In Need of Advice [6.25.2707] (M'lym)

[Kendrall]

G'rett still couldn't get the Flight out of his head, and it had only been two days since the affair. Never mind the fact he'd just complicated matters with Kiyoni, a woman whom he considered as a close friend. But he also felt as if his relationship with Quindara was also at risk, mostly because if she wound up carrying his child before the Hatching she wouldn't be able to Stand.

It was still early in the afternoon, but G'rett was in his weyr at his desk reviewing the latest training results. Two Riders under his direct command nearly collided with each other, having to failed to compensate for the crosswinds, and that didn't bode well for him. Luckily, both Riders and their dragons only suffered minor injuries. That wasn't what was nagging him, though. It was what he woke up to the morning after the Flight, finding both Kiyoni and Quindara naked next to him. Had it just been the Searchrider it wouldn't have rankled him so, but since his weyrmate-to-be was pulled in...he wasn't sure what to do. Coth, ever the faithful Bronze, picked up on his lifemate's thoughts. Is there anything I can do to help, my G'rett?

Giving him a sheepish grin, G'rett stood up and walked over to Coth, rubbing his eye ridges. "I'm not sure what you can do for me, Coth. I'm still trying to get over the Flight." Perhaps if you spoke with someone who is older and wiser? Will that help? G'rett had to think about it for a moment, discarding any likely candidates. Cybele was the Weyrwoman, and though he had respect for her, G'rett didn't think the topic would be appropriate. Toniel he still cared for, but the relationship had long since cooled off. Q'del? It'd be a warm night between before the Wingleader brought up the Weyrsecond's sister in a conversation. No, there had to be someone. But who?

Finally it dawned on him. Of course. "Coth?" G'rett asked. "Ask Iverasth to let M'ylm know I need to speak with him. I could use some advice." The Bronze dragon regarded his lifemate slowly, his rivalry with the other bronzes was well known, and Iverasth was no exception. "Just do it please?"

Coth snorted. Very well. He lifted his head. Iverasth. Mine wishes to seek the counsel of Yours at his earliest convenience.[/i][/color]

[fellis]

M'lym had just dismissed his Wing after a morning of training. The riders were happy to have a break for lunch and some relaxing. M'lym watched them go, his face revealing nothing. They had performed well today, but he didn't want them to get too cocky. He gave praise where it was due, but he was always careful not to give too much.

Suddenly his dragon gave a little rumble of amusement. Coth's rider wishes to speak to you.[/color] M'lym shot his dragon a sour look.

And what's so amusing about that? Tell him to meet me in my weyr, M'lym answered, stripping off his riding gloves and taking off his helmet. He hoped that G'rett was coming to apologize for his utterly disrespectful nature during Elli's Flight. M'lym understood that people weren't really responsible for what a Flight did to them, but G'rett's comments still rankled.

He made his way up to his weyr, taking off his riding jacket as he walked. Iverasth lifted off, going up to the Heights to sun. My rider says to meet him in his weyr. Would you like to join me on the Heights while they talk?[/color] Iverasth had no enmity against Coth, despite their rider's clashing.

In his weyr, M'lym pulled up an extra chair beside his desk, and waited for G'rett.

[Kendrall]

Coth blinked as he heard Iverasth's response. Pondering as if debating internally, he was slow to answer. I think I will, actually. Thank you for inviting me, Iverasth. I'll let Mine know Yours is expecting him.[/i][/color] Coth then turned to look at his bonded. Iverasth's is waiting for you. I shall be with Iverasth himself on the Heights. With that, he turned to face the entrance and scampered down the passageway, then spread his wings and soared up and out of sight.

G'rett sighed, then left his weyr and made his way down towards the other Wingleader's quarters. Knocking to announce himself, he waited for a few moments before entering, his face suggesting conflicting emotions. Part of him wanted to apologize to the older man, yet that wasn't the true reason why he was here. Spying the empty chair next to M'lym's desk, he sat down in it and gave out a long sigh, burying his face in his hands. It took him a few moments to gather his thoughts, then he looked the other man square in the eye.

"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, M'lym. It's about Elliwodth's Flight." He held up a hand to forestall any comments. "You and I both know flightlust can make a man do things he normally wouldn't do otherwise. Such as my comment to you. I did want to apologize for that, but there's something else that happened. If it's not handled carefully, it could cause major implications for at least three other people including myself."

[fellis]

M'lym's face revealed nothing as the younger bronzerider came in and sat down, burying his face in his hands, but he certainly hadn't expected that kind of behavior. He had only ever seen G'rett acting confident and sure of himself, so this was a change. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, unsure whether to comfort G'rett or not. Fortunately, the other Wingleader spoke before it became too awkward.

He nodded when G'rett said that this was about the Flight, rather pleased with himself. So G'rett really was going to apologize. "Don't worry about it. That's behind us," he said simply. Not only did he know it was the right thing to forgive G'rett, he also didn't want to reveal how much the comments had really bothered him.

He raised an eyebrow as G'rett continued. "Does this have to do with the Flight too?" He frowned, wondering what had G'rett so worked up. "This is between Wingleaders now. It won't leave the confidence of this room," he added. Even if he and G'rett didn't always get along, M'lym still respected the younger man, and he wasn't going to spread rumors.

[Kendrall]

G'rett let out a silent sigh of relief when M'ylm accepted his apology, and expressed whatever conversation was about to take place would remain between the two Wingleaders. The younger man nodded his gratitude, then started. "I'm not entirely sure if you know who Quindara is," G'rett said. "She's Q'del's sister, and currently one of the Candidates who'll be expecting to Stand at the upcoming Hatching. To be perfectly honest with you, M'ylm, she and I think highly of each other - so much, in fact, she wants to be with me as my weyrmate and I want her as mine. Yet she and I both know we have to wait until she Impresses, then survive her training as a Weyrling before anything serious can happen." He gulped visibly. "The night before Elliwodth's Flight I warned her to get away from Nova for a few days because I didn't want to hurt her feelings, yet she told me she couldn't go anywhere." G'rett looked at the older man, fear evident in his eyes. "Apparently she watched Coth chase Elliwodth and came to the corridor just outside the Flight Room, hoping Coth would lose the Flight, but...somehow she managed to slip in without being noticed, drawn in by the flightlust between Kiyoni and me. I didn't recognize her - I mean, I did recognize her - but that sharding flightlust was too strong to resist."

"The following morning Kiyoni wakes up in tears, I myself become aware of my surroundings and that's when I realized what happened. I had Quindara and Kiyoni both at the same time." He sighed regretfully. "Look, M'ylm, I'm already aware I've put Quindara's candidacy at risk. But Kiyoni hasn't said a word to me in the past two days, nor has Arktos. He keeps giving me these nasty looks that suggests if he could kill me and get away with it, he'd do it. I...I think he wants Kiyoni to himself as his weyrmate. But he won't accept the fact he'll have to share her with another Rider whenever Elliwodth Rises. I want to make my peace with the man, and tell him my side of the story, but he isn't willing to meet me halfway."

G'rett gave his fellow Wingleader an imploring look. "How in Faranth's name do I get myself, Quindara, Kiyoni, and Arktos out of this mess?"

[fellis]

M'lym just listened, waiting for G'rett to tell the whole story. He vaguely remembered Edilon mentioning Quindara a few times, but he couldn't picture her face. That part didn't sound too bad, it seemed like G'rett was being careful and he had good intentions towards the girl. Then, the problem became clear. Of course it had to do with a Flight. Of all the things riders had to deal with, Flights had to be the most chaotic. Even though every weyrfolk knew in their head that Flights didn't mean much, hearts could still get hurt.

Unfortunately, M'lym was probably the last person who would be an expert on relationships. He had ruined the only serious romantic tie he ever had. He thought it would be best not to tell G'rett that right now, though. "Well you've certainly got yourself in a jam, G'rett," he said, frowning.

"You said you haven't spoken to Kiyoni or Arktos? I think that has to be remedied," he offered. "Even if they won't meet with you directly, put it in writing. And let's hope that Quindara Impresses at the next hatching. A dragon should be a good distraction for her. No offense, but once she has a dragon, she probably won't be so fixated on you for a while." He leaned back. Almost without thinking, he took a pencil off of his desk and nibbled at the end; an absent-minded gesture he always assumed when he was trying to work through a problem.

[Kendrall]

G'rett ran his fingers through his hair when his fellow Wingleader made his comment. "You're not kidding," he said wryly, then buried his face in his hands again. He wanted to kick himself for allowing the one woman he loved to get herself involved in this last Flight. He then raised his head and looked at M'lym when he suggested to put his request in writing, and nodded slowly.

"I don't think that will hurt. Kiyoni might not reply right away, but Arktos might be agreeable. My only other fear is this will reach the ears of the rest of the Leadership. Q'del catches wind of this, and he'll want to strangle me. That, or push Cybele to have me stripped of my rank. Toniel..." He had to pause for a moment. "I don't know what she'll think. Or say." He groaned inwardly. "Toniel knows I've always liked her, but once my relationship with Quindara is revealed, she just might become jealous. And you're right, let's hope Quindara Impresses at the next Hatching. At least she and I both know we can't do anything for a good turn or more once that happens."

"I hate to see any infighting amongst us, M'lym. I really do. We're the only Weyr on the entire continent, and all of the Holds look to us for protection against Thread. Any fractures in the ranks could very well have major implications for everyone involved." G'rett had to shudder at the thought. It was bad enough most Holds didn't allow their sons and daughters to be Searched, thus the latest push to bring in new Candidates. The overall growth of Riders had been stagnant as of late, and G'rett honestly felt it was only a matter of time before inbreeding became a serious issue. That, or watching everything he fought for go up in smoke.

[fellis]

M'lym shook his head slowly as G'rett brought Q'del and Toniel into the problem. Q'del would have to realize that Quindara was her own person and was responsible for her own choices, but M'lym knew that would be hard. "Maybe I should be glad that Edilon isn't going to bother any of the girl candidates," he muttered. It was probably the first time he had been grateful for that.

"G'rett, we are dragonriders. We have to rise above all of this. Our ties to the Weyr itself are more important than any human relationships," he said firmly. That was exactly why Lonna had stopped speaking to him, but M'lym still believed what he said. "Maybe we should get the Wings together for some bonding time, or maybe some friendly competition. Then people could get their tensions out and get some training done at the same time," he suggested.

[Kendrall]

"I know we're dragonriders, M'lym," G'rett replied, as if sounded he'd fought a long battle and was soundly defeated. "But for some of us, it's not easy to rise above it as we think. I try not to let my emotions get in the way, especially after a Flight, but that's never an easy thing. Sure, I can practically recite the laws of the Weyr by heart. But the letter of the law and the spirit of the law don't always agree." He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again. "On the other hand, you're right. The Weyr has to come above any relationships. But that doesn't necessarily mean I won't fight for the woman I love dearly, or for any children that may come as a result of this last Flight. The same goes for any child Kiyoni bears to me. Or any other woman for that matter whose bed I wind up in after a Flight whom bears my child. I'm painfully aware I won't be able to spend any time with them, if ever, since they'll be raised in the creche."

"But by the Golden Egg, M'lym, every time Coth and I go airborne to fight Thread, we'll have one more reason to ensure everyone under my direct command comes back alive. And it's not just for my children. It's so every Rider in Stardust can come back to their children as well." He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "The same can be said for all Riders." Nodding as if considering the older man's suggestion, he continued. "I think some friendly competition wouldn't hurt after all, to improve on our training."