Logs:Turnday Gifts
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| RL Date: 4 May, 2012 |
| Who: Azaylia, K'del |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: K'del's turnday gift for Azaylia is a much nicer one than Tiriana's to herself. |
| Where: Stables, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 8, Month 9, Turn 28 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Tiriana/Mentions, Damaris/Mentions, Iolene/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. (+views)
The cooler weather is proving problematic for K'del, who can't easily fit his plaster-casted arm through the sleeve of his jacket. It means, however, that Azaylia's gift is a handy one, largely covering the offending arm, and managing to keep him warm at the same time. The arm is still in a sling, though, and he is still moving quite gingerly as he rounds the corner into the stables. That Azaylia is his target can easily be discerned, for she's the first person he focuses in on, and his footsteps immediately launch himself in her direction - though he halts several steps away, watching her work for several moments before, in a quiet voice, "Azaylia?" Azaylia doesn't jump or squeak at the sound of her name, for once. There is, however, a visible tension that roots her to the spot, still stroking the runner's long face for just a little longer. With a quick inhale, she relaxes and turns with a gentle if somewhat guilty smile. "Weyrleader K'del." Said without an implied question on his title, which may be reassuring. The smile loses its hold as her eyes drop from his face to the sling, lingering just long enough to be rude before her eyes reach the ground. "...sorry I didn't, uhm. Visit." Guilt's source is revealed. That so-obvious guilt clearly unnerves K'del, whose brows begin to knit - and then jump noticeably as the source is revealed. "Oh - no, no, no, Azaylia. It's fine. Wasn't particularly up for company at the time, to be honest. Anyway, it's probably me who ought to be apologising: I missed your turnday." And he does look apologetic for that: that rueful smile, that hesitant expression. Azaylia creates an inappropriate clash of orange and yellow, wringing her hands in front of her. She sneaks a few peeks upward at K'del's face, finding purchase once he attempts to reassure her. "...okay. I still should've." But she didn't, and there's nothing to be done about it now. A blink as her face falls slack in surprise, "My..? Oh! That's alright. You've been busy. So have I..." Her voice trembles and cracks at the subtle confession, clearing her throat and offering a bit of a forced smile. "It's enough that you even remembered, Weyrleader." She takes a few steps forward, finding too much distance uncomfortable. They're friends. K'del hesitates, looking concerned, but relaxes visibly when she steps forward. That's when he reaches into his pocket with his good hand to draw out a small package and offer it, palm flat, to the herder. It's wrapped in paper, though nothing so interesting as his gift was; still, he seems pleased with it, somehow. "Busy time of turn," he confirms. "Tithes about to start coming in, animals getting ready for the winter. But - there's no excuse for it. Guess I've kind of been avoiding people, a bit... and I felt bad for that. You're doing okay, though, right?" Perhaps she's spent too much time with curious animals, Azaylia tilting her head while the rider fishes about in his pants. This time, the herder does squeak, hands flying up to her mouth to keep anymore high pitched noises at bay. Should she snatch it? Shouldn't she? Completely at a loss, her gaze bounces from his face and back to the gift several times. Finally, she tentatively reaches out, slowly plucking the small package from his palm. "Thank you." Whispered wonder doesn't last for her next words. "I understand. I've been... doing that too." She avoids using the term 'avoiding'. Teeth sink into the orange fabric, freeing her fingers which are clumsy with growing excitement, glove dangling from her mouth. Once the gift has been removed from his hand, K'del draws it back to his pocket - though this time, probably only to store it there, safely warm. "You're welcome," he says, heartfelt and honest, his smile broadening and brightening to reflect her obvious enthusiasm. "You, too? Hope it's not because of anything too bad." Wrapping removed, the gift is revealed to be a scarf-pin: the kind of thing one can use to pin up a scarf in interesting ways, and keep the tails out of the way. It's a bronzey-colour, inlaid with blue and black glass in the shape of High Reaches' badge. Azaylia stares down at the pin, lips parting and unintentionally dropping the glove atop her late turnday gift. It's dealt with almost impatiently, far too entranced by the glasswork and more importantly the badge itself. "Oh..." Barely audible, even for the apprentice. "K'del, it's... so perfect. I'll have to get a better scarf, not this old thing." Purple scarf, likely from the stores is brushed back over her shoulders. "I.." Squeak. Hiccup. The pin is gripped safe in her fist as she all but launches at the Weyrleader, injured arm forgotten as she crushes him in a surprisingly strong hug. "Thankyoudon'teverleave!" K'del manages to catch his gasp of pain before it becomes too audible, though no doubt Azaylia will be able to feel the hard bulk of it between the two of them. "You're welcome," he says, genuinely, as his good arm wraps around her back and squeezes, firmly. "Not going anywhere, promise. Not if I have anything to say about it. You really do like it? Just seemed-- like something that might be nice." Which is a dumb thing to say, probably, but he's trying not to wince, and, well, give him some credit here. Realization comes a little late, and suddenly K'del's made of molten steel with how quickly Azaylia hops backwards. "Oh, are you..?!" Worry has her reaching out with her free hand, stopping just short of making it worse and yanking it back. If she can't soothe his physical pain, "I love it." Palm uncurls, revealing her newest treasure, finger tracing over. "It means... it feels like I belong. Like it's okay for me to be here." Words keep their strength even as she brushes her eye with the back of her hand. "It's more than just nice." She insists, not too much as to seem insincere. Though, a guilty glance is shot to his arm. "Sorry." She means it, however distracted by pinning the badge on the donated scarf, a temporary home until she buys or knits a better one. K'del can't completely hide the pain that lines his face, or the little exhale of relief as Azaylia pulls back again, for all that he reassures her that, "It's fine, really. It's okay." And, in truth, once she's pulled back it doesn't take too long for his expression to turn back to a smile, and for those lines of pain to disappear again. In any case, her reaction to the gift seems to genuinely delight him, because he adds, "That's - what I was going for. Know it can be hard, getting used to a place. But you do belong here, now; want you to know that." Beat. "Even if you have been... hiding, as it were. Don't let anyone bother you, Azaylia. Okay?" "I know." Azaylia murmurs down to the pin, fingers reluctant to cease in their stroking over the smooth surface. Quick inhale is used to reign in her emotions, touched more than anything. Lips purse thinly at the mention of her scarce presence, lower lip ducking in and out of her mouth in thought before she speaks. "Everyone is lovely. Well. I thought everyone was lovely...I still don't understand." Hand finally drops from the scarf to motion weakly at his arm. "I'll try. If you promise that you won't let h- anyone bother you. Too." Brown gaze matches her tight lips in their attempts to appear stern, looking to catch his eyes. It's obvious, at least to K'del's thinking, that Azaylia doesn't want to talk about whatever it is that's been bothering her, and so he leaves that subject be with only a nod and a visibly concerned glance. His own arm, his own situation - well, he glances down at the arm ruefully, then back up at the Apprentice so that he can meet her gaze. Her sternness makes him smile, but his words are serious: "Promise. Doing my best not to let anyone bother me. It's-- complicated. The Weyrwoman is a complicated woman. But we're going to work it out, one way or another; you'll see." Azaylia seems to relax as her own issues are able to sneak away, undiscussed. At least for now- the Herder would just absolutely die if she had to tell the Weyrleader. Still living and still trying to be strong for him, she gives a curt nod that's followed all too soon by her slumping at the effort. "People," No names, of course. "Keep saying that, that the Weyrwoman's mad." Word is used with dual meanings in mind. "And... I would never, ever, ever say that I know anything about dragons. Ever." The Apprentice is thorough in her disclaimer. "But, from what I heard couldn't... couldn't she also be kinda sad?" Visible wince, bracing herself for suggesting such a thing. "Sad?" K'del lingers on the word for long moments, as though he's running it through his head - as though it's not something he can easily answer. "Think... she's embarrassed. She thinks it makes her look bad, makes Iovniath look bad, that they couldn't keep their Weyrleader from chasing another." He's careful with his words, and with the emotion behind them: it rather sounds as though he's trying very hard to be neutral on the subject. "And she's allowed to be. It's the way she acted on that, that I have a problem with." That others have a problem with. "Weyrwoman's supposed to be able to deal with politics. Without violence." Azaylia worries the frayed fabric of her glove, fingers toughing it out against the light chill in order to do so. "Or- embarrassed. Yes." She explains further, though with her gaze lowered all she sees is orange yarn. "I'd be sad." She admits, but the young woman knows when he's right and she lifts her head. "I've never heard of anyone doing that before." That, being his arm. His trip to the Infirmary. "No one that's supposed to be in charge. I guess I'm just trying to think of why... without saying she's just a bad person." But that's clearly becoming harder to do, seeing K'del's state for herself. "But only someone who was bad, or maybe too upset to think would try and take you away from the Weyr." So much gossip, so much for the confused young woman to think about. Still, she's attempting to understand with the Weyrleader's help. K'del's nod is a long slow one. "Don't think she is a bad person," he admits, running his good hand through his hair in an idle, unhappy gesture. "Just an unhappy one. A proud one. She's always been-- mercurial. Just seemed like she'd settled down, as she got older. But now--" He swallows, and looks away; the stables themselves are an easier target than Azaylia, and probably than anyone, right now. "Hard to know what to think, except that I don't think it's acceptable. Which is why things are so complicated. But - Azaylia. We will sort it out, one way or another. It's going to be okay." He's very clearly trying to convince himself of it. Nervous attention shifts from the yarn to her lower lip, teeth working at it as she listens to him. Though she's just a girl from Keroon, so, "Mecurial?" When it's K'del who looks away this time, her spine straightens in surprise and she takes a short shuffle forward. "I'm sorry. For bringing it up. I bet everyone already does." This time she inches closer while he's looking elsewhere. She's very delicate in tucking herself mostly against his uninjured side, arms gingerly finding somewhere to give him a supportive squeeze. But then, "...have you been eating?" Quiet inquiry has the potential to turn into a scold. "Changeable. Erratic." K'del looks as though he'd like to be able to define the word better, but can't; his shrug is one of defeat. He seems pleased by Azaylia's arm, though, and turns his head to give her an appreciative smile. "Don't be sorry. Seems like it needs to be talked about, else everyone just remains confused. Rather people understand the situation than not. I-- yes, I've been eating." Some. "Damaris' been making sure of it, and Iolene. Don't have much of an appetite, though, mostly." "Oh." Azaylia takes the new vocabulary word and tucks it away. His smile has her lingering in the embrace for as long as she thinks he needs it. Any longer and her smile turns from supportive to bashful, stepping back and clearing her throat. "Good. Eating is very important when your bones are a-mendin'. As my mama always says." Speaking of, her eyes widen as a thought can be seen flickering behind her eyes. "Oh. I'm due to write another letter back home..." Words trail off, not wanting to seem eager about leaving K'del's company. "And I've interrupted your work - no, of course. Just wanted to get you that present before it burnt a hole right through my pocket." K'del's smile is genuine and warm, and he uses his free hand to wave Azaylia away. "Sure Ill see you soon. Look after yourself, okay?" Azaylia giggles, mood successfully salvaged. "I know how that feels..." Nippy fingertips are touched to her lips, hiding the growing smile behind them. "I've got something for Hypatia, and it's like that." So eager to give it to the other apprentice, but of course that means facing her. Brows knit ever so faintly, and she blindly stuffs her hand back into the garish glove. "I'll visit soon." To make sure that they keep in touch. "You too. Have a nice night, K'del. Please?" Her chin tucked low, it's obvious that Azaylia is admiring her pin even as she turns to finish up work in the stables. "I'll try," says K'del, firmly, but with a smile, as he turns to go. His steps might still be slow and pained, but he's definitely pleased. |
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