Logs:Looking In
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| RL Date: 23 August, 2013 |
| Who: Aishani, R'hin |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Aishani and Iesaryth visit Monaco to check in on R'hin for Suireh... not that she tells him that. They compete at disaffected ennui over drinks. |
| Where: Monaco Weyr |
| When: Day 25, Month 7, Turn 32 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Hattie/Mentions, Azaylia/Mentions, Oriane/Mentions, Mirinda/Mentions, Z'ian/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: Backdated a little so Shani didn't wait forever to do Suireh the damn favor. ;P |
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| It's not that Iesaryth has been exactly scarce around Monaco, or the South, if the occasional bubbly wash of seafoam that slides out towards her sire and dam; her siblings -- it's just that she's been so often seen elsewhere entirely, her rider's visits around to Holds and Weyrs and such hardly curtailed in the months after her... resignation. But late one afternoon, there's a more deliberate drift and trickle of water the bronze's way, polite and curious. Always curious. Are they busy? « We are nearby. » Less of a sense of where than similar weather, the endless ocean. There's a pleasant acknowledgement of Iesaryth's greeting, but as ever her sire holds a certain distance about himself, ice-cold winds swirling around to stir up that ocean. Busy? That question earns long contemplation from Leiventh, before he responds: « We will be there shortly. » There being Monaco, presumably: as for his current location, there's a sense of heat but not much more behind guarded thoughts. With a clutch hardening on the sands, the mood is cheerful at Monaco. Even Evielth seems in a pleasant enough mood to greet the arriving High Reaches queen, albeit with a light warning not to get too close to Zaisavyth's clutch of eggs. Leiventh can be seen gliding over the Weyr -- over the sands, as if checking them out for himself -- before coming to an almost ginger landing on the beach, his rider quick to divest himself of extraneous clothing (which includes flight jacket and his shirt), as well as Leiventh's straps. Iesaryth's curiosity is piqued, but it hardly takes much for that. Warm water is stirred by wind, and though otherwise calm, there's no attempt to try to slip through the cracks and see what she might find out; there's enough of her manners and enough respect to counter even keen interest. Not that she's exactly giving up much either. When she appears over the southern Weyr, she doesn't check on the eggs, though her disappointment in that is clear. Looking doesn't take long, and it's not like they do much now anyway. But she's used to Elaruth and Hraedhyth both, so that irritation hardly lasts as she too angles lazily toward the beach for a landing. Her rider only has a jacket to ditch, yellow sundress and sandals good enough for her, though if Leiventh's straps are coming off, hers have to as well. Aishani's attention is more on the bronze than his rider once she's done, but it doesn't take too long for her to glance toward R'hin with something between a smirk and a smile. "I thought I'd look in. I don't know why she wants to see the eggs, she's bored of them in five minutes." Leiventh settles comfortably against the hot sands once his straps are removed, content to soak up the heat. Other than his overtly careful landing, there's no further visible sign of his injury, settling down sphinx-like to watch Iesaryth. Will she take to the water? He won't, but he'll watch all the same. R'hin's sweating, enough that he passes his arm across his forehead as he walks towards Aishani, a respectful nod given to her queen. "They all look much the same anyway, though Zaisavyth's always proud of her clutches. Even if this clutch is smaller than the one with Leiventh." Of course that's pride in his voice, and he's not hiding it -- still looking at Iesaryth as he says it. He holds out a hand, though not for hers -- for her straps, apparently offering to sling it over his arm with the other things he's carrying. "Do you want to see? Or would you prefer a drink?" The twitch of lips and familiar, unapologetic grin at the end suggests what his preferences are on that score, but he seems content for now to defer to the visitor's choice. If that's what Aishani's looking for, she doesn't show it -- but what else would it be, really? And Iesaryth will make her way into the water, of course. Her pleasure at this particular beach, this particular ocean is evident, even as she takes her time about the whole thing. The goldrider pauses with fine brows arched before handing over her straps with a little shrug. If R'hin's offering, she certainly won't argue, though the only way it's evident the heat might be getting to her is the irritated flick of already-curling dark hair. "They don't look different enough to bother going over there right now. I'll see them when they're hatching." She doesn't try to hide her total disinterest in eggs generally, though: "I'll always opt for the drink." And though no injuries are mentioned, "You're both well?" While Iesaryth wades into the water, her sire watches, like a silent protector. For a moment there's a flickering, faded memory of carrying a much-smaller Iesaryth on a makeshift throne over these waters before slipping between to the cold climes of High Reaches. R'hin's gaze cuts in that direction for a moment -- undoubtedly it's where his dragon gets the memory from -- and there's a hint of reminiscent smile in the older bronzerider's gaze as it flickers back to Aishani. "My kind of woman," is all he says with a grin, lacing her straps over the top of his. As he turns to offer his other elbow to her, there's a slight mottling of bruising near his ribs, faded to yellow as if old -- not that he speaks of it: "He still finds landing on hard ground a bit tender -- prefers the sand landings. But other than that..." a twitch of shoulders. If he's curious at why she's come now he's not asking, yet. Iesaryth always likes that memory, though in her mind, it's all somewhat grander. She's found it in her own rider's mind with an alarming alacrity, as if she's a better idea of how to access them than Aishani herself. Then it's more interesting to dive beneath the waves and see what's there, though some part of her mind is still on that thread, thinking about multiple things at once in the background. Though Shani's dark gaze might flicker briefly to the bruising, she's enough of an idea about how that might happen that she doesn't ask. Instead taking the offered elbow with a bare, light touch, "Is that all it takes?" But there's a brief grin of her own for R'hin, before she nods once. "That's good, at least. I hope that'll improve, though it's not as if there's a lack of sand here." Why now, she's not telling yet either, though it's not as if she doesn't have time. Leiventh is interested: perhaps moreso in the way her memory differs from the one his rider remembers. There's a distant fondness associated with thought of High Reaches, too, but his chill wind soon whips them away before they can be examined further. "I never claimed to be all that complicated," R'hin says, with a dark chuckle. The walk from the beach to the beach bar is relatively short, but it's an amiable sort of able on the Monacoan's part, clearly not in any hurry. He's a regular enough visitor to the bar that the barmaid -- a pretty young thing who smiles at the approaching riders -- perhaps more so at Aishani than R'hin -- has a pair of glasses waiting for them filled with dark liquid. The bronzerider carefully stacks his things -- jacket, shirt, and the two sets of straps -- onto the stool next to him before sliding into one, a nod (and a look) of appreciation for the pretty barmaid. "So, have they all started watching Iesaryth like an avian yet?" some sympathy in there, but mostly amusement; he lifts his glass, waiting for her to do the same -- maybe even waiting for her to make the toast? Iesaryth is likewise fond of High Reaches, especially now with warmer winds and sun and no mud or snow, bright images of the bowl and blue skies in summer. Not that she minds the snow, just the mud, mostly. Aishani's saunter is easy enough for all that she's more accustomed to moving quicker, and though her smile for the barmaid is nothing more than flashed, it's still there. Her appreciation is reserved for the glass, as she slips onto the stool, crossing long legs before taking up her glass. R'hin's question brings a wrinkle of her nose and a grimace, and she shakes her head. Wryly, "It doesn't matter as much now, so there's no need to watch and wait. It's just a matter of pride. How enjoyable." In the way that it's not. "She can take all the time she wants." That, she'll drink to; she touches her glass to his and does so. No wonder no one's watching. Leiventh listens, remembers, more like -- some of his old, faded memories contributing to her newer ones of a glorious High Reaches summer. The barmaid seems vaguely disappointed, and she steps away to the other side of the bar, her retreat watched by R'hin idly. "Mm. They're still watching," the bronzerider advises with a shrug of his shoulder as if to imply what can you do? Still, he seems easy enough with drinking to that particular sentiment. After a moment of savoring the liquid, he adds: "As long as she doesn't do so here. Oriane would find a way to blame me, and being stuck here for three months nearly drove me mad as it is." There's a low throaty laugh, but for all he tries to make light of it, the sentiment is genuinely frustrated. "Are you happy?" he wonders, abruptly, tilting his head to better see her expression as he asks. "You strike me as--" a deliberate sort of pause, "--discontent." The queen, though investigating the depths, still likes to compare the images, the slight changes and shifts in memory and in the passage of turns. "Mm, some people have been kind enough to point out that they'd be more than interested. As if it's flattering, or a terribly good pickup line." Aishani's tone seems to indicate how effective that's been, but she's generally derisive about any attempts of the like, so big surprise there. After a sip, she shrugs in about the same manner as R'hin, though a little less casually. "She's swimming, not sleeping. And I can carry on a conversation without doing the same, so. She won't do it here, though I wonder if Oriane would blame me. Is it so bad, being stuck here?" There's a glance down the bar, an arch of fine brows, though she doesn't ask where else he'd be. Then, with a 'seriously?' look, "Happiness is not a state of being. I'm certainly discontent. That's my job, now, really. No one else will be." That's dry, with a little roll of her eyes. "There are worse things." He's listening closely at her discussion of being propositioned, and there's a snort to accompany the ingracious line, amused. As for being stuck here? "I've made few friends recently. It gets tiring, watching one's back constantly." R'hin's casual about it, the way he taps the bar and his gaze wanders even as he's talking. "Oh, come now. The role of 'disaffected with the world at large' is already taken, thank you." He jams a thumb at his chest, "And don't think you can knock me off my throne." Coincidental words, perhaps, given Leiventh/his earlier memory. "Would it help if we got an entire bottle of this stuff," a tap of the glass, "And went out into the jungle and you spent an hour throwing rocks at a tree while imagining it's certain people's heads? I'm sure Maiga would give us the bottle free of charge if you batted an eyelid her way. She's partial to pretty females." The barmaid is indeed looking their way again, and not at R'hin. With her own soft snort, not at all ladylike and in sharp contrast to how she swings her leg idly, dangles a sandal from her toe, "I have no idea what that's like." Aishani smirks a little, carefully turning her glass atop the bar so as not to upset it. "As if there's not room for one per Weyr? I'm likely too young to dethrone everyone, for all that I've enough to be disaffected over." She glances toward the barmaid, and seems more resigned to the attention than flattered, but then, it is difficult being her, pretty and a queenrider, with time on her hands and a really nice wardrobe. "You don't say. I'm less annoyed with-- well, no. That's not entirely true. I suppose there's a few people I'm not thrilled with, and the number is only sure to increase if Iesaryth does decide to go up sooner than later. Rocks." She considers that. "Can't I just throw them at people? Might put off a few chasers if the knives don't." "One per Weyr, maybe. But you'd have some stiff competition at High Reaches," R'hin points out, with a twitch of lips. "At people? You could," he does look like he's contemplating that. "It'd get you kicked out of Monaco, but might be worth it for all that. I could point you at a few worthy souls." The dark chuckle that follows suggests he has some specific people in mind, for his part. The laughter fades by measures though, to something more contemplative: "I doubt rocks or knives would put off the determined. Flights make everyone a little... crazy," he says, with a glance over his shoulder towards the beach, towards where Leiventh stands guard. It doesn't linger, though -- he's catching Maiga's eye -- once he can distract her long enough to get her attention, and the barmaid is drifting over to refill their drinks: slightly more for Aishani than himself, which earns a pained, "You kill me, Maiga," and an unapologetic shrug of shoulders from the barmaid. "Possibly. Everyone seems relatively content now, so forgive my skepticism. I'm sure someone will eventually turn up to correct that impression." If Aishani's tone has the faintest thread of hope, she might be forgiven. Though getting kicked out of Monaco does give her pause; "I don't know if I want to get kicked out, necessarily. I have to have one place that might feel obligated to take me, with all my baggage, should they be done with me up North. You never know." And she's paranoid, and could arguably be considered a threat, so... If she notices the attention to Leiventh, she doesn't show it or mention, just offers Maiga a polite smile for the refill. Some girls would probably flirt for the bottle or a bit more in the glass, but she just leaves it at that before telling R'hin, "That's going to be my excuse for just about everything, then. It was the flight! It made me crazy. I didn't have much time around people, so no one needs to know about the sleeping." Apparently, he doesn't count. Or is in on it, perhaps. "Do they?" R'hin rubs his chin, unconvinced. "Perhaps you haven't scratched under the surface enough. People are rarely content with being content. And if Azaylia and Z'ian's legacy is one of long-lasting peace, it'd probably be the first in High Reaches' history." Taking a gulp from his glass, he flashes Aishani a sidelong grin. "Obligated, hm? I'd work on Oriane a bit in that case. She isn't your biggest fan, though yes -- Iesaryth is a Monacoan queen in her eyes." Not a High Reaches one, apparently, though whether he disagrees with that isn't immediately obvious. The latter makes him laugh: "People will believe it. You should take advantage of it, you know. Say all the horrible things in your head when you know Iesaryth's close to rising. They'll forgive you. They have to." It's in the figurative rider manual, and R'hin, well -- he's just the sort to encourage that sort of behavior, if just for the amusement factor. With a wave of her hand, Aishani seems unconcerned. "I'm not interested in looking for issues, or causing them... though I think you'll be right if there's an interest in getting involved at Nabol, with that whole mess. I heard a rumor their Harper might have been killed, can you imagine? There's no line that isn't crossed any more." That shades her expression darker momentarily, but she lifts her glass rather than continue any further on that vein. "Perhaps I will, or maybe it's better that way? If I have nowhere to go, then I have no one to tell me what to do. That could be worth it." Though his last brings a short laugh after she drinks, as she shakes her head. "I already say nearly all the horrible things I think. And there's actually not much I don't get away with. But I can always try harder." R'hin's brow furrows at her mention of the harper at Nabol. Slowly: "It's hard to cast stones, when... you've crossed lines, too, Brieli." He says it lightly, not accusingly, but rather intently all the same. "People do what they need to survive, to get what they want. Holders exile hundreds of innocent people to protect their reign. Hold dusty old mineshafts in the hopes of making more marks while riders die by the dozens in the skies above to protect them. Decisions made in the moment ring on after we've made them, and none of us can know what the consequences will be. The point is," he takes a breath, his gaze flickering to Aishani, animated of expression, "Picking where your loyalty lies. I don't believe that anyone wants to be alone. Certainly the dragons need the sociability, even... Leiventh, in his way," a smile that is oddly warm for him appears, fleetingly. "If it's High Reaches, then make it High Reaches. If it's elsewhere, make it elsewhere. People come and go, leaders come and go, but places -- they linger. They make it feel like some of the shit you do, the decisions you make, have a purpose." Gaze dropping to her drink, "Between that and-- other things that have happened, it's simply that... people ought to watch their backs. I haven't gone anywhere unarmed in over a turn, and it seems that it ought to be the rule rather than the exception. I don't like when I feel my vigilance is entirely warranted." Aishani shrugs a little at that -- she is overly vigilant after all -- and isn't bothered by the name that's not really hers. She just turns to watch, to listen, head tilted to one side. Considering R'hin's words for a time, she admit, "The only thing that matters to me in terms of purpose is my family. High Reaches... there is not a time that I will not be tied to it, owned by it. But there is not a time that I will not resent it either." Pursing her lips for that much truth, if it is the truth, she finishes her drink and looks back to the ocean, where Iesaryth is failing to surface on cue. Stupid dragon. "Speaking of which, I have an appointment to keep." R'hin listens closely, though he drains the rest of his glass before he speaks, voice rough with the alcohol: "The worst curse in life is to be ambivalent about it." It's hard to tell whether it's a grimace, or smile, possibly somewhere in between. "I do hope you find your place, Aishani. Whether it's High Reaches, here, or somewhere else." He too, looks over his shoulder, following her gaze when she makes her excuses. "Iesaryth doesn't seem to think it's such an important appointment. One more drink, perhaps? Dinner?" He can't help himself: he wouldn't be R'hin if he didn't try, and with an unapologetic grin at that. "Oh, I have opinions. I have... things to keep me busy. I'm in the empire business, these days." Aishani's tone is light enough about all of that to not sound too serious, but if she's not making trouble at the Weyr... it stands to reason she's likely making trouble for someone. Not R'hin, nor Monaco, at least? There's a glance the bronzerider's way as she looks back from the water, as Iesaryth chooses then to surface, as if on purpose. "It's difficult, to find a place that's not the one you're used to," she notes carefully, perhaps expecting him to understand that. Then, long-suffering, "She'll take another drink to get out of the water, I suppose." It really is hard being her. It does earn a thoughtful look, but R'hin doesn't ask further, instead smiling as she looks back at him. "You adjust," he says, of finding a new place, "And you never forget where home is." Maiga's there, as the bronzerider taps the bar, to lean over and fill both glasses, trying to catch Aishani's eye, hardly put off by the lack of interest. The Monacoan reaches for his glass, but before he drinks, he asks: "Before you abandon me to the uninterested barmaid, at least tell me why you came. If it's to plant the seeds with Oriane, I can do that for you." That's his first guess: checking up on his well being is definitely not up there. By the way Aishani flashes the barmaid another brief smile, she's not put off by the interest -- just not all that interested herself. "I'm sure there's more than enough interested barmaids the rest of the time," she tells R'hin dryly, likewise unconcerned with his abandonment or lack of company. Taking up her glass with long fingers, "We weren't far off, and I like to stop in now and again. I still keep up my rounds, more or less." After a long drink, with faint significance, "I was at Harper not too long ago." The two things might seem unconnected, but... "Oriane, well. That will work itself out or not. I'm hardly going to apologize for anything I've done." Death first. As she slides from the barstool, goes to pick up Iesaryth's straps from the other one, "I don't know if all people come and go. Family doesn't. Even when things seem... untenable." There's a shrug, then, "I owe you a drink. Or three." "I suspect Maiga likes to taunt me with her unavailability." Or R'hin's possibly projecting, it's hard to say. He goes still when she mentions harper, his head tipping, visibly frowning. Eventually: "Even family... goes." He drains the rest of his drink, slamming it down a little harder than necessary on the top of the bar. "You faked being an entirely different person for Turns but you can't fake an apology?" He snorts disbelievingly. "Monaco is clearly not an option you wish to consider. Which means you need to work at High Reaches more. She'll learn to love you, eventually. She can love the broken, the disenfranchised, those who start out hating her. She's more forgiving than we mere humans." The way he talks of High Reaches Weyr, it's clear where his loyalty lies, and it's not to the sunny southern Weyr. "Three," he agrees, "At least." And if he's twisting on his barstool in preparation to watch her leave, well, like the barmaid, it can't hurt to watch. There's a blink for that glass slamming atop the bar, but Aishani hefts the straps and offers little but, "I choose not to fake an apology. I like being unapologetically a pain in the ass." At least it's honest. "Another time." As for High Reaches... well, that's where she's heading back to eventually, despite what she says. And she's awfully good at pretending no one's watching her leave, for all it might be a nice show. |
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