Logs:Darker
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| RL Date: 11 July, 2013 |
| Who: Alida, Ilicaeth, N'ky, Cailluneth |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: A little something between Alida and N'ky takes a turn for the darker. |
| Where: Breezy Stargazer's Weyr |
| When: Day 19, Month 3, Turn 32 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: High winds whip through the bowl and whistle up the walls around the spires. |
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| 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. At one end, a bed is made on a raised stone platform, with nothing but the basics provided for storing clothes though there is a small, glass-paned window cut into the wall to provide a little natural light; at the other, there's a small fireplace and a single old sofa, draped with a throw. In the middle, 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. The call to Cailluneth comes post-dinner, Ilicaeth's down-to-business, scratchy baritone informing his sister that Alida would talk to him now about 'that' matter. Given the green's okay, the blue is now found to be landing upon her ledge, Alida slipping from his broad shoulder, and clearing her throat before stepping into the passage leading to N'ky's part of their home. Cailluneth's unusually welcoming of Ilicaeth, rasping a happy-growl at him and buffeting him playfully with her head, before inviting him to settle beside her on the chilly, wind-whipped ledge - or to go inside, if he'd rather have the extra space the couch affords. She shares that her Heart is waiting in the living section of his weyr, rather than the bed side of the runnershoe curve his home is. N'ky's got a hospitable if basic little set-up going on; the fire blazes in its little heart, and on a small table in front of the little loveseat, the sole seating in the room, there is a bottle of booze and two glasses. "In here, 'Lida," he calls out, directing her further beyond his lifemate's instructions. Ilicaeth's a little pooped out from his mock battle earlier in the day with Hraedhyth, but he headbutts his sister back amicably enough, then slipping to a nice lie-down upon her ledge, while hopefully getting in a quick cuddle and watching the snow. Someone's pretty damned happy, and could care less about being in or out of the weather. As for Alida, she's looking all about to place N'ky and his surroundings, and finally stepping before that loveseat, and nodding to the greenie. "Nicky..." She's suitable sober, even-featured, green eyes locking with browns. Since there's not enough room on Cailluneth's ledge for two dragons to lie, she shifts to give Ilicaeth space, settling in the wide corridor that leads to her couch. It means the entrance is pretty much completely blocked off, but that's all the better for the weyrlings inside as it eases up the permanent draught a little. "Alida," N'ky says softly in reply, setting down the book he was reading and patting the other side of the seat. It'll mean sitting in close proximity, but not too close. He then gestures to the glasses and bottle, all three seemingly untouched. "Drink?" given his bigger ledge, it's easy for Ilicaeth to forget some others are not quite as spacious. Still, the blue chuffs his thanks to Cailluneth, and lets his ass face outward so he can regale her with the tale of how he and their dam did battle in the eastern Bowl earlier, the story needing no embellishment, as it was truly epic. Inside, Alida's nodding a couple of times to N'ky's offer, her own butt soon settling on the other half of the loveseat, the blonde soon enough launching into it in clipped, quiet tones. "I've spoken with various people, checked on various things. It c'n be done." It's a story Cailluneth can appreciate in all its finer details, and she offers Ilicaeth congratulatory, admiring nuzzles, head-rubbings and even the occasional flickering lick of her tongue to show her admiration for his fight. N'ky leans forward to pour for Alida, then for himself, offering her her choice of glass before he cradles the other as he leans against the back of the little sofa, contemplating the magnitude of those last four words. He's quiet for a while, brow furrowed in thought, his own movement being the raising of his drink to his lips, following a little tip of cheers towards Alida. Once he's taken a sip, he clears his throught. "H-how far?" She takes a sip of the drink she's offered, Alida remaining on the edge of the loveseat she's currently occupying, her greens shifting from draught to her fellow weyrling, on occasion. With N'ky's own sip comes the re-affixing of her gaze to him once more, then her answer for that tentative inquiry. "That's the crux uv the situation, ain't it?" Pause, sip. "How far d'ya want it ta go... need it ta go? The more...stringent the punishment, the more it's gonna cost." "And anything less than... that won't work." N'ky knows his dad. His brothers. And that makes him frown. "I, um..." Whatever that train of thought was, it's cut off, and he shakes his head to disperse the lingering words from his mind. Then he looks uncomfortable, a touch nervous, perhaps, as he leans towards the bluerider, voice dropping low even if they're the only ones here. "How much are we talking, 'Lida?" "Less than *what*?" the blonde inquires just a hint sharply, frowning some at N'ky. "I need firm limits - lower ta' upper - when I hand this job over. *You* set those limits right now, 'r I get up 'n walk." A sudden shrug seems to partially dissolve whatever lies within Alida, and she sips at her drink again, notes casually, "Again, that depends on wha'cha' want done. Could be as simple as some heavy footwork done by you an' a favor owed at some later point, ta some large, hard coin." "Anything less than all the way." N'ky frowns down into his drink, bottom lip pressed out. "Um... I've still got to pay back what I owe to Far Reach, so, um... wh-what do you think I can get for, um, b-bartering me? Like... like favours? Or, um... wh-whatever I can do for... them?" "No death, then. But, mark my words, if yer da' pushes too hard, he might wish he was out uv 'is misery fer a good long while." How coolly she speaks of the potential outcome of this deal the greenrider wishes to make. "What about the rest uv' 'em? People *can* walk in on the situation, ya' understand? And people exactin' retribution *don't* want their identities known." As far as paying back what he owes, "That was part uv it. There *are* wild woolies known ta be roamin' here 'n there in the South, not too far from human habitation. Ya might try findin' a few uv' those, use yer funds ta pay fer the rest." As far as using himself for coin, the woman can't help but smirk just a little, then shake her head. "'Riders 'r too problematical... dragon 'n all. Ya might think uv usin' yer metal skills ta' offer sound deals ta' various cotholds around 'Reaches...shoe their runners, make whatever small tools they might need." N'ky shakes his head. "N-no, 'Lida," he gently corrects, "anything less than... than d-death," not a word or concept he's comfortable with, "wouldn't be enough. I know him. If he th-thinks he's being roughed up, he'll... he'll just get angrier." The talk of woollies perks him up a little, if only because he seems to hit on a thought. "I've, um, got some connections still that I c-could sell hides, fleeces to. I know how to process them, get them ready for sale... I didn't even think of that, and Cailluneth and I go hunting in Southern twice a seven." He shakes his head, unbelieving that he hadn't thought of it earlier. "Not enough marks in being a farrier, and, um, other than my toolbelt, I've not got what I need - metal's expensive. But I can get marks from fleeces. How many?" She blinks, the woman looking - just for a moment - as if there's a whole new something inside of N'ky, and the discovery doesn't make her too pleased. But that nanosecond passes, and the guard notes darkly, "*He* might get reactionary... but how about if someone were ta' threaten 'is family? Maybe even do a little bit uv' minor 'work' on a couple uv' 'em ta show the intent was definite." A pause for a sip soon finds the blonde rumbling, "Shankin' people is both easy *and* difficult. Deed is done...but now, there's a body 'n other things ta take care uv...savvy? Nobody wants ta get caught, so...things get stickier. Threats, promises - properly applied - c'n have even better results than a final dirt nap." As far as farrier and fleece go... "Then it depends on how long you got ta pay back yer debt. If y'c'n get yer own woolies set up 'n bearin' within a Turn, turn an' a half, ya' might wanna go that direction." As the greenrider's thought of using the pelts to perhaps strike a deal with these nameless people goes... "I'd have ta get back ta' my contacts...see if that kinda' payment would be acceptable. I wouldn't count on it, though." "My brothers haven't done anything against me, I, um... I don't think they should be involved. Or my mum, or my sisters... the rest of the family's big, but, um, i-it would have to be someone close to work like that, and I don't want anyone else getting hurt." N'ky's expression shows that this is all getting far more complicated than he'd expected, and he leans back with a huff, running fingers through his curls. "I can sell fleeces to my contacts, 'Lida. For marks that I can give to your contacts. Wild woollies and ovines have fleeces as good as domesticated ones when it comes to carding the wool; maybe there's a little less of it, but they're still good. And I can bring the meat back here. Faranth knows we probably need it." He wrinkles his nose, then snorts in amusement. "I'll invite you up for homemade stew next seven." Then, holding up a finger thoughtfully to his lips, he continues: "You've got me thinking, though. What if Cailluneth and I could catch and transport some of those woollies to an island, and raise them there? There's no thread, no predators to worry about... we could make marks all the time then." If she hadn't been exposed to her eye-opening moment with him a few moments ago, Alida might just stare at N'ky when he speaks so casually about murder. As it is, though, the woman simply drops her gaze into her drink, ruminates for some moments. Again, casually, "And what should the operative do if one 'r more uv' yer family walks in on the deed, hm? 'Cause they do *not* wanna get caught...and if they're seen, especially their face..." She's trying to get all angles before there's committment made to a deal. The stew idea garners a small flash of appreciation from cool green eyes, the woman looking up a and making a silent 'ahh' of her lips for what the greenrider meant...and now seems to have in mind. "Gotta think uv' storms, wherries, maybe even a rider 'n dragon ignorant uv' the herd bein' yers. But, as long as ya' have a very sound plan - like a cave ta herd 'em inta at night, 'r somethin' - then why not?" She's no beast herder. Silence falls over N'ky for what feels to him like forever, as he thinks over what to do should such a situation as Alida puts forth arise. When he finally speaks, it's slow, with each word carefully measured before being voiced. "It's coming up to spring. There's, um, lots of way people can get hurt, get lost in the mountains this early in the turn... my dad, my brothers'll be going out scouting before sending the flocks back up to graze. Snow can cause all sorts of trouble... rockslides happen. Runners spook. Anything could happen... so could, um, anything happen to anyone in that sort of way?" It might be a bit vague, but it's an answer to Alida that says whatever needs doing, should be done. She listens in stone silence, the guard's face becoming as unreachable as the forever-snowy tops of the tallest of High Reaches' peaks. "I see." Her long sip drains the last of her drink, the cup set aside upon mantlepiece as the blonde rises. "Leave the women out uv it entirely; the menfolk - other than yer da' - only if necessary." Looking in very still fashion at the greenrider, the bluie notes stoically, "Y'understand that every potential 'extra accident' that might have ta occur incurs more money, yeah?" N'ky rises with Alida, swirling what's left of his drink around in his glass before he sets it down on the tiny table. His hands settle upon his hips, and he looks down at the bluerider, then down to the floor between them. What can be seen of his expression is uncomfortable, uncertain, conflicted... and he lifts his brown-eyed gaze to look at his clutchmate once more with an attempt to force a smile. It's weak. "I understand." He nods once, then holds his hands out to Alida's shoulders, giving them a gentle brushover that reaches her upper arm before pausing, feather-light in a touch that's a contrast to the heaviness of his expression. "'Lida - you're not going to get in trouble with this, are you? You're not risking anything?" He's a pal, so he's allowed that somewhat more intimate touch, the blonde's form sensed to be a little tight beneath the greenrider's fingers and hands. She's not smiling back at him, but Alida's not frowning, either. Her features might as well be chiselled from stone, so still and uncaring they are. "We're *all* riskin' somethin' in this... you mebee the most uv' all." A sudden shrug rolls one shoulder, and the woman is stepping out from under that touch, and towards the narrowing that leads back outside. A pause allows her to note over her shoulder, "You start workin' hard on earnin' that coin, 'n I'll talk ta people. It won't be done until ya' have proof y' c'n pay it all, so getcher' plans straightened out, make sure uv yer facts... 'cause lotsa' shit's gonna be ridin' on 'em." Without a further word, the guard steps back into motion, soon reaching Ilicaeth. She leaves N'ky without much more to say, as he's too wrapped up in his thoughts. Cailluneth moves obligingly out of the way to allow Alida to pass, wuffling warmth breath at the bluerider as she reaches Ilicaeth, and giving the blue another friendly, flirtatious nuzzling as a farewell. By the time his green's saying her goodbyes, N'ky is in the couch, there to see Alida off. "I'll see what I can do," he calls after the bluerider, before taking up a leaning spot against his lifemate's foreleg, arms crossed over his chest and a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "I'll let you know. Over stew. This time next seven?" "Next seven... Don't hurry too much." It's a very weak hint of blackest humor from the woman, who looks up into Cailluneth's eyes for a moment, then sliding a carress along her muzzle in passing, the blue dragon offering his sister a warm nuzzle back. Soon enough, Alida's mounting up and having Ilicaeth glide them down, back home to their own ledge. Sleep won't come easily that night. |
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