Who

H'rik, Sesa

What

Sesa bumps into H'rik in the archives and they have a chat

When

-- On Pern --
It is 11:54 AM where you are.
It is noon of the seventh day of the eighth month of the fifteenth turn of the 12th pass.
In Igen:
It is the thirty-seventh day of Summer and 96 degrees. It is a bright, sunny day.
In Southern:
It is the thirty-seventh day of Winter and 43 degrees. Partly cloudy, the storm seems to be mostly gone with only the occasional short falls of rain painting the ground.
In Southern Mountains:
It is the thirty-seventh day of Winter and 5 degrees. It's really damn cold out.


Where

Igen Weyr, Archives

OOC Date 26 Nov 2018 07:00

 

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"I understand…sir."


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Archives

A remarkable legacy for those with the eyes to appreciate it, Igen's Archives are modest, in proportion to the weyr's similarly modest status; but though they be small, the room itself is mighty, with grandiose portent to the high, vaulted arches. These walls hold many treasures past their prime, from instruments to examples of older flying gear and agenothree tanks. The meticulous task of re-scribing old records is continually ongoing, with faded and disued hides replaced on a daily basis. The chairs and off-kilter tables seem to be heritage of a time long past, not in line with the rest of the vision of this room; but in all weyrs are budgets, and perhaps you've found one of Igen's budget cuts.



It's been nearly a month since the night that found H'rik…not at his best. He's been acting entirely normally with Whirlwind, drilling them as hard as he ever does. Wendryth has been pushing himself harder than usual, and the bronze was damn close to wrenching a wing in this morning's drills, attempting a too-tight turn. It was at this point that H'rik called an end to the morning's exercise. He stalked off without a word; Wendryth went to soak in the lake. It would seem the Weyrleader has found his way down to the familiar, safe walls of the archives, for it's here that H'rik now sits as midday approaches. He seems engrossed in a hide, elbow on the table so that his head can rest in his hand as he pores over the writing.

Sesa makes her way into the archives expecting to sit and study some maps, something of a side project she has going on. After the chaos of this morning's drills and their sudden end, and the normal day to day, it's peace and quiet that Sesa really looks forward too. However, after entering, and finding the two large hides she needs, she comes upon H'rik in the seating area and pauses. For a moment, she studies him, a fine eyebrow arched over hazel eyes as thoughts and things file themselves away in her mind. Summoning her courage, she walks up to the weyrleader and his engrossing hide and lightly clears her throat, saluting when necessary. "Good afternoon Sir."

H'rik is oblivious to the fact he's being watched - it really must be an interesting hide! That, or he's purposefully losing himself in it. You'd also think he'd be used to people interrupting his work, but Sesa's clearing of her throat seems to startle him out of his studies. His gaze flicks up, head jerking away from his hand. "Oh, Sesa." He sounds surprised, and there's a clearing of his throat, too. "Come to do some reading, too?" Talk about stating the obvious - but the man seems a little on edge.

Sesa nods a bit too emphatically maybe. "Aye, studying some maps more than reading, here is the best place to achieve at least a semi-quiet environment." She chuckles, since it's a bit ironic that she was searching for quiet and is now engaged in conversation. Averting her gaze a moment, it's nervous when it returns. "Is…is everything alright, sir?" She's hesitant in asking, but it seems to need to happen.

"Yeah, it is that." H'rik doesn't sound like he's trying to make Sesa feel guilty for intruding upon his own studying; realizing he may have come across that way, he, too, looks away for a moment, down at the hide in his hand. He sets it down on the table, one hand toying with the corner as he lifts his gaze again. Sesa's looking at him, the question coming that he's been expecting for a while now. "I…." He doesn't seem to have an answer to that, or not one he wants to say here, anyway. He nods towards the seat opposite in a silent invitation for Sesa to sit. His voice is lower as he does say: "I'm grateful for your discretion, Sesa." He probably doesn't need to say about what.

Sesa looks uneasy for a moment before taking the indicated seat. A blush steals across her cheeks when H'rik thanks her and she shakes her head. "It's the least I could do sir, and I had a place to stay." A bit more red adds itself to her cheeks, but she doesn't elaborate. "Thank you for not making a mess of my weyr." Her voice is low too, not wanting to be overheard.

H'rik's shoulders lift and fall, a slow breath escaping him. His hand leaves the hide, and his other hand clasps over it on the table, loosely curled. There's a ghost of a smile when she thanks him for not making a mess. he seems at a loss for what to say, looking down at his hands for a long moment as he gathers his thoughts. Slowly, the words do come. "I can only apologize for getting myself into such a state. It wasn't proper behavior." His voice is so low it's probably bordering on hard to hear.

Sesa sighs, a look of sympathy crossing her features as she tucks her hair behind her ear. "We all make mistakes sir, and we're all human. Sometimes…. sometimes the pain needs dulling and there's but one way to do it." Flushing more, she continues. "I understand…sir."

There's more than a hint of shame in H'rik's voice as he comes back with, "not the most appropriate way, though." His eyes lift when he starts to read more into the possible meaning of Sesa's last, the question there in his curious expression. He doesn't ask outright, but his body language seems open to listening, if there's something she wants to share.

Sesa is quiet for a moment, but does eventually go on. "I…I watched my brother unravel after we lost our father. He reacted much, much the same as you have been to the recent loss in Whirlwind. I've watched from the outside looking in before, and well, I waited too long to say anything to my brother…I don't want to make the same mistake twice." There's real concern in her hazel eyes when they root themselves back on her Weyr/Wingleader. "I'm worried about you sir."

Now it's a sense of relief that has H'rik's body language relaxing - though only a bit. Sesa's answer wasn't, apparently, exactly what he was expecting. There's still concern - sympathy, too - for her situation, and a hint of sadness that he's brought back memories of what she's been through with her brother. Again, words are hard to come by, and his gaze is very much fixed on his hands, the knuckles white as the upper hand clasps tighter over the lower. "I shouldn't have put you in this position. Having to be worried about me, I mean." He's clearly embarrassed by the whole thing, and angry at himself.

Sesa shakes her head. "I would worry anyway, sir, no matter the source." This is true enough. "I'm a people watcher, I notice things. And a death takes a hard toll, particularly to those closest to the events leading up to the death. I worry as much about my mates as you sir." She clears her throat again. "You should talk to someone, sir. It wasn't your fault, what happened. Nothing you could have done would have changed what happened. The sooner everyone realises that, the better off we'll all be." She hates to be frank and blunt when it's not really her place to be so, but someone had to say it.

Sometimes, bluntness is what's needed to get a point across. And into someone's skull. H'rik is silent as Sesa explains her point, though he does, finally, lift his eyes again to look across at her. Whatever reply is forming never makes it past a half-opened mouth, for at that moment the door opens, and a Wingsecond comes merrily strolling in. "Thank you, Sesa. I'll…bear that in mind. If you'll excuse me." He's not dismissing the advice she's given; rather, the accidental interruption has shaken him. Gathering up the hide, he heads out with a quick nod to the confused-looking Wingsecond.

Sesa nods at H'rik and gives a nervous smile. "Anytime Sir." And the invitation is quiet genuine. She watches, a bit bewildered as H'rik makes his exit, the wheels of her mind churning as she turns to her maps and the thoughts provoked by the recent interaction.

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