Logs:A Very Large Brain
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| RL Date: 5 September, 2010 |
| Who: Josian, Madilla |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Madilla, relationship expert. |
| Where: Main Beach, Ista Weyr |
| When: Day 7, Month 9, Turn 23 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Delifa/Mentions, Nenita/Mentions |
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| Main Beach, Ista Weyr The coastline of black sand stretches out in either direction, tropical waters lapping ceaselessly against the subtle decline of the main beach that rests at the base of the plateau cliff. To the northeast, water from the upper pool cascades over the plateau's edge, its destination shrouded in the lush fronts of the jungle's edge and a hint of blue-tinged mist. The Sandbar, Ista's seaside tavern, stands to the south beside the long branching structure of the docks. A cool, cloudy autumn has hit the High Reaches, foretelling the winter ahead. Perhaps that's why Madilla's message arrives, early in month nine, noting that she's going to be at Ista, and perhaps Josian could spare some time? And thus, here she is, without baby, and dressed down to a simple blouse and light skirt, stretched out upon the sand on the main beach, her shoes abandoned beside her. She tips her head back, eyes closed, letting the sun wash over her pale face. It might be a few minutes later then expected when Josian finally makes an appearance, but well, that's life. The Istan is dressed for the beach, wearing just a pair of baggy shorts and sandals. There's a towel thrown over one shoulder. "Enjoying an escape from the frozen wastelands of the north?" Jos jokes in greeting as he makes his way towards Madilla. Turning her head towards Josian, Madilla smiles brightly, laughing. "It's not /quite/ that bad, yet," she tells him. "Though I suppose it won't be too much longer. A couple of sevens ago, the weather was beautiful-- though this is a nice change, anyway." Digging her toes into the sand, the younger of the two healers adds, "How are you, anyway? Aside from gloating over the weather." "Gloating over the weather is some of what I do best. I suppose it's because I'm still so happy to have ended up here." Josian states, taking a moment to spread his towel out before he sprawls out on it. "I'm good! Finally escaped from the infirmary for the day. How are you? How's the little one?" Madilla seems less concerned about the modest keep-your-knees-covered thing, here, on the beach, letting it fall as it will as she stretches her legs out further. "I'll forgive you for it," she promises, turning her upper body to face Josian. "Because I'm nice like that. I'm glad you're good. I am, too. We both are." She pauses, then, laughing, adds, "I've been banished for the day, even. Told that if I don't get out and away from Lily, they'll hold her hostage until I do. I suppose it's for the best." "Sneaky nannies?" Josian asks with a grin. "Probably is. You'll be more refreshed and ready to be an awesome Mom with a day away every once in a great while." Jos decides. The knees? He doesn't even notice. It's still probably about the most modest dress on the beach. "And soaking in some sun sounds like a good get away. As long as you don't fry yourself." "A group effort," Madilla reports. "Delifa," she names the senior healer at High Reaches, "and Lily's main caregiver, and the nannies in general. Between them... I don't think I can argue." She doesn't look too concerned by it, though, and does admit, after a moment, "You're probably right. I /hate/ the idea of being so far away, but I can see good reason for it. It's just... nice. I will be trying very hard not to fry myself, though. That would probably make the return home less relaxing than it ought to be." "I imagine a baby patting at sunburned skin would not be the best feeling in the world." The Istan decides, running his toes through the sand. "And when your boss gets in on the conspiracy, well, you're toast. And you may be a long way in distance, but it's only a short trip by dragon, if they really need you." Madilla runs her bare fingers over her pale arm, nodding ruefully. "Not by half," is her assessment of the sunburn-and-babies combination. "And Lily's favourite place to sleep is on top of me, just to make that more difficult." Shifting her gaze off towards the ocean and the distant horizon, she adds, "Anyway. Exactly. I know they're right, and I /know/ it would take mere minutes to get back if I needed to, but-- it's the furthest I've been from her since she was born. And the longest time I've spent away. It feels strange. Good, though, i think. It's nice to remember that I used to do /other/ things." "That you can be Madilla as well as Mommy and Healer?" Josian tucks his arms behind his head, truly sprawling out. "You could always head into the Sandbar later, to escape the sun for awhile. They have some great greasy foods. And good beer. The Beach House has fancier food, really good stuff." "Exactly." It seems, for Madilla, to sum up everything she's trying to say; she smiles warmly as she speaks, bobbing her head in Josian's direction for emphasis. "The Sandbar? I might have to do that. It'll be a nice change of pace." She digs her toes deeper into the sand, using her hands to pile more on top in a lazy kind of way. "But enough of me. Is there anything of note happening in /your/ life?" Josian considers that question for a moment before he shrugs with a grin. "I could make up some utterly absurd story for you, about amazingly exciting or horrifying events, but no. I mean, pretty much the same thing as when I was up at Reaches. So far, I've refrained from slugging a particularly annoying older Journeyman. And spent way too much time working." Madilla listens intently, though her expression turns amused again as Josian concludes. "We've turned into old people, haven't we? Months without seeing each other, and all we can say is that we work a lot, or talk about our children." It's not that she sounds so very beat up about it, though, not with that smile, the general air of cheeriness. "How are things with--" She has to think for a moment. "Nenny, was it?" "I am officially old! I turned 26 after all." Josian notes before he pauses at that last question. "It's, well..." Josian shifts a bit, running his hand through the sand. "Moving very slowly. I'm letting it. I shouldn't. I should push it along." There's a pause of a moment before he adds, in an actually serious voice. "I rather hate to admit that I'm kind of scared to." Madilla keeps her gaze trained on Josian as he speaks; there's sympathy in her expression, in her pursed lips and narrowed eyes. After a few moments, she nods. "Scared because... you don't want to push? You don't want things to go wrong? Not," and she twists her lips into a rueful smile, "that I'm an expert on these things. But." There's a pause of a few moments, and then a quiet, "Happy turnday, though, by the way." "Thank you! It was a whole week or so ago." That air of humor is there in Josian's tone again. "I don't want things to go wrong. But I'm afraid that if I don't push, they will. Got to man up and all that." He jokes before falling serious once more. "Mostly, I'm afraid to get into it and have it end badly. I don't like being hurt. And if it ended really badly? What if I had to leave? Or ended up in screwed up the Hall's relationship with the Weyr? Or something completely screwy and way too over thought in my head like that." "I'll have to make note of that, for next turn. A week or so before now." Madilla keeps her tone light as she says that, though it's obvious that most of her attention is focused on Josian's quandry. "I understand. But-- is the potential happiness worth the risk? It would have to go /terribly/ wrong for things to end up that bad, I should think. Surely. She can't be that unreasonable. It would be nice to have someone, I think. To /try/." "Mark it down and don't forget." Josian states, looking down towards the path his fingers are tracing in the sand. "Is it worth the risk? I think so?" He doesn't sound utterly confident the first time he says that at least. "Yes. I'll go with yes, it is. Things didn't exactly end perfectly in the relationship I had at Lemos. It hurt. A lot. But I should at least maybe tell her this. Or just stop over thinking things, get drunk, and go for it." That might even be serious. "I don't think she's that unreasonable. But, well, she's Senior here. And I don't want that to end up... Overthinking. Sometimes having a very large brain is very bad." It's possible that Madilla had already connected 'Nenny' to 'Nenita', though there's no indication in her expression, either way; she simply nods, biting at her lip in obvious thought. "It makes it difficult," is her conclusion, soft-spoken - barely more than a whisper. After a few moments, she adds, a little more loudly this time, "I think you're right, though. Talk to her. Explain where you are, and what you want. And-- maybe that will help." She tries, at least, to look hopeful. "I know what you mean about overthinking, though. It's easy to do." "Or maybe I'll just trip over my tongue and end up feeling like an idiot." Josian says lightly. "Or fall flat on my face. That might at least have comedic value." Josian sits up straighter as he smiles over. "Maybe it's a healer trait. The tendency to overthink things." Madilla returns the smile, cheerful enough despite the subject matter. "I don't think she will," is her assessment of the situation. "And-- she hasn't pushed things, either, has she? She's probably just as scared. I would be." Of the rest, she adds, after a moment, "It probably is. We make so many decisions that-- well. Life and death. And then it's hard to stop thinking that way." "True. I suppose she could have jumped me if she really wanted to." Josian states with a quick smirk before he adds, "Maybe that means she doesn't want to, not that she's scared." He pauses for a moment before he nods. "It is. We have to be able to overthink things at a moment's notice so that we don't screw them up and let someone die. Just doesn't necessarily translate well to the rest of life." Madilla - impressively! - turns only the /faintest/ bit pink at Josian's terminology, and, instead, mostly just smiles. Things change. After a moment, she agrees, "Or maybe she doesn't want to, true. At least then you'll know, though, right? It's probably better to know." Stretching out again, she tilts her gaze away from her companion in order to stare into the distance. "It feels like I can never escape being the healer, you know? Even when I'm not. That mindset... it's just part of me, now, I think." "That's true. At least then I'd know and move on." Josian decides before he turns to look out over the water. "I know! So much of it is just part of who I am, no matter where I am. It's so weird to think that it's been just about exactly six turns since I became a Journeyman. Feels like a lifetime. And like yesterday." Madilla looks hopeful, though, as though she's got her metaphorical fingers crossed for this future conversation between Josian and Nenita. What she says, though, is, "I know what you mean. I've been at High Reaches for just about that long... it's strange to think about. I suppose it's been very close to two turns exactly since I walked the tables, too." Josian stands, sliding his flipflops onto his feet. "And in my constantly thinking like a healer mindset, I think I need to drag you inside before you turn scarlet." Josian says with mock seriousness, grabbing his towel. "I think we should celebrate all those years of not getting kicked out of the craft with a bowl of the greasiness tastefully found down the beach." Madilla looks momentarily alarmed, glancing down at her arms to make /sure/ that they're not at the verging-on-scarlet stage. Thankfully, not yet. Still; "I think you're probably right on that one. On both counts-- that sounds like an excellent idea." So she, too, draws herself towards her feet, shaking out her skirt and gathering up her things, before letting Josian lead her onwards. To grease! To celebration! To drinks! |
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