Catching Up
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Xanadu Weyr - Weyrleaders' Office
Office and retreat, this is the domain of Xanadu's Weyrleaders. The door is in the southern wall, quite close to the western end while the northern wall is dominated by big, expansive windows, framed by sumptuous deep blue drapes edged with a brilliant gold braid and tied back with a thick rope of braided gold and blue cord. In between, the western wall is covered floor to ceiling with shelves that house all sorts of records, manuals and supplies that are used on a day-to-day basis.
The southern wall has the Weyrleader's desk — plain fellis wood, well polished and masculine. From behind his desk, the Weyrleader can look straight through the windows and out onto the main airspace of Xanadu. The eastern wall is where the Weyrwoman's desk resides: a lovely piece of furniture made of warm cherry wood. From her seat, a glance sideways gives her an equally good prospect out the window. There are a few other seats, some comfortably arranged around a low round table for small, informal meetings while there also some that can be drawn up to one of the desks.
On the west side of the door, the space is occupied by a low oblong table where refreshments can be set without someone needing to intrude. There is also an 'incoming' tray where incoming correspondence or similar items can be left.


It feels like it's been seconds, mere fractions of a single moment in time since Leirith rose and was caught; since Risali and D'lei went to look for K'vir and found, instead, that Risabeth had chosen then to rise and Zekath chased. Risali's not exactly sure what happened next, just that she'd found herself holding the Senior leadership knot, eddied through the weyr with congratulations and looks of trepidation alike, trying to figure out what this meant — for her, for D'lei and K'vir, for Leirith and Xanadu Weyr. Most women might embrace the burden of weyrleading with grace and a smile, with the kind of eagerness to shine that makes for great Weyrwomaning - but not Risali. She's snuck away to have quiet moments that she won't speak about in those days since, has put on a brave face for the world and crumbled where nobody else could see - not D'lei, not K'vir, not their children - and found that, despite attempts to find K'vir, things just never seemed to work out. So here Risali is now, sitting in the Weyrwoman's — her — office during what might be considered 'after hours', settled into the room's empty hush, curled up in her chair with legs tucked in against her chest and her chin on her knees. She's staring out of the window, fixated on a point, perhaps seeing nothing but certainly seeing something with the kind of expression that hints to perhaps a mood bordering on melancholy. Ah well, she'll get used to it. … Right?

Funny how certain events work out, isn't it? Only no one is laughing. K'vir wasn't laughing, though he might've cheered the results eventually. Sure, losing was also a huge let down but once the dust settles? He's glad he isn't Weyrleader. He has fought so long and so hard NOT to be his father. Risali's trepidation with Weyrwoman isn't lost on him either; he was all too aware of her worries and insecurities and wished that she had another path to go. Bethari didn't want the role either. It made for an awkward spot for him, but he did his best to support both, while secretly knowing ONE of them was going to end up unhappy. What he didn't expect? Was for Risabeth to rise and for Zekath to succeed — again. K'vir certainly didn't intend to evade Risa and D'lei for so long, but shit happens. LIFE happens! And it was driving him nuts. So before another wrench could come in and pull him away, K'vir strides purposely towards the offices and only slows when the doorway comes into view. Straightening his shoulders and taking a steadying breath, he'll don his best warm smile and gently knock on the frame before poking his head in. "Hey!" Not too cheery, but more relieved that Risali is actually there and… ALONE! Bonus. Not bonus? How she looks. That takes much of the oomph out of him, as he sobers while stepping inside. "Thought I might find you here…" Lamely put, but it's all his sweet little mind could cobble together that wasn't 'how are you' and 'why so glum'; the last of which would ensure his immediate death.

Life does happen, and Risali's living the reality of that statement now. She's not unaware of the presence approaching the door, though she's unsure of who it is; she's already lifting her head when K'vir knocks, perhaps ready to bolt, perhaps intent to look more like she belongs behind that desk until she realizes just who is coming through that door and - relief. It shows for the duration of a single blink in the tiny woman: the drooping of shoulders, the pull of her lips in an expression that's almost stricken, that implicates tears and says maybe she's about to cry BUT SHE DOESN'T. Risali finds it in her to smile, blinks once, twice as she looks back towards the window again, and then she's rising from her chair as she makes her way around the desk and straight to her weyrmate. There's no hesitation, she simply invades K'vir's space with arms around his hips, face pressed to his sternum, breath drawn in like she's breathing him and expelled through her nose as she clings just a little tighter. A beat, two, three, and then muffled into the fabric of shirt, Risali issues, "Congratulations. I heard Zekath caught Risabeth again." She aims for cheer and nails it but for a hint of a tremor in her voice - and she doesn't look up. Not yet. Not when, so soft as to be almost unheard, Risali whispers, "Is she okay? Are you?"

It's a very good thing that Risali doesn't cry! Tears tend to do very strange things to K'vir; mostly, it baffles him and makes him uncomfortable! And he would likely blame his being there for the source of it. Luckily, it doesn't happen and while he gives her a strange look, that melts away when she comes to wrap her arms around him. Immediately, he draws her into a tight, fierce embrace and even goes as far as to lean in and down to kiss the top of her head. Just a quiet way of his to say: all is alright. "He did," he confirms, though he doesn't seem as enthusiastic about it as one would expect. "And she's okay… as much as she can be. As am I… Guess it depends on what the future holds?" He's speaking more of the clutch to-be and not exactly them as a whole. That's enough about him though! He leans back, trying to gently slip his fingers beneath her chin and draw her gaze up to his. He smiles again; that damning, warm and disarming smile of his. "Are you? Okay, that is… I'm sorry I wasn't there." RIGHT into the apology!

Lucky for them both then that Risali is less one who cries, and more one who believes in doing something about it. But she can't do anything about this; she's trapped by that overwhelming relief, the feeling of finding a haven and being able to let go of all her strength because it's safe here. And Risali listens, pressed to K'vir, fingers bunching in the fabric of his tunic and holding tight as he explains and she focuses on the cadence of his voice and the beat of his heart to steady her own - so she's calm when he tilts her head up, grey eyes seeking blue and holding, a slow, quiet smile echoing his disarming warmth before she speaks. "I'm sorry too," she whispers, and that smile falters, turns to something self-deprecating, disappears when she presses her face back into his chest and draws in another deep breath to steady herself. "I always seem to find a way to mess things up." A beat, a huff of what might have been laughter except it's too harsh for that. "But congratulations, Kyzenviro." And then she's forcing herself to find strength, to take it from K'vir, to bury pessimism and latch onto humor that she delivers as she takes a small step back and gives K'vir a gentle smack on his upper arm. "And of course I'm okay. Do you know who you're talking to, bronzerider?" A flex of one arm, mischief in her expression as she aims for smug, shifts again to tuck back in against K'vir with one arm looping around his hips and settling loose around his lower back. And she tilts her head back, shows too many teeth when she smiles and presses the tip of one finger into the taller bronzerider's side. "And I have a date with a bluerider, who's going to dance with me. What is there to not be okay about?" THAT LAST IS AN EXAGGERATION, but her teasing tones should make that pretty clear.

"Sorry for what? What mess? None of this is your fault. It was… It was just chance! It had to be one or the other," K'vir points out but fails to bring up that he was caught between it all — and still is. He's chosen it though and he IS happy with his life, despite the strain it puts him in, at times, emotionally. His gaze lowers, watching her closely and taking quiet note of those expressions and every little subtle nuance in her posture and response. Even the smack to his arm is met with the usual grunt and return swipe at her backside or somewhere equally as teasing and playful. Her poking him is met with a scoff and a crooked grin, "What?" he teases. "Are D'lei and I not good enough that you have to go on a date with a bluerider? If it's dancing you wanted…" NO WARNING! K'vir will shift and that's just about all Risali will have before he's maneuvering them into the steps of what becomes a rather complicated but risque dance; a little taste, to tease (and because space is an issue). A sample, that has him half spinning her away from him and lowering her down while he leans in. Don't worry, he SHUT the office door! No scandals! Dancing (sexy) in the office is probably not what Risa wants to be known for only a few days into her new position. K'vir will gradually draw her back up, one arm looped firmly around her lower back and hips as he grins wryly. "Why didn't you just ask?" What was it that they were talking-not talking about? He doesn't seem keen on restarting the conversation, from the way his heated gaze lingers on her.

Risali's head tips back, the goldrider syncing into step with breathy laughter as she moves to keep up, smiling as K'vir leads her through the moves and - a dip. Risali holds tight to K'vir's shoulders, drags the heel of one foot up along his calf, higher, higher, into the back of his thigh as she hooks her leg over his hip and only lowers it back to the ground once he rights them. But she teases regardless, finally giving an answer to his question with her own question: "Why, are jealous bronzerider?" And Risali goes up on the tips of her toes, drags hands down along shoulders and chest to bunch up his tunic in her hand, to jerk the much taller rider closer to herself, close enough for him to feel her breath on his lips when she speaks without connecting for a kiss. "You should be. He's very handsome." But that mischief in her expression, the way she lets him go and moves away says she's probably just teasing him as she backs away slow, slow, slow towards the door. But she doesn't bolt; no, Risali settles her back against the door, bites down on her bottom lip, and reaches out to lock the door as those eyes rake the bronzerider. "But I wouldn't mind another dance with you, to see if you can change my mind." And yes, yes she did drag her hand from naval to breast before pushing off of the door with a sultry sway of hips. "Unless you're tired, of course. Then I'm sure that bluerider won't mind bumping up our… date." MOST WICKED, IT'S RISA, even though she's making a predatory walk back towards her weyrmate, intent to fan the heat with more flames, heedless of the fact that this isn't really the proper place for this kind of dance. But it doesn't stop her. It never will.

All that is going through K'vir's mind, at one point? WORTH IT! All of it. Worth it, for this moment, between them. For a small little chunk of time, everything feels as though it's gone BACK to the way it was. THIS is the Risa he remembers and the strange, yet alluring, dynamic between them. How her teasing brings out a throaty, deep laugh from him. "Jealous? Of a bluerider? Nah. Just be careful I don't go sweeping him away. Or maybe D'lei and I will play, while you're gone?" Wicked is his grin, to match her mischief and unspoken joking challenge! Do your worst, Risali! He's learned to play along. She has helped him grow in ways he never knew were possible; probably always there, but dormant until someone he loved as deeply as he does her, showed him how. Her display has caught his attention and his gaze has fixed itself heatedly on her every movement. It's no surprise that he will turn, offering her his hand even before she's made it half way back to him. "No, we'll dance. Here, now and I'll see that you're too exhausted to leave…" Or walk. His suggestive, face-splitting grin says it ALL! Yes, he made a terrible joke but he's being serious too; as she'll soon find out, the moment they connect again. Will anyone hear? Probably. But it's not like they won't be the first to use an office and the office desk (and wall, and floor…) for… "dancing". Let them scoff or whisper disapprovingly! K'vir doesn't care. He craves this reconnection and it's ultimately the drive behind the bold, scandalous behaviour of his.


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