Ruin
Wingrider
ruinct[M:-786]
We build the worlds we wouldn't mind living in
Posts: 1,137
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Post by Ruin on Jul 6, 2011 23:59:27 GMT -5
This. This would certainly be an interesting conversation. Not even a conversation. He could see how it would play out in his head. Daymar; I sent a letter to your father that your sister found and now she is here. Here as in Dalibor. However hey, your family loves you. Congratulations. I mean I’m sorry. I mean. And then he would probably be pummeled to death by a mug. He had almost—almost—brought Xiro’el with him; he had seen the Trader doing his nightly running of himself to death on his way over to the Barracks, but somehow he doubted this news would go best with a fresh cup of naked Trader. Even if Sebolaren was certain that the silvertongued man could easily contain any rage that Daymar would fly into without hurting him: Whereas the ex-Herder was only used to containing fourteen-hundred pound animals.
He sighed softly as he strode down the long hallway that was the male-side of the Candidates Barracks; his boot heels a staccato on the thick stone. There really was no way around this. Daymar would find his sister—or she him—and he would find out why his sister was here, and then he would certainly be bludgeoned to death if the Candidate found out that he had withheld the knowledge from him. He deserved more than that—especially with how supportive he had been those days ago. Of course his reaction was not the only thing that Sebol mulled over; if Xiro’el chose an improper moment to send Sigard back to his bonded—well; things would become far more interesting—far too quickly.
Hopefully the Trader would have been able to piece together the images the Blue bore and gotten the general idea, but that didn’t take into account the Blue’s own renegade nature which was still being trained out of him—or into him if Xiro’el was doing the usual. A soft sigh as he pulled up alongside that worn doorway. Well—there was no way around it at this point, yes? Reylia had seemed excited to see her brother; an honestly genuine expression of pleasure that she had found him, and she had said that Mandanres was proud—which Daymar would want to know: Needed to know. So yes. It had to be done; and it would be done now.
Steeling himself he pushed the door open and strode into the room, a glance telling him that the man was here; he closed the solid wood behind him and then leaned against it casually; his arms crossing. His face adopted a quiet pleasantness—as if he would be discussing only the weather with his room-mate, or perhaps might be telling him that every firelizard had suddenly gone between never to return; Certainly from his face there could only be good news for Daymar. In his heart he hoped this would be the case. ”Do you have a moment? It concerns the letters.”
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Cathaline
Lady Holder
cathct[M:50]
Posts: 3,279
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Post by Cathaline on Jul 7, 2011 0:11:50 GMT -5
Despite the fact that Daymar had no idea Sebol had been stupid enough, foolish enough, thoughtless enough to write back, the past sevenday had not been free of pain for him. Sharing of himself with others was never easy, and it was a little awkward. Sebolaren was the only person at Dalibor who knew much of Daymar's past; there were one or two others to whom he'd let the word "Ruatha" slip, but no more than that. Delving into his own fears and inadequacies to the point of a shared embrace...that was weird.
But Sebol needed him to be strong right now, while he coped with these changes, and so Daymar was doing his level best. That did not, however...mean that he was any less Daymar.
Therefore, his response to Sebol's entrance and desperate casualness was to sit up from where he'd been contemplating a list he'd made of the colors and their stereotypical personalities, fretting about what he and those he knew might Impress. Fortunately, there was no mug in sight today, yet there was plenty else Daymar could turn into a weapon if he felt spooked; and as he eyed Sebol, he did not respond well.
"Did you get another one?" he demanded. "I told you, he never writes me; he likes you better. Why are you in front of the door? Don't stand there. If there is a fire we will burn to death because you are blocking the only exit."
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Ruin
Wingrider
ruinct[M:-786]
We build the worlds we wouldn't mind living in
Posts: 1,137
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Post by Ruin on Jul 7, 2011 0:30:16 GMT -5
This was going predictably well—but really there was no reason to prolong it. He raised his hand to forestall the tumble of words that would probably follow not only his neglect to remove himself from the doorway, but also the words he was about to speak. Which hopefully would be forgiven—someday. ”You taught me well, Daymar. I realized the day after I received the letters that not replying would be—not only rude; but also an affront to Ruatha as a whole. So I sent my own by way of the dragon Mardanres sent.” He paused for one single breath and then charged forward.
”The letter expressed not only gratitude, but offered tidings. Mardanres was informed that his son Daymar is doing well at Dalibor, and that both he and I would be standing in the cold months. That isn’t all,” the last words were sharp—sharper than he wanted, but he needed to keep the man from charging off into a frenzy of words before he knew everything lest he work himself out only to start all over again.
”This letter was found by your sister Reylia—she was Searched to stand for Fort, but upon reading it and learning your whereabouts she requested a transfer to Dalibor—she arrived today. I just met her. She has told me that she misses you greatly, and that your father was quite pleased to learn that you too have been chosen as a Dragon Candidate. She will be seeking you out tomorrow.” There. It was done. Done more thoroughly than when his own hand had signed that letter and sent it to the hand of the Steward.
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Cathaline
Lady Holder
cathct[M:50]
Posts: 3,279
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Post by Cathaline on Jul 7, 2011 0:40:50 GMT -5
Sebol need not have rushed and spoken sharply; as soon as there was mention of a letter sent to his father, a letter kept from him, he was stricken speechless. He paled, his stomach twisting, and flinched back at the mention that there was still more, but he did not know how to respond to the news of his sister; he couldn't cope with it, not on top of everything else.
His father knew he was standing...and was pleased. Yet as much as Sebol likely meant the latter to comfort, it only struck cold terror into Daymar's heart. As he'd suspected, he could finally earn his father's regard if he Impressed - but Impression was no certainty, which was exactly why he'd been waiting to send off that information. Anything could happen. He only had two turns in which to stand; many waited even longer before aging out. He might be mauled and bleed out on the sands. Shards, he might not even make it that long; all it would take was an accident that left him too crippled to stand, and with Xiro'el such a huge part of his roommate's life, that wasn't so far-fetched. And if anything, anything happened to keep him from standing this winter, his father would be disappointed. Again. And new disappointment was so much worse than being forgotten.
The boy made a strangled, desperate sound in the back of his throat, his stormy eyes shattering to reveal pained, confused betrayal. He wanted to run, yet even if Sebol hadn't been blocking the door, he didn't think he could have moved. He couldn't think straight. His sister, here. She had missed him, but she'd never written. And she would Impress and he wouldn't, because he could never be the man his father expected him to be, never.
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Ruin
Wingrider
ruinct[M:-786]
We build the worlds we wouldn't mind living in
Posts: 1,137
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Post by Ruin on Jul 7, 2011 0:57:18 GMT -5
The look in those eyes broke upon his heart like sea-waves upon stone, and he felt himself react to them even as he was so sure Daymar would want no part of him now. Yet he could not abandon the man. As surely as he would not take the letter back, even if he could, he would never turn and walk away. One long stride and a half step had him there by the Candidates bed, and there he went to both knees; gazing up at the man. He didn’t want to flood his eyes with concern; because certainly Daymar wouldn’t believe it—but he couldn’t help it. It was genuine these emotions he was feeling.
Even if he felt the decision had been correct; and would prove itself in the end. He made no move to touch the Candidate, he didn’t even speak—if Daymar wanted anything to do with him; he would initiate it. In this particular instance; Sebolaren had done enough. He had set fire to the stone, sparked the flame, loosed the arrow, and most likely burned the bridges. The only thing that mattered was to convince Daymar to stay—to Stand, to meet his sister; to come into himself: To try.
To give this all a chance, even in the face of his absolute terror.
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Cathaline
Lady Holder
cathct[M:50]
Posts: 3,279
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Post by Cathaline on Jul 7, 2011 1:06:37 GMT -5
Later, perhaps, Sebol would indeed be borne out as correct in all things. Yet right now, Daymar could only see the worst possibilities. His sister, who he loved and had missed just as much as she missed him, would see the man he'd become - or failed to become; and all that love would vanish into disgust. He would have no chance to redeem himself as a dragonman in his father's eyes. Nothing ever went right for Daymar, and certainly it could not go right now.
For now, he couldn't be here. Though not usually claustrophobic, he felt as if the walls were caving in around him, and he swallowed hard. As soon as he saw the sincerity in Sebol's eyes, he couldn't meet them; he glanced away, still as a rock for a long moment, then scrambled from the bed and hit the floor stumbling. He jerked the door open and turned back only briefly, anguish vanishing into as much of a mask as he could find it in him to put up.
"I have to go," he whispered, and hesitated. After all the time he'd spent trying to comfort the man who now knelt in their shared quarters, who had only tried to do the right thing...
Thickly, he whispered, "But I'll come back." And then he was gone.
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Ruin
Wingrider
ruinct[M:-786]
We build the worlds we wouldn't mind living in
Posts: 1,137
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Post by Ruin on Jul 7, 2011 1:12:22 GMT -5
He stayed there as Daymar left; hearing his words and noting them—but hardly believing them. Not that he assumed the man was lying, but he assumed the man was in great pain. Pain that Sebol had caused: For all the right reasons. Why did that always seem to be the way of it? He stood slowly as he heard those footfalls disappear down the stone corridor, a sigh torn from his lips. Always with the pain and anguish, always with the price, but always for an outcome that would hopefully prove better—kinder—easier.
In the very least, perhaps, if he went unImpressed he could find pride in who he was—comfort in his family. A rock. Or Sebolaren would be completely wrong and it would destroy him: which was the exact thing he worried about currently. He held his position stoically—ever the statue; giving the fleeing Candidate plenty of time to clear not only the Barracks, but perhaps most of the Weyr Bowl itself. He did not want Daymar to assume Sebolaren was following him—or hunting him down; though in this instance only one would prove false.
After enough time had passed to satisfy the ex-Herder—time that felt as if he were waiting for a herdbeast to run his last few miles after a badly-placed arrow—he too left the room. Left those stone walls for larger stone walls. His feet carried him out on the same path; but for a different reason, and his pace picked up into a run he rarely adopted: Eyes and need seeking out the dark form of his Trader.
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