Logs:Gaining Understanding
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| RL Date: 22 May, 2015 |
| Who: K'del, Keysi |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Weyrling and Weyrleader meet up by the lake. |
| Where: Lake Shore, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 16, Month 11, Turn 37 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: H'kon/Mentions, Quinlys/Mentions, T'mic/Mentions |
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| The sun is bright, this afternoon, warm despite the chilly breeze coming down off the mountains and heralding the approach of winter. It's too nice to be stuck indoors, and so a fair few High Reachians have ventured out, enjoying the shores of the lake (if not the lake itself; brrr). Amongst them is K'del, who has claimed a sunny rock and perches atop it, his legs crossed, one hand resting atop each knee. Theoretically he's working-- or so the roll of hide in front of him might suggest-- but it's plain enough from his expression that his attention is focused rather more on the game of chase a few of the weyr's children are indulging in. "I cannot copy the wing patterns in the time it takes you to fly the ledges five times." Keysi's voice becomes steadily more audible as she crosses the small segment of Bowl from barracks to lake shore."It's not an excuse. I have to memorize them, not just scribble things as fast as possible. Besides you really do need a bath." ... "No, it's not a waste of time. I know that you're still itchy." It sounds like an argument, but it's the kind of banter that's enjoyable and more than willingly taken on. It's not entirely obvious, though, given how level her voice remains, how her face still lacks most expressions. Neianth ghosts behind her still, not quite as easily as he once did when he was knee-height. Now that he's significantly taller than she at his shoulder, he's not quite the little shadow he once was. Wings are mantled behind them, though, like an overly-dramatic backdrop as they approach. Keysi isn't ignorant of those present, taking note as she approaches with a looking over.. and then a second look, a not-so-dramatic double take at the one on the rock. "The Weyr letting you take a moment for yourself, sir?" "Just one, and only if I'm very sneaky about it," answers K'del, instantly lifting his face so that he can smile brightly in Keysi's direction. "Keysi. Neianth. How are you both?" He scrambles forward, abandoning his rock in lieu of getting closer to the pair of them, gaze studying Neianth with obvious and visible interest. "Unfortunately I think you are too recognizable suspect to be out in public as a hiding place." Her dry humor comes, but there's something missing in Keysi's voice that makes it lose its volume- is it her overconfidence? Smugness? The weyrling doesn't reflect his bright smile- though she wouldn't in the best of circumstances, and in fact her grey eyes drop to the ground in front of him. Even Neianth is unsettled by her change, huffing a warm breath at her back, a quiet hiss drawn through his teeth. "We are doing well." She answers, pulling off the oversized worn rider gloves to stuff into her left pocket. "Busy. Busier now. Every month it seems overwhelming, only to add more on the next. But he enjoys it. We do." There's a pause, a bare hand touching the muzzle that's all too curiously invasive around her shoulder. "And you, Weyrleader? Recovering?" Her word choice intentional, as always. K'del, too, is aware of that shift; and of Neianth's reaction to it, gaze sliding between the pair of them before settling more certainly upon Keysi herself. His smile is less bright, now, but still present in modified form, and his words remain, on the whole, light. "I remember," he says. "All too well. It's... intense. Exhausting. As long as you enjoy it." Of that, at least, he's approving. "Congratulations on that thread of yours," is, perhaps, slightly more probing. "Very well, thank you. Things-- progress. We make new patterns, and work out new approaches. Keeps me busy, anyway." "Honestly, sir," Keysi starts, her stern, serious eyes return to K'del and in essence she's lost no intensity in whatever change is there. "There isn't anything about this that I dislike. With Neianth, the training is nothing but competition and new goals. The learning now that we've passed beyond the basics is.. And wing and thread theory?" There, there's the hint of a grin at the edges of her lips. Fleeting it may be, but the excitement that simmers beneath that mask she keeps so rigidly in place is evident. If not evident in her face, it is in her dragon who rumbles, the brown's faceted eyes whirling in blue-greens. A mirror of her reaction- her real reaction. "I may not have even scratched the surface of what you do every day, but if it's a glimpse, maybe I can understand why you put up with all the hardships too." The sudden openness is cooled by his congratulations, for which she nods. "Thank you." Formal, and then, "And thank you for.. everything. I don't believe I ever had the chance to give you further gratitude." K'del's response is instantly pleased for her comments on weyrlinghood, the enthusiasm of his nod echoing the returned brightness of his smile. "Good," he enthuses. "That's as it should be. I--" A beat's pause, as he registers the rest of her comments, those last ones in particular. "You're welcome, Keysi, though no thanks were ever needed. I'm glad to see you doing so well. After..." A beat. "Everything." "It does not seem to be the vast majority of opinion." Keysi adds, her storm-grey gaze shifting towards the barracks and lingering there. She'd not give names, as it isn't important. There's a draconic correction made before she can be through with her thought, after which she sighs, "But yes, everyone has their own challenges to rise to." She slowly shakes her head once as if not intending to let it be dismissed after acceptance, "I believe you get more push back than appreciation. If I may, it's your duty.. your job, but.." She's not even sure where she's going with that, so she lets it drift off. Again, K'del allows his gaze to flick towards the young brown, evidently acknowledging his contributions as he does so. "It's-- it can be a difficult adjustment," is what he says, evenly enough, clearly not aiming to pass judgement on any of Keysi's fellows. Quietly, "I appreciate that. Honestly. Think it's just that... it's easier to push back and disapprove; for all of us, likely. Especially in retrospect, when more things become clear. That's why it's important to study the past, but also to... recognise that decisions get made with what information is there. If that makes sense. And," more heartily, "I love my job, whatever people say of me. So. Will you still attempt to resume your apprenticeship?" Guilty of a certain degree of it herself, though not towards K'del exactly, Keysi is shoved by Neianth from behind, his tail flicking in impatient annoyance. Oversized wingsails twitch once. She takes that unexpected step forwards and recovers with practiced balance, but doesn't bother looking over her shoulder. It was well deserved. "It is easy." The weyrling relents and perhaps admits, maybe for the sake of the brown's persistence more than the conversation. The topic change is not so much welcomed as allowed, "I want to." Keys begins, raising both palms up slightly in question, "But I feel like this is a lot in and of itself. I want to succeed at this first. This is intensive. Healing is intensive. I think we can do it. Neianth is certain we can. But I don't wish to fail at one by spreading too thin." It seems she's assuming he means 'right now' more than in the long run. Blinking, K'del gives Neianth another glance, but he's polite enough not to ask. In any case, Keysi's answer to his question draws his attention, the enthusiastic motion of his nod faltering as, ultimately, he seems to work out how she's taken the question. "Reckon you've plenty on your plate for just now," is his hasty remark, still accompanied by a smile. "Focus on weyrlinghood, first, and getting all of those basics down. Healing will wait. Besides," his dimples show, "I think Quinlys would be less than enthusiastic about divided attention." "I do not think she's enthusiastic about me in general." Keysi remarks before she can catch herself, and is quickly annoyed that she said it. She tries quickly enough to cover it up, continuing on, a hand risen to dismiss the thought before it's folded with her other over her chest. "I have the mentor they assigned, and H'kon is a great deal of help too. Every meeting we go to creates more questions. There's much to learn. But, healing isn't off the table. I realize it isn't my decision, ultimately, but I hope to become more familiar with Snowdrift." There's a shrug there, as if trying to downplay her enthusiasm that again threatens to show. "Quinlys--" K'del breaks off, expression caught between sympathetic and explaining, as if he's not quite sure how to proceed. "She's good at her job. She's got her opinions, and sometimes they're arguable, but... keep working hard, and she'll come around." He seems to think answering that is important, despite Keysi's obvious interest in moving past it. "H'kon's a solid rider; a good person to listen to. Ask your questions. Ask me, H'kon, Quinlys-- anyone at hand." Of Snowdrift, he only nods: just once, just thoughtfully. "You'll spend more time with the wings later on." "Yes, but I met her in arguement and every time we talk it seems to get right back there." There's a tone that hints at frustration in that, but it dissolves into the level, even voice she usually keeps. Keysi listens this time without immediately answering. And in that silence it's fairly evident she's regained her usual self. Neianth, too, is involved but seated back on his haunches instead of being so invasive as he was before. "He's helped a great deal when we were having difficulty adjusting." She offers on the note of H'kon, familiarity having made it easy for her to request his aide. "I don't think I should request an audience with you for any whim of question." That seems to be an attempt at humor, dry as it is. And a smirk, a slight one, tugs at her lips and lightens her face for all the seriousness that weighs it down, "I think you have a few other things on your plate." And she makes a small gesture towards the hide he'd sorta-kinda been working on when seated on the rock. Quietly, "Believe it or not," and K'del is smiling as he says this, "Quinlys likes argument. She'd be a complete hypocrite not to, given the way she carries herself, mm? It's all just a matter of harnessing it." No doubt it is easier to do that from where K'del is standing. His gaze slides back towards that side, his sigh a little wistful, a little tired. "Maybe," he agrees. "But I enjoy talking to you all. Had a good chat to T'mic, yesterday. It's nice to feel connected to you all-- you're all my riders, now, at least for the moment." Keysi studies K'del for a moment as he explains the weyrlingmaster, and although she appears to take in all that he says, it's not evident how she feels about it. It's his later remark that draws a line across her brow and causes her to slowly uncross her arms to let them fall back to her sides, "For the moment?" It's not that she's ignorant of how typical Weyr leadership works, it's just... "It may be difficult when there's another weyrleader." Maybe she's speaking at a personal level, maybe more encompassing. And, uncertain how to explain herself without giving more information than necessary, she lets it drop. "I haven't had a chance to speak with T'mic one on one lately. Does he like the added responsibility?" "New Weyrleaders are a big change for everyone," is K'del's comment on that, his tone kept studiously even. "I've no desire to lose my knot, but it's an uncertainty; there's no guarantee at all. If anything, I'd say it is unlikely I keep it. But," more firmly, "I'll be doing my best to keep it." He studies the weyrling as he says that, watching her reaction. "T'mic feels a little overwhelmed, I think, and unsure as to why he was chosen. But he's doing his best. Jorrth, I understand, likes it a lot." That cracks a smile. One could say she is particularly careful at masking any reaction to his words, but Keysi is always hard to read so perhaps it's nothing special. "High Reaches could do with some constant for awhile." Is what she finally decides is appropriate to say. "I think we all wonder that. It was.. an interesting group of choices." By no means does she say nor imply they were wrong choices. "But I think of anyone, he should have been. If anyone can calm our group, it's him, and just by being around." Humor again, dry by nature of who speaks it, but supported with a faint, fleeting grin. "I agree," says K'del, quietly, after which he seems content to abandon the topic altogether in lieu of focusing upon the other, the glimmer of a smile visible about the edges of his mouth. "It's a good lesson, isn't it? Leadership can be as simple as that. Bringing together, rather than dividing. It's an important skill. But-- you all bring something. That's why you were chosen. And," he adds, "Decisions came from more than simply Quinlys, or even Quinlys and her staff. I look forward to what all of you do, going forward, whether you take wing leadership positions or not." Beat. "If you want to give your brain a good stretch, try and work out why you were all chosen. And why others might not have been. But now--" he gestures, vaguely, back towards that hide of his. Alas. Break time is probably over. "As if your Weyrlingmaster doesn't work at giving our brains enough of a good stretch on a daily basis." It's almost accusing if her tone would fluctuate enough to make it so. It's by right of his job that he can get blamed for everything, of course. At least Keysi isn't serious about it. "I will think about it. We had enough of a rough start, I was surprised." Keys admits, quieter now. Neianth has already risen back to all-fours, a canine-like shake from head to tail given as his sign of readiness, of impatience steadily rising. "Nobody's caught you yet." The weyrling reminds him, remaining in the slightly-light mood that for her is a hard one to come by. "You could probably get away with a little more staring at nothing if you try." The brown starts moving towards the water's edge, and Keysi turns to follow, "Thank you, sir." For his time, of course. K'del's grin for that first remark is utterly amused. "You're doing well," is all he tells the weyrling, waiting until Neianth moves off before he does, too. |
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