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Post by Evadne on Jul 8, 2011 20:14:46 GMT -5
No sooner had Lostris left the hatching sands, some days ago, than she'd been corralled by a healer. It was their professional opinion that cheering up a mourning gold dragon was not reason enough to aggravate injuries and extend the amount of time needed to heal. A few words with her commanding officer and Lostris was unceremoniously stripped of duty and put on medical leave until she was back on her feet again.
Back on her feet. Ha.
She'd privately mused, while on enforced rest in a cot in the infirmary, that healers were all secretly control freaks. Or maybe not so secretly. The one who'd trapped her there had certainly declared loudly enough that she was going right to the top with her complaint.
Now, several days after the fact, Lostris had been tentatively released under instructions not to overdo it. If she felt any further pain anywhere she was to stop what she was doing and return. But at least they'd returned her canes to her, even if they'd confiscated her hatchets until she was deemed fit for duty again.
But without duty, she found herself at odd ends with the world. Sitting on the edges of training sessions weren't the joy they'd been when she was young. She felt like a drifter.
And, when drifting, it was natural to seek out a touchstone. In this case, that meant Siata.
Crutching out to the forge was beyond her means with the tools she had at hand, and her ankle and foot still swathed in a bulky cast. But the wher complex was manageable. She made her way there, as slow and unstoppable as a glacier. Anyone looking at the woman would find her face set in serene lines, giving nothing away as to the effort it took to navigate the way to the complex and then inside of it. It helped that she knew (or suspected) that at the end of the trek, her friend would be there. The dorms, perhaps? Or the mess hall?
She wasn't certain but so long as her arms didn't give out on her, she intended to find out.
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Post by nozomi on Jul 9, 2011 9:44:32 GMT -5
Siatask's.
"Nnmph?" Siata paused from her noble pursuit of trying to take off her tunic, the dark thing stretched up over bent elbows and against her face because, shardit, the girl felt the need to not be in forge-smeared clothing. However, being in Siatask's mind, she got a picture of someone lumbering through the wher hall, and perhaps going to see them in an undershirt, pants, and a half-pulled up tunic would not be a good thing. She coughed, pulled down the clothing, and made a face when some ash remained in her face. Siata scrubbed, her mental voice a rumble. What is it, baby girl?
Ax-woman here. From her position just outside the barracks, Siatask stood and stretched out her thick frame. Siatask knew Lostris! The strong woman was respectful to her, as appropriate, and filled her handler with fondness. Another stretch and pop of her back later, the green wher bound right up to Lostris and her gimpy little self, and thrust her head towards the human. Ax-Woman, Siatask's come. No move.
Siata jogged from her room, bare footed and tunic still in a disarray, but she'd managed to clear off the soot from her face. On seeing Lostris, even injured, just-fred Lostris, Siata broke into a wide smile. "Are you threatening to bite her, baby?" And once close enough? Poor Lostris, had an arm around her shoulders and a firm kiss to her cheek. That happened to be a sad side effect to being on Siata's goodside and a former bedfellow: affection, physical and otherwise.
"Woman, what're you doing in this place? And with your tools, too. Are you planning on going crazy in the wher barracks, or just to ward off my hugs?" She paused, non-existent eyebrows arching. "Is everything okay?"
No threat to bite. Tell Siatask's! Nice Siatask. She snarled, bared her teeth to prove she was such a nice and kind wher, and promptly flopped down on the floor. Let Siata handle the human!
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Post by Evadne on Jul 9, 2011 10:08:27 GMT -5
Even if Lostris weren't the sort to follow orders, she'd have come to a full stop when Siatask romped towards her. There were reckless people in the world. She was not one of them.
Her greeting was simple. A small and briefly lived smile. A quiet remark of, "Siatask, good to see you," and careful fingers extended towards the wher's nearest eye ridge after she'd leaned the cane on that side against her hip. There was a great deal to respect about the creature and her no nonsense greeting was only one of them. The nickname helped too. And the opportunity to rest; the threat of hot pokers wouldn't have gotten it out of Lostris that her ankle was throbbing again.
Which is why, when Siata appeared, she gave no sign of it and simply presented her cheek for the kissing. The other woman's ways were expected and, in their own manner, a comfort. Though, Lostris being Lostris, she did not reciprocate. Expressions of affection were rare, however she might smile at Siata. Never mind the slight (and brief!) pressure as the guard tilted towards Siata, taking the offer of support found in that arm around her shoulders.
"No threat to bite," Lostris said amiably, as she took up the second cane again and leaned on it. "Or to ward off hugs."
She paused, glancing down at the wher until the snarl was ended and Siatask was flopped. Her amusement was expressed more in a heightened sparkle in her eyes. "Siatask and Siatask's are both nice. Thought I'd come visit."
Lostris looked back up at the human half of the pairing. "It's been awhile." She paused. "They took me off duty."
A fate worse than death to the guard! But she fought hard to keep her unease over that state from her expression, from her tone of voice. Perhaps a smile? That might do the trick. But she never was great at dissembling in front of Siata. The woman was too perceptive for Lostris' own good.
"How have you been?"
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Post by nozomi on Jul 9, 2011 21:16:40 GMT -5
"So, I know usually when I drag you back to my room, it doesn't end in you getting much rest. But I'm tired and so you're going to humor me with relaxing with me, right? Don't let your Siata go all, tired and sore from work and all of that." What's this? Using herself as an excuse to get Lostris to sit the frag down? Of course. Siata was nothing if not manipulative when it came to people not taking care of themselves and her caring enough to think about their issues. She nosed close to Lostris' temple, arm tightening on the shorter woman's shoulder. What was the point of being tall and wide when a person couldn't offer support to the dainty girls like Lostris, after all.
She tugged, gentle, to try and lead the older woman towards her room in the barracks. Siata smiled right back at her, fingers squeezing along Lostris' shoulder.
"Been good! I think I've started becoming a full time worker, though. Waking up in the day to get something for prisoners because your fellow guards lose shit, and end up working on sharding building shit." She wrinkled her crooked nose, eyes sliding sidelong to Lostris. "Maybe you should come visit me in the forge sometime, when you aren't hobbling about, pretty lady. I can teach you how to make things while you're on your downtime." Siatask stood and followed behind the pair if they started to go to Siata's bedroom, her thick form lurking as a guard to the somewhat hindered pair.
Siata glanced at her again, eyebrows flicking upwards once more. "Glad to see you visit, gotta say. My poor room. It's missed it's Lostris. And stuff like that. How's your left feeling?"
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Post by Evadne on Jul 10, 2011 8:14:14 GMT -5
It was a long walk to Siata's room by crippled standards. A long walk which gave Lostris ample time to make mental lists of the woman's merits. Bluntly caring and yet savvy enough to make an effort to disguise it behind clumsy manipulations. Big enough to make Lostris feel (for once) small and dainty. Affectionate. Dirty-minded. Not shy about filling up Lostris' frequent silences with chatter.
The last of the guard's unsettled tension slipped away and left her smiling without pause. She'd come to the right place.
Lostis did humor Siata but she did so for all the best reasons. "Just rest, no funny business," she promised, as if she were the pounce-risk. Her eyes fixed on the point that was the door, growing ever larger as they made a broken-ankle pace towards it. She hadn't yet broken out in a sweat; that was an encouraging sign.
"Is it so bad, working?" Part genuine question (workaholic) and part tease, Lostris tilted her head up just enough to meet Siata's eyes. Those flicking eyebrows? A constant source of fascination. Mostly due to their not really there anymore, thanks fire, state. "Sounds like you're angling to get me in there to lend a hand so you and Siatask can go back to sleep."
Once the doorway was reached, she was able to brace her shoulder against it, transfer both canes to one hand. Lostris trusted that Siata wouldn't step over the threshold without her. That meant she'd remain beside the guard which meant that Lostris could take her one arm and work it around the other woman in an unbalanced hug. It was awkward and sincere and strong and brief; all hallmarks of a trademarked Lostris display of affection.
"Missed you," was all she said before stumping on into the chamber. Better to hurry onto other topics.
"The left's better than it was. It was a clean break. Mostly. Might be a month before I'm off of these though." Lostris paused. "Semith had me touch the eggs. Should've seen me trying to walk in sand with canes."
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Post by nozomi on Jul 10, 2011 23:13:02 GMT -5
"One day, my darling, you will admit your undying love for me. Alas, delicate flower, our time has passed." Poetic words from a coarse-mouthed blacksmith. She laughed and they walked, green eyes flicking sideways to glance at Lostris when asked if working was so hard. Those eyebrows that the guard liked so much, burnt or no, arched once more, Siata's lips twisted into a grin.
Before she could answer, Lostris decided to be smushy, and female, and gave Siata a hug. Of course she returned it, a bear hug of a squeeze, and kissed Lostris again at the temple. "Missed you too. Should've visited more. Got slightly distracted." And she flicked Lostris' collar. "Sorry. And - nah, working isn't bad. It's just, I sleep like three hours between dinner and sundown, work in the forge, sleep a few hours between sun up and breakfast, and then - well, I've kind of been harassing a prisoner. Sort of. I help her, I guess. She tolerates me. Or something. I bring trowels and carry rocks. So it means too much work, too much tired, and alas, I am not a Lostris. Lostrises are rare and elusive beings that feed soley on work and, yes, need to come and learn to make pretty baubles with me."
Clean break or not, Siata didn't release Lostris until she had the womans butt near the bed, crooked nose still wrinkled up in distaste at the entire situation. "Well... Er, at least it means she likes you, right? There's worse things then a gold dragon liking you. But in the sand... Are you planning on standing? I'll try to go and watch if you do. Be a Lostris-luck charm or something."
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Post by Evadne on Jul 12, 2011 18:45:21 GMT -5
"One day," Lostris says agreeably, another smile flickering over her lips. She was prepared, at least, for the bear hug. Had even been expecting it when she'd instigated it. The guard was content to stand while Siata hugged and kissed and flicked and chatted and then finally manhandled her into a position to take a seat on the edge of the bed.
Her sigh of relief at being able to take the weight off of her ankle was unfeigned.
Once the canes were set aside, leaned against the wall, she held a hand out to the smith to invite her to also take a seat. "Sounds like you work harder than me, these days," Lostris observed. She might have said more. The temptation was there, certainly, when Siata mentioned harassing a prisoner. Up go the eyebrows. But good friend that she is, she didn't ask.
Yet.
"She was sad." That, about Semith. "She wanted company. One person wasn't enough. Nor two or four." Pause. "Mothers have long memories." Another pause. "I'll be on duty."
Not standing. The look Lostris pins on Siata warns her not to even mention it, though there's a mild sort of resignation there too, mingled with amusement.
Still, the guard tried for a distraction. Now was the moment, she'd chosen it well! "What prisoner are you courting?"
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Post by nozomi on Jul 13, 2011 12:27:42 GMT -5
"I suppose even dragons like Semith remember things like their kids getting whisked away. It's good you went to help her." Siata ran a fond hand over Lostris' hair, smile softening a bit as Lostris, awww, empathized with poor little Semith. It was so cute to see Lostris showing emotion! Even stoic, well covered up emotion. "Ah yes! Standing guard. A very Lostris thing to do. Will you at least be able to take your canes on the sand?"
And Siata flopped back, her eyes on the ceiling and lips pursed in contemplation. "I can see you with a dragon. Or a wher. Oooh. A bronze wher. You'd -- What."
The Smithcrafter sat straight up once more, eyes wide and unblinking on Lostris for a very long moment.
"Whatever makes you think I am courting a prisoner, dear Lostris." Still, Siata stared, her face all serious business. "That would be highly unethical. She wears red. Also, I'm pretty sure she tolerates me just because telling me to go fly myself hard would not end up well. Siatask is on official guard duties three times a week, now." The stare faded into a slightly dirty glare before Siata fell back onto her bed, one muscular arm slinging over her eyes with a groan. "But I'm not going to tell you who I am not-courting, because it isn't courting. I'm bored and that's totally it. And you're a guard and can torment her. Not that I think you would, but - it's just -"
"I hope she Impresses." So yes, Lostris, she was courting, and the woman would be Standing. Siata sucks at secrets. "She shouldn't be in here. And it'd give me a turn or two to get over it."
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