Who

Talya & Turahaimajusuth, Ulrika & Theidith

What

Talya and Ulrika catch up, while Turahaimajusuth teaches Theidith how to float.

When

-- On Pern --
It is 6:11 PM where you are.
It is evening of the sixteenth day of the ninth month of the sixteenth turn of the 12th pass.
In Southern:
It is the sixteenth day of Spring and 80 degrees. It is sunny and bright. White fluffy clouds drift lazily across the china blue sky.


Where

Southern Weyr, Beach

OOC Date 08 Apr 2019 04:00

 

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Beach

An eerie mirror, the glass-quiet Sea of Azov: the clear waters stretch along the dark-pebbled shores, and along this narrow beach. Here the faintest lap of waves belies the calm beyond; here the rocks have been ground down into finest, softest sand - those observant would mark upon the similarity between it and the sands of the hatching grounds. The soft sand soaks up summer sunlight as a sponge; painfully hot during the warmer months, it is only truly pleasant at wintertime. Rocks rise to east and west, lichen-limned and green against the abyssal darkness of stone.

It is the sixteenth day of Spring and 80 degrees. It is sunny and bright. White fluffy clouds drift lazily across the china blue sky.


The return of heat means that Talya is able to actually enjoy the outdoors again, hibernating at the bar or somewhere warming whenever the temperatures seem to dip under 60. Not that she doesn't spend most of her time off staring at the bottom of bottles in the Kitten anyway, but at least she is happy to change up her setting sometimes. The brownrider is sweating off the day's work by taking a run down the beach, enjoying the sunset's colors along the horizon, with her own lifemate making laps of his own just where it's deep enough for him to swim. The warmth has made her discard her top for a bikini, her pants loose enough for a breeze but kept out of the way of tangling her bare feet. She slows to a fast walk as she approaches the boardwalk, breathing heavily likely meaning she's been at this run for quite a while now.

It feels good to move. To run. And that's precisely what Ulrika's doing - leading the way to the beach with Theidith hot on her heels. The young dragon is moving with a sure-footedness and confidence that, fortunately, keeps her from completely biffing it when the ground transitions to sand. But, the moment her feet hit sand, she skids to a stop with a delighted bugle. It's not the sand, though; it's all the water. Ulrika stumbles briefly, catches herself, and bursts into rare laughter. "Aye, Theidith. That's the ocean. Come on. We'll get in the water, even. It's nice - and you can give your wings a stretch." There's a reason she brought a towel, after all! As they make their way along, though, movement in the direction of the boardwalk catches the blonde's eye and she squints, before making a quick salute in the distant figure's direction. She's not yet close enough to identify the woman, but the salute is a safe guess.

Turahaimajusuth is the first to actually catch sight of the young queen and her lifemate, even from being out further in the ocean. The brown suddenly surges forward to the shallows where he can stand and gives his large opalescent wings a few flaps, allowing them to catch the sunset while there is still light out for a glorious display. Along with the bugle, it seems to startle Talya out of whatever focus she was in, nearly causing her to trip in the sand as she falters. "What's gotten into you!?" she shouts grumpily at her brown, and then follows the direction he's moving to, squinting as well to the weyrling. There's a reason she's avoided their training grounds, and she seems to hesitate before approaching. Turahaimajusuth arrives first to rumble pleasantly down to Theidith and Ulrika. «Greetings, young lady,» he croons internally as well in his deep voice, wafts of flowery welcoming fields following. Talya, as she finally arrives, gives Ulrika a shake of her head. "I saw that salute from back there…" She jerks her chin to the other woman, even if she was distracted she caught it. "Don't you go doing that for me. Don't care what the weyrlingmasters say, they're not here right now and it's an unnecessary waste of energy."

The great jungles of Theidith's young mind are open, with flowering vines and tendrils reaching to make contact with those flowery fields. « Ah! Greetings to you, Magnificent One! » The weyrling gold clearly has a keen eye for that excellent display, it seems. She warbles in greeting and marches right up to Turahaimajusuth, only to stop and lift her head, looking up, up, up at him. « Do you enjoy swimming? » Ulrika, for her part, is resigned to Theidith's tendency to be bold and friendly; there's a sidelong look to make sure she's not getting into actual trouble, and her gaze cuts abruptly to Talya. If she notices that hesitation, she makes no sign; instead, the blonde slows down and eventually stops, giving ample time for Talya to approach as she sees fit. "Aye, well. If it's not them as telling us to do it, it's turns as a guard that does," she replies, matter-of-fact, but with a barely there tilt to her smile. "I think I owe you and Turahaimajusuth thanks," she adds, with a tip of her head to the brown in question.

Talya sighs, resigned at the weyrling, even if there is a hint of a smirk on her face. "I imagine it will be something you'll lose in time, given that you are the one we'll be saluting all to in just a few Turns, weyrwoman." She crosses her arms and looks over to the young queen, looking from tail tip to tip of nose even as her own lifemate does the same. Turahaimajusuth drops his head down to the little gold, almost touching tip of nose with his own as he looks at her with a sudden proud swell to his chest and whirl to his eyes. If dragons could look smug, this brown is certainly trying to show it, wings half open and settling in to study her. You'd think he sired her himself! «Oh, most definitely enjoy it, but I enjoy the wash more than the swim. You should try the lake sometime for the freshest of waters. Still, you shine beautifically no matter.» His tone is all platonic, a shimmer of magic infused in the words that give the floral scent a static. "No thanks are needed, honestly," Tal says as she shifts uncomfortably at that. "Well, Tura will take it happily and he says he knew all along. But Theidith would have found you regardless if it was us, someone else, or no one at all I bet."

Novi steps onto the soft sands of the beach, the winds from across the inland sea whipping around her.
"Aye, perhaps so," Ulrika replies, but something of that makes her feel uncomfortable. It's a brief, but visible tensing of shoulders before she relaxes. "Still, I reckon it will be a long time before that." Her gaze tracks after Talya's own, taking in the diminutive frame of her lifemate. The gold might be smaller than her sands-sister, but she bears herself every bit as proudly as a dragon twice her size. The bright coil of her tail whips a bit behind her in her enthusiasm, maw gaped as she looks up at the big brown. « Your words are kind and I thank you. Mine told me we would be swimming. Will you join us? » Where that magic touches, more flowers grow in profusion - kissed with that tinge of glitter and shine. And even if the brown doesn't get to moving, she will, her marching stride carrying her right to the water without fear. "Aye, well," Ulrika glances back to Talya. "That might be so, but it's you and him as asked me to stand. I can't be sure as anyone else would have. So. I'll owe you drinks when we're free and clear for it, at least."

Turahaimajusuth is not going to say no to more swimming, especially with the young queen. He watches her go first, fascinated by her fearlessness and rumbling in amusement before following after her. «Taking a challenge without hesitation is a mighty fine trait, one I keep telling mine to do more often.» The brown dragon certainly is the one that pushes the two of them to succeed more than his lifemate would. When he splashes into the waves, it's a dragonlength away from the queen so that he doesn't send the water over her head still. Talya's lips press tightly in a line, as if trying to keep some words in, but finally they come out in a slow measured pace as if testing them out, "I'm glad you Impressed one of the two queens… Tura's happy, and there is less fear of loss of you and Theidith during Threadfall. It's been a tough few Turns, not many even make it out of weyrlinghood." And that's where her troubles lie in avoiding weyrlings. Being partially responsible in some way to the death of future riders. Talya's dark eyes move away from the ex-guard, to observe the young dragon. "I'll never say no to free drinks, so long as you join in as soon as you're able to, in order to properly celebrate. You'll be surprised how fast the time flies, so get used to the weyrwoman title now." Her eyes do not leave the gold, her chin nodding that way. "First time swimming in the ocean?"

In she goes, though not with a reckless leap; she just walks until walking isn't an option, then it's a matter of flexing her wings to test how they work in the water. Theidith warbles delightedly at Turahaimajusuth and keeps paddling, though she's mindful to stick near enough to shore to avoid some kind of rebuke from her rider. « It is hard to tell others to do things, even if they are frightening, » she replies, considering the brown askance. « But if they see you do it without fear, they will not fear, either. » She bobs in the water, wings flexing, but not flapping. « I am sure yours is doing her best. » Confident! Ulrika, on the other hand, is the more sober of the pair, ever-keeping the gold in the corner of her sight, but with most of her attention on Talya for the moment. She sucks her teeth and nods, but there's a knitting of her brow that doesn't quite unknit. "Aye, well. The risk is always there," she replies after a beat. "But we'll do our best to pull through with as few losses as we can. That's as F'kan and Ginger and the rest are trying to do." But, it is what it is; she's not afraid of it, whatever shape it takes. But, she doesn't dwell on it either, moving right along with a wry, "Aye, that's fair. Though I can't say as I'm the best company when I'm drinking. But maybe that'll change." Blame it on the dragon, maybe. Who knows. There's another nod, though, as she turns her attention more keenly to Theidith and adds, "Aye, first time she's made it this far without taking a nap or getting distracted."

Turahaimajusuth may find a like mind in the young queen, echoing her thoughts with wordless spurts of magical encouragement. He may have different reasons for being fearless, for competition, but he is not about to share that with Theidith. «Mine is, but her best potential is still hidden and it is a work in progress. We have our lives together to work on it,» he finally explains to the gold, with as much affection as he can put into those words as he can for his lifemate. She may be broken right now, and perhaps an underacheiver, but he still loved her to his core. Back to being uncomfortable in that topic of conversation, Talya's frown puts a wrinkle in the middle of her forehead. "Oh, I have no doubt the weyrlingmasters are doing great. F'kan, right, he helped us along and has changed dramatically, real good with the weyrlings. Ginger was our Wingleader and I'd trust her with our life as well. But you just never know, and there's quite a lot of weyrlings there." Finally she shakes herself out of those thoughts, rubbing both hands through her short hair. "Shit, forget I said it. That's not something a rider should be even saying to a weyrling, much less a future weyrwoman. You'll do great, no doubt, cause us Guards are made of tough stuff." She looks fondly back to the queen, and her lifemate dipping into deeper waters but staying close. "She's gonna be exhausted and sleep well now, at least. Tura will be happy to help her back if needed."

« You must shine brighter for her, » is Theidith's bold opinion, raw and yet to be forged through experience. « Be her champion of light and she will find her way! » She is, as she ever is, remarkably full of hope and brightness. Perhaps that will dim in time but, for now, she colors both Turahaimajusuth and his rider in the radiant hues of heroes. And, even now, barely knowing them, she is proud of them. That much comes across in the bright blossoms that are offered up to the brown, tinged with radiance and hope. She continues to swim along valiantly, pushing a bit to go a little further out. More wing-flexes. More flips and tosses of her tail. Ulrika grunts once and tips a look to Talya again. "I didn't accept thinking that a gold would find me," she replies after a beat. "Or that it would be easy or safe." Her expression darkens slightly and, when Theidith looks over, she has to steel herself for a moment to shift something just out of reach of the gold's mind. "We could die even before we meet our first Fall." It might be a general 'we' to include the weyrlings as a whole, but there's a significance to the words, the weight of it. "It's important to remember that. Especially now, more than ever." Talya might not want to go down that road, but Ulrika's made her peace with it. "I just hope you're right and we'll do right by the Weyr, that's all. But, aye, we're tough, the lot of us Guards. It'll take a lot to take us down. I just hope as she's not too tired to need the help. Otherwise, you might have to help take me back, too."

Talya snorts at the other woman's words, unable to help herself, and gives a shake of her head at Ulrika. "No one thinks it would be easy and safe. And the possibily of gold remained for any girl that was asked to stand, everyone else was thinking it, even if you weren't. We were certainly thinking it, when we extended the offer to any of the girls." Turahaimajusuth is just practically swelling with the fact that one of his did end up Impressing one of the two queens. "You and that other quiet girl will have your moments soon enough to lead the Weyr. Speaking of, how is Ryott getting along with that thought in mind?" The brown rider's face finally shows some curiosity towards the other weyrlings, brows arched at Ulrika even as she starts to move towards the waters and hoping she follows. "You know her best, reign her in when you think she may be tiring too much to get back. We'd happily help get her back, still, if needed." Turahaimajusuth is no weyrlingmaster's dragon, and therefore he's just encouraging her swim along. A cool fog rolls gently into her mind, not trying to be distracting. «We are a balanced pair, just like you and yours. You swim amazingly well for your first time! If you stretch out, you can also float a little, and enjoy the waves and cool water.» Which is just what this brown is going to do, float there and watch.

"Aye, I know," Ulrika replies evenly, her expression settling into neutrality. "And I'm sure as there are plenty who thought only of gold, too, and didn't think anything of the rest." Her arms fold behind her, in a resting posture that doesn't look especially restful. There's a tip of her head at the mention of Ryott, though, and her expression remains inscrutable. She'll follow Talya to the water, but her reply is as measured as her stride, "I can't speak to her mind, but I know as Wrayth's a difficult one from what I've seen. I don't envy her that. I think as they'll do just fine, once they find their footing together. I was lucky with Theidith." Very lucky, indeed, given how stable and calm the young gold has been. "Ryott and I- we'll work together, aye." It's a careful articulation, that. Theidith, meanwhile, continues to paddle along enthusiastically, pushing her little self to the limit. « Thank you! It is not so difficult to move in the water. » The instructions on how to float are promptly taken and she does just that, stretching all of her everything out and drifting a bit on the water. But she just can't do it for long - maybe when she's older, perhaps, she'll enjoy the peace of floating. But it's just not doing enough and she starts to move again. But that resurgence of movement brings with it an awareness that she is tired. More than she wants to let Ulrika know, even, but it doesn't take long for the weyrling rider to pick up on it. "Seems you've the right of it - and I thank you for the offer. Come on back, now, Theidith. I'll not have you falling asleep in the water." Ulrika rubs absently at her face, the tiredness still finding a way to get to her, too. "We might need that help after all."

Talya nods her head in agreement with Ulrika, "And just goes to show that you never know who winds up with what dragon at the end." The mention of Wrayth being difficult, however, brings a smirk to the brownrider's face, and she notes the fact that the weyrling treads carefully on what she says about that relationship. She doesn't word her thoughts, however, and instead turns to the two dragons with a sigh. "Tura, you aren't really helping here are you?" The brown is floating closer to the queen, a rumble working its way through him. «You'll get it in time, and we'll be able to float and swim together. Next would be having a good long bath thrown in.» No encouragement of leaving at all from this one, who loves his long soaks! He looks a bit chargrined once Talya grows more serious, hands going to her hips. He shifts forward, towards the young queen, and moves to give her a gentle nudge with his snout. «Come along, lady, we should get you back to the barracks.» What he doesn't say is that it was his rider's instructions. «Lean on me, or climb aboard.» The water may help with this awkward maneuvering, but he'll let the gold first attempt it on her own. Still, he will certainly help in making sure she gets to the barracks safely. "Not a bad first swim. She didn't get dragged out by a riptide and gotten lost, so there's that," Tal notes drily. "Tura and I will help make sure she makes it all the way." The brownrider is ready to play the responsible adult.

« Yes, I will look forward to that! » Still, though the jungles are bright, they're shaded with the twilight of her tiredness and Theidith whuffs a bit as she opts for the more dignified 'lean on Turahaimajusuth' option. She does nudge back at him with her nose, though, and she adds, « Thank you for your aid, Magnificent One. » Though she's not done needing it yet, as she has that half-drunk, sleepy swagger going. Her insistence on doing this on her own feet might be her downfall, but she's determined to see this through, even if it means resting against the brown more often than she'd like. Ulrika, however, manages to push through a fair bit of it, though there's a flicked look to Talya and a wry pull at the corner of her mouth. "I owe you," is noted with a chuckle. It's a funny feeling not to be the responsible adult! "And, next time, we should actually go for a swim, aye? And you can tell me about your days as a Guard and how it helps you as a rider, if you're of a mind to." The way to the barracks feels longer than it ought, but with help, they'll get there and maybe she'll be able to sneak in an oiling while Theidith slumbers. Maybe.

Turahaimajusuth can really get used to that title being said over and over. His overly large wings spread, providing a bit of security and privacy so that others may not notice the tired queen needing to rely this heavily upon his help. «It is my pleasure, young lady. I will gladly offer my services for you, all you need to do is call.» His voice lowes in pitch to a warm rumble, pleasant and amiable for the young gold. Talya is certain to follow at a close distance, the moment her lifemate may want to give her more encouragement for her to try on her own or get distracted… She makes sure they travel get to their destination in one piece, or else she'll be flayed by the weyrlingmasters! "I have a feeling you've been a Guard a lot longer than I was, but it's something I don't mind discussing. Perhaps once you can get away from her for an extended period of time, you can come on a run with me down the beach. Always helps to clear the mind. For now, sounds like a good long nap for you both." Some spot near the boardwalk, there's a pair of discarded boots hidden and waiting for the brownrider, who expertly can slip them on between steps to protect her feet on their trek through the bowl.

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