Logs:Of Ruffled Feathers
| |
|---|
| |
| RL Date: 22 September, 2006 |
| Who: Bayan, Jendayi, Maja, R'hin, Satiet, Vertai |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| Where: Common Room, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 16, Month 3, Turn 9 (Interval 10) |
  |
| Your location's current time: 17:08 on day 16, month 3, Turn 59, of the Tenth Pass. It is a spring afternoon. You walk up the stairs to the residents' quarters. Common Room(#868RJLs) This small cavern has the crisp smells of a recent cleaning, mingled with its more usual smells of klah, woodsmoke, and people. Baskets of glows are scattered about the room, lighting up dark corners and generally providing a cozy atmosphere. Several chairs sit at a large, round table, and more chairs are against the walls, waiting for use. A large, soft fur is spread out in front of a small stone hearth which keeps the cavern warm for its occupants. Views: South Wing East Wing Balcony Contents: Bayan(#8387PJce) Jendayi Obvious exits: Headwoman's Office Steward's Office Children's Wing DORmitory Lower Caverns With the hide secured and the pen set down, Jendayi is now able to settle back in her chair. She laces her fingers together and settles them in her lap, dimpling the fabric of her skirt beneath its web of sisal and jet. Her smile has gentled, as she returns to a silent study of the man. Finally, the trader inclines her head to Bayan and says in tones that are jarringly cheerful, given the sentiment, "You and Vertai are nothing alike. I will never make his decisions for him, I couldn't if I wanted to, but I've decided that I don't like you. I would appreciate it if you kept your interest to a minimum." The common room is nearly empty, given the early spring weather, the first hint of sunshine, the fresh breezes outside. Several people linger inside, however, Bayan and Jendayi among them. The pair are seated at one of the tables near the hearth. Bayan is in the midst of attempting to feed a tiny green firelizard, Jendayi is seated with her hands in her lap and bare feet on the fur rug, a rolled hide and an inkwell on the table beside her. The tone of their conversation seems pleasant enough until one draws near enough to hear what's being said. With Jendayi's announcement given, the little green seems to almost squawk in Bayan's defense. The itinerant seems to look the trader woman over as the warmth of his smile begins to fade. Her cheerful tone doesn't phase him as the words spoken do. "Or, you mean to say you don't like the probability of him dealing with me," he drawls evenly to her, ignoring Pheet's cries as he feeds. "Perhaps, I wouldn't expect you to like me, Jendayi. My interests, however, are purely business." With a minimum baring of teeth, he gives a tight smile as she goes back under his measuring scrutiny. With the weather beginning to warm up a little more, R'hin's taken more to wearing the colorful clothes of the Dijilia, and tonight's no exception, the whisper of the material accompanying the bronzerider as he strides into the common room. He has a bottle of wine tucked securely under one arm, cradled protectively enough to hint at the nature - or age - of the wine. Pale eyes sweep the common room as he pauses just inside, searching for someone - or someones in particular. It seems he finds the object of his search, expression a mixture of pleasure and curiosity at the two nearest the hearth, schooled to easy congeniality as he strides over towards the pair. "Ah, Dijilia, just who I was looking for." His eyes are fixed on the girl, as if waiting to catch her eyes before offering easy smile and the bottle to boot, though the motion is paused as if only now just catching notice of Bayan's presence, obviously feigned. "Business, itinerant, must it always be this mysterious business of yours? Speaking of, how is your brother these days? I haven't seen him in some time." "Perhaps you did not understand me." Jendayi tucks her chin down and tilts her head, watching him now at a slight angle. "I do not care for your business. I am Jendayi, daughter of Dayne, leader of the Dijilia caravan. My people have walked the continent for more Turns than I can count and I will not have our name attached to someone who will not put words to his interests, his business or his methods," she says, quietly now, a soft rush of words that is as serious as her earlier statements were cheerful. Further comment is prevented by the bronzerider's arrival and the girl adopts a sunnier smile as he nears the table, looking up to include him in the conversation. "Ah, rider! Welcome. Your memory has recovered, I see." Bayan raises a brow, considering Jendayi in a different light as his smirk alters to something more cordial. "And if I did...put words to my interests as you say... would it have made any difference?" he asks with continued eveness. "I can assure you that my business and methods have nothing to do with your trade, Jendayi. Vertai sees an opportunity to profit from what I can offer. You 'are' in a business to profit, are you not?" Words are delivered pointedly, though their edge is smoothed with his easiness. Whatever else he would have said gets paused as R'hin arrives in garb, which has the rogue changing his focus of interest. "Why, R'hin," he drawls with forced cheerfulness, "must you always butt into other's conversations? I see you atleast brought wine this time." The query about his brother gets a twitch of a shrug, "He's living," is all he says. R'hin takes in the mood of the other two with apparent interest, head tipped, faint quirk of lip quickly covered by the proffering of wine bottle to Jendayi. He acknowledges her words with a wry smile, "An unforgivable failing, Dijilia, for which I apologize wholeheartedly." A beat or two, then faked cheerfulness matches Bayan's deliberately: "In fact, I must, when I see you hounding an honored visitor. Haven't you Fortians to chase after like a puppy?" A supercilious curve of lips at the latter comment, the bronzerider's tone dry: "It's always well to know that, in your particular line of work." He remains standing, but doesn't look set to withdraw just yet. Jendayi's attention is lured back to the man seated at the table. She tosses her substantial chin, a gesture that dismisses Bayan's questions. "Profit from honest means. Until you can prove that you are interested in such things, you can be sure Vertai will know of my disapproval. Step out in the sunlight and perhaps it will make a difference. Mysteries are for Harpers bored with romance, not business between traders." She stands then, shaking out her skirts and the web of shimmering beads that cover them until the flow properly towards the floor. The bottle of wine is accepted next, sleek head dipping in a nod of thanks. "It is appreciated, R'hin. Vertai will be pleased. It's nice to see you again too...will you join us?" She pauses. "Just what is that line of work?" "Hounding," Bayan repeats deliberately, "is not something I do. I'll leave that to you with my sister....or, have you finally moved on? Other ladies to woo and all that..." he returns easily. The mention of Fort gets a twitch of lips as he finishes feeding the little green in the crook of his arm. "As always, you continue to speak of things you have no understanding of," he drawls in a mock-disappointed tone. "My interest in Fort and the Reaches is purely the same, R'hin." Jendayi's words get his attention, his lips faintly curling, "And so you assume that a skill unnamed is automatically a dishonest skill, Jendayi? The offer I gave Vertai is in fact... honest. I do come from a trader family myself, and wouldn't soil your own's reputation otherwise." A beat. "I should be offended that you would think this of me," though the curve of lips say otherwise. Her query about his line of work, along with R'hin's comment, gets a flash of a grin, "Since R'hin seems to think he knows, perhaps I'll leave that question to be answered by him," he drawls dryly. The bottle of Benden white is parted with, not without some visible reluctance on R'hin's part. With a sigh as fingers relinquish the bottle to Jendayi's care, his eyes shift to Bayan at the invitation, then back, curl of lips bespeaking abrupt amusement. "If I'd not be interrupting...?" he asks out of feigned politeness alone it would seem, as he's stepping past to the seat to Jendayi's other side, as if deliberately placing the girl between himself and the Igenite, waiting a beat for her to seat herself first. "Nothing we'd speak of in polite company," he disassembles, though he seems to get some measure of delight out of Bayan's attempt to pass the buck, doubtless the very reason for bringing up the subject in the first place. Tones remain pleasant, despite the words that follow: "Shall I provide you with a list, itinerant, so that you may chase those I chase?" The bottle is in capable and eminently gentle hands, for Jendayi handles it as if it were her first-born child delivered into her arms for the first time. And well she might, given its apparant age. Sinking into her chair again, the girl sets the wine carefully beside her other possessions and then entertains herself by studying both men in turn, from one to the other, her mouth pursed as if restraining laughter behind those full lips. "Actually, yes. Those who conduct themselves honestly are usually not shy of naming their work. Your offer to Vertai may have been honestly made but I notice you've said nothing of the work behind it being so. And that you *aren't* offended..." That just seems to prove her point, provoking another chin-toss. "Do please give a list, so I can warn the ladies of the both of you!" Bayan looks at R'hin's seating with a dark glint in his eyes, "You interrupt, as always, so why bother?" he delivers the bronzerider's way with that same fake cheeriness. It's R'hin's last words that drop the fake cheeriness from his tone as the rogue narrows his eyes at him. "What are you insinuating?" he calls R'hin out in mild anger. A pause is given before looking over to address the trader woman evenly. "I do repairwork," he offers rather tightly her way. "Isn't that enough? And my offer to Vertai has 'nothing' to do with my line of work. In fact, my brother doesn't want to have anything to do with this offer because of that very fact. I like to trade, personally, and I just may have some things to get off my hands. What I offered him was 'personal', not business, dear." There's no warmth in the endearing name as he says it. "But it takes much to offend me, so if that's your aim," and he spreads a free hand wide in a daring gesture. R'hin once again gets his scrutiny, seeming to size the other up, "I can get my own rather than ...chasing yours, R'hin? Unless Satiet really 'is' yours?" A low-throated chuckle bespeaks R'hin's amusement, the bronzerider settling into his seat, amused eyes lingering on Jendayi as if enjoying watching the banter between the two, and not bothering to conceal it. "Ah, lady Dijilia, you would undo me with such a list in your power. I'd be a poor former representative of the Beowins, should I offer you such information without anything in return." His eyes lazily shift to Bayan, regarding him evenly at the anger, only the slight curl of one edge of his mouth bespeaking enjoyment. "I insinuate nothing. Yet you must obviously have cause for concern, at such a reaction to my statement." The slight twitch of lips turns into a full, unbidden grin, hands clapping together. "You chase the lady of the spires? Oh, ho. -That- will be entertaining, indeed. No, I claim not our weyrwoman. And Xalerth still darkens her ledge." Jendayi folds her arms beneath her breasts and returns Bayan's regard with her own, smile returning now that some composure has been lost by the itinerant. "So it is personal, now? Rather than about business and profit? That is reassuring. Will you elabor- Satiet?" Now that is an amusing tidbit. Good humor restored, Jen allows her smile to creep briefly into the range of a grin. "Curious that no one can resist the lure of ice...quite the contrary, R'hin." Her arms straighten and her hands spread flat of her heart, conveying an air of sincerity. "In fact, I know of a way to *help* anyone who might be pursuing that one. And I am only too happy to help. She reminds me of a song my mother used to sing. Music...it's a weakness of mine." Bayan's irritation of R'hin, which stems from the oddly quieted green lizard in his arm, grows with that low-throated chuckle. Shaking his head slowly, "A pesky bronzerider, a cheeky trader woman, and a lizard-beast that only shuts up when her owner's being verbally attacked," he drawls wryly. "This is not my day." Something R'hin says does catch his attention, hazel eyes looking to him as he murmurs, "Beowins," to himself curiously. To the bronzerider in a louder voice, "You irritate me, is all," he throws dismissively. "And I don't 'chase', especially where Satiet's concerned. She and I merely walk the same path." Jendayi gets a look, "Profit can be personal, too, can it not?" he delivers her way. Her interest in Satiet's name seems to unsettle the rogue alittle, sending her words a skeptical glare. "Help?" he echoes. "I find that hard to believe." R'hin smoothes down the stole pinned to his shoulder, fingers running the length of the material and untwisting the fall of it against his shoulder. "So, a trader owns the keys to her heart? I should not be surprised." Good humor remains, laughter lingering in his low voice. "You should offer the advice to our itinerant here. He will surely need it." Pale blue eyes flick back to the Dijilia woman, head tipped for a moment as if filing the latter bit of information away. "I'll have to remember that, the next time the harper provides some entertainment, Jen." The switch from formal to casual is deliberate. "Ah," a beat later, boisterous, "I irritate you! Excellent. I shall market myself out as your repellant, shall I? I'm sure I'd make some marks from it." "Help...or hinder." Jendayi's cat-smile curls 'cross her lips and lends sapphire highlights to her dark eyes. "You know, Bayan, you would be much more persuasive if you kept to one story and stopped claiming everyone walks the same path that you do. You said business. Now it's profitable personal nonsense. I am no idiot. But I *can* be bought." She reaches out to idly toy with the end of the rolled hide, loosening one corner and picking at it until the material is roughed up by her nails. "I think I will wait to see what price is named, for aid *or* obstacles, before offering anything. Although *why* anyone would be interested in her, unless it's because she seems unattainable...Faranth knows that seems a pretty lure to men and women alike." Bayan bares his teeth briefly at R'hin in a forced smile, "Your wit is ever-present," he remarks dryly. "I think you enjoy our bantering too well, R'hin." Jendayi's 'help' gets a dismissive snort before addressing her words about his claims. "Oh fine, Jendayi, I'll clarify," he drawls as though his tolerance is growing thin despite the ease of the words. "It's personal profit, which makes it 'my' business. As in, it benefits 'me' not my brother and what we both have. Me and me only. The marks would be mine, so yes, it 'is' business, that only benefits myself. Shall I write up a song for further details?" The amusement returning along with his smirk, "I need no price, for I need no help. My interest in Satiet is for my reason alone." R'hin's eyes linger on Jendayi, thoughtful all of a sudden, one elbow resting on the arm of the chair, fingers brushing against his chin in contemplative silence. It's broken by a brightening of eyes and low chuckle, "Oh, ho. The Dijilia is wily, indeed." It would seem, however, that he approves, if the way he leans back and watches with avid interest is any indication. "The itinerant here," a hand waves idly towards Bayan, "Seems to have a thing for wooing goldriders, despite his brother's wishes otherwise. What -did- happen to that Fortian goldrider? Did she cry when you broke her heart?" Jendayi sighs and casts her gaze heavenwards, though that glance is thwarted by the cool stone of the ceiling. "Vertai is better at this than me...my strength is in speaking plainly and so I will, Bayan, and save you the headache of composing a melody." The scroll is lifted, flourished in short movements as if it were a pointer and the open air her chalkboard on which to sketch a flow-chart. "When a trader asks another trader what their business it, it behooves them to say what they wish to move. What goods are you looking to sell? That you have continued to dance around the subject inclines me to believe that you peddle in stolen items. It's a con every legitimate family has seen time and again...stand as the face behind the goods while passing a cut to the shadows. But when trouble comes, it is the face that's remembered, or so the con hopes. Now..." She waves the hide about, shaking away the more serious talk. "Do forgive me for interrupting the talk of chases and love for points." Bayan flicks his galnces from the trader woman to the bronzerider when his 'wooing' of goldriders until he hears Jendayi's speech. Ofcourse, he chuckles low in his throat, "Jendayi, 'you' never asked about the deal in particular," he points out smoothly. "You went on and made assumptions just by me.. dancing about as far as what my trade is, even when I said that the deal and my trade is strictly separate. Perhaps you should be clearer, and you may get clearer answers." A beat. "You know us con-types," he adds sarcastically, "we have a hard time understanding pretty words." He sits back to regard her almost coolly before drawling, "I would be more than happy to detail the deal, which is something I in fact owe Vertai, once I check the stock." Once he's said his mock piece, he glances back to R'hin to address him dryly with, "She realized I cannot change, nor didn't see fit in wanting to. She'll find better." His clipped tone suggests he rather not talk about the Fortian goldrider, though his casual demeanor remains. R'hin remains markedly silent throughout Jendayi's speech, though the amused curve of lips isn't hidden by the brush of fingers over his chin. Finally, he remarks with low amusement: "Believe me, Dijilia, you aren't the first to have attempted to explain such simple concepts, and not, I imagine, the last." Bayan's comment of the goldrider earns a curve of lips, the clipped tone doing very little to dissuade the sandy-haired rider from the topic at hand. "It won't be hard, for her to find better. I imagine she'll find a nice suitable rider to comfort her soon enough." Pale eyes lift, as if abruptly considering. Jendayi sighs again, tapping the far end of the scroll against her forehead. Perhaps a headache's begun. "I am not the one dancing about the matter, Bayan. Even now, having explained my side, you evade. No...I think either you are a con or you enjoy appearing as one. Neither inspires confidence." The matter is swept away with a flick of her wrist, a fragile smile attempted again. "At least it isn't just me...sun and sky, you riders *are* a predatory bunch, aren't you?" That suspicion confirmed appears to inspire amusement- the girl laughs, without restraint or self-consciousness. "Poor goldriders." It's becoming obvious that Bayan's beginning to lose some of his cool. His free hand is idly tapping the table as he seems to clutch the green firelizard tighter. Still, his smirk remains on his face as his hazel eyes seem to bore into the bronzerider. He blantantly dismisses his claims to Jendayi with a brief flick of his fingers before stating to him, "Perhaps you should re-visit Fort again and say that statement again next time. Besides, I heard you didn't make a good impression in your last visit. Some would still think of you ...not fondly. A pity, when that Weyr teems with your type about." The trader woman gets a winsome smile, "It's what I do," he drawls, oddly pleased with what she says. "I dance with words. You may think of me as you will, dear. Everyone else seems to think they got me figured. You'll fit right in, here." Eye flicking upwards, "Inspire confidence..now /there's/ a new concept," he openly mocks. "Believe me, -our- goldriders, at least, aren't without their own capabilities." There's that faint tone in R'hin's voice, possessiveness, or some measure thereof. "One must be a predator, to get a predator. Though the same can't been said of all Weyr's goldriders," eyes drift towards Bayan with a supercilious curve of lips. "As for Fort, it's hard to imagine what could draw me to that particular Weyr. They've nothing inspiring about it, a poor concept of hospitality - unless being led about by a child is counted - not to mention they've now mixed their bloodline with the Istans." The mention of 'his like' earns a curve of brows, intrigued tip of head. "Is that what draws you back to Fort again and again, Igenite? You are more than welcome to make your home permanently there. I'm sure Kamer can handle what is required of you here." Vertai wanders in from the dormitory. Vertai has arrived. This territory, this personal ground between the two men, is not entirely hospitable to one ignorant of its terrain. So Jendayi finds herself content to lapse into a companionable silence, bright eyes shifting to each as they speak. She is sharp, and curious, and little enough is missed under that regard. "It must be so tiring," she eventually comments into an opportune silence, addressing neither. "Having to remember all of these steps, the various postures. Reminding one's self to be clever. Filtering plain speech behind something more convoluted." Bayan rolls his eyes at R'hin's faint possessive tone, "I find it amusing that you and Satiet are incapable in thinking that not only the Reaches has.. potential," he drawls musingly. "I don't think like you two. The leadership maybe... not to standards, I suppose, but the potential's in its weyrlings," and there's a heatedly gaze accompanied by the words. The next words solely for the bronzerider, "Your words to my brother..about change. I believe there are those in Fort that could bring that about other than here." It's the only 'common ground' the rogue could say this to before he returns to his open irritation. "I have business in Fort," he returns vaguely, "hence my visits." Jendayi's own gets a look from him, even at best. "Some folks prefer physical fighting," he says. "As for me, words are my version of contact. Perhaps you are too," he adds grudgingly. "Not at all, Jendayi. It's as easy as breathing, for one taught to it. Is it not?" the easy question seems to have more weight to it than at face value, if the way R'hin's sharp, intent gaze settles on the girl is any indication. The topic's shifted back to Bayan's offering with a wave of hand, "I don't discount the potential, but I've seen precious little indication of it thus far. M'wen and I made a point of visiting every Weyr, and we've seen potential here and there... and seen it seriously lacking, too." Vertai emerges from the dormitory, dressed-- if one can call it that-- but clearly mussed from sleep. His braids have snarled together about this cheeks, further shadowing already dark features. The man's long coat hangs askew, a situation not helped by the fact that he's digging with a faint wince at the back of one shoulder, beneath the cloth. Golden eyes flick over the room, and when he catches sight of the three gathered around the table, the trader's lips twitch in bemusement. Then it's a placid smile, and he crosses to set a kiss in the dark cloud of Jendayi's hair. "Three of my favorite people," he observes. "Well. One of my favorite people and two whose names I know. What are the chances?" "Easy enough if you're *born* to it. Not all are, and for them it must be simply exhausting, during confrontations or not," Jendayi returns, meeting the bronzerider's eye and allowing her expression to drift into a brief grin. Vertai's appearance provides a distraction, however. She straightens in her chair, a prim facade that dissolves into fresh laughter at the form his greeting takes. "You arrived just in time, Tai, the conversation has taken a turn for the strange. Oh, look, R'hin brought our wine! Corked, still." The bottle is swept from the table and presented on the altar of her spread hands. "That was before search," Bayan points out to R'hin in mild amusement. "You'll find that those there aren't your typical weyrlings. It's... another part of the reason of my visits. I am, after all, an opportunist." He catches sight of Vertai, his smile growing wide, "Well, well," he drawls evenly, "It's good to see you again, Vertai. I've had the, um....well, I've gotten a chance to meet Jendayi here," and there's a flash of a grin. Jendayi's words about being born to it only gets a low chuckle, oddly deciding to not add anything else. R'hin's lips purse, before dropping into an easy smile himself. "The lady is wise," is all he says. Pale eyes lift and likewise focus on the newly arrived trader, curve of lips, if not welcoming, at least polite in greeting. "Evening, Dijilia. The chances are fairly high, since I deliberately sought out your companion," a hand waves towards Jendayi, and briefly, towards the bottle of wine in Jendayi's hands, before dropping back to the arm of his chair. Bayan's comment of Fort's newest earns a thoughtful look, "And, out of the goodness of your heart, itinerant, you tell me this, why?" "She /is/ worthy the seeking, isn't she." Vertai spends a moment in study of the girl's eyes, the sparkle in their cobalt-black; then his gaze falls to the bottle she presents, and his smile takes up the amusement of her laughter. "Thank you for this, R'hin," he says, slipping the wine from Jendayi's hold. "I knew you could be trusted." There's a pause-- perhaps just a little too long-- before he goes on, "I'll put it to good use, bronzerider. Or Jen and I will drink it in your honor." For Bayan, Vertai has a thoughtful look, a nod in return, before he quiets to follow the play of a conversation clearly in progress. Jendayi, once her hands have been emptied of their cargo, sinks slowly back in the chair and resumes the part of audience, having given only an absent smile in response to the compliment. This audience is not content to watch silently, though. It takes only a few seconds before she's remarking to Vertai, "I think we have interrupted a conspiracy of potential, Tai. Whatever that means. Sit?" One chair remains at the table, resting beside the one recently vacated by Bayan himself. "I wish we *could* drink the wine but I packed the glasses up again...my apologies, R'hin, I wasn't sure how bad your memory truly was." Bayan shrugs casually the bronzerider's way, "I don't like you," he states the obvious evenly, "and there's good chance I never will...but from what Kam tells me, your beliefs seem to coincide with ours, so it's the least I could do." Another shrug, "Take the information as you see fit. That's as much as you'll ever get out of me without a price." The rogue's brow lifts at Jendayi's explanation of the topic before offering to Vertai, "You missed a real good one earlier. It seems I and my dealings aren't to be trusted.... nevermind all the reassurances given. Please, join us," and his hold on the little green lizard loosens a bit as his irritation fades for the moment. A curl of lips bespeaks R'hin's acknowledgement of Vertai's words and the pause that follows, his own gaze shifting from the trader to the bottle. "If my opinion holds weight, I'd highly recommend you enjoy it yourselves, in my honor or no, but that is of course, now up to you." An indulgent chuckle follows, along with the amused words, "I wouldn't expect you to share it with the likes of our itinerant here, so perhaps it's fortuitous." The words are not intended as antagonistic, merely statement of fact, and coming on the heels of Bayan's profession of dislike, rather apt. The mention, however, of Kamer and the words that follow earn a slight hardening of pale eyes, narrowing briefly. Oddly - for him - there is no retort, attention shifting to the fire, tense lines of clenched jaw briefly visible before relaxing. Vertai scrapes back the offered chair and deposits his lean frame there. Long-legged, he's placed himself in a posture to lean back and cross his bootheels on the tabletop; the leather skirts of his coat hang to either side and brush the floor. "From what I understand, Bayan, /your/ business is no subject for polite company. The less said here the better." It seems a teasing scold, carried on the trader's smile, but the way his eyes linger on the other man's might complicate the impression. Then he's leaning to one side, cheek to cheek for Jendayi's murmur. "A conspiracy? Let's listen." To the silence that suddenly ensues, punctuated only by the frosty looks cooling the air between 'itinerant' and bronzerider. A beat passes. Then two. And then Vertai's voice cuts in in a stage whisper. "I'm not sure, but I think I can hear R'hin's teeth." Jendayi tilts her head, swinging a look through the circuit of Bayan to R'hin to Vertai and then 'round again before finishing with a sigh. "It isn't fit for discussion *anywhere* if he can't be bothered to give a straight answer. Potential and interest and beliefs...blind faith is no currency that I am aware of," she puts in softly before settling, soothed by the brisk humor offered in her partner's whispering. "...I think you're right. Who is this Kamer fellow?" Her sudden smile would light a dark room, and cut if it were to brush skin. "Maybe we should approach *him*, see whether he could translate for his brother." Bayan doesn't miss the subtle change in the bronzerider at the mention of the meet. Lips curling satisfatorily, "What, upset that I knew?" he drawls lightly before flicking fingers in a gesture of dismissal. "It's all he told me, so don't get in a bender. His trust in his own blood goes only so far, apparently." Vertai's teasing scold is taken with ease, a hand going wide in agreement as his eyes pointedly looks in Jendayi's direction before saying, "Which is why I was ..dancing with the topic. There's ears everywhere, I hear." Jendayi's query about Kamer gets, "He's my brother," without even looking their way as his eyes stay on R'hin, "and he's not the type you can...approach." Odd enough, his hazel eyes slide towards Vertai's on that point, for only a brief second. A tap of fingers marks a beat against the wood of the chair's arm, R'hin's silence broken by idle comment, "Polite company, I believe, is not something those present can number themselves among." Cool eyes shift towards Vertai, guarded now, evaluating. A slight quirk of lips, as if acknowledging the comment, and if the gesture lacks any humor, well, that's no surprise. "How you can hear such a thing above the click of marks, Vertai, is a wonder." Jendayi's mention of Kamer, however, earns a curl of lips, attention shifting to Bayan as if to catch the other's expression. He's oddly silent on the subject of Kamer, now, and it's a good bet that his study doesn't miss that cut of eyes towards the trader. Finding himself the quite unexpected object of several suspicious and significant glances, Vertai looks between Bayan and R'hin in turn, quiet and thin-lipped. He doubles at the waist and reaches to set the wine bottle by his heel, then takes a breath, and for a moment-- just a moment-- seems to be drawing himself up to speak. And then, very slowly and carefully, he commences untangling the serpent's nest of hair by one cheek. Into that self-made silence he murmurs to Jendayi, eyes averted, "Have they gone back to looking daggers at each other again? No?" A sigh. "I'm a simple man, R'hin," he returns at last, with an air of grasping at straws. "I dream of plenty, a wagon of my own, and Jendayi beside me. The marks have been clicking since we've enjoyed your hospitality, and that's all the music I care to hear right now." Jendayi, being the recipient of several looks as well, settles on looking bemused. "You are all confusing, poor plotters, and *far* too serious for your own good. *Or* mine. Tai, if you won't uncork that wine, we should go raid your liquors and unpack those glasses," she says, rising to the sleek whisper of sisal, skirts settling around her legs. She pauses, tugs at each wrist until it's drawn down just so, before inclining her head to the gathered menfolk. "If either of you care to speak plainly, do find me again but for now, I think a bottle is simpler company and less likely to inspire headaches." Bayan notes R'hin's sudden interest in Vertai with bemusement before adding, "Must be a trait among Reachians, traders, and itinerants," he drawls, oddly in agreement with R'hin's comment on polite company. "In any case, I am just a mere handyman in the Weyr," he addresses them all briskly in his business-like tone. "Whatever I do happens beyond walls, so in that case...it matters little here." Nevermind he's been evasive the entire meeting and conversations, ofcourse. Turning to Jendayi, his earlier irritation with her gone, "Actually, we did get off-topic a bit. I did want to know what goods you all normally carry, for I might want to purchase. The Kilvanes are too far out of my reach on their route at the moment for me to see their wares." R'hin's even gaze settles on Vertai at his avoidance, if anything intrigued by it. The trader's words are met with twitch of brows, eyes training towards Jendayi at her mention, then back. "Such simple dreams, indeed. Not outside your reach, I imagine, Dijilia." Hands spread a little, as if conceding Jendayi's intercession, amenable enough, and rising as she does out of courtly politeness. "Well." Vertai purses his lips. "There are cloud-castle dreams, useful enough to blot an aimless present, always in the forlorn hope of something grand just round the bend." His glance flashes from Bayan to R'hin, brassy with amusement, or ire, or both. "I prefer the humbler sort. The dream you can get your fingers round." And with that, he lifts R'hin's bottle from the table in a curl of long digits and uncoils to his feet. His other arm loops Jendayi's trim waist, preparing to steer her out towards the caverns beyond. "You're welcome to sample our stock another time, Bayan," he asserts with a smile only half apologetic, "but as you can't fail to have heard, with your sharp ears, I've just had an invitation to drink. That's a dream in reach, I would say. Fellows." A nod, and then he turns his grin on the trader lass; there's a twinkle in his eye when he murmurs, "Let's," and whisks her in her skirts towards the exit. Bayan listens to Vertai's words before grinning, then lifts a hand in farewell to the traders, "I imagine I will be by," he drawls with a nod. "Enjoy the drink." Jendayi gets only a polite nod before his gaze rests on the pair leaving. "Well," he says more to himself than anyone, "that was interesting." R'hin remains standing until the pair of Dijilia have left the room, pale eyes tracing their departure with veiled expression. He sinks slowly back into his seat, rearranging the folds of his tunic with paused thoughtfulness. A curl of lips is evidenced as attention flickers to Bayan, "Indeed. The pair of them." Bayan flicks his hazel attention to R'hin, "And I can normally read folks well, but those two..." he drawls, clearly intrigued by the look on his face. "They are quite a challenge. Looks like she was right," he adds vaguely. Studying the bronzerider now, "You seemed to like the trader woman," he muses slowly, "atleast, seemed intrigued by her. She's a cheeky sort, but certainly a cautious fascination." "I'm interested in all manner of things," is R'hin's easy response, not in the least commital. "But she certainly is... intriguing," he borrows Bayan's word deliberately, drawling it out. "All the more for the fact she didn't seem particularly enamoured of you, itinerant." Satiet meanders up the stairs from the caverns below. Satiet has arrived. "Yeah well," Bayan smoothes his free hand across his part of the table, almost as if wiping the matter away, "perhaps I may have struck a wrong chord with her. Some don't take to ...opportunities, as easily as their counterparts." The rogue looks like he could care less either by the indifferent demeanor. "She assumes what I offer is on the dirty side. There's not much else I can do. I have to be evasive." A pause. "You seemed to be giving Vertai quite scrutiny, bronzerider," he points out with mild interest. There's a pause he takes as his gaze never leaves the other's before he adds, "And, you gave quite a show back there. What was that all about in regards to my brother?" he asks with a raised brow. R'hin is settled in a chair near the hearth, talking to Bayan. An empty chair separates them, perhaps a deliberate choice, and the bronzerider's fingers run down the length of his stole as he studies the erstwhile Igenite with a tip of head. "You seemed to be giving the wagonmaster some scrutiny of your own, itinerant," the bronzerider counters loftily. "And should you wish to deal with the Dijilia, getting offside the lady seems a poor begin to any potential relationship... business or personal." A beat, then with restrained smile, "As to your brother? That is between him and me." Perhaps her ears burn, or other purpose sets Satiet's steps in a determined fashion into the common room. Distaste, but above that a lack of familiarity, colors the goldrider's immediate perception as she casts quick and discerning glances about before her pale eyes alight onto R'hin and then quickly Bayan seated near. The presence of another is enough to dampen what fire is sparked in her blue gaze, and as her steps slow, so too does a calmer presence descend in a mantle on the goldrider's shoulders. A cool greeting is extended first to the Igenite. "Bayan." A beat later, a more frosty one is spared for R'hin: no words, merely a chin dropped in acknowledgement. Bayan chuckles deeply as he shifts the little green firelizard to a better position in the crook of his arm, "That wasn't scrutiny," he drawls evenly. "It was...a point I was getting across from our last meet. If he got it." Lips twitch in consideration of his next words, "I'll make amends with the Dijilia woman," he decides with amusement, "provided she doesn't insult me again. I can be agreeable at times, even in your case...occasionally." The evasive move by R'hin on the topic of his brother earns a smirk. There's also seems to be a touch of something else...is it, envy? "Perhaps," is all he says of it, eyes cutting to the hearth momentarily. When Satiet appears, his demeanor shifts to one of interest, his grin given amiably enough -which would probably be a first this day. "Will you be shedding some light on this dark day I seem to be having?" he offers the goldrider as a greeting. By response of the cool greeting, he's quick to add a beat later: "Perhaps not." "I would like to see you try," the bronzerider says, of the other's intent to make amends. "It should prove interesting." Once more, he's silent on the topic of Kamer, and perhaps he catches that hint of something in the other's eyes, if the intrigue twitch of brows is an indicator. A half turn of R'hin's head brings the arriving woman into view, and there's little of surprise in the sandy-haired rider's expression that hints he had some foreknowledge of her arrival. Pale eyes flicker over the goldrider in careful scrutiny, amused tones dropping pointedly in the face of her cool greeting, "I note you lack a bottle of wine, lady of the spires. Do you seek to disappoint me so deliberately?" "I note you lack any sense whatsoever, bronzerider. Do you seek the sting of my palm so desperately?" Changing a few of his words, Satiet's reply is quick, coupled the barb of her sharp tongue. But despite the chill and the acidity of her intonation, calm and pleasantness doesn't disappear off her expression - completely at odds with each other. It's into the open chair that the young woman sinks, immediately drawing her knees up to tuck her feet beneath herself. "Or perhaps you, like our Igenite, desire my company so fondly to brighten a dark day as to provoke a reaction." Indulgence creeps in, turning her cool alto languid and filled with false warmth. A tilted head slants her view to Bayan, "Am I interrupting?" Bayan quirks his lips slightly at R'hin's interests in his making amends, "Interesting or entertaining, you mean," he drawls before Satiet's cold words for the bronzeriders gets a grin from him. Hazel eyes going from R'hin to Satiet, "Sounds like you've sought that sting of her palm before," he murmurs to R'hin in a low voice in clear amusement. Her latter words sweeps a bit of the amusement from his face as he regards her. Perhaps he noted the possessive 'our' when he was referred to that has the rogue giving her a wry look. "Well 'this' Igenite," and he points dramatically to himself, "just wants company that's polite enough this day.... and no, you're welcome to join, ofcourse," he adds to Satiet with a lopsided grin. "Actually, it was the lack of a pretty face to keep me entertained. Our itinerant here is somewhat lacking in that regard, and you fill the void left by the lovely Dijilia." R'hin's words are still laced with that amusement, pale eyes lingering on the woman to get some measure of her reaction. "And," he adds, after a beat, "I wished the wine, so I'm sorely disappointed at the lack." Satiet's comment to Bayan earns a bemused look at the later. "I did hear the Igenite profess his desire to own you, or words to that effect, but I didn't give it credit until now. Perhaps he -ought- to seek Jen's advice on the matter." The words phrased as if Bayan weren't present at all, deliberately antagonistic. Maja strolls up the stairs from the caverns below. Maja has arrived. The languidness remains, but only by the slimmest thread ready to snap, and slowly, Satiet sinks back into the cushioned backrest of the arm chair she's claimed. R'hin's words induce a reaction out of the goldrider: her head tipping casually to Bayan, a displeased purse of her lips forming somewhat petulantly on the weyrwoman's mouth, and a raised brow of askance. "You'll find," notes she, a beat later, "Owning me would be quite difficult and more troublesome for you than it would be for me." As for 'the lovely Dijilia's advice,' the raven-haired woman has no other words beyond her silence on the subject completely of the wintering traders. There's a smoldering anger in Bayan's gaze at R'hin's deliberate words. Cutting a glance to the bronzerider, "Watch yourself," he drawls evenly in a low tone. "I never made claims to own anybody. Your assumptions today in regards to my life is starting to wear thin on me, bronzerider." Satiet gets a little dramatical bow in apology, "Ownership never came to mind," he says in a less-antagonistic tone to her. "Last thing I want is trouble when I get so much of it." As if to draw attention back towards the Dijilia, noting the reaction it receives, R'hin once more adjusts the stole resting across his shoulder, fingers running along the bright colors, the resulting murmur of material soft. His smile deepens at Satiet's words, well-pleased, the slight lowering of eyelids enough to conceal the expression. He's seated over by the hearthside, Bayan separated from him by a table and the seat Satiet's occupied. And judging by the Igenite's reaction, that's for the best. "And yet," a beat later, "You accused me of falsehood when I intimated you had interest in Satiet. How very interesting that my words have been proven true." Maja is on business, and such is the speed of her walk. With as few strides as possible, she briskly hurries herself from the entrance to the lower caverns across towards the dormatories. There's only the briefest of glances up towards the hearth, and a brief wrinkle of her nose, press of her lips and furrow of her brows indicates her reaction to the three of them there. Still, she's on business, and soon she's down the hallway towards the dormatories. The trio are seated near the low flames of the common room's hearth, Satiet separating R'hin and Bayan from each other. But it seems an arrangement not long to last, for the slight and slender woman shifts her feet from underneath her and gets to her feet. "Ridiculous." Unclear whether it's Bayan's not-quite apology or whatever of many number of things R'hin has said. Perhaps- perhaps it's the bronzerider's attire that finds offense in her eyes and the cause for such a epithet, for it's the last thing her cold eyes drop to before a toss of her hair sends raven curls flaring out. "Should you want wine, you shall have to seek it out yourself, bronzerider." Bayan regards the bronzerider coolly before Maja catches his attention. He seems to brighten for a moment, hazel eyes following her intently as it seems she's on a mission. He levels R'hin a look, "Need we go down this path again? All it's going to lead to is our usual fight. Maybe you'll finally get hit in the mouth, too," and he seems to considers this option before shrugging indifferently. Satiet's one-word answer gets a curious glance her way, not giving comment to it before he calls out Maja's name as she heads by. R'hin's on his feet a mere second after the weyrwoman, gentlemanly courtesy at odds with his deliberate antagonism. "I'd only thought, since you secured so many bottles of your own, you might be apt to share," his baritone becomes smoothly persuasive in a heartbeat, eyes fixed on the goldrider. "Did you know," he goes on, "Of the offer Josilina made to our visiting traders?" he dangles that as bait, to keep the woman where she is. He misses Maja's passing, as quick as she is, though Bayan's call of her shifts his eyes briefly. "You forget, itinerant, that your words mean very little, and have the weight of a feather." The ex-guard emerges from the dormatories within minutes, cross, her lips pressed together even tighter than normal-- and her demeanor one of disappointment and disapproval. Her business-like rush given up, she wanders across the common room and takes a seat close enough to the group of three to watch them. "Bayan," she reciprocates, offering him a brief faux-smile and a sarcastic remark, "You look cheerful." "Oh, /please/." Satiet casts icicles with her pale eyes, first at R'hin and then to Bayan. An expressive roll of her eyes precedes further irritation as all semblance of languid leisure melt away. "If you'd like me to decide definitively which one of you wields a larger dagger, I'll happily oblige after you drop trous here." The temptation of R'hin's words, news of the Dijilia does little to abate the weyrwoman's sour mood, and with a flounce that barely recognizes Maja's presence, she turns and begins to exit. Bayan flashes a dangerous grin R'hin's way only briefly as he gets slowly to his feet. "My words weighed enough for you to go fleeing to my own blood," he returns in a lower voice, evenly. "Consider yourself lucky and we'll leave it at that, hm?" Not really a cease-fire, but it's apparent the verbal sparring from before still has left the rogue cross. Once the evasive attempt delivered, Maja's reemergence gets a thin grin as he takes her in with that intense gaze. "And you look like a tunnelsnake's gotten away from you," he returns in observation until Satiet's words just stops him. He blinks at the goldrider, not taking notice to her sour mood, "Satiet," he drawls her name in shock, clearly not knowing what else to say and finding it hard to now keep the smirk from off his face as she turns to leave. Pale eyes linger on Satiet as she departs, and it's difficult to tell if it's surprise or frustration - or both - in R'hin's expression as the weyrwoman departs. He makes no moves to chase her, however, settling back into his seat once she's departed, expression schooled. "Maja," the bronzerider's greeting of the brownrider is accompanied by an easy smile. "You haven't come to see me yet." A twitch of brows evinces surprise at Bayan's words. "Is that how you see it? Interesting. I see it as going to the one person who can see the bigger picture, and understand the necessity for certain things to be a certain way." Leiventh> Teonath senses that Leiventh's mental tones reach out in querying curiousity, as if to assure himself (or more likely his rider) of Satiet's current mood. It's clear the abrupt departure was unexpected, even despite the deliberate antagonism. Of course, despite that, there's no sense of apology in the touch, mere assurance. Maja's eyes widen at the goldrider's remark, crossing her legs and simply watching the conversation for clues as to what she's gotten into. One elbow rests on am armrest, head in her hand and fingers curled at her brow in the very case that she might need to shield her eyes. "Yes," she begins, ignoring Satiet (and glad of her exit) to respond to Bayan. "Yes, perhaps I do. But then that's how things tend to go for me, so it's nothing new." To R'hin: "Not yet." Clearly, the offer she's made is rescinded and never made good on by any of the three parties, but primarily Satiet as the goldrider disappears into the residential hallways. Lucky for her, reputation and the sour look that creases her features is enough for many to give the slight woman a wide berth. Satiet strolls down the stairs to the caverns below. Satiet has left. In cascades of a sheet of red hues that seem to deepen with each iteration, Teonath conveys her rider's mood quite succinctly as she uses no words. Cutting across the blanket of crimson at intermittent intervals are pale streaks of blue intertwined with green, and a low thrum of discontent lurks within the pale queen's mental touch. "What your latest chase? I maybe of some assistance," Bayan offers the ex-guard as he watches Satiet leave in a huff. "So that's....three I've gotten angry today," he drawls in her wake with interest before turning to Maja curiously again, "Looking to be my fourth? Though I think there's more to be had with our bronzerider here," and he glances over at R'hin before sitting back down. As to his words, there's a casual wave-off given, though unmistakably there's that twinge of envy again in his eyes, "You look to my brother far too much," he decides to say instead, not liking this 'bond' that's apparently been formed. Back to Maja, "Who's this ruffian you're searching for, hm?" There's a slight tip of head in R'hin's regard of Maja, and he seems to accept her comment with its attached meaning with cool deliberation, idly laying arm along the length of the chair. Something - maybe the brownrider's words, or Satiet's abrupt departure - seems to sit ill with him, and his attention diverts to the low embers of the hearth, gaze distant. Bayan's comment, belatedly, receives a quirk of brow, but no comment. It does, however, serve to bring his attention back to the conversation at hand, clearly listening now. Maja lifts her head from her hands and sighs deeply, leaning back in her chair. "Actually, Bayan, I think that I can handle it on my own. Thanks for offering, but there's no need." An explicit lacking of information is apparent, as normally Maja would divulge something of what petty thievery has occured. "I don't think I have the energy to upset you, Bayan, so don't worry." R'hin is eyeballed more closely now that Satiet has left, and with no warning she blurts, "What ridiculous outfit is that?" Bayan gives a faint grin to Maja, though he does note the sudden silence in R'hin with mild interest. "Ofcourse you can handle it on your own," he says with a small shrug. "But I wanted to put the offer out there anyway, since I can't help you with the other project." Her other comments only gets a chuckle as he now seems to pay attention to the tension between the ex-guard and the bronzerider. Hazel eyes finally looking at the garb worn by R'hin from Maja's outburst, not answering as he just sits back and holds the little green firelizard absently. A brow twitches upwards, R'hin's cool demeanor still in place. "I'm planning to take part in a parade." It is, perhaps, telling that he offers her the bland falsity rather than any honest response. "Would you care to join me? I imagine we can fit one more in." Maja's eyes shine as Bayan mentions the 'other project', although her response to him is a simple nod of understanding. "I'm glad you understand." Unfortunately her mood seems to have soured since her uneventful encounter with the dormatories, and she crosses her arms. "I never expected you to tout yourself in front of others, R'hin, that's not like you." Bayan takes note of R'hin's cool demeanor and is oddly thoughtful by it. No swinging insults fly from the rogue, nor bantering words is issued. He just curiously watches between the two before Maja's answer for him gets a chuckle. He catches the look in her eyes, his own returning something of an old challenge, "Well, can't stop a guard from doing their work," he drawls casually, "though there's those that will try," and he keeps a straight face as he says it, ofcourse. His gaze shifts to R'hin again, "I think he's let Satiet sour him," he muses thoughtfully, the words more to him than Maja. "I'm sure she'll be back to her usual..cold self by morning." "I take that as a no, then." R'hin rises, pausing to deliberately smooth down the folds of material, drawing attention to the brightly colored garb. "It was worth a try," he says, as he turns away. If he hears Bayan's comment of him, he takes no notice of it, the swish of material audibly whispering as he walks across the room. "No," Maja echos R'hin, watching him walk about for a few moments with narrowed eyes. "It's horrible, but I can't break my eyes away," she comments, then turning to look at Bayan. "There are those that try and fail," she suggests. "Do you know where he's gotten it, Bayan? From those new traders, I'm guessing?" Bayan continues to watch R'hin, and his garb, with interest as he answers her with and nod. "Try and fail? Persistence is a virtue," is all he adds to that. As for the bronzerider, the rogue gives a small shrug, "Yeah, the Dijilia," he drawls smoothly. "Must have cost a pretty mark," and there seems to be more he could have added, a jab perhaps, but oddly enough he lets it stand. And with that, R'hin heads for the stairs, unconcerned about the attention his outfit receives, or the conversation he abruptly leaves behind. You wander down the stairs to the caverns below. |
Leave A Comment