Logs:Of Monotony
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| RL Date: 18 September, 2006 |
| Who: Maja, R'hin |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| When: Day 28, Month 2, Turn 9 (Interval 10) |
| You vault down Leiventh's side to the ground, as the dragon warbles a greeting. Maja and Vesereth's Gnarled Roots Ledge(#6912RJhs) Oak and ash define the walls of this fair ledge, the knotting, ancient trees butting up against the rough-worked stone. They're pinned there, in fact, by ironwork and careful pruning, until now the wood and rock are impossibly intertwined. Once, the wall must have been verdant with leaf and vine, but time has stolen that luxury, the cold and the wind working together until, unattended, the trees have died. Now, like bleached bones, they lean against the grey granite behind him. Their gnarled roots have nibbled away the uneven steps that lead into the weyr proper, though the remainder of the ledge is in good condition, with a nice view of the bowl. The short, steep tunnel into the interior of the weyr is rough at the start from the efforts of those once-magnificent trees, but further in even they haven't been able to move the slick stone floor. The hearth is large and thoroughly cleaned, and the heavy wooden shelves on the wall have recently been reinforced, painted black and are now covered in books, dragon supplies, and other guarding-related items. A centerpiece-- a beautiful knife decorated in jewels with a matching sheath-- is the focus of attention there. Heavy silvery curtains hang from a black rod across the storage alcove on one side of the room and the low-ceilinged sleeping room. Cracks along the walls have been patched, although they still leak slightly in the wetter seasons, but the oddly round rooms are still in good condition, though they seem awkwardly placed in relation to each other. A heavy wooden table is in the center, surrounded by chairs with iron frames and wooden seats. Cushions have been added to the seats. A heavy wooden chest of drawers sits next to a desk. Few pictures hang on the walls-- Maja's weyr is mostly plain and servicable. Contents: Leiventh Vesereth Maja Obvious exits: Sky Maja is near the back of her weyr, facing a long mirror. With grunts and yells, she kicks and thrusts, watching her own performance with narrowed eyes. In one of her hands is the knife R'hin gave to her, which she stabs, slices and faux-parries with. Vesereth watches her, head tilted to the side, examining every move she makes and most likely commenting on it. Sometimes Leiventh is apt to warn in advance of his impending arrival, and sometimes he is not. This appears to be one of the times when the angular bronze has a preference for silent, stealthy arrival, only the sharp beat of nearby wings giving hint until ivory talons scrape at Vesereth's ledge. A low, bassy greeting is offered to his clutchmate as the bronze settles enough to allow his rider to dismount. R'hin's dressed casually despite the cool winter weather, shirt covered over only by a thin jacket. Carefully cradled in the crook of his arm is a bottle of wine, jealously guarded as pale eyes focus on Maja with a curl of lips, watching with avid silence as she fights an invisible foe. Vesereth isn't unobservant, even if his rider is focused wholly on something else. He turns his head backward towards Leiventh, whuffling slightly in greeting. It doesn't appear he's told Maja, however, as the brownrider continues her practice, sweating despite the cold. She performs a terrific kick, yelling as she jumps and spins, then staggering backward as she (quite easily) notices Leiventh and R'hin's arrival. "Hello?" she manages between breaths, panting. "Vesereth?" The brown receives a long scolding stare, Maja grabbing a towel from the back of one of her chairs. "What do you need, R'hin?" R'hin actually flinches a little at the loud yell, looking a little wry, his low, amused voice answering, "Okay, I now feel a little scared. And a little turned on, I think." With the way his pale blue eyes are focused on Maja, the words might not be entirely facetious. He pulls the bottle free from the cradle of his arm, taking a step closer and offering the wine. "I come bearing gifts." Leiventh settles into place, head lowering, fairly disinterested in the goings on - not that that's unusual. Maja dabs the towel at her brow, wiping away beads of sweat. She raises her eyebrows at his first remark, though refrains from retorting, simply pulling out one of her chairs and sitting down on it. Still breathing hard, she makes a face at his 'gift'. "Gifts? I see one bottle of wine, which you know I don't drink-- anymore-- and nothing else. Was there any other reason you came?" She places the knife, still sharp and shiny, on the top of the table. R'hin's hands spread to either side, a gesture of defeat. "Okay, you've found me out. The wine is window dressing to get me in the door, so to speak." Taking her lack of sharp retort as tacit invitation, he follows her towards the table, setting the bottle on the top before pulling out one of the other chairs. Turning the chair back to front and settling down on it, he rests his arms along the back of it, eyes drifting to the knife, before flicking back up to settle on Maja. "Well, seeing as you've been trying to very effectively to avoid me, I thought -I'd- come to the mountain instead." Maja pulls a soft piece of fabric from one of her pockets, grabbing the knife and wiping at it--in case there's a possibility it might still have a speck of dust on it. That, or she thinks cleaning knives looks menacing. "I--" she begins, "I... figured I would rather leave you be. You have your life and I'll deal with mine." "And never the twain shall meet?" R'hin says, plainly, ostensibly a rhetorical question, but he pauses as if awaiting a response. "You're quite busy with your girlfriend, and... I have things to do." Maja holds up her knife, "Like train." In case the Weyr is attacked by super ninjas. "Not to mention, the last time I really-- I'm sorry for that. I shouldn't've--" She can't finish, for fear of blushing, so she just leaves it at that. A beat or two, as R'hin stares at Maja, dumbfounded. "My... what?" The puzzlement seems genuine enough, and his head shakes as he waves away her apology, "You were drunk, upset. Vunerable. I'm gentleman enough not to take advantage of you." "Aya? I don't really want to... get involved with that," Maja clarifies, putting the knife back on the table. "The last time I was, well-- the last time I was jealous I threw a shoe at someone, but that's all I had to throw," she warns, "So I'd rather not -- I'd rather stay away." She shakes her head, simply looking at him, pursing her lips together, and then crossing her arms. "It was embarrassing, is what it was." "Aya?" R'hin echoes with bemusement. "She and I are... she's -not- my girlfriend. I'm seeing her, yes, but it's not serious. She's nothing to be jealous of," he says, dismissively. "Not that I wouldn't enjoy seeing the two of you go at it, but..." the humor evidences itself with a low chuckle, fading away after a moment to seriousness as he meets her gaze, pale eyes even. "It was what it was," is all he says. Maja's wandering eyes reflect her disbelief as she listens to R'hin's explanation, and she leans back in her chair. "Would she tell me the same, if I were to ask her?" The wandering eyes finally fix on R'hin's, watching for lies if they come. "Well. So." She shivers slightly, her damp clothes finally cooling her body down. "I figured I'd leave you be." "She would," R'hin asserts, "Since I told her that myself. She was satisfied with it, as she had a weyrmate at the time herself, but nothing has changed between us since then." He seems confident enough, and there's none of the usual tells that an expert like the ex-guard can detect. His eyes rove over her, catching that shiver, and he immediately rises to shed his own jacket with the obvious intention of draping it over her shoulders, unless she stops him. "Life has been a bit dull without you, vixen. Okay, -that's- a lie, it's been eventful enough, but there's little reason you should avoid me. Unless you've decided I'm not worth knowing?" For once, he has the advantage of height, standing over her as he studies her queryingly. Maja accepts the coat and hunches over to drape it over herself, suddenly looking extremely vulnerable in such a position. "Mm," she responds, again not entirely believing. "I've found some company with Bayan," she notes, "to keep me occupied." She tilts her head up towards him, a twitch at one of her lips sign of her discomfort with the height situation. Still, she responds truthfully, "You've been a great friend, R'hin. You're worth knowing. But it's hard, knowing ... what I feel... " Her lip twitches again, and she stops, the discomfort keeping her from being entirely forthcoming with her responses. R'hin's hands might linger a little longer than necessary in settling the jacket in place before he straightens. Since she tilts her head upwards, she catches the flash of shock that flies across his expression, chased quickly by press of lips. "You-- and -Bayan-?" a hint of protective anger in his voice: "Do you even know what he--" he catches himself, turning away, though the abrupt movements bespeak continued ire. "I've no right to comment, clearly." "He's a decent fighter," Maja notes, smiling slightly. "Much better than you ever were." The smile dissipates quickly, as they so often do, and she elaborates, "I've only shared conversation with him. In fact, I'm deteremined to figure out what exactly he does do and why. But he's decent company, despite his occupation." R'hin's voice is deliberately bland, still turned away from her. "You fought me once, and I wasn't trying." He steps over to examine the mirror, studying Maja in the reflection. "I'd tell you not to, but I imagine that won't stop you. They have no business within High Reaches Weyr; that's all that concerns me." "Only once? I could've sworn--" Maja pauses, thinking. "Just once?" She finally genuinely smiles. "I owe you a fight, then." Taking a deep breath, she shakes her head, "No, no, I wouldn't stop, but only because I've found he'll often tell me hints-- and I don't want to miss the clues." A pause, "But my life -was- rather monotonous without you to talk to." R'hin says nothing; he still continues to study her in the mirror, body tense still. "Just... be careful. And remember your promise to me." He half turns back, arms folded across his chest, angry rather than defensive, giving up any pretense to calm. "Well, it seems you're doing just fine without me." Maja furrows her eyebrows, somewhat surprised at R'hin's angry remark. At first she's quiet, but she's contemplating. Then, standing (and slinging the coat onto the back of her chair), she approaches R'hin, arms still crossed. "I rather figured you would be doing better without me." Although R'hin stands his ground, Maja's approach forces him to lift his eyes in order to watch her expression. "I can't imagine why you'd think that, unless your height causes dizziness with the altitude." Her height may not make her dizzy, but it does make her feel more confident. "Perhaps because I entirely ruined our friendship by--" she begins, "--by having feelings for you." "No," R'hin corrects, sharply, "You ruined our friendship by completely avoiding me for months. Is that how you react? Run away when there's a problem?" Maja snorts, getting quite close and in R'hin's face. "I am not a coward," she insists. "I thought it was the best thing to do." "An idiot rather than a coward, then. You ought to know me better, vixen." R'hin's words almost seem reprimand deliberately provoking as he straightens slightly in response to her proximity. His arms unfold as he meets her gaze unflinchingly. "But, you'll know where to find me when you decide otherwise." Maja immediately reaches out a hand to grab R'hin's arm, holding him where he is to prevent his 'escape'. "Perhaps I made a mistake," she growls, "But you see, I believed you and Aya were together, and I didn't want to poke my head in and screw things up for you. Even if it isn't me, I want you to be happy and I didn't want to interfere." It's almost as if he was expecting the movement, and though she manages to grab his arm, R'hin likewise reaches for her other arm, with the intention of pulling her forward sharply enough to either bring her closer, or keep her off balance. "And I," the bronzerider growls, "Want you to be happy. Which you won't, with me." Maja stumbles only slightly and is pulled closer, her eyes narrowed in a nasty stare straight into R'hin's eyes--which is frightening even when she isn't inches away. "And I am fed up with hearing you tell me what I will and will not feel." R'hin's fingers tighten, as it to steady Maja, and he doesn't pull away. "Yet you did the same, did you not?" Maja snarls in immediate response, quite pissed off at this point. Still, she has nothing to say until she has thought it over. "I--" she begins, "I made a mistake," is her point, and as she says it her voice softens a little. "Okay." And R'hin's voice is abruptly soft too, letting his hand drop free of Maja's arm, the tenseness fading from his body as if a switch has been flipped. "Should I take the wine with me, or do you want to keep it? I'd rather take it, truth be told, or another trip to Benden will have to be in order shortly." Maja is actually slightly confused by the sudden change in R'hin's demeanor, staring at him blankly for a moment. "You can keep it," she vaguely answers, still staring. "You're leaving?" "I'm leaving," R'hin agrees, and shifts his weight as if to step towards the table - assuming of course that Maja reliquishes her hold on him. "And I'm going to leave it up to you to approach me next time. If you don't, I'll take it for what it is. But... I hope you do." Maja lets him go, following R'hin to the table and sitting in her chair. "Okay," she answers again in a distant voice. "I will." His coat is still hanging from the back of the chair she's sitting in. R'hin collects the bottle, cradling it in the crook of his arm once more. One last, careful look at Maja is given, before he nods and turns wordlessly away. The jacket is left where it is, but his eyes pass over it, so he's not unaware of the fact that it's there - it seems deliberate that he leaves it, to give her an excuse to come by. Leiventh's eyelids crack as the bronzerider approaches, and when he's mounted, the dragon drops silently off the ledge a heartbeat later. You clamber up onto Leiventh's back, as the dragon rumbles softly. You leap into the air. |
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