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Log file from Kariel.



Igen Weyr - Star Stones

Although it's quite late at night, the evening is cool and clear, both moons half waxing. The ambient light is enough that one can see the outline of Knetseth, and to a lesser degree, K'dris, perched on the bronze's foreleg.

A dark shape settles on the rim, colorless, though by the size it's most likely a green. Kari slips off, and her voice can be heard telling the rider to go to her weyrmate, and she can find her way back. The green takes off, and Kari makes her way towards K'dris and Knetseth. "Thought I might find you here," she says quietly when she gets close enough.

K'dris stills, quite suddenly, before head tips; blue-green whirling eyes appear as the bronze's lids rise, and Knetseth rumbles a soft greeting, shedding a bit of light over the area. "Oh, Kari," the bronze greets, sounding more relieved than anything else. "How are you?" He shifts over, silently offering space on foreleg.

Kariel settles down carefully, giving Knetseth's foreleg a gentle pat as she does so. "I'm fine, as usual. I was wondering how you're doing, mostly."

K'dris resumes absent vigilance over the Weyr; gaze distant as he stares down at the glowbaskets illuminating the bowl far below. "Hmm? Oh, we're fine. You know.. adjusting. Chasith and Knetseth get on well." A pause, before the bronzerider turns to look at her more fully. "And.. you? Anna's worried about you, you know. So am I."

Kariel blinks a few times. "Me? Why?"

"You're working too hard," K'dris offers, plainly. "And don't say it's just your position or whatever. I know it has to do with.. with us."

Kariel's eyes drop to her hands, lying limply in her lap. "Oh. Well...work just helps. Keeps my mind off the fact I'm alone, and most likely will be for a long time yet. Keeps me from doing something else stupid, too."

"Everyone's alone at some point, Kari." K'dris offers, glancing away again. "It helps us define who we are, for ourselves, rather than as part of something else. I'm trying to figure out who am I again, without Matty."

Kariel shrugs. "I've spent the last three turns defining myself, Ked. Now I'm just...lonely." She snorts. "It doesn't exactly help having to watch Tas and Anna be all lovey-dovey, either," she mutters.

K'dris can't help it, he grins slightly. "C'mon, now -- they deserve it. Faranth knows they went through enough to get to where they are. You can't tell me you're not happy for them. And Anna said she feels almost guilty for being so happy when you aren't.. she's worried," silence for a time, then, "She also said she thought you should just find some rider to spend the night with, so you wouldn't feel as lonely." Although it's still dark, Knetseth having closed eyelids, he glances over towards her.

Kariel doesn't notice; she's either staring out into the bowl, or her eyes are shut. She snorts softly. "Since I was the one badgering Tas to ask her, I can't hold it against them, either." She sighs. "And anyway, I think doing something like that with any rider who looked my way, or at least the first to look interested, would just make me feel worse. Like I'm selling myself short, or something." She pauses. "Anna actually talked to you about this?" she asks quietly.

K'dris leans back against the warm bulk of the bronze dragon, "Perhaps," he agrees, non committedly, though maybe there's a note of relief in there. "Yes.. I kind of needed someone to talk to," he admits, a touch sheepishly.

Kariel sighs. "I'm sorry I reacted the way I did," she murmurs. "I had no reason - or even right, for that matter - to expect anything different."

K'dris hesitates, perhaps deciding how best to frame a response. "You offered comfort when I needed it, irregardless of your intentions.. and I'm grateful for that, Kari. I think.. maybe if you were willing to offer again, I'd accept."

Kariel turns her head towards him, her expression unreadable in the darkness. "I've offered you several different kinds of comfort recently," she murmurs. "Which do you mean?"

Troubled, K'dris answers, "Any. All. I'm not asking for a weyrmating.. you know how I feel about that.. but.." he hesitates, encouraged by Knetseth's rumble, "I'd like company. I'd like /your/ company."

Kariel scoots closer, reaching for his hand. "I'm not looking for a weyrmate," she says softly. "I'm looking for a man who cares about me, respects me, who will listen when I talk, who will talk to /me/, and who wants me. Someone I care about, respect, can talk to and listen to, and want." She shifts slightly, proving that she does, indeed, use his perfume. "Are you that man, do you think, Ked?"

K'dris allows his hand to clasp with hers, tone light as he responds, "Haven't I always done all those things, Kari?" He breaths deeply, adding with amusement, "The perfume suits you much better than it did me."

Kariel smiles, the only hint being the glint of her teeth. "You have," she agrees. "And yes, it probably does. Anyway, back to the matter at hand...Will you kiss me, Ked?"

K'dris laughs promptly, eyes shining even in the semi-dark. "Thought you'd never ask," he responds, and leans over to do just that.

Kariel smiles, reaching up to put an arm around his neck as she returns the kiss.

K'dris seems quite content to stay like that, accompanied by Knetseth's low humm. The shifting of the watch dragon nearby garners the Weyrleader's attention, and he pulls back suddenly, embarrassed.

Kariel's eyes blink open and the abrupt end to the kiss, then glances over her shoulder at the watchrider. She hmms, then turns back, leaning close to Ked's ear. "Your place, or mine?" she whispers.

"Mine," K'dris answers promply, rising and drawing her up with him. "Somehow, I don't think Knetseth'd fit into your place," the bronzerider offers with amusement.

Kariel laughs, allowing him to pull her up. "Admittedly, no. I've got a good bit of space, I suppose, but not /that/ much!"

Knetseth unlids eyes, shedding light over the pair, as K'dris casts Kariel a warm grin, before clambering up the bronze's side, offering hand to the Headwoman.

Kariel clambors up behind him, settles her skirts, the moves to put his arms around his waist. "Ready when you are," she murmurs into his ear.

"Hold tight," K'dris suggests with slightly wolfish grin, before Knetseth spreads wings, neatly dropping off the starstones. Efficient sweep of wings soon brings the bronze to a landing on his ledge.

Igen Weyr - Ked's Weyr

Kariel stays completely still after they land, seeming almost hesitant. Suddenly shy, perhaps?

K'dris perhaps senses her shyness, and offers in soft voice, "It's been a tiring day. Why don't we just sleep for now? We can work out.. everything.. tomorrow."

Kariel shakes her head. "I don't want to wait, unless you want to. It's just...it's been a long time."

K'dris slides of Knetseth's side, stretching arms up to help ease her passage to the ground. "You don't forget this sort of thing," Ked comments with a grin, before adding more assuringly, "We'll just see what happens, hmm?"

Kariel slides down, and into his arms. "Sounds like a plan to me."

*Fade out. They go into the weyr, the obvious happens, all is just peachy.*
*Fade in*

Kariel is curled on her side, a contented smile curving her lips. Her eyes are closed, yet she's plainly not asleep. Basking in the afterglow, most likely.

K'dris dozes lightly, but comes awake shortly, studying Kariel with hazel eyes. A hand reaches out to gently brush back a lock of hair, all done carefully so as not to disturb her.

Kariel's smile broadens, and moves closer, seeking to snuggle against him without actually opening her eyes. "Hey," she murmurs, for lack of anything else to say.

"Hey, yourself," K'dris responds lightly, smile touching his lips as he shifts arm for her to curl underneath. "Happy?" He asks softly, still watching her closely.

Kariel finally opens her eyes, raising a soft gaze to his face. "Yes. Yes, much happier now," she replies.

"I'm glad," K'dris answers, doing his best to stifle a yawn a moment later. "Excuse me.. I guess these past few sevendays have caught up with me."

Kariel snuggles close, with a happy, contented sigh. "Sleep, then?" she suggests.

K'dris leans over slightly to press lips against her forehead, then settles back. "Only if you do, too."

Kariel smiles. "Eventually," she promises. "I just want to enjoy things a little while longer."

K'dris laughs softly, "It's not like I'm going anywhere. Knetseth's seen to that."

Kariel giggles. "Blocking the door?"

K'dris blinks in mild surprise, "Actually-- I meant winning Chasith's flight. But that too."

Kariel grins. "Crafty beast," she comments. "What does he think, anyway? Of us?"

"He's happy that I'm happy," K'dris answers, after a brief pause, "And he still gets to curl up with Chasith. So he doesn't mind."

Kariel reaches up to trace his jaw with her fingertip. "Are you really, then? Happy, I mean?"

K'dris lets eyes slide close, breathing lightly. "About us? Yes."

Kariel smiles softly. "I'm glad," she whispers.

"I'm not sure how Kitaeli will feel about this, though. Maybe we shouldn't tell her." K'dris muses aloud, staring up at the ceiling.

Kariel settles her cheek against his shoulder, and frowns faintly. "Why should she care?"

K'dris starts a little, as if only just realizing he'd spoken aloud. "No, of course she wouldn't care.. you're right," he's all too quick to agree.

Kariel gives him a suspicious look, but shrugs, and settles back down. "I'll take your word for it, I guess," she drawls. "Now. Sleep?"

"Sleep," K'dris agrees good naturedly.

Kariel laughs quietly, allowing her eyes to drift shut. "Remind me to bug you about it later," she mumbles, quickly fading into sleep.

K'dris is all innocence, eyes widening. "About what?" He enquires with amusement in his voice, settling more comfortably before he, too, drifts off to sleep.



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