had been hardening on the ceramic bowl she'd been using. "Are you still up for that exploring, Cathryn?" she asked. She thought she might give Harlan a break from all of the questions she'd been asking. Once she knew where he lived, she could be counted on to knock on his door when she needed answers later!
Then back to the topic at hand, "Well, I know two people that I wouldn't mind relying on," she indicated the both of them. "I'm certain that there are more to come in the next six years... it would be nice to see some more order here from the very get-go, though." She enjoyed order. It was one thing that was constant in her life since she was very young: bringing order from shambles, helping to enhance everybody's quality of life. Not that she did all of this on her own, but it was her family's and her company's strongest value set, so of course she wanted to continue to follow it!
The dark young woman brought her dishes over to the bucket that Cathryn was working in, scrubbing at the gluey mess of batter that had been hardening on the ceramic bowl she'd been using. "Are you still up for that exploring, Cathryn?" she asked. She thought she might give Harlan a break from all of the questions she'd been asking. Once she knew where he lived, she could be counted on to knock on his door when she needed answers later!
Cathryn gave Jacta her usual almost-smile, and nodded. "Yes, actually. I'd appreciate the movement, a bit of a chance to loosen up from the stiff muscles I woke up with." She'd noticed the statement Jacta had made, about people she wouldn't mind trusting, and filed it away as a certain thing. Cathryn felt she, too, could at least trust Jacta to be capable, friendly, and as likely to want to get things done as Cathryn herself. Harlan was also friendly, and for all his less-than-sturdy frame, he gave every appearance of being equally dependable.
How wonderful! She had opinions, and they were good ones, of these folks.
How wonderful! She had opinions, and they were good ones, of these folks.
Harlan gave Jacta a warm smile, pleased at the opinion. He might not be the most social or sturdy member of the compound, but he did hope that his people, at least, felt comfortable coming to him. "I think I'll leave the exploring up to you ladies. If you have any questions, though, I'm upstairs in block five, room number one. --Oh, and do you mind if I take a the last of these?" He plucked up another of Jacta's pastries; they were almost all gone, now, but there would be enough to whet Arie's appetite, at least. "For my sister, she's in your year, but I believe she's still abed...." Though she wouldn't be for long, once he brought these upstairs.
"So long as they don't go to waste," Jacta affirmed, "you can have as many as you like. Thanks for your help, Harlan." Block five, room one. She would remember that! She'd finished with her cleaning up and was setting the bowls and utensils where she'd found them, wiping her hands off on that overskirt, which was already seeing wear today. Good thing it was sturdy!
"So, inside this morning or outside? Should I be going to grab a cloak?"
"So, inside this morning or outside? Should I be going to grab a cloak?"
"Outside," Cathryn said, upending the used water in her bucket before turning back to Jacta. "If everyone else is still abed, I'd prefer to be out and about than inside and even accidentally making a racket. Besides, daylight's good and fine by now, and I'm curious to see around now. Must be something in the eyes of the other people, seeing well when my father wouldn't let us so much as tip-toe around the stockyard!"
She looked around woefully, having realized she'd mislaid her heavy shawl. "There's a bit more I can do around here, trying to find my shawl as well, if you'd like to grab a cloak." She nodded to Jacta. "Unless you have strong objections, of course, wouldn't want to be pushy when I hardly have a stone to stand on myself!"
She looked around woefully, having realized she'd mislaid her heavy shawl. "There's a bit more I can do around here, trying to find my shawl as well, if you'd like to grab a cloak." She nodded to Jacta. "Unless you have strong objections, of course, wouldn't want to be pushy when I hardly have a stone to stand on myself!"
After listening to the girls talk a moment while he collected the last of the little biscuits for Arie, Harlan took his leave quietly and with a smile. It was good to have new faces and new voices in the compound.
Jacta raised a hand. "No objections, no problems. I'll be back down in a minute. I've been curious about what's outside, too... we had to come up that long path and that wall must run for miles. I'll be back!"
She took her leave as well a minute or two after Harlan, and by the time that she'd got to her room, grabbed her cloak, an descended from the staircase again, she'd noticed a few people milling about. It made her feel much better to know that there was life in the compound, even if it was largely composed of strangers. Jacta nodded greeting to those that looked her way, but she was intent on hers and Cathryn's current goal and so didn't stop to talk.
Back in the kitchen again, the human had folded her cloak over her arm, her hair was wrapped up and her ears covered by a thicker scarf. "Anything else left to do down here?" she asked, looking around just to be sure.
She took her leave as well a minute or two after Harlan, and by the time that she'd got to her room, grabbed her cloak, an descended from the staircase again, she'd noticed a few people milling about. It made her feel much better to know that there was life in the compound, even if it was largely composed of strangers. Jacta nodded greeting to those that looked her way, but she was intent on hers and Cathryn's current goal and so didn't stop to talk.
Back in the kitchen again, the human had folded her cloak over her arm, her hair was wrapped up and her ears covered by a thicker scarf. "Anything else left to do down here?" she asked, looking around just to be sure.
Cathryn offered her normal almost-smile, and shook her head. "Everything's taken care of for our part down here." A few unfamiliar faces and bodies had come in and out since Jacta had been upstairs, but Cathryn had been moving around too much herself to do much more than nod cordially to those she'd seen.
"If you're ready, then now's a good as time as ever to set off. A few of these folks might even prove themselves to be helpful."
"If you're ready, then now's a good as time as ever to set off. A few of these folks might even prove themselves to be helpful."
Jacta surveyed the new faces that had since filtered into the kitchen, noting that they were beginning with their morning rituals, which meant that most would probably not be interested in wandering outside in the cold, early rays of morning. "I'm rather more looking forward to the adventure," admitted she, "afterwards, maybe we can come back and ask these people for more information, but have you never just wanted to explore something for yourself?" Call it an adventurous spirit, if you will!
She hooked an arm around Cathryn's own, moving towards the outer door at a quick trot. "Let's just get out there and see things for ourselves, shall we?"
She hooked an arm around Cathryn's own, moving towards the outer door at a quick trot. "Let's just get out there and see things for ourselves, shall we?"