June 26, 2004
R'hyn reassures Kiora about her abilities as a Weyrwoman.

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A'raz comes in through the narrow tunnel from the bowl.

R'hyn lounges - there is truly no other word for it - near the hearths, one foot hang lazily over the edge of the chair across from him, the other tucked up beneath him. In one hand, he's got a mug of something hot; in the other, he plays, lazily, with a short length of braided leather, flicking it backwards and forth without paying it too much attention.

Kiora comes in through the narrow tunnel from the bowl.

Not far from his bronzeriding wingmate is one A'raz, not quite as draped over the furniture as R'hyn is, but considerably comfy-looking as he nurses a cup of hot tea amid the rain. It's a rare moment when Ista gets cold enough to require such actions from A'raz, and the rain coupled with the steadily-growing autumn weather calls for desperate measures. Like warming up with tea.

Kiora skitters in from the bowl, looking grumpy and rather damp. She seems a bit distracted, too, though this is possibly because she's quite focused on making it to the nearest hot beverage quickly without falling flat on her face. Go, Ki, go.

R'hyn's braided leather twitches in the other direction again, and ends up getting flicked right out of his hand, landing somewhere closer to A'raz. It results, at least, in R'hyn glancing up, as if coming out of a reverie that has ensured he hasn't noticed anything about those around him. He hesitates, then sips at his tea, glancing pointedly at his braid, though he does not actually comment.

Kiora is, as it happens, heading in A'raz's direction -- but then something flies by, Kiora teeters backwards, and the mug of whatever she was holding falls to the floor with a crash. "Hey!" Kiora whines petulantly, looking ready to stamp a foot. "People shouldn't throw things! I dropped my cup -- can somebody bring me a towel? And maybe a broom ..." Sniff, goes Ki. How sad.

R'hyn turns brilliantly scarlet, bounding from his seat almost quickly enough to ensure that he drops his own mug - thankfully, he does not, and upon remembering it, he manages even to set it down. "Oh, Kiora, I'm sorry! Here - let me help clean it up. It didn't, er, burn you, did it?"

"No, not burned," Kiora replies, kneeling down carefully with regard for her skirt. "It wasn't too hot -- just got my socks a bit." A drudge arrives with a towel, a broom, and a bowl to gather the remains of the mug in, and Ki takes them with a faint smile. "You don't gotta worry about cleaning it up, R'hyn, it's not too bad a mess. Did you see who threw it, though?" She frowns, here, looking rather irked. "I hope it wasn't a kid or anything. Throwing things on purpose is just mean."

R'hyn, still red, hesitates, and then shakes his head. "Er-- um. No. No, I didn't. It was probably an accident, though. You know, someone flicking something about, it getting-- well, you know. Escaping. Going flying." Flustered, he waves his hands around a lot as he says this. "Do you, er, want me to get you something else to drink? Go on - go sit down."

Kiora wrinkles her nose a bit, carefully picking up the largest pieces and mopping up the rest of the mess. "I guess I can understand that. Sometimes I do that, but it's mostly rolls and stuff. People can see a roll coming, but I dunno /what/ that was." She frowns again and finishes cleaning up, putting the rag in the bowl and handing it off to the nearest drudge. "Nah, I can get my drink, R'hyn, no worries. D'you want something, maybe? I can get both."

R'hyn leans down to help, barely avoiding dropping his knee into the mess - today, clearly, is not his day. "Yeah, I guess," he agrees, uncertainly. "Guess it didn't do too much harm, though. I mean... it's easily cleaned, right?" Tilting his head up, he glances back at Kiora. "You sure? I don't mind. No, no, I've got everything I need." He waves his hand over at his own mug, waiting for him beside his seat.

Kiora huffs faintly, then stands and straightens her dress out. "Don't /worry/, R'hyn. S'just a little spill. It's all fixed up now. I'll just go get another cup and everything'll be okay. I don't wanna bother you or anything."

R'hyn backs up, steadily. "Sorry. I just..." He shrugs, easily. "Um. Yeah. How's Siramyth doing-- no, no, don't bother answering that. Get you drink first. Sorry." He backs up, towards his chair, still flushed.

Kiora grins faintly, puttering off to get herself another drink and then heading back in the bronzerider's direction. "Siramyth's the same as usual. She sleeps a lot, and sometimes she complains a little, and then she gets mad at some stuff. But she knows the eggs are gonna hatch soon, so I think she's real excited about that. What about Arisvath?"

"Good," says R'hyn, sounding pleased, the blush finally fading from his cheeks. "She's not as broody as Niaryth, I think. I mean, she gets mad, as you said, but I don't think she's as fiery. It's a nice change. Arisvath--" he breaks off, head shaking. "So proud. Sometimes, I think he's about to burst. It'll be good, though, to get off the sands properly. No offense to either of you, of course," he adds, hastily. "Just... You know."

Kiora wrinkles her nose distastefully, settling down in a seat. "Siramyth couldn't ever do anything real mean to anyone but me. She gets cranky, but she tells me to fix it, and I don't like to be mean, so then she gets grumpy at me." She sips at her drink, mms faintly, and giggles. "It's okay. I know what you mean. I'll be glad to have Sira off, too -- it's no fun having her stuck out there all the time, or being stuck with her."

R'hyn nods sagely, picking up his mug again. "I've heard of queens doing terrible things to candidates, but Siramyth really doesn't seem the type. It's a good thing, I think. Though not," he adds hastily, "that she gets grumpy at you, I suppose." Smiling, he adds, "Guess you've got a turn or two, maybe more, off the hook, after this. Back to flying thread, and everything else. Freedom, mobility, and all."

"Siramyth'd be pretty dangerous if she tried anything," Kiora muses. "But mostly on accident. She's too big to go chasing after everyone that makes her mad." She shrugs, then, and smiles faintly. "I guess I do, but I don't think things'll be too different. Just more comfortable and less hot."

"Could squash a person quite by accident," agrees R'hyn, easily, taking another sip from his mug, then setting it down. "No, I suppose not. Though after today," he indicates, with his head, the murky, rain-filled outside, "the heat seemed almost welcome. For the first five minutes, anyway. Must be strange in, you know, High Reaches, and places like that."

Kiora beams, looking a bit proud. "She is a big girl." Though Ki would never admit to the gold being fat. "I don't like when it's hot and rainy, though. It gets humid and everything sticks." She wrinkles her nose, and takes another long sip from her mug. "Even if it's really cold in High Reaches, it wouldn't be as humid. That'd be sort of nice."

"She, uh, carries her size well," declares R'hyn, after only the slightest of pauses - but it seems sincere, enough, and is said with a smile. "True," he adds, nodding. "On both counts, I suppose. I'm mostly used to the humidity, though - it doesn't bother me too much."

Kiora rubs her nose a bit. "I dunno. I never got used to it, I guess. But Ista's nice, otherwise, and there are lots of things that make up for the humidity. I guess I'm kinda biased, though. I've never lived anywhere else except the Hold and here, so I don't know what the weather's like except for when I visit."

R'hyn admits, as he fiddles with the handle of his mug, "I've only lived here and at Southern - no real difference in climate, there. My family has lived here for generations, though. I think it's just kind of bred into us, or something. Ista's home," he agrees. "Wouldn't want to live anywhere else, now."

Kiora stretches her legs out a bit. "My family's like that, too ... well. Sort of. My dad's in Igen, now, but all the rest of my family is here. I wouldn't like moving at all -- I'd really miss all the people I met here. But I don't suppose we have to worry about moving any time soon. I don't plan on it, at least. Dunno where I'd go if I was, either."

"Your parents aren't together, then?" wonders R'hyn, finally reclaiming his previous position - one foot dangling over the edge of another chair, the other tucked beneath him. "Well, exactly. Not going to happen. I intend to stay here until I'm an old man, and die."

"Never were, I don't think." Kiora considers this for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "I never really asked about it. Dad says he was too busy to take care of me by himself, so I guess my mom didn't really want a kid yet, so he fostered me to my aunt and uncle when I was just a baby." She giggles again, amused. "This'd be a nice place to stay until you're old and you die, anyway. Aren't older people supposed to go to warmer climates? For bones or something? I dunno."

"Oh," says R'hyn, lazily. "Oh, fair enough. My parents were together, but only before I was born. I don't think it really matters, so long as we have decent adults in our lives, you know?" He wiggles his toes within his boot, grinning as he admits, "Yeah, exactly. Good health weather. So long as the rain stops again, anyway."

Kiora nods in agreement. "That's right. 'sides, if you're only with your birthparents when you're a baby, I don't suppose you really notice the difference if you grow up with fosterparents, y'know?" She finishes her drink and drapes her arms over those of the chair, her cup dangling rather dangerously from one hand. "Rain can't hurt every once in a while. A shower, at least. It's kinda fun when it's just a shower."

R'hyn takes another sip from his mug, but sets it down quickly, lips pursed in distaste - cold, evidently. "Well, exactly. They all feel the same, blood or not. Though," he allows, "I was always closer to Mother than anyone else." Pushing the mug further away from him with a flick of his fingers, he adds, "Yes, I suppose. I just don't really like the rain - I don't like being wet unless it's for a reason."

Kiora considers this for a moment, her eyes furrowed in deep thought. "Isn't Laerya your mother? I thought she was, but -- maybe I'm wrong, I guess, I dunno." She shrugs slightly. "I always kind of liked sitting in the rain, if it's not too hard. 'specially with Ara, or something. But I don't like being soaking wet, though. It's pretty uncomfortable."

"Yes," says R'hyn, quickly. "Laerya is my mother. But I had fosterparents, too - she wasn't," he hesitates, nose wrinkling, "incapacitated, when I was growing up, so she was busier." Tilting his head to the side, he asks, curiously, "You and A'raz don't actually live together, do you? Ever thought about it?"

"Just was wondering," Kiora replies. "Figured I'd ask." She blushes faintly, and rubs the back of one leg with the other foot. "Nah, we don't live together. Siramyth and Inashanth don't really get along, and it'd be a little mean of us to make them stay in the same weyr. But we get along alright, so it's no big deal."

R'hyn nods, unphased. "I figure it's good to know this kind of thing; I mean, people come from such different settings, and stuff." He leans back, murmuring a brief 'ah' sound. "Oh, I see. But things are good between you? I'm-- a terrible gossip, I suppose." He turns faintly pink of his own accord, adding, "It's just sweet."

"Better to ask you than somebody else, too." Kiora beams faintly, and her blush brightens a bit. "Things are nice. Ara's been real sweet about coming to visit while Sira's on the sands, making sure I don't get bored or too hot or anything. And I don't mind if you ask -- I kinda like to talk about it, really, but I'd hate to bother anyone with it. It's not too terribly interesting if you're not me or A'raz, I guess."

"Well, exactly. They might tell you that, um-- I don't know. Laerya is really my older sister, and my real Mum abandoned me at birth, or something. And that would be strange." Nose wrinkling, R'hyn seems to hesitate, as if thinking this one through and deciding exactly how disagreeable it is. "I noticed," he agrees, nodding. "It is sweet. Is it-- do you think it'll last, your relationship? Forever? What about kids?" He twines his fingers, playing with them idly as he considers Kiora with interest. "Erm. He wasn't too upset by the flight, was he? I never asked." Flush.

Kiora laughs. "That'd be a pretty wierd story, that's true." Her expression darkens a bit as she considers his next questions, though, and she peers thoughtfully at the floor. "I dunno if it'll last or not. A'raz was the first boy I ever really liked, and he's my first ... boyfriend or whatever, I guess. I really hope we're together for a long time, but folks don't usually end up staying with the first person they meet forever, do they?" She rubs her nose again. "I dunno what we'd do about kids, either. We're still kinda young ... and he was upset, yeah." She blushes again. "But more disappointed than mad, I suppose. He hasn't been mean about it, at least."

R'hyn admits, honestly, "Not often, in my experience. But anything's possible. Best idea is to simply let it happen, you know? Not worry about how long it lasts -- granted," he admits, nose wrinkling, "I was the one who brought it up, huh?" The almost ever-present flush returns, faintly. "You are, rather," he agrees. "Plenty of time to think about that, later." Hesitating, and chewing upon his lip somewhat embarrassedly, he nods. "I-- guessed as much. I'm sorry. Not because it's my fault, but because... you know. It's hard."

"Gotta think about it eventually," Kiora replies. "I may not be too bright, but I know it's better to be ready for what might happen than to pretend it won't and get even more hurt if it does ... if that makes sense." She lifts her mug up again, and focuses her attention on it instead. "Don't worry about the flight, R'hyn. Neither of us should have to apologize for anything. Sira's gotta go up, and somebody's gotta catch, and ... well. You're real nice, R'hyn, and if I couldn't have gone with A'raz then I'm kinda glad it was you."

"I suppose," says R'hyn, allowing a half smile. "It does, yeah. Good for you, to be realistic. Better than me - eternal romantic, that's me." He laughs, a self-deprecating laugh, albeit a quiet one. Flushing, at Kiora's latter comment, he ducks his head. "Erm. Thanks. I think. But still. Flights are flights, but it doesn't make it easier, particularly when you're young, and... Yeah. Well."

Kiora smiles faintly, looking a little wistful. "I'm kinda like that, sometimes. I like the idea of being in love with somebody, but it wouldn't be fair to me or Ara if I just tried to stay with him to say that I had a weyrmate or whatever." She blushes, too, and waves a hand dismissively. "I know what you mean. But you just gotta make the best out of a bad situation sometimes. Sira'll go up again, and if I just get depressed every time she does, I'll end up a mess."

R'hyn, his head turned towards the hearth as he listens, turns back suddenly, eyes half-lidded. "Yeah," he says, finally, sounding a little surprised. "That's true. It's better to just be friends, if," he waves his hand, vaguely, "you're not actually better as a couple. Because being weyrmates for the sake of it doesn't really work." He smiles, suddenly, somewhat out of nowhere. "You're not really that dim, you know? Got a lot of sense in you."

Kiora ducks her head a bit. "Thanks. I do sometimes, maybe, but not the kind of sense I guess I'm supposed to have. I don't think I'll ever be as smart as Ainsley or E'van. Though," she pauses, sounding a bit thoughtful. "I guess if I was things would be a lot different."

R'hyn pulls his foot out from beneath him, wiggling his toes as he regains circulation. "We've all got different gifts. I bet you still manage to do your bit. Besides, I don't think we could cope having another Ainsley around here, do you?"

Kiora wrinkles her nose. "No, I don't think we could. I bet we wouldn't have me for long, though -- if I were like Ainsley, I don't suppose she'd want me around too much, either."

"No," says R'hyn, without hesitation, laughing. "I don't think she would. It's bad enough with Serriena, sometimes, and she's not really like Ainsley, either. No, I think, Ainsley doesn't much mind having you; things could be far worse."

"Ainsley gets irritated with me," Kiora replies, sounding just a bit mournful. "I try really hard, but I don't think Ainsley's used to having to deal with anyone like me -- for as long as she'll have to, at least. But I don't know how long she and E'van get along, either ... I think they're too alike to be real good friends. I dunno if anyone could really make her happy."

"Ainsley is..." R'hyn trails off, hesitating. "Um. Very good at what she does. She's very smooth. But no, I don't think anyone could make her happy, either. She's more the type to use people than to need them." He lowers his voice as he says this, and shrugs. "Do you mind it, the whole Junior Weyrwoman thing?"

Kiora nods slightly in agreement. "True. She just likes being someone important, I think ... but we're lucky that she's good at it, I suppose. Or at least she seems to be." She shrugs it off, and gnaws lightly on her bottom lip for a moment or two. "I don't mind Siramyth," she replies eventually. "I wouldn't change Siramyth for the world, and since she's gold, then I just have to deal with the fact that Siramyth makes me a weyrwoman. I wish I were better at it, but I don't think I'd ever wish that I could change it. I'd have to change Sira, then, and that'd be selfish."

R'hyn's expression is wry. "She's the most effective Weyrwoman we've had since-- I don't know. Better than Serriena or Mechelle, though I liked both of them very much. Her methods, however, aren't always-- entirely orthodox." He flushes slightly, head shaking as he listens. "Mmm. That I understand. And, honestly, I'm glad to hear it - I hate the idea that anyone might be stuck with a job they don't like. I mean, I didn't-- I /hated/ being Weyrleader. But I didn't have to stay Weyrleader. You don't have much choice."

"I wouldn't know 'bout how effective she is," Kiora notes. "Not in comparison to Serriena or Mechelle, at least. All I've got to go by is Ainsley, mostly, and what people think of her." She idly picks invisible lint off her skirt. "I don't really like that idea, either, but if I was disappointed that I /had/ to be a weyrwoman, it'd be kind of like being disappointed that I Impressed Siramyth, y'know? I love Siramyth, and if being with her means I have to be a weyrwoman, then that's just the way it's gotta be. Mostly I just worry about being a good weyrwoman. It's easier to find a better weyrleader or weyrsecond than it is to find a better weyrwoman, after all."

"I forget," admits R'hyn, looking a little bashful, "that I've been here so much longer than you. But of course, you'd've only caught the very tail end of Mechelle's time as Senior." He glances back at the hearth, nodding, as he responds, "I understand that. I felt much the same - I mean, Arisvath caught Niaryth. That meant I was Weyrleader, and if I didn't like that, then it was... saying that I didn't have faith in what is supposed to be decided in that way." Turning back, he smiles. "I think you're doing fine, really."

The corners of Kiora's eyes crinkle in amusement. "S'okay. I did kind of know about Mechelle and Serriena, what with living on the island all my life, but I never knew anything real specific." She blushes again, then, and pushes her hair ineffectually behind her ears. "It really means a lot to me that you think so, R'hyn. I hope I can keep it up, and get better as I get older."

R'hyn nods, quickly. "But you don't really pay attention, when it isn't directly relevant to you. I don't remember much at all about the Weyrwomen and Weyrleaders when I was a kid. It only started mattering once I was a rider." He looks decidedly pleased, adding, "You're welcome. I do mean it. I bet you'll be decently good, with more experience behind you. It really helps. Experience."

Kiora hmms thoughtfully. "That's true. It's just nothing to fuss about when you're young, especially if you can't do anything about it." The continued praise gets a vivid and appreciative beam. "I think so, too. Nobody's ever /really/ good at things they've never done before, and I guess I've got good teachers, y'know? And that's always important."

R'hyn laughs. "Absolutely right. So -- yeah. Don't let Ainsley get you down, or anything. You're doing the best you can, I think." He's gone faintly pink again, for reasons unknown, and adds, lamely, "I should probably go. You know, be useful. I don't like having E'van on my back."

Kiora snorts faintly. "Nobody else does, either, I don't think. At least somebody else may catch Hallisenth next time around." She stretches once more, yawning a bit. "I should go too, I guess. I'm glad I got to talk to you, though, R'hyn. It was really nice."

"Yeah, true. She /still/ hasn't risen - it's about time she did, just to sort that out... So long as it isn't Arisvath that wins." R'hyn nods his head quickly. "Yeah, it was. We should talk more often. I'll - well, probably see you on the sands, I guess." He rises, picking up his mug, and wanders off, somewhat stiffly.

You head out through the narrow tunnel to emerge in the bowl.

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