Logs:The Best Laid Plans

The Best Laid Plans
« Isn't the irony delicious? »
RL Date: 9 August, 2015
Who: X'vin, Besmernyth
Involves: Fort Weyr
Type: Vignette
What: When Besmernyth can confirm that Lilah and Eliyaveith are actually gone, X'vin is forced to reconsider his plans.
Where: Baby's A Red Weyr (X'vin's), Fort Weyr
When: Day 28, Month 6, Turn 38 (Interval 10)

Mentions: Dee/Mentions, Edric/Mentions, Hattie/Mentions, Ka'ge/Mentions, Lilah/Mentions




X'vin is never left to misinterpret the grip of his dragon's mind when the bronze seeks his attention. It comes too cold, sinking hard into the roots of his teeth until his head throbs with the icy invasion. In the summer it should be more bearable, but it is not. Besmernyth sucks the warmth from the inner weyr, and applies pressure meticulously. X'vin's even gait is stolen, then just like that, Besmernyth pushes, and X'vin is forced to his knees when the dragon takes the strength from his knees. X'vin bows. There is no mistaking that the dragon is furious, but it's not like most furies. Besmernyth, when angry, is slowly coiling and inexorable, a palpable threat even when, as now, he doesn't open his eyes from where he's lying on his couch and breathing evenly. The pressure on X'vin's shoulders and at the base of his neck relents very slightly, but the pain, the chill does not. « She is gone, » Besmernyth says, and through his fractals flash Eliayveith's particular shade of gold. "That can't be true. You would know if she died. If Eliyavieth -" X'vin tests the words aloud to check the temperature of the room as much as to make sure he can do it. There is no nebulous mist of condensation on his exhale. The cold is all in his head. « And still it is true that she is gone. » He shares the odd void of nothingness, the impression of things that never were, never will be, never had chances. It is a feeling of improbability and atmosphere sucking inward on itself, to take real things along for the ride in jealous rage. « You did not plan for this. » You're sure she isn't hidden? « Gone, » emphasizes the big bronze with force, his patience short. « As good as dead. And what does this mean for you? You know what they say about the best laid plans. » This doesn't change anything. You're still bronze, there is still a gold that will rise...you'll just have to be quick, won't you? His wit is rewarded with icicles behind his eyes. A wince, a gasp. « Isn't the irony delicious, all your hard work dancing away so suddenly, without a trace? All your maneuvering, your efforts, the time you gave her? You are in trouble, X'vin. Taste it. » At that, the ice relents at a slow crawl. A fire lights and at once X'vin can taste warm sweetness on his tongue, so abrupt his mouth floods and so sweet his teeth hurt: honey and sugar, followed by the insistent bitterness of black tea too long steeped. Despite his best judgment, X'vin sags with relief, his breath passing his lips unevenly. When he looks at Besmernyth, the dragon is the epitome of calm: eyes closed, unmoving save his breath. This wouldn't be the first time he was frighteningly cognizant in his sleep, but - no. « What shall we do? » asks Besmernyth again, direct and unrelenting in his calm. You will catch, comes after a spell, during which he finds his feet again with the help of the sturdy desk. He keeps a steadying hand on the tabletop; Besmernyth will not make him kneel again. Taeliyth. Elaruth, if you must. There's a grimace. Neither option is ideal, but there is a clear winner if those are the only two. Dee's so fragile. Her silly little friend in the mines had her in the mindhealers' care, this-- this may well send her round the twist, even if Taeliyth is the strong one, as you say. X'vin squares his shoulders and begins straightening the cuffs of his sleeves, gathering the remnants of his composure in the same careful fashion he finds his voice. "She'll need a friend. A confidante. Someone who can guide her hand while she works through this...ah. Troubling time. And the times after." Betraying himself, Besmernyth's mouth twitches up to bare his teeth, and the name charges between them like lightning: Zymadiath. Ka'ge. All one entity, as far as either the bronze or his rider is concerned. « If she favors him? » Another long pause, but not hesitation. He gathers his thoughts, thinks aloud. "Edric's timing is perfect, as always. I'll put him to work. Real work, now, while there is time. He'll figure out something. And if you lose...well. " Besmernyth opens an eye at that, the facets whirling such a dim blue as to be grey in the shallow darkness surrounding his couch. There is time yet. By then, most of their resources will be gathered. By then, X'vin's alliances will be sound. By then most of Holds will be in his pockets, with force or alliance. By then, "We will let them starve." Besmernyth's pleasure is not gentler than his rage. X'vin feels something tight in his chest wilt. It is not an entirely unpleasant feeling for all it is strange. « Very well. Let us be cruel, then, » the bronze says at length. « Let us be greedy. Let your steward shackle and bleed them if he must, and when the time comes, » the bronze stretches his impressive length, settling in as his breath kills the fire with surprising swiftness, « I will claw dragons out of the sky, for you. »

Comments

Squishy (16:12, 9 August 2015 (PDT)) said...

You know for all that I've heard High Reaches is scary... ^ ^ ^

Edric (16:24, 9 August 2015 (PDT)) said...

Tsk, tsk. You act as if Edric isn't already planning something.

Jolie (16:43, 9 August 2015 (PDT)) said...

X'vin would be a most excellent ally should Jo ever comes to this realization. ;) Very well put vignette!

Alida (00:25, 10 August 2015 (PDT)) said...

Alida's gut isn't often much wrong. Too bad she wasn't wrong, though. ;) Nice vig... Besmernyth is way creepy. He's kind of like a fully-realized/actuated (and not in the good way) Rasavyth. If dragons were given to being able to kill, given decent reason, Ilicaeth would likely try to snuff Bes on general principle of making Weyrs (and maybe Pern) a better place. ;D