Logs:Sad, Brave or Stupid
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| RL Date: 20 June, 2015 |
| Who: Aislara, Ryerith, Dee |
| Involves: Fort Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Dee meets Ryerith; Aislara is sad, and so is Dee for different reasons. |
| Where: Hot Springs, Fort Weyr |
| When: Day 19, Month 1, Turn 38 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Hattie/Mentions, Jemizen/Mentions, N'jem/Mentions, Nasci/Mentions, Natlie/Mentions, Oenamis/Mentions, Zennia/Mentions |
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>---< Hot Springs, Fort Weyr >-----------------------------------------------<
The Hot Springs are contained within a high domed cavern, the walls
perpetually glistening with a combination of condensation and mica. Steam
drifts through the cavern from the surface of four different-sized pools.
The largest takes up most of the cavern, big enough to hold three
full-grown dragons and is easily reached through the archway from the
Bowl. Three smaller pools, more suited for human use, are clustered near
the entrance leading toward the Inner Cavern. A set of shelves and benches
line the wall nearest the Inner Cavern, fully stocked with pots of
soapsand and towels for those without the foresight -- or means -- to
bring their own.
While the dragon pool is a natural creation, the human pools are the
result of Ancient ingenuity and have been constructed with hewn steps and
seating. The water in all of the pools is warm to hot, and are a perfect
place to bathe young weyrling dragons or for residents to relax after a
long day of work. Snow has steadily been falling around the Weyr in one form or another for the last few days. This afternoon, the air has been cold enough that a soft powder slowly swirls its way from the clouds hanging overhead. Though the weather would be considered one of the better winter days, Aislara has chosen to remain inside. Not up for a trip Between to warmer climate, the pair have settled in the larger dragon pool. Aislara is giving the final touches to the green's hide with a handful of scented scrub. Those that know Aislara well enough have noticed her general despondency but she hasn't disclosed any reason as to why there's an air of sadness that seems to cling to her and Ryerith. She's humming softly to Ryerith as she rinses a section of hide off and seems, for the moment, to be content in their solitude. Dee has never been afraid of dirty jobs. It is then unsurprising to find her traipsing into the warm cavern with snow-and-muck on her coveralls, up to her knees, and some frozen dragon meal leftovers having made their mark higher up. Unbuttoning the coveralls reveals the many layers beneath, all of which are summarily striped in order to make use of the pools. With two towels taken for her own purposes she heads toward one of the smaller pools, only to catch sight of the green and subsequently her rider, which changes her course. The Southerner is not much on modesty, it seems, for the towels are dropped at pools edge and she's climbing in as she says., "Afternoon, ma'am. May I meet Ryerith?" The question is bright with interest, and probably sparked by their last conversation. There's no hesitation in her demeanor, so it's likely that hasn't noticed (and understandably hasn't sensed) the sadness, yet. Ryerith's attention is pulled to the entrance upon Dee's arrival and her placid gaze remains fixated on the Southern girl. Aislara is equally undressed for the task of bathing herself and her dragon. The angry, puckered skin of her burn scars are a vivid contrast against her winter-pale skin. She sweeps her hair back from her face as she turns at the sound of the younger woman's voice. The quick glance she gives Dee's nakedness is a polite and curious assessment before her eyes move upwards to settle on her face. "Certainly," she replies as she slips down from the greens shoulder and balances on Ryerith's forearm. The water only laps at her knees with the greens help. "Dee, this is Ryerith," her formality is nothing but nice, though her small and forced smile may be noticed. "Ryerith says that you seem kind and strong. Whoever Searched you was right in their choice." She offers a hand out to Dee. "She says if you wish you may come and touch her." Dee's hazel gaze passes curiously over Aislara's revealed scars, but not so long as to be rude about her interest. She has a pleasant smile for both and might be about to make answer when something the greenrider says make her eyelashes flutter in rapid blinks and her expression becomes distinctly unnerved. There's a nervous laugh, in which the girl ducks her head. She doesn't seem to know what to say for a moment, then as she moves toward the green and her rider, she makes the confession: "I've never been Searched." She directs her eyes to the green, "My parents' dragons always supposedly said Jem and I would be good for clutches, but my parents would've said even if they hadn't, I think, so I thank you for that assessment Ryerith," even if it seems to have struck something deep within and removed some measure of her carefully composed inner balance. Her hand extends without fear to the green, her surety of movements a mark of one who grew up with dragons close at hand. Aislara makes room for Dee on Ryerith's forearm, urging the girl further up and directing her towards Ryerith's favorite spot to be petted on the side of her cheek. "So you came upon a request to Stand with no formal Searching?" Aislara finds this curious but doesn't press it as she smiles more fully at Ryerith's pleased hum of approval. Even the joy her dragon brings her is short lived as the greenrider turns and makes her way further down Ryerith's arm. She settles carefully on the green's lower portion of her arm and tips her head back to watch Dee. Silence falls and the assistant weyringmaster doesn't move to break it. "Yes," Dee admits once she's in place and giving the green what she prefers in the way of contact. "It was awkward," is admitted next. "One moment I was reading on the floor in the record room trying to sort out crop cycles and weather patterns for what could be done after the storm hit, and the next, I'm talking to Weyrwoman Hattie, and the next I'm asking to Stand, which I never thought I'd do, and then I was a candidate." The story is told briskly, and obviously much is lost to the bullet points of her version, but it has her looking at Ryerith all the more intently as she strokes her. "I came for my brother," she admits next, and more slowly, "but I never really wanted to Stand. Before the green." She sighs a little, her already soft caresses gentling further. "Sorry," the green is such a touchy subject and she knows that much. "I would say that it was brave of you to ask though if I am honest with you," Aislara's voice is soft and with the lightest touch of a teacher-lecture, "I am concerned you feel obligated to stand from other reasons than your own choosing." Ryerith makes a full-throated croon at Dee's knowledgeable attentions and Aislara tries to look away before the heavier sadness mars her expression. That could easily be interpreted by the mention of the lost green but it had not bothered her as much with their last conversation. The greenrider tries to rally her mood and looks back to Dee. "How are the other candidates? Are you all getting along okay? No issues?" "Perhaps stupid," Dee admits with a wan smile, "for the very concerns you harbor." Her hand doesn't tire so easily and so Ryerith receives more of her indulgent attentions. The pucker of the skin between the brunette's brows betrays having seen and caught the expression Aislara sought to hide, though her next words are an answer to the older woman's question. "The candidates are... alright. Some more than others, I suppose. Nasci came from Lux's Ledge and is worried for her child and family. After the landslide... she says things are bad and the Hold and Weyr aren't doing anything to help." She looks uncomfortable as she shares this, uncomfortable because of the obvious feelings of worry and care she has for the older girl. "I think it matters more to the people who knew Oenamis," the candidate who died in the landslide. "But..." She sighs and shrugs. What can they do? "Are you okay?" is the last question, brows lifting, genuine concern showing in her face for whatever it was that brought about that look. "Is it... the green?" Aislara looks surprised by that turn of conversation as she looks back to Dee with lifted brows. "Really? I hadn't heard anything about it," she adds, a blush rising to her cheeks in darker contrast to the general flush of heat that the springs bring to her skin. "How horrible that she feels that way. Has she spoken to the Weyrwoman?" Her concern can only serve as a deflection for her own feelings for so long before Dee's pointed question draws her back. She's a horrible liar and so she simply shakes her head. Unwilling, or unable to, she doesn't directly answer the question. "It isn't the green," she manages after an awkward silence passes. A glance at Ryerith may signal where the prompting for speaking came from. "Life can be hard sometimes," she offers with a shrug. She lifts a handful of water to splash over her face with a sigh. "I don't know," is easy enough to answer even if Dee still looks deeply troubled by Nasci and her woes. "But the Weyr was there for the landslide and picking up the pieces. They have to know," don't they? The girl chews her lip a moment before sighing softly, a sound that leads into her apology. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to pry," of Aislara's own sadness, "or add to your-- there's a lot going on, it seems like, for everyone." Hazel gaze lifts to the woman only a handful of turns her senior, "Whatever it is, I'm sorry you're-- sad," she hazards the word, uncertain of if it's apt to describe what she saw in the greenrider's face. "I hope... everything works out, with whatever it is." It's not a closure of the topic, but simple respect for boundaries that she daren't cross just now. "Should I leave you two?" The question comes from an obvious desire not to be intruding, her hand withdrawing from the green while she awaits an answer. "Be brave enough to speak up for your friend if she can't herself. Sometimes people simply don't see the struggles of others," Aislara advises. She shakes her head at the apology and turns to make her way towards the pools edge and a towel. "Thank you for your kindness," she talks as she dries off and collects her clothes. "We will leave you to bathe on your own. We have things to get back to." Ryerith and Aislara each exit the baths and at some point during their leaving, they each pause to consider the other woman. Dee seems to have made a solid impression on the pair now. "I'll help her," Dee answers the first resolutely, but with a nervous sort of swallow and a glance away from the greenrider that has nothing to do with her naked body now being in motion out of the pool. Dee obligingly slides down off Ryerith, offering the green a small smile all her own. As they depart, the candidate glances their way before letting fall a heavy breath to the steamy pool she still occupies. |
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