Difference between revisions of "Logs:Deals"

Riders' Lounge, High Reaches Weyr

About as high up the bowl wall as it is possible to get before hitting clear sky, right up against the rim, this ledge is tiny, narrow and not terribly inviting. Though angled towards the sun, there's not enough room to properly stretch out, and that same angle ensures it receives the worst of bad weather, with no shelter whatsoever. From above, there's not even an obvious passage inside, as if this particular ledge is, in the end, nothing more than a natural outcropping. It's only from atop the ledge itself that the cleverly concealed entrance becomes clear, angled into the stone as it is.

Inside, there's a cavernous space, more than making up for the stinginess of the ledge. There's one large main room, and a much smaller back room that could probably be used as a bedroom - if this weyr were in traditional usage. Instead, the main cavern is largely filled with a collection of mismatched tables and chairs. Towards the back, there's a bar made out of old, recycled wood, manned during peak hours; there's plenty of alcohol on display behind it, though most of it tends towards the cheaper end of the range. Old, but still impressive, hangings cover the walls, all depicting scenes of High Reaches in glory. The back room has been turned into a storage area, with several cases of whisky and a variety of other spirits ready and waiting.

A strange pipe contraption comes through the ceiling and towards the stone floor, where a large bucket sits beneath it. A lever turns on water from the pipe: fresh rain or snow, ready for drinking.

Though the weyr has been a somber place the last few sevens, the atmosphere in the Rider's lounge seems as lively as ever, just after hitting the high point, the newest server slips her tray onto the stack at the back of the counter murmuring to the bartender. Grabbing the next round of drinks, and dispensing them with the air of someone whose been doing this a lot longer than one might think, "I'm taking my break now!" She calls after emptying the tray, grabbing a cider and an empty seat near the bar, while dark eyes watch the crowd, keeping tabs on the clientele.

K'del's not been in here long-- long enough to have shared a few quiet words with a rider near the entrance, and long enough, too, to have claimed a glass and some beer from one of the tables where both are in abundance. It's with that glass in hand that he approaches Edyis, too visible a figure - given his height and his hair - to go incognito for long. "Heard you've had a career change," he murmurs, once she's in ear-shot. "Congratulations?"

Edyis laughs, "Believe it or not it's fewer hours with better pay, if you know how to avoid the handsy ones." She replies, turning to face K'del with a fearsome grin. "I will still be working there once a seven, so don't think this suddenly means I won't chase you down if you don't return your books." Dark eyes dance as she brushes the braid back over her shoulder. "How have you been?"

For all that his expression is - for a moment - frankly dubious, K'del abruptly grins, shoulders shrugging. "Well, if it makes you happy. Glad my little establishment... well, okay, F'manis' little establishment can keep you in..." He waves his hand. "Whatever it is you buy with your stipend. Anyway, I always return my books." He's slower to answer the rest, gaze turning distant as he glances back out over the bar. "Mm. Busy. Always, though, I guess."

She keeps laughing, "Save your doubts. It's not the stipend, it's the tips." She states patting the small pouch at her hip. "It's amazing how far a girl can get on just her smile and wits alone." Lifting her glass to her lips, still grinning, though as his expression goes distant her smile fades just a touch. "Nothing you haven't dealt with before, how is Azaylia managing?" Asked softly as her gaze drifts over to where a group of riders are starting to get a touch rowdy.

Now, K'del is even more dubious: "Must be paying riders too much if they're tipping you that much," though at least it's in good humour. "Don't be surprised if the good tips don't last forever, once people're used to you. And especially as we get closer to the end of quarter." Slowly, then: "We've both dealt with the loss of a queen before. Iolene's Ysavaeth was Hraedhyth's dam; that was hard, too. It's the complicated way people felt towards Aishani that is... the most difficult thing. But we're all going to manage. It gets easier, with time."

Edyis snorts, "Bronze Riders, it's like you all exist just to burst my happy bubbles." But this too is mostly in jest. As for the loss of Iesaryth, she shrugs before she drinks. "I always liked Aishani, she wasn't the straightest shooter but she had guts. I guess I didn't know her as well as some." She tilts her head, studying the Weyrleader a moment, thoughtfully. "You look like you could use a distraction. I don't suppose you've gotten to visit Ali and the kids with all of this though have you?"

K'del's smile is almost verging on smug, quite as if he - on behalf of bronzeriders everywhere - is terribly satisfied with this achievement. It doesn't longer; these things rarely do. "Aishani and I had a very complicated relationship," he says, simply. "It's difficult not to feel conflicted. Been to Southern... once. No, twice. But it feels like I shouldn't leave any more than I need to; people're already bitching about the fact that both queens were out in that storm, and I was off at Southern. As if I'd planned it." That verges on bitter.

"Bunch of jealous ninnies." She says of those who would whisper that he'd planned it. "It's like people saying you planned Z'ian's injury." Which Edyis seems to dismiss as equally ridiculous, her glass hitting the table for emphasis. "People do what they always do, they gripe about those in power because it makes them feel better, makes them feel better about not doing anything at all." She says moving to grab a pitcher to refill her own glass, and offers to K'del as well filling it if he accepts, and shrugging if he doesn't.

Mention of Z'ian has K'del's mouth twisting, but he nods. His glass gets nudged towards Edyis, clearly encouraging that refill; afterwards, he reaches for it again, sipping slowly before he says, "It's not that I care so much about what people think; it's just frustrating. Clearly, the queens shouldn't have been out there, but you can't keep Hraedhyth-- well. It just is what it is, right? And now we have to move on. Would never say a person's life is worth it, but... can't deny I'm glad that all of this has resulted in relations with Tillek improving. Small things, you know?"

"I'd like the to meet the idiot brave enough to try to stop Hraedhyth from anything." As for Tillek she nods, "Amazing how quickly the talk has turned to boxes of treasure washed up on the shore there. It isn't over though, you've still got the problem of the pirates, unless they sunk themselves in the storm as well." She points out filling the glass to the near brim. "The thaw will be the telling time I think. Lady Edeline I've heard is still as clipped as ever in her relations."

"The Lady Edeline is always clipped. Pretty sure it's a defence mechanism as much as anything else; means people are kept guessing. Not," K'del allows, then, with a sigh. "That you're wrong. Guess we'll just have to see, mm? And keep working." He stretches, spine popping as he does so. "But that's nothing new. We'll just do our best, and take the rest as it comes."

"Seems to be a trait amongst women in power?" She giggles before that popping noise has her attention and she's squinting at him. "Working is good. But if you are so tense that you pop when you stretch like an old man" Uh huh. "You need to take some time to have fun." Surveying the bar a moment before setting her glass down. "I really should be getting back to work, but I will make you a deal." She decides.

Old man? K'del sticks his tongue out as if to argue that, but doesn't follow it up with words. "A deal?" he prompts, instead, fingers curving about his glass, but not actually carrying it towards his mouth.

The childish gesture has her laughing as she stands, downing the last of her drink quickly. "Make time for something fun at least once every couple of weeks, whether it's just an hour or two for a rousing game of poker or a trip to bring the cuties to visit." By cuties she must mean K'del's offspring. "And I'll buy your drinks for that night." She lifts a finger, "Because while we all know you can afford your own drinks, everyone knows that free booze just tastes better."

Having now put his tongue away again, K'del listens with apparent seriousness to this deal, right up until then end. That is when he lifts his drink, something like a toast, to tell her: "You've got a deal. Promise. Now get back to work, mm? Before your bosses start scowling at me."

Edyis laughs, nodding. Grabbing her empty glass and the tray, before setting back to work, perhaps surprisingly she's very comfortable with the routine.