Difference between revisions of "Logs:Sticking Together"

Dragon Infirmary, High Reaches Weyr

The vast cavern has much the same odor of redwort and numbweed as the human infirmary, though here it's seasoned with coppery ichor rather than the iron of blood. It's also laid out similarly though on a much more massive scale, its walls lined with a number of places for patients, in this case large dragon couches recessed into the floor for ease of access; nearby cots provide space for riders. Tucked into the western curve is a huge circulating pool of warm water, by which are kept vats of oil. The healers' duty station is a counter on the north side of the room, a checkpoint before the storage rooms behind it that are now shared with the human infirmary, hosting supplies that are as neatly labeled and carefully scrubbed as the rest of the infirmary. The senior dragonhealer has an office there as well, and human-sized double doors have recently been built as a direct route to the human infirmary, while opposite a wide winding tunnel leads to the east bowl.

It seems as though the Weyr has not yet used up all its pleasant days before winter truly sets in. Chilly and wet, it's still nice enough to have folk out and about enjoying the outdoors while they still can. Not so for Azaylia and her still growing gold who have taken up shelter in the dragon infirmary. Dressed in her work clothes, the junior weyrwoman has a hand rested gently on a blue dragon's muzzle, stroking between his nostrils. Dragonhealers have his wing stretched out, two huddled around the sails and murmuring busily. Hraedhyth lays nearby, eyes whirling calmly at the sight- if not looking a little bored. "There there. You'll be fixed up soon, good as new." Azaylia can be heard cooing, voice sugary sweet as she coddles the injured beast.

No snow today! That might be why Brieli was outside at in the first place, coming in from the bowl rather than the infirmary proper. Her walk is customarily brisk, her hands in jacket pockets as she moves with purpose, and into the warmth. The situation is all that gives her pause - and given her lack of real interest in this particular area of weyr life, it might be only Azaylia and Hraedhyth that has her walking over their way -even if that voice makes her twitch. It's the gold that gets an appraising look first, before she slips over next to her rider, noting quietly, "She could have called Iesaryth, you know. If it bothers her?" She doesn't ask after her friend - coddling and comforting a dragon seems to be her sort of thing.

"Ohhh, she likes helping out her dragons. Yes she does." Azaylia answers Brieli swiftly, still using the voice. Her attention remains on the blue, both hands used to stroke his muzzle, "I've just had to scold her for being too rough with Karuth here. Isn't that right?" Hraedhyth gives a low, drawn out whuffle that matches Brieli's twitch. The patient seems to enjoy the attention, soaking it all up in the way that some overly dramatic dragons do. He huuurts. Isn't that saaad? Love him! And the young woman is more than happy to oblige while the tear in his wing is tended to by professionals.

It's only diplomacy that has Brieli keeping her eye-roll mostly to herself, glancing sympathetically at Hraedhyth. "I'm sure she does." That is, until Azaylia and her voice explains the situation; with an arch of fine brows, she looks between dragon and rider, asking, "She did that?" There's a bit of surprise in her tone, even though the brawny gold is known for wrestling. She's less sympathy for the attention-seeking blue, however - but makes appropriate expressions for the rider, who must be around.

Karuth's rider is indeed around, too much for the 'healers liking as she hovers over their work and frets. "What?" That snaps Azaylia out of her babytalk while hands continue to smooth over his blue hide. "No no no, he hurt his wing trying to impress a proddy green." Oh, if dragons could look sheepish... "I meant her influence. Hrae is a little too rough with keeping them still. She just needs practice, is all." Or, it could be that the brawny gold has little sympathy for dragons injuring themselves for stupid reasons. Then again, since the protest one might notice the lack of patience the queen has when it comes to other dragons.

The reason for the injury might have Brieli rolling her eyes as well, but she's enough decency to turn it aside and away from dragons, healers and riders. "That... Someone ought to be grounded," she notes quietly, with a purse of lips. She might not be the best influence for Hraedhyth - her patience is about as short as the gold's, though not for the same reasons. Not entirely. "Ah. I suppose practice is a good point, and a good idea. But... if need be, she could call us. Though..." A pause. "It could take her focus off the general situation. How are you doing, anyway?"

Hraedhyth gives a low growl at the word 'grounded', eyes whirling just a touch faster as she stares at the blue. She seems to agree with Brieli. "We need to be able to do some things ourselves." Azaylia is soft in tone but firm on the subject. "But if the situation is ever too much for us..." Of course the other gold pair will be the first ones they call. With a gentle sigh, "We're doing... better. Hraedhyth is still holding a bit of a grudge, but I'm hoping she'll forget soon." Sometimes the only thing one can do is wait out the gold's anger. "How're you?" Curious, and with a bright smile, she gives her friend most of her attention while her palm continues to warm the blue's snout.

Even now, the gold's growling makes Brieli jump a little, though once she's sorted out that it's an approving angry sound, she's just a little self-satisfied. But she'll allow to Azaylia, "It's true. Of course." Folding her arms as she listens, she tries not to look too doubtful about Hraedhyth's giving up on her grudge even if she does forget. "How do you feel, though? I could tell she was upset." The word seems insufficient. With a little shrug, "Not too bad. I've been trying to sort out the details of the whole thing, but it's proving a bit difficult. The intentions seem... fuzzy. At best. Iesaryth is all right, but..." Wrinkling her nose, "She'd rather things be calm. And it's a lot of work for her to try to make it that way, I feel like."

Hraedhyth gives an apologetic whurf under her breath for startling Brieli, then goes back to her staring. Azaylia's concern for the other gold is obvious, "She shoudln't wear herself out to change what can't be. I mean, after she's stopped making an effort they're just going to slowly but surely go back to being upset." 'They' could mean those staging the protest, or those who reacted badly to the whole situation. "I am... angry." She seems more startled than anything by her confession. "I still don't understand why they would do something like that." And it doesn't sound like her friend is that much more informed, "All I- We, need to know is that it they have something against our Weyrwoman." And that just won't do. After a moment she admits in a whisper, "And I'm terrified it's going to be Tiriana all over again."

"I don't know. I don't know if it's wearing her out, but I think she's doing it as much for herself as anyone else." Brieli isn't sure if that makes things better or worse, by her expression. "And you might have a point, but at least the dragons will be less likely to go along again? I'd think." She's hoping, it sounds like - because Iesaryth making an effort for nothing seems a little too bleak. And Azaylia's admission doesn't surprise her as much; if anything, she seems understanding. "It's reasonable to be angry. And it seems like changes are the issue. Though that might just be a cover for the issue of Iolene being an exile. It's still hard to say, but I've heard both." Brows drawing together, concerned for 'terrified', "It won't. She was an exception. I can't see anyone going along with that sort of thing again, given the issues it caused." But her tone can't be totally certain about that.

Azaylia takes a moment to turn back and see how the dragonhealers are doing. With a nod from one, as the other attempts to shoo the bluerider, the junior's efforts are appreciated by no longer needed. With a smooch placed on Karuth's eyeridge, she turns and walks some distance away to continue their conversation, "The dragons might, but their riders..." Her tone remains quiet, calm. "I'm not a fan of changing tradition either, not the big things. But I still support Iolene." Hraedhyth stays where she is, still watching the blue as Azaylia stops in a more empty place in the cavern. "Before Tiriana, nobody could imagine riders, 'Leaders going along with something like that." It seems as though her fears have been rekindled by more than just the discord of their Weyr.

Following the other junior away from the dragons quickly enough, Brieli is definitely more interested in this topic than that of dragons and their injuries... but that's hardly shocking. Her own tone as low as Azaylia's, "Their riders are the issue, yes. But we can win one of those battles, yes?" There's that, at least. A touch of worry entering her voice, "I hope... That people have been talking about the ideas aren't making things worse. I don't understand how talk can upset anyone that much." Pausing as well, leaning against a handy wall, she argues, "That's true. But look at what it's done, and she was... you know. People are still angry about that. Are-- Is she worried about all that again?" Her gaze sneaks Hraedhyth's way.

Azaylia folds her hands in front of her, content to stand close as Brieli leans against a wall. "I've noticed that a lot of things upset people for the strangest reasons." Some of it has been simple observation, some of it she has experienced. "We might have been able to talk Tiriana into standing down or..." Aware of her own optimism this time, knowing that it was unavoidable, she stops. Her shoulders sag some with a sigh, "No. Hraedhyth gets upset when I do, but she's not afraid of being cast out at all." This is where they belong, why should she be afraid? "I'm just realizing how it might have affected weyrwomen in other weyrs. How it might have looked." How it might have frightened them?

Wryly, "People are unpredictable. That's about all you can predict, really." Despite the fact that Brieli herself attempts to see into the future on more than one occasion. "It's not always easy to know if something will set someone off, unless you know what buttons to push. And that's not easy either." Azaylia's momentary optimism arches one of the younger girl's brows her way, but as it fades, so does the expression. "It's good that it doesn't worry her. Iesaryth isn't concerned either, but... that's her way." The talk of other weyrwomen has her glancing at her friend curiously, but; "I think that's why people were angry. Some of them. Because now, considering... It's hard to say what would stop anyone from doing it again, maybe turns from now. It's... diluted authority." It's hard to tell how she feels about that; maybe even she doesn't know.

Azaylia stays quiet while her friend speaks, looking pensive while keeping much of her attention on what is acutally being said. Hands unfold to bring fingers to her lips, plucking at the lower in thought long after Brieli's done speaking. Finally, "It's not just authority." A glance upwards, showing that she has been actually listening. "It's Weyrwomen. It's most important to us, and everyone knows it. The... the people who are against Iolene. It doesn't matter if it's because they hate Exiles, or because she wants to do things differently. Maybe they think if they push hard enough, she could be forced to transfer." The thought has brows lowering over soft brown eyes, "Hattie's right. We can't let that happen again. Not so soon." Not ever, but the young woman would never go that far- who knows when another Tiriana might impress?

"I wasn't sure about saying it this way, but- I meant our authority. Goldriders. As much I wanted to be rid of her, it's changed things. If things are done by tradition - And I'm not saying they should be, but if they are - it makes no sense to allow Weyrleaders to determine who's fit to be in charge. As far as I understand, it ought to be the other way around." Brieli's certainly been considering all this, enough to have some opinions, though they might be stated more quietly than usual. Looking to Azaylia with dark eyes thoughtful, "Maybe. Or maybe deposing one Weyrwoman is enough to think that it can be done again." But, with a blink, "Hattie? What- when did you talk to her about all of this?" She's surprised that the goldriders have spoken, perhaps that they've spoken about something so serious.

Azaylia's feathers certainly seem ruffled, "Everyone in the weyr is important, the Weyrleader included. But," This is one instance where she isn't leaping to K'del's defense. "Weyrwomen take care of those people. It just... to have our work taken for granted over something as... as stupid as being born on an island." Tears of frustration spring to her eyes, and she wipes them away quickly to continue with a sniff. "O-oh. I went to see the eggs the other day. The Weyrwoman and I just... talked. She was very considerate. She didn't like what had happened to Tiriana." Of course, since Fort had voted against the motion. It might explain where Azaylia's thoughts have been, since then.

Blinking again, "Azaylia! Don't..." Brieli reaches out a hand to touch her friend's arm, beginning to look seriously concerned for all this anxiety. "Don't get so upset. I don't think anyone sees it like that, but... maybe I'm wrong, honestly. Maybe they do think it's that easy to replace someone. Though, in some ways... all of this have shown that it's not. Through no fault of Iolene's," she's quick to add. "But it is such a little thing... especially..." She just looks at Azaylia for a moment before shaking her head. "Never mind. It is all stupid. And I spoke to her a while ago as well. Though not so much about that. I'm... not surprised."

"I'm fine." For the most part, it seems that she is. In the next moment a shadow is cast on the both of them, Hraedhyth's faceted gaze quick and anxious. "Really. I'm okay." Azaylia repeats for her dragon's benefiet. Unconvinced, the gold settles in a semi-circle around the two, giving them even more privacy. A hand reaches to rest atop Brieli's, "What? Don't let my being upset stop you from saying what you think." The dragon's pale head leans forward to nose at her rider's back, a comfort that has her managing a smile. "It makes it even harder to be angry at Fort, about lying. They were doing what they thought was the best for their weyr, at the time." There's a faint squeeze to her friend's hand, one of gratitude for her concern.

"...All right." Brieli doesn't seem any more convinced than Hraedhyth for a moment, expression dubious. "It's just that I don't see you that upset very often. I didn't know it was bothering you." Glancing down at Azaylia's hand atop hers, she'll withdraw it after the squeeze, shaking her head. "It really is nothing. And I suppose it's possible that most people are usually doing what they think is best at the time. It doesn't make it any easier to understand, without knowing the circumstances." Considering for a silent moment, she says finally, "Maybe we should find a way to make sure we're not taken for granted. Or if we are, that something can be done."

Azaylia gives a weak laugh, "It's not just this. I think a brownrider really hates me, and I don't know what I did to upset him. And other things." But those get a wave of her hand, easily dismissed in light of their current topic. Brieli's suggestion has her giving a faint nod of her head, "I was thinking the same. Something." Anything, as the Fortian Weyrwoman had put it. Despite being overwhelmed moments earlier, she is managing to slowly recover, "We should see what Iolene thinks, when she isn't too busy." Hesitant in her next words, she's uncertain but hopeful, "And... Maybe we should speak with Hattie more? See if she has any ideas?" Her reason is quite simple, a breathless murmur: "Weyrwomen have to stick together."

With a little wave of her hand, "Don't be ridiculous. Who could hate you? Really." Brieli is totally dismissive of potential Azaylia-hate, pointing out, "Some people are just like that, can't get a good word out of them on a perfect day." Without any sense of irony whatsoever. Tilting her head to one side, she agrees, "It might not hurt. And I suppose it wouldn't hurt to speak to Hattie either. It never hurts to consider ideas. To talk, despite what other people might think." Quirking a little smile at the last, "Maybe that's enough, yes? But I should go check on Iesaryth... you might be have a point about her putting too much into everything." For some reason, she sounds like she might feel a bit guilty about that. "Think about it, we'll talk later?"

Azaylia purses her lips, looking ready to argue about who could hate her. It isn't important, not right now. "She certainly seemed willing to talk about possibilities." Meaning Hattie, of course. Hraedhyth's head lifts at mention of Iesaryth, matching the mild worry worn plainly on her rider's face. "You'll tell us if she's fatigued? Or, even if she's feeling fine?" The vocal gold gives a pointed growl, hoisting herself up on sturdy legs and getting out of Brieli's way so she can go do just that. "Of course. Maybe have dinner later tonight?" Something. With a faint wave she turns back towards the infirmary, not quite through with her volunteer work, it seems.

"I will," Brieli promises - to Azaylia and Hraedhyth both, with a look at the gold like, do you know who you're growling at? With a flash of a grin after that, "It'll be all right. And dinner sounds good. I'll come find you." Giving her own wave, she starts back from whence she came, now a bit more thoughtful.