Logs:Maudlin Drinking
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| RL Date: 2 May, 2015 |
| Who: K'del, Lilah |
| Involves: Fort Weyr, High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: K'del and Lilah are both waiting for Ali. They chat. |
| Where: Beach Lounge, Southern Weyr |
| When: Day 13, Month 9, Turn 37 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Aishani/Mentions, Ali/Mentions, Astivan/Mentions, Azaylia/Mentions, Elise/Mentions, Farideh/Mentions, Hattie/Mentions, Iolene/Mentions, Irianke/Mentions, N'muir/Mentions, Nala/Mentions, R'hin/Mentions, S'dellan/Mentions, Vaion/Mentions |
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| Certainly the perpetually shining sun set off against ocean spray and the hint of breeze catching a bright fabric and twisting it here, or finding the umbrella of a drink and sending it flying there, is enough to make anyone want to stay a while at Southern, even when ostensibly they are here running errands or doing other such political, boring things. That is likely why said wind has picked up and twisted bright, red curls as Lilah almost lounges on one of those wicker chairs on the beach. There's no drink in hand, but her skirt has been shamelessly hiked to reveal too-white legs to the Southern sun as she watches the waves, her hand shading over her eyes. Eliyaveith is a distant shadow on another, privater beach that though it sees humans sometimes, is more often the exclusive domain of dragons. K'del's visits to Southern are common enough that he's no stranger to common hangouts, though most of his time is spent with his family rather than seeing the sights. Today, however, the bronzerider-- clad in shorts and a light shirt, no shoes-- meanders in to the lounge, ordering himself a drink before he turns to look around. Given the number of people he's familiar with, down here, can probably be counted on one hand (well-- maybe two), it's clearly a surprise for him to stumble upon a familiar face. "Lilah?" he says, approaching. Above, Cadejoth has been enjoying the winds, but he seeks Eliyaveith out with curiosity, now; is she well? The twist of the goldrider's body towards the sound of her name also brings her flicking her skirt down, straightening it to present a more presentable picture before Lilah truly catches sight of K'del and abandons that attempt. Clearly, he no longer ranks onto the list of people who she needs to look her best for. "I'm waiting for your weyrmate," she answers to the Weyrleader as he approaches, offering a soft smile for him. But she adds in light reproach, "Who gets to see you much more than I do, I am sure." "You and me both, then," says K'del, whose mouth turns up into an amused smile as he swings into the chair alongside Lilah's. "Guess we miscommunicated over when she'd be free, and-- well. It's good to see you. Been a while." Perhaps he's ignoring her reproach; perhaps he's teasing her. His glass is set down upon the armrest of his chair-- he tests, carefully, to make sure it isn't about to fall off-- as he adds, "Heard about your big storm. All's well now, I hope?" « The little ones are well, » is Cadejoth's prompt answer; he's amused by her interest. « As am I. They grow so quickly. » « I wish they would never grow, » is a wistful thought carried from Eliyaveith's warmth, only half serious. And then, more serious by far, she adds a soft, gentle, « I am sorry about your mate, » that must be a spillover from Lilah's thoughts, for the queen to even remember. Lilah's smile lingers where K'del's appears, humor allowed to infuse her quick response of, "I will rock, hide, knife you over who gets her next. Especially since I think that mine will last not quite as long as yours. Maybe." She slides a thoughtful look sideways to the Weyrleader in his chair. "We are surveying the damage today. We lost one of our ledges and there's other damage besides. And if the holds are as bad as they say--." She dismisses that with a shake of her head, before continuing, "That is why I am here today. I am hoping that Southern has some young people to spare to come up north. Help rebuild, possibly Stand." Cadejoth, by way of reply, imagines an army of tiny dragons: wave after wave, walking out of the hatching grounds and never growing any larger. Plainly, the idea amuses him, though it falters as the queen reminds him of Hraedhyth. « I do not remember her well, » he admits. « I am sorry she's gone. » K'del sticks out his tongue for the implication of his visit, though seriousness rather rapidly takes over, and he nods. "You've my blessing to take as long as you need with her. I've a stack of work with me, in any case, and I'd like to make the most of the sun... my acting weyrwoman's not much enamoured of my visits south." "Is she not?" Lilah questions with quick, sparked interest for K'del's last statement, the weight of her gaze on him as encouraging as it can ever be as she waits for him to continue that. It is almost a blanket of warmth that extends in offer from Eliyaveith to Cadejoth, wrapped around him whether he wants it or not by the too-concerned gold that offers it. « We are sorry that she is gone. But we are glad that you hatched another, » queen, probably, not mate, since she shares that distant memory of watching High Reaches' newest break shell. K'del's smile is bland. Before answering, he reaches for his drink, swishing around the ice for a moment before he sips, swallows, and finally says, "She feels I'm away from the Weyr too often. That the Weyr suffers because my priorities are split. I'd argue-- well." He shrugs. "It is what it is. One of our queens will rise-- Irianke believes it will be Farideh's, but I'd prefer not-- and there's no reason to believe Cadejoth will catch, though he'll certainly chase. If I've two more turns in the job, I'll at least make them good turns." Cadejoth leans in to Eliyaveith's warmth, pleased and comforted (though he does not seem to need that comforting, especially); it's nice. « She is a solid queen, » he states of the newest High Reaches queen. « Even if she is not of my line. We're pleased. » Mostly. Sort of mostly. A soft, thoughtful noise catches on Lilah's lips for K'del's answer, though she first reaches for that glass to take from him (like any true friend, not caring whether he wants to share or not) before she offers him, "I hope it is not her's, as well, but if timing holds true--. I could not imagine taking the reigns of the Weyr fresh out of weyrlinghood." A pause and a self-deprecating smile that proceeds her adding, "I am sure many people couldn't imagine me as senior now still." The goldrider glances lightly towards Ali's own Weyrwoman's weyr, a subtle thing that turns into a look towards the ocean before adding, "I remember a conversation a long time ago about what you would do if he didn't catch again." Eliyaveith approves of solid queens, surely, given her own proportionate size and build; but there is a threaded thought that offers, « Your line will continue. » K'del relinquishes his glass, amused, and leans backwards in his chair to consider what Lilah has to say. "Not sure any goldrider is ready for it straight out of weyrlinghood. I sure as anything wasn't ready to be Weyrleader. And Farideh-- she's young. She's got a long way to go, and despite the things Irianke and I disagree on... she's a good weyrwoman." He shrugs, then. "Guess we'll just have to see what happens." Of Ali, he makes no comment, though surely he's seen that glance. "Mmm. If it happens, it happens." « It will, » Cadejoth confirms, certain. « I have clutched many strong bronzes. » And there are others, too: his line already spreads-- it is Telgar's line, now, too. That glass is lifted for a long sip before Lilah offers it back, though she does so reluctantly before calling him on, "That is such a bullshit answer, K'del. You should have a plan, if it does. You have to have thought about it." A pause, before she more pointedly adds this time, "You and I both know Ali's Weyrleader is an ass, and if Isyath were to rise after Farideh's or Irianke's..." But she doesn't press those ideas of hers right this instant, instead choosing to watch the Weyrleader. "Irianke is a good weyrwoman. But you are a good Weyrleader, as well." Eliyaveith's golden chains link her to a queen not so far away, and from this queen, she draws a connection to Cadejoth too. Not the one who is his rider's weyrmate, but the other. That is all she will add to that, before she offers, « You may join me on the beach. » K'del's brows raise over that glass, blue eyes watching Lilah rather than focusing on the sip he is now attempting to take. "Cadejoth," he says, "has never caught Isyath. He's chased several times, and never. Besides... High Reaches is my home. Would you leave Fort in order to be senior?" Turning the question around on her, he straightens; the glass gets set down again. Cadejoth knows of this queen, too; the one that links them all. They are all connected; she's quite right. His thoughts are of the air-- of thermals and currents, and the sheer joy of free flight. But he descends, now, towards her. « There will be eggs on your sands soon, too. » "Yes," is Lilah's immediate answer to that, without hesitating. (Surely, she might not mean it if given the opportunity, yet.) "Some of us are born to lead, and when we're called to help then that is what we do. You and I both know that your being Ali's Weyrleader would be a help, regardless of the rest. Perhaps he would win. If you couldn't lead at High Reaches--." As soon as he abandons the glass, she leans forward to retrieve it again. « More brothers and sisters, » Eliyaveith agrees, and certainly there's a happiness in that to be found, enough to eclipse any buried, unfilled drives. K'del's fingers curl about the wicker of the chair, his expression too turn between emotions to be easily read. "Maybe," he allows. "Maybe. Shells, I don't know. It'd be easier, being here. Working with Ali. Being near my kids. Washing my hands of High Reaches, when--" But his head turns, gaze turning out towards the ocean, staring darkly. Cadejoth has no words to comment on the other; no thoughts, either. Instead, his contentment is focused upon: « Good, » he enthuses. « Good. » "When you lose?" challenges Lilah to that dark stare, her own dark eyes watching K'del intently over the rim of his glass as she takes a sip. Good; that is a word to be echoed with warmth and sunshine, with heat as she curls close to Cadejoth once he's joined her on the beach. Babies are good; his babies, Elaruth's babies, their babies. "When everything changes, all over again." K'del lets that hang; he sounds morose. When he glances back at Lilah, it's so he can reach out to reclaim the glass. Quietly, "It's hard, sometimes. Battling. Farideh can't stand me, Irianke doesn't approve of how I spend my downtime, and--" His expression turns mulish. "And now I'm sounding sorry for myself, aren't I? Go on, slap me about a bit and tell me to get over myself. How are you?" And Eliyaveith's babies; Cadejoth's pleased to include them, too. Confident, too. He nestles up against her, managing even to keep his restless tail from being too full of movement. All is well. "Farideh is young; she once was convinced that I was morally corrupt for allowing Dice to exist, for endorsing it," Lilah points out, shaking her head lightly before she reluctantly allows the glass to go back to its owner once again. "She will mature with age. Irianke-- Well, she is certainly already her own person. You just need to show her why you are Weyrleader of High Reaches." The goldrider is confident in those words, confident in him that he can as she finally offers a firm smile to K'del. "Things are-- What they are. Vaion seems just as bad as Astivan, except that N'muir is cuddling up with him. Hattie seems to have decided that she's done with me, or she's tired of me. She--." A pause, before she adds quieter, "R'hin's decided he's done with me, too. You could make it a pattern, if you wanted." Quietly, "I'm sorry." It's genuine. K'del turns up one corner of his mouth, something like a sad smile, and then sips. The glass is offered back again: go on, take it. "I'm not done with you, for what it counts. Such as it is." Beat. "Least we're both alive and kicking." "It's stupid. I'm a weyrwoman," holds a weight of expectation for herself, though Lilah isn't above accepting back that sympathy and glass. She even lifts it in a salute, repeating with a little stress on the words for K'del's benefit, "Kicking. We aren't going down without someone having bruised ankled." "Damn straight," is K'del's reply-- firm, and even almost cheerful. "Can't let them get us down. We just do the best we can, right? And move on from there. You and I both know we're good at our jobs, and worth believing in. Not our fault when other people can't see that-- except that it just means we need to prove it to them." Now, clearly, he wants that glass back, but he's a gentleman; he'll wait. "Wouldn't take R'hin too personally, if I were you, in any case." Lilah sneaks a so quick sip in after her last before she offers that glass back, shameless enough to even flash a smile for all that she's left him. "Too bad we can't just go around telling everyone else about each other--." But as the Weyrleader brings R'hin up again, her lips tighten into a line, though not without a quick, curious look. But instead, she'll say dismissively, "How else am I supposed to take it? He isn't the first to do this. Not even the second. Even Nala can't stand to be around me." Of R'hin, K'del says, carefully, as he turns the mostly-empty glass in his hand, "He's had a bad time, of late." He pauses, then shakes his head. "He's barely been at High Reaches. Don't know the details, but... I'd wager a lot that it's not so much about you as about whatever's on his mind. Know Azaylia's death didn't help anything; they were friends. Closer than Azaylia and I were." He attempts a rueful smile before draining the rest of the glass. "I'm sorry about Nala, though." "You've lost a lot of goldriders," is said softly, a simple statement that seems to expect more of a response as Lilah turns her attention back onto K'del with the study of dark eyes. "Me?" wonders K'del, sounding wryly bitter. "Or High Reaches?" Lilah's brows curve upwards in silent answer, rather than answer that. K'del looks away, focusing out over the horizon again. "Too many," he says. "Too many in the past turn and a half, and then the ones before that, too. Iolene. Even as far back as Satiet." "I am sorry," Lilah offers finally, her lips twisting into the hint of a frown. "For Azaylia and Aishani, and the ones before that I didn't know." She shakes her head, almost dismissing, before she states firmly, "Your luck will change, soon. Maybe it is a good thing that your queens will not be your line." "Farideh blamed me," says K'del, now. "Because I wasn't there." But he stops, dipping his fingers into the glass to fish out some ice. "But you're right-- she has a lot of growing up to do. It's just-- well. Yes. It will change. Maybe you're right about that, too." He puts the ice in his mouth. "And there I go," he says around it, "Being maudlin again." A smile quirks on Lilah's lips as she attempts to lighten the conversation with her own dismissive, "I am always right; you should have learned that by now. We would save a lot of time that way." She won't linger on those subjects, either, as she adds to change them with an easy transition of, "Speaking of, I have gotten Hattie to consider my idea. The Inter-Weyr games. As long as N'muir agrees too--. We'll only need to deal with the Council." K'del's laugh is dry rather than enthusiastic, but at least he seems genuine enough. In either case, his attention is certainly caught by the other topic. "I'll raise it," he promises. "We can make it happen. Surely if you can get Hattie on board, she can convince N'muir." Happier topic. Perhaps this one can even stay happy until it's time to go! "We will need the marks, with the storm--. Though, if our holders aren't able to tithe, I do not know if the Weyrleaders will agree to dig into our own stocks in promise of future earnings," muses Lilah at that, her lips drawing into a tight line at the thought before she shakes her head. "Or if what she told me before she seemed to start hating everything I said is still valid." Mention of the storm draws a tighter line to K'del's mouth, too, as he nods. The ice in his mouth crunches beneath his teeth, and is finally swallowed. "I'm sorry that things are difficult with her. Wish there was something I could do to help." "We could run off and make our own Weyr. You can be Weyrleader, like the excellent one that you are, and I will be Weyrwoman, and--," starts Lilah, but even she can't finish that train of thought. Instead, she shakes her head in dismissal yet again before rising from her chair. She suggests, "Or you can buy me a drink." "Don't let me get you drunk. Not sure Ali would appreciate it, and I can just imagine it getting back to your Weyrwoman, and--" But K'del is drawing himself to his feet, gathering up his empty glass and then offering Lilah his arm. "Things'll get better. Let's drink to that, mm?" "I am a good drunk; I hide it well," assures Lilah, for all that K'del knows that is a lie, as she slides her hand through that offered arm and let's him lead her to the bar for that optimistic drink. Lie or not, K'del doesn't argue. Anyway: drinks, yay! |
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