Rillaeth's Ledge, High Reaches Weyr
Long use has worn the once-rough edges of this ledge glassy smooth. Average-sized to hold a single large dragon or a couple of smaller ones, its flat surface extends from the front of a dark opening in the bowl weyr. Just past that opening is the dragon's couch, a thin brown-and-blue coverlet providing some padding to the cold stone.
If asked by a weyrlingmaster, A'rist would likely say that these gatherings, after those drills he's been organising, are good for building up a sense of team, or getting people to participate at all. Of course, he's just spent the last half hour or so talking to K'del's niece. Maybe there's more to it than that. But she's gone, one of the last to go, her Sveianth taking her and clearing the ledge in time for the brown, the second-last visitor's dragon, to go. It leaves A'rist looking frustrated and kind of awkward, near L'sha. Lythronath is notably nowhere to be seen. And, "Heh," is the best he can say to the greenrider.
L'sha busies himself as the meeting dies down, rolling up hides and tidying the ledge as dragons escort their riders off of his ledge. Rillaeth rumbles a goodbye to each of them in turn and curls up on her couch. L'sha smiles at A'rist. "Well, I think that went pretty well. This was a good idea of yours, these extra drills. I'm getting a lot out of them."
"Yeah," A'rist agrees, a bit too much emphasis going into that word, a smile just a moment behind it, quick and friendly and maybe a little insincere. But he's trying, sincerely, and that's got to stand for something. "It's good. Like... for Lythronath, to have exercises where he has to pay attention to others." Like he's not doing right now, the sky in front of Rillaeth's ledge still notably empty.
L'sha nods. "I think that would do him a world of good. The whole class, too. That's one thing this class sorely lacks, is teamwork, in my opinion. We're all pretty strong-willed individuals, it's tough to weave a group like that into an organized wing. I tried when I was wingleader, but, well, that didn't go over too well."
"I don't know. It's hard when everyone's at different spots. I mean, like... some can flame and some have precision flying and some just don't. I don't know. There's not enough we can do together. I was talking to some of the leaders in the real wings, and they were saying how important it is to do stuff as a unit, and if you're so different and raw, still..." The bronzerider shrugs. "And yours didn't work 'cause you went and got up in everyone's business." It's only after that he really catches himself, and looks guilty, and faintly apologetic, at L'sha.
L'sha nods in agreement with the bronzerider, then chuckles. "No, you're right. I wasn't much of a leader. But I did learn a lot. Like how not to lead a wing. But at least I wasn't as bad as Klohi. Ugh! She was such a nightmare! If it weren't for you starting these after-hours drills, I wouldn't have learned anything while she led the wing." He catches himself before he starts ranting even more, and takes a deep breath. "But that's all in the past now."
A'rist presses his lips together a little, but eventually that nervous energy gets him to take a few steps toward the edge of the ledge. Maybe he's looking for his still-absent dragon. "Klohi just doesn't like... doesn't care. I don't know. I think," leaning forward, one leg out behind him for ballast, to peer over the edge, "she just is out of place or something. Maybe." Back on two feet: "No one can really not care that much."
L'sha approaches the lip of the ledge as well, peering over it. "Where's that bronze of yours?" Not that he's looking forward much to seeing Lythronath on his ledge. He shakes his head dismissively. "It's almost as if she were actively trying to throw the wing into chaos. It was really just a disgrace." He walks over to Rillaeth's couch and sits, leaning against the dark hide of her flank and scratching it gently. Rillaeth croons softly and one eyelid droops closed. "I don't know, we should talk to her about it, or the weyrlingmasters should. She needs help, whether she wants it or not."
"Off with some green, probably." 'Lucky bastard' isn't voiced, but there's more than just annoyance in the bronzerider's tones as he turns and paces back along the ledge. Still waiting. "I don't think you should talk to her, anyway." The smirk dies away, and A'rist, more seriously, muses, "I don't think any of us would do much good, really. I don't know, maybe weyrlingmasters. Maybe if they go at her through Quinzeth or something..."
L'sha frowns. "No, she's definitely already demonstrated that she doesn't give a shit about anything I have to say. Going through Quinzeth might work. I just think that if she has that kind of attitude and laziness when she graduates, if she graduates, she's going to spend the rest of her life grounded or on watch duty. No wingleader is going to put up with that." He arches an eyebrow at A'rist. "Is he starting to notice the greens?" he smirks a bit.
A'rist offers a final shrug to the topic of Klohi, for all the look on his face suggests he's not so much dismissing her outright as... closing that topic off. For now. That thoughtful look morphs. It might have gone all the way to a glare if he'd let it. "He's been surrounded by greens since he hatched."
L'sha leans back further against Rillaeth's side so that his head rests against the forest-green hide. "Well, yes, of course. But I think you know what I mean. They'll all be getting to that age pretty soon. A few months, I'd think."
A'rist does know; it's on his face, and in the awkward way he tugs at his belt, and shirt, and then starts a pace back for the edge of the ledge. "Sure," tossed as if it's not important. "But we know it's gonna happen. Be more worried if I were in your place."
L'sha sits up a bit, noticing the young bronzerider's body language. "Hmm? Worried? What would I be worried about?" Something about him belies his casual attitude, though. He does have something to worry about, but it goes unspoken. His own body language is slightly more tense, however.
"W-" is as far as A'rist gets into whatever comeback - probably defensive and uncharitable, considering the way he's standing now, a far more aggressive stance - when he turns to look at the greenrider again. "Look, it doesn't matter, anyway. Until it does." Where is his dragon, seriously.
L'sha sits up fully now and looks down at his hands. His voice is softer now. "Actually, I am worried, to tell you the truth. I mean, Lythronath is difficult to control at the best of times. During a flight, when it does happen...Well, who knows what could happen? I just..." He shakes his head. "Nevermind." He stands up next to the couch. "Do you want us to fly you down and find him?"
That gets a strange look onto A'rist's face. "You're worried about Lythronath? Shards, I'd be worried about having some guy in-" but he shakes his head, too. "Besides, we might not even be around when Rillaeth goes. And if we are, maybe he won't chase, you never know." Toward the end, it almost starts to sound... reassuring? A'rist shakes his head, and looks off the ledge again. "No, he's... he'll come. Got his attention."
L'sha snerks a bit, then giggles. "You haven't been paying attention. I thought it was pretty obvious. Having a guy in my bed is the last thing I'd be worried about. I'd be more worried about what I'd do with a girl in bed." That oughta get Lythronath up here in a hurry. Come rescue A'rist from the greenrider! "Well, whatever happens happens, I suppose. I guess I'll just deal with it. Go with the flow. I'm pretty good at that."
"No, I know that part," A'rist says, annoyed suddenly. This topic will do that to him. "But I mean like... it's more like being a girl for you, isn't it? Unless you've done it already. For the one actually going in, it's easier, right?" He's trying to be nice about it, but it makes his face twist up a little. It's a good thing Lythronath becomes visible when he does. A'rist is going to dig himself a hole right through the ledge, here, if he keeps going.
L'sha smirks and tilts his head, as if amused by the bronzerider's squirming. "You poor dear. Well, I suppose it is." How to put this without the gory details? "It hurts more for the one on the bottom, that's for sure, but only at first. You wouldn't have to worry about that, though." Rillaeth's head snaps up as the bronze approaches, eyes whirling orange as her airspace is invaded. L'sha turns back to his lifemate. "Shh, love, be nice. let's all get along, okay?" Rillaeth relaxes a bit, but doesn't take her eyes off of Lythronath.
"No, that's- that's what I'm saying." A'rist makes a face, and Lythronath, thank Faranth, lands. "Next drill's gonna be in three days. Same place. I think we got Miravea's place for afterwards." Lythronath pins a hard look on Rillaeth, making a show of stretching his wings once A'rist's climbed to his 'ridges, and taking his sweet time in lifting off. Hahahah.
L'sha shrugs at A'rist and waves as the bronzerider mounts his dragon. "Okay, I'll be there! See you then!" Rillaeth hisses at Lythronath and curls up tighter in a defensive ball, but snorts as the bronze stretches his wings. « Big deal. »
|
Leave A Comment