Thursday, January 31, 2002

 

Main Living Cavern

Grey stone arches a vast vault overhead, details of the ceiling all but disappearing in the shadows cast by warm, human-height glowsconces and the night hearth's flames; tapestries texture the smooth walls, looking down upon the raised dais, the expanse of tables, the flagstones left cleared for impromptu dancing.

A single broad archway, its carved pattern worn soft with time and passersby's touch, leads west into the bowl; two more, narrower but just as tall, give access to the bustle of living caverns in the south. Predominant looms the builders' masterpiece: the imposing staircase that twines up along the northern wall, leading to the weyr's huge kitchens.

Vintner Harry busies himself behind the 'bar'; nearby hangs the day's 'menu'.

You see Sinaqui, Veran, and Snake here.

R'ish is here.

Obvious exits:

Bowl       Lower Caverns       Stairs       Weyr Tunnel

 

K'rali enters from the Bowl.

 

K'rali enters with her step lacking its usual ease and a line between her brows.  With the expression of one steeling oneself to a tough decision, she

 

K'rali enters with her step lacking its usual ease and a line between her brows.  With the expression of one steeling oneself to a tough decision, she steps towards K'rill.  "Can we talk?  Somewhere?"  Her voice, though formal, holds no resentment.

 

K'rill is settled at one of the many tables, busywork set before him. Nose wrinkles at he peers down at a hide in confusion, "Why do they want us to..." He blinks as a shadow falls over his form. He knows who it is before she even speaks. Head turns and chin lifts to regard K'rali silently and with thoughtfulness. There is a moment where his lips tighten before the bronzer moves to stand, hand extending, "Certainly. Do you have a place in mind?"

 

K'rali scans the cavern, then tilts her head towards the Lower Caverns--she doesn't particularly want another audience.  Bluerider moves towards the archway with a glance back to make sure K'rill's following.

 

K'rill is following. He pushes in his chair and continues in K'rali's wake, lips quirked to the side in curiosity.

 

K'rali heads into the lower caverns.

 

The noise hushes, if slightly, as you head into the lower caverns.

Lower Caverns (#1556J)

This central room of Fort Weyr's lower caverns is, while huge, nonetheless dwarfed by the main cavern to the northeast.

Stairs to one side lead up to a balcony that encircles the vaulted cavern; off the balcony lie the offices and private quarters of some staff, as well as into the spare rooms for Weyr guests. On the floor level, a number of folk operate looms underneath the balcony, while some of the children of the weyr play games nearby.  Other archways lead further into the mountain.

K'rali is here.

Obvious exits:

Main Cavern       STairs       Infirmary       General Dormitory     

 Candidates       Baths       Storage Caverns

 

As soon as she's within the caverns, K'rali turns to face him, but doesn't quite look at him.  "First of all, thank you for coming to hear me out," she says, without preamble, to a button on his jacket.  "Second of all, I wanted to apologize for the way you feel about me.  It was never intended.  I know that by now I'm really in your bad books but...you /have/ to believe me, K'rill...I would not deliberately play with your emotions."  Now her eyes rise in mute appeal.

 

K'rill frowns as he looks down at her -barring height. Not an angry frown, just more confused, and just a little wary. Eyes smolder under a low flame for a moment, bracing for yet another row. And instead he gets this. This provokes a blink, and another one for good measure. He is... astonished. Never expecting this. Its a long and pregnant pause before he can finally find something to say, and even then, it is short, "I'm sorry about what happened as well."

 

K'rali follows K'rill's example with a few blinks herself as her apology is not met with scorn or anger or disbelief.  "Oh."  She considers that for a moment and her expression eases from high anxiety to medium--that's a good answer.  "I also want to say that some of the things I said were too harsh.  And untrue."  Nose wrinkles.  "And stupid.  Granted, I was provoked, but I should never have gone that far."

 

K'rill crosses his arms over his chest, watching K'rali through dark eyes. He isn't exactly all sweetsticks and sungazers right now. "You gave as good as you got, K'rali. Provoked or not." Lips purse, "What now?"

 

K'rali inhales.  Exhales.  Restrains herself from falling back into the 'whose-fault-is-it' debate.  "This is the part where you either accept my apology or tell me to go screw myself," she points out delicately.  "Well, usually, anyway."

 

K'rill smirks, mouth working into a wry line for a moment. He looks skeptical, and with good reason. He breathes as well, gaze shifting away from her and instead to some point over her shoulder. He gathers, and then looks back, obviously having come to some decision. "I'm going to take a chance. Faranth knows I'm probably going to be kicking myself for it. And I hope I don't regret it, or have cause to." A sigh, "You had better be true about this K'rali, or Faranth help me... I accept."

 

Neither triumph nor smugness nor relief register on K'rali's face;  she simply murmurs quietly, "Thank you."  The bluerider stands looking gravely at K'rill for a moment before requesting in the same tone, "Could you tell me what I've done?"  That's stepping back on dangerous ground, but she has to know, else she'll end up doing it again without even realizing it.

 

Deliberate consideration once more touches K'rill's features, revealing a tense line along his jaw. He takes yet another chance, but feels she deserves it. "You've been a distraction." He does elaborate, "Although it was more than likely through no fault of your own. At least, at first." Another pause, "A distraction that has caused me no end of trouble, not to mention thoughts that tended to dwell on... you."

 

"You tended to think that I was deliberately harassing you,"  K'rali observes in that same low voice.  "Or so I gathered.  What did I do to make you think that?"  This is a Harper interrogation, all right--just toned down a little for diplomacy's sake.

 

"At times, yes." K'rill answers cooly. "The way you..." He immediately cuts off, eyes flickering away. A few silent curses work they way into his mind, but are not uttered. "You were just being you." Figure that one out.

 

"Ah."  K'rali's face is blankly confused.  Which one of her many moods is he talking about?  "Being me...how?"  And then a quick addition, "Please, K'rill, I need to know."

 

K'rill looks annoyed. At himself or her, it is hard to tell. As the silence grows, his aggravation does as well. A slow hiss before he mutters. "You just... standing there as you are now. Or in the lake. Trying to hide happenings things in the bowl. Every word that comes from your lips. Driving me to the point where I either see nothing but red... or you standing there. Looking..." He is looking even more annoyed now. Yep, at himself. "What do you want from me?"

 

K'rali's eyes grow wider, with half-hidden astonishment that's not feigned at all.  She takes a moment to collect herself before she hears K'rill's question.  "Forgiveness," she answers frankly.  "Because I don't mean to do these things to you.  If this is really the way I make you feel..." And there's a trace of doubt in her gaze.  "...then I don't know what it is about me that's so infuriating.  Aside from my charming personality, of course, but that's not evident until I open my mouth."  A dry grin, there. 

 

"I don't know either, K'rali." K'rill shakes his head from side to side. "I just don't know. But there it is. Twist it into whatever way you think you want. Do with it however you want. But yes, I forgive you. Know that well."

 

Maybe it's weariness that has worn down K'rali's pride, but she recoils visibly from the bronzerider's words.  "I don't want to hurt you," she insists, her voice shaking a little now.  "What do I have to do to prove that to you?"  There's near-anguish in her face now.

 

"What's done is done, K'rali. Right now," Bronzer shrugs his shoulders indolently, "Right now, K'rali, I don't know. Tell me to go, and I'm gone. It's over. Wingleader and wingrider. Nothing more. Or you could tell me something else, and prove to me what you really want."

 

K'rali stares down at the floor for a moment, drawing in another calming breath.  When she lifts her face, it's touched by a wistful little smile.  "You really think you could put all this behind you?" 

 

K'rill frowns, he is getting really good at that lately. Gonna leave premature wrinkles if he keeps it up. "I won't say yes...and I won't say no. We got to this point somehow. I won't forget it, but I will forgive it."

 

K'rali maintains her silence for a long moment.  "Let's just leave it for now, then."  She tucks a short curl behind her ear.  "Stay professional and all that.  If later, we feel a little less...defensive, then...we'll see what happens."  In other words, put each other on a back burner.  Her gaze is truthful, "I wouldn't want you to regret any decisions you made until you've thought them over."

 

"Fine." K'rill answers simply, arms still crossed before his chest, peering across to her. He is looking rather, distant right now. "I will abide by your wishes. Is there anything else?"

 

K'rali helplessly watches the rift grow between them.  "Not particularly."  She rocks on her heels as if about to move backwards, teeters for a moment, then steps forward, offering her hand.  Truce?

 

K'rill seems to focus once more on a point over K'rali's shoulder. A breath steadies him before he unbinds his arms. One extends forward with a hand to take hers.

 

K'rali's grip is firm, but short; she retreats, avoiding his eyes as much as he's avoiding hers.  "Right then."  A shiver tingles down her spine at the sudden chill in the room; she sternly suppresses it. 

 

K'rill releases her as well. Eventually, his gaze does draw back over to her, completely devoid of emotion as the barrier is set. He needs it to keep his sanity. Clinging to it. "Then I will see you for sweeps later." With that, he starts to turn away.

 

"K'rill," lifts involuntarily from K'rali's lips as she sees the bronzerider start to leave.  With a slight hesitation, she continues, "You know, you hurt me too.  Just so you know."  A crooked grin, a little pained.  "I'm not armor-clad."

 

K'rill hesitates, flickering a glance over his shoulder to her. He is surprised, but refuses to allow it to show. "I'm sorry for that. Its not something I practice. Or at least, it wasn't." Eyes close, a sigh. "Its nice to know that you are as vulnerable and human as the rest of us."

 

K'rali watches him silently--she's made herself twice as much so by telling him. 

 

K'rill slowly opens his eyes to watch her once again, an odd look touching his features for a moment. He mutters an oath then turns back around to her, hand extending out and slightly toward her, offering her to take it, but not in a shake. He keeps swearing to himself that this will be the last time.  The /last/.

 

There's misgiving in K'rali's face and a little uncertainty, but she slowly lifts her hand for him to take.  Her gaze on his is troubled yet steady.

 

K'rill enfolds her hand in his once more, eyes on her the entire time to check her response. Gently, he lifts her hand then then ducks his to press a soft kiss to her knuckles, murmuring softly while there, "I understand."

 

/Now/ K'rali can smile--relief, delight, it's all out there.  "I'm so glad," she sighs, barely heard.  It's all right now.

 

K'rill lets her go, taking a long step back and away. He doesn't smile though, and is so very far from it. He refuses to allow himself even that at this point. He speaks true, "I hope so."