Log: Thoughts and Plans
Who: P'draig, Sunniva, Jekzith
When: It is a spring night, 8:20 of day 1, month 2, turn 18 of Interval 10.
Where: Waterfall Pool, Ista Weyr
What: P'draig and Sunniva talk over candidacy thoughts and Sunniva's plans post-Hatching.
Waterfall Pool, Ista Weyr
From high above a majestic waterfall thunders, dropping into a broad, shaded glade and its deep, stone-bottomed pool. The constant roar of the water plunging from the top of the plateau drowns out the sounds of the ocean. A curious stream runs from the pool to the sea through the jungle greenery that keeps the water constantly cool.
A few dozen paces from the stone ring of the pool is a flat, grassy area, spotted with occasional wildflowers and little clovers and removed just enough from the splashing water that voices are more easily heard. Behind the pool, the cliff wall is rocky; ancient-carved steps meander up the wall, just far enough from the waterfall to be passable though moss and dampness make the path exciting. Another, less dangerous path seems to lead back to a tight squeeze and a certain shower if one chooses to pass behind the waterfall.
Night has fallen on Ista, the sun's light faded fully from the sky and stars pricking the darkness overhead. The moons hang at just past full and waning crescent high above. It's evening, but not so late that curfew is imminent for Candidates. There's quiet splashing in the pool at the cliff's base: P'draig swims from end to end steadily, while Jekzith curls up nearby with a bevy of firelizards scratching his back.
And it's in that time between the end of chores and when candidates are due back to the barracks that Sunniva likes to take her evening constitutionals, as it were. Visiting new places or, as in this case, simply visiting one she's been to a few times before. She treks up the stairs, taking them slowly but surely, on her way to the pool. And once she's up there, she just stops, head tilting up to study the moons and stars in their gyres before she's had a chance to properly acknowledge anyone or anything else being around.
Jekzith is the one who hears and sees Sunni first, eyes blue-green with happy contentment and he warbles gaily towards the young woman. P'draig's strokes pause and he turns his head, grins as he spots that slender figure and turns about to come to the edge of the pool leaning both arms there and his chin atop both. "Hey Sunni. Nice evening isn't it?"
At that warble, her attention shifts to the brown, recognition following a scant second later with a warm, "Hello to you, too." Green eyes flick down to the pool and to where P'draig is, that smile of hers edging just a touch wider. "It is positively lovely, P'draig. How are you and Jekzith on this fine evening?" Sunniva wonders as she takes a few steps closer for ease of conversation.
"Pretty good, thanks, Sunniva," P'draig says, maintaining his position in the water, weight balanced on the pool's edge. A towel folded neatly and a little pile of bandaging can be spied nearby. Jekzith lets out a little friendly whuff as Sunniva speaks to him directly. "He says that he's enjoying his massage and and says 'hey there' back." Paddy grins, even dripping little puddles of water onto the stones that border the pool. "And how're you doing? All settled in here?"
"That is good to hear," Sunniva replies, sitting near the edge of the pool just far enough that she can work her shoes off without getting them wet. Those are set near P'draig's towel, her gaze lingering a moment on the bandaging. Her brows knit but she leaves it for now, scooting forward just enough to let her dangle her legs in the water with her skirts hiked above her knees to keep them dry. "That must be pleasant, having so many helpful hands to do that," she remarks of the massage, a wry smile finally surfacing. To the rider, she tilts her head. "I am well enough. And, oh! Everyone here has been so ... /warm/. It has been wonderful."
"He says it's bliss," P'draig relays with a laugh and nods. "Yeah, Ista's weather is warm and so're most of the people," he agrees. "It's kind of funny, both you and D'kai here, like being back home at Fort. Don't tell Mic but Ista doesn't quite feel like home yet, even our weyr does." He winks at the young woman and shifts his posture a little, though his arms still take the bulk of his weight, resting on the pool's edge.
She laughs softly, shaking her head a little before her attention resettles on P'draig again. "That /is/ odd, isn't it?" Sunniva leans forward a little, elbows on her thighs and legs swinging slowly in the water. "Though, I am not complaining. It is nice to see you and D'kai around after so long, even if the circumstances were unexpected." Her faint smile falters a little at his words, though it doesn't fall, "Oh. Well, someday, perhaps?" Or so she hopes, for his sake. A glance is given to the bandages again and she dares to ask, "What are those for, if you do not mind my asking?"
"Yeah, can't hurt to see some familiar faces," P'draig replies, head bobbing agreement. "And yeah, I'm sure it'll get to be that way eventually. It's just that I lived at Fort from when I was pretty young, Stood there when I was thirteen, again when I was sixteen and only left to live here for a little while when Jekzith flew Nalaiath a couple of turns ago." His gaze follows that glance and he grins sheepishly, turns in the water and hikes his leg up. My, my. He made a mess of his knee now didn't he. "Long story, but the short version is, I fell on my kneecap."
"Oh, yes, that would make it hard to adjust," she concedes with a dip of her head. "But, sometimes a change of scenery is the best thing you can do for yourself." Sunniva smiles again, that smile growing a bit more amused when she slants a look to Jekzith, "Ah, and he did, didn't he? I do not thing I heard much about that." And the smile lingers ... at least until Paddy moves to lift his leg to show his knee. Then, that smile abruptly drops, features drawn into a look of concern. Aghast, even. "Oh /no/. Oh, P'draig, that looks /awful/."
"Yeah. It was harder being so far apart from Mic, so, there you go. Of course, now I've Paige to consider too, so it's kind of funny. I'm still making that trip back and forth a fair bit." More nodding on Paddys side of things. "Yeah, he did. NIce-sized clutch too. We were proud." The brownrider's leg drops back down out of sight beneath the water and shoulders roll in a little shrug. "Yeah, it's not a pretty sight. Sorry - should've warned you I guess. The scrapes look worse than the are, but the swelling has been pretty bad. Healer said warm soaks would help." Hence why he's probably swimming here.
An elbow rests on her thigh and Sunniva's cheek rests in her upturned palm, her attention raptly settling on the brownrider. Concern ebbs only after his reassurances, but only barely. "It is alright. I should have been better prepared." Pause. "There are probably poultices you can use to help with the swelling, as well." Though none seem to come immediately to mind. She moves on, brows lifting just a little. "Oh? Well, perhaps she might like to move here as well?" is suggested, with a twinge of seriousness. "It is good that you and T'mic have found each other -- and that Paige has found you."
"Ohh I've had poultices, they all smell bad you know that?" P'draig confesses a little wide-eyed as if this is innocent discovery and not a well-known fact. "Don't worry though, I'm being a good boy and seeing the healer regularly. It's also more comfortable in the water. Hobbling around gets frustrating." There he does grimace a little. Gray-blue eyes lift to Sunniva's face and he smiles a little. "I wouldn't presume," he says sincerely, "though if that took her fancy, she'd be more than welcome. And -- yes. It's good. Good to be happy."
"They can smell pretty dreadful," she's willing to concede, her nose wrinkling in sympathy. But that concern further bleeds away at his words and Sunni nods with a pleased, "Good." Her legs swing again in the water, toes wiggling a bit. "Then again, I suppose the ability to go from here to there in the span of a few heartbeats does make it easier to tolerate than if you had no other means," she observes as an after-thought. "But, yes; that is wonderful. Happiness, I think, is sometimes one of those things that some people can only hope for."
"Horrible," P'draig agrees about poultices. "But they do work, so I just hold my nose," he notes pragmatically and winks at the young woman. "And instant travel definitely /helps/ a lot, but it's not quite the same thing." There's a little pause and then, faintly apologetic: "We manage." His smile curves warmly once more across his face for Sunniva's last words. "It can be hard to come by. I've been through my share of ups and downs. It's good to be on the far side of that." He regards Sunni for another moment, clears his throat. "What about you, Sunniva?"
"Mm." The thoughtful noise seems to wrap everything else up, the nod being the bow to tie it off, as it were. "You have earned it," is Sunniva's determination, though her gaze drifts from him to the reflection of the moons in the water and how they shift with every ripple sent skittering across the surface. His question elicits a rise and fall of her shoulders in a shallow shrug, "I am still not sure. This-" she gestures to encompass not just the Weyr but the experience of candidacy "-is not where I saw myself a scant turn ago. This is so far from everything I had thought my life was to be." There's a slight pause, then, "But. I am happy to be here, among friends and in such a lovely place."
"It's a big switch, isn't it? Hold to Weyr. ANd then more than one Weyr after that." P'draig takes a breath, lets it out. "How did you like the Reaches? That's where I grew up you know. Until I was Searched for Fort," he says with a little chuckle, reaches over towards one of her hands to deliver a light, reassuring pat.
The touch is appreciated, her other hand sliding over briefly to rest atop his before moving away again. Sunniva smiles, looking askance at him as she replies, "It is. It was- oh, so /much/ has changed that I scarcely know where to begin." On the topic of the 'Reaches, she laughs softly and ducks her head, "They seemed like nice enough people. The weather was a awful, though. I still rather miss quite a few there -- the weyrlings, Milani, C'mryn, E'dre, L'vae. They made it enjoyable when I did not think it possible."
There's an answering smile from P'draig and he nods. "Deal with that all the -- well, okay, /dealt/ with that a lot with weyrlings at Fort, making the change from one way of life to another. Even the weyrbred kids sometimes have issues they didn't expect," he notes with a little pull of his mouth to the side. "Mm, bet you got to know my sister pretty well. Have to say - she is good at her job, finding things, making people feel comfortable. I think she gets it from our mother. I'm glad that you found that there though, that warmth, even in the middle of the cold."
"I can scarcely imagine," is all she can think to say on the topic, though considering how overwhelmed she still feels even now, it's no surprise. Sunniva reaches up briefly, sweeping a length of hair behind an ear. "Oh! Your sister was an absolute dear. I rather wish we had more opportunities to talk, but between the chores and everything-" she trails off with a slight frown, then dismisses the thought with a vague gesture. "It was good," she goes on to say, "and it was rather nice, all told. But I think- I think I will stay here a while after the Hatching, if I do not Impress."
"She's coming down in two days actually, Mic's going to get her though. Too much up and down Jekzith's side hurts a bunch even," the brownrider says regretfully. "I'll make sure she knows you'd like a visit." P'draig's head cocks to the side a little, taking in the former Four Sons holder. "Not back to Fort then. Things just feel right here?"
"Oh! That would be wonderful to see her again. If you would not mind passing it along." And there's a wince of sympathy at the very idea of exacerbating P'draig's knee injuries. Sunniva shakes her head just a little, opting to look at her hands for a moment. "I may visit Fort, perhaps, but-" she shrugs, expression growing a bit pained as she admits "-I think this is where I ought to be. The weather is agreeable and it is disconnected utterly from my old life in a way that Fort is not, if that makes sense?"
"Not at all, bet she'd be happy to," P'draig answers, smile widening a little then fading again as Sunniva looks down. He's quiet for a moment, then clears his throat lightly. "Yes. I think I understand, Sunniva. And I agree that sometimes, stepping out on your own like that can be the best way to go. This way, you're standing on your own two feet and not in anyone's shadow." He doesn't name names, but then again, Paddy did train a certain Fortian Weyrwoman so he might have at least some small insight there.
There's a faint, but pleased, nod of her head to the former, a smile flickering into being before ebbing. At his words, Sunniva exhales sharply and nods again, eyes on her palms for a while longer before she's able to look over at P'draig properly. "That is precisely it, yes. Just a chance to be, that is all." One corner of her mouth pulls down into a lopsided frown, the other soon following suit to even it out. "Of course, explaining to Ella why I am here will be difficult. But, I suppose I will deal with that when the time comes." No other names named, but none are needed, all things considered.
P'draig waits her out, listening and then he reaches over again and this time his hand stays a little longer. "And maybe that way, we'll see you smiling more often too," he says gently, peeking up at her from below, something like friendly fondness in his eyes. "You'll get that part sorted out too, I'm sure - even if it's regular rides. Heck, I go back often enough, any time you want to visit and I'm headed that way, you're welcome to tag along, or I can bring visitors to you," the brownrider offers. He takes a breath and withdraws his hand, splays both on the pool's edge and joins Sunniva in sitting, though he leaves his injured leg in the water, letting the ripples wash over his poor battered knee. P'draig stays for a while, just talking quietly of this or that, before Jekzith reminds that Zelieth is saying it's time for Candidates to come in and the brownrider excuses himself to go hobble home.
When: It is a spring night, 8:20 of day 1, month 2, turn 18 of Interval 10.
Where: Waterfall Pool, Ista Weyr
What: P'draig and Sunniva talk over candidacy thoughts and Sunniva's plans post-Hatching.
Waterfall Pool, Ista Weyr
From high above a majestic waterfall thunders, dropping into a broad, shaded glade and its deep, stone-bottomed pool. The constant roar of the water plunging from the top of the plateau drowns out the sounds of the ocean. A curious stream runs from the pool to the sea through the jungle greenery that keeps the water constantly cool.
A few dozen paces from the stone ring of the pool is a flat, grassy area, spotted with occasional wildflowers and little clovers and removed just enough from the splashing water that voices are more easily heard. Behind the pool, the cliff wall is rocky; ancient-carved steps meander up the wall, just far enough from the waterfall to be passable though moss and dampness make the path exciting. Another, less dangerous path seems to lead back to a tight squeeze and a certain shower if one chooses to pass behind the waterfall.
Night has fallen on Ista, the sun's light faded fully from the sky and stars pricking the darkness overhead. The moons hang at just past full and waning crescent high above. It's evening, but not so late that curfew is imminent for Candidates. There's quiet splashing in the pool at the cliff's base: P'draig swims from end to end steadily, while Jekzith curls up nearby with a bevy of firelizards scratching his back.
And it's in that time between the end of chores and when candidates are due back to the barracks that Sunniva likes to take her evening constitutionals, as it were. Visiting new places or, as in this case, simply visiting one she's been to a few times before. She treks up the stairs, taking them slowly but surely, on her way to the pool. And once she's up there, she just stops, head tilting up to study the moons and stars in their gyres before she's had a chance to properly acknowledge anyone or anything else being around.
Jekzith is the one who hears and sees Sunni first, eyes blue-green with happy contentment and he warbles gaily towards the young woman. P'draig's strokes pause and he turns his head, grins as he spots that slender figure and turns about to come to the edge of the pool leaning both arms there and his chin atop both. "Hey Sunni. Nice evening isn't it?"
At that warble, her attention shifts to the brown, recognition following a scant second later with a warm, "Hello to you, too." Green eyes flick down to the pool and to where P'draig is, that smile of hers edging just a touch wider. "It is positively lovely, P'draig. How are you and Jekzith on this fine evening?" Sunniva wonders as she takes a few steps closer for ease of conversation.
"Pretty good, thanks, Sunniva," P'draig says, maintaining his position in the water, weight balanced on the pool's edge. A towel folded neatly and a little pile of bandaging can be spied nearby. Jekzith lets out a little friendly whuff as Sunniva speaks to him directly. "He says that he's enjoying his massage and and says 'hey there' back." Paddy grins, even dripping little puddles of water onto the stones that border the pool. "And how're you doing? All settled in here?"
"That is good to hear," Sunniva replies, sitting near the edge of the pool just far enough that she can work her shoes off without getting them wet. Those are set near P'draig's towel, her gaze lingering a moment on the bandaging. Her brows knit but she leaves it for now, scooting forward just enough to let her dangle her legs in the water with her skirts hiked above her knees to keep them dry. "That must be pleasant, having so many helpful hands to do that," she remarks of the massage, a wry smile finally surfacing. To the rider, she tilts her head. "I am well enough. And, oh! Everyone here has been so ... /warm/. It has been wonderful."
"He says it's bliss," P'draig relays with a laugh and nods. "Yeah, Ista's weather is warm and so're most of the people," he agrees. "It's kind of funny, both you and D'kai here, like being back home at Fort. Don't tell Mic but Ista doesn't quite feel like home yet, even our weyr does." He winks at the young woman and shifts his posture a little, though his arms still take the bulk of his weight, resting on the pool's edge.
She laughs softly, shaking her head a little before her attention resettles on P'draig again. "That /is/ odd, isn't it?" Sunniva leans forward a little, elbows on her thighs and legs swinging slowly in the water. "Though, I am not complaining. It is nice to see you and D'kai around after so long, even if the circumstances were unexpected." Her faint smile falters a little at his words, though it doesn't fall, "Oh. Well, someday, perhaps?" Or so she hopes, for his sake. A glance is given to the bandages again and she dares to ask, "What are those for, if you do not mind my asking?"
"Yeah, can't hurt to see some familiar faces," P'draig replies, head bobbing agreement. "And yeah, I'm sure it'll get to be that way eventually. It's just that I lived at Fort from when I was pretty young, Stood there when I was thirteen, again when I was sixteen and only left to live here for a little while when Jekzith flew Nalaiath a couple of turns ago." His gaze follows that glance and he grins sheepishly, turns in the water and hikes his leg up. My, my. He made a mess of his knee now didn't he. "Long story, but the short version is, I fell on my kneecap."
"Oh, yes, that would make it hard to adjust," she concedes with a dip of her head. "But, sometimes a change of scenery is the best thing you can do for yourself." Sunniva smiles again, that smile growing a bit more amused when she slants a look to Jekzith, "Ah, and he did, didn't he? I do not thing I heard much about that." And the smile lingers ... at least until Paddy moves to lift his leg to show his knee. Then, that smile abruptly drops, features drawn into a look of concern. Aghast, even. "Oh /no/. Oh, P'draig, that looks /awful/."
"Yeah. It was harder being so far apart from Mic, so, there you go. Of course, now I've Paige to consider too, so it's kind of funny. I'm still making that trip back and forth a fair bit." More nodding on Paddys side of things. "Yeah, he did. NIce-sized clutch too. We were proud." The brownrider's leg drops back down out of sight beneath the water and shoulders roll in a little shrug. "Yeah, it's not a pretty sight. Sorry - should've warned you I guess. The scrapes look worse than the are, but the swelling has been pretty bad. Healer said warm soaks would help." Hence why he's probably swimming here.
An elbow rests on her thigh and Sunniva's cheek rests in her upturned palm, her attention raptly settling on the brownrider. Concern ebbs only after his reassurances, but only barely. "It is alright. I should have been better prepared." Pause. "There are probably poultices you can use to help with the swelling, as well." Though none seem to come immediately to mind. She moves on, brows lifting just a little. "Oh? Well, perhaps she might like to move here as well?" is suggested, with a twinge of seriousness. "It is good that you and T'mic have found each other -- and that Paige has found you."
"Ohh I've had poultices, they all smell bad you know that?" P'draig confesses a little wide-eyed as if this is innocent discovery and not a well-known fact. "Don't worry though, I'm being a good boy and seeing the healer regularly. It's also more comfortable in the water. Hobbling around gets frustrating." There he does grimace a little. Gray-blue eyes lift to Sunniva's face and he smiles a little. "I wouldn't presume," he says sincerely, "though if that took her fancy, she'd be more than welcome. And -- yes. It's good. Good to be happy."
"They can smell pretty dreadful," she's willing to concede, her nose wrinkling in sympathy. But that concern further bleeds away at his words and Sunni nods with a pleased, "Good." Her legs swing again in the water, toes wiggling a bit. "Then again, I suppose the ability to go from here to there in the span of a few heartbeats does make it easier to tolerate than if you had no other means," she observes as an after-thought. "But, yes; that is wonderful. Happiness, I think, is sometimes one of those things that some people can only hope for."
"Horrible," P'draig agrees about poultices. "But they do work, so I just hold my nose," he notes pragmatically and winks at the young woman. "And instant travel definitely /helps/ a lot, but it's not quite the same thing." There's a little pause and then, faintly apologetic: "We manage." His smile curves warmly once more across his face for Sunniva's last words. "It can be hard to come by. I've been through my share of ups and downs. It's good to be on the far side of that." He regards Sunni for another moment, clears his throat. "What about you, Sunniva?"
"Mm." The thoughtful noise seems to wrap everything else up, the nod being the bow to tie it off, as it were. "You have earned it," is Sunniva's determination, though her gaze drifts from him to the reflection of the moons in the water and how they shift with every ripple sent skittering across the surface. His question elicits a rise and fall of her shoulders in a shallow shrug, "I am still not sure. This-" she gestures to encompass not just the Weyr but the experience of candidacy "-is not where I saw myself a scant turn ago. This is so far from everything I had thought my life was to be." There's a slight pause, then, "But. I am happy to be here, among friends and in such a lovely place."
"It's a big switch, isn't it? Hold to Weyr. ANd then more than one Weyr after that." P'draig takes a breath, lets it out. "How did you like the Reaches? That's where I grew up you know. Until I was Searched for Fort," he says with a little chuckle, reaches over towards one of her hands to deliver a light, reassuring pat.
The touch is appreciated, her other hand sliding over briefly to rest atop his before moving away again. Sunniva smiles, looking askance at him as she replies, "It is. It was- oh, so /much/ has changed that I scarcely know where to begin." On the topic of the 'Reaches, she laughs softly and ducks her head, "They seemed like nice enough people. The weather was a awful, though. I still rather miss quite a few there -- the weyrlings, Milani, C'mryn, E'dre, L'vae. They made it enjoyable when I did not think it possible."
There's an answering smile from P'draig and he nods. "Deal with that all the -- well, okay, /dealt/ with that a lot with weyrlings at Fort, making the change from one way of life to another. Even the weyrbred kids sometimes have issues they didn't expect," he notes with a little pull of his mouth to the side. "Mm, bet you got to know my sister pretty well. Have to say - she is good at her job, finding things, making people feel comfortable. I think she gets it from our mother. I'm glad that you found that there though, that warmth, even in the middle of the cold."
"I can scarcely imagine," is all she can think to say on the topic, though considering how overwhelmed she still feels even now, it's no surprise. Sunniva reaches up briefly, sweeping a length of hair behind an ear. "Oh! Your sister was an absolute dear. I rather wish we had more opportunities to talk, but between the chores and everything-" she trails off with a slight frown, then dismisses the thought with a vague gesture. "It was good," she goes on to say, "and it was rather nice, all told. But I think- I think I will stay here a while after the Hatching, if I do not Impress."
"She's coming down in two days actually, Mic's going to get her though. Too much up and down Jekzith's side hurts a bunch even," the brownrider says regretfully. "I'll make sure she knows you'd like a visit." P'draig's head cocks to the side a little, taking in the former Four Sons holder. "Not back to Fort then. Things just feel right here?"
"Oh! That would be wonderful to see her again. If you would not mind passing it along." And there's a wince of sympathy at the very idea of exacerbating P'draig's knee injuries. Sunniva shakes her head just a little, opting to look at her hands for a moment. "I may visit Fort, perhaps, but-" she shrugs, expression growing a bit pained as she admits "-I think this is where I ought to be. The weather is agreeable and it is disconnected utterly from my old life in a way that Fort is not, if that makes sense?"
"Not at all, bet she'd be happy to," P'draig answers, smile widening a little then fading again as Sunniva looks down. He's quiet for a moment, then clears his throat lightly. "Yes. I think I understand, Sunniva. And I agree that sometimes, stepping out on your own like that can be the best way to go. This way, you're standing on your own two feet and not in anyone's shadow." He doesn't name names, but then again, Paddy did train a certain Fortian Weyrwoman so he might have at least some small insight there.
There's a faint, but pleased, nod of her head to the former, a smile flickering into being before ebbing. At his words, Sunniva exhales sharply and nods again, eyes on her palms for a while longer before she's able to look over at P'draig properly. "That is precisely it, yes. Just a chance to be, that is all." One corner of her mouth pulls down into a lopsided frown, the other soon following suit to even it out. "Of course, explaining to Ella why I am here will be difficult. But, I suppose I will deal with that when the time comes." No other names named, but none are needed, all things considered.
P'draig waits her out, listening and then he reaches over again and this time his hand stays a little longer. "And maybe that way, we'll see you smiling more often too," he says gently, peeking up at her from below, something like friendly fondness in his eyes. "You'll get that part sorted out too, I'm sure - even if it's regular rides. Heck, I go back often enough, any time you want to visit and I'm headed that way, you're welcome to tag along, or I can bring visitors to you," the brownrider offers. He takes a breath and withdraws his hand, splays both on the pool's edge and joins Sunniva in sitting, though he leaves his injured leg in the water, letting the ripples wash over his poor battered knee. P'draig stays for a while, just talking quietly of this or that, before Jekzith reminds that Zelieth is saying it's time for Candidates to come in and the brownrider excuses himself to go hobble home.