Logs:Bundle O' Joy
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| RL Date: 17 June, 2010 |
| Who: Madilla, T'rev |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: It's been months since T'rev and Madilla caught up last. Things have happened! |
| Where: Nighthearth, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 19, Month 13, Turn 22 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: B'tal, Leova, W'chek |
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| Nighthearth, High Reaches Weyr With its entrance located between the kitchen and the living cavern, this tiny bubble cavern is cozy, always kept warm and is filled with comfortable chairs and a small round table. At the far end, there's a hearth, outlined in ruddy, aging bricks, where a pot of stew simmers in the evening hours. Generally quiet, the nighthearth is the haunt of insomniacs and those seeking quiet from the bustle of daily Weyr life. The rumble of thunder can be heard out in the Bowl though lightning is invisible this far into the caverns. The odd and somewhat difficult weather sees one foreign bronzerider ducking in out of the blow of snow and chill, T'rev's wearing some of that snow on his hat and his cheeks are pinked lightly from the cold. A parcel is tucked under his arm as he walks up the passageway to the nighthearth, apparently intent on warming up now he's indoors. There are more popular places to warm one's self, so despite the weather, the nighthearth is not the hive of activity it could be - though it's also far from empty. One of the occupants is Madilla, now seven months pregnant and looking every day of it, currently taking up half of one of the couches a distance back from the hearth, a nearly completed quilt providing both warmth and work: she sews at it industriously, finishing off a scarlet border around a rainbow hued starburst patterned design. That parcel is set down on a table and T'rev makes for the hearth itself, peeling off gloves which are promptly stuffed into a pocket. Next his cap is plucked off and eyed for a moment, followed by a low chuckle and the Fortian shakes it off toward the flames, little chunks of snow hissing as they hit hot log and melt. The flash of scarlet in the corner of his eye lifts the bronzerider's head and he looks Madilla's way curiously, promptly does a double take, though his greeting is bright and cheery: "Madilla! Hey, it's been a while," in a signature Nerat drawl. The quilt in her lap getting her full attention as it is, Madilla doesn't seem to notice T'rev - or even that someone new has walked into the room - until the sound of her name; she looks up in genuine surprise. It takes her a moment to process, perhaps, and then, a brilliantly warm smile extending onto her face, she says, "T'rev, hello. It has been. Too long. You're well, I hope? I," she pauses. "Heard about your change in position." There's an unvocalised question in that, made in the way she tips her head: he's fine with it? Her smile is returned in kind and the former weyrleader sticks his hat into his other pocket, turns as he unfastens his jacket and steps her way. "Yeah, doin' pretty well. Though, shells that weather out there is crazy. Hopefully it'll clear up enough in a bit for a clear flight out." He pauses, just shy of the healer, nods. "Yeah, still gettin' used to it, but it's nice to have a bit more free time again." T'rev's gaze follows the patterns of the quilt, lifts back up to Madilla's face. "That's really nice work. Pretty pattern too." Fingers release the last catch of his jacket. "And you, you're well? When's the bundle o' joy due?" "I saw," says Madilla of the weather, making a face. "It's pretty, but it means no walk for me, today, unless I take a stroll around the caverns. I suppose it /would/ be strange to get used to, that kind of change. I'm-- sorry?" She seems uncertain, though the compliment on her quilt has obviously pleased her: the wattage of her smile increases, if that's even possible. "Early month three - another three months to go, or just less, I suppose. I /am/ well. I'm--" She pauses, then laughs. "I'm happy, I suppose." "That's a shame, if you want company for a stroll-about though, just say the word. I'm probably gonna be here for a little while, between the weather and the errand I'm on." T'rev shakes his head a little at at that hesitant apology. "No need t'be, things change, just have to roll with it," is his pretty philosophical attitude. "It's just strange how quickly it changes, I guess. One minute leader and in on a lot of things, the next ... not." His shoulders lift, drop again. "Not so long then, shells. I'm glad you're happy. Got another on the way myself, second one, should be comin' in a few weeks." A quick little nod marks Madilla's response to the first thing T'rev says; a slower, more thoughtful one, replies to the second. "It's always seemed very strange to me," is her softly-spoken opinion. "Deciding leadership in such a way. Giving it, taking it away again. I don't know. I'm glad my life is guided by less-- capriciousness, I suppose?" One hand slides beneath her quilt in order to, presumably, rest upon her bump beneath. "Oh - congratulations! That's wonderful news." "Ain't always quite so changeable I guess. Seems like there's a fair bit of settlin' that can happen sometimes. We were out of the Weyr this time and it was snowin' pretty bad when we managed to get back. Mecaith couldn't catch up." He smiles, nods. "Yeah, my daughter'll have a little half-brother or sister. Ought to make life even more interestin'," is the Fortian's laughing commentary, then he nods toward the couch. "Mind if I sit for a spell?" "I suppose," agrees Madilla, already clearly away some of her sewing supplies in an obvious answer to T'rev's question. "I think most people assumed we'd have a change of Weyrleader, last time." Drawing the two conversational topics together, she adds, "At least the timing is good: you'll have more time to spend with your new son and daughter, right?" She reaches for her needle again, adjusting the border she's working on to keep it straight. "What does your daughter think about it?" "Really?" T'rev inquires curiously for that information about Reaches' Weyrleader and he settles into the cleared spot a moment later. "My daughter just spent a little while livin' at the Weyr, so she's actually off to the caravan with her mother for a bit. Needed to keep her safe given the ... problems down Fort way the last little while," he relates and reaches over to touch a careful finger to the edge of the quilt. "Cedri's ... excited enough I guess. She's interested and curious, but because it's not her mama, I think maybe it's a little ... I dunno, abstract? For her." "I think-- just because Cadejoth won by accident, the first time." And perhaps other reasons, but Madilla is too polite to actively mention them. Accompanying her serious nod is, "I'm glad that all got cleared up, too. I'm sure it was nice having her close, though." She spreads the quilt out a bit further to show it off, as she adds, "I suppose it would be. She's still young. Having an actual baby to see, though, I suppose that will make all the difference." "Yeah, it was nice, though I wish the reasons for her stayin' had been different," T'rev agrees and smiles a little as the quilt is spread out, leans to examine the piecework a bit more closely. "Yeah. There's my nephew too, my sister's son. He's just a bit younger and well she got to see lots of babies at the Weyr of course, stayin' in the nursery part-time. We'll see how she does when the little whippersnapper gets here." He's quiet for a moment. "And how it'll go with this baby's mama." "That's one thing about the weyr," laughs Madilla, smoothing the quilt beneath her fingertips in an affectionate kind of way, as though she cares very much about her work. "No child can grow up lonely, I think. Family, everywhere." There's something thoughtful to the way she says that, though the seriousness in her expression seems more aimed towards her quiet, "Are things not-- easy, with this baby's mother?" "Yeah, definitely," T'rev agrees about Weyrs and family. "There's always someone willin' to pass out a hug or help out when a parent needs a break." He sits up a little, hand still resting on a fold of the quilt. "Things were a little ... complicated," T'rev admits slowly and considers for a moment, before going on. "We're friends. But I guess she was expectin' more than friendship when she found out she was pregnant. Wanted to move in. Be weyrmates." Madilla bobs her head firmly, though it softens to a halt as T'rev continues talking, her lips parting just slightly into a sigh. "Ah," she says, sympathetic. "I'm sorry. That must have been awkward. Must /be/ awkward. Not the kind of thing I'd want overshadowing things." Her gaze slides towards her own middle, thoughtful, but if there's something on her mind, she doesn't express it. Instead; "A few more weeks you said? Almost a turnover baby, then." "Yeah, has been. I ... I feel bad that she got the idea in her head. Thought things were clear and they weren't," T'rev admits quietly, then smiles over at Madilla. "Yeah. Just past turnover." He hesitates for a moment, then clears his throat. "What about you and the baby's da? Gonna settle down and everything?" It's an earnest question, really. "It must be hard," says Madilla, thoughtfully. "Thinking something, only to find out that it's not true, not going to be true." Securing her needle onto the quilt corner again, she sets both hands snugly about her middle, her smile quietly amused, somehow, for the question. "Oh, no. No. B'tal and I are just friends. He and his weyrmate are involved, though, and it's-- nice. It's working out nicely." "Yeah. She was hurt for a while, but I think she's okay now. Just made for some pretty awkward talks," T'rev relates and the corner of his mouth pulls upward wryly. "All the more reason to be a bit more careful," he adds on seriously, then looks over as she circles her mid-section so, smiles so widely. "Really?" That does seem to surprise a little. "Well I'm glad it's workin' out. Good to see someone so honestly happy." Silent for a few moments, Madilla gives a careful nod to the most of what T'rev says, her smile blossoming into distinct amusement as he continues. "I've surprised you," she says, with a light laugh. "You and half the weyr, perhaps. It just-- worked out. We both wanted children, both had no other way to make it happen. There, well, /have/ been a few bumps along the way, but no, it's working beautifully, now." Beat. "I'm glad, too." "I know. Brought it on myself," T'rev says into that silence and lifts a hand, rubs at his jaw then laughs a little. "Yeah. A little. Figured ... well was hopin' you'd found someone, you know? From when we've talked before," he notes and smiles a little more widely. "In the end, doesn't matter how you wind up happy really, so long as you do, right?" Quietly; "I wasn't judging." Madilla seems earnest enough in that, seeking to meet T'rev's gaze as if to prove it. For the rest of what he has to say, she only smiles. "I'd not say no to finding someone, but no. I don't really expect it, and - well, I don't mind. I want /this/ baby. I think you're right: as long as a person is happy, the rest doesn't matter. It very rarely seems to turn out the way we expect, anyway." "Just the truth," T'rev replies briefly, nods. "Yeah. The things you expect to work out one way, often don't and then others just ... surprise you," he describes, hands lifting to emphasize the point, then dropping back into his lap. "I'll keep my fingers crossed that something'll work out for you someday though, Madilla." He smiles again then fingers the edge of the quilt again. "Do you make these for more than just presents?" "Exactly," Madilla agrees, of T'rev's description of life. "I think I kind of like it, too. Sometimes, I compare the way things are to what I expected, and can't imagine having preferred it that way." And perhaps, too, sometimes not, but that's perhaps only faintly visible in the drawing in of her mouth. "I appreciate it. I won't hold my breath, but-- I won't turn it down." Of quilts, she adds, "Once or twice I have, if people ask. The idea of being paid to do my leisure activity is strange, but there's something satisfying about it, too." "What did you expect before. I mean I know we've talked a little bit about it before. But ..." T'rev trails off, shifts his hands to slide behind his head, leaning into the couch comfortably. "I expected to be a trader and to kind of always be free in that way, before I impressed and after I left home. Things've shifted a lot since then." He listens as Madilla explains about the quilts, nods. "Yeah. I make things out of leather sometimes, haven't done for a while. Never really thought about sellin' any of it though." Madilla looks genuinely rueful, even embarrassed. "I expected to return home, sooner or later, after I left to Apprentice. I think that was the plan, initially: I'd get the training, and then I'd come home and be useful. I don't think we really grasped the reality of it." Glancing down at her quilt, one finger tracing down the line of patches, she grins. "I would never have thought to, either. When people ask, though-- what kind of things do you make? With the leather?" "Postings and how it all works with the craft?" T'rev inquires about those assumptions. His hands drop down to his knees and he nods over toward the table. "Mostly ... decorations to go on things like jackets, bags, hats, boxes, book covers, that kind of thing. I never really realized I was good with the stuff until we had to make dragon straps when I was a weyrling." "Exactly. I don't think it ever occurred to them that the Hall might object to training me, feeding me, clothing me - all of it - only for me to go home and tend only my little hold." Madilla shakes her head, then admits, "I'm not sure it would have worked, at any rate. Even just being at the Hall changed me." Of his work, she adds, "It sounds lovely. It's satisfying, isn't it? Being able to produce things." "You can request a posting like that though, when you get senior enough, right? Think you would do that now, if you could?" T'rev asks curiously, "Given the changes." He nods about the leather-work though. "Yeah. It's ... soothing to do something with your hands and wind up with something nice at the end of the work. Especially when you've been makin' something for someone you care about." "I could request to be posted to the area, I suppose," says Madilla, after a few moments of consideration. "Eventually. But-- no, I wouldn't." She doesn't really need to think about that answer, her pause, it seems, more to do with resignation than thoughtfulness. "It wouldn't work." A much firmer, more content kind of nod follows, as she says, "Very much so. Being able to do that-- it gives me a lot of pleasure." "Too much change now," T'rev murmurs and looks lost in thought for a long moment. "I'd be married with probably more kids than I do have if I'd stayed at my step-father's cothold. Seems like a whole other lifetime sometimes, thinkin' about how that probably would've gone. Like you said - I don't think it would've actually worked. Don't think I'm cut out for it." He's nodding though, smile returning. "Yeah. Me too. I'm lookin' forward to havin' time for that again and to do some more harper-type studyin' with my father." Quietly, Madilla says, "I think, if I'd never left home at all? I would have been happy. It's just-- as soon as you see other things, I suppose, things do change." She gives T'rev a thoughtful, considering glance, a little half smile nestling itself into her expression. "I'm glad. It sounds like you'll have plenty to keep yourself busy with." "Yeah? Mm. I've always had restless feet. Dunno if I would've been happy stayin' put." One hand sweeps through his hair and he nods. "Yeah, in a lot of ways, the job kind of made me put a lot of things on hold. Though maybe that's just ... bad time management," he jokes a little, winks over at the healer and then pushes to his feet. "I should go see about deliverin' this parcel to the birthday girl it's for though. Was good catchin' up though and I hope everything goes smooth with the baby. And well -- I'll come visit again if that's okay? What with havin' more personal time and all." Madilla allows herself a light little chuckle for T'rev's joke, her gaze watching him as he gets back to his feet. "Of course," she agrees, brightly. "I'm sure she'll be glad to see you." Reaching for her needle again, she nods: "I'd like that. Please. We'll have to share stories about our respective children like the doting parents we're going to be, right?" "Hope so," T'rev replies neutrally to that certainty. "And in that case, I'll see you soon for sure, so long as the skies are pretty clear." He gives the healer a little salute as he picks up his parcel. "For sure. Even when they're keepin' us up nights," he jokes further and with his parcel in hand, waves as he heads down the hallway. "Have a good afternoon, Madilla. Until next time." Madilla says, "Until next time," with a light little laugh, apparently amused by something the bronzerider has said. "Until then." |
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