Difference between revisions of "Logs:Knowing The Weyrleader"

Western Bowl, High Reaches Weyr

The bowl's vast dirt floor extends in a rough oval from west to east, only sparse clumps of grass surviving between the crisscrossed pathways of daily traffic. To the northwest stand massive gates to the world beyond, allowing people, livestock, and tithes to pass beneath some of the seven jagged spires that stand sentinel over that area of the bowl. In late afternoons, their spindly, fingerlike shadows stretch over that end of the bowl all the way to the living cavern's hulking brass doors in the far north.

Eastward, the bowl sprawls on toward the lake, sloping slightly downward to allow runoff from rain and snowmelt, but to the south it's caged by more cliffs of dark, rough-cut granite. Rocks poke up from the ground here, a few large boulders and many smaller outcroppings worn smooth in spots by time and use. A few ground weyr entrances dot the wall, the most frequented ledge set up like a patio while the largest ledge services the Weyrleaders' complex, directly beside the huge entrance to the hatching sands. A more human-sized entrance, left of that, leads to the galleries.

Sho is out doing his normal, daily (well few times a day) thing at this point in time. Yes, Sho is out running around the bowl, sweating his little heart out. He's just finishing and starts walking, breathing heavily as he does his cooldown. A real cooldown, considering the frigid temperature. But at least the layers keep him warm. His amber eyes look around the bowl as he walks, taking in deep breathes and just watching the happenings around him.

It's a much more sedate pace that takes K'del down the stairs in the Weyrleader's Complex and out into the snow-covered bowl. His gaze slides up, up, up towards the tip of the bowl, where, faint in the distance, a pale bronze is settled, surveying the world; after a few moments it slides back on down, and he continues onwards, easily, his hands slung into pockets. By his path, he's probably headed for the living caverns, or somewhere in their vicinity, but he doesn't seem to be in much of a rush to get there, idly kicking at snow as he walks.

As tends to happen with Sho, he gets easily distracted as a weyrling and a dragon fly low over the bowl. If only she was wearing a dress Sho could look up, hrm...anyways, as such distractions happen, so does his tending to bump into things. Walls, dragons, rocks...or even other people. As such he's well on his way again into probably the worst person who could bump into, the Weyrleader. Sho's eyes remain up as the dragon flies off but his feet keep carrying him forward, in a head on collision with K'del.

Conveniently, K'del /is/ paying attention; he sidesteps, at the last moment, as though he's been sure that Sho will stop in time. "Shells!" The complaint comes out with a puff of visible breath, the Weyrleader hastily adjusting his stance so that he can pause and consider the youth. "Watch where you're going, there. Plenty of girls wearing fewer clothes indoors, you know." So he /was/ paying attention... at least somewhat. He can't be too upset, given the sneaking edges of his mouth, betraying something of a smile.

Sho stops quickly and looks up at the Weyrleader. It doesn't take the sweating youth long to spot the Weyrleader knot and he quickly looks down, trying to calm his breathing some. "Um, so sorry sir, I didn't mean ta...I just didn't see you." His face turns bright red at the mention of less clothing on the girls inside...or maybe it's just the cold. "So sorry sir."

Smile aside, K'del looks honestly sympathetic; he shakes his head hurriedly, waving the apology away with an ungloved hand that rather quickly finds its way back to his pocket. "No-- it's fine. Just. Snow feels pretty soft to begin with, but there're icy patches, and accidents aren't much fun." Beat. "No harm done, anyway, right? So it's fine."

With those words of forgiveness Sho visably relaxes, his worried look turning into a little smile of his own. "I guess I should start watching. I've already run into a few people and fell. It does kinda hurt if you don't land on the snow." His breathing is returning to normal now that he hasn't been running for a few moments. He reaches up with a hand to wipe away some sweat from his brow, using that as cover to look at the Weyrleader, then quickly looking away, as if not really sure what to do. He's never actually met a Weyrleader before. Is there something special he should do? "I'm sorry to have bothered you sir, it won't happen again. Is there anything I can do for you sir?" His uncle told him to be polite, and so far he hasn't been very good at it. But there's something about K'del that brings the politeness out in him.

"A /few/ people? Shells, man." K'del's gaze narrows, just slightly, at this revelation. "You really do need to. What if you ran into a pregnant woman, or something?" He may not be privy to the thoughts going through Sho's head, but the body language is something else, and after a few moments more, his expression softens. "Doubt it, but the thought is appreciated. Though... well, you could tell me your name. Never really liked having a conversation with someone who's name I don't know, even if I can't promise to remember it."

The beginning of K'del's statement has Sho lowering his gaze again, but towards the end he still seems fairly relaxed in the Weyrleader's presence. "My name?" He asks, as if not expecting such a man to want to know a measly boys name. "Shomaren is my name sir, but people call me Sho." He quickly racks his brain for the weyrleader's name before it hits him. "You're K'del, right sir?" He asks a little slowly, making sure he got it right.

K'del's hands dig further into his pockets, as if burrowing away from the cold, but he seems otherwise utterly relaxed. If Sho's reaction amuses him, his expression only hints at it; his voice itself is even, inclined towards cheerful. "Shomaren. Sho. See if I can remember that." Even if he doesn't expect to. "K'del, right. And Cadejoth is my bronze. You new to High Reaches?"

The youth's amber eyes are watching everything the Weyrleader does carefully, trying to make sure he doesn't mess anything up during this little conversation. Surely his uncle can't get mad at him if he manages to keep the Weyrleader happy. A nod at the question, "Y'sir, I've only been here a few sevendays. And most'a the time I'm working in the stables." Pause. "Or running." Speaking of which, now that he's stopped moving it's starting to get a little chilly, and he doesn't have many layers on because of the running. He crosses his arms over his chest to try and get some heat. "I'm still trying ta get the hang of the Weyr. The snow makes it confusing sometimes."

"Stables," repeats K'del, as though this is important; he nods, too, showing apparent interest. "Well-- welcome to High Reaches, then. Always good to have new people around, working hard. Snow should clear before too much longer. That's the theory, anyway. Place gets easier, eventually. Remember getting lost myself." His expression is thoughtful, as though he's lost in his own thoughts - or perhaps memories - but he shakes it away after a moment to add, "You're getting cold. Should let you go in."

Sho grins slightly at the 'leaders remarks about getting lost. "I certainly hope it goes away soon sir, I don't know how anyone can live with it being so cold all the time. It's certainly difficult for me." He is probably the only resident in the Weyr with a tan, and even his will eventually fade. "Thank you sir, I am a bit cold. Always happens when I stop running." Oddly enough. "Please go ahead sir, since I almost ran into you." Beat. "Unless you're going to the living caverns, in which case, can I join you?" As if to assist him his stomach growls softly, causing him to grin a little and duck his head some. "Er, sorry."

K'del dismisses the cold with a light, "It's not so bad." It doesn't decrease his sympathy for the younger man, though his expression indicates distinct surprise as he continues. "/Am/ heading for the caverns, but... Why would you want to join me?" That seems genuine enough. "Not that I think I'm awful company or anything, just... dunno. Seems weird."

Sho looks down a bit as he has a quick inner battle with whether to make up a lie or tell the truth. The truth wins out as he looks back up at the Weyrleader, looking him directly in the eyes, "If I eat with the Weyrleader, then my uncle will know I've been being good and won't have any reason to try and punish me." His voice has changed ever so slightly, a bit more serious now. After a short pause he adds, "Plus, you seem nice enough, and you never know when knowing the weyrleader might help you out of a situation." He gives a smile at that. Well at least he's honest.

It takes a few moments, and then, finally, K'del is laughing. "Least you're honest," he tells Sho, head shaking. "Though I'd feel happier knowing you weren't the type to willfully get yourself into - as you put it - a 'situation'. C'mon, then: let's go eat." And so, Weyrleader and Stablehand continue on to the caverns for a meal, during which K'del is surprisingly good at not asking too many questions.