Logs:Insidious Apprentices
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| RL Date: 4 February, 2014 |
| Who: Edyis, R'hin |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Edyis arrives at R'hin's ledge to ask for him to return his library book. |
| Where: Homestead Built For Two Weyr, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 24, Month 12, Turn 33 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: Wind and snow make for very bad weather today. The visibility is low, making travel dangerous. |
| Mentions: A'rist/Mentions, Bristia/Mentions, Leova/Mentions, K'del/Mentions, Suireh/Mentions, Riahla/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: Forgive the title, but it fits. Because clearly every time R'hin was saying 'my little harper', he was actually doing a Darth Sidious style, 'my young apprentice'. >.> |
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| Large enough even for two bronzes, this ledge dwarfs many of the ledges surrounding it, and offers a spectacular view out over the lake below. A brave soul might consider the water close enough to jump into - but appearances are deceiving: it's still a long way down. Nonetheless, it's an easy drop for a dragon, and with the way the lip of the ledge has been smoothed over the turns, it's a pretty good indication that at least one dragon has lolled their way into the water on a regular basis. Just within the weyr itself, there's a double dragon couch, too, clearly designed for two dragons with no interest in cuddling. It's late in the evening for someone to be requesting elevator duty, but it's only half grudgingly that the green sets down lightly at the very edge of the smoothed ledge. "Shouldn't take more than an hour or two at the most. Thank you." The bundled scribe offers over the chill of the winter wind, before slipping down gracefully from the beast's neck ridges. The rider nods before disappearing again into the night sky. "Should have asked if there is a polite way to drop in unannounced." she murmurs before moving down the passage. It's a gamble as to which door belongs to the Bronzerider and who lives behind the other. Still Edyis picks one and knocks, firmly but politely. Strangely, the ledge is empty of any dragons. Perhaps no one's home? It'd be an awkward way to be stranded, indeed. Thankfully, the knocking earns a response -- R'hin opens the door, shirtless and hair somewhat rumpled, blinking bemusedly down at the woman on the other side of the door. Leaning against the door jamb, his head tips, flicking over the scribe from head to toe. "Well," he says, "Can't say as I was exactly expecting you." It may be cold outside, but heat rolls out from behind him as he gives her an expectant look. There's a too sweet smile for the man, and perhaps a practiced indifference at his state of dress. "I apologize for the hour, but these days I spend almost every waking moment in one form of a lesson or another. I was checking the shelves and noticed the volume you had borrowed was still not back yet. I meant to check personally and ensure it was returned if you were finished, or if you would like a personal copy it could be arranged. after the original is returned." If it isn't the exact truth it's a fair semblance of it. "Did I catch you at a bad hour?" "Mm," R'hin's still regarding her with that intent look. "Is that the real reason? Surely a book doesn't require a late night trip, unless you're here for other reasons?" The hint of suggestiveness indicates what he thinks those other reasons might be. Still, there's amusement and a lift of finger, before he shuts the door in her face. It's not that long, and there's what she might detect is a murmur of voices, before the door finally opens and R'hin emerges again, having tugged on a shirt but not gotten as far as buttoning it up. He shuts the door behind him, and gestures instead to the other door. "After you, little harper." A smile that might otherwise mask irritation greets him again when the door opens, and she steps inside without preamble. "I did wonder if you had any of the wine left from before, though I doubt it. Am I interrupting company?" Intently her gaze drifts about the room as though making notes of the details. "I'd hate to think I'd interrupted anything pleasurable to have you deal with something as pesky as a scribe's ire." The glint of the bronzerider's gaze might well suggest that delay was deliberate, as he manages to halfway button that shirt. In contrast to the other weyr's entrance, it's dark and cold inside, requiring R'hin to reach past her for the glowbasket that's hanging just inside the entrance. The room itself is relatively sparse -- there's the usual combination of couch, table and chairs, and bed, as well as storage areas. Her comment earns a low chuckle, and the easy counter of, "You are company." The hearth is dark, and as the Savannah rider moves further in, unshuttering glows, he glances over his shoulder, with a quick smile, "Why don't you see if you can find something for us to drink, while I get the hearth going." Edyis chuckles, moving over to the storage cabinets, "Permitting a stranger to forage, you are either very comfortable around others, or you don't keep anything incriminating in your weyr. I must have interrupted something, if the hearth wasn't even lit for warmth this time of year." Her own tone only hinting at something improper, searching the likely places for drink or even a pot for tea. "Brista's first lesson was very educational, even if it only left more questions than answers." The first cabinet she opens holds some clothing; the second has a mix of a variety of bottles, tall and squat, full and partially drunk. Most are a variety of liqueurs, but there's some nice bottles of red stored there, as well. There's plenty of glasses available in the lower shelf. The chuckle that her comment elicits from the bronzerider sounds oddly pleased. Not that R'hin confirms which of her guesses is the correct one: he's busy getting the hearth started, kneeling on the furred mat in front of it while he picks up the poker to help stoke up the burgeoning flame. "That's the nature of the work," he replies, easily. "The hardest part is having to accept that the balance will likely always weigh in favor of having questions and never having the answer to all of them." He glances over his shoulder, a moment, to catch a glimpse of her. The red is spotted and collected, and a pair of glasses seized. "Should I collect a third for your companion? There were no dragons on the ledge, so either they are now next door or hiding behind a tapestry or pile of covers. I would think." She collects two glasses regardless of the answer and closes the cabinet with a twist of her hips, moving back over to the fire. "I prefer knowing the truth when I prepare to manipulate others, makes it easier to create a believable lie don't you think? Then again the best way to lie is often to tell the truth." R'hin's focused on the hearth, and it's only when he leans back -- noting that she's brought out two glasses -- that there's a dark chuckle. He doesn't answer, and instead leans to rest the poker near the hearth. It's still chilly in the room, and he finishes buttoning up his shirt while pale eyes track her movements over to join him. "The truth I'm interested in tonight is why you chose to come here, little harper. To knock on my door so late at night. Were you planning to beguile me with your feminine wiles, have your way with me?" Certainly he doesn't seem to think so -- the notion makes him chuckle darkly, though it quickly becomes something more contemplative. "People will talk, you know. But surely you're aware of that -- a good holder girl like you shouldn't run so hard towards destroying her reputation so young." "People will believe what they want to believe, they always do. To those who might care about my virtue it was lost the day I willingly chose to remain in the weyr. Instead of returning to Nabol where my ambitions would be more greatly limited." The glasses are set down near him, and she laughs at the suggestion that she possesses wiles. "Hardly, though if you mean to be my instructor in a turn or two when I'm ready for such a thing..." She pretends to check him out appraisingly. "I might consider it, otherwise I am convinced I am reasonably safe in your company, so long as I keep sober judgment. Otherwise it's your knowledge and experience in other fields that I find fascinating." So maybe the second glass isn't for her, but that seems to be left up to him. "They will indeed," R'hin allows, a flickering smile appearing as he reaches for the bottle. There's something approving in his regard of her choice, before he pours two glasses. It seems like he's deliberately ignoring her intimation that she's not here to drink. He's chortling at her proposition, moreso at the forward nature of it than anything else. "You're younger than my twins?" it's a guess, but probably not that far off base, and while a casual observation -- there's very few things that are merely casual when it comes to this man. He hands her one of the glasses, then his own, lifting it and pausing, as if letting her suggest the all-important-toast. "An accurate estimation, If they are over 17 turns." She admits, settling onto the rug where warmth is much more inviting than the chill of the room. Her smile at his chortle suggests that her joke had had the intended effect. "Hence my estimation that I am reasonably safe in such company, besides discretion can be bought." Lifting the glass to get it's scent, "To exercises in deception and the tangled web of ambition?" "Old enough to prove a constant and confounding mess of admiration and frustration," R'hin says, of the twins, with a rueful chuckle. Her toast has his brows rising in momentary surprise, though he does lean forward to tap his glass with hers before lifting it to his lips. The wine is well chosen -- it has a scent reminiscent of black current, and the taste gives off an edge of dark cherry. The bronzerider takes his time, savoring it, before regarding Edyis over the rim. "So, my little harper, now that you've sufficiently buttered me up -- what wisdom do you seek?" She blinks at that, "If you are sufficiently buttered up it must not entirely be difficult to do so." She admits wryly. Her own glass is lifted and the flavor savored, with a content sigh. "I admit I owe you a great deal for introducing me to good wine. Alas I am forever spoiled. As for the visit, aside from the tome which I am to return, I meant to ask your advice on bribing a bronzerider, safely. There is a piece of information that was denied me, which naturally has me all the more curious as to what it is. Naturally as I still wish the acting weyrleader to think well of me, I couldn't bring myself to ask him." "What can I say. You caught me in a good mood, and I'm inclined to indulge you," R'hin says, spreading one of his hands, lips curved upwards. Her comment of the wine earns a low chuckle, though it's her latter words that has him leaning forward incrementally, obviously intrigued. "It depends," he says, slowly. "Bribery is normally the least elegant way to achieve an outcome, since it makes the target less likely to be amenable to further dealings. And if it's K'del to whom you refer, then further dealings are inevitable." He takes a slow breath, eyes going ceiling-ward for a moment. "If you have to bribe him, my advice would be to engage a third party to do so, to keep it from falling back on you. Alternatively -- you could find someone else who might be just as interested in the information, and set them on that path, then take the role of interested confidant." "Neither is flattery, though in this case, the subject is one of the younger bronze riders, impressed to perhaps the most violent dragon I've ever had the displeasure of watching feed. It's an academic question really, into just how much impression can impact the mind either positively or negatively. I've made a pretense of studying them as part of my ongoing studies on dragon healing but in truth, It is a practice to desensitize myself to the natural fear I have of the beasts." She tilts her head looking at the glass, "I suppose a proxy could be in order, but I can't say I had close enough a relationship with any of the potential to get them to slip such information." "Making friends is very wise, both for this... endeavor of yours... and for future ones. This," R'hin taps his glass for a moment, "Helps a great deal. You should learn to hold your liquor, though I imagine Bristia didn't teach you that particular lesson." Her question earns an odd sort of expression, thoughtful and guarded, while he sips his wine. Eventually, "Think of it like this: when a man and a woman," he gestures first to himself, then her, "Go into a weyr, it generates certain expectations, certain speculations about what might be going on. But no one knows what goes on behind closed doors but them. Even if they," a flicker of hand to her again, with a wry smile, "Attempt deflection, people will believe what they want to believe," he borrows her phrasing, deliberately, and manages to echo her exact intonation. "The same can be said of the bond between rider and dragon. It is a very private thing, and anyone standing outside that can only see glimpses of what happens in the quiet. That said, one should realize that the dragon also has distinct opinions on matters that might differ with their riders, and should the rider prove unhelpful..." "There's then no useful resource for information..." She attempts to finish before sipping the wine. "In this case it is in part the process of creating a friendship, though in retrospect I suppose I should work even harder at forming attachments of a platonic nature. I suppose this is also your polite way of saying not to bother you in your weyr anymore." she grins playfully. "I've been making an effort to try to be the kind of person everyone likes being around in that regard, but I come up quite short. I'd rather not resort to seduction, I am woefully bad at it and too young besides. Wine then, should be a reasonable attempt." Her glance drifts back to the door a moment before returning to her glass. "The more I learn the more difficult it becomes to make a choice about the future." "On the contrary, you are surrounded by useful resources of information." R'hin gestures expansively. "Almost everyone you could hope you meet could prove a source of information. If I might suggest," with a grin, since he goes on whether she'll protest or not, "Perhaps a change of employment? The records room is useful for the written word, but if you want to establish friendships, you should work in a social establishment. Perhaps you could ask K'del if he needs some assistance in the Rider's Lounge?" And while she suggests he's deflecting her, he's quick to reply: "I would never strive so hard to be so polite. If I wished not to be bothered, I'd have turned you away at the door." A beat, while his fingers tap against his glass, curiously: "Did you ever consider seeking a less aggressive creature with which to begin to acclimatize yourself?" Grinning when he mentions turning her away at the door, Edyis laughs, "I half thought you were going to, and that I had quite misjudged you." As for getting used to dragons, "That was the reason I accepted Leova's offer of teaching." She points out for acclimation, there is a distinct frown at the suggestion of changing professions, but she does give it genuine consideration. "Perhaps when I've learned all I can from Master Jeroman. I'm hoping eventually to get a look at the restricted section at large. This particular piece of information though, it was suggested that a bribe of more than sandwiches would unlock. If I can at least fake acceptance of it, perhaps it could lead to a more beneficial friendship. I can use in the future. Though the rider's lounge does offer a rather unique opportunity, I'd have to learn more about drinks..." "Did you," R'hin's amused, for some reason, and adds, "Do let me know next time there's a lesson. I'd love to... drop in." He takes a slow sip of his wine, studying the near-empty glass after. "Well, scribe work mostly takes up your day. The lounge is mostly busy at night." He waves his hand, as if to say, you do the math. "More about drinks, yes. We can work on that. But you'd also have the opportunity to learn more about riders themselves, and," with a dark chuckle, "Poker, since Savannah runs a weekly poker game. If you don't know how to play, you should definitely join us one evening. You need to expand your repertoire." It's clear he doesn't mean in the spirit of simply learning, but as a tool. "We usually meet during lunches." She replies for dragon healing lessons, considering the rest of his reply. "That could work, provided I eliminate some of my reading time in the evenings. I'll have to learn to hold my liquor, and the game of poker extremely well, though I suspect that's more about reading people than cards." Her own glass is drained and she sets it down on the hearth quietly. "Speaking of, do you play Chess?" R'hin nods thoughtfully, a tiny smile appearing. "Then I shall make the time to drop by one lunchtime." He, too, finishes his glass -- perhaps by not-so-coincidence after she does. He doesn't reach for the bottle to refill, which might in itself be a hint. While she speaks, he's listening, and his silence could well be taken as agreement. "I learned to play it when I was young," but it's phrased almost dismissively in response to her query about chess. Pushing to his feet, he stretches a hand toward her. "I'll give you a lift down, shall I?" "If you please though I think the rider who brought me should be at the ledge by now, unless someone told them otherwise." Accepting the hand up she stands, dusting herself off. "I hope you don't mind playing a game or two sometime, I the practice could come in handy. Thank you for not leaving me on the ledge in the cold." She offers with a wry grin. "Leiventh is returning, anyway. He'll wave off your ride." R'hin says it casually enough, but little about this man is in any way legimately casual. Leaving the hearth burning, he leads the way out to the ledge, stopping just before opening the door to look over his shoulder, wryly: "I'm not that hard-hearted. Though perhaps, next time, you can have whatever dragon you flag down for a ride warn Leiventh, first? Otherwise you might find me... indisposed." He opens the door; a cold wind immediately whips inside. Leiventh's bulk is a dark shape on the ledge, and R'hin heads unerringly towards him. He's quick to climb up, stretching a hand for Edyis. There's no straps to grab a hold of, but the bronzerider's grip is strong and sure. "Tell your partner I am sorry for monopolizing their bedwarmer." she points out as she takes the assistance up, grateful that the multiple layers probably don't translate the sudden sense of fear at flying strapless. "I trust you will return the book in the morning?" In her most harperlike intonation. It is cold, and R'hin's still only in his shirt. He puts up a good front of grinning-and-bearing it, but the truth is he's not so used to the cold as he used to be, after Turns at Monaco; she might be able to feel a little shiver through her contact with him. "Hold on," the bronzerider says, rather than answering her immediately; she can feel Leiventh tense, and a moment later they're soaring down through the chilly skies of the Weyr. The bronze lands deftly just outside the entrance to the caverns. "Oh, the book," there's a snap of fingers from the Savannah rider, along with a completely unapologetic grin. "I guess you'll just have to chase me up for it again, if I forget, mm?" He holds out a hand to her, presumably to help her down safely to the ground. Edyis sticks her hands on her hips glaring up at him from the ground. "Next time I'll be sure to catch you at an even more awkward time if you don't." The attempt to look stern probably fails, even as it dissolves into laughter. "Go and get warm before you freeze to the back of your dragon. Thank you and good-night." And strangely, that makes R'hin laugh. "I look forward to it, my little harper." As is his habit, there's no farewell, only a rush of wind as Leiventh launches aloft and the pair disappear in the darkness of the sky. |
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