Logs:Southern Plots and More
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| RL Date: 11 June, 2013 |
| Who: Aishani, Alida, K'zin, N'ky |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: A crowded Living Cavern lands K'zin and Alida having their meal at Aishani's table. N'ky claims the seat Aishani vacates. When left alone, N'ky has a confession for Alida. |
| Where: Living Cavern |
| When: Day 13, Month 13, Turn 31 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: Blizzard! Wind and snow make for very bad weather today. The visibility is low, making travel dangerous. |
| Mentions: Madilla/Mentions, Sabella/Mentions, Quinlys/Mentions, Meara/Mentions, C'wlin/Mentions, N'hax/Mentions, Jo/Mentions, Hana/Mentions, Azaylia/Mentions, Devaki/Mentions, April/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: In terms of N'ky's timeline, this follows on from Hoofwork. |
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| Living Cavern, High Reaches Weyr Stalactites hang high above this enormous cavern like a jagged chandelier or an inversion of the Spires themselves, but shadows cling to them instead of light. Below lie great tables arranged in rows, each large enough to serve a fighting wing, while in the nooks and alcoves around the cavern's edge sit more sensibly-sized tables, from six- and eight-seaters down to intimate spots for just a couple of diners. The only really open space is around the kitchen entrance, smelling of food and rarely quiet, and by the nearby serving tables with their long buffet of the day's offerings. Tapestries on the smooth walls -- some faded and others newly woven -- only slightly mute the sea of sound when a meal is in full swing, but they add cheerfulness augmented by the glowlight from wall sconces and the centerpieces of each table. Still, shadows always creep along the ceiling and into the mouths of the exits -- the myriad small hallways at one end of the cavern and, at the other, the twisting tunnel to the bowl near an array of coathooks and and hatracks -- and late at night, when the glows are allowed to dim, the chamber can seem very dark indeed.
The fine mood might have something to do with the lack of some of the senior crafters in the cavern -- at least they're not at the tables and in the lines, and not talking politics. People are talking, however, but their words are still quiet and the political conversations are still limited to long-posted journeymen. And well. Togetherness is better than none over a long winter, and Turnover is on more than a few people's minds. Even Aishani, usually able to easily ward off interlopers with her very presence, is sharing one of the smaller tables with a few of those aforementioned crafters, whose conversation seems to be entertaining her. The eldest of them, a glass smith, from the look of his knot, rises first to tell the Weyrwoman, "Give you a nice deal on replacements, if they go with the vintner's plan." The goldrider can only grin and shake her head at that, as the lot of them follow the first man's suit, and head off into the crowd toward the caverns. Alida heads in from the bowl. Like dragons looking for a parking spot in the sun, a sign of one to be had is someone leaving. K'zin is quick to spot the glasscrafter giving up his chair, not registering until he's at the table, sliding into it - for who worries about manners when the place is this packed - that he finds himself face to face with Aishani and the other crafters. Obviously he recognizes some at the small table besides Aishani because after a moment of wherry-in-the-dragon-maw blinking, he's giving nods to each and pulling a friendly smile onto his lips. The tone of the ongoing conversation is quickly picked up, "Have you decided when the drinking contest is going to be?" The weyrling directs the question to the Weyrwoman at a small break in the conversation, grinning in such a way that suggests he doesn't wholly believe the rumor, but can hope! The crafters are friendly enough in their nods, if a little entertained, as they clear out after the elder man and the weyrling sits and looks so stunned. Aishani's amusement lingers, though it's limited to a quirk of lips and brightened eyes; she's still working on her dinner from the look of her plate and wineglass both, in a black sweater with a lovely purple and red scarf knotted at her neck. "I don't decide anything about this," she tells K'zin. "That is the the very point." She spears a bit of vegetable for emphasis. Politely, "I heard you were ill, I do hope you're feeling better. You don't look as if you're at death's door." She's having a later dinner, due to another round of wingsecondly duties needing some small, extra attention, and once Alida struggles her way through the blizzard into the cavern... "Shiiiiit..." It's asshole to bellybutton in here, and the blonde's suddenly thinking about forgetting food completely until later, given the sea of humanity, until Ilicaeth puts forth the silent and silghtly sarcastic proposal about walking out into the blizzard four times instead of two...not to mention flying in it. With a slightly grumpy huff, the bluie simply stomps her boots free of snow, dusts the stuff off of her outer wear, then unwinds her scarf, opens coat, and moves towards the last dregs of the dinner line. Along the way, as she wends through the seething throng of seated rider-dom, the weyrling catches sight of the departing Crafters, and the pair of more familiar faces at that table, 'lida raising her hand and waving almost frantically towards the pair of Aishani and K'zin. "Save me a place, please!" is barked out over the general din of voices. "Oh, yeah? So they're deciding everything, huh?" K'zin considers this for a moment as he chews and swallows a bite. "Neat." He decides. But it's not as though they haven't discussed the topic in brief before. "I'll be interested to see how things go." As surely near-every person in the Living Cavern will be. "I was. Apparently," And he draws this word out with a dramatic air, "You're not supposed to just push on when a cold gets bad. But I've learned my lesson," It sounds anything but sincere, "I'm terribly sorry about it all," He isn't. "And I'm feeling much better. We've been betweening a couple sevens now, and that's going well." He pauses in his babble to give the Weyrwoman another brief glance over, not anything as to be impolite, but enough so that he can say, "That's a nice scarf. The color looks nice on you, Weyrwoman." The words are accompanied by a smile. It's not exactly confident and winning, but it's trying for it. The call from Alida has him shifting to slide his leg over the neighboring chair, "It won't hold long!" He calls back to the bluerider. "The senior crafters will decide, and decide how to decide, though I did not think the method of decision would be such an issue for debate. I rather thought there might just be a vote, but I suppose that would be... too normal." For crafters or for High Reaches, who's to say? Not Aishani, not as she doesn't elaborate. "Mm. It should be interesting. Hopefully it won't take too long." Once she's eaten from her fork, she offers a salute with it for Alida, though with K'zin holding down the chair situation, she doesn't bother to lift her voice or a finger. Offering the bronzerider a faint smile in return, "It was a gift. I will pass on the compliment to the weaver in question -- I understand it took some time. I assume there's no issues with betweening... other than the cold." She might give him a bit of the side-eye for the lack of concern about illness, but hey. She's not his mom. She's nothing if not a whirlwind! Even as K'zin calls back, saves her that spot, Alida's making her way into the scant line, and moving through as fast as possible, getting her yummy 'slop,' as well as extra side dishes like bread and those now-barely warm, leftover bubbly pies. Give her 3 minutes, and the bluerider is hurrying as quickly as possible back towards that specific table, settling her tray, then ass into their proper places, then clipping off a quick, "Waki, Weyrwoman..." to the pair just beside/across from her, as well as nodding politely to any other bodies nearby, the blonde then starting to eat like a band saw. She might not be a-social anymore, but she's certainly not fond of much company, still. "Too normal, for sure." K'zin grins; being of both, he speaks with all the authority of someone who knows. "So other than the drinking contest and a vote, are there any other favored means of deciding that've been put up?" For the matter of the scarf, there's a nod. "I can only imagine. It looks... fancy. Or maybe just fancy-made." He's starting to get out of his depth, surely, with the talk of fashion. "No, no issue with betweening, anymore. The healers wouldn't clear me for a few extra sevens, but I'm allowed now, with instructions to report if I start feeling ill again. It's all the cold they're worried about. They're even encouraging me to spend my free time in warm places. I was thinking of heading south. Do you think Iesaryth would be willing to give Rasavyth some visualizations?" Alida gets a companionable nod and smile from the man, "Wing squared away for the day, Wingsecond?" "Wingsecond." Weyrling, but still. Aishani doesn't seem put off by how the bluerider goes through her food, but her plate is fairly empty but for bits and pieces -- who knows how fast she eats? With a little shrug for K'zin, "I've only really heard what that lot told me so far. They haven't been at it for all that long yet, and honestly... I think I ought to stay away from it. We all probably should. There's so little that's all theirs at a Weyr." She considers that for a moment, picking out a knot of journeyman debating with her sharp, dark gaze, then just shakes her head. Flashing a quick smile, "Why not take time with it when you think of it that way, yes?" Skipping the fashion-talk in deference to both the former guard and the bronzerider's lack of knowledge, "I was assuming the visualizations wouldn't be an issue. And there's a few spots here and there we can pass on, but I like flying straight from the Weyrs sometimes. Have you gotten out of the Weyr yet much, Alida?" A look up and over at Aishani's scarf presages a quirk of head over to K'zin, and a casual alto, "Gonna need someone reliable t'watch over ya. I'll hazard the duty." A pair of nods for the bronzer's inquiry transitions into a darkly wry, "Still; gotta wonder why Sabella chose me." One shoulder is rolled in a light shrug, the blonde continuing to eat at a rapid pace - though not sloppily - her ears 'on' for the conversation taking place between goldrider and young man. A faint lift of brows for words of what sounds like Crafters in the Weyr finds her flicking greens back and forth between the pair, then finally murmuring to Aishani, "Mrph. Some. Doin' the usual: shadowin', learning new cooridinates, package delivery." Pause. "Oh; and the 'second thing, too, now." Not to mention leadership lessons on the sly, and drinking, card-playing, and violence binges with Jo, on occasion. "I'm sure you're right." K'zin doesn't need to reiterate the reasons since she's so clearly stated them, but there's a genuineness in his tone that tells he thoroughly agrees with the goldrider in in this instance. Then his attention is going to Alida, adopting a mock look of dismay, "Are you implying, Wingsecond, that I'm incapable of handling myself?" The teasing tone leaves no doubt that he's not intending to start trouble. "Maybe I've never won a single sparring match with you, and maybe I've avoided the healers more than once when I shouldn't have, and maybe I do ride bronze and that seems to get some weyrlings into trouble, but I promise I'll be on my best behavior. Bronzerider's honor." A hand is raised as he makes the promise. For whatever a bronzerider's honor is worth these days. "Does it take a very long time to fly straight to southern?" He queries of the goldrider, though his expression indicates that the idea is an appealing one. "It looks like such a long way on maps." After a sip of her wine, Aishani notes over the rim, "She likely has her reasons, Sabella. She might even tell you them if you asked. It's a possibility." She arches fine brows Alida's way, as if to encourage her to think about it. K'zin's reasons for why he may or may not need a babysitter have her smirking for some reason, but her expression shades darker a touch darker for bronzeriders and trouble; with a tone that still can't hide her frustration with certain weyrlings, "It's not riding bronze that made them stupid, it's pure arrogance." Though her expression is still cloudy, she's quick to move on, especially because: "Oh, I meant fly straight on into the continent from one of the Southern Weyrs. My apologies. It's a little far from here, yes. Unless you'd like to camp along the way, if you had the time, I suppose." To K'zin's mock dismay, Alida returns a laconic, darkly humored, "Betcha' 'handle' yerself more than once a day..." then spooning more chili into her hungry yap. It almost gets coughed out, however, at her fellow weyrling's words of bronzer honor, the bluie recovering with a clearing of throat and a twisted little smirk soon drowned in a mug of klah. A quick nod is flashed to Aishani when Waki inquires of straight flights south, the 'second curious as to what scrap of experience might be tossed their way, even as she lips in aside to K'zin, "Don't ferget the drinking..." by way of grace note. She won't touch the subject of C'wlin and N'hax with a ten foot pole right now, though the bluie does make a moue of her lips, then nod back at 'Shani's talk of asking Sabella directly. "Might do that..." is noted after she's set her mug back down, a bite of food soon followed by a bemused expression for that amended 'flight plan.' "Was gonna' say... damn, that'd be a looong flight from north ta' south. Figure even a gold'd get tired doin' that." A moment for cogitation produces a purposely-obvious sly, "So; 'r we headin' south soon?" Before they freeze to death? "I hear, too often, those things go hand in hand. We're working on it not in our case." An admirable goal to be sure. K'zin's cheeks carry a touch of blush for the misunderstanding, "Oh. That makes much more sense." He gives Aishani a sheepish smile. "We'll have to do that. Although the camping thing sounds like fun if the weyrlings ever get a couple days off together. It'd be an opportunity to exercise our survival skills. Maybe we could-" He glances to Alida with a quirked brow, "-talk them into doing it along with our search and rescue training?" There's a roll of the eyes for the blonde's speculations, but a glance to Aishani shows that he's not going to answer in kind with a 'lady' present. Instead, he puts on a diplomatic smile and changes the subject back to the talk of crafters. "So is it to be a single person speaking for the lot or several people? What kinds of things will they have the power to do? Parameters of the position and all that." He's curious. If Aishani pays attention to Alida's joke, the only indication might be a faint quirk of lips behind her glass. Otherwise, she merely tells the blonde, "Sometimes, that's the simplest way to get an answer. When it's something like that, anyway." She takes another drink before setting it aside to pick over what's left on her plate, see if there's anything else she's interested in. "You'll have to ask Quinlys or Meara where you're headed. I can merely make my suggestions and requests." As if neither hold weight. "But I am certain that they will share an interest in going some place warm. Take Turnover as your excuse if you don't have one before that. Monaco has some fun drinks." K'zin's interest in the crafters might arch one brow slightly, but she explains easily, "There will be a representative chosen from the senior crafters posted, and they will meet with the Weyrleaders and Headwoman to... better communicate the needs and issues of the Crafts to the Weyr. Rather than separately or through their Halls." "Hey, I want a day 'r two just ta' unwind down there," Alida snerts at Waki around more consumption of food, the bluerider then twisting her lips again to show just how much she believes that will happen. "Sure; I'll talk ta' one uv' the Weyrlingmasters about it." Not that it'll necessarily fly, of course. Aishani's 'merely' rouses a smirk from the bluie, while the bronzer's eyeroll is cause for the blonde to cover her impish grin with a swallow of klah again, Alida knowing full well he wouldn't launch into a witty riposte while the Weyrwoman is around. A quick series of small nods for offered word of Turnover plans trails into more quiet eating while the other pair speak of how Crafter issues at the Weyr will apparently be handled from now on, 'lida interested in her own way. In all the moments when K'zin's mouth isn't busy running, it's eating. He's made a sizable dent in the mountain that his plate began with and continues to do so as the goldrider and bluerider speak. "Maybe if you try asking nicely, Alida." He suggests, with just enough tone to be trying to needle the Wingsecond good-naturedly. "I don't suppose, Weyrwoman, that you might see your way to making that sort of suggestion?" Because that's merely what she could do, if she chose. "I haven't been camping since..." He pauses to calculate roughly, "Well, over a turn, to be sure. It was on Turnover that I became a candidate," so certainly before that. To Alida, "It being Turnover is a good card to play. You could even tell them I will or won't wear a dress again. Whichever you think helps your case." Not that it sounds like a genuine promise. "Sounds like that crafter, whoever they choose, is going to end up with a lot of-- well, headaches. Hope they pick someone who's good with people." "Oh, I've mentioned it. I think I mentioned I was going to mention to Alida..." Shani glances over to the bluerider questioningly; is she remembering right? "Given the winter and the possible... shortfall, I thought having extra weyrlings might give us a bit of time and manpower to do a bit of hunting and gathering. So nice weather, but perhaps a bit of work in return. And shouldn't you be able to do as you like on Turnover, though?" Apparently done with her food, she sets down her fork in favor of her wine, a little bemused. "I'd assume if you have the visual, you can go, as long as you don't do much in the way of drinking." As for the crafters -- well, she tilts her glass caverns-ward before drinking, before, "I'd imagine whoever they all respect will end up with it. But that's what position is, essentially. I suppose you'll know that now, even with a month of it." A wry smirk. She doesn't consume as much as Waki, given their differing bulks, but Alida eats more than a woman of her size should be able to get away with, without packing on pounds. She seems blithely unconcerned about such, given the gusto with which she attacks her chow, and it further shows when a hank of bread is fed to the grist-mill of her mouth, a face soon made at K'zin's words of being nice. "How 'bout I go fer..." Thiiink. "Professionally inquiring?" Beam! "Don't gimme' that crap..." the blonde nose-wrinkles at her weyrling compatriot's words of dress-wearing. "You only say that ta' lead everybody on." Jerk-face. "That'd be me..." the blonde murmurs to Aishani, then nodding briskly in agreement. "Used ta' do a bit uv' huntin' now 'n again. Be interesting, on dragonback." Grin. As for Turnover, "Shells yes! Gotta be able ta claim one friggin' day to m'self after babysittin' 'caeth so long." Only she can mentally hear her blue's dark snort of response to that. The goldrider's words of respect bring a knowing nod to the female weyrling's head, and a thoughtful-sounding, "Sometimes even a less-than exemplary leader's the choice, if everyone c'n get behind 'em." If the bluie happens to smile softly to herself behind her klah, who's to notice? "Oh, great, then!" K'zin sounds delighted by this news. "I'm sure I can try not to impale myself while hunting." Try being the key word. It sounds promising, right? "So, you're saying, don't do anything to embarrass the Weyr when we go visiting? I feel like I have heard that somewhere before." He scratches his chin as though he has trouble remembering what's doubtlessly been drilled into their heads, especially in light of the events of the last month or so. He is a bronzer, it could be true that he doesn't. "Hey, Weyrwoman Aishani, do you think I could bend your ear sometime? Not literally. I'm working on a project and I think you could offer me some really unique insight." Here's that winning smile he tried for much earlier in their conversation. To Alida, he winks, "Gotta leave the people wanting more. What kind of girl would I be without a little mystery, hm?" But Alida knows that the dress comes with the wrath of Rasavyth. "Bet Madilla's a frontrunner. Everyone seems to like her. Are you going to pay whomever they pick extra for all the go-betweening? Or purely a volunteer position?" He then wants to know of the craft business. Dryly, "Well, you do sort of need him to get about, yes?" Arching a fine brow the bluerider's way, Aishani has an amused little twist of her mouth for that, before draining her glass -- then sharpening into a faint smirk for K'zin. "Let the dragons do the hunting. And mind the drinking for getting home, less for behavior... but do mind that too." Ignoring the dresses-on-men conversation entirely with a barely perceptible eyeroll, she tells both weyrlings over a shrug, "It's entirely possible they'll bribe and blackmail one another over it, but I... don't think this lot is likely for that. And I think it would be an honor to serve the Weyr and the Craft in such a position... and that pay might engender bribery and blackmail. So we'll have to see how it goes." Besides, the Weyr's supplies are low -- who knows about the finances? "Madilla is no doubt in the running, but I wonder if her time will allow." "Do not make me have ta' beat on you..." Alida notes around a sigh when talk of Waki-impalement shows up, the blonde rolling her own eyes, finally, then stowing away another bite of food. "Y'realize self-injury's a form uv' embarrassment, right?" To Aishani, "Please don't remind him." Headshake. "If you had ta' listen to what I have ta' in my head..." A point of her spoon at K'zin emphasizes the Weyrwoman's words of letting the sharp-fanged and clawed dragons do the bulk or all of the hunting, the bluie then turning her gaze to the other woman and murmuring, "Too bad they can't hunt grains as well." Lip twist. "There any wild stuff like that down there that might be harvestable? Fer those who don't like getting acrobatic 'r too close ta gore." There will always be some weyrlings/riders who still get nauseous, after all. The canny femme's words of potential blackmail and bribery are greeted by her clipped and sarcastic, "Always glad ta' know Crafters 'r just as susceptible t'those good ol' enticements as Holders 'n Weyrfolk." Snerk. "Y'realize I embarrass myself a lot without trying, right?" is K'zin's rejoinder for Alida's words, copying her drawl for just a moment, brows lifting and lips puckering to make a face at her. But then his expression is one of concession, "Ras probably makes a better hunter than I would." Though some might question it from the dragon's early attempts. "Yeah, I can see how that might be a problem. With pay. And I wasn't suggesting it shouldn't be volunteer, just wasn't sure if the extra time it'd cost them was going to be compensated for. I bet you're right about Mads, though. She's got so little between healering and her kids and everyone else." Himself included. "But that last is what makes her the obvious choice." Everyone likes her. Don't they? "Oh-- and I can make some time, K'zin. What sort of project is it?" Aishani seems honestly curious about that as she puts glass on plate, knife and fork alongside carefully. Alida's complaining about her lifemate gets a more-perceptible eye roll -- she's not buying it -- before, "There's fruits, some vegetables. I'm not familiar with the full variety, but I'm sure she can find... someone who is." Around here. Right? The weyrwoman is mostly unconcerned. As she is with the bronzerider's suggestions in terms of taking offense; she waves a hand, not an issue. "It's really all an experiment of sorts. If it takes up time, it may require compensation. It's hard to say so early on. I think... some would rather the Healers stay out of more political matters, but that's hardly fair. One must trust in everyone's professionalism, yes?" "Given; but every day, in every way, yer gettin' better 'n better..." Alida notes drolly back to K'zin, then taking her last couple of bites of chili, the cornbread nipped into after it drawing a faint frown from the blonde. "Gonna miss this stuff..." is murmured, the bluie already having decided where the wind of Hold tithings will blow. Aishani's eyeroll is greeted with a slightly outraged seeming, "Honestly. He's got a mouth on him... wit like a club with razors stuck inta' it." She ought to know. Word of non-grainy stuff is met with a nod, and a muttered, "Maybe that's somethin' 'Reaches oughta' take up down south. Y'know, maybe some riders given that kinda' bent, whether from age 'r interest: scrape out some acres, fence 'em off, plant our own grains. Rotate riders through the season fer tendin' things." Shrug. She's talking out of her ass, but hey, why not. For word of professionalism, there's a judicious bob of pale head. "History project," K'zin answers between a swallow and another mouth-filling bite. After the next swallow, "I'll tell you all about it when I come speak with you. Ras might even fill Iesaryth in beforehand. I know how he loves to share with her. And I don't think he has in a while." But he's not always privy to such things. As the conversation turns to the available gatherables of Southern and the idea of farming, the bronzer seems to lose interest, his eyes scanning the still packed cavern. The blizzard without must not be letting up with the way people are still cramming in for dinner, and some staying longer than they should with seats so few. It's a miracle that the one at their small table hasn't been snatched up yet. But maybe Aishani's aura is working again to deter those who don't know her current companions. His attention is back to the conversation when it turns back to the new craft position under debate, "I can see how some might be worried mixing politics with Healing, but don't they have to take some kind of oath not to let that kind of things impact them? I can't imagine Mads denying care to anyone," But then, Madilla isn't 'all healers'. Dryly, "Don't let the Holders hear that talk, Alida. They might like to say they don't need us, but I get the impression they don't love the idea of us not needing them. You're not the first to say something of the like, though." And unlikely to be the last, so early in an Interval. Aishani seems to be done her dinner, plate and wineglass and cutlery stacked up, and she adds her napkin before shrugging on her jacket, with its huge fur collar. The idea of K'zin's project has her arching those brows again, but she just gives one of her enigmatic smiles, echoing, "History. I will see how I, so long at High Reaches, can help." Not that she doesn't seem to know things, or have certain ties in the past. As she pushes back her chair to stand, "Oaths can be broken, people can lie. Thankfully, none of our healers are that sort, and our Weyrhealer is most certainly not." She'd say more but just stops, offers another smile, and nods to the pair as she gathers her plates. "If you'll excuse me. Have Rasavyth let Iesaryth know when you're looking. And she's always interested in being informed." Like rider... The goldrider starts off for the bowl and blizzard both. Sadly. With a box under his arm, a bag slung over his shoulder and his farrier's toolbelt still laced around his waist over the top of his leather work apron, it's quite clear - if perhaps surprising - that N'ky has been occupied with something to do with his former vocation. The sudsy wetness and fresh redwort stains on the leather apron, staining his hands and splashed down onto old metal-toed boots suggest he's only just come from such work, while the cold lingering about him and the flushed shade of his cheeks attest to time spent away from the warmth of the indoors, even if his clothing isn't quite blizzard-worthy. He juggles his things to free a hand for klah-pouring once he's made his way through the cavern, then pauses to survey the tables, squinting as he sees the Weyrwoman get up and leave - and eyeing the space she's just vacated. The greenrider makes his way over there, dumping things in the Aishani's still-warm spot, before falling into a chair and grunting a greeting as he lifts his klah mug to his lips for a hearty, half-draining and clearly needed drink. "You see me talkin' ta' any holders, here?" Alida notes dryly to Aishani, the weyrling shaking her head and shrugging. The bluie holds her tongue for awhile, lifting her hand in farewell when the (acting) Weyrwoman takes off, though she does finally cant her head to Waki and murmur, "So, explain what you two were talkin' about. Crafter stuff, sounded like." Beat. "And just 'cause Aishani doesn't wanna' piss off anymore Holders this turn, doesn't mean some riders here 'n there, on their own, couldn't stake out a few acres 'n till some unknown ground down south...away from human habitation." Ah; and then there's N'ky, his state getting a long peer from the blonde, and - after he plunks his ass down - a dry, "Enjoyin' the weather?" "Oh, you hadn't heard?" K'zin asks the bluerider on the heels of her request. He gives a greeting nod and smile to the greenrider joining them, "The Weyrleaders have put it in motion to let the crafters choose their own representation to the Weyr so they can have a bigger say in what goes on with them. It's a pretty big deal over at the Complex." As well it might be expected. "Apparently, the senior crafters are holed up trying to decide how to choose who'll be the representative. Vintners want a drinking contest." He grins for that, "Glasscrafters are for it. Shoulda seen that coming. What's better than booze to drink out of glasses?" He glances to the greenrider's drink of choice. "They run out of klah at the Complex?" is his inquiry to N'ky since Alida has the weather covered. As for the farming, he shrugs, "It wouldn't be my first choice for vocation as a dragonrider." But not everyone has to be for an idea to have it go forward. The tail-end of conversation is listened to but not interrupted by N'ky, as he tries to gauge what the topic is, but Alida's direct question to him is answered as he lowers his mug and wipes the back of his hand over his mouth. "The tunnel," he waves a hand in the vague direction of the inner caverns - through which he's just come - and the Weyr's entrance beyond them, "is cold." But clearly not cold enough for him to have been wearing anything more than a shirt and his work gear. "I was out there," N'ky replies to K'zin, this time not pointing, but tilting his head to indicate where. Then, somewhat regretfully, he adds, "I scared Hana off when I got through to the abscess. She d-doesn't like pus." Is that surprising? He nurses the mug of klah, wrapping red-stained fingers around it. "What's not a first choice of vocation?" "Not straightforwardly, but I half-guessed..." Alida replies to K'zin, the blonde finishing up her meal, and muffling a soft burp behind her hand. A soft chuckle issues from her lungs when Waki speaks of the various Crafters, her alto noting, "Betcha' that new Vintner gal's behind the contest." Smirk. N'ky's words of the tunnel and pus have the woman staring at him in perplexed fashion for a moment, the lightbulb then going on in side her head, prompting her to mutter, "Hoof rot? Seen a case uv' that a couple'a times. Gross." Cue a face. And then, to answer both the bronzer and the greenie, "I didn't say that, Waki." A firm look presages more, in: "Those riders who got a bent that way could farm... 'r those who want a stake in eatin' the raised food when it starts dryin' up." She's obviously a pessimist. "If a rider who didn' wanna' farm covertly wanted some uv' the foodstuffs that'd be raised, they could barter with their fellow farmer-riders, 'r pay 'em." Shrug. "Ohh," The noise of realization is soft as K'zin follows N'ky's point and realizes on second glance that he was tending the Beastcraft side of his former trade. His plate, too, is empty, but he won't abandon the table without giving N'ky an answer. Even as Alida explains more about the idea, he's rising, stacking his plate and mug as Aishani before him, surely soon to be snagged up by a passing caverns assistant. His hands fall onto Alida's shoulders as he stands behind her, "Alida," K'zin speaks to N'ky, wiggling the bluerider's shoulders gently, "-wants us to become farmers down in Southern." Beat. "Which I'd take over pus. But not over much else." He grins to the pair, lifting his hands away, "See you." It's offered in casual farewell to both before he's heading toward the bowl and the blizzard himself, pausing to don his flight gear before heading out. N'ky raises his mug as a farewell to the bronzerider, before turning to face Alida, sitting sideways in his chair with one leg propped up, covered by his messy apron. "Farmers? I-in Southern?" The way he responds clearly suggests he's not quite as opposed to it as the others would seem to have been. "We-- they," a quick correction, followed by an uncomfortable squirming and wince, "have crops at home. To feed the animals with - it's cheaper than having to buy all of the fodder in." Which suggests he has some experience in the field. "What sort of farming?" Not many at all are allowed to so casually touch Alida, much less wiggle her around a little. Apparently K'zin's one of the very few, for not only does he remain uninjured, but gains a roll of the blonde's eyes, as well. "Do not..." is called out to the departing weyrling, the woman then returning her gaze back to N'ky...and finishing off the dregs of her klah. "Keep yer voice down..." the bluerider suggests to the greenie, though not crossly, then nodding to him. "I suggested 'Reaches might do some farmin' covertly deep in the South...ta' help with not havin' ta' worry so much about the stupid fuckin' tithes." Especially since there's word of Devaki slicing off 2/3rds of said tithe. "Those riders who want ta' could tend our crops, fence off some land, keep it free uv' pests." Like wild whers and wherries. "Grain crops, veggies, tubers...shit like that." Lowering voices means conspiratorial leaning, and N'ky scoots his chair closer to Alida's, so he can get in close so as not to be overheard. "Cailluneth likes the sound of that." He rests one elbow on the table, while his other hand holds his klah mug on his knee. "I like the sound of that." He bites his lip, cheeks flushing now with excitement - and dimpled, slightly, by his eager, crooked smile. "'Lida... I know where there's, um... I kn-know where my family keep the ovines in winter... we could... w-we could rustle some, raise them, too..." Such a deviant thought comes awkwardly from him. She listens to what N'ky has to say, the woman keeping her thoughts and reactions to herself in the meantime. And when the greenrider's done, and she's twirled her empty mug around some, her answers come in measured cadence, quiet, firm. "We already got more trouble than we c'n borrow, after C'wlin an' N'hax fucked up." Headshake. "No stealin'." Unvoiced, concerned: unless things get really shitty, foodwise. "Fer now, there's wild beasts we c'n hunt in the South." "Oh. Um. Yeah." N'ky nods in agreement, shifting his weight a little more, chewing down on his lip. His runs his fingers through his curls, brushing them back from his forehead, and huffs out a soft breath. "We... w-we could go. You and me. Go and, um... do sweeps, or something. F-find some good land, and.... and maybe try to do something. Maybe if we could show everyone that we can do it..." He trails off, then leans in a little closer to the bluerider, looking uncomfortable. "I...I-I messed up, 'Lida. I went h-home and I sh-shouldn't have, a-a-and it all... it all w-went wrong." His head drops, fingers knotting tightly into his curls. "Not enough muscle power..." Alida murmurs, her expression both thoughtful and determined. "It'd require some very careful plannin' and execution, if it were ta ever get off the ground in the first place." A quick fix of greens on the youth is followed by a low, blurted, "Do not get it inta' yer head ta' start talkin' about any uv this ta' anyone. Fer all I know, this could be a total dead end. It could be a potentially dangerous idea, too." Most especially if any holders found out. And then the greenie's spilling the most general of beans about his disastrous trip home, and the woman sighs, rubs her forehead some. After a few moments, "How bad?" N'ky draws a finger along his lips; they're sealed, with regards to the Southern talk. "Da said... stuff. I g-got upset... Cailluneth got upset." Not surprising, given their bond. "I think I... I th-think I pushed her to... I mean she... she didn't do it by herself, b-because I was thinking it, but she... she h-hopped a fence and... they keep the pregnant ewes by the holding this time of turn." He drops his head again, exhaling long and hard. "F-four. She got four of them." "Better the ewes than them, I guess..." Alida notes blandly, shaking her palest head. A gust of exhaled breath spills out, and is followed by the bluie's gaze locking to N'ky's, her words atill quiet. "Unless ya' get word from yer family...don't go there anymore. It'll only get worse." And she knows how much worse things can get with repeated exposure, too. "D'ya' think they'll come ta' the Weyr, lookin' fer recompense? 'R maybe their overLord?" A questioning expression seems to ask N'ky just who's at the top of the pecking order, in the area his former home lies in. "I'mn-not going any more. My s-sisters and uncle wrote to me since, but... b-but that's it. But, 'Lida... their Lord Holder... th-that'd be Devaki. I-if my mum and Ansly can persuade my dad, then... th-then maybe n-nothing'll come of it, but... b-but..." Fingers knottedin curls tug on them now, and N'ky shakes his head, looking hopeless. "H-he was so angry, a-a-and it's n-not the first time th-that a dragon's d-done that, wh-which is what I was thinking of when Cailluneth..." He groans, setting down his klah mug to rest elbows on knees, hiding his face in his hands. "Wh-what if he goes to Devaki? Wh-wh-what if I've made th-things worse?" "Write back to 'em only if it's safe ta' do so..." the woman mutters, shaking her head a little at the spite people can hold for one another they call 'family.' Another, softer exhale leaves Alida trying to think of alternatives to what indeed could become another thorn in the Weyr's side, and what she comes up with isn't necessarily great. "You could approach Azaylia about this. She's fair, direct." It would be an admission of guilt, of course. "You could leave it alone, see if it turns out yer ma' gets the ol' man's silence from 'im." Beat. "And there's less pleasant ways uv' ensurin' silence." N'ky shakes his head, looking up at Alida with a worried glint in his brown eyes. "N-no, 'Lida, I've not t-told anyone, I c-c-can't. I d-don't want to get in trouble, I've n-never been in trouble. You're the only one I've t-told, and you c-can't say anything." The latter suggestion, of unpleasant measures to keep things schtum, isn't quite understood; N'ky blinks at the bluerider, unsure. "U-unpleasant? I... I d-don't follow." "You gotta' weigh things..." Alida comments to N'ky's words of wanting to keep silent about the incident. She looks dead serious by this point in their conversation. "There's good 'n bad that c'n come outta' various actions...'r inactions. Gonna be up t'you." A firm nod is given to the greenrider at his words of not wanting her to talk about this, but she doesn't spare him any unpleasantness when answering his question. "You c'n...'ask' certain people ta' go t'yer pa', 'n put the thumb screws to 'im, literally 'r figuratively. Y'know..." Shrug. "A little deft pressure that'll lead 'im ta' be inclined ta' wanna keep 'is mouth shut about it." "Oh." That wasn't what N'ky was expecting to hear. His eyes are wide and he almost seems to be considering it for a moment, before he shakes his head adamantly. "N-no, 'Lida, I c-couldn't... he... he's still blood, even if he doesn't want to be f-family." There's a little bit of a choke on that word; the greenrider maybe hasn't quite accepted the situation yet. "Th-that's what I was upset over the other night. I'd... I'd j-just got back. I h-hadn't been out with anyone else, and... a-and April wasn't there when I needed her, s-so I..." Got drunk in the Snowasis. "Y-you were there, though." She figured he wasn't willing to take the potentially safest, but nastiest course, and for that, Alida is silently thankful. "Yer decision." Nod. More listening finds the blonde leaning back into her chair, and casting her gaze all about to keep general track of the bustle in the cavern, though her greens always return to N'ky. A pair of nods, then, "Another piece uv' advice: if 'n when y'get drunk, do it in a safer place...like the Weyr. And don't do it in unknown company, unless y'don't mind havin' random shit happen that y'might not remember the next day." N'ky remains leaning towards the blonde, hands clasped in front of him now. "M-my decision," he says with a nervous nod and a weak smile. At least the talk of getting drunk gets a little more strong of a reaction from him, even if it's just a wry little laugh and a wincing look. "I didn't much like the, um, a-after effects of the last time. But, 'Lida? If I decide to drink again, I, um, I'd l-like to do it with you." The greenrider gives her a shy little smile, and shrugs his shoulders as he offers a quietly coy explanation: "You make me f-feel safe." "Yep..." is murmured pragmatically to her buddy, Alida starting to get restless as the crowd in the living cavern continues to remain at large capacity, due to the blizzard. "Nobody likes the after-effects." Snert. "Best for ya', anyway, if y'don't take ta' drinkin' much. Makes a lotta' people crazy, stupid." And vulnerable in various ways, as well as funny, angry, and a whole lot of other things. "Breaks ya' down some fer awhile." As for feeling safe with her... "I would fuckin' hope so." A flash of a toothy grin is all for N'ky, even as the bluie slowly rises from her seat, takes up her near-empty tray...only one bubbly pie left upon it. "That's my job." Even as a 'rider, she can't give up her Guard status. Perhaps noticing Alida's restlessness, N'ky follows her to her feet, returning her grin with one that's also toothy, but a bit more shy. "You do your job r-really well, then." Then, redwort-stained fingers dart out to steal that last bubbly pie, and his grin turns cheeky, more playful - a happy contrast to the more serious stuff he spilt not so long before. "W-would you like to share a bubbly with me over klah, wingsecond?" It's a little sassy, as he waves teasingly over the treat in front of her. "I've some klah up in my weyr, if you want." That snatching hand is slapped away, Alida actually glaring at N'ky for a split second, then mellowing the expression by sticking a bit of her tongue out at him. "Getcher' own. That's fer me, later." Because she is not stepping back out into that damned blizzard unless absolutely necessary. A small and casual shake of her pale head is chased by a low, "Need my alone time, now. Maybe another time, greenie." If she heard that 'wingsecond,' the bluie's not responding to it. "Boooo." N'ky huffs, though it's lightheartedly so. "'Greenie' makes me sound like something you'd blow out of your nose, 'Lida. I know you like me more than that." Spoken softly, so no-one can hear - and the quick wink from beneath the shaggy flop of his cocoa-curls is just for her, too. "There'll be more bubblies in the kitchens, anyway. Hot bubblies. Hot bubblies for me." He's gently teasing as he brushes his hair back from his forehead, which makes the curls stick out scruffily. Then, with a whole lot more sincerity and warmth, he adds, "You're always welcome by, you know?" "So, yer sayin' I should just be callin' ya' 'booger,' then?" Alida notes dryly as she starts stepping towards the place to drop off her dishes at. "Can't carry hot bubblies in a pocket." Pause. "Yeah; I know. You know I'm not terribly social most times, right?" Though it might sound brusque, the blonde simply means it as speaking the obvious of herself. "Night, Nick." "Um... n-no. Not booger." N'ky shakes his head, before giving the bluerider a gentle half-hug, one arm around her shoulders as he squeezes her softly into his side. "N-not even you can call me booger and get away with it." Though how he would stop her is another thing altogether. He loosens his quick hug, giving the blonde a wink as he steps back towards the table, where his things are still piled up. "G'night, 'Lida. Sweet dreams." "I just did..." Alida so gracefully reminds N'ky, then playfully ducking away from him as she smirks. That hug feels pretty awkward in this loud cavern full of people, but maybe it'll go missed, since most folk are busy chattering away. Over her shoulder to the towering greenrider is called, "Evenin', gr...N'ky." Grin. "No drinkin'." And off she goes, for real. |
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