Logs:Casual Questions
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| RL Date: 9 February, 2013 |
| Who: Hana, Madilla |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Madilla subtly questions Hana about Devaki. |
| Where: Living Caverns, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 11, Month 13, Turn 30 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Braeden/Mentions, Devaki/Mentions, Issedi/Mentions, Raum/Mentions, Yuliye/Mentions |
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| Living Cavern, High Reaches Weyr Stalactites hang high above this enormous cavern like a jagged chandelier or an inversion of the Spires themselves, but shadows cling to them instead of light. Below lie great tables arranged in rows, each large enough to serve a fighting wing, while in the nooks and alcoves around the cavern's edge sit more sensibly-sized tables, from six- and eight-seaters down to intimate spots for just a couple of diners. The only really open space is around the kitchen entrance, smelling of food and rarely quiet, and by the nearby serving tables with their long buffet of the day's offerings. Tapestries on the smooth walls -- some faded and others newly woven -- only slightly mute the sea of sound when a meal is in full swing, but they add cheerfulness augmented by the glowlight from wall sconces and the centerpieces of each table. Still, shadows always creep along the ceiling and into the mouths of the exits -- the myriad small hallways at one end of the cavern and, at the other, the twisting tunnel to the bowl near an array of coathooks and and hatracks -- and late at night, when the glows are allowed to dim, the chamber can seem very dark indeed. It's after the full swing of dinner, and Hana's taken the lessening crowds to grab a table by the entrance to the kitchens. It's small enough for a small number of people - and the best for her purposes, there's a wall sconce right next to it that gives her plenty of light. Her purpose? People watching inbetween stitching, as she works on a small bit of linen-project. Two goals for the price of one, as occasionally she offers a greeting to newly-familiarized faces. Emerging from the kitchen, Madilla's got a cloth bag slung over one shoulder, some fabric in her hands, and a look of chagrin on her face. It's obvious that she's aiming for Hana's table, though her steps falter once she registers the other woman. She hesitates for a moment, biting at her lip, and then moves closer, saying, "It seems I'm not the only one who enjoys the light, here. Do you mind company?" The dark-haired healer smiles, and though the smile seems genuine enough, it fails to remove whatever it was that was bothering her long before she noticed the other woman. Hana glances up, and immediately offers a cheerful smile, "Ah, so this is a common pasttime for the table?" she asks curiously, before straighting up and putting her bit of stitchery in her lap. "Certainly, let me just move my thread and drink aside..." Hands make quick work of her scattered things, "And then you can have all the room you'd like." There is a glance up at the standing woman, and adds, "I was thinking of refreshing my tea; would you care for a mug as well?" "I would love some," says the healer with a bright smile. "Don't worry about moving your things - I won't take up much room." Her handiwork is quite small: patchwork, and probably not a whole quilt, given the pieces she has in her hand amount only to something the size of, perhaps, a pillow. "I was working in the kitchen, but... It got a little noisy. I'm Madilla." "Hana - and it's no worry - I always seem to make a mess when it comes time to change colors," Hana admits, before transferring project to the table and picking up her mug. It's the work of a quick moment, gathering up a second mug and filling both with the hot liquid, then coming back - nary a drop spilled, thankfully. "Cleanup time causing a racket? I admit - that's why I waited until after dinner. Much easier to concentrate with less people about." Not to mention that's when she's keeping an eye on people for totally different reasons. By the time Hana returns, Madilla has settled in quite comfortably, her head lowered towards her work as she stitches. She glances up again, smiling, and says, "Thank you. Ah - no. A lover's tiff, I believe. The yelling was... less than peaceful." Her cheeks turn faintly pink as she mentions it, as though she's a little embarrassed, though she continues easily enough afterwards, "The kitchens are usually a good place, just not tonight." Hana tilts her head slightly as she sits down, "The kitchens? I shall have to keep that in mind - at least, if they aren't bothered by people doing needlework in their corners..." she muses, then slides the new mug over and picking up her needlework once again. "My favorite place is the gardens - at least, when weather and wind permits." "There are little alcoves to sit in," explains Madilla. "A good place to eat if you prefer quiet, too. I often take my breaks in there." She inclines her head forward, evidently to acknowledge the tea, but otherwise ignores it in lieu of focusing on her sewing. "Gardens. Are you part of the delegation from High Reaches Hold, then? You might like to seek out the Greenhouse, here-- the weather is no longer an issue, there." Hana glances up a moment, then offers a bit of a grin. "Guilty as charged. I am in service to Lady Issedi, at least, when she needs me. The rest of the time..." she lifts her needlework briefly, then goes back to stitching. "I have only done a small amount of exploring so far. Is the infirmary down in the caverns?" she asks, nodding towards the entrance to deeper twists and turns within the weyr. Under the light of the glows, the sudden pallor of Madilla's face is clearly illuminated, though she's quick to fasten a smile back into place. "Weyrs are rather... different, to Holds, in layout," she says. "I hope you haven't found yourself too lost, even with as little exploring as you have done. Yes, the infirmary is down in the caverns. Anyone would be happy to show it to you, if you were in need." Hana pauses a moment in her stitching to inspect a finger - done in by a needle, no doubt. A glance up is given, before she murmurs, "It's a bit chill in here - do the mugs keep the heat well?" the question idle and totally there as a space-filler. "Not too badly - I have ended up at the entrance to the Weyr a couple of times, however. Nothing a quick hop-skip-and-step back inside cures, however. And while I don't forsee any need, well, we do have the little one with us. Have you run into the rest of the Hold party yet? There really isn't that many of us." "They do," confirms Madilla, without glancing up. Focusing on her needle is easier - all the better for allowing her to recompose herself, and make conversation more easy once more. "Of course, the little one. I hear he is a beautiful child." That in and of itself may be some kind of answer to the other woman's question, but she follows it up a moment later with, "No, I haven't. Of course, we've all heard all about you." "He's sweet, most of the time," Hana offers, before chuckling. "Oh dear - well, I hope it's nothing too horrible. I promise - none of us bite - well, that I know of - and really, the lady and her lord aren't terrible to be around. Lady Issedi is actually very very pleased to have come visiting." Madilla hesitates, giving Hana a cautious glance. "And Dev-- your lady's husband is happy in life? With his family? I remember their wedding celebrations, which were lovely. She seems a very sweet lady, from all I've heard." Hastily, her gaze drops again, as she reaches for her tea, as though in doing so she can distract herself from anything else that is on her mind. "Lord Devaki? It is bold to say, but I believe he is happiest when with his family." The term is a big all-inclusive, but really - as long as Vinien is there, no one would ever say she's lying. "Did you know him, then, when the exiles were all first found?" Madilla's cheeks turn pink, but she nods. "I'm very glad to hear it," she says. "A man ought to be happy with his family. We-- have met, once or twice, certainly. It's been quite some turns, now, of course. I don't imagine he would especially remember me or anything." Hana hms quietly, silver flickering in and out of slowly growing color. "I don't imagine he wouldn't remember you, Madilla - he was rather looking forward to coming for the visit - and while that may be that Lady Issedi's enthusiasm is catching," here her smile turns slightly guilty, "that was well before it was decided we were all to come." "No," says Madilla, suddenly firm. "I've no doubt that he's quite happy to be visiting again, but I assure you: I don't believe he would especially remember me, on the basis of a handful of conversations. Why I--" She hesitates, then continues on, aiming for boldness, "I only remember myself because it was so surprising and impressive, to see him rise so far. The brother-in-law of a Lord Holder! I imagine little Vinien is Lord Braeden's heir until the Lady Yuliye has her own child." Hana inclines her head, giving the journeywoman healer the point, before humming a snatch of nursery tune as she thinks. "I.. think so? It isn't actually something I have thought about, to be truthful. I probably should, as it is important, but until recently I was *avoiding* that sort of talk, as it was often as not prelude to 'and has a nice young man about your age," she admits, affecting an older woman's tones, before shaking her head. "Or not so young, depending on the subject matter." Madilla's needle pauses over her quilting, and then she laughs. "You have my sympathy. Matchmakers are-- they can be difficult to deal with, at times, certainly. Are you enjoying the Weyr? It must be quite a change from the Hold." "All the more so that I left my mother /at/ the Hold," Hana replies with a thread of laughter, before nodding slightly. "Not in a bad way, at least, so far. Everyone has been very kind - and there has been no directions into the hidden depths, either," she adds as she starts to coiling various groups of colors back into a tidy bundle. "Ah yes," says Madilla, with a smile. "Mothers can be the worst at it, at times." Her mouth twitches further at the possibility of the Holders being delivered into the depths, but instead of remarking on that specifically, she says, "I hope the old rumours of your Lord Devaki and his bodyguard are not ressurected. Luckily, it doesn't seem to be that way, thus far. Is it time for you to take your leave? It was a pleasure to meet you, Hana." Hana's laugh is slightly uneasy. "Raum? I'm afraid to ask," she offers instead of answering, then nods. "Early to bed, early to rise," she offers half the old saying, before tucking the thread away and making sure the needle is safely secure. "And you as well, Madilla - enjoy the rest of your evening," she adds, before heading off for parts unstated - though not near any depths, thankfully. After Hana leaves, Madilla stays where she is, watching her - and biting at her lip. Finally, she closes her eyes, and sighs. |
Comments
Comments on "Logs:Casual Questions"Azaylia (Dragonshy (talk)) left a comment on Sun, 10 Feb 2013 20:47:05 GMT.
Oh ho. Crafty Madilla is crafty.
Also, welcome Hana. :D
Hana (Hana (talk)) left a comment on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 04:38:55 GMT.
As I now have an account.
Doooom.
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