LOG: Thank You / I'm Sorry
Date: Day 22, Month 12, Turn 20
Location: Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr
Synopsis: K'del and B'tal are awkward with each other.
Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr
The Snowasis is rarely quiet, and even then, the high-ceilinged former weyr is kept from echoing by the fantastical booths tucked into its convoluted perimeter. The secluded seating spaces have been shaped from the truncated stalagmites that escaped the smoothing of the main floor, and are both softened and separated by colorful hangings that are thick and opaque enough to make each corner its own private nook.
Some of the smaller stalactites still roam the ceiling, their jagged teeth tracing a bumpy, inverted spine to the hearth. There, a thick rug with a low klah table and comfortable armchairs and couches sit, their upholstery and cushions changed sporadically to match the season: bright, light colors in the summer, fresh greens and yellows in the spring, warm autumnals in fall, and clear, rich hues for winter. Small tables litter the rest of the cavern, enough to fit up to four people each, while stools stand along the smooth wooden bar behind which is the passthrough window to the kitchen. Glass-paneled cabinetry behind the bar provides a clear view of the available liquors, the many colors reflecting the soft light of glows tucked into strategic niches around the cavern.
Snow has been falling steadily all day - a welcome change from all the rain, earlier in the seven - and builds up into heavy drifts out in the bowl. It's no wonder, then, that the Snowasis is doing a roaring trade, as adult weyr residents of all varieties enjoy the bar's cozy warmth and plentiful drinks. K'del, like others before him, tracks snow indoors despite his best efforts to shake it free from his boots; he hangs his coat over his arm, and tucks his gloves into his pockets, as he weaves his way between tables towards the bar, where, as he attracts the attention of the barkeep on duty this evening to request, "Hot spiced rum, please."
Tucked away nicely near the hearth, B'tal looks as though he's been here for a little while already but he doesn't look as though he's gotten very comfortable in any of that time. His jacket's draped over the back of the cushioned seat he's sitting in and he has a mug tucked between his legs. He's still wearing a green knitted scarf, unwrapped, and he's quite intent on a bit of hide held in his hands. At least until someone swipes it away from him. B'tal barks a defensive, "Hey!" and jumps to his feet. And that spills his drink on his pants, boots and the floor. Great. There's laughing, but he's not paying attention to that now. He picks up his mug and ducks away toward the bar. "Can I, uh, get a rag? Please?"
The Barkeep on duty pauses in his "Of course, sir, won't be a minute sir," kind of response to K'del's request to glance at B'tal as the greenrider approaches, eyebrows raised. K'del's position better allows him to see the problem, and hastily, he says, "Rag first, my drink second, I think. Dropped your drink?" The last question is directed at the greenrider rather than the bar man, his tone conversational, and even accompanied by a sympathetic enough smile. The bar man, on the other hand, looks mildly annoyed, but turns away to - presumably - do the Weyrleader's bidding.
Oh! There's K'del. B'tal gets a little wide-eyed when he realizes who he hadn't noticed until right this moment. And it takes him long enough to look toward where the bar man, well, was to say, "Um, no, I--" But he's gone already and B'tal is left looking rather awkward and trying not to look back at K'del very much with limited success. "Sorry," he murmurs quietly. "I didn't mean to." He remembers the mug in his hand, then, and sets it very carefully on the bar.
"No need to apologise to /me/," says K'del, after a moment of slightly confused pause, as though he's baffled by the greenrider's reaction. "Or anyone, really. It happens. Bet it won't take too much to clean up." The barkeep returns a moment later with a pile of clothes, which he thrusts in B'tal's direction before hurrying off again to fetch the Weyrleader's drink. K'del doesn't seem too impatient, though, lingering, his expression thoughtful, as he considers the greenrider.
B'tal reaches for the pile to pick it up carefully, murmuring a quick thanks to the barkeep before the man's leaving again. The greenrider flickers an uncertain smile at the Weyrleader, grateful, though for what exactly might not be completely clear straight off. "I should..." he makes a small gesture toward where he'd come from and he hesitates for a moment before he turns to go back to clean up his mess.
K'del's drink arrives a moment after the greenrider turns to leave, and after thanking the barkeep, the bronzerider hesitates a moment more, and then follows B'tal towards his mess. "Do you need a hand?" His gaze flicks over the greenrider, the mess, the area around; his expression, though, is mostly unreadable. He takes a sip from his drink, then stands there, awkward, drink in one hand, coat still draped over his arm.
There's already a rag over the main spill on the floor that the greenrider is standing on, bent over to wipe at the mark around his knee. "Sir," B'tal says quickly, surprised maybe that K'del followed him. He straightens, glances past the Weyrleader to something beyond and finally refocuses on the other young man without quite looking at him directly. "I think I'm okay, sir. But thank you." It's the sort of tone that suggests he'd be saying exactly that no matter what the actual, honest answer was.
"You're not just saying that?" K'del says that after a moment - several moments, even - of dubious silence, his fair eyebrows climbing towards his hairline. His tone doesn't hold outright disbelief, though, just the faintest hint of doubt. "Because I really don't mind." Actually, he looks almost somehow kind of guilty, but over what? Perhaps it's just awkwardness, built in to his stance, the way he holds his shoulders.
A quick shake of his head follows the question and B'tal steps off of the rag on the floor. He kicks it gently to the side to make sure his endeavors are worthwhile, then turns his attention to the chair to make sure nothing actually hit that. Apparently satisfied, he sits back down and starts rubbing at some other spot on his pants. "It was just an accident," says the greenrider like that somehow means something. Then he looks up quickly, another thought striking him and making him look instantly uncertain with himself, "You didn't want to sit here, did you?"
Cue more awkward standing K'del, throughout all of that, right up until that uncertain question. K'del turns scarlet, and hastily shakes his head: no, no, no. "In that chair? No! No, of course not. Why would I steal your chair? There are plenty of other chairs. I just…" Apparently, babbling is what he does, when he's run out of anything truly effective to say. "Really just wanted to make sure that you were okay. That's all. Maybe I should just go. I'm sorry, B'tal, for making you feel awkward."
B'tal turns his own shade of red in turn and he focuses quite intently on that stain on his pants until K'del mentions going. That makes him pause, still red, and he looks up. "I'm okay," he assures, though he seems a little confused. "Wasn't hot or anything." And then embarrassed. "You don't have to--" Pause. "Of course, don't let me keep you, sir. Thank you. For checking." There's another attempt at a smile, small as it may be.
An awkward pause follows, despite K'del's previously stated intention to leave. Finally; "Don't have to what? Care? Maybe not. Just--" Just what? He doesn't finish the sentence, and instead, finally shakes his head. "You're welcome, B'tal. Maybe it wasn't necessary, but I-- Well." Enough said. This time, he actually does turn to go.
There's awkwardness all around, evidently. B'tal only listens in silence without questioning anything said and when K'del turns to leave? Well, the greenrider is certainly in no position to stop him so he only watches after the Weyrleader for a moment or three before his gaze drops and he slouches back into his chair.
And so, K'del, his coat, and his spiced rum drink depart for (hopefully) less awkward climes, leaving the greenrider alone. If he frowns the whole way there, and looks like he regrets something desperately? Perhaps that's only coincidental. Perhaps.
Location: Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr
Synopsis: K'del and B'tal are awkward with each other.
Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr
The Snowasis is rarely quiet, and even then, the high-ceilinged former weyr is kept from echoing by the fantastical booths tucked into its convoluted perimeter. The secluded seating spaces have been shaped from the truncated stalagmites that escaped the smoothing of the main floor, and are both softened and separated by colorful hangings that are thick and opaque enough to make each corner its own private nook.
Some of the smaller stalactites still roam the ceiling, their jagged teeth tracing a bumpy, inverted spine to the hearth. There, a thick rug with a low klah table and comfortable armchairs and couches sit, their upholstery and cushions changed sporadically to match the season: bright, light colors in the summer, fresh greens and yellows in the spring, warm autumnals in fall, and clear, rich hues for winter. Small tables litter the rest of the cavern, enough to fit up to four people each, while stools stand along the smooth wooden bar behind which is the passthrough window to the kitchen. Glass-paneled cabinetry behind the bar provides a clear view of the available liquors, the many colors reflecting the soft light of glows tucked into strategic niches around the cavern.
Snow has been falling steadily all day - a welcome change from all the rain, earlier in the seven - and builds up into heavy drifts out in the bowl. It's no wonder, then, that the Snowasis is doing a roaring trade, as adult weyr residents of all varieties enjoy the bar's cozy warmth and plentiful drinks. K'del, like others before him, tracks snow indoors despite his best efforts to shake it free from his boots; he hangs his coat over his arm, and tucks his gloves into his pockets, as he weaves his way between tables towards the bar, where, as he attracts the attention of the barkeep on duty this evening to request, "Hot spiced rum, please."
Tucked away nicely near the hearth, B'tal looks as though he's been here for a little while already but he doesn't look as though he's gotten very comfortable in any of that time. His jacket's draped over the back of the cushioned seat he's sitting in and he has a mug tucked between his legs. He's still wearing a green knitted scarf, unwrapped, and he's quite intent on a bit of hide held in his hands. At least until someone swipes it away from him. B'tal barks a defensive, "Hey!" and jumps to his feet. And that spills his drink on his pants, boots and the floor. Great. There's laughing, but he's not paying attention to that now. He picks up his mug and ducks away toward the bar. "Can I, uh, get a rag? Please?"
The Barkeep on duty pauses in his "Of course, sir, won't be a minute sir," kind of response to K'del's request to glance at B'tal as the greenrider approaches, eyebrows raised. K'del's position better allows him to see the problem, and hastily, he says, "Rag first, my drink second, I think. Dropped your drink?" The last question is directed at the greenrider rather than the bar man, his tone conversational, and even accompanied by a sympathetic enough smile. The bar man, on the other hand, looks mildly annoyed, but turns away to - presumably - do the Weyrleader's bidding.
Oh! There's K'del. B'tal gets a little wide-eyed when he realizes who he hadn't noticed until right this moment. And it takes him long enough to look toward where the bar man, well, was to say, "Um, no, I--" But he's gone already and B'tal is left looking rather awkward and trying not to look back at K'del very much with limited success. "Sorry," he murmurs quietly. "I didn't mean to." He remembers the mug in his hand, then, and sets it very carefully on the bar.
"No need to apologise to /me/," says K'del, after a moment of slightly confused pause, as though he's baffled by the greenrider's reaction. "Or anyone, really. It happens. Bet it won't take too much to clean up." The barkeep returns a moment later with a pile of clothes, which he thrusts in B'tal's direction before hurrying off again to fetch the Weyrleader's drink. K'del doesn't seem too impatient, though, lingering, his expression thoughtful, as he considers the greenrider.
B'tal reaches for the pile to pick it up carefully, murmuring a quick thanks to the barkeep before the man's leaving again. The greenrider flickers an uncertain smile at the Weyrleader, grateful, though for what exactly might not be completely clear straight off. "I should..." he makes a small gesture toward where he'd come from and he hesitates for a moment before he turns to go back to clean up his mess.
K'del's drink arrives a moment after the greenrider turns to leave, and after thanking the barkeep, the bronzerider hesitates a moment more, and then follows B'tal towards his mess. "Do you need a hand?" His gaze flicks over the greenrider, the mess, the area around; his expression, though, is mostly unreadable. He takes a sip from his drink, then stands there, awkward, drink in one hand, coat still draped over his arm.
There's already a rag over the main spill on the floor that the greenrider is standing on, bent over to wipe at the mark around his knee. "Sir," B'tal says quickly, surprised maybe that K'del followed him. He straightens, glances past the Weyrleader to something beyond and finally refocuses on the other young man without quite looking at him directly. "I think I'm okay, sir. But thank you." It's the sort of tone that suggests he'd be saying exactly that no matter what the actual, honest answer was.
"You're not just saying that?" K'del says that after a moment - several moments, even - of dubious silence, his fair eyebrows climbing towards his hairline. His tone doesn't hold outright disbelief, though, just the faintest hint of doubt. "Because I really don't mind." Actually, he looks almost somehow kind of guilty, but over what? Perhaps it's just awkwardness, built in to his stance, the way he holds his shoulders.
A quick shake of his head follows the question and B'tal steps off of the rag on the floor. He kicks it gently to the side to make sure his endeavors are worthwhile, then turns his attention to the chair to make sure nothing actually hit that. Apparently satisfied, he sits back down and starts rubbing at some other spot on his pants. "It was just an accident," says the greenrider like that somehow means something. Then he looks up quickly, another thought striking him and making him look instantly uncertain with himself, "You didn't want to sit here, did you?"
Cue more awkward standing K'del, throughout all of that, right up until that uncertain question. K'del turns scarlet, and hastily shakes his head: no, no, no. "In that chair? No! No, of course not. Why would I steal your chair? There are plenty of other chairs. I just…" Apparently, babbling is what he does, when he's run out of anything truly effective to say. "Really just wanted to make sure that you were okay. That's all. Maybe I should just go. I'm sorry, B'tal, for making you feel awkward."
B'tal turns his own shade of red in turn and he focuses quite intently on that stain on his pants until K'del mentions going. That makes him pause, still red, and he looks up. "I'm okay," he assures, though he seems a little confused. "Wasn't hot or anything." And then embarrassed. "You don't have to--" Pause. "Of course, don't let me keep you, sir. Thank you. For checking." There's another attempt at a smile, small as it may be.
An awkward pause follows, despite K'del's previously stated intention to leave. Finally; "Don't have to what? Care? Maybe not. Just--" Just what? He doesn't finish the sentence, and instead, finally shakes his head. "You're welcome, B'tal. Maybe it wasn't necessary, but I-- Well." Enough said. This time, he actually does turn to go.
There's awkwardness all around, evidently. B'tal only listens in silence without questioning anything said and when K'del turns to leave? Well, the greenrider is certainly in no position to stop him so he only watches after the Weyrleader for a moment or three before his gaze drops and he slouches back into his chair.
And so, K'del, his coat, and his spiced rum drink depart for (hopefully) less awkward climes, leaving the greenrider alone. If he frowns the whole way there, and looks like he regrets something desperately? Perhaps that's only coincidental. Perhaps.