Logs:A Bought Drink
| |
|---|
| |
| RL Date: 18 July, 2015 |
| Who: K'del, K'zin |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Someone buys someone a drink and they talk of High Reaches and personal matters. |
| Where: Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 18, Month 4, Turn 38 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Ali/Mentions, Azaylia/Mentions, C'ris/Mentions, F'manis/Mentions, Farideh/Mentions, H'kon/Mentions, Irianke/Mentions, Jo/Mentions, Mielline/Mentions, Quinlys/Mentions, T'volt/Mentions, Telavi/Mentions, Yvalia/Mentions |
  |
>---< Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr(#555RJ) >----------------------------------<
The Snowasis is rarely quiet, and even then, the high-ceilinged former
weyr is kept from echoing by the fantastical booths tucked into its
convoluted perimeter. The secluded seating spaces have been shaped from
the truncated stalagmites that escaped the smoothing of the main floor,
and are both softened and separated by colorful hangings that are thick
and opaque enough to make each corner its own private nook.
Some of the smaller stalactites still roam the ceiling, their jagged teeth
tracing a bumpy, inverted spine to the hearth. There, a thick rug with a
low klah table and comfortable armchairs and couches sit, their upholstery
and cushions changed sporadically to match the season: bright, light
colors in the summer, fresh greens and yellows in the spring, warm
autumnals in fall, and clear, rich hues for winter. Small tables litter
the rest of the cavern, enough to fit up to four people each, while stools
stand along the smooth wooden bar behind which is the passthrough window
to the kitchen. Glass-paneled cabinetry behind the bar provides a clear
view of the available liquors, the many colors reflecting the soft light
of glows tucked into strategic niches around the cavern. The later the afternoon grows, the more faces appear in Snowasis to patronize the establishment. It's not yet so busy that it's hard to get a drink, but one always must wait for the drink once it's ordered. K'zin leans against the bar, his marks already on the countertop, prepared to pay for his usual. His eyes linger on a small knot of weyrlings-and-graduated-riders, expression thoughtful and perhaps a touch concerned. There's nothing happening with the group that's especially unusual, but the bronzerider's attention is nearly paternal - jaw tightening when one of the weyrling girls giggles far too much for whatever the brownrider said to her. If anyone's keeping a tally of how many 'adult' points K'zin gets, he probably should earn some for not budging from his spot against the bar. "Ready to storm over and Have Words?" K'del wonders, amused, as he swings in alongside K'zin, his attention focused on the younger bronzerider rather than the weyrlings-and-others. "It's like you're preparing for fatherhood... except at least none of my daughters are old enough for that just yet." Thankfully. So very, very, very thankfully. The weyrleader's dressed down, wearing the old boots better suited to drills and schlepping about the bowl than diplomatic visits. Two fingers are lifted towards the bartender on duty; a casual gesture that suggests his order is always the same. K'zin's brown gaze pulls reluctantly from the group, settling on his Weyrleader and managing a rueful smile that keeps his lips pressed to one another until he speaks. Turning toward the bar, "Asking what their intentions are doesn't sound like a bad idea," which confirms that even though K'zin is behaving better in this moment, his good judgment is still firmly intact. "Good fortune for you. The thing about having daughters though is they'll get there." It might be a tease, but somehow it doesn't quite get there. "And good luck when they do," he offers this more sincerely but with humor that gets closer to true levity. "Can I buy your drink, sir?" He offers the man who has daughters. "No, but let me buy yours," is K'del's immediate answer, though his expression has offered telling answers of its own as K'zin speaks: nose wrinked, eyes rolled, long-suffering sigh in place. He goes so far as to slide the other bronzerider's marks back towards him, and set his own down, closer to the bartenders at work. "I'd prefer not to think about my little girls in that situation, not when I remember what I was like as a teenage boy. You'll have to let those weyrlings of yours fly free, soon enough. How'll it feel, do you think?" "It's the least I can do, after the whole Igen-- thing." K'zin's flush at least confirms he meant what he said in his second apology letter. "Besides, I make more than I did before," this is another one of those shoots for humor and falls a little short things. He looks away from the awkward situation to the weyrlings. "Weird, I think. Helping with the last bunch... it was different. Now I feel like they're 'mine,' sort of, like I bear some responsibility for how they fare whereas the last time I was just... helping." He turns now, to face the bar, his back to whatever he doesn't want to see happening in the small grouping. K'del notes that flush, certainly, but his head still shakes. "It's fine," he says. "Honestly. We've moved past that and..." And no, he will not take your money. N-O. The weyrlings, however, are certainly a much more positive and engaging subject. "Mm," he agrees. "There's a definite difference. Seems like they're shaping up well, though. Wonder how it'll feel, though, to welcome them into wings alongside you. Given neither queen seems likely to rise for a while, you'll be back in the wings yourself, at least temporarily." The look K'zin turns on K'del is something oddly hopeful, if still abashed. For once, he has the sense to leave the subject alone. "Thank you," he even adds graciously for the drink, reaching to tuck the marks away. "Seems like." This agreement is easy to give. "Seems like Farideh likes Weyrwoman Irianke well and the rest will be good choices for the wings, more or less." His lips set as he thinks that over. "Sending me back to Taiga?" The bronzerider's wondering sounds idle as if it doesn't much matter to him where he's placed. "'More or less,'" has K'del sounding amused, but it's the latter comment that he focuses on. "Unless there's somewhere else you think you ought to go. Though," he adds, as their drinks arrive and his marks are taken, "there's not many wingleaders that'd be interested in a wingrider who comes and goes the way you will, assuming Quinlys is interested in keeping you on, and you are interested in staying on." "I do seem to get in less trouble on this leash," K'zin's good humor is apparent as he reaches for his drink and considers the liquid as if the answers might form in the foam topping it. "Don't know. Might think about Snowdrift if you'd think my spending more time assisting the Smiths would be of use in the interim. Or Taiga's fine, really, so long as F'manis doesn't want my pretty penmanship for his paperwork again." He grins, lifting the drink to his lips. K'del draws his own glass closer, considering it along with K'zin's words. "Snowdrift," he repeats. "Well, you could ask Mielline if she'd be interested, of course. Given the complexity of some of the things she works on, though, she might need some convincing. Pretty sure F'manis has moved on from wanting to foist paperwork on you, if you go back to Taiga. But," he bobs his head towards the other bronzerider. "Think about it. See if she's interested." "I'd hope so, given how long I've been out of his hair now and with a non-broken dragon." The rueful look is back. "I know he never really needed me to do his paperwork, it was just a good way to keep me busy and useful while Ras was still healing." The bronzerider's shoulders shrug. Perhaps K'zin's accepted his place in the world at last! "I'll think on it." He pauses, then, "Think any Weyr with a clutch upcoming might think of taking me on for a cycle? Quinlys is good at what she does, but she does it differently than Telgar. It'd be interesting to see-- you know, what the rest do." He gives a little shrug of his shoulders. "Pretty sure he checked over every last bit and redid some of it just because he--" K'del breaks off, then laughs. "No, not really. But you're right: he didn't need it." Much more thoughtful is his consideration of the rest of what the other bronzerider says. "Maybe. Expect Quinlys would prefer to see you spend another cycle or two here, first, but at some point in the future-- sharing ideas seems smart. Like to do more of that. Of course," and now he's rueful, "it all depends whether I'm still even Weyrleader then." "I don't doubt it," K'zin's rejoinder comes with a laugh of his own. "He knows the value of a man feeling like he's needed. It's more like to keep boneheaded bronzeriders out of trouble if they're busy." Just apparently not busy enough when the paperwork was on-going. "Did hear something about that." K'zin's brows furrow at his drink. "Did Weyrwoman Irianke really ask H'kon about--?" That. K'del opens his mouth to reply and then stops. He shakes his head. He reaches for his glass and downs a reasonable amount of the amber liquor. "So I hear," he says, then, after wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "She's always made it clear she doesn't like that I split my time between here and Southern." K'zin's furrowed brow speaks to his sympathy when he says, "Tough. A man's heart can be in two places at once," he observes, "I'd think she'd understand that better than most, what with having left Igen and staying here." He looks over to the older man, head tilted, "How is it for you, K'del? Heard rumor a while back that you were interviewing for weyrseconds." A long while. "You'd think, but... she doesn't make connections like that." K'del's expression turns troubled. "She's too pragmatic for that, I think, so no, she doesn't understand. Doesn't matter that she's off duty from dinner and spends her evenings--" Being loud, suggests his expression-- "The fact that I head to Southern a couple of times a seven makes me a bad Weyrleader." Evidently, he's too focused on that to come back to the question about weyrseconds; maybe he'll come back to it. "Or that she's seen going home with people like Jo," K'zin observes as if he might be commenting on the weather. "Goldriders get comfortable, I think, since with the exception of a few," a glance goes to K'del, "their positions are pretty secure. Ours," bronzeriders, "are more precarious." He reaches a hand to push through his hair. "Maybe even with her odd hour trips to Tillek or wherever else Farideh might do better by you. Even if she doesn't want to be Weyrwoman." After a swallow he adds, "I'm sure Ali appreciates you coming. She's well? And the whole clan?" He has smile teasing around his lips for being able to use the term. "Jo." K'del's eyes roll. "You wouldn't believe the noi--" He stops. Coughs. "Well. Farideh would be worse, because she doesn't actually like me; half the time she doesn't respect me. At least Irianke thinks I'm more or less competent." Turning his glass, he gives K'zin a rueful look. "But yes, Ali's well. And the kids. Both wish I could be there more, and... dreading the possibility of having nothing but. Listen to me, being maudlin." K'zin smirks. It's smirk-worthy. "Doesn't she?" The younger man's brows lift. "But you're so likeable." It might be a little tongue in cheek, but his free hand lifts to clap to K'del's shoulder briefly. "If it's any consolation, I'm not sure there's a bronzerider she does like. And some of us come around in the end. With respect." If his hand's found shoulder, there's a light squeeze before withdrawing as he adds, "Though with that one, I wouldn't count on it." Another sip comes before he offers in a thoughtful way, "You survived the last time. Though I suppose there were fewer children then." He glances over his shoulder to where the weyrlings were. "But at least not seventeen yet." Like his not-his-kids. K'del manages not to stick his tongue out at the other bronzerider, but surely he's tempted; how could he not be? "Mmm," he says, instead. "She's... still working things through, I suppose. Maybe one day. Maybe." He licks his lips, amused, clearly, by those seventeen children, but also distracted by the idea. "Faranth, I'm glad of that much, at least. How my parents managed nine... in any case, no, I didn't find a weyrsecond I wanted, so there's probably half a dozen riders feeling miffed at me over that. Faranth. Please tell me your relationships, in work and love, are simpler." "Or mine with the seven," K'zin agrees of parents and large numbers of children. "But if a pair of people want to drive themselves crazy with kids, who am I to stop them." So long as they're not his kids, literally or figuratively. "Can't say as I have nearly so much notoriety, but I suspect the weyrlings are regularly if not consistently unthrilled with me, as it should be." He makes the comparison for those who might have sore feelings over the weyrsecond matter. "Tela's well, we're well, as those things go, and T'volt. If only I could stop spending my turnly salary on apology gifts for Quinlys..." He's kidding though, he must be with that goofy grin. K'del probably can't talk at this point; he's at six biological children, after all, plus Yvalia. "Weyrlings are supposed to be less than thrilled with you; you're in charge. Partially in charge. Whatever. Glad the rest is going well, anyway... despite the gifts. Quinlys isn't someone I'd want to work for, either. She's so cute... until she's terrifying." He glances down at his glass, then finishes off the rest of the whiskey within. "But she's good at what she does." "That's a horribly apt way of putting it," K'zin agrees with a laugh that almost isn't (lest she have been invoked by name or description just in time to catch him sniggering). He drowns the laugh in his drink. "Except when she's pissing off Igen." Though certainly, he's guilty enough himself of that. "Would you say Weyrwoman Irianke's the forgiving type? Our last meeting... before Azaylia died..." he has to qualify that, "wasn't... promising of not being on her-- shit list." Is it appropriate to say 'shit list' in conjunction with one's Weyrwoman? He might find out now. K'del makes a face: except then. "She's--" K'del pauses before giving his analysis of the weyrwoman, waving to the bartender for a refill. "To be honest, I don't know. She doesn't hold grudges, I don't think, but she's also not suffering of fools." Whether or not he considers K'zin a fool, he doesn't say. "But she's a stickler for protocol... as you might have worked out. So." "That doesn't bode well for me," K'zin says, saving K'del the trouble, but he doesn't seem bothered by his classification as such. He nods his head slowly, considering. "Guess I should brush up on my protocol and hope for the best. Don't think I've done anything to make things worse since, but." Who can say for sure? "You know C'ris?" It's a bit of an abrupt topic change, but K'zin's nearly done his beer and there's a considering look he's giving K'del. "The bluerider helping out like I did last clutch?" "On the plus side, it's not as though you and the acting weyrwoman have a lot of reasons to interact," points out K'del, but he's distracted from that thought by that question. "C'ris, sure. Impressed from--" Okay, sure, there's that thinning line of his mouth as he remembers which class the bluerider Impressed with. "What about him?" "True," and for that K'zin is glad. He's shifting to stand though, the signs of preparing to take his leave. "C'ris and I started having a bit of a boys night every other seven or so. Know you like to keep professional professional, but if you're ever in need of-- Darts, cards, beer." He offers it. "Just have Cadejoth let Ras know." K'del opens his mouth, hesitates, and then nods. "Sure," he says. "Guess I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, K'zin. Have a good one, okay?" He has a refilled glass to take care of, before it's back to work in a slightly more chemically happy way. K'zin's lips press in something that isn't a smile, not quite, but neither is it an unpleasant look. Rather, it's the look of one who knows- or guesses- the answer, but wanted to make the offer anyway. There's a single shoulder roll that is probably meant to dismiss any lingering guilt K'del might feel over turning K'zin down (if he even is). "You too, sir," is offered before he's turning to head for the bowl. |
Comments
Jolie (22:58, 18 July 2015 (PDT)) said...
Wha---?? Were you outside that weyr, K'del??? XD XD
K'del (23:00, 18 July 2015 (PDT)) said...
I live next door! It wasn't DELIBERATE, I promise.
Leave A Comment