Logs:Being the Stone
| |
|---|
| |
| RL Date: 16 September, 2013 |
| Who: Telavi, Vienne |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Oswinth lets Solith help him hunt while wingmates Vienne and Telavi talk about Nabol, family and friends. |
| Where: Feeding Grounds, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 24, Month 10, Turn 32 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Z'ian/Mentions |
    |
| This is probably not the ideal time to linger around outside, it's true. It never actually rained today, but the autumn air is damp and now that the sun is starting to set, dim orange through the shadows of broken clouds, there's a chill in the air. But perhaps a bit of warm meat and a nice full belly will help make the evening a more comfortable one, so Vienne and Oswinth have come out to the pens, the little blue moving all right on the ground, but with a wing held at an awkward angle from some strain picked up during a recent drill. And the little bluerider is wrapped in her tan wool coat and a fluffy white scarf, a steaming mug held in her hands. "Of course," she says brightly, answering some silent need for reassurance before Oswinth takes his hop over the fence to begin choosing his dinner. Of course, all his dinner options have dashed toward the far end of the pens now. That's okay, because Solith is here! Not immediately, no, but overhead there's a definite change of course as the young green diverts to see what he's up to and, moreover, how she might 'help.' She's been more reticent, a touch more uncertain, during this past sevenday and change than prior months, but it's not as though Oswinth's intimidating, and there's pleasure in the still somewhat murky breeze that blows his way: here, she'll just veer over that far side of the pens and... steer. Her rider's at first nowhere to be seen, but she does eventually turn up in her brown leather trenchcoat, the relative brightness of her hair hidden by a tugged-down knit cap and the would-be brightness of her demeanor diminished by her slouch. It takes her a while longer to walk Vienne's way, to chance a smile at the more senior rider. It is, surely, Solith who is seen first, by both blue and his rider, their heads lifting up in unison to watch the green pass over and wing toward the scattered beasts at the far rail. Oswinth seems to need to rally himself a little to the interaction, a breath drawn and and his head settling back in a way that might accentuate proud muscles on a better physique, but instead just serves to make him look a little more up to the task of feeding. « They move like ripples, » he observes with that slow-ticking swirl of cosmic mechanics. « But not. » However, since Solith has done him the favor of scaring some beats back his way, he'll 'prowl' forward with an eye for a rather ragged looking animal. And meanwhile, at the sound of footsteps, Vienne twists to look back at the approaching Telavi, lifting her hand from her mug to wave as well as smile at her younger wingmate. "Evening," she greets easily, grin a little gentler and her glance sweeps lightly over the greenrider. "You all right?" Maybe it's the slouch. Do they? Solith immediately swings her head around, the rest of her fine-boned body going with her, circling higher to try and view these ripples-but-not without actually scaring them the wrong way. A few moments of gliding later, diffidently, « ...I don't see it? Would you show me? » Oswinth, older and just maybe wiser? Wiser than her, anyway. « When you have killed it? » He can bespeak with his mouth full, surely. As for Tela, since it's Vienne, she doesn't force it further; rather, she just twitches her near shoulder and leans against the fence near the bluerider. "I'm happy that the tithes came in? From that Hold, anyway. Happy that we can visit, too." She sighs. "All these holdless people are so depressing." « You're the stone, » Oswinth considers, a little more quietly now that he knows he's the only one with this particular view of things. « Drop, and they move away. » But maybe he's wrong about that. And the moment he takes to duck his chin means that a perfectly crushable beast goes darting past and he only manages to smack its tail. Which is probably a bit embarassing. There's a little blip of static from the blue and Vienne presses her lips together -- though whether it's for her lifemate or for all the holdless people is up for debate. She tips her head for Telavi to join her in stepping up to the fence, so that they (or at least she) can lean against the rails. "It always seems to be one step forward, two steps back. It's so hard to imagine what... makes anyone want to take those backward steps." She can only shake her head, glancing off to watch Oswinth in the pens as she lifts her mug for a sip. Solith tries this, this dropping, even if there aren't so very many beasts beneath her, and look, they do scatter, especially when she spreads out her wings at the last moment and actually lands. « It worked! » It's said with pleasure, the green having quite possibly missed the tail-smack altogether, though the static does have her looking back around at Oswinth, concerned. Moreover, now there's a Solith-shaped island in the middle of the pen for the beasts to run around. As for Tela, she does obligingly sidle that step or two nearer to the slighter woman, neither forward nor back but sideways, uncharacteristically just as oblivious as her dragon. "Me neither," she says with yet another sigh. "They're their own people, you know? And, and burning fields and everything, that's awful." Perhaps its her surprise or her pleasure, or just her innocence in all of it, but Oswinth's moving parts start churning again and a breath that readies to regroup to continue his 'hunt' turns into an awkward catch and a cough. But then he's moving again, a few steps and a jump to land himself where he can scare a young-looking animals toward the rail. His direction comes not with with words, but a instantaneous playing out of the situation. Solith comes in from the side, the beast veers and then Oswinth can drop down on it without much more than single wingstroke. Simple. Unlike the situation with the holdless. Vienne switches her grip on the mug so that one small hand can reach out to Telavi's arm. "It is awful," she agrees quietly, that light grip brief but meant to be bolstering. "And not easy to fix. Even if it all stopped today, it can't be undone." But the younger rider's mood seems to keep her concerned. "Do you know anyone? There?" Perhaps this experience has hit closer to home than Vienne realizes. That's quick; that doesn't need words; that's something Solith can do, familiar from their past interactions over the few months she's been in the wing. So she gives it a go, pretty well as Oswinth describes: will it work? It draws Telavi's eyes, certainly, at least until Vienne touches her that way; her smile reappears when she turns back to the bluerider, a touch more confident this time. "There? No, not really, or not deeply? People I've met, but not people I really know." She doesn't wear gloves; she runs bare fingers along the cool, moisture-slick rail, one of the newer ones from thast crash-caused replacement. "What about you? I imagine-- I don't really know you, after all," she adds with a hint of deference, "--that you know all sorts of people." Will it work? It will. Perhaps not quiet as Oswinth imagines it, because in his imagination, his doesn't overshoot his jump and have to backwing, rather than just a nice stabalizing stroke, to manage to drop his weight on the young heardbest. And in plans, he's more precise with that landing and kills it instantly instead of having a long moment of bleating and screaming before he snaps the poor thing's neck. But. He does it. And he's pleased enough with himself, and with Solith, when his mechanical whirring reaches out to her, a map of points lighting up one by one. « Thank you. » He stretches his bad wing. Maybe because it aches or maybe in explanation for why her aid is so appreciated. Vienne, wincing at the animal's screams, take a second to exhale it all away, her smile apologetic now for the lovely sounds of her lifemate's meal. "I don't really know anyone at Nabol," she admits. "It's a shame, really. It's such a beautiful area. Or..." ahem. "It was." Her mouth twists awkwardly to the side, eyes wide for the potential gaff. "I've been... a little busy with some personal stuff," she admits rather sheepishly. "I haven't been to the Hall in... far too long." Otherwise she might have more insight. « You are welcome, » Solith assures, more-or-less assured in this if nothing else, her light and thready breeze drifting past each point in turn as though connecting Oswinth's dots. It might be more relaxing for the herdbeasts if she weren't sniffing them none too furtively. Tela reads that smile of his rider's, and gives her a small don't-worry-about-it shrug in return. "It was," she agrees with a less-small sigh, lots of sighs tonight. But: "Have you? Do tell!" She's brightened, even if she's still looking a little too brittle, embracing that prospective distraction. There's a little glow in the wake of that breeze, following along like the fading tail of a comet. For all that the blue is a bit ungainly in most things physical, he does set about to eat quite meticulously, a careful evisceration. It's a bit prolonged, too, as Oswinth looks up at Solith from time to time as if he isn't entirely sure about her presence. Should he offer her a bite? He tries not to make too much eye contact. And meanwhile, Vienne, too, darts her gaze downward, and then away. "A friend of mine... passed," she says, sharing a weak, sad smile that might just be part apology for not having more amusing personal business to share. "It was prolonged." But the deeper breath seems ready to move forward, at least with life in general. And then there's a slightly awkward beat of silence and she sips her tea. Solith does start sidling towards Oswinth, as though those entrails were tugging her closer, but only when he's not looking. It's something safer for Telavi to turn her eyes, too, after just staring at Vienne for a moment too long and catching herself with a blush, with a murmured, "I'm so sorry." For her loss. For having asked. For... something, anyway. Much as Oswinth now and again looks at Solith, though, so does Telavi begin to peek at Vienne now and again, though the uncertainty's turned the other way around. Vienne is quick to shake her head for Telavi's discomfort, a hand flattening outward, though not actually going for the greenrider's arm again. It's just an impulse. "Thank you. It's so strange, isn't it? There are these things to say and they always feel awkward, even though they're... exactly what you're supposed to say?" She shakes her head faintly at how little sense that probably makes and lifts her tea again. "Anyway, thank you," she repeats with a smile meant to smooth over any perception that it could be Telavi who is experiencing difficulty with the accepted responses. "I still feel a bit like I'm stepping out of a fog. And all these things have been happening and I barely know anything about them." She looks to Oswinth then, just checking up. And the blue is taking another peek at Solith. « Are you... » he starts to ask, befuddled by the game of stop and go. « Do you... » But he can't quite finish that question either and instead just tears off a hind leg, just in case. Payment? Telavi visibly relaxes, at first daring to look at Vienne for longer, even if it is doe-eyed through her lashes, then just plain smiling, a small, tremulous smile. Whether it makes sense to her or it just plain eases her, "Maybe it's because we're supposed to," she offers, a little diffidently still. "I'm sorry-- well, in a different way, but I do hope it de-fogs soon. I could try to do a rundown for you, but when you have Z'ian's ear and of course he'd know so much more," it seems a little presumptuous. "Do you like going back, I mean, when you're feeling up to it? I never apprenticed," and wistfulness colors that last. As for Solith, her breeze hasn't so much stilled as become less cohesive, more every-which-way: what? Not that she doesn't seem interested in that nice bloody haunch, and indeed once she realizes she's quick to snap it up. « Thank you! » Solith can talk with her mouth full. A little presumptuous, but only enough to lift one of Vienne's eyebrows and bring a sly smile to her face. "Do I?" she asks with a chuckle. "Is that how it..." But hey, she can't finish questions either. Instead, with a shake of her head, "I've barely talked to him lately. Between being away and him having work to do... We see each other at drills and that's been about it." She's sorry for it, says the sad twist of her mouth. "I should really check in with him some time," which sounds more personal than professional, or at least, heartfelt. "I should check in with a lot of people." Oswinth, however, jolts a little bit when Solith 'checks in' with him, the snap of her jaws taking that leg seeming to startle him, which only serves to make his subsequent rumble turn into a chesty hack. « You are welcome. » Because he can cough and talk at the same time. « I appreciate your help. » Maybe there's a but. Or maybe he's just clumsy enough to make it sound like there's one when there isn't. Telavi can't seem to help smiling back at Vienne, and indeed, she looks at her quite as much as she listens, both without interruption; there are little nods here and there, though, and she sobers as the other woman goes on, responsive to her moods. "Are they mostly here, or out and about, your people?" she wonders. "I admit, I've been seeing a lot of my friends out, mostly at the Weyr-- Benden, I mean," she clarifies, cheeks a little pinker before she relaxes enough to show a dimple. "But that's because their food's been so much tastier. Stew, ugh." They may have tithes now, but that doesn't mean she's over it. As for Solith, brightly, « Would you like another one? » She could fetch it for him! She'd like that. "Out and about," Vienne is quick enough to say. "Well, I mean... Here too, just..." Her brow furrows as the words turn around. "Wait, what do you mean?" she breaks with a light laugh. "I'm not from Reaches," which should cover it without getting into the details of what constitutes 'her people'. But sneaking off to Benden for dinner? That makes her smile. "Is that where your people ...are?" This time the trail off is for her to look aside at Oswinth when Solith goes offering him more dinner. He's been taking his time with the first beast, ripping meat off of bones, trying to keep a certain amount of dirt from getting involved in the process. For the green's bright suggestion, he pauses to blink at her, then at Vienne, then at the herd that's scattered off. « Yes? » Is that the right answer? But Vienne shakes her head. « I should probably not, » he says with discomfort. « It is easier when I am not too full. » It. His wing. It twitches guiltily now. "Oh? Where from, then? Before your Hall, I mean," Telavi seems constitutionally incapable of not wondering. "Yes, I was born there just about, and it isn't the same going back but it's still fun meeting up with my friends... and not have to be carried around anymore," she adds, her mouth pulling slightly, wryly. "And my uncle, he's there too," but there she hesitates, searching out Vienne's expression, in case that's enough already. She hasn't looked at Solith, whose breezy thoughts shade into soft-sighed disappointment even as she gnaws quite energetically on the substantial thigh bone. « If you would ever like to, Oswinth, you may find me! When you are not too full. » That wing with its issues, she might not even have noticed it; at the very least, she doesn't stare. "Ista, originally," Vienne answers with a rock on her heeled boots. "But not since I joined the craft. Then it was the Hall, then Igen, then here." Not that Telavi quite asked for all that, but perhaps the bluerider has picked up on her wingmate's curiosity. "Just an uncle?" she wonders of the family at Benden. "Parents too? Family of riders?" she hazards to guess with the spread of a conspiring smile. As for certain damaged wing, there isn't much to see beyond a stiffness and the resulting tendency to hold it somewhat oddly. « We believe it will be right in a day or so. » Or right enough, given how its impeding him this evening. « But thank you. » His jaws around a hunk of flank, he tips his head to look over at Solith. « I'm not unaccustomed to it. » The injuries, that is. Not her kindness. Though he does seem to have trouble being clear, even when clarifying. As she listens, Telavi briefly inspects the fence for stray blood splatter and, evidently satisfied, leans more solidly against the rail. Smiling back at Vienne, she has a minute shrug for family; "Just an uncle. Or you may count his weyrmate if you like," and she doesn't even curl her lip, but audibly she could. But, almost apologetically, "I don't know very much about my parents. Were you at... Ista Weyr? Hold?" A more teasing smile precedes, "Camped out on the beach?" and makes it light, fun, rather than an accusation of Holdlessness. As for Solith, it's a close call, but at least she doesn't sigh this time; surely she'd like her wingmate to be healthy. « Oh. Does that make it easier? » Being accustomed. Or, not unaccustomed. Vienne tips her head, a bit of gentle suspicion in her eye, softened further with half a smile. "Your uncle would presumably know at least a little about one of them," she points out with a touch of amusement. How easily they shift into a bit of light prodding at one another! The bluerider chuckles about life on the beach. "Weyr, but, yes, there was a lot of time on the beach. Oswinth and I head down that way when we want some time to ourselves. There's a little cove..." She waves a hand to say it probably needs no more explanation. But Oswinth is somewhat stumped by Solith's question. « I... do not know, » he admits with some surprise. « I suppose it makes it more efficient. We have learned habits to avoid problems we've experienced in the past. » A pause, full of distant whirring and interplanetary static. « This was easier. With you. » There's a good chance that without Solith, he'd still be trying to take down dinner instead of finishing it. "His sister. His big sister," Telavi freely gives up to Vienne, dry on that last line for whatever the once-harper might infer about family dynamics. Only then there's Vienne's Ista anecdote and the greenrider laughs under her breath, assuring, "I won't ask where. You'll be safe from me. She does glance to Solith, though, and straighten away from the rail as she murmurs, "I should convince her to get out of there, before..." well, she might think Vienne knows! The green in question is slow to hop over the fence; she's busy listening to Oswinth with interest, and even a touch of admiration. Efficient. Habits. And at what she must construe as praise, there comes a pleased zephyr to waft along him and even his static. Still, she eventually makes it over in a hop and a flutter that's nothing like precise, because she likes it that way, and warbles to him by way of fare-thee-well. There's just a touch of 'gotcha' in the narrowing of Vienne's eye for the big sister line. As for her special beach, "Everyone should have their own secret place, I think," she says with a lofty air, just for fun, just before a wide grin takes over. And it fades just as quickly when attention turns toward the pens, a careful eye peering across the dimming field to see what can be seen of Oswinth's progress. Vienne has no opinion on stopping Solith from whatever might come next, but she does say, "It was very sweet of her to help. It's been a pretty stubborn muscle pull. I think the hot springs will be calling to us in the morning." But now it looks like the blue has finished with his meal and he makes his own way back to the fence and over, with Vienne sucking down the last of her tea before moving to mount up. "Have a good night, huh?" She doesn't say 'try not to fret too much about Nabol', but it might be there in the lingering pause of a smile before she and Oswinth head off. |
Leave A Comment