Logs:Rhey's Fears
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| RL Date: 18 March, 2014 |
| Who: L'sha, Rh'mis |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: L'sha is proddy. Rhey is... terrified. |
| Where: Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 13, Month 4, Turn 34 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: G'laer/Mentions |
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| Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr The Snowasis is rarely quiet, and even then, the high-ceilinged former weyr is kept from echoing by the fantastical booths tucked into its convoluted perimeter. The secluded seating spaces have been shaped from the truncated stalagmites that escaped the smoothing of the main floor, and are both softened and separated by colorful hangings that are thick and opaque enough to make each corner its own private nook. Some of the smaller stalactites still roam the ceiling, their jagged teeth tracing a bumpy, inverted spine to the hearth. There, a thick rug with a low klah table and comfortable armchairs and couches sit, their upholstery and cushions changed sporadically to match the season: bright, light colors in the summer, fresh greens and yellows in the spring, warm autumnals in fall, and clear, rich hues for winter. Small tables litter the rest of the cavern, enough to fit up to four people each, while stools stand along the smooth wooden bar behind which is the passthrough window to the kitchen. Glass-paneled cabinetry behind the bar provides a clear view of the available liquors, the many colors reflecting the soft light of glows tucked into strategic niches around the cavern. L'sha is all smiles as he enters the bustling establishment, cheerily maneuvering his way through the crowd and weaving through jostling bodies, enjoying the feel of the crowd around him. He makes eye contact with several riders and waves to familiar faces in the crowd. After finally getting to the bar, he catches the eye of the bartender and orders a drink. A minute or so later, he's in posession of an enormous, blue, fruity cocktail with a tiny umbrella stuck in it. He sips the drink and scans the crowd, possibly for a familiar face or a good-looking stranger. Since graduation, Rhey has been even less accessible than ever, and rumour has it he barely participates in his wing; but then, is that really surprising? For whatever reason, though, he's a couple of minutes behind L'sha in entering the Snowasis, wet through and obviously excessively grumpy. He's not paying attention to the people around him, and so he simply doesn't notice L'sha-- instead, he aims himself for the bar quite by coincidence, hovering there as he waits for someone to take his order. L'sha leans back a bit to get a better look as he sees a familiar face, then picks up his drink and walks around a couple of patrons to sidle up to the bar next to Rhey. Whoah, way too close. Personal space invasion time. Nearly yelling to make himself heard over the din of the bar, "Rhey, hello! I haven't seen you since graduation! Congratulations, by the way! How do you like Iceberg? How are you and Rosvelth doing?" He stops gabbing to sip at the huge drink in his hand. Way too close. Way too close. Rhey takes an immediate step back, very nearly walking into another patron, and just eyes L'sha, something akin to fear written all over his face. "Take a step back," he says, through gritted teeth. "Or I will break you in half." He's more than half a foot shorter: this seems unlikely. L'sha almost doesn't even register the threat, but moves back a bit and leans his side against the bar, facing Rhey. "Sorry, it's a bit crowded in here. Guess I got too close." He grins. "Do you want to sit down somewhere quieter? I can barely hear over here." "Yes," says Rhey. "I guess you did." The bartender approaches, leaving the brownrider able to order a drink, finally: whiskey, cheap. When he turns back, he's still got a wary look to his expression, and L'sha's grin doesn't seem to do much to ease it. "I'd rather not," he says. "We can talk here. If we need to talk. Did you need something?" L'sha looks a bit disappointed, but shrugs and sips his drink, pointing to the giant goblet. "These are fantastic, you should try one! I love the drinks they make here. But no, nothing in particular, just wanted to know how you and Rosvelth are doing, how you're getting along in your wing. I'm in Avalanche! It's great so far, I'm learning so much! Some of the formations and maneuvers they do are flat-out amazing." He makes a gesture with his hand, holding it horizontal with his palm down and swiveling his wrist to emphasize the point. Rh'mis's hands twitch from where they linger at his thighs, as though they'd quite like to be doing something more active. For now, they're restrained. "Good for you," he says, blandly, using those words to encompass pretty much everything the greenrider has said. "We're fine. Iceberg is fine. Riderhood is fine." L'sha gives a brief frown at Rhey's attitude, but then grins a bit more slyly and leans slightly closer to the brownrider (but not too close). "And I suppose another congratulations are in order for you and Rosvelth winning Teisyth's flight. First time out! That's quite an accomplishment, you know. Usually, it takes years of trying to win your first flight. Beating out more experienced dragons is something to be proud of. Something Rosvelth will treasure, I'm sure." It's still too close, and were it not for the sudden arrival of his drink, Rhey would likely be back to defensive mode. Instead, he turns away to accept the glass, taking several deep breaths as he does so. "He's forgotten," he says, sharply, and sounding distinctly closer to upset, now. "Let's keep it that way. He was unlucky, that's all." Yes. Unlucky. L'sha's frown is back, and it deepens. He stares at the brownrider, sets his glass down on the bar and stands, his face becoming flush and breathing more rapid, through the nose. "You know what?" His voice rises even louder now, "I'm so 'sick' of your lousy attitude." Even louder now, and some of the bar patrons are looking his way. "All through weyrlinghood I've put up with it. You were given a gift, a gift. The greatest gift this world has to offer, and you act like it's some kind of...I don't know, punishment or a joke or something! It makes me sick! It's a slap in the face to every rider in this Weyr! My mother and father! Our weyrling class, your wing, the weyrleaders! What the fuck is WRONG with you?" He's fuming now, nostrils flaring. People to either side back away, expecting a fight to break out any time. There's silence for a moment, and then Rhey's hand forms a fist at his side; he lifts it, he aims it, and then he lets fly, aiming right for L'sha's face. Whether it connects or not, the brownrider's words are angry: "Fuck you. You have no idea what you're talking about." The hand wrapped around his glass tightens, too, but at least he doesn't aim that at the greenrider's face. L'sha's head darts back, but too late, although Rhey all but telegraphed the punch. He doesn't get the full impact, but goes down anyway. Fortunately, the other patrons backed up, so no one else gets knocked over. A hand covers his face and he's silent for a moment, lying at the foot of the bar. After a few seconds, L'sha's shoulders begin to shudder and he's wracked with sobs, taking in a great shuddering breaths. Soon, he's crying unconsolably. Rhey... clearly did not expect that. Of course, he's not exactly thinking clearly, here, with the red fog that has enveloped his brain, but... still. He glances from the fallen greenrider to his fist, and then back again, and by the 'back again', L'sha is sobbing. "Are you fucking kidding me?" he yells, heedless of the fact that they have an audience. "You pussy. You girl. Coward. Wuss. Can't even take it like a man." L'sha picks himself off the ground and stands, seeming to ignore the stream of insults hurled at him. It's nothing he hasn't heard a thousand times before. He dusts himself off, then raises his eyes to look at Rhey. His voice is much softer now. "I'm s-sorry, Rhey, I don't know what came over me. Well, actually, I think I do." He sniffles, then looks over his shoulder out toward the bowl. "I think she'll rise soon." He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself and his emotions. "I thought I could handle it, but I guess I just lost it there. Will you forgive me?" He takes a sip of his drink, for a moment looking like a very tall ten-year-old. If anything, this is even worse - and especially the mention of Rillaeth and her impending flight. It makes Rhey's eyes bug out; it makes him take another involuntary step back. "Fine, whatever," he says, hastily. "How long?" It's quietly urgent. "Before she rises. How long." Does he have time to flee? L'sha's eyebrows flick upward. "I'm not sure, maybe a sevenday or so." His eyes drop down slightly, his voice a bit lower. "Do you want to chase?" He takes a step toward Rhey, staring at him now. "Do you think you can catch m... her? Do you?" Rh'mis takes another step back. "No!" is panicked; it's very nearly hysterical. "No. No. I'll keep him away. We'll-- go. Leave. We won't bother you." Another step. He drains the entirety of his drink in a single gulp, barely reacting to what must be an intense burn as it goes down. L'sha cocks his head to the side and looks at Rhey with an expression of pity. "Awww. You sure? You don't know what you'd be missing." A grin slowly spreads across his face. "You never know, you might actually have fun." He picks up the glass and drinks the rest of it, staring at Rhey as he does, then sets the empty down. He takes the umbrella out of the glass and sticks it behind his ear. "Oh well. I'm bored now. This place is boring. See you around, Rhey." He wiggles his fingers at the brownrider and sashays out of the Snowasis. Rh'mis blanches. But... at least L'sha leaves after that, leaving Rhey free to flee in the opposite direction. Panic! Panic! |
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