Logs:Suspicions
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| RL Date: 26 January, 2013 |
| Who: Brieli, R'hin |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Brieli and R'hin run into each other and talk around things. |
| Where: Harper Hall, Fort Area |
| When: Day 25, Month 11, Turn 30 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Suireh/Mentions, Azaylia/Mentions, Oriane/Mentions, Taikrin/Mentions, N'rov/Mentions |
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| Harper Hall, Fort Area The venerable quadrangle of the Harper Hall extends from the southeastern angle of the Fort palisade lounging alongside its Healer twin. The three wings that enclose the main courtyard are solidly roofed with orange tile and constructed of sturdy gray stone, the walls kept in good repair by local stonemasons. A wide archway provides entrance into the hall itself, foot traffic relatively busy throughout the day, but tapering off at night. Inside, the courtyard is paved with smooth, flat stones and the walls lined with stone benches where harpers come to sit and rest between classes and duties. The sound of music drifting out of open windows is almost constant, be it played or sung, regardless of the season, though things do quiet down after sunset. Just outside Harper Hall, sandwiched between its northern wing and the southern wing of the Healer Hall, a series of gardens serving culinary, medicinal and decorative puposes are bordered by the cliff wall to the east and open meadow to the west. The hold road travels northward to the hold itself and eventually to Ruatha and the Reaches and in the opposite direction far south to Southern Boll and the Weaver craft. It's early evening at the Harper Hall. In the courtyard, Leiventh's large form probably takes up a good deal of the space, though he's tucked in, still, glimmering eyes watching. Accompanying a lithe brunette, and an older man across the courtyard, R'hin's got his hand on her shoulder as they pause near the entrance. The girl might be a familiar face for Brieli, if she's of a mind to remember the chaos of her hatching: Suireh tosses some hair over her shoulder, accepts an exchange that is probably marks, and darts off towards the dorms. The rider and the older man -- a master Harper, by his knot -- fall to chatting afterwards, their postures marking the conversation as amiable enough, from a distance. Early evening, but still a sun in the darkening sky; there's Iesaryth in a moment, winging down in slow, wide circles towards the Hall. The gold might have planned to land in that courtyard and save someone a walk, but there's Leiventh - not that she minds, from the warm tide that washes out to greet the bronze, light sparkling on the waves. She lands outside instead, leaving her rider to come up from the road with purposeful strides in her wine-dark leathers. The apprentice is not only remembered from Brieli's own hatching, but the one before that at High Reaches; the goldrider's sharp gaze picks out Suireh just as she disappears, then is quick to take in the rest of the courtyard, though she's well aware of at least some of what - or who - should be there. Despite the icy winds that form Leiventh's mental touch, there's a brimming sense of warmth underneath as he greets his daughter. It's all mental; there's no physical movement from the bronze to indicate his watchfulness, and yet as she passes by, Brieli might well sense the shift of the Monaco bronze's whirling eyes on her. The two men continue to converse, before finally shaking hands and making to part ways. She probably does sense that attention, even if she won't show it; Brieli's not the sort of person to show much after all, not if she can help it. Sliding hands into pockets, she glances first skyward, then in the general direction of the nearby Weyr thoughtfully before she starts on her way across the courtyard to the entrance again. It's the way in, after all. Her expression is carefully neutral on her approach - that might be for the Harper as much as for R'hin. While the Harper nods politely and continues on his way, the bronzerider approaches directly in her path to intercept her. That neutral approach is countered with the natural, brimming warmth of R'hin's greeting, by contrast. "Brieli," he greets, an easy smile coming to his lips. "Monaco's duties to High Reaches." So formal, which is entirely out of character for him. But then again, maybe it's this place, harper, and the fact that they're probably being watched. Easily intercepted, Brieli can be formal. Brieli can even approach friendly, with a brilliant smile of her own for R'hin, though hands don't leave her pockets, there's nothing expansive about her gestures. "And High Reaches' duties to Monaco," she returns. "Things are well? Just stopping by?" They're questions that can have vague answers. None of this is out of character for her, but she's acting as if absolutely nothing has happened. She's pretty good at it. So fooled, is the Monacoan! He'll play along, for now. "Visiting my daughter. She's working on her Journeyman exams at the moment." The pride in R'hin's voice when he talks of Suireh is absolutely genuine, and it lights his expression even more, as he glances over his shoulder, before pale, glittering eyes settle on Brieli. "Leiventh's still not fully healed, but the dragonhealers allow us to travel for short spans." The mention of his daughter still brings a quirk to Brieli's lips. "I'm sure she'll do well." It's sincere enough - Suireh's not stupid. The mention of the injuries to Leiventh has her flickering a look the bronze's way, shaking her head. "Unfortunate. I like being right, but not... Well. It's not important." Other than being right. Wry now, "Everyone was there." Because she's put it out there, R'hin feels practically obligated to prompt, "...being right? About what?" His curious, pale gaze lingers on her, waiting. With a glance around the courtyard, Brieli gives a little shrug, as if it's not all that important. Meeting his pale gaze with her dark, "Some things I told Azaylia. What feels like a long time ago." There's no elaboration. "Come now. You wouldn't have brought it up if you didn't want to share it." With an exaggerated look over his shoulder as if on the look out for any nearby listeners, R'hin refocuses on Brieli with a quiet murmur. "Promise I won't tell." He even puts a hand over his heart. With an arch of fine brows, "That's not true. Though I know I've certainly told people that before." Brieli's not faulting R'hin for it, no judgment. Just saying. The exaggerated look gets a roll of her eyes, as does hand over heart. But she does lower her voice a touch; "To paraphrase - if that's allowed? - I thought things might be ugly." 'Ugly'. Well. She wasn't around. "Might have been better as it was, all things considered." "With Hraedhyth?" R'hin, of course, leaps to a logical conclusion, his voice remaining low to match the pitch she chooses. "I wonder how much of that has to do with all the people trying to affect the outcome." Why is he giving her a twitch of brow right around that comment of affecting the outcome? Why would that be? Who knows? Brieli doesn't. She wouldn't do anything like that, no. Never has before either. After all, look at what she ended up with. Fuck that guy. "With Hraedhyth?" she echoes, almost mockingly. Almost. There's a little flash she can't hide, maybe residual irritation, before, "Do you think that many people were trying to push it one way or the other? I suppose they always must." "Don't you?" R'hin, no more mocking of her than she is of him. With a spread of hands, he adds, "Of course they were. Always do. Except on the mated pairs that never stray. Oriane doesn't have to account for such things, for example." His hands drop, and folding them behind his back, takes a couple of steps forward, giving him a better view of the quickly setting sun. Quietly, he wonders, "Do you wish they'd all chased you?" Faintly wistful, probably hating herself for it, "That would be nice." Brieli doesn't specify what part, but it doesn't sound like she's talking about the lack of maneuvering. With a shake of her head, she considers the question for a long silent moment, watching him watch the disappearing sun. "It's not me." First off. "And I don't think so. I can't... I don't like people touching me, not without..." A shudder. "I don't look forward to that." The first, wistful note makes R'hin look at her, sidelong. His voice softens, oddly, as he murmurs. "You don't mind it so much, in the moment. And you remember that you don't mind it so much." Still, there's something tense there in the bronzerider's posture. "Take comfort, Brieli, in the fact that it'll be another Turn or two before you have to deal with it again." The sympathy from the Monacoan is probably odd, but genuine for all that. Her expression is set by that point, closed-off, not giving anything away - or trying hard not to, anyway. "It's easier," Brieli can allow, carefully and quietly. "I'd rather not have six people grabbing at me before I don't mind." There's something wry there for the last, something not-quite-bitter. And it seems like she's used to sympathy from odd places; it brings a brief smile to her lips. With a nod, a glance his way, "There is that. Though it won't be like this last one." If there should be regret or contrition, there's none. "A Turn or two before it's really settled besides." There's a faint grunt from R'hin that might be acknowledgement; he's watching the sunset again, as he says, "Perhaps sooner than that." Another of her shrugs, this one diffident. "We'll see." Brieli doesn't seem too concerned, at least not at the moment - though she gives R'hin a bit of the side-eye. Suspicious. (Paranoid.) As the saying goes, just because you're paranoid... "So we shall," replies R'hin, easily enough. With a smile, he says, "I'll let you be about your business. Give my regards to Iesaryth, would you? And Azaylia and Hraedhyth, of course." That doesn't have Brieli looking any less suspicious, or now, any less irritated. "Of course," she echoes, with a brief, sharp smile. "Can't forget them. Leave me alone for four days, but..." Loosing slender hands from her pockets, a little fan of fingers is the best R'hin will get in the way of farewell, and she turns on her heel to stride off into the Hall. It's the latter comment that has R'hin pausing, turning, visibly confused. "Leave you alone for four days? What are you--?" whether or not his question will slow her stride, his gaze lingers on her. It does slow her steps a little, a visible stutter as Brieli actually realizes R'hin is confused. She's uncertain, but she turns around, takes a step or two back towards him so she doesn't have to raise her voice, make it carry. Frowning, "I was away for about four days before Hraedhyth or Iesaryth went up. I didn't feel well, and it seemed better to get out sooner than later. Hraedhyth and Szadath spoke to Iesaryth, but... other than Vhaeryth..." She lifts her hands, drops them. That's it. R'hin's brow creases, and eases as she explains. After a beat, he asks practically, "Who would bother a queen who didn't want to be bothered?" He's reaching to button up his jacket, with the ghost of a smile, "Next time you want a place to hide, come to Monaco. I'm sure Iesaryth would prefer the company." Practicality has nothing to do with the traces of sullen teenager in Brieli's tone as she points out melodramatically, "I could have actually been sick. I could have died." Well knowing that Iesaryth would have called someone way before that. Arching brows at R'hin and that smile, taking steps backwards towards the entrance, "Really, Monaco." Dubious. Bridges burned. "If you say so." There's, possibly, an amused glint in R'hin's gaze, that he's covering with a glance at Leiventh; the dragon hasn't stirred. "I highly doubt that, Brieli. Iesaryth wouldn't let that happen. But you chose to be out there. Perhaps next time you'll choose a less isolated place, in case you... get sick again." It's obvious he doesn't really buy that story. With a shrug for the latter, "Oriane wouldn't turn away a daughter of Zaisavyth's," is all he says on that score. That significant pause might narrow Brieli's eyes a touch - but R'hin doesn't need to buy the story. Just avoid suggesting alternate theories. Pause or no, she'll manage a smile and tell him, "I'll keep that in mind. I won't make the same mistake twice." So many possible meanings. And the same for his last; with a thoughtful tilt of her head, "I have a hard time with that. But I appreciate being reminded." There's a pause in both steps and words before, "Thank you, R'hin. Clear skies." And with that, she will set off to go about her business, whatever it might be. With a nod that could be acknowledgement as much as farewell, R'hin turns on a heel and continues son his way towards Leiventh. A slow push upwards, and the bronze rises out of the courtyard, the chill touch of his mental voice stretching towards Iesaryth in farewell before the pair wink between. |
Comments
Zian (Zian) left a comment on Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:13:19 GMT.
< I could have actually been sick. I could have died.
How dramatic. XD
Brieli (Brieli) left a comment on Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:30:14 GMT.
<
Melodrama comes easily to her. It's a thing.
Dragonshy (Dragonshy) left a comment on Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:20:25 GMT.
<
"Can't forget them. Leave me alone for four days, but..."
Azaylia: D: I'm sorry, Bri! I'll try not to let people remember me so much next time!
Seeing Brieli and R'hin interact is kind of fascinating. Like a tango of wit.
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