Logs:On Vacation
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| RL Date: 22 August, 2013 |
| Who: Ali, K'del |
| Involves: Fort Weyr, High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: K'del joins Ali for her vacation. There's news. |
| Where: K'del's Island, Western Islands |
| When: Day 20, Month 7 - Day 7, Month 8, Turn 32 |
| Mentions: Nakasha/Mentions, Reyvar/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: Backdated. |
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| Day 20, Month 7 It's Ali's first day at the island, and it takes her a while to get settled. There's the living area to clean up, things to put just where she likes them, food to be prepared. She's preoccupied, though when asked she talks about visiting home the day before, her newest nephew (and there's that jealous note there, of course), and about Hattie's return to work. It's only later, after they've eaten, that she shares the news with a mixture of trepidation and delight: "I'm pregnant." There's something different, comfortably different, about being here for more than a few stolen hours: K'del walks around barefooted, shirt untucked, and seems extra enthusiastic about everything. While Ali cooks, he has his vines to inspect and the veggie patch to tend to, but he's never far away. Her preoccupation is a direct counterpoint to how present he is, but he doesn't seem to notice. His questions are easy, but he's interested in the answers, one by one. And later, that news? "You're sure? Really truly?" His grin could so easily split his face apart, if only he let it. It doesn't take Ali all that long to fall into a very domesticated routine, either. Though there's tension about her, it leeches away moment by moment, until she sees the grin split his face, making her exhale and rush over into his embrace. "I saw the healers before I left," she says, with a smile into his shoulder. "They admonished me with warnings about being careful about this and that- but I suspect they do it to all first time mothers." The word /mother/ has her fairly beaming, radiating pleasure. K'del's arms instinctively wrap around Ali, one hand tangling into her hair as the other holds her in snugly. "Mothers," he repeats, pressing a kiss into her hair, his words muffled but not to the point of being inaudible. "You're going to be an amazing mother." You'd think, the way he beams, that this was new for him, too - that this was a first for both of them. "We're going to have a baby!" A baby is surely cause for celebration. There's no bubbly to pop yet - but there's certainly other ways to celebrate the occasion. (Before they practiced. Now they can celebrate.)
Day 24, Month 7 Over the following days, there's plenty of discussion on names. Ali seems to think it's a boy, judging by all the male-slanted names she suggests. Wishful thinking? The Fortian's preoccupied again, otherwise - she mentions her Turnday, with some hesitation (the age is probably weighing more on her than she admits aloud, her expression suggesting much), and her fingers distractedly brush her belly as she does so. Late one night, her voice quiet voice ventures: "Did I ever tell you about Reyvar?" Isyath is asleep, contentedly curled on the beach next to Cadejoth, unbothered by being out-of-doors. Ali's boy names have a tendency to provoke girl names from K'del, but they're teasing ones - and, as he acknowledges, his family is definitely more inclined to throw boys. He's protective without being overbearing, always ready to jump up and fetch things, or offer to rub her back or her feet, needed or not. Of her turnday, he has nothing but promises of specialness, though there's not much he can say to reassure on that age - except that he thinks she's beautiful, and will think so when she's forty, fifty, sixty... forever. In the dark, so late, he watches her, and hesitates before answering. "Your brother," he says, by way of answer. Ali twists around until she's on her stomach, leaning her chin on K'del's upper arm. From that angle, he can kind of see her eyes, the mess of her hair falling across them. When she first speaks, the words are halting, but less so as she continues, "Yaret and Reyvar and I did everything together when we grew up. They were my best friends. And they were my brothers, so we fought but... they were always there for me. After- after I went to Fort, Reyvar disappeared. We haven't- I haven't heard from him in Turns, and I didn't know where he was, but I know now." She chews her lower lip, obviously uncertain. "He's- he likes to gamble. He taught me to play cards. If he's in trouble, it's his own fault, but... he was always there for me." She looks at K'del, like he might have the answer: like he's the older, wiser of them, and will be able to provide some sage advice that will solve everything. No pressure, though! K'del's other arm reaches across to push some of her hair away, though it's as much a gesture of affection and comfort as it is intended to let him see her more clearly. A low breath whistles through his teeth as he inhales, and then exhales again. "When my sister went missing," he says, in a low careful voice, "knew there was no way I could rest until I was sure she was safe. Even though I knew she'd gone deliberately, that it was her choice. She was my sister, and I needed to be sure. And so do you. Especially if you think he's in trouble... you'll help him, if you can. If he is." It's part assumption, part not-quite question. "Just don't go as yourself. And... stay safe. Be careful. And if there's anything I can do... If it's safer." That brush of her hair earns a smile from Ali, though it fades soon enough. "I- didn't know she'd gone missing. You found her, though?" statement, not question: she's listening to his advice with a thoughtful look. "I'll be careful," the dark-haired woman promises with a smile for his concern, which seems to suggest she's taking his advice to heart, twisting her head to rest against his chest, so that her expression can't be seen. She's silent long enough that he might suspect she's asleep, but the careful measured tones that follow suggest otherwise: "I kind of hope it's a boy first. So he can look after his sister." "I didn't know where she was for turns," explains K'del, into the darkness rather than to Ali, as though in remembering it he has no choice but to relive it, alone and also not-alone. "But she's safe and happy, and now that I know that, it's easier, even if we don't talk much." His gaze slides back to the goldrider, then, his hand smoothing at her hair once more. He doesn't answer her comment on being careful - it goes without saying that he supports it - and stares up at the dark ceiling in the silence that follows. Her comment makes him smile, whether or not it's visible. "Every boy needs a sister to look after him," he agrees. "And every girl needs a brother. We'll have to have at least one of each." "At least," Ali agrees, and he can hear the smile in her voice, even if he can't see it.
Day 3, Month 8 A seven on, and they have their routine - sleeping in late, making breakfast together, Ali cleaning inside while K'del tends to the garden and the vines. Ali's mentioned Boll a few times: a meeting that will require her back at Fort in a few days. Today, though, she's with him out in the fields, barefoot like him; her fingers twined with his, swinging their hands as they walk. She's laughing, relaxed- Isyath's mood has a lot to do with it, the gold's delight fairly audible, her starry thoughts drifting down over the island as she soars high above, soaring beneath, past, racing over Cadejoth. "Let's sleep out here tonight," Ali declares, abruptly. "Issy says there's not a cloud in the sky." K'del managed to get all of this time off (after two previous absences, one after the flight and the other for that camping trip with his children) by picking up extra work before his departure, but even so, there's only so long he can stay, too; Boll is a convenient deadline, but that's still days away, and for now, he's content to live the cothold life as if he were born to it (or, more accurately: as if he never left it). Ali's relaxation makes him smile an endless, eager, near beatific smile of his own; he's quick to acquiesce to her suggestion, pleased with it. "Camping," he says, with a grin. "Perfect." Above, Cadejoth dives, and then reaches higher again, in his element. Home? No, he doesn't need home. "I'll cheat a little bit, though," Ali admits, with a sheepish (but not entirely apologetic) smile, "By making food on a real hearth, first. I-" she tips her head backwards, squinting against the sunlight- watching their dragons, "-think we'll have to take them hunting tomorrow. Where do you want to go?" Immediately, the starry thoughts of the Fortian queen are replaced with images of fat herdbeasts, waddling along, though that doesn't last; they might be tasty but they're no challenge. Instead, there are /fast/ beasts, and she and Cadejoth hunt them down. « Southern? » for Cadejoth. /She/ likes the taste of the wild ones: does he? Mock horrified, K'del gives Ali an aghast look, squeezing her hand. "What, you don't fancy cooking on a campfire when there's a perfectly good hearth only a short distance away? Madness!" His gaze follows hers, giving the two dragons an appraisingly thoughtful glance. "From the sounds of it," he adds, "Isyath certainly has a preference. Wild beasts down south? Not opposed to that, if it'll make them happy." Cadejoth, certainly, has a predator's glee for such an excursion, showing Isyath an image of how fierce they say be, those fast beasts no match for the combined prowess of this pair of dragons. « They taste better, » is his opinion. « And they're more fun. » "I know, I know. Ruining the true spirit of camping," Ali confesses, "But in my defense, we didn't come prepared with camping gear." It's totally an excuse and she knows it. "South?" she echoes, with a knowing sort of grin. "Figured. Well, it'll give us a chance to collect some fresh fruit to last us the last few days." « Yesss. » He /gets/ it, and Isyath's thrilled with this. « The run makes them taste better. » The gold's practically salivating. It's just a shame she'll probably keep them up for most of the night with impatient speculation about what they'll find. "Next time!" K'del's not wholly serious with that remark - at least the 'cooking on a campfire' part of it, rather than the 'next time we camp' implication, which he probably does intend as a promise and threat combined. "In a way," he admits, "it's nice to know that we don't have to go back to either of our Weyrs for that purpose, you know? Like going back would break the - we'd be back, even if it were only temporary. South is a much better idea." For Cadejoth, a lack of sleep will be well worth it: he's as excited as Isyath is, and perhaps more than he would be, his excitement rebounding off of hers, accordingly enhanced. « They won't see what hit them, » he declares, confidently. « Except that they'll be terrified. » As they should be! "I can't exactly sneak in- Issy'll tell everyone we were back if we went to Fort." And Ali isn't prepared to go back yet, that's for sure. She's focused on the /now/: "Let's scout out a place to bed down. I want to be somewhere we can see the stars." Like an excited pair of children, their dragons are: maybe tomorrow, after they've eaten, there will be a few more days of peace, before they have to leave, to head back to their other homes. "I don't want to think about being back, not yet," admits K'del, but it's not a statement he has any intention of dwelling upon - the now really is much more interesting, and much more fulfilling. There'll be no more mentions of either of their homes from K'del, in the days that follow, nor from Cadejoth. For now? All that matters is right here. |
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