[8.7.2707] Umm, excuse me?(Tess/G'fal)

[sorra]

G'fal checked on the weyrlings once more. He noticed that most had found partners or the younger ones were still huddled with their dragons. He hoped this wouldn't have an ill effect on the dragonets or their riders once the flight was over. Normally the dragonets weren't so young during their first gold flight. Once he had made sure they were alright and that Treoth was content he went to find Tess.

The Weyrling Master decided to check the infirmary first. He hadn't had a chance to talk with her much since she had gone to help get G'rett back and he wanted to make sure that she was doing alright and see how she was handling the flight. G'fal peeked into the infirmary, seeing if he could see either Tess or Tesk around.

[chree]

((*snugs* thanks for the thread <3))

Tess wasn’t very pleased. And she didn’t want to disagree with the weyr authority figures, she really, really didn’t – but! Well! … It was silly for her to feel any hitch of disapproval whatsoever, obviously. Utterly ridiculous. Obviously the weyrleaders knew what they were doing. Obviously they had a vast deal more experience with such things than she did. Obviously. So there was no reason for her to be displeased. No reason for her to disapprove.

Oaths! [/i]Tesk chimed in, helpful as always, and Tess let her head slip into her hands, fingers immediately seeking out her temples and pressing insistently. Oh right. That’s why she was displeased. Because all these recent decisions flew directly in the face of the ideals she held so closely to her heart. There had to be a better way… and, once she’d found what that way was, she’d calmly and politely approach the leadership about it so they could all move forward with a safer, more ethical plan in place.

Until that time, there was simply no point in letting herself get so utterly rattled about it all. And really, Tess was dismayed to find herself rattled at all. She wasn’t generally one to let these lingering notions of unease bait her concentration. Not that she condoned emotional reactivity, of course, but it certainly helped to keep a level head. This… moodiness she was presently experiencing was entirely unappreciated.

Goldie Run[/i], Tesk hummed sagely, and Tess winced. Oh right. Drat… she should probably go and try to find her more… wayward Healers and encourage them to avoid temptation that might lead to unsavory consequences.

With a rather despondent sort of sigh, she lifted her head and rose from her desk, carefully tucking stray wisps of hair back into her bun and smoothing out some brave wrinkle in her tunic. Habit left her scanning the infirmary as she stepped towards the door, mentally pulling patient files and comparing present states to be sure nothing was amiss. She’d just turned her attention back to her present task when G’fal stepped into her line of sight – her lips immediately curved into a slight frown and her eyebrows knit together in concern.

“WeyrlingMaster,” her tone was mild, eyes patient, but there was a sudden tension in her shoulders as she couldn’t help but wonder at his presence. “You’re alright?” she asked softly – he looked alright – and then added with just the slightest edge in her otherwise gentle voice, “The weyrlings are alright?”

[sorra]

{{You're very welcome))

G'fal frowned slightly when he didn't see Tess right away. If she wasn't at the infirmary he wasn't sure where else to look and she may not want to be found for that matter. Of course, if he would have been thinking he could had just had Treoth ask Tesk if Tess was available, but that hadn't even occurred to him. He had too many other things on his mind.

The brown rider smiled when he finally caught sight of Tess. But she didn't look real thrilled to see him. Maybe coming to see how she was doing hadn't been such a good idea. Oh well, he was there now. No sense in turning and fleeing.

"No, no, I'm fine," he assured her. "I actually came to see how you were doing. The weyrlings are doing as well as can be expected." He still wasn't real thrilled about the dragonets being drugged, but there wasn't much he could do about that. He just hoped none of the weyrlings ended up pregnant or anything after this flight. Lyrensa turning up pregnant was bad enough. He didn't need to be adding anyone else to the list too.

[chree]

The tension eased at G’fal’s reassurance – no immediate trouble – and Tess let herself breathe easier. She arched an eyebrow, though, as he revealed the reason for his approach – was she alright? She did a quick self body scan and glanced briefly down to be sure she looked in order. She looked alright, didn’t she? Did she seem frazzled? Bother… it wouldn’t do to have the weyrhealer looking frazzled; she should be a pillar of calm, unfalteringly collected. But maybe G’fal was just being polite? It was customary to extend these general statements of concern to peers with which one was familiar, wasn’t it?

Tess decided to cover both bases: she would spend some time later making sure her outward appearance inspired only confidence, but for now merely take the inquiry as a friendly courtesy. She fought the urge to purse her lips at the mention of the weyrlings, her expression clouded a moment, but quickly returned to her soft smile. “I am well, thank you.” And that, of course, was all she ever said when on floor in the presence of patients. A sudden thought struck her, though this time it didn’t affect her expression, and she shifted a bit to gesture towards her office. “Would you like to sit down a moment?”

[sorra]

G'fal's face colored slightly. Should he have not asked how she was doing? He had just been worried. He knew there had been a lot of injuries from the rescue attempt and now the flight. He had just wondered how she was holding up. She was an amazing woman in his opinion. So strong and able to take care of herself.

"That's good," he said softly. "I've been meaning to get down here since G'rett got back and see how you faired, but I've been busy with the weyrlings." The Weyrling Master smiled. "I would like that. Thank you." Maybe they would get a few minutes to talk before she wanted him to leave.

[chree]

Tess noticed the blush and frowned a little, uncertain as to what she could have done to make G’fal uncomfortable – perhaps there was something else on his mind? No doubt he was also concerned about the weyrlings, particularly since Chandrath was in the air. She nodded politely as he explained his intention and reasoning for not coming sooner, back to her usual smile. “Of course,” she reassured him, not at all begrudging him his attention to duty.

He smiled – Tess found her own smile brightening a little in response – and accepted her offer to sit a moment. She tilted her head to indicate he should follow, then led the way back to her office, waiting for him to pass by before she shut the door softly behind them and turned. “Please make yourself comfortable,” she murmured automatically, distracted a moment with tidying up and setting aside her already meticulously piled paper work. Once he was settled, she sat down lightly across from him, her desk between them. Her sigh was tired, but still friendly.

“I imagine you’re very worried about your weyrlings during this Flight – I myself was just thinking of checking in on a few of my Healers to be sure they all faired well through the ordeal,” this, of course, was a polite a way as she could find to express her continual concern for C’olt (among others). Her eyebrows knit together a moment and her tone dropped a little as she sought his opinion on the matter, “You do not think that would be too forward of me, do you? I don’t want to control their personal lives, by any means, but…” she trailed of with another sigh and a helpless sort of smile this time.

[sorra]

He was glad to see that she didn't seem upset about him not making it down sooner to see her. It wasn't like they were an item or anything yet, but he still liked Tess and he had been thinking about her for a while. He had also kind of been nervous about coming to talk to her.

The brown rider followed Tess into her office. He didn't even seem to notice the bit of clutter as he took the offered seat. He gave her another smile as she seemed to relax some. He liked it better when she wasn't so uptight. "Thank you again for taking some time to talk to me."

G'fal crossed his legs as he watched Tess. He nodded. "I am. It's not so much them that I worry about, but the dragons. Most are old enough that they know what can happen, but I don't know how the dragonets will react if their rider turns up pregnant." He sighed. "But we couldn't take them away from the Weyr and the werylings can't leave the dragonets just yet." He shook his head in answer to her question. "No, I can understand your worry," he said. "Of course we can't monitor everything they do, but I don't think it's a bad thing to check in on them."

[chree]

Tess tilted her head a little at his thanks, her smile curious for a moment – take the time to talk to him? Of course! She didn’t seem unapproachable, did she? Oh bother… she’d have to ask A’ren about it. Perhaps she should make more of an effort to seem accessible to the dragonriders – particularly to the ranking riders, with whom she hoped she could develop close working relationships. And with G’fal, certainly, who was always so calm and friendly…

She nodded her agreement as he elaborated on his concerns – she, too, was anxious over this. Dragon development had recently been bumped up on her study list. Again, she fought the urge to purse her lips as he mentioned the reasoning behind the decision to resort to drugs… she nodded here, too, but less in true compliance and more in outward acceptance. What was done was done.

Her smile looked relieved for a moment as he expressed understanding, glad to hear that she wasn’t entirely out of line in her continual worry for her staff. She nodded yet again, a little absently this time as her thoughts drifted over each of her Healers and the concerns she had for them. Really, she needed one of those… oh what were they commonly called? Flits? The firelizards. Perhaps then she could devote more time to patients and friendly peer check-ins – it wasn’t spying, per se, to have a firelizard pop in every now and then to be sure all her Healers were well and accounted for? Hm… an ethical issue she would consider at a later time. For now, though, she turned her attention back to G’fal.

“You don’t think, though, that a Queen could be persuaded to Fly elsewhere? That would be terribly difficult on the Weyrwoman, perhaps, to reinforce?”

[sorra]

G'fal leaned back in his chair as he watched Tess. Apparently he had said something he probably shouldn't have. It wasn't so much that she wasn't approachable as he was a bit shy. which seemed strange. He'd been a rider long enough that he shouldn't feel awkward around others. Especially the Weyrhealer whom he would be working closely with with the weyrlings.

He could see she felt the same way about the druggings as he did. It wasn't the most ideal solution, but it had been all they had been able to come up with. He just hoped that none of the weyrlings or dragonets were damaged because of it.

G'fal shook his head. "No, I don't think we could do that. It could be very risky too," he said thoughtfully. "Hopefully this won't happen again though. Or else we'll have a better solution for the next time."

[chree]

Tess listened attentively to his opinion on the matter and filed it carefully aware in her mental notes. She would find a better solution… but never mind. She lifted a hand, as if to dismiss herself from the matter and put the topic behind them. Once she had a more complete understanding of alternatives, perhaps she would approach him to discuss it further. Until then, though, surely there were other things he would like to discuss.

“I am hopeful that it will go by without hitch, but of course I and the other less… affected Healers will be on hand immediately if there are issues. As for potential… undesirable aftereffects, perhaps a lesson on… pregnancy alternatives would not be amiss? Of course, I would not sanction any undue pressuring of potential mothers, but certainly the options should be made known. I will gladly supply the appropriate medicinal mixtures, if anyone should choose that route. There are plenty of methods one might administer soon after a potential conception that would not harm the woman, either way.” Tess paused a moment, running through these options in her head, then put on a more soothing smile and leaned back a little.

“But never mind all that, WeyrlingMaster – you are sure you are well? Is there anything you wanted to talk about? Any specific concerns with weyrlings or lessons? Or yourself, of course – Treoth is well?” She frowned a little – Treoth was brown, wasn’t he? And while Haseth often opted not to fly Golds, Tess was under the impression that browns generally did. “I am surprised he is not Chasing?”

[sorra]

G'fal was fine with putting the matter behind him. He couldn't change it right then and he didn't want to get upset. Cybele and the others had done what they thought was best at the time. Now they would just have to wait and see.

The Weyrling Master nodded. "That's not a bad idea," he agreed. "In a few months time the dragonets will flying in their first mating flights. That would definitely be a good thing for anyone to know." He thought about that. He'd have to see how that would fit into his lessons. He didn't see any harm in his charges knowing all the options open to them. He looked up at Tess. "Tesk isn't affected by the flight at all?" he asked curiously.

He shook his head. "No, the weyrlings are fine. As am I." G'fal smiled. "Treoth is well. He loves watching over the young ones." His face paled a little. "He would like to be chasing," he said quietly. "But I couldn't risk it with the dragonets being drugged. I wanted to have a clear mind in case anything happened." Not that he still wasn't effected by the flight.

[chree]

Tess’s smile flickered brighter a moment before settling back down into something soft and patient, a proper smile for a ranking Healer to have. She did appreciate that he considered her advice, though – they were on the same team, they should be able to seek counsel among one another and share ideas. Not quite like the Hall, but something like that, wasn’t it? Tess hoped so.

Tess met G’fal’s gaze as he asked about Tesk – it was unexpected; she blinked, cheeks tinged with the slightest shade of pink. “Oh… well no, I don’t think she is much – she should be sleeping, of course, and then it wouldn’t be an issue at all. She’s not, naturally…” She glanced down, an unmistakable fondness in her eyes as she thought about how stubbornly her wher tried to keep up with Healer hours. “Still, she doesn’t seem too affected.”

Tess’s blushed deepened and she continued to look down, clearing her throat a little – that wasn’t the whole of the story. “Unfortunately, I find myself a little more… distracted, than usual. I’ve not ever been near a Flight before, I had not anticipated it would be so… emotional.” As always, she chose her words carefully, glancing back up to G’fal as he spoke.

She watched him pale a bit and frowned slightly, naturally concerned for his well being. Ah. Browns did generally chase, then. “Your commitment is admirable – that must be very difficult,” she spoke softly, genuinely impressed with the effort he willingly exerted on behalf of his weyrlings. Tess appreciated dedicated to duty.

[sorra]

G'fal smiled. He would definitely work that lesson into his plans. And he thought it would probably be easier with Tess being there too. He wasn't sure how some of the girls would handle the information coming from him. It might seem a bit awkward for the Hold bred ones.

"I hope I wasn't prying," he said apologetically. "The whers just intrigue me and I was curious if they were effected like we are." The brown rider looked at her in surprise. He hadn't realized she had never been around a flight before. "Well, I must say you are holding up very well indeed," he said. "I don't think I was half that composed when I experienced my first flight." It had taken him Turns to get used to it and be able to fight the lust.

"Thank you kindly," he said softly. "Yes, it is very hard. Treoth would never win since he is a brown, but he still wants to try and even now he still would like to join." It seemed a constant battle and sometimes G'fal just wanted to give in.

[chree]

At G’fal’s apology, Tess quickly shook her head, her smile steady and certain. “No of course not – the more we know the better prepared we’ll be to handle whatever situations arise. I am certain there is some… deeper connection between the whers and the dragons, a connection that, if explored, might help us understand both a great deal better. I hope you can inspire the same curiosity in your weyrlings, I would be happy to speak towards any questions that arise among them.”

Her cheeks tinged pink again as at the quiet compliment and she dipped her head a bit, demure and humble. “I’ve had Runs, of course, she the… sensation isn’t entirely unfamiliar – but thank you.” She said this particularly softly, a little shy despite herself. Sex was a natural part of human, dragon, and wher development, of course, and she treated it as she would treat any behavioral necessity, but it was ever so slightly uncomfortable to speak on the matter as it affected herself. With G’fal, at least…

She nodded, though, as G’fal spoke of his own struggle and frowned a bit as she wondered at the conversation that must constantly be at play between rider and dragon in such a circumstance. Curious as she was, she decided it was probably best not to question him while he was in the immediate midst of such a conversation. “I see,” she murmured rather noncommittally, and looked up to him with her soft smile back in place. “We will all think clearer, then, when the queen is finally caught.”

[sorra]

G'fal nodded with a smile. He was glad he hadn't offended her. That was the last thing he wanted to do. "Maybe sometime in the future we could do a lesson with the whers as well. Of course toward evening so that the sun doesn't hurt Tesk's eyes. I'm sure the weyrlings would love a lesson like that." And I could spend some time with you. The brown rider was surprised by that thought. Sure, he'd experienced Flights before, but had never had quite these feelings.

The Weyrling Master flushed. "I'm sorry, Tess. That was probably way out of line." He hadn't meant to make her uncomfortable. He knew whers had Runs, but he hadn't been sure if they were close to the same thing as a flight for dragons or not. Maybe coming down to see her hadn't been a good idea. But he had so wanted to talk to her.

Treoth finally seemed to settle down and G'fal breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want to have to battle his brown the whole time. And he didn't want to chance losing himself to a flight with Tess. He didn't figure she would appreciate that too much. Although in all honesty, he wouldn't mind being with her. He quickly pushed those thoughts away. "Yes, we will," he agreed. "So, hopefully it ends soon. Although a long flight usually means a good clutch."