Logs:Playing Coy
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| RL Date: 30 June, 2015 |
| Who: W'leri, X'vin |
| Involves: Fort Weyr, Fort Hold |
| Type: Log |
| What: W'leri trades his new knot in for an old knot. |
| Where: Fort Hold |
| When: Day 20, Month 2, Turn 38 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Ebeny/Mentions, Lilah/Mentions, N'muir/Mentions |
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| The first impressions of change have come swiftly on X'vin's heels, with Besmernyth taking no time to establish himself in the minds of each dragon, if not inexorably as leader then certainly as a dragon they should exercise caution with. X'vin is so much milder by comparison, his insistence gentle and guiding, suggestions as to how they should spend their time, truly demanding them only for sweeps over the area and, today, for touching down on the Hold, an olive branch that meets suspicious eyes. It's hard to tell if it's going well by the time X'vin finds a moment to pull W'leri aside. "How are you finding being a weyrlingmaster?" he asks, with genuine interest, tilting his head to indicate the path to the courtyard, another gentle suggestion to follow, but he's already got his hands stuffed in his jacket pocket and is ambling down it. W'leri will have to follow to hear, "Is it all you'd hoped for and more?" However suspicious their new wingleader's actions - for his predilection for Fort Hold - and his transfer from Benden Weyr, at least W'leri's presence amongst his former wingmates is a welcome retreat. He's generously taken time from his weyrling charges to attend the wing's exercises over Fort, and subsequent touch at the Hold. "Pleased as pie, sir," W'leri drawls, his eyes shooting ahead to follow the path X'vin designates. "Don't know that I thought I'd be up at the ass crack of dawn, teaching a bunch of idiots how to cut meat and feed it to dragons." His pace keeps steady. "What 'bout you?" "Easier than I'd thought, in some ways," X'vin says with a smile, a glance to the top of the hold where his dragon's lengthy form is perched, watching. "The weyrleaders made it seem like I was walking headlong into a den of whers, but I find the riders in this wing much more agreeable than all that." He kicks at a stone as they progress, watching it skitter off the path and into the leg of a bench. "In other ways, it's harder. I find it easier when you're here, to sway them. They're very willful, for all their good nature." This acknowledgement twists X'vin's mouth into a wry, strained smile. "I'd prefer you to be with us exclusively -- Ebeny's team is large enough to spare you, and I would rather not." "Did they now?" W'leri is suddenly very interested in what the weyrleaders had to say about his long-time wingmates. "A more loyal, disparaging lot you'll never find," he says, with no small amount of pride and arrogance ringing in his voice. "Sure you've got your.. merits.. but that's hard to see when you just got off your dragon and you're already callin' shots." It's not unpleasant, the way the bluerider converses, and he seems at ease in the company - however far - of the other Flint riders. "You wanna steal me about from Ebeny?" His eyebrows hike, at that. "I believe Lilah's exact implication was that I would regret this knot. It seems disingenuous." W'leri's assessment of the group is met with two things: a gentle flaring of the nostrils, and a low rumble that vibrates the wall. "Their loyalty is apparent. It's a good trait, but... I need it to shift, if we're to do any good. T'rev was a good wingleader, from what I hear -- but he retired when I offered him the 'second knot. I hardly thought we'd be that distasteful." He shrugs it away, turning directly to W'leri. "It's hardly stealing you when you should have been here in the beginning," he says. "But if that's how you're looking at it, yes. I'll need to appoint someone who will be here, and I'd prefer it was someone they already like. Respect." "Glad our weyrwoman has such high opinions of her riders," W'leri replies, placidly. "Give 'em time." He gives X'vin a surprised look from the corners of his eyes. "You got here not more'n a sevenday ago." His advice spent, he flexes his shoulders out and shoves his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "Don't if it's me or," he shrugs, "Ebeny might. N'muir might. You're the boss. You say jump, I ask how high. Have a care for these bones. I'd prefer not to jump off my dragon, midair, but if you insist," is droll, blue eyes neutral despite his callous smirk. "She doesn't fly with you. With us," it's a clunky correction, and he's not used to lumping himself in with these strangers for all he leads them. "She wouldn't know, and frankly, she seems less the sort to form second opinions. I don't rightly care what she thinks, truth told. Any more than I'm worried about what Ebeny or N'muir might think about me taking you back. I can deal with their backlash, and will." When he laughs full and from the belly, obviously tickled in contrast to W'leri's bearing. "I wouldn't ask that of you," he says. "I do insist you trade in that," a dismissive flick of the fingers to his AWLM knot, "for this." He must have had some level of confidence he would leave this conversation victorious, because he has the wingsecond knot with him -- not the junior, but the senior -- and holds it out. "You don't?" Now, W'leri settles back on his heels, his frosty eyes considering the other, taller man with a twist of imprudence. "Think the Weyr won't take notice of a bronzerider, from as far as Benden, coming in right after we get a new acting?" His mouth spreads in a grin. "I'd think you care, a whole lot, what she thinks." It's not malice, but more of an enterprising gleam in the depths of his pale blues; and not coincidentally, warmth of approval in his gritty voice. "So soon?" His eyes flick down to the knot X'vin holds out. "I'm not that easy of a girl, X'vin, but.." Fingers reaches and grasp, pulling it from his wingleader. "Y'know the way to a gal's heart, sir." "Only so far as I must, but Lilah's rash. Impulsive." First impressions, followed by the careful assessment, "I think N'muir might not be pushed by her so much." Again is implied. X'vin's eyes widen a little, his smile endearingly wholesome. He looks very innocent. "I want them to take notice, W'leri. The only way to incite change is to make people pay attention. Nobody likes to turn around and find the world is suddenly different." He gives a meaningful look to the entrance, where most of the riders are now milling together, their duties here done. A few stragglers are making their way in pairs and trios to join them. There is an irony to his next, given how evasive he's been -- continues to be: "Only one of us needs to be coy here. I find it's generally easier to be direct, but it's not always best. You strike me as direct. It's why I didn't push for anyone else. I don't think you'll disappoint me." W'leri looks impressed, sounds impressed by his low, shoulder-shaking chuckle. "They noticed alright," he says to the bronzerider, eyes moving past to the riders coming their way. "No. I won't," is his last, meaningful shot, before the others can make it within hearing range. X'vin claps him on the shoulder, pleased. "Perfect. Shall we?" Besmernyth thinks they shall; he's been staring at the pair expectantly, and now opens his wings, drawing his spidery limbs together and glides over the courtyard to meet the rest of the wing. He waits there patiently among them, looking somehow as smug as his rider. X'vin moves in his wake, just as a pair of riders breaks away to come meet them with reports. |
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