I just need to know (Shoki/Cr'wean)

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

3076.08.09 | late mid-morning

No sooner was practice over than K’rad was striding over towards the Aerie. He’d already told Belegurth that he’d be checking to make sure Cyan was ok. The Midnight didn’t precisely agree that this was a good idea, but he understood that His saw the girl as a friend and was thus not particularly inclined to simply wait for news, past a point. He also knew how much stress his rider was under, not being permitted to speak to the girl.

It was a little on the late side for getting breakfast. K’rad himself had actually eaten earlier, before practice. Even if Cr’wean wasn’t in the Aerie dining hall though, there’d likely be someone around who’d know the man’s location. Walking through the doors, he continued a couple steps until he was out of the way of the entrance, then paused, scanning those present for Cyan’s older brother.

[Shoki]

It wasn’t that early. It was still breakfast though. If Cr’wean didn’t have to be up at the crack of dawn, or some other unholy hour, then this was early enough for him. He was dressed and his hair was combed this time, as he had a shift after breakfast. He had gotten himself a mug of K’lah, a few rolls and some fruit today. He was eating healthy, up at a reasonable hour, and Kiyosh was in good spirits with him. He could almost call this a pleasant morning.

Then he looked up.

He scowled, the fruit he was eating no longer tasting quite as sweet. He thought he told that boy he better not be here without a reason. Then again, he was looking for something or someone and he didn’t look skittish. Maybe he had a reason. Kiyosh might be willing to let things slid for people but he was not a fan. He continued to eat though, and watched K’rad. His mood soured as he did so. That would not be surprising though. Especially the way he was watching the boy.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’rad spotted Cr’wean at almost the exact same moment that that worthy spotted him. The scowl did not bode well, but K’rad kept his face smooth as he started working his way along the edge of the room towards the man. He did, after all, have a legitimate reason to be here, and he wasn’t quite disobeying Cr’wean’s directives. Well… provided he ranked the directives and considered asking Cr’wean a question to be a legitimate reason for his presence. However, he was sick of waiting. He wanted to know.

A pretzel. Belegurth sounded approving, but then, he didn’t get as caught up in rules as his rider.

“Cr’wean sir?” K’rad asked, ignoring Belegurth’s pointed comment on his reasoning. He took a couple quick steps, bringing himself close enough to talk quietly with the man. He didn’t want the man to feel pressured; that would likely lead to the man exposing his secret to the whole room. For the same reason, he very carefully kept his hands resting on his belt, well removed from any of his weapons.

[Shoki]

Cr’wean put down his food, putting it back on the plate as K’rad came up to him. Well, this should be interesting. He dusted his hands and then folded his arms, looking at K’rad as he came up and spoke to him. He gave the rider the stare of someone who was predisposed to dislike him. Cr’wean, was not, as some people assumed, inclined to hate everyone. He was just extraordinarily easily made mad. It was a no win situation for some, but he did have friends. However, he was also an older brother, essentially. He loved Cyanee, and was protective of her at times. Unfortunately that meant K’rad and his actions thus far had made him defensive toward his relative. So he let the silence linger for a moment after K’rad spoke. The man then sighed, looking annoyed.

“Alright, let’s hear it. Why are you here today?” Cr’wean looked up at K’rad, but not a lot. The boy was small, Cr’wean being larger by a lot. However, it was only the healer’s attitude that was intimidating. He might have been able to push K’rad back from his sister, but he wasn’t a dangerous man. That didn’t mean he had any less of a bark though.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’rad swallowed. He could remember a time, not all that long distant chronologically, when he would have caved before that stance, would have retreated before such a face of concentrated disapproval. No longer. Two turns and more had passed since then. Living with a syndicate tends to exterminate those tendencies, lest you be walked all over. Bracing his shoulders, he met Cr’wean’s eyes. Not a challenging stare, simply a gesture of confidence.

“I was wondering if you could tell me how Cy— your sister was doing?” he asked. He grimaced a little at the self-correction. He’d decided going in that he was going to refer to her as Cr’wean’s sister; he shouldn’t have needed to correct himself. His tone gave away none of that annoyance though, being as completely calm as it had been when he started. He might have been talking about the weather.

[Shoki]

The rider seemed confident, but Cr’wean had spotted that little ‘gulp’. Better have. People got nervous around him and this one better be nervous around him. Like a boy coming to his girlfriend’s father while he was cleaning a shotgun. The Lifewing rider tapped his fingers against his arm, looking impatient. So he came here to ask how she was doing, huh? He didn’t know, or particularly care why changed how he asked. The fact that he had asked was what got him. He considered a variety of things before speaking. As such it took some time. For one he was considering if it was a fair reason for the boy to be here. He had to remind himself that this kid may not have ever seen what Cyan had done before. He certainly wasn’t a healer. That was incredibly easy to judge. So he made allowances for the question. As for his answer, well Cr’wean was a healer so as always he had to take care with what he said to people asking about patients. He might complain a fair bit, but he didn’t actually say what had happened to them. A little side note to patient confidentiality around Lifewing riders was that they weren’t supposed to say anything, and Lifewings were supposed to pretend they didn’t hear it from their riders. For now, Cr’wean spoke gruffly.

“She’s fine. Recovered but still receiving treatment.” Sort of. Mostly he was reviewing ways to mitigate attacks. He suspected that she had forgotten some of the things they had reviewed before he left for the Weyr, and then had let it slip from there. At least that’s what he had gathered from her lack of explanation on the subject. With a little luck things would be back to relative normal soon, and with Zigbrieth informed, he doubted she would be allowed to forget things. Kiyosh joked that Zigbrieth could tell her exactly what time it was and what Cyan should be doing, even if he hadn’t talked to her for half a day. Besides the fact the Blue was his sister’s ever present shadow, he couldn’t comment on that. Zigbrieth seemed more connected with his partner then him.

“Anything else?” Cr’wean had obviously said as much as he was going to.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’rad nodded when Cr’wean commented that Cyan was fine. A nod of acknowledgement, thanks for information granted. It was good to have confirmed that she was doing ok. He’d seen her, briefly, at a few meals, but had been careful not to sit too close or take too much notice. He didn’t want Cr’wean getting angry and potentially exposing his secret. He didn’t want Cr’wean getting mad at Cyan either.

“Anything else?” Cr’wean asked.

K’rad repressed a sigh. He’d been hoping the man would volunteer more, but… “No sir,” he answered, holding Cr’wean’s brown gaze with a hazel-eyed stare for a moment before turning and walking away.