Difference between revisions of "Logs:The State of Things"

Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr

The Snowasis is rarely quiet, and even then, the high-ceilinged former weyr is kept from echoing by the fantastical booths tucked into its convoluted perimeter. The secluded seating spaces have been shaped from the truncated stalagmites that escaped the smoothing of the main floor, and are both softened and separated by colorful hangings that are thick and opaque enough to make each corner its own private nook.

Some of the smaller stalactites still roam the ceiling, their jagged teeth tracing a bumpy, inverted spine to the hearth. There, a thick rug with a low klah table and comfortable armchairs and couches sit, their upholstery and cushions changed sporadically to match the season: bright, light colors in the summer, fresh greens and yellows in the spring, warm autumnals in fall, and clear, rich hues for winter. Small tables litter the rest of the cavern, enough to fit up to four people each, while stools stand along the smooth wooden bar behind which is the passthrough window to the kitchen. Glass-paneled cabinetry behind the bar provides a clear view of the available liquors, the many colors reflecting the soft light of glows tucked into strategic niches around the cavern.

Winter's darkness cloaks the Weyr, even though it's barely dinner time; the intermittent lightning, bouncing off the falling snowand that already covering the ground, brings some light to the early evening, at least. The Snowasis is busy but not over-full with folks seeking warmth and relaxation at the end of their day, and amongst them is the unmistakeably coltish figure that is N'ky; he's at the bar, having carved out enough space for himself and the book he's leaning over. His cast-clad arm rests on the counter top, fingers curled around his mug of klah, while the other hand flips pages as needed.

"Seems none of us can get through this weyrlinghood without getting into some sort of trouble or breaking a limb. You, you had to go and do both." Sabella begins the conversation without even so much as a hello, but they're familiar enough now that it shouldn't be much of a surprise. She squirms her way in between N'ky and the man that's taking up too much space nearby, flashing him a smile and claiming a few inches on the counter to put her glass down. Success! The greenrider leans into it, taking possession as she glances over the book he has spread out. "Studying now? Come on."

N'ky looks up from the book he's been studying, which is filled with diagrams and notes on dragon healing, to smile at Sabs and move aside to make more room for her. "I know," he replies sheepishly to the opening comment, blushing as he answers. By the time he raises his gaze back to his wingleader, he's got a crooked smile that flashes a dimple in his cheek. "It's interesting, Sabs - I've, um, r-really liked being in the infirmary. More than any of the drills I did before, anyway. C-can I get you a drink?"

Sabs laughs and tips her drink back, draining the remaining little bit that's at the bottom. "How about a refill?" She suggests and inches it forward on the counter towards the bartender. "You know, I think they probably take volunteers at the infirmary. You don't have to have Alida break your arm to get in the door." Her smile is quick and teasing as the man sandwiched next to her leaves and she steals his now available seat. "But seriously, I'm glad that you're enjoying your time there. Everyone should have something."

"Oh, um, Alida didn't break it," N'ky frowns gently, shaking his head. He breaks from their conversation to order a refill for Sabella, and one for himself, too. Plain old klah for N'ky! "She was teaching me to skate. I got snagged on my scarf, the really long one?" That he was wearing all of last winter, and most of this one, too. "But yeah, um, it worked out p-pretty well, I think, even if it's kinda annoying to not be able to, um, do stuff. Am I missing much?"

"It was a joke, I'm teasing you." Sabella nudges him carefully with her elbow as they wait for their drinks to return again. Hers isn't klah, but she seems to be handling whatever it is. Just a faint pink coloring to her cheeks. "Right, I know that one. I guess it's shorter now? Or replaced?" As for whatever he might be missing, she gives a little flick of her fingers. "Just more of the usual. Practing the same old, same old. Everyone's all gossiping about Aishani's step-down, but that's not exactly weyrling related."

N'ky shakes his head, "No, it's, um, ok. I'm not getting rid of it." He's a little possessive over it, it would seem. "Honestly? I f-find most drills kind of, um, boring." The greenrider lowers his voice, leaning down to Sabs so as not to be overheard. "I d-didn't see myself in any of the wings we drilled with before my, um, accident." A shrug of his shoulders is then followed by a frown, and an ambiguous pursing of his lips. Slowly, he admits, "I, um... I d-don't know how I feel about Aishani stepping down. I a-always thought Azaylia would be a b-better Weyrwoman, but Aishani was r-real nice to me when the, um, c-complaint letter came."

Sabella certainly isn't going to stop him from keeping his scarf forever and ever, that's for sure. Their drinks arrive and she pulls hers forward, taking a careful sip out of it. She pitches her voice low to match his, a smile tugging up one corner. "Drills are boring. So you're not alone in that. I'm more interested in doing things outside of drill work." She runs her finger along the outer rim of the glass, "She's alright." Maybe that's spoken a little cooly, but, "It's good that she was nice to you then. But I don't know, do you think that anything is going to change? I mean..." She shrugs her shoulders.

"Change? With Azaylia in charge?" N'ky has to stop and think about that; he chews on his lip as he does so. "Maybe not overnight? But, um, Azaylia's very different to Aishani. She's more... compassionate, maybe? I think she'll do good - but it'll only be until one of the golds rises, won't it?" He taps his fingers against his klah mug, then draws it towards him to sip from it. While peering over the rim, he squints through the steam rising from the drink within; "I was k-kinda getting used to Aishani and Taikrin being in charge. I guess... I wish it was just stable, for once."

"Yeah, with Azaylia. I don't think anything is going to really change for us down at the bottom of the pile. As long as we eat and get our stipends? It's those other people that get affected. The ones in charge." Sabs gives a wave of her hand, not seemingly terribly worried over it. "It seems Taikrin is still holding on for now, even without the golds behind her. Sort of a shame, it was interesting having a woman for Weyrleader for awhile. But-" And she shrugs her shoulders with a quick glimmer of a smile before taking a long drink. "How long until the cast comes off?"

N'ky snorts softly into his klah, attempting to hide it by taking a drink. "I s-still think Weyrleaders ought to be guys," he murmurs with a shrug of his shoulders. As for the cast? He holds that arm up, peering at the redwort-stained plaster once he's put his klah mug down. "Another, um, m-month or so, last time I was at the Healers. I can't wait; it's so itchy." He scratches futilely at it, frowning in frustration. "I've g-got plans for when it's off, anyway. If, um, Azaylia's got time to talk about them still."

Sabella laughs, tipping her chin upwards. "Really. Since K'del was such a fine example of a leading man? Come on now, N'ky. Leadership doesn't come from what's in your pants." She makes a little tsking noise at him before taking a quick swallow. "Are you sure that's not the holder in you talking?" Her tone remains light and humorous not that grave sort of one that overtakes others when they speak on the subject. "My arm itched so badly. I used to stick pencils up there to stratch at it." With her free hand she makes jabbing motions. "What sort of plans?"

"I've got a poky-scratching stick," N'ky admits, biting back a laugh. "Just... plans. Um... I m-made them with Azaylia before Aishani did her thing, so, um, I d-don't know if she'll still want to do it, o-or if I'll do it on my own, or... well, I just don't know. Part of it I can't do yet anyway, cos, um, I don't have any marks from now until forever. They're all going to pay for... f-for what Cailluneth did." He frowns, leaning heavily against the bar. "K'del did it for turns, Sabs. He must be at least a little bit good, mustn't he?"

"...Just plans? It's alright if you don't want to share." The other corner of her mouth pulls up and she actually smiles, leaning her elbow onto the counter as she gets close to draining her glass. She grimaces at the reminder of his green, taking that opportunity to drink the rest. "That's a shame. Hopefully it won't take the rest of your life." And for the K'del question, "Do you want someone that's a little good just because their dragon can catch another? And they're a man? Or do you want someone really good? No matter who they are?" She poses her responses with a little lift of her shoulders. "I'm not a politics girl myself. But I know which I'd prefer. If we got a choice or something. Which we don't. So, cheers!" Her emptly glass is clinked against his mug before she pushes it across the counter.

"Cheers." N'ky's mug chinks hollowly off Sabs' glass, and he raises it to his lips to sip from after. "It'll take time, but, um, not forever. Four and a half marks." Saying it out loud makes his shoulders slump a little. "... so a p-pretty long time. And the, um, marks I won from the hatching are running low, too, so I'm going to be broke for a while, I guess." Another glug is downed from his klah, and he shrugs his shoulders as he sets the mug down. "You know why I like the idea of a, um, male Weyrleader? B-because it's balanced. One man, one woman."

"Maybe you can find a little work on the side to get up the marks. Something from when you were practicing at the forge?" Sabella suggests before she begins to push her stool away from the counter. "Two women can be balanced, so can two men. There should be less focus on what's under the clothes and more focus on what's in the brain." She reaches over and squeezes his arm. "I better get out of here before I tempt myself with a third drink." Oh no, not a whole third drink. "Keep out of trouble and don't flirt with those girls in the infirmary too much." And without asking it's alright she slips a few mark pieces across onto the counter. "You buy next time you're not paying off dragon-debt." Her smile is sly as she slips away.

"Sabs!" N'ky's shocked and surprised by the marks she pushes across the counter - not to mention embarrassed and secretly thankful too, as his cheeks flare up bright red. The lanky greenrider bites on his lip as he turns to watch his clutchmate go, giving her a coy finger-wiggle. Cailluneth passes on the thanks for him, rather than him having to shout them out across the bar - a warm, moonlit rainbow arching over Ghislaith's mind, that lasts just long enough for the message to be conveyed before it fades into sparkling nothingness.