Logs:Of True Nature
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| RL Date: 30 July, 2006 |
| Who: M'wen, R'hin |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| When: Day 26, Month 7, Turn 8 (Interval 10) |
| Your location's current time: 22:11 on day 26, month 7, Turn 58, of the Tenth Pass. It is a summer evening. Leiventh> Maxeoth senses that Leiventh's crimson tones are sharp, perhaps conveying a hint of cool anger, kept largely in check, intrigued as he watches you vanish. « Are you and yours well? And everything at the sandbar? » Leiventh senses that Maxeoth's tone is thoughtful, « We are well. Mine was upset at your actions, but he enjoyed the sandbar it seems. » Leiventh> Maxeoth senses that Leiventh's surprised, and so too, it seems, is his rider. « Upset? Why? » Leiventh senses that Maxeoth's tones seem confused, « That I do not know, im sure yours will ask when the oppurtunity arises. » Leiventh> I bespoke Maxeoth with « Mine returns to the Reaches now. Would yours care to talk? » You suddenly emerge... Sky High in the Bowl, High Reaches Weyr As you soar high above the bowl, you find yourself at a most unique point in the sky; here, near the lip of the bowl, the southeast is fully visible - the open sky stretches to the Western Mountain Range. Behind you, though, to the northwest, you can catch only occassional glimpses of the landscape through the spaces between the Seven Spindles. Through the first and second spires, you can see out to the mountains surrounding the weyr. If you know just where to look, you can also glimpse part of the winding road leading to the Weyr. Ledges are hewn into the rock face in all directions, each with a dragon's weyr behind it. The winds here are usually calm, with the protection of the Weyr's walls to keep the worst gusts at bay. Still, flying can be a little difficult as an errant thermal sometimes crosses the bowl. Views: Weyrs Obvious exits: Lower Western Sky Lower Eastern Sky Star Stones Up » Leiventh emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! » From a distance, Alcidanth bugles loudly, welcoming Bronze Leiventh home. Maxeoth bespoke Leiventh with « I am sure it will end up being much less interesting then your's anticipates, he comes. » You swoop down to a landing on Leiventh's ledge. You vault down Leiventh's side to the ground, as the dragon rumbles softly. 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 Leiventh> Maxeoth senses that Leiventh extends the invitation, solitiously. « My ledge is wide and holds the warmth of the afternoon. » Maxeoth wings down to a quick landing on the ledge. Maxeoth has arrived. M'wen hops down Maxeoth's side to the ground, using his straps as handholds. M'wen has arrived. Leiventh senses that Maxeoth adds with little point, « We arrive. » R'hin's seated on the steps leading up to the little lookout post, a bottle of Benden white already open, in the midst of pouring out two glasses of wine as Maxeoth arrives. Leiventh rumbles an easy greeting to his clutchmate, the bronzerider adding on the heels, "Wine?" The glass is proffered by way of greeting. Maxeoth returns the greeting, rumbling softly. His rider slides down his back, looking around the ledge. "Nice place you got here." Then adds to the proffered wine, "Nothing goes with a nice glass of ale like a glass of wine!" The tone has a slight sarcastic edge to it, but he takes the glass anyways and sips appriciativly. "Good party there, too bad you missed it in favour of settling your petty quarrels with our resident rogue, though I refuse to use your word for him." "Sorry," R'hin says, automatically, though there's possibly a hint of flippancy in the tone, "I wasn't aware of your preferences. I'll make sure to stock ale in the future." He takes his own glass, taking a small sip himself, before waving a hand towards the stairs as if inviting M'wen to make himself at him. There's a hint of anger, though it's not directed at M'wen, telegraphed clearly in the sharp shift of shoulders and the exhale he gives. "The timing of it all was awkward, I'll concede, but it was bound to happen. He's been stewing over it for far too long. And I wouldn't say anything was -settled-." A glint of eyes at that last comment, as he says, "He - or more specifically, his brother Kamer - could prove to be a thorn. The best way to deal with that sort is to worry at them until they come out." A slight twist to his lips is visible as M'wen sorts his thoughts into what to say. "I never said it was my preferance, just that I already had some at the party..." He says, lamely. Then adds as an afterthought, "I'm not even saying he wasn't asking for it, but that was possibly the worst time to take advantage of the sharpness of your tounge, and the 'subtlety' of your wit. Seeing him makes me doubt that any semblence of decency could be worked out between the two of you, but, of course, you thought of noone but yourself in your actions." It's clear there's a sharp retort on the tip of R'hin's tongue, anger lingering from his earlier confrontation... but he's mindful enough of who he's talking to that he takes a deep breath, and controls himself, sipping silently on his wine for a moment, and actually contemplating M'wen's words before he speaks. "You're right. As usual," he admits, wry, sheepish. "I couldn't help myself. He... brings out things I in me I'd hoped I'd put away a long time ago." His tone is guarded, but not guarded enough that it doesn't convey unhappiness at the situation. "I'd say any chance of us working together went out the window the moment I slept with his sister. -That- wasn't intentional, by the way, in case you're wondering." A beat, then, respectful, "How do I make it right?" M'wen sighs softly, a thoughtful look flitting across his features. "I don't know....I don't make enemies, or at least not that I know of..." He takes a sip of the wine, swirling it briefly in his mouth before swallowing it. "Good wine....Anyways, it bothers me that you'd risk all you've gotten with Ayana, by fighting with her brother, on her turnday celebration! She looked so troubled when you left...it did bother me pretty deeply, because I actually care about others that aren't me..." R'hin's head drops briefly, and he runs his free hand through his hair for a moment. Disquieted, he avoids looking at the brownrider, instead concentrating on his glass, swirling it briefly. "I've no sympathy for his kind, M'wen. I've had to deal with them before, and it's never a pleasant experience. With that sort, either you match them, or you roll over. I don't think I have it in me to do the latter, even if I were inclined to." A hint of frustration leaks into his voice, "This is why we need a diplomat." A brief, studied look, and it's clear that what's bothering R'hin isn't the same thing that bothers M'wen. He gives a long sigh, then, "I'll apologize to Ayana later. As for Bayan, he's demanded I not see her again. He could make things difficult, if he tried," he confesses. M'wen laughs briefly, "As if that's stopped you before?" He looks closer at R'hin, recognizing the troubled look there. "Something troubles you...something deeper then I know about all this. What is it? Or is this one of those things to bottle up and feel sorry for yourself when you lie by the lake, always wishing you had found a solution, but knowing it's to late? Ha." He glances at the two dragons, Maxeoth trying one of Leivenths statuesque poses, and a brief smile flits across his face. "If there is someone who can help you with something you cannot solve it is me." He adds in a soft, "Please let me help you, your tearing yourself apart." A sharp look is sent the brownrider's way, R'hin's eyes narrowed briefly, visibly angry, his hand slapping sharply against the step beside him. M'wen, however, is one of the few people that it is becoming increasingly clear he will pause and listen to before simply blurting his initial reaction. His gaze, too, drifts towards the dragons, a flicker of a smile, despite himself, at Maxeoth's actions. Leiventh cracks an eye to examine his fellow clutchmate, bemused. With a low exhale, the bronzerider finally says, "I could deal with this, easily, but I've no... wish to get drawn back into that world. It leaves with me two simple choices: roll over, give up Ayana, let him have his way. Or find something on him, something I can use as leverage to prevent him taking any action." A beat, as his eyes drift towards M'wen. "I need your advice. I'm... too close to this." Leiventh> To you, Leiventh's response to the look is simple, affectionate. « I am here. I am not going away. » M'wen shakes his head, a slight vehemence to his expression. "No. You can't give up Ayana. She gives you something no one else I've ever seen can." He pauses briefly for the two options. "You have to use blackmail against Bayan as the only alternative? We are two very different people..." A raise of the eyebrow and, "Advice on what? That's what I came to give, and it's something you need." An exhale of breath follows the others words, R'hin tipping his head back to gulp down the rest of the wine. He reaches for the bottle, refilling his glass, before tipping it in offering to do the same for M'wen. Again, that brief hesitation: "I'm with Ayana because I like her well enough, I find her refreshing, at times intriguing. She interests me. But it won't last forever. It's nice, but it's not... she won't ever see the real me. Does it make it worth it?" He grimaces. "As I said... Bayan is a different beast. You cannot treat him as you would someone with honor. He doesn't comprehend it. He cannot." "Is it worth it? Ask yourself that, not me. I'm nt the one who beds with her, I'm not the one who is her 'mystery bronzerider', I'm not....well you get the idea. Think through all the cause and effects of the relationship, is your love worth the anger and problems with her brothers? Were you not enemies with them before, thus making their threats as hollow as before?" After each idea, a slight pause is given, with a slight raise to the left eyebrow, waiting for a reaction. "It's not love." That response comes quick enough that it can't be anything but truth. R'hin grimaces a little, "And truth be told, being called her pet bronzerider is... not a position I'm eminently comfortable being associated with," he says, referring to their Igen trip. A little twitch of lips follows, and he concedes, "I was before, but we'd reached a brief truce, so to speak." M'wen shakes his head softly, "I really thought as much, love doesn't seem an emotion you could contain, unless it was for yourself." He laughs slightly at the admission, "Yes, but it makes it ever-so fun to see people like Satiet's expression when you get called that." Adding as an afterthought, "I daresay that if your feelings are nought towards her, and you only care for the physical aspect, then you go with the roll over option. But the problem I can see with that is Bayan wouldn't stop there...if you show weakness, he will take advantage of that, and he will try to take advantage of you...but still is it worth it to live a sham out of spite?" Pale eyes seem to glimmer with distant amusement, R'hin noting, "Satiet said much the same thing. If people keep saying that to me I may be in danger of believing it sometime soon." Once more, there's that hint of flippancy in his tone, though at his mention of Satiet's reaction, there's a return of that cold anger, barely masked before he glances away, sipping from his glass again. Voice is toneless as he says, "Perhaps you've better insight into the mind of the criminal than you give yourself credit for, M'wen. You're right, he'll take advantage of it." Fingers curl rather tightly around the glass, uneasy, "Spite is precisely why he's after me in the first place. If only I could get him to remain in Fort. I'd like to know what's between him and this goldrider of his, whether he'd stay for her, given the chance." M'wen smirks slightly at the comment, "Just because I don't think that way, doesn't mean I can't see and understand motives. Nice guys may finish last, but those are ones like L'sen who are so happy and carefree, they couldn't see a sinister motive if it was hitting them in the face. I can still treat people with respect and dignity, yet not be tricked by vagrants and criminals, trying to hid their true intentions behind a front of innocence, stupidity or jsut plain ignorance." The smirk becomes a slight smile, "Quite the hypocrite, our friend Bayan is, your not allowed to see his sister, but he's allowed to go gallivanting off with some goldrider." A faintly pleased exhale escapes R'hin, as he murmurs, "This is why you will be great, M'wen," he says, fervently, his own version of praise. His eyes drift towards the dragons again, musingly. "Very much so. He claims it is different, but I've been told otherwise. I'd imagine his brother Kamer has no like of either relationship, but I'd think a goldrider'd bother him more than a bronzerider without any sort of authority whatsoever." M'wen shakes his head slightly, "I don't know Kamer that well...I can only guess though from what I've seen from Bayan, I can't see that he has much...well, any good qualities to him." He then looks at R'hin, musingly, "This Bayan is sounding more and more like you, but then again, if your ego's got together, it'd crush the entire northern continant...." He looks out at the sky, past the dragons, looking deep in thought. After a long pause, "Greatness...is something...I do not want...but I can always feel deep inside, that it is my future, and nothing I can do will stop it...the wheels have already begun to turn..." Hes muttering softly to himself, then turning back to R'hin with a snap, and a slight grin of a mixture of apology and embarrasment. A low chuckle meets that comment, R'hin apparently in agreement, "That's true. Although, if you think about it... if Bayan and I were on the same side, it would be..." he trails off, as if realizing just what he's saying. "Powerful. Disturbing," he concludes, with an exhale, as if dismissing the notion. "People rarely -want- greatness. It is thrust upon them. I see it in you, M'wen, and trust me, I am an excellent judge of a person's nature. Though I'll admit, you surprised me. I didn't see it at first. It was only when you were given the opportunity to lead did you begin to shine. You'll have that opportunity again." The words are spoken honestly, without veiled hints or flippant tone, simply credit where he feels it is due. "Sometimes too much ambition can be a bad thing. A relationship between the two of you is impossible, and you saw to that by sleeping with his sister. True power cannot be achieved through tyranny, ambition, greed...If the people truely love their leader, then true greatness has been achieved. Hopefully one as scheming as you realizes that?" M'wen looks straight at R'hin, obviously expecting a reacion. Given the speed at which he dissmissed the possibility, it's clear R'hin does, and he says as much, "I realize. This is why I will never be a leader, M'wen," he says, simply, spreading his hands. M'wen sighs slightly, thinking of the irony of it all, "Yet you are the one with the ideas for the most radical change -- The thoughts, ideas, the future of pern -- all reside in your head, yet you are the one least likely, or least able, to bring them into the light. You see yourself as the advisor -- the one sitting beside the leader, ruling with the leader as a puppet to your schemes, but never taking the initiative...never taking the thought, to aim to be a leader. I can now truthfully understand why you feel you are inadequate, and regretably, I agree with you, You will never be a leader." The tone of regret is obvious, as M'wen knows R'hin is so set in his view of himself, that nothing will change him. Again seeing a slight bit of irony, "You are the one trying to breed the largest change on the world, yet least likely to change yourself." "Not a puppet," R'hin's tone is harsh - harsh enough that it seems that perhaps this very conversation has come up before, with someone else. "I will advise, and I will help as I may, but I seek to be no puppeteer." The harsh growl of his voice lingers in the air after he speaks, and it's a heartbeat or two before he continues, a tad more controlled, "I will do what you are unable to. I will do what needs to be done. I have found a leader that I believe in, and I will throw my weight behind her wholeheartedly... just as I did with you," a hand gestures in M'wen's direction, but he's looking out across the bowl. He hears the note of regret, and there's a hint of surprise at it, pale eyes flickering back to study M'wen's face, the slight tip of head wordless acknowledgement of what is left unsaid. Lips curve briefly, and he acknowledges, "Irony abounds in my life, M'wen. It seems apt, somehow. Fitting judgement, you might say." An exhale, then faintly, "Thank you." "Say what you will, your mind will tell you that you are just advising, but your body and soul will know that you are the puppeteer, pulling the strings every which way to suit your ambition. I am not trying offend you, not in the least, but I know how things work out, I'm just good at predicting outcomes, and with your way of doing things, puppeteering seems a small step at best." M'wen sighs, handing the empty glass back to R'hin, and walking up to his dragon, still trying to maintain a pose almost identical to Leivenths. "Your hospitality was most welcome, and remember, nothing I say is meant as a slight towards you or others, I am just stating fact, whether you wish to believe so or not. Lets Go Maxeoth!" And he hops up on his dragons back, winging down towards his weyr. M'wen climbs up onto Maxeoth's back, the dragon's sparkling eyes watching closely. M'wen has left. Maxeoth rises effortlessly into the sky. Maxeoth has left. Long after the brownrider has departed, R'hin is as still as Leiventh, staring sightlessly, obviously unsettled. With an abrupt exhale, as if coming to life again, he tosses back the remainder of the wine, pushing himself up. "I didn't think I'd ever meet someone more adept at unsettling me than you, Leiventh, but I think he just left." The flash of amusement from the statuesque bronze is met with a twitch of lips, and the scruffy-haired man fondly brushes a hand against the bronze's head before turning to disappear into his weyr, distracted, thoughtful. |
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