Logs:Ink, Booze, and Bad Decisions
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| RL Date: 24 April, 2015 |
| Who: Edyis, Alida, Jo |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: It is a girls night out at Ista, with a few permanent keepsakes. |
| Where: The Beach House, Ista Weyr |
| When: 1D 7M 37T I10, summer dusk |
| Mentions: Barnabas/Mentions, Keysi/Mentions, Yesia/Mentions, Laine/Mentions, Faryn/Mentions, Farideh/Mentions, Quinlys/Mentions, Telavi/Mentions, K'zin/Mentions, I'zech/Mentions, Z'kiel/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: Feel free to edit, correct, and alter away! This took a while to play. Warning: Strong Language (Jo and Alida, really...) |
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>---< The Beach House, Ista Weyr >-------------------------------------------<
Standing between things: the beach and the jungle, the Weyr and the Hold
and serving more than one function, both public business and private
abode, the Beach House has a comfortable, relaxed feel to it. Built along
southern lines, the entire cothold is wrapped around with a porch and the
roof slopes low, hanging out over the edges of its support structures:
future protection against Thread. The windows are wide and set low in the
walls, a few boasting full glass panes, the rest screened and shuttered
with sliding panels.
On this end of the building, set at a slight angle to the water with a
full view of the beach, the porch lies nearly flush to the ground allowing
patrons to walk right into the restaurant. Cane-weave tables and chairs
for two and four line the porch walls and a long counter provides both
extra seating 'bar' style along with a view right into the open kitchen.
An opening wide enough for two people is cut into the counter allowing
servers to pass between the kitchen and the dining area. Warm-hued wood
paneling lines the underside of the roof and all of the surfaces within
the restaurant and local climbing vine flowers curl around the support
posts of the porch from planters hung beneath. When open for business,
little glow baskets are unlidded within the embrace of the vines to
provide a little extra decorative touch. Dimly visible, about a quarter of
a mile away are the docks and the Sandbar.
>------------------------------------------< 1D 7M 37T I10, summer dusk >---< Life goes on, this is true. Still, there is an itch to get away from the oppressive grief that has settled into the weyr. Yes, this is the cue to go to her favorite bad influences, for a breath of fresh air. Though one is missing in action, The other two are summoned on a valiant mission. Drinks an Istan bar, where sand, surf, and skimpy clothes are typically mandatory. It is a few hours before dusk, and Edyis is taking advantage of the heat in a scarlet sundress, her curls pulled back from her face and let to tumble loosely about her shoulders, falling well past her hips. Seeming to breathe freer as she shrugs out of the borrowed flight jacket. "We needed this." She states resolutely, feeling more herself than she has since the fire. While the convict rider is barely present about the Weyr (unless to be be where she's supposed to be like a good dragonrider), she still managed to hear about the tragedy of the senior Weyrwoman. Perhaps the summons to Ista was an expected one, for Jo and Tacuseth arrive without much fanfare before the beach house. Whether she's familiar with the area or not, the black leather clad woman enters the place with much the air as if she owned it, seeking out Edyis and Alida quickly. Now, she settles at the table with her drink with the candidate and her wingmate, catching statement sent out with a nod to them both. "Nice choice, Alida," and she gestures about, indicating the place. To Edyis, "Can' be helped under the circumstances, darlin'." The blonde was here a day ago, and it didn't help much. However, Alida was also alone...unlike now, with Ed and Jo to accompany her. Still quietly, privately grieving in the recesses of her being, the bluie seems to appear much as average on the outside, though the hints of fire or snark in her gaze are missing. Her own riding clothes were abandoned in Ilicaeth's pack after she unsaddled her lifemate so he could storm out into the ocean for a swim and a float, shed in favor of tan shorts reaching to mid-thigh, and a crop-top of ivory - tied up under breasts to leave her cut midriff bare - gracing shapely, stronger shoulders...plus sandals. The telltale scent of coconut-cream wafts from the blonde, perhaps indicating her pale skin's been thoroughly annointed with sunscreen, as well. The message to Jo and Tacuseth apparently was heeded, for the black clad ex-con's entering the place, soon inspiring her fellow bluerider to lift a hand in greeting, then note to Jo when she joins them, "Been here once before. FIgured 't'was time ta return." More than time, really. Pointing their little group towards one of the few small tables left over near the back of the place, the woman inquires of the other two, "Dinner an' drinks, ta'night. I heard from someone before about gettin' ribs from someplace nearby." The Weyr, or somewhere else? her greens question. Edyis grins, "It was a most excellent choice." Edyis chimes in from over the rim of an appropriately (and possibly uncharacteristically) fruity drink. "Remind me next time to bring Keysi with us, she could use a little loosening up." Sighing contentedly, watching some of the locals walk by, black whirling patterns tattooed into their skin. Her gaze fixes on them even as she answers, "Ribs? Like, slow roasted and slathered in something sweet and spicy ribs?" Someone's stomach gurgles even as she brushes her hair over her shoulder revealing the bare skin of her back to the sun. "Sounds positively divine." "Who's that?" Jo asks at the name drop as she downs some of her much stronger drink, her gaze checking out the place and those in it around them. Then there's talk of ribs and Jo snorts in amusement as she shakes her head at Alida. "Yer stomach, woman," she says wryly, leaning back more comfortably. "But sure, ya know I can eat, too. Maybe I'll wrap some up for M'ron'n Kait. They love those things. Didn' know spent so much time out this way, anyway." It was a probing tactly, naturally, as the convict rider is eyeing her wingmate closely with a slightly lifted brow. As for Edyis, well, she'll have to maybe excuse the fact that Jo oogles just a bit at what she's wearing before she adds in towards her, "Ya know, I can get ya somethin' stronger," and she nods to indicate her fruity drink. If Edyis is going 'fruity,' Alida's going 'hoppy' with an order of a pitcher of the mellow, but potent local brew of the sevenday the arriving server mentions to them, plus three orders of full racks of those ribs soon-discovered from inquiry, as well. Baked tubers with sour cream and butter and cole slaw are their sides, the blonde nodding in agreement with Ed and giving a faint grin as her own stomach growls. "Another candidate; apprentice Healer...an' apparently somethin' uv' a fighter," Alida answers Jo of Keysi, her mouth finding a small smirk at mention of her stomach. "I *earn* my bottomless pit. B'sides, I haven't eaten since breakfast." Cue another stomach growl. "Only when I n... want," the blonde lightly corrects her fellow rider, then moving away from painful subjects with a brisk, "Put enough rum in that fruit, an' it'll knock ya on yer ass almost as fast." And now that her own booze has arrived in a chilled pitcher, she's pouring for herself and drinking deeply. Someone's gonna get shitfaced tonight. Edyis smiles ever so sweetly at Jo, though there's something a little wilder just under the surface. "A Candidate is still a candidate. Wouldn't do to send me back to the barracks so incredibly drunk that they preclude me from standing." If she is ogled, well it is probably just coincidence that Edyis chose a dress that leaves plenty to be ogled while remaining classy. Then again hangovers are different than drunk aren't they? "Your belly and mine seem to be in agreement Al." "So what, she knocks'em heads together'n then patches them up after?" Jo asks of Keysi, seeming to find her own words amusing. "I dunno how ya find'em, wingmate. Or maybe, they're the ones drawn to you." She doesn't pry when Alida corrects herself, but she does seem to let her gaze linger for a breath or two before shrugging and moving on. "Well, sure beats hangin' somewhere cold'n drab like Telgar," which might be a clue to where the convict rider's been getting up to all this time. She chuckles at Alida's answer on drinks, nodding in a camaraderie sort of way before she says to Edyis, "Uh-huh. Who knows what ya'll get up to back at the Weyr all sloshed, Edyis. How'ya gettin' along with them others, anyway?" She seems careful in steering the conversation from current events, or anything sad for that matter. "No shitfaced fer *you*..." 'Al' agrees to 'Ed' with a smirk. "An Istan acquaintence uv' mine c'n getcha' back to the barracks if Ilicaeth think I'm too drunk ta spew sound coordinates." Sip, ahhh. "*Super-buzzed*, however..." the blonde points out with a finger jabbed in the air at the candidate and a smirk. "Could be..." she's soon answering Jo of the Healer-candidate, offering a faint shrug. "It'll be roastin' there soon enough. And *humid*. Bleh." Nose-wrinkle. Like the other two, she's studiously avoiding anything that could bring a volatile beast like her down in the dumps, quipping back of the thought of Ed-in-trouble, "Spyin' on'er bunkmates, maybe? Or sneakin' scraps ta certain pets?" Smirk. Said 'certain pet' is curled up beside Ilicaeth's straps and packs, soaking up the last of the westering sun. Suddenly, a thought prompts the blonde to inquire of Jo, "You know any folks lookin' fer higher quality alcohol?" Though her tone is unremarkable, there's a faint hint of something in green eyes that could hint otherwise to the darker bluerider. You know: 'her folks.' Contacts. "I" She emphasises with a giggle, "Found Keysi. I cannot help it if I just happen to introduce her to the amazing people I know." The danger of really tasty rum is that it goes so much quicker. At certain pets she snorts. "Yesia had plenty to be snide about after seeing Pyrite delivering Ilicaeth's missive." She snorts derisively, but that fades quickly enough. "For the first time in my life, I have female friends my own age, who do not irritate me to death." Yesia? Is not one of them, clearly. "Keysi, Laine, Faryn. Farideh too sometimes though... she acts like the others a little too often." Cue much frowning. Snorting, "That lizard of yers," Jo notes to her wingmate with a shake of her head before downing her drink. "Ya know, the next time Pyrite goes up, let me know if yer givin' away some eggs. Got some folks lookin' to pay." And, well, speaking of folks and paying, Alida's request about booze and her contacts give on a brief pause for the convict rider as she straightens up and gives an easy enough shrug. "Always got someone," she notes in answer, studying the former guard. "Got some new folks I've been hangin' with these days that would probably be grateful. If yer serious, we can talk." Jo, always down for a prosperous offer, her tone says. She chuckles when Edyis corrects her about Keysi, nodding once. "Well, ya do seem to have a penchant for drawin' close to troublemakers," she states on the candidate oh-so blandly. One could catch the amusement underlying there, too. "Little attention whore..." Alida notes without rancor of Pyrite, the blonde nodding to Jo. "Can't predict when she'll feel the urge again...but if she's anything like the dragons, should be within the next Turn 'r so." Eyecross, nose-wrinkle. She (sort-of) remembers how it went *last* time her firelizard got proddy. "Been taste-testin' it." Thank you, Ed! "Good quality stuff that should be gettin' even better each production. Good know-how behind it, too." Sip. "Limited quantity, on my end uv it, ta start...though if it turns out ta be a hit, I c'n likely garner more." Jo's troublemaker comment earns the other bluerider a broad flash of a grin, but 'lida keeps silent. Nope, not touching that one, given present company. "Layin' it on a little thickly, aren'cha?" Alida chimes in to Edyis' 'amazing people' comment...though the blonde smirks and waggles her brows just a little. Time for another beer...and then it's time for their meals to be delivered by the wait staff, piping hot and fragrant and "Sweet Faranth, that looks incredible." Stomach-gurgle! Alida forgoes the utensils when attacking her ribs, using deft fingers and even teeth to make mincemeat of her first hearty bite, low sounds of delight issuing from her at the taste and tenderness of the meat. "Only had ribs a couple uv' times before... These are the best." OmNOMnom! Sauce staining her lips and mouth a little, the blonde responds to the candidate, "You c'n always ask me ta tell Ilicaeth ta make 'er stay away..." Pyrite: the limpid-eyed, affectionate sweetie. Suuuure. Blink. "Farideh...the uppity one." There's a look of musing upon the woman's face for some moments before she reaches to her lap for the napkin that wipes her mouth clean again before a deep guzzle of beer...sans rude sounds. "If quantity is an issue, I'm sure something can be arranged." the scribe adds, oh so casually. Cut her out of the deal? Edyis notices and takes note. "I have no idea what you mean by that." She chuckles at the troublemaker comment, "I can't help it if I prefer the company of interesting people." As her drink arrives. "Haha, I could, but I would miss her. Sort of used to her nosing about now makes it easy to get ahold of you when I need to." Edyis comments her own stomach gurgling at the sight of the ribs. "She's... " And the girl frowns, "A teenage girl," Edyis states as though that were enough of an assessment, ironic or not. "Keep me posted," is all Jo says on the acquiring of firelizard eggs, inclining her head in thanks before turning back to business. When Edyis answers on the matter of booze, a brow goes up dramatically. "Oh. You can arrange?" the convict rider quips back before turning an inquiring look towards Alida. "Do tell." As for troublemakers around, there's the smallest smirk on her face that she turns on the candidate. "Interestin' folks will one day put ya in a position ya'll find a hard time gettin' out of, holdbred girl." It's given innocently enough before the food and drinks arrive, in which she tucks in without utensils either. With more names being dropped, she listens in on the descriptions - and one can be sure she's filing everything she's hearing away. Only a hint irritated, more darkly humored, Alida sighs, then smirks to Edyis, "All right, all riiight. How about *after* this initial market testing, I promise ta stay outta' *yer* corral." Eyeroll, snert. "I'll dig up my own." 'Poor' Jo is apparently being 'fought over.' Right after Alida's dinner comes both Jo's and Edyis', the same generous portions and good scent, tastes wafting up to both women. After their server leaves - food and drinks refilled along the way - the bluie mutters to the candidate, "So're *you*." Or she was not so long ago. Alida's bland expression and faint twist of lips might silently ask of Ed, 'So what's Farideh's problem?' Nom. "Will do..." is all for Jo, though when the other bluie gives the blonde that inquiring look, Alida merely shrugs and flicks her greens over to Edyis, again. Around her brew is mumbled, "It's ultimately Ed's ta' direct." To profit from or fuck up her words might imply, a faint hint of harshness within her quiet green gaze. With Jo's turn of phrase comes a knowing look from her compatriot, then a return to her famished eating...coating the blonde's fingers and mouth in yet more sauce. "I got a few crates off Alida for an interested party," Edyis answers so smoothly it would be difficult to tell if it were truth or lie. "So long as I get back double what I invested and replaced what was purchased for the buyer, They can wait." She returns with an arch of a dark brow at Alida speculatively. The ribs are pulled apart with fingertips before she sets into them near ravenous, granted she at least attempts to be neat about it. No slathering yourself with barbeque sauce in front of potential predators. Jo is slightly frowning, admittedly. She's looking from Alida to Edyis, back and forth with most of her gaze finding the candidate as she talks. "So, what, ya two in cahoots together over booze?" she asks mostly towards Alida - even if her gaze doesn't leave Edyis. "Where's the booze comin' from, huh? Ya don' got the time to make it yerselves," and she looks significantly at Edyis. "Girl like ya that don' even drink the heavy shit shouldn' be sellin'." Could be a tease or a taunt, but it's there along with a look of askance at her wingmate for her own involvement in this. Though Alida and Jo are 'predators,' Edyis is at least an opportunist - not prey - and not as likely to get 'devoured' in this pack gnosh session. Is that the faintest hint of a curl of one side of the blonde's mouth into a smile for how Ed responds? No matter; the paler bluerider is able to offer up a bit of a husky chuckle for Jo's inquiry - then taking a moment to lick the sauce off one set of fingers - before replying, "Sometimes...territories accidentally overlap. You know how it goes, Jo: fight, flight, 'r cooperation." As for the 'where' of the booze, there's a small shake of pale head, and a lightly teasing, "Source's on the quiet, fer now, at least. All I c'n say is it's legit...if any uv' yer customers might get their panties in a twist over such things." A deep draught of amber beer follows as the older bluie finds Ed perhaps a little light in the liquor, her mouth crooked into a faintly knowing smirk, though she refrains from saying anything about it. Edyis chuckles amused by Jo's assessment. "Little early for you to know my drinking habits don't you think." Those lips twist as she plops another juicy morsel into her mouth. "I just prefer to be in control of myself thank you." Falling quiet as Alida (who is clearly the brains and experience) does the talking, of course, it could just be that the ribs are absolutely delicious, since she washes them down with another long drink. With the slightest lip curl, "I know," she answers to Alida. "Just seein' where comin' from. So long's it not from any of my stompin' grounds. My clients don' care," she adds for both their benefit. "I'm the one has to ask the hard questions, not them. Girl's got a reputation to uphold if I'm to keep havin' contacts." She drinks more than eats overall, and Edyis's taunts draw low laughter from the convict rider. "Control," she repeats that word used - relishes it, even. "Mm. Ya can be surprised all I can learn early 'bout a person," is all she'll say to that. "Shells; even I like frou-frou drinks, at times..." Alida comments between the two other women before taking another bite of ribs, and chewing with continued appetite. Mmm. "Always a good thing..." is noted to Edyis' words about directing one's own destiny and reactions, though the bluie does factor in a sudden, "If ya' Impress...well, that whole self-control thing's likely gonna undergo at least a little revision." Voice of experience, especially since her own lifemate is just as 'firm' of a personality as Alida. Jo's lip curl invites an almost fetching little grin and a lightly blown kiss (which winds up looking a little lurid, due to BBQ sauced lips), green eyes quietly laughing in good humor for a moment before she returns to eating, drinking. "You know I understand..." is murmured equitably to the other bluerider, along with a firm, "Not yer territory, toots. You know I do m'best ta keep my nose outta' yer digs." Nod. "Crossin' territories with Ed was just happenstance." Nom. For Ed, this round, is a slightly smirky, "Remember; when yer hangin' out around Jo in business circumstances, it's only hard liquor." Beat. "An' walkin' a line." Smirkie. The former scribe snickers, "I suppose it's lucky then that that part of my education hasn't been skimped on." Impression talk earns a wrinkle of her nose, "If I impress... Faranth forbid. What kind of lunatic would have me, with the way I attract trouble?" She murmurs tearing into another rib and sucking the sauce from her fingers once the bone is clean. She tucks into another, fluidly. "Line walking, noted." "Alida should mentor ya if ya Impress," Jo offers so lightly, flashing a grin Edyis's way. "I mean, she knows everythin, not to mention how to wrangle unruly dragons." Turning to business, "It's all 'bout the trust, baby," she says to them both, pointing a finger at her wingmate before adding, "I trust you." The finger flicks towards Edyis before tacking on, "But yer still the uncertainty. Have the crates go through Alida and ya'll have yer deal. I'll even deliver yer marks to ya personally afterwards." There's even a slight tease in her tone for the last given to the candidate. She finishes off a rib then when Alida gives the other advice about walking a line, the laughter low. "True, true..." Alida murmurs around a mouthful of rib to Edyis, a deep guzzle of beer had before the blonde lips off to the candidate, "Maybe the same sort'a lunatic that'd partner *me*... 'r Jo." Smirk. Talk about attracting (or even outright causing) trouble! Jo's assertion of mentoring Ed brings an outright look of dark surprise at the dark-haired bluie, then a loud snort of derision. "Quinlys wouldn't touch me with a 50 foot pole." Bitch. "An' I wouldn' touch Quinlys with anything but a fuckin' smith's hammer." Blunt force trauma, yay! A nod for words of trust soon transitions into a quiet little smile meant mostly for herself, more food and drink disappearing down the event horizon that is Alida's maw, the woman sliding her greens over to Edyis to see how the not-scribe takes Jo's conditions of business. Around another rib is mumblingly noted, "I knew that about Jo right off the bat: handle with care." Grin. Edyis licks her fingers slowly nodding at the word trust. "Well that would make two of us, but I trust Alida not to screw me over." Or you know, screw her period. Are her ears faintly red at the tips...? "Is Quinlys so bad? I haven't interacted with her much to be honest. I know Telavi better, but she's ... I feel like she would flip on you at the drop of a hat maybe. Then again, I could just be sensitive." She muses before tucking into food again, and ordering something with more rum and less fruit. "Hey, Quin's hot," is all Jo says on the weyrlingmaster with open laughter. She does catch the little smile given on trust as she eats, her ribs slower on disappearing than the booze. Alida's last draws a wry, "Just cuz I've got a dragon don' mean I've changed. Take me as I am," hands spread wide, encompassing all that is her. As for Edyis, well, Jo is all too observant on what's said and what's not. Eyes lighting on her face as she downs her drink, "Folks never complained before, 'bout the screwin' or otherwise." If you can call it innocent, it's innocently given before moving on. "I like Tela," she declares on the greenrider. "Got history, me'n her. Don' think there's a mean bone in her." There's a faintly enigmatic ghost of a smile at Edyis' trust in her, though Alida finally emits a low chortle for the faint verbal gaffe the former scribe makes.Murmured around her next draught of beer, "Yer not my type, Ed." The smirk-smile disappears with mention of Quinlys once again, the blonde noting flatly, "Decide fer yerself." The green eyed woman's already made her own judgement. To Jo, "Hot's got nothin' ta do with it." Period. "Already done..." is next for taking Jo as she is. Wink. "Who's complainin'?" Not Alida. More rib-eating is done, the bluie nodding her basic agreement with Jo about Tela, then murmuring to Edyis, "Depends on the flippin' yer talkin' about, Ed: freakin' out type 'r stab-in-the-back type. I know there's some things that'd knock 'er for a loop, mentally, emotionally. So far, she hasn't seemed two-faced ta me. She's mostly decent, from what I know uv' er...clutchmate an' all." Nose-wrinkle. "Except fer 'er lack uv' taste in boyfriends." Asshole. "K'zin is one of the assistants this time round, apparently." Edyis gnaws away, washing down the drink when more arrives. "Too bad." She teases back to her combat instructor in a way that can only be joking. "Eh, I haven't spent enough time around her lately to be sure, even with as much time as I spend around Savannah." Of Telavi, "She's just hard to pin down. Some people are easy to figure out. Probably just means I should spend some more time around her." More finger licking. Utensils are claimed for the baked tubers, gobbling up greedily the roasted vegetable bathed in butter and salt. Jo's snorting through all the talk, having already put forth her estimation of the weyrlingmaster - and, that seems good enough from her while she eats. On Telavi, she's decidedly silent, seeming to take on the listener role as she looks from Alida to Edyis and back again before the talk turns to K'zin. "Haven' seen that one 'round lately," is her light comment to that. "He's still with her, eh?" To Edyis, "Ya gotta thing to tryin' to figure folks out? What if she doesn' want to be figured out?" A slight challenge, and if one picks up carefully that tone, one would likely pick up that it's beyond Telavi that she's talking about. "And, anyway, ain' much to figure out 'bout that girl. Most times, ya get what ya see'n that's fine by me. I know what to expect with someone like her. Lots of times, that's a good thing." At Jo's question, Edyis pauses, sucking the sauce from her thumb. "The facade is rarely as interesting as what lies beneath, don't you think?" She lifts her glass, imbibing more, and it is likely the effects are beginning to show. "I thirst for knowledge above all else; why else would I spend so much of my free time in the company of dry men who copy books for a living? But people... people are fascinating because they are inherently unpredictable, because they change, grow, adapt... We are driven to survive by whatever means are at our disposal. Inherently beautiful and dangerous all in one breath." That smile curls and spreads. "Everyone desires to be understood; they just set the difficulty at different levels." "Assistant Weyrlingmaster...along with that leech attached to 'er..." Alida notes of Telavi and K'zin, the latter half of her statement touched with a hint of a scathing tone. Ribs are much more important than small talk, though, and it's with the dedication of a gourmand that the blonde applies more of her attention to food and drink...a breathy burp escaping her after that individual round of self-feeding is over. Finally catching up on the on-going conversation, the bluie offers in her usual mile-a-minute alto, "Like Jo said: knowing mostly what ta expect uv' someone's a good thing." Beat. "Not that they can't change, but..." Shrug. Of Edyis, "Sponges gotta be...discriminatory about what they absorb. Water's fine, but glue..." Head shake. At the former scribe's words of hanging around dry men and hides, 'lida lets off a low hit of dark laughter. "Not *all* uv 'em are dry, nor old, nor men." Smirkie. Indeed, some of Ed's fonts of knowledge are younger, female, and rather 'juicy...' Or so might say the waggle of the bluie's brows that's offered to Ed. Another pour of beer into her glass makes three of them for the former guard, who finally shakes her head twice at the candidate, then wipes her lips with napkin before responding, "*Many* people wanna' be understood. Some never do, an' others just enjoy throwin' red herrings...confusing others constantly." A wizened, yet slightly-humored look is given to Jo as the blonde sums up her opinion, her pale, braided head quirked slightly. Like *Jo*, maybe? Grin. At Edyis's explanation, "Spoken like a true scribe," Jo states mildly, and it's hard to tell whether she approves of her words or not. Well, one can maybe detect that veiled touch of approval, but it's at odds with her dry inflection. "In a way, I get it." Jo can also detect the vehemence thrown from Alida in mention of a certain bronzerider, the bluerider snorting to it. She remains silent for the most part, finishing up her ribs and her booze, catching most and missing very little. She lets Alida talk, lets Alida respond more at length to Edyis's comments, until the end with that look going in her direction. There's a small, lofty laugh to that as she lifts her glass in a mild toast and states to them both in a low raspy voice, "Why give what ain' free? Ain' givin' my body'n my life to the Weyr enough? Now ya gotta know what makes me tick, too?" As in, that's all there is to Jo, right? Or so, she seems to want all and sundry to believe. Her smile is just a touch wicked at Alida's revelation, playful. "I take my lessons where I find them. Most sadly, are learned the hard way." Then again that flash of her teeth probably suggests that isn't such a bad thing, draining the last of her drink after the toast. Her voice a low murmur, "Mm, who said anything about free. The secrets worth knowing are that take the longest, subtlest efforts to extract. Anyone can bust a lock with the proper leverage. Takes a more delicate touch to tip the tumblers without anyone ever realizing you've done so. Sadly I need far more practice." That snort Jo gives her is shrugged off by Alida, though the darker bluie's words for Edyis earn her another smirk. Scribe indeed. Again for Jo, between draughts of beer, "Givin' all uv' our lives ta the Weyr is...dumb." Nose-wrinkle. "Someone wants ta play martyr, 'r 'Leaders, then go ahead. I'm not all about self-sacrificing duty...not any more." The look in the blonde's jaded green eyes perhaps says it all: been there, done that, got badly burned. "No automatic givin'. *Earned*, Jo. Takes time, effort, care, loyalty ta *earn* things like that." As everyone currently sitting at this table should already know. Another rib fed to her gullet allows more conversation between the other two women, and once her meat's downed, Alida answers Edyis with a dry, "That's what I'm finally learnin'. Not my usual style...but it has its merits." Like not royally pissing off Weyrleaders and Lord Holders? "I can believe that," Jo murmurs on lessons learned the hard way with an arched look towards the former scribe. Her own drink is drained before she sets the cup down and snorts at Edyis's words on free information. "So, what," she seems to challenge her with a once-over look, "yer lookin' to learn my secrets with a delicate touch? Good luck." To Alida then, "So ya don' believe in the sayin', 'once a guard-always a guard'?" Presumably this question is towards her wingmate's response on self-sacrifice. "As for myself, I learned the hard way when it came to that sort of thing. Ain' worth it." As for her food, it's mostly gone and she looks over her plate as if contemplating whether to finish. Or to order more booze. Likely the latter more than the former. "You don't do subtle? If I didn't know better, Jo, I would say you were putting up a challenge. That or flirting, though one does not preclude the other..." Edyis chuckles at the ex-convict. Falling silent as she listens to the riders talk. Grinning at Alida's mention of learning subtlety. "There is something to be said for the direct approach, though." "Let's just say I learned better," Alida mutters to Jo of that whole 'once and always a guard' thing. Still... "I'm not the type ta have a pole 10 feet long up my keister about it, anymore." Snort, drink. As for Edyis, well, the coandidate gets a soft snork. "Fuckin' politics...nothin's direct." Scowl. Give the women another 20 minutes or so, and they'll see their food and drink polished off completely, leaving Alida (at least) with a nice, heavy buzz going. "Maaaan, I ain't even half-way ta shit-faced..." the blonde complains, looking into her empty beer glass. "Guess the stuff's more mellow, down 'ere." Beat. "Good thing I brought my hip flask." Indeed, a pat to her hip shows the burnished metal of the large thing lashed there. To both her companions is noted, "Y'know... one day, that asshole former weyrlingmaster said I oughta get m'self some body ink." Huh? That's out of left field. Maybe it's the alcohol talking...or not. "I'zech." A grin over to Jo presages her alto, "Yer dear clutchsib." "If I was really flirtin', ya'd know it," is all Jo gives to Edyis on her words, the shallow wink seeming quite deliberate. She did finish all her food and drink by then, though it was clear that she was nowhere near drunk. High tolerance, likely. When Alida brings up her clutchsibling, several minutes later, there's a snort on that along with a dry, "And why are ya followin' that one? Sure ain' yer style to be listenin' to the likes of him, even if what he says is sound." There's a bearin' of teeth before she adds in, "Yer lookin' to rival Bones, I'm sure there's someplace 'round here. Never got into that sort of thing myself, personally. I'm too scarred up that the ink probably won' stick." But she seems to make it clear that she's more than willing to watch her if she was going to do it. If one were to judge from Edyis's giggling, she is probably right at the threshold of buzzed, "Bones! Bones, he's like a walking canvas!" The scribe chrips splaying her hands wide, walking backward (probably not the best idea) in front of the other two women. "The idea of being a work of art underneath your clothes... or having your skin tell a story." So Edyis has a thing for scars and ink... blame the uptight upbringing. "I wanna get inked too. What do you think Alida?" Alida gives a shaggy chortle to the thought of Jo's flirting, the blonde likely not far off from Jo's level in her own tolerance of alcohol. "I'm *not*," her alto notes casually to her wingmate. "JUst remembered 'e said that, some Turns ago." Burp. "Never got anything done." Shrug, nose-wrinkle. "Fuck no! Just a nice little token somewhere on my person..." Blink. Suddenly, the bluie's more serious as she inquires of Jo, "Ya' think ink won't stick ta scars?" Edyis' giggling, 'prattling' has the blonde looking over in darkly humored, if wizened fashion at her, a faint bob of pale head given to the candidate's take on the whole ink thing. Blink. Really? "Yer buzzed, Ed. Ya might not like whatcha' wake up ta. Best think on it." "Work of art beneath clothes...." Jo seems to be tasting those words, seeming to linger on it longer than is appropriate. "Bones'n I'zech are quite the canvas. Their ink's quite the draw, but I don' need ink to be a work of art." There's that arrogance in her tone as she gets to her feet, draping her leather jacket over one arm as she eyes both ladies. "They'll stick to yers," she assures Alida with ease, going to clap her wingmate on the back briefly. "And, I believe yer right on our friend here bein' buzzed. I say she gets one." She's all for making bad decisions, evidently. "I've never seen I'zech's ink." It's almost a pout, but Edyis laughs brightly at Jo's arrogance. "No, you have a story carved into you... Zadkiel's like that too." Having entirely too much fascination in the topic of scars, and her attention lingering a little too long than is probably safe on Jo, she twirls. "Buzzed or not, when am I going to get the opportunity to get inked again? " "Pervy broad..." Alida smirks over to Jo's toying with those words, the woman managing a wicked little chortle before nodding her agreement of both men. "Yeah yeah, yer all sorts-uv' awesome..." the blonde comments with mixed humor, asperity, sarcasm to her wingmate, then rolling her eyes hugely. Grin. Perhaps it speaks well of how she views Jo that the other bluerider isn't flinched from or socked for that clap to 'lida's back, but instead given a brief nod before she too stands slowly...and burps again. "That Igen guy? Do tell..." As for inking, "Well, don't say I didn't warn ya." A little fired up about the prospect of coloring designs on skin, the blonde inquires of Jo, "Hopefully you 'r our host might know uv' some place with *good* artists that's nearby. I dun' wan' crap touchin' *my* hide." Sniff. Alida's getting merely a shrug from Jo on initial comments, and as for the other one, "Glad ya learned how awesome I am, friend," Jo says on that one with a cheeky smile. To Edyis, "Ya should check out my clutchsib's sometime," she says of I'zech. "Though, maybe not. He's usually worse than me when it comes to corruptin' innocents. Might be why we get along oh-so well." Well, that's sarcasm, so, maybe not. "Who's this Zadkiel, anyway?" Not that she's committed to any answer to that, and, she's well aware of the lingering stare coming from the candidate with just faintest of knowing smirks before answering on inking places. Gesturing out of the place they're at, "Bones'n I did talk 'bout places around here that are more than decent," she says easily. "At one point, I did think about it gettin' some. We can check it out?" "His whole body is covered in them." She answers of Zadkiel, "Knife marks, claw marks, teeth marks. I imagine he'll have burn scars now too." She muses, thoughtfully before falling in step with the other two women. "Did you see him dancing?" She tones quietly in an oddly awed tone. "I will try to bear that in mind." She says of Jo's clutch sibling. "Sounds good to me. What do you want to get Alida?" It is again a large point for Jo that Alida responds to her last with a certain nod, though she does factor in, "Lots uv colors, too. An' detail. None uv' that dingy green 'r just brown fer me." Apparently the woman's got something in mind, already. "I want the best my money c'n buy." Sagenod. "He seems ta grate on most people..." is finally allowed of I'zech. Even Jo, though? As they stand and assemble to take their leave, Alida listens to Edyis talk about Zadkiel, the woman's mouth quirking oddly at times as she hears of the male candidate's 'background.' Curious. Word of burns and dancing have her grunting low and turning away to move out of the the Beach House, reaching for her hip flask and opening it to take a quick, stinging pull from its contents. She's trying *not* to remember. To the candidate's inquiry...there's no answer. Once they're all outside, she murmurs, "Lead on, Jo." Glancing over at Alida when Edyis describes this particular candidate, "Where'dya say he was from again?" Jo asks Edyis of Zadkiel, seeming to file the information away in her head. Even then, they all can walk and talk, and the bluerider is leading out of the establishment towards an area near the Istan docks. "What're ya lookin' to brand on yerself?" she asks Alida as she explains the ink. "Gettin' it on yet arm or somethin'?" The place is a decent-looking shack on the better side of the docks, so that should count for something, right? Jo gives the place a once-over before turning to look at her companions and say, "It's better'n the other place, anyway. I don' think they'll kill ya here." Straight face and all. "He's the one K'zin searched out of Igen." She offers with a frown, though there is affection in her tone as she continues. "He and Keysi both are so serious." She lets go of that topic though or thinking about the fact that she's being pumped for information, she may even sulk about it. "I don't know if the color would show well given my completion. " "Igen..." Alida offers the small token to her wingmate even as Edyis replies, a faint smirk offered to both as they all walk towards the docks, a small shake of her braided head given up at mention of her arm. The still-drinking woman notes just a little breathily, "My secret, until I decide ta show it off." Smirk. She almost *almost* falls for Jo's straight-faced tweaking - ready to level a consternated scowl upon the other bluerider - but catches herself just before letting her wingmate have it with one barrel. Instead, the other bluie's reached for, the nape of her jacket's collar grasped and given a sound shake. "Baiting bitch..." is muttered with mixed sourness and fondness. Noting some of Ed's surliness, the woman notes to the candidate, "It's the booze, toots. Loosens yer wits, yer tongue." Not only her, really. Blink. "Yeah... Guess y'could get all brighter colors? White, yellow..." And so on. Is Jo really taking advantage of the situation - her here with two drunk women? She wouldn't be Jo if she didn't. She shows absolutely no apology on her face for information pumping and any teasing thereof. "Igen, right," she says wryly on that one to them both. She doesn't duck from Alida when she comes for her, either, laughter bubbling up her throat when she's grabbed by the leathers. "Hope ya let me in on that lil' secret when it's done," she continues to rack up the teases, waggling her brows Alida's way. "An', who's baitin'? Ya wanna go to that dirty place?" She'll try and flick a light blow off the blonde's arm holding her before she gestures them on in. "Go on, both of ya," she states like a good host. "If anyone tries to kill ya, I'll get to'em first, promise." Yep, she's treating them both like damsels waiting to be in distress. "Mm... Oh. Yeah... no, just..." She trails off brow furrowing. "Used to reporting this kinda stuff to someone else." Sigh, sulk, frown. She watches the blueriders exchange before pulling out a small flask hidden only Faranth knows where, taking a long swig and setting her jaw to head right into the place as indicated. Should she be more cautious? Probably, but she's eying the drawings hanging up in the place and the various instruments of the trade. It probably speaks to how intoxicated she is that she just happens to step up to a rather wizened looking man, aged past his prime, but whose station is littered with flowing knotting shapes. Alida indeed knows at least some of Jo's 'ways,' and she doesn't look bothered about the information revealing whatsoever. Of course, the paler bluerider is also somewhat of a sponge for information... So maybe they trade, on occasion? "Yeah yeah... It's filthy, just like you, ya ragin' she-boner..." the younger rider snorts to her compatriot, that light blow upon her nearer arm calling up a quick flash of a grin and a like one upon Jo's own arm. Casual, spirited, impulsive. Just imagine what those two might do when together! As far as having her back watched, "Hey; I know when I'm potentially vulnerable." It's almost chipperly stated, almost blithe. "You c'n have... a quarter uv what's in my flask ta guard our asses...ya mangy twat." Snicker. And while Edyis looks concerned - and as 'lida's noting glibly to the not-scribe, "She's jerkin' yer chains." - the green-eyed bluie looks over the place (while still sipping from her own flask), then approaches her own choice of the two left-over inkers: a reedy-looking woman of middle age and bronzed complexion from Turns of life in the sun. Her own station is very organized and neat, bereft of obvious drawings. "Aw, baby, ya know ya can tell me anythin'," Jo teases Edyis in a slow purr when it comes to information sharing as she walks backwards into the parlor. She must be joking though since she doesn't linger on it, the playful banter and rough-housing between her and Alida taking her focus as she laughs outright as the retort. Yeah, she doesn't even deny any of it. "Gimmie all'ya got in that flask for my topnotch, filthy services, then," she wagers, giving her a 'gimmie-gimmie' hand signal. "Any more buzzed, and yer start to thinkin' ya can land me on my ass. Don' wanna have to kick yer ass again, do I?" Even if that's probably not how it went, but Jo doesn't seem to care when it comes to good-hearted trash-talking her wingmate. Still, she's a host so she flicks a gesture about for them to look around while she herself finds a good spot to perch and watch. It's some serious squinting going on, The old man squinting at Ed, Edyis squinting back. It's almost like there's an unspoken conversation going down, that or a staredown that would rival the old west of earth. It goes on for several moments before, Edyis walks over to a blank sheaf of paper, snags one of his pencils, and starts sketching something out. "If you two are going to fight wait until after I want to watch." The artist? He just stares at her as she invades his workspace, and after a few minutes Edyis hands him something, plops down into the chair, and tugs down the strap of her dress exposing the coppery flesh of her back. There's a grunt, as he looks at the drawing. Edyis grunts as he starts recreating the sketch with kohl. "Except the location uv' 'er stash..." Alida ripostes to Jo of Edyis, then blurting out, "Three-quarters, ya vile cheat!" of the potent stuff in said flask, one last, major pull taken from the thing before it's recapped and tossed over to the other bluie. "Yeah-yeah... you fuckin' *love* my ass..." is noted brusquely, Alida enjoying the temporary relief from her woes over Azaylia in Jo's rougher company. As the blonde moves to the woman she's already chosen, she notes to Edyis, "Sad ta say, I dun' think we're truly fought yet. Tussled, sure." And more. Smirk. Unlike the candidate, Alida engages her chosen artist mostly verbally, flashing a hint of coin to her to tempt the inker further, and then murmuring various things to the very tall woman, in a gentle, breathy, alcohol-ridden voice. On occasion, her hands and fingers sketch curves and lines upon the air...and throughout this - the inker's sketchbook taken in hand, with the stubs of colored pencils flashing - both females manage to call up just what Alida's been wanting needled into her pale flesh. It takes almost 15 minutes, given how detailed and exacting *both* of them are...but when the artists finally settles down to marking up skin...it's the pale expanse of flesh upon and between Alida's shoulderblades, the bluie lying prone upon her belly. Of course, Jo will likely remember the lash scars upon them. Jo watches the eye conversation Edyis is having with her artist with dubious staring before she says behind Alida's answer, "If we ever fight, ya'll get a front seat." To Alida, "Fine," she answers on the deal of the flask with a wave of her hand. "Callin' me a damn cheat..." She catches the flask and takes a deep drink from it while Alida gets her ink done, and indeed her gaze does fall on Alida's scars in recognition. Since the spiced concoction seems to be agreeing with the convict rider, she's already taking another swig to chase down the first one. It isn't all quiet grunts and grumbles, while the artist works Edyis barters, and eventually they seem to agree on a price. Once the initial drawing is set, an assistant comes and starts stretching the skin before there is wincing and facial contortions. Suddenly tattoos don't sound so fun as the tap tap tap of the inking tool begins. Dark eyes drift over to her companion, noting those scars, and Jo's recognition of them. "This ...is probably a very bad idea." She reasons finally, hissing through her teeth while the artist (who looks at her like she's nuts) merely grunts as he works. "Nothing wrong with cheating, just don't cheat the wrong person, and definitely don't get caught." "Qui'cher bitchin'..." Alida calls out to Jo, the woman working upon drawing out the lines of her tattoo pausing patiently until her customer shuts the fuck up. Those scars upon her upper and middle back pose only a small problem for the artist, and she takes a little more time than normal trying not to evince bizarre sensations from them when kholing the delicate lines. Luckily, Alida's three-quarters inebriated right now, and her ability to feel things bodily (and emotionally) is ramped way down, only the smallest of twitches or facial tics emoted by the bluie. Stretching? Oh, okay... new to her...and she really doesn't feel it. For Edyis' words comes her own husky, "Drink more, woman..." before she too quiets for the true pain part. The only way handling whatever pain she might feel shows upon the pale woman's upper lip with a bead of sweat or two. Or that might be from the Istan heat. Really? Nothing wrong with cheating? A new facet of Edyis is revealed unto her. "Yeah, yeah," and Jo's flapping one hand while the other one helps her down more from the flask. If there's any skin to be revealed from either woman, one can believe this woman is eyeing it. When Edyis gets apprehensive, "'Course it is," she's helpful in saying for bad ideas. "S'why ya gotta do it." A nice bit of Jo Logic for her. She, too, is filing away Edyis's comment on cheating, a brow lifting over at Alida if she gets to see it, and voices aloud, "Shit, what kind of morals are they teachin' ya at yer hold, eh?" in an open tease. If any of them are in pain by now, the bluerider seems to be enjoying the show. Sadistic. "I think you will find that very little remains of what I learned in "That hold of mine." A girl has to make her marks somehow, and I don't waitress for the pay certainly." Edyis answers even as she follows the guard's command, tossing back some more of her flask's contents. She hisses sharply when the tool is again applied to her back. Again she frowns as it occurs to her that she is rather loose lipped at the moment. "What about you Jo, where is it that you vanish off to? I don't believe I've seen you in the Lounge lately, unless you prefer to hunt elsewhere for your... entertainments." There's a look over from corners of eyes at Jo as Alida gives her fellow bluie a faint nod then a likewise shrug for the 'why's of Edyis, a faint belch then emerging from her as the tattoo artist finishes up the delicate lines of the design, and starts on the marking of areas to color anything other than black. That doesn't take too long - given the details of the sketch she works off of - and soon enough, there's the tap-tap of (thankfully disinfected) needles against disinfected skin, only the occasional, deeper hits of them to flesh evincing faint grunts or winces from the stoic blonde. At this point, 'lida's remaining silent in order to not only listen to the other two women, but also so she can reassure Ilicaeth that what she's having done to herself isn't the choice of a drunken madwoman. « Fuckin' crazy humans... » is noted with mixed darkness and humor to Tacuseth. They'll hurt themselves in the name of art. Whackos. Tacuseth must be enjoying the torture as well, for the blue is in complete fanfare agreement with Ilicaeth. « Whaddya expect? » is his amused return while his rider is busy watching the needles that are about to be stuck into Alida's back with interest. To Edyis, "Ya make it sound like ya did hard time," she notes to her initial responses. Her gaze only jumps to her when she asks the sort of question she does, Jo regarding her steadily for a long moment before is breezily states in return, "The Rusty Nail's my place to unwind, darlin'. Anyway, I can hunt anywhere. Ya seem awfully interested in my whereabouts. I'll be sure to let ya know the next time I disappear to one of my trysts. Or maybe it's the invitation yer lookin' for." It's also an evade of where she really gets off to, perhaps, but the suggestive look in her gaze seems to aim in it being nothing more than what it is. She finally let's her hold on Alida's flask go, leaning forward to set it within the bluerider's reach. "You only do time if you get caught." Edyis replies with a too wide smile. "Sorry to disappoint, but I am the picture of youthful innocence. A woman of the world like yourself would probably find my company too bland for words... As enticing as such an offer might be." Edyis's face contorts again with pain, the steady tap tap tap of the tool. "Alida warned me about you." And yet there is something in her expression that might speak to how well the young scribe heeds even the best intentioned warnings. Ilicaeth only eyerolls (much like his lifemate), grumbles in mostly-good natured fashion, and goes back to remaining as 'on the fringe' of Alida's consciousness as possible. There's no need (or want) to share her pain, this round. Chuff. As the other women talk, the blonde accepts her flask back in slow fashion - so as not to screw up the artist's methodical, but oddly quick work upon the canvas between her shoulders - takes deliberate sips of the leftovers to keep her pain sensors smoothly dulled. Tappity-tap go those coloring needles into pale flesh, greeted by nothing more than the occasional grunt...as usual. Still, Edyis' last observance draws a shaggy chuckle from Alida - and a pause from the woman who works upon her - then a low, "I tooooold youuu." Smirk-burp. Oh! "We gotta go there soonish, Jo." The Rusty Nail. "Been too long." Snorting as she examines her broken nails, "I have half a mind to test that theory," Jo simply states to everything Edyis replies back with. It could be more likely to the comment about her company being bland. Dark gaze flicks up at the end, responding on warnings, "Best ya stay away then, eh? I have a tendency to, ah, rub off on folks in ways." She'll make that sound as dirty as possible, too. Brat. The smile is slow to come, though, and the convict rider laughs low at Alida's swell of 'I told you so's' and gives her wingmate a little shrug that lacks apology. "We should," she readily agrees on a trip to the Rusty Nail with a decisive nod. "The booze hasn' gotten any better, but the fights there have more'n made up for it. Get yerself some nice tail." Meaningful Look because that's important. Either the artist is peeling away a layer of her skin (which isn't wholly inaccurate) or the dark eyed scribe isn't sure how to respond. Surely the goosebumps are from the fact that the sun has set and the air is cooling off. "Yes, yes you did." Edyis drawls, half grinning in Alida's direction. Quiet except for the occasional grimace and flinch as the tattooing tool lays layer after layer of ink into her skin. "Ed; stay away from possible danger? Dun' let it be so!" Alida snorks then snickers at Jo's words of Edyis keeping away from the dark-haired bluerider, the tattoo artist adept at stopping her work quickly when her client is talking, then taking it right back up again when the blonde shuts up. "Dirty bitch..." is muttered around a nasty, huge grin that flashes even, white teeth at her fellow bluie, Alida's alto full of dark, good humor. More quietly, "Haven' been in a good knock-down-drag out fer nearly half-a-Turn." Grunt. They need to remedy this, obviously. As for nice tail, the blonde on her stomach nose-wrinkles, shakes her head. "Dun' like my pieces uv ass ta be unfamiliar." Shrug. Just a 'thing,' for her. For Edyis, there's a slow crane of head to look at how she's holding up under the needles, and a soft burp before the bluie inquires, "Enjoyin' yer pain?" Grin. It's at that point that the tatt artist has to drive a particular color somewhat more deeply than she has before, the pain of it (though still muted by booze) inspiring Alida to bark a little loudy, "SHIT, woman! No need ta tap an artery." Eyeroll. Jo doesn't follow up her own words to the candidate, merely snorting softly to the air before returning to her watch of torture. Alida, of course, gets that wink for calling her a dirty bitch. She's not even looking to contest the name. "Yeah, we need to remedy that," she verbally agrees on fights, nodding. "Good way to blow off some steam. I hear ya, too," as in, the convict rider seems to get what Alida means on unfamiliar tail, but it's obvious that she doesn't share in the sentiment. She's showing amusement at all the pain being meted out on both women, rather, hands coming up to cradle the back of her head as she leans back to get more comfortable. Edyis is the odd woman out in the bunch. Faced scrunched and soft whimpery sounds emitting from her general direction. "You of all people should know how I feel about pain. Avoid at all costs unless it is for a good cause." The artist grunts, "S'whatcha get for getting drunk with folk who encourage questionable choices. Were ya my daughter I'd tan yer hide." Still he's getting paid so there isn't too much argument from the man. "Quit your whimpering, you sketched it." All in good, wingmate-rly humor, my good Jo. In return to Jo's 'hear ya,' Alida notes only a little thickly, "This one Igen guy - bronzer, go figure! - looked yummy awhile ago. But..." Shrug. He seemed hesitant. And that was ages ago, in Alida parlance. "Wonder why so many 'Reaches riders ain't appealing..." To *her*, anyway. Nose wrinkle. "You were warned..." the younger bluerider murmurs airily over to Edyis's whimpering, 'lida taking no pity on her, though she scowls a little at the man doing the candidate's tattoo. To him is murmured a little cockily, "Were she yer daughter, she'd likely wouldn' be around ta tell ya about it." Smirkie. A grunt is given from the artist in response to Alida's point. Meanwhile Edyis just makes more faces. "There is something wrong with Reaches riders?" Well other than the surly or particularly violent ones... "Ah, Not enough booze in my system for that, Jo." Grin, grimace. There's some quiet moments for digestion of Jo's points, after which Alida offers a grave little nod and a low, "Maybe more the latter..." Still... "So many uv' our folk 're fucked up, one way 'r another." Nothing like being drunk in public...though the middle-aged woman working on Alida's tatt seems to scrupulously avoid being drawn into any of this conversation. "Gheeze... Qui'cher cryin', Ed." Alida murmurs over to the candidate, then taking another hit from her own flask, as if to *show* the not-scribe how to dull the pain. "Dunno..." the blonde continues about Reachian dragonriders. "Yet ta see one uv either sex gives me that 'hit in the pelvis' feelin'." Shrug. Nodding to Alida's own nod, "Yeah, I get it," Jo agrees on that. She's leaning slightly here and there to watch the work on both ladies more closely without her having to compromise her complete-relaxation pose. Edyis's answer to her gets laughter, the brunette lifting a hand and wiggling the fingers briefly to it. "Alida, pass her the booze," is her oh-so helpful offer, too. As for Alida's answer to Edyis on Reachians, "Ain' nothin' wrong with them, darlin'," she gives her own take. "A bit onery, sure, but I've always managed to pull the thorns outta anybody. Practice." There is a long silence at the words 'fucked up'. Then again maybe she's focusing on not wussing out in front of Alida. "Damaged." She says slowly after a time. "I will give you that most of them carry around something..." She drifts off again grimacing. At least the whimpering noises have stopped. "Pull the thorns out?" A grunt for Jo's first observance, and then Alida's settling into silence so as to better mask her own pain from the near-ceaseless tap-tapping of inked needles. Another grunt to both other Weyrfolk sees the blonde moving to recap and heft up her mostly-drained flask - the woman-artist halting her work for that moment - then tossing it in a lazy arc over to Edyis. She still has pretty good aim, even when drunk. There's also a little bit of a free show for anyone who might be looking, given the bluie's hefted her torso up off the table for a couple of moments. Mumbled to Jo as 'lida settles back down, "Gotta' be that pleasing personality uv' yers..." Burp. Edyis gets a small bob of plaited head for her own word of interpretation, though an added, "*Every*body carries some shit around. 'Reaches folk, though, seems ta carry some fuckin' *dillies*." And *how*. "It is pleasin', ain' it?" Jo takes that comment on her pleasing personality as a good thing. Then, answering Edyis, "Like Alida said. I can make anyone onery into a purrin' kitten." A flash of teeth, watching the ladies and their little tortures before she asks, "Almost done? I can use another round." Of drinks, one can assume. Edyis catches that flask, awkwardly, but she catches it. A long pull taken before tossing it back. The artist furrows a brow, and grunts at Jo's question but he takes a long look at the work with a grunt. Before tapping a few particularly painful lines into Edyis's skin, making the girl's eyes squeeze shut and her knuckles go white. "Yer done." He shows her the knotted oak before applying clean bandaging over the skin and a bit of redwart and numbweed. "Don't pick the scab..." Yada yada yada. Edyis exchanges some coins "You... are like a bottomless pit for booze." Eyeing Jo. "From what I've seen so far... it's true..." Alida notes around another, though faint burp of Jo's claim, a loud and shaggy snigger let off before she winks over at the darker bluerider. A languid blink transitions into a slow, questioning peer over her opposite shoulder at the tattoo artist, who's currently mopping up excess ink and blood from between 'lida's shoulders. The middle-aged woman stops, squints a little at the design they penned upon paper, then squints at the emerging work upon her more living 'canvas' before noting thoughtfully, "It will take me two more appointments to finish the design, given how detailed it is." Sigh. "This likely should be all, for this evening, ma'am. Let me dress what I've done, and then you should follow these rules to the letter for the next sevenday. After that, if there's no problem with infection, please return as soon as you can for the next round." A small tube of rolled and tied hide is given to the bluie after she's patched up and gets her blouse - sans bra; ouch! - back on, her instructions within it, and soon she's standing (slowly) again, and narrowing her slightly reddened eyes at Edyis. Wha'd ja get?" For Jo: "You gotta buy. My purse's bottomed out fer the evenin'." Grin. "Turns of practice, Ed," is Jo's excuse for being a bottomless pit. She gets to her feet then once Edyis's artist announces that she was done, and for Alida, there's a bit of a genuine smile for her response and a wry, "Such sweet words." She leans over to catch some of the tattoo before it's covered, nodding her approval as the artist for Alida talks before she states on drinks, "I'm good for it. Don' even worry 'bout it." Edyis hands over the sketch, since she's not too keen on peeling off that bandage. She's carefully adjusting her dress strap over it. Wincing a little bit. "Well let's add this to the list of craziest things I've ever done. Right up there with moving to Monaco on a whim." Well, with Savannah. "I have the feeling if I drink too much more I will wake up someplace awkward that I don't want to explain to my fellow candidates." And yet.... "You and that blue... " But the words are affectionate. A flutter of lashes for Jo's smile - followed by a low laugh and an honest smile back for the other bluie - presages Alida's slight totter off to join up with her wingmate...and her stuffing of that important little piece of hide into one of her board short's pockets. Her bra gets rolled up into a tube, doubled over, then stuffed into the other pocket. Edyis gets a low snork of humor, then a vaguely perplexed look. "Mine 'r hers?" Cue a jerk of thumb from her own chest to Jo's person. Grin. "Let's git outta 'ere. I'm thirsty." "Oh, I think I've made ya blush enough for the day," Jo notes to Edyis on her comment, stepping out of the way as they prepare to leave. Yeah, she's not going to touch that comment! Instead, she resumes her role of host as she sweeps a broad arm towards the exit for the ladies to proceed her out. "Come on," she verbalizes, chuckling aloud. "Another drink won' kill us." Right. Says the Bottomless Pit as she walks out. |
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