Logs:Fear, Loathing, and the Great Divide
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| RL Date: 17 March, 2013 |
| Who: Aishani, C'wlin, D'kan, Hana |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: The bowl serves as an intersection between various threads. They briefly tangle, then go their separate ways. |
| Where: Western Bowl, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 7, Month 4, Turn 31 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: A spring flurry brings in a little late snowfall, though there is no accumulation as the flakes spiral to the ground on a dizzying breeze. |
| Mentions: Azaylia/Mentions |
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| Western Bowl, High Reaches Weyr The bowl's vast dirt floor extends in a rough oval from west to east, only sparse clumps of grass surviving between the crisscrossed pathways of daily traffic. To the northwest stand massive gates to the world beyond, allowing people, livestock, and tithes to pass beneath some of the seven jagged spires that stand sentinel over that area of the bowl. In late afternoons, their spindly, fingerlike shadows stretch over that end of the bowl all the way to the living cavern's hulking brass doors in the far north. Eastward, the bowl sprawls on toward the lake, sloping slightly downward to allow runoff from rain and snowmelt, but to the south it's caged by more cliffs of dark, rough-cut granite. Rocks poke up from the ground here, a few large boulders and many smaller outcroppings worn smooth in spots by time and use. A few ground weyr entrances dot the wall, the most frequented ledge set up like a patio while the largest ledge services the Weyrleaders' complex, directly beside the huge entrance to the hatching sands. A more human-sized entrance, left of that, leads to the galleries.
Queen and rider are not together in Aishani's case; Iesaryth is currently just a sunny spot in a snowy sky, high above the spires of the Weyr, while the Weyrwoman has come out from the living cavern in her riding jacket, doing it up as she does. Neither snow nor spring mud slows her usual brisk pace, but spotting one of the weyrling pairs does - her steps start to slow down, hands slipped in pockets as she watches Kazavoth catching the snowflakes with only a ghost of a smile. Light snow flurries and spring mud is little reason to stay within for those of Reachian blood; such as the case with Hana. Her only protection against it is one of the shawls pulled up over neck and head, the trailing edges tucked up under the arms. Unaccompanied, the transplanted holder is just wandering the outer edge of the bowl, keeping company of her thoughts and eyes unfocused on the flurries drifting down around her. D'kan shakes his head slightly to dislodge a couple snowflakes, or maybe one snuck into an ear. Whatever the reason, it catches Kazavoth's attention. The muddy bowl is all the more reason for the little brown to pick up his feet extra high, resembling something of a dressage runner than a dragon. A dignified dressage dragon, that's it. D'kan rubs at his ear, then stops, having spotted first Aishani, then Hana. The hand that had originally started to rub away a snowflake rises to wave to them both. Of course, Kaz moves right on forward. To introduce himself, maybe. Or just to be seen. Aishani doesn't bother to wave, just nods - she's headed over in the direction of the dragonet and his rider already, though her gaze goes over her shoulder to follow D'kan's to Hana. Her dark eyes on the Holder (?) girl are faintly bemused, but not more than that as she turns back to look at Kazavoth, should he want to be seen. Who is she to deny him? Her smile says as much, fond in a way it rarely is for anyone save Iesaryth - who is slowly spiralling down from the skies above. "You look less tired than expected," she notes. Not that she's looking at D'kan at the moment, more the dragon. It is more the movement than anything that attracts the distracted Hana; the start of a smile that soon hesitates then returns slightly less so when she takes in first the pair, than the single. She doesn't say anything, however, merely changing her path to slowly head towards the two - more on the human side of things than the dragon. Kazavoth has furled his wings just enough to be able to catch more flakes. Look who's learning about surface area! For D'kan's part, he just gives Aishani a crooked grin. "We've had a good day," the weyrling explains as he stuffs his hands in his jacket pockets. He looks up suddenly when he senses Kazavoth's attention going that way. "Iesaryth?" D'kan asks the weyrwoman, gesturing up with his chin. "We've been trying to figure out which of these little guys came from which dragon," he adds a beat later. "Think he's one of hers. How've you two been?" Then, when Hana comes closer, he gives the remaining Hold visitor a wide smile. "I heard you were sticking around." "Iesaryth," Aishani confirms, looking up from her inspection of Kazavoth with a brief smile. The brown can look up - she doesn't have to in order to know the queen's doing the widest of her circles closest to the ground, coming in for a landing nearby. It's not so near so as to scare the non-rider of the lot, and in as not-muddy a spot as she can find. Iesaryth doesn't like to get dirty either. Ew. With an arch of fine brows, the Weyrwoman asks D'kan, "They don't know? Or are they not telling you? She and Hradehyth know, they've known the whole time. They just wouldn't tell." Gaze slipping Hana's way, she murmurs, "Must have been a quick decision." A nod, a flash of a smile for the girl. "Ma'am, Ka.. D'kan," Hana corrects herself, then looks at Kazavoth, not quite sure on how to treat the little dragon. "It was.. not quite spur of the moment," she admits, before blinking a bit over at Iesaryth and then scooting just a quick bit closer to the two riders and the smaller of the dragons. He can't step on her, just yet. Bubbly seafoam reaches out to greet the brown, warm as always, the sun-on-water brightness that much more so from being in the air and away. Iesaryth is pleased to see Kazavoth is already bigger, though that will all take time. But so easy to be patient now. « Shan says you do no know if you are mine? » That amuses her for some reason. (Iesaryth to Kazavoth) Kazavoth puffs out his chest as Iesaryth makes her landing. "He thinks so," D'kan informs Aishani with a fond, crooked smile for his still-new lifemate. "But I hadn't heard it from anyone else, so..." The weyrling shrugs a little and leans over to scritch a spot behind Kazavoth's headknobs, which helps to bring the brown's attention to Hana. Wings are folded tightly to his back once more, and the tiny dragon begins to stretch. It might have been a play bow, if not for the part where he's not a canine. "So... you just really like the Weyr?" D'kan asks, arching a brow at Hana while Kazavoth comes closer to inspect. With an arch of fine brows, Aishani looks at Hana curiously. "Indeed. Given the departure, well. I suppose there were plans to depart after the hatching anyway." No doubt the issues with Tillek sped those along but... "Welcome, then. And do let me know if there's anything you need." Glancing Iesaryth's way, she adds in a lowered tone, "She is quite big. She won't come closer. The mud." It's a nice excuse, anyway. Hands back in her pockets, grinning over to D'kan, "He's right." There's a pause where she'd say more, but something gives her pause and she just shakes it off. As for his question to the former lady-in-waiting... well, she might be interested in that too. Something not unlike a childlike glee bubbles right back as Kazavoth greets his dam. He drinks in her warmth like a fine wine and toasts her with sparkling droplets of fine, spring dew, pleasantly cool next to her own warmth. « My dear! I can only apologize for my poor, misguided D'kan. He is, if I might say, a bit thick sometimes. » More whimsical lament than harsh scold, his tones take on a gentle, amused cadence. « He thinks I am too young to know anything, but what does he know? Only silly things. » (Kazavoth to Iesaryth) Hana holds still. Veerrrrry verrrry still. That the queen won't be coming closer frees her up enough offer a slightly wobbly smile as she nods slightly, "I don't blame her," before looking at D'kan, ".. it has been a pleasure to be here. I will, of course, miss my parents." That last phrase is more deadpan than not. D'kan gives a short, quiet laugh when Aishani confirms what Kazavoth had been telling him. The brown just stares at him. Stares. Even without being able to hear him, it's definitely a look of, 'I told you so.' The weyrling rolls a shoulder slightly and hunches inside his jacket again as one o the clumps of flakes manages to land right at the top of his neck. "Any ideas what you're going to do here, Hana? Seems the ladies-in-waiting gig is more a Holder thing. Unless Bri---ahh--hem. Sorry, ma'am. All sorts of new names to get used to lately, right?" It would not be overstating things to say that Iesaryth is thrilled, that the queen sparkles, sun on waves, for Kazavoth, so clever and polite, things that are important! And she of course, understands: « They do not know that we are as we are; some of us, our bodies must catch up to our minds. It's terribly frustrating. But you will make him understand. » In this, she has faith. It is the riders who have to do the adjusting, after all. (Iesaryth to Kazavoth) Yeah, Aishani's not buying that deadpan delivery from Hana, but she's not questioning it either, just looking at the girl with some interest. "I am sure you will. It's always an adjustment. Have you found yourself enough to do? Are... the dormitories...?" She trails off there, not sure how to ask the question, but she's eyeing Hana doubtfully. It could be considered 'roughing it' given what she's used to. There's a bit of a laugh as she notices the brown-rider stare-off, shaking her head a little. As for her name, a shrug for D'kan, unbothered. "It'll take time. It takes time every hatching, this is no different." Except where it's totally different, but... Hana murmurs, "Lady Azaylia," Ah, the difficulties of titles at the moment, "Offered to take me on, but I am certain I shall have to find other duties to keep busy." Hana relaxes enough to slightly turn towards Aishani, "Have you any suggestions on who might need my assistance, Ma'am? And I was placed in one of the smaller dormitories, which isn't very different from what I was used to. Mave was kind enough to help me get settled in," she glosses over sideways, before nodding at the time-taking name thing, glancing at D'kan while she does so. D'kan nods once to Aishani, looking a tiny bit abashed at the name mixup anyway. "Well. I think it suits you, for what it's worth." There's a bump from Kazavoth at that moment, though if there's a reason, it's kept between the pair. To Hana he adds, "I don't even know what a lady-in-waiting does, to be honest. Maybe you could help with the nursery? I did it a few times in the candidate shifts. It was kinda fun." Yes, note the entire lack of enthusiasm. Agreement is reflected in a swirl of of those sparkles, as they lift from the sun on waves and turn into motes of metallic glitter. « I will. » It is stated like a law of nature is stated. There is simply no other conclusion. (Kazavoth to Iesaryth) Iesaryth is perched in the least-muddy part of the bowl, where she can watch Kazavoth and not get more dirty than she absolutely has to; Brieli-Aishani-Weyrwoman is standing with Hana and D'kan and the little brown, her hands in her jacket pockets, looking thoughtful. "Oh, Azaylia. Yes. I think you'd be quite helpful to her." Her tone tries to stay out of the 'thank god, please yes' area, but it's a near thing. "Actually, there's a dress..." She pauses, then waves it off. "Well, I'm glad you've gotten settled in. What do you like doing? I can't say as I'd mind the help on occasion, but I don't know how often." A pause - and she actually seems a little touched for D'kan's words. "It's a family name," she says quietly, looking down to toe the mud off one boot. Hana is a holder; that means she keeps D'kan and Aishani between her and Kazavoth. There is a grin at D'kan, "Well, it's not my best subject - I will probably check with the weavers about any needlework they might need done - and of course, Ma'am, I would be happy to do so, time permitting." That last is slightly more neutral - and perhaps to keep off the subjects of families and possible conflicts of time and interest, looks to the riders. "Ah, this is the closest I've ever gotten to well, anyone like this fine gentleman." When in doubt, flatter. "Is it good manners to address him, and is there a title to use?" Because baby dragons ALWAYS have titles. Yes. And they'll eat you if you forget them. Into the mix, throw one former-harper and one little bronze, who walks with careful purpose towards the little group. Or rather, upon further inspection, Athimeroth has plans to execute to get him from point A (where he starting) to point B (a mystery point that seems to be in the others direction). C'wlin is the puppet being drawn, though he tries to walk with nonchalance; one thing he's good at is keeping the internal monologue, internal. Until cold blue eyes find himself facing D'kan, Bri-Aishani, and Hana which gives the weyrling cause to pause, though Athimeroth does not. High places, high places, high places... "Hi." Somewhat thrown off balance, the former-candidate's usual formality is lacking. There is a slim possibility D'kan might have caught a sliver of Aishani's tone, because he gives her a half guard, half amused look just then. He doesn't comment, however, only nodding a moment later when she mentions the familial ties. Besides, Hana has offered a distraction! One Kazavoth is happy to take as he slips between Aishani and D'kan to make a high-stepping circuit around the holder woman. "He, uh..." D'kan begins to explain before letting out a puff of air. "Better keep it to just Kazavoth." Faranth only knows what Kaz was actually requesting, because D'kan keeps it to himself. C'wlin's "hi" has him looking around quickly and nodding to his fellow weyrmate. "Out for this most pleasant weather, too, I see," he quips with a wry grin. "Of course." If Aishani's proven she understands anything, it's politics. With a polite smile for Hana, "Well, I know from experience that the seamstresses and the weavers can generally use a hand. I'm sure any time you have for them will be more than appreciated by them, and by the Weyr." She can say things like that, (Acting) or no. Despite those little issues, she has to grin at the questions about the dragon, letting D'kan fill in the blanks for the former holder - which leaves her enough attention to spot C'wlin and Athimeroth on the way over. Iesaryth has too, obviously, by her rumble. "C'wlin. You look tired." If she noticed that look the brownrider gave her for her tone, she certainly doesn't acknowledge it, la la la. There isn't a whimper from Hana. Really, there isn't. However, the more the little brown circles her, the more... nope, that did it. D'kan now has company. "Ah.. Kazavoth, it is a pleasure to meet you," she offers, falling back on familiar manners, though not enough to offer her hand - or step away from her dance partner. Crisp sea breezes and bubbly seafoam greets Athimeroth, warm and bright, sunlight on the waves. Iesaryth is pleased to see him, and see him so much bigger already. « Where do you take yours? » She saw that, the way his seemed to be pulled along. Interesting. (Iesaryth to Athimeroth) "Something like that," C'wlin's normal tenor lacks the neutrality of tone that marks him from nowhere and instead the undertone of once-Crom filters in. He pauses while Athimeroth does not, the bronze dragon making his way closer and closer towards the gold that sits on the drier and less muddy side of the bowl. "I am," the weyrling comments, tone further subdued, from lack of sleep surely. To D'kan, he chin nods, and to Hana, the boy might just tease her a little. "Don't worry, they don't bite..." Beat. "... much." Teasing girls is too much fun really. Winds gust with gusto, rippling banners that wave in cheery blues that filter to seafoam and emerald green, an echo of the waves of his dam. Air weaves around and through, the chill of the aether far above meets the hot, dry heat of a world far, far below. As sea breezes tickle, they are taken to gustier lengths. « To the high ground. All the better to see and plan. » So simple is the rough tenor the comes like the wail of the wind. « He is slow to understand yet, but he will learn. » (Athimeroth to Iesaryth) D'kan is happy to put a supporting arm around Hana, but he's soon using that arm to steer her right back toward the little brown. "If you're going to be terrified of dragons, you might want to rethink your Weyr plans," he states in a dry voice. He motions Kazavoth closer, then attempts to gently guide Hana's hand down to that dark, spotted snout. "Kaz, this is Hana. We grew up near the ocean." The brown is being good, really. He's even keeping his mouth closed. Harder to see the teeth that way. C'wlin is tossed a look that just screams, 'Oh, thanks. Buddy.' "Lots of sewing to do, I'm sure," he says out loud to back up what Aishani said. "Funny, though. I don't see you as the sitting-around type, Hana." "Oh, Hana." Aishani sounds ever-so-faintly disappointed, but then, what the hell is she afraid of? "He's likely showing off. They do that." Her tone is dry as she adds, "Unless they're too lazy." Iesaryth snorts; she is not lazy. She is relaxed. And she is, really, just looking over to watch Athimeroth come her way with bright blue eyes. To C'wlin, "It all really seems a blur from my first few months. I imagine it's from the lack of sleep. I do like to sleep." It's even still wistful. Backing up D'kan, she raises her voice to note, "Better to get used to them at this size. Then when they get bigger, you can't imagine them being violent." A pause. "Well. Most of them. Not him." Helpful Shani. Hana lets her hand be guided - more due to the teasing, disappointment and scolding. ".. showing off? Usually that involves me turning in circles, not being circled." Taking a deep breath, the holder looks up at C'wlin, "... You have sisters, don't you." Not that she does, or brothers. "I.. my apologies," she finally comes out with, though who is it directed to can be claimed by any who care to do so. ".. I like to embrodier," comes the last, protest. As the winds take up her breezes, she can send the scent and spray of ocean on them, the roar of waves a constant, soothing rhythm. Iesaryth understands plans, likes plans. She would not pry into Athimeroth's, not now, not yet. « This is a time of much patience, unfortunately. But they learn, and you grow. All things come in time. » (Iesaryth to Athimeroth) "It's a blur that is taking some getting used to," C'wlin says to Aishani, "I, too, like my sleep, but even more than that, some solitude would be nice. Some things are best left without an audience," giving her a glance askance, before D'kan gets a thumbs up from him. Teasing smile is tossed his fellow weyrling's way when Hana can't see -- that is until Hana's attention is diverted. At the mention of sisters, sharp, entitled features close down, and the response is almost-curt grunt that says little at all but speaks volumes of something else: "Mmmmph." This draws Athimeroth's attention from the gold -- Mother -- to the girl, and earns both clutch brother and girl a rasping warble that has echoes of wailing winds in its sound. "Sorry," grace to apologize, the harper reclaiming his neutral tenor, "My name's Ce--C'wlin, rider to Athimeroth there." Mechanically said, as if to convince himself more than Hana, or remind himself by rote memorization. And... bump, goes Kazavoth's snout against Hana's hand. Once contact has been made, the brown stands stock still, just looking up at her. Waiting. For acknowledgement? Admiration? Adoration? Something. "See?" offers D'kan, who soon stops forcing the issue, though the hand at her back remains, just in case. It affords him an extra chance to return C'wlin's thumbs up with a quick wink. "He's a lover, not a biter," he adds, with a grin over at Aishani. Frustration causes winds to whip in hurricane force, tasting and testing the sea sprays and the warmth of Rukbat's golden rays as they filter through the air-strewn aether down to the waters below. « I would already be grown were I to choose. » Heated gusts whip red-tinged flags brought to bear by hazy bannermen down on a ground far, far below. A riot incited by the anarchist's heart that thrums the ichor in his veins. « Mine would plot and plot forever, but never act. Now is a time for action! » For what? Athimeroth is still in infancy; ideas are barely soap bubbles realized, bubbling out of the star-strewn void of aether that grasps the world. For now, what plans are glimpsed, are crafty but simple. (Athimeroth to Iesaryth) Wryly, "I had something of a countdown until we got our weyr. It is nice to have privacy." And is the goldrider blushing? Aishani might be coloring a touch for who knows what reason, but it's difficult to see in the dark. Flickering a glance from C'wlin to Hana and D'kan, then back, she has to grin for the brownrider's joke. "I'm going to remember that one. And Hana, do let me know if there's something I can do. When..." She looses a hand to wave it ineloquently. Stop being terrified. Etcetera. "I should get a few more things done before bed, and I'm guessing someone won't sleep with muddied feet... so..." She tilts her head towards the rest of the bowl in a farewell sort of gesture, while Iesaryth rustles her wings, pleased at her progeny's warble. Hana takes a deep breath, and lets her hand relax against the snout, before murmuring, "I.. he's warm. His skin, I mean." There is a light stroke, before she lets her hand drop. A nod to Aishani, "Yes, ma'am. Have a good night." There is a pause, then she's stepping away from D'kan's comforting hand and nodding to C'wlin. "A pleasure to meet you too. And, ah, Athimeroth," even if he's way over there. "I had best go in as well. Plenty to get situated with, come morning." Frustration, Iesaryth can understand. « It is difficult, when you know how but you cannot yet do it because you are too small. But it will not last. » She seeks to soothe heated winds with cooling breezes off the ocean, the endless, constant roar of the ocean. « And he will learn. They learn, they adjust. Yours will see when your way is best. » Of that, she is certain. She is brilliant, therefore Athimeroth is brilliant. It's only logical. (Iesaryth to Athimeroth) True laughter escapes from C'wlin in almost a too-pretty way, tenor rising when D'kan provides his quip. "Well, little lover, looks like he has a fan," bronzerider jokes, before dipping a formal nod of acknowledgement to Hana, "Pleasure." Athimeroth turns away from both humans and clutch brother -- though the latter gets a further gusty-warble -- and even turns away from the conundrum that is Mother (to be further explored another day) to continue seeking that which he came: the highest ground possible. C'wlin, however, does not move a step. "I think I might have something of the same here soon." As the Weyrwoman takes her leave, the weyrling dips his head to her, though eyes track her leaving thoughtfully for a moment. Then attention turns to D'kan, "Are you," he begins, "as sick as I am of cutting up meat?" Heated winds are soothed; flags cease their crazy whipping as the skeins of air slowly drift to something lazy movements. « Until then. » Pause. Curiosity warbles through his tenor, raising to a nasal under tone as contemplation filters in. « Mother. » Testing of word, concept, and perhaps, of plans not-yet-born. As she takes her leave, so does his attention drift back to that which he desires: the highest ground. (Athimeroth to Iesaryth) Kazavoth is so pleased! With himself, likely, as he struts on over toward Athimeroth. Wings are furled in farewell to Iesaryth, but the brown wouldn't dare bring his muddy (if dignified) paws near her. "Yes, yes, you're very good," D'kan murmurs, most likely for his lifemate and not for Hana. We hope. "It was a pleasure seeing you again, Ma'am," the weyrling says to Aishani, giving her a nod of farewell. Now that his hands are no longer needed, he stuffs them back into his jacket. It's really too chilly and late in the day to be walking around in just that light jacket. "I might see if there's some klah I can bring back to the barracks," he informs the group at large, though there's a quick look for Kazavoth, then a hopeful one for Hana. "I might send someone to see if there's some klah to bring back to the barracks?" the weyrling quickly amends. The little dragons aren't quite there yet. It's only been six days! "Shells, yeah," is his reply to C'wlin. "Three times a day, sometimes four. And he's so picky." Aishani does call over her shoulder, just as Iesaryth rumbles to the little brown and bronze and takes off to glide across the bowl, "C'wlin, we should have a word sometime. Good night." Hana watches Aishani leave, then shakes her head with a bit of a strained smile at D'kan, "Yes, yes. I can stop on the way to bed to put in the request. But you shall owe me, Kade," she murmurs, before nodding to the two weyrlings and turning to head inward. At this point, she may just deal with restless sleep to have some of that warming klah herself. "The magic word," C'wlin's desire for klah supersedes his desire to hold some air of aloofness to himself -- though this is new and perhaps the first filtering of Athimeroth's influence -- but Aishani's parting comment earns a nod, but attention quickly diverts to: "Shells, I'm glad Athimeroth isn't as picky as Kazavoth. He's just picky in terms of making me hand feed him." Kazavoth earns the rustling of wings, showing off the ever growing bulk and brings highlight to the burnished shoulders. Come, he seems to say in body language, come to higher ground. As Hana, too, departs, the weyrling even offers a partial wave. Warming to her for that promise of klah, perhaps. "I'll owe you one more, you mean!" D'kan calls back to Hana as she heads into the Weyr. He gives her a quick, slightly sloppy salute, then grins at C'wlin. "She's a pretty good egg. I am freezing, and my boots are going to start soaking up this slush soon. Heading barracks-ward if you guys are ready to head in." Kazavoth approaches that higher ground but does not actually ascend to it. The crusty snow with it's coating of fresher, nearly melting snow is far more interesting. "Nah, Athimeroth has other ideas for now, but I'll see you there later, okay? Save some klah for me, eh?" C'wlin turns then and finally does as his dragon bids, follows him like the good little human he is. Exit, stage left. |
Comments
Ceawlin (Ceawlin (talk)) left a comment on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:40:20 GMT.
< I'm so glad to read the first half that I missed -- but I love how all the interactions with Iesaryth and her children are so different. Personalities are forming and it's great to watch.
Also, it was fun tormenting Hana. ;)
Fun scene!
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