KH: Styling Hair And Potential Interruptions

Posted on Sun Jul 20th, 2025 @ 10:53pm by Jr Journeyman Nerlyn & Bronze Rider Ni’hau & Green Rider Ouemi

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Kymos Hold
Timeline: M2 D28

Ni’hau and Ouemi had spent a couple of hours browsing the gather before heading back to the Weyr to join everyone else in the official arrival of the Dragonriders. Ni’hau, ever the showman, reveled in the attention while Ouemi chose to chat to the littles as soon as she landed. She adored children, though never had any desire to have any of her own, but she absolutely LOVED talking to them any chance she got. And Xoviorath also loved the littles. It was common to find them both covered in children at any gather and it seemed that this one would be no different.

And so Ni’hau found her sitting on the ground, a girl of about 6 turns attempting to braid her hair while a half dozen toddlers used Xoviorath as a giant playscape of sorts.

“Looks like you’re having fun!” he commented as he approached.

“Loads!” answered Ouemi enthusiastically. “And Xov is absolutely in her element, too. Oh, this is Kess,” she added, introducing the girl braiding her hair. “And Kess, this is my friend Ni’hau.”

“Well met, bronze rider,” replied the little girl politely.

“Well met, Kess,” replied Ni’hau with a winning grin. “Are you a holder or a crafter?”

“I’m too little to have a craft!” Kess replied with a laugh.

“Are you?” said Ni’hau, pretending to be astonished. “Whats that you’re doing there? Braidin? Isn’t that a craft?”

“No!” she giggled in response.

“It’s not?” asked Ni’hau. “There’s no braidercraft hall?”

“No!” exclaimed Kess, now lost in giggles.

“Hm, I could’ve sworn there was,” he said, wrinkling his brow in a fair approximation of perplexity. “I know! You can start one!”

“I can’t start a hall!” protested Kess. “I’m only six turns!”

“Oh, yeah, I see the problem,” nodded Ni’hau. “Maybe when you’re older then.”

“I think the bronze rider is teasing you,” Ouemi told Kess. “He is absolutely shameless.”

Kess could only giggle at that.

Nerlyn smiled as she saw the group. “Bronze riders always tease,” Nerlyn promised the little girl as she watched the group. She was wandering around by herself trying to get some time alone without people worrying or fussing.

“Don’t listen to them; bronze riders are always serious,” Ni’hau told the girl with a mischievous wink.

Kess giggled again.

Ouemi grinned and waved at the newcomer. She knew she’d met her before, but for the life of her, could not remember her name. “You should totally get in on this when she’s finished me,” she told her, indicating Kess with her hands still all up in Ouemi’s hair. “Shes very good.”

Seeming to remember that she was supposed to be finishing a braid, Kess began twisting Ouemi’s hair again.

“I used to think so but I’ve heard a little rumour that you’ve met Z’ran and now I know your caliber.” Nerlyn said, smiling up at the bronze rider. She had no doubt that if he was a friend of Z’ran’s he was as serious as he was unserious. Z’ran and her went back too far and had been through too much together for her not to know the man inside and out. “You are doing a very good job there.” Nerlyn praised the girl as she watched.

Kess only replied with a grin.

“Hey, I’m as serious as Z’ran!” Ni’hau defended.

“Then I think I know how serious Z’ran is without meeting him,” Ouemi replied.

“Oh sweetheart. I’ve known Z'ran for 30 turns I know him and what he does.” Nerlyn assured and grinned at Ouemi and nodded. “You have him 100% correct green rider.” Nerlyn smiled at the girl. “Would you do my hair?” She wondered quietly.

“Sure!” agreed Kess, adorably precocious. “I think I’m just about done here.” And she produced a bright green ribbon from a pocket in her dress which she then tied at the end of Oeumi’s braid. “All done! What do you think?”

Ouemi patted the style carefully. “I can’t wait to see it!” she announced, “but it feels great!”

Kess beamed proudly. “Okay, your turn!” she said to the newcomer. “I’m Kess! What’s your name?”

“She has done a great job.” Nerlyn awkwardly sat cross legged in front of the girl. Being four months pregnant was making it difficult to get easily up and down “Hello Kess. I am Nerlyn.” The woman introduced herself to the little girl.

“Well met, Miss Nerlyn,” replied Kess politely, already running her fingers through the woman’s hair. “I think I should try two braids. I’m pretty sure I can do it!”

“I am at your mercy little one.” Nerlyn assured wondering if it would help her hair stay curly on for the ball that evening. “So what have you 2 been up to?” The blonde wondered glancing up at the green and bronze riders.

“We were here early to check out the Gather,” Ni’hau replied. “There is an excellent bubbly pie stand. We had bubblies for breakfast.”

“You had bubblies for breakfast,” Ouemi amended. “I had porridge.”

“You ate a bubbly!” Ni’hau accused playfully.

“A bubbly, yes,” replied Ouemi. “A single one.”

“It counts,” insisted Ni’hau. “And we’re going to have more for lunch.”

“We huh?” Nerlyn asked giggling at the pair. She had considered bubblies for breakfast but she was pretty sure her morning sickness would kick in and make it hard to keep anything down she much like Ouemi had quickly gulped down porridge for T’mil to drop her and Raen off before he went back.

“Yes, we!” replied Ni’hau at the same time Ouemi said, “we’ll see.”

“I spotted some roast yardbird hand pies,” Ouemi put in. “I think I’d prefer one of those.”

“I’ll get you to eat more bubblies,” Ni’hau promised.

But Ouemi only rolled her eyes. “Ooo, those braids are looking great,” she said encouragingly to Kess.

“Thank you,” replied Kess proudly.

Nerlyn laughed a little at the pair as she glanced up a little brown flit hovered and then curled around her neck. “I look forward to showing them all off,” Nerlyn assured. “It’s is not often I get to have my hair fancy.”

“Same here,” said Ouemi. “My hair is so short, it’s hard to do anything with it.”

“You think yours is short?” laughed Ni’hau. “I’d love to see anyone try to braid mine!”

“I’ll bet Kess could do it!” Ouemi put in with a laugh.

“I’m not so sure about that,” replied Kess with a bit of a side eye at the pair of riders.

Nerlyn smiled as Koda got comfortable. “Salt water damages mine more than dragons riding ever did.” Nerlyn admitted as she felt the little fingers plaiting the second bunch of her long hair.

“We used to add cooking oil to ours in the Reaches,” mused Ouemi. “Just a little. Not enough to see. But it kept the cold from damaging it. I wonder if it would work against salt water.”

“Not sure how that would work with dolphins and fish but will have a look into it.” Nerlyn promised as the little girl finished her hair. Nerlyn turned around and looked at her and the riders. “How does it look?” She wondered to the pair.

“It looks amazing!” replied Ouemi, and Kess beamed. She quickly pulled a quarter mark out of her pocket and pressed it into Kess’s hands. “You did a fantastic job!”

Kess’s eyes went wide. “Thank you, rider!” she exclaimed excitedly.

Nerlyn smiled at the girl and slowly got from the floor awkwardly and watched as the little girl ran off happy with her earnings. “Here.” Nerlyn held out the quarter mark to the woman.

“Oh that’s not necessary,” Ouemi told her. “Just seeing the joy on a child’s face is repayment enough.”

“It is.” Nerlyn said and pressed the quarter mark into the woman’s hand. “I pay my debts and my hair is going to look great for the ball. I am guessing you will be going wingleader?” She said not having missed the knots on his shoulders.

“Of course,” answered Ni’hau. “And I’ve even got a pretty girl to come with me.” He winked at Ouemi.

Ouemi rolled her eyes. “Laying it on thick again, I see,” she accused good-naturedly.

“Is it working?” he asked, mock hope in his voice.

“I’ll give you another point,” she allowed.

“Yes!” he celebrated, punching one fist into the air. “That’s two. Only nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight to go!”

“You ain’t going to be able to walk soon with how thick he is laying it on.” Nerlyn teased just a little as Koda chirped at her from her shoulder. “I know K’ron is looking for me.” She said softly.

Ouemi watched the little flit with vague interest. She had always wanted one as a child, but now she had Xoviorath. Still, it might be fun to have a pet firelizard. Or a feline. “Well, we won’t keep you,” she told Nerlyn. “If you want to go find K’ron, I mean.”

“He’ll find me eventually,” Nerlyn assured softly. She was wandering to give herself some space from the protectiveness. “Bhr… Oh… um… of course. Apologies for intruding.” Nerlyn quickly mumbled, realising they were there together and would want some privacy.

Ouemi was confused. Intruding? On what? It was a gather, right? But before she could say anything, Ni’hau replied, “You’re not intruding. We’re just friends.”

Oh. Oh! That’s what she had meant by intruding. “Literally just met this morning,” added Ouemi. “You’re absolutely welcome to join us.”

“I’ll join for a little bit,” Nerlyn said, ducking her head in slight embarrassment. It was hard not to assume when the bronze rider was laying it on thick, but who was she to judge the pair?

“Awesome!” declared Ni’hau. “Come on! Let’s find some bubblies.”

“Shells,” sighed Ouemi. “I think he’s trying to make us fat,” she added to Nerlyn. “We’d better keep an eye on him.”

“It is okay I am already fat enough.” The older woman assured glancing down at the bump but she had to admit for just a moment hanging out with riders who did not know her was soothing.