Logs:Beach Bums
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| RL Date: 21 September, 2014 |
| Who: Farideh, Edyis |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Farideh and Edyis take a trip to Ista to get away from the cold. |
| Where: Hidden Cove, Ista Island |
| When: Day 11, Month 11, Turn 35 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: Sunny, clear, beautiful. |
| Mentions: A'ban/Mentions, H'kon/Mentions, K'del/Mentions, R'hin/Mentions, Teoma/Mentions, Mishal/Mentions, Cron/Mentions, Aughan/Mentions, Weylaughn/Mentions, Azaylia/Mentions, Anatolia/Mentions |
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| Hidden Cove, Ista Island Ista Island is renowned for its lush, subtropical jungles and hidden gems - as well as its many, many coves, lagoons, and other hidden places of beauty. Close to Red Sands Hold, along the uppermost curve of the island, a cove lies hidden amidst the overgrown vegetation. It is marked by a dragon-sized boulder a hundred meters out that shields the entrance from casual observation. Thick foliage and tall trees hedge the bank of sand, staggered along the crescent-shaped shoreline. Black sand meets crystalline waters and, further out, Big Bay's water is brilliantly blue-green and glass-like - even in the stormiest of weather. Huge flowers the size of a man's fist blossom in the dense shrubbery, popping up in lurid and exotic hues of orange and red, purple and yellow. Their intoxicatingly heady fragrance wafts over the beach on the breeze and mingles perfectly with the tangy smell of salty air.
Lakeshore. Just after breakfast. Meet me there if you want some sun. Signed, simply, with an elaborate F.
High Reaches weather has determined the young scribe's attire, a loose fitted sweater that hangs past her hips, and trousers, though she does carry a bag at her side, which might have attire for warmer weather held inside. Long fingers splay in greeting as she spies the blue and Farideh. "You have very nice handwriting." Perhaps not the most normal greeting one would expect but probably typical of the darker skinned woman. "Thank you for the invitation Farideh." A'ban is the first to notice the newest arrival of their band of travelers. His grin is stilted, but he gives the two girls space while he finishes adjusting some straps here and there. Farideh dips her head in acknowledgement of the compliment, flashing her teeth in a smile. "Thank you, Edyis, I have enough turns of practicing tracing letters for hours that I ought to." She moves to link her arm through the scribe's, if the scribe allows, and motions to the stocky blue dragon with one hand. "This weather is for the dragons. I can't stand it. Everyone stays inside and sits by the fire and blah blah blah. Ista is perfectly warm this time of turn. Have you been? Where I have in mind is a little out of the way, but lovely all the same." Dark eyes are at once intently apprising of the bluerider, checking for the shoulder knot discretely as an afterthought. There's a snort of laughter about the weather but she smiles warm enough all the same. "Typical Reaches." She states, finally before rolling her shoulders, "Been good, mostly busy but good none the less. It will be nice to take a day and just soak up the sunshine." With the last details secured, the bluerider is right there to hand out the riding gear to each of the women. "I thought the summer would last longer," Farideh says woefully, though she unquestioningly takes the helmet and goggles. She disentangles herself from Edyis long enough to tuck her hair in and fasten the goggles, at which point she is happy to let A'ban assist her up onto the blue's neckridges. All the while, she's throwing over her shoulder, "Won't it? We deserve it sometimes. They just don't appreciate us the way they should." A'ban snorts at that, but remains quiet as he lends a hand to help Edyis up as well. Smirking she accepts the hand up, and manages the straps on her own, she's getting better and better at it, it would seem as it only takes a few moderately clumsy attempts to secure herself in. She opts for the riding jacket and glasses but the helmet is tucked in with the belt straps. If A'ban protests he'll get a very pointed look. "Not really, it's practically the shortest season. Still, it's better in a weyr than the holds. You get to take trips like this. Thank you - I'm sorry I don't recognize you." She calls over to the bluerider. Being high up and on dragon back does things for Farideh - or, stops her from chattering on endlessly as she is prone to do. She is busy clinging to the blue for dear life while Edyis and A'ban have a nice little chat without words. He will give her that look and frown in response to hers. "A'ban, Icicle Wing. Helps any?" he asks without really expecting an answer. There is no more fanfare or words spared, as the blue lifts up and up, higher and higher, until they're suspended well over the Weyr. Between is a cold rush and just as quickly, they are high above Ista Island, circling a dense tangle of trees along the coastline. Farideh is still not saying a word, and A'ban is too caught up in being disapproving to contribute much. They descended swiftly, and rather than in the wilds of Ista, they make it to a secluded cove bordered in trees and rocks. A'ban slips down first after unbuckling the straps and waits for the two girls to make their way down, so he can help them to the black-sand beach. A few turns ago, she'd likely have cowered under that look. She holds firm and grins as they take off, though it's only after they emerge from between and are firmly on the ground that the dark eyed girl deigns to speak grinning from ear to ear as she shrugs out of the jacket, and straps, and then the blouse to reveal a southern styled swimming suit top. The kind that would probably be considered down right conservative by Istan standards, though it does leave most of her back and shoulders open to the sun. "You'll get used to it, flying I mean. " Away goes the boots and pants, though she pulls out a cotton sarong dyed in Monacoan colors, which she ties about her hips and a pair of sandals, tucking her winter gear into her bag. "It's one of those things I've learned to love about Reaches, Dragonfolk too. Surly as they are." She tosses with a wry smile at A'ban, losing her braid and tying it back into a neat ponytail, tied just below the base of her neck. A'ban starts unstrapping the bundles attached to the straps and throwing them carelessly on the sand, while Farideh regains her balance on somewhat-solid ground. There is sun and sand and surf surrounding them, a fact which undoubtedly delights the laundress, as she throws her arms wide and smiles from ear to ear. "Just lovely." She casts a curious glance over one shoulder, taking in Edyis' beach attire, but rather than strip down to her own, she'll double back to open the bundles the bluerider tossed. One holds a cobbled together lunch of sorts: meatrolls, fruit, and a waterskin. Another holds a large quilt. And the last, two long sticks and a thinner blanket. It is the last bundle that she sees about setting up. She jabs the sticks in the ground like a triangle, then drapes the blanket overtop in a rudimentary shelter. Sure, it's liable to crumble beneath a simple breeze, but is will do for now. A'ban gives both women a cautious stare and with a sigh, remounts and of he goes, leaving the scribe and laundress to their day of beach fun. "I didn't bring too much," she points out, as she tucks the lunch in the shade provided by the 'tent' she pitched, and then lays out the quilt next to it. "What do you think?" As she stands back to survey her own handiwork. Someone staring might notice that the scribe has a number of fading bruises of varying age probably the result of a fall or being on the wrong end of a firestone toss. "I think you are positively a marvel. I did bring wine. Tillekian but it's very light and sweet." The girl laughs, watching the blue depart, tossing her bag under the shelter. "Really, this is - perfect. " With a contented sigh, she stretches lazily. Lucky for Edyis, Farideh is quite oblivious to most things. She either doesn't notice or doesn't think to comment - for the moment. It is with a satisfied sigh that she peels off her own dress, underneath which she's wearing her own variant on a swimming suit with a length of simply patterned fabric tied around her hips. She flops down on her stomach on top of the quilt and buries her face in her folded arms; relaxation is not hard reached. "Tillekian? Fabulous. Benden can be too much sometimes. Light and sweet for days like these," she sighs, turning her face so she can look at Edyis. "Come, tell me what you've been up to. I get so bored listening to same stupid stories in the laundry. H'kon knocked up some greenrider, Fayla's baby's father is an asshole, K'del is running the Weyr into ruin. Blah blah blah blah." There is even a complementary eye roll for dramatic effect. Edyis laughs at the examples, "You must hear everything working in the laundry. Pretty sure I didn't know most of that. Can't say I've been any more entertaining, Telavi has me occasionally helping the weyrlings train, oh! You remember that one Cromese kid Weylaughn? The one who has more marks than sense. I happened to walk in on him and a green rider in the resident barracks in a very compromising situation, and it wasn't a female green rider either." The eyebrow wiggle comes, with a giggle. "Other than that it's been catching up with people and work mostly. " "I don't trust half of it. They told me the other day that there's a dragonrider up High Reaches Hold's way that catches people after dark and throws them between. As if a Lord Devaki would even entertain something that ridiculous." Farideh shakes her head as best she can given its pillowed upon her two arms. She has her cheek rested on a forearm, propped there, so she can see Edyis from a better angle. Talk of Weylaughn causes a crease to form between her brows. "Him? That guy? With.. another guy? Are you sure? He seems like one of those straight-laced, don't step off the well-traveled path sort of guys. Thinks he's some heir of Crom too or something," she says flippantly, and looks surprised, her mouth forming a small 'o', "I wasn't supposed to tell anyone that." Hazel eyes shift from Edyis to closed. "Nope, never said it." Denial is the best resort, always. "I don't think it's much of a secret. He seems to tell anyone who will listen, if he thinks it will help his cause. Yes, but probably it wasn't what it looked like. It just really looked like something else you know?" Leaning back she props herself with her fingers wriggling in the sand. "He isn't terrible drinking company, just - arrogant. Aughan may be many things, but he wouldn't leave a bastard in the wind to screw with his plans." Finally Edyis seems to decide to add to the list of current events. "My stepmother not long ago - She came to the Weyr." Oh, good, then she doesn't have an obligation to keep it hush-hush. "Does he? Go around telling everyone? He seemed fixed that I should keep it quiet, and then he had to nerve to think he could get the Weyrleaders to agree to help him become Crom's heir or something," Farideh scoffs, keeping her face blissfully hidden in her arms. "I told him that's dumb. It's a waste of time. Don't waste anyone's time, least of all the Conclave. Not like they have better things to worry about like, oh, say a recent outbreak of leprosy that is going to set the Holds back turns." That sudden dip into seriousness is dispelled as she crosses her ankles and swings her legs up, back and forth in the typical girlish action. "Did she? For what? Does she want to wed you away? Scold you for recent escapades?" She'll even dare a peek over at Edyis, with a laugh. Edyis sighs, "Not everyone is as politically savvy as we are." It's almost serious but for the wild grin that seems to be spreading. "The Weyr isn't stupid enough to get into it with Crom without evidence that he doesn't have - besides, Lord Aughan wanted Lady Ienavi. I highly doubt he'd risk giving the hold to a bastard even if it were true." She laughs perhaps at the idea of marriage, and it's a mock wounded look at the terrible thought. "Marriage was off the table the minute I left for the weyr. Gretvyn, she isn't like that either. She's the one who talked me into standing the first time. She wanted me to visit, more I think. Remind me that I still had family members who don't entirely hate me, or otherwise seem to pretend I don't really exist." "Politically savvy," Farideh rolls that one around and snorts. "I don't know much about Lord Aughan or his Lady, except drawings I've seen of him. Weylaughn looks nothing like him. And you're right, why would he give his Hold to a bastard? That's not how it is done and hasn't been done. He's just another in a long line of men who wish they could." But they are quickly back to being gossipy little girls, so she sighs contentedly, almost languidly - it is hard to be upset with anything when there is warm sunlight and waves crashing in the immediate distance. "You are lucky on that count. My mother would be love to put me in that dress and ship me off to- wherever. Is she just visiting? Moving out here herself?" There's a kind of knowing smile for Farideh, "Better off here, I think you are far too colorful for married life." Which is a complement, given the tone and expression, "Just visiting, the hold would fall apart without her with my brother running it. I think she wants me to just talk to him, though she's never said as much in so many words. It was odd really. Do you have siblings? The kind of siblings that you sometimes just want to strangle in their sleep?" "Every husband choice is either an old, perverted man or some stupid foppish little boy," Farideh complains loudly, "Few and far between are worthy." She sighs arduously and flips onto her back, flinging an arm over her face to shade her eyes from the hot sun; time to bake the front. "How provincial. What does she want you to talk to him about?" Her question is off-hand, not too interested but neither is it disinterested. "I have an older sister. We used to get along, but since she has been married, we don't see eye to eye as much. I wouldn't want to strangle her. Her husband, yes, I would love to get my hands around his neck." "I'm not entirely sure, she did mention that my sisters both tested into weaver hall, but seemed uncertain as to if they were actually going. Not that Cron has any real power to stop them, aside from withdrawing support of any kind." She sighs, the flipping of the laundress, reminding her not to bake too long and she flops over onto her belly propping her chin with one hand and using the free one to search the grains of sand. "What has this man done to so earn your ire?" "That is an admirable craft choice." Weavercraft, that is. Making the rest of Pern look fashionable for centuries and whatnot. Farideh curls her toes in the sand, listening with her usual openness, absorbing every little detail. "Your sisters should go. They can choose their own futures that way. Much more than they could if they were engaged and married off." She shifts minutely where she lies on the quilt, tucking her arms more firmly over her eyes. "He's a notorious libertine. I'm sure there will be plenty like our friend Weylaughn who comes out of the woodwork claiming to be some sons of some sort." Which just gives her away - not that she notices, moving smoothly into her next complaint. "I wouldn't wish someone so prolific on my sister, she is gentle and kind and deserves better." "It is what they should do. I'd like for them to go, so they can find their own way a little easier than I did. I don't know why Gretvyn thinks my opinion would do anything to weigh against my brother." She shrugs, and then the expression twists. "Isn't it strange how much something as simple as sex is so vastly different between weyr and hold? Some would say monogamy is a problem, while others make it work and have no issue doing so, devoting their entire lives to each other. I'm sorry your sister ended up with the latter." "Men have the upper hand when it comes to Holds. Few Lady Holders as there are." Somehow that simple statement sounds both sad and full of humor. Farideh tries to stifle her yawn, but her attempt is mild as she yawns a second time. Relaxing is.. relaxing. "Sex isn't the issue so much as the promise and the intent. Anyone can have sex. Having sex while married with someone who isn't your husband or wife - when you get married with the intention of being with only them." She sighs and shrugs on shoulder nonchalantly. "It is her choice. She didn't have to.. well, she did, but she didn't." If that makes sense at all. Edyis's smile might turn sad for an instant, but it's a knowing sort of nod. "She had to get married, but didn't need to choose him?" She offers perhaps unhelpfully, but with empathy. "Was that the thing that had you wanting to make a new start?" Seeing her sister end up with a promiscuous jerk, the scribe must mean, the yawn now contagious as she's got Edyis yawning too. Falling asleep would be way too easy given the circumstances. "You can say.. that. There were other better choices. To me. My mother thought he was the best. But, he charmed his way into her heart or whatever," Faridh says waving her hand in a trivializing way. "Hm? Me? Kind of. Since my sister is wedded off, it would naturally be my turn, and I'm not ready. I suppose I will have to one day, I can't work in the laundry forever. But for now." There's a thoughtful twist of expression, dark eyes moving over to her companion. "I understand the feeling. You could - well no you probably wouldn't want to." She drifts a little lazily, eyes moving back to the waves lapping at the shoreline just a short distance away the cool blue waters looking incredibly inviting. "What's the story with the bluerider anyway, he looked like someone pissed in his klah." One arm lifts so Farideh can stare at Edyis questioningly. "I could what? I never presume I wouldn't do something beforehand. I've surprised myself in the past." She drops the arm back over her face and resumes lying there, lifelessly. "A'ban? I'm pretty sure he's got a crush on me and he wasn't pleased when I added a third to our trip. But we have.. mutual friends at Igen, so he gets a trip there while we are here. It works out. Sorry, if he's too much of a jerk, he's not a bad guy when you get to know him." "You could always stand." Edyis states under the scrutiny, pensive. "Iesaryth's next clutch I'm planning to, though probably not Hraedhyth's if she rises first. I think the last was probably the first time I actually felt disappointed being left on the sands." She admits with a furrow of her brow as though that fact confuses the hell out of her. "I know how you feel about dragonriders though." As for A'ban, Edyis laughs. "He's no worse or better than some; tell me was I your plan for avoiding an awkward fumbling encounter that involved skinny-dipping? " "Does it matter which, really? They both lay eggs." Farideh does not see what all the hype is, they are just certified flying runners to her. She flicks that hand again, indifferent. "I could. I might. I hadn't thought about it too much. Being a dragonrider is.." A pause as she thinks through her next words; one of them dislikes most dragonriders, but the other has quite a few for friends. "..going to be completely different from what awaits me back home. I'm not sure if I'm ready to let that go, yet." Such complicated emotions, all of which she brushes under the rug with a laugh. "I hope he wasn't imagining that kind of scene. A'ban is a good guy, but he isn't my type. Which brings her too: "So, Edyis, you don't have a boyfriend, do you? Don't you hang out a lot with some.. bronzerider?" Doubtless the laundry gossips have been stirring up stories again. There's a curious tilt of her head, as she focuses on the last bit, whatever reply about differences lost in the lift of her brows. "Tell me the gossip, and I may tell the truth." It's possible that there are several people who could possibly fit the description and she's not entirely sure she wants to admit to at least one. Edyis is focusing on that part? Farideh looks long-suffering for a minute, flopping back to her stomach and pressing her cheek into the quilt this time. She has one eye cracked open to watch the scribe as she does her best to recount the gossip. "I don't know - some guy named R'tin? R'vin? I don't remember exactly, but they say you spend a lot of time with him. Sounds romantic. Does he take you places? Buy you presents? Better be more than a stroll into the Snowasis at night, I say, or he's not worth it." Tension melts instantly, and Edyis laughs. "No not a boyfriend sorry. Though we do go places from time to time, and occasionally he has been known to buy a bottle of wine, though usually those instances are the kind in which I've won him a bet of one sort or another. " Relaxing again, she tilts her head, "Different, yes but impression would be anything but boring at least. What is waiting for you back home? " "Someone like that. That's nice, that you have someone to relax with, and someone who provides the wine. I'll be sure to enlighten the gossips." Farideh closes that eye and just lets relaxation overtake her. "Would it? Completely at the whim of a dragon. Going everywhere so easily is nice, for sure, but then the flights and the drills and all the extra bits that are boring." What's waiting at home? Good question. "I'm not sure. Probably nothing. Most likely nothing. Then.. there could be something? I don't know what I want. I just know I don't want to be coerced into marrying someone and regretting it later. I am only seventeen. There is still so much to see and do." She smiles, "It is, and there are no demands there. Suggestions or requests, but - you know what I mean I'm sure." As for dragons, "You make a convincing argument, although I've stood twice and still haven't impressed. So just standing couldn't hurt not really could it? I would be very sad if you left. I know what that's like, not knowing, not being sure of what you want." Rolling over onto her back, to stare at the sky above, Edyis continues. "I think that's probably what makes everything so frightening, the fact that you don't know if whatever decision your making is the right one, or the one that will make you happiest." "I'm surprised though. Most of the Reachian bronzeriders are complete and utter assholes." Farideh manages one more peek through her fluttering eyelids before she snuggles her face into her arms again. "It might not, but do I want to take that chance?" Getting comfortable is hard, even in this picturesque island setting, even with the warm sun bathing their skin - and it could be the latter, the heat, that prods the laundress into sitting up with a groan and stretching her skinny limbs. "What would make me happy right now, is going for a swim. I'll race you?" she offers up with a cheeky smile, just before she's getting up and making a dash for the water lapping at the black sand. Edyis grins. "It's all in how you handle them." Because clearly men need handled very delicately otherwise, forget about it. "I'll teach you a few tricks if there's one or two your having particular issue with." pulling to her feet and removing the skirt. "There's plenty of time to figure it out, But." Edyis takes off, after kicking free her sandals. "Race you!" She calls back over her shoulder laughing. The rest of their day is spent enjoying the blue-green waters of Big Bay, sheltering in the sandy black cove near Red Sands Hold. They partake of a leisurely lunch, a nap to follow, and when A'ban comes to collect them, they're both sun-tanned and exhausted after a day spent bumming on the beach. |
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