Logs:What's On Your Mind?
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| RL Date: 20 October, 2009 |
| Who: Kash, T'rev |
| Involves: Fort Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Kash's ride along with T'rev takes her to Boll; along the way, it takes her to the land of telling the truth, too. It goes better than anticipated. |
| When: Day 14, Month 13, Turn 20 (Interval 10) |
| On ther 14th day of the 13th month, T'rev cruises by the barracks first thing in the morning, dressed casually. It's cold out but clear. It's been crazy times a little lately with the holders having come up recently and other things. The Weyrleader might look a little tired a little distracted, but when he spots Nakasha, he still grins widely and walks right over. "Hey Kash. Ready for that trip to Boll? I'm killin' two wherries with one stone: you're on my list for shadowin' a rider. So no chores today if you're up for it?" There's not much that can easily explain away Kash's look of pure panic - despite T'rev's grin - as the Weyrleader approaches, nor the wide-eyed hesitation at mention of the Boll. For a moment, the candidate looks as likely to flee from her position on her cot as anything else; a moment later, though, and she's schooled her expression, straightened her posture, and begun to say, "Course I am! Rather do that than get stuck with the old people again, any day." She slides to her feet, adding, "Guess I just need-- a jacket?" Her smile's not a radiant one, but by now, it's even enough to look real. Oh for someone less good at reading people. T'rev's own expression remains pleasant but his gaze lingers on her face, drawn by that very notable panic, the wide eyes. He doesn't mention it right now though, just nods. "Jacket, scarf is good too for the wind. You've got short hair so it shouldn't fly around in your eyes," the Weyrleader answers with a little gesture towards the side of his own head. "All right then, off we go as soon as you're bundled up. Mecaith's a really smooth flyer if you've got any worries 'bout that." "Cadejoth's not, so I'm sure I'll be fine," says Nakasha, with a bob of her head. Turning around to hunt through her press gives her a reason not to look at T'rev, though there's still a visible stiffness in her shoulders as she gathers out her jacket and a scarf, then shrugs them on. At least less of her face is visible, with a scarf wrapped around the lower parts of it. "Shells, if my hair was still long, guess I'd probably end up strangled in it," she adds. "Curls! Guess you'd get that, though." "Yeah? He's a flashy flyer?" T'rev asks about the Reachian Weyrleader's dragon then offers the girl his arm with a little wink. Gallant. "Nah, not strangled, but maybe temporarily blinded," he says about the hair. "But yeah, they get all squished when you put a riding cap on," he pats the top of his own head and ambles down the line of cots. "So I'm going to need to stop in and talk to Lord Boll down there, you're welcome to you know ... wander around while waitin', unless you want to sit in on our chat," the Weyrleader says circumspectly. "And then we might have some time to take a little walk on the beach. Maybe give Mecaith a little sea scrub." Nakasha hesitates for just a moment, then accepts the arm, tilting her head up to smile more warmly at the Weyrleader. "Cadejoth," she explain, as they walk, "is... exuberant. It's obvious he likes to fly, just not sure he ever learned how to do it with any /precision/." Despite her earlier oddness, there's no indecision as she says, smile carefully held in place, "Thank you. I'm sure I can... find some way of occupying myself." Beat. "Reckon I got the best rider shadowing, then." "Heh. Exuberant. Nice positive way to describe it," T'rev teases just a little, again making no remark on that hesitation. "Mm. Plenty of things to do at Boll. Lots of friendly people," the Weyrleader says casually and reaches over to give her hand on his arm a little pat. "Well, you know, I'm a pretty good rider," he says with humor rich in his voice, "could do a lot worse!" A broad wink follows and he asks a few questions of the light chit-chat variety on the walk through the caverns and out into the cold-as-heck Bowl where Mecaith waits expectantly. He lowers his head and snakes it around to nudge at Nakasha gently then straightens again. "All right then, up you go and I'll be up behind you and we'll be off." "Reckon K'del'd be sad at me, if I made negative comments. Trying to live by that: no negative comments about anyone's lifemates, no matter how weird they are." Kash straightens her shoulders as she says this, tilting her head as he gives her hand a pat; she nods, and then laughs. "Let's hope I can learn something from you," she teases. "Though if it's all just natural talent..." Out in the bowl, she reaches up a hand to touch Mecaith's head gently as he nudges at her, greeting him with a careful, "Morning, Mecaith." There's no visible hesitation, as, this done, she shifts around to climb atop of the bronze, doing so with the comfort that experience has provided. "Thoughtful," T'rev says about her reasons for careful word choices and laughs at that tease. "Nah. Some of the timing maybe, that's natural, but mostly it's all stuff that gets learnt," the Weyrleader explains. Mecaith whuffs softly as Kash rests her hand against his head for that moment. Grinning at that ease, T'rev climbs up a moment later, settles in place and takes care of straps. "All right then, one trip to Boll as promised comin' right up and I'm sorry it's gone so late too," he adds, hand aiming to rest lightly at her waist, though it's not at all a 'fresh' gesture, could be force of habit from more nervous passengers as Mecaith's wings lift, then beat down in time with the bunching of muscles. Up. They leap upward and T'rev wasn't exaggerating about the bronze dragon's smoothness: Mecaith is extremely steady in the air. "Try to be," shrugs Kash, though she looks utterly determined for such a simple sentence. Mounted, and peering out at the world with interest she can't possibly manage to hide, her usual enthusiasm back to something closer to its usual level, she laughs. "So long as it's still in good time for your meeting with Boll, it's of no concern to me that it's taken this long," she promises, cutting off what may have been headed towards an awkward exhale as his hand aims for her waist; she turns it into a laugh. Skyward, her interest only increases; "This place is beautiful from the air," she turns her head to say, grinning. "Different meeting with Boll this time," T'rev says with a little wry grin that echoes in his voice. "Lord Visrain was just up askin' for help with the raiders, so I'm goin' down to follow up with him about that after the meeting. Tell him a thing or two that's goin' on," the Weyrleader explain with little enough in the way of details. That grin turns honest and open though as she admires the scenery. "Yeah, almost makes up for the cold part," he jokes further, leaning just a little closer so voices are more readily heard beneath the rush of wind and wings. "Want to fly long for a little ways?" Nakasha scrunches up her face at mention of the raiders, her nod much more serious this time. "Think you're going to be able to stop them from hitting again?" she wants to know. "Know you can't tell me everything, but..." She looks hopeful, and probably more at the idea of them being stopped than of finding things out. Despite that note of seriousness, she can't help but laugh as she adds, "It does! 'least it's snow, snow, and not just rain and more rain. Could we?" Fly long, presumably, eyes shining with eagerness. "If this area is home now, then I want to see more of it." Again, there's that note of determination to it, albeit coupled with a grin. "Sure hope so," T'rev says fervently. "We've ... got some information to act on," he says very carefully. "Could mean the end of it," the Weyrleader lets her in on that much. His laughter joins hers and his hand curls a little more at her waist: still not naughty. "Yeah. Can stand the snow a lot better m'self. And you bet. Mecaith loves it," T'rev says happily, apparently, Mecaith's not the only one who likes flying long. "Mind if he shows off a little? And home -- I hope it does feel that way or is startin' to," is wished sincerely. The hand at her waist may not be naughty, and doesn't seem to come across that way to Kash, except... she glances down at it, swallows, and then turns her attention back to T'rev. Smiling. At least the bulk of her jacket stops the increased curve of her belly from being /too/ noticeable. Mostly. "Really? That's... /excellent/ news. I really hope so. Kez sounded so /worried/." She lifts a hand to twist a stray curl back behind her ear as she adds, "Of course he can show of... yes, go on. It..." beat. "Is. A bit. I don't want to go home. I won't." It's the swallow that draws T'rev's attention downward and his hand falls away a moment later. "Sorry - I'm too touchy," he apologizes apparently not sussing out the ... issue. "Yeah, really. Going to walk Lord Boll through it, actually," he explains further and looks sympathetic. "With reason. Nasty business the whole thing." Mecaith's wings stretch for more air and briefly he looks backward, eyes gleaming with quiet delight as he flows into a simple barrel roll. "Sounds like you're pretty determined about that," T'rev says as the dragon rights himself and cruises a little lower, looking for interesting rocky slopes to thread along. "I guess that means everything is okay then, hm? You looked -- scared when I came into the barracks just now," is added, tone gentle. "Nono," says Nakasha, hastily-- too hastily, given she doesn't have anything to back it up with. "I don't-- mind. It's..." Conveniently, Mecaith's barrel roll stops her from finishing the rest of that sentence immediately, though her enjoyment is somewhat diminished by whatever it is that's on her mind. But when T'rev brings up the way she looked, she falters again, staring out off into the distance in silence for some time before she can answer. "I... th-- I was afraid something was wrong, I couldn't think of any other reason you'd come straight for me," is what she finally says, her lack of conviction only partly lost to the wind. It's maybe her body language, more than her words that are giving away the farm here. Given that earlier 'no no', T'rev's hand returns to its earlier position and if fingers and palm rested at waist can convey comfort, well that's what he's aiming for. "What's on your mind, Kash, that you'd think that?" the Weyrleader asks next, voice still gentle and his arm actually curves around her a little bit more. "And I'm not just askin' because I promised your brother I'd look out for you. If there's something -- you can talk to me. Won't rat you out either." Mecaith drops a wing to bank around the curve a slope, giving them a dizzying, nearly sideways view of the landscape, the horizon and for a moment, a distant glimpse of the western sea between two snowy peaks might be visible. Nakasha sighs into that touch, her eyes flickering closed; she sits like that, unmoving and silent, for some seconds before she can bring herself to speak again. It's enough that even that distant glimpse of the ocean is not enough to rouse her overwhelming enthusiasm. "You'll have to rat me out. Or-- maybe it's more that I'm ratting myself out. Saying anything." She doesn't turn her head to look at him, instead, still staring off into the far distance as she explains in a quiet, sad little voice, "I can't Stand. It's all a lie at this point. I went to the healers. And I guess if I don't say something, then they will, and that'll be worse, but... Don't even know what to say. How to tell." "Well, y'know, Weyrleader and all, doesn't get much higher up than that except for the Weyrwoman," T'rev tries to make light still and his other arm lifts to close around her, a gentle, backwards hug offered. "Yeah. Generally better to rat yourself out," he continues, still with that touch of humor in his voice. "So let's see ... you're either dyin', which I sure as heck hope not, or you're pregnant," T'rev puzzles that out. "Because I can't come up with much else that a healer'd say that would mean you can't Stand, Kash." The humour probably helps some, and the hug, too, but it's a pretty miserable Kash who confirms T'rev's conclusion with her short little nod. "That. I... found out a few days ago. I," she hesitates, swallowing heavily. "Promise I won't do anything stupid, but please..." now, finally, she turns her head so that she can look at T'rev, eyes imploring. "Don't tell anyone, yet?" "Ah, Nakasha," T'rev says with sympathy in his voice and his arms tighten a little. "I'm sorry it's turned out this way for you. I guess it's too far along, or you wouldn't be sayin' you can't Stand." His head shakes promptly at that last. "'Course not. And you don't have to leave the Weyr," he hastens to add. "You're welcome to stay if you want, though you'll need to get yourself some work. Can arrange that with the headwoman if and when you're ready. And if you do want to go back to Tillek, or your parents' hold or to your brother, just say the word, okay?" Mecaith lets out a quiet rumble and looks over his shoulder again, flight-path steadying and he gives a little waggle of his wings, like he's trying to reassure too, and make her laugh. There aren't any laughs from Nakasha, despite Mecaith's antics, but the girl certainly looks at least a little less unhappy; blinking back tears, she even manages a half-hearted smile. "Three months, they estimated," she confirms, and then, latching on to the rest of what he says with more interest, "No, I'll stay, I will. There's plenty of things I can do... And I want to try and Stand again next time." After a moment more, she adds, "Thank you. For not... you know." "Wow -- that must be pretty tough to wrap your head around." T'rev keeps his arms around the girl, gently supportive and grins at her again. "Should've seen my face when I found out my daughter was on the way. And yeah, plenty of work in a Weyr always, even if things're tight right now." He nods though at her further words. "That's the spirit. And y'know, you'd be welcome to, even if it might be a while, what with Peirith and Elaruth risin' back to back like they just did. Wouldn't expect another clutch for three turns from Peirith's last now," he explains further, then tilts a little brow-raised look at her. "What? Kickin' you out? Insistin' you should go home? Psh. Ain't /my/ way that's for sure and the Weyr's no hold. There's nothing to be ashamed of." He's quiet for a moment though as Mecaith flies onward. "Thing is though Kash, if it's three months on, this -- not Fort person, right?" Nakasha reaches up one hand to rest on T'rev's arm around her, squeezing gently as she nods. "It-- is. I had no idea, and... well." Shaking her head, she adds, "I know it'll be turns. That's fine. I'm not... it's probably better, if I have time to be /me/ first. After." After the baby. Her shrug is a little uneasy as she confirms, silently, that perhaps she /was/ worried about all these things. His last question draws a quiet swallow. "No, not a Fort person." She doesn't elaborate, but the way she says it is probably a good indication as to /who/ the father might be. "It'll be all right," T'rev reassures with conviction. "There's plenty of people to foster with if you want to do that, or use the nursery, plenty of options," he continues. "But you've got time to think that all through and well, I'm not the best person to talk to about that. My sister's expectin' you know. But she's a bit ahead of you. Levania, not Nissa. If you want, can make an introduction. She's just a little older than you are, not much. You know, if you want to talk to someone who's dealin' with something similar." Her answer to his last earns a little nod and again his arms tighten briefly, then release. "You gonna be okay when we get to Boll?" is what he asks instead of getting too into it. Nakasha lets out a breath, and then adds an uneasy laugh to it. "Now I'm just all the more glad I was searched. If I hadn't been... I really would be going home in disgrace." Swallowing again, she continues, firmly, "I'd like that. To talk to your sister. Maybe it'll make it seem more... real. You know? Because I've been pretending for too long." She stares out over the landscape, and, without glancing back at T'rev, nods. "I will. Just need to compose myself a bit. That's all." "Yeah, no disgrace here," T'rev says mildly and keeps his arms right where they are. "I'll drop word with Vani. She's a nanny so she's easy enough to find, you might've worked a shift with her already, actually. We ain't got the same Da so we don't look as alike as we could." He smiles again, nods. "All right then. Let's just keep flyin' for a little bit, give you time for that breather, but we'll need to hop Between soon. Don't want to keep Lord Boll waitin'." "I think I know her by sight," confirms Nakasha. "I suppose I'd just never thought about it in terms of her pregnancy before." She wipes at her eyes, though at least the chill of the wind does a good job of concealing redness with more redness and chapped cheeks. "No, of course. Whenever you're ready, I'm sure I'll be fine." She takes a long, deep breath, straightening her shoulders. One of T'rev's arms retreats and when it returns, he's holding up a square of red cloth: his hanky. Nice hanky. Sisal even. Faaancy. "S'allright. We've got a little time yet," he explains in a quiet voice and gives her shoulder a squeeze. Mecaith flies on then, through the cold wind, tacking a zig zag line, or playing with air current, diving down at one point just for the fun of it and making T'rev laugh. Eventually though, there's a warning: "Between." And then they're going. On the other side of nothing, there's warmth, a softness to the air and the lushness of Southern Boll, the waves breaking on the beach a few miles distant, the hold tucked up in the jungles, the meadow in between it and the Weaverhall. "Boll," T'rev announces. "/Swanky/," says Kash, with obvious admiration, as she takes the hanky and uses it. It gets tucked straight into her pocket after that, but no doubt it will get cleaned and returned in good time. By the time they do go Between, she's visibly more relaxed, and no doubt some more of that has to do with Mecaith-- she's laughs along with T'rev. Boll, though, catches her breath, and she lets free, finally, a little sigh. "Oh," she says. And, "Oh, Kez was right. It /is/ beautiful." "Yeaaahhh," is T'rev's laughingly drawled response about his handkerchief. "I like that soft stuff for my nose." The Weyrleader's hand closes on her shoulder again at that remark about Boll. "Yeah. Reminds me of Nerat some, but not. It's different, but similar. And just -- so green. Love it. We'll set down near the main hold and if you want, I can have your friend sent for. Might play better comin' from the Weyrleader. Then y'all can -- talk and stuff. While I'm busy with Lord Visrain." "The warm is kind of... unnerving. To go from full-on winter at Fort, to this." Kash shakes her head, mulling it over. "But it is. Beautiful." Her smile is a little shy as she adds, "If you would? I don't know how I'd find him, otherwise." Her lips quirk: talk and stuff. Yes. "We'll probably go to the beach, so you can find me, afterwards." "Yeah, it's a big difference to fly out of winter and right into summer," T'rev agrees. "But at the same time, it's nice. Nice to just ... be warm." There goes the Weyrleader squeezeing her shoulder again "You bet," he says simply as Mecaith cruises in for a landing. A moment or two suffices to loosen straps and T'rev swings down to the ground and holds up a hand to help her down "I'll send word for him then, and find you both down at the beach." "/Warm/," agrees Kash, with obvious enthusiasm; she's already pulling away her jacket, uncoiling her scarf, so that by the time T'rev's there on the ground to help her down, all she needs to do is shuck the jacket off. Safely on the ground, she looks momentarily apprehensive, but nods firmly all the same: "Great. And... thanks. For bringing me. It's been too long since we got to see each other and letters... just aren't the same." Once Kash is down, T'rev takes off his own jacket, threads it through straps for safe-keeping and then offers Nakasha his arm again. "Yeah," the Weyrleader says feelingly and sighs deeply. "I know." He smiles though, nods towards the hold building and leads the way onward towards dual conversations held in different parts of the hold on wildly different topics followed by, a little later, a very pleasant walk on the beach before at least two of the conversationalists need to head back to winter again. Nakasha accepts that arm, putting into place a winning smile that she keeps in place for much of the rest of the visit. It's a good visit: she's more lively, and full of chatter, for most of it, turning visibly sad only when it's time to go home again. She and Kez take a quiet moment, then he takes his leave from them, utterly polite. Kash is quiet, going home, but not unhappy - and again, she's full of thanks. "I needed that," she says. "I feel better, now." Back on Mecaith, flying long again over Boll's green reaches, T'rev nods. "Yeah. Everyone needs a break sometimes and well -- that probably needed t'get sorted out. I'm glad it did," the Weyrleader adds. "If you need anything, Kash. Just say the word, okay?" Nakasha is silent at this concept of things getting sorted out, silent for rather longer than is probably necessary. Finally, she agrees, "I will. Thank you. I... could you get Mecaith to ask Cadejoth to get K'del to visit at some point, when he's got the time? It's... probably time for that." That silence is noted and again there's a press of T'rev's hand to her arm. "Sure. He's happy to help out too," the Weyrleader says simply. "I've got things Cedri's outgrown too. You know. If you need things for the baby. Though I'm sure there's some things in stores. Just with things the way they've been with supplies, it's all re-use, re-use, re-use," he says a little wryly. Nakasha pushes a smile onto her face, turning back to nod at T'rev. "Thanks," she says, once more. "I'd appreciate that. I'm not fussy about... new things. Probably get some stuff from my family, too - we all share, though some of that's getting a bit old, I guess. It'll work, though." Baby, though, she mouths, as though she's still working this one through. Not just /pregnant/, but a /baby/. "It'll be fine." "Sure - I'll go through what I've got, ask Serina if she's got anything she's ready to pass on," T'rev states and settles back a little in the straps. On this trip, he points out some things, landmarks, features of the land as they fly over it. The river there, clusters of trees, the curl of smoke from the Terriv campsite. "Guess they're not all comin' up for turnover," he says with a low chuckle. "Great," says Kash, bobbing her head. She turns her attention enthusiastically towards the guided tour, full of questions and comments as to what things are, why, and all the rest. "Do they usually?" she asks of the Terrivs, with interest. "I don't know much about traders." "Yeah, most of the caravan does usually. It's turnover and Fort's big gather, big trade, you know? But they might be holding some reserve back due to all the raidin'," T'rev notes, leaning over a little in the straps and Mecaith's path alters slightly to fly over the camp. "Cedri and Serina are already up north - came for her turnday. They've been camped for almost a seven now, out in the fields by the gather grounds." Nakasha leans down with visible interest to get a better look, as Mecaith flies over, her brow furrowed in thought. "Right, suppose that makes sense. Guess it could be real good business for them, given all we don't have. Though... not much to trade, either, maybe." She considers that for a moment, then adds, "Convenient timing, I guess, that your daughter's turnday is so close to turnover. So you can spend it together so easily." As they cross over, the clearing is very visible, wide open, large enough to hold a lot of wagons, upwards of thirty and the rut of wheels in a circle around a very large fire pit are evidence of generations of Terriv wagons parked there. A long, low stone 'hangar' lurks off to one side too, its metal roofing tiles dulled somewhat by age, but clearly, this trader group does not mess around with Thread when there is some. "Yeah that's part of the problem. Things they expected to buy in different places to have good stock? Well they just didn't get as much as they expected to. It's why we haven't been able to turn to traders as much as we thought we could, to make up for some of the missing stuff." He smiles though about his daughter, nods. "Yeah, she was born just 2 weeks before turnover. Born out under the sky right there," he points downward towards a spot where wagons would normally sit but is currently vacant. There's only three wagons currently in the ring, pulled up close to the firepit. "Ruined the whole economy, then," concludes Kash, with a frown. "Like, not just lack of goods, but also the marks that weren't real ones. And all of this. Shit." She wraps her arms around her middle, sounding thoughtful. "But you said you've got-- a chance at stopping all that. The raiding. So it won't be a problem forever. She was born under the /sky/?" Eyes truly wide, and lifted towards her eyebrows. "That's... I really like that. Out in the open, not stuck indoors somewhere." There's a slow blink or two from T'rev and then he nods. "Uh -- yeah, pretty much," he says slowly. "Yeah, think we do. Just -- not that I don't trust you but, probably better not to put you in the way of you know, danger by knowing something," T'rev tries to explain about the raids. That exclamation though, brings a smile to T'rev's face and it's impulse rather than comfort that sees him hugging her this time. "Yeah. Pretty amazing, huh? It's the way Terrivs do it unless y'know, there's problems. But Serina, yeah, she insisted. Cedri had to be born under open sky." The hug actually makes Kash laugh, and she reaches behind to wrap her own arms around T'rev, grinning. "I think it's perfect," she tells him, earnestly. "It'd be much more... soothing, I think. Better." There's a glimmer of an idea there, clearly. More conversationally, she adds, "I guess I can see why you won't tell. Don't /like/ it, but I can see why. One day... Like to be able to know things. Do things. Be something more than a liability, or whatever." "You're one of the first people who's not a Terriv I've heard say that," T'rev tells her with a wide grin. "You'll have to come down and meet them," he decides with an exuberant edge in his voice. "It's -- you know, it's just not often that folks born under a roof, like the idea of life without one," the Weyrleader says and gives her another fond squeeze. "Yeah, I know. Annoying isn't it? Always outta the loop?" A little rueful there. "And hey, determined as you are, you'll get there, I bet." "Really?" Kash seems surprised, brows raised again. "It's just... I know /I'd/ rather be outdoors than indoors. Always. So. It just makes sense to me. I'd like to meet them," she adds, with a warm smile. "Being outdoors, when I was a kid, always meant escaping. Gardening was probably /the/ best chore I could think of." She makes a face as she continues, "I'd better. Just not sure how I'll manage it, but I want to. Not just the youngest, the one who needs to be protected. It's... meant a lot, being somewhere with people who know me, and not the rest of my family." "Most folks are still pretty y'know, leery about open sky. Thread. It runs pretty deep," T'rev says with a little shrug. "I like being out in the open too. Always had restless feet as a kid. Just ask Niss. We used to run out at night sometimes after we'd moved down to the cothold - couldn't take bein' cooped up and on a schedule all the time. You know. Get up at the crack of dawn. Wash. Eat. Do chores. Go in for lunch. Wash. Eat. Go back out, weed, scrape, prune. Come back in. Wash. Eat. Sleep." He just sounds faintly bemused at the end there, not disgusted. "Just -- wanted something else than that. My brothers like it though." He listens when she goes on about her family, being the youngest. "Heh. I'm the oldest so -- I was always the one bein' the big brother." Nakasha's nod is a solemn one. "I was born after the pass ended, and I was only thirteen when the comet pass ended, so... maybe that has something to do with it. It's not that I don't remember, but..." She gives T'rev a laughing grin. "You and K'del... exactly the same. Though I guess Kas was more about making a name for himself. Something like that. Always knew there wasn't much for him there, though, I guess. For me, guess it was just more of... I don't want to get married. So." With a wry smile, she adds, "My oldest brother loves it, though. But /he/ doesn't have trader blood. So." "Yeah, I was little when it was over, the regular Pass. But Mec and I fought Thread in the Comet Pass," T'rev replies. "So I kind of know what you mean." He laughs though, shakes his head. "Nah, wasn't so much about makin' a name for myself. Just couldn't hold /still/. Felt like my skin was just ... not sittin' right, y'know?" His mouth quirks to the side in an amused grin. "Yeah, Vani and Niss don't want to get hitched either." There's a hesitation from Kash, a thoughtful one, as she remarks, "There's always going to be kind of a... cut off line, I guess? Those who've fought thread, and those who haven't. I think Kas feels it." She nods, though, as she adds, "I feel you on that one. I felt... trapped. My brothers worked out that I should go to Tillek, to give me some space, and-- here we are, I guess. Worked out. Guess it's a good thing, that there are weyrs for people like us to go to. Hope your sister Impresses; guess that'd be pretty awesome, for you." "Probably," T'rev says quietly. "We never got injured or anything but -- it does ... well it stays with you," is what he settles on and falls silent, thoughtful as the bronze skims down low towards treetops and some brighly colored birds go flying away in alarm. "Yeah. It's good there's options. And it's good when you've got family as can see that you need a different one from the normal." "It would," agrees Kash, solemnly. "It's a different thing, accepting search when there isn't thread, to when there is, I guess. It's always going to be different for us." She doesn't ask more questions, though from the way she turns back to look at T'rev, there might be a few she'd want to. Still, she turns her head back around, considering the trees, and the birds flying off around them. "Yes. I'm pretty lucky: my brothers are great. So's my sister, but I guess I've always had less to do with her." "Yeah, different duties," T'rev agrees. "I mean, you have to keep the memory and skills alive, but it's not -- no. Not automatic heroes," he says, again slow and thoughtful. That look is met with a steady gaze and a slight lift of brows. "I can tell you about it, if you want," T'rev offers, voice quiet though still audible in spite of the necessary noise of flying. "Feel the same way about mine, only it's my sisters I'm closest to. Nissa 'specially." Nakasha frowns, thoughtfully. "Know K'del was worried about being bored, before he--" wry smile. "Wasn't, anymore. I guess there's only so much drilling and whatever you can do, when it's all so... not concrete, anymore. I guess." She hesitates before answering his offer, playing with the tassels on the end of her scarf. Finally; "If you really don't mind? Just feels like... I ought to know. Even if I won't be standing this time around." Beat. "Must be nice, having them around again." "Yeah. We talked about doing different things for the interval, different kinds of stuff for riders to do. We're offering transport for harpers I think, or at least trying it out, at Fort. Help kids everywhere even in the hard-to-get-to places to learn to read and write, proper." He reaches around to gently try to free those poor tassels from the depradations of tugging fingers. "I don't mind. It's just sometimes hard to put into words. It's exictin' and scary all at once. It's fast. It's non-stop while it's goin' on. And if you're leadin' the wing in it, you have to be keepin' touch through the whole Fall with your wing, makin' sure everyone's on mark, the formations are goin' right and that everyone gets home safe." Breath out. "I'm glad it's over. Rather be bored than ever see someone die from 'score again." His fingers tighten a little on hers then release. "It's really great havin' Niss around. I love Vani to bits but I can't talk to her the way I can to Niss." "Kas is talking about the same kind of things," says Kash, nodding; this much, she kind of understands. "And they've got this whole land thing going on... though. Farming? Ugh." Her hands release the tassels at his intervention; her smile is rueful for it. She's a fiddler. But she's stock still and listening, intent, to everything he says about 'fall. At the end, she shivers, though probably not from cold; "I admit," she murmurs, barely loud enough to be heard, "Real glad I don't ever have to do that." More cheerfully, she adds, "Mm, get that. Kas and I... it's different, to me and any of the others." "Yeah we talked about it last time we had drinks," T'rev says with a loose grin on his face. "And ... yeah, heard about that, though haven't really had much time to think it through with everything goin' on down here." That stillness, the shiver earn a return of his arms around her for another hug. "Yeah. Here's hopin' to Faranth no weird stars go making more weird Thread happen." Breath out. "Yeah. We're the two as remember livin' at the waystation. The others were all little when we moved in with Hardin at the cothold. So they're more holdbred than Niss and I." Mecaith lifts up higher and higher as the land starts to change a little and the touch of winter can be seen in the trees here. "Time to be hoppin' back I think." "Guess you wouldn't have, either," agrees Kash, readily enough. She leans in to the hug, smiling off into the distance as she adds, "Absolutely. No more weird stars, no more strange anomalies. Nothing strange falling from the sky." She's silent in thought after that; it even takes her a few moments more than are strictly necessary to respond to his last. "Right, of course. Whenever you're ready." "Yeah. Clear skies for a long time," T'rev says earnestly and they fly on for just a little longer, then he murmurs a quiet: "Between" again before Mecaith hops them back into Fort's wintry snows. He leaves her by the entrance to the lower caverns with a sincere hope that everything'll go smoothly and a reminder to come check with him if she needs anything, then Mecaith is skimming away back across the Bowl to his ledge and his queen, while T'rev disappears into his weyr for while, probably to go over a lot of maps. Before she turns to head indoors, Nakasha has a single, serious nod for T'rev. "I will," she promises, and, "Again: thank you." There's a stony determination to her steps, after that; it doesn't take much longer, after today, for the wheels to be in motion, and the candidate to be a candidate no more, even in name. For today, though, there's a smile. |
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