Logs:Of Things Left Unsaid
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| RL Date: 17 July, 2006 |
| Who: Maja, R'hin |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| When: Day 28, Month 5, Turn 8 (Interval 10) |
| Your location's current time: 22:42 on day 31, month 5, Turn 58, of the Tenth Pass. It is a spring evening. Leiventh's Lookout Ledge The broad, flat ledge of this weyr is unremarkable, just a simple stretch of cool grey stone, a little claw-scraped at the edge. It's the two different sets of stairs that make up its most unusual feature: one series going up, the other down. The steps leading upward are entirely outside, curving up the rock face to end at a small summit - a lookout of sorts. The space is about six feet square; a hammock has been stretched diagonally across the space to take advantage of the almost constant sun this area receives. Other than a dingy, weather-assaulted blanket and a planter full of dead flowers, there's little else up here, though the view downward and across the lake is amazing. A blanket-laden wallow serves as a comfortable bed for the large bronze that lives here. The second set of stairs from the ledge is covered with heavy canvas more often found in ships' sails, no doubt leading down into the weyr. Contents: Leiventh Obvious exits: Inner Weyr Sky Vesereth glides to a swift landing on the ledge. Vesereth has arrived. It's a late spring evening at the 'Reaches, the wind already starting to cool enough to be a little chilly here and there. Despite this, R'hin is currently lounging in his hammock at the head of the little lookout, dozing a little. Leiventh, likewise, seems to be resting, settled comfortably in his hollow. This high up in the bowl, the only noises are the occasional beats of dragonwings passing by. Vesereth swoops in, taking advantage of the large broad ledge and landing in the middle of it. The bright moons cast his shadows. He holds his head high in pride, most likely residual effects of graduation. Once landed, he gives a final flap of his wings and then folds them up, kneeling to allow Maja to climb down. Maja hops down Vesereth's side to the ground, using his straps as handholds. Maja has arrived. Leiventh senses that Vesereth is terse. « Yours wanted a meeting? » Leiventh rouses first, at the touch of claws to his ledge, bassy rumble greeting his clutchmate with ease. R'hin, for his part, starts awake a moment later, shaking the hammock enough that he's very nearly dumped out of it. "Leiventh, what--" he begins, peering downwards before his eyes fall on Vesereth, then Maja. A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he swings out of the hammock, planting feet firmly on the ground before he greets, "Well, if it isn't our resident vixen! Welcome, welcome indeed!" He takes the stairs two at a time, bounding down them until he's on the same level as the brownrider. "I've something for you," he says, with barely suppressed merriment. Maja brushes dust off her pants and shirt from the flight, straightening herself a moment before she responds. "Mm. Something for me?" It seems that whenever R'hin is overly excited, Maja is cool and calculating. "Is it inside?" Her eyes scan the ledge, moving slowly over the bronze before returning back to the bronzerider. "For you," R'hin confirms, "Give me a moment - make yourself at home," he says, gesturing to the ledge before climbing down the second set of stairs, ducking behind the curtain. He isn't gone for too long, a cloth-wrapped bundle in his hands as he climbs back up to the ledge level, once more taking two steps at a time, practically bounding. Moving towards the brownrider, he proffers the bundle towards her, pale eyes intent on her face as if waiting expectantly for her reaction. Wrapped within the protective cloth material is a finely made dagger. At first glance, it might seem little more than an ornate, if useless gift - the silver of the blade is polished to a shine, with black, blue and brown polished stones embedded in the hilt. However, one familiar with such things would quickly take note of the fact that the blade is perfectly balanced for throwing, and the edge is sharp enough to break skin with very little pressure. Maja leans against Vesereth, apparently considering this 'home' whereas the rest of the weyr is too suspect for her to touch. The brown dragon is also curious, and when R'hin returns the both of them are staring suspiciously at the cloth-wrapped bundle. Maja takes it and with utmost care unwraps it, her eyebrows rising as she takes off the last layer. At first, she is silent, lowering her head to inspect the blade first-- not as interested in the stones as the polished blade. She picks it up with one hand and stands there, holding it and inspecting it. "It's ... is this a gift? Where did you find this?" A low chuckle comes from the bronzerider as he watches her. "It is indeed a gift," R'hin confirms, eyes gleaming in barely withheld amusement at her latter words, hands spread wide to convey innocence. "I commissioned it. I've it's match, with black, blue, and bronze stones," he says simply, leaning casually against the wall. "What do you think? I'm told it took a bit of work to get the balance right - the stones put it off, usually workable blades don't have them, but I thought it a nice touch." Whether he's referring to the Weyr and dragon colors, or the fact that he's 'hiding' a good blade under guise of a show piece isn't exactly clear. Maja plays with the blade a bit, placing it on the side of her finger to check the balance, then holding it up in the moonlight to examine the stones. She grips her hand around the hilt, flicking her wrist as if to test how well it does in combat. "It's-- well, it's beautiful. The stones make the grip a little uncomfortable," for she must find something to criticize, "but..." She brings the knife back down in front of her, giving the blade one last inspection before finally turning her attention back on R'hin. "I do hope you paid marks for this," she comments, though her eyes shine and her lips curl up in jest. R'hin doesn't seem perturbed by the accusatory jest, and indeed, returns it in kind, "And what else would I pay for it in? My charming wiles? Granted, I can be very persuasive, but given the smith was a male, sadly wasted." He seems pleased that Maja seems to like the gift, moving over to sit on the steps leading to the look out, head lifted to watch the brownrider. "I hope you won't need to use it, but knowing you..." he trails off, pointedly, then changes the topic, "Do you remember that talk we had on the cliffs, about the future of the Weyr?" Maja wraps the knife back up in the cloth, being careful to avoid the blade. "You might have traded with something that wasn't yours," she explains, walks over towards the steps and sits down beside the bronzerider. "I may keep it in my weyr-- the fact that it looks more like a display piece than a weapon will definitely come in handy." There's a brief pause as Maja thinks back months to the talk, but eventually she nods. "Yes, I do." A beat, surprise flickering over the scruffy-haired bronzerider's face for a moment. quickly followed by a deliberately neutral expression. R'hin seems to pick his words carefully, voice even, "You think I'd steal something in order to give you - of all people - a gift? If you like, I can provide the name of the smith, and you can question him to your satisfaction." "You do realize I believe you," Maja notes, an amused smile on her face. "Although you could give me the name of the Smith for future reference-- he does a fine job, and I think I may commission future blades from him." R'hin pauses again, caught just as much off-guard. Eyes narrow speculatively a moment, and he his hands clap abruptly together. "Okay. Who are you, and -what- have you done with my vixen?" he demands, only a slight glint to his eyes betraying humor. "Maybe I'll keep the name back so you have to come through me." "Since when I was I -your- vixen?" Maja smiles again, shaking her head. "I'm sorry I'm not performing up to your expectations. Perhaps I've just been in some unusual moods lately, what with half the Weyr's greens now hitting on Vesereth. It's a little bit-- unnerving." She resituates the blade in her lap, holding back a slight chuckle. Her mood has improved considerably since she arrived. "Perhaps I should -force- the name out of you. It wouldn't be that hard. And I /do/ hate middlemen." R'hin lets the first comment pass without response; the other rider's words cause him to shift his attention from Maja to Vesereth with a thoughtful tip of head. "Boskyth's close to rising, so Ayana said. That's why things were strange last night. I don't have that problem," he says, tone almost sympathetic. "Leiventh doesn't seem to notice the greens as much." A little twitch turns into a low chuckle, pale eyes back on Maja once more, "You're welcome to try. After all - you did say before the hatching that you and I weren't done with out... disagreements. We're not weyrlings anymore," he points out. "Ah, yes. Boskyth. But there have been others as well, although not quite so intense. He's still having a hard time with it, too--" the brown dragon glances Maja's way, "can't think of a full sentence when they're talking to him." Vesereth burbles a plea for Maja to stop sharing these things. "You're lucky-- you'll only have to worry about it once every few months." Again, as has happened many times tonight, Maja raises her eyebrows in surprise at the challenge. "Am I? Hmm. -- What disagreements were those, again? I can't quite remember..." She's fishing for whatever R'hin has on his mind. "Has he chased yet?" R'hin queries, with interest, pitching his tone just neutral enough not to agitate. A slight flick of wrist dismisses her assertions about being lucky, having already made his thoughts on that score clear to the brownrider. "If you can't remember," and the wry tone in his voice suggests he believes otherwise, "Then neither can I." He is, however, aware of her fishing, and after a beat or two, adds, "I've begun talking to people, here and there. Finding people who understand a need for change." A twist of lips that is almost surprise, as he admits, "Our erstwhile Wingleader amongst them." Maja, like many of his clutchmates, might have noticed the arguments between the pair seemed to vanish in the months before their graduation, and that the bronzerider had thereafter put his weight fully behind the Flurry leader. "No," Maja admits, although in that single word conveys a slight fear of the unknown. "Aha, yes-- that's what it was about?" She smiles. "M'wen? Is that what all the ... nonviolence was about? This is unexpected, although I suppose I don't know him as well as I should. But that will make my job easier, if he agrees with me. -- What plans do you have for the future, then?" "Ah," R'hin breathes, a hint of sympathy in his tone. "It's-- it's not so bad. It's just as if you're in their head, flying. And then after..." he trails off, wry. "Not the best sort of experience for someone who prefers to be in control." It's difficult to tell if he's talking about himself, or about her. A twitch of lips, as he agrees, "He and I came to an understanding, you might say. He's... surprisingly insightful. I hadn't expected it of him," he admits. "For the future? Ah, many, many. Change weyrlinghood. Change the whole sharding thing! Develop wings with purposes that -suit- the interval - oh, that I've many ideas on, and I'm sure many more to come. For now, if we find those sympathetic to our cause, then we will be placed to act when the time comes. One day, Teonath will rise as senior." He seems certain of that. "One thing I have not yet found is a Weyrleader for her." He says that as if he can simply choose whom it should be, and make it so. R'hin doesn't particularly quell Maja's fears with his last statement, though she does hide them well with her serious face and silent nod. "I wouldn't expect it of him either, but I'm glad he's more than his exterior leads him to be. -- Change everything? But that would take support from the enter Weyr, or at least most of it. Do you really think that there are more than just a few of us-- ah-- radicals? Yes, Teonath would make a good senior if you were to make these changes, I agree." She pauses to consider something. "Since when were you choosing the outcome of the leadership flight? The last time we talked about this you asserted it was down to chance." "You don't need the support of the -entire- Weyr. Just those in power. And who chooses those in power? The Weyrwoman." R'hin's eyes almost seem to glitter, muted pleasure at the intrigue that he's clearly given a lot of thought to. "I plan to find people like us, and present them to our Weyrwoman. If the changes are done in the right way, with persuasive reasoning..." his hands spread, as if the end result is inevitable. As to the latter, he grimaces, as if he has been given a bitter pill to swallow. "That's what I believed-- what I still believe. But our lady of the spires says otherwise. I imagine she'd be in a better position to know." "That is true, but you also must consider the power that the dragonriding populace has, if they decide that they would rather overthrow their leadership." After pointing this out, Maja notes the glitter in R'hin's eyes and quips, "You've been thinking on this a while, haven't you? I'm proud of your little underground resistance group, R'hin." She nods at his last point, shrugging her shoulders. "I believe it is a mixture of both. And I suppose you're still not one to believe you'd make good Weyrleading material?" "All the more reason to begin now, with the young. Teonath might not be senior for twenty Turns. But in that time - if weyrlings are taken aside and spoken to, not left to the... training... that makes them blindly follow centuries old, outdated traditions, how much of a powerbase do you think there would be?" R'hin's voice has that intensity that Maja probably recognizes by now - surfacing here and there when he talks of something he believes strongly in. "I've had two Turns to think on it," he reminds, with a look at Leiventh, eyes lingering on the dragon. "And plenty of time while running laps," he adds wryly, before pale eyes snap back towards her, voice sharp, "I'm no leader. You of all people should know that." "Yes, S'din did make a mistake in giving you all that free time to think, running in the bowl, didn't he? But I definitely respect your ideas, and if I find a way to help carry them out I certainly will." Maja fingers the cloth that wraps that blade in her lap, attention focused on it. "Yes, mmm. Not a leader at all." Having poked a smoldering ember, she lets it alone, although her final remark is full of sarcasm. A pause, and she queries, "Why did you give me this knife, R'hin? A simple congratulations for graduating? I'm sorry I don't have a reciprocal one. " R'hin's hands turn upwards in a kind of 'there you go' gesture, amused. "I didn't spend -all- my time running laps thinking of you," he admits, wryly, though expression smoothes to something more sober, nodding in silent gratitude at her support. There's a slight clench of jaw at her sarcastic comment, "You said it yourself - the important thing is making people -accept- change. For that, you need someone who is charismatic, charming, likeable, friendly... I'm a little down on the latter two qualities." Again, that hint of intensity, but perhaps this time fuelled more by heat than anything else. Of the knife, he flickers a sharp gesture at it, "I didn't give it you to with the expectation of something in return," his tone is light, as if he expects the accusation, unsurprised by it. "I gave it to you because I'm selfish, vixen. I wished one for myself, and I knew you'd be the only person who would appreciate the same." "I think I'd have to remove 'charming' from that list as well," Maja notes, although most everything she has to say right now is in a lighthearted tone. "Perhaps I will be on the lookout for someone, although you know I don't tend to get along well with those kind of people. All those good qualities in one person make me a little suspicious." Everything makes her a little suspicious. She nods, though, again considering the cloth in her lap. "Thank you, then. For thinking of me. It's quite a remarkable knife. Unfortunately, whether or not you expect it, I still feel I owe you something in return." "I don't know. I think I have my moments," R'hin counters, brows flickering upwards as he directs a grin that is entirely unrepentant towards Maja. A low chuckle is his agreement with her mistrustful nature, "It's a part of what makes you, you. If you do come across someone like that, be sure to introduce me to him before you put them off side?" he asks, wryly. Shoulders shift in the slightest of shrugs. "If you feel you owe me, then I shall leave it in your capable hands. I'm sure you'll come up with something... appropriate." "Perhaps," Maja allows, turning away from the grin and shaking her head. "And I will try not to completely put them off before introducing them to you--although if you find an irritated man from the where whom you don't know complaining about me, you may want to find out more about him. -- I -will- find something appropriate. It -would- be helpful to know the smith," she presses, "although I have a feeling it'd take a few scratches and bruises to get you to admit it." Considering the lateness suddenly as well as her surroundings, she heaves a sigh. "I should go," she admits, though it's in a reluctant tone. "I'll bear that in mind," R'hin says, with good humor. Once more, hands spread as if unable to help her, though the glint in his eye says otherwise. "The name's completely slipped my mind, I'm afraid. I should think there are other ways to get it out of me than violence, but since you're given to it... who am I to argue with a lady?" He pushes himself to his feet, dropping the two steps to put him level with Maja. His head tips to one side as he notes the reluctance with interest. Then: "I've a nice bottle of Benden white in my weyr, if you'd like a drink before you go?" he invites, not a trace of mockery in his voice. "Slipped your mind?" Of course, Maja disbelieves, smiling and standing up beside the bronzerider. "I'm not sure I'm prepared to fight you on the steps of your own weyr, but next time you contemplate overthrowing the Weyr on the beach of the lake, you might want to watch your back. Especially now that I have this shiny new knife." She glances inwards up the steps towards his weyr, fighting an inner battle as to what to do. "Per... haps. I may have a single glass. Since I'm not traveling far, and we are now allowed to drink. In celebration only." "Then I shall have to watch my back every time I visit the lake," R'hin concludes, and it should be no surprise that he thinks of this thing often. His eyes fall towards the wrapped knife, observing with wry humor, "It would be somehow apt if the first blood it drew was mine." Lips curve into a smile that grows brighter at her hesitancy. "In celebration only," he agrees. "It's a very nice bottle." A couple more steps are taken, before he pauses, leaning against the wall, gesturing for her to precede him down the stairs. "After you, my lady." Considering he's well aware that she dislikes having her back to anyone, especially him, it would seem a deliberate move. "I will definitely keep that in mind," Maja notes about first blood. "I'm not sure I'm aware of what the difference between a nice bottle and an bad bottle is, but perhaps you can tell me." The woman actually pauses when he does, giving him a sidelong look and a purse of her lips before she eventually continues. "You take pride in your subtle ability irritate me." Maja has left. Inner Weyr - R'hin The inner weyr is a tidy little space, dominated by its painted walls. Though the baby-blue color has faded slightly and there are numerous scuffs that have taken the paint off in places, it has held up remarkably well, and the current occupant hasn't bothered to change it. A double bed takes up a good deal of the space, positioned under what looks suspiciously like a fishing net. A wardrobe and a press are placed in a corner out of the way, while an antique desk - a little unstable but still serviceable - is matched with a dark-stained chair. Next to the desk, a wine cabinet is piled on top with unused hides. The heavy canvas that hangs across the exit to the ledge keeps out the cool air of the High Reaches. Contents: Maja Obvious exits: Ledge "A nice bottle tastes better, and doesn't leave a hangover in the morning." R'hin cheerfully informs Maja as he follows her down the steps, looking pleased, as if he'd scored some minor victory. Eyes widen in clearly affected innocence at her accusation. "I've no idea what you're talking about. It's more of a natural, obvious ability. One which I don't use exclusively on you, vixen," he gestures in her direction with a grin, moving across the weyr towards the wine cabinet, carefully pulling it open so as not to dislodge the hides piled on top. He extracts two glasses and a bottle, setting them on the desk. "In fact, between us, M'wen and I managed to insult just about every Weyr on Pern. Telgar, I think we managed to redeem ourselves, somewhat. Take a seat," he invites, without specifying where. There's either the bed or the chair - or the floor. Maja chooses the chair, for want of a dignified seat. She pulls it out and twists it around, settling neatly down into it. "Ah, well then, I shall remember how this tastes and call that nice wine. Fortunately, I never drink enough to prompt a hangover." She sits her knife on the desk beside her. "When did you and M'wen find time to insult the Weyrs of Pern? And why did I not hear about it?" R'hin sets about opening the bottle, filling the glass closest to Maja first, then the other. Setting the bottle aside, he says, "You will - after a flight. That, or you'll find yourself sharing a bed with someone. Personally I think the latter has more pleasant aftereffects than the former." Even though the glass is within her reach, he picks it up and proffers it to her, grin tugging at his lips, "Oh, we decided to start a tour of Pern, you see. Find out what makes each Weyr special, find out what works, so we could uh, steal the idea. That's how I met Ayana, actually, and Balinne, and R'dur and... others. I'm shocked you -haven't- heard, actually." Maja goes to pick up the glass, knitting her brows in slight annoyance as he takes it from her reach. "I will... think about that. Perhaps I will find a bottle or two in case the need arises." She takes the glass, sipping at it. "I'm not sure either would be pleasant at all, actually." The slight heat of the alcohol in the wine hits the back of her throat, and she closes her eyes to weather it. "I had wondered where you'd met those women. But no, I haven't heard. I suppose I've been... busy with Weyrlinghood." "Really?" R'hin seems vaguely surprised, lifting his own glass. He doesn't take a seat, instead leaning slightly with his hip resting against the table, giving him the minor advantage of height over her - for once. He takes a sip from his glass, clearly relishing the taste, before his head tips, eyes widening in sudden surprise. "It isn't your first time, is it?" A brief shift of shoulders, then almost apologetically, "We're planning another trip to Igen in a sevendays' time, if you'd like to come?" he offers. "Our first trip was kind of interrupted, so we didn't much have a chance to see the Weyr." "Really," Maja confirms, inspecting her wine glass before glancing upward at him, her lip twitching at his height. "First time what?" She swallows, skipping to the final subject in the conversation. "I wouldn't mind coming, although now that I have wingsecond duties I might be occupied. I've never spent more than a few hours at Igen, and that was to deliver a few messages." R'hin waves away the topic of the Igen trip with a sharp gesture, suddenly intent. "Your first -time-. Surely you've slept with someone before?" He probably doesn't mean to sound as incredulous as he does, brow furrowed. "I don't think... it'd be a good idea for a flight to be your first." He seems, if anything, troubled, rare enough for him. "Even just in the afteraffects, it's rough, needy." He exhales, eyes skittering away from hers, taking a gulp of the wine. "Trust me on this, Maja, you ought to find someone you trust. It'd be better." Maja turns slightly pink, although R'hin may find it hard to notice now that she's refusing to face him. "I-- have had some relationships. But I have never-- I spent the teenage turns of my life in a hold, R'hin, which is not the place to learn about premarital sex." Luckily for him she's admitting all these things and not turning into a wall of stone. "Since Te'an left High Reaches I've not really had anyone. And then came Weyrlinghood, and you can imagine..." R'hin, if anything, seems surprised she hasn't stormed out already, studying what he can see of the brownrider sidelong. "So, find... Te'an, was it? You can go anywhere, now." A beat, then, "I'd offer, myself, but I'd like to come out the other side in one piece," the way he says it is joking, but once more, there's that slight note to his tone that might suggest otherwise. "Te'an has a weyrmate now, actually," Maja notes. "In fact, I think she might be pregnant. I share letters every few months or so." Again, the ex-guard forces a hard swallow, shaking her head. "I see." She glances at the floor again, then toward the wall, the desk, and her knife as she collects it up. "Perhaps I should go, then.' "Ah," R'hin breathes, studying the brownrider's reaction. His eyes, too, drop towards the knife, and he exhales sharply. There's no apparent reason for his sudden change in demeanor, but the light-heartedness is gone, abruptly, polite, cool and nothing more. His voice is even, deliberately so, as he says, "Yes, I think perhaps you should." He knocks back the rest of his glass, gesturing towards the curtain, eyes averted from her. "I'm sure you remember the way." Maja stands up, although she is still hesitant. "I--ah, wouldn't choose anybody else," she manages, having similar problems to her dragon on the subject of relationships. She's either terse or she stutters, and she can never quite say what she means. Drinking the rest of her own glass, she sits it down behind her. "I remember." She heads towards the door. "Then, I hope for your sake Vesereth does not catch soon." The bronzerider's words are somewhat softer than before, said only to her back as she departs. The splash of liquid indicates R'hin's pouring another glass of wine even as she leaves. Maja climbs back up the stairs to the ledge. Maja has left. |
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