Logs:Turnday in Tillek
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| RL Date: 28 March, 2015 |
| Who: Lilah, X'vae, Z'riah |
| Involves: Fort Weyr, High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: X'vae runs into Lilah at the Tillek gather and Z'riah joins them. It turns out X'vae did not get Z'riah a redhead for his turnday this turn. |
| Where: Tillek Hold |
| When: Day 16, Month 5, Turn 37 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Easau/Mentions, Moriyah/Mentions, Tenella/Mentions |
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>---< Tillek Hold(#1202RAJ) >------------------------------------------------<
Great iron doors lead into the Main Hall of Tillek Hold, with bright
blue-and-white flags and banners marking each side - and in the windows
above. There's plenty of room for all kinds of action in the courtyard,
though most businesses and formal activities are conducted elsewhere: down
on the docks, in the winery, or in any number of cotholds that line the
roads extending away from the courtyard itself.
Pleasant, bright, mild days mark springtime at Tillek. Rain is infrequent
during the spring months, eventually giving way to misty, foggy days as
summer approaches. Tillekian wine pours freely, for a price, through the gather on a perfect spring day. The scent of the sea is on the air, the harper's cords carrying in bright tones that reflect a festive mood. While the Weyr may be rationing ingredients and finding alternatives, here they have fish and herdbeasts roasting and available, again for a price. It is in the strange lull between the majority of the shopping and browsing, and before evening has settled and night has begun. Anyone of note has retired into the Hold itself to take dinner with the Lady Holder. And here, under High Reachian coverage and not one of their Weyr's weyrwomen, perhaps Lilah doesn't count as being of note. But nor has she worn her knot, with riding leathers traded in for a soft, dark green dress that is cut with a coppery-gold insert. It is made for dancing, but the goldrider is seated at a table in a corner of the arrangement that surrounds the area that will later become the dance floor, some type of fish on a stick being carefully picked at for the moment. X'vae's clothing is nearly always well-worn, but also well-tended; he makes the most out of what he has. His gather attire includes a suitably 'fancy' dark blue doublet that is paired with a cream colored shirt and brown pants, tucked into leather boots that rise to the knee and fold over. More surprising than his own person is probably the company he's keeping: an elderly woman who is modestly but elegantly dressed, her skin weathered and tanned, the mark of someone whose life has been spent on and near the sea, and a young lad whose skin bears the beginnings of the same. The woman's hair is white, but the lad's is tawny, not unlike X'vae's own. He's lending assistance to the woman whose cane is currently carried by the teen trailing her. "There's always good things to see here. The dances," the old woman tells X'vae. He smiles, warm, only a little indulgent. Once she's settled at a table, the bluerider makes to find a server to send her way as he's bidden, but then he's free. Free to, in this case, get two glasses of wine and approach the knotless redhead. It is only as X'vae is settling the older woman at that table that Lilah's dark gaze finds its way over to the pair, interest there as she studies them until X'vae moves away. Her gaze flits after him, briefly, before abandoning watching him as he gets drinks. Instead, her attention focuses again on the older woman and that young lad, trying to find any more similarities, perhaps, than the coloring. So caught up in that is she, that she only belatedly notices that X'vae is coming to her table with those drinks, tearing her gaze away guiltily to look up at him with a smile and a simple greeting of, "X'vae." "My great aunt and one of my younger cousins, on my father's side," X'vae supplies as he sets one of the glasses before her - a white wine, to compliment her fish on a stick, no doubt. "May I join you, Lilah?" He keeps it simple, perhaps inviting himself to informality given their last meeting or perhaps simply because she's not advertising her rank just now and he doesn't want to spoil it for her. Lilah's chin tips in invitation to one of her empty chairs, that smile flashing briefly again as the wine is set there. First, though, she stops picking at that fish, rubbing fingers together before reaching for it with her spare hand. "Thank you," she offers, for wine and information both as she glances back to the two now that they have been identified. "If you need to return to them, I would understand. You don't have to feel like you need to--." She doesn't finish that statement, simply waving her fish stick (ha ha) in a brief gesture. X'vae's lips press into a smile of restrained amusement as he sits before he says, "I'm sure nothing would please Auntie Tenella more than to see me speaking with a lovely girl," he must pick language that the older woman would choose because it doesn't sound like X'vae. "The Craft and Holdbred seldom understand the nature of dragons and the relationships their riders might have with others and how that's different than settling down and getting handfasted. I'm not always convinced we riders understand it ourselves. But still, it would please her for me to stay, it would please me to stay, and I was only tasked with making sure she got a good seat for the dancing," he gestures, "which I have. Easau can take care of her from there," the boy is indicated. All that explained, he asks politely, "So what brings you to Tillek? A love of fish or a love of dancing?" Dark eyes slide to Tenella at the indication, Lilah quickly looking away to focus on X'vae with a wryly offered, "I will be sure to put on a good show then, if it will make her happy to think of you with a lovely girl." And the way she smiles warmly at the bluerider may be true to her word, softening the goldrider's expression. "Neither. A love of gathers, really. And I thought perhaps I might have run into someone I knew, but." Again, she starts to gesture with the fish stick, before she catches herself to add lightly, "Though, I suppose I did, didn't I?" "Well, know might be overstating things as yet, but certainly someone you've met, and could know." X'vae's tone warms with his gentle tease. "I'd rather you be yourself, than put on a show for Auntie Tenella. If you smile at me like that without true cause, you might give her heart palpitations for nothing." He's amused though, appreciative. "Is there any particular gathers you like best or is it all places and all seasons?" Lilah laughs at that, swallowed back before it gains anything more than a soft note as she assures X'vae, "Then I promise not to. I'd rather not be the cause of your auntie being sent to the Healers." But, those dark eyes still linger on X'vae over the rim of her glass as she finally lifts the white wine for a sip. "Any, really. So many people come together from so far, there's always a chance of... something happening. Hearing something, meeting someone--. Just, something. Don't you ever feel that brimming possibility when you're at one?" "Lilah," X'vae says her name low and quite seriously, leaning a little forward as though he has to ask her something of a secret and important nature, "You sound like a closet romantic." His smile is abruptly back, but he stays, just in case she needs to impart something secret and important in return after he says, "I do." Z'riah is not just arriving to the gather, he's been here for awhile already. But he is just finding X'vae now that he's finished his own, uh, business, and Yizibeth has assured him that the bluerider is free for the finding. "I feel like I'm interrupting something," says the greenrider when he spies his friend's familiar outfit. He doesn't sound apologetic about the possibility of interrupting something, though. Z'riah is dressed well, but not fancily, in his dress leathers. Or he was at one time. He's a little disarrayed by this point than he probably was when he started. Lilah's response is a low, soft threat as she answers X'vae's observation by leaning forward as well to say, "And if you try to tell anyone about your suspicions, I will kill y--." But then there's Z'riah, and the goldrider straightens subtly away, perhaps hoping that he didn't hear that as she glances from X'vae to Z'riah before answering for them, "No, you aren't. Just one acquaintance keeping another company." She looks to X'vae again, though, for introduction. X'vae's smile has only grown in the face of the goldrider's threat, and it's still wide when he straightens to look up at the greenrider. "Zif," who would likely garner such a warm response from the bluerider even if Lilah hadn't been diverting him so completely a moment before. "Auntie Tenella is some tables down, so I'd sit next to Lilah, if I were you," he advises helpfully. Then, to fulfill his duties, "Lilah, this is Z'riah, or Zif, my roommate and Yizibeth's rider. Zif, this is-" whisper, "Weyrwoman-" then the usual, "Lilah of Fort." The greenrider will take the fact that he's not interrupting at face value because he might not actually care even if he is. "Why, Xev, are you finding me gorgeous redheads to play with for my turnday? This is why you're my best friend, you know." And maybe Lilah doesn't want Z'riah to sit next to her now, but he's heading there anyway. "Very nice to meet you, weyrwoman," he leans in to say the last as quietly as X'vae had introduced that part of her title. Lilah doesn't object, at least, as dark eyes study the greenrider in turn, even as she identifies, "The roommate that came with you from Monaco." His words send a brow in a curve upwards, her warmth and softness disappearing under a challenging look to Z'riah as she takes another sip of her wine. "You might want to find more entertaining playthings. I wouldn't want you to be disappointed on your turnday." A pause, before she allows, "It is nice to meet you, as well. How are you settling in to High Reaches?" "Z'riah," X'vae answers the greenrider with a mixture of amusement and warning, "Best behavior please, if you want to see your real turnday gift later." At least he has something to barter with. He gives Lilah a look that must be oft seen on the bluerider's face: resigned apology. "If it helps, Z'riah is an excellent dancer and can be a gentleman when he chooses," there's an encouraging look to the greenrider. Gentleman. Z'riah will not hide his disappointment of the redhead not being his gift, but he can move on and look disappointed at the same time. He's talented like that. But it also makes Lilah's point of not disappointing him moot. She already has. "Fine, whatever. Gentleman." He might as well say 'ugh' when he says that word. But he doesn't. "High Reaches is fine. The winters are horrible, but the repression can be exciting." It's almost a game of hide and seek for Yizibeth to find the blue. Because he's mostly concealed under Eliyaveith's wing. But when she nears, he warbles in his familiar way to help! So thoughtful. (To nearby dragons from Izazeth) The disappointment that Z'riah doesn't hide seems to do the trick to bring humor wryly back to the weyrwoman's expression, Lilah's lips quirking into a slight smile as she assures X'vae lightly, "Then if I feel overcome with the urge to dance, I will ask the turnday boy for one and not make you dance with me. I am a terrible dancer, even after the lessons." She turns back to Z'riah to follow up with interest in a question of, "Repression?" To nearby dragons, Eliyaveith is a large dragon, even for a gold. So that she has curled in a half circle against Izazeth means that she mostly encloses him, and the wing that has spread over him is possessive, despite other dragons that she could be cuddling with. In the dying sun, she is half-dozing, only jerking awake at the blue's warble with a quick, protective instinct. To nearby dragons, Yizibeth has spent the last little while enjoying the company of males from other weyrs. But Z'riah finding Izazeth's rider is like her own cue to find her favorite blue. And she's confused when she does (sort of) find him. Why is that gold making his sound? « Izazeth. Are you okay? » She sounds mildly distressed. "That makes two of us," X'vae can grin about it, probably because he's not being asked to prove it in this moment. Terrible dancers unite! "Surfing, rock climbing, not dancing. I leave that to the experts," he nods to Z'riah. He clears his throat and makes to answer for the turnday boy (even if he'll no doubt add to the explanation), "Zif enjoys provoking the less... uh, open to non-Holder lifestyle choices." Perhaps Z'riah will have to translate what X'vae tries to make sound not so horrible. « Yes, yes, of course! » The blue's light is warm and reassuring along with his voice, though the reassurance is both for confused green and startled gold. (He's sorry about waking her.) « I'm here, with Eliyaveith, » the gold. « Eliyaveith, this is Yizibeth. » Light, warmth, sunshine for everyone, he hopes! Even if only the tip of his nose and one bejeweled eye can be seen. (To nearby dragons from Izazeth) There is a moment that Eliyaveith simply watches the approaching green, her wing remaining in place over Izazeth and even tightening somewhat before it finally folds back, revealing the little jewel that she has kept to herself for Yizibeth. But she doesn't give up cuddling against him, even as she greets, « Yizibeth, » with her own fiery warmth and a reflection of the green's bright sunshine that's been shared with Eliyaveith before. (To nearby dragons from Eliyaveith) "I don't believe in terrible dancers." And he's even seen X'vae dance, so he must really mean that. "Anyway, I'm not going to make anyone dance who doesn't want to. I can find someone who will want to." Z'riah is perfectly confident of that much. The bluerider's answer to his comment earns a moment of thought and then, "It's usually the ones who get the most pissed who're gayer than, well, me." Never mind that he's not. That's not the point he's trying to make. Lilah's brow curves upwards at X'vae's explanation, her lips twisting into a sharp smile as she adds to Z'riah, "We have a greenrider at Fort like that. No Hold-bound holdover attitudes at Monaco?" She finally abandons the her cold fish stick to the table, wiping her fingers together as she studies the greenrider again through a sidelong look. "Perhaps you are just a very good lead, that no one can be terrible when dancing with you. I have no problem making you dance with me later, then." Golds and their riders, amirite. What's usually just bright and warm is a little too bright and a little too warm until Yizibeth is sure that Izazeth is actually okay. She still doesn't seem calm, exactly, when she can see her clutchmate, though. But all the sun-kissed green can do is stare with anxiously whirling eyes at the much larger gold her blue is cuddling with. (To nearby dragons from Yizibeth) "Well..." X'vae begins to answer of Monaco in a way that suggests there are, but glance to Z'riah makes him think better of whatever he might've said: who needs reminders of awful people on their turnday? Instead, he says, complimentarily, "Z'riah has a knack for pressing buttons. It's very impressive to watch him work." His eyes linger on Lilah briefly, then away. "I'm going to get myself something to eat. Can I bring either of you anything?" He's already rising - he must need a minute of some variety, something a little unsettled briefly in his expression. Ever the peacemaker, like his rider, Izazeth is sitting up on the pretext of stretching. « Eliyaveith is from Fort, » he tells his ledgemate. He's still next to the gold, just no longer quite so snuggly close. He extends his neck in offer to Yizibeth for a friendly nose-bump or something that will make her feel more relaxed. If silence persists he will add, « She enjoyed one of our beaches. » He probably doesn't remember the specifics, but enjoying the beaches of Monaco is something the dragons have in common, so that should help them get along right? (To nearby dragons from Izazeth) At least Eliyaveith seems to respect the sanctity of ledgemates, clutchmates, mates, for the most part. As much as the gold might feel possessive of Izazeth, she allows him to stretch away from her, doesn't insist on snuggling back closer or displaying any persistent affection there. But the way that she levels a look on Yizibeth, mirroring her silence and leaving Izazeth to talk, is enough to indicate that she isn't ready to release him to her quite yet. (To nearby dragons from Eliyaveith) "I would hope you have more than one greenrider like that at Fort," says Z'riah with a certain hint of pride. "There are plenty of assholes at Monaco. But I've known them all my life. The ones at High Reaches are still new and interesting." And if the greenrider looks a little less happy in the following moments, it's probably only because he's thinking about awful people despite X'vae not mentioning them out loud. "Anyway, it's not about being good at dancing. It's about doing what makes you happy and doing what makes you feel good." He shakes his head at X'vae's question, but watches the bluerider as he rises with a faint furrow in his brow. "Another glass of this, please," Lilah says with a tap of her fingernail against the glass of wine, though she only lifts it a moment later to take a long sip of it. Likely to make sure it is gone before another one can replace it, though she also adds in a toast, "That is likely something to drink to, at least. New and interesting assholes. It sounds as if you have some stories to share." But as X'vae moves to leave, it is her turn to lean in to Z'riah and murmur softly to him, questioning, "Was that a warning that you may try to press my buttons once he's gone?" « You took her to our beaches? » Without her? Yizibeth's mindvoice is an unhappy sort of squeak and her wings mantle defensively as she looks between gold and blue, certainly not moving closer to accept Izazeth's gesture of familiarity. Instead of making more of a scene, or challenge, in the face of the foreign queen, though, the bright green is turning to put just enough distance between them to leap into the air. Izazeth can keep his gold. She'll go find someone else to spend her time with. (To nearby dragons from Yizibeth) The bluerider nods for the glass of wine and doesn't look at Z'riah. He takes his own not emptied one with him, probably intending to finish it and trade it for another. To nearby dragons, Izazeth is surprised, surprised and just a little hurt. « Yizi! » He calls after her, though surely he's experienced these Moods, even if not usually directed at him. « She had duties, » he tells Eliyaveith a little miserably. Z'riah keeps watching X'vae as the bluerider goes, but his attention comes back to Lilah in full force soon enough. "No, no. Your buttons are safe from me. Unless you do decide to take me home, and then I can show you just how good at pressing buttons I can be." Wait no. Z'riah only seems to realize that's a line once it's out of his mouth. "Shards, I'm sorry. I have a very well-documented thing for redheads and you're very attractive and I've had a few very strong drinks." To nearby dragons, Eliyaveith softens at his hurt, at Yizibeth's unhappiness, to nudge at the blue with a golden muzzle only after the other dragon has retreated. « Tell her. Go after her, » she suggests. « She is your clutchmate. You should not fight with your clutchmate. » On that note, even, she reaches out with a brush of what might be ceding to the distant green. Z'riah is certainly handsome, and that is likely why Lilah hides her lips behind her glass again at his suggestion, though it doesn't quite cover the way dark eyes linger on the man. When she speaks, it's only a light dismissal of: "I promise to tell him that you were the perfect gentleman when he returns." A pause, before she explains, "Even a weyrwoman's not immune to compliments. And you'd be surprised by the number of men who don't." But, it is her turn to look for X'vae, this time. "You two are close," is more of an invitation, a question, than a statement. "If the number isn't every single one of them," that's not actually a number, Z'riah, "then, yeah, I'd be surprised." He glances off in X'vae's direction again when Lilah mentions the bluerider and he nods as his gaze returns to her. "We've been friends since before we Impressed together. But we got closer after that. He's my best friend." And if anything in his expression suggests more than that, it's definitely not intended. "Are you two...?" The question is open-ended. He's probably not sure what to ask. To nearby dragons, Izazeth stretching lead to shifting, leads to moving to the side and launching. He'll follow. He'll try. But realistically, he'll be lucky if she speaks to him again before she's completely forgotten this conversation happened to begin with. It's going to be a long few days on the communal ledge. "We've met," is Lilah's answer to that, with the hint of a smile curving there in amusement as she slides her attention back to meet Z'riah's gaze. "Nothing more, no. I don't think he's exactly-- comfortable around me." Her fingers gesture to where her knot would be, if it were there. "He's a nice guy. Just been through... a lot." Z'riah isn't sure how else to put it. "Been taking everything real slow. Too slow, if you ask me. So it's not personal, trust me. I mean, the gold, but. He's been kind of weird around women ever since his last girlfriend." The thought of whom makes his nose wrinkle. He didn't care much for her, apparently. "But he's a nice guy." Yup, he said that already. "What happened with his last girlfriend?" Lilah has no shame about prying into that, though she asks it only lightly, attempting only a mild interest in X'vae's love life as she twists her empty glass in her fingers. "Is that part of the reason you both transferred to High Reaches?" To nearby dragons, Yizibeth does not speak to Izazeth again. Her sunshine is gone, no doubt brightening some other unsuspecting blue's evening in all it's petulantly affectionate glory. "No, no. Nothing like that. She was just a massive, horrible bitch. I'm glad they aren't together anymore, honestly, I just wish he'd... get back out there, you know?" Because Z'riah is a good friend and only wants what's best for X'vae. "He's a little shy of goldriders. But I probably can't blame him for that. Talk about performance anxiety." It's a joke. Really. Cue the return of the bluerider in question, performing admirably, it might be noted, by carrying three drinks. Two more wines of the variety already delivered and something stronger that Z'riah's been known to like. X'vae sets each onto the table in front of the intended recipient. "Has he told you about the time he stole my clothes at the beach and I had to walk naked back to the weyrling barracks yet?" It's probably not intended to be a distraction, but then again, maybe he heard some of what Z'riah was telling the goldrider as he came near. "Imagine how we must feel," counters Lilah in a wry joke of her own, light, even as those dark eyes flick to the gathering crowd, the dancing starting soon. Her lips part on another thought, about to say something before X'vae returns with those drinks. Instead, she adds lightly, "Of course not. He was the perfect gentleman." Z'riah has a grin for Lilah and then one for X'vae. "Why would I tell her that when I know you'll come and tell all of your embarrassing stories about yourself on your own?" The greenrider reaches for the drink, though, "Thanks, man. I'm not gonna be able to get on Yizi by the time this is over." But that sounds like a pro, not a con. "And I was the perfect gentleman." However light-hearted he's being, though, there's at least a few moments spent studying the bluerider now that he's back. "I am my own worst enemy," X'vae concedes to Z'riah's point with a self-deprecating smile. He lifts his glass to drink, almost as a toast to his own sorry self. But that doesn't last. If he doubts Z'riah's gentlemanly ways, it doesn't show. Perhaps the bluerider is just that trusting. "Z'riah, if Lilah will excuse us, perhaps I can discharge my wingmanly duties for you." What kind of bro would he be if he didn't get Z'riah laid on his turnday? "And perhaps Lilah will consent to do me the honor of letting me escort her to another gather to make up for our abandonment of her?" He looks to the redhead with a small smile that is telling in its lack of natural confidence or obvious charm. "Don't worry, I am capable of taking care of myself in any case," is what Lilah offers, her own smile simple as she lifts up that now full glass in thanks. It is to Z'riah that she adds, genuinely, "It was nice to meet you; enjoy your turnday." Her gaze slides between them, thoughtfully, though it comes to rest on X'vae in the end. "I'm sure I'll see you again." The greenrider rises with his glass in hand because this is the best damned idea anyone has had all night. "Great meeting you, too," he says to Lilah before he's moving to take X'vae by the arm and lead him off to the last place he saw attractive people. As they go, though, Z'riah asks the bleurider, "Did you just ask her out on a date? Like, on purpose?" Apparently he could totally see X'vae doing something like that on accident. "Yes, ma'am," X'vae answers Lilah in reflex before going with Z'riah's pull on his arm. It wouldn't be fair if all of X'vae's words were lost to the growing hum of noise as the area becomes more populated in anticipation of the dancing. "She said no," is what the bluerider answers. Clearly, it doesn't matter if he did or not, because she said no. Nevermind that the tips of his ears as well as his cheeks have become tinged with pink. "Come on, you'll have better luck. Guy or girl?" And then the rest is lost. |
Comments
Alida (02:05, 29 March 2015 (EDT)) said...
Perhaps strangely... I think Alida might enjoy going to a gather with you three. :)) That said... awww! Dwaggies are so CUUUUTUE! ^^
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