Spreading the news (Tag D'seus!)

[Inadua]

There came a knock at the door of D'seus's weyr.

A rapid, ...rather impatient knock.

Because on the outisde of the door stood T'shiro. He'd woken up in a rather chipper mood, which was not out of the ordinary necessarily, but there was no mistaking that obviously sometime in the middle of the night a completely different T'shiro must have come to exchange places with him, because the T'shiro that D'seus had come to know did not ever act this happy outwardly. About anything.

Almost ever.

Never.

"Yo! D'seus! Hey, D'seus, you up yet?"

The Bronzerider stood waiting, trying to be patient, but obviously a bit fidgity, as he couldn't hold still. T'shiro's hands and arms supporting three bottles of good wine, he was trying to get one open even before the Shadow Winglead let him in.

[HG]

He read the parchment in front of him for the fifth time. Zorometh watched half lidded from his ledge. Well? Something is missing. He thought to his dragon while looking at his diagram. D’seus had a hobby of creating new wing patterns for his Wings drills. He had big plans for drills today. Lately all the Wingleaders were pushing their wings further and further. They were preparing for battle, after all. He was wearing loose linen type pants and no shirt. It would seem like he had only been awake long enough to work on his little idea.

When the knock came at his door, he looked up surprised. Not many people were up at this candlemark. Wingsecond T’shiro, to see you. The dragon interjected before the man called in. D’seus walked to the door unsure of why the man would be paying him a visit so early. He sounded rather chipper. Not at all a normal characteristic coming from the other Bronzerider. D’seus was generally a much more positive person than T’shiro. What could this be about? He wondered as his hand unlatched the door. Opening it wide, he noted the wine bottles and the look on his Wingsecond’s face.

“Good morning, T’shiro. Come on in. There should be space over on the table for the wine…” He watched the man carefully. D’seus would have helped but he feared trying to grab one of the bottles would ruin the delicate balance in place. “Are we celebrating?” And what would they be celebrating. Nothing important had happened to him of late and T’shiro had never really opened up to him about his personal life.

Maybe it was a woman? They tended to have that effect, but he’d never pegged his Wingsecond as the type to commit to any woman. It had to be something else. D’seus was sure he wouldn’t have to pry far to get the information he desired.

[Inadua]

“Good morning, T’shiro. Come on in. There should be space over on the table for the wine…”

Showing his gratification in a curt bow of his head, T'shiro was quick to enter so that he could find a resting place for the wine bottles and a couple of glasses. As he passed by D'seus, he began, "Here. I'll pour you a bottle..."

"I mean.. a glass. ...Unless you want a whole bottle. I won't stop you."

Each bottle was given special care as he set them gingerly atop the table, not daring to make any real sudden movements in case, as his Winglead had cautioned, the bottles might fall from where they'd been precariously positioned.

“Are we celebrating?”

The single bottle that he'd already started to remove the cork on, T'shiro brought with him when he turned back around to face the other man. Issuing a loud 'pop', the cork of the bottle went soaring.

"I think you'll agree that the occasion is deserving enough! I'm pregnant!"

Time out. That didn't come out right.

Tipping the open end of the wine bottle in D'seus' direction in order to add emphasis, he corrected, "She's pregnant!"

"Vaylee and I are going to have a baby. She's in Illume Wing. Rather educated it seems. The woman's also an apprentice dragon healer and works with my sister! Can you believe it?"

With a glance at the bottle in hand, he remembered, "Ah! Drinks!" And spun right back around in search of drinking vessels to pour the wine into. Moments later, he slid a full glass infront of the obvious 'head' of the table where he figured D'seus had been sitting before he arrived.

Hazel eyes drifted as he placed this bottle with the rest that he'd brought, but didn't get very far before running across the pile of papers D'seus had been studying. A particular wing formation caught his attention and in one hand, the Bronzerider lifted it to examine what his Winglead had been trying to sketch to satisfaction. "What is this? Something new?"

Sharp eyes studied the page, making necessary mental calculations of what had been drawn in, "It's not complete, but....if we were to try and make the wing any larger to reduce some vulnerability, it would likely be too large to form up quickly enough to be effective. Was there something else you were going to add to it?" Either way, they could look at it later.

T'shiro sat himself in a chair nearby, looking up over the rim of the glass at his Winglead as he took a drink. Laying the sketch out on the table again, the Bronzerider watched his Lead while in his head somehow, thoughts of wing formations and babies started to get all jumbled up. That particular excitement of being a new father started to luminate his eyes brightly again.

[HG]

There was something seriously wrong with the Wingsecond of Shadow Wing. D’seus found himself watching the man in wonder of what had him so completely discombobulated. The man was mixing up words left and right which quite frankly made him more concerned for the man’s mental health. T’shiro was sooo, err, stoic most of the time. The Wingleader was sure he was going to have to endure more mishaps throughout the conversation, especially as they were about to add spirits to the mix. D’seus did not normally indulge in wine this early in the day. Who could refuse a celebratory drink though?

T’shiro finally got around to telling him what this was about but it came out completely wrong. He couldn’t help himself he laughed a little. Course when the other man recovered and went on to explain his relationship, D’seus knew he raised a quizzical brow. “Well I do have to commend you on your choice of partner. Vaylee is quite the amiable beauty.”And he knew exactly why she was in dragon healing. Cupith could not last even a quarter of a Fall, being so small and not really the most muscular of dragons. The green was a sprinter for certain but she was not much use in all practicality. The green was however, quite empathetic towards humans and other dragons. Vaylee’s previous healing knowledge had created the opportunity for Raelwyn to strongly suggest dragon healing to the young woman. He would say there were few women as naturally charming as the greenrider.

“Congratulations.” He lifted a glass and toasted, “To your future child and gorgeous partner.” Although he would not go so far as to assume they were official. T’shiro did not come across as a man who let women in enough to become serious with them. Although it was surprising a woman who was as notoriously loose as Vaylee was had captured the Bronzerider’s attentions for as long as she had. He considered the possibility that it was simply convenient but now there was a child involved. It set him to wondering things that were none of his damn business. All of this romantic talk made him wonder what had happened to him? He used to be getting women pregnant all the time, now he didn’t even have time to see Suynie most of the time. What with all his offspring needing guidance, his Wing and Weyrsecond duties, he was glad he wasn’t neglecting his dragon at least.

D’seus followed the other man’s attention to the parchment with the wing formation on it. “Eh, I wouldn’t worry about that too much. Although the adjustments would work, it’s far too complex to implement any time soon. We’ll need to see what we’re missing in Threadfall and adjust the already constructed wing formations to prevent holes and gaps. I’m certain A’lez will have information on the issue when it comes time for our meeting.” D’seus disliked meetings. They never seemed to go his way and even when they did, he didn’t care for being cooped up with a bunch of people who valued their own opinions so much they barely heard what everyone else had to say. He did not see Sakorai being very kind toward other opinions or ideas.

[Inadua]

Joining D'seus in the toast, T'shiro was grinning like a fool. Managing to down the entire glass, he topped both of them off again without a second thought.

Accepting D'seus' answer over the wing formation without further comment on the matter, he nodded, and sat back in the chair he'd taken, tipping it on hind legs while one ankle crossed over a knee in an indolent posture. He understood how much D'seus enjoyed meetings and grinned at that, but chose to change the subject. "I really can't wait to be a father. Vaylee and I should have another baby after this one."
Of course, it was easy to tell how excited he was, and maybe the latter statement would need some approval by Vaylee and seemed a little ambitious, but still...There was so much more he wanted to express that he just couldn't get out in words. What a basket case!

"Vaylee...I don't know why she... But I really like her. I'm so happy that she's willing to stay with me and carry my child. This Bronzerider doesn't deserve her." Adoringly, he chuckled at the thought, "She's so funny when I get her feathers all ruffled."

"I'm so stupid, though. I got mad at her and..." Shaking his head, he growled emphatically, letting the front chair legs come to rest and then took another drink. "My dumb temper. I don't want her to be afraid of me, or not want to be around me. There will be a better way to get my way with her...Maybe I should get her a present. Women like those sorts of surprises -one that will show her how much I like her."
Stopping to think over it, he drank again...several times, still obviously not quite ready to admit that with a woman like Vaylee there would be more compromises than anything else, or perhaps just giving her what she wants instead of the other way around. T'shiro however, was unabashedly patriarchal in his way, and even the Weyr would have a hard time changing that about him.


"Hey. D'seus?" The second glass was almost empty now, and very abruptly, the jubilance seemed to drain from T'shiro. Eyes narrowed a whit, averting his gaze. "Can I ask you something? When each of your children came, did any of your women..die giving birth?
"I want to have children, and I believe that Vaylee is a very fine partner, but I need to know if... I may be taking responsibility soon...for the loss of an irreplaceable thread fighting pair. Should I choose to have children with non-dragonriders instead?"
Some of Vaylee's hysterics about her fear of dying in childbirth had obviously gotten T'shiro thinking and worrying for her well-being. Part of him knew that plenty of women lived to be perfectly healthy after having many children and so Vaylee should be able to, too. There was that ever present doubt though, in the back of his mind that made him fret over-much. The good news: the reason he worried so much, was because it was Vaylee in this position -someone he deeply cared for and didn't want to lose. T'shiro was ready to do whatever necessary to be there to help her and support her. On the other hand, if worse came to worse, he was letting D'seus know he was fully prepared to shoulder all of the blame for their deaths.
The Bronzerider filled his glass for the third time.

[HG]

It was good to see the other man so happy and he should be. D’seus had been denied access to his eldest child because the mother was a cotholder and refused to move to the weyr. He indulged the other man’s happiness and allowed the conversation to flow in the direction that made the other most excited. The prospect of having a child was always a good thing at the Weyr even if some people did not believe it, they were quite small in population. The world needed to be peopled. “I’m sure the young lady has many turns of childbearing yet, no need to rush on to a second child just yet.” D’seus laughed lightly. Putting down his glass, he slumped in his chair a little. There were so many things to look forward to that for some reason or other, D’seus seemed to have missed in his own children’s lives. “Have you been giving thought to who will foster the babe? Vaylee is a rider and you are a rider, I doubt either of your schedules will allow for the child to live with you.”

All of his children were not raised by him. In fact the only child whom he had any say in the fostering was H’nuk. For the simple reason that his mother was not around, the lad was literally dropped on the Weyr’s doorstep. “Well I doubt it was all your temper. Women are fickle creatures and much more sensitive than any living being has a right to be. If you are concerned that you are driving her away, my advice is to back off a little.” Vaylee was from what D’seus knew of the twin, free from complications with men till now. She had been one to sleep with whomever she was in the mood for. Surely the idea of being “settled” was going to make her flighty, then add in overprotection and jealousy… it was a recipe for disaster really. He knew…he was the same way. “I am sure a gift will be appreciated even if given for no reason at all. What woman does not want to be admired, thought of and shown she is special?”

The word “like” seemed a bit silly in this situation. D’seus was sure his Wingsecond was well beyond simply liking the young woman. Otherwise this conversation would not be taking place at all. Women men liked, were not thought of every second of the day, or worried over. Love however, that was something that could drive a man crazy. D’seus was growing a little concerned though. If Vaylee was using T’shiro things could go very wrong. He could not risk the sanity of a Bronzerider over the whims of a silly greenrider.

D’seus was all ears but the question caught him off guard. Was he concerned the young woman would die? He felt the excitement drain from the room quickly. He supposed now was the time for a narrative of his own children’s mothers and births. “To be completely honest I was not around for any of the births. When I was younger I tended to visit small Gathers and the like. Non-Weyr folk bore my first two known children. Neande’s mother was from a small cothold. She came to the Weyr when her mother died, but it was not from the birth of Neande, it was many Turns later. My second child, H’nuk was born to a Trader. I have no idea if she died. The babe was left at the Weyr without much explanation other than the knowledge he was mine. Riseus and Desera are from the same mother. She is alive and well.” And likely still mooning after him though he had never been in love with her the woman had pursued him for quite a while. “ My youngest thus far, is Lareseu, he is seven and his mother is alive and well too.”

He really had had no trouble with women giving birth but there were those who did die. He had been quite lucky actually. “Now if you don’t mind my asking, do you have reason to believe there will be complications with the birth? The only reasons I know of for a woman to not survive childbirth, long lasting labor resulting in exhaustion, infection from the birth, the baby not in the right position for birth, multiple babies in the womb…” Okay, maybe this was not helping matters. Come to think of it, he must be very lucky considering his philandering.

[Inadua]

“Have you been giving thought to who will foster the babe? Vaylee is a rider and you are a rider, I doubt either of your schedules will allow for the child to live with you.”


D'seus was right, T'shiro hadn't considered that yet. For a moment, he wondered if it would be fair to ask his sister to care for the baby. T'shiro trusted his sister and was certain that she would agree to it...but would it be fair to her, if he should require it? On second thought, that put him off about the whole idea, and figured perhaps he should start thinking about someone else for the task. Perhaps Vaylee would know a woman who could care for it.

As his Winglead recounted all of the memories of each of the mothers of his children that he could recall, T'shiro was considerate of each story. D'seus seemed to know a lot about childbirth. T'shiro didn't realize that so much could go wrong; but again, that didn't change the fact that indeed, women should be able to handle such a thing just fine since it is what nature intended.
Nursing the third glass of wine with a swirl in his glass and a sip, then repeating the action again, it took him a moment to reply, "I suppose you're right. She should have many childbearing years in her yet." At that, the Bronzerider grinned. "It's what happened to her mother that makes her afraid. I told her that her mother's fate did not belong to her; that each of us has our own, and we would create a better one for her."
That apparently seemed to be enough reassurance for now, because the light of certain personal conquest seemed to have returned to his eyes. The man's posture relaxed again and taking another drink, he mulled over the things he would have to decide on next.. a foster mother and a name...
"What do you think? If it's a boy, we'll name him Takeshi." Of course, no such thing had yet been discussed with the Greenrider carrying the baby, and if it was a girl? Well he was really hoping for a boy for now, so he just left it at that.


"It may not be my place to ask," but he'd just about finished that third glass, and obviously felt at ease enough to get a little more chummy and be a little more nosey, "what is D'seus' story? Before Impression?"

[HG]

“Her mother bore twins. It is not uncommon for mothers to die birthing two babies. But you are right, she need not worry. In fact I think since she works in the dragon infirmary, she could visit with the healers about it. They might set her mind at ease.” That was all D’seus could really contribute. He was no expert on women or their fears but fear of childbirth was more common than they probably realized here at the Weyr. Especially since there was a way to avoid having children at the Weyr. One more way dragons did come in handy.

“I believe it is customary for the mother to name the child.” Although that would be something the man should discuss with Vaylee and not himself. “ Here at the Weyr the child’s name indicates both parents. Neande and H’nuk were not born at the Weyr but my other children were all given names that indicated their parentage.” He did not read much into the name given only being for a boy. He had never really been concerned with the gender of his children. Although when they were little he was barely concerned about them at all. He was a good father by Weyr standards which was not actually all that great. He admitted to his own inadequacies as a father freely. Although H’nuk was the child that took the most of his attention he was also the child who had needed the most guidance.

Now though he needed to concern himself with Neande and her future. She had no family here to watch out for her except for him and she had a horrible habit of making people believe she was dim or crazy. D’seus knew neither was true and her mother had given her far too much free reign as a child so she still lived in some fantasy world and had yet to face the reality that she was going to have to grow up. At seventeen he had Impressed Zorometh and had spent turns prior to that training in the Weyr Guard with his brothers.

He laughed, “No its perfectly alright. I have no skeletons in my closet. My mother works in the kitchens, my father was a rider whom I never saw. Typical dragon riding father really. My mother is the most charming and caring person I’ve ever met, even on the worst of days she can light up a room.” His mother was alive and happy working as a cook. Certainly she never ever complained a day in her life. She was always so bubbly. “I’ve been told I take after her good qualitites.” He laughed. “Anyway I had a normal weyr childhood. I spent my day in the Creche with the other children. Had a band of other boys who followed me around and caused havoc about the Weyr.” Oh yes, the apple never falls far from the tree. H’nuk’s childhood nearly mimicked his own except his mother was long gone and out of his life.

“I decided to train in the Weyr Guard, my younger brothers followed, naturally. One day we were training about two maybe three candlemarks from the Weyr near a small cothold when a blue dragon actually Searched me. I tried to explain I didn’t need to be Searched I was from the Weyr but the blue was quite adamant I stand for the clutch three months later. And it was at the only Hatching I ever stood for, seventeen turns old, when I Impressed Zorometh. Honestly I did not believe it and the darned dragon practically dragged me to the feeding area.” The fact of the matter was he never really dreamed about being a rider because he had resented his father so much for never once taking the time to see him. He never wanted to be anything like the man. Now here he was, being much like him, though D’seus at least acknowledges and sees his children from time to time.

“I’m sure your childhood is much more interesting.” Life story, now please, while your drinking and willing to tell everyone where you came from. D’seus knew some things that other people did not know about T’shiro but even he did not know enough to really have a feeling for where the man’s cold nature came from. D’seus understood that being distant kept him from unleashing his terrible anger. Why and what the anger was for was something that still needed uncovering. Vaylee might have a better chance at gleaning that information from him than he would. Yet another reason to have a little chat with the woman. He really could not have her unhinging his Wingsecond.

[Inadua]

T'shiro wasn't interested that children at the Weyr took names from both parents or were usually given names by their mothers but he made no sign of disagreement and topped both of their drinks off again. After all, anything that would trigger Vaylee getting all flustered in front of him was worth even feigned disagreement over because he adored her and her reactions. He enjoyed teasing her because she stimulated him in ways that nothing else in life seemed to be able to.

That aside, as D'seus went about telling his story, T'shiro nodded frequently and was very interested in the Winglead's tale. He enjoyed hearing about D'seus' mother. She seemed like the kind of person he himself would like to know.
Laughing when his Winglead recounted his youth being spent causing all sorts of disorder, he was certain now, that was part of the reason he liked D'seus. Now he knew the real truth: trouble maker at heart, just as he had been. It was one of the reasons that D'seus would probably always, in some way, defy age.

"Ah." Having joined the Weyr Guard? T'shiro's eyes showed more interest; now here was something he could relate to. His respect for the man heightened, and a little more made sense to T'shiro now, about D'seus.

“I’m sure your childhood is much more interesting.”

Slapping his knee, T'shiro couldn't help but laugh aloud at D'seus' prod. And D'seus' thoughts were the Wingsecond's intentions; it was against T'shiro's nature to talk about personal things, so he'd known all along that inevitably, something like this would have to happen for him to properly open up about himself. He also believed that in order to work incredibly well together as a team, the two of them would have to have a better understanding of one another. Not to mention, he respected D'seus above any other Bronzerider as far as he was concerned...he figured he owed him this much, especially if they were ever to become friends outside of having to work together.

There was only one secret T'shiro kept, but there was no real reason to conceal anything else; in the past, being vague just made things simpler and -since he didn't like having to talk about personal things- he felt like it kept people from being too nosy.
"Aaaai." Now that the time was turned over to him, T'shiro sat back in his chair again, running a hand through his long blonde hair, revealing the long scar across his face. Closing his eyes for a long moment, a grin spread across his olive complected features.
"To make things simple, I usually just stick to the story that my family all run a caravan and we spent all our lives hauling goods and people from one location to another, suffering the hardships of living in the wilds and at times carving our own roads through the wilderness when we had to. That's true, and it's easy for people to fill in the rest of my life from there with their own crazy imaginations."

Laughing again, T'shiro set his glass down finally, and brought his hands together, interlocking his fingers. "But I only lived with my family until I was 14. Each winter, the caravan would have to find a place to shelter and replenish our own energy and supplies. Usually that was done at a the same cothold every turn. It'd been a tradition for as long as any of us could remember because of the friendship the holding family and my father and father's father had."

Though his grin did not expire and he seemed entirely relaxed, the Wingsecond's tone grew a bit more foreboding, if not resigned about the truth of it, "Heh. But there are still a dim few lies I live by."
He shrugged his shoulders, "At 14 I was just as rebellious as you seem to have been." T'shiro laughed again. "The holdless were becoming more of a problem to both the caravan and the cotholds, so I stayed at the cothold to help rally a force that could fend them off and protect those trying to live their lives in peace.

"Of course, I learned probably too early in life that once you leave the safety of Neutrality, Good and Bad are set before you, and you have to make a decision of which will be your master. At that point, there is no going back. Neutrality can no longer exist. I chose T'gir and his father as my masters -rest assured, they have always been Good.

"Because we tended to move around a lot from location to location to secure cotholds other than our own, constantly adding to the fighting force we possessed, I never got to spend time with T'gir like my brother did,...yet I know that he is the most honourable master anyone could serve.

"I was able to witness one day, a man about to be executed for a heinous crime. The cothold used to be against carrying out a death penalty, but making more people holdless would just add to the holdless problem. So to cure two ills at once, it was typically that criminals were executed by sword -it's how we tested the strength of newly forged blades. Sometimes many criminals or unrepentant holdless at once, were tied together...only a master swordsman was allowed to carry out the execution, because that limited unknown variables when it came to testing the new blade itself. Well, I won't ruin your appetite by telling you how many bodies a masterfully crafted sword has the potential to slice through in one swing. I bet even the Dragonshield can't tell you that." The Bronzerider grinned, taking a sip of his drink.

"But this particular day, there was no master swordsman, so a criminal was about to be hung. T'gir rushed onto the platform unexpectedly and cut the noose from about his neck, proclaiming 'The man before you is now dead! He is given new life in order to serve me!' Though just a boy at the time, T'gir saw something good in that man that could be redeemed, and he stuck his neck out to save the man's life, taking responsibility for him thereafter. Indeed, the man ended up serving the holding family for many years.

"He sees great things in people, learns to understand them, and then equips them. He understood how to inspire people and change people by showing mercy when they least expected it. That is why those who know him love him unceasingly. T'gir and his Father are both strict task masters, but they work hard to earn the trust and loyalty that people entrust them with, so I learned that I could follow every order given by them on Good Conscience for as long as I lived.

"Though the tasks we set about weren't always pleasant, we were never allowed to act without kind regard for the people of the cotholds. We were of the people working for the good of the people, and it was instilled in us that, 'if you are not kind, you will only grow weak.'...but as we all learned, not everyone we had to deal with reciprocated with kindness-especially when it come to the holdless." T'shiro's voice was a little spiteful, "Which is why I chose the job that I did. Unfortunately, even as death is a part of life, mingling with death changes a man in far different ways that simply living life -whether it be for better or worse." Maybe it was the wine that relaxed his attitude about it all, but somehow, he could laugh about it now; and he did.

As if to prepare himself, T'shiro knocked back the rest of the wine he'd been working on. In all honesty, he was a little nervous about the opinions D'seus would have of him after this however, T"shiro was never one to hesitate jumping off the cliff once he'd made up his mind to do so. So he finished his story brazenly, making it real for D'seus so that if he felt like judging his Wingsecond over who he really was, then he could do so to the fullest measure. T'shiro wasn't about to be shy about it. "The rest of my childhood I learned to become a killer. I have no pleasant, fantasized misconceptions about the fact that no matter how many pretty words you decorate it with,... a sword is the only weapon whose sole purpose is to kill another human -it is a weapon of murder."

T'shiro let that sink in for a moment. "A sword is the first weapon I learned to swing. Axes, staffs, sticks, knives, arrows, etcetera,...every one of them is a tool of craft and honest labour; but not a sword. I have always thought that's why swords were granted such different, perhaps higher respect. They are the reapers of lives...and life and death must be respected.

"For as long as I have been a dragonrider, I learned to hunt the holdless who would steal away the peace and prosperity from those whom I'd come to love and respect. But again, that's just assigning pretty words to an ugly reality. We were fighting for survival, just like the Weyrs fight the holdless in order to survive now. We may possess the greater cause, but regurgitating high-sounding phrases like, 'We're fighting to save Pern' just sounds good.

"In any case, when the holdless decide to lay siege on the Weyr again, let me assure you, my skills may be a bit rusty in comparison to the DragonShield, but my blades are not too clean to prove useful." The Bronzerider found something to laugh at again, even though he could have cried at the same moment. Indeed, maybe it was just the wine,... but T'shiro wanted to be a good person, and it saddened him to think that he couldn't be. Perhaps the depth of his self-doubt -even much of his anger- was anchored in the fact that he didn't believe that he could truly be a murderer and a good person at the same time -even if the only murders he'd ever committed were in order to protect those he loved and to protect the peace and prosperity of others.

How many glasses was it now? T'shiro's hand rested on the nearly empty bottle of wine, thinking to finish it, but was unable to fill his glass. Maybe he was just undecided if he should drink anymore? Or maybe, after he got quiet, he was simply too sobered and focused on his own thoughts to be able to do anything else.