Lying in Wait [Syreaka]

[Briarwind]

Word traveled fast in Weyrs at the best of times. In a pocket-sized Weyr like Bivium, it outdistanced the light of Rukbat, or seemed to do so. It was no surprise, then, that D'skel heard about Deltra's little surprise long before the night fell. Given the nature of people, there was no doubt in his mind that the little clutch had managed quite a stir, and that the new mother and her poor caretaker would be exhausted. He had also heard from a giddy drudge just exactly what Syreaka had done toward Weyr harmony. It was a smooth move, as was the gift to the Collegium. It wasn't going to do what she hoped, but it would certainly befuddle the recipients and make life interesting for a while.

Sometimes, he wondered if that might be a curse.

Either way, he had no doubt the pair would be exhausted, and had no doubt they'd seek their beds early that night. That was what found him leaning against the wall beside the girls' barracks, a cup of hot klah set into a niche on the wall beside him, awaiting her return. His arms were folded over his stomach, his chin on his chest, and his eyes half closed. It looked for all the world as though the bronzerider was half asleep.

[Lilacdew]

Indeed, the day had caused quite a stir. Discovering Deltra's eggs had had one heck of an affect upon the day for her, resulting in one set of energy fleeing from her to another. Either way, the end result had been a positive one for Syreaka. She had found homes for a majority of the eggs, each nestled in pinpointed areas. Some for harmony, some for people just enjoying and others for whatever other reason they could come up with. It really didn't matter in the end, she was just confident that they had good homes.

That was when she trudged into the Baracks, holding a set of pots against her chest. She had transferred the eggs over to ensure they were well cared for, and fortunately, her bed was right next to the Hearth. With Deltra nearby, no one would be able to touch them, and for that, she was fortunate.

Her inquisitive firelizard was the first to notice the dragonrider, chirping loudly as she flew so that her head could be eye level with his, fluttering her wings in an effort to stay level. Syreaka lifted her gaze and grinned, recognizing the man in the doorway. It was clear she was tired, but she smiled either way as she walked to where he stood, "D'skel, what are you doing there? That could hardly be very comfortable."

[Briarwind]

D'skel didn't even look up at the flitter, fishing in his pocket for a strip of jerky he'd collected specifically for her. "Congratulations," he told them both by way of greeting. Swiftly, he offered the jerky to the firelizard, then took the cup from the niche and gently pried a few of the pots away from her, replacing them with the klah. The pots, he lined up in the niche, warmed and recently vacated by the hot mug. "Rumor has it," he observed mildly, "that you've made quite a day of it, and even taken a few steps toward making some peace with our ... fellows." His inflection was flat and noncommittal, devoid of any particular emotional response, as matter-of-fact as if he'd said 'Rukbat rises in the morning.' Only the pause betrayed that he had any particular feelings on the matter, and that, only to those who might know him well.

Rather than press the matter, however, he simply dropped it at that, canting his head toward her and waiting for her to drink and speak. He had no doubt whatsoever that she would have something to say on the subject. He was just curious how much it would be - and what she would think to include.

[Lilacdew]

The little green indeed reacted quickly, trilling a happy note the moment she daintily took the jerky and winged to a place she could sit and eat in contentment. Syreaka smiled softly at her lizard when D'skel acted quickly, surprising her as he plucked the pots from her arms and set them aside before a cup of klah was pressed into her hands, all before she had the ability to even say a word. She looked up at the man in surprise, before she smiled gratefully at him and sipped from the mug, listening to what he had to say, "I suppose your rumor has it correctly."

Another sip, a moment to breathe, and she nodded, "Yes, I did actually." SHe indeed took notice of the pause, but she decided not to push further. Everyone had their opinions, and it was clearly going to be up to him to voice them or not. He was that kind of man, and she felt nothing should cause her to try to stop him from being, well, him! She took a moment to speak more as she pondered what she would say, "I thought about what you told me. When we sat, looking at the eggs on the sands, D'skel. Not the part about being destined for greatness...but the rest of it."
The pause in her speech eluded to the fact that she had thought about the destined for greatness portion of it, but it wasn't relavent to the conversation, so she pressed onwards, "And, we're stuck here. With our fellows, in what would quite possibly be the most screwed up order of business ever, with teammates that we'll have to depend upon for our survival."

She took a moment more, staring into her mug before lifting her level gaze to the rider, "And if we are to be 'stuck' here with them, and my life is on the line. I would much rather have it be on the line with someone who is loyal, or at least willing to work with me, than with someone who hates me and would want to leave me or mine in the dust because we're nothing to them."

Syreaka lifted the mug once more before stopping, smiling a somewhat crooked smile up at D'skel, "Besides...what would I have done with thirteen firelizards anyways?"

[Briarwind]

"Annoyed your mother, I imagine," the bronzerider murmured to himself, voice barely audible, before dismissing the uncharitable thought quickly. It wasn't that it was untrue, of course, - they likely would have driven Threaka up a wall - but it was irrelevant.

"It was well done, this gifting of yours," D'skel continued in a considerably more audible tone, his soft voice carrying a subtle hint of paternal pride. He had well seen for himself how well Syreaka responded to gentle praise. A few well-dropped words, words that Threaka or S'elm could easily have used to cultivate a far more healthy and effective relationship with their daughter, could do wonders to keep her in good shape, which, in turn, would serve D'skel quite well.

It was his own fault, really, but a bit of carelessness on his part had landed him in a predicament to be devoting far more time than he liked to the wellbeing of a candidate - of any parentage. When he had been volunteered for the transfer to Bivium, however, he had professed his loyalty via the expression of a willingness to attend to whatever needed attending, and had, unfortunately, made the mistake of doing so in Threaka's presence. It could never be said that she wasn't a shrewd woman, either, and so she had eagerly abused his foolish stumble to saddle him with the task of looking after her daughter, which is what found him outside the candidate barracks with klah so soon after their arrival.

That wasn't to say it was a truly onerous task, for it wasn't. Syreaka was bright and self-sufficient. She needed little in the way of 'minding' so much as simply some gentle encouragement and an attentive eye now and then to help her flourish, but he had to admit, he'd not expected to become father, uncle, and brother to the girl when he'd come to Bivium. It was a decidedly odd turn of affairs.

[Lilacdew]

Syreaka caught the murmur, but again, chose to ignore it. What she had said to him was carefully calculated for the time being, and the placement of the eggs had been even more so. Throwing the Collegium off it's kilter was a good move, and planting the eggs amongst people whom she'd have to garner loyalty from as a Weyrwoman or even just someone in the Weyr itself was also wise. It wasn't just power, it was loyalty and a game where she wanted them to listen to her. It wasn't an 'I owe you' kind of game, so much as 'the more charitably you think of me, the better standing you and I will be in, and the less fights we have to go through.'

It might have been complicated, but the easier the road was paved, the better off they'd all be, no matter who was the leader. She really believed that. She sipped at her klah, however, and slowly lifted her eyes up to D'skel, smiling when he complimented her on her gifting the eggs instead of keeping them. More so, there was that little bit of pride that for some unexplainable reason, made her feel proud of herself. Amazing, really. A woman as independant as she, finding herself enjoying the praise given to her by the thoughtful dragonrider before her. It was definitely something to think about at another time.

It was then that a thought that earlier struck her caused her to make up her mind, "You know, D'skel. I was hoping I'd run into you today-" She then stopped abruptly and frowned at herself. She was starting to sound like a girl with a crush on her older brother, or relative. This would not do. She sighed, "Let me start over."

She coughed, took a deep breath, and smiled, "Ok. Basically, remember the other day when we were talking while looking at the eggs?"

[Briarwind]

D'skel's brow arched when she mentioned that she had been hoping to run into him, and a faintly amused smile played over his features, just in time for the frown to spread across hers. That only made his smile widen ever so subtly, a careful check on his humor still betrayed in that minor shift in his expression. It was good to see she hadn't become a political genius while he wasn't looking - just savvy. Savvy was to be expected of a woman of her upbringing.

When she smiled, his expression cleared to one of curiosity, and he canted his head at her question, lifting his brow again. "Yes..." he replied slowly, an unvoiced question hanging in the air. It hadn't been that long, so it should be no wonder that he remembered it, but what was the significance of it?

[Lilacdew]

Syreaka was looking up at him and clearly caught the smile, and she'd have been a fool not to notice that it was one of amusement. For him, that small smile was almost like the full on grin she'd seen on L'chlan's or J'tan's face before, or the smirk she'd seen on S'elm's for many years. It was amazing, how one could pick such a thing out, and her own lips merely quirked in reply. Shaking her head idly, she waited for his response before she said anything else.

And when he did, it was her turn to be amused. The yes was somewhat hesitant, though not by conventional means. It was the kind of hesitance that one tended to speak when they were unsure, or rather, unsure of what they were getting themselves into. Fortunately for her, she didn't have to worry about that when she was about to speak. If anything, she hoped he'd be happy with what she was thinking, "Well, I wanted to thank you for it, and before today, I didn't really have the means to."

Yes, this was sounding polite and good enough without soundling like she wanted something out of him. In truth, what she wanted here was really his good opinion and nothing more. She knew he'd do his job by the Weyr and the people in it, but with the compliments he'd give, or the wise words, these were things she wanted to keep coming and letting him say. So, she had to cultivate that so that he would continue on as he had been. She only hoped he'd accept what she was about to offer, "I do now though, thanks to Deltra. I was wondering if you would like one of her eggs. You can think of the gift as one from..what's the word...well, housemate to house mate, I suppose, or as the thank you, but either way, the offer is there."

[Briarwind]

A curious, contemplative expression alighted on D'skel's face as he watched her, canting his head to the side. One of the eggs? That seemed an odd offer, given that he knew she'd been using them to forge the bones of alliances. There were better purposes to which she could be putting them than giving them to him. Why, then would she choose to offer him one? His praise was rare, so gratitude was possible, but it was not to be bought, and, by now, she surely knew that much. Besides, had he ever expressed any particular desire for a firelizard?

"You flatter me, my lady, but before I can think to accept, I must ask you why," he answered slowly, his eyes intent on her features. "Would they not be better used gifted for alliances, as you have been, or given out as tokens to friends and lovers?" Of course, he'd never heard rumors of her taking any lovers, but, truth told, he'd never paid much attention to such things, and he simply could not imagine she was so indiscreet as to make such things obvious. He doubted her parents would have stood for that kind of carelessness.

[Lilacdew]

Syreaka blinked when he asked the questions. D'skel was, as always, to the point, and for a moment, she was silent. She pursed her lips together, letting her gaze drift over to the pots. Yes, why did she want to, why indeed? Well, that was a very good question from him, and it deserved a straight forward answer. She took a gentle sigh, finishing that cup of klah before gently placing it down on the ridge it had occupied before.

"Gifts for alliances, or to friends or lovers, huh? Perhaps you give me too much credit," Syreaka was amused, and she smiled wryly for a moment. It was amusing to her how quickly he'd sniffed that one out, not that it really wasn't obvious and that she hadn't actually told him that herself, "Better used or not, it felt right to do."

Syreaka finally turned to look up at him, her silvery-grey eyes almost bright with her own emotion on the matter, "Quite simply put, it is more that as a candidate, I do not have much I can do or give. One, it is very true I wish to extend my gratitude. Two, this is the first clutch from Deltra that has fallen into my hands. I wish to honestly, see them make it to good homes that will care for them more than anything."

There was a pause before she continued, "And well, I thought, if you were interested, you are such a person who could and would take good care of them. Look how well you dealt with Deltra just now? Ok, that may not be a fair statement, she's bribable with any sort of food."

Deltra's head raised to look over at the two before her, as though in response to Syreaka's words. The lizard chirruped a response before putting her head back down, earning a small smirk from the woman. Syreaka just shook her head, tilting her head to the side, "Would it be silly of me if I just said it felt like it was the right thing to do? Not every action can be political, you know? Sometimes, someone has to follow what they just think is what they should do."

In truth, Syreaka wasn't even entirely sure why she wanted to give D'skel the egg. However, when he was standing in the doorway, it truly made up her mind and in the end, perhaps that was enough.

[Briarwind]

Amusement played over D'skel's features as he help up a hand in defeat, the gesture both forestalling any further comments and accepting her explanation. His eyes positively shone with mirth as he inquired, "You know you needn't do anything for me as thanks, I trust?" Ah, but he knew she knew that, and nodded his acceptance without awaiting a reply.

Pushing himself off the wall, he executed a bow of quiet grace, less the fluid movement of contained force that Rhiskyraenen's were and more the flowing elegance of a cool stream coursing swiftly but steadily in its bed, practiced, sure, and composed. "If that is your wish," he replied quietly, straightening to look her over with a contemplative expression, "then I am honoured to accept."

[Lilacdew]

"Oh, I'm more than aware I needn't do it, but it's more a matter of just wanting to," Syreaka shrugged, before blinking when the man bowed to her. She was taken by surprise, before regaining her own composure. D'skel certainly was full of surprises, but she smiled in reply, tilting her head lightly to the side, "I'm glad that you will, though. Otherwise, I'd be attempting to impress several at the same time. They really can be a joy you know."

Syreaka was pleased he would accept it, even if he was going to give it elsewhere. It was the thought that counts, and in the end, maybe he'd appreciate the sentiment. But, when he said that he'd take one, she walked up to rumage through the pots, looking for a specific one, "Hmmm...."

She picked up a pot, nodding to herself before handing it gently to him, "Here. This one."

[Briarwind]

D'skel accepted the pot with all the quiet somberness of a Lord Holder receiving his Holding after the passing of his father, a steady dignity to his posture and expression. Gingerly, he folded his hands around the pot and cradled it carefully against himself. "My deepest thanks, my lady. I will do my best for the egg. You have my word as a dragonman."

'What,' he wondered wordlessly, 'made her choose this egg, specifically?' It didn't seem particularly remarkable to him, though, admittedly, he knew little about firelizards or their eggs, but she had chosen it with such deliberation and care that it seemed as though she'd intended it quite especially for him for some reason.

:What made my egg special but that I was in it?: Aeldanth countered philosophically. :Why must it be anything more or less than that?:

D'skel didn't bother to point out that firelizards impressed very differently from dragons. Besides, Aeldanth might have a point. What did he know of firelizards, after all?

[Lilacdew]

Syreaka had, indeed, taken her time in choosing the egg. In the end, it was more that she wanted to make sure her instincts picked him out an egg for him that she'd hoped to fit him. Not that she could tell with them outside of the shell, but that egg she had saved specifically with the hopes that he'd take one from her, so here went nothing. She'd be happy regardless, and pray that it all went well, "I know you will, D'skel. I've absolute faith in you. When you say you'll do something, you've always done it. And I know Aeldanth has never lacked in your care. He always gleams and shines with health."

The compliment was merely a comment in truth. It was entirely true that she had seen Aeldanth as such, so she didn't mean it as flattery so much as just the truth of the matter. That was really how things were in the end, and nothing more.

[Briarwind]

D'skel smiled softly at the mention of Aeldanth, one of his rare, true, deep smiles, the sort that brought a very real light into his eyes and warmed and softened his face. Brushing his fingers lightly over the shell of the egg, he glanced down from her face to ponder it thoughtfully. It was such a small, fragile-seeming thing to be such a great and considerable gift. Still, he knew the value of these things, especially for an egg of this size, and he knew the personal value it carried from Syreaka herself. He was a man of his word. It would be well tended.

Looking back up, he offered her that same deep, genuine smile, filled with all the brimming love he had for his dragon and the soft gratitude for her gift and her compliment, and took the empty klah cup from her hand. "Get some sleep, my lady. And thank you, again." Bowing his head, he slipped away down the hallway, the egg cradled against his chest and the empty cup in his free hand.