Only Fans

Writers: Aaron, Yvonne
Date Posted: 14th May 2024

Characters: Kailis, Ketlyn
Description: Kailis and Ketlyn are big fans of chore time together.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 10, day 1 of Turn 11

Kailis

Ketlyn looked at the chore list for the day and paused with her finger hovering above her name.

'Kallis / Ketlyn - fan maintenance, Lower Caverns'

Smiths and Technicians often worked together on projects that involved machine maintenance, and it didn't surprise her that she'd been partnered with the other apprentice for the afternoon. It was a much better assignment than laundry, weeding the gardens or dish duty. Ketlyn set the list aside and turned to the Candidate barracks. "Kallis, we're on fan maintenance today."

"Oh, good." Kailis beamed with excitement. Her journeyman instructor at the plant had been far less excited about her foray into Candidacy as she had, and she was glad to see him proved wrong about the lack of opportunities to maintain her craft skills in the interim, supposing she never Impressed.

At least Kailis was enthusiastic. It made it easier to get the job done when your partner wasn't whining. Ketlyn suppressed a smile as she went to get her work gloves and bucket of tools. "You've got your gloves and apron, right?"

"Got 'em." Kailis held hers up as she pulled them from her meticulously organized foot locker.

"And your tools?" Ketlyn regretted asking as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Kailis was just as capable as she was; she didn't need reminding.

"Tools, check!" Kailis did not seem perturbed in the slightest as she jingled her tools in her belt.

Ketlyn hefted her bucket of tools in one hand. "All right. Let's go get the list of fans we need to check from the Lower Caverns and get started. I'll follow you out."

Kailis liked this girl. She kept straight to the point. With a smile, she marched off contendedly to acquire the list and get to work.

"You were at a different Weyr before this, right?" Ketlyn asked, hurrying along in Kailis' wake.

"Hm? Oh, yes. I lived with my father at Dream's End before I came here. My brother asked me to come," said Kailis. "Did you come from a Hold?"

"Mmm-hmm, in Dolphin Cove territory. I was Searched and went to the Weyr there about three Turns ago. Two and a half," she said after a moment. "What's Dream's End Weyr like?"

"My dad lives there. They have an absolutely wonderful hydro plant," Kailis explained. She supposed she should reciprocate the questioning. Most people seemed to expect it. "What's Dolphin Cove like?"

"Hot, and no hydro plant. It was such a relief to come here and have power. I really don't mind servicing the fans for that reason- I know how awful it can be without them." Ketlyn sighed. "Have you been to the hydro plant here? It's really fascinating."

"I was shadowing a journeyman there before a nosey green Searched me," said Kailis. "She poked me real hard." She pantomimed punching her own gut. "Maybe not that hard."

"I've not typically engaged in regular fan service. But I have changed several lightbulbs and fuses."

Ketlyn shook her head. "Dragons... I was Searched at home and didn't get poked by a giant nose, thankfully. I just got singled out for some reason. As for fans, it's pretty easy. Turn off the breaker, take off the screen, wipe them down, oil the rotor, and then put the screen back on. If something is broken, we just flag it for a Journeyman."

"Easy peasy, citron squeezy," said Kailis. Assuming they did not find a do-it-yourselfer rider struggling to install a new model they bought from who-knows-where.

The other candidate grinned. "I haven't heard that one before." She led Kailis into the Lower Caverns and stopped briefly in a maintenance closet to grab a step stool and the list of fans to service. "Why don't we do the fans together until you get the hang of it, and then we can divide the work up so we each do a few? Does that work for you?"

"That's fine with me." Kailis was certain she could handle alone the maintenance checklist Ketlyn had outlined, but there was no harm in making sure. Assumptions could be dangerous.

They did the maintenance for the first few fans in companionable silence. At the fourth fan, Ketlyn turned to Kailis. "You seem pretty confident. Would you be ok if I left you to do the next few, and I'll start working from the bottom of the list? I think between the two of us we can finish this chore with time to spare." Time was a precious commodity for Candidates.

"That's fine with me!" said Kailis. She liked this gal. Not everyone was so respectful of time and efficiency.

Ketlyn nodded and disappeared off into the Lower Caverns to take her half of the fans. The time passed quickly, and it wasn't long before the two girls had met up again at the entrance with their chores completed. With time to spare. Ketlyn smiled at Kailis, already imagining enjoying an extra long bath. Or maybe some time with a harper novel. Or both, at the same time? "This was great. I like working with someone I don't have to watch over. We should work together more often."

"I feel exactly the same way," said Kailis. In fact, if she could manage it, she would not mind working with Ketlyn every day now that she knew how smoothly it would go.

Last updated on the May 16th 2024

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