Logs:Of Disreputable Pasts
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| RL Date: 13 July, 2007 |
| Who: R'hin, Shanlee |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| When: Day 26, Month 9, Turn 12 (Interval 10) |
| Your location's current time: 2:14 on day 26, month 9, Turn 12, of the Interval. It is a autumn night. You wing down and land lightly on Kaylith's ledge. You climb down Leiventh's side to the ground, using his straps as handholds. Kaylith's Ledge(#4629RJs) The rather wide ledge is orange. It's tangerine. It's even lemon and lime. There's little else to detract from the sprawl and sweep of this well-set ledge painted an unfortunate mishmash of neon colors. Citrus hues, bright tropical shades all swirl together into a brilliant fresco painted along the ledge and up the weyr walls. Pale peach and gold spin tangled patterns about the talon scoring at the edge, and distractingly abstract patterns weave towards the paler yellows and pithy white splashed up towards the tunnel into the weyr. Orange, the dominant color, explodes up the walls again, an artist's nightmare set off against the green papaya designs along the outside shelving and the pale mango-swept rattan and wooden chairs set out of the wind, in the shelter of the bowl wall. It's at night that this ledge holds an almost ethereal charm of it's own. The vivid brilliance of the colours fading into a softly muted glow as if the ledge held cradled within it's grasp a star fallen from the skies above. Contents: Leiventh Shanlee Stool Obvious exits: Inner Weyr Sky Silence prevails upon the ledge that appears to glow with a life of its own. Not one of those restful silences as indicated by the greenrider's posture on one of the wicker chairs. Shan's chin resting atop of knees drawn up to be hugged against herself, arms wrapped about them. Distant and brooding the expression on the fine features could be explained as. Kaylith off to one side has for the moment given up trying to placate and instead simply keeps watchful guard. A light breeze ruffling at hair loosed from the usual braid is all movement to be seen. It's not unusual at all to see the Weyrleader's dragon circling the bowl, though normally with a reserved watchfulness than attentive purpose. Tonight, however, Leiventh circles once before heading directly towards the western half of the bowl, settling down onto Kaylith's ledge without any sort of warning. The faint sound of snapping wings, the sudden gust of wind, and the click of ivory talons scraping against the ledge all serve to announce the arrival, and a moment later R'hin leaps down to the ground. He's casual, shirt half unbuttoned and sleeves pushed back, and he has not one, but two bottles of wine to hand. Pale eyes settle on Shanlee, and a smile curves his lips; he doesn't offer a greeting, but holds up the bottles as greetings in their own right. Kaylith is first to offer greeting as the large bronze lands, shifting to ensure he has room enough before going back to her silent regard of her rider. Now however, there's more of a smirking, interested air to that watchfulness with R'hin arriving with what seems to soothe humans in his hands. The gust of wind whipping hair across her face snaps Shan out of her reverie moments after the little green's greeting. Fine brows raise in unison, the Weyrleader held in brief contemplation before giving voice "R'hin?" surprise coloring the light tone. Boots dropping down to the ground, then standing, wariness hovering even for the smile coming from the bronzerider. Leiventh's low rumbling greets Kaylith, and R'hin, too, offers the green a tip of head, that odd respectfulness to dragons that he's so often lacking with many of their riders. He strides in further towards her, noting the wariness, and his smile seems to widen all the more for it. "I felt commiseration are in order. I'm not entirely sure if it's for having to deal with the candidates, or with your fellow coordinator," a low-throated chuckle follows. "So I brought a bottle for each. Glasses--?" he casts a glance about as if to seek them himself. Shaking her head in dry amusement at both herself and R'hin's words, Shan gestures toward the weyr entrance "Inside." to the query on glasses and takes a step in that direction before halting. A half-turn to view the bronzerider sideways "Rylla...." a pause to search for a diplomatic approach "....is a law unto herself. And Maddie." lips curl slightly "As a child does sometimes, speaks without thinking." Shrugging slightly in resignation for both "I apologise for behaving no better then either of them at the time." Disappearing through the hanging at the archway, the wingsecond reappears moments later with a pair of glasses. Once they're set down on the tabletop a chair is indicated in silent invitation to the Weyrleader. Even though he's never been to visit her before, R'hin moves about with an odd sense of familiarity - or maybe it's entitlement. He doesn't wait to be invited, moving to set the bottles on the table, before selecting the first and beginning the process of opening it as Shanlee disappears into the weyr. "No apology necessary, and certainly -not- from you." There might be an edge of rebuke in those words, though hard to quantify, as his head cants down. "Rylla's better left here under our care, then out where she'd cause lasting damage. And the child--" he's silent, musing maybe, and doesn't finish the thought just yet, instead concentrating on pouring out a glass for both of them, offering the first to Shanlee. Taking up the glass offered, Shan slips into a chair near R'hin his familiarity with her area of the weyr drawing no more then a suppressed smile. Lifting the glass and tipping it in his direction "To otherwise greenriders and candidates that pose a quandary." Not drinking yet of the wine, the greenrider is briefly touched by the brooding of earlier "I'm getting a little tired of having comments like that and worse made just because I choose to keep whatever personal life I may or may not have to myself." She hasn't assumed the position she'd done so before, but rather stretches legs out under the table bringing her to slouch a little "I'd be interested in your thoughts on Madison?" head canting as eyes come to rest on the weyrleader's face. R'hin collects his own glass, and only after Shanlee's seated herself does he, too. A subtle enough gesture of gentlemanly deferral, as the Weyrleader settles into the seat. "To subjects worthy of musing contemplation," he counters, taking a sip, his eyes on Shanlee, a dark mirth accompanying the gesture. Silent for a while, it might seem at first he's not going to answer, but eventually: "Madison-- she's interesting. Intense, passionate. But without purpose. She runs with all her might but does it unknowingly against a wall... but aimed in the right direction...?" his lips purse thoughtfully. "She reminds me of someone. Perhaps it affects my judgement, makes me soft. Or harder on her-- I can't say." He's oddly confessional, distracted as he takes another sip, though his eyes unerringly shift to the greenrider once more, as he asks, "What do you think of her?" Watching R'hin settle himself from over the rim of her glass as a first sip is taken, Shan's silent a moment his words on the young candidate seemingly given thought, the dark mirth afforded a meeting of his eyes. Strangely enough a low chuckle spills before words do. Twirling the glass the contents given unusual study "She reminds me of myself sometimes when I was younger." Inhaling slowly, then letting breath slip out through the next words "I don't know R'hin. She seems to take direction well but as you say - head against a wall. That kind of drive can be very useful but left to run wild...." words trail then change direction "We have enough problems as it is. Therein lies the difference between being weyrbred and holdbred." A strange distinction drawn but likely one that has reason behind it. After a healthy swallow of wine, a tone that suggests the greenrider has come to a decision "I'll keep a firm eye on her. See what I can do to help things until those eggs decide to crack open." "Does she, indeed?" The words elicit a low-throated laugh, the Weyrleader mirthful for a time, intent, pale eyes focused with what might be an unnerving manner on his companion. Another generous gulp is taken from his glass as gaze drifts away, R'hin nodding agreeably with Shanlee's assessment. "We shall see what comes of the task I set her-- I shall be very interested to see what it elicits." There's almost a sense of anticipation with the thought, tipping his glass thoughtfully. "I've asked B'yan to keep an eye on her, as well," he adds, deliberately casual with those words. The expression hidden behind glass is likely sheepish if one could view it, as it comes away Shan's face reveals that indeed that focus on her is unnerving as eyes drop off R'hin after only a moment "I'm well aware of my downfalls." The darkened view from the ledge finding her attention as the weyrleader speaks is left to flick green eyes that guard carefully for the last but as yet not answered. "You set her a task?" prompting perhaps for more details on that. The wingsecond's clutchmate having been put on watch over the young candidate elicits a well perfected mask of blandness on the pale features that now study the bronzerider intently "He'll put her right." the words just as neutral as once again a swallow of wine is taken, leaving the glass near empty. "As I am of mine," R'hin says, as if perhaps he's letting her off the hook, an assumption that might be well-founded for the easy smile that curves his lips. He takes another gulp of his wine, leaning over to retrieve the bottle in order to refill Shan's glass unasked, then his own. "Mm. Yes. I told her to seek out riders and find out what scares them. Either she'll gain knowledge of her own fears, which is valuable in itself, or she won't-- which means her reasons for wanting to ride are strong enough to override such things. It will be important, for her more than most-- she will be tested in a way we never were." The greenrider's known him long enough now, probably, to hear the faint trace of guilt that accompanies the words, though he doesn't voice it aloud. He, too, is neutral on the subject of B'yan: "Perhaps he will. Perhaps he won't. We'll see." The subject of the younger bronzerider left where it was, just a nod acknowledging the words on him. "Thanks." Shan gives of the newly refreshed glass, a brow beginning an arch upward until R'hin's last words on being tested where it settles into a light frown, then silence for a time long enough that she may be thinking not to speak. Light voice dropped low "May I ask a question of you?" green eyes lift from where they'd dropped to flow a look over the Weyrleader then seeking out his own pale eyes. The wingsecond obviously feeling comfortable enough with the man to go ahead and ask without leave to "Would you have stood if you'd known?" R'hin's silent and still. He hasn't enough wine in him yet that the answer comes immediately; he muses over it, eyes unerringly seeking out Leiventh. His voice, when he finally speaks, is rough as he confesses, "I knew. I knew enough, anyway-- I'd the warning I needed to know I should have chosen otherwise. And I would have, but, for a deal, a promise made, plans even then--" he breaks off, eyes shifting back towards Shanlee. Pale gaze is haunted, not an easy thing to see. "Trapped by my own ingenuity, ah, irony, no?" He drains a good half of his glass, exhaling. "But we must deal with the choices we have made, good or ill." The honesty from R'hin however long in coming, draws a lift of chin from Shan, approval for it glinting in the green eyes. Words on deals and promises place intent study on the Weyrleader as if she could divine the meaning behind them through reading his thoughts as his dragon would. Breaking the eye contact for that look in his own, one that's all too familiar in feeling to her, lips purse "Indeed we do." To his last then coming back to something previously said "You're only trapped if -you- feel you are." the upward lilt to the last words implying query but not really expecting a response. "Perhaps, perhaps you're right at that, my dear greenrider," dark mirth springs forth abruptly, R'hin chuckling briefly. "So, it seems you have me at your mercy. Let me ask you a question to even the score, before Madison gets there-- I'd like to know." His fingers play along the arms of the chair, giving her the space of not looking at her, attention fixed on his wine, "What do you fear, Shan? What scares you, keeps you up at night? The bad things you've done? That you will do? Or is it something entirely different--?" His voice fades, allowing her the silent musing of a response. The laughter momentarily distracts Shan but the questions quickly pull the wry smile off her face that had started forming in response. Wine again, is rather slid down a throat that rather accepts this task then to respond with verbalization. Petite form turning stiff, the wingsecond turn eyes turned dark with shadows onto R'hin "I'd tell Madison, that I fear losing comrades. Letting the weyr down for all that she's afforded me." the use of the candidate's name drawing the distinction. Silence draws out as her next words are carefully formed, honesty and traces of dark unease fleck her tone "To you." understanding looked for in his eyes "My answer would be, that others discover who I truly am or was. That I may lose the control of the creature that is locked within and disappoint." pain at having to voice this tightening her jaw. He leans towards her, across the table separating them, gaze intent. "Shan," the way R'hin breathes her name is low, intimate, like he's sharing a secret rather than merely naming her, "I do not ever fear that you will disappoint me. And there are few I can say that of." His eyes are fixed on hers, a knowing, a recognition in his pale eyes, seeking to assure her as a smile curves his lips. "I do not hold what you were against you. If you fear that I shall-- then show me, and I shall prove otherwise, that you may rest easy, and have not that fear with -me-, at any rate. You have seen what kind of creature I can be-- yet you do not turn away. Let me do the same for you." Shanlee doesn't draw away neither does she flinch from either tone or gaze. Fine features do however, reflect the internal struggle. The glass is set with slow deliberateness on the tabletop and pushed away from her then leaning forward and closing that gap just a little more, arms fold over themselves on the tabletop and the young woman responds in the only way she knows how to. Green eyes carry a hard light, lips curling into a cold smile as the light tone drops low, all in such a manner that she's likely about to test R'hin's words. "Ever seen the dancers that some traders have traveling with them? Seen the way they're used to close deals or seek out others?" the smile growing tight "Ever felt a need for revenge burning so deep in your blood that you would without hesitation take a knife to someone's throat?" laying herself bare of all concealment, the words hang on the air as with a cant of head the greenrider watches intently for his response challenge resting in her eyes. R'hin's eyes remain evenly on hers, his expression not changing. "I've travelled with them. They did not do anything I did not do, myself." As her smile grows tight, and the latter words are offered, there's a hint of interest more than anything, and he gives the question the pause and considering it deserves. "Yes," is all he says, simply. Then: "Shanlee, you're an amazing woman. You're full of passion and fire. And you deserve to know this, because it's a lesson I've learnt, the hard way-- we can punish ourselves by thinking of what we are, and what we've done, as good and evil, but in the end, it's what we -achieve- that matters. I am not a good person, and despite this, and despite telling people this-- they believe in me. In what I can achieve. And, Shanlee--" he reaches out to brush fingers just shy of her cheek, smile touching his lips, "I believe in -you-." Gaze locked onto R'hin as he neither berates nor withdraws at her words, petite frame held dead still except for the flicker of disbelief to words on being found to be an amazing woman. "I don't know that I wouldn't still take the chance if given it." to her previous on revenge and his of understanding that drive. Shan shakes her head slowly, clearly not expecting either his acceptance of her or his further words on believing in her. The gesture toward her cheek has the greenrider quickly dropping her eyes to conceal the liquid that fills them for such a simple thing. Voice roughened and devoid of any guile "They believe in you -because- you offer them the chance to be more then what they can't see past." his smile returned in a lopsided manner as fingers twist around each other. "Thank you." simply spoken but filled with deep sense of renewed respect for the bronzerider. At her talk of chances, the Weyrleader smiles, the gesture oddly fond, "You wouldn't be the person you are, if you didn't," R'hin murmurs. "I, like you, have my... weak spots. There are places I have instructed others not to allow me to go, for I recognize these, and what it may do. That you are -aware- of it, that you acknowledge it, speaks as to what sort of person you are." He exhales slowly, and his hand drops with the intention of resting fingers on top of hers, to still the movement there. Warmth, understanding-- and a sense of recognition, of knowing other with that lingering demon-- all that in the look he gives her, in the twitch of lips and the tip of head towards her glass. "Let's not let us waste good wine, shall we?" "Flawed." Shan returns with a rueful smile using a word R'hin had used many times with her to describe himself "But not arrogant enough to believe I am anything but what I am." Hands still under his as fingers come to rest over them, that look coming from the Weyrleader exhibiting all that she needed to finally find a new trust beginning and having her withdrawing one hand to curl fingers over his hand in a reciprocal gesture of understanding. "Neither would you." to his first as that hand over his lifts to reach for the wineglass, then tipping it the bronzerider's way "To the future." renewed purpose strong in the words. "Flawed," R'hin echoes, and agrees, with a wry sort of smile. Roughened fingertips brush against the back of her hand briefly before he draws back and settles around his own glass. A twitch of lips at the proposed toast, as he amends, "To the future, whatever it may be-- to being strong enough to survive it." His lifts his glass, draining the rest of it, exhaling with relish. Automatically, he reaches for the bottle, prepared to fill her glass again, then his own. They've barely broached the first bottle, and it's going to be a long night, but an amiable one, far more comfortable for the secrets they've shared -- cushioned by the company and the wine to be consumed. |
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