Difference between revisions of "Logs:Of Mutual Understanding"

Your location's current time: 15:08 on day 26, month 1, Turn 60, of the Tenth Pass. It is a winter afternoon.

You stroll across the thin strip of land between the main lake and smaller pond, winding through rocks and boulders. As you near the southern bowl wall, the path begins to incline, taking you to a plateau several dragon lengths above the lake against the southern wall. Diving Cliff Crisp, bright, and full, the late day's sunlight holds reign over every inch of the cliff, and it shines upon the worn, stone steps that disappear into this flat area resting high above the waters below. Huddled families of rocks, boulders and pebbles lay strewn around the edges of the clifftop. The sandy center of the half-plateau seems to have been cleared of any debris and the area provides enough room, sitting or standing, for many people. A small journey to the edge of the precipice reveals the true use of this place. The deep, midnight-blue waters of the lake shimmer below in the noontime's light, and the shorn patch of rock near the edge proves that many a person has felt the thrill of a swift flight from this clifftop, only to be enveloped by the chilly waters of the Weyr lake. The afternoon is clear and the sun shines brightly. There seems to be a light breeze and the winter air feels a bit nippy. It looks like it might be fun to 'jump' or 'dive' off the cliff into the water. Contents: Samialla Tiqueth Obvious exits: Path

It's a cold winter's afternoon in the 'Reaches, whatever snow that accumulated during the night melted away under the day's sunlight. R'hin's standing at the top of the cliff, dressed in full riding leathers - perhaps for the warmth they provide - head tipped backwards to watch Leiventh. The dragon circles far above the lake, gliding seemingly endlessly around and around. "Why don't you ever go the -other- way?" R'hin's muttering under his breath. "Feels right, hm?" Chuckling briefly, he shoves his hands deep into his pockets, watching with head tilted, oblivious to newcomers.

Samialla pads quietly up the path to the cliff, dressed in a too-big, shapeless jumper in a strange shade of mossy green. The weyrling girl falters when she spots the Weyrleader already up there, head...tipped backwards. The girl starts to back off down the trail again, but changes her mind and continues forward, albeit hesitantly. All the time she watches R'hin, eventually choosing to clear her throat politely, as if to try and announce her presence.

R'hin's head swivels around as Samialla announces her presence, grin touching his lips immediately as he spots her. "Ah," he says, looking pleased, "Samialla, good, good. Okay, first rule," he leaps into the conversation as if they'd merely been interrupted at some point, "Is that when we're alone, I'm not the Weyrleader. R'hin's fine - in fact, I encourage it. Second, I want you to be as nosy as anything. That's how you learn. Third-- am I going too fast? Do you want to write this down?" the last seems to be a joke, judging by his crooked grin, and he hunkers down onto a rock, inviting Samialla to do the same, going to a far easier topic: "How -is- Okenith?"

Samialla stands stock still, listening to R'hin. She's only just remembering to blink, such is the intensity of her concentration. There's a nod here and there, too: one for the rider's first point, one for his second. Then the girl pauses mid-nod, looking confused at the interruption of the third. "Oh...no...oh." She notices the grin and mimics it weakly. At R'hin's invitation, she checks a rock for wet before perching on it. "Okenith's fine, thank you for asking. He's...still into everything." She smiles fondly.

R'hin stretches out a hand behind him for balance, pale eyes flickering over Samialla as he speaks, "They do that, especially when they're young. Even Leiventh did, though you wouldn't be able to tell, these days." He slides a glance upwards, hint of fond amusement in his voice that's not unlike Samialla's. "Some of them grow out of it, and for some it's part of their personality." He runs a hand through his hair, still watching the circling bronze as he observes, "So, I'daur assigned you to me. How do you feel about that?"

Samialla watches R'hin with a keen interest, head tilting to one side as she considers what he's saying. The rider's glance upwards does not go unmissed, and a smile touches the girl's lips again. "I'll have to see if Okenith does grow out of it," she observes thoughtfully. "I never would have expected Leiventh to be like that when he was young." She has to think about R'hin's question, brow wrinkling. "Excited? I mean, you're the Weyrleader." Her brow loses its creases as she smiles shyly. "You must have a lot of experience to share."

R'hin's lips curve upwards, pale eyes on the circling form. "Oh, he was curious about everything. Much more... expressive than he is these days. Serious things, he says, deserve a serious attitude." The faint twist of lips suggests the bronzerider might not agree totally with his dragon on that particular point. He finally glances back to Samialla, flicker of brows indicating brief surprise. "Excited? Well," a wry grin, "Better than what I'd expected, at least. Not everyone is exactly my biggest fan." The latter comment earns a grimace, and he exhales. "Not -exactly- experienced. Leiventh's not even four Turns, yet. But, I -have- been through weyrlinghood, and I remember how it was... some find it more difficult than others." There seems to be a query in the midst of that statement, if the look he gives the weyrling is any indicator.

Samialla keeps her eyes fixed on R'hin's face, an expression of understanding on her own. "I thought being serious was left to the rider?" She smiles, partly teasing in a soft-voiced way. She looks pleased at first at R'hin's grin, but that look fades as the Weyrleader continues. "Well, you're sooner out of weyrlinghood than other riders?" She offers. "You could probably tell me more about your own weyrlinghood than some." She leaves the subtle hints to answer R'hin's own disguised query. "the riders didn't lie about how hard it is, when I was a candidate," she agrees. "It *is* hard work. But it's worth it. It's worth it."

"Not always. They do say," there's laughter in R'hin's voice, "That the dragon makes up for the shortcomings of the rider. Perhaps that's why Leiventh was bronze." He exhales slowly. "I could tell you about mine, yes. But, I'm hoping -your- experience will be different, with I'daur. How are you finding him?" he asks, lifting a hand briefly as he adds, "And, I ask as your mentor, so I can assure you it won't get back to him through -me-." He straightens a little, hooking a foot up onto the rock, fingers splayed against it. "For me--" he halts, a distinct impression of unease settling over the bronzerider as he darts a telling glance towards Leiventh, "It wasn't the physical part that I found difficult. It was the-- adjustment. Leiventh-- didn't always understand. All they've ever known is us, but it's not the same from our end."

Samialla smiles, nodding sagely at R'hin's comment, though she then purses her lips and looks thoughtful. The thinking passes; her expression clears and she readjusts her behind, wriggling to make herself more comfortable on the cold rock. Her long jumper is, at least, providing a thicker barrier between the stone and her skin. "I'daur? He's -" she has to think again now, but the answer comes more easily. "Different to what I thought he would be. He makes us work hard but...it is for our dragons, after all." She smiles a little. "Seems like he knows our dragons better than he knows us. Names, at least." She nods at R'hin's thoughts on adjusting. "I know what you mean. Well, I think the physical part is hard. But Okenith...he wants to- to know everything, but I can't tell him everything. He wants to do things I don't want to do." There's a faint blush to her cheeks. "He doesn't always agree with I'daur, things like that."

While the weyrling considers, R'hin's head tips just enough to allow him to study her sidelong, evaluative. Her comment of I'daur earns a grin, then a little laugh at the mention of names. "I'll bet he had help with the names," the bronzerider confides laughingly. "Though he probably has them down pat now, anyway." The laughter fades, and he nods agreeably with Samialla's confession, taking the blush in stride. "They can be-- overwhelming, in their wants. You'll have to find a balance, between learning to stand up to him, and when to let him have what he wants." A smile flickers, knowingly, "It's okay to disagree with I'daur, and it's okay for -Okenith- to disagree with him. You never know, he might just be right."

"Oh...I think he did. And he does know us all now, yes." Smiling, Sami lets a hand wander to her plait, draped as it is forward over her shoulder. The girl toys with the end, rubbing the hairs between her fingers as she watches R'hin. "I think it's the standing up to him that's the hardest." The girl lets those words spill out rather rapidly, and she looks surprised at herself for having admitted it. Her blush is fading, her face paler after that confession. "I just want him to be happy; I don't always want to say no to him." Swallowing, she looks down at her knees, both hands now working at her hair. "He knows what's right for him, Okenith. When he disagrees, I mean. Not all the time, but..." She trails off.

R'hin's head tips, looking sympathetic. "It isn't easy," he agrees. "Even now, Leiventh and I disagree on many things. Sometimes he wins, sometimes I win. He doesn't always understand-- why I feel certain things, or why I do certain things. But he's always -there-, and that's the important part you'll need to remember. Whatever disagreements you two might have, when you need him, he'll be there. That is the-- thrilling -and- frightening part of the bond." Pale eyes have drifted unconsciously towards Leiventh as he speaks, a twist of lips accompanying the words. A slow exhale, brief smile as his attention shifts back to Samialla, "How is he-- and you-- getting along with the other weyrlings?"

Samialla seems...somewhat reassured by R'hin's words. She looks up anyway, large eyes fixing on the man's face. "There has to be a-" She stops; tries again. "You have to reach a sort of mutual...understanding?" And then she actually smiles. "Yes...I wouldn't give up Okenith's love for anything in the world. But it's hard for me to adjust to having to look after him so much, as well as look after me. He's what matters most to me now." With a little sigh, love and a certain wistfulness in that simple sound, the girl answers, "Just fine, really. We all got along during candidacy, really, so...we just have our weyrmates now, which makes it a bit different. Some of us are doing better than others, but we haven't had any arguments so far, I think." She squints. "Or I've avoided then."

"Well." R'hin's eyes flicker upwards, making a little face. "You could choose to give in to his whims-- some have with their dragons, I suspect-- but that's less a partnership. You're just as dependant on him as he is on you. He needs your memory, your understanding of things human. He'll never understand people the way you do. He'll learn what his place is, what his -purpose- is, through you." His hand brushes along his thigh, before he rises from the rock. "It'll get easier," he assures. "Once you settle into each other - get used to each other - it gets easier. Doesn't mean you won't still have your disagreements," and the bronzerider's voice is almost fond as he says that. "I've a meeting to get to," he says, almost apologetically. "But, if you ever want to speak with me, all you have to do is have Okenith bespeak Leiventh. Maybe we can have a meal, next time-- I always think better on a full stomach." He grins, faintly teasing note in his voice.

Samialla nods, face a picture of seriousness. There's a shade of apology beneath, however, that she can't help but show to some extent. "Thank you. I'll have to bear that in mind, when- when we don't agree, he and I." A smile brightens her face now, and she remains where she's sat as R'hin gets up. "I suppose when I understand *him* better, things will be easier." Her hands move from her plait to rest in her lap, at rest. "I'll do that," the girl promises, adding, "thank you, again. It was nice to talk to you about all this." The gratefulness for their chat is plain in her voice, and she looks up at the older rider with a smile.

R'hin waves off the thanks, with a wry sort of smile. "I-- we struggled. I didn't really have anyone to talk to. It didn't seem right, for it to be that hard. It's easier, to have someone that knows what it was like." An easier smile soon follows, however, as he adds, "But you're welcome, Samialla. Give my regards to Okenith." With a tip of head, the Weyrleader saunters down the cliff, heading off across the bowl.

You walk down the path leading back to the lake shore. After tracing the line of the bowl wall for a few dragonlengths, it turns north and winds its way between rocks and boulders before opening up to the lake shore.