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 Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:38 pm
K'lan had spent the past two turns becoming a happier person, and that was apparent in her easy, confident posture, wide smile, and frequent laughter as she chatted and became acquainted with the riders of High Reaches Weyr as they mingled in the Bowl.
It was getting rather crowded, some of the riders returning with companions from Holds, Halls, and other Weyrs for the event about to take place, and she seemed, surprisingly enough, perfectly at home with it all.
Shaking her head at a joke about Telgar, the blonde ran a hand through her loose, mussed hair, dark eyes locked on the wingriders she was speaking with, though her mind reached for Condoroth.
This is nice, Condoroth. What do you think?
I am being treated well, I will tell you about what I learn tonight, Mine! We are all very excited for the hatching.
The conversation ended organically and K'lan shot a wave and a grin to a female bluerider she'd met about a candlemark prior. She'd have to catch up with the friendly gal later and see if she could learn more about this Weyr's politics...
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:50 pm
Yes, the hatching was on Uuni's mind, too. As nice as it was that there was a vague idea when the eggs would hatch (within a sevenday, hopefully), no one really knew for sure when the dragons would decide to poke out their heads.
And since it was the end of summer, the snow was pretty much gone. The patch she'd investigated with Avery only a little while ago had turned into mostly water and made its way down the shale towards a place where it cool pool.
For High Reaches standards, today was a hot day. It was destined to burn a few of the unwary; the thin air of the high altitude, however, had begun to have less of an effect on her. Finally acclimated as they called it.
Picking her way back up a path , she had to stop when she saw the familiar color green she'd seen so often at Ista. She paused, putting her hand over her face to squint towards at the green rider.
What on earth was Kesslan here for?
Not that she wasn't happy. She had to admit she missed the green rider at least somewhat. Deciding her self-guided tour of the outer Weyr was done, she headed off in Kesslan's direction. Part of her hoped that the green rider wouldn't spot her, but the other knew that was quite senseless to hope for, since she was headed right towards her.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:07 pm
Mine...
"Dorath's a great Queen, and I hear Luci's done amazing things with High Reaches," K'lan nodded as she responded to another rider raving about the clutch on the sands, absorbed in the conversation. "I agree, this clutch should be something to look forward to."
Mine. Mine, look.
Frowning briefly as Condoroth became mentally persistent [something the dragon did often, and therefore not necessarily something to get excited about], K'lan was about to continue with her point when the brilliantly-colored green let out a crooning, affectionate sort of trumpet, eyes swirling between green and blue.
Looking away from the rider in front of her, dark eyes instantly found the subject of Condoroth's thoughts.
Mine!
I see her.
That grin didn't falter, if anything, it grew to see the look on Uuni's face, and K'lan moved to meet the Candidate.
"Uuni." There was a lot in that one word. Affection, pleasure, surprise, excitement.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:40 pm
Uuni stopped when Kesslan had almost reached her and waited for the woman to walk the rest of the way.
She couldn't help the slightest of smiles that perked at her lips. It had been a little while, and Condoroth looked great. Big, and a bit intimidating, but great.
"Kesslan," she said back, feeling as though she was planted in some sort of corny tale yet again.
"Miss me that much you came running back at your first opportunity?" Her voice was full of tease as she put one hand on her hip and gave Kesslan a very pointed stare.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:45 pm
"Yes," was the simple answer, and therefore the one she used, her hand reaching out to grab Uuni's free hand. K'lan had no qualms about pulling the older girl woman into an embrace and allowing herself a deep inhale of the brunette before pulling back to get a better look at her.
Now that the first hello was out of the way, the blonde [who hadn't stopped grinning since she'd touched down, really] laughed, continuing the conversation smoothly. "I came to watch you Stand, gorgeous. After all, a hatching is a momentous occasion that all of Pern is welcome to attend."
She didn't mention yet that she would be staying, but a girl had to keep some secrets! "You look good. Are you enjoying yourself here?"
Condoroth was patient enough, waiting and hanging back to be greeted after K'lan and Uuni had become reacquainted.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:52 pm
Uuni returned the hug tightly, though she didn't do any of the deep inhaling. She was content to keep her breath quiet before she let go and looked back.
"I better Impress," Uuni griped back, but the grin was still on her lips. Stupid Kess. Always so happy and welcoming no matter what.
"Oh yeah," she answered with a wink and stepped over towards Condoroth with the intent of giving her a greeting as well. She was a bit shaky on her feet. Green or no, Condoroth was still a big creature. "I love the weather, and Avery's great company."
She made sure to catch Kesslan's eye, then, just to reinforce the fact that Avery was probably the worst company ever. "Can't believe they let you go long enough for the hatching. How'd you manage that?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:58 pm
Kesslan's snort was more than enough to show she was well aware of how displeased Avery was not only with the cold, but also her father's request. She trusted that the curly-haired young woman had been quite the grump. That grin played about her features as she trailed loosely after Uuni, gaze eating the brunette up as they spoke.
Condoroth quiet rudely stuck her jaw into Uuni's hands, much like she had when she'd only been a sixth of her current size. Her croon was much quieter now, a rumbling sort of pleased noise, and, surprisingly enough, her voice was to be heard by Uuni for the first time, the clipped, eager tone gently brushing against the brunette's mind.
We are so happy to see Our Uuni again! I am eager to meet Yours when they hatch.
K'lan seemed to have the same sort of confidence in the Candidate, one of her hands going to the brunette's lower back, as if to steady her. She was well aware of Uuni's strange reluctance to be close to fully-mature dragons.
"Yes, Condoroth and I are excited to watch your Impression. Hopefully it'll be a little less dicey than ours." Her voice was warm as she unknowingly echoed the green's sentiments.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:09 pm
To say Uuni was shocked as an understatement. Her initial instinct was to freak the heck out. She shot a worried glance towards Kesslan, but Condoroth's pleasant, easy mind was enough to keep her from panicking.
Uuni's biggest ail was how to respond to such a mental tone. Outloud? Could Condoroth even hear her mentally? Her head swam and she swallowed before going with the out loud choice.
"Um. . . I'm happy to see you guys, too." Her voice sounded much less certain than she would have liked it, too. Taking one hand, she gave the green a scratch at the back of her jaw and then added a pat on her head.
She answered 'dicey' with a grin. "You don't want to see me in a cast after valiantly trying to Impress to a brown?" One of the nastiest in that bunch as a matter of fact. The thought of it, and the fact that Kesslan had Impressed a green that certainly suited her more than the brown, was enough to make Uuni laugh on the inside.
"How was the trip?" Short as it probably was, and cold. But it was pleasant to ask either way.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:02 pm
"Excuse me?" K'lan's scoffing tone was still pleasantly amused and she didn't deny the accusation, though she had no qualms pointing out Uuni's actions during that same hatching. "At least I didn't run from the sands!"
Smirking, she captured and squeezed the brunette's hand as Condoroth pulled away, that weird sort of dragon laughter rumbling from her belly. "That's really why we're here, to drag you back if you think of fleeing."
Her voice, still warm, was quieter as she continued, eyes searching Uuni's face. "And that's why we'll be sticking around after the Hatching too, as a transfer pair, to make sure you don't shirk your Weyrling duties."
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:08 pm
Uuni shrugged and added a, "Yeah, well, you know." Running from the sands had seemed like a good idea at the time. In fact, she probably would do it again, so she supposed Kesslan leering over her wasn't unjustified.
"You sure you're allowed on the sands, Kess?" she asked back, raising one brow and debating playfully nudging her in the gut.
The last line, however, made her stop with her mouth slightly open and watch Kesslan until the idea set in. "You're. . . you're transfering here?" She blinked once, debating pulling her hand away and getting her space to think about it.
But instead, she went with a, "Well, Avery will be really glad that you are." When all else fails, avoid the subject! Worked every time.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:16 pm
K'lan's tone was wry, a low, quiet "Well, that's good for Avery," falling from her lips as she brushed the change of subject aside. It looked like the blonde had gotten a healthy amount of self-confidence that came with being a wingrider.
"Transferred, actually. Past tense." A casual shrug and she sent a wink Uuni's way. "A quartet of riders from here decided it was time to retire and the idea of exchanging them for a few young wingriders from Ista was well received.
Leaning in, she was clearly amused. "Don't look so scared, Uuni. It's only one favor you owe me, not the entire world." A playful reminder of their swim in the lake and she moved out of the brunette's personal space, pleased with herself.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:21 pm
Uuni imagined it was. It wasn't exactly a giant party here. There still remained lots of room for new people that needed to step in. And who knew when Thread would hit. It was so easy to forget it on simple days.
Uuni leaned back as Kesslan leaned in, almost as though punches were being thrown. Love punches, maybe, but only one person was throwing them.
"It's a prize, not a favor. And how big of a prize are you talking, here?" Still, she wouldn't take a step back. She had ground to stand, for a little while at least.
Luckily, Kesslan made up the choice for her.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:34 pm
"It is a prize, isn't it?" A delighted laugh, and K'lan seemed perfectly comfortable leaving Uuni to be the one out of her element.
Mine, I am going to examine our weyr, I will pick you up when you call for me.
Thanks, love.
Condoroth moved until she had enough space before taking off into the sky, her strong body distancing itself quickly. Gesturing for Uuni to walk with her, the blonde headed toward the less crowded area of the bowl, back toward the paths the brunette had come from.
"Actually, if you're anxious to get it out of the way now, we can do that." A sweet smile.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:42 pm
Uuni chewed on her lower lip for a second before deciding that Kesslan was right and giving up. She'd agreed to it, in her all her foolish of moments. But really, she'd been expecting that nice, young boy to win. Dragons shouldn't have been a part of the equation.
Looking over her shoulder towards the Weyr, Uuni severely debated going with Kesslan. But, really, how much harm could it be?
"I guess that depends on what you have in mind," Uuni answered, her tone low and completely lacking in tease.
Kesslan was not the man of the hour, or even the night. She was a friend, and Uuni didn't like where her tone was going.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:58 pm
Uuni looked incredibly nervous, and that struck something in K'lan. Despite any attitude changes, she was still herself, and that self cared very much for the older girl. Of course, sometimes the hard things, the uncomfortable things, could be really good for a person. Something they needed.
Shifting her stance, her demeanor changed, becoming a lot less swaggeriffic and a lot more comforting. Her voice was soft when she spoke, that familiar low tone, despite the resolve in her face and words.
"I want you to give it a chance. That's it. You don't have to say anything, I just want you to consider it." The blonde didn't specify and after a moment she grinned, turning to get a good look at the mountains.
"I can't wait to see some snow up here! We can get all sorts of places now that Condoroth can carry passengers."
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