The slow, patient sounds of a practicing harpist echo through the Lower Caverns some days later. An old man, with grey hair streaked with strands of black that refused to turn, picked slowly at the strings of a small wooden harp in his lap. He bent his head lower, hearing the sounds of the harp a little clearer than before, perhaps. Daxter, Harper-Wanderer, was playing again in the Lower Caverns.

Sitting alert on a ledge on the far wall was a small green fire-lizard. Despite growing to her adult size, the flit was still smaller than any other fire-lizard Daxter had ever seen. Without really naming her, the name Little One had stuck, and it was the only name she would answer to. Little One crooned along with the harping, happy to be with her bonded.

Daxter grinned to himself, and sat alone by a solitary glass of water.

((This is pretty much open to anybody, I just wanted to get Daxter out of the cupboard.))

Gin walked in through the kitchen doors leading into the room. Over hearing the sounds of the glorious harp being played. Though it wasn't that the harp drew him it was the sound of something crooning.

Knowing that it couldn't be a weyrling inside the Lower Caverns nor the sounds a normal human could make, he ventured to find its source. Seeing the Harper strumming away slowly at the cords, did he realize that the old Harper-Wanderer was just tuning away. Watching in rapt attention he spotted the small dragon.

Seeing the small green fire-lizard crooning along the harpers sure strokes he was smitten by the sound. Thinking to himself "Is this little Dragon humming along its impresser? And where did it come from?" Silently so not to disturb the old Harper and his fire-lizard, Gin laid down the tray of meats meant to be delivered to some rider already forgotten from his mind.

Realizing that the place he meant to set the tray was the ledge of the table and not the table itself, he tried to grab for it losing his own footing and crashing down with the meat and bread. Making a huge noise he just laid there hoping to not have been heard. Hoping that the old dotter was at a loss of his own hearing and missed his thunderous mistake.

Wandering through the Lower Caverns, Cailyn turned a corner and was surprised to hear the quiet notes of a harp being plucked slowly. Peeking in, she saw and older man playing, his only audience being a small green firelizard. Rin, who had taken a liking to perching on her shoulder lately, perked up immediately, his eyes whirling with interest. She wasn't entirely sure whether the bronze was more intrigued by the harp or the firelizard, but she certainly enjoyed the music. Moving further into the room, she cleared her throat softly. "Excuse me, do you mind if I listen in?" She smiled. "I rarely get to hear much music anymore, I'm afraid."

((Oops, beat me to it, Naf! :P Ignore mine then!))

((There's no reason three people can't RP at once Wolfie))

((True, but mine didn't exactly fit in with Gin's commotion. But if you want to run with it, go ahead. :) ))

Daxter's harping stopped suddenly as the tray of meats crashed to the floor. Startled, the old man looked up, his ears still quick enough to pick up the crashing noise. Laying a hand across the harp strings, he silenced them. Daxter set the harp gently into its case, then leaned the case on the floor against the bench.

"Son, can I help you with that? All you all right?"

Little One gave a startled 'chirrup' and fluttered down from the ledge to land on the old Harper's shoulder. Nudging her head against his ear, the green fire-lizard turned Daxter's head around to see Cailyn.

"Come over here, miss, if you don't mind. Give me a hand with the man." He hadn't heard her comment about the music and the crash of the young man and his tray occupied his mind.

Cailyn jumped as, just when she spoke, a loud clatter filled the room, echoing for a few moments. Rin reacted reflexively, digging his claws sharply into her shoulder. She let out an oath, grasping at the firelizard instantly. As quickly as he had moved, Rin relaxed again, chirruping softly in apology. He jumped off her shoulder, skimming across the room to sulk and eye the spilled food greedily. Moving to help the old man and the drudge, she knelt down and began to clean the mess. "Are you ok?"

Gin sat there embarrassed beyond belief! That a Harper and another seeing his mistake. Fumbling over what the Mean ol' Head woman will say about this! None of this food was good enough for a dragon-rider now!

"I'm sorry Harper, I truly am for making such an audible noise while you were playing the harp." he said with a disdained look upon his face. Bending over to collect the food that had dropped while the female helped him.

Thinking to himself, ooooo! I'm going to get into SO much trouble! I should have had this food delivered a bit of time ago!

"Well this food is not edible enough for a dragon rider now... So if your fire-lizards haven’t eaten yet you can go ahead and fill there gullet." He laughed. "I truly am quite sorry." now looking a bit more worried "If you wouldn't mind not tell the head woman that would be quite thoughtful of you."

"Mum's the word, lad. The first few sevendays I was here I filched food rather than get it anyways. The Headwoman and I aren't, I suppose, on the best of terms."

Somehow Little One understood she was being offered part of the food. Hopping down from Daxter's shoulder, she grabbed a small piece of meat and swallowed it.

"That was not meant for you, greedyguts." Daxter said, shooing her off. Quietly the old man helped Gin clean up the last of the spilled food and set it back on the tray. Daxter stood up as Gin did, stretching and hearing bones and muscles pop in his old age. Still, it felt very good to stretch out. Walking a little stiffly, he went back to his place at the table and picked up the harp. Then he turned back to look at the two youngsters.

Cailyn nodded. "There's no reason for me to tell anyone. No harm done." She smiled and grabbed a piece of meat for Rin. Straightening, she moved to join the bronze firelizard, feeding him small scraps from the piece of wherry. Turning her attention to Daxter, she cocked her head curiously. "Are you Hall trained or did you pick the talent up yourself?" She nodded towards his harp. "From the little I heard, you play well."

Gin looked at the Harper with new found respect, as he stood there not taking his seat. Looking to the rather charming Cailyn he reached down helping her to her feet. Flashing her a smile as he did.

"Well the foods no good so if your fire-lizards would like a bite to eat then they can have a go at it." He shrugged.

After seeing to Cailyn he took his own seat next to the tray of spilled food products. "Well I guess I could take some time off and listen a bit. If you wouldn't mind."

"I don't mind you listening one bit, though the playing is poor." Daxter turned to Cailyn. "Though you do me great honor by saying you enjoyed it. I was Hall-Trained, long ago, for many things. Then I left over a disagreement, traveled with a band of traders to Tiazora, saw one of their young, a student of mine, Impress, and moved on. Eventually I was invited back to the Hall and given the rank of Master, but the walls of the Harper Hall couldn't keep me. I left half a Turn later. I wandered for a Turn or so, then found myself here, just a sevenday or so before the Riders began to arrive. I still think the Hall doesn't quite know where I am. I suppose they call me Mad Daxter or somesuch."

As Daxter talked, he unpacked the harp from its case once more. When he finished, he drew his old fingers across the harp strings, then began to play. Hesitant at first, he chose an old sea-tune rumoured to be from Tillek of old. The music was more lively than most harp music, but he kept the tune sounding well, missing only an odd note or two.

The young man of average height sat there listening. Even though the old Harper was half-trained he decided it was far better then he could even on a single drum.
Those missing notes or miss strummed didn't matter to Gin. He himself has never gone to a Gather Day or any large occasions to listen to the harpers play. So this was good enough for himself.

After the Harper was finished with his tune, quite a lovely upady one at that, he asked in a quite tone as the finale note was played, "Your playing is not poor nor is it dreadful. I believe that self traing pays off well on its own sometimes."

"I myself am half-trained or even quarter if you will, in many craft halls... Just never found the Craft for me... So you know what they say... if no craft will take off to the kitchens with ye'." He sat there with his face between his hands.

Daxter chuckled. "I finished my whole apprencticeship at the Hall. I had been a journeyman for years before I left. I never really took to music though. The harp has been my joy and curse of old age. I needed something to do and a companion who wouldn't talk back much. No, not you," he added as Little one nuzzled his ear.

Daxer stretched an popped again, then looked back at Gin. "I'm Daxter, by the way. Current Harper of Kharasi Weyr, and probably still Master of the Records back at the Hall."

Gin burst out laughing. Holding his sides as he did. Finally stopping to remove the tear that appeared in the corner of his eye did he finally explain his reasons for laughing.

"Harper Daxter, I'm sorry to say that your companion talks back more than you think. You irritate the cord and it protests back at you with a nice melody." quelling another fit of laughter he striated back up.

"I am Gin, drudge of the Lower Caverns. Though I have tried my hand at many a thing, I find that doing odd and ended things is more fulfilling for me. Gives me more time to relax then in other crafts..."

Cailyn perked up even more as Daxter chose an old sea song. The words escaped her, but she vividly remembered hearing her father hum the tune as he steered his small craft through a nasty storm. She listened, captivated, until the last note was played, only then realizing that Rin was as intrigued as she. She smiled and scratched his head fondly. "I'm Cailyn. I came here half a Turn ago from Hurricane Hold to stand for Iolath's first clutch. This here is Rin, and it seems he likes your music very much. Or at least, I've never seen him be so still and quiet for this long before. It's a pleasure to meet both of you." She included the pair before her in her nod as she sat down. "Daxter, where did you pick up that old tune? I remember it was one of my father's favorites." Thinking of her father always led her to think about Vesper, but she stubbornly shoved that to the back of her consciousness.

Daxter laughed along with Gin at his comment. A moment later he calmed, and turned back to Cailyn. "I don't know where I heard it first, probably from some fisher hold while I traveled with the Masters on their ships. I've been across the Northern Continent more than once, and I'm not saying a-dragonback. It's an older song though, and out of favor with the younger ones these days. I guess that's why I decided to learn it, back while I was in Hurricane a few Turns ago. Who was your father? Mayhap I knew him."

"His name was Pascal, though I doubt you knew him. He spent most of his time at sea, and when he wasn't there, Mother would barely let him out of her sight." She grinned, remembering the consternation that had caused her father. He loved his family, of course, but every man needed to get out of the house sometimes, or so he had said.

"It must have been fascinating to travel to so many places. I've always wanted to see the world, but until recently, the closest I ever got was sailing a few miles out on the family skiff. When I was Searched, I was so excited to be able to Impress, and be able to go wherever I wanted ...but hat hasn't exactly happened yet." Her mouth twisted as she admitted that last part.

Gin sat there listening to the two talk realizing that he was making a dragon rider wait on their food. ooo... that woman is going to be so mad at me... might as well get on with it... he stood up finally and looked at the two more clearly.
Picking up a piece of meat from it, one of the larger pieces, placing it near the fire-lizard. Satisfied that the lil' dragon accepted it he picked up the rest on the tray and started to walk back to the kitchen.

"Well remember once you impress, I'm sure of it, you'll be able to travel all over Pern in just a wink of an eye." he said... feeling the lump in his throat bulge... "That is if you impress." he said sourly

Cailyn winced. "I know what you mean. I stood on the Sands for Iolath's first clutch, and partway through, a hatchling blue lost his balance and stumbled into me. ...It wasn't very pretty." She bent over and pulled up the leg of her pants partway, revealing part of what was a large, still-healing scar. "I'm told I'll have that mark always. I hope it won't be a bitter reminder." She shook her head, as if clearing away any bad thoughts. "But I still have plenty of Turns before I'm too old, and if all else fails, I'll stand at another Weyr's Hatching." Her expression was stonily determined. "I never give up on anything." Abruptly her manner changed again, and she was once more lighthearted. "But onto happier subjects. I thank you for the snack for Rin, however unintended it may have been." She grinned, absently petting the bronze.

Gin looked back from the entrance to the kitechens. Stopeing he turned around and looked at Cailyn. A sad look crossed his sky blue eyes.

"Some peoples scars from Impression is more visable then others." He said with a heavy sadness.

"And some people scar in far different ways at Impression. There was once a youth who had his whole life changed by Impression, because all his bitterness and hatred was cut away. It left a scar of sorts behind, but a good one." Daxter set the harp back down, nestling it into its case. "Thank you Gin, for the food, and the kind words. And Cailyn as well."

((Sorry for the shortness, I'm still out of it.))

Gin stood there for a moment at the door to the kitchens analyzing the old Harper. Trying to discern if his comment was a sour pun at his own experiences. Though his scar wasn’t that his bitterness or hate, but his youthful pride and dreams. He shook his head before opening the doorway.

“You are quite right. Impressions is a dramatic life changing experience.” He said to the harper. Then turning to the young candidate. “I do so hope that your experience fairs better than others.” Smiling encouragingly as possible.

“Well I’m off to deliver some food for a hungered rider.” Turning abruptly into the kitchen to retrieve the new tray.


((gone))

Cailyn nodded, smiling solemnly. "You make very good points. It was nice to meet you Gin- I'm sure the rider won't be too angry at you." Rin chirped insistently, butting his head against Cailyn's palm. "Oh, and Rin says thanks for the food. At least, I think he does. He's confusing sometimes. He could just want more." She grinned, and turned back to Daxter. "But yes, your playing is quite good. What is your favorite tune?"

Daxter's face turned wry as Gin left and Cailyn asked her question. "My favorite tune? It's hard to say. Perhaps the tune closest to my heart would do." Unable to say more, Daxter bent low over his harp again and closed his eyes. He drew in a deep breath, and began to play. For once there was not a note missed, nor any hesitation. His fingers slid over the strings, pulling forth from the harp a low, sorrowful tune. The music reached his ears, and he returned them to his harp with an added element of longing. A few minutes later he brought the song to a close, fading it way, then placing his hand flat against the strings to silence them. The echoes of the song hung in the air for just a moment, then Daxter spoke.

"Forgive an old man for his indulgence, I beg you."