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Post by hrsegrl on Aug 31, 2009 12:40:33 GMT -5
A'stin sat at the Night Hearth for the third time that sevenday. He had trouble sleeping since Shaye died but it was nothing new. The fact was he could solve the problem and invite women to sleep with him but he felt horrible when he did that. If he had a friend that could just sleep in his bed with him that would work but then he would grow attached to that person too. Ugh, there was nothing for it. Maybe this happened to everyone who grieved. He had not thought to ask B'rek. That was one man who would understand losing a lover.
With a sigh he sipped his klah. He was trying not to notice the people around him. Especially not an of the women. A'stin knew his title alone would attract women, it didn't help that he was charming and good looking. That was the sort of thinking that got him into trouble though. He knew he was a good man but he also knew he was easily tempted.
He was probably alone on this one. Most riders would probably take advantage of being free and move on. Maybe he just was not ready for that. He took another sip of klah and focused his eyes on the fire. The crackling noise was somewhat comforting and the brightness in the dark too. He let his mind drift while staring off into the fire. If someone he knew well was around, he wouldn't know it he was so lost in thought.
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Post by Dreamer on Sept 3, 2009 16:19:58 GMT -5
Even when Jenafa couldn't sleep, she tried not to lurk in the Lower Caverns. It bothered people to see her anything less than her best, and when she was irritated, she frightened Lower Caverns women. She knew that at least some of them had told stories about her being the one to drink blood during Flight, instead of her Dragon.
But tonight, she didn't care. She was broaching the idea that new Bronzeriding blood was needed in Igen with her circle of advisors, and she knew it would be a bloody battle. And she was frustrated too, because even her old mainstay Brownriding lovers had seemingly abandonded her, the title of Senior Weyrwoman a chastity belt that no man could defy.
And when she saw A'stin brooding in a corner, she headed underringly for him. They'd been closer before he'd truly fallen for Shaye, but friendship was suppose to last. Beside that, for the time being at least, he was her Weyrleader, and he shouldn't be brooding in corners either.
"Hello A'stin." She took a seat next to him, but away from the fire. It wasn't a hot night, but the heavy linin cloth she was wearing kept her warm- beside that, it looked good next to her dark skin, and next to the vibrant Green of her little Firelizard, which was currently perched on her shoulder, fat and sated with a late night snack.
"Can't sleep?"
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Post by hrsegrl on Sept 4, 2009 7:26:11 GMT -5
The Weyrleader had no idea that he had been graced with the most beautiful company in the Weyr. No, his mind was drifting. The melodic voice of the Weyrwoman did not reach his brain until moments had passed. Then he turned slightly to look at her. "Jenafa. I apologize, I was in my own world." He spoke quietly so that only she could hear him. Gossip travelled fast enough here that he would prefer no one think him daft.
His eyes took in her dark skin against the light dress she wore. As gorgeous as ever, he thought with a mental smile. "I do not sleep well anymore." He said honestly and as much as he did not mind talking about himself, he had to wonder why she was not in bed herself. Jenafa was not one to go long without a lover, though neither was he.
"What keeps you out of bed tonight my lady?" There was genuine concern in his voice. Before Shaye, they had been very good friends. If Shaye had not been so jealous, he would have continued that friendship but he could not risk the other woman's sanity so he had kept his distance as much as possible though sometimes that was not very far at all. Friend or not, she was Senior Weyrwoman and deserved to have attention given to her by her Bronzeriders. A'stin would gladly give it.
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Post by Dreamer on Sept 4, 2009 13:14:57 GMT -5
Jenafa waited patiently for A'stin to realize she'd asked him a question. When he, she supposed awoke was the best word for it, she smiled gently, and reached up to stroke her Flit. She wished she could tuck her calves up under her thighs like a little girl, but decided to continue sitting with grace and ease, but a little more poise, legs stretched gently towards A'stin.
She dismissed his concerns with a wave of her hand, not bothering to speak the unnecessary words of forgiveness. She'd behaved in a somewhat similar way turns before when she'd been abandoned by her first Bronze love.
"My own sleep has been lest restful as of late." Jenafa searched for words that would explain the how everyone seemed too frightened to be seen cavorting with the Weyrwoman, and couldn't find anything to say that would not sound like a whine. She'd just have to tough it out until people saw her as both woman and Weyrwoman again. She should probably get pregnant. That would help.
She wondered if she should bring up work, or some other subject. Jen spoke, it was true, but she really didn't like idle chatter all that much. Banter, yes, she enjoyed that, but just talking seemed like an excuse to avoid the real issues that generally lurked in people's hearts.
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Post by fairychild on Sept 4, 2009 16:17:52 GMT -5
L'tor was dreaming. In one moment he was swimming in the ocean, the next he caught glimpses of a beautific smile, and golden rays of sun, the warm honey feeling he got from the briny air and the sun should have been comforting, but it wasn't. He found himself jerked awake by his own sorrow. He woke up with a start. He knew there was no going to sleep. He put on a pair of plain but handsomely tailored leggings, a plain white tunic, and his green autumn coat, thinner than a winter coat and made with fibers instead of wool. His sister Lirann had given it to him his last visit, they were deciding whether or not to move further inland to keep the children safe. He shook his unwieldy curls away from his face. He caressed the vines that were on the cuffs and bottom of the coat, the brass buttons on the right hand side, he sighed and stamped on his boots. Best go sit by the fire with his favorite tome of poems and drink some k'lah, then catch a couple hours of sleep before he had to deal with the younglings. He checked on Konath, who was sound asleep, and then headed to the weyrhall. He was surprised to find both the weyrleader and weyrwoman present.
L'tor knew he was a somewhat handsome man, his features were a bit unwieldy, a bit strange, his eyes too deep, his brows too pronounced, his nose too prominant, his jaw not quite chiseled. Ten years ago he may have been considered quite handsome, but the years had rendered some wrinkles here and there, he had a day's scruff on his jaw and a tangle of brown curls. So approaching the beautiful Weyrwoman Jenafa, next to a man so infamously handsome, was not something he relished doing. Not that L'tor had trouble with women. He just hadn't had one in his bed in a year. By the egg, has it really been that long? With the time jumps and the weyrlings and the disease he'd been kept rather busy, he supposed. He got a mug of klah and pulled a chair close enough to the fire for warmth, far enough away if they wanted to keep the conversation private.
"Jenafa" He nodded with a warm yet sleepy smile "A'stin" he said with an equally warm smile. He was friendly even in his worst moods of introspective sorrow. He blew on his klah and sipped at it, letting the warm liquid fill his mouth, it was nutty and delicious, he let it slip down his throat and into his stomach, warming him from the inside out.
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Post by Dreamer on Sept 4, 2009 18:04:14 GMT -5
Jenafa wasn't sure how she felt about the Weyrlingmaster appearing. Of course, she and A'stin were in a public place, so she really didn't have any say about who could approach. Besides, it wasn't as though any real conversation had been interrupted. Mentally, Jenafa reminded herself to call A'stin into her office before any other business was conducted in the morning. Until Saharth rose(which would be soon, but that that soon), A'stin was her Weyleader, and she needed to keep a closer look on him. Losing Shaye had to be far harder on him than it had been on her, and losing Shaye had been hard on the new Weyrwoman as well.
"L'tor." Jenafa greeted with her customary warmth. It was hard not to be warm with a voice like hers. Besides, she rather liked having a Brownrider as Weyrlingmaster. Weyrlingmasters often tried to throw their weight around, but a Brownrider couldn't pull that. It was very nice.
"Are we all condemned to a sleepless night?" She asked lightly, smiling kindly at both of her Riders.
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Post by hrsegrl on Sept 4, 2009 18:27:19 GMT -5
When L'tor approached he couldn't help but smile. Were all the leaders of the Weyr going to show up at the night hearth tonight. It seemed a little bit strange to him but then they had the most pressure on them. L'tor especially with the Weyrlings. He could bet having a Queen Weyrling to train was harder than any other with the whole Weyr watching.
"Good evening L'tor. Feel free to join us." He would have added more but he glanced at Jenafa to make sure she had not minded that he invited the Weyrlingmaster to join them. Jenafa generally liked brownriders so he assumed that she would not mind when he should have asked her. Where were his manners this evening?
He supressed a thought though it would be funny if it happened. Should Janesa show up, they might as well have a meeting. All of them would be there and they wouldn't have to wake the boy Weyrsecond or the weyrling queenrider to have a meeting. He realized he wasn't giving either of them much credit but they were so young.
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Post by fairychild on Sept 5, 2009 7:25:08 GMT -5
L'tor pulled his chair closer. "It appears that sleep is busy elsewhere tonight, lady." he said with a gentle smile. "Thank you A'stin, I didn't know when I went to the hall that the company would be so grand." He was jibing a little. "we ought to just call a weyrmeeting at this rate" chuckled L'tor wryly. L'tor was not incredibly social, he had few friends, even fewer in the weyr. He would have simply sat by the fire otherwise, but he was surprised to find that company was more comforting than the trusty tome tucked in his jacket. The words would have just fallen in his mind like rocks into a pond, sinking to the bottom swiftly. It was not the right mindset for poetry. One had to devour it slowly, like a fine wine, you sipped at it, enjoyed the flavour and the aroma. He knew he would have just ended up staring into the flames turning his dream over and over in his mind. Then he would think of his family... His eyes wandered to the crackling fireplace, he sipped his klah and felt the warmth from the fire on his face and his toes through his boots. He thought about the disease, was there no cure? His family couldn't dodge destruction forever, someone was going to fall ill. His hand rubbed the stubble on his face as he thought about it.
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Post by Dreamer on Sept 5, 2009 12:22:42 GMT -5
Jenafa smiled, but looked the man over critically. He looked, well, certainly not his best. There was stubble on his face, and if her eyes didn't deceive her, there were wrinkles in his clothing. Shocking, really. Well, at least to her, but she disliked immensely when her Rankers didn't bother to make themselves presentable- it make the un-Ranked either discount them, or to think it was acceptable to giggle about their better's eccentricities. Perhaps she'd better look into having a conversation with L'tor too.
"Oh no, not business!" Jenafa cried out(softly), in consternation. "If I wanted that I would have stayed in my office. If you see the Headwoman, give me warning so I can run!" She then proceeded to wink broadly at both of the men, basically inviting them to be less than serious in her presence.
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Post by hrsegrl on Sept 6, 2009 7:41:18 GMT -5
A'stin laughed lightly more because he and L'tor were thinking exactly the same thing than because of what the man said. He got himself under control though. "I knew there was a reason I liked you L'tor. Great minds think alike." He added. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to ask how the Weyrlings were doing. They had a 4 month old set and a 2 month old set, not particularly dangerous times to be a WEyrling. When they got to a turn and started flying, thats when he worried.
"Well I suppose it is kind of depressing that we all only get into the same room together to have a meeting." And it was a bit of a sad fact that A'stin had not really thought about. Maybe Leaders should have private parties... no that would be bad because then the lower rankers would be peeved. Besides what would the three of them talk about if not bussiness?
"I don't really know what we should do in this situation other than talk about ordinary things but everytime I try to think of something I'm reminded of important things we all need to discuss." He said sadly. It really was a pity that they were so focused on their jobs. The three of them were the most hardworking other than the Headwoman, in the Weyr.
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Post by fairychild on Sept 9, 2009 9:12:41 GMT -5
L'tor sighed "I agree... The younglings will learn though, and it is an honor and a joy to teach them. I fear the responsibilities that you two shoulder, at least I have the young to give me at the least amusement. The other day, a youngling himself tried to eat firestone! the poor lad couldn't defecate for days!" L'tor gave a bellowing laugh. "for all of that though, I must to bed, try to get some sleep before the urchins try my patience another day." L'tor said it with a grin. "A'stin," he shook his hand in farewell "Jenafa" he kissed her hand in a courtly fashion, His blue eyes flickering toward Jenafa's beautiful face "It was pleasure sitting hearthside with you. I hope that sleep finds all of us tonight." with that L'tor let himself leave, his boots thumping regularly on the stones. He was foolish he knew, trying to amuse them, he who in fact hardly had enough humor to keep him from being melancholic all of the time. He sighed and went to his bed, took off his clothes and waited for sleep to find him.
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Post by Dreamer on Sept 21, 2009 14:29:30 GMT -5
Jenafa smiled at L'tor's jests, and nodded in farewell as he left.
"I fear, A'stin, that we both must at least try to sleep as well. Do you think you'll be able to manage?" She turned, to be facing him, looking over his features carefully. She mentally noted that as the Weyrwoman, she needed to be making sure A'stin was dealing with life well. Sometimes Jenafa forgot that Shaye was gone, and no longer was keeping A'stin and herself from speaking or seeing each other, and from that, didn't find time to look after that particular one of her Bronzers. And she didn't have so many to look after.
"Perhaps thoughts of a hobby to take up would be something that would put you to sleep?" Jenafa smiled, not sure if she was joking or not.
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Post by hrsegrl on Sept 22, 2009 6:47:43 GMT -5
A'stin made his own goodbye to the Weyrlingmaster. He liked the man well enough though they were not exactly close. It might be that A'stin was spending too much of his time working toward Weyrleadership to take much notice of other male riders. Of course he always took notice of Golds and their riders.
"Oh, yeah I can manage. Are you going to be alright?" He was not going to admit weakness to anyone. Pride or arrogance it mattered little because it would keep him from acting the wounded man any longer than he could help. He always had Rodreth.
Hobby? Didn't he have enough to think about with the number of new golds, severe weather patterns and his suspicions that the dragons knew something that they did not. His mind was consumed by his anticipation of thread most of the day though at night he may grow weak and emotional. "I think Weyrleadership is hobby enough, wouldn't you agree? Don't worry, I have plenty on my mind."
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Post by Dreamer on Sept 22, 2009 20:03:02 GMT -5
Jenafa reached over and tapped A'stin on the side of her head. She smiled broadly, and leaned over to whisper at her Weyrleader conspiratorially.
"Shhh! Don't let the others know that it's only really a hobby!" Then she leaned back, stood, and stretched. Wincing slightly as her tender muscles all but ordered her back into the confines(comforts?) of her soft, smooth bed, she spoke normally.
"Hobbies are to keep you from thinking. That's why I raise my cactus. And this Flit. But what I was really recommending was thinking about what you would choose if you had a hobby. It's not like I expect either of us to actually have time to go through with it." Stretched out sufficiently for walking back to her weyr, Jenafa waved goodnight.
"Sweet dreams," she tossed lightly over her shoulder, and continued down the hallway.
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