Logs:Boys from Far Reach
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| RL Date: 29 July, 2013 |
| Who: N'ky, Norrick |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: N'ky gets a letter from an old friend, and offers him a hand. |
| Where: A tavern in Northpost Holding, Breezy Stargazer's Weyr |
| When: Day 16, Month 5, Turn 32 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: Rainy. |
| Mentions: Giorda/Mentions, Azaylia/Mentions, April/Mentions, J'madri/Mentions, Alida/Mentions, H'vier/Mentions |
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| A tavern in Northpost Holding The letter was a surprise to N'ky, who hadn't been expecting any correspondence from home - from Far Reach. And that it should come from Norrick, someone he'd barely spoken to since leaving the holding nearly two turns back, was even more of a shock, especially once he'd read the contents and fully understood what it all meant. Given that he couldn't take the reply back himself, he arranged to have it delivered from the nearest hold, couriered by a runner so as not to risk his father's anger. His note gave Norrick a time and place for them to meet - evening on day 20 of month five, at the tavern in Northpost Holding. He arrived a little early, trudging through the spring mud and rain from where he left Cailluneth on the outskirt of the holding. By the time he got into the bar his leathers were soaked, but, even wet through, it would be hard for Norrick to miss the greenrider's distinctive height and wayward curls as N'ky cut through the meagre crowd towards the bar, to order a drink. After all, Norrick certainly didn't forget what the other man looked like. It might have been two turns or so, but it was hard to totally forget someone he grew up around. Norrick was certainly no better by the time he got inside, hair and clothes dripping from the rain. His fingers pushed into his hair though, threading out some of the water before flicking it to the floor. At least his jacket offered some protection, but he still smelled distinctly of wet leather and livestock. He made is way across to the bar though, slapping one hand against N'ky's back in a friendly gesture before ordering for himself. "You know, I don't care what anyone else says. That look suits you. But you know, next time we come up with some secret meeting times, let's do it when the weather isn't shit. I'm pretty sure I smell like a wet cat. ..Or maybe it's the whole place that does.. Lots..and lots of wet cats." The slap to his back made N'ky jump, but turning around to see Norrick quickly made a smile curve upon his lips, his dimples showing deeply as he returned the slap with a shoulder-thump. "The drowned rat rider look?" A hand reaches up to run through his curls, still crushed by the closeness of his recently-removed helmet, and he nudges a drink along the bar to his childhood buddy. "Klah. Spiked." Something hot to warm him up. "I'm not sure you smell like cat, but..." The greenrider leans in, taking a delicate whiff from the man's clothing, before wrinkling his nose and snorting out a laugh. "You sure stink of something, 'Rick." Grinning, he holds his mug up to clink it off the other man's, then takes a sip before settling it back down again. "So... you want to come to the Weyr? Had enough of, um... Far Reach?" Norrick barks out a laugh as he reaches for his mug, one finger lifting towards N'ky. "Correction: I smell of life. Hard work and... well. S'what my dad would call it anyway. Mother just shoos us all to a good scrubbing down all the same." The clink of mugs gets a nod though from the young man, and he inclines his head toward the rider. There's a slow smile though, and a faint noise that whistles past his lips. "Well the Weyrs work wonders in themselves, don't they? Not a word stuck to that tongue of yours." He makes himself comfortable then, leaning one arm against the bar to face N'ky, while sipping his drink. "Had enough? Think I probably had that around eleven. But..you know. Don't right think too often about up and leaving it all behind. Think I'm starting to choke on it though, myself. Damn set in their ways, they are. Even getting older, they don't give anyone else a say in what's done." "Life in Far Reach means you smell of ovine shit," N'ky snorts, sipping from his mug as he listens to the comment on his missing stutter. "I, um... yeah. Right after I Impressed, they, um... the Weyrlingmaster sent me for lessons. It's not gone, but it's not all the time now, either." He shrugs his shoulders a little, smirking. "I guess I've had about a turn's worth of lessons now? But it comes back, when I least want it to." Another shrug, this time dismissive; he doesn't think there's anything that can be done about it. "I know what you mean, 'Rick," about Far Reach, that is. "Were you... were you there, the day I came home? When I brought Cailluneth home, and... and my dad said what he did? I didn't really s-see anyone much past him and my mum, so..." And that's why he's not been back, and why he insisted on meeting outside of Far Reach, well beyond his father's land. "You'll like it at the Weyr, I think. I like it. It's home." "Ouch, already demoted to smelling like ovine shit?" Norrick laughs into his mug, giving N'ky's shoulder a friendly pat. "Oh I was around, to be sure. Not right there, mind you. But that ruckus? I was chasing ovines around for hours. Not that I blame you for it, to be sure. We all know the man has his...ways. Few of 'em are pleasant. Home eh?" The term earns an affectionate smile from him. "I'm glad ya found that." A gentle frown creases N'ky's brow at the mention of the trouble he caused for his friend, and he gives the fellow Far Reachian an apologetic look. "Cailluneth is, um... a bit hard to control, sometimes. She has a bit of a temper, a-and it... it can cause trouble." Like with the ovines back at their home. "I'll introduce you to her in a bit, before we go. She's very sweet when she's not... um..." His cheeks flush bright red, the colour spreading as far back as his ears. N'ky rubs awkwardly at the base of his skull, cringing a little. "She's being sweet now, anyway, that's what matters." After a sip from his drink, he squints curiously at Norrick - "You've been on a dragon before, haven't you?" "Well that sounds about right." Norrick laughs softly, nodding. "Still, she's protective of you, yeah? That's a good thing. Even if it's a bit difficult." He lifts a brow at the blushing though, and a smirk draws up his lips. "Oh I bet she is..heh.. Been on a dragon? Naw. Ridden some mighty big runners, but never saddled somethin that large before." "Too protective sometimes," N'ky admits with a frown. "You've no idea what it's like, Norrick - no idea. I'd give my life for her, and then do the same again." There's a lot of love, for sure, and the greenrider curls his fingers tighter around his mug before raising it to his lips. "Oh! Oh, she's not like a runner. Not at all. Hah! Drink up, and I'll take you to meet her? And... where are your things?" He looks behind the man, as if expecting to see... more than he does. "Going between can be a bit scary the first time, but we'll be ok. You'll be in good hands. Wings. With us, anyway." "Left them on the runner. Don't worry though. I've got someone who'll take him back to the hold for me." Norrick downed the rest of his klah then, sighing at the heat produced by it. "I'm aware she ain't a runner. Hah! Couldn't make that mistake." He stands though, offering N'ky's curls a quick ruffle. "I'm not worried at all about the trip. Just hope I don't get airsick." The curl-ruffling causes N'ky to blush, and he grins as he ducks down a little to allow it. Clearly, something he likes, because that grin grows to flash his gappy front teeth. The greenrider straightens up when his friend's withdrawn his hand, then drains his klah mug to set it down on the bar, pushing it towards the 'tender. "Shall we go, then? We'll, um, be there in no time, once we've got your things strapped into her straps. Um... I can probably introduce you to Giorda tonight - she's the headwoman. Or maybe Azaylia? Zay might be better... she's an ex-Beastcrafter, you know. And she's Acting Weyrwoman, so..." So she has clout. She can hopefully give Norrick the ok to stay. Norrick clasps N'ky's shoulder solemly. "I apologize ahead of time if I end up puking in your hair." He winks then and sets off across the bar, laughing. "That's the life, isn't it? Hopping the map in the blink of an eye.. Heh! So long as they don't mind the interruption and I don't have to sleep in the rain, I'll meet whoever you like." "You won't puke." Though N'ky doesn't necessarily sound certain about that. "Sleep in the rain? Eurgh. I-if you can't stay in the dorms, I, um, have a couch in my weyr? Thought it's k-kinda small. Really small, really, but, um... we'll work something out." Falling in beside Norrick, he shortens his stride to match the other man's, though he still manages to get to the door first to hold it open. On the way towards it he's been busy donning his riding gear again, helmet, gloves and jacket protecting him against the rain. "See over there?" He points to just down the road, where Cailluneth's shadowy form is just visible in the limited light. "That's Cailluneth. Where are your bags and things? I'll help you carry them." "Now I'm not about to impose on ya. Not when you're already doing a lot. 'Sides, I'd probably roll right off onto the floor and complain about it until you let me bunk with you. You remember that when we were little? Whole lot of us all piled together. " Norrick scratches at the side of his jaw though as he moves outside and to his tied runner - thankfully out of the rain. "Though I got more than one foot in my face during those times." He peers off into the gloom then, hefting the smallish packs from the runner. "I've got this. You just lead on." N'ky stops dead at the suggestion of bunking together. He blinks, bites nervously on his bottom lip and tries to run fingers through hair that's tucked in under his helmet, ending in an awkward rub against leather instead. "Um, m-maybe... maybe not bunking in with me, but... b-but I'm sure we can, er, th-there'll be something... we can work out something." And there's that nervous stutter of his, which he tries to cover with a forced little laugh. "Um... Cailluneth's... here." Just in case pointing out the big, silvery-green dragon wasn't enough of a giveaway the first time. He trots off through the rain towards her, and she so very helpfully extends a wing to shelter them from the rain. "Norrick, this is Cailluneth. Cailluneth..." He looks up at the burly green, who shows just the faintest interest in her rider's friend. "She says hello." Norrick is more than happy to move out of the rain again. He tips his free hand up to his brow, even though he has no hat on. He nods though,grinning to himself just a bit. "Ma'am. Since you're the one doing the lifting, I'll go ahead and thank ya for the ride. A right pleasure." He shoulders one bag then, tilting his head to tue slightly stuttering N'ky. He doesn't bring it up though, shaking his head with a grin. "I'm all for getting on out of the rain if you two are." Cailluneth looks down at Norrick when he calls her ma'am, her big eyes whirling blue-green as she snorts a hot breath over him. That's all he'll get from her though, as she turns her attention to N'ky as he starts strapping his friend's things in for the journey. "She says you're welcome, though she's not sure of the 'ma'am' bit. No-one's called her that before." With the bags all in place, it's time for them to mount up, and N'ky looks from Norrick to the straps leading up his lifemate's side. "Need a hand getting up, or reckon you can follow my lead?" Norrick laughs, nodding. "Force of habit. Got enough cracks of a switch on my hands in my day for not being as polite as I could." He takes a look up along the side of the dragon then though, before lifting a cocky brow at N'ky. "Oh I reckon I can manage. Show me how it's done then, dragonrider." "Journeywoman Cliona was pretty harsh, wasn't she?" That would be the old Harper who taught them as tots. N'ky smirks at the memory, then leads by example by shimmying up Cailluneth's side. He goes slow enough to allow Norrick to see how he does it, then offers a hand down to help the other up and into the straps once he's managed to get that far. The greenrider turns around to make sure he's buckling himself in securely, then tends to himself. "She's, um, a little rough on take-off, but you can hold on to the straps, or to my waist, i-if you want. We'll go up, and I'll let you know when we're going between with this signal," he demonstrates, "so you know to hold your breath. Just remember we're here and it'll be over in a couple of heartbeats, ok?" Norrick takes that hand, hoisting himself up with a tug. He settles in behind N'ky then, allowing for the help with buckling in. He laughs lowly though, reaching both arms around to hang onto the greenrider. "Heh," he breathes against N'ky's ear playfully, giving his friend a brief squeeze. "You make a pretty good anchor." He relents however, sliding his hands back to get a grip on the rider's belt instead, giving a nod. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be, I'm guessin'. Holding my breath...well I can do that. Easy enough." If only Norrick knew the conflict going through N'ky's head that ignites afresh with that playful breath! The greenrider stiffens up, clears his throat awkwardly, and tries to ignore it all, looking over his shoulder to nod reassuringly. "I'm... yeah. I-I'm buckled in pretty tight," he says weakly, trying to divert the meaning he got from the squeeze to something more... innocent. The hands sliding down to his belt are certainly a relief, and as soon as Norrick finishes speaking Cailluneth launches upwards. It's rough; she's a big girl, and there's a lot of weight to get off the ground. Up she goes until she's at a safe height to go between; N'ky gives his friend the signal, and a half a heartbeat later they're in the void between places.When they emerge, it's into a crisp, cold 'Reaches night, where the rain is still pouring down above them. Cailluneth begins a lazy spiral downwards, giving the newcomer a proper view of what may be his home to be. It's pointless for N'ky to try to speak, as the wind will only whip words away. And maybe teasing N'ky a bit is something fun to do. Norrick looks relatively amused by it, at least. But he doesn't have much time to dwell on that. His grip tightens as they go airborn, leaning back with the force of it. And then they're in the darkness. At least he doesn't have much time to dwell on the lurch of his stomach. From one rain-drenched sky to another, the view of the Weyr is somewhat obscured by the water and the dark. Breaths whip away from him though, and he leans away from N'ky just slightly to get a better view. But he doesn't remain that way, pressing right up against the greenrider's back again to hold on. Breezy Stargazer's Weyr, High Reaches Weyr The inner weyr itself is oddly-shaped, curving around the outside wall of the dragon's couch. This does offer some protection at either end from the constant draft that, especially during bad weather conditions, can whip through with enough force to scatter any unsecured paperwork. Just inside of the entrance from the couch, in the middle of the runnershoe shape that the weyr takes and carved from the curved wall, there are a few shelves and alcoves for books, knick-knacks and the like, with a beaten up desk positioned in front of them featuring plenty of pebble paperweights. Around the bend to the left is the bedroom, where there is a bed is made on a raised stone platform, with nothing but the basics provided for storing clothes and a screen to separate a tiny area for grooming and other necessities from the main chamber. A small, glass-paned window cut into the wall provides a little natural light. At the other end of the curve is a living room, with a small fireplace and a single old loveseat, draped with a throw to make it more presentable. Beside the fireplace are basic cooking implements and a huge pot of klah powder. On the floor between the fireplace and the loveseat is a sheepskin rug made from several chocolate-brown and black hides patched together, which is soft and luxurious - a sharp contrast to the rest of the weyr. A little klah table sits in front of the sofa. N'ky smirks to himself at Norrick's reaction; though, of course, he's pleased that there's no throwing up so far. Rather than going straight to the ground, Cailluneth pulls up at a ledge near the very rim of the Weyr; it's certainly high up, tucked away in a niche of sorts, where the wind drives the rain downward in stinging sheets. N'ky begins unbuckling himself while Cai waits on the ledge, turning to give Norrick a hand if he needs it. "Welcome to my home," he says with a grin, before dismounting and, again, offering help if it's wanted. There's no proper unpacking of things from his lifemate's straps as the green dragon leads the way into her couch, then N'ky leads on into the runnershoe-shaped weyr beyond, turning to the right to go along that curved prong to where there's a small living room area with a little fire blazing in the hearth. "That's the sofa." He points to it. It's tiny - a battered little loveseat. The only furniture in the room, really, since there's no room for much else. Norrick does seem a little surprised at the landing, but manages to climb his way down. It's certainly not as graceful as the ascent, but he manages just fine. He's willing enough to follow though, stretching his arms out above his head lazily. "Your dry home!" Because dry, at the moment, is the best part. He peels his wet jacket off during the walk though, looking about as they head into the living area. Brows lift slowly at the sofa though, a grin spreading out across his lips. "You weren't kidding. I think my feet would hang over and touch the floor if I tried to lay on that thing!" Alas, the sofa wouldn't be a sleeping option. He scrubs his fingers through his damp hair, giving his scalp a rough scrub. "It's nice though. Cozy, I think is the right word." "My legs do hang over when I lie on it." N'ky's tried, but then again, given his height and the length of the sofa, it's not hard to see that he wouldn't fit properly on it. The rider mooches over to the fireplace, crouching down to stoke it up before sitting on the thick sheepskin rug that covers the floor in front of it. "Um... sit for a while and get dry? It might be too late to go down and ask now, but, um... I've got whisky and klah, and, um... some food, if you want? Just a little, though. Mostly mutton, since... well, stores downstairs," in the weyr proper, he means, "are kinda empty still." Norrick drapes his jacket over the back of the sofa, wandering around to the rug. He drops down though easily enough, heavily sitting before the fire with a bit of a sigh. "Whisky and klah? Heh! Sounds like one would be good in the other, really. But I don't wanna go eating ya out of house and home or anything. I'm fine." He works his boots off though, setting them to the side to dry without getting direct heat. A hand roams over the sheepskin though, feeling over it with his fingers. "If it's too late I could always bed down right here." N'ky leans over to the little stand beside the fireplace, where there's a large pot of klah powder, a big jug of water, and, in the tiny cubby cupboard, a bottle of cheap whisky. Two mugs hang on the side of the stand from hooks; they're plucked off and he sets about heating the water to pour into them, while adding a splash of whisky to drink in the meantime. One is pushed toward Norrick while they wait. "It's a nice rug, isn't it? I, um, made it myself. There's wild ovines in Southern, and... Norrick. You could help me." His eyes go wide in realisation and excitement, and he smiles crookedly at his buddy. "We can split the marks - do you want to make some extra marks? You and I could do it properly together!" ... he just fails to explain what it is they can do. And when N'ky moves for that stand, Norrick takes over the space. He flops out on the rug, holding one hand up to take the offered mug with a grin. "Did you? Well that makes sense. A good job, to be sure." His free hand roams over the sheepskin, feeling over it while the greenrider talks of business and marks. Brows raise slowly. "I don't even officially have a job here, N'ky. Not that I'd be opposed, of course. Everyone could use a bit of extra marks, and I do know ovines.. What are we doing...properly?" There's space enough for Norrick to flop, and a little extra room for N'ky to drop down beside him, snuggled into the thick pile of the sheepskin. "You don't need to have a job to help me out," he explains, looking up at the ceiling with his hands resting on his belly, fingers laced. "But it's a secret, ok? Only one person knows about it, and that's because I'd trust her with anything - but even she doesn't know yet that I've found an island already." Suddenly excited, he props himself up on one elbow, rolling to his side to look at Norrick. "I'm going to raise ovines, 'Rick. There's flocks of them wild down in Southern. I've been hunting them, skinning them, that stuff, but I want to do what Far Reach does, just on a smaller scale. So I've been looking for an island that I can put them on to graze and live happily enough on their own, so all I have to do is turn up, shear them, do a little bit of care stuff now and then, and... and I'll have a little business going on. Extra marks are good." He sips from his whisky, thinking for a moment. "I've got a buyer for hides. I'll tap into Far Reach's wool buyers, see if I can get them to take mine, too. And I figure I -- we -- could maybe even add caprines, maybe even woollies, too, to diversify the takings a little... and all it should take is a trip or two to Southern every seven to check on it all. What do you think?" "Quite a bit to take in." Norrick does at least look like he's considering it, closing his eyes while he rolls the idea around. "Can't deny it's a pretty good idea at least." He grins faintly at that, lips slowly curving upward. He looks at N'ky again though, propping himself up on an elbow. "So long as they're looked in on proper, and nothin's there to eat them, that should work." A hand comes up though, giving a light pat to the excited greenrider's cheek. "And you'll show up your father right and good in the end, I think. Alright, you've got a deal." "I thought it was," a good idea, that is. N'ky's grinning at the positive reception, and he's all too keen to start talking about it again when Norrick knocks him for six when that pat on his cheek. The teen's brown eyes go wide for a few seconds, until he blinks them quickly and oh look, the water's boiling! Up he sits, clearing his throat awkwardly as he turns around to check on that barely-boiling pot, before reaching back around to nab his friend's mug as well as his own. While fixing up the klah with a good shot of whisky in each cup, he clears his throat again - it doesn't quite stop his voice from being a little squeaky with embarrassment once he starts talking again, but that squeak works its way out quick enough. "I, er, yeah. There sh-shouldn't be any, um, predators... I checked. A-and it's an island, so there'll be no way for them to c-come or go, and... yeah. Showing up dad." With two spiked drinks in hand, he turns back to hand one to Norrick, holding his own up to clunk off the other's in cheers. "To, um, raising ovines a-and selling... wool and stuff? Oh! And to coming to the Weyr. New... new beginnings." "New beginnings. Heh. Gonna have to think of something different for a toast come year's end." Norrick grins, knocking his mug lightly against N'ky's all the same. "But it suits." He takes a sip of the spiked klah then, nodding at the faint bite of whiskey. "And that's all good. I believe ya, you wouldn't go leaving them out there to get eaten or some such thing." "Anything could happen, come turn's end... there's a long time to go before then, 'Rick." N'ky raises his mug to his lips, sipping to seal the cheers. Then he leans back down onto one elbow, lying along his side and getting comfortable. "So. It's been two turns, thereabouts, since I came here to be with Ansly," his uncle, the Smith - now back in Far Reach after being posted briefly to the Weyr. "What've you been doing all this time? Any... um... anything interesting?" He pauses, taking another hefty gulp from his klah. "Did your parents try to h-hook you up with anyone?" Because aren't they of that marriable age now? Norrick smirks faintly, but gives a slow nod. "Oh you're right about that. Anything." After another sip from the mug though, he settles back down on the sheepskin, resting the mug on his chest. He laughs, head tilting to look at the greenrider. "What have I been doing? Does anything ever change around Far Reach? Mostly been tending to the runners. The younger ones take the smaller things and all. As for my folks...well. They'd like it if I listened more. But I ain't been too interested. There's always folks to keep...occupied with around the hold." N'ky returns that smirk; no, nothing ever does change in his home holding, which he agrees to with a shake of his head. "I miss the work sometimes... a-and the runners. Is Fragarah still there?" That would be, of course, the mare he used to ride. "Sometimes I get down in the stables here to do some shoeing, or I can help out the Herders a bit with some hoofwork if it needs doing... it feels good to work with my hands a bit. Drills with the wing and sweeps and stuff can be boring, but... I guess that's just my job now, right?" What with being a dragonrider and all. "None of the girls at the hold appealed to you? I always thought that, um... what was her name? Um... C... Cleo? She was a couple of turns older than us, I guess, more my brothers' age... I thought she was kinda hot. I liked her freckles." He blushes, hiding half of his face behind his mug. "I've been kinda seeing a girl who looks like her. She's from my clutch." Norrick nods faintly, offering another smile for his friend. "Well if I'm able to get work down there you're welcome to come by and help out. I sure am not gonna complain." He sits up a bit to take another swig from his mug, then laughs, turning a bit to face N'ky. "Oh she's hot. Definitely. Married herself to Jakin, though I get under her skirts occasionally. What he doesn't know won't hurt me." He offers the greenrider a wicked look at that, then shrugs. "Spend some time rolling around with Sabastian, too. But marriage? Nah. Not yet anyway." If N'ky's eyes went wide at the thought of Norrick sneaking it not only to Cleo, but to a married Cleo, they go even wider at the mention of Sabastian, too. He chokes a little, thumping a fist off his chest and clearing his throat, yet again. "S-Sabastian? The... the one who... he worked the stables? He?" Blinkblink. The rosy blush on N'ky's cheeks now is for much more than just the booze in his drink and the warmth of the fire; this redness spreads all the way up to his ears, where they're just visible poking out between his curls. "I... I d-didn't know that s-sorta stuff happened at Far Reach..." He shakes his head in disbelief, pushing himself to sit up a little straighter. Norrick lifts a brow faintly, watching N'ky...struggle. "Oh it happens. Carefully, anyway. Gettin caught probably wouldn't be all that fun." Nope, the man isn't embarassed at all. He tilts his head though, giving the greenrider a light tap with the side of his mug. "You alright with that?" "M-my dad would flay me, i-if... if he... it's bad enough I'm n-not a bronzerider but... Cailluneth's green, and... a-and..." The fragmented protest (of sorts) makes perfect sense in N'ky's head, if not when it's blurted out in such an unlinked fashion. He swallows hard, looking at Norrick with a conflicted expression. "He hates riders. He hates men who... who d-do that. I'm a greenrider. When she... wh-when Cailluneth... when she's proddy, I h-have no control and..." He winces, sitting up properly now, legs curled under him - but only briefly, as he soon shifts to sit cross-legged. "She went up f-for the first time just under a seven ago. I'd... I'd hoped April's Darcielth would catch, but... h-he didn't. It was a bronze." Setting his mug down, the greenrider rests his elbows on his knees and drops his face into his hands, groaning. "I'm n-not gay. I'm r-really not, 'Rick, b-but it's hard when..." His voice trails off, thought forgotten. "No offense meant, N'ky, but your dad's an ass." Norrick snorts that out first, rather matter of fact. "He ain't the end all and be all. And in case you hadn't noticed by now, he's wrong about a lot." He shakes his head a bit though, shifting over to offer at least a comforting hand on the greenrider's shoulder. "That's gotta be hard. I don't know how riders handle things like that but you gotta know it don't make you any less a man for it. Hell, am I? Naw. Don't think so." He bumps his own shoulder against N'ky lightly at that. "Nobody's saying they expect you to run around hopping in guys beds do they?" It's somewhat of a comfort to hear Norrick say those things - or at least to hear that he's not being condemned for them, as he had expected anyone from his home might do. Brown eyes peep out from between his long, calloused fingers, and N'ky's even got a bit of a smirk visible, just beyond the edges of his palms. "It... was hard to handle. I... I'd accepted it would happen and I'd... um... well, it's not just April that I've been seeing from my clutch. N-not that I'm seeing J'madri, but... we're both greenriders. He has... experience. I wanted to... find out before I had a flight, and... well. It's ok. I don't like the... not knowing, not being able to choose part, but... it's like nothing I've ever known, 'Rick. It..." His hands lower a little, so they're just covering his mouth as he shakes his head. "It's intense." "Well now you're just making me envy you." Norrick gives a playful look, grinning at the other man. "If anything I've heard about flights is true though it's probably good you got that experience in, yeah? Sounds like one crazy ride but if it's not terrible...is there any reason to worry too much?" He finishes off what's left in his mug then, lightly wagging it at the rider. "Anyone gives you any problem, you just come to me." And he'll smile them to death. Fingers stay over his mouth as N'ky talks. "It was intense," he repeats, the smile fading a little. "It hurt. I couldn't do anything about it... he was--" His gaze drops, and the greenrider shrugs. "It was good. While it lasted, while... while Cailluneth was still here," he taps the side of his head, "but after..." A pause, during which he frowns and shakes his head. "It hurt. I hurt a lot, a-and I don't want to do that again. I had no control, 'Rick, and... it wasn't what I'd hoped it would be." Norrick winces faintly at that description, shaking his head. "Damn. Shouldn't be that way. You know? And I'm sorry it was. I don't know a whole lot about how riding works..I can't really help there I suppose." He gives N'ky's shoulder a squeeze though, before offering his hair another ruffle. "Maybe at least now it'll be easier to plan for? If it works like that..." "It wasn't just the flight - the flight was... um... i-it was kind of a relief to have it over with. For nearly a seven before, she'd been - Cailluneth, I mean - she was so difficult... I can't even start to describe it to you, 'Rick, it's just.... it's hard. I hadn't expected it to be easy, but... one of my clutchmates had her green go up before, and she looked like she had it so easy." N'ky is as jealous as he is frustrated by that fact, which means he frowns a little as his hair's ruffled... even if he likes it. His curls have always been his weak point! "I'll know how she'll behave next time, but there's no way to know who might catch..." He runs his own fingers through his hair now, shrugging his shoulders. "There's someone whose dragon I want to catch, but he wasn't even interested when Cailluneth was all over him, and... and I'd hoped he would be. I'd really hoped he would be, because I really like her." Norrick sighs faintly, but shakes his head. "I guess that's one of them things they don't advertise when they pick ya up for search, eh?" There isn't much the man can really do about dragonrider problems. "Don't they have people who've been through all this to help ya out?" N'ky shrugs. "It's nothing anyone can know before it happens, I guess? Every dragon is different. Every flight is supposedly different. Every rider is different... too many things are different for anyone to be able to tell you how it's going to be for you, when they can only tell you what it is for them." This requires more drinking, and N'ky holds out the whisky bottle to top up Norrick's drink before doing his own, with an added splash of klah for them both, too. "Cailluneth's not like any other green in our clutch. She's more like... more like Hraedhyth, her dam. Or maybe a little like Ilicaeth, one of the blues in my clutch. But even then, I don't know for sure if they're similar, because I can't see what those other dragons are like. No-one knows, other than... well, no-one can know." "True enough, true enough. Still, since it just happened it's not something you'll have to worry over for a little while, is it?" What does Norrick know of these things? Very little. "Think on the ovines, and your plan there. Forget the other stuff, yeah?" Norrick gives the greenrider's shoulder a shake then, before accepting the spiked klah once more. "But if whenever you wanna talk about that sort of thing, you feel free." "At least a couple of months. Hopefully longer. I won't know how long between flights until... well, until she goes up again." N'ky winces at the thought, but quickly wipes the expression away to smile at his friend. "It's not as bad as I'm making it, 'Rick. I'm one rider from a clutch of 24 in a Weyr of hundreds; everyone else has it different to me. Alida and Ilicaeth seem to have it really good, and April and Darcielth, too... J'madri gets on well with his Velzeth... everyone's unique." He shrugs, trying to put on a more chipper outlook. "And yeah, there's the ovines to think about! I'll take you down there as soon as I've got another day off." Norrick moves, sliding the mug away from himself on the floor. Out of the way. He sprawls back out again then, folding both arms behind his head as he listens. "Sounds like a whole complicated mess. Simple life for me, I think.." He watches N'ky though, shrugging. "But it's as bad to you as you're making it, right? Heh, sure though. I'll be glad to go whenever you're ready, but there's no real rush. Unless they're needing some care and all. Get some rest, eh? I can sleep here just fine." N'ky chugs down what's left in his whisky-and-klah, rubbing the back of his hand over his mouth to catch stray drips. He's a little hazy-looking, with the booze kicking in already, and he gives his friend a watery sort of smile. "Not as bad as I'm making it, right," he both repeats and confirms, nodding his head. The pushing away of the mug seems to be a sign that Norrick's ready to sleep, and N'ky nods at the abandoned vessel, as if accepting such to be true. "I have a spare blanket, a-and a pillow you can borrow. It's actually warmer on this side than in my bedroom, because you have the fire..." Which he stokes with a poker, idly, before popping a guard up in front of it. "Want to see the rest of the weyr, before turning in?" Norrick considers that, lips curving into a slow smile. "Comfortable as this is, a tour does sound pretty interesting before I lose the opportunity." He pushes himself upright again, fingers scratching through his hair that's finally drying out. He climbs to his feet then, offering a hand up to N'ky. "You could always camp out here if it's chilly where you normally sleep. I won't mind." "There's not much more to see," N'ky admits with a smirk and a shrug of his shoulders. He gets to his feet after Norrick, a touch unsteadily even with that helping hand; he's not used to drinking, and what he's had goes to his head quickly. "I like my bed, even if it's a little... short, sometimes." Since he's so tall! The greenrider cants his head to indicate 'Rick should follow him, and he leads him around the little loveseat and back around the runnershoe-curved weyr; it runs around the outside of Cailluneth's couch, and is never quite free of an ever-present draught. "This is my desk," he points out the obvious as the walk past it, with it's map- and book-stuffed alcoves, and paperweights holding down his papers. Fingers drum on its battered wooden surface, though he doesn't pause. Further around the curve, at the end of the second prong, his bedroom is revealed. It's spartan, with nothing more than a bed carved from the rock, a clothespress, a plain wooden chest, and a screen hiding what the greenrider points out to be the toilet-cum-mini washroom. "And, um, that's it." He goes to the wooden chest, bending down to rummage through seemingly random fabric to find the blanket he's looking for. Norrick takes it all in stride, looking at the different things rather obediently. There's a nod of his head every so often, and even he trails his hand lightly on the desk as it's passed. The bedroom is given a bit of an eyeing though, lips curved in amusement at the length of the bed. "Poor thing. Could always find somethin' to stick on the end, give it a bit extra footroom?" Maybe? The man stakes his head though, slightly, watching N'ky as he begins to rummage with a faint twitch of his lips. He does move though, setting a hand on the greenrider's back to lean in close. "Find it yet?" Extra footroom? N'ky pulls a face at that thought, shrugging. "Maybe." He's pretty sure it can't be done - perhaps he's already tried and failed. The greenrider freezes when Norrick's hand settles on his back, and when the other teen's there, so close - it's almost as if he's forgotten what he's doing, what he's looking for. "'R-Rick, you're, um, y-you're very close," he stammers, turning his head to look at his friend - and quickly looking away when he realises how much closer that puts them. He clears his throat, laughs nervously, and leans a little more towards the chest to find the blanket he's searching for. And voila! It appears, and he pulls it out with a triumphant look upon his slightly drunk face. "One blanket," he says proudly, holding it up to present it to Norrick. "And you need a, um, pillow, from, um..." He waves vaguely to the top end of his bed, before turning his gaze back to look down at the shorter man, a crooked smile twitching up one corner of his mouth. Norrick chuckles lightly, but takes hold of the blanket. Hands pull the length of it between them then, before he reaches to drape it around N'ky and over the greenrider's head with a smirk. "Need a pillow for a number of things, I'd think." He wanders away then and along the side of the bed, dropping down to rest on it. "Might not be long enough but at least it's comfy, right?" N'ky fumbles with the blanket until he's able to peep out from under one edge, holding it up with a silly, sappy smile, no doubt fuelled by the booze he's drunk. A bit more fumbling with the blanket has it wrapped around his shoulders, and he goes to drop down on the edge of the bed beside Norrick, bouncing on the fleece-filled mattress where it sits in the stone-carved wallow. "I like it," he says, dropping backward so he's lying, with his feet still over the edge and on the floor. "But I sleep with Cailluneth sometimes. She's comfortable, too." He reaches out to nab a pillow; it takes a couple of attempts before he's able to pull it over and thump it against Norrick's side. "You can have this one." Norrick gives a small bark of laughter when the pillow hits him, reaching for it to bring up over his chest. He squeezes then, testing it. "Hm...seems pretty good. What about the rest?" The other pillows are given a suspicious look then, before he shifts to the side a bit to lean over N'ky. "What's special about this pillow?" There's leaning, and N'ky doesn't move away. He blinks up at Norrick, silent for a moment, before he reaches over to grab a second pillow to hug to his chest. "This is mine," he states possessively, mock-baring his teeth and growling. "That one's... the special one because it's, um... just special. Because I gave it to you." He laughs and shrugs, raising his pillow to thump it off Norrick's head. "It's a good one." Another thump! "Because it's mine." Assaulted with pillows, Norrick just laughs, lifting his hand to help ward off the thumping. "Special 'cause it's yours, eh? I can believe that." He pauses though, considering N'ky for a moment or two before he leans again. Further. He grins a little though, brushing his lips barely against the greenrider's. "What if I wanna share it?" Brushing lips! N'ky's eyes flutter closed so briefly as it happens and his breath catches in his throat, and then... he starts to sit up and push his pillow against Norrick's chest, pushing him away. As he does it he shakes his head, biting down on his lip and looking as if he's done something to get into trouble. "'Rick..." It's part plead, part uncertainty, as he holds the pillow up between them, pressed against the other man's chest as a barrier. A soft, squidgy barrier, but a barrier nonetheless. "It's a good pillow," he murmurs, biting hard into his bottom lip and dropping his gaze to where it's stuffed between them. Norrick smiles lightly at being pushed, briefly looking at the pillow barrier. He shakes his head, plucking up his own assigned pillow to tuck under his arm. His free hand moves to N'ky's jaw though, pushing his head up lightly. "You know where I am if you wanna share." He stands then, collecting the abandoned blanket and tossing it over his shoulder. Then he's gone, heading back through the weyr to the sheepskin and fire. N'ky's head is easily pushed up, an attempted smile curving the corners of his mouth up even though he still bites down on his lip. Norrick's comment gets a nod of his head - he sure does know where the other man will be sleeping, because where else is he going to go? The greenrider watches as he leaves around the bend of the weyr, waiting until he's just out of sight before calling out a soft, "G'night, 'Rick." Then he stands up, strips down to his underthings, and curls up under his covers - booze makes him fall asleep quickly, so it's not long before he's snoring softly. Not unlike Cailluneth, where she sleeps in her couch. |
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