Logs:Whack You With My Cane
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| RL Date: 5 January, 2009 |
| Who: K'del, Phara |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: K'del uses his newfound freedom to visit Fort, where he meets Phara, and breaks a drought. |
| Where: Fort Weyr |
| When: Day 3, Month 9, Turn 18 (Interval 10) |
| Center of the Bowl, Fort Weyr Sandy soil and a few particularly resilient tufts of grass fill the otherwise empty plain that creates the heart of Fort Weyr's bowl. Mountain walls curve protectively to all sides, dotted with the dark entrances of the resident riders' weyrs. The bowl itself is a narrow oval, oriented northeast to southwest, with a couple of larger entrances that lead to various places that reside within the bowl's walls. The most easily accessible from here would be the weyrling barracks, which are to the west, with the infirmary off to the east. Distantly viewable to the northeast would be the Weyrleader complex, the hatching complex, and the living cavern; to the southwest, the lake and the feeding grounds can be seen. It's early enough in autumn that the weather is still if not /hot/, then certainly not too chilly - the skies are clear, brilliant blue, and the mid-afternoon air is not unpleasant. High above Fort Weyr, a pale, gaunt bronze appears from Between, and greets the watchdragon with enthusiasm before promptly diving towards the ground, his young riding clinging on madly. Mere moments later, the pair have landed towards the center of the bowl, the tall young man dismounting to look around. "Made it," he tells his lifemate, one hand lingering upon his flank. "No thanks to you, of course." From far away Pharajust looks like another dark-haired girl wearing a white dress with a wide bright pink sash around the waist and lime green scarf tied around her head like a headband and left to trail down her back, barefoot with her shoes dangling from one hand. Up close, she looks like she hasn't been getting much sleep. Her lifemate is just as flamboyantly colored, his blue hide a bright azure that catches the eye. He lingers in her wake as she ghosts across the bowl. His head turns however to regard the young bronze's maneuver with a sense of approval, his head tilted. He must draw his rider's attention because she turns to look over her shoulder and watch them decend, one eyebrow quirked in amusement. It's Cadejoth who initiates contact with the blue pair, his rider too busy looking the other way to notice them whatsoever. The bronze's rumble is enthusiastic - perhaps he noticed them watching as he landed, perhaps he's just friendly - and must be enough to shift K'del's attention, for the weyrling turns, brows lifted. "Afternoon," he calls out, tipping a polite nod in their direction. "Reaches' duties to Fort, Bluerider." It's his turn to look, his expression closely related to appraisal, though his smile is warm enough. Phara is equally appraising, though if she's appraising K'del of the same thing he's appraising her of, who knows. Another tilt of her head, like she's puzzling out his words, and then she nods her head in response. "Fort's duties, Weyrling." She takes in the bronze and her eyebrow lifts marginally higher. "Just cleared?" she queries politely. Bennath eagerly warbles back, going so far as to commend the bronze in a humming whine of an engine on idle, « Crafty landing, mister. Fancy moves. » "Few days back," agrees K'del, though there's trepidation in his tone, and his hand on Cadejoth tightens slightly. "Name's K'del, and this is Cadejoth. Never been to Fort before; looks nice, though." « Think so? Really? I like flying. I like it fast, too! » The bronze is clearly charmed by the praise, his tone as energetic as a puppy's, though clinking like rolling chains, just beneath the surface. "You going gathering, or--?" His head tilts, indicating her dress. Phara nods her head simply in acknowledgement, her eyes drifting away thoughtfully. "Fort is okay," she agrees. "I'm from Telgar originally. Moved here with my wing. It's okay, if you like cold mountains. I'd rather keep moving, so would Benny, but giving up wandering is the price you pay, I suppose, to ride a fighting dragon." One shoulder hitches, and then she looks down at herself curiously as if she'd forgotten what she was wearing. "Hm? No. It's just good to remind people I'm female sometimes. They forget. And you? Just curious, or did you have a mission here?" Unexpectedly and suddenly, she breaks into a smile. "Phara, by the by, and this is Bennath. It's a pleasure to meet you K'del, Cadejoth." Bennath's engine kicks up a notch. « And /how/. I'm one of the best fliers here. » The blue brags smugly. "Telgar?" repeats the weyrling, interested. "You'd know Tiriana, then. Don't mind the cold, myself, or the mountains. From Tillek, originally, though, so no surprise that heat isn't really my thing." He looks pleased for her answer about the dress, his hands digging into his pockets with an easy calm, and he notes, "It's nice. To see a girl dress like a girl, even if she is a rider. It's pretty. And no: just visiting, for today. Practice. And seeing the world, in the process. You too - Phara, and Bennath." Cadejoth's eagerness manifests itself in his wriggling tail, and the faint rattle of bones. « /Are/ you? Whatcha got? Maybe you could teach me something! » Phara closes her eyes at the mention of the goldrider's name. "More than know her, yeah. We stood together and I'd be happy to never see her as long as my body graces this good earth." She waves away the unpleasant woman, like flapping her hand could banish her thoughts, and then turns an interested eye on him. "Tillek, eh? I like Tillek. I like people /from/ Tillek. Good cliffs, Tillek." She nods smartly and then smooths a hand self-conciously down her stomach, smoothing her skirt away. "Hmm, you'd probably be disappointed. I'm not much of a girl." Her smirk is self-depricating, a little shy. "Ah, seeing hte world. Don't need no better reason, you ask me. Do it while you can, for sure. One of these days, Benny and I will see every inch of Pern. Well, that's our goal, at least. I'd say I'd walk every inch of it, but there's just some parts you can't walk. So I'll settle for flying over them." She rocks back on her heels, toes wiggling. Faced with a stranger, some part of her usual self is returning eagerly. Bennath struts towards the bronze, taking him in. « I'm the Real McCoy, kiddo. Sure you can keep up? » There's a buzz, and a honking horn somewhere in the distance. « Race you around the rim. » K'del's grin seems likely to split his face apart, at her reaction to Tiriana - there's some sense of satisfaction in it, too, his lips pulling together, one hand lifting to cover his mouth. "Good," is all he says, nodding squarely. "Mm, Tillek. Like the place, too, only glad I don't live in the area, anymore. Weyr's better." Her shyness just makes him smile, and he shrugs, "Figure since you /are/ a girl, doesn't matter whether you're like a /stereotypical/ girl - you still are one. Just said it's nice, for a change." The hand that was covering his mouth lifts to run through the short-cropped curls of his hair, while he nods in agreement. "Oh, I plan to. So much to see! Taking it slow for now, though." « I believe you. And I can keep up, I really can! » Instead of an answer, the young bronze just shoves himself back into the sky, wings pulling into the air. « Come on, then! » Phara pulls one edge of her scarf over her shoulder, twisting it between her fingers as she gauges his response. "Ah, I can see she's inspiring the same confidence at the Reaches as she did at Telgar. I swear, only R'uen could love that woman." Her amber eyes roll and then refocus on him. "Yeah, Tillik isn't the place to be living these days, is it?" Bennath wasn't lying, he's /fast/. He may not be the first off the ground, but the wake of his rapid ascent blows Phara's skirk out behind her, her hair ruffling back from her face. Her lips twist in chagrin. "I hope your Cadejoth doesn't mind losing. There's only a handful of dragons he's ever lost a race to in a sprint." "You know him? What's he like?" This clearly does gather K'del's interest, his eyebrows raising avidly. "She's very defensive about him." Of Tillek, he shakes his head: "Mmm, no. My family's from outside the main Hold, but still." He's laughing, at the way Bennath's take off blows at Phara's skirt and hair, turning his head to watch them go. True to her word, Cadejoth trails, despite his valiant attempt. "Nah, he doesn't mind. Figures anyone better than him is someone he can learn from. Anyway, he's bigger, so naturally not so zippy." Cadejoth's mind, throughout the flying, is full of delight: on, go, how fun, look at you go! Phara lifts her eyebrows. "R'uen? Sure, I mean, you know N'thei, don't you? But, anyways, I stood with him. But I didn't Impress, that time. I count him as a friend. He's quiet, dignified. Great sense of humor when you get to know him." She watches Bennath take the outside of the loop, and still lap Cadejoth before executing a double barrel roll with a bugle, just to really show off. "We're, uh, part of the stunt crew, I guess. Trick flying. Zippy! Hah, that is /exactly/ the word I used. I wanted a zippy dragon so bad, and.. well, there you are." She motions as the blue lands as easily as you please right where he left. « Told you. » Benny gloats. Phara tucks one strand of hair behind her ear. "Sorry about him. He's a clown." "Not really," says K'del, of N'thei, but it's a comment he seems to deem unimportant: he's far more interested in hearing about R'uen, though his brows do go up, just slightly, at her mention of not Impressing. "Huh. Can't imagine why someone like that'd want anything to do with--" But he breaks off, watching, for himself, that double barrel roll. "Oh? Nice. Can see why that'd appeal. Guess you won out on that one - he's zippy, that's for sure." He's grinning, as he re-uses the word. "I wanted a traditional bronze, all regal and what-have-you. And I got Cadejoth." By the tone of his voice, the bronze is anything /but/ that. "He's sweet," he adds, excusing Bennath, as, a few moments later, Cadejoth darts back down to the ground as well, as happy as larry, despite his loss. « Good flying! That was fun. Like the way you do those rolls. » Phara shrugs. "I hear he's not the kind of person you'd want to meet anyways," she says, her grin growing even wider. "Why would a nice, sweet guy like R'uen want to share the sheets with a nasty, snide you-know-what like Tiriana, you mean?" she supplies with more than a little glee. "Have no clue, and he's never explained it well enough for my liking. You should meet him some time, he's quite friendly. Maybe he'll tell /you/." She brushes her fingers across her cheek, lightly scratching an itch. "They aren't much fun, stately bronzes. I know a few. Not that I know you well enough to make that sort of call, but I don't think you'd be happy in the long run. He seems... more your type." She nods to the bronze and then motions. "Would you like a tour?" Bennath settles down on his haunches and looks smug. « Very fun. You should try them! They're not hard. You just have to dip your wing and the wind will flip you over. » K'del's lower lip twitches slightly, but he's apparently on his best behaviour, because that's about his only reaction to her comment on N'thei. "Yes," he says, of her next. "/That/." The lack of answer seems to disappoint him, but he nods. "Doubt he'd tell me, a stranger. Besides, I tend to piss his woman off, when I see her, so." Though genuinely dubious about being unhappy with a stately bronze, he does, glancing back at Cadejoth, smile with absolute fondness. "Maybe. Guess I wouldn't trade him for a hundred stately bronzes, now. But. Back then? A tour? Sure, that'd be great." Cadejoth considers this in his head, projecting an image of himself performing the roll, thoughtful, but eager. « I should! I just figured I might be too big to do it properly, but maybe not, if I have enough space to do it, right? » Phara laughs, and it's a sound like she puts her whole self behind it and leaves nothing held back. "Oh, I more than piss her off. We've almost come to blows before. I'd take no small pleasure in rearranging her pretty face for her." She shrugs defiantly and then nods her head and sets off across the bowl, her bare feet skipping lightly. "Where do you want to see first? The gardens, the inner caverns?" Her head turns towards the direction of each as she mentions them. "It's amazing, isn't it? The bond? Like you could never believe you existed before them or imagine existing without them ever again?" Bennath lifts his angular head towards the sky thoughtfully and agrees. « Plenty of room up there. Would you like me to show you how? » K'del watches her, as she laughs, and positively beams. "Me, too," he admits. "Mil-- a friend of mine and I, we're vaguely plotting to bring her down at some point, but it's hard. To work out how, without doing something that'll get us kicked out of the weyr or something." He follows, his pace easy, his long legs helping him keep up without too much effort. "Where do you recommend? What's your favourite place in the weyr?" For her last, his nod is fervent, his smile suddenly utterly brilliant. "Yeah," is his first attempt at a response, utterly inadequate. "Thought I knew what I was getting into, but I had-- no idea. He's perfect, even when I want to kill him." Cadejoth straightens, straining out his neck, then pushes off from the ground again, not needing another invitation. « Yes, please! That'd be so great. » Phara looks positively gleeful. "If you ever need any help with that, I'm in. I've got quite a reputation as a scoundrel. Nobody would really be surprised." This second question catches her off guard and she thinks on it. "My favorite place /in/ Fort. The garden, I suppose, if we're not counting my weyr. It's a kick in the pants, but the garden's as close to being out /there/ as one can get inside the Weyr proper." And so she sets off towards the north. "Yeah, Ben and I, we went through the tough stuff. He's really protective. He hates it when I get sulky, he's gotta find a way to pull me out. So he used to get real snarly about the people who make me sulky. Still does, in his own way, but at least he realizes that I need /friends/ aside from him." Said dragon takes off as well, though without the speed of before. Casual, teaching mode. « Alright, it's like a spiral. Except instead of turning your tail to make an arc, you tuck everything in and throw your body with your wing. When you're almost all the way around, you have to pull out of it, or else you'll just keep going. Make sure you have a lot of altitude, you're going to lose some when you roll. » Effortlessly, he demonstrates, exaggerating the adjustments and the feel of it in his mind for the bronze's benefit. "/Awesome/," says K'del, sounding positively like the teenager he is. "We /could/ count your weyr if you like..." he begins, flirting obviously, but hauls himself back, his expression, for a moment, apologetic. He has, after all, /just/ met the poor girl. "The gardens, then," he agrees, still following. "Cadejoth hates me abandoning him - that is, doing anything without him. But he's allowed to do things without me, of course. Hope you don't have too much to sulk about," he adds in there, turning his head to look at her for a moment, though without seeming to be asking for further details. "Uanth - one of Cadejoth's clutchmates - wouldn't let poor Raz get close to anyone, for a while. Backing off now, though, thankfully." Cadejoth seems to be doing his very, very best to pay attention, though he positively wriggles through the air in excitement. Once the blue has demonstrated, he soars upwards, and attempts to recreate the gesture. He's not controlled enough, though - he goes sort of /flop/, but his mind-voice is full of laughter, all the same. So close! So exciting! Phara smirks, her eyes straying towards the weyrling. "Was that a /pass?/" she asks in obvious amusement. "Yeah, some dragons, they take it how they do. I've found that almost all of them take those first few weeks selfishly though. Some are just a little more clingy than others." Her smile puckers just a little, sourly. "Ah, I'm very good at sulking. But, right now.. no reason. Will Cadejoth mind that we're walking, then, or is he suitably preoccupied?" Bennath cheers mentally with the sounds of a propeller buzzing to life and a blaring siren wail. « Good attempt! Try to angle up your left wing when you pull your right one down, that should help you come back up. » The blue is as thrilled and enthused as the bronze. "Do you want it to have been?" grins K'del, and there go those long eyelashes, fluttering. "Well, they're little babies, then, so you can't really blame them. Not sure I wanted to be that far away from him back then, either. But. As long as they grow out of most of it, it's good. Got to have a life of your own, you know? Not like you're ever /really/ apart." Again, his brows raise slightly, but he doesn't press, just smiles. "Shame, that. Nah, he's all good, so long as he's occupied." Clanging his chains together, obviously intending to make as much noise as he can, to illustrate his jubilation, Cadejoth considers Bennath's advice, then takes another attempt. This time: better. Not perfect, but definitely a roll. « Lookit! I did it! Boy, you're a great teacher. » Phara just blushes. "Just making sure I didn't misinterprit. It's been awhile since anyone has." If ever. "Yeah, babies." She sighs just a little over the word. "Well, this way!" And she dances off to skirt the lake towards the garden. Bennath raises his noise to match, the whipping of wind at great speed thrown in with the roar of an engine and the huff of steam. « Well aren't you just the bee's knees. I knew you could do it, that was swell! » Herb Garden, Fort Weyr The herb garden isn't only a feast for the taste buds, but a veritable feast for the eyes and nose as well. All manner of herbs -- from medicinal to the edible -- are grown here and tended to on a regular basis. The area is fenced in, separating it from the rest of the grounds around it, with a trellis arch over the gate leading into it. There are pathways made from bits of irregularly shaped stones that lead between the various plots and patches of the exquisitely aromatic plants, each section deineated with small signs to indicate what's been grown where. Others have been planted in pots or in boxes, though this treatment is only for those that can't thrive in the native soil. There are a few benches scattered throughout the sprawling garden, providing places for quiet conversation or for gardeners to take a rest. Toward the southeastern corner of the garden is a smallish shack, which contains things such as clippers, baskets, watering cans and other useful tools. Amused by the blush, K'del remarks, "Well, that /is/ a shame." Beat. "Missing him being a baby, or is there something else in that?" As she dances off, he laugh laughs, and darts after her, jogging easily to keep at least within a close distance of her. On approach of the garden, he looks appreciative. "/Nice/ place. Decorative. Nothing like this at the Reaches." Cadejoth trumpets his delight, audibly as well as mentally, no doubt to the consternation of those about, as pleased as anything, as he repeats the roll, much the same as that second try. « I am! I could! I did! It's so much fun. Thanks, Bennath! » Phara just chuckles, a little embarrassed. "Yeah, well, it's what happens when you're not much of a girl." She turns her head aside to wink at him and then lifts her arms, spinning gleefully around and making her skirt twirl with her. "Hah! I love the way this place smells." She makes a little tsking sound with her tongue. "Well, you should. You know, if you think /this/ is beautiful, you should see the South. There's this meadow where the wild flowers grow just as far as you can see, and all the colors, it's divine." She stops spinning to look at him, a small, impish grin on her face. "I think I owe you a thank you, though you probably wouldn't understand why." Overhead, Bennath executes a backwards loop, thrilled that he taught the bronze something. « You're certainly welcome. Practice, and don't let anyone razz on you, you'll be the cat's meow in no time. » "Then everyone else is missing out, too. Nothing wrong with you as far as I can see." Keeping his voice even, K'del seems to be trying to not embarrass her too much more, without withdrawing completely; how well he does remains to be seen. "Mmm," he agrees, breathing in the air. "Smells a bit like home. Mother has a garden, not quite so big, or interesting, but smells a bit the same. Down south, huh? Haven't been there, yet, at all. But--" he breaks off, brows raised, looking surprised. "Why? Delighted, of course, but... tell me?" « The cat's meow? » Curiosity gets the better of the bronze, and he just /has/ to ask, because he'll die if he won't, that much is obvious. « What's that? » Not that it diminishes his glee, though. Phara just rolls her eyes. "Oh, gosh, now you're just trying to flatter me." But she takes it in good humor. "Well, you will, some day, you should make a point of it. Lots of good things to see down there. Good hiking, good for rafting and climbing, too, or anything else." She reaches up to fuss with her short hair for a moment and then shrugs and answers, embarrassed. "I've been pretty down. I haven't been this happy in awhile. It's nice to feel... normal. For me, at least. I'm not normal." She plants her hands on her hips as if daring him to contract her and then folds her arms behind her back and skips between the rocks on the path, trying to never step on the same one twice. « You know, the thing, great, good, awesome, amazing, wonderful, splendid, keen, delightful! » Bennath enjoys extrapolating. Shrugging, K'del says, easily, "If you say so." But there's that winning smile again, and those eyelashes. "Rafting, huh? Yet another thing I've never done. Will have to, definitely." He goes still, his hand pausing in it's trailing motion over the leaves of a few of the plants, while she answers. "Then I'm delighted to have been useful, Phara," he tells her, earnest. "But why aren't you normal? Don't seem too weird to me." While he doesn't skip, he does continue to follow her, down the path, hands trailing over the plants again. « Ah! The cat's meow. Got it! That's really neat. » Phara looks over her shoulder at him and then collapses into one of the benches, leaning back and saying, "I'm delighted you don't find me too weird. You might change your mind though." She lets her head roll to the side to glance at him. "I collect string. And pockets. I believe in pockets." She sets her shoes on the bench beside her and extends her legs, rolling her feet at the ankle and then wiggling her toes with far more satisfaction than anyone should get out of that. "Hmm. So what's your favorite color?" Bennath spirals down to land at the edge of the rim, content. « I am very neat, » he agrees. "And? Pockets are useful things." K'del, amused, sets himself down on the other end of the bench, his own legs stretching out far in front of him, his hands still slung loose from his pockets. "Nothing wrong with weird, anyway, even if you were obscenely so. My favourite colour? Blue. S'pose I ought to say bronze, but it's not, really - in terms of non-dragons, blue is definitely my favourite colour." Cadejoth follows, coming in to an ungracious, undignified, but fun-filled landing not far from the blue, his tail pounding against the rim in glee. « Good. So long as you know. I'm not bad, either, but nothing too special. K'del, though. He's-- very neat. » Phara seems just a little bit happy that K'del said that, her grin stretching fit to break her face. "Oh, pockets are /very/ useful. The more you have, the more things you can carry. Bits of string, wooden baubles, pretty rocks, all sorts of nonsense. And just because nobody /else/ thinks they're important, well, they eat their tongue when they need what you happen to have right there in your pocket." So smug she is about this. "Hmm. Mine is purple, I think. Or green. Lime green. Possibly gold. And white, always white. Oh, and orange." She'll name the entire color spectrum if he lets her. Bennath lifts his head and bugles again, happily. « My doll, she's pretty special herself. She's just gotta stop carrying a torch for the wrong people and then she'll be the greatest. » His weight shifts, his head turning towards the lake like an over protective father trying to spy from the bushes on his daughter on the first date. He's got /that/ sort of air to him now. "Or even just your hands. They're good places for hands. But other things, yes, I quite agree. Used to drive my mother mad, when I was a kid, collecting stuff all the time. Purple. You think?" K'del is vastly amused by her littany of colours, concluding, finally, "Let me guess: you just like colours? All of them." « Carrying a torch? » asks Cadejoth, then, after a moment. « No, wait, I get it. » From K'del's mind, presumably. « That's pretty lame. K'del doesn't really do that. He likes lots of girls, not just one, so if one says no - not that they do! - it doesn't matter. » he bubbles contentedly, chains weaving and braiding, tinkling as they brush past each other, vastly amused by the way Bennath moves, and that air. « They're just talking. He's safe. » Phara nods her head. "Yes, a good place for hands. Though my hands are too busy and my pockets are too busy so usually they don't meet." She laughs and nods. "Yes. I like rainbows." She looks down at her lap and grins, grazing her fingertips across the other hand, tracing the curve of each fingernail idly. "Think he'll be a big chaser?" she asks, seemingly at random. « No one says no? » Bennath wonders curiously, and then assures the bronze. « I'm not worried about yours. I'm worried about mine. She's not safe. » "You need more pockets then," laughs K'del, leaning back, letting the autumn sun warm his face. His head tilts, at her question, a little bit of surprise displaying itself upon his expression, though it doesn't last. "Don't know. He's shown some interest, but he's too young, still. Wouldn't mind, if he was. So long as they don't have male riders, most of them." This last is rueful, but not embarrassed. « Not many, » enthuses the bronze, content and proud. « Why not? She seems pretty safe. He thinks she's nice. » Phara says quite sincerely, "I always need more pockets." She watches his expression change thoughtfully. "Bennath only chases the fastest greens, and even then, only if I let him." She gives an equal shudder. "No female riders." Her face warms again. "Holdbred? It's nice, I was beginning to think I was the only rider in the world fussed by... boys with boys." Her nostrils flare in some deeper disgust. Bennath assesses the bronze, his mind voice a popping sputter, the backfire of an engine that serves him for a laugh. « She is nice, » he agrees. « She thinks yours is nice, too. » "Don't we all." But K'del's expression has concentrated more on the thoughtful, as she speaks, his lips pursing slightly. "Don't know that I'd stop him," he admits, "Never mind my thoughts on it. But no, not real keen on the boys and boys. Girls on girls - well, I don't mind /that/, but..." His expression, for a moment, is impish amid the seriousness. "Holdbred, yes. Don't get me wrong," he adds, bluntly, "I'm not monogomous, or buttoned-up, or any of that. I like girls. I like sex. But. Not at all, /at all/, interested in sleeping with guys." « Good! » enthuses Cadejoth, content, tail batting up against the edge of the rim again. « Because so do I. » Phara shrugs. "You're a guy." She says, as if this explains his strange facination with lesbians. "Neither am I, but I think that's more a projection of Weyr life than anything else. I was pretty young when I moved to Telgar. I guess most of my holdish sensibilities got washed away. It's ironic. My parents sent me away because I wouldn't settle down and get married and have babies. And I still don't think it's for me, not really, not when I see how much grief it can cause my friends. But there's something to be said for a steady relationship. It means you don't have to wonder when your next lay will be." She keeps her eyes trained on the sky rather than him, and then lifts her hand to point at a stray cloud drifting in the otherwise clear sky. "Look, it's a canine." K'del smirks, and seems to find this a perfectly reasonable explanation. "True," he agrees. Then: "Ah. Nah, not sure I'm built for relationships, either. Guess I'm pretty young for that - in my part of the world, mostly a man's closer to twenty, or older, before he thinks about getting married - but still. Like women too much." Head shaking again, he adds, "Don't need a steady relationship for that. Just find a few people who like a good time, and then there's always someone about, in theory." Though his gaze shifts towards her, from time to time, it obediently follows up, now, towards that cloud. "Is it? Oh-- wait, yes, I see it. Sort of growly-looking." Phara laughs. "In theory," she agrees, though she doesn't sound as convinced. She's a little to close to one of those 'have a good time' types to be fooled. She tips her head and lets her hand fall back to the bench beside her. "Yes, exactly." Satisfied that she's pointed this out, she exhales happily and shuts her eyes. "So how old are you, K'del?" "The theory works for me," he says, all smiles again. His gaze tilts down again, and turns at her question. "Sixteen," is his prompt answer, unashamed. "You?" Phara taps her fingers on the bench, as if weighing how much she likes his answer. "I suppose that's okay. I was sixteen when I Impressed Bennath. I'm 19.. and a half." Because those 6 months are very important. "'Okay'?" he teases, seeking to meet her gaze. "I'm glad you don't find my age offensive. I was fifteen, when I Impressed, but I suppose that's pretty obvious." He looks amused for the half, lip quirking slightly. "And a half! Well, that's it, you're clearly too old for me. That half turn..." Phara looks over at him and her eyebrows lift, thoroughly enjoying this. "I was fourteen when I stood the first time. If that counts." And then she laughs again, letting her head fall back so that her cheek rests against the back of the bench. "Oh, yes, I'm certainly an old biddy. Careful, I might take offense and whack you with my cane." She shakes her fist at him playfully. "If you want it to count, then yes, it counts," decides K'del, authoritatively. He draws one foot up onto the edge of the bench, letting his elbow rest atop his knee, and grins. "Noted, noted. Walk carefully, and avoid your big stick, gotcha." After a moment, he asks, more serious again: "Why is it you haven't been happy, lately? Just don't hit me, if that's too personal." Phara is quiet, studying his face, perhaps trying to decide if she should tell him. Slowly, like she's approaching some untamed animal, she says, "I got into... a very big fight with my best friend over something very silly. And I'm afraid he might not forgive me for it. And I can't even avoid him with any sort of dignity because he's my Wingleader, too." And then she grins a little again, trying to shake off the bit of gloom that crosses her face thinking about it. "And I promise only to hit you with my big stick if you're a very, /very/ bad boy." K'del is silent, still and absolutely serious as she explains, keeping his gaze intent upon hers. While her last comment draws a smile, and a quiet, teasing comment - "/Ooh/. Naughty. I like it." - he continues in a voice much more matching his earlier expression. "Ouch. That's... ouch. I'm sorry." Phara is just a little less happy now, but she does try well to fake it. "I thought you might." Her eyes draw down his face and past over the garden. A slight shrug is given with the shoulder that isn't tucked against the bench. "It's okay. It's just, it's the same fight, and it's sorta funny, cuz... it's my fault. I'm the one who wanted it, and once it happened... I realized I didn't really like it." Her eyebrows draw together. "Of course, that probably has more to do with my inability to flirt effectively than anything else." Though K'del looks a little awkward, a little like maybe he wishes he hadn't asked, he turns his whole body to let himself face the bluerider front-on, and gives her a little smile. "You mean, you wanted the fight? Or--?" The rest, his tone suggests; he's clearly worked out something of the nature of the fight, from what she's said. "I'd've said you were flirting perfectly well with me, but if I've misread that... you might be right." Phara laughs, "I'm sorry. Forget I said anything. It's not your job to worry about my problems." She reaches out to pat his cheek lightly, almost condescendingly. "Hm... K'del, I get this funny feeling that I could have offered you dirt in the right voice and you might have thought it was flirting. But no, I guess I was. Poorly, clearly, if you aren't positive." "Don't be," insists the weyrling, firmly. "Sometimes it helps to talk to a more or less complete stranger, right?" He'll let her pat his cheek, albeit dubiously, but he also reaches for the hand, intent upon giving it a squeeze before she takes it back. For the rest: "Possibly. Can you blame me, for wanting to read things into anything you might say? More seriously, though, I knew you were flirting. You were doing just fine, if you ask me." Phara smiles lopsidedly at him and says quietly, "Thanks." She squeazes his hand in return, gratefully, and then lets it rest again in her lap. "Hmm, I think you're just saying that because you suspect you have half a chance at seeing my weyr. Not that I blame you for wanting to see it. It's pretty spectacular." "Any time," K'del tells her, and appears to mean it. His hand drops back to his own lap, too. and he grins, eyelashes all fluttery again. "/Is/ it? And are you going to tease me with that, and not let me see, Phara? Or should I invite myself over for a visit?" Phara snorts and rolls back to stare at the sky, a laugh barely managed to be withheld. "You know, somehow I think C'mryn would come beat me up if he heard I was fraternizing with his weyrlings. But I suppose if you would like to see it, that's pretty harmless." She sniffs. "I'd say you wouldn't find it if I didn't invite you, but Bennath is a traitor, and he'd probably tell Cadejoth anyways. He's more than willing to duck behind my back for people who make me happy." Her eyes roll. "/C'mryn/. I suppose you would know him, you Telgari-types. He's my mentor. I think there are other people he'd be more concerned about me fraternizing with..." But K'del breaks off, smiles. "I /would/ like to see it." He pauses, his brows raising slightly. "And I make you happy, do I? Well. I think that justifies anything he might tell Cadejoth." Phara smiles wanly. "C'mryn was my mentor, when I was a weyrling." She shoots him a quizzical look. "Oh, and who might those people be?" she asks teasingly, getting to her feet and holding her hand out to help him up. "I'm easy to please, don't read too much into that." "Something else we have in common, then," says K'del, promptly, though he admits, "Not that he and I see that much of each other, outside of class. I--" He breaks off, before answering her question. His expression is wry, but at least a little amused. "Let's just say someone who should probably be above screwing weyrlings. I don't kiss and tell." Accepting her hand, he swings himself up to his feet, and give her a mock-disappointed glance. "Oh, well that's no fun." Phara smiles slyly. "He and I were better friends before I Impressed. Bennath really disliked Tausreth, so it became a point of contention between us. And that is an admirable quality. Mostly." She glances back over at him, more than content to lead him by the hand whatever way she whims. "It isn't? It's less work for you, don't you agree?" "Funny, since your Bennath seems to quite like Cadejoth, and Cadejoth's similar to Tausreth in a few ways - likes to play, and all of that," remarks K'del, as he follows, apparently quite content to let her lead him by the hand. "Only mostly? As for it being no fun, well, no, it isn't. Work isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's more satisfying, when you get something right, after you've worked at it, I think." Phara considers and shrugs. "I think Bennath would rather be a leader than a follower. And he just can't stand the simple. Cadejoth's mind isn't as ... well, I hate to use the word, but... stupid... as Tausreth's is. I love Tausreth, I think he's wonderful. But Benny, he's his own dragon." She spins to walk backwards so she can watch him while she's talking. "I suppose there is that. Maybe you have been working but it didn't feel like work. Does that suit well enough?" K'del bites back a laugh, and settles for just looking amused, at this comment. "I can accept that. And, admittedly, Cadejoth doesn't have much of an ego - and he's more than willing to recognise when others are better than him. And learn from them. So that makes sense, then." He watches her, while she watches him, and they walk. "All right. I can deal with that. Better for my ego. Gosh, and I didn't even know I was working! And all of that." Phara tips her head, eyes turning as if she's making a decision. Bennath launches off the rim to spiral down to meet them on the beach. "Would it make you feel better if I told you I'm /very/ hard to please in bed? You should count your blessings when they come." K'del waits, expectant, as she gets that look on her face, and as Bennath launches from the rim, so too does Cadejoth, following him down. "It would! So long as we're anticipating my being able to give it a good shot." Phara laughs, but this time it's lower, slower, huskier sounding. "Oh, were you anticipating that?" She releases his hand when they get close to the waiting dragons, taking two quick steps to reach Bennath's elbow and then neatly vaulting up to perch on his neck. She arranges her skirt neatly around her thighs and looks over to see when he's settled. Instead of answering in words, K'del simply smiles, looking utterly smug and pleased with himself, and yet somehow innocent at the same time. His hand freed, he strides across to Cadejoth, pulling himself up quickly enough that, by the time she looks over, he's just about ready, and nods in response to her. Phara nods in reply, and she must give the blue a silent command because he leaps into the air without another word from her. « My weyr is on the very top row, Cadejoth. I think you will like it. » Bennath sounds as pleased as the bronzerider looks. Bennath's speed, not to mention his head-start, means that Cadejoth must literally shove himself into the sky and race after him, giving K'del quite the wild ride. « Thanks, Bennath, » says the bronze, sounding amused, excited, gleeful to be in the sky again, if only for a little while. Up, up, up they fly, and once they're up at the top, they have to fly close to the ledges, hunting out Bennath's from amid all the others. Bennath's Weyr, Fort Weyr Just inside the low slung entrance, the weyr opens out into a small dragon's area with a shallow wallow to the right. Further back, a neat lime green curtain hangs on hooks from the ceiling partially blocking off the view of the rider's portion of the cavern. To the left, shelves are carved into the wall, covered with a collection of rocks and other large knick knacks, above a row of hooks that hang with riding gear and an old trunk meant to hold dragon care equipment and sets of straps. Beyond the curtain a comfortable space opens up, divided up into little private nooks and crannies by tall columns of varying widths, surfaces bumpy and whorled. At some point someone took to embellishing some of the columns with fanciful figures, creating little 'pockets' within the stone to store small objects. These pockets have been filled to the hilt with oddities. Wooden tinker toys and bits of odd jewelry and broken children's toys. Even tarnished silverware and folded paper ornaments can be found in some of the pockets. Shelving lounges along the left-most wall leading to the back of the weyr where an alcove with a stone shelf, piled high with a new mattress and bedding serves for sleeping. The bed is covered generously not only in furs, but deep purple sheets and copious amounts of pillows. Around the shelving in the living area is a series of purple strings that are hung with ornaments, little people made of beads, animals with moving joints, and little etched metal objects. A braided rug covers part of the floor to stave off the chill of cold stone and two wicker chairs sit before the hearth ready to welcome guests. The mantelpiece is an intricately carved work of art, echoing the style of the columns, speaking of some long-ago occupant with a talent for stonemasonry. Hanging from hooks drilled into the ceiling is perhaps the most curious feature added by the current occupant of this weyr -- glass globes with sand in the bottom and open tops are scattered throughout the weyr, lighting even the dark corners with a soft glow from fat, short candles nestled into the sand. Bennath waits politely at the edge of his ledge until he's sure the bronze has spotted him, and then he backs up to give the younger, larger dragon room to land. Phara is already inside lighting candles and getting a fire going in the hearth to heat a kettle, which means that there's plenty of light to see by when the other pair arrives. Cadejoth rumbles appreciatively, as he lands upon the ledge, keeping himself as small as he can to avoid taking up too much of the available space. K'del slides down, bobbing his head at Bennath, turns back to glance at the view once, and then heads in. A grin lights his face. "You're right," he tells Phara. "I /do/ like it." Phara smirks proudly. "I'm fairly good at dragonpoker. I fleece my wingmates a lot. I have to do /something/ with my marks." She nods to the glass globes and then motions. "Well, come on in. Do you like tea?" She holds the curtain aside for him. "I could make klah, too. Or.. well, I have stronger stuff, if you'd rather that." She's nothing if not a good hostess. "Dragonpoker? That'd explain it, then. Nice." K'del does look suitably impressed for this, and, sliding past her to come in, looks around with interest. "Oh, tea would be fine. Cadejoth doesn't really like me drinnking, much, so I only do it sometimes. I like your pockets." He indicates the columns with a grin, turning around to face her again. Phara takes down two cups and a jar of herbs and fixes up two cups of tea before she says anything else. "Bennath doesn't mind so long as I don't get carried away." She crosses with one mug in her hand to offer him, smiling at the columns that dot her weyr. "Yeah, it's sort of perfect like that, huh. I swear, it's like it was made for me. Though, I suspect that they had inside information when they assigned us." "I imagine Cadejoth'll be okay, too, if I don't overdo it, but I don't like-- well, he doesn't like it at all, so I try not to push that, all the time, you know?" He accepts the mug, bobbing his head in thanks, and laughs. "I bet they do. I know with the weyrs we got, when we left the barracks, they must've... Wonder how they do it, when you're coming from another weyr, though." He considers this, thoughtful, lips pursed, then shrugs, leaning in to blow on his tea. Phara smiles. "I suspect our wingleaders might have told them a thing or two, but that's pure conjecture. What's your weyr like?" She trails across the room, moving things around in an absent minded way. "It's easier, when you come out of weyrlinghood, at least. They've had a few months to get to know you and your dragon and what you might like. Our ledge at Telgar was too small. If I wanted company, Bennath had to leave so the other dragon could drop them off. It was inconvienent." "That could be it. Your Wingleaders coming with you. Mine? Not very big - we have the dropping off issue, unfortunately. But I have, like, a secret hideaway in it. Hidden under the rug. That's pretty cool. And someone left their old pornography collection down there." K'del looks rather pleased with himself, at this. He turns his tea about in his hands, still glancing around, considering the weyr. Phara starts to laugh, and then she can't stop for long until she manages to gasp out, "Pornography collection? Maybe the left it there for you on /purpose/." She turns to look at him, all appraising. "That's no fun, having a bronze, you'd think they'd give you a larger ledge. Secret hideaways. That sounds like my first candidacy. T'rev and I were always exploring some 'hidden' part of the Weyr." "That implies I need pornography!" grins K'del, who watches throughout the entire laughing fit, highly amused. "And really, I only needed it when I wasn't allowed to sleep with anyone." Pause. "Well. Guess I didn't really need it then, either." He shrugs, apparently not too concerned about the size of his ledge, and laughs. "/Were/ you? Obeying rules, of course." Phara smirks. "Well, I'm sorry you had to experience a dry spell." She smooths her hand absently down the front of her dress again. "Must be easy to be a guy. Just... handle it, whenever you want. And nobody thinks much of it if you want to proposition a girl." She leans against her table, half-sitting, and grins cheekily at him. "Oh, absolutely. No rules that said we couldn't fall down holes. Actually, I think that was before we both got Searched. Broke plenty of rules. Good times, back then." "So am I," says K'del, fervently, in recollection. He's turned, to watch her, as she leans against the table, and, idly, takes a few steps closer. "Mmm, pretty easy. And - I've been propositioned by plenty of girls, too. Most of them older than me." Sipping from his mug, which he holds in both hands, he remarks, "Sounds like you did have a lot of fun. Bet you still do, now, though." Phara watches him as he comes nearer. "I bet you are. Easy." Smirk. "Yeah, still do, now and again. Go on a lot of adventures, the two of us. He likes to travel just as much as I do." She reaches behind her to pick up her mug of tea finally, though her eyes stay trained on him even as she takes a sip. "Actually, I'm not /that/ easy. I turn people down, sometimes." /Sometimes/. K'del grins, anyway. "Nice to have that, in a friend," he remarks. "Someone who wants to see places, same as you." After a moment more, he wanders up, and moves to lean against the table next to her. "Friends with lots of people, but haven't really made any plans like that. Not yet, anyway." Phara smirks. "Let me guess. Boys. And ugly girls." She glances over at him and her eyebrows raise. "You should. Seeing the world is pretty good with a friend. Like to have my own time, but, there's been some places where I probably would have starved to death if I didn't have a friend to bail me out." "Boys," agrees K'del. "And girls that I don't like. Which doesn't mean that they're ugly." He looks surprised for her 'starved to death' comment, but accepts the rest of it easily enough, and nods. "Will, I guess. Sorta been focused on visiting places that already have people, so as to meet new people. But it's probably a good idea, to take a friend, do some real exploring." Phara licks her lower lip slowly, thoughtfully. "Do many boys proposition you then? I can see it, you're kinda pretty." She leers playfully. And then: "Worked pretty well for you, huh? Met me your first try. Lucky you!" "Mostly, just the one." K'del pauses, and makes a face. "And, realistically, don't think he actually /is/ propositioning me, though he did kiss me once. He knows I'm not interested." Despite this, he looks pleased for the 'pretty' comment, and especially for the leer. "Guess it did! Very lucky me." Pause. "Well, will be very, very lucky me, unless you intend to turn down my proposition. /Do/ you?" Phara laughs. "Should have punched him in the face. I would have." She glances over, her eyebrows lifting. "/Are/ you? I didn't realize." "It was pretty tempting," admits K'del. "I might've, but I was so surprised, I didn't react in time." He meets her gaze, his own eyebrows lifting in response. "Haven't /actually/ propositioned you yet. Not officially. Just figured it would save time to know the answer in advance, so I know whether it's worthwhile. Won't be offended, if it's not." Phara seems to think it over, or at least pretend to. And then snorts. "No, I don't suppose I was planning on turning you down if you were interested. You see, it's been a very, very long time since the last time. In fact, it was before I even lived at Fort. So I'd be pretty crazy to turn you down." K'del's expression seems positively aghast. "That'd be longer than I had to put up with," he works out, thinking it through. "Since you all did the move thing before I Impressed or anything. Faranth. Reckon I'm going to skip the actual asking part, and just drag you to bed, what do you think?" He's already offered his hand, his mug set down on the table. Phara sighs good naturedly and sets her cup down as well, looking him up and down. "Ah, you think I'm that kind of girl, huh? You're not even going to kiss me so I can verify if I want to goods before I commit to buying? Tacky, tacky." She shakes her head and sets her hand in his. "Poor bed. About time it got some action." K'del gives her a Look, though it's more amused than anything. "I promise, there will be /plenty/ of kissing, and if you're even remotely disappointed with the goods, I'll-- walk right off that ledge." So there. He grins, squeezing his hand around hers, as he leads the way. "I think so! It's not good, to do that to beds. They need wearing in." And off they go. |
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