Logs:Stability and Change
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| RL Date: 5 September, 2014 |
| Who: Edyis, Lilah, R'hin, Nita |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr, Fort Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Eliyaveith summons Leiventh and R'hin after the unexpected goldflight at Fort. R'hin brings reinforcements in the form of Edyis (and wine), and the talk inevitably turns to Fort's leadership. |
| Where: Secluded Beach, Ista Weyr |
| When: Day 22, Month 9, Turn 35 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: N'muir/Mentions, Hattie/Mentions, K'del/Mentions, Azaylia/Mentions, Tiriana/Mentions, Iolene/Mentions |
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| It is barely morning at Fort Weyr, the sun yet to break over the Weyr yet already rising into a quiet, beautiful sunrise in this secluded beach. Lilah's fingers are still clenched, knuckle white, as she stands barefoot in black sands, watching the rising sun. Red-gold hair is finger-mussed and her clothing wrinkled from a night on the floor, and yet--. Eliyaveith reaches out to Leiventh, concern and agitation roiling within her flames as she tells the other dragon, « She needs someone. If yours came... » She doesn't finish that thought, but there is a shared sense of her rider's buried, denied affection before she simply shares the image of where they are, including her large, golden form curled up in the black sand. Leiventh is awake, alert, despite the early hour. The cold, wintry winds stir at the Fortian gold's touch, curious at first, cautious. Eliyaveith's agitation seems to serve to open the normally reticent bronze up further: he stretches for her, winds not whipping but seeking the source of that agitation. Along with the thought is a glimpse of his surroundings: not the seven spires of High Reaches Weyr, but somewhere near the sea. « We come, » the bronze assures her shortly. It's not that much longer before the hook-nosed bronze appears in Ista's skies, albeit at a low angle, coming in over the ocean, a dark shadow against the rising sun. He sets down on the black sand only moments before his rider leaps down, boots crunching as he walks in the goldrider's direction. Lilah's not the only one wearing wrinkled clothes -- although R'hin looks like he hasn't slept yet, rather than slept in them -- his stubble more pronounced that usual, his clothes rather plain and utilitarian. "Lilah?" he calls, puzzled. Lilah's gaze cuts first to Eliyaveith rather than R'hin, a slight narrowing of dark eyes even as she murmurs, "You didn't." Her gaze lingers a moment on her dragon, a promise that she's going to hear more later, before she turns to face the bronzerider instead. "Elaruth rose. There was no warning; Hattie didn't tell us. We were almost--." She cuts herself off with a sharp shake of her head, a shiver sliding down her spine at the thought before she shifts back to the ocean and the rising sun. Eliyaveith rumbles softly, the agitation not fading but momentarily allowing a brush of gratefulness against Leiventh's mind, before she settles back into the sands with only a subtle stretch of her neck towards the other dragon. There's an almost immediate, knowing smirk from the bronzerider when he correctly interprets that look between rider and dragon. "Sometimes they know better than us," R'hin murmurs, almost like he's defending the gold's decision. Pale eyes are fixed on her rider, however, failing to miss that shiver. While there's no comforting words offered, an arm slips around her shoulders, and he pulls her into a loose hug. He smells rather strongly of ocean and fish, with a faint, familiar overlay of dragon hide, the latter not strong enough to override the former. Leiventh, for his part, settles down close to Eliyaveith but doesn't invade her personal space (or perhaps retains his own), eyes lidding against the bright dawn. « Dragons rise. It is natural. » Her agitation is, therefore, clearly unnecessary, at least in the other dragon's mind. Also, they are here. It might be odd that there's a token second of resistance before Lilah folds herself into that hug, burying herself into R'hin's chest while he allows it. Her own scent is the same as ever: aloe with a hint of mint, faintly medicinal, and leather. She mumbles against his chest, quietly, after a moment, "I am still angry with you." Eliyaveith counters with a soft, concerned, « I felt a pull. » But, clearly they being here means something, though for the gold she seems only to appreciate the presence of another dragon, not needing to crowd further into Leiventh's space. (If he were family, likely he wouldn't be afforded the same courtesy.) "You are?" R'hin's tone is pitched somewhere between amused and surprised as he gazes at the top of her head. "I didn't realize you were," he adds, with a brief chuckle under his breath, almost as if pitched deliberately. « You are here, » Leiventh reminds, bringing her back to the here-and-now. « What happened does not matter, » and certainly isn't a thing to be lingered on, judging by the bronze's response, though the cold practicality might well be taken as dismissive. It's at the chuckle that Lilah moves to pull away, a sharp look lifted to R'hin as she points out with a dry, "Did you think I was happy with you after last time? I yelled at you; I stormed away. After you refused to give me a single answer without turning it into a game." There is a challenge to her words, to the curve of her brow upwards as she steps back so that she doesn't have to look up at the man. « It matters. We should have known and been away. I could have hurt her, my dam, » Eliyaveith insists, stubborn against what she takes as dismissal, her thoughts cooling into unbendable steel. R'hin shrugs, briefly -- not resisting Lilah's attempt to pull away, instead turning the movement a casual lift of hand to unzip his flight jacket and shrug out of it. "I gave you an answer," he replies, "And if you don't like the game, you can always choose to walk away. Which, I'll point out, you did." His brows rise in expectation, as if that is all the answer that is required. « Dragons do not hurt dragons, » Leiventh insists. « Flights are the exception. » The hook-nosed bronze offers it as a bland honesty. « To focus on that which one has no control is a... human trait. » A moment of judging silence extends as Lilah's gaze shifts over R'hin to study him, before she says seriously, lowly, "I don't like the game, R'hin. I am tired of being played with. I am not a toy." She takes another step back and away, her dark eyes sliding out to focus on the ocean instead as her jaw clenches into silence. Eliyaveith's thoughts are measured as she counters, « Control is important, especially for me. And for queens. » With a brief glance over his shoulder at Leiventh, R'hin starts unbuttoning his shirt. "You came to me," he reminds her, without heat, without judgement, "And she called me here," he adds. "Do you think I would've left... what was I doing, and let you summon me, if I thought you were a toy?" There's a snort, but he's not looking at her now. Instead, he's dropping his shirt onto the sand, tugging off his boots, and walking towards the water's edge, crouching to splash water over his face and arms. « Self-awareness, too, » adds Leiventh, with a hint of amusement. Nita and Ishikath pop from between above, before circling down to land in the sand near the surf, the greenrider makes quick work of detangling her charge from the straps, one smallish young woman slips down. "I brought the wi-" Edyis stops mid-sentence as she realizes that the creature she had thought to be a bronze is actually a rather sizable gold. "Wine." She stops glancing at Nita as though the green rider would give her some cue or clue, eyes then shifting to R'hin, one dark brow lifted questioningly. Eliyaveith may not be able to pinpoint exactly why, but the gold takes offense to that comment, conveyed in the sharp flicker of heat. She doesn't pursue the conversation, a low pitched noise like a draconic 'hmph' caught in her throat as she shifts away from Leiventh to instead greet the unfamiliar dragon with a quiet bugle. "I have no idea what you think, or feel, or--," Lilah starts, her own words cut off even as the other dragon appears. Instead, as Edyis approaches, she shifts further away from the bronzerider, though not without a questioning look of her own to R'hin as well. A near-inaudible rumble from Leiventh greets his wingmate, as R'hin douses his head in the water before straightening and turning away from the water's edge. A subtle salute is given Nita, more a touch of his temple than a true salute, the greenrider winking in turn as she retreats and the green lifts off. "Ah, good, Edyis," he walks towards her, stretching out his hands, like it's pure coincidence that she's arrived, here and now. "Have you met the Fortian goldrider, Lilah?" He might, just might have the gall to look pleased at how well the timing of that came out. "I have not had the pleasure," her features relaxing with the introduction, before a warm smile spreads and she offers the older woman a surprisingly graceful curtsey. "High Reaches duties to you and your queen." Edyis supplies formally, her most charming smile offered. "I brought a red /and/ white, both Benden vintages." In a tone that does not invite questions as to how she obtained them. "A pleasure, Edyis," is answered, for all that Lilah's tone is still tight and tense. Her arms have wrapped around her chest tightly, her dark eyes flicking back to Edyis to offer a forced smile as she tips her chin in turn to the curtsey. "I wasn't expecting you, but it seems R'hin was." "I figured a drink would help, what with the flight and all," R'hin says, easily, a nodding approval for Edyis for her bringing both a red and white, as he moves to the scribe's side to glance down at the selected bottles. Pale gaze quickly flickers back up to Lilah, taking in her tense posture, as he asks easily, "Your choice, Lilah." The young scribe laughs, "The unexpected is what keeps life from being positively boring don't you think? Please don't take offense at my arrival, I just happen to have excellent taste in wine, and access to some rarer vintages." Looking to R'hin as though the bronzerider can well attest to these facts. As R'hin's statement comes, her expression melts into something of a friendly plea. "Do join us? It would be such a shame to waste excellent wine." R'hin senses a close inspection of the bottles might reveal they are pulled from his own stash. (Edyis) "I feel like I have heard those words before," murmurs Lilah, some of the tension melting with humor that warms along the goldrider's words in response to Edyis' laugh. Her gaze, however, slides pointedly to R'hin, though whether about the familiar phrase or something else--. She nods to the younger woman's question, adding, "Red, please." "She does have..." R'hin trails off momentarily, and there's a sudden, sharp bark of laughter, clapping his hands together delightedly. "...excellent taste, a sharp eye, and a cunning manner about her, doesn't she?" The bronzerider's casual slap of hand on Edyis' back is light, pale eyes amused and oddly approving. "Red," he agrees with Lilah, stretching out a hand to take the white from the scribe, leaving her to do the honor of opening said bottle. Casually, he asks, "Is Eliyaveith listening? Do you want me to have Leiventh do it, or is it a foregone conclusion?" The flight, presumably. Lilah's observation as much as the praise earns more warm laughter as the task of bottle opening is set on her. She makes quick work of the cork, and pouring the first glass delicately, offering it to Lilah first. "Ladies first of course." It's only after the glass is taken that she sets to filling the other two, listening to the conversation as she pours. The second glass handed to R'hin, and her own swirled then sipped from. Those dark eyes studying the pair with muted interest. "Thank you." Lilah doesn't swirl her glass before lifting it to her lips, taking a quick sip even as she murmurs, "No, Eliyaveith says that the moment is private and that she should not listen. If you would have him--." A pause, before she continue simply, "I can't imagine that anyone else will catch, but if someone does, having some forewarning will be best." Running a hand through still-damp hair, R'hin takes the glass from Edyis with an easy grin of thanks, brow furrowing briefly at Lilah's words. "Private--" a beat, "--isn't the word I'd use for it, given the effect it has on the entire Weyr." But he nods a moment later, after a glance at Leiventh. "He'll tell us soon enough. Do you want it to be N'muir again? Or is it a time for... change?" That he takes a gulp of the wine after that statement is probably coincidence, nodding appreciatively for the choice, if with a little wry smile at Edyis. The wry smile is returned, though it seems the conversation or something else has her attention. Though something flickers in her expression at the last question. "N'muir and I do not have the best relationship," Lilah admits, her gaze sliding briefly to Edyis after the words slip out. "But, he is stable leadership. I'd rather something stable than sudden change and bad choices." She punctuates that conclusion with another sip of wine, before turning her attention more fully onto Edyis. "I am sorry; this likely isn't an interesting conversation for you, is it? Unless you were interested in Impression, then I suppose a clutch on a Weyr's sands would be." "Change is not automatically bad," R'hin counters. He looks set to add something, though the Fortian's question of Edyis, oddly, makes his eyes narrow, albeit briefly. He covers up the gestures by casually walking over to retrieve his shirt, now that he's mostly dried off, though it's not the cleanest thing, either. "Quite the contrary, I find it a very fascinating discussion." She offers, lips curling gently. "Please do not mistake my silence for boredom, I learned that it is better to remain silent and listen than to offer something to a conversation without purpose. If I am correct you are discussing the - certainties of the next leadership flight at fort. Since you mention N'muir I can only assume it is not your own flight that concerns you." She gambles this time. "Change in some cases is necessary." The scribe agrees softly, "But it depends on the variables involved. Are there others who might be a better choice?" "No, Eliyaveith--," starts Lilah, her gaze sliding back to that large gold for a moment, "Has already risen and been caught some months ago. She isn't likely to rise again for at least a few turns, though she hasn't proven predictable yet." That tension returns for the subject, for all that the goldrider's shoulder rolls upwards in casual dismissal. "I have no idea, honestly. Would you believe me if I said they all seemed like terrible choices? If only we could get rid of men and it would be the Weyrwoman." The last is said dryly, only half serious. R'hin tugs on his shirt, though leaves it unbuttoned, squinting briefly as he looks over his shoulder at the morning sun. "Edyis has an interest in history. She's one of our most valued scribes, if you believe Master Jeroman." Which, the bronzerider's tone suggests he might well not. With a snort -- though it's not disagreement so much as amusement -- as the Wingleader says, "Not a single bronzerider at Fort meets your standards? Do you set such a high ideal, or do you just find, like I do, women are better decision makers?" His head cocks, curiously, watching the Fortian with a smile. "Ah but they do keep things so interesting." She says of Men, as she studies the goldrider. It is R'hin's statement however that earns a demure smile, as she falls back into silence. Dark amusement edges subtly at Lilah's words as she counters, "Well, I am not going to have it on the record that I have high standards, but." Her gaze slides briefly over R'hin as well, before she adds simply, "N'muir does fine. There are worse choices, but I can't speak for better choices." To a study, the goldrider still holds a hint of tension, and though she mostly shifts away from the bronzerider, there is something in her posture that is angled towards him, ready to look or retort or respond to him. She adds, to Edyis, "The two of you are the only ones I know who have insisted that interesting is better than stable." "I appreciate the token gesture acknowledging my gender's contribution," R'hin says with a dark chuckle at Edyis' words. "And just in time, too, my ego was about to take a bruising." Taking a slow, savoring sip of his wine, he echoes Lilah's words with an almost exact intonation: "There are worse choices, isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. I'm glad you didn't say the same of me," with a chuckle, glancing briefly at Edyis and his smile widening before it flickers back to Lilah. "Stability, in some circumstances, can be stagnation. Even the dragons sense it." His gaze drifts to the dark gold, and his own bronze, thoughtful. "I never said that interesting is better than stable." Edyis corrects merrily in that sweet soprano voice, "Only that there are occasions in which change should be sought." The glass lifted to her lips gingerly. "A weyr needs balance between both in my estimation, men and women, but that's just the opinion of one lowly scribe." something playful edging in Edyis' tone, "Your ego can handle a little bruising, it recovers easily enough." It's mention of stagnation that shades her expression with the barest touch of sadness, though it fades. "Fortunate it seems High Reaches is not to have the same problem." With males or bronze riders or better choices, she doesn't bother to elaborate. Lilah doesn't even take a beat at the invitation of R'hin's words, her gaze sliding pointedly over the man, down and then up again, before she drawls dryly, "There are worse choices." It is the glance towards their dragons that has dark eyes following, only returning to the bronzerider with a hint of question. "K'del certainly has been Weyrleader for quite a while, if not exactly uninterrupted," she points out to Edyis lightly. "He's outlasted a number of Weyrwomen, but--." R'hin snorts deliberately at Edyis' playful tone, though he doesn't seek to deny it. "Ouch," he presses a hand to his chest as if physically harmed by Lilah's words. "See how unfairly I'm maligned?" he seeks Edyis' assistance, though the glint of pale eyes suggests he's all too aware he's unlikely to get too much support. "Ride to your rescue, ply you with wine and good company, and..." a sharp shake of head, before he says, "Things certainly have changed; Azaylia's a very different Weyrwoman than Tiriana was." Edyis laughs brightly, "And for that rescue you have my undying gratitude. However If I were to spoil you with marking your good points all the time, where would the fun be in that?" As the conversation changes direction her eyes focus on the goldrider. "Though I did not bear witness to Tiriana's reign, I can say without question that Azaylia is perhaps the best Weyrwoman I've had the pleasure of meeting. She has a good heart, and the best interests of the Weyr in mind. K'del is much the same, though, I am sure there are those willing to argue that point with far less proof." "Or Iolene," agrees Lilah simply, her lips turning into the hint of a frown before it is obscured with her glass lifted to her lips. "The Weyrleader has told me some of both. But then, every Weyrwoman is different." A pause, before she adds for Edyis' sake and for her words, "Azaylia seemed like an excellent Weyrwoman, when I had the pleasure of meeting her as well." She even says it with a dry, self-deprecating humor that implies she may know how much she doesn't seem like an excellent weyrwoman, lowercase w. But then, she doesn't have her knot to live up to that. She adds, in a murmur, "I did not need rescuing, no matter what Eliyaveith thinks." R'hin nods, presumably in agreement of Edyis' assessment of their Weyrleader pair, although he refrains from comment, instead sipping casually at the wine. "Every Weyrwoman is different," agrees quietly, though his expression momentarily tightens at the mention of Iolene. As for Lilah's last, "No? What was your plan, to stand here until someone found you, and you could be told the flight was over?" There's humor in his voice, now. "Instead, we could hit up the markets, get the fresh food, drink the rest of the wine...?" A pause, as he glances between them, "Though," with a wry smile, "At some point, sleep will be good." Further comment Edyis herself does not give though there is a long appraising study of the woman at that dark self-depreciative humor. "The only shame in being rescued is failing to realize when you need it." It could be a playful jest, or even something more heartfelt from the vague phrasing. Edyis' smile returns, and she casually rolls her shoulders. "That could be fun, although, sleep does sound so very tempting." There is even a yawn interrupting her words as she speaks them. "At some point, I would have napped," Lilah counters easily. "And then returned to Fort when I was certain it was over." Her gaze slides to Edyis at her words, studying the younger woman in a moment of silence that has her lips briefly pressing together. She only ends up adding lightly, "If you leave the wine, that could still be the plan. After all, you both still have a Weyr to return to and beds to sleep in. You're welcome to go." To Edyis, R'hin says, "The young scribe is wise beyond her Turns." His brows rise up in surprise at Lilah's response. "After you dragged me all the way out here and Edyis brought sacrificed one of my best bottles of wine? Oh, no, goldrider. You don't get rid of us that easily. The least you can do is buy us some fruits to go with the wine. If memory serves, the market is that way," he nods towards the north east, offering an elbow to each of them. Looping her elbow into R'hin's she laughs, "Indeed no! The wine must be shared to honor R'hin's noble sacrifice." Noble and probably unwitting sacrifice at that. "It does seem a fair trade. What say you Weyrwoman." Rather than taking that offered elbow, Lilah turns to retreat towards her dragon though not without first explaining, "Let me see if Elise packed me any marks when she gathered my things." It does not take her long to rummage through the bag that was hastily packed, pulling out a pouch and checking its contents. When she rejoins them, she is shoving that into the pocket of her grey trousers. She doesn't take the offered elbow still, but she does smile to Edyis as she corrects simply, "Goldrider. I am afraid that I'm not a weyrwoman. I actually have more of a hand in running a gambling den than I do in running my Weyr." "Excruciatingly noble sacrifice," R'hin agrees, with a sidelong look at Edyis, though his demeanor remains amused enough. He takes it in stride when Lilah snubs his offered elbow, keeping pace with Edyis as he heads down along the darker, foliage-lined path. "Yes," he says, as if it's only just occurred to him, glancing over at Lilah with his curious, pale eyes. "Why does your Weyrwoman keep you at arms' length, goldrider?" "A Queen is a queen." The scribe's return comes simply and cheerily, and she just offers her best and most charming smile at R'hin's sidelong look, falling quiet at the question. Edyis whispers to R'hin, "Can I help it if your private store is the best?" "Mm," is only a soft counterpoint to Edyis' words, not quite disagreement but certainly holding something deeper for all that it's a single, wordless syllable. Lilah answers, though, by telling R'hin, "If you want an answer to that, you will have to use your question, bronzerider." "Indeed," R'hin's murmured agreement with Edyis is soft, although he makes a brief face at her. Lilah's comment draws a sharp gaze, and he stops to regard her squarely. "Oh, ho. The goldrider accuses me of toying with her and refusing to answer questions, yet does not see the irony when she does the same herself. You make it very hard to hold a decent conversation with you, since you go cold any time I ask you something remotely personal." He holds up his free hand, "No need to answer -- I think I can see exactly why you are a goldrider, not a weyrwoman." Edyis senses R'hin's expression is a mixture of wry and amused at her murmured words. "Toying?" Leaning over to study Lilah, "Surely you are incapable of toying with the likes of her." It's playful though the words meant for Lilah cause her nose to scrunch in distaste. "I hardly think that is a fair assessment. Surely it's something as simple as feminine jealousy, or perhaps a distrustful nature on the part of her Weyrwoman. Not-" She lifts her other hand, "that I am the sort to speak ill of another Weyr's leaders, but surely there must be some other reason." Edyis looks to Lilah inquisitively. "I am aware of the irony, but what you do and what I do are not the same," Lilah replies tightly, not quite meeting R'hin's gaze. Luckily, there is Edyis to focus on. She gives away little as she meets the other woman's gaze, except for a brief nod. "There are enough reasons. With Eliyaveith rising so early and not producing a clutch--. She may be waiting until the next time. And Hattie is used to handling things herself." R'hin's avid gaze remains fixed on Lilah, though Edyis' words does cause him to shift his stance briefly, intrigued by the scribe's assessment, as well as the fact that the Fortian answers her question. After a look at his Reachian companion, the bronzerider resumes walking. "Hardly seems a fair thing to punish you for." Edyis replies softly, "Dragons rise when they will and it's interval, clutches are historically affected by such." She tilts her head thoughtfully, "It isn't a burden meant to be borne alone though is it? If you've got the sense to manage a gambling den, which requires a knowledge of people and the ability to notice when someone's playing you - surely you could handle a junior's knot." Conviction in those soft words. "She faces pressure, too. There are riders that would rather she transfer the pair of us out of the Weyr," murmurs Lilah simply, defensive of the Weyrwoman. "Have you ever met Hattie? She could handle the whole of Pern alone, if she wanted to." But, her lips curve into a brief smile at Edyis' assessment, gone before it fully forms, as she lifts her fingers in an empty gesture. To the earlier point, she adds, "High Reaches has had a number of eggs recently. I met one of your weyrlings, actually. How are the weyrling classes?" A pause. "And the one? Whose wing was--." This early, the market is abuzz primarily with vendors setting up their stalls, rather than patrons. There's the odd customer or two seeking to collect their day's food before the heat of the morning sets in, though. R'hin's looking at the stalls more than his companions, and though he's listening closely, he seems content to do just that. Edyis nods thoughtfully, and of Hattie she can only chuckle brightly. "Sounds like it's a good thing she is on your side then. Do you like managing the gambling den?" Of eggs, her nose wrinkles once more, "Both clutches hatched, and weyrlings making a ruckus. There are a few who show some promise but it's too early to tell for sure yet. Honestly every time I stand I get instantly reminded of why I'm grateful I don't impress." She adds with a wry laugh. "Fort will have eggs again soon, are there any candidates you simply cannot stand yet or are you immune to the whole, girls and boys staring at you with stars in their eyes, or worse daggers." "Why do you Stand, then?" questions Lilah curiously, marking Edyis briefly with dark eyes. Yet, where R'hin does not seem to be watching them, there is the occasionally flicker of her gaze towards the bronzerider's figure, barely there before her attention returns to the younger woman. "I have grown immune to them, by now. There is one that I do not think would be good on a dragon or in a wing, and there have been a few I would be surprised if they Impressed. But, there is potential there, as well." As they come upon the market, the goldrider's fingers lift to mussed hair to try to comb curls into looking like it was brushed that morning, unwittingly self-conscious. R'hin goes abruptly still, gaze distant for a moment. "Ah. Well," a beat, "It looks like you have your wish for stability." He nods in Lilah's general direction, though doesn't seek to catch her gaze. "I think I saw some strawberries back there." He pats Edyis' hand before slipping his elbow free, walking off at a determined speed. That it gives him the opportunity to disappear out amongst the stalls ahead of them is no coincidence. "Because it terrifies me I suppose, and there's nothing that I cannot stand worse than being afraid of something and unable to do anything about it." She replies honestly, dark brown eyes fixed upon Lilah's own, watching as the bronzerider disappears with a chuckle. "That's the thing about people though that's always so very interesting to me. You never know precisely when they will surprise you." She offers her own arm to the weyrwoman when the bronzerider leaves, for her to take or snub as she chooses. "You know, you do have an opportunity with them though even if you don't necessarily like them. You get the opportunity to shape them into the riders that Fort needs. I don't envy the task ahead of you, but I certainly respect you for it." Lilah's gaze does seek out R'hin's at that information, though no surprise meets the announcement, there is a wave of muddled emotions. As he turns to leave, she starts, "R'hin--." But, with a glance to Edyis, she cuts herself off to allow him to disappear. She doesn't take the arm, but she does fall easily in line with the other woman. "Eliyaveith certainly looks forward to the task," she informs Edyis. "But, I can't say that I envy it, either. I respect anyone who volunteers to assist the weyrlingmasters. I wouldn't want to work with overstressed, sleep deprived, snotty brats. Or at least, that's what I remember from my clutchsibs." Chances are that R'hin doesn't hear his name being called -- surely he wouldn't be that rude? Still, he doesn't look to be rejoining the two immediately. The elbow drops, though the warm demeanor still remains, and she laughs. "You know I felt the same about some of the people I stood with. Granted we are all still very young and make mistakes, but there's such potential there still. I still consider most of them good friends regardless. Surely you have a clutch sibling, or a rider or two at Fort who shows some promise for leadership, they can't be all bad. Maybe not what they could be yet but -" "No, they aren't all bad; one of my clutchsibs has turned out to be my best friend," murmurs Lilah in response, the topic earning Edyis a smile as she tips her chin in agreement. "Mostly what I remember is, yes, they were very young. I was already twenty-four turns by the time I Impressed. If you continue to Stand for that long, you'll find that the Candidates seem to keep getting younger and younger, too." She stops at a stall with herbs, reaching for one to pick a leaf without asking permission to bring it to her nose. She nods to the stall keeper, before excusing herself by saying to Edyis as she turns away, "We're supposed to be looking for fruit, aren't we." "How many times did you stand?" Dark eyes curious, before a bright laugh erupts, "I'd quite forgotten what we were supposed to be shopping for. Yes, didn't R'hin say something about strawberries?" She peeks amongst the stalls. "I'm sure we can find better," challenges Lilah with a quick spark of competitiveness, finally reaching for Edyis's elbow to pull her along in a different direction. Surely, whatever fruit they will find will be better, and likely enough variety to make a true breakfast, if just of fruit and wine and perhaps some cheese found amongst the stalls. |

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