Logs:An Afternoon On The Patio
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| RL Date: 11 September, 2009 |
| Who: Audria, K'del, T'rev |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Young Weyrleaders have beer and shoot the fucking breeze. Later, Audria joins them. |
| Where: Garden Patio Ledge |
| When: Day 22, Month 9, Turn 20 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Leova/Mentions, Nakasha/Mentions, N'thei/Mentions, R'uen/Mentions, Tiriana/Mentions |
| Mecaith's sandgrains, lightly salt-imbued ping in Cadejoth's direction late in the afternoon, with a polite query: « If yours is not busy, T'rev would like to buy him a drink at the snow-place in your Weyr, Cadejoth. Is this acceptable? » And with the positive answer, the Fortian pair arrive formally at the Reaches and T'rev swings off Mecaith's back to come up the steps of the patio ledge to find his host. Cadejoth's quick to respond, the rasp of metal against metal intensifying into a faint clanging as he puts his thoughts into words. « K'del is not busy- or, at least, not so busy he can't take time for a drink. » His will be one of the rumbles that greets the foreign pair, though he remains where he is upon the rim rather than join them. K'del has staked out a table on the ledge, given the relatively mild (for the time of turn) weather, his long legs stretched out off to the side as he keeps an eye on the steps. "T'rev," he greets, warmly, albeit lazily. "Nice timing; needed a break." « Thank you, Cadejoth, » comes Mecaith's reply. « We will be there presently. » T'rev's smile is warm in turn for K'del and as he swings up to that table, he holds out a hand to shake K'del's firmly. "Yeah? Things nuts up here?" the Fortian Weyrleader jokes. "Can't possibly be crazier'n Fort right now. So. Beer or somthing stronger if breaks are needed?" This as he pulls off his jacket and folds it over the back of a chair. K'del's grip is equally firm as he shakes T'rev's hand. "Heard some reference to you having troubles. Sounds like you've definitely got more problems than we do; mine are just... the usual." Letting his hand drop back down to the table, he considers for a moment, then decides, "Beer's fine for me, thanks, T'rev. Suppose I will still have to go back to things later, after all." Which is said with a smile holding equal parts rueful and amused. "The usual? Yeah, supplies being shorted, parts of a tithe missing, counterfeit running around all the major gathers," T'rev lists off the headaches down south then he laughs, nods. "All right then. I'll get us a pitcher. Hungry too?" He starts to step away to go order, pauses for the answer about the snacks. K'del makes a face, head shaking rapidly; "Amazing how quickly they forget what we do for them during a Pass, isn't it?" That conclusion immediately jumped to, he adds in a much more jovial tone, shoulders stretching as he leans back in his chair, "Usually." Beat. "Hungry, that is." Teenage boy; go figure. "So if you're of a mind to get snacks as well, by all means, do." "Short memories," T'rev agrees with a wry turn to his mouth and nods. "I'll get us a platter of something. I'm always hungry too," the older Weyrleader says with a laugh. He may not be a teenager anymore and pushing the quarter-century mark, but his metabolism is still apparently going gang busters. He disappears inside for a short while, comes back with the pitcher and two frosty mugs. "Here we go, drinks. The food'll be out shortly and I think we'll get lucky and the cute waitress will bring it because I flashed her a smile and a good tip." A wink for K'del then he flops down into the next chair over, pours out the brew. "So my friend, how're things other than the usual Weyr-business?" "Right up until they need is," agrees K'del towards T'rev's departing back; his gaze doesn't linger too much in that direction, though, not when there are other people here and there to consider (not to mention a group of teenage girls attempting to keep up their summer tans with the somewhat more insipid autumn sun - good luck). "The cute one? Ah - Delcia, I suppose. For a smile and a tip, reckon she'll do just that." Accepting a mug with a warm, grateful smile, he considers the question for a moment before he answers. "Good, on the whole. /Our/ holds, at least, are quiet... been working on some ideas for things to keep us all occupied. Weyrlings not too far from graduation. But. That's all business. Can't complain, in general. What about you?" "Mm, keep the scenery engaging," T'rev notes with an approving look at the sunning teens over yonder. He leans back in his chair though and has a sip from his mug. "Ahh, good stuff." Curious, he looks over at K'del at mention of ideas. "Yeah? To handle the interval with bored riders? Or just to keep the Weyr trucking along?" The Fortian Weyrleader blows out a breath, rolls his shoulders. "Fairly well. My father is staying at the Hall for a turn to teach and the family's caravan is camped outside of Fort Hold for a while so my daughter is nearby which is nice." K'del takes a long swallow of his drink, turning the mug in his hands, his eyes remaining on the girls for a few moments more before he turns back to T'rev. "Both, ultimately. Sort of playing in to each other. Lord Crom offered us a deal a while back, piece of land to work so long as we share the proceeds; still not sure I trust him, but it did make me think. Of what other possibilities might be out there. Unused land, that sort of thing. Maybe time for some explorations." He bobs his head quickly as he adds to that, "Must be nice, having her close. My sister's staying at Tillek with my brother, for a while, which is nice-- get to see her without my mother being disapproving over where I'm taking her, or how late we get back. Though. She seems kind of occupied; it's kinda weird. For her. Probably for the best: got plenty of things keeping me here." "Land ... shells," T'rev breathes out with his brows lifting. "So you could be somewhat independent?" That sharpens the interest in his eyes. "But ... Crom, yeah, I dunno if I could trust the man any farther'n I can throw him." His head bobs again about unused land. "Yeah, exploration'd be good. Ever thought about really looking beyond the usual? A while back, a friend and I were talking about seeing what else is out there that doesn't belong to anyone." Again, agreement, a hoist of the mug in his hand. "Yes. It's really nice not having to track the caravan down. Even with firelizards, sometimes it can be tricky finding them." His head tilts a little to the side. "I have one of my sisters at the Weyr actually. She didn't want to get hitched so I let her come back with me. My step-father'd probably have a couple of calves about what she got up to." That reaction gets a smile from K'del, whose corresponding nod is enthusiastic. "That's the idea. There's-- a heap of appeal, right there. But. Yeah. Crom." His head tilts to the side considering at what T'rev says next, and then he has another nod. "Potentially. Mean... there's a heap out there, right? Might as well get used. See what we can do with it, if we can. And if nothing else, getting people to do the exploring... keeps them busy, doesn't it?" Several more bobs of the head mark the difficulty of finding things, even with firelizards, and then he laughs. "My sister'd /love/ me to take her back here, but I can't: my mother would slaughter me, I think. Kash is-- too much like me, maybe. But she's the baby, and a girl, and... Yeah. Sounds like there's similarities, your sister and mine." "Why is it that Crom's always in the middle of things, you know?" T'rev, wry again, head shaking and his eyes close for a moment as his face tips up to the autumn sunlight. "Yeah, the ones who like to get out there and explore. Mecaith would love that. Something completely new to see, to take in the patterns, to /know/." He falls silent, smiling, maybe communing with his bronze a little, though Mecaith's head is turned upward and away. Eyes open again and T'rev nods. "Yeah, Vani's not the baby, but she's probably the ... most restrained of my brothers and sisters. Nissa, she's closest in age to me and we're cut from the same cloth. Put her in a Weyr and she'd be hopping weyrs every night I bet." No judgment there. Matter of fact. "Mama's not the one who'd get up in arms about it, she's laid back like me and Nissa. My step-father though ... traditional." "Reckon it's just entertainment to them, sometimes. Causing mischief. Havoc. Pretty sure Lord Crom takes distinct pleasure in it all." K'del's lip curls, and he has to distract himself with his beer before he can say anything else. "Cadejoth'd love it, too. He hates the amount of non-active work we have to do. More about just seeing new things, being out and /doing/, I guess, for him." He looks amused as T'rev describes his family, head nodding along. "Kash and I are the unusual ones, I guess, in my family: most of the rest are happily married, or wedded to their crafts. Don't know where it came from, for us, given our parents... they're pretty normal holders. Forgiving to a degree, but traditional. Going to bring Nissa to the weyr, too, or has she found a niche elsewhere?" "Go figure, the bastard," T'rev says with a snort and sinks more of his beer too. Might be funny to see both of thhem going 'grrrr Crom' and drinking about it almost in unison. "Yeah, he got really restless being pinned on the Sands. Peirith was understanding at least, let him go fly a bunch to burn off the steam." The Fortian leader nods as he listens. "Yeaaah my family's not ... traditional. Nissa went back to the waystation, but she's talking about going to Ista." Despite K'del's pause for beer, he still doesn't look terribly happy about Crom as T'rev speaks; he nods. But: "Huh. Iovniath didn't let Cadejoth near, which ought to've been perfect, except that not being allowed just made him... want it. Miserable. Glad it'll be turns before she rises again-- and that chances are she won't let him catch, next time." After another long pull at his drink, he sets the mug down, nodding along. "Ista! Well, why not. Figure it's better for people to go to where they'll be happier. Waystation, Hold, Weyr, Craft, whatever. No point forcing people into a lifestyle they'll never be happy with. My harper brother, for example - reckon he'll never leave the Hall again, ever, if he can help it. Loves the academic lifestyle." "Yeah? Interesting. Nah, Peirith and Mecaith're a pretty good match. Honestly, I don't think he would've won if they weren't. Though ... funny thing, it means he's got a divided heart now which isn't really his natural state." Brown eyes settle on the bronze and his upturned head. "Vrianth," T'rev says quietly with a nod Mecaith's way. Back to K'del. "Don't want to keep the job?" Brows lifted. "And yeah, if you're able to get to somewhere you like, why not?" "She let him nearby eventually, few days before the clutch hatched, but that was it. He's-- well. Means he chases the occasional local green; don't know if that's a good thing or not." There's a pause, at mention of Vrianth, then a knowing, wry kind of expression settles in to place. "Ah. Hard. Cadejoth has Yyth - but she wants all of him, so he won't chase her. They'll cuddle, though." He hesitates before answering the next question. "Not sure, to be honest." And it is honest. "Not that I don't /like/ it. But. Wasn't exactly ideal timing, you know? Still only eighteen. Figure I won't take him away for it, but we'll just see what happens." More hasty nods mark his agreement to the last of T'rev's words, as he reaches for his mug again. "Guess there's a couple of us younger Weyrleaders now, though. You, me, An'dren at Ista. Maybe it's just an Interval thing." "Mmm. Mecaith's more completely devoted to Peirith, but you can't shake a connection like theirs that easily," T'rev says with a little tilt of his mug towards the bronze in the bowl. "He caught her in her first flight and one other time, but beyond that, they stay in touch. They're -- I don't know if friends is the right word for it," Fort's Weyrleader describes. "There's one other dragon that Mecaith is close to. It's awkward though. Our junior, Elaruth. He can't -- not with Peirith too and he's captivated by her tides, the depth of that ocean," T'rev continues with a little smile. He nods about the knot though, has a drink. "Yeah. I dodged it a bunch when I was younger, I felt more ready for it this time, even though I actually meant to pull Mecaith out fo the Weyr again. And you're right. We're all under twenty-five. Feels funny you know, I'm the /oldest/ of the three of us. Imagine that." His head shakes and he eyes Mecaith again speculatively. "Listen ... about Vrianth actually, I ah -- well I was wondering. I know she just rose, but next time, maybe, could we have permission? I just wouldn't want to step on any toes. You know. Foreign Weyrleader's bronze." "Connected," concludes K'del of Mecaith and Vrianth, marking it with a bob of his head, but otherwise staying silent to allow the other Weyrleader to finish talking. "Ooh, ouch. That would be difficult." Beat. "Cadejoth finds Peirith fascinating. Or did. Guess he hasn't had contact with her recently. She was the first dragon he chased-- guess he's always had a thing for senior queens." Wry. "Positively ancient, compared to An'dren and I," he adds, teasing, with a shake of his head. "/And/ a Wingleader before rising further into the ranks. That's got to help." The request draws visible surprise from the younger man, who hesitates before responding. "Of course," is what he says, however, with a shake of his head. "Green flight-- no, wouldn't stop you. So long as Leova and Vrianth don't mind." "Yeah. I --" T'rev pauses takes a breath and puts the mug down, fingers lacing together behind his head. "I don't see them ever /disconnecting/ really. Things could change, but she -- she's marked him. More than once. Not physically, but mentally," Fort's Weyrleader explains and his voice sinks to a murmur, eyes going a little out of focus a note of something like awe or rapture sneaking into his tone. "Lightning bolts in the desert ... sand turned to glass." A blink or two and he takes a breath, smiles over at K'del sheepishly. "Sorry. It goes that deep. And /ancient/ ha! And half the time I still feel like a kid in diapers next to Cirse who's just so -- serene about everything," he describes his own Weyrwoman. "Mm. Wingrider, wingsecond, wingleader, the usual progression first. But Mecaith's not a big chaser, so it was easy enough to pull him out of most flights, though never hers until recently," a vague nod in the direction of Vrianth's ledge. Silence for a little and then T'rev smiles at K'del. Quietly: "Thank you. For his sake. And -- Leova doesn't mind. We -- go back a long way. We've covered this before." K'del's nod is even enough, and his expression changes only a little - and more knowing, amused, than anything else, even given the rapture his companion expresses - before he says, quietly, "Get it, believe me. Vrianth's-- like that. Interesting dragon. Cadejoth'd chase her again in a second; would've, this recent flight, had we been around." He stretches back, lazily pointing booted toes up, then down again, as he adds, "Mm, she does seem that way. Think she'd intimidate me, working with her. Tiriana at least is... well. You know." More bobs of the head follow the rest of what T'rev has to say until, finally, a more firm, determined nod. "Of course. You're welcome. Honestly, wouldn't've been concerned if you'd just showed up and chased without asking." "Yeah," T'rev just grins about Vrianth, takes a sip from his mug. "So's her rider." His expression turns all the merrier there. "Good friend," though is added on, something firm in his voice at that. "Cirse? Nah, she's got her quirks just like anyone. Just have to respect her for who she is and humor some of those quirks, respectfully. So long as you're not a total fuck-up, she's easy enough to work with. At least I think so. She's an amazing artist too, though I have to see, it was fucking freaky coming to in her weyr with portraits of most of the bronzeriders from Fort hanging over me. She's a good woman though, strong. Couldn't really ask for a better Weyrwoman," he says candidly then puffs his cheeks out. "Tiriana'd take a firm hand," is his assessment, "or working with Rev to keep her in line. Have to give her credit sometimes, even if it isn't her due and not get fluffed up when she gets on a tear. At least, that seemed to work pretty good for a bit at Telgar. Until I lost my temper at her." He shrugs in a what can you do way. "That girl's got a talent for cruelty when she puts her mind to it, but she's got a love for life as big as a dragon too if you can tap into that too. And she's one hell of a dancer." There his expression actually shades fond, nostalgic. T'rev's gaze skips back to K'del and he nods. "Gotcha. Wyaeth was ... much more ah, territorial. And N'thei -- well, we don't have a good track record him and me." "Agree with that," says K'del of Leova, with a nod. His nod regarding Cirse is slower, less certain, though all he says, finally, is, "Guess I was caught on the backfoot with her, is all. Chasing in a closed flight, coming to apologise afterwards-- but only when she sent me a note reminding me to do so. Seen her drawings, though, yes: fantastic." He takes a moment before commenting on Tiriana, but it's even enough, "Mm. Trying. We're getting there. Think maybe having R'uen around is helping; she's happier, maybe. Have more respect for her than I used to, at least, which helps." His gaze narrows in on T'rev at that fondness, but he only smiles, saying nothing. Except; "Do many people have a good track record with N'thei? But. Yes. Point taken. Cadejoth thinks of the greens here as /his/... but he'll share. Not sure most of them'd like to hear that, though: being property. Buuut. That's the way he is. Leader of the pack." "Mmm. Stickler for propriety is Cirse," T'rev says with a little nod. "Likes things ... just so. And she's got an interesting way of making a point. Her lessons ... they stick with you." Fort's mug of beer lifts again, gets emptied and he sits forward to pick up the pitcher, refill the mug. "Good. I hope it smooths out, I really do and I'm glad she's happier, glad he probably is too. I'll probably swing by and say hello on my way out." That narrowed look just makes T'rev smile. "Took her dancing one time, to the trader camp I came up to Telgar with. Good times. Kicked her ass at cards and she nearly outdrank me on grog. There's things to respect about her, definitely." Laughter about N"thei and a shake of his head. "No, I don't think there are. The guy's a pain in the ass." An accepting nod registers about the pack and he hovers the pitcher over K'del's mug. "Yeah, don't think Vrianth would cotton to that at all. But I get you. To Mecaith they're all intricate patterns to study. The ones that draw his interest. Or where there's a deeper connection, kindred spirits. He rarely thinks of much of anything as /his/ except for me and even then it's not ... possessive. It's partnership." "Sounds like you've had a lesson or two, then?" says K'del, one part question and one part comment - answer it or not, he's not too fussed about it. "Must've been hard for both of them," he allows. "Being separated. Even with dragons. So. Yeah. Really happy for them. Which is-- guess, a turn or so ago, wouldn't've cared if she was happy or not. So. Improvement!" He looks interested, and then amused, in that story of Tiriana. "Sounds like her. Good times, then. And she's certainly not hard on the eye, that's for sure." He bobs his head for yes, to a refill, though his mug is not entirely empty, and says, "That he is. Though he, too, has his... skills." Once his mug is refilled, he grabs it up for another long sip, and, once he's swallowed, adds in, "Cadejoth and Mecaith could hardly be more different if they tried, could they? Though, guess it's more partnership with Cadejoth and me, too. Or... no. Guess he's my sidekick, if you like. /Generally/, anyway. 'less he wants something different." "Mmmmhm, have, have at that," T'rev agrees about lessons. "Mm. Good," the Fortian says sincerely, laughs. "Oh no, not at all hard on the eyes. That girl's hips ... she can move ...." his hand makes a gesture some might consider obscene. "Almost a shame, almost she never said yes." He laughs again though and leans back in his chair again, mug wrapped in both hands. "Mm. Suppose so, don't know him that well and we've got too much bad history between us, N'thei and me." He drinks, earns himself a little bit of mustache and licks it off. "Yeah, sounds like. A lot of people can't figure why he picked me. But I guess it comes down to balance." We'll have to excuse K'del for a moment, shutting his eyes in obviously fond memory of Tiriana in some form or another. He lets a breath escape, then flickers his eyes open again to just grin; "Can't say it wasn't a /nice/ turnday present, last year... least until she's started hitting me. Wouldn't say no, if she changed her mind on me, even-- Well. Regardless of anyone else." He turns his mug between his hands, letting out another thoughtful breath, though further mention of N'thei goes unremarked upon. "Balance. Yeah. Guess Cadejoth kind of gave me a kick in the teeth-- but probably an important one. Might've ended up utterly insufferable, if he'd been a different kind of bronze." Thankfully, T'rev being T'rev, understands that particular look, even if he's hiding a grin behind the curve of his mug. It's at least an /understanding/ grin, confirmed by: "Bet she's a tiger in the sack, especially after a flight." Oy. Boys. "She's got a mean punch, yeah. But wouldn't be worth it, hurting Rev's feelings," is T'rev's take on banging Tiriana. "Yeah?" Questioning about Cadejoth. "What, were you a snot-nosed punk when you impressed? I sure was." K'del doesn't look much abashed, though he laughs at himself, head shaking. "She is, at that." Beat. "But. No. Don't know R'uen all that well, pretty sure he's never really approved of me, but... wouldn't do it to him, I guess. All hypothetical, anyway: she never would." He takes another long sip before he answers that last one, but looks all the more amused again. "Yeah. Absolutely certain I was going to Impress, and Impress bronze, too. Like as soon as I was searched I knew exactly what my purpose was in life. It was-- I was-- well. You know. Was pretty determined to prove myself all the way through weyrlinghood; guess I got over it, eventually, though Cadejoth drove me mad at first." "Damn. Knew I should've tapped that when I could've," T'rev says with a little snap of his fingers though it's largely self-deprecating and self-amused regret in that statement. "But yeah. She never would. They're an unbreakable couple those two and she's proud." A slant-wise grin crosses T'rev's face and he shakes his head. "Yeah, I wasn't convinced. Wasn't sure I even wanted to go through with it. But then ... there he was. And him being the way he was, for a lot of weyrlinghood, I thought we just y'know, had everything covered, no big deal." K'del just laughs. And then laughs some more. "Regret that one forever. Mm," and he looks more thoughtful for a moment as he thinks on this one, "Guess they are. Guess it's just one of these things that-- works. Even though it doesn't look as though it maybe ought to, on the surface." Beat. "Not that, as I said, I know R'uen all that well." Of T'rev's weyrlinghood he adds, then, "Ah. And I guess you worked it out later, everything else? Interesting. It's been... strange. Seeing our group of weyrlings, going through some of the things I remember. But mostly not. Like: seems like they all have it under control, sometimes. Then I end up feeling younger than ever." "Yeaaaah," T'rev drawls out and has more beer. What can you do but drink under such circumstances? "He's one of the only guys I know who can put up with her crap, who can get her to come off of her high horse and who can get her to calm the fuck down when she's spun. He just ... gets her, you know? And he really loves her. When it's the real deal ... hard to beat it," T'rev says with a little smile. "Yeah, weyrlinghood just wasn't that hard. The things we had to work out came later. Mecaith -- he's just not ever really in much of a rush. Except if she's calling." Vrianth again. "So some things just didn't come to a head really until well after we'd left the weyrlingmaster's care." Another tilt of his head towards K'del and a simple: "Yeah?" Prompt more. "Impressive." K'del doesn't sound as though he's convinced; there's obviously no particular affection from this bronzerider to R'uen, but he smiles, anyway. "Love. Guess that's what most things come down to, in the end, isn't it? Seems like, anyway." Taking a long sip of his own drink, he mulls over the rest of what T'rev has to say for a few moments before responding. "But you got there. Even if it took time. Hmm." Beat. "Some of our weyrlings just seem-- well. Bunch of them are older than me. Which is awkward. Makes me feel uncomfortable, sometimes, because it's like they know exactly what they're doing, and I'm still struggling a bit, sometimes, and... Yeah." "Yeah. I give most of the credit to them working out to Rev to be honest," T'rev says with another one of those rolled-shoulder shrugs of his. "Love -- has a way of either really smoothing the road out, or making it awfully rocky," he continues, slowly, thoughtfully. "When it's right though, shells, K'del, ain't nothing like it." His grin then is wide open, sunny. More beer. "Mm. Yeah, most riders do I think, even if it's at their own speed." He listens as K'del continues, waits until he's done. "Y'know, as a w ingleader, sometimes I have riders in their 50s and 60s that still have trouble from time to time. It's not that people are weyrlings forever, but learning doesn't stop just because you're ... eighteen... or twenty-five... or thirty, forty ... older. It comes and goes K'del. Maybe cut yourself some slack? Try not to compare yourself to them? They're not you and their dragons aren't Cadejoth." All this talk of love makes K'del smile, though there's a definitely thoughtful note to it, as though he's mulling something over beneath the surface all the while. His comment is light, though; "So I keep getting told. Guess it looks that way, anyway; people sure do seem happy. And then, sometimes, distinctly unhappy, which is part of the problem." His lips are drawn together throughout the rest of what the other Weyrleader has to say, and again (still?) he looks thoughtful. Around the edge of his mug, just before he sips, he finally nods. "Suppose that's true. Just-- hard. But you know that. Suppose High Reaches doesn't seem to have suffered too much, thus far, right? Doing okay. So." A firmer nod, this time, then that sip. "Course, not quite as easy as all that to stop feeling sorry for yourself, but... thanks." "Relationships can be hard sometimes, especially if people aren't on the same page," T'rev says slowly, thoughtfully in turn. "But there's nothing quite like that feeling, of seeing the person you love coming towards you and knowing that ... she wants to be with you as much as you want to be with her and then ... boom ... fireworks," the other Weyrleader says, with hands making a 'boom' gesture along with sparks falling down in the air, one hand bracing his mug still, but with fingers flared for the 'sparkles'. "And not being able to be with her -- well that sucks. Sucks donkey balls," T'rev says bluntly and his mouth twists wryly. "But in my experience, which is granted, kind of limited, the good stuff outweighs the bad. Check back with me in a few turns to see if I've managed to make it work out with my girl." A wink there and he blows out a breath. "Nope, y'all seem to have things under control, though you know, keep four eyes on that Crom bastard's my advice. If a dinky minor hold like Fort Sea's getting all uppity with Fort, what the hell's Crom up to under the covers, yeah?" Pause. "I could be too suspicious right now though," he admits, then reaches over to clap K'del on the shoulder sympathetically. "Gotta let shit go, Kas my man, otherwise you get stuck. Blocked. Ain't no way to live." Silent, K'del watches T'rev with interest as he talks, his head slowly inclining into a nod. "Sounds like it's got you pretty hard," he teases, but it's not without a smile curving about his lips. "But. Really do hope it works for you, even with all of the... problems." There's a breath of a pause, and then, "Always figured I didn't need love. Too complicated. Could get all the sex I wanted, and... what more did I need? Guess it kind of... sneaks up, though." And now he's looking all thoughtful and faraway, again. The clap on his shoulder makes him grin, and, more firmly, he nods. "Four eyes on Crom, as often as we can spare them, no doubt about it. Doesn't hurt to be-- watchful. And. Yeah. Blocked. Right. Going to work on it, T'rev." And he looks determined about it, too. "Let's hope that Crom is up to nothing, and Fort Sea can be easily dealt with." Brows draw together a little, T'rev's focus on the swirl of foam and amber in his glass. "She's an apprentice," he says quietly, which ought to explain a lot and he slants a look over at the other man, not voicing the expectation that K'del will keep that to himself. "Does that it does, sneak up. Love." And the Fortian chuckles again, gives K'del's shoulder another squeeze. "You'll get there, K'del. You'll get there. And here's to that, and most earnestly and sincerely, Crom and Fort Sea, up to nothing and easily dealt with." Toast. K'del's wince indicates that he knows well enough what all of that means; his expression is sympathetic. "I'm sorry," he murmurs, alongside the briefest of nods: no one else will hear it from him. A sharper nod marks the rest, and then, his arm lifts to raise his mug for that toast. "Crom and Fort Sea, may they fall in line as they ought," he agrees, more warm in tone, now. His mug is drawn back towards him, then, and he drinks, setting it back onto the table mostly empty again. "And," and this is more casual, "may we keep our riders occupied and content until Interval is over." Beat. "Though not us personally the whole time, of course." Wry: "Thanks," T'rev says, still quietly and tosses back a swallow of ale after that toast. "Mmm. Yeah - what're you doing about that up here other than the land deal? We're re-arranging wings and looking at getting some serious weyrgames starting up." But he pauses and suddenly beams as Delcia sashays into view, all hips and pretty smile and just enough cleavage to make a man happy as she leans over to put their platter of oh-my-god-greasy bar food appetizers down on the table. "Eat up boys," she says gaily and flutters her eyelashes at each of them, before she turns to go. K'del's mouth opens with the obvious intent of responding to all of that, in that pause provided by Delcia's arrival; that is, until he notes her arrival with his own eyes, and gives her a warm look in response. "Thank you, Delcia," he tells her, with a flutter of long eyelashes-- really, he ought to grow out of that habit-- and a gaze that follows her as she leaves. Once she's gone, it takes a moment, but then, "Similar kinds of things. Wings're staying the same for the moment, but only to a point: flexible. Each Wingleader has ideas of their own, so for the moment, just going to run with that, see how things go. Trying to use people's skills, too: former crafts, whatever. But. Some people just want to be idle, you know? And some find it all beneath them." He reaches for a piece of deep fried cheese with a vague hand. Fried food. Hot girl. Could be funny again the way two heads of curly hair, one toffee, one just a shade darker though equally tawny-hued on top, turn in tandem to watch Delcia's hips depart the area. "Yeah?" Back to business. "No games then, just free form?" A nod though about 'beneath them'. "Yeahhh, get a little bit of that at Fort too, or older riders thinking it's not right to drop the Pass drills, while the younger ones are all 'what do we need to know this for?'." It's a fried onion ring T'rev reaches for and munches on contentedly, washes down with sips of beer. "No games," confirms K'del, though he frowns as he says it. "But I do think it's something we'll look at more. Keeps people active, right? Gives them something to train towards." His head bobs several times more as he eats his chewy piece of cheese, dusting his hands off on his trousers even though he goes back for something else in quick order. "Yeah, that, too. Insisting on the drills, though, definitely: can't lose that knowledge, not when our descendants will need it all in time. Guess not everyone thinks that way." "Yeah, the younger riders like the competition between wings it seems like," T'rev notes about the practice. "Some of the older ones too, though some of them just grouch about how it's 'nothing like' Thread." This between bites of onion and sips of beer. "Mm. It's a question of amount, seems like. We were still on a Pass schedule for drills. Cut back to four times a seven instead of six out of seven days. Some think that's still too much, but ... shells, what else do you fill up the time with? Not every rider's got a hobby." K'del twists his lips into a rueful smile. "Sure, it's nothing like Thread. It's also not killing us all, is it?" But it's a rhetorical question, and the shake of his head that follows dismisses the idea as a whole. "No, that makes sense to me. Gives those who do have things they want to do more space for it, but not too empty for everyone else. I admit," and he glances down at his mug, head shaking again, "Not sure I know what I'd do with myself, if it weren't for the Weyrleadering thing. Hobbies not really my strong point, and there's only so much time one can be idle. Anyway." There's food to eat, and beer to drink. "Mmm. Keeps most of them busy who don't have something else to keep them occupied, that and focusing more on sweeps and serving the holds directly with useful things like mail more often and transport for a small fee." T'rev leans back in his chair with a new handful of food, combo this time of the cheesey stuff, another onion ring and a deep fried zucchini spear. "I'd be a harper," T'rev says with a grin and keeps his mouth busy for a bit, eating. "Been thinking about that a bit," notes K'del. "Serving the smaller holds, I mean. One of my brothers got married, last month, and my mother had me running across Pern doing things for her... it wouldn't hurt to make it known that we're willing to do more of that. For marks, or produce, whatever works." He takes another long drink out of his mug, wiping his mouth afterwards, an laughs. "A harper, huh? Interesting. Never really had any /specific/ ambitions, 'til I got searched. Just wanted to be something important, somehow." "Yeah, transport's like, one of things that only dragons can do that fast and they can carry a fair bit too. It's not glamorous and dangerous like fighting Thread gets a rep for, but hey, it's a living, right? And visible. And something that people could /rely/ on dragonriders for, see the value in, because it affects them personally." Another head bob from T'rev. "Yeah, well, I didn't have any particular ambitions either 'til I took the trip up to the Weyr and decided I wanted to be a trader instead of taking over the cothold from my step-father. And then I did impress ... and I finally met my real father and it turned out he was the former Master-fucking-harper of Pern," T'rev says with humor plain in his voice and a certain measure of 'still don't believe it'. "He's been trainin' me up since we found each other and well, I like it. Friend of mine had this idea too, of pairin' up riders and harpers to educate Pern better. You know, all the little places up in the hills and the like, so you don't wind up with kids like me as could barely read when I got to the Weyr." Two Weyrleaders, a pitcher of beer, a hell of a lot of greasy food on the table, late in the afternoon on a sunny, pleasant fall day. "And potentially /interesting/ for the right kind of person," muses K'del. "I mean, meeting all kinds of people, getting to feel useful. Not glamorous, but... reckon some people'd really like it. And I /really/ like the idea of pairing up the riders and harpers. Shells, and healers, too, for that matter: just being able to check up on people, make sure things are okay, and people know how to look after things." The idea has lit up K'del's expression, though he then backtracks - after a mouthful of deep-fried onion - to add, "Must've been a shock, finding that out. About your father, I mean." And maybe he's a little impressed. Maybe. A little. Audria steps out from the bar area onto the patio. The young woman has a mug of a hot cider in her hands as she freezes just outside to look around. K'del is spotted, and Audria steps his way before she pauses again. After all, he's with someone this time, not spending his time watching the giggling girls. "Yeah, I could get into it for instance. I like talking to people," T'rev tells K'del sunnily. "Yeah, totally, make sure everyone's gettin' their checkups when they should, or you know, women in labor, getting the right kind of healer if the shit hits the fan so to speak, yeah?" Chewing. T'rev's got a mouthful of barfood now too and his head bobs up and down a few times. Swallow. "Hell yeah, I mean, shells, you grow up one way, thinking you're you know, nothing and then -- that ... I mean, how the hell to you put that into perspective, huh?" And well, giggling girls giggle and T'rev's gaze slants that way, then catches on Audria and he shoots her a charming, dimpled grin of the devastatingly handsome, come hither type. Teasingly; "Would never have guessed." K'del leans forward to grab for the pitcher of beer, refilling his glass then offering towards his companion with a tip of the head. "Right, exactly. All of that. Keeping a closer eye on people. And a lot of that... reckon the holds would be much happier to tithe, knowing they had that kind of attention during the interval." His head is shaking, and he laughs, as he says, "Yeah, I hear you. Masterharper of Pern! Crazy." He's so intent on this conversation that he doesn't notice Audria until T'rev's attention turns that way; he has to turn around to see for himself, and as he does, his smile is a warm, encouraging one: "Afternoon, Audria." Audria is addressed, so that means she must walk over, or at least she does. "Good afternoon." She greets then both with a quick bob of the head. The smile K'del gets turns a bit shyer when she looks to T'rev. "Am I interrupting anything important? Because I can go leave you alone?" The young woman sounds genuinely worried about that. T'rev laughs at K'del's remark and holds his mug out for that refill. "Exactly, it maintains the relationship, service for support, even trade," the Fortian tells K'del. "Crazy," he echoes and he shoots K'del a brief questioning look as Audria's name is mentioned, but then, the girl's there and he's giving her another chipper grin. "Beer n' greasy food. Help yourself," he gestures to the platter, then wipes his hand hastily on a napkin, the non-beer-holding one and holds it out to her. "T'rev, bronze Mecaith's, Weyrleader of Fort and all that, well met Audria." K'del fills T'rev's mug again, then sets the pitcher back on the table, reclaiming his own drink as he nods, several times fast, in response to what the other Weyrleader says. That questioning look goes by with a slightly confused raise of the eyebrows, before he turns his attention back towards Audria, expression still warm. "No interruption at all," he promises, his words falling in after T'rev's. "Audria works in the kitchens here," he explains, more quietly. "Not so long arrived from High Reaches Hold." Audria takes that as an invitation to join them. T'rev's hand is taken with another shy smile. "I, uh, it's nice to meet you, Weyrleader." She states before Audria takes a seat looking at the greasy food for a moment before she just sips from her cider. "Yes, it's nice being here. I like the weyr." "Thanks," to K'del for the refill and a renewed smile for Audria. "Welcome to Weyrlife then, Audria and kitchens? So you help to make the good stuff that gets eaten around here," Fort's Weyrleader says in good-natured fashion. "And T'rev, just T'rev please. We're just hanging out." K'del tips his head towards T'rev once more in acceptance of the thanks, turning his attention primarily to his beer, though he keeps half a glance on both of his companions as they issue their introductory statements. Except when he's picking out his next piece of deep fried food, of course, and chewing on it carefully. "T'rev." Audria says with a bob of her head before she nods. "Well. I help make the food. I hope that what I make is good. Lots of the time I chop things. Well, I make simple dishes, too. And breakfast." She stops there to look drink cider, looking over to K'del as he goes silent, biting her lower lip. "Chopping things is helpful," T'rev points out with a grin, takes a sip of his beer, nabs another cheesy something or other from the platter. "How much chopping did you do as a candidate, K'del? Sometimes I thought my wrist was going to fall clear off from it when I was." K'del's smile is instantly encouraging as Auria bites her lip, his head shaking just lightly, as though intended as encouragement. "Oh, shells, the /chopping/. Endless. My mother never let me into the kitchen, so it was all kind of new, but... Shells." He grins, glancing from T'rev to Audria and then back. "And then I Impressed, and I was chopping meat all the time. Felt like I'd never escape! Which is why it's so important we have people like Audria around, right?" Audria lets out a giggle of laugh as K'del describes it. "So that's why there are people like me working in the kitchen? So that you won't have to chop food anymore?" Audria asks jokingly before she shakes her head. "I bet a lot of the candidates can't cut /well/ though. With even, neat pieces. And things diced quickly into little chunks when those are needed." "Yeahhh, totally endless and then all that butchering, shells," T'rev agrees with K'del emphatically and grins over at Audria again. "Well someone's got to do the chopping, there's not candidates around all the time and dragons take a heck of a long time to oil," the Fortian Weyrleader points out, good humored. "Mm, suppose to learn how while you're on duty when you're a candidate." "Believe me," puts in K'del. "There will /always/ be employment for people like you. But - yeah, don't have candidates for all that long, over all. Little while, every couple of turns. Not useful, when we all got to eat every day." He pauses as he takes another long drink from his mug, eventually grinning. "Not sure I /really/ got much better at the vegetable chopping, anyway. You, T'rev?" Audria considers that for a moment before she laughs again. "It would be really hard to only feed the weyr food that involves chopped ingredients when there are candidates. You'd be eating a lot of whole vegetables and roasted meat most of the time." Audria decides. "Maybe you need more practice?" Audria asks towards K'del, teasing lightly. "Well enough, I guess," T'rev says with a little pull of his mouth to the side. "Good enough for cutting up meat for Mecaith anyway," he grins over at Audria though. "Isn't that what Weyrs eat most of the time though? Easiest to prepare?" Then he laughs as the kitchen girl teases Reaches' Weyrleader, still good-natured though and concentrates on finishing off the food in his hand and the beer in his mug. "No more practice, thank you," grins K'del, laughing, as he drains the last of his beer. "Mm, certainly always managed with feeding Cadejoth, but never got particularly adept with the fine chopping required in the kitchens, sometimes." He's silent again, after that, wiping his hands upon his trousers again before he adds, "Easy to prepare food is good. But. Food is good. In general." "Food /is/ good in general," T'rev agrees, smile still bright. "And I ain't one to turn down a good stew or soup on a cold day, nope. Silly Nerat blood's still thin," the Fortian Weyrleader claims and takes a last swallow from his mug, sets it down empty. "It's all settled up at the bar, K'del," he tells Reaches' Weyrleader and reaches behind him to pull his jacket on. "I'm going to swing by and chat Rev up, see if I can catch Leova, before I head out. I've got something for her," he tells the other man. "Been nice talkin' to you Audria, maybe I'll see you around sometime." K'del's gaze slides off towards the bowl as he nods; "Getting towards that time of turn, isn't it? Will do, Audria, will do. But..." Laughing. "Don't count on it." T'rev's words draw his attention back to the other Weyrleader and he inclines his head rapidly: "Been a pleasure, T'rev. Thanks for the beer, and the company. Been-- interesting. Have a nice visit with folks, sure I'll see you around soon." Audria nods her head to T'rev with a quick smile. "It was nice to meet you, Weyr... er, T'rev." Audria says before she nods over to K'del. "It gets to be that time of turn pretty quickly around here. We get lots of soup months in High Reaches." "Likewise, K'del," T'rev says with friendly warmth. "Come down Fort-way sometime. I'll buy you dinner at the Fountain," Fort's Weyrleader offers and his head bobs too. "Clear skies then, both of you." T'rev gives a last wave and heads down the stairs, half-skipping a couple of them and heads off across the Bowl singing a snatch of song that, if you listen carefully is actually a bawdy. K'del's lips twitch wryly as he catches the sound of the bawdy, fading off into the distance. "Never lets me pay for /anything/," he complains, all but under his breath, but it doesn't linger - and, anyway, he's smiling. "Yeah, no kidding," he agrees, then, focusing his attention back on Audria. "But the summers are beautiful, so that helps." Audria blushes a bright color as she catches the bawdy song as well. Instead of commenting on it, she just giggles. "You say that like it's a bad thing." Audria states about the payment before she adds. "They are. Nice and warm. I love summer. I really like the start of winter though, with snow and crisp cold. Eventually though, it gets old." "It's nice to be able to pay one's own way. Besides," K'del grins, pushing his mug idly with the fingers of one hand, "Fair's fair. He buys some, I buy some. Not as though either of us is really short of a mark." He nods his head quickly to the rest of what she has to say, agreeing, "It is nice. Everything seems fresh. But later... Ugh. Still, can't complain /too/ much." "That does sound fair." Audria admits before she sits back in her chair. "Anyway, I like having lots of different seasons. I don't think I'd like having only summer. Or only winter. Maybe only spring." "/True/." K'del's firm about this one. "Ista's beautiful, but the idea of never having any real changes? Ugh. Not for me." He wipes his hands upon his trousers again, then sighs. "Ought to get back to my work. Stayed out here longer than intended. Nice to see you again, Audria. Hope you're still settling in well." "It was nice to see you again, too. I think I'm still settling in well." Audria states. "At least, I mean, I haven't gone running back to the Hold. So that must mean something." She finishes off her cider and stands as well. "I should see if they need me again. Good luck with your work." |
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