Logs:Surprise Visit
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| RL Date: 20 August, 2008 |
| Who: Lujayn, X'lar |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Lujayn pays X'lar a visit at Ista |
| Where: Southern Beach, Ista Weyr |
| When: Day 12, Month 7, Turn 17 (Interval 10) |
| Partway down the coastline of the characteristic black sand beach of the Big Island, close to Ista Weyr, stands one of its tanned residents. It being late afternoon, a breeze has picked up, a few clouds meander above, but nothing to portend showers. X'lar stands with his feet in the shallows, smiling fondly out toward the water where Malsaeth is currently hiding, with the exception of his darker headknobs that peek out of the water. To Malsaeth, Bright dapples on ocean waves announce Rielsath, high in the sky but coming closer. « Malsaeth, » A river of bright snowmelt in Ista's humid clime, « I see you. » (From Rielsath) In the drifting clouds is a more deliberate form, wingbeats stirring the clouds and adding to the breeze. Rielsath banks toward those black sands, encouraged by Lujayn to avoid landing in the sea itself. She circles once before landing, setting down as near to the shallows as she dares. When her rider dismounts, it's all fair game and the gold wastes no time getting her feet wet. As for Lu, she grins down the beach. "Thought we'd find you out here." To Rielsath, Malsaeth's laughter comes across like a thunderclap. « That is no fair, » Malsaeth offers, in amusement. « Rielsath. » Another thunderclap of laughter and he explains: « You saw me from above. I am sure you could not have seen me if you were in the water! » Malsaeth boasts, light, pleased. X'lar looks from the mostly submerged bronze to the arrival of Rielsath and her rider. A grin suddenly blooms on the bronze rider's face from ear to ear. "/Lu/!" X'lar calls out. "I was just thinking about you." There's another grin and he closes most of the distance between them, offering a shy wave before he says, "Welcome back to the island! It's great to see you!" To Malsaeth, Playing the bright flash of lightning to accompany such thunder, Rielsath can only tease as she spreads her wings and twists into deeper waters. « I can still see you. Who are you hiding from? » (From Rielsath) To Rielsath, Malsaeth relishes the lightning as Rielsath replies back with it, clouds growing more stormy with the combination of his thunder and her lightning. He sinks deeper into the water, submerging completely. « I was trying to find a fish for X'lar, but it is gone now. I think the best fish are ones that scare too easily. It takes more time to hunt them down. » Lujayn has a delighted smile of her own, glancing back just once as Rielsath splashes into the ocean. "I thought it would make a nice change of pace to have a visitor, what with you always Weyr-hopping." She laughs, shrugging off her flight jacket. "It's a pleasure to get out of the cold. How have you been?" To Malsaeth, Rielsath projects, « Or the ones too deep to catch, the big ones, » Rielsath's tone drifts thoughtfully, beams of light reaching through the water for dark, murky depths. « Up here we eat the fish, but I'd hate to have one of those catch onto you. » Her bright lightning-laugh again, considering herself immune to predatory fish. » "Funny," X'lar offers. "Mal and I visited Fort earlier today and it's still snowing there. I don't know what it is about it being so cold, but Mal sure loves it." There's a brief grin tossed back to the Reachian junior, nodding to her. "It is. A nice change, I mean," X'lar offers. "I like seeing you." He stretches and moves to sit down on the warm sand. "Sit? I figure it's better than just standing. I'd thought of joining Malsaeth, but I think he'd just trip me as I came into the water or something." A rueful look is sent toward the water where the dragons are and Xie tells her: "He did that for my 17th turn day. He thought it was great fun seeing me trip and sprawl out in the water like that." There's a pause and then the Istan teen smiles once more happily at Lujayn, telling her: "I've been great, actually. You?" To Rielsath, Malsaeth listens to Rielsath, especially as she grows more thoughtful in her remarks to him. His voice remains deep as usual. He plumbs the depths, verging deeper. Soon, his voice returns, but it's the same darkness as he has shared with her in the past. « I had tried once. To catch the ones that are big. » Malsaeth admits in a hoarse whisper. « I do not think they could catch /me/. They know that mine would spear it, or that I would flame it, if it somehow got on land! » "I hoped you would," Lujayn sits beside X'lar, already tugging off her heavy boots. "Tried to dress light, but there's only so much you can spare /between/." She explains as she works her feet into the sand with a smile. "It was hard enough to convince Rielsath she didn't have to land straight in the water. Maybe that would have given you an excuse to be tripped? I take it you didn't think it was so funny." Even as she grins at the thought. "It's been busy, but like I said, there's always time to find for friends." To Malsaeth, Rielsath envisions the oldest, meanest creature of the sea her mind can dredge up, spikes along its back and teeth in its jutting jaw barely silhouetted by some aquatic glow. « Let's hope they won't get hungry enough for that, » Enjoying the mysterious landscape, its threats so different from the Thread and flame she's known in the skies. « We'd beat them for sure if they tried, though. Every last one of 'em. » X'lar grins easily at Lu, nodding back to the goldrider. "I know the feeling," the Istan remarks emphatically. "When you're going from Reaches to Ista, or any other place that's so cold to another place that's so warm, you can't really wear lots of layers or just a shirt and shorts. You've got to sort of balance the extremes of each Weyr's climates." Xie smiles back at her, nodding as he replies back back to Lujayn: "Well, I'm glad you found time in your schedule to come down to see Ista." And in response to her comments about Malsaeth's mischief, X'lar grins wide in reply, commenting: "At the time? Nuh uh. I was just so happy no one was around to see me do that. It wasn't too pretty. But now? Sure, I can laugh about it." To Rielsath, Malsaeth sees that vision of Rielsath's oldest, meanest creature of the sea, and tries to offer another image. The shape isn't all that different from Rielsath's version, but Malsaeth adds a lot more teeth, almost too many as it makes it look a lot more menacing, gleaming. « Yes, I'm sure there's enough smaller fish for them to eat that they would never even think about nipping at our paws. » He moves his neck and head in mimic of the bigger creature, trying to look menacing in the water. « Every last one of 'em, Rielsath. » Malsaeth replies in the affirmative. Lujayn smiles over at Xie, leaning back on her elbows. "How could I not?" Looking up at the clouds, out towards the dragons, asking whatever comes to mind, she relaxes easily. "You wouldn't mind as much, after knowing what to expect from him? Or just because it's happened so many times?" She chuckles, shaking her head. "I'm glad Rielsath spent more time scheming than with pranks. Even though it looks like Mal's got you on your toes." "Largely because it's happened so many times," X'lar tells her, grinning back. "It's just who he is, you know? And I'm /still/ surprised about him. There'll be something we're talking about and he'll just... stun me... by saying something just so profound. Or get me to stop worrying about something." There's a soft chuckle in response to Lu's last, telling her: "He's always keeping me on my toes, yeah." There's another warm smile sent to the other rider and his attention once again returns to the water. To Malsaeth, Satisfied with the order of things (namely dragons over fish), Rielsath follows Malsaeth's pantomime of the deep-dweller. « But everyone else, » Lujayn, X'lar, « They're not fierce like we are. The fish wouldn't be afraid of them if they met in the deep. » (From Rielsath) To Rielsath, Malsaeth is seemingly satisfied with this order of things as well. « Mine is only fierce when he's got his spear with him, but even then, he knows not to go after the bigger fish in the sea. He is happy to spear the yellowfins and smaller ones that swim in the shallows. » To Malsaeth, Rielsath projects, « We should scare them off if we see any up here, » Rielsath insists, skimming back and forth underneath the waves, watchful. « Just in case. » "I like how it works like that," Lujayn nods at his explanation, one most riders are familiar with. "They just know. No matter if they're annoying or cooperative, they know what to say. Wish I could do that." She tilts her head, smile more rueful. "It would save a lot of trouble." To Rielsath, Malsaeth seems to agree, trying to flash his teeth once more while submerged in the water. As if telling those bigger creatures of the water 'just try it'. « They know better. » he replies with a hoarse whisper. « They know I would attack them if they came close to the waves. » He seems so certain, too. "I like how it works like that too," Xie offers in quiet agreement, smiling at Lujayn. "Exactly. Malsaeth just... knows." He pauses, canting his head as he listens to the goldrider, brows furrowing briefly as he asks her: "What kind of trouble would it save?" "Misunderstandings," Lujayn doesn't have trouble answering, the word breathed with a sigh. "Some people are so touchy - I mean, no one in particular, but still. People can get all riled up because a comment by so-and-so was taken the wrong way, and all it takes is just one misunderstanding to make a big ordeal. It makes me think that if we could say the right things, we could avoid some nasty situations." She shrugs. "Or maybe even that wouldn't help, but I can hope." To Malsaeth, Rielsath's laughter shines again when she sees the display, a mockery of the imagined creatures. « I wonder who taught them to know that. » "See, this is partly why I like you," X'lar remarks, nodding in emphatic agreement with what Lujayn tells him. "I don't see why people can't just relax. Life is hard enough with the normal amount of stress, I think. It's not worth anyone getting up in anyone's business because they take something wrong, or their toes are stepped on or something like that." He wrinkles his nose and admits, "I mean, sure, I can get a little too worried over some things in life, but I don't necessarily worry over them /so/ much that I let those worries rule my life." He gives the goldrider a brief look before finally smiling at her, commenting: "It's always good to hope." To Rielsath, Malsaeth replies back with a thunderclap of laughter in the darkness. « I think their teachers taught them. » Malsaeth tells the sunfire gold while lifting up in the water only a little. « X'lar tells me they sometimes live in schools. » Lujayn turns to listen at that introduction, always curious to hear. "I've been guilty of it," She admits. "Letting something get to me, or overreacting when there was nothing to be upset about - stupid kid stuff, when I was younger - but it's easier to give advice than to listen to it." All too knowing. "Can't do much more than try." To Malsaeth, Finding the very idea so distasteful, Rielsath can't help but be curious about the scenario. « I'm glad we don't live in schools, » Off again like flashes of sun on the waves, « They must be so stupid that they forget, then have to learn the same thing over the next day, so they never leave. Ugh. » (From Rielsath) "Actually," X'lar says in thought. "That's the part of you that I like the most. You just make life... more grounded for me." There's another nod from the bronzerider as he listens to her, commenting, "I've overreacted too. And letting something get to me that way... It's hard not to get so involved in the little things. Which is what Malsaeth is so good for too, he makes me re-consider certain things. I mean, I know I talk. I talk a LOT. But... he knows me so well that he can stop me before I get overly... idiotic." He nods once more and finally states: "Exactly. Trying is all you can do to live your life better and without the restraints of the ... small things getting you down." To Rielsath, Malsaeth seems rather agreeable of the notions that the sunfire gold proposes. « Schools. » he replies back. It's a word that speaks volumes of his distaste for it. « What an awful idea. That must be it. It's the order of things for them. They learn something once and then forget it almost as soon as they are taught. » "I'll try to keep it that way, then. If you like it." Lu's silly grin is a flattered one. "I don't mind that you talk. Sometimes I can't think of so many things to say, but it's easier when there's another person giving me ideas." A nod in Xie's direction. "Hanging out with quiet people is good too, I mean. A lot can be said without so many words, but sometimes it makes me feel like I'm getting half the picture." To Malsaeth, Rielsath scoffs at the silly fish, « And the teachers forget what they should teach, so most times they learn it wrong anyhow. No wonder they have to learn everything over. » X'lar gives Lujayn a grin to equal her silly one, replying back, "Just be you, Lu. That's the Lu I like." There's a pause before Xie tells her, chuckling softly, "I think we might be in trouble if you didn't like me talking." Another shy grin is given to the gold rider. "I agree though. I think that's why I think Griere is such good company. She doesn't talk too much. It's pretty easy to enjoy yourself in conversations with her because of it." He nods again before saying, "Then again, sometimes there's -too- many words. I mean, sometimes my metaphors are just /so/ rambling that /I/ don't even understand them." To Rielsath, Malsaeth scoffs as well. « The teachers are stupid too. They think they know everything, but they forget things too. » he replies back to the queen. "It's fun not to understand things sometimes, if it's something like a metaphor and not dangerous like a flamethrower." Maybe Lujayn doesn't fully understand /that/, but she'll try to flesh it out. "To let something alone without picking it apart, knowing it won't hurt you to watch something instead of owning it. Some things though - especially firestone or the 'throwers - you have to understand. If you don't, that's just stupid." She pauses. "I don't think I've spent time with your Weyrwoman like that. But if your metaphors become monsters, I won't wait for Malsaeth to stop you. Promise." To Malsaeth, Rielsath projects, « Some teachers are good, » Rielsath ventures doubtfully, weighing fish against her elders at High Reaches. « Especially when they're so sneaky, you can't tell you're learning until it's too late. » X'lar's brows arch upwards as he listens to Lu's former remark that leads to her metaphor, he's willing to hear her out though, shifting to study her as she talks. "I see what you mean, about the flamethrower, I mean. It makes sense to me at least. Sometimes it makes things worse if you pick it part like that. If you don't understand some things, however, like tactics for fighting Thread, you're a goner." There's another pause at hearing her next comments and Xie nods once more, replying back with: "Griere's quiet. But great company." A laugh follows as he hears Lu's comments about his metaphors, saying, "Oh, that's a good thing to know. Metaphors become monsters though. I like that." To Rielsath, Malsaeth projects back to the sunfire gold with, « This is true. You just have to find the right teachers. Maybe creatures of the sea just aren't good teachers overall. My X'lar had a mentor whose blue was like that. So sneaky you didn't know you were actually learning at the time. » "Well, we don't have to worry about that anymore. Thread-wise." Lujayn shrugs off her metaphor, eyes drawn to the water when Rielsath starts to swim out to deeper waters, golden form disappearing bit by bit under the waves. "Do you and Malsaeth have any plans? Without the wing structure, I imagine it must be different. Or more fishing? Wasn't that what you did before you Impressed?" To Malsaeth, Rielsath projects, « I could be a better teacher, » Rielsath replies, boasting in that not-boasting way of hers. « If there was anyone worth teaching. » "Dock worker," X'lar offers, nodding off toward the structure in the distance. "I think the whole 'making my own fishing rods and spears' came out of me not wanting to do work," the bronzerider explains, grinning some. "So I came up with something else to do that was fun." There's a pause there before he lets out a sigh, making him further explain to Lu: "I've changed a lot. Being responsible for myself always scared the living daylights out of me." It's a soft, earnest admission from the Istan. His eyes look out to Rielsath, making the teen grin briefly. "I had this conversation with Griere once. About preserving the knowledge and skills of a dragonrider. I want to do that. Continue doing drills, sweeps. Keep track of stuff that's important. But really? The one thing I want to do with the Interval is help the Weyr any way I can." He gives Lujayn a look, smiling at her. "I like that about you, too," Xie adds. "The way you're all about High Reaches. Working to help it. That kind of thing, you know?" To Rielsath, Malsaeth seems amused by Rielsath's boastful assumptions, replying back with his usual growl « I am sure you could, Rielsath. I think a good student though is as hard to find as a good teacher. » There's a brief flicker of Zunaeth, then replaced with another bronze, Morveuth. « I do not know how they do it. Teach so many of us when we are so different from one another. » Lujayn grins, ducking her head briefly. "Sometimes I wonder if I have a choice in that, whether or not I want to help the 'Reaches and work for it. Rielsath pretty much guarantees I'll stay there and work for its benefit, and I don't think I would choose differently if I weren't bonded to her - but you can't help but think sometimes, 'what if.'" A nod for Xie; she knows what he means. "Fun is always important." Lu asserts, empathizing with the former slacker-X'lar. "It took me a long time to learn that work wasn't supposed to be fun. I'm not sure I've even fully learned that yet." An embarrassed smile. "Still looking for upsides to the dirty jobs, trying to fool myself into thinking I'm not doing work. It even helps, sometimes." She pauses, listening to his goals before continuing, "That's important, to be sure. Carrying on a legacy, right?" To Malsaeth, Rielsath catches the hint of amusement, turning it into more of those sun-dappled waves. « They must know something we don't. » Almost affronted in her curiosity, mind kicking into gear at this new idea. « Some kind of secret passed through the generations. What do you suppose it is? » The 'secret' takes form in her mind, a shiny treasure covered by a bell jar. « Where do they keep it when they're not using it? » X'lar nods quickly to Lu, replying back, "What if. It's a game I've played before too." He chuckles softly and adds, "But I've found that playing that game too much just takes you out of the moment. You know? If you're too caught up on what could have been, you don't realize what really is." A hand rises to rub at his forehead, another chuckle being emitted by the teenager. "I don't know if that made any sense, but..." Xie trails off." ... yeah." And he's soon off to address her latter comments, replying back to her: "Fun is definitely important." He looks like he's about to say more to that effect, but instead listens to the goldrider further. "It's hard for me not to want to leave something like a legacy for the generations that can actually do something about Thread. I mean, who knows what will happen down the line, but I just want them prepared." He smiles again, studying Lujayn again. "What about you? What're some of the things you want to do, outside of those dirty jobs that you find upsides for?" To Rielsath, Malsaeth doesn't seem to have that much problem with that amusement turning into those sun-dappled waves, just as long as he can rock them back and forth a bit more raucously. « Mine tells me it's experience. That's the true secret. » Malsaeth offers conspiratorially to the sunfire gold. « Something we can only get by doing stuff. » "I would be back at Fort," Lujayn can't help but continue the 'what if' game. "In the runnercraft, probably. Maybe out at a station, but I wouldn't be here." She shakes her head free of those thoughts after a moment with a sigh. "You're right. It's easy to get caught up and forget what's really going on." Another easy grin. "I like that idea. Leaving a legacy, something that people will look back on and say 'hey, Lujayn was a pretty good dragonrider' or something to that effect. If that's possible, I think I'd like to do that. Work hard while I can and make things better for the time spent. Failing that, I could always learn to cook." To Malsaeth, Rielsath forms 'experience' under the bell jar, a golden trinket on a long serpentine chain. « It should be easier to share experience than to expect us to find our own, » She decides at last. « There aren't such rare things lying around every storage cavern. » X'lar laughs softly at the last statement of the junior, repeating her, "You want to learn how to cook?" He grins wide at her before replying, "I think that's a great idea, Lujayn. It's always important to have hobbies." There's a pause before Xie explains, "I mean, I still have the whole fishing gig, but there are other projects I have too. I've got this miniature Seacrafter vessel, the Ice Princess, I've been trying to put together since I moved into my weyr. And I'm always writing down Mal's stories, too. And with Mal involved, there's always a new place to discover in the world." There's a pause and suddenly he grows serious, looking directly to Lujayn as he replies: "That does reminds me, though." A beat later comes his question: "What're your thoughts on meatrolls?" It's almost as if he could be talking about Pernese politics or another like-serious subject. But to the subject of cookie, Xie replies: "I'm pretty good at the whole roasting on a spit thing. And, with as much as I eat, I think I have fantastic taste." A beat. "After all, I like you." X'lar grins. To Rielsath, Malsaeth studies that golden tricket carefully, as if it were something to snag or steal. « But if we don't learn from our experience, does that mean we don't learn at all? » The growled question is seemingly tumbled over and over like a feather of an avian caught in an updraft, studied immensely by the bronze until finally he decides: « There are rare enough things in storage caverns. Mine found a table with fish carved on it. Everyone has their own sense of what treasure is - what might be trash to someone might actually be treasure to someone else. » Lujayn is taken by surprise at the question, or is at least a little baffled by it. Will her opinions on meatrolls open some secret window into her psyche? Is it a metaphor in disguise? Could she possibly be overthinking this? "I don't know how to make them." She admits. "But I like to eat them. And I /can/ make some things, like cake and stew. But other than that I depend on the nice kitchens staff to keep me alive." Lu chuckles, letting her self-esteem take the offered boost. "That's true, you have excellent taste in food - but please don't eat me. I might have to like you less for it." A teasing sparkle of gray eyes. "D'you think I have good taste in you?" The polished treasure crumbles in on itself, eventually an oozing puddle of mud and other smelly things. « Well, not all experience is good experience. I try to pick good experiences. » Full of agency and independence, not allowing that anything could happen to her without her choosing it. « We could learn from others' experiences, sure. That's what teaching is. » (Rielsath to Malsaeth) X'lar seems relieved when he hears Lujayn's answer with regard to the meatrolls. Really. Relieved. There's a small grin from the Istan as he replies back, "I was talking to a friend of mine, Iesia, about how I liked you, how you liked me, and she asked me whether or not if I knew if you liked meatrolls." There's a pause before Xie admits, "I like meatrolls a lot. But I don't know whether or not it would be a deal breaker if you had said you didn't like them." But he's on to another topic, clearly impressed as he asks her: "Wow, you know how to make cake and stew?? That's so cool." And then to her teasing, Xie laughs aloud, rewarding Lu with another grin bordering on silly. "Oh, I'm totally a catch," X'lar tells her, teasing. "I'd say you have amazing taste in me." To Rielsath, Malsaeth's study of the treasure quickly increases as the treasure itself seems to decompose. Death, it seems, is clearly a treasure to the bronze as well. He continues his enjoyment of the deeper waters, casting a glance to the gold in the water. « Not all experience is good experience. » he repeats with firmness. « But even bad experiences are important because you learn from them too. Teaching. » There's a sense of humour from the crimson-tinged bronze as he asks her: « Are you saying that teaching is important, Rielsath? » "Aha," Lujayn doesn't know what to make of the question from a girl she doesn't know. "But it turns out we have that in common, so maybe we shouldn't play 'what if' about what would happen if I didn't." She laughs, enjoying the bouts of teasing. "Yeah, I learned a few things from a friend in Fort, P'draig. He was a Baker before becoming a dragonrider; every so often I'd find him cooking while I was doing my own chores. When I did, I'd try to learn whatever he was making." Reminiscing, Lu smiles more quietly. "Sure you are. I mean, I don't need anyone to tell me - but it's nice to know that /you/ know you're great. You know?" To Malsaeth, Rielsath doesn't answer straightaway, stilled by her own roundabout path to this conclusion. To occupy herself, she resumes building the shimmering thing in its bell jar, reflecting and producing its own light. Putting on a distracted air, she continues to play with it and answers rather sheepishly for a dragonet who was once the bane of lessons, « If you say so. » X'lar very nearly double takes at hearing Lu's comments, asking her: "Paddy? Seriously?" He nods once more, telling the goldrider: "I know him. He's T'mic's weyrmate. And he likely gave me the best advice on how to survive flights, too." There's a thoughtful pause, however, as he listens to the rest of what Lu has to say on the matter of baking. "Wow, I didn't realize he had been a Baker," X'lar replies. "Or maybe Milani had told me that at some point and I just forgot." There's another pause, followed by a look of embarrasment as he admits to Lujayn: "I'm realizing lately that I have a lot of friends who are girls. But honestly? They're friends. Not that we aren't, but what you mean to me is way different than.." He trails off and grumbles under his breath. "And here comes the rambling. Sorry." There's an apologetic look in Lu's direction before he replies to her: "You're amazing. There are so many words I could use to tell you why I think that, but they're just words. I feel like I don't need to explain in so many words just how much I like you. You just... know. You know?" He raises a hand to rub at his face, shaking his head, "I have no idea what I'm trying to say. Just... there are no other girls for me except for you. I don't know if that comes across as weird or... ew, or whatever, but... It's the truth." And then a laugh, nervous, as he explains, "And I reaaaaaally don't know what made me say all that." He pauses at her last statement, making him smile warmly at her. And for a while, there really are no words from the talkative bronzerider. Beats pass. "You're amazing," Xie repeats. To Rielsath, Malsaeth still seems amused, but knows well enough to let alone, at least in this circumstance. Or perhaps it's because it's Rielsath. He watches her play with that shimmering thing in the bell jar, even adding a few details to it, making it that much more shiny, that much more of a treasure. It's a slow build-up. « Should treasures be kept in bell jars? Shouldn't they be shown off? » It's an honest question from the thoughtful bronze. "Seriously," Lujayn replies at first, but eventually just smiles and smiles when X'lar begins his rambling. If she were a shyer girl, she might have laughed nervously or stared at her feet for the duration, but from the safety of confidence she keeps up a warm smile, thrilled to share his company. Even rhetorical questions can't lure her from silence, but after another moment she scoots closer to Xie and settles her head onto his shoulder. When words ramble in circles, a little gesture can summarize most everything without a sound. "I know. You too." The goldrider still gazes out to sea, searching for a glimpse of Rielsath or perhaps Malsaeth amongst the waves, the afternoon sun as comfortable and warm as her silence. To Malsaeth, Rielsath covets her little trinket, but trusts Malsaeth enough to back away, remembering the same treasure as a lump of mud and ooze. « If you want it, you can have it. It's a secret, remember. » She reminds him after a moment, heavier rays like dusky sunset in her tone. |
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