D'baji gambols in from the Lighthouse Cliffs.
Kristiana stands behind the bar, hand mechanically running a cloth over the wooden surface. It's been a long time. Does this scene look much different? Ernie rests on the couch, playing with a toy avian, and fishermen catcall to servers and offer toasts to one another. Kristiana looks up with a grin at an approaching patron. "With a squeeze of redfruit juice, aye, Melina? Right, I'll add the flame. You sure he can stomach this?" She turns her back to the commotion, as Bert comes walking by, stopping in his tracks. "Hey, Kris, it's that dude you lo--" Kristiana turns sharply to look at the drudge, who backs away. "Har har, Bert. That's getting old..." She still doesn't turn around.
D'baji opens the door with such an extreme slowness it's nearly unbearable. That little bell that has so often been referred to hardly makes a noise, in fact, as the head peeks in, soon to be followed by feet and the rest of the body. And now D'baji is standing in the pub, attempting to hide a grin by biting the insides of his cheeks rather noticeably. One of the fishermen raises a glass, obviously preparing for some sort of bellow, to be shushed with a motion of one hand, the other jabbed rather pointedly towards Kristiana. Sage nod from the fishermen. And pinching motions. Dear Faranth, help them all. So, still fighting back his idiot-grin, he sways on over towards the bar, an eyebrow raising for Ernie as the bartop is leaned against casually. "Oh, by all means, don't silence the poor man. I mean, everyone has a right to finished sentences, and his /did/ sound interesting. Was it a fisherman, then, that he's talking about?" And now time for idiot-grin to win the battle.
Kristiana nearly drops the glass she holds. Instead, she sets it down weakly, managing not to burn herself with the lit match. She turns slowly to look at him, turns back to the glass, then back to him as she brings the drink with her, lighting it and sliding it over toward the patron. She smiles at him for a moment, still not speaking, until she shakes her head. "Oh, I do apologize, Bert. Perhaps you'd like to finish telling this man how the Cliffside's bartendress is supposedly madly in love with a bronzerider?" She looks toward D'baji with wide eyes. "That's the news going around. She's mixing wrong drinks, supposedly, and being quite catty with people when they attempt to talk to her about said bronzerider. Better watch out for that one. She's a real wench. I carry a knife, so if I see her, I can protect myself." She pulls out a glass, pours some ale into it, and slides it across the bar to him without a word.
D'baji's eyes absolutely sparkle as the drink is lit, the man finding himself marvelling at the burning for a moment or two while the bartendress addresses the Avian-Obsessed drudge. "Oh, really?" is asked rather conversationally, gaze tearing from the drink to focus in on the speaker. "Lucky bronzerider. A shame it's only 'the news' and not fact. Really, though, at some point we might have to track this bartendress down? Cause really, you 'd think only she'd know the true answer, hmm? But for now-" and that grin, it is indeed still there, broadens for the ale slid to him. "Much as I like the gesture, maybe a half-pint? I mean, technically I'm supposed to be going back to the Weyr tonight, and usually two glasses would be alright, but with the current euphoria I'm feeling over having returned, I don't know if it's a good idea, really, the alcohol. And I'm sure the eyrlingmasters would be downright upset if I didn't make it back to the barracks because I'd decided to pass out in some pub... Hi."
"Oh, no, there are theories on that, too," said bartendress continues as she refills her own glass with juice, taking a drink of it. She then turns to pour some wine as she listens to him speak, smiling and glancing over at him from the corner of her eyes as she works. "According to some," she says as if she is spreading some frightening gossip, "she is in denial. She's scared." She nods sagely and takes a drink. "Gotta love SeaCliffs. The gossip flies like a proddy gold. So, if that's the case, it'd be hard to find the answer anyway." She mixes a bit of wine into her glass from a nearby, half-full bottle." She chuckles and nods, draining some of the ale and slipping it to an approaching bartender, who reaches out to give D'baji a backbreaking pat and a drunk "Welcomebackyarseewe'rehereandshetoohowaryaolchap?!" Kristi unnerstands drunk fishermen language but just chuckles before looking back at D'baji. "Hi back. How are you and Nverath? And you're here! You *betweened*?"
"I'll have to find out about these theories, then," D'baji concludes, a bit of a more amused, and less moronic, look flashing into his grin, and then leaning closer, conspiratorially, one could say, for further gossip. "Denial? Well, why ever would she be in denial? Have you talked to her? D'you know if she's scared or not? I mean, it's sounding almost serious. My heart goes out to the poor woman, really it does. And y'know, any answer can be found if you try hard enough?" A cough and quick whirl of the head as he's 'patted' by an old crewman, managing a smile nearly falling off tolerant. He's busy right now. "I'm back, indeed. Doing wonderful. But y'know, that girl on the couch there, she's eyeing you. Off with you, s'chance for you tonight, maybe?" Yes, that girl the bronzer is gesturing to is Ernie. Poor Ernie. But it ought to be in his job description, this sort of thing. "Nverath and I are fine. He's waiting outside. He's fallen in love with the cliffs, and has decided it's a wonderful place to sit and watch the world from. We might get down to the beach too, not sure. Yup. Cold. Very cold. There's like, nothing, and it'sdark, and really an absolutely thrilling experience. I mean, you travel by dragon, but when it's with /your/ dragon! I would draw between one day. Maybe it could be the center of my mural, and I could have all those other scenes sort of spiraling, or flowing, out from it?" And now to pause and contemplate that with a careful and savouring sip of that ale. "Y'know, SeaCliffs really does have the best, as far as the alcohol goes..."
"No, that's okay," Kristiana replies with a wrinkle of her nose and a shake of her hand as she leans forward to rest her elbows on the bar. "It's probably just an Old Auntie's Tale. I wouldn't worry with it if I were you, especially with all the weyrling things you have to worry with, anyway." She hmms over his words, looking down at her glass as she chuckles. "Well, I think it's sort of-- this is what I've gathered, anyway, from what I've heard-- that she's not sure, first of all, if that's what she feels, and second of all, she's afraid of the reaction if it /is/ what she feels. But that's just... you know, the stuff around the pub." She can't help but grin as she sees him with the fisherman. "See that?" she says, pointning after the drunkard with her glass. "I can never do that. They just grin and nod and do what you say. I would've been invited to the couch. I'm thinking of chopping off my hair and wearing pants. What do you think? That I'll get my bum grabbed less?" A pitying glance is sent to Ernie, as she chuckles and shakes her head. "Bad D'baji..." She consumes another gulp of the spiked juice as she looks toward the doorway, though, of course, she won't be able to see Nverath through the wall. Her see-through vision is broken tonight. "I'm glad he likes it here," she replies with a smile. "Has he seen the bea-- oh, you thought ahead of me. He has to see that. And aye, *between* is like everyone said it is... I hate that feeling." She shudders before grinning. "And the mural idea sounds beautiful, in its... *between*ish way. I say go for it. And yes..." She raises her glass. "We go far and wide to keep our patrons satisfied."
"Well, if you say so," D'baji replies with a faint tilting of his head, and rather obviously trailing off doubtfully. "Oh, not being sure... Yes, I'd imagine that'd be hard for her... So I'm to take it you haven't spoken to her personally? That would be a pity... I'd love to hear some details as to how she's feeling at any given moment, if you have them. Maybe help her sort it out, through your intervention, of course. And has she considered that maybe this rider of hers might... feel somewhat the same as she thinks she might feel? I mean, I've heard things around the Weyr, is all, of course..." A nod is given over his glass towards the fisherman. And that poor drudge. "Well, I think it's cause most of 'em wouldn't be attracted to me. And those who are, well... I dunno. Maybe they're afraid of 'Ver or something. And no, I wouldn't chop off your hair. It's rather lovely hair, it'd be a shame to see it go." Sip, followed by a dull thud as the glass is set down. "Well, maybe I'll do it then, if you think so. It would be faintly symbolic. If a bit ironic. And might I add, you keep your patrons quite satisfied. "
One hand reclaims Kristiana's glass, and she takes a long drink, before she sets it down to reply to his words. "Right, right, because I hear she's quite new to the whole idea... Something about others never being worth her time. And oh, I could easily find out for you, if you're actually interested. And I'm not sure... I think she's not positive about how he feels, and that she's been wondering about it, herself, thinking that maybe he didn't feel the same." She shrugs and looks toward his glass, chuckling. "I was about to ask you if you wanted a refill, but you answered that, earlier." A glance goes back to the fishermen as she snickers. "Aww, why not? I... " Cough. "I do, and they often have good taste, if they like my bum. Why couldn't they like yours? And okay..." Her hand reaches up to feel her hair. "I'll leave it how it is then. And that would be nice... It definitely should be included in Places D'baji Has Been." A grin crosses her face. "Yeah, I guess that's true, even if I have swatted at a few."
The glass of ale is swirled a bit, the remnants mixing rather nicely, and doing a very good imitation of D'baji's dragon's colouration. "Oh, is she? Why is she so new to the idea, then? And I /am/ interested, if you would. Maybe you could even remember prior conversations? I mean, if you work with her, supposedly... Well, I certainly don't now if he feels the /same/ as I don't know how she feels... But I know that, if we are indeed talking about the same pair, he, umm... He does quite like her, yes... His problem, I've heard, of course, seems to be that he's terminally worried something might happen that could change things. Though I've heard he's starting to doubt such a thing might happen?" A nonchalant shrug here, and he clinks his teeth on the glass, not quite wanting to down the rest of it just yet. "Yeah, y'know... Gotta be careful." Clink. "Well, maybe they do? But y'know, like I said, intimidation. I'm very intimidating, I'm told." Clink. "Well, you don't seem to swat too many, that I've seen. And they don't seem to mind either..."
Kristiana pours a bit more wine into her glass, joining it with the same amount of juice, adding several of her special clear concoctions and a sprig of mint. "Try this, Deba," she leans forward and whispers to him. "Just a sip. I promise I won't tell." She leans back with a wink and grin before continues, drumming her fingertips on the bartop. "Are you though? Well, I suppose... I believe that the consensus is that, like I said, it never came up in her mind before. So she's never had to worry with anything like this before, more or less the hold supposedly making her mind up for her behind her back. And she has that same fear," she replies as she opens a new wine bottle, pouring several classes, sliding them to Bert, then continuing the conversation. "That things might be different, that he might not feel as she does or, if he does, that it might be for others he has that feeling. And the ways of the weyr might concern her a little, too, though she can understand, more scientifically than physically the way "Things Are" [and she even does those annoying quotation things with her hands] at a weyr, so..." She returns to her normal posture of leaning on her elbows against her workstation. "Oh, yes, D'baji, you're simply frightening." This follows with a drink from the glass and a mock-shudder with a wink. Don't try that at home, folks! Cough. "And nah... I'm told that they won't come back if I swat, and if they do, it's because they're twisted."
D'baji eyes the mixing dubiously, though an admiring dubious. "You could probably mix these things in your sleep, eh?" he drawls out as he accepts the drink, giving a careful sniff and blinking. "Powerful aroma..." And now for the sip, which leads to a cough, and a raising of both eyebrows. "I have /not/ had enough variation in drinks... Extra-sensitive to your mixes." Beam as he sneaks another quick sip before pushing the glass back towards her. "Never came up in her mind?" he quotes to her with a shake of his head. "Well, having your mind made up for you is never good." A pause to watch the drink sliding to Bert, and to listen, of course, always to listen, to her. "I guess things do change. But I mean, it's possible he won't change. I mean, Nverath /is/ the youngest dragon of his clutch, and I'm pretty sure /he's/ not going to be changing too much now... And maybe this other rider's dragon won't either? And then things will be normal again, or at least constant? And you know, the way 'Things Are'," oh no, he's doing the finger-quoting now. But at least it's not teeth clinking? "can be altered. I mean, there are riders I know who don't go with the general stereotyping of the Weyr for the sake of Weyrmates, or just general relationships that haven't gone that far. Just something for her to consider. If she feels the way it is assumed she does, and this rider feels the same, then maybe they can reach an agreement of sorts? And y'know, sometimes it's worth stickin' your neck out a little. Who knows how it'll turn out? And ask anyone who's flown in formation, communication is important." He feels they're getting somewhere. So let's see how much farther he can push it? "Well, y'know, if I bare my teeth a bit," he admits, giving a proddy-looking grin to expose those chompers. "Well, we'll keep the twisted people away, hmm?"
Kristiana giggles slightly as she nods. "I do... When I'm in bed, sometimes, I'll get an idea... I keep hides by my cot, anyway, since I often get ideas for songs. But sometimes I get ideas for drinks and have to scribble them down. People are tired of me uncovering the glows at all hours of the night." She grins and shrugs as she watches him, tsking and shaking her head. "You've gotten weak," she jokes. "There was once a time when you could take that in an uncaring gulp." Winking, she retrieves the drink, also taking a gulp as she watches him and listening. Nodding, she sets down her glass. "I think people think they're /helping/ her make up her mind," she mumbles as she grabs a reed straw and stirs it in her glass. "Sometimes, they are. Sometimes, not. "And of course... I would think, like people, dragons grow, occasionally alter, but they're personalities will stay the same. And different lifestyles seem to exist in the weyr. Those that, as you have said before, party all the time, those that stay to themselves, those that stay to one person, those that... You know, all sorts." Gulp of alcohol. Nod of Kristiana. "That would probably be a good idea, to save some confusion between them both and to save the hold and weyr from having to gossip." His teeth bearing only brings a giggle and wrinkle of her nose before she nods. "Right... We'll tie them up in the courtyard and point and laugh at them."
"I suppose it's better to write them down than to forget them... And yes, I know. I'm a weak, weak man." There, D'baji's admitted it, finally. "But y'know, give me some time to get my tolerance level back up... And then I'll come and drink someone under the table. Even if it's me." He pauses to rub at his chin before going back to his ale glass, clinking his teeth a final time, and then swallowing the rest of it with a defined gulp. "Well, I suppose different opinions are always good. Love to hear those too, at some point. And yeah, everyone grows and changes. So maybe it's the same thing we risk, just a bit bigger cause there are two entities who could change now?" And a roll of his eyes (yup, plural!) for the giggle. He was trying to look evil and stuff. "We should. Maybe, you want to go and do that right now? There aren't too many fishermen in the pub..." If you don't count those tables full of 'em. "I'm sure Ernie and Bert could handle them. Ernie's doing fairly well already, what with the attention he's been receiving from that one guy... No one'll notice. You can see Nverath. Maybe he'll even give us a lift down to the courtyard? And then we could even go along the beach..."
Kristiana grins and shakes her head as she stirs her drink. "Oh hardly," she replies. "If you were so weak, would Nverath have chosen you?" As she says this, she removes the straw from the drink and points it at him, droplets littering the counter. She grimaces down at it before shrugging. "And sure... When you graduate, we'll see about you drinking... yourself... under the table. Or perhaps you and your weyrling friends could go barhopping. Just make sure to stop by here! I want to meet them!" She grimaces and looks down at the glass. "More gin," she murmurs, adding about a teaspoon full, taking a drink, and nodding with a broad smile. "Much better. Hmm... One opinion is it's a waste of time because he's a rider now and riders only care about their dragons and other riders. And another is... wake up and face what you feel and stop being a wimp." She smirks and shrugs one shoulder. "And I suppose that's true, the two entities thing. Makes sense." She grins and shakes her head. "Yeah, sure, he's nearly sitting in that fisherman's lap, and Bert's too busy gossiping." She pauses and then nods. "I suppose that'll be fine. Just for a quick break. I'll take my drink with me."
Seacliffs Courtyard
Hearing the soft echoes of the sea pounding her cliffs, you enter a large natural chamber in the cliffside. As you leave the sounds, the faint restlessness, and the tang of salt from the sea, you see the front of the courtyard is open, an unobstructed view of the sea. As you turn from the beautiful view, you pass into the chamber, and find yourself immersed in greenery. All around you are potted plants, palms, citrus trees and herbs, protected from Fall by the overhanging ledges, naturally carved out of the The courtyard is open overhead, allowing the sunlight and fresh air to sweep in over you through a natural chimney in the cliff-face. Inclement weather is not allowed in to the chamber, nor is Thread, because of the ledges unique placement, covering the opening, providing shelter for all who enter Seacliffs.
D'baji shrugs. "He chose me cause I 'needed him' so maybe he wouldn't have taken so long if I'd been weaker? He's a good rock though." And now to run out of the pub. "Oh, and I'd definately go with not being a wimp and facing up to what she feels." And now to jump onto Nverath. And Deba's quick-posing is just about caught up. "Hold tight, watch your neck," is the advice he gives as Nverath takes a jump, wings beating the air until he's gained some good altitude, and then releasing to a glide to take them easily to the courtyard, where the bronze lands with a bit of an accepting croon for his performance, forearm extending for the ease of dismounting. "So we're here. Who to tie first. How'd your drink fare?"
Kristiana laughs and shakes her head as she gives quick orders to the drudges, crossing her fingers in hopes that they will concede, and grabs her glass to rush out behind him. "Of course, of course, that would be a good idea, I would think..." she replies with a chuckles and grin before eeping at Nverath's takeoff. "You're right about how he is in the air. And I splashed a little drink, but not too much." She dismounts a bit awkwardly before looking around and hmming. "How about Grendel?" The brown squawks and flits between.
D'baji has taken a few steps away before his memory kicks in. "You don't need a hand getting to the ground, do you?" Oh, look she's standing there. "Guess not... Nevermind. Hopefully not too much, it was a very good drink. If a bit harsh for the sensitive palate caused by lack of exposure to alcohol. A guffaw is given for the brown, and D'baji shakes his head lightly while Nverath furls his wings, giving a final croon towards the human types before finding himself rather enthralled with echoing sea sounds. "Well, if we've no one to tie up, maybe we should discuss this bartendress and this rider, then? I mean, really, now that we're all involved with the gossip, it'd be a shame to not know everything... And I'm sure if I could get Nverath's attention, and ask him really nicely, he could dig up some more information on the rider..." Pleading. Please tell him. He's curious now.
"I think I have it," Kristiana replies with a slight chuckle once he asks the question... and she's on firm ground. She peers into her glass with a sigh. "I was just thinking... Do you still have your pon?" She furrows her forehead, shakes her head, and then takes a drink. "Still tastes fine, so that's good." She looks around the courtyard for a place to sit as she nods. "Of course. I mean, if everyone else is talking about it, we should just join the crowd, so we'll both be the most updated, right? It'd be sad for others to know things before us..." She points to a bench. "Care to sit, first? And where shall we begin?"
D'baji breaks into something of a childish grin, nodding sheepishly. "I still do. It's under a pile in our couch, but when we get a weyr of our own, I'm actually planning on hanging it on the wall." Why he'd be embarrassed about this, he doesn't know, but... See, he's blushing somewhat. "Taste is all that really matters. And yes, I'd personally like to know everything everyone else claims to know. I feel out of the loop." And here he gives a sensitive sniffle. "Sitting, good idea," is agreed as he heads towards the bench, offering her first chance for sitting before taking a seat himself. "And I think we ought to begin by getting rid of the references to the people involved as if they were people we knew? That's always a good place, I'd think... Unless the other way is better for you, of course, but really, it gets confusing for me."
Kristiana grins as she slides onto the bench, setting her glass on a flat part of the stone ground. "That's good," she replies with a nod. "Such an artistic and culinary achievement as The Pon should never be left for the dust. You should... mount it like a trophee." As usual, she acts as if she doesn't notice the blush, so she won't make it any darker. "As do I, sometimes-- feel out of the loop-- so... right." She smiles slightly at his sniffle, reaching over to give him a pat on the shoulder. She laughs lightly, nodding. "I'm starting to feel like that old guy in our hold, Bobdole, who used to refer to himself... as Bobdole... like 'Bobdole likes wherry. Bobdole wants to be Lord Holder!' It was odd." Rambling done for the moment, she coughs lightly and looks down at the grounnd. "Okay, yeah... I don't know where the whole I'm in love with you and pining for you rumor began. I was kind of... I don't know... I missed you and stuff and got sick of people asking me: How's Baji? Where's Baji? What's it like there? What's his life like? What's this and that and this and that?... so I got a little tense and stuff, so maybe... that's where it began." She shrugs.
"The Pon is indeed special," D'baji says as sympathetically as he can manage, even managing a fond little smile for his cookware. Now, nothing like the smiles so often awarded Nverath, or occasionally Kristiana, but certainly a fondness to the smile. "Right. Well, let's hope this "Bobdole" never makes Lord Holder? I quite like Leigh, for however little I know her. Which is very little, mind you..." But letting her get on with whatever it is she's going to say. "So 'it' started as a rumour," he sums up for her, rubbing at his cheek pensively. "'It' being the rumour, or what? Just to be clear on this, you understand. And by all means, continue. I'll go and tell my half when you're done."
Kristiana nods slowly before chuckling and shaking her head. "No no, right now the Lord Holder is the prior's son... He's kinda airy. He had a thing in his youth with some odd herb, but he claims he hasn't touched it in a while. He keeps wanting to attack the mountain of 'Reaches, though, which is odd. He says there is some man there with a beard who keeps insulting him." Okay. Honest. I'll stop with all of that stuff. Kristiana looks toward him as she picks up her glass, takes a drink, and returns it to the ground. "Right," she replies after swallowing. "It being the rumor. So... people were assuming that just because I was staying off to myself I was in love with you. And really, it was just that I needed to relax and think. And I was trying not to want to visit you so much, since you had to go on with your weyrling thing... Or candidacy thing... Whichever the time was... And when I did go back to see you, you had Nverath, which was odd but okay.... I don't know. I don't think you changed like Iona said you would. Maybe you did on the inside, but it's nothing I've seen yet. I mean..." She shrugs self-consciously. "I still like you the same. I wonder, some times, and I was trying not to see you because of it.. if you shouldn't get... more conected to the weyr... because of your friend there or whatever and because of whatever might become of your Impression or whatever..." She shrugs again. She's getting good at that.
D'baji makes a promise to himself not to get up and go running away. Like, now. After all, Kristi's just telling him about this guy, right? It's not like she's got a thing for herbs. He hopes. And he's almost relieved to see her drinking that stuff. Alcohol versus Herbs, he'll have to go with alcohol. "Interesting leadership we could have, then," he comments dryly. "Yeah, your letters had said something about not visiting so much," he notes after a silent spell of simply listening. "I mean, it was nice of you to care, but y'know I'd be happier to have you coming. Though you know that by now, don't you?" Alright, don't drown her out now. Bad Deb. "Yes, Nverath... It makes the whole leaving and candidacy thing worthwhile, y'know? Speaking of which," he leads forward, obviously aiming to steal the conversation for a minute, "how were you with that whole thing? Be perfectly honest, y'know, when I went to the Weyr for the first time?" And he offers a frown for the talk of how he may have changed. "I don't feel different," is commented matter-of-factly, though a more thoughtful, "Although," is soon to follow. "Although... The perspective's been a bit skewed. But the major traits are pretty much the same. For as well as I know myself. And y'know, sometimes when you were travelling, there weren't many other people to talk to. Though we did ponder about not knowing yourself without people, we talked of that once, didn't we?" Reminiscing when he should be paying attention. He's not changed too much, see? "Nverath does sort of bind me to the Weyr. Not only because he's a dragon, but cause he likes it, as I've told you. And my friends, well... They're great, some more so than others, but in the end," his turn to shrug, "I'm not sure how far I'm wanting some things to develope. I mean I know for a fact that Yuli had 'liked' me at some point... I'll have to talk to her. But sorry. What comes of my Impression is that I'm at the Weyr now, and whatelse will develope from there. Go on? If there's anything more?"
Hmm... Yeah, drug addict versus alcoholic... Drug addict versus alcoholic. Except Kristiana is hardly an alcoholic; she only drinks at work. But she works every day, so... She nods slightly, looking down at those harp-strand calloused fingers. "Right... Well... I wasn't so sure. I was even nervous at that point, considering what Iona had told me. I was afraid I would go, and it would be like... 'Who are you and what are you doing here?'" At the talk of Nverath, she just nods stiffly, looking toward the bronze for a moment before chuckling softly at his question. "I didn't really... think anything at first. I was happy for you, and really we only knew one another to an certain extent. And in the back of my mind, though I hoped for you, I figured you would come back to SeaCliffs. But... I mean, I couldn't blame you for accepting. Shards, not many on Pern get that chance, but... It kind of stung." She shrugs then as she picks up a rock, rolling it around in her hand. She nods slowly. "Like I said, we really didn't know each other as well as I think we do now, so I cant' say that you definitely changed. I can just say, 'This is how D'baji is' and not judge it besides it just being you, you know?" She listens, nodding, to the part about Yuli, that, of course, being one of the parts she was most curious about. Then she shrugs, looking off into the distance in thought as she rolls that rock in her hand. "Well, just wondering what it will be like from here on out, I guess... The traveling, and the letters, and the gossip, and having to hear Iona's advice..." She snickers and shrugs. "But when life hands you redfruit, you make a double liquor wine glazed redfruit glowbasket with a spring of mint, you know."
"Somehow, Iona always seems to be in this, hmm?" D'baji notes with a bit of a sarcastic tone. "It wasn't too much like 'Who are you and what are you doing here?' was it? I mean, I didn't mean for it to be..." The bronze, aware he's being looked at now, turns his head away from those echoing noises to peer at the little woman through one great big whirling eye. "Stung... I suppose I could sort of understand that too... I thought about it, honestly I did, but... I dunno, maybe if it wasn't Nverath's clutch I wouldn't have gone for some reason? But, y'know," he finishes, giving a nod towards the dragon who still has a gaze settled on the bartendress. "Although I'm not here to apologize, am I? Well, not really." So he nods to her words, the occasional bit of a sound coming from him, similar to a grunt but not quite, for something he particularly wants to note. "Yes," is agreed for the last comment. "What it'll be like will certainly be interesting. At the Weyr, I mean, it's close, we could even fly straight, make a day of it... And betweening makes it easier, but still, I guess it won't be the same. And you don't take just any advice to heart, do you?" That part's just a bit scared. A light laugh for her anology as well. "I suppose that's true, just go with it..." And here he pauses, to make sure she's done before starting his, and if she's not, to listen more.
Kristiana snickers slightly, though she smiles. "Well, she is one who has talked to me and stuff, whether I wanted her to or not," the bartendress replies somewhat dryly as she rearranges herself on the stone bench, moving her glass from hand to hand. "No, no, you weren't like that. There was one time in candidacy when you were unusually... stiff, and I was wondering if it wasn't a hint of some sort, but it only lasted for a few minutes." As Nverath turns to look at her, she smiles softly and averts her eyes back toward D'baji. She likes the bronze, really, she does. He just made things more confusing. "I mean, you have to make decisions in your life, and if being a rider was something you had really wanted, I can understand you saying yes." She laughs lightly. "But I must admit it was a shock to just read a letter saying 'I'm a candidate now. I'm at Ista.'" She shakes her head quickly. "No, no need to apologize at all. And I take advice, yeah, sometimes," she replies with a chuckle. "That's why I backed off on seeing you, because of advice. If it's logical, I'll adhere to it. But... I've said enough-- or everything. so... I'll let you get some words in." She finally takes another drink.
D'baji nods with a bit of a frown for the mention of candidacy. "That was a really weird time, though... Like, I mean, you obviously get partially what I mean, but it was this change, and it was... I dunno. Y'know, sometimes things are weird..." He shrugs, and then comes a sheepish little cough. "Well, I mean, it's not like I've dreamt about being a rider all my life or something... It was just new, it was exciting, and I mean, now it's Nverath, but... I guess maybe it's stupid to admit this, but I didn't really /want/ to be a rider, I just thought why not? I mean, it was a big why not though, but at the same time, there was the whole thing of having been here for so long, and... I don't know, things were changing. As they've an annoying tendancy to do." But enough about that, before he confuses both her and himself all the more. "I don't think it's logical," he says as he's given the talking permission. "I mean, maybe it is, but it seems horribly wrong now..." And here he takes a deep breath, and Nverath just might have given something of a rumble, though at times he does it low enough it's hard to tell if he's vibrating those vocal chords at all. "Alright, well, you meant- or, mean, I guess, quite a lot to me... I'm not really sure, it's been really odd... With Nverath, like, I remember, at the end of the Hatching, when the last few eggs were cracking, I was sort of coming out of it, anticipating coming back. And then there's this perfect companionship, so I go from thinking about you more than anything at the time, to not really realizing, when the occasional thought would pass, for like two sevendays... And then once it sorta clued in... You have any questions up 'till now?" Break the outpouring of his heart into sections, as it were.
Kristiana chuckles softly as she nods. "I know about change, so I understand, though maybe not to the extent candidacy was. I moved quickly to harper... then quickly here... so I kind of get the idea." Her words are quiet, though, as she wants him to be able to speak. Again, glass returns to the spot by her feet as she nods and listens. The eternal nodding and listening... "I figured it was a bit of that, too," she replies, "--that you would have been restless for being in SeaCliffs so long, but, as you know, being a rider is just strapping yourself--pardon the pun--into an even longer living arrangement." Her forehead furrows slightly as she starts to seep into confusion, but she just nods anyway. She looks up quickly at his talk of it not being logical, shrugging. "Well, I was stupid, I guess, yeah, for believing others' words, but I wanted it to be that, if I had to end up stopping seeing you, it wouldn't be as difficult." She nods slowly as she listens. "I couldn't imagine things being like that-- not thinking of much else. It must've been an odd change," she comments with a chuckle. "No questions... about what you said, really... except just curious if it's like that for most riders, since, like, a lot are weyrmated. That must be strange for the other to not be thought of for sevendays." She just shrugs, then, and waves her hand. "Go on?"
D'baji is glad for her sympathies, offering a relieved little grin for the fact that he won't have to attempt and explain that much, at least. "I know that riding'll do that, but... It's not so bad, with Nverath, y'know? It's sort of like, with you at SeaCliffs, I could deal with wanting to go elsewhere alright... Truthfully, I'd even considered staying for a bit once I'd gotten what I need to continue... Never reached that point, granted, but still." He raises an eyebrow, and then shakes his head slowly. "Nah, you weren't stupid. Don't say that... I mean, it does make a sort of sense, y'know, easing it up a bit. And not thinking of much, well... It seems hard, but it's terribly easy when suddenly every little question, every open thought in your head turns into a discussion... It was, for me at least, like I couldn't concentrate on anything! We'd just get drawn from one topic to another. It gets easier, you get used to it, but it's still this amazing thing. Getting off task is no difficult thing to do." For example, now. He's supposed to be talking about the bronzerider from Ista and his feelings for that bartendress, right? "I don't know. Every dragon is different, every rider's different, so I don't know... But right," he nods for her invitation to continue. "So there's all this going on, and you hadn't come to visit at the time, mind, and I was talking to Yuli a lot, when I couldn't talk to Nverath. Because she was really the closest friend I had at the Weyr... Is, really, I guess, if you consider that there's not really anyone new there. And she had her problems and I had my problems and we worked 'em out, and I guess there was sort of something that developed there... Some sort of odd little bond. We each defined it differently for a time... And then she explains, and we reach an agreement on basically what this whole thing was between us, and then you came back, and it was... Like I'd forgotten, almost, although I knew you. If that makes any sense."
Kristiana finds her previous rolling-rock that she had sat beside her, taking it in her hands to roll around again. She just has to keep moving, somehow, and now that her glass is nearly empty, she has to find another method. "Ah, that makes sense," She replies, slowly. "Especially since he loves being at Ista so much... I guess that rubs off on you, too, somewhat." She chuckles, then, and shrugs as he tells her that she wasn't stupid, and her eyes widen as she listens. "Wow. I couldn't imagine living in a situation like that. It must have been difficult. But I'm sure it was wonderful..." Aah. The Wonderful Live of Having a Nverath. She has a harp? Is that close enough? Except she shies away from talking about her harp. "Right..." she replies at his talk about Yulianna, shrugging. "Like Trouff and I go to one another when we're confused. Makes sense." Then she looks down at the ground, nodding slowly. "So maybe I should've stayed away then. I mean, if you'd forgotten about me, and I had stayed away, you could have continued with Yuli, and you two would have been fine. But I came back and made it...different...so...." Her voice drifts off.
D'baji eyes the rock, wondering, for a moment, if this bartendress is ever still. But that wouldn't be half as fun, now would it? How, then, could he look at rocks rolling about her hands. "Yeah, we do rub off on each other a bit, alas." And now for a shrug. "It's a hard thing to imagine. You can't, really, and it won't happen to anyone else, cause there's just the one Nverath... And I mean, though he's a talkative enough dragon, he doesn't do that with other people, not so much." And then he nods, eyes widening somewhat in appreciation. "Yeah, it's a lot like that, I'm sure! Y'know, you need someone... Anyway." Another shrug as he takes his turn in fidgetting, shifting a bit on the bench, and finally drawing up his legs to sit cross-legged, and pivoting on his behind to face her. "No..." he starts with a wrinkle of his nose for the thought, shaking his head emphatically enough to get his hair whipping about his face some. "I started thinking about you anyway. It's a pretty much inevitable thing to do... And I'd started writing and that, and I'm glad you came. I dunno if I'd want to 'continue' with Yuli or not. And nothing is set in stone until the dragons have grown up some, so maybe she doesn't even feel the same anymore, y'know? And she rides gold, and she's reminded me of the time that takes away from other aspects of life... But it was good that you came back. In truth, I'd rather be... with you? Or, like, y'know, not even necessarily like it was, if you don't want, but," and his words start speeding up as he gets himself good and flustered, "even if it was just that we would talk at least it's something right, and..." Stop. Breathe. "Well, how would you feel about this, now?" You can't give Baji the spotlight for too long when it comes to big personal matters. "I mean, the whole old situation, new situation... I've not known entirely what to think."
Oh, Kristiana is still, when she's relaxed and comfortable. In high-strung situations or conversations, though, that have to do with /her/, she fidgets. She nods slowly at his talk of Nverath's personality, smiling. "Except Trouff and I are hardly 'couch friends'," she adds with a snicker and wink as she tosses the rock up a bit and catches it. "Oh," she replies as he says he started talking about her, and she looks a bit relieved, because, before, she looked like she might want to get up and walk away. Not to be rude to him, but because she was... well... kinda shocked. "Right... So I'll just sit here at the pub while you're... writing letters and waiting for your dragon to grow up, so you can decide whether or not you can be with her. And if not, then great. And if so, well, tough luck for me." That's the advice Trouff gave her-- to say that. Because that's what she voiced to him. "But I can't do that..." She grows quiet again, letting him talk, in case she's speaking over something she might want to hear, and, considering this conversation, she probably wants to hear just about everything. "You would rather be with me?" The question comes in a rush, almost as one word, and the rock she had tossed in the air and forgotten at just that moment manages to plunk against her knee. "Owww..." she whines for a moment as she retrieves the sharding thing and rubs her knee. She blinks as she tries to catch what he's saying. "I must admit I'm a little confused," she replies with a chuckle. "You're not making too much sense, no offense. But... I just... I've finally convinced myself it won't be like before. I won't be able to get off work and go sit on the beach and talk to you. You won't be able to get off work and stop by the pub. And it's taken me.... what... two turns to get that into my head. I suppose... I can't /stand/ this whole having to travel constantly to see one another, but if it's what we have to do to see one another... then I guess it's worth it."
D'baji must be at fault, then, for the high-strung conversations. But at least she's not passed out or anything... "Well, you and Trouff don't have dragons with couches now do you? Surely you've gone somewhere sort of private to talk... In the barracks, the only real place like that is someone's couch. That's all." But enough defending that aspect. There are other things to be visited yet. And he really doesn't like shocking her or anything, but he's not got any choice for the moment. So, no matter the after-effects, barging on through we go. "No, I don't... Nverath is pretty much grown up. I mean, in like a month or so he'll be able to rise after the females in the mating flights, I'm pretty sure he's mature as he's gonna get mentally, even if he still has some growing to do... But I don't think he's gonna change too much. Or at least I hope he won't. And no, I can't ask you to wait, now can I? No matter how I feel I can't ask you to wait, because what if it changes. I think manners and the lot are the most useless things, in the end. But at the same time, it's wrong, so I'll sit." Just a bit of frustration over the whole situation. and yes, he realizes that it's his fault. He starts nodding to her rushed question, stopping to wince as the rock hits her knee, and then scooching a bit closer. For emphasis, and to make sure she's not going to bleed to death, or anything. "Sorry. I mean tomake sense. I'd love to make sense. Only thing is, it doesn't. And you're right... It won't be like before, will it? I mean, I live at the Weyr now, and you're still living here, and we'll have to resort to this whole travelling idea, I'm pretty sure. I mean, sure, there are other ways to deal with that, but this sharding Weyrlinghood gets in the way of everything. It's almost like you can't say or do what you want... Well, you could, but I won't, not yet." And you thought he was confusing before. "So it is worth it then, you think?"
"I have a cot," Kristiana replies in a mock defensive tone. "He and I could be 'cot buddies', though I'd rather not be that with him, no offense to him... Oh... And in that case, I suppose we're 'beach buddies', which gives me the image of barely-clad, giggling girls." Trying not to giggle herself at her... offsetting the conversation somewhat, she nods at the speak of the bronze, looking toward Nverath or a moment with a small smile; then blue-green eyes refocus on the rider, and, not for the first time in this conversation, she looks a bit confused. "So... What's wrong? And... what's... not?" She shakes her head. The whole going off on manners and just sitting thing... She grimaces and nods as she rubs her knee again. "I'm fine. It's just a small rock," she replies in a whispered, serious tone, showing it to him. "Right... I mean, that's the way it's been for a few turns now, so I suppose it's the way it Is now, but it still is odd, especially considering all these apprentice-like rules and stipulations you're still under for the next few sevendays." And aye, his last words bring the Confused Furrowed Forehead as she just looks at him. "You're not making things much clearer, 'baji," she tells him softly with a chuckle and wink before nodding. "And yeah, I do think so, and I'm glad we finally talked about things."
D'baji shrugs. "So there ya go. Beach buddies then... And cot buddies, well... Don't you sleep in the dorms, or d'you have your own room? Cause in the dorms a cot's not as private... Then again, the couches are all in the barracks, so it's sort of similar, but still. Right, anyway," moving on. And Nverath, of course, gives a bit of a sniff towards her, his gaze having found a hovering space rather near the pair for the time being. "What's wrong would be- Alright, does it seem good to you that I'd go off, and then say to you, while you're waiting here, 'Oh, don't go with anyone else, and wait for me.' With change. I feel like I've said this before. I probably have, somehow... But the point is, it doesn't seem fair to say that. And if I'd've come back before, and it'd been different..." He rolls his eyes, an exhasperated sigh escaping his lips as he slumps down in his cross-leggedness, resting elbows on his knees, arms propped up so his head can sit on his hands, and peering at her from the newly crumpled position. "I know it's confusing. That's as clear as I can make it. And most of the rules have lifted... I mean, we can go places and that, but they just want us to look out for our dragons. Some of 'em aren't done their maturing, and none of 'em are done their growing." And then, one hand brought out from under his chin to be held out in sign of a something more, he continues. "I mean, there are alternatives to the whole travelling things. I mean, someone else moving. But really, for one, I doubt they want as thinking too much about weyrmating right now, or at least not acting on it, and y'know, you've got your job at the Pub and all..." But at least she's glad they're talking. He'll hold to that to keep himself smiling, if a bit dryly.
"The dorms are hardly private," Kristiana replies with a wrinkled nose. "It's kind of partitioned, but... just like being in harper, only with older, bigger, and smellier people." She looks up at Nverath, her expression the same as that she gives to patrons approaching the bar. Sort of an: Anything I can help you with? look. She pauses in thought. "Well, right... But... perhaps it's my fault. I've had people telling me you're more than likely not interested anymore, so I need to move on. Meanwhile, I'm afraid that if I do, I will regret it later. And if I don't... I will regret it later, so it's good to know what's going on on the other side-- just a head's up-- so I can figure things out." At his exasperated readjustment, she can't help but look over at him with a sof smile, turning more toward him. "I'm glad that you can travel now. Saves some of the burden of me," she replies with a grin and wink. Her eyes widen and she blinks slightly, but smiles and nods nonetheless. "Right, I suppose you have a bit of time for that.... And the fishermen, sure, would miss me horribly. I mean, then whose bum will they grab?" She snickers and shakes her head. "Honestly I..." A rider comes rushing out of the hold, mounts his dragon, and stares over at D'baji. "I suppose that means... that it's time for you to go..."
