Post by Zen on Mar 1, 2018 1:09:22 GMT -5
A few days after This Calls For A Toast?
Treyjen, A'zael
After Srunae had told him all the Weyrleader had been going through recently, Treyjen had decided that his best course of action was simply to give the man some space. He had done well to make his presence a grating one ever since he had discovered the man's affection for the goldrider, and while it was fun, he had no desire to be overly cruel to a man he considered a friend. So after he had left him in Srunae's care, safely abed in his weyr, he had returned to the harbor caverns for several days, intending to return only to bid A'zael farewell as his departure from the Weyrhold was fast approaching. During that time, however, a number of his crew had requested an extension to their stay at the Weyrhold. They wanted to spend turnover with their families. He couldn't fault them for it and eventually called for a vote on the matter, and the extension had been decided. Another month stuck ashore. Wonderful.
As he made his way back up to the Weyr caverns, he disdainfully eyed the oppressive stone walls of the halls he walked through. He had no desire to live like a sharding tunnelsnake for another month, but the vote was the vote, and he could hardly begrudge his crew their family time. He would just have to keep an eye on the younger ones... those without family obligations that, like him, would likely begin to grow restless being ashore so long. He knew from personal experience, restlessness bred recklessness, and that had the potential to cause trouble. Elsewhere on Pern he wouldn't be quite so concerned, but they had a reputation to maintain here at Mavros.
So instead of returning to A'zael's weyr to say goodbye, he got to bring him the delightful news that he'd be around for yet another month. Depending on the Weyrleader's mood, he could either have fun with it or he'd actually have to play nice. He had no idea how A'zael was doing after his drunken show at the feast. He'd been occupying himself quite well in the harbor caverns, spending some time with Karosh seeking out new exploits, and also spending a bit more time with his daughter. Mialli had laughed at him when he'd told her he'd be staying another month, wondered how he would ever survive. He'd told her it would be far easier if he had someone to share the time with, to which she had rolled her eyes. Since her pregnancy, Mialli seemed to have no desire to share a bed with him again, and only seemed to tolerate him for any length of time in order for their daughter to visit with him, which was really a shame because he quite enjoyed the woman's company, in and out of bed. It was reassuring that Trillia was being raised by a woman like Mialli.
She still enjoyed teasing him, regardless, and frustrating him to no end with it. Was it so wrong of him to want to show the mother of his child a good time? If she wanted to avoid another pregnancy so bad he was sure he could find a rider to take her between and save her the trouble. The woman took great joy in wounding his pride, telling him it wasn't the thought of pregnancy she found repellent. He told her she was a poor liar, that she certainly hadn't found anything repellent about him at the time. But Mialli had a retort for that as well, how she highly doubted that he even remembered his time with her at all, for all the women he'd had in between. It was likely some other woman he was thinking of. It had been the fire in her that first drew him to her, and kept him coming back to her, but shells if that fire didn't burn now and then. Well, he did enjoy a little danger in his life, after all.
Finally making it to A'zael's door, he knocked, schooling his expression until he'd had a chance to gauge the younger man's mood. A moment later the door opened and A'zael took a moment to look surprised to see him, and then a slough of varying emotions passed over his features and Treyjen couldn't help but laugh, “Nice to see you on your feet again, mate. This isn't a bad time, is it?”
A'zael cleared his throat and stepped aside to invite the man in, “Mm... no. Thank you... ah, come in.” As Treyjen stepped in and he closed the door behind him, A'zael tried to sort out his feelings surrounding the man. He supposed gratitude was in order before anything else, “Treyjen... I, well... thank you, for your... assistance after my...,” he blew out his breath and called it what it was, “After my idiotic choices at the feast.”
Treyjen laughed again at his blunt wording, “Well, at least you realize you were an idiot. All is not lost. How many times do we have to have the same conversation about keeping your emotions in check in political situations, hm?”
A'zael waved him off, “I know. I already said it was idiotic, didn't I? I'm paying the price, don't worry... it's not a lesson I'll soon forget.”
“Glad to hear it. I would be quite concerned about your complete lack of intellect or common sense if you did,” then he smirked, “I had my reward for my efforts, at least. I told you I'd get you naked in bed one of these days.”
A'zael rubbed his hand over his face, but eventually laughed as well, “... I was waiting for that. I'm so glad you had a good time of it.”
Treyjen grinned, “Oh I had a fantastic time of it. Srunae turned the most impressive shade of red.” He was testing, watching for the Weyrleader's reaction to the woman's name. So far he seemed in much better spirits than he'd been at the hatching and feast.
A'zael laughed as he imagined it. He was sure Treyjen would have had plenty to say while he was in various states of undress and that Srunae would have been flustered beyond belief by it all. She'd grown more confident in her banter, but when things got physical she still blushed like a holder girl. Perhaps with enough time in the Weyr, she'd gain more confidence there too. “Ah, so... what can I do for you? You'll be heading back out to sea soon, won't you?”
Hm, he didn't seem bothered by the mention of her. Something had happened. “That's the main reason I came, actually, though I was interested to see how you were faring. You seem... better?”
A'zael nodded, “Yes, quite a bit better, actually... though I would very much like to be done issuing apologies.”
Treyjen chuckled at that, “Next time you want to drown your problems in wine, perhaps you'll consider doing it in the privacy of your own weyr. No apologies necessary, unless you manage to offend your dragon I suppose.”
Waving his hand, A'zael dismissed that idea, “Don't worry, I've had my fill of wine.” He eyed Treyjen, knowing the man was quite the fan of alcohol, “How do you do that? I woke up with perhaps the worst pain I've ever felt, like Thread was writhing about in my head.”
“Turns of practice,” Treyjen smirked, “Not to mention generations of seafarers' constitutions bred into me.” It took quite a lot to get him well and fully drunk, and at this point he was rather used to dealing with the after effects. A bit more alcohol to take the edge off was all it really took and he could function decently. “By the fact that you're no longer throwing murderous looks my way, is it safe to assume you and Srunae have made up from your fight?”
“Ah... she told you about that...?” A'zael looked entirely surprised.
Treyjen's smirk returned, “She and I have grown rather close, you know.”
A'zael rolled his eyes at the jab, but it had to be true to some extent anyway. Srunae didn't generally just unload her problems onto just anyone. But a smile touched his lips when he answered, “Yeah... we have.”
Treyjen studied him for a moment and decided 'I told you so' was in order, “I told you Nalyra would burn you in the end. Should have listened to me.”
A'zael winced, coughed lightly, “Well... that....”
“Just admit I was right and we can move on,” Treyjen grinned.
The Weyrleader made a displeased noise in the back of his throat, because he didn't want to dwell on the matter anymore than he wanted to tell the pirate he was right, but, the lesser of two evils, he supposed, “You were right.”
Treyjen clapped him on the shoulder, “That wasn't so hard, was it?”
A'zael screwed up his face a bit, “Where did this horrible taste come from?”
Treyjen laughed, “Well, I take it that's the end of me suffering through your hints and insinuations, then? If not I can always continue returning the favor. You didn't tell me you had such a pretty older brother, A'zael.”
“S-S'fin?” he was again taken by surprise. When had the two of them met? There was good reason he'd never mentioned him.
“I have a feeling he'd be a bit more receptive to my advances than you, hm?” Treyjen may have only briefly interacted with the man, but it seemed rather apparent to anyone where S'fin's preferences lay, “You should have seen the look on his face when I hefted you over my shoulder... looked as though he'd like me to do the same to him.”
A'zael waved his hand as if trying to swat away flies, “Augh, stop. You win, for Faranth's sake.” He had little more desire to imagine Treyjen and S'fin together than he had to imagine the man with Srunae. Though if S'fin knew he was a pirate, it would likely never happen. His brother would never be able to stomach the idea. He could barely stomach it, and he was hardly a fraction as sensitive.
“I always do. Remember that next time you're thinking of challenging me, A'zael,” the pirate grinned triumphantly. A'zael had admitted defeat, no need to beat a dead runner as it was. However... it was highly amusing to watch the man squirm. A bit more payback, then. “Anyway, I came to tell you I'll actually be staying at the Weyr another month,” a dark grin formed on his lips, “Plenty of time to get to know this brother of yours better, I think.”
“Treyjen...,” A'zael groaned, unsure if he was to take the man's words about staying longer seriously or if he was just playing with him.
“What? It's only fair, seeing as you've slept with my sister. Maybe he'll tell you about the fantastic time he had and you'll be more open to some fun with me,” Treyjen's grin grew.
A'zael grimaced, “It would be more likely to solidify my position against it. Are you actually staying?” He attempted to steer the conversation back on course so they could leave this unpleasant talk behind.
“Shame... at least I got a nice eyeful for my troubles,” Treyjen laughed as A'zael rolled his eyes, but he finally had mercy on the man, letting the matter drop, “My crew would like to spend turnover with their families. There's been some rumor of a big celebration seeing as there is also a weyrling graduation coming up around the same time. So yes, I will be staying longer.”
“Great,” his tone was flat, and Treyjen laughed again.
“Now that you're conscious, I was thinking you and I and Srunae could really have a lot of fun together. You know, we could put her between us, make you more comfortable,” Treyjen suggested, grinning as usual.
A'zael ran his hand over his face in exasperation, “Never gonna happen, Treyjen. If the only business you have left is to try to annoy me, you can go. After all, you've a whole month more to find ways to make yourself obnoxious. I do have work to do.”
Treyjen feigned offense, “How very rude, Weyrleader. This is how you treat friends that carry your drunk ass the entire way back to your weyr after you make a fool of yourself?”
A'zael threw up his hands in surrender and walked past him, to his office, “Stay or go, I'm going back to work.”
“Well, perhaps Srunae will prove better company.”
A'zael paused, blew out his breath, and glanced back at him, “I doubt it. She's likely studying for her final exams, and as she's determined to graduate top of her class, I don't think she'd thank you for disturbing her. But do as you please... you usually do.” He laughed and lifted a hand in farewell, disappearing into his office.
Something had definitely happened. A'zael hadn't stiffened up or glared at him at all with that little comment. So they had made up, but to what extent? Well, Srunae would likely fill him in next time he saw her. Until then, he supposed he would return to the harbor caves and, as A'zael had said, do whatever he pleased. Or whomever.