Logs:Of Loyalty
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| RL Date: 27 May, 2006 |
| Who: Maja, R'hin |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| When: Day 26, Month 10, Turn 7 (Interval 10) |
| Your location's current time: 22:33 on day 26, month 10, Turn 57, of the Tenth Pass. It is a autumn evening. You climb down from Leiventh's Couch and R'hin's Hammock. Weyrling Barracks(#430RAJs$) This is a large, high ceilinged cavern cut from the rock. There are rows of depressions on the floor, couches for the young dragons; the weyrlings sleep with their dragons. The floor is stone, which helps ease the inevitable task of cleaning up the muck left by the dragonets. The cavern has been decorated with old dragon tapestries hung on the walls, their colors slightly faded. A threadbare rug in the middle of the room bears the emblem of High Reaches Weyr, a mountain range in black on a dark blue field. A few low tables, chairs, and pillows have been scattered about the room, and baskets of glows placed strategically throughout the room keep the place well-lit. An opening in the southwest leads out into the Bowl. Contents: Maja Vesereth Feedback Box Firelizard Perch(#8812JSae$) Obvious exits: Weyrling Training Room Bowl Leiventh climbs down from Leiventh's Couch and R'hin's Hammock. Leiventh has arrived. It's not long after the dinner hour, the barracks largely quiet, and R'hin's swinging gently back and forth in his hammock. Judging by the lack of noise coming from his direction, he's taking a small nap. It doesn't last for all that long, though, as Leiventh stirs, eyeing his rider critically, and climbs out of his couch. The bronze is hardly a stealthy creature at his size, but he manages to get close enough without wakening R'hin, and so when he nudges the hammock with his shoulder, the weyrling yelps in shock, the wildly rocking hammock dumping him in a sprawl to the ground. Leiventh> To you, Leiventh confesses, unapologetic for waking you, « I've an urge to fly, R'hin. » Maja is sitting on the edge of her cot, head in hands. Vesereth is beside her, head bent down with his neck arced upward. His large body extends out away from her and his tail flaps against the stone floor. The yelp from R'hin's direction perks her up from leaning on her hands, and she peers over towards the bronze weyrling. "Hmph," is all she has to immediately say, more enthralled with her own thoughts than R'hin's tumble. Wild-eyed, R'hin's eyes focus accusingly on Leiventh. "What did you do that for--" he pauses abruptly, blinks in bemusement at the answer he receives, and says reproachfully, "You needn't have woken me. You could've flown without me, you know." He scrambles to his feet, rubbing at his hip and not even bothering to stifle the yawn that follows. He shambles more than walks, exhaustion apparent, keeping pace with Leiventh as the pair cross the barracks. R'hin's the first to stop, however, spotting Maja with a tilt of head. "It must be tough having the fate of Pern resting solely in your hands," he comments, with his usual deliberate manner. Leiventh> To you, Leiventh's still unrepentant. « It's better when you watch, » the bronze confesses, before peering curiously in the brown weyrling's direction, refraining from comment. Vesereth is the first to respond to R'hin, raising his head to blow a hard puff of air at him. Maja then responds, standing up from the edge of her cot. "Not solely my hands, R'hin, but there aren't many of us who even think about the fate of Pern. Where are you going?" Vesereth lumbers towards R'hin and Leiventh, sitting down by the entrance to the barracks. "I always think about the fate of Pern," R'hin responds, though it's one of those statements where it's hard to tell whether or not he's being entirely facetious. He's watching Vesereth rather than Maja, twitch of lips given at the brown's reaction, earning a respectful little bow from the bronze weyrling. "Leiventh has an urge to fly," he confesses. "Apparently I need to watch, whether or not going with him." His eyes trail Vesereth towards the entrance, and he adds the casual invitation, "Would Vesereth like to join him? Apparently the thermals above the lake are nice this time of evening." Leiventh> Vesereth senses that Leiventh's crimson tones seep closer as he agrees with R'hin's explanation. « I can circle for ages and not have to expend energy. We like being able to see everything going on in the Weyr. » "Vesereth?" Maja glances towards the brown, raising her eyebrows, then clasping her hands behind her back as she heads towards R'hin. "I wouldn't mind coming with you." The tone in her voice is slightly suspicious, even if she attempts to look sincere. "You can tell me about your thoughts on the fate of Pern." "Unless you can fly...?" R'hin's tone is full of good humor. "You wish to broach that topic? I'm afraid it may take more than the scant few hours before I feel the urge to collapse into an exhausted heap, but you are welcome to interrogate me until then." He's apparently feeling generous enough to forgo comment on her tone, though undoubtedly he's marked it. That's not the only thing he's oddly generous about - he knows Maja dislikes leaving her back exposed - so despite Vesereth's presence, he leads the way out. You meander out to the bowl. Eastern Bowl, High Reaches Weyr(#840RJs) Standing on the eastern side of the bowl, you realize why this is one of the most striking Weyrs on Pern. Arrayed around the north rim of the bowl are the Seven Spindles: high crownlike points formed of old volcano flows which were eroded to sharp spikes. The bowl itself is a rough ovoid shape, with a large lake taking up a good portion of the southeastern part. The bowl seems to slant down to the lake shore, and the soil becomes a little looser in that direction. From the east, the slight aroma of herdbeast and wherry hide rises from the feeding grounds. The northeast section of the bowl is full of activity: training of dragons both young and old goes on in a large clearing near the entrance to the weyrling barracks and dragon infirmary. Several small boulders dot the area to the north, forming a winding path to the ledges leading into the weyrleaders' quarters. The evening is clear, not a cloud to be seen, giving you a perfect view of the stars. The smaller Belior shines in half moon while Timor shines brightly as a full moon. It is completely still, no winds blow and the fall air temperature feels comfortable. Contents: Dasmareth Obvious exits: Weyrleader Ledges Western Bowl Floor Dragon Infirmary Weyrling Barracks Weyrling Training Room Feeding Grounds Lake Shore Leiventh tromps in from the weyrling barracks. Leiventh has arrived. Vesereth waddles in from the weyrling barracks. Vesereth has arrived. Maja meanders in from the weyrling barracks. Maja has arrived. Maja follows R'hin, noting his distinct lack of argument to her joining as well as his generosity. This, of course, makes her more suspicious. "I wouldn't mind hearing it," she notes, again the tone tinted with suspicion. The two of them head out the door, Vesereth trailing Maja, Maja's hands still clasped behind her back as she instinctively glances around the night-time bowl for anything threatening. "I wouldn't think you'd be interested in watching the Weyr, actually," Maja responds to Leiventh's message relayed from Vesereth. Leiventh doesn't need or wait for any encouragement; as soon as he clears the barracks door and R'hin's stepped away far enough, he spreads his wings and launches upwards, stirring the dust of the bowl slightly in his wake. R'hin's head is tilted upwards, pale eyes fixed on the shape of the bronze, unerringly knowing where to look despite the darkness. "I'm interested in a great many things," he says, glance shifting from Leiventh to Maja, accompanied by a faint smile. "I could come up with some plausibly selfish reasons, should it help to confirm your thoughts of me?" Leiventh has left. In the sky directly above, Leiventh springs powerfully into the sky from the ground below. Vesereth immediately follows after Leiventh, not more than a few seconds, repeatedly beating his wings in an attempt to catch up with the bronze. "Are you? Last time I head a meaningful conversation with you, the only thing you seemed interested in was about why no one cared how you were doing versus Leiventh." Maja turns up towards the sky, finally unclasping her hands and letting her arms swing at her sides. "My thoughts of you have been confirmed many times over. I'd rather be surprised at your interests rather than have your reputation reaffirmed." Vesereth has left. In the sky directly above, Vesereth leaps into the sky from the ground below. Vesereth bespoke Leiventh with « Mine watches the Weyr, also. Just not from the sky. » R'hin gestures towards the lake end of the bowl, after another little glance at Leiventh, and begins walking in that direction. "I never said I don't have my bratty moments," he shrugs a little, as if embarrassed - though it doesn't seem like he is from his tone of voice. He does smile at her latter comment, however, glancing sidelong at his fellow weyrling. "Nice to know," he says, almost like he's tucking that away for later use. "And speaking of our last meaningful conversation, I'd like to apologise. I was out of line." Out of the blue, brief, and seemingly honest, he continues walking. In the sky directly above, Leiventh isn't in any apparent hurry, and if anything, seems to be going slower to allow Vesereth to pass him. Little more than a dark shape against the night sky, glides towards the lake end of the bowl, sweeping left and right a little until he settles into the thermals that rise above the lake. He circles, barely needing to pump his wings to stay aloft once in place. Leiventh> Vesereth senses that Leiventh doesn't seem too surprised by this. « Mine has said that before, of yours. » He gives no indication of context, however. Maja follows R'hin, her suspicions about his seemingly out of character behavior ever growing. She tilts her head to the side and, finding no use for her arms at her sides, crosses them over her chest. "Out of line? Just a little," Maja notes, briefly sarcastic. "Not that I require you to be -in- any sort of line, but I'm still curious as to what was going on." She glosses over entirely the whole 'jealous' thing. It never happened. Right. Perhaps R'hin, too, dislikes leaving his back exposed, or perhaps he simply finds it impolite to leave his back to Maja; either way, he slows enough to keep pace with her, much in the same way Leiventh does. "I'm sure you are," he says, "However, you've already set the topic for tonight. Unless you wish to change it? It will cost you, however." That familiar grin twitches his lips, yet his words are not facetious. In the sky directly above, Vesereth quickly passes Leiventh, although the joy is brief when he realizes that the bronze simply allowed him to do it. Shooting straight past the bronze, Vesereth circles back around and again he joins Leiventh, this time above the lake. He circles the opposite way, giving the illusion perhaps of two vultures. Leiventh senses that Vesereth is now curious, querying, « And what else has yours said of mine? » A pause, « What do you see from here, Leiventh, that interests you? » In the sky directly above, Leiventh seems pleased with the company, deliberately setting his pace to match that of Vesereth's once the brown settles in. With each lazy turn, he changes his altitude slightly, bringing him closer to his clutchmate each time they cross over, making it a spectacular near-miss every time their paths cross. "Cost me? Tell me the price," Maja actually jokes, something she is capable of but only when she's utterly secure about her surroundings. "I feel like every night I worry about things out of my control, so I would rather you give me your story. What happened that upset you so much?" Leiventh> Vesereth senses that Leiventh's tones are bright with the delight of flight and the turbulence of air each time he brushes close by you. « Many things, I think. I forget. He has been very tired lately. » As if that explains why the bronze doesn't bother pursuing the subject. « We watch who talks with whom, and who sits with whom, and who leaves the Weyr with whom. We search for the jewels. » Despite Maja's joking tones, R'hin is deadly serious. "The next time you go to do something that is dangerous, or that you think will be dangerous, you'll invite me along. That's my price." He doesn't answer Maja's question immediately, waiting for her response to his offer. In the sky directly above, Vesereth is unfortunately fairly clumsy, even after he's grown to fit his previous long legs and wings. At one of Leiventh's passes, Vesereth scrapes a tip of his wingsail against the bronze's. At that alarming predicament, the brown climbs slightly in altitude to avoid more collisions. In the sky directly above, Leiventh's easy glide falters noticeably at the near-collision, losing altitude for a heartbeat or two before he recovers. Judging by the alacrity with which he resumes the glide, he's not badly hurt, though he does allow the distance to remain between him and Vesereth now. Maja stops short at the serious tone, eyes wide. "I--" the woman begins, stuttering only because of her need to quickly answer conflicting with her decision. "And you want to do something dangerous, I take it?" She asks, to stall. "I don't expect to be doing anything dangerous anytime soon." Leiventh> To you, Leiventh seems more embarrassed than hurt, though his tones are flared crimson with momentary pain. « It was nothing. More practice is needed before I try that again. » Leiventh senses that Vesereth takes a while to respond, considering the circumstances, though when he does he first advises, « Don't fly so close, » and then, « Tired? » The word concerns Vesereth enough that most likely Maja now knows as well. « That information is easy enough to gather on the ground, all except for the jewels. Where are there jewels? » There's a sharp intake of breath from R'hin, staring wordlessly in the direction of the lake for a moment or two. It passes after a moment, relief well-heeled except for a relaxing of the bronze weyrling's shoulders. His gaze shifts towards Maja, studying her deliberately, silently, for a moment. With a faint smile, he says, "Then you will be safe in the knowledge you won't have to fulfil your promise anytime soon, vixen." Leiventh> Vesereth senses that Leiventh is vaguely apologetic. « Others make it look easy. I thought we could do it, too. » There's a flash of some adult dragons doing similar moves, though in reality they probably maintain a greater distance than the bronze was. In the blithe way that dragons do, he imparts, « R'hin does not always sleep when I sleep. Things keep him awake. » Again, he is non-specific, but deliberately. « They are rare, » he adds, of jewels, slyly amused all of a sudden, « Yours is one. » Maja does not seem nearly as alarmed with Vesereth's clumsiness as the other pair, her confidence in the brown's ability to compensate reinforced with the other hundred times he has done something similar. "You didn't answer my first question," she insists, though allows a decision to be made: "I will take you as long as you know how to defend yourself in case the need arises. Do you know self-defense?" "I said that I'd go with you, not that you would go with me. Your question is moot." R'hin says, shrugging. A low chuckle escapes him at her words, and he nods agreeably, "I can handle myself. It's sweet of you to worry, vixen." Shoving hands into his pockets, he resumes the walk towards the lake shore. You meander towards the lake shore. Lake Shore, High Reaches Weyr This shoreline marks the edge of the freshwater lake that fills the southeastern portion of the bowl. The gritty dirt of the bowl gives way to smooth sand. Dragons love to dive and bathe within the lake's deep waters, enticing their riders to join them for some play; a chilly but refreshing experience. Firelizards frollic above the clear surface, hunting for the small fish that are kept well stocked. Across the lake, the bowl wall rises high into the sky, its face dotted with weyr entrances. A few dragonlengths above the water, glimpses of a level cliff can be seen amidst boulders lining the edge. Just south of here, a smaller pond of water is divided from the main lake by a natural bridge of land. A path leads across the bridge and up to the diving cliffs, winding through a dotting of small boulders on its way. The evening is clear, not a cloud to be seen, giving you a perfect view of the stars. The smaller Belior shines in half moon while Timor shines brightly as a full moon. The air is calm, with no hint of breeze. The water's glasslike surface mirrors the cliff walls and sky above. Obvious exits: LAke Pond Diving Cliff Bowl Leiventh senses that Vesereth seems to understand at the example, giving advise he must only have gotten from the weyrlingmasters, « Flying looks much simpler than it is. » He agrees, « Maja can stay awake at night as well, though sometimes she thinks too much on things that don't matter. » He has no immediate response to the last statement, his mind on physical jewels and stolen treasure rather than metaphors. Maja strolls over from the eastern side of the bowl. Maja has arrived. "It's smart of me to worry, as I wouldn't want someone else to protect if a situation were to come up." Maja heads towards the lake shore as well, joking, "I'm /hurt/ that I'm not invited to go along on your seemingly numerous dangerous missions." With a sigh, she responds, "Your price will be paid, however. I will take you with me-- that is, as long as I know it's going to be dangerous from the beginning." Leiventh> Vesereth senses that Leiventh disagrees, at least in part, with the brown's assessment. « Flying -is- simple. Dragons fly. It's what we -do-. » His earlier actions and that statement might indicate a need towards flashy showing off, though given it's dark and no one can see them, that seems unlikely. « Mine, too, » he confesses, a little puzzled, « I do not always understand the things that occupy his mind. » R'hin strolls towards 'his' rock, hands shoved deep into his pockets as he keeps pace with Maja. Judging by the nod he gives, her agreement is satisfactory enough. His eyes sweep over the lake shore - understandably empty this time of night - before he seats himself on his rock, one hand out behind him for balance. A slight tip of his head seems to be tacit invitation to join him, though whether or not she does, he says, "Your dragon has your knack and boldness for interrogation, it seems. He... seems to be a lot like you." Leiventh senses that Vesereth does not allow Leiventh to have the last say in the disagreement, arguing back. « Simple flying is simple. Fancy flying is difficult. » A pause, « Mine often worries very far into the future. » There's a brief pause as conversation occurs between rider and dragon. Leiventh> Vesereth senses that Leiventh is silent for a moment, himself. Then, simply: « Mine, also. » Maja is calm enough this evening, even with the suspicion about R'hin's particularly generous behavior, to join the bronzerider on his rock. She settles down, dangling her feet off the rock. "Vesereth is very like me, and then very different. He is curious, as I am, and he can be suspicious of something that seems out of the ordinary. Still, he has a much more optimistic view of how things work than I ever will. " She pauses, glancing upwards and then back to R'hin. "... Jewel?" A long moment of silence from the bronzerider, to echo Leiventh's, though it's unclear if they're conversing or not. There's no signs of it. "That's cheating," R'hin accuses, though it's without real heat. Leiventh> To you, Leiventh seems vaguely apologetic, but he seems much less guarded than you in some ways. "Cheating?" Maja's eyebrows raise, then she glances towards Vesereth, Leiventh, and then back to R'hin. "What do you mean?" Leiventh senses that Vesereth has this to say: « You mean Maja is like a jewel. I understand, now. » "You're using Vesereth to get information from Leiventh." R'hin doesn't echo her look towards the dragons; he's watching her, instead, his voice oddly rough. It's telling that Leiventh doesn't answer Vesereth, but a moment later, the ex-trader says, "You understand, because you're intelligent. You haven't had all original thought trained out of you. You are one of the rare ones who can think, judge, and rationalize for yourself. There are too few here--" he pauses, catching himself, "But we were to talk of me, not of the Weyr." "That is untrue," Maja immediately and emphatically insists, "I had nothing to do with Vesereth's conversation-- he simply had a hard time with Leiventh's metaphor. He's used to thinking about jewels as things that can be stolen and that are worth a lot, not as people. Which is mostly my fault." She relaxes at what she perceives as compliments, smiling ever so slightly and glancing out at the lake. "Yes. Tell me what was wrong that day." It seems for a minute that he might balk, silence lengthening between them, but he has given his word. Quietly, R'hin says, "Vesereth -- he thinks like you. He was -meant- for you. Even Priya - Esrieth is the one thing she's always happy about." It might be enough of an opening to tell where this is going already; his eyes are on the dark and almost invisible form circling above, and he lies down, settling against the rock to better watch. "It wasn't just that day. It's been... eleven months, nearly twelve." No coincidence at all he names the ages of their dragons. Leiventh> To you, Leiventh is silently present, comforting hum lingering in the back of your mind. He understands you struggle, if not necessarily why. Maja narrows her eyes, waiting a few moments after R'hin has finished his hints to remark. "We still have our disagreements," she notes, though that's a far cry from any particularly serious problems. "In what way is Leiventh not meant for you?" R'hin's jaw tightens, frustration in his voice as he speaks plainly, "I wasn't meant to impress period. I certainly wasn't meant to impress..." he trails off, glancing away from the sky. "...a bronze," he finishes, lamely, though heat begins to creep into his voice as he goes on, "I am not a good person, Maja. I am not a person to be looked up to, or made example of, and I'm definitely not a person to lead. I'm not a person to inspire or even offer loyalty, and I'm not a person to be shackled to a system I can't help but fight against. It's all just -wrong-. And Leiventh, he doesn't-- he can't really understand." A pause, then he adds sharply: "Everyone always asks how Leiventh fares... Leiventh fares fine." Leiventh> To you, Leiventh intercedes, even though you haven't suggested it, « I would not change the color of my hide even could I. I am bronze, and you are mine. » Maja simply puts her head in her hand, as she had done in the barracks, carrying the weight of her thoughts. "You think so poorly of yourself," she replies. "And the system that you're fighting could do with a little rearranging." Her best thoughts come to her as she looks out at the lake, and she does so now. "There's no question as to whether or not you were meant to Impress, because you obviously have. But I don't know what to say. I believe that you are the kind of person that will get loyalty from the right kind of people even if you don't ask for it or do anything but be yourself, if that makes you feel better." "Perhaps you think too highly of me," R'hin retorts, "Which I didn't think was possible." He falls silent at her comments, shifting only enough to prop an elbow under his head as he stares upwards. "It doesn't make me feel better - that's what I worry about. I worry that Leiventh, simply for the color of his hide, will inspire misplaced loyalty. I want no such burdens placed upon me." He's angry, still, and he allows it to color his voice. "They'd do much better investing in you." "I don't know what to tell you, R'hin," Maja doesn't help, though she tries to say something, "Except that you're probably right. But that happens with many of those who ride bronze. If there was someone-- I could tell you talk to Te'an about how he's dealt with it, except that he's run off to Igen." She takes a deep breath. "I think that those who get to know you will find that there is -some- reason to be loyal to you, though. R'hin." His last remark makes her raise her head from her hands and she smiles slightly. "Perhaps." "I don't -want- to talk to people about it." R'hin says, sharply. "They don't understand-- most don't," he corrects himself. "Even you don't, not fully. You stay awake and you worry about the future of the Weyr. I stay awake while Leiventh sleeps, because I worry about the future, and sometimes I worry there will -be- no future." He pushes himself up from the rock in one smooth motion, pacing back and forth in front of the rock. Pace, pace, turn. Pace, pace, turn. Pace-- and then he stops, staring at Maja, expression cast in shadow. "There is very little reason to be loyal to me, Maja," he answers in turn, however his voice is soft, enough that it doesn't hold the anger of his earlier words. "You have set the bar for me so low that anything I do right would shock you. I would hold to that opinion, if I were you." "I know I don't, because I'm not riding bronze and I'm a woman. If I were a different gender..." Maja crosses her legs, head resting down again on her hands. "There will be a future, R'hin," the woman insists, if only to try and help him feel better. She's really rather bad at this sort of thing, though. "The fact that you worry about your future and the future of the Weyr is certainly something to be said about you. There are many in leadership positions who don't. That's certainly reason to think higher of you." R'hin turns his back to Maja, more to hide his expression than out of any impoliteness. "Don't," he insists, vehement, "Just don't. I agree with your sentiments on many who lead this Weyr, but I would not replace them with worse." His posture is tense, shoulders set, his head tilting just enough to catch the shadow of Leiventh passing over them. Maja is beginning to become frustrated with the brick wall her efforts of friendliness have met with, and she finally lets out a good snort. "If you feel that way, perhaps you should stay a wingrider once you graduate. You're not forced into any leadership -position-, R'hin." Vesereth breaks his vulture-circle, winging back across the lake towards the bowl. "You won't even consider what I have to say." R'hin half turns his head, voice soft as he says by way of parting, "There is one, that I would be forced into. A random choice on a random choice..." he murmurs, echoing words he has spoken to her before. He stays by the lake, posture rigid, watching Leiventh circle silently above. "Then choose me as your Weyrsecond," Maja immediately responds, standing up from her rock and crossing her arms. "I could give you advice." She glances in the direction of the bowl and the barracks, shaking her head. "Vesereth wants me to check out that spot on his wing where he bumped into Leiventh. I should probably go." Judging by the sharpness with which R'hin swings around, Maja's shocked him. Silence for a heartbeat, then a low chuckle issues from the bronzerider. His head tips slightly, voice barely audible: "Thank you, jewel." Maja raises her eyebrows at the thanks, following it with a smile and a shake of her head. "I'll see you." She offers this as her goodbye as she turns around to march away. |
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