Logs:Favours
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| RL Date: 2 July, 2014 |
| Who: Aishani, R'hin |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Aishani has a favour to ask R'hin. They make a deal. |
| Where: Riders' Lounge, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 23, Month 2, Turn 35 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: Heavy rain in the middle of winter only means that the temperature is only a few degrees above freezing; it's more miserable for the soaking torrents. |
| Mentions: K'del/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: "Someday - and that day may never come - I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as gift on my daughter's wedding day." |
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| Riders' Lounge, High Reaches Weyr About as high up the bowl wall as it is possible to get before hitting clear sky, right up against the rim, this ledge is tiny, narrow and not terribly inviting. Though angled towards the sun, there's not enough room to properly stretch out, and that same angle ensures it receives the worst of bad weather, with no shelter whatsoever. From above, there's not even an obvious passage inside, as if this particular ledge is, in the end, nothing more than a natural outcropping. It's only from atop the ledge itself that the cleverly concealed entrance becomes clear, angled into the stone as it is. Inside, there's a cavernous space, more than making up for the stinginess of the ledge. There's one large main room, and a much smaller back room that could probably be used as a bedroom - if this weyr were in traditional usage. Instead, the main cavern is largely filled with a collection of mismatched tables and chairs, with a trolley at the far end that contains a prodigious amount of liquor. Old, but still impressive, hangings cover the walls, all depicting scenes of High Reaches in glory. The back room has been turned into a storage area, with several cases of whisky and a variety of other spirits ready and waiting. A strange pipe contraption comes through the ceiling and towards the stone floor, where a large bucket sits beneath it. A lever turns on water from the pipe: fresh rain or snow, ready for drinking. Iesaryth is not in the mood to be awake, nor is she pleased to be awake, especially with this rain, which is not precisely her favourite weather... despite her affinity with water. Hers, however, is the ocean, not icy death from above, thanks. She is a warm tropical night by contrast, only weighted down by the clouds of her mood, when she puts in the politest of inquiries with Leiventh: where might his rider be on this horrific evening? The answer means she has to go out in it, but she won't blame the bronze, only riders for it. Who else would choose to go out now, in this? Aishani is one person; once she's dropped off on the ledge, she's good enough to leave the massive, dripping raincoat-hooded-thing behind, though she's not exactly as flashy as she might normally be. Slumming, or something. The chill wind of Leiventh's thoughts, at first, might be difficult to discern from the weather, threaded as it is with High Reaches' wintry cold. He seems amenable enough to sharing: the rider's lounge is a short trip from his own ledge, and he's retreated to the safety of the shelter there, watching with a bare glimmering of eyes. There are other people willing to brave the weather... for the right lure. In this case Savannah's weekly poker game in the rider's lounge -- though not as well populated as on fairer evenings -- still goes on, populated by the stalwarts of the wing. Bristia holds court, dealing the cards against a round with E'nest, A'gon and K'son, a handful of other riders clustered around, including R'hin. Most, if not all of them have a drink to hand. The flicker of pale gaze in the ledge's direction might well suggest Leiventh passed on the query, though the bronzerider seems to be waiting for Aishani to join them. Though Iesaryth will offer gratitude in both thought and wide arc past her sire's ledge as she departs, she has no interest lingering on the nearby heights as she might on better nights - back to her weyr, warm and faintly humid near the bath, where a dragon might ensure her nose doesn't get too dry and scaly in the cold. Her thoughts sink back into the depths with a remarkable speed. And though Aishani likely didn't expect to walk into a weekly card game, it barely gives her pause to do so; she scans the rest of the cavern, then approaches as she undoes her coat. When she's easier to see in the dim light, she looks a bit... tired, but no less put together than usual, though her curls are tied back in a loose knot. As she comes to stand near R'hin, she doesn't interrupt, just finds her flask in the meantime. Drink here? Are you kidding? There seems to be some ribbing about A'gon's choice to stay in the game, despite his 'obvious tell', which all the Savannah riders are chortling about. R'hin's jacketless, coatless, but he is at least wearing a shirt, leaning against the side of one of the couches, gulping down a mouthful of beer. His head turns, marginally, to acknowledge her presence in a way that doesn't overtly draw attention to her, given her low-profile entrance. "Beer?" he inquires, by way of greeting. As if bring your own drink to a drinking establishment! Aishani pays attention, watches the players with a quick, sharp gaze that suggests mentally filing things away for later. She hasn't uncapped the flask when R'hin makes his offer, but like that's going to stop her - it's not until she's taken a drink, and offered it over that she actually looks over and shrugs. "If it's what you're drinking." Such a trial. In lieu of a chair, she'll perch on the arm of the bronzerider's couch, long legs crossed at the ankle. "How's it going?" Likely the poker, but it could mean anything, by her tone. R'hin tilts his head, looking at the flask as if momentarily considering it, but holds up his beer as defense. "I'm working my way up to something stronger." He does, at least, lean forward to pour another glass of beer from the pitcher, setting it within Aishani's reach. While she perches, he stands straighter when he resumes his spot, perhaps by no coincidence chuckling as he regards her. "It's plain you're not here for the drinks, or the game -- though you really ought to join in a round or two. So, it's either my ruggedly good looks, or...?" Something else, and it's that pause in which expectant look is bestowed on the goldrider. With another of her little shrugs, Aishani caps the flask and tucks it back in her jacket, away. Beer it is. It doesn't seem like it ought to be her thing, but she's quick enough to pick up the mug and tilt it toward the table at large, then R'hin in specific, before drinking. Looking down into the amber liquid ruefully, "It's like to put me to sleep, honestly. And I try not to gamble at home." Glancing back up toward him, soberly, "I hate to take money from people here when I already make a decent living." Sober for a beat, before she flashes a grin and sighs, "All business and fishing for compliments at the same time. Fine, you get one and not the other. I'd like a favour." It sounds so simple. The game goes on: A'gon loses, though he's flatly denying bluffing, and there's a bit of back and forth banter before the group finally sort themselves out, K'son swapping out before Bristia deals the next game. With a lift-and-drop of shoulder in a quick motion, R'hin says, "We won't tell," so blandly and quickly it's likely to be true. It's soon followed by a snort, however: "You have almost enough cockiness to rival E'nest, but honestly," he leans closer, voice lowering a tad, "I think you'd be out of your league. Probably for the best." His tone, as ever, holds that faint trace of amusement: somewhere between baiting and cajoling. "I never like to miss an opportunity," he adds, with a chuckle, before pale eyes linger on her. Expectantly, now. With a quirk of her lips, "If I play, or I fall asleep?" Aishani glances over to the couch as if considering it as an option, and shudders. Doesn't stop her from taking a drink, though. The baiting has her rolling her eyes, but something about that other note has her pursing mouth and narrowing eyes in a big show of distrust before she nods. "All right. And it does require something in the way of confidence to do the things I do, so. That makes sense." No owning up to cocky. She's patient about waiting for the next hand to be dealt in, while she looks at R'hin looking at her with some little entertainment. "Which is why I thought I'd ask, since you hear things. So, if you heard anything about my family, it wouldn't be a production to pass it on, would it?" "Either," comes R'hin's deft reply, though this time it's accompanied by a dark chuckle, "Though, if it's the latter," his gaze is considering, amused, though that thought goes unvoiced. When she indicates that he hears things, his head tilts, as if to imply I do? Rubbing a hand over the stubble on his chin, he asks, innocently, "Pass it on to whom?" Aishani arches fine brows questioningly over her mug at R'hin's unfinished thought; yes, go on? His implied innocence has her laughing now, though it's low and quiet as she shakes her head. Tucking an errant curl back behind her ear, she tells him patiently, as if such naivety were believable, "To me, as that would be helpful. To me." And to no one else, clearly. Go on? Oh, no, more interesting games are afoot, and R'hin's chuckling again, mostly to himself. Wrinkling her nose, Aishani waits for a long few moments, like she has all the time in the world to hang around in this place, cursed by K'del as it is. Patience, however, is not a strong suit. After a time, and some of her beer, "What? What is it?" It's not too sharp, but edged. R'hin will, at least, lean forward to refill her glass, gentleman that he is. When it comes to drinks, anyway. He glances at the game-in-progress, then back to her, as his visible amusement fades. He hasn't said no, but: "What's in it for me?" "What do you need?" Aishani asks it that simply, as if it's in her power to provide whatever it is. Confidence. "Or want. I don't really care, though the distinctions can be interesting. What can I do for you, I suppose, is the question." The glass is refilled, though she leaves it alone for now - though liquor doesn't seem to affect her all that often, the beer leaves a flush on her cheeks. Is that a flicker of disappointment in pale eyes? Certainly it doesn't linger enough to be more than a suspicion, though she certainly has R'hin's full attention. "The problem, dear goldrider, is this: you're already close with your family. So either this is some sort of internal power play, or you're trying to test me. And I don't much like tests." Tilting her head as she regards him steadily, Aishani considers R'hin and that flicker in his gaze, his words. Her lips purse and she sighs before, "It's neither. Why would I ask you for a favour if I were just going to annoy you. I just need to know if anything bad starts going around so it can be contained, all right?" Shaking her head again, she looks away. "I'm not about to have things pulled apart now. Call it an early warning system." "There have been worse reasons given," R'hin says, rather blandly. Those pale eyes of his continue to study her, a curious tip of head at that last. "I won't pass everything on wholesale; those traders of your stir up rumors aplenty, after all. I won't put anyone in the Weyr in danger. That includes you. If I know you'll take what I tell you and try and stab someone in the eye, I'll lie to your face." But he is, at least, honest about his intention to lie under those circumstances. "If you can live with that, then -- in return, you owe me a favor, to be called in when required. It may take some time to find something you can... provide, after all." Perhaps something of an explanation, "I'm not that close to my family. Half of them can't deal with Iesaryth. If I can make it easier on them..." Aishani will. R'hin's attention doesn't bother her, nor do his terms - in fact, she smirks for her high stabbing potential - but one thing does. "An undefined favour? No statute of limitations or... scale, or anything? Can I trust you to be fair about that trade?" She narrows her dark gaze at the bronzerider again, though again, it's exaggerated. With a sharp laugh for his last, she looks as if she should really be making some smart remark or another, but discretion has somehow gotten the better of her. Finally. A slight tip of head marks the bronzerider's note of her explaination. "Your favor has no statue of limitations or scale," R'hin reminds her, with a low chuckle. As for whether he can be trusted? "I won't embarrass you, nor seek to harm yourself or Iesaryth." Pale eyes rest on her, expectantly. Patiently. There's much to dislike there, but apparently it's a matter of need and not want with Aishani; she nods and offers curtly, "Fine." As if she's handed off her firstborn or something. That might go over better. Looking up to meet his gaze, less curt and more gracious now, "Thank you." Leaning down, R'hin taps his glass against hers, then drinks, as if saluting the deal via alcohol is a necessary part of sealing it. Surprise is evident at her thanks, and soon after, a speculative regard follows, though it doesn't seem to guide the words that follow. "Play a round before you go," he suggests, with a tip of head towards the table. Tilting her own mug his way, Aishani drinks after as well. No sense in going against tradition. She's used to attention, even this close, used to pretending she doesn't even notice, which is what she goes with for the moment. Though at the suggestion, she does look up again, brows arching again curiously. "I might. Are you going?" Her feet slide in toward the couch's feet with a scrape, bracing to stand. With a grin, like R'hin's relishing saying it, "I'm happy to watch." Standing slowly, Shani has to laugh again, another short, sharp sound - even as she shakes her head. "Of course," she says, with a smirk. "I'll try to make it interesting." And well. If the few steps she takes to the table to get herself dealt in are pretty interesting, she pretty much always walks like that. Does he watch? Well, it's probably a safe bet. In the meantime, R'hin fills up his glass again, stepping closer to watch the game. A'gon's quick to vacate as soon as he spots Aishani walking up, almost like he's glad to get out of the game. Bristia gives Aishani a grin, there's a well-practiced spiel on the particular poker variant at play, and then she's passing out the cards. The ribbing amongst the group is earnest enough, and they all seem to be playing to win. After a general greeting, Aishani's content to sit down and sit back and let everyone else do the trash talking, though she's likewise there to play, fairly competitive when it comes down to it. It is probably a good idea that she doesn't play at home. But she's about as good at hiding her hands as she is at hiding everything else, so is at least up when she walks away - though the difference is left behind for drinks. Which do seem to have a visible effect on her alertness level, sending her to wait for Iesaryth in the chill air of the ledge sooner than later. |
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