Necklaces from Shells

Writers: Cali, Jane
Date Posted: 22nd October 2008

Characters: Leisenn, Mosler
Description: Leisenn finds Mosler on a beach and talks with the former Hallmaster.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 12, day 15 of Turn 4

Leisenn almost didn't recognise the slightly scruffy looking man down on the best bit of beach within walking distance of the Hall. "_Mosler?_" she said just as she was about greet the man as a stranger.

"Hmm?" he replied, looking up from where he had been scrutinizing the bits of shell left visible as the tide went out. "Oh Leisenn, how's your day going?"

"Fine," she said automatically, and then added drily as she watched him continue to scavenge along the waterline: "Busy, though."

Mosler grunted and eyed his replacement, "Get used to it. You'll never have a quiet day again."

"I learn from other's mistakes," the older woman said. "In this case, yours. I'll be taking quiet days whenever I can and enjoying them." She peered at the sand. "What's this you're doing? Is it something I could spend a quiet day on?"

"Ah but you see, no matter where you go, people will find you." Mosler said ruefully. "Now for me, a few minutes of pleasant chatter and I can get back to it, but you'll be found and called away for something that needs immediate attention. But to answer your question... I'm looking for bits of shell for necklaces."

Leisenn thought of some of the pretty work she had seen done in shell over the Turns. Perhaps it was a good hobby for Mosler but it would be a struggle for her with her near sight not what it had been in her younger days. "I shall take a skiff and go far, far away," she threatened, making plans for enforcing her quiet days. "With just Tu and any others who care to come along for company."

"If you want to try it, I'd suggest sneaking off with your partner. If the others see you go, you'll be found soon enough, you know they love to gossip," he pointed out bending down when a shard caught his eye.

"Ahh, but will anybody be keen enough to sail out to find me? Easy enough to corner a person when they're around, but go to any effort? Often a different story."

Mosler chuckled, she'd find out eventually that the water was not the place to try and hide from dolphineers. "Perhaps. I'd suggest finding a good Hallsecond to take off some of the load when you can though. Last report I'd received was that Kouna had no plans to return to the Hall."

She agreed completely about the need for a Hallsecond. "I still reckon I've got one ... but he's busy making necklaces from shells."

"Funny, very funny." Mosler drawled as he bent down to scoop up two promising pieces. "There are a couple promising master's here at the hall I could possibly recommend... although I wouldn't have picked them for myself. And then there's those that are posted elsewhere at the moment, I left mention of Toler I believe in my notes, he's overseeing Topaz's salvage operation and has the management experience now you could use."

"Ahh." Leisenn shrugged. "It would be hard for me to pull somebody away from Topaz. You know it was my home for Turns."

He nodded, Topaz's reconstruction was a top priority for many in the Hall. "It was everyone's home. I think there will be a push to go back once it's rebuilt."

"Really? I would have thought -" She grinned. "Other than a sentimental attachment I must say I'm enjoying the Hall without a Hold arrangement much better than I had expected to. So much less politicking."

"Yes, but you'll find that a lot of people aren't as used to the Weyr ways as they will claim to be." He spied a deviation in the sand of the retreating tide and once the water had pulled back, walked out and picked out the half buried shell. He put it into the bag with the rest and smiled at how quickly it was filling up.

"But they don't interfere with us." After a moment she added: "Do they? Have they ever?"

Mosler raised an eyebrow, "Did you somehow happen to sleep through that gold flight a few sevendays ago? Most people are used to the greenflights around here by now, but us poor crafters have a harder time with the gold's. I'm sure quite a few apprentices and journeymen found themselves ... well, you know."

"They had better have behaved themselves," Leisenn growled. She tapped her temple. "Heads are in control of bodies. That's what makes us better than wherries."

He just shrugged, he wasn't in a position of leadership any more, he didn't need to tattle on anyone. "To get back to your question though, No. Not really. Politically, the Weyr leaves us mostly alone except for the understandable requests for our services and the use of our dock when there is an issue with theirs. That could all change though with this new Weyrleader."

The old woman peered down the coast toward the Weyr. "I hope it doesn't."

"I hope it doesn't either," he agreed.

Last updated on the October 22nd 2008

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Necklaces from Shells