Difference between revisions of "Logs:Training Weyrwomen"

Glacier's official meeting might be over with, but one of its wingriders has something else important on her mind...important enough that Ilicaeth's reaching out in a swirl of gritty, golden sands to contact Szadath and Tacuseth's minds in pretty direct fashion. Typical him. « Alida wants a private meetin' with Taikrin 'n Jo once all 'uv the rest leave. » (To Szadath and Tacuseth from Ilicaeth)

To Ilicaeth and Tacuseth, Szadath has barely settled himself upon his ledge before he's reacting to the minds of two of his blue sons. Ilicaeth's own words echo oddly in the background of his mind as he reaches back. « Come to our weyr. » Not quite a command.

A response from Tacuseth is slow-coming, but once it does come it's abrupt with « We're comin'. » Just that. (To Szadath and Ilicaeth from Tacuseth)

Just as direct as his half brother and sire, « On our way. » (To Szadath and Tacuseth from Ilicaeth)

It doesn't take long at all for Ilicaeth to drop his lifemate on Taikrin's ledge, Alida clearing her throat loudly before pushing past the outer hanging. Ilicaeth will stay or go according to the amount of space on the brown's ledge.

It's probably expected that Tacuseth would be the last to show up to any impromptu meeting, and so a moment after Ilicaeth arrives, so does he. He doesn't stay long once Jo dismounts, the nicked and scratched blue winging off towards the star stones immediately as Jo meets Alida at the hanging. She doesn't bother with any announcements of her arrival. She just goes right on in with a look towards the blonde in askance in regards to the meeting.

Szadath has left enough room for landing, true enough, but the way he's poised doesn't leave much room for /lingering/. Within the weyr itself, Taikrin has set up a couple of chairs at her large desk, turning it into an impromptu table. She's seated at one, but only just: her jacket is loose, and she's still got her boots on. There's a decanter of whisky and a few glasses, which Taikrin is filling up. "C'mon in, c'mon in," she calls at the sound of boots. "You guys needed to see me for somethin' private?"

Ilicaeth's off and away, then, given Szadath's hogging his ledge, the blue pausing only to rumble a hint of greeting to the brown, then flinging himself out and away to make room for Tacuseth. Both blues wind up at the Star Stones, 'caeth enjoying the gargoylesque-blue's presence as he talks with Tac, trades stories and bullshit. As for his rider, *she's* reaching out to try and viciously noogy Jo's head on the way in - a smirk rife on Alida's features - the blonde trailing her fellow bluie in by only a pace as she answers that call, "*I* do... Both uv' ya'." It's only when things look and feel more secure to the youngest of the three that she gets down quickly to brass tacks with a clipped, though easy alto, "We need ta talk about the security uv our goldies, the Weyr, eggs after what happened at Fort."

Managing to duck that noogie, Jo tries to give Alida a sharp return nudge on the way in. "She does, evidently," she answers Taikrin right behind Alida on needing to see her, taking up the rightmost chair and dropping down into it with her hand already reaching for the glass. "I'm just mostly here for the free whiskey." She raises that glass she snagged and starts to down it. Then Alida brings up what happened in Fort, and Taikrin gets the first look before the blonde does. "Oh yeah," she tosses out there once she sets the half-filled glass back down. "Shani told me yer runnin' around with ideas."

"My job to provide to you lot, ain't it?" Taikrin acknowledges Jo with a genial smile. She's a little less glad about Alida's concerns, but doesn't seem altogether surprised. "Looking out for the security of our weyrwomen is what we do," she acknowledges. "Whether they like it or not. We ain't like Fort. Someone comes for ours, we meet them with fire." Her smile turns wolfish. "So, what's your thought?"

A low, wicked little chuckle is all for Jo's dodging of that incoming noogy, the blonde enduring her wingmate's nudge, then nodding in agreement at her fellow bluerider, then making for her own poured glass of booze. "Not surprised..." is noted the Jo's word of having already heard from Aishani, the woman then nodding over at Taikrin, finally taking her own seat nearby. Her own wolf's grin full of even teeth is all agreement with the brownie's take on how Glacier, 'Reaches deals with that kind of shit, the blonde then answering directly, "Less intrusive guardin' than post-Iolene. I know Azaylia don't want any people hoverin' around 'er, so it'll have ta be more casual seemin'. We don' wanna foster a seige mentality, after all. Bad shit." Headshake, sip. "A little more watchin' on our Rim, maybe...some extra people hangin' about the Galleries, entrances ta' the Grounds. ALL trustworthy, competent people, uv course." A casual scratch at one cheek presages her sudden, "Yeah... trainin' our goldies with specific self-defense AND offensive techniques ta' serve 'em if needs be. Teach 'em how ta utilize situational tactics, too, in case of violence."

"And ya so such a good job of it," Jo is easy to return to Taikrin, that flash of a smile winsome. She ticks a nod towards them both on the Reaches being able to protect their own, no words coming forth until Alida finishes speaking towards the end. "How are we to be more, ah, casual, in guardin' the weyrwomen?" she asks, a brow lifting the blonde's way. "Is it us doin' the guardin', or do ya mean bringin' in actual guards? Cuz, ya know I've got Shani covered."

"I taught Azaylia more'n a thing or two, too," Taikrin adds over a sip of her whisky. "Between her and Hraedhyth, I ain't really that worried. Besides, Szad is always keeping an eye." She lounges back in her chair, legs casually splayed. "Still, always a good idea to keep an extra eye on the eggs... especially since there ain't one of us directly on the sands. Reckon we could internally rotate assignment amongst us again. Not like we're not used to doing it, after all this time. Or were you thinking of bringing in some of your old cohorts? Maybe as candidates?" This last is to Alida, with a note of curiosity.

"Not shabby at all..." Alida notes after Jo, sipping her drink languidly, since Taikrin has the good stuff. A lift of it in casual toast to their hostess soon sees the blonde answering her fellow bluie, "It'd take more effort on our part, uv course, seein' that at least Zay don' want that hemmed-in feelin'..." smirk "...but we could grab up a handfulla' others we trust - whatever Wing they're in - 'n have all uv us rotate the duty around. Off the cuff, I was thinkin' uv three sets uv 8 hours each... with who gets the job picked at random. Keeps things from becomin' predictable. We'd haunt corridors nearby our golds...same rooms, 'r adjoinin' ones...try not ta get in their faces, if possible." As for Jo having Aishani covered, "Even when yer' outta' the Weyr?" There's no accusation, simply a want of information and a direct demand for proof. For Taikrin, there's listening, a nod or thoughtful look offered here and there before Alida notes after another sip, "More eyes equals less potential chances uv' some fuck touchin' our goldies. I was mullin' it over..." of her former cohorts "...but I think we should be fine with in-Weyr surveillance, unless a specific need comes up." Quirk. "What'd ya teach 'er, if I c'n ask?" Hopefully the brownrider will feel she can answer, since this is beyond the personal realm, now. "Zay's got a choke-point goin' with only Weyrbred folks allowed for Hrae's eggs, so that should help pare down potential threats. Might be lots different with Iesaryth's next brood."

"Guardriders," Jo quips behind Taikrin's question to Alida about her cohorts, the look to her wingleader significant since she tacks on, "Not exactly uncommon in practice." Alida's question to her though in regards to looking after Aishani - especially when she herself is not present - gets mere silence for a few moments as she sits back and says, "I trust Iesaryth. Real question is, though, how long would these 8-hour guardin' shifts be lastin', huh? Two sevens? A turn? For the unforeseeable future?" By her tone, it's probably evident that she's not a fan of that particular plan. Also expected, perhaps, given that she's one of the ones that's more outside the Weyr than within it. She drains her glass then and leans forward to nudge it for a wordless refill. To the rest, she's pretty much silent and taking up a listening role.

"It's a good question, how long we go on. Last time, we watched heavy when the threat was heavy, then backed off as we weren't needed." Namely, while Taikrin was Acting Weyrleader. "I'd say things are a little heavier now, yeah, with the holds." Her fingers are drumming idly on the table, the rhythm staccatto-sharp. "They won't abide us putting guards on them again, certainly without a plausible threat." All at once she slaps her hand palm-down on the tabletop and leans forward out of her repose. "I wonder if we ain't going about this the wrong way. The threat's different. This is all Holders getting uppity. Maybe we ought to be dissuading them another way. We can't very well be having guard-riders flying around doing patrols, after all." She shares a wry look with Jo at that, laden with hidden meaning as she passes over the whisky bottle. "Alida, what's your bead on where we got to worry most?"

A pointed index finger - first to jo, then shifted to Taikrin - shows that the older bluie's words of guard-riders is on the nose. "I trust Iesaryth with 'er own rider implicitly, too... but there's enough places a dragon can't fit that humans can..." Alida notes evenly, quietly to Jo as she swirls her alcohol around in the glass, then finally sipping from it. "That's one uv the big stickin' points..." is noted again to Jo's word of how long the shadowing would last. "Carry it on too long, ya get too slack 'r too paranoid...not ta mention that seige mentality again." Sigh. "People're either on high alert right now, 'r on little at all, given that they're likely thinkin' the renegades want ta' pounce again at strung-out Fort, 'r that they wouldn't dare try again so soon on *any*place." More nods for the brownie's take on things leads the blonde to comment, "Fuckin' runnershit crazy Holders." Eyeroll. "How about a little *judicious* extra patrolin' on our usual flybys around our territory? Watchin' fer suspicious shit that's outta' the ordinary, fer whatever reason. Oh, an' there's also the idea that 'Shani and I spoke about: havin' only women teachin' her 'n Zay about defense, offense, tactics... since this is a very 'female'-centric problem." Arched brows might ask for input as she drinks.

Jo catches the look from Taikrin as she shares in the meaning, taking the whisket bottle from her. "We already do that," she notes to Alida on extra patrolling. "Or, at least I do. Glacier does. I just dunno how many of us can be spared to be watchin' after them for 8 hours apiece. Not with drills'n sweepridin'n shit." Among other things, but she doesn't need to say it aloud. Looking to Taikrin at something she says while pouring, "Are the holders really that big of a fuckin' problem? Looks like they've got their own shit to worry about to be sparin' our ladies an eye, unless I'm missin' somethin'. I'm more interested in gettin' the ground-lovin' fucks focused on somethin' else rather than guardin' weyrwomen that don' wanna be guarded. Women only teachin'," she adds now with a glance to Alida as she takes up her filled glass. "Yeah, Shani told me all about that. Why just the women? Bones can scrap just as good as I can, and M'ron's good at teachin' ladies so long as there's no bed in the vicinity."

"We're already watching for suspicious behavior," Taikrin adds laconically after Jo. "You're right, watching too long makes people paranoid. Too easy to miss the obvious stuff. No good way to watch harder'n we're already watching. Unless you mean to say we're not watching hard now?" She teases Alida along with a salute with her whisky glass. "We could restart hand-to-hand training. It's a thing I like doing for candidates anyways. Make sure the weyrwomen show up, amongst others? Still. I reckon so long as we're watching the comings and goings as much as we always were, I don't know as how we can really commit to anything else. I reckon I'd rather save our strength until we have some definitive threat we can deal with."

"Yeah..." Alida notes in a mumble at the other bluerider's comment. "Just *me* talkin'... wantin' ta cover every base. Ain't likely...feasible." As for Holders, "Wish I knew. Everyone else does, too." Snert, sip. "Yeah, this guardin' thing'd only go forward on the sufferance uv' the goldriders. We want 'em ta not only maintain the image they're in control, but still *actually feel* they're callin' all their own shots. Important ta morale." As for all women teachers, "It's much more difficult fer a women ta be all 'erself with a male. We know each others strengths, weaknesses, what pisses us off, scares us most." Taikin gets a smirk for her tease and a waggle of brows, plus a definitve nod for more hand-to-hand training. "Still, I'd want a goldriders only class, no matter how old they are ta ridin'. Our women should be able ta stand firm, deal it out, *if* needed. Options." As for patrols, she can only bow her pale head to facts."

By the easy incline of her head and silence, it could be obvious that Jo agrees with Taikrin on the position of extra guardship. Likely hers is more self-preservation than anything. "I like the idea of trainin', though," she admits to them both as she nurses her drink. "I mean, I get the whole thing about a male presence versus a female, so, that's golden with me. Some women respond more to another lady trainin' them. Ya think Shani and Azaylia would agree to somethin' like that, though?" and she eyes Alida, then Taikrin. "Cuz, it all comes down to them. Yer right about the whole image thing, but our ladies ain' exactly weak at the mo'." She's biased on account of the Reaches.

"I've told you, I've done it with them already. I don't know as how they're going to be amenable to doing it again. Certainly not Aishani... nor necessarily Azaylia. Certainly not if it's just them alone. And, you know-- if it's just women doing the training, well. It ain't like it'll be holder women coming after them." Taikrin leans back again in her chair, once more at ease. "Feel free to ask, Alida, but... training just them ain't something I can get the whole wing behind. General classes, sure. But not one for just them."

"Well then... we just keep on keepin' on. Weather eyes, 'n all that..." Alida notes to both other woman of patrols and guards. Part of her is still somewhat unsatisfied at that reality, but the blonde's pragmatic. There's a definite nod of braided head to Jo at the other's inquiry, then turning sure eyes upon Taikrin to show the other female her certainty before addressing Tac's lifemate again. "That's the sweet part uv the deal, Jo: our goldies already got a big head-start on things. What *we're* gonna teach 'em is another layer ta' the cake, then the fuckin' frostin'." Grin. Taikrin's words get the blonde shaking her head a little. "This is *private* trainin' I'm suggestin'. Again, from whatever other womenfolk with lots'a combat knowledge 'n the will ta help. If it's only us three, then so be it." Pause, peer. "I've been nosin' around on the sly...found one other gal in Hailstorm that meets my qualifications. Ain't said anythin'...yet. Wanted ta talk ta you two first, then the weyrwomen again."

Jo is enjoying the whiskey, that much one can tell since she's more quiet than not. Once both ladies say their piece, though, she drains her glass again, sets it audibly back on the desk before she folds her arms and says with a smack of lips, "Tell ya what, darlin'. If they agree to what yer proposin' on the trainin' front, I don' mind sharin' what I know to them. I doubt either of them will be participatin' in ring fightin', or tossin' bottles over some bastard's head so I doubt either of them will be buyin' what I've got. However, if they wanna practice throwin' knives or defensive skills, I'll be good. Only if they wanna, and we could figure our when's good for us on the timin'. I ain' exactly around all that much, as ya pointed out earlier." Pointed look goes to Alida, then she jerks her chin Taikrin's way before adding with a finger wave towards the bottle, "Always got the good shit, Taikrin. Ya should tell me who yer supplier is."

"Trade secret," Taikrin smirks over at Jo. "Can't tell you or I'd have to kill you. Whisky's not a thing to take lightly. But," she adds to Alida, "I reckon you'll have an easier time convincing them without me. But-- let me know what they say, one or the other. I'm interested to see. Maybe it's worth getting Bones in on it? It ain't that I don't trust Z'ian, exactly..." Though the way her face twitches towards a frown might imply otherwise, "... but. Well. Can't trust anyone else the way we can trust ourselves."

"You gotcher' own skill set, Jo," Alida notes around a keen, but warm grin for the other bluie. "*And* yer not as...'tempermentally compromised' as me, her." Her thumb abutts against sternum, then lazily jerks at Taikrin. "*You* also know how ta use feminine wiles ta get a few assholes ta behave on occasion." While she and the brownrider perhaps skipped those classes. Still... "I'll getcha both their words within the next seven. 'Shani's out 'n about more, 'n Zay's scragged out a lot with Hrae takin' up most uv' 'er time." Her next sip drains the glass, and finds 'lida looking into the empty depths with a hint of sadness. Again, to Jo: "I'll take what I c'n get from ya', toots." Wink, grin. Taikrin's words of whiskey make her groan softly, snap her fingers. "Damn." A shrug, nod for the brownrider's words is followed by a thoughtful, "I'll bring it up ta' them." About Bones. "Funny; I've yet ta actually meet 'im." Word of Z'ian gains not one iota of reaction, except for a bare nod. "Ain't *that* that truth." Finally, with some effort, Alida peels hersel fup from that chair, sets her empty glass aside, then murmuring to both her companions, "Thanks fer meetin' up so quickly. Had this on m'mind fer a good while...but everybody's so fuckin' busy, these days." Snert.

"Trade secret, my ass," Jo quips back, and the comment Taikrin makes on the Weyrleader doesn't go unheard since the bluerider is giving her the eyes. Well, Alida does too for agreeing before she's following suit with Alida in getting up from her chair. "The kind of fightin' I do, no right lady should be doin'," she notes to the blonde on her skillset in a deadpan manner. "And of course I know how to use feminine wiles better than ya lot. Are ya forgettin' who ya talkin' to?" There's a roguish grin on her face and she's nodding over to their wingleader as she says, "Anyway, thanks for the drink. We'll talk soon, eh? Ya keep me posted," she adds the last to Alida in particular, stepping away and preparing to depart.

"Hey hey hey," Taikrin shoots back, rocking forward in her chair. "I got plenty of wiles. How many goldriders you lot had in your beds?" The question is rhetorical; she knocks back the rest of her whisky before answering her own question. "Not as many as me, that's for flaming sure." Snorting, she wave a hand at Alida and Jo. "Yeah yeah. We'll talk. You keep your ears open, both of you. If you hear anything more specific, you let me know. Or if you think Fort's troubles might be getting closer. Yeah?"

"Hoarder..." Alida clips off to Jo of Taikrin, then commenting to the other bluie, "Fightin' fer yer life ain't got anythin' ta do with bein' civilized." The three in this room - especially Jo and Taikrin - would know. Still, there's a wink for the blueriding ex-con, then a roll of eyes and a soft "Pshh..." in comment for her 'ways.' Tai's comment about goldies has the blonde firing back, "So then, give us yer secrets?" Snerk. "I'll keep ya both in the loop, somehow." Even with Jo's wandering proclivities. And, after the other bluie's done summoning Tacuseth to pick her up, Alida's following, climbing on board Ilicaeth, who seems bummed that his chance to yakk it up with his brother blue is over. Unless he's actually hanging around the Weyr for once, that is.

"Oh that's fine," Jo waves off the fact that she hasn't bedded a goldrider breezily. "It's bound to happen eventually, with this Faranth-may-care smile. Plus they'll jump me with no flight attached to it, too." She tosses a wink back Taikrin's way with those words before turning to Alida and adding, "Yeah, I'll keep ya'll posted. Ya know how to get at me." With a two-finger salute she's gone, Tacuseth already there waiting to pick her up after his rousing conversation with Ilicaeth that seems to be continuing since the pair could be seen dropping off towards another ledge. Looks like for now, they're staying in.