Who

Alyna, Talya

What

Two women riders escape from the oppressing tension of Southern Weyr to the cold, free to catch up and complain.

Profanity

When

It is evening of the twenty-second day of the second month of the seventeenth turn of the 12th pass.

Where

Aperitif

OOC Date 01 Jun 2019 07:00

 

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"There will always be sleezy men, but I agree with you, the Telgari take it to a whole new level."


aperitif.jpg

Aperitif

From the hotsprings without, this is a transformation to a completely different space, for here there is the feel of stepping onto an ice-shelf. Glass coats the long bar that circles around stone shelves displaying bottles of all sizes and colors, filled with alcohol of all kinds. Here there is no shortage of cold drinks, and off to one side is a portion of the floor laid out for the specific purpose of encouraging dancing and revelry. The furniture here is heavy and durable, made to withstand nights where perhaps just a little too much is imbibed.


Maybe it's the heat that's driven a certain greenriding pair to Southern Barrier Hold, and Alyna will probably claim it to be so to anyone who asks. But she knows the reason is that she doesn't feel comfortable going out for a night without her weyrmate at her usual Kitten. Her temper is hot at the best of times, and with D'har riding in Jaguar under the new Telgari Weyrleader, the blonde wingsecond has been finding fun new places to get her drink on. Aperitif hasn't disapointed her yet. This time she'd invited, through a sultry message from Haquith to Turahaimajusuth, her best friend to join her, because outside of wing stuff, they have had way too little girl time as of late. So with Haquith happily curled up under a stony overhang just outside the Hold, Alyna is wearing a short yellow dress that is set off by her golden tanned legs with strappy sandals to match. She's perched on a stool at the bar, she's nursing some sort of fruity cocktail.

Turahaimajusuth is always pleased to get any message from the lovely Haquith. When he receives the message and passes it on to Talya, he is already eager to leave; because where Alyna, so is Haquith. The pair pop in from :between: and after depositing his rider, the brown quickly takes off to join the chartreuse green to keep her warm. It's certainly not the beach up here! Talya has a lovely jacket today, soemthing new and fitted and warm, with delicate embroidery that looks way too feminine for her usual tastes. Under that are the usual tight fitted clothes, but when she undoes the jacket there's a certain plunge to her top that's uncommon in her wardrobe. "I hope you're going to have a shot or three on top of that," Talya greets her friend with a smirk as she approaces the bar, an eyebrow quirked and her stare looking right at the cocktail. "And several for me. It's fucking cold up here but better than being at the Weyr right now." She plops onto a stool next to her friend, not even a little bit graceful.

Haquith will gladly accept the brown for a cuddle buddy, perhaps a little more cuddly than usual, with Fall just around the corner and this green famous for rising in colder weather, but her chartreuse hide is still at it's normal shade of bright. Alyna swings in her stool when she gets confirmation from her green that Turahaimajusuth had joined her, watching the entrance for the brownrider's arrival. When she does get there, the petite blonde looks her over appreciatively, smirk playing at her lips, "If we get into the shots, we better find accomodations for the night, because I won't be in any state to fly between." Don't Drink and Fly! This public announcement brought to you from Southern's resident lush. "It's not that bad in here. We could always dance or something to warm up," she says, reaching out to gently trace the lapel of Talya's jacket. "I approve," she states simply, pulling her hand back and raching for her fruity drink for another sip.

Talya offers Alyna a similar appreciating look that she gets, though hers is more to take in what the woman's wearing in this environment. "It's not like I have anything to go back to the Weyr to, besides drills in the morning and we'll be awake by then." She looks away from her friend and towards the bartender, trying to get the man's attention to request something strong and quick. "Maybe." The brownrider does not look the least bit contrite about that possibility. Her dark eyes slide over to her friend again as her clothes is studied and she gives a snort and a roll of her eyes. "Oh, this. It's something of a hobby now, I suppose. Can't stick in the Weyr too long so we've been… exploring. And I've been keeping Tura satisfied with purchases, and then modeling said purchases. He's gotten in his mind that I need to be promoted. Me." She looks to her friend for confirmation on this silly idea just as shot glasses are tapped down in front of them and filled to the brim.

"Adryn's in the nursery tonight and D'har knows not to expect me until tomorrow," Alyna replies, which is code for the greenrider has plans to possibly find someone to warm her bed for the evening, but the place isn't as busy as she thought it would be, and those people who are here, are quite obviously paired up already. "So I guess shots it is then!" she concedes, relaying a private message to Haquith to tell Searuth where she'd be spending the night and with who, as a courtesy. "What?! You've been flying all over Pern shopping and you didn't invite me?" Alyna looks genuinely hurt at this relevation, her lower lip quivering and everything. Thankfully it only lasts long enough to sort of worry Talya if possible, before she smiles easily once more, "Just kidding, of course….I mean, if you want to invite me on further excursions, I would gladly accept. Tried to browse the Craft shops the other day and…" the greenrider trails off significantly before grabbing a newly filled shot glass and slamming it back without even a grimace. "Doesn't matter," she hisses as she places the glass back down with a clink.

Talya's smirk grows into an honest grin when Alyna joins in the shots. Which is a good thing, because Talya then would have had to drink double! "To shots and freezing our asses off up here together, then," is Talya's poor toast as she lifts her glass. She doesn't take it just yet, having to look away guiltily. "Oh, just Ista really. Some fresh air, a change of scenery, and some different styles to choose from that keeps Tura satisfied." She then tosses the shot back. There's a satisfied smack of her lips before she taps the bar again, the signal for round number two apparently because the bartender is quick to respond. "You can't just say that to me, Alyna. Something going on with the craft shops now? Cause I remember telling a crafter a bit ago… Us first, then it's them cause suddenly it's "his" Weyr." Her voice takes on a mocking lilt as she grabs the second glass, swapping it out with a little force and knocking it back. Two shots in and Talya finally feels like she can face the world, turning around to actually survey their surroundings.

"I'll drink to that," Alyna replies as her glass is refilled and she lifts it as if to down it as well, but then pauses when Talya questions her, eyes narrowing on her best friend briefly, a note of seriousness in her eye for the briefest moment before her infectious smile returns in full. "Just the fucking Telgari being themselves. And before you feel like hurting anyone," because Alyna knows Talya, "It was just a whistle, no one touched me or anything, but I was browsing some shops with Ulrika, or weyrwoman Ulrika I should say. I was ready to ignore them, but she stood up for me, so they backed down pretty quickly. It was even hardly a thing…" she finally takes that next shot, bringing the glass down a little harder this time and nodding to the 'tender for her refill.

Talya is letting the warmth of liquor flow through her, enough that she opens up the jacket quite a bit more and displaying more of her flesh than before. Her arms cross as she gives her friend a knowing look, because she knows this one too. "It wouldn't be bothering you so much if it were just a whistle and that was that. Getting sick of all these Telgari, I'll tell you that— I think we're perfectly fine on our own." If Talya had anything to say, she'd demand they pack up and head back north where they feel the most comfortable anyway. This brownrider has no love for them at all, and she has to get yet another round herself as her emotions start stirring. "They weren't saying something about you being a Wingsecond, did they?" she asks, tone definitely defensive of her friend. "Or about being a greenrider? I have half a mind to find this new Weyrleader and give him a few choice words on what I think about his latest policies and opinions on our riders."

"We are now, but we weren't when they showed up," Alyna reminds her with a tilt of her head and a soft sigh. "It wasn't about my rank or the color of my lifemate, it's cruder than that, which is why it's hardly worth mentioning," she tries to insist, but knows, deep down, Talya won't stop digging until she's got it all out of her. "I was just wearing what I usually wear, and because Telgari women are mostly prudes who barely show an ankle," she can talk about them because of her own roots at Telgar Hold, first hand experience, "and don't put out till their wedding nights, they decided to whistle in my general direction like they'd never seen a little skin before in real life. I wanted to let it slide. I can't be making waves with my position, and you know how my mouth gets away from me sometimes. I just want to keep my head down and not attract attention. Well, I guess I failed at that." At Talya's last, Alyna shoots the brownrider a stern look as she goes for the third shot. "Don't get on his bad side please? I don't want to be visiting you in the brig or anything cause you decked the Weyrleader." She downs the alcohol but then her features grow stern, "I mean it. He could make your life miserable, it wouldn't be worth it."

Talya would probably have stopped with distractions, but the place is quieter than the Kitten and the brownrider is a bit riled up. The alcohol is doing more to encourage the prodding than hinder it. Her eyes focus entirely on her friend as she gets the story. "Not like there aren't any sleezy men at the Weyr ever, but something about the way these Telgari do it…" The brownrider gives a shudder and a scowl. "I left Black Rock for the way they used to treat me there, don't need to be getting those creepy feelings here now." Of course, Talya would have ended up in the brig unlike her more composed friend who at least didn't wind up there herself. She looks away quickly at her friend's insistence, turning to order a beverage that she can actually hold and sip on. She leans on the bar counter, sliding to the end of her stool so her small body can perch easier. "How much more miserable can he make it? We fly, we come home… Not much else to my life right now. What's he going to do, force me to transfer out because I tell him women have equal opportunities here and we let the dragons decide?" There's a restrained sigh that sounds more like a growl, and she throws her arms up. "Fine. I won't."

"There will always be sleezy men, but I agree with you, the Telgari take it to a whole new level," Alyna replies, forgoing anymore shots to take up her fruity drink again. The mention of Black Rock has the greenrider shooting a very sympathetic look in her friend's direction. "Well, weyrwoman Ulrika said something about getting the guards to try and put a stop to that kind of behavior, she was not happy with the whole situation. So at least some part of leadership is taking this stuff seriously. Hopefully, they'll shape up, or ship out, right back to Telgar." Tapping a finger on the side of her glass thoughtfully, Alyna finally sighs, as if expelling the frustration she's been feeling and finally tilts her regard back in Talya's direction. "Good. And if you need something else to fill your time, all you need to do is ask you know."

Talya receives an iced glass with beer in it, trying to avoid the serious affects of the shots she's already taken… for now. Even though the cool environment would usually have this brownrider shivering back into her jacket, she places her hands on the cold drink and keeps them there. This adrenaline from her anger needs to cool off. "I'm glad," she says in regards to Ulrika. "I met her before, and both new weyrwoman seem to be different from me. Can't yet place how each will be like, don't know them that well, but an ex-guard is someone I can always trust to do the right thing." Somthing she can relate to at least. She glances towards the tapping and then trails her eyes from the glass to her friend's face. "If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting… I always appreciate the offer, Alyna." The smirk returns and she takes a cool sip at last. "I haven't really decided on what new hobbies to take up. Would finding girls and dressing them up like boys to stand on the Sands considered a hobby? The Weyrleader isn't watching that closely is he?"

"Haven't met the little one, Ryott? yet, but Ulrika is great," Alyna concedes as she takes another long sip of her fruity drink, "And with Amani on the mend, I'm sure M'kel will find himself outnumbered soon enough. We just gotta stick it out a little longer…" It's not clear whether she's trying to convince Talya or herself with that, but she drops the subject for good now as she waggles her eyebrows suggestively back in the brownrider's direction, "Why Talya, dear, have you changed your mind about only being attracted to men? Cause you know I'd always oblige." Lips purse in a kissy motion, before Alyna chuckles to show she was, mostly, joking. "No, I was just thinking if you wanted to hang out more. Not even going out. Just if you'd like to come visit mine, or want me to come over for a chat, you know I will be up for it. We don't always have to make a night of it…..Faranth, did I just say that? Fuck, I'm getting old…" she whines with a pout before going after her drink once more.

"She's a bit hard to read, the little one," Talya comments about their youngest weyrwoman. Hard being the understatement, but she doesn't have to say that to her friend if she hasn't met her yet. Let Alyna form her own opinion when that happens. "We can only hope," is her murmured response in a way that she doesn't believe that the weyrwoman will have much sway with this new Weyrleader until he is good and gone. She drinks again, a gulp to satisfy her thirst, and then brings the glass down slowly as she turns to her friend and raises her eyebrows in surprise. "Whatever gave you the impression that it's only men? I mean… I haven't had much experience elsewhere but I admire a woman's body as much as a man's. I just have a one track mind." She doesn't continue that her mind was stuck on one particular man for several turns now, not allowing her to stray from her more monogamous ways. Her smirk turns into full on chuffing into her glass. "You're not old. We'll just blame it on the current state of affairs that make it annoying to go out in Southern these days." She tries to put a lighthearten tone to it, but this younger woman still has a ball of rage in her stomach waiting to be unleashed.

"Well, here's to hope then," Alyna lifts her glass in Talya's direction before taking another sip. Lifting a curious brow in her companion's direction as she clarifies, the greenrider's lips curl thoughtfully. "I could have sworn you told me once that men were your only preference, although, that could have been a preference for one man in particular." But she won't bring up the redhead's name, since this is supposed to be a fun evening, and she definitely does not want to bring down the mood. "Well now that I know…" she grins wolfishly in her friend's direction, still teasing quite obviously, "Was that why you were quick to agree to get a room tonight hmmmm?" she asks with another tilt of her head. "Or am I just an excuse to get out of Southern for a night? Either way, I don't mind."

Talya will drink to that, even if her hope seems to be little and almost nonexistant right now. While the memory is still a sore topic, Talya can't help but laugh again and giving her friend a shake of her head. "Perhaps it's because I said I was a one man at a time kind of girl, there lies the confusion." She raises her hand and lifts one finger, the other hand lifting the glass for a chug. Once she smacks her lips, refreshed, she clarifies, "One man or woman, I suppose. I can't say I really have branched out much, aside from flights." She shrugs both shoulders in a noncommittal gesture and gives her friend a teasing look up and down. "Perhaps one, or the other, or both," she says in a voice that has hints of teasing and a quirk of her lip— the face, however, dies down fast. "Probably just the latter, because this friendship," and she points between Alyna and herself "is one I won't ruin like the last."

"Ah, maybe that was it," Alyna muses with a slight shrug of her shoulders, finishing off her fruity drink and pushing the empty glass aside, deciding it's time for a bit of a break from the alcohol, flagging the waiter down for a glass of water. Good hydration is key if you don't want a hangover in the morning. "Well maybe some more branching is in order. Has Tura caught any more lately? Haquith's going to be due when the weather gets colder, just saying…" she adds with a wink in Talya's direction. Although her own expression goes serious at the other woman's last. "There's not much that can ruin this sweetie," Alyna replies mimicking Talya's motion, "But I get what you're saying. So…" she wants to ask desperately about Th'res, probe so she can figure out a way to fix her two friends, but sensing it might bring the mood down further, she switches it up and picks up on something the brownrider said earlier, "dressing girls up as boys? How would that work? Cause there are always candidate physicals that must be done, and it's hard to hide in a barracks full of boys."

Talya makes a face when the greenrider orders water, and huffs at the bartender when he actually brings it. "What happened to getting trashed and staying up here? Being the responsible Wingsecond." Meanwhile, she's running low on her drink too and has to order another round of shots, because now her friend is starting to slack off. "I've actually already tried to branch off. He hasn't caught… which is unfortunate for me since he's so much more pleasant to be around when he has. But I did get caught up in the remains once or twice. Let's just say once the alcohol wore down, it didn't get any better." She scowls in the direction of her drink, as if booze had all the blame for it. She snaps her eyes up at her friend at that 'So', as if suddenly expecting the worse. She doesn't look like she's going to refuse speaking about it, but there is a slight tension. Talya takes a long time to burn and make changes— took a while to do things, and will take a while to cool off but she's not against keeping things from Alyna either. Instead, with the change of direction, she flashes white teeth. "It's surprising what bribing can do. Even Healers can be swayed during a physical or three." To the other she shrugs. "It gets crowded and candidates are tired, even if it's just one clutch. Get some smart girls that would be good riders, and it'll be easier to hide them, I say."

"Gotta be on my best behavior right?" Alyna replies with a shrug as she sips her water eagerly when Talya orders some more shots, "I'll get plenty trashed, but R'zel doesn't need me showing up to drills with a hangover. He has two of us females second to him, he's probably already under scrutiny with us riding in the upper flight too, I can't show up less than one hundred percent." When Talya recounts her recent escapades, the greenrider tries with her whole heart to look sympathetic, shaking her head as she goes for one of those shots when they arrive, throwing it back. "Yeah, maybe…I don't know try to hook up when your dragon isn't involved?" she suggests with a shrug and a smirk hiding at the edges of her lips, "When you're under your own control, you can actually pick someone you're attracted to, instead of grabbing the first warm and willing body. It does make a difference. Also flirting and foreplay make for a much better time than just…ahem…getting it done." A toe reaches out to poke Talya's calf playfully, as she considers her plan for putting girls on the Sands. "I mean, it's not a terrible idea, but if any of them are found out, the rest will be, cause I can't see them not checking out the rest of them. I actually suggested to Ginger the other day, who has many sisters of impressionable age, that she might want to take them on a trip over to Igen Weyr and try to get them Searched there. They do have that double-clutch on the Sands."

Talya cannot argue with Alyna there, considering she'd like to keep the Weyrleader away from looking too closely at their Wing. "Good idea," she notes and then looks to the shot she goes for one of the shots. "So long as you're not quitting on me either." She knocks back her own when her friend does, letting the alcohol burn as her eyes brighten with some kind of revelation. "I guess you're right about that too," she admits, if a little reluctant. "I mean, flights are usually when I really think about that sort of thing and get the most frustrated." For obvious reasons. "It's just easiest. I never did the whole…" She trails off, looks towards the whole bar as if to point out an example. Most people are enjoying their time quietly, some couples, but no one able to be openly singled out. Instead she waves vaguely to a loving coupon making eyes at each other. "Flirting thing to find someone I'd be attracted to in one night alone. My thoughts gets in the way of things." Unlike her friend, Talya is going to order another beer instead of water. She's done plenty of hangovers in her day. "I guess plenty of candidates needed for Igen, for the girls that can't get much chance here. What about placing them at the bottom of the stands or Searching them right before the hatching? I would hate to get them all in trouble." As much as Talya tries to encourage bad behavior, she'd hate for terrible consequences to happen from her own fault.

"It just takes practice," says Alyna, who is pretty much a pro at the bar hookup at this point. "But it's also not for everyone. So do you. Maybe start with asking someone on a date? Couldn't hurt," she says with another shrug and going after some more water to chase that shot with. Leaving Talya's sex life behind, she turns back to the topic of girls and Candidacy. "I mean, I hate the idea of shipping off our most promising girls to other Weyrs to impress, but if they can't get the chance here, they should get it somewhere. Maybe he won't be able to find enough boys though and be forced to take alternative measures. Something's gotta happen to make him see that this is not the solution to any of the problems he perceives at Southern right now." She trails off, her finger tracing designs in the condensation building on her glass. "Although….putting likely girls in the front row of the Stands might not be a terrible idea…." she muses softly. Is there another shot ready? cause Alyna's going for it, throwing it back down her throat without even a grimace.

Talya plants an elbow on the counter and her chin in her head, looking like an observant student as she listens to her friend. "I mean, I guess the first part is a date with who… Especially around Southern now." Her face makes that scowl that is now being associated with the Telgari riders. Since they seem to be putting a damper on the evenings out at the Weyr. Perhaps this shall be their next topic of conversation: Mission date night, test run with Alyna to not scare off potential dates. She files it away for later. "We are already bare, considering all the ones that Impressed last round. We got to bulk it up with the girls that are of age and should be standing. But if this is how it's going to be for long while…" Scowl. "Hopefully the girls find their opportunities elsewhere then." When Alyna can't find anything wrong with the other idea, she slams her palm down on the counter. "Right?? Let the dragons decide! I mean, they'd have to go through all the boys, if the Weyrleader can find that many, but there's plenty of girls that we've found potential in." Her Tura does like pretty faces and feel proud of himself when they've Impressed, only for so long as he remembers or is reminded.

"How about I set you up with someone? That way you'll know they aren't a creep?" Alyna suggests helpfully, running a hand through her toussled blond hair, combing her fingers through the waves thoughtfully as Talya gets animated in her plans to circumvent M'kel's new ruling. "Just be careful, whatever you do, huh? Insubordination is not likely to be tolerated with Lord Telgar over there," she uses the nickname that Ginger came up with for the Weyrleader, maybe hoping it will stick. "Hopefully he doesn't last long, just need another Senior flight, and we could get rid of him. So let's hope this is the only clutch that he does this to."

Talya does not immediately reject Alyna's offer, which is strangely uncharacteristic of this brownrider. Once upon a time she would have been insulted, like being put out and displayed for goods. Now, however, she actually considers it. Maybe she's matured, maybe it's the drink talking, but she hums in consideration. "Perhaps… I think I can trust your judgement by now," is her response. Not an immediate agreement or disagreement at least. They can discuss the details as they drink further along. She snorts into her glass, almost sucking the beer up through her nose likely. When she manages to get the drink down, she gives an actual bark of a laugh. "Lord Telgar, I like that!" It's going to stick, Talya will make sure to spread it to her crowd in the Kitten who likely have nothing to do with the Telgari riders. "If it lasts the next clutch, you bet I'll do something without hesitation… I'll have to see what some girls I know say from the caverns. But don't worry, it'll just be me involved. I wouldn't put your knot on the line either, and I'm happy to spend a while under the Weyrleader's bad list if it means getting one or two to Impress or have their chance." She rolls a finger in the air, again for shots. It's needed when plotting nefarious things according to their leadership! "Another round! Maybe I can point out a few people in the bar who are my physical type at least…" Talya is definitely feeling those shots as she grins to her friend. It won't be a much longer night for her, but she'll probably stick to this topic, pointing out attractive physical characteristics. Personality is a whole other thing entirely…

"Gee, thanks Talya," Alyna replies with a sarcastic roll of her eyes. "I can't take credit for it, Ginger came up with it. But it's clever, no?" she asks as she shakes her head and lifts her hand in the brownrider's direction, "If it last another clutch, fuck my knot, I might help you." There's a flash of resolution in her cool blue eyes, and she cheers loudly for another round, maybe too loudly the way heads swivel over to watch the best friends really get their drink on. Alyna makes careful notes of the physical characteristic Talya points out, and the rest of the evening passes as a much needed distraction from the woes that wait for them back at Southern Weyr.

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