When The Fire Dies (Post-Flight/Syn)

[shouriko]

Kaelu felt a mix of feelings and emotions alike. Her thighs felt sore, her hands felt as if she had been holding tight to something for candlemarks and not released their grip, and her head was swimming as if she had drank too much wine. She was drowzy and felt no inclination rouse herself from the restful slumber she was in. Yet sudden instinct brought her to a sitting position, tossing a bit of hide from her so that she had it in her lap and was bare chested suddenly. Her black hair was a good deal messier than it had been earlier that day and she felt dizzy from sitting up so quickly.

"Yow." She pressed a hand to her head and looked down at her bare chest, it really wasn't much to look at and she looked to the still form beside her. "Right, Kyrieth's flight."

Kaelu tried to figure out the time of day. Breakfast never happened for her, not with the flight occurring just as dawn broke. It couldn't possibly be the next day already, she could not have slept that long. Wiping her green eyes free of sleep, she tossed the rest of the furs off and decided that it didn't matter now what was seen of her, it was past that point now. She went to her chest and pulled out fresh clothes, wearing her sleeping garments was silly. As she moved, she felt the protest on her hips and thighs and it was only more proof of what had happened. Oh dear, she didn't want to be pregnant after this, there was too much work for such a thing.

She shook her head and thus shook the thought from her mind. It hardly happened as it was. Kaelu changed into her typical choice, dyed navy leather pants, somewhat tight against her legs, a dark green tunic that fit closely to her body, and then a slightly looser one of navy blue that was tight on the forearms. She tied it tight at the cuff and looked for a comb, holding wool socks in the other hand. Socks on, she found her comb and she quickly combed her hair as she watch the still male body on her bed. She knew who he was, but he wasn't a Wingleader, and somehow that made her smile a little.

As she tied a portion of hair on the left side of her face so that it would not hang in her face, she kicked her clothes towards the chest as she approached the bed. Kaelu would pick them up later, for now she gathered his and folded them and placed them on the top of the chest at the end. That left the bronzerider who was probably feeling a might bit hungry and likely wakening soon, it shouldn't bother him if she woke him, besides, they'd be working very closely with each other from this point on.

"M'tias." Kaelu said with a smile. He was a different kind of bronzerider, no one seemed to think much of him and that instantly made him someone she liked. It meant that there was something else there that no everyone could see. She crawled onto her bed and laid there, resting her chin on her folded hands as she looked at him tilted head. "Hello Weyrleader M'tias. Sounds nice in a way, doesn't it?" Her voice was naturally loud to begin with and so she knew that even if she tried to whisper, it'd still sound as if she were speaking at a normal tone.

Ooooh, if you are so hungry, just leave him, he will likely still be there. Kyrieth complained, sounding as if she had not slept in a while and was well overdue for a nap. The gold had good reason though, she had flown all morning and had descended towards noon before it was over. She was well-deserving of a good rest.

Yeah, but since we're partners, I want it to be seen by everyone right off the bat, I don't want any hesitation in who is in charge. Kaelu replied and she had her reason for her words. There were likely to be disappointment among the ranks and questions from others, still, this was Kyrieth's choice and it had merit. She would support her dragon and now her Weyrleader and if anyone ever tried to argue the point, she'd quiet them. We have to do the best we can now that the leadership has changed over.

[lucius]

M'tias had wonderful dreams. He dreamt that he and Yeskith were alone, with no one else for miles. There was no war, no fear, no obligations; just he and Yeskith, and they were One. And in that, he felt happy. He wished that he could have that sky, with nothing but clouds and wind and sun. And as a soft voice and movement in the room woke him from his sleep, he was smiling.

For a while, he stared back at Kaelu with a dreamy grin. Things were so pleasant. He shifted in the furs; they were warm, comfortable. He stretched out his neck, noting the unnamed exhaustion in his bones. And then, he glanced back at Kaelu before making a "mmmgh" sound and closed his eyes.

Wait.

Kaelu.

"OHMYFARAJAYSFU--"

M'tias was up now, there was no doubting that. He was sitting up, and then he realized he was naked. Oh no, that wasn't good. He reached down and grabbed a handful of the furs, covering himself best he could. Fortunately, Kaelu had dressed before him and he didn't seem so awkward.

"W-Weyrwoman Kaelu." He nodded and managed a nervous smile. Yeskith snorted at his foolishness, but said nothing. The bronze was exhausted, proof that it was real. Oh, M'tias had always wanted this, and he had to admit that Kaelu was... Somewhat pretty? Maybe? He wasn't sure, he didn't know a thing about girls. He made a point not to look at them. Ever since Olosirn...

He looked away from Kaelu, forcing the memories of the Master Healer to the back of his mind. It was happy, it was okay. He told himself that things would be fine, certainly. He inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth, then made as if to move off the bed.

Nope, no such luck. He remained rooted to the spot, still feeling dreadfully exposed. He could be seen from the waist-up and that was too much, too much. "I suppose Weyrleader M'tias sounds nice," he laughed. "I... Yeah..." He flushed and rubbed his temples. "I'm sorry, I guess I wasn't expecting this. And--and--" The whole damn Weyr probably saw me naked. "And we barely know each other!" A nervous chuckle followed this.

[shouriko]

He must be having some really nice dreams. What they were of Kaelu didn't know and she didn't have to know, they were his to have and hold. It was the smile that they gave him that told her so. It was a nice smile, almost innocent even. When his blue eyes opened, they were still filmed over with the pleasantness of the dream and it made her smile. This an entirely new experience for her and thus far she was enjoying it as best she could. Oh, still sleepy? It seemed M'tias was, for he closed his eyes. Though he corrected her thoughts suddenly as he sat up and shouted some manner of nonsensical words all tied together in a single breath. Kaelu looked at him and his sudden flush appearance, the bare chest, the frantic gaze and adding whatever it was that he had just shouted all she could do in response was laugh a little.

"That would be me." She pushed herself up and brought her knees beneath her and sat in a kneeling position on the bed and collected furs. Kaelu just smiled and kept the conversation light, hoping to try to calm and soothe the bronzerider now made Weyrleader. "I'm glad you recognize me after the flight and all, I've heard there are some memory discrepancies during and sometimes even after flights, especially long ones like Kyrieth's was."

She nodded in agreement, being as gentle and encouraging as always. M'tias had the reputation of being quiet about himself, complaining about the work he did, and even the word coward had been used. Yet she never judged a person by what others said of them, but by them themselves and their actions. Kaelu had heard a few others less opinionated say that he was a very industrious rider, hardworking, and dedicated and that if he was strange it was not really his fault at all. Besides, he was chosen by a very strong bronze personality and that spoke volumes to Kaelu. There was something about M'tias that could not be seen in one glance and so it meant that there was a good reason he was a bronzerider and now Weyrleader.

"That's true, you're right, we don't." Kaelu replied, her green eyes looking off to the side as she acknowledged the truth vocally. "But who is to say we cannot remedy that today to some degree? We will be working closely together for several turns until Kyrieth rises again so we have plenty of time to get to know each other." Best to be optimistic in this case. She twisted around a bit and snatched the folded clothes from atop the chest and held them out to him. She was sure that he would want them, he seemed a bit shy. "Are you hungry? We can start by having a little chat over dinner and I can tell you all about me and you can tell me a little about yourself and Yeskith. I'm sure it is an interesting story."

Be kind, be encouraging, Kaelu thought to herself explicitly. It was as hard for him as it was for her. She had never had a flight before and her first time was with him, this was new territory. They were also both new when it came to being leaders, working together was more important now than ever. They could help each other and find their way and prove that they could do it and squash any protests about the choice of Dalia and Kyrieth for both seniority and suitor. It was really all she could do and though being patient was difficult, she was happy that giving back to the Weyr had begun.

[lucius]

He took his clothing eagerly, pulling on clout and pants and shirt with feverish speed. M'tias would have loved her to see as little as possible, and perhaps that had been attained. He hoped to Faranth she wasn't like those bloody girls that would peek and giggle whenever he changed his shirt between Wing Drills. M'tias didn't fancy himself to be attractive--not to women, he regretted--and therefore drew the conclusion that he was either being laughed at or they simply saw him on Yeskith's back.

Grr.

Now that he was dressed, he calmed considerably. He wasn't wide-eyed and shaking, though he still kept his shoulders high and he no longer swallowed saliva--telltale signs of nervousness, but not extreme. So long as she didn't do anything funny, he wouldn't even stutter and stammer and squirm. If only Yeskith hadn't drifted off to sleep, then M'tias'd be a bit more stable.

"For a moment, I thought I was..." Home? Could he say that? He had always lived in the Weyr, but had it ever felt like home? "...Elsewhere." He sighed. "Didn't remember what had happened, for a moment, though I have a feeling I'll remember soon enough. Funny thing, I can never forget things like that, I just... Lose them temporarily." A nervous smile, then he patted his thighs and shook his head, smile never leaving his face.

"Best way to deal with anything is over dinner," he said. "While Yeskith is sleeping, too, he'll be screaming fit to wake the dead whenever he drags his hide out of bed. He--He does that youknowhejustosrtademandsthings--" He cut off abruptly, then put the heel of his palm to his forehead, wincing and whispering, "Stupid..."

And he knew just what Yeskith would say, too. "Go to dinner before you embarrass yourself further," he hissed, then managed a weak smile at Kaelu. "I--I'm sorry, I--I don't get out much."

[shouriko]

Kaelu could tell that he was nervous, and shy, definitely shy as well. He seemed to just run on and on as if he couldn't help himself. She knew how that was, but she was a bit of a motormouth herself sometimes, and not always because she was nervous. It was at times because she was excited and exponentially happy about something. For now, as happy as she was, she was not beyond keeping herself in check.

"I find it best to remember things when I don't think about them at all myself. Sort of like it will find you when you are ready." Kaelu said with a smile, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and started to her desk. She had a belt there, her dagger, and her pouch of marks. Kaelu just loved belts and this one had some silver rosettes on it every other hole. She wrapped it round her small undefined waist and hooked it up, dagger, pouch, and all.

"Of course it helps when you're hungry, too, being that I missed breakfast I feel like I could eat a whole runner and a half!" Kaelu laughed at herself and came over to M'tias. She reached out and grabbed his hand, her grip firm, but warm as she pulled him towards her. "It's not stupid, every dragon is who they are supposed they be. If they were all identical, it'd be boring, no? Same for people. We are different for the same reason."

Kaelu was hungry, she was eager to learn more about M'tias, and she was just itching to talk his ear off. Even if he didn't exactly hear everything she said, he wasn't going to go wander off or complain that she was babbling. At least she couldn't see him saying anything like that. Not after how he was acting and what he was saying.

"You're just nervous, I kind of am, but I'm excited too. Everyone has been waiting for this moment and I am glad that nothing bad happened, though I'm wondering why my knuckles hurt a little..." Kaelu let the sentence run off as she looked at her other hand, the one that did not hold onto the bronzerider's. It hurt because she had hit more than one man and she had been so lost to dragonlust it was beyond her memory. "Come on, M'tias, you said so yourself, best way to deal with anything is over dinner!"