Logs:Gone
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| RL Date: 10 October, 2015 |
| Who: Alida, Edyis, Ilicaeth, Akluseth |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: The reality of R'hin's death is stark to one of his former proteges...and to a 'former' guard. |
| Where: Edyis' Weyr, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 18, Month 13, Turn 38 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: Cold, cloudy. |
| Mentions: Jo/Mentions, R'hin/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: Lots of RL deep thought going on about our characters, in this IC aftermath. Feel free to change icons, if you want, Edyis. |
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| Long after the dragons have fallen silent, Akluseth's ledge might seem a stark place, but the door is cracked, casting an almost inviting red orange glow into the snowy air. Where were Alida and Ilicaeth during that terrible time? Unknown to any but them and those the blonde visited, they were south...in Monacoan territory. But not at the Weyr. Broad Leaves Hold hadn't seen 'trader Lidia' in over half a Turn, and it was time for her to show up with more payment for more bottles of spiced rum...and a couple hours for some hanky-panky with Orris right after business was conducted. It wasn't during sex that Alida found herself jerking up rigidly tight with the echos of so many dragon keens, however. It was during the tail-end of her light meal with hold heir Kelvar that Ilicaeth's furious roar and then impassioned keen hit her mind (the blue was miles away, laying out in a denuded patch of rocky grassland, soaking up the sun). Though her faced remained as flat as it could, the abrupt change between casual snark-talk and surprised silence was rather obvious. It was only after she'd set off at a brisk walk out of the jungle that housed the holding - after she was a good hour away, truly clear of all human ears - that the woman allowed herself to actually feel even part of the emotional turmoil within both herself and her lifemate. Even Ilicaeth had put his own fury and grief under wraps so as not to give away his rider's cover. And - when they finally met up in their chosen place - different every time they came here - it was to hold one another in their arms, touch heads, and mourn as much as they could allow before coming home. Now, back at 'Reaches, back in their own weyr... It's too empty, too cold, even with the hearth blazing. And finally, the grieving, growling minds of both of the bluepair are jerked back into partial reality with Alida's sudden thought: Edyis. The brownrider's connection to R'hin was much, much deeper than anything Alida had shared with him... With adrenaline once again coursing through her body - through Ilicaeth's, by proxy - the blue is soon enough hurling his form into the sky, arrowing towards Akluseth's ledge, his gritty baritone even harsher than usual, though not callous at all as he growls out an urgent, « We're comin'... » to the younger brown. This time, his usually golden sands are a reddish-ochre gyre of a huge sand-devil. Restless seas are chilled, great floes of ice tossed about on the waves that mark the brown's thoughts. « Be gentle. » The normal nonchalance all but lost, still when they do arrive, it's obvious that enough room for the blue has been made inside, the larger brown shifting himself just so. Inside a shattered wine bottle sits like an angry exclamation point on one end of the floor, Edyis herself not far from it. Notably Akluseth is not minding that white chalk line that usually divides the place. Her forehead pressed against the brown's neck, those dark eyes red rimmed, the quilt from Akluesth's couch draped over her. « We do not know what happened, just that they are gone. » Akluseth informs the bluepair as they arrive, his tenor both protective and concerned. « Yeah... » Ilicaeth lands with less physical grace than usual, the urgency of their need to be there topmost in the dragon's mind. Once Alida's skidded down off his neck - nearly jogging further inside - the blue curls his craggy form up on that ledge, and posts guard for those within. Oh, he's hurting, you can damned bet, but he can feel a tiny bit better with *work* to do, with a duty to fulfill...to both his rider and a buddy's rider. While Ilicaeth's eyes swirl the colors of upset outside, Alida's clear greens roil with her own inner conflicts as she comes across Edyis head-pressed to her own lifemate. For once, she feels irritated with how her mind counts up each minute detail of the scene: busted bottle, browpair's expressions and positions, that white line, the warm glow of the place. It's just so fucking...wrong. All of it. And the worst 'wrong' is the utter lack of a R'hin. For a long set of moments, all Alida does is stand there on the verge...observing in remote-seeming silence. It's only at her lifemate's gentle prompting that she sheds her outer gear - coat, scarf, even boots - and finally steps quietly over towards Edyis/Akluseth on sock-covered feet. There is silence, for some time, but Akluseth's waters warm considerably at the greeting from the desert minded blue. It's with a surprising stillness that Akluseth fixes one great eye on the blonde's entrance, the soft croon as much a greeting as it is a signal to his rider that someone is there. Dark eyes drift to the former guard's shape. Seeing and yet unseeing. "Keening." She manages, but the sound comes out wrong and hoarse. The brown nudges her with his neck. Gently as though to physically reassure her of his presence. « Good to have buddies, in times like these. Some Monacoan bronze was being all bronzy then Levienth went strange and gone. » He shares the details of events with the blue, mostly feelings and sensations, including how things ended up where they did. Edyis tries again, to speak but only manages, "R'hin's gone." Before tears start flowing again fresh. Outside, no matter the weather, Ilicaeth offers his own, soft croon back to Akluseth, the stalwart blue not allowing anyone, anything to pass by him unseen, or unchecked. The feeling of solidarity he offers to the brown's words is that of sun-warmed soil with the underpinnings of granite beneath: fertile and firm, sustaining and deep. Word of Monacoan bronzes, however, makes the blue's mind shift from 'Gaia' to 'Pele' in a second flat, hints of lava showing between fault lines, though they're quickly re-sealed. « Feyzith and his. » Rarely does the often genial and laid-back dragon refuse to use a dragon's name, much less a human's. Even further, that 'his' has attached to it the cloying impression of 'shit.' « I've been talkin' with others... » Other dragons from not only the 'Reaches, too. As Ilicaeth quiets to take in every iota of what Akluseth can tell him, inside, Alida nods silently to Edyis' spare set of words, closes slowly, and finally sits down lightly just beside her, so that their knees almost touch. After another longer pause, the blonde's dusty, tired alto murmurs, "I can't...it just doesn't feel totally true." With the brownrider's fresh tears come Alida's own heightening of distress - she's never been at home with large displays of emotion, aside from anger or humor - the woman vapor-locked for some moments as to what to say, do, even *think*. But finally, not only her dragon, but her own slowly-mellowing character come to at least a partial rescue...light fingers reaching out to brush Ed's nearest shoulder, at first, then start petting it lightly. « Anything worth knowing? » The brown asks, but for himself, he remains mostly still, and as the tears resume there's a mental sigh. Edyis can't really get anything else out but at the touch it soon becomes the bluerider that the brownrider is crying on, arms moving to wrap around her in a fierce hug of sorts, and Akluseth freed, moves to push the door open and closed behind him, huddling down next to his blue brother to join him for a time in his quiet vigil. Sere and cautious, Ilicaeth's gritty and scouring swirls of ochre-red inform Akluseth, « They're keepin' close tabs on it, right now. » 'They' likely being the various leadership-types of the Weyrs. Still, bits leak out, especially ones right after Leiventh went Between. Feyzith's was potentially and directly involved. Jo and Keysi were likely there, too, somehow, if in a more 'minor' fashion. Tacuseth and Neianth are currently not willing to share, for whatever reasons. (Though Tacuseth 'feels' deep grief, which could easily be why he cannot/will not speak to his bromance brother.) All-in-all, Ilicaeth - cop that he is - is frustrated (and upset/angry) with how all of this is playing (or not) out, so far. Siiigh. And Alida? She's trying not to spaz some as Edyis grapples on to her with the fierceness of the bereaved...but. Though it takes her some long seconds of working with both her own inner disquiet *and* Ilicaeth's mix of feelings, finally warmth wins out some, has Alida wrapping her own strong arms around the other woman, and just holding her protectively, the blonde's chin tucking against Ed's shoulder as they both hold tight. And if Edyis is in no position to see the glimmers of unshed tears in Alida's eyes? So much the better. It would be a lie to say that most of that didn't go over Akluseth's head. He seems to latch on to a bit here and there, little pieces tucked in some part of his rider's brain for later use. Those arms wrapped around her, Edyis only sobs the harder for it, Airy sounds that shake her entire frame, and it's possible that it is not just the loss of the bronzerider but other losses as well. The tears pouring out. She stays there for as long as Alida allows, or at least until there are no more tears left to shed, and even then the small shaking sobs don't completely cease. « It is good that you two came. » Akluseth says after some time, « She forgets sometimes, struggles to make room in her head for the living. » Ilicaeth cares not what sinks in and what doesn't; *he's* the one to dig for the facts and bits and bobs. Akluseth just has to take care of his rider and make sure she heals up, slow and sure. Granite/soil (with those faintest hints of magma) seek to bolster the younger brown, while, within the weyr, Alida lets out a deep and dismal sigh as she has to wrestle with her own recent loss(es) while supporting Edyis. She's used to being a rock of sorts, though, and the blonde's own grief over her mentor's demise gets pushed to the side in order for her to deal with not only her friend's pain...but her own over R'hin. And for all those times *she* wished someone would have been there to hold her, comfort her in her darkest hours, Alida remains firmly in Edyis' corner *now*. The bluie understands how grief can pile up, and - though she isn't certain about her buddy's past - she *is* certain about the present. If it takes minutes or hours, the blonde's simply here...if mostly quiet, her arms holding Ed firmly, hands occasionally petting, even stroking over hair or form in surprisingly delicate touches, though her hug itself is strong. Ilicaeth? « 'Lida just shoves it aside. » Sigh. « Breaks something in them when they do that for too long. » Akluseth notes with a grunt. Mantling his wings more against the chill. « They need more than just us. » The brown sighs. Eventually, even the sobs quiet, though Edyis's arms remain wrapped tightly around the bluerider. "Sorry." Comes out even more hoarse and stranger sounding than before. "Thank you." Follows, a little more steady, but when she finally lets loose it's to offer a corner of the quilt to the blonde while she takes one of her own to dab at her swollen face. "Stay?" Struggling to make her voice heard, through the hoarseness of it. Rather than trying to talk she gestures over to the pots by the fire, and Flicker stirs slightly on her perch on the carved bookcase tiny champagne claws extending in her sleep. Of course they'll stay for buddies. But... « Y'know, after another 6 hours 'r so... It's gonna get a little cold out here. » Chuff. (Ilicaeth to Alida) Ilicaeth knows a lot about 'broken.' Well, maybe more 'fractured,' since Alida is still trying to kick ass and take names, to some degree. « They got it in 'em ta put the pieces back. We make it smoother. » When they can, given the degree of stubbornness and state of 'fractured-ness' of their respective lifemates. Chuff. We work it out, somehow, bro. Especially since neither dragon chose their riders because the women were 'easy.' All Alida notes to Edyis' apology is a small "Pfft..." and a nose-wrinkle over her shoulder. This is just another in the line of what friends do for friends...even if it's somewhat odd for Alida. The slow relaxing of Ed's form allows the bluerider enough forewarning and time to clear her own eyes, face of their shimmers of grief, only a quiet and empathetic surface shown to the brownrider once they're looking at each other again, sharing those opposite quilt corners. The offer is considered for only a couple seconds, the blonde then nodding a few times, and adding in a low voice, "Ilicaeth wonders if Ak's got enough couch room ta cram *him* in, too." Snert...sigh. A look over to where the brownie gestures - then over at snoozing Flicker - have 'lida murmuring, "I'm fine... take care uv' m' own needs." Beat. "Kids." Snert. «Pft, of course, there is room. Warmer inside too. I'll even share the latest of Gerta's... Quilts. » a decidedly warm blanket that looks as though it's been hit by a paintball gun with wild colors all over is shared mentally with the blue. Edyis nods, wordlessly. Sniffling a little. Apparently Alida didn't quite get whatever it was the brownrider was trying to communicate, because slowly, Edyis is working herself to her feet. It's a slow, shaky process. She manages to break a mug fishing them out from the cabinet, but two are filled with a mixture of Klah and hot milk. Akluseth translates as he pushes the door open Ilicaeth gets offered the couch while the brown settles himself comfortably nearby. Apparently she expects the bluerider to start talking, at least from the look she gives her as she moves to the quilt covered couch seated near the hearth. Holding the mug carefully between both hands as though that alone requires concentration. Oh; froogin' *excellent!* « Here I come... » Ilicaeth is kind enough to note around a subdued hint of humored chuff. After that door's opened, he's trying to nudge the brown to bunk up beside him, if possible, and rumbling pleasantly at the touch of that explosively-colored quilt to his hide. « Thanks, bro. » This way, he can keep close and guard *everybody*! Even while they all sleep, somehow. He does quickly share a very private (read, not for their riders): « Tacuseth's holed up with Aeaeth t'night. They'll keep until t'morrow. Jo will. » And then Ilicaeth/Alida Akluseth/Edyis can gently approach the (oddly?) bereaved, elder bluepair. Until then, the younger blue dragon keeps his deep concern over Tac (mostly) to himself. Such a rotten day. Edyis wants...something? No; Alida's clueless right now, and so she simply sits there, watches Ed start making up those toddies, though the bluie notes in quiet voice, "That might keep ya' up." Caffeinated klah. It takes a few mugs for Alida to feel perky, though; high tolerance. After another play of moments, the blonde shrugs, stands, and ambles over towards the greater warmth of the couch and hearthfire, accepts her mug of dubious cheer with a gracious bob of pale head. Talk, though... If Edyis wants it...it isn't forthcoming. All the bluie does is sigh lengthily, sadly, and curl hands about her own mug, look into it, sip on occasion. Once the top of the liquid within is safe from being easily sloshed out, she'll even slowly lean one shoulder lightly against Ed's. During that prolonged period of silence, Pyrite pops into being from chill Between, makes a soft, sad little noise down to the two women, and then moves off to join her green daughter upon the small pillow. There's an arch of one brow at the bluerider for the statement about the Klah but it takes a few sips before there is any verbal response. It's Pyrite flicking in and the brief chittering between the flits that follows that draws her attention for a moment, shaking her head. For a moment it looks as though she might start crying again, except there are no tears left to cry. Instead she huddles into the quilts and sips from the mug. Akluseth doesn't seem to mind, making sure the door is shut behind them. He gets himself adjusted, though keeps to where he can keep an eye on Edyis, and still move again if he needs to. He gives a mental nod to the facts that the older blue lists, « Day at a time my little brother. » And there is a sort of smugness there that can only be an affectionate tease from the brown. « Gotta hold 'em together a day at a time. Gotta drown out all the noise in her head for a while. » Little brother? Feh. Ilicaeth takes that comment with gruff, good-natured snark, offers in return, « Still grindin' that old axe, eh? » Blues *are* best, sorry bro. Heh-heh. His own tease as evident as the brown's. « Sometimes the days 're bunches in a row. » That their riders 'hold together' well. Alida even kept in good spirits for over a sevenday, this one time. With much of the Weyr foundering, looking for reasons, emotionally battered, there's likely not very much of the typical, organized duties going on (unless they're of the 'guard, eat & drink, bathe' varieties or those that support such actions)...even if it's not late in the evening. Alida gives a long, somehow knowing look at the klah in Ed's hands, the blonde then simply shrugging a little, looking over at the pair of curled-up firelizards. For some moments, it looks as though the bluerider might be fishing for some decent, honest comment to open up more verbal lines of communication between herself and her friend...but right now, her brain fails her, and 'lida winds up looking mostly pensive and a bit frustrated, her shoulder pulling slowly away from Ed's. Perhaps a little guiltily, she mumbles, "Not good at this kind uv' talk." But...she's *here* And, hopefully, that's what counts. And if Edyis should finally sleep after a time, Alida remains in her weyr, not abandoning a friend in rough straits, simply tending to whatever might need such, reading, and perhaps taking a precious moment to nap, as well...and maybe dream of a reality that still has room for R'hin and Leiventh. |
Comments
Jolie (12:21, 11 October 2015 (PDT)) said...
The sisterhood is real. I enjoy seeing this side to Alida. I feel for Ed.
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