Oh GREAT Fun., tag: Missa/C'lior

[Meow]

She was serving double duty right now. She had been a journeyman healer, albeit barely, before she Impressed and her skills were rusty to the highest degree. But, they were needing all the help they could get and no way in hell was she going to deny them that help. Things were bad. The dragonhealer was dead, others were missing, and still more were sick from whatever the Sharding living hell was going around. She was tired, but she was less tired than some of the others, and since she didn't have to be out on Search right now she had to do something to help.

~Yes but not so much you fall over. Last time I saw you fall over you had had too much wine. It amused me in that case, but this would not.~

Tia blinked at the voice of her Karith in her mind and laughed softly, shaking her head as she went about cleaning the wound of the man on the cot in front of her. He looked at her oddly, but he said nothing, so she simply went about her business.

'My darling, I will not fall over, don't worry. I have to help though. We will go for a short jaunt later ok?'

She heard the mental nod of her dragon.

~I will hold you to this. Do not try to skiv off!~

The Slaterider grinned and nodded to herself, and the man she was treating clearly thought she was nuts. Because he spoke, sounding almost afraid. This was priceless.

"Hey... sure you shouldn't be locked away in one of the lower rooms."

She looked at him a moment, staring really, and he shrank back. She had that kind of look. She was five feet even sure, and this man was over six feet tall she was guessing if he stood, but she had the expression of doom down pat. "Darling, I'm talking to my dragon. Don't worry, I won't use the wrong kind of salve on your wound. How did you cut your shin like this anyway? Running with a knife?" The flush told her something. She had been right about that guess? She laughed softly. "Really?"

The male nodded silently and she grinned. "Well you're all patched up. Come back and get the dressing changed in a couple days so we can make sure it's going well ok?"

He nodded and got out of their fast. She grinned wearily and cleaned up the cot area, throwing away anything contaminated and cleaning it as best she could. Then she went to wash her hands.

An hour later....

She was sitting in the dining hall and eating quickly. Not because she was in a hurry, but because she always did. Grinning, she had to really, she ate more, chatting it up with the rider across from her having the same as her, a massive, late evening dinner. Except the man across from her worked metal and was burly. He was eating the same amount as her. Tia just had... an insane metabolism. No matter how much she ate she couldn't get a bit more meat on her bones, and she had to eat the amount she did now to keep her weight where ti was.

The male Garle, finished his meal and waved a cheery goodbye before moving off with his dishes. She chuckled and kept on eating, shoveling food, sipping klah. She needed to get out for her flight soon enough otherwise she was sure Karith's voice was going to claw out the inside of her skull.

~Are you done yet? Are you done yet? I want to goooooo!~ came the Slate's voice in her mind.

She giggled.

[Missa]

Now this is ridiculous, C'lior. You have lessons to plan, dinner to eat and patrol to get on. The young Weyrwoman will have your hide if she finds you in your cups so early in the day.

Serlanth's voice, normally so calm and delibrate, rang with annoyance. High on the stones outside, one could see the bulky Sapphire clenching and unclenching his talons against the hard rock, his wings flared to show others that he was in no mood to be bothered. Friendly as the Sapphire usually was, C'lior's depression had reached a point where the dragon was honestly terrified. There was a light there, but it was so dimmed and fragile that he feared the smallest breath would huff it out. Then there would be nothing left of his beloved rider, just an empty husk, living and breathing but not truly there...

Already, one could see the strain in the older man. The strain of his illness, so recent and so-nearly fatal. His footsteps were heavy, but they were the tired stomp of a man trying his best to trudge through the snow. So tired he just wanted to lie down and rest, and knowing that he couldn't. In one calloused hand, the wine skin was held rather uncertainly, as though he wasn't sure why he was holding it anymore. Or perhaps that he couldn't decide between throwing it away and holding it close. Did it truly matter what he held close? The Winter always took them anyway, leaving him with only Serlanth.

When he'd first felt the icy hand of the poison strain his throat, C'lior had thought for a moment that he was finally done. He had paid his due, he had done everything they had ever asked. He'd thought of resting, of closing his eyes and seeing her face again. And Ealinor's... His little boy, bright eyes, charming smile, voice like an angel... For a moment, he'd almost imagined he could hear his voice, calling for him beyond the fog. And then thrice-Sharded Corissa had been there, saving his life. He hadn't wanted to be saved. He'd wanted so bad to die.

Why did you call me back, Ser? He questioned softly, feeling the tears prickle at his vision again as he stumbled forward a step. One step, another, and a familliar giggle filled his ears. Tia. He'd never really thought much about the younger woman, never really let her play on his mind. Then again, after his Mate's death, he'd withdrawn from all women. This time though, he made his way over to her, swaying slightly even as he flopped into the seat next to her.
"Tia.. Of Karith.." He mumbled her name, blue eyes distantly gazing at the wine skin as he took another long swallow -- maybe if he was lucky, he'd get poisoned again -- despite the ban.
"Tia.. You know... I think... I think I may be drinking a little too much."

Gee, you think?

[Meow]

Really, are you done yet? I am hungry, and you know I get cranky when I am hungry. You do not like me when I am cranky, I know this, so we should go yes?

She laughed aloud, and with all the rider's about no one thought it odd. Heck, some of them were doing the same thing. For the most part the weyr didn’t look oddly upon that kind of thing from riders. Unless it was a case like earlier when she hadn’t been wearing her knots and someone thought she was psychotic for laughing aloud. She was basically taking care all of the little things so that the full trained and up to snuff healers could take care of the really sick ones. She didn’t mind that. If it could save even one more.

I suppose. Just give me a little bit ok? I want to finish this food and get another cup of klah. Then maybe we’ll ride the patrol route you’re fond of. Fair?

There was a thoughtful pause and then a mental sort of nod, and laughing in bemusement Tia got back to her food and klah, shaking her head. Karith needed to work off that energy so maybe she’d ask for a extra route and do a patrol maybe. By the end of THAT he should be more than willing to sleep through the night and bother her. He had so much energy that at times he still woke her up like he had when he was a hatchling.

A bit of food to her mouth she was resolved. She would definitely do that. She looked around for someone she could ask but she saw no one. It would add a few minutes before she could get to Karith but that was fine. He’d thank her for it later.

Humming to herself she took a sip of klah, towards the tail end of her meal, just a few bites left, when she heard footsteps. This wasn’t abnormal of course but someone sitting directly beside her wasn’t as common. It didn’t bother her per se but she arched a brow as she looked over. C’lior? He looked… well he looked like hell. She had heard he had been sick and survived but this was more than that. His ruggedly handsome face was pale and drawn, dark circles under his eyes. She felt a flash of concern for the man. She knew what had happened of course, in his past. Everyone in the weyr knew, and though she didn’t know him well she thought he’d been doing ok. She took a breath next and held back a gag. He smelled very much, very strongly like drink.

He seemed to remember her name, which was interesting, but she was more concerned with the wobbling and the fact that it was a little early to be this heavy into the wine. And if she remembered correctly wasn’t he supposed to be out on a patrol?

Love I need you to do what you do best and go find Serlanth. As him about his Rider. Her mental tone was worried enough that the Slate didn’t question her, merely did what he was told. Tia blinked when she heard him speak though. What was she supposed to say to that? She decided to be her blunt, normal self. ”Yes I think you are C’lior. I can smell it.” Reaching out, she snatched the wine skin from his hand and glared up at him. He was a foot taller than her, but she wasn’t intimidated. She’d brought down bigger. ”Stay here. Do NOT move, do you hear me?” He outranked her, but she didn’t care. She didn’t even know him that well but there was something going on here and she wasn’t going to let any Rider go out on patrol like this. And she was concerned for him. Didn’t he know that Lanae would KILL him if she saw him like this?

Stalking over to the line she picked up a full plate of food and an entire thermos of klah. She left the wine skin at the kitchen, asked them to empty it and then send it back to his room when it was cleaned. She walked back to the table and plopped the plate down in front of him, and the cup, and then she opened the thermos and dumped some klah in. After than, she shoved the cup at him. ”Drink this. Now. We’re going to get you sobered up before Lanae sees you. You’re patrolling tonight right? No way I’m letting you go drunk.”

Tia might be bitchy sometimes, ok a LOT of the time, but the fact remained that she was the kind of person that would stop a total stranger from driving their cart home if they were drunk at a Gather. She placed a hand over the one not holding the klah mug and squeezed gently, trying to get his attention. ”Are you ok C’lior?”

Karith, having took wing, finally spotted Serlanth. The bulky Sapphire was quite a bit bigger than him but that didn’t stop him from coming in for a elegant, neat landing beside the other male. He folded his wings in and tilted his head to get a good look at the Sapphire. His wings were flared, he obviously didn’t want to be bothered, but he had to. His rider had asked it.

Serlanth, my Rider asked me to talk to you. Is Your’s ok? He knew it was almost a dangerous question to ask, given the apparent mood of the Sapphire, but he had to ask it. Mine is concerned for him.

[Missa]

It really said a lot for C'lior's state of mind that he was anywhere near Tia at all. Over the years since his mate's death, he'd pretty much avoided women at all costs. Though that had been purely in a social circumstance, and then, just three turns ago now.. everything had fallen apart in his world and suddenly he hadn't wanted anything to do with anything human. Whether that be adult, child, woman or man. He hadn't been able to force himself to smile, he hadn't been able to make himself do anything more than snarl aimlessly at people and make the candidates lives a living hell. It had all been for him though.. all to make up for his one fatal mistake.

So wrapped up in his thoughts as he was, C'lior missed the almost gag on his fellow riders face, tilting the wine skin up to take another long swallow as he fixed bleary eyes on her.
"Th' pain. Makes the pain... dull.. don't have to--" His voice trailed off into a confused little grunt as the wineskin was snatched from his grip, hand still opening and closing as though wondering where it had gone to. He was really so sleepy, so exhausted. Once again Tia spoke to him, and C'lior managed to look up at her, eyelids drooping as he managed a sloppy nod. Stay, yes. He could do that.

It didn't matter right then and there that Tia was both below him in rank and smaller than him in general. Right now, he was being given an order, and at the present moment, it was really all C'lior could do.

It seemed like only seconds had passed -- maybe he'd gone to sleep? -- before a plate was placed infront of him. Immediately, the large man moved to push it away from himself, nose wrinkling in distaste.
"Not hungry, thanks." Even heavily drunk, his manners remained somewhat intact, and C'lior reluctantly pulled the thermos of Klah towards himself, sipping it it absently. He didn't care if it burnt his mouth, he didn't care about any of it anymore.
"Hm. Yes. Patrol." He managed eventually, nodding his head slowly, "Dusk patrol, s'posed to comb the rims of the weyr for... for... for herdbeasts..."

Her hand rested on his arm, and C'lior barely restrained himself from jerking away from her grip. It was a light touch, almost feather-light, but it was familliar. Too familliar. Another face swam before his eyes, with golden hair and a sweet laugh, before Tia's (not entirely unappealing) face returned. Even as a comrade and friend, the stab of disappointment that twisted his heart was almost more than the rider could bear. Then her question followed. The wine, combined with everything else of the last few moments, simply broke the tough exterior as he choked back a sob.
"I want to die, Tia... I don't want to bother living in this.. this.. emptiness. I can't... I don't.." Even slurred, the anguish in his voice rang through clear, and his eyes were surprisingly clear when they fixed back on the younger woman.
"When... when I was poisoned.. I wished more than anything... for a moment I could hear them. His laugh... just like it was yesterday.."

Far from hospitable, Serlanth's snarl when his wingmate landed would have made the weyrling's toes curl. After a moment though, the tense sapphire relaxed, his wings folding back along his sides almost in defeat.
No, Kirith. He is not. There is much that is broken inside Mine. I am not sure how many winters he can make it through. One disaster after another, his soul.. it is like a weak candle, flickering in the wind. I fear for him, because there is so little light left.

[Meow]

She knew of course what had happened in C’lior’s past. You had to have lived under a rock not to know. But she hadn’t seen him, she didn’t know how much it was effecting him. She’d never had tragedy in her life quite like he had done so she really couldn’t understand it. Then again she didn’t even know that that was what this was all about. Maybe he had just had an extraordinarily bad day?

Oh great… any talk about the dulling of pain made it less and less likely that this was just about a bad day, but she was going to wait until she had all the information. She didn’t know how to handle someone in this kind of mood at all, but she wasn’t just going to leave him like this either. She was too much of a sweetheart despite her protests to leave him as he was. You ARE a sweetheart Mine. I have found Serlanth, I am speaking to him now. I will let you know what is said! She gave a mental sort of nod as she went back to observing the older male. He looked… worn; he didn’t look healthy at all and it worried her. When was the last time he had eaten a good meal? Hence why she was providing him with the food and the klah. Both would help him sober up.

Not hungry? She growled. ”Please C’lior, at least eat the roll. When was the last time you ate a good meal?” She hoped he had eaten before all the booze or he was going to feel even worse the next day. She had to wonder though, as drunk as he was he was still polite. The dusk patrol? Comb the rims for herdbeasts… no way was he going to be able to manage that without falling off in this state, but if she mentioned it to someone that he couldn’t make it they would wonder why and she didn’t want to get him in trouble. Maybe she could do it or get a friend to do it but- She blinked when she felt the sudden tension in his arm and looked up at his face. What was wrong?

He spoke and she felt her stomach drop. It was about exactly what she had feared. She flinched, but she wasn’t going to look away from the pain in his eyes either. She didn’t let go of his hand. He wished to die so he could see his son… She believed in the afterlife but what did she say to this? How could she help him?

Karith didn’t move at the snarl. From what he was picking up from his Rider this Sapphire had reason to be upset, and probably needed the company as much as his Rider. He listened, and his normally bright eyes started to whirl gently with worry. Oh Serlanth I am sorry. She will help him. She won’t let his flame go out! He gently nuzzled the Sapphire’s shoulder. It was a reassuring kind of thing, and even though he did not know Serlanth that well it was just the kind of dragon he was to do such a thing. He spoke to his Rider quietly. Serlanth says there is much broken in His, and he does not know how much time he has left. His soul is flickering, there isn’t much light left. Help him Mine!

Tia heard Karith and mentally she gave a bit of a sigh. She didn’t know how to help him, but she had to try. ”C’lior,” she said quietly, ”come on. You’re in no state to make that patrol. I’ll get it covered.” She picked up the thermos of klah and stood. ”Come on.” She looped her arm through his and pulled him up to his feet, setting off for the hallway. Once they were out of earshot of the others in the dining hall, she started to speak. Quietly. ”C’lior… do you truly think your son would want you to feel this miserable?” She remembered the boy. He had been a bright, happy child right up until the day he had died. She hadn’t seen him much, but every time she had he had had a smile on his face. ”You need to get yourself together! I can’t think he is enjoying looking down on you and seeing you this way.” She had no idea if she was saying the right thing, but she really didn’t think that the bright, happy boy would enjoy seeing his father this way. "Now where is your weyr? I'm going to get you settled ok?"