[PRP] Ego (Kahbrohm + Haveli)

[demon_pachabel]

Having no proper craft training meant one was often relegated to monotonous, repetitive chores day after day. Kahbrohm didn't enjoy the predictability of them and sometimes that little nagging voice in his head reminded him of that egg - the one that had suggested he'd be better off leaving the Weyr and not becoming a dragonrider if he wanted freedom. The mere idea scathed at his ego. His unshakeable sense of self that weathered most everything - that had to for no reason besides that he'd deemed it so.

Perhaps it was the fierceness with which he was banishing the thought away, allowing it to distract him from the task literally at hand. He'd allowed himself the smallest mental venture from the tuber peeling he was set at and would have otherwise not sunk the blade he was using into the meat of his hand. Yet he didn't yelp or start with surprise when he did, instead merely leering at the offending gush of blood that was quickly and instinctively held to his mouth as though mere spit would mend it.

The chore had sucked, but having to go be patched up? He really didn't much care for that idea.  

[houllow]

Perhaps it was due to all her practice at peeling tubers that Haveli was moving through them at a decent clip, or was it because of her learning various ways from watching Kedah and having ample opportunity to practice and refine that technique? Either way was moderately acceptable, and Haveli peeled along at the tuber in a single movement, creating a long piece rather than the slices she was used to doing. It saved more of the tuber, brought her a bit of (occasional) praise, and it kept her focused. Distractions lead to injuries which, if her well-timed glance meant anything, had currently happened to her chore companion.

Kahbrohm her mind politely supplied, related to Dehka in some way or another.

"How deep is it?" Her hands stopped for the moment as her eyes flicked up far more properly to meet his.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Kahbrohm's brow was set sternly, more focused on his hand than on the others who were all set at their peeling with perhaps more intent to not simply take a pound of their own flesh off than he'd had. Even with his quick mouth-clean the cut was still oozing, trailing through his spit in weblike pattern until it could no longer be held back and simply gushed over his palm. He pressed it back to his lips with an unmasked frown.

Only then did his sharp gaze turn on Haveli and her question. "Inconvenient at worst," he stated with such conviction that perhaps even his cut would think it true. Sure, Kahbrohm wouldn't be the first candidate to have done what he did and need to duck out to go be patched up for it.....but he wasn't about to act on it if he didn't actually have to.

houllow

 

[houllow]

There was no way on Faranth's sweet Pern she was going to believe that, given the amount of red she was seeing, and Haveli raised an eyebrow. "Okay, sure, but you might want to get it washed out. We may be cleaning the tubers after but no one wants any covered in blood. Or spit."

She didn't know Kahbrohm well enough on a personal level to wonder what was up but she could wager her thoughts on what she knew of him to get a decent enough idea. He clearly was distracted by something or another and, if he was like any of the other candidates mindlessly peeling tubers, it probably had something to do with the not-so-distant clutching.

Or maybe he loathed doing tuber duty, since it seemed this task and the laundry one were base level for anyone. What it said about her to constantly be doing it was another story, but since it was winter and cold Haveli practically volunteered whenever the chance came about.

"If you need a bandage, I'm sure one of the staff has one you can use."

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

"Not doing a good job of cleaning if you can't get anything off a peeled tuber," Kahbrohm stated derisively, giving his hand another look before smearing it down his pant leg in some mimicry of a 'clean' before giving it another look. Seemingly appeased, he didn't nurse at it again. Instead, he set to finishing the tuber he'd been peeling when he'd managed the feat of cutting his hand.

He let out a snort at Haveli's next statement. "Well aren't you Miss Helpful?" There was clear judgement in his voice, but even if it hadn't been Haveli, anybody else being pushy would have gotten similar smarm for overstepping. "I'm surprised you don't just pull a bandage out yourself since you're so eager."

Houllow

:V

 

[houllow]

Almost as if ready to fight spite with spite, and only because he'd even bothered to say something, Haveli did move to pull one out from a fold in her skirts. She kept more than a few on hand when doing tubers just in case her thoughts lead her down a path of less peeling, more cutting. The bandage wasn't as lovely as ones the others in the kitchen might have had, so perhaps that was her hesitation in offering? It was still very much clean and capable of being used, but Haveli wouldn't really judge (loudly) if he refused such a thing.

"Only for today." The bandage was offered out with one hand, Haveli's other holding her knife and tuber. She could count the number of conversations she'd had with Kahbrohm on a single finger, conversations that either of them started with one another that is, so it wasn't like she had any room or reason to be offended by his snap in tone. Her own always held that same bit of spice after all. "I need to balance myself out anyway, might start with the small things."

And her relationships with others could be considered small, considering how she acted social to the extent that it was expected and not much beyond. All candidates were required to be at least semi-adjusted and she clearly was passing that mark, or else long ago F'dral would have hauled her far, far away from those warm sands. "If you don't want it though, also fine. Just thought I'd follow through on my offer, since you called me out on it."

demon_pachabel