Visits and Meetings (Cait/Open)

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

3076.13.15 | Late in the “day”, just after sunset in the southern hemisphere

T’kar gratefully wrapped his fingers around the steaming mug of Halk. He didn’t particularly care for the drink and had wondered on his previous visit why it was that the Ice Stone Weyr seemed addicted to the stuff. He had to admit though, that the stuff made an excellent handwarmer. Maybe that was why. The taste didn’t encourage one to drink fast, and so one didn’t lose one’s handwarmer too quickly. He’d come up here for a meeting around midday, after training, emerging into the perpetual darkness that was the sky all winter here in the far north. The meeting had run longer than expected, and he’d had to twice move back his meeting with Anastasia as a result. That meeting had also taken somewhat longer than expected, though he’d had no objection. Unless one counted a very brief encounter in a corridor of this very Weyr, it had been over three Turns since they’d even seen each other. On the other hand, what with all the delays, he’d certainly expected that Rekkora would have been in the kitchen waiting for him.

He took a cautious sip of the Halk and his mouth twisted briefly. Awful stuff. The kitchen was pretty much empty, certainly he was alone in the chair that he’d dragged over near the fire. Lounging against the stone fireplace, T’kar let the Haulk warm his hands. He didn’t really begrudge Rekkora the time, though part of him twisted and writhed with the need to be gone. To return to Rainbow Mists.

If anything’s happened, then it’s already over by now, he reminded himself. Certainly, he wasn’t going to depart and leave the young Abyss Rider alone up here. I knew she wanted to come up here, so I invited her to come with me on the condition that she not leave until I did. I can’t very well leave, even if it would be safe, because then she probably wouldn’t listen next time.

[Cait]

She had been glad to be free of the weyr, especially with Rilora's gold so close to rising. More than a few paranoid glances had been cast in her direction. It was enough to make her want to scream. And the more agitated Rekkora got, the more agitated the Abyss became, though she was rather mild in temper, if a bit demanding. She had her favorites, of course; kings mostly and those dragons whose rideres prejudice had not poisoned them against her.

A trip to the north, even in the midst of winter, was more than welcome. She spent much of the day visiting with her sister and brother and letting her mother fawn over Sunvoiath. Korvalia wasn't nearly as stuck up as she had Impressed to a non-traditional color. She was even assistant to the Weyrlingmaster. But perhaps the most surprising news of all was that Barrek had Impressed during the rebel attack on a hatching. The flame was gorgeous but Sunny didn't like for her to be too close to Upsenth though she didn't say why.

Korinath, however, was enamored of the Abyss and the two had settled in together. The Moonlight's flitts friendly as ever. She was late getting back to the kitchen and found T'kar there. She approached slowly, not quite sure if she wanted to leave yet. Naturally there were people who were apprehensive of Sunny here but there were also more people who loved her. Carefully setting herself down in the chair across from him, Rekky smiled. "Thank you, Weyrleader."

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T’kar turned slightly as Rekkora sat down, a silent welcome. She seemed more relaxed than she’d been in a while, he noted with no small amount of relief. It was to no one’s advantage to have a Queenrider constantly agitated.

“You’re welcome, it was no hardship,” T’kar answered, an answering smile lifting his own lips. “Would you like a mug of Halk?” he offered. Despite his personal feelings on the matter of the drink’s taste, the fact remained that they would be flying out soon, and even the brief exposure to icy temperatures required before they transferred between was something best faced only by the sufficiently warmed up. He set his on the table, preparing to get another mug for Rekkora. Really, now that she was here, he discovered that he wasn’t particularly eager to face with perpetually inclement weather outside.

[Cait]

"Oh, that would be lovely Weyrleader." Born and raised on the drink, her opinion was different. She preferred the bitter drinks of the north to the sweet juices the south. Still she far preferred the warmth of the south to the cold of th north. Despite it all, however, it was nice to get away and be in a place where people adored her again.

"Did your meeting go well then?" She was like an entirely different person in her home weyr. Gone was the tension and paranoia. If anyone looked at her sideways here they had her mother, brother and sister to answer to. Her natural charm was restored and her eyes sparkled like a glacier even in the dim kitchen.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T’kar grinned. “It went quite well, actually,” he answered. “Better even than I expected.” Smoothly, he stood and quickly made his way into the kitchen proper, to acquire a big, steaming mug of Halk. Bringing it back to the table, he presented it with a slight bow. Being back here seemed to agree with Rekkora, he might have to make sure that she visited more often, although arranging the escort duties for the trip would probably not be easy.

“What about yours?” he asked, almost flopping down into his chair. “Your family is doing well, I trust?” He felt safe hazarding that statement. Surely, if her family hadn’t been doing well she would not have been acting so naturally relaxed. Leaning back, he took another sip of Halk. He even managed to keep his face from twisting, but that was probably because most of it wound up on his lip, instead of in his mouth.

[Cait]

Taking the mug from T'kar, Rekkora smiled and held the warmed ceramic between chilled hands for a time before taking a sip. She was glad to hear that he had had a good visit and almost seemed to glow under his attentions. With as hectic as things had been in the south over the past turn, she'd been feeling a bit...not exactly neglected but certainly as though she were a bit of an after thought. Sure Sunvoiath had her little dragon following and Rekkora had a few riders and the old woman from Cliffside. Still, as vain as she did seem and truly was, Rekkora was still young and needed more than just the monotonous lessons and acknowledgement at functions, she needed guidance and currently the only one providing that was her adoptive grandmother.

"It is nice to see my family and old friends." Of course most of her old friends were men and quite a few of them had Impressed. "My family is doing well, thank you for asking." Smiling, she took another sip of the bitter drink. Either they were making it stronger or she was more acclimated to the sweeter drinks if the south than she thought. "My brother has graduated. I wasn't able to attend because...well it doesn't matter. And my sister was made Assistant to the Weyrlingmaster. Her dragon has taken a shine to Sunvoiath though I'm not sure if it's reciprocated." She hadn't thought she would miss her crazy family or the cold, but she did. Apparently things hadn't been great at Ice Stone since she'd left. The holders causing trouble and kidnapping dragonriders again. She caught a glimpse of Garna, the girl that had caused so much trouble in the south, and hadn't been please but Korvalia had assured her that the Candidate Master had lost his position over that and the chaos of the hatching where B'rek had impressed.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T’kar’s attention caught on the dismissal of whatever reason had prevented Rekkora from attending her brother’s graduation. There might be something there, but equally well there might not be too.

“I’m glad to hear they’re doing well. Your brother Impressed the Flame at Ice Lanikath’s last Hatching, right? T’kar was pretty sure he was right about that, the whole Hatching had been gossip-fodder for a really long time. “Good for your sister, she’s moving up fast. As to Sunvoiath reciprocating a shine…” T’kar grinned. “Forget about it, King dragons are bad enough about believing they are owed obediance. Queens… Well, since they can make anyone obey them, they really do seem to think that the world should like them, and they don’t really have to like it back when it does.”

Tipping his chair back — an action that not incidently brought him closer to the fire — T’kar smiled.

I am not that bad!

Yes, actually, you are. T’kar’s smile deepened, his gaze loosing focus just slightly as he continued. You were, anyway. Weyrlinghood stories…

Harumph.

T’kar raised his cup, taking a quick sip to mask his grin while he fought down a laugh.

[Cait]

"Yes, he did!" Rekkora's face lit up as though his simply remembering some small detail about her family meant all the world to her. In truth she was a bit surprised as she felt lately--even if it wasn't even remotely true--that the only time anyone paid attention to her was to look at her or Sunvoiath as though at any moment the pair of them would launch some massive assault on the whole of Pern. She took another sip of the spiced, warmed drink and tilted her head as he shared his opinion on ranking dragons. "She isn't as bad as that!" Rekkora defended. She couldn't help being a bit defensive of her queen. "I mean, she does expect others to listen and obey should she give an order, but much of the time she's..."

It was hard to explain.

"She is actually quite observant and much more level-headed than people give her credit for. She's only gotten forceful that once, when the candidate..." Rekkora's determined and unexpectedly passionate expression faltered and she felt Sunvoiath's warmth through their connection.

That girl will do well to keep away from you while we are here. The Weyrleader will avert...no...insure..defend! Yes, he will defend you should you need it.

I know, love. I just--

Your brother is coming.

Blinking as Sunvoiath cut her off abruptly, Rekkora glanced up and finally noticed the slender black firelizard that was hovering near the doorway behind T'kar. Not long after, Barrek--no, he was B'rek now--entered the room and his eyes went immediately to her. Her smile returned and she set her mug of halk down as he approached. The older man moved as though to haul her up out of her chair for a hug but slowed when he finally cast a glance at the man sitting across from her and noted his shoulder knots. Before he could jump to conclusions, Rekkora stood from her seat as B'rek stopped at the end of the table, his eyes narrowed at T'kar.

"Brother! We were just talking about your Impression to Upsenth." Well mentioned it in passing, but she was quite adept at playing diplomat when it suited her to do so. "This is Weyrleader T'kar. He was kind enough to bring me with for a visit when he had some business to attend to. T'kar, this is my brother B'rek."

B'rek stared at T'kar for several seconds, his expression blank though his eyes were sharp and observant. "What's your business up here? How well do you know my sister?" The burly smith moved closer to Rekkora and narrowed his eyes, his lips finally pulling down in a frown.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T’kar smiled slightly at Rekkora’s defence of her dragon. He was glad to see it, no rider should be willing to just take someone saying something about their dragon. Even if the young rider was a little on the quick to presume aggression or meanness as the root cause of the words. That could cause some amount of confrontation, but, well, better too quick to defend than not quick enough.

T’kar likewise, was no stranger to diplomacy, though he felt a flash of fire racing through his system as the man met his eyes with that narrowed case. Ignoring it, he stood up with a fighter’s smooth motion, offering a hand in greeting.

“Mostly, to attend a very boring meeting and deal with various complications of relationships between the Weyrs,” T’kar answered easily. “As to your sister… I know she’s the new Jr. Weyrwoman of Rainbow Mists Weyr. I know she’s a good rider. I know she wanted to visit her family today.” T’kar shrugged, grinning slightly. He affected not to notice the burly man’s protective closing with his sister. Really, though, what did the man think he was, so some kind of monster?