"Good afternoon," Kae warmly greets Oli as she stands near the entrance to her room. "Planning to head to the gather with me?"

Tolia startles lightly, turning around. "Ah. Yes," she answers, regaining her balance. "I was hoping to sell the last drum I made, see if it's worth doing a set."

"Ah, and, you were hoping to have it stamped before you did?" Kae asks as she looks over the drum that Oli is holding in her hands. "I have a few things that I'd been hoping to get off my hands as well."

Tolia grins sideways as she admits, "Well... yes." She smiles hopefully. "Do you think you could?"

"So, you want /me/ to stamp /your/ drum, without even looking it over to see if I think it's worthy?" Kae asks, her voice only slightly teasing. "Let's go somewhere that I can see this a little more clearly, first, shall we?"

Tolia's eyes twinkle as she demurely holds out the drum for inspection. "Yes'm."

Kae nods her head in the direction of the deck and takes the drum into her arms before heading that way. "Follow me?" she requests as she moves onward.

Tolia pushes back her hair, trying to keep it behind her ears in the breeze, but it's a failing proposition. She watches Kaeryn inspect her drum, the sunlight catching on the blue varnish to gleam and sparkle.

Kaeryn holds the drum gently in her hands, turning it slowly, this way and that, letting the light catch each part, as if looking for flaws. Tiny nose wrinkles up, and she shakes her head, though her attention is still on the drum, as if it's speaking to her. "Why do you think I would know more about whether this deserves a stamp than you would?" she asks softly, lifting her gaze so that it studies Tolia instead. "You know more about drums than I do, so, why on Pern do you think I should stamp this?" Drum is surrendered to it's owner and Kae shrugs her shoulders. "Sorry, but I don't think it's my place to do so."

Tolia's expression an indistinguishable mixture of hope and dismay. "Because you're a Journeyman and if it doesn't get stamped I can't sell it?" she reasons. "And because Journeyman Furt slipped off to Gar before it was finished last night." Hands clasped behind her back, she rocks slightly back on her heels as she studies Kaeryn's face.

"Then, do it yourself?" Kae suggests, as she slips her hand into her bag and pulls out a tiny, wooden box, just like the one she had shown Oli on the beach months before. "All Journeyman are able to do that for themselves, you know," she adds with a small smile and a bright twinkle in her eyes. "My father sent this for you, when I told him you'd liked the one he'd given me, and I thought... well, here." She passes the box over, opening it as she does, to reveal a new knot, and a stamping utensil.

Uncomprehending, Oli stares at the box, then up at Kaeryn searchingly for a long, speechless moment.

"Congratulations, Journeyman Tolia," Kae says softly, leaning forward to give her new peer a crushing hug.

Tolia swallows, and finally her expression changes to a smile, and gradually a broad grin. "You're serious." Stunned, she returns the hug with strength, then steps back and receives the box, examining her new knot and seal with wonder. "Faranth," she breathes, shaking her head ever so slightly.

"Of course, I'm serious," Kae nods happily and gives her friend another bright smile. "I'm so proud of you, Oli, and the work that you've put into making yourself the wonderful harper that you are. Just, promise me that you'll never let the rank go to your head."

Tolia looks up quickly, and very seriously shakes her head. "I won't. I never expected... not *really*..." She breathes deeply, and removes the knot almost reverantly. "Thank you, Kaeryn. For everything."

"And, this doesn't mean you can't still come to me if you need anything, you know," Kae adds quietly, her voice sounding just a *hint* sad. "Even though we're the same rank, it doesn't mean I can't help you, still."

Tolia grins again, her features mobile in the wake of this unexpected triumph. "I'll have *so* many questions you won't know how to get rid of me," she promises with a quick laugh as she unfastens her apprentice knot for the last time.

"My father sends his congratulations, as well," Kae reaches out and touches the box he'd carved. "He said that you must, in return for the gift, join me on my next trip home so you can meet him."

As she places her old knot into the box, Oli closes it carefully and turns it lightly in her hands. "It's beautiful, and please thank him and I'll absolutely come," she promises all in a breath. "I can't quite believe it," she adds, unable to stop smiling.

"Well, now you can stamp your own drums," Kae grins, "so, if you think it's worthy, put that thing to use, and lets get to the gather to sell it, and show off that new knot of yours."

Tolia beams at her mentor. "We can't keep Gar waiting," she admonishes jokingly.

"So, shall we?" Kae moves as if to leave the ship, tossing a small bag over her shoulder as she does.

Tolia grabs her carisack as well, putting in the box and drum before she slings it over her shoulder. "We shall," she responds jauntily.

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