(no subject)

[sythyry]

Spare Roommate

Tethezai has, evidently, moved in. At least she spent last night in Dustweed's arms. Some might expect that having a Zi Ri in the fireplace watching -- or, at least, compelled to listen -- to their nocturnal adventures, would be an important addition for such a libertine as she. In fact, their nocturnal adventures have been either (1) very quiet and subtle, or (2) not happened at all. Or possibly they stunned me with a spell without my noticing, but I think not.

The other choice for them is worse. Last night they were together at Tethezai's home. Tethezai's parents made quite a point of installing "Lady Dustweed" in the Lavender Suite, sending maids to check on zir before zie fell asleep, and all of that. The Lavender Suite is close by the mother's bedroom, and has windows to outside and hall. The maids are Herethroy. Tethezai made, it is said, three essays to sneak there and collect some suitable privatude, but none was available.

Which brings me to the musing of the morning.

[Poll #140825]

Name of the Day

Brigandina Strenata was gracious enough to invite me to go riding with her this morning. (How does she come to have half a horse? She's not got enough money for half of its stabling! She didn't mention who the other owner was -- presumably that's who pays.) I didn't ride a horse; I perched on her shoulder, and curled my tail over her arm when she nipped the horse's ear and sent her into a gallop.

We took the Cyarr Road rollward four miles and more, to where the Greystark river crosses the Alamme. The Greystark is, of course, all grey with mud and silt, and comes from the edge of the branch. The Alamme is twice its size, and quite cold, and scented with world-sap, and ordinarily flows down the center of the branch or close enough.

The rivers cross, with the warm muddy Greystark slithering over the back of the cold perfumed Alamme like a smaller snake crossing a larger one. If you leap from your horse, and strip off your tunic and trowsers, and leap into the river, as Brigandina did, you can swim between the two rivers and try to mingle their waters. It will not work very well, though a few strands of muddy water are coursing down the Alamme, and a Cani might sniff the Greystark ten leagues downstream and smell sweet sap.

The two rivers cross at an Orren village inevitably named Crosston. Some former duke of Vheshrame, not as secure in his power as the current duke, built Fort Anastrense -- or, rather, hired a wizard whom I know to build it. The building of the fort is a pleasant manor house, save for six ballistas on its flat roof, and the envenomed gaze of its enchantments watching you from six miles away. The heart of the fort is a flock of white birds, gleaming like ivory, for ivory they are. We might not have noticed them, for they are hidden to the magic sense, save that we saw one fly out the chimney of the manor house.

I could not see what potencies they have, and grandparent never told me, but the history books know and the Crosston villagers remember: a peck with the beak which reaches to bone will turn all the victim's bones to lightning. The lucky ones die quickly from the lightning. The villagers laugh at this story, and tell about the mob of laughing, boneless Khtsoyis that took the fort in an afternoon of maceful fighting.

Brigandina and I ate pickled flounder rolled around water weeds atop Fort Anastrense, as the deadly birds flew overhead, and we leaned back against a siege engine scarred long ago by flame and by space-wrench, and she kissed me with the scent of fish on her breath, and she changed her name to Seeks-Feathers, and we rode back home.

I do wish she'd, oh, do an interpretive dance to clarify all relevant matters, or some such.

Comments

[sianmink.livejournal.com]

Seems like you and Strenata are getting on pretty well!

I wonder what your expectations of the relationship might be, though, how compatable that might be with hers in the longer run.

mink's worried about possible wildly differing expectations, and a tiny dragon being hurt. ^^ It is, at least, a distraction from the Tethezai 'situation'.. To which I may add, one night does not constitute 'moving in' though I may be unaware of any customs which might say otherwise.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

First, of course, Strenata and I will not be together in the longer
run, unless (1) she has more endurance in relationship than most Orren
do, and (2) she manages somehow to make an immortality device. Since
(-1) she seems more fickle and variable than even your average Orren,
and (-2) she's not studying advanced magic at all now, this isn't
terribly likely.

Really, all these flirtations and [not-yet-]flings with
other species are on the same terms: they're all temporary. If I want
something truly permanant, I should look within my own species. And
every other Zi Ri cautions that I should wait some considerable time
before even looking for such a thing. Since there aren't any suitable
ones in Vheshrame, that part is easy.

But I haven't the first hint about what she wants ... well, I
suppose the kiss was one hint and the namechange the second, so I am
more accurately awaiting the third.

My own hopes are no more noble than necessary for continued
self-respect. I do expect that she would abandon me before I
abandon her; Orren are generally like that, especially without
children or other strong associations.

On the other topic: one night isn't moving in. Two nights, where
she didn't even ask about the second one, might feel like it to the
unasked roommate.

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you should act quickly, for she's unlikely to seek feathers for long if you don't?

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Quickly but not too quickly! How? What? When?

[papersky.livejournal.com]

If you were to give Dustweed and Tethezai some privacy, maybe they'd return the favour some time when you wanted some -- like if Strenata decides she's actually Seeks-Sythyry.

Maybe you should offer to sleep in the living room fire sometime when Tethezai's sleeping over.

On the subject of amatory collection of different species, you have thought of this in connection with Strenata, right?

(Oh, and I love the phrasing: "do an interpretative dance or something". That's just a perfect way of putting it.)

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

[Sythyry blushes a bit, curling zir tail into a triple spiral.]

In fact, they did get an hour and a half of private time
earlier, or so I gathered by the state of furniture and clothing from
before and after the rest of us went out for a fine and elegant dinner
of ... um ... grilled lizard bits and flatbread, sitting under an
arken tree, watching some obscure cult perform rituals involving chess
boards and the release of butterflies.

But it's a good idea for future arrangements. We do have the Secret
Signal of Do Not Come In Just Now, which I devoutly hope to use at
some point.

On the subject of amatory collection of different species, you have
thought of this in connection with Strenata, right?

At great length indeed! Ultimately, though, there is only one
other person of my species in Vheshrame, viz. my
six-hundred-and-somewhat-year-older-than-me half-sibling. So it's
transaffection or nothing -- or, so far, transaffection and
nothing. [OOC: zie has fretted about it in ... November or so, I
think it was. -bb]

(Oh, and I love the phrasing: "do an interpretative dance or
something". That's just a perfect way of putting it.)

[Bard grins delightedly.]