Logs:A Turnday Sail
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| RL Date: 20 March, 2015 |
| Who: K'del, Lilah |
| Involves: Fort Weyr, High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: This turn, K'del and Lilah aim for something less... dramatic for celebrating her turnday. |
| Where: Ocean off Southern Boll |
| When: Day 5, Month 4, Turn 37 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Ali/Mentions, Azaylia/Mentions, Cora/Mentions, Hattie/Mentions, N'muir/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: Backdated! |
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| They put to sail somewhere off the coastline of Southern Boll, the boat rented from its owner for the day rather than bought. That same owner ran through the basics of what they need to know to maneuver the sails and adjust for wind, the lessons not nearly enough to keep them safe if they ran into real trouble but with spring bringing calmer waters than winter and a promise not to take the boat too far out to sea, they are allowed to leave with it. If the sailor knew their ranks, knew who exactly he was allowing to go untried onto the ocean, perhaps he would think twice. But Lilah doesn't wear any knot, clad in a simple, cream sundress that even now catches in the wind as she ties off the jib that she readjusted, a smile catching at her lips as the boat surges forward. K'del has sailed before, but it's been some time-- he's cheerfully grateful for the instruction, and enthusiastic for the outing as a whole. He looks somehow different without his knot, and clad in such casual clothes; there's something relaxed about his expression, something that shifts his features and eases the line of his shoulders. "Let's try not to get caught out in anything, mm?" he says, from his position by the rudder. "It'd be nice if this particular turnday outing of yours didn't end in, well. Disapproval. Disaster. Something." "The dragons will rescue us, even if we do," is Lilah's surprisingly careless response, especially when paired with the brightness of the smile that curves at her lips. She remains at the bow even after tying off the sail, her eyes sliding closed for a moment to appreciate the rush of air around them even as it picks up and whips around red-gold curls, mussing them beyond repair. It is only after she has taken in that first moment that she twists a look towards K'del, offering him an explanation, "I've never been on a boat before. Runner, dragon. Never a boat." "Really?" K'del's surprised by that, sitting up straighter to look at Lilah, though he accepts the explanation with the quick nod that follows. "Guess it's about time, then. There's a-- well, it's a bit like flying, in a way, don't you think? Guess I'd rather fly, for the most part, but I still enjoy the sensation." His gaze wanders past Lilah and out towards the blue waves, and the horizon beyond. He doesn't point out the obvious: that the sea has taken many a person, before. Perhaps he's just too relaxed. Lilah falls thoughtfully silent for a moment at the question, taking in the sensation again as she pushes to her feet to stand now at the bow of the boat, one hand wrapping into the sail nearby for a steadying anchor. "No," she disagrees. "It's not like a dragon. It's smoother. It's like standing in a field while the field moves around you." Whether or not that makes sense, the goldrider is firm on that point as her own gaze trails over the ocean spread out before them. "And," she starts to add lightly. "You can't picnic on a dragon. Or fish!" "You've never picnicked on a dragon?" It's a teasing comment - not actually horrified, though for the briefest of moments K'del pretends to be. He adjusts the rudder, just slightly, and then leans back, one eye on the goldrider; the distant horizon has the rest of his attention. "It's smoother now, because the wind's not too high. But I concede the point, anyway." "Have you?" counters Lilah in a challenge, her brows curving upwards as she turns her back on the ocean to fix her dark gaze on K'del instead. A pause. "Well-- I've eaten on a dragon. It might be a stretch to call it actual picnicking, I suppose." K'del is nonetheless unrepentant about it; his grin is broad. "But now I'll have to try it properly, won't I?" "When you or your guest falls off because you weren't properly strapped in or something of the sort, I am not taking any blame for it," Lilah replies lightly, her free hand lifting to push away the curls that fly in her face in a futile gesture even as she returns broad grin with bright smile. That smile fades, slightly, as she adds, "I love this. Getting away. No politics, no one to care what we do." K'del's, "Mmm," is quiet, but genuine. "It helps, getting away. Just getting to... be for a while. People always ask me why I still do the job, when I say that, but... that's not the point, is it? It's just nice to be free, every once in a while, and not have to think about all of it. The weight of all of it." Lilah's smile curves sharply for a moment as she offers a dry, "No one ever asks me that." She crosses the length of the bow, barefoot against wood slightly unsteady before she makes it to the mast and catches at that as her new anchor point. "Even if I could give it all away--. But it isn't the point." A pause, before she says in a hint of question, "It must be harder for you, to get away." "There's no escape, for you," agrees K'del, quietly. There might be sympathy in that, only he's turned his gaze away, reaching out of the boat and to the water, to let his fingertips run through the wake. "Harder? Yes. Sometimes feels like I'm being pulled in a hundred directions; all the things I need to be for people. Like, sometimes, I'm supposed to shut off the person in order to be the Weyrleader. Not allowed to interact with people as they are; distance. Always distance. Do you feel that?" "Always," admits Lilah, her nose wrinkling slightly as she continues. "I find it easier to be angry at people. For every stupid mistake they make, for-- everything." She flicks a glance to the water, where his fingertips disturb the waves, before she shakes her head in a gesture of dismissal. "There's some trouble with your clutch? There's talk about some kind of deal--." "I hate being angry at people. But I hate it when they do stupid things even more." K'del aims to keep his tone light, but doesn't wholly succeed; there's a note of bitterness, there. Of Niahvth's impending clutch, he only sighs. "It was part of the deal - send a couple of the dragons back to Igen. Wasn't... necessarily handled the best," he acknowledges. "It was Azaylia's dea-- well." He stops. "There's no use placing blame. But now half the weyr is in uproar and can't seem to see any positives in the deal at all." "Half of both of our Weyrs are idiots," is Lilah's dismissive response, at once assuring as she offers the hint of a smile towards the Weyrleader. "Working with another Weyr, exchanging dragonriders and weyrlings--. We should be all working together. As it is, we're all so suspicious of each other, even the smallest gesture is looked at as if it might be poison." That statement has a bitter edge as well, her lips pressing together. As lost in his own troubles as K'del is, that bitter edge certainly attracts Lilah's attention, fair brows raising towards his hairline. "Referring to something specific?" he wonders. Lilah's sighed breath is caught on the wind, escaping before she answers, "I took reparations for Vhaeryth to Cora. They were not exactly appreciated." Dark eyes weigh on the Weyrleader, studying him expectantly as the goldrider continues. "But it was what should be done. One day when I am Weyrwoman, this is all going to change. Between you and Ali and I, we can reform how the Weyrs approach each other. We all have the same goals; we should act like it." K'del's, "Ah," carries with it neither approval nor censure; his tone is even, his nod steady. He's more verbose in answer to the rest of what she's said - and more enthusiastic. "I agree," he says. "Wholeheartedly. None of this... holding grudges, or working against each other. The holds can work together, when they need to; we should, too. We're not in competition. We should be sharing ideas and learning from each other, not dismissing everything another Weyr stands for, just because their methods are different." "And more dragonriders moving from their Weyrs, if they are willing. It seems enough of our dragon lineage could use new blood," adds Lilah with a tipped nod, her smile catching and holding again at his agreement. She repeats, even, firmly, "We are not in a competition. But perhaps if we did-- some sort of shared competition, where we all came together to show off our skills and celebrate together at least every turn... I could never propose it; I don't sit on the Council. But you do." Wry, "You mean, not every dragon at High Reaches should be descended from Cadejoth?" At least K'del is amused in the way he exaggerates on that point. Thoughtfully, his wet fingers dropping to rest in his lap again, while the other hand returns to the rudder, he gives a careful, quiet nod. "Weyrgames," he concludes. "It's been done before. Not sure why we've all fallen out of the habit. But-- it's a possibility." "Perhaps just not directly his children," Lilah replies lightly, teasingly. And her smile only grows brighter at his conclusion before she suggests, "And offer to allow Fort to host them, when you bring it up. If only because the business that it would draw to Dice isn't anything to laugh about. I promise to give you part of the profit." That makes K'del begin to laugh. "So mercenary-minded," he teases. "Not sure what your weyrleaders would think, though, if I suggested that. They might suspect ulterior, nefarious motives on my part." He sounds wry about this; wry, but also resigned. Lilah's smile fades at that, her chin tipping in a point even before she promises, "I will talk to them; they may not like you, but they will see how this will benefit Fort. And if they were to bring it up and suggest Fort to host--. I can only imagine what the other Weyrs will say." A pause, before she admits to K'del, "That is why you have to be the one to first graciously allow Fort to host. The other Weyrs might protest, but they are more likely to follow your gracious example." K'del hesitates, as though he would like to say something, but has - it seems - thought better of it. "Perhaps," he suggests, cautiously, "I might suggest Fort as the first location for such an event, as the First Weyr." He runs his fingers through his hair, still half lost in thought. "Guess I can try. Can't make promises, but-- I'll try." Lilah presses at that hesitation, because of course she does. "What?" is questioned, her brow lifting as she waits on that first, before offering anything on his agreement. "Just... be careful you don't come across as supporting me," K'del says, finally. He seems uncomfortable with it, staring away from her rather than at her. Lilah's lips twist into a sharp line, her gaze narrowing like a weight on K'del especially where he won't meet it. She is firm when she says, "I support you, K'del. When other bronzeriders would vie for your spot, when others would denounce you--. I do support you, and I know you will do the same of me." This time, K'del does look back. His expression may be miserable, but it's also solid-- true. "I know," he says, quietly. "And I would. Will. But-- if you need to denounce me in order to avoid creating distrust with your weyrleaders, it won't... I'll understand. Self-preservation is important, Lilah. They're not going anywhere; you have to work with them, every day. They need to trust you." "I doubt denouncing you will make them trust me. Hattie has said as much, recently," Lilah admits, a soft frown appearing on her lips that may well match K'del's miserable expression. She adds, simply, "I won't denounce you, but I will be careful that it doesn't come across as any support or endorsement of you. I am learning to walk these political lines, whether I like it or not." "I'm sorry." K'del is quiet as he says that, and it's very clearly in answer to that question of trust. "Politics are hard. Not sure it's ever something that most of us master fully; we just learn as we go, and keep struggling until we can pretend we feel comfortable with it all." He manages, just barely, a tiny little smile. "You'll be an excellent Weyrwoman - capital W - one day." His compliment earns a smile back onto Lilah's lips, a counter of an equal, "And you do make an excellent Weyrleader. If only I could rely on you to be mine when the day comes, but I suppose I will have to find my own." Her gaze slides away at that, towards the ocean beyond them as if she might find one out there. (No Weyrleader-candidate appears.) But, she adds lighter still, "But we weren't supposed to have to think about any of this, today." That makes K'del smile a little more brightly, although instead of answering the more substantial part of the conversation, he agrees. "You're right, we weren't. It's your turnday, after all-- we should be thinking about more pleasant things. That's what turndays are for. I know this; reckon I've had a fair few more than you have." Beat. "Shall we see what kind of speed we can get out of this fine lady? Before the wind changes." "Maybe a handful, but you are not that much older than I am," reminds Lilah to that, her brows curving upwards. But then she is nodding, taking the last few steps to jump down from the bow and settle in the safer part of the boat, where there are sides to protect her from getting washed over. "Let's go as fast and as far away from here as we can," is the challenge made to the Weyrleader. "Eight turns? Might as well be a lifetime." But K'del abandons that - perhaps depressing - thought, and focuses, instead, upon clambering towards the sails to let them out just that little bit more-- onwards! It may only be temporary, but it's still an escape. It's enough. |
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