Logs:A Diplomatic Escort
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| RL Date: 14 April, 2013 |
| Who: Aishani, Vienne |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Aishani asks Vienne for her help with her upcoming visit to Tillek. (Backscene) |
| Where: Southern Rim of the Bowl, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 2, Month 7, Turn 31 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: Warm sunshine and cloudless skies make for a beautiful day and pleasantly warm evening. A breeze tempers the heat with no humidity lingering in the air. |
| Mentions: N'gan/Mentions, Edeline/Mentions |
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| Southern Rim of the Bowl, High Reaches Weyr Directly opposite the sharp spikes of the Reaches' characteristic spires lies the bowl's south rim, from above seeming pinched like a baker's pie crust to form this distinctive lip: a soft curve, several dragonlengths long but only four lengths wide before narrowing into impassable crags. It would have to be an apprentice effort, however, given how even the flatter area is riddled with cracks and hollows, dusted with glittery silicate quartz that is far more gritty than sweet. Though the view down into the bowl is commanding, the views beyond it can be absolutely breathtaking on clear days: eternally snow-capped mountains descending to high-altitude meadows and the dark brush of evergreens, and greener valleys beyond even those, with only glimpses here and there of human habitation. But the views come with a risk: the wind can blow hard and strong, and whether looking inward or outward, there is no protection from the precipitous chasms that fall away from these heights. It's fairly common for Iesaryth to send a trickle of seawater or a spray of foam Oswinth's way to inquire after him and his rider; ask his to meet hers for drinks or for lunch now and then. But this time, there's a request that they both attend the queen and hers high above the Weyr on the rim, where she likes to perch on clearer days and watch the traffic come in and out of the bowl. The gold is making an effort not to take up too much space, Aishani beside her, wrapped up in her jacket against winds that still chill despite the warmer weather, dark curls whipping behind her in tendrils. Oswinth receives her touch, be it trickle or spray, and lets it fuel the fresh whirring of his mind, seawater and foam all part of the moving pieces. With a deference that is both polite and thankful for the lightness of her touch, the blue assures her that they will attend. No mention is made of the way his shoulder is aching, no complaint for his queen, but there's a weird hitch in his flight, wobble that shouldn't be there as he wings in, a stiffness that keeps him from folding into quite the right comfortable repose once he's settled on the rim. But he wuffles politely to the gold, head drawn in as if a lift of his chin could offend someone. Vienne should probably have brought her jacket, but she's been very bravely facing this farce of a season that High Reaches calls summer with only a cardigan for protection, and now she wraps it snug as she approaches Aishani, a smile laughing at herself and the way the wind keeps blowing her hair in her face. "Breezy," she remarks, trying to catch a piece and tuck it behind her ear, which lasts for about half a second. It's apologetic, Iesaryth's rumble of greeting, as Oswinth lands, and she looks him over and hovers somewhat protectively, looks over at Aishani with faint accusation, as if the gold herself doesn't have anything to do with the locale. "She blames me, now," she calls to Vienne over the wind, wrinkling her nose. "I'm sorry, I should have had her see how he was first." Meanwhile, her dragon will arrange herself into a massive windbreak for the blue and his rider - if it likewise helps hers, that's only because she's so nearby. With an eyeroll, "A little. But it's a good place to talk. I like the view too. How are things?" "No," Vienne is quick to say with a shake of her head. Behind her, Oswinth makes some effort to tuck his wing more completely. "He's... he'll be all right. The drills have just been..." Her mouth presses tight and twists to the side with her reluctance to linger over her recent experiences with the life of a 'fighting' pair. Oswinth moves into the windless nook created by the queen, a hacking rumble of appreciate for which he'll offer her a brief vision of the Weyr as if every single lifeform in it were visible, moving and teaming in the rocky walls, a veritable hive of activity accompanied with a surging buzz. That's what they're looking at, right? Vienne, whether she's seeing the overblown activity or just what's available to the naked eye, smiles. "It's a good view," she agrees. "I've been... well enough. I'm still waiting for summer." She flashes a rather impish smile and unfolds the collar of her sweater to better cover her neck. "How are you?" With a sidelong glance at the blue, "You could... well. If it gets bad enough, there are options." Aishani is almost visibly reluctant to offer those up, given Oswinth's not technically injured, and dragons do have their pride. She has her own air of apology for even bringing it up before moving on, while Iesaryth is fascinated by the blue's conception of the Weyr, taking it all in before, agreeably, « Yes. » Aishani has a smile for Vienne, for the view, nodding. "The perspective is nice. And I'm afraid this... is it. I went south for a few days, to be honest - and I do feel better for it. You actually came up... which is the reason I wanted to see you. Other," she notes lightly, grinning, "Than the pleasure of your company." "It's better today than yesterday," Vienne offers up, her smile grateful for the concern, from both Aishani and Iesaryth. "The healers do want him to fly a bit. A little is good, you know? Just... he needs a few days off from the wing." Which is tough, it would seem, for both of them, if the bluerider's heavy exhale is any indication. "So you mean directionally south instead of symbolically," she figures with a quirk of a smile. And it doesn't take a genius to assume what kind of company she might have had on her break from the Weyr, not that Vienne voices those asumptions aloud. She just chuckles a bit shyly to have been a topic of conversation. "All good things, I hope?" "Well... If it takes going to the dragonhealers, go. If he needs the time, they'll be certain to make sure he gets it." Aishani says that with total certainty, her trust in - and perhaps some little fear of - specific dragonhealers absolute. Her lips quirk for Vienne's little joke, and she says dryly, "This time, directionally. And yes, not much, but nothing bad. Just a little about your background... and that you might be a good escort for a trip I'd like to make. To Tillek." She watches the bluerider's face for her reaction, but even as she is, she's admitting to the former Harper, "I know I've left it too long." "We've been," to the dragonhealers. Vienne assures it with a nod, with a look back at her small lifemate tucked rather contentedly beside the gold, if still just a touch uneasy to have his weakness discussed, however delicately. His wing stretches and tucks again, just to try to work that sore muscle into relaxation. But certain mentions have Vienne's smile ebbing. "My background," she repeats, not quite wary, but a little more reserved. It almost makes it something of a relief when Tillek comes up and the bluerider's thoughts are swiftly drawn into the intriguing puzzle of a situation. "Have you heard anything from them? Have you been talking to N'gan?" Between the bluerider's reassurance and the blue's discomfort, Aishani merely leaves the issue of Oswinth with her own nod, though Iesaryth seems concerned still. It's her way. Though the not-quite-wariness from Vienne might arch fine brows ever so faintly, she's content to discuss the matter at hand: her impending diplomatic duties. "Nothing from them, not really. Things have been remarkably quiet. And N'gan... I thought about it. But he's doing very well. He'd be a credit to them, should they choose to hear news of him." A pause. "It wouldn't be right, if he's not thinking about certain things, to bring them up. We deal with our family issues in different ways. I won't give the weyrlingmasters more issues." It's not that Vienne doesn't agree, of course, just that she cants her head as Aishani describes pieces of the puzzle, her expression going distant with thought. "I don't really know much about Tillek," she says. "Or what happened at the hatching. For them, for him. Things that might have been said." Clearly she knows that he impressed when he probably shouldn't have, since she was able to pluck his name out of the air. "You've spoken to the weyrlingmasters about him," she would deduce. "Have they approached him? Everyone processes differently, but..." There's a little bit of firmness that takes her brow as her gaze shifts toward the barracks somewhere below. "I've had reports from the weyrlingmasters, spoken to them some, but I haven't yet asked specifically, no. I suppose I ought to." But Aishani still sounds reluctant, folding her arms as she follows Vienne's gaze. "It's hard for anyone whose family doesn't understand. Maybe he doesn't care, but if he does..." A little shrug. "I don't feel all that qualified for these judgments. I should ask Meara." If not Quinlys, perhaps only due to the problem, the experience required for it. Glancing back over to the bluerider, "They were quite angry. I'm not sure if they saw him before leaving or not. High Reaches left the next day. I don't know if that matters." With a purse of lips, "My knowledge of Holders is somewhat limited." No Weyrwoman to train either goldrider, really - nor the most conventional upbringing for Aishani Vijay. "I'm not sure either," Vienne muses, speaking now of the Holders' visit. "It depends. Sometimes they have things to get back to, sometimes not. Some people like to linger and socialize, some are less fond. Some expect a good deal of... attention." All reasons for variable lengths to visits that have nothing to do with the quality of their hostess. But her gaze is still stuck down by the barracks and she wets her lips. "It's different. Being claimed from the stands. It's a choice made for you, out of the blue. I haven't really... thought much about him. I should have." Limitations all around. As if she hadn't thought of it - it's quite possible she forgets, sometimes, Aishani suggests, "You should have a word, maybe. As much as it's something children dream of, I suppose the reality is different. It's always nice to feel someone understands, yes?" With a slight, regretful smile for Vienne, "There hasn't precisely been a lot of time." She's quiet for a time, listening to the wind an leaving the bluerider to her thoughts before, "I'm given to understand that when one makes these sorts of visits, they come accompanied by someone 'friendly and approachable' to hang about and be such so as to chat with people and be thereby enlightened by said conversation. I thought you might be good at that." "Eventually you start to grow and get different dreams," Vienne says quietly. "Maybe he's relieved. Maybe he's free of something he didn't really want. Or maybe not." She takes a breath that seems to push N'gan from her mind, the perfect thing to fill those quiet beats that Aishani leaves her. The bluerider returns her attention with an apologetic smile for her trip down sympathy lane. "These sorts of visits." She has to repeat the words for all the bits to snap together, that words like 'escort' were bandied about. Her expression can't help but brighten a little. "I'd be happy to help, if I can," she answers with a dutiful kind of nod that help balance what might otherwise look like enthusiasm. "I feel... with Oswinth needing a break, I'm glad there's another way for us to be useful." Because chasing around after fake-thread feels so very useful to begin with. Particularly when this pair has no talent for it. With a nod, "Maybe that's why things are going well for him. But who knows." Aishani shakes her head a little, frowning, perhaps trying not to put her particular issues of familial estrangement on everyone whose impression causes problems. Looking back to Vienne, with some relief for her agreement, for the enthusiasm even, "Thank you. I'm grateful. I know that you'll be more than useful. As I said, I'm not... as skilled in these areas as I'd like. I know enough to come bearing gifts." There's a faint smirk. "And be polite. Knowing I have... backup, in a sense, will make me feel better." Getting information? That could go one way or the other. Vienne shakes her head, her smile broad. "You're more skilled than most," she points out, faith shining in her grin. "You'll be fine. I don't think there's really all that much to do other than be polite. Or trying to apologize, I guess, on behalf of dragonkind. We're used to it, in a Weyr -- the way our lives are entwined with theirs. That some part of our fates are dictated by circumstance and not decision. But I don't think Holders have an easy time with that. They want someone to blame." She's gone a little distant there, again, mind drifting off into the theory of people rather than the focusing on the individuals involved. She realizes it belatedly and it makes her smile, one again, apologetic. "Is there anything in particular you want me to, other than listen? Anything you want me to... suggest?" Refusing to be all that hopeful, Aishani gives Vienne a skeptical glance, wry when she says, "You'd be surprised. And I have some sympathy for her, honestly. The Weyr lost her child, then took her intended heir. I can't imagine how that... well." She purses her lips and looks down over the Weyr. "They can blame us all they like, as long as they forgive us. I suppose that's the main thing." The questions have her thoughtful, and she considers them for a few moments before, "Just... see what you can find out without being obvious. People like to talk to you, so... let them, I suppose. And if polite is most of that, I can do it. Iesaryth will make sure of it." Flashing a grin for that, looking back to the queen, "Let's get down out of this wind. So you can enjoy the summer, such that it is." |
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