Logs:Sweet And Sour
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| RL Date: 16 August, 2012 |
| Who: Brieli, Azaylia |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: The sun, the sand, a perfect spot for gossip and planning while the two gold dragons splishsplash in the lake. |
| Where: Lake Shore, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 12, Month 7, Turn 29 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: Warm sunshine and cloudless skies make for a beautiful day and pleasantly warm evening. A breeze tempers the heat with no humidity lingering in the air. |
| Mentions: Braeden/Mentions, Yuliye/Mentions, N'rov/Mentions |
| Lake Shore, High Reaches Weyr The rest of the bowl may be barren, grass barely surviving at best, but here by the lake, it's brilliantly green in the warmer months: thickening and thriving in the silty, boulder-dotted soil just before it transitions to soft sand and thence to the cool, clear water itself. A large freshwater lake fed by a low waterfall, it not only provides warm-weather bathing space for humans and dragons, but has one end fenced off as a watering hole for the livestock in the feeding grounds. The water there is often muddier than the rest of the clear lake, whose shallows drop off abruptly several yards out into deep water, and whose edge undulates against the coarse-hewn bowl wall: here close enough to just be bramble-covered rocks, there far enough away that a narrow land bridge divides the main lake from a smallish pond. Between are several rocky outcroppings that form excellent makeshift diving points, though only one -- across the bridge -- has a set of narrow, slippery, quite possibly tempting stairs. It's a gorgeous summer afternoon fading into evening, and the lake and shore are filled with weyrfolk soaking up the last rays of the sun before heading inside for dinner and the night. Children splash in the shallows, couples and groups walk along the water's edge, and people lounge on rocks, working or just relaxing as dragons swim and bask in the sun. Iesaryth could do her sunbathing on her ledge on in higher places, so she is unsurprisingly in the water, almost as comfortable there as she is in the air, diving to swim with the fish. Her rider has taken up a spot on a flat rock, leaning back to watch in a flowy white shirt and bright shorts as she - presumably - takes in some warmth from above. The only warning those in the water get is a deep, all too familiar roar as the bulky queen nears. It's a moment longer before she actually reaches the lake with flapping wings that snap tight against her side. Hraedhyth falls out of the sky like a tawny boulder into what looks to be the deepest, darkest part of the water. The resulting waves are, understandably, as impressive as they are a nuisance to those already swimming and walking along the beach. Azaylia's arrival is much easier to miss, suddenly there in her blue sundress and watching her noisy lifemate with a politely stifled smile. "Sorry." She offers to any accusatory stares, hands held behind her back. The children aren't annoyed; they're liked Hraedhyth's biggest fans, her rider and Cadejoth aside. They squeal with delight at the roar and the splash, loving the waves that come in. They splash about in them, as the other weyrfolk seem to have a patient resignation - what's to be done? And Azaylia herself is so sweet and apologetic - what they say about her can't be true, can it? Iesaryth doesn't greet her sister till she's underwater, swimming towards the tawny sinking boulder with a mental poke. As for Brieli, she just turns her head Azaylia's way to lift a lazy hand and wave until the other weyrling notices, then beckon. Azaylia doesn't look terribly uncomfortable despite the amount of people out enjoying the sun. With such wonderful weather, how can she be anything other than bright and cheery? Brieli isn't difficult to spot, pausing only to take her black slippers off and carry them on the ends of her fingers. Barefeet don't slow her down, "Afternoon. Trying to get even darker?" She greets with a tease, her own complexion darkening during the warmer months. Hraedhyth gives her sister an affectionate mental shove, swimming with far less grace. It's essentially a draconic doggy-paddle. "Better to lurk in the shadows," Brieli teases as she pushes herself into a sitting position, her own red strappy sandals abandoned at the base of the rock she's sitting on. With a little nosewrinkle, "And so I don't start looking... ashy at the end of the winter. I feel like I do anyway. You know?" She shifts over to make room for Azaylia, patting the sun-warmed rock next to her. "Come up, I have a treat." Out in the water, Iesaryth finally surfaces to rumble Hraedhyth's way, darting around to her left like a fish, pleased to have her there... even if the other gold isn't the best in the lake. Azaylia nods her head, words playful despite being familiar with this particular plight. "Some color to last through winter." Dropping her slippers next to the red sandals, she crawls up onto the rock and scoots closer to Brieli. "A treat?" She turns her head to watch her friend warily, or would be if not for the curl to her lips. Hraedhyth turns her head and follows her Sister's progress with an impressed, happy growl in her throat. She does fine in the water, certainly well enough to dunk her head, sending a splash Iesaryth's way with a lift of her muzzle. With a pleased smile, "Exactly." Brieli squints out over the lake finally, if only to spot the pair of golds splashing and swimming together. Shaking her head a little, "That's quite the cannonball she has. I wonder if she'll keep doing it." When she gets bigger is implied. As for the treat, she arches fine brows for Azaylia's wary look, and produces a box with four of six small ruby-red fruit gelees left. If she tries one, it's intensely berry-flavored even before getting to the liquor in the center. Iesaryth splashes Hraedhyth back before making another dive; splashing again with her tail on the way down. "Two guesses where she learned it from." Azaylia's head turns to watch her brightly umber lifemate play with the easy to spot Iesaryth. "Sometimes it takes her a while to understand certain concepts, but what she does pick up..." Hraedhyth keeps. Like a scavenger. Brieli's arched brows have her smile turning sheepish. "I was wondering if it was more gossip. There's been a lot, since the wedding- Ooh." Fingers quickly pluck up one of the gelees, giving a closed mouth squeak of surprise. "Mmnshould'veknown." Comes mumbling around the treat, not that she's enjoying it any less. Hraedhyth doesn't dive so much as she... sinks. It's effective, paddling after the other gold with only a playfully rapid beat of her drums. All is well. Tilting her head, Brieli regards the pair until they dive - then her attention shifts back to Azaylia, expression shading towards concerned. "Oh... I know. I've heard quite a bit. No, I wouldn't consider that to be a plus, not right now." She's sympathetic; she's used to being the subject of rumor and she hates it - though there's a smirk for the response to the gelee. "N'rov sent them," she points out, as if that makes so much difference. Iesaryth's waters are likewise calm and regular, the cadence of the tide as steady as ever. It's a lovely day and there is little they cannot do. Soon, there will be nothing. All is well, indeed. Azaylia reaches up to release the pigtails that have stopped becoming practical, tickling the back of her neck with the inches they've grown. "I'm sure I haven't heard them all. Not that I'd want to." Her happy demeanor makes it obvious to anyone who does follow gossip, she hasn't heard how she ties into it all. Yet. "Did he?" Head tilted awkwardly so she can begin to twist and roll half of those waves into a deceptively small bun, "That's so sweet." Literally, as she glances back down at the box. "You two are doing good?" Hopeful, happy if that is the case, she starts on the other side of her head. She bites her lip, possibly out of concentration. If Brieli is aware of all of the gossip, she's not going to be the one to fill Azaylia in on the details. Instead, she sets the box down and notes, "I don't think you could. The theories on the 'secret wedding' alone..." She shakes her head again, her own curls loose, around her shoulders - only short enough to avoid another shearing. "Anyway, yes - he'd bought them at the gather, but forgot to give them to me then." Never mind /why/. Plucking her own gelee from the box, thoughtfully - as if the question requires so much consideration - "I think so. Yes. There's nothing wrong, so I suppose it's all good. I'm... happy." That's a little bemused; who knew? On the subject of that secret wedding, Azaylia gives a lofty hum under her breath. "And that K'del was actually involved with... I forget her name." It doesn't seem as if she's bothered to remember the new Lady Holder's name just yet. Which... may prove to be a problem, given her dragon's hide. With both buns secured, her hands drop into her lap and gather up the edge of her skirt out of habit. "Good." Yes, everything is good, despite the fact that she hasn't yet released her lower lip. And then, "He uhm, didn't say anything about E'ten, did he? I feel as though I..." She gives a sigh of defeat, "I think I," Or more than likely, Hraedhyth, "-must have offended him somehow." "I heard that... but at the same time, don't they say that about everyone? Unless you know?" Brieli is curious, certainly - who wouldn't be, in their position? This is a woman that they now must make nice with, perhaps have tea. Yay. In aid of that, she does gently point out, "Yuliye." Completely confused by the shift in subject and Azaylia's demeanor, her brows draw together as it becomes clear. Nudging the box her friend's way, "He didn't. And I can't imagine how you could offend anyone. When I met up with them later, E'ten didn't say anything, nor did he seem offended in the least." Across sunlit summer waves and the warm tide, Iesaryth sends the vague sensation of not only swimming, but /diving/, deep underwater where there's fish to follow like all of her thoughts, and sometimes Hraedhyth, sinking like a stone. (Iesaryth to Vhaeryth) With the utmost surety, her nose isn't upturned when she quietly murmurs, "K'del wouldn't be interested in someone like that." Whatever that means. "Though Lady Yuliye," A grateful look for the help, "Is very pretty." Azaylia seems to think that's all the Crom woman has going for her. One of the gelees is accepted, quieting the weyrling as Brieli responds. "If I had to guess, I think maybe he didn't want to be there..." At a gather? The glance for her friend isn't too accusatory. She had ben reassured that the Fortian hadn't been forced. Vhaeryth's quick to reply, giving back open-air warmth and rolling hills and the burn of whisky and... is that a flying fish? With Wroth's face? Glowering stormily at him? There is /thunder/, up here at least, perhaps not in the deep. (Vhaeryth to Iesaryth) Equally skeptical for her friend's surety, "Did you get a look at her?" Brieli gives Azaylia a look - come on now. With a wry thread to her tone, "That's not just pretty... Not to anyone interested in women, at least. I think." She could look into it, but that's sure to be a potential blow to the ego, no matter how confident the girl might be. With a blink or two over at Azaylia, she has to grin, "And Iesaryth thinks I'm paranoid. He was fine with being there. He went shopping, ditched N'rov and I in no time. I think only Magdesse went home." A pause, before seriously, "You shouldn't think so little of yourself. You looked lovely." For the burn of whisky, Iesaryth has something that might please his rider - the taste of berries, made sharp with liquor. The glowering seems less fun; she has a seafoam spray for that, for Wroth as well. The thunder rolls like her sister's drums, which amuses her - how will they ever know when it is to rain? (Iesaryth to Vhaeryth) Azaylia looks as if the gelee's gone sour in her mouth, possibly the most puckered Brieli has seen her. "I guess. Lord Braeden didn't look too impressed." She turns, squinting out over the lake to watch the golds continue to play, as well as the various other dragons and weyrfolk. It's enough to smooth her expression, legs bending so that she's able to hug her knees, black tights preserving her modesty. "If he was fine with being there, then it had to be me." Brieli's attempts are met with a pout that is half-hearted, "I was no Yuliye." To combat any attempt at lifting her spirits. "I just thought you might have an answer." And since she doesn't, the young woman is willing to drop both unpleasant subjects. Which leaves her grasping at nothing for an awkward moment, quiet and squinting against the warm sun. Brieli looks as if she might want to point out the reasons Lord High Reaches didn't look all that impressed with his new bride, but she neglects to do so, instead just shrugging. "Some women are like that. Easier to pay attention to because they're... putting it out there." To put it mildly. Following Azaylia's gaze briefly, she looks back to grimace at the other goldrider, telling her, "You don't need to be. And why does it always have to be you? If you wanted to, you could consider that rather self-centered, you know." Her tone is light, however - even though she sighs. "Who knows. I don't know him well enough even to guess." Leaving all of it alone, however, she asks, "How are things going in general? You've seemed busy enough." Berries, even with the liquor, might help to sweeten moods around here. Vhaeryth's less entertained now, though when he shows her why, it's through a fine metal screen: a rumbled, « You better /shut up/. » There's a quick-flicked question: does that sister of hers ever do that, too? (Vhaeryth to Iesaryth) Azaylia looks thoroughly guilty, after Brieli's done. "Sorry." She turns her head just enough to dart an apologetic glance from beneath her brow. Very much the kind of look one would expect from a scolded canine puppy. "Good." In the same tone in which she's apologized. "Work, drills, the usual." Easing forward she rests her jaw on the tops of her knees, "How're you? Tell me about your things?" It almost comes out as a plea. Oh dear. Iesaryth is dismayed at that, if only for Vhaeryth's lack of entertainment - any time of tension and being told to shut up is certainly less-than-fun. If only she could help, she would. As for her sister: « No. She shouts, but does not try to stop me from speaking. » Thinking. Either. (Iesaryth to Vhaeryth) Oh no. That wasn't in the plan at all, so Brieli looks rather dismayed. "I didn't mean that, you know. It was just a way to-- Azaylia--" With another sigh, this one apologetic, "I just don't think you should always blame yourself for what other people do. You can't control them, and you likely haven't done anything to them. You worry too much." And isn't that a bit hypocritical? Even so, she adds, "There's nothing wrong with you. At all." With a little shrug, after a moment or two, "The work isn't bad - and thank you for those notes, by the way. I'm done with them. I don't love drills, so it'll be nice to have those over with." It helps some, but the guilt is still very fresh on the young woman's face. "I know. I wouldn't ever think you were trying to... I just realized how nasty I was being and..." Dare she? There's an unspoken question in her eyes, a desperate look that she tries not to aim at Brieli. Instead her gaze drops down to the box of treats, with no hint that she actually wants another. "Thanks, Bri." The smile isn't as bright and sunshiny on her face, but it's one born of genuine amusement. "I... don't mind drills. Hraedhyth likes them, actually. A lot." This time, she's able to look up with some relief. "You're welcome. I'm glad they helped. I like seeing what the records that aren't assigned to us say..." The juicy bits of the past, however professionally documented they are. A little confused, Brieli assures Azaylia, "You weren't really being nasty. Not to anyone but yourself." Or well - maybe the new Lady High Reaches. But never mind that. She watches the other goldrider closely, unsure before she tries, careful, "You had a gorgeous dress, and you looked pretty. You usually do." Not wanting to say too little or too much, she pauses awkwardly before giving a little laugh. "I'm not surprised that she would. Iesaryth is lazier; she'd rather fly where she wants to or lie around. I know we'll have some, but... in some ways it seems like a waste of time? I can see how Hraedhyth could use something to do, though." As for the records, she grins. "I've always liked looking into them. I'd be more interested in what other Weyrs say about us. Or Harper, for that matter. I wonder..." She trails off, musing over an idea. « Good. » /Much/ more the way things should be. And then... hey, look, a tail! (Vhaeryth to Iesaryth) Whatever it is that Azaylia might tell Brieli dies in her throat, managing to swallow the secret down. Possibly for another time, though not if she can help it. "Stop. Please." She murmurs, embarrassed by the compliments and praise her friend seems to think that she needs. Not that she doesn't appreciate them, thanking Brieli with a quiet squeak. "I wouldn't say she's lazy." To defend Iesaryth, as if it's necessary. "I think she likes doing things her own way. Drills mean you have to obey orders." Which Hraedhyth is willing to do, so long as they're orders she understands. Ones that benefit the weyr. "You wonder..?" She follows that trail, leaning closer to the other weyrling and looking at her with big, curious eyes. Brieli widens dark eyes as she realizes Azaylia did, in fact, want to tell her something - but there's no real way to encourage her to go back to it, so she just nods at the request to stop, still unsure. She doesn't really know what's going on - and that's unusual, in her mind. Despite that, she has a wide grin for the defense of Iesaryth, telling the other goldrider, "You're sweet. But she is, a little - and you're right as well. Not that she won't follow orders, but..." The pair have a few things in common. Casually for big eyes, "Just wondering how difficult it would be to poke around. I wonder... I bet they'd let me look around at Monaco." "They probably would." Let Brieli snoop around in the records at Monaco. "I mean, that's kind of cool." Azaylia admits, secrets tucked safely away this afternoon. "I can't imagine anywhere but here letting me look at records." She has no ties elseweyr, really. "You'd tell me if you found anything interesting?" While her curiosity wouldn't raise brows, self conscious habits have her pulling back. "You don't... think that'd be rude? Or, nosey?" Looking to Brieli for reassurance, trusting the other gold weyrling's judgment. In this case, it may or may not be the smart thing to do. "It is," Brieli can admit, "But it's only because they want to control the Weyrwoman here someday. Or they want to take me back. It's because they all want something." Not that it doesn't mean she won't take whatever's offered, for her own reasons as well. Arching brows over at Azaylia, "You don't think the Beastcraft wouldn't be pleased to open the Hall to their goldrider? And if I go, and if I do, I will." As for rude or nosy, she waves it off. "If I ask? No. If I don't ask, then I imagine it might be considered spying. Certainly if it were a place we were on poor terms with. I suppose that's why one needs contacts." Brieli's judgment is a little morally skewed. Azaylia's face drops some even as she desperately tries to keep the moderately pleasant expression on her face. It only makes the contrast to her voice even worse, quiet and heated with Hraedhyth's fire. "They're not going to take you back." They're welcome to try, but it isn't going to happen. Mention of the Beastcraft snuffs that flame, visibly wincing at it's mention. "No. No I don't think they would." A fast, short shake of her head: no, she doesn't want to talk about it. Her recovery is quick, likely to avoid even more suspicion for that odd reaction, "Spying's too close to lying." And it rhymes, too. "Poor terms? Like Fort?" She offers with a tired exhale for the subject that refuses to be easily fixed. "Though, if N'rov read up on some records and then told you what he knew..." Uncertain, her head tilts. "That's just talking, not spying?" While her judgement isn't skewed, there seems to be a little wiggle room. "I mean, it's not like we're trying to hurt anyone. It's just important to learn from others." Surprised, "Azaylia! Don't worry. They just thought about it -- it won't happen." At the wince, Brieli has a bit of a smirk; she doesn't know what her friend might have done, but even so: "You might be surprised." She won't push the other weyrling to talk about it, though - she leaves it alone and starts to seem a little concerned again. Though not so much so that she won't shrug off 'lying', pointing out, "Sometimes you need information that people would be unlikely to give you otherwise. So..." You spy. "And not just there, but any of them. Igen." She wrinkles her nose. "And that's what I mean by contacts, exactly. Then it's talking." She looks rather pleased about Azaylia's conclusion, nodding. "True enough." In this case. "Look, do you want to get dinner? And maybe do you want me to stay at your place? You don't look all that well." Azaylia doesn't flinch at her name, not with her tawny dragon's protective influence still there. "They gave you to us." It's softer, much more like the weyrling herself. "They can't just... take-backsies." And that's that. On the subject of contacts, this has her tilting her head, intrigued. "It can't be bad, having friends in each of the weyrs." Yes, it won't take much to have her on board with not-spying, especially with how Brieli explains it. "I would love dinner." It comes out as an awed whisper, startled by the offer though she really shouldn't be. "You're welcome to, always. Don't feel like you have to, though." The concern is appreciated, reaching over to give her friend's shoulder a light squeeze. "Over dinner, we can talk more about getting in contact with other weyrs. I think it's a good idea..." Fix things before they're broken. That, and it's just downright neighborly. "Well... That's a whole thing too. They won't, never mind about the details." Brieli is firm - firm enough for Hraedhyth, hopefully. Who knows what plans the warrior queen might make if she thought Iesaryth's departure were a true threat. And friends? "Sure, friends," the goldrider agrees easily, picking up the box, sliding off the rocks to slip her red sandals back on. "Let's go get the food and go back to your place - my table feels like a council meeting. And I'll do as I like, even if I feel like I should because you look a little tired and ill. Will you feel better if I go home if N'rov and Vhaeryth show up?" And she seems a touch surprised and entirely impressed with her friend's interest in diplomacy - over dinner and in the evening, she'll talk about what she's found from some of the other Weyrs, and where they might visit when they're freed... not long now. |
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