Logs:Quashing Quests
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| RL Date: 1 May, 2013 |
| Who: Alida, Ilicaeth, K'zin, Rasavyth |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Alida wants to rebel. K'zin declines to participate. There's more there than K'zin understands (what else is new?). |
| Where: Stables, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 2, Month 9, Turn 31 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Aishani/Mentions, Vienne/Mentions, N'ky/Mentions, Azaylia/Mentions |
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| Stables, High Reaches Weyr Taking advantage of a natural overhang in the side of the mountain for its roof, this building boasts sturdy stone construction braced by beams of tough-as-nails skybroom. Just inside a pair of broad doors, the ceiling rises a full two stories high for the full length and half the width of the building. Beneath the overhang, wide windows admit light and more fresh air, while opposite is the second-story hayloft. The stables' main focus, however, is the double rows of stalls that line the walls below: one large stall serving as tack room, the rest housing a remarkable variety of beasts. Dry, rasping sands hover at the preiphery of Rasavyth's mercurial mirrors, a faint swirl of grey and mica transforming into powdery dust with a faint shimmer as it tests for the bronze's attention. If the blue can get it, his warm baritone notes, « If y'gotta' few moments, Alida wants ta' fly with K'zin. » Hints of humor and secrecy dance at the fringes of his communication. (To Rasavyth from Ilicaeth) As steam wiped from a mirror, Rasavyth's mindscape becomes momentarily cleared by a brisk gritty breeze of the bronzes' own making. What can be seen is a five tiered expertly crafted dragonchess board. A shimmering mechanical bug sits at one side and a puddle of ooze at the other. He's playing himself, and from the looks of things, the game is only half-won. « I am busy just now, Ilicaeth. Exercising. » It's a form of mental exercise, to be certain, and far more complex than would appeal to most dragons. « My K'zin is in the stables, making arrangements. Your Alida might find him there if she like. » Then the steam redoubles and the bronze's mindscape is obscured, though there is no sense that he himself is gone, just that he's not letting anyone watch his strategy. (To Ilicaeth from Rasavyth) Dragon chess...alone? Okay, whatever. That's the feeling the blue gives off, though he leaves his brilliant bronze bro to his own devices. Still, before he swirls off, « Yep. » It's a clipped acknowledgement of both K'zin's location and perhaps the blue's own 'wait and see' attitude towards what his own rider has in mind. (To Rasavyth from Ilicaeth) And soon enough, Alida's strolling into the stables in casual fashion, her torso home to a rider's jacket, riding goggles depanding from their strap about the back of her neck. Looking about to find her partner, green eyes finally meet with browns, and the blonde's lipping off, "Arrangements?" in sotto voice to K'zin. Really, who else is there to play five-tiered dragonchess with? The number of dragons up to this challenge might be counted on one hand. Iesaryth, perhaps. Or maybe Oswinth? His personality is intriguing enough to bring him to the bronze's mind. But either there is a purpose to playing himself or the others that might be able to provide him with challenge are indisposed or weren't asked. There's a vague sensation of all of this this, flashes of the dragons who might actually enjoy a game of five-tiered mental dragonchess. It's not that there aren't other dragons who could understand the rules and play, but few who take the amount of pleasure in doing it and it's no fun to play with someone who doesn't really want to. Even K'zin's only able to manage two tiers so far, much to the bronze's frustration. And even so, K'zin's pitiful at two level. He's really still on his first level of strategy. It's a rambling sensation that shares all of this with his blue clutchmate. The ramble might stem from the focus he's placing on carrying on the game with himself. (To Ilicaeth from Rasavyth) Alida has good timing, it would seem, because just as she strolls in, K'zin's clapping one of the stablemaster's assistants on the shoulder. "Thanks. Sounds perfect." And the older man is headed along his way about his own business. The weyrling turns to find his fellow coming along, and he's wearing a riding get up of his own - but not for flying. His is for riding. It's actually quite a nice set of runner riding clothes, a crop tucked into his left boot. "Hey, 'lida. Yeah. Remember when you said girls don't want runner shit on a date? I think I'm going to chance it." This is said with a grin to the guardswoman who gave him that advice oh-so-long ago. "What's up?" He's mood isn't completely carefree, but he seems to be having a good few moments. It's not the game, so much as Rasavyth's sensations, his feelings on other dragons, people that make Ilicaeth disposed to continue to listen, though silently. If the bronze is the brilliant intellect of this alliance, then Alida (and by default, since he's learning quickly from her, Ilicaeth) is the canny wisdom, the experience...and as such, the blue seeks to better himself and his rider via observance and interaction. A quirk of head for the assistant taking his leave, a bob of her pale head for him lead into a lift of brow for the bronzer, and a drawled, "Aaaand? Yer gonna try ta' ride a runner for the first time?" Unspoken, tacit in her tone: good luck. A roll of shoulder greets Waki's inquiry, the guard murmuring, "Been thinkin' about lookin' at some uv' those abandoned weyrs on my own."
"Well, that's nice...'n new," Alida smirks at Waki, apparently both approving and vaguely surprised by his use of common sense, this time. "Didn' know you 'n Nicky were buddies from way back." Beat. "Makes sense." The other weyrling's playful nudge earns him a bland look and then a wink, the blonde then making an 'ahh' face and nodding a couple of times. Out of center field: "Gonna be tryin' ta' get into her pants soon?" Cue a thin, crass little smirk. "Yeah, though it's been over a Turn since I've climbed aboard a runner's back." A look around after a neck crane to peer at the closest, stalled runners presages her alto, "I used ta' help gentle the hardest ones ta' accept bit 'n tack." What? Her, the hard ass, gentle an animal? As for weyrs, "I mean 'look at.' Duh." Eyeroll. "Get a first look at whatever looks likely. Not as a group." Peer. "Wanna come with? We'd be exploring." Wigglewiggle goes the carrot. "We met when we were taking the same class at Smith. I trained mostly here, but had to go for certain classes and stuff. Nicky was there studying for his ferrier training. He's better with runners than I am. Him working with beastcraft and all." A little roll of his shoulders, and his expression is starting to darken with all this talk of the 'good ol' days,' so K'zin's more than happy to latch onto happier topics: "Zay's worried about distracting us, so I think she doesn't want me in her pants until after we've learned the important stuff. Ras thought maybe--" He purses his lips and then shrugs again, "Guess I'll have to wait and see. If I do get in her pants, I won't be telling you. Since you don't want to trade those sorts of stories with me anyway." He winks, tone turning teasing. "You did?" A brow raises for Alida's own experiences with runners. Yes, that's a degree of disbelief on his expressive face. "Did you choke-hold them first or something?" Again with the teasing. Then brows are swooping downward, "What if you accidentally get the wrong weyr and walk into someone's home?" "The farrier thing...yeah, follows again," Alida murmurs, though her expression twists just a hint at darkly humored pouting when Waki speaks of Azaylia. "Man, you're not much fun anymore. Can't even make ya' blush talkin' about sex." A quick little grin erupts over the guard's lips, quickly flowing into a small smirk when the bronzer seems surprised at her former duties. At first, it looks as though she might get right up in Waki's face when he inquires about her choke-holding runners, but instantly the tease in his tone alters what might've been ugly into a faintly sour, "Ass. Yeah, I broke their legs 'n cut off their tails, then they bowed down before me." Eyeroll, nose-wrinkle. "I won't." She sounds very certain. The unused weyrs don't carry much dragon scent, if any. And 'caeth 'n I'll both be on the look-out for telltale signs uv' habitation. If we're in doubt, we won't enter." Grin. "C'mon, Waki; here's yer chance ta' check out digs 'n have a head start on the others. Just think about it... a chance t'know where the hearths an' the baths in weyrs 'r located." Carrotcarrotcarrot. "Maybe," K'zin begins with an amused smile, his arm coming up slowly enough that she'll know it's coming to drop gently across her shoulders in a conspiratorial manner, "You just have to up your game to get me to blush now. It's not that I'm no fun," He comments quietly, "It's that you can now consider me a challenge." His arm doesn't remove once that's said, and he uses it even to gently encourage her to walk with him towards the exit of the stables, since his business is concluded, but will stop and stand if she doesn't seem inclined to go. "So you want to go on an adventure." He parrots, thoughtfully. "And if in a pair of turns from now, there's a new weyrling class, and one or two of them thinks to go on an adventure and stumbles into your weyr, what do you suppose you'd do to them? Flay them alive? Dangle them off your ledge by a toe? Have Ilicaeth singe their back-hair off?" She watches him while he's acting cool and moving that arm about her, but the guard does nothing except stiffen up some, as usual, when folks get close to her. "We'll see if yer worth it..." comes Alida's drawled, smirky reaction to having to up the ante, her green eyes firing when Waki notes that he's now a challenge. "Make me wonder just how y'apparently got so savvy so quick." Oh yes, she's observing him, while also smirking softly, allowing the ex-Smith to walk her towards the exit. "Why're y'worrying about others Turns from now?" Beat. "Oh wait... you wanna' be the big cheese someday...gotta' think about others." See, even she's changing some. "Depends on how they entered, when they did it. Not many riders 'r guards." Twinkle. "Depends on my mood, too. I might just run th'm off with threats uv' death." "As you like. It's not my entertainment that's in jeopardy here." K'zin responds smoothly, grinning at the guard and sliding his arm off from behind her shoulders now that they're both moving. Rather than answer directly, he answers her wondering with a question of his own, "How did you get so personable so quick? I imagine the answer's the same." His hand reaches to push through his locks, that despite the option to let them grow, he's kept clipped to a shaggy short state, long enough to flop over his eyes every now and again, but by no means as long as his mane once was. "Not only that," Though that's a good enough assumption that he'll let it ride as truth, "But the ones in a few turns from now are us right now. Say we run into your twin with a different face and story up there in one of the weyrs we're nosing around it. Some risks are worth taking, some adventures worth having, but to get to see something first? Not worth it. Especially if we get caught. I'm trying to get a silver thread here, remember?" Wasn't that her idea? Or, isn't he at least willing in this moment to let her think it was all hers? Apparently. "Damn straight..." comes Alida's riposte, her grin wide and bright for a few moments, easing into a low, "Mhm...s'what I thought," when K'zin speaks of how they both changed relatively quickly. With his continuance and refusal comes first the bluie's twist of lips, frown lines forming at brow, slides of mouth, then her heavy, loud sigh and a pivot about to face her fellow weyrling. "I figured that's how y'd take it...but I had ta' try. Guess I'll have ta' be the daring one, given I ain't got as much ta' lose." The blonde's voice sounds as dusty and parched as Ilicaeth's, though with much more darkness layered within it. "It is the role you wanted to play, wasn't it? The rule-breaking hot-head? Speaking of, if you're going to get that first part right," That first part she never actually indicated but he's pleasantly interjected, "You'd better get on the rule breaking before there's no more rules to break." A wiggle of his brows is directed to the woman in what is surely a suggestive manner. Why is it he can joke so cavalierly with Alida about sex when it's such a mess with everyone else? Probably because he feels the possibility of her up and coming onto him is about as likely as him standing at the next Hatching and Impressing gold to make a set of it. Even if he would make for a pretty goldrider. Why does she seem so suddenly angry and dour at K'zin's words? Alida's features pinch with sudden bitterness, the blonde swinging away from her bronze clutchmate to look out at the shadowy entrance to the Weyr-proper. For a goodly set of moments, there's nothing but the sounds of runners, the breeze - which speaks of a too short summer now pretty much gone - and the quiet breathing of both humans. After some moments more, her too-casual, slightly brittle voice notes, "When we graduate...if you wear a dress, I will, too." There; how's that for rule breaking and weird statements. K'zin looks for a moment as her mood abruptly shifts as though he's about to ask if he's crossed some line he didn't know about, but then there is that deal offered to him and it causes him to cross his arms over his chest, casually, not tight or defensive, but arm laid over arm across his pecs. His lips purse as he considers. "First of all, I'm not sure you could be trusted not to choke to death if I did that. And secondly, that's a social convention, not a rule, and contrary to popular belief, that would make me, again, being the one to break the social construct, instead of you. Where's your rule-breaking? What image are we cultivating for me? Man in a dress? I think not." The days of dress-wearing, it might seem, are over for K'zin. "Besides, Ras already commissioned my new leathers for graduation. He'd never forgive me if I wore a dress, and who wants a lifetime of that kind of headache? Not I." He lived with headaches enough in their first few months. "Make me a better offer." He challenges serenely. "You don't get it..." Alida murmurs, her voice a soft spill of leftover bitterness, and more hollow casualness. If there was supposed to be humor in part of Waki's remonstrance of her offer, the blonde doesn't hear it, her pale head shaking once, even as she begins to stride off back towards the Weyr. As ever, the guard appears to be 'take it or leave it...' And since K'zin didn't take, she's leaving. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. Either way, he's not rushing after her to make the deal. Evidently, it's not a deal to his liking, or perhaps Rasavyth's. K'zin's stroll does have him following her though, only in so much as they're heading back the same way. His footfalls are lazy and as he walks his expression grows somber, likely thinking of the most recent things he can't fix, and hurts he doesn't know how to help. She remains silent as well, Alida unable and perhaps unwilling to explain the complex and quirky intricacies of her mind to even a friend. And when they both re-enter the Weyr, an equally-silent Ilicaeth is found awaiting his rider, the blue unashamedly lowering his head to very delicately butt it into the woman's torso. Even with such gentleness, she's staggered just a touch backwards, pale hands reaching out to balance the woman at the sides of her dragon's muzzle as his breath sends wisps of her hair fluttering. « If you won't share, he can't understand. » It's simple words of wisdom from the heart, dry desert sands skating past the partial cup of bluish granite that holds her. (Ilicaeth to Alida) So bitter, so dark, so alone...except for him. « It isn't just him, anymore, 'caeth. If it was...maybe. » Damned if she's going to let herself spiral down into a 'mood,' though...and the grit of her determination, the steel of her backbone sharpen, focus once more. (Alida to Ilicaeth) The only thing K'zin offers further to the blonde is: "Enjoy your adventure, 'Lida, 'caeth." A polite nod for the blue. He won't join them, but he will wish them well. As for him? His path is taking him away from the barracks, toward some other place entirely. "Maybe..." the blonde murmurs to the departing K'zin as she removes her hands from her blue...Ilicaeth turning one of his heavily-ridged eyes upon the bronzer for a moment, then looking back at his lifemate. When she's certain Waki's out of range, the blonde scrambles up a proffered forelimb and onto her dragon's neck, buckling herself in with deliberation, then quickly double-checking every strap and join by hand and eye. A silent command brings the full unfurling of Ilicaeth's unusually-marked and oversized wings - their very tips scraping the ground lightly - then his predatory crouch and explosive hurling of his tough form at the sunset sky. How Alida doesn't suffer whiplash is anyone's guess. |
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