Waiting to Start

Writers: Rochelle
Date Posted: 1st October 2009

Characters: Tatitem
Description: Tatitem's family assemble in her weyr before celebrating the Headwoman's birthingday.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 5, day 9 of Turn 5

"Oh Muth-ther!"

Titase's sing-song voice echoed through the weyr, followed by Thief's startled squawk and a popping noise as the flit vanished /between/ with her latest bit of stolen pastry. Tatitem spared one last look around to make sure everything was in place before leaving the bedroom. To be honest, she wasn't particularly interested in celebrating her birthingday this Turn, but she hadn't been interested for the last fifteen either. But she did so for her children, and it did provide a convenient excuse to get her whole family in one place for an evening.

She could hear the chatter of Caern and Terase's children through the door as she reached for the handle, Asaern's tired whine piercing through the heavy wooden door. It sounded like her grandson was ready for a nap already. But when she entered the main room, she was only mildly surprised to see her daughter Jatati also waiting, although Terase was absent.

"Happy Birthingday, Tatitem." Caern greeted solemnly, ushering his girls over to her while juggling three-turn old Asaern, who didn't seem to want to let go of his father.

"Hapee bruthingday g'ma." Catera echoed, slipping around her father to wrap her young arms around Tatitem's waist. Tati smiled, and fondled her granddaughter's hair as Caern rolled his eyes skyward at Catera's refusal to enunciate.

"Thank You, Catera."

The six-turn old beamed up at her, and not to be outdone, Jataire also wrapped herself around her waist as Titase leaned over the two girls to give her mother a hug. "Happy birthday mother."

"Thank you, Titase." Tati returned the hug, scanning the small crowd assembled in her quarters. Four granchildren, two daughters and a son-in-law. She knew M'nex had gone for J'ritem, Susha was in a lesson, and her friend Viri was going to come by later after work. That left only her eldest unaccounted for.

"Where's Terase?"

"She'll be here soon." Caern replied as Titase released her, angling himself so that Tati could take her grandson for a moment. "She's finishing some hidework." Asaern eyed her grumpily, then laid his head on her shoulder. Tati smiled at him.

"Where's Susha?" Caera was looking expectantly around the room for her last fosterling, clearly already bored with the proceedings.

"Finishing a lesson. She'll be here soon. Once everyone's here we'll go." Tati promised the pouting ten-turn-old.

"What were you planning, mother?" Titase asked, flopping into an chair. Jatati sat more gracefully on the couch, her daughter immediately clamoring up beside her.

"There are some advantages to being the Headwoman." Tatitem said smugly. "Usarette is covering for me tonight, so after dinner Journeyman Fuiril agreed to let us watch the new play he's rehearsing."

"Really?" Jatati leaned forward, interested. "How close are they to done?"

"It's a dress rehearsal." Tati assured her, pleased with herself for having found something worth doing on her birthday that didn't involve a picnic or a trip /between/ somewhere J'ritem could no longer follow.

"I don't think Asaern will last that long." Caern eyed his son, still in her arms. Tati glanced down at the boy on her hip.

"It's alright. He can sleep in my bed until we get back -Ghiresa offered to watch him or any of the others who might need to skip the play."

"Are you s..." Jatati was interrupted by a muffled knocking at the front door. followed by M'nex's cheerful tenor.

"We're here! Are you going to let us in?"

Tatitem pointedly ignored the look that passed around her children before Titase went to the door. No one was going to contest J'ritem's presence. But the fact remained that her son's bitter outlook on life these past few turns had not endured him to his more optimistic siblings.

"No." Titase replied with a grin, her hand on the doorknob. Tatitem resisted the urge to sigh. Despite the turns between the two, Titase and M'nex had always enjoyed teasing one another.

SOmeone gave what sounded like either a growl or a groan from the other side of the door, before M'nex decided to invoke the time honored activity of all children, no matter what the age. Tattling.

"Muuummmm! Titase won't let us in!"

Her granddaughters giggled, Jataire hiccuping and burying her facfe in Jatati's lap. Tatitem sighed, but allowed a small smile to creep across her face. She hadn't expected M'nex and J'ritem to come so quickly -J'ritem must have been mostly ready or on his way when M'ne went to get him. "Titase, les your brothers in before I report you to your craftmaster."

Her daughter pouted, but opened the door to reveal the two boys. M'nex peered over J'ritem's shoulder as her son swung his crutches in, not meeting anyone's eyes.

"Where's Susha?"

"Here!"

Her final child's voice was distant, echoing down the corridor behind her sons before bouncing into the wey, but unmistakably Susha. Caera smiled, as everyone stood to go.

"All right then." Tatitem agreed, handing Asaern back to his father so she could giver her sons a quick smile. "Everyone ready?"

Last updated on the October 17th 2009

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