Difference between revisions of "Logs:Not Funny"

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.

Spring is sliding into summer finally, and the warm weather and clear skies have some of the usual Snowasis crowd out on the patio for drinks rather than indoors. There's always people who would rather their table or stool, that little bit of familiarity and routine, so it's hardly empty, nor quiet, especially as the sun goes down. If Aishani has a usual spot, it's likely along the bar, where she can hear the conversations come and go along with the drinks; where she can perch on a stool, long legs crossed, and linger over her short, dark glass, mostly undisturbed.

On any given night, there's a riders that group together here. Often from the same wing, sometimes bonded over something else. On the patio a handful of Taiga riders are just taking their leave, parting ways to attend to their individual lives. Apparently, the youngest of the bunch doesn't have an individual life that needs tending just now, except with another drink, so K'zin heads inside to the bar. Catching sight of Aishani while he leans in to order a drink, he shifts down the bar. "Mind if I join you, Weyrwoman?" He nods to a conveniently empty seat.

"I am not the Weyrwoman, nor do I have any claim on the seat." Which is likely to say that Aishani doesn't mind enough to argue with the younger rider, but she doesn't actually say as much, just takes up her drink with the tips of long fingers, swirls the contents idly. She glances over her shoulder to mark riders leaving; any coming in to take up their place.

"Oh yeah? I must have missed the memo." K'zin's tone holds some humor, "And here I thought I was just being polite." He notes before sliding into the seat in question. "Mom always said manners were important. Then again Mom's manners were always sort of suspect. But I guess that's Minecrafters in general." He shrugs his shoulders. "I'd ask how you felt about everything, but you're probably sick of hearing that so... how was your last trip somewhere?" Everyone takes trips, right? Everyone with a dragon anyway.

With an arch of brows, "I have not been the Weyrwoman for some time. Nor have I gone by more 'goldrider', but it's not as if it's something necessary to pay attention to, I suppose." Aishani's tone is faintly dry there, why pay attention to who the Weyrwoman is, what the queenriders are doing? Though, she might not be entirely sarcastic at this point. After a sip from her glass, she allows, "Little has changed for me, so my feelings," even that word sounds mocking, as if to have them is weak and pathetic, "Are unchanged. I went South recently. I threw some knives. It was relaxing." With a glance down the bar to K'zin, "Have you been traveling with your newfound freedom?" She doesn't ask about the flight. Why bother.

"It was a joke," K'zin's words answer the first point, lips pressing together. "A bad one. Sorry. I did see your dramatic knot statement and was present for Azaylia's flight." In other words, he knows. His drink arrives and he exchanges it for the necessary markpieces, a beer of some sort. "Sounds nice. Didn't know you threw knives. Are you any good at it?" Not that it's surprising he doesn't know that sort of personal detail. "Yes. We've been traveling, as much as time allows, actually. Finding a lot of education in the world."

"I'm not very funny." Aishani says that with both tone and expression that would seem to back her words up. "Though you do have a point about manners, I suppose." She has another drink before she sets the glass down on the bar again, in no hurry to either finish or order another. "I could be better," she demurs, not likely to say how good or bad she actually is. "Though it's more of a distraction than anything. And really." A flicker of a glance down the bar. "Finding anything interesting?"

Only a nod answers that he's found interesting thing. "Yeah. My brothers always told me I shouldn't go pro with a comedy act." K'zin replies ruefully. "Guess it's good that a dragon pretty well sealed my future career for me." He pushes a hand through his hair, "Though I guess during an interval, I wouldn't have to only be a dragonrider. If that didn't set a bad example to the Holders." He looks down at his drink for a moment and then back to the goldrider. "So since you're not Weyrwoman or really goldrider, have you thought about your next career move? Don't tell me you're my competition for Fifth Day Comedy Nights in Snowasis." Not that that's a real thing. "Not the knife-throwing, since that's only a distraction." He lifts his mug for a drink.

With an arch of fine brows, a slight smirk, "Interesting that you should mention, but decline to elaborate." Aishani sounds amused by that and at the same time, faintly bored by it as well. "How does it set a bad example to the Holders? I'd rather hoped that the inroads made with the crafters here might convince the Halls that riders continuing their training might not be the worst idea. If it weren't for certain former crafters... it might have gone that way." Her dark gaze goes a touch stony for the memory, even still. But for K'zin's questions about the future, lightly, "Oh, I always have something to keep me busy. Even if only Iesaryth. And... less for me than in the sense of fighting; it's only as effective as one's aim and opportunity."

"Maybe I'm flattering you with mimicry." K'zin points out with a wry smile. "There's so much I could learn about the delivery of information or lack of from you, you know? When I think back on all the conversations we've had, you're just so-- shrewd about it all." He lifts a glass to that, intended as a compliment to the goldrider. "Oh, it mightn't, but if riders aren't acting like riders, why should a Holder have to tithe to us like we are. Never know what's going to rub the Holders the wrong way." As for the crafts, after a sip, "I'd like that. If we were allowed to keep up our training, bet some others would too. But, yeah, too bad some've cheesed their former crafts off. They're not the only ones that've been cheesed off. Apparently because of two, all twenty four of us can't be trusted, according to some. On top of that we're just barely not weyrlings anymore. Still, they keep us busy. Probably not as busy as you," What with Iesaryth's needs to see to. There's an edge of sarcastic humor to the words.

Accepting what's meant to be a compliment with a nod, Aishani still can help but purse her lips a touch before, "I am unsure whether such things are a matter of learning or personality. And Holders will find a reason to not tithe to us if they want to; I think they already have. They must learn that such questioning of the Weyr is unacceptable, but I doubt they will." Not now. Allowing a short laugh, "Well, they can't take your training away. I'd see what deals I could make with the crafters here, were I in a former crafters' position. Given the rank is less the point than the knowledge, yes?" She glances K'zin's way, lips quirking momentarily. "Older riders rarely trust newly graduated ones to do anything properly. People put other people into all kinds of little boxes to make judgments on them -- certainly not the first or the last time. Are you surprised by that?"

"Well, if it could be learned, I'd be an eager pupil." K'zin answers. "It will be interesting to see how much back-bone the Weyr has as a whole, now." He adds, "And how they choose to handle the Holders. I agree that it's unacceptable." He twitches briefly, squints down at his glass and adds softly, "Rasavyth feels there are numerous ways that such matters could be dealt with. But he's not the Weyrleader's dragon." More of his drink is downed before he comments, "I'm still on good terms with my former Journeyman and go down to the forge on some of my restdays. It didn't occur to me to seek additional classes, though. I'm not sure Rasavyth would find that a suitable use of my time when I've still so much to learn otherwise. This place is so full of history and secrets." A purse of his lips and words dismiss the idea of surprise, "I'm not the least surprised. Always interesting to see what box I'll be put into next." His drink is finished, and he considers the empty mug a moment.

Considering the bronzerider's words for a time, Aishani tilts her head to the side as she considers her own glass, still unfinished. Taking it up, "The ability to keep one's council and the need to expose the 'truth'," here, her tone is dry, with her free hand making air quotes, even; "Tend to conflict with one another." She lifts her glass for a slow drink. "And I agree that it will be interesting. Fascinating. And you never know. The Weyrleader may listen to ideas, regardless of where they come from. He seems to see some value in your fuck-up classmates, why not in your dragon?" There's a shrug -- she doesn't care, just a thought -- but she has to ask, surprised, "Rasavyth doesn't think improving yourself is worth your time?" There's a little shake of her head as she swirls her drink, adds, "Every place is full of history and secrets."

"We don't have a need to expose the truth," K'zin's answer comes almost too swiftly. More slowly, "We just need to understand it. To know it." His eyes turn away from the woman back to his empty glass. "Rasavyth wants me to improve myself, of course. But I'm not a Smith, and never will be. The skills of smithing have limited uses; he wishes me to broaden my horizons, give my time to the learning that is important." He reaches up to scratch his cheek, then his smile is that of one with a secret amusement. He slides out of the seat, "Every place is full of history and secrets." It might sound like an echo, but it's more than that. It's a confirmation that he already knows, and maybe even a hint that he knows it well and perhaps better every day. "I shouldn't take up too much of your valuable time."

That too-quick answer has Aishani's brows arching again, her expression just slightly disbelieving, but she does ask, instead of assume: "Why do you need to know? And what if some of what you want to know if really none of your business?" It's not accusatory at all, just a question -- one touched by that sense that she's just a little entertained, but she seems to have this whole uninvolved bystander thing going on these days. If she actually does care, she's doing a good job of pretending she doesn't. After nearly finishing her drink, she points out, "Smiths manage to blow things up; doesn't seem that unlimited." Considering her glass before regarding K'zin, "Suddenly they're important, one day. I suppose that happens to everyone. And much appreciated. I'm unable to eavesdrop properly while conversing." It's hard to tell if she's joking or not. She really isn't funny.

"Because I'm a know-it-all busybody nosy bronzerider, that's why." K'zin plays it off well, but for someone as shrewd as Aishani, it might be obvious that the truth lies deeper. Much deeper. "If it's none of my business, I'll get punched, slapped or maybe stabbed if it happens to be a not-Weyrwoman with throwing knives." Humor again, jokes are only a deflection. "I'd better quit while I'm ahead, though. I'd rather avoid bloodshed." Even if he is the only one who suggested there might be such. "Enjoy." He wishes her for her chosen avocation before heading toward the caverns.

"Then at least you're not the only one." There's another short, sharp laugh for that, though Aishani is silent on the matter of stabbings, unfortunately. At the same time, it wouldn't do for her image to tell K'zin she won't stab him. Lifting what's left in her glass before letting him go on him way, "Likewise. My regards to Rasavyth." Her drink is drained by not refilled right away as she listens to the buzz of conversation in the bar.