Logs:Mano-a-mano
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| RL Date: 26 January, 2014 |
| Who: K'del, K'zin |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: The morning after the day after Isyath's flight, K'zin comes to see K'del. It's awkward. |
| Where: Weyrleader's Weyr, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 27, Month 11, Turn 33 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Ali/Mentions, Hattie/Mentions, Iska/Mentions, N'muir/Mentions, Telavi/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: Back-dated. |
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| Weryleader's Weyr As low to the ground as this ledge is, the view it affords is not an especially spectacular one, simply the bowl spread out in front of it, still some distance down. The ledge itself is a large one, easily big enough for a full grown queen and at least one, if not two, others, the stone worn smooth by turns and turns of steady use. A brocade curtain shelters the inner caverns from the outside. Rank certainly has its privileges, and among them are amply appointed apartments. The short flight of stairs from the Weyrleader's Complex opens up into the larger of two chambers, formally decorated and clearly designed to cater as much to important guests as the occupant's personal living. Old, but obviously expensive, llama wool rugs dyed blue-and-black cover the stone floor, leading towards the second chamber, the stairs, and the rush-filled dragon couch and ledge beyond it. A formal seating arrangement - a sofa and chairs, all blue-and-black - sits around a large, tiled fireplace, whilst along the other wall, a finely made, if now somewhat antique, desk sits between a bookshelf and a tall cupboard to which tack-hooks have been attached, riding gear arranged neatly inside. Two tapestries hung from the high walls depict overdone splendour for High Reaches Weyr, one a long view of the snow-covered bowl, and the other a hazy impressionist piece of dragons flaming over a springtime countryside. The inner weyr, made up of a sleeping cavern and a private bathing area, is smaller and cosier and distinctly less ostentatious. An oversized wooden sleigh bed fills much of the space, the mattress piled high with overstuffed down pillows and comforter, their covers dyed in varying shades of navy blue, light blue and bronze. There's a nightstand on either side, both with reading lamps, and against one of the other walls, a tall, heavy wardrobe made from a dark wood that matches the bed. The bathing area is part of the same cavern, a folding screen shielding the toilet and slightly raised, double-sized bathtub built into the stone, and a small shelf holding toiletries, shaving equipment, and clean towels.
The Weyrleader's weyr still has a pretty unlived-in look about it: the furniture's all there, but all the little things that show signs of occupation are missing... with the notable exception of piles of child-related paraphernalia. K'del's not in the main room of the weyr when K'zin arrives, but he appears a few moments later, his nine month old daughter resting against his chest. "K'zin," he says, as he makes his sock-footed way towards the hearth, keeping his voice low. "Come on in." If someone had told K'zin that he would ever find a moment to be grateful for the presence of a baby (who could at any moment cry), the bronzerider would not have believed it. And yet, here he is, looking a little relieved by the sight of the child against K'del's chest as K'zin makes his way into the weyr. Still, he doesn't come too close, just close enough that they can converse in those low voices comfortably. "I came to talk to you about the flight." "Figured as much," answers K'del, adjusting his daughter carefully: for the moment, she seems to be asleep, and he's clearly pretty eager to keep it that way. He looks tired, which rather suggests that it's not been a good night. Still, the glance he aims at K'zin is neutral, which may, in and of itself, be a positive sign. K'zin's shift isn't nearly as comfortable at the one made for Iska. Brown gaze shifts between baby and man, then abruptly (if still quietly), "I'm sorry. I know it had to be someone. But..." But. K'del's exhale is a long one, if very carefully quiet. "It's not like you did it deliberately," he answers. "And I know you would've done right by her." Because if he didn't... Well. "Been a rider nearly sixteen turns; this might be the first time I've had to... deal with this, but it's not like I'm..." Words are hard. "It's fine." It's not: he's staring at the wall, instead of the other bronzerider. K'zin could pretend to believe it. It really would be easier on both of them. But. The younger man's exhale comes as a sigh. "No, it's not. I don't even know what I'd do if Cadejoth caught Solith. And it's not like Tela and I have a kid together." A hand finds its way to nervously rub at the back of his neck. "I didn't intend to be there. But I do want to do right by her. By them both. If-- if you'll allow it, and their leadership agrees, once Isyath clutches, we'd--" He hesitates and then straightens, "We'd like to go help." K'del winces, at mention of Solith, and it's obvious enough that he nearly jolts Iska-- Iska, who burbles in her sleep, and who steals her father's attention for long, lingering seconds. His expression is neutral again when, finally, K'del says, "K'zin, not sure if I care whether you want to do right by her or not, you're definitely going. That goes without saying. You'll be as helpful as you damn well can be, and you'll represent High Reaches in an appropriate way, giving them no room to complain about anything. Do you understand?" The blinks which greet K'del's words are surprise. Despite the neutrality from the older man, K'zin looks very nearly taken aback by the words themselves. He rocks back on his heels and swallows hard. "Uh. Yes... sir." The last is added uncertainly. He takes a step back, and now just looks awkward. K'del's eyes close, and he sighs. "I'm sorry," he says. "Sorry. It's just-- awkward. No, of course I know you'll do the right thing. And you'll behave. It's just-- it's a long story. It's fine. It'll be fine. I'll get over it." There's a long moment of silence, before K'zin's shrugging his shoulders. "It'll be fine. I'm sure it helps, really, that she had no idea who I am. So it's only awkward for us." Awkward in so many different ways. He shifts slightly, correcting his posture from the natural slouch it had started to become, standing tall again. "I'll do my duty, sir." As they've just said four times. "Permission to be dismissed?" As K'del's eyes open again, he looks down at his daughter, and then, finally, glances back towards K'zin. "Of course," he says. "I'll see you in drills. It'll be... fine." Really. If they repeat these things often enough, maybe it'll be true. "Yes, sir." The emphasis is slight, but there. There enough to tell that things are not fine, and more than just because they both slept with the same woman. "Oh, and I'll replace your pants. Just let me know what you want." This is added nonchalantly as K'zin turns toward the exit. "Pants?" K'del sounds confused, but no, he's not actually calling the other bronzerider back to explain. No, he's turning his attention back towards his daughter, rocking her back and forth as he sidesteps, this way and that. He's clearly not happy, not comfortable, but... what else is there to say? |
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