Logs:Civility
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| RL Date: 27 December, 2015 |
| Who: Jocelyn, V'ret |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Jocelyn and V'ret still aren't friends. But for Lys, they'll try to keep it civil. |
| Where: Records Room, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 28, Month 8, Turn 39 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Ellerey/Mentions, Lys/Mentions, T'gar/Mentions |
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| Despite the fact that it's nearly time for the weyrlings to commune over dinner, Jocelyn's still frowning over a collection of books and scrolls, still scratching out notes in her sharp hand. Hardly social lately even by her usual standards, she seems to have spent the vast majority of this month studying when she isn't at lectures, drills or mealtimes as expected - whether in her weyr or elsewhere, as tonight. Judging by the size of the pile, she's been working on her research for quite a while, perhaps even most of the afternoon once drills concluded. There's a keenness to the way she scans this latest set of pages, even as her pencil taps idly against the thicker half of the book, her mouth pressed thin in concentration. It's probably only his time spent with Lys and her insistence on actually using significant parts of it to study that has given V'ret much study time at all. This isn't his usual haunt. But here he is, anyway, with a couple books in hand on his way in. At least he's considerate about returning them to where they belong. "Got something exciting, there?" The inquiry is not precisely respectful of Jocelyn's deep attention to her reading. The line of Jocelyn's shoulders stiffens at the sound of V'ret's query, and mid-sentence in her notes, well: snap goes the tip of the graphite. Fortunately, there's a spare writing utensil at hand, which she lifts only to resettle it carefully along the binding of her book before pale eyes finally direct a cool glance in the bronzerider's direction. "Positively riveting, " is her desert-dry answer. There's no biting remark forthcoming for the unusualness of his presence here; sure, she inhales again, almost looks as though she'd like to deliver one of her usual criticisms - but instead, her attention presses back to that unfinished line on her top page of notes. She manages to keep her tone perfectly even, too: "You'd probably find your own materials more interesting. This is a series of fairly older case studies on Threadscored wing repairs." Which she probably finds interesting, no doubt, given the determined way she resumes writing. If V'ret notices that the mere sound of his voice is enough to cause that level of distress, he shows no sign whatsoever of noticing. "Research on Threadscore. Sounds like a really..." Wait for it. "Practical way to spend your dinner hour." V'ret re-shelves the second of the two books, then eyes some of those around them before turning away without retrieving something new. "Was going to ask if you'd like company for the walk over, but I'll leave you to it, then." And then he turns to go, just like that. Dinner hour. Oh, that. Jocelyn straightens with something akin to a groan, giving her head a brisk shake. "Is it really that time, already? I'll put these back and grab a couple to review in my weyr later." She might not be completely adverse to that company, after all. It takes a few minutes for her to get the majority of what she borrowed back into the proper places; when she's done, there's only one book and one scroll left to tuck into the crook of an arm, with just enough space to stack her own folder of notes atop. "It would be a practical way to spend the dinner hour, " she rejoins wryly once she's ready, already striding through the entryway without looking back to see if her classmate is following. "It's a shame that eating is necessary." She's at least half-joking, right? Is V'ret regretting the offer, now? Maybe. But he lingers, anyway, scanning the bindings without actually removing anything for further perusal. "I've heard it said," he says when he's finally following after her, "that beer is much the same as bread, but I've never seen any attempt to live on that go particularly well." Apparently his opinion of drinking is higher than his opinion of eating. "I would think that for you, the being sociable should be as much a part of your study as the books. Doesn't that make it any more appealing?" "Beer, " but Jocelyn's subsequent eyeroll is only ill-humored on the surface; at least, the look she sends his way is more grudging than annoyed. "You might be on to something there. Give me a moment, " as they come upon the weyrleader complex and the stairs that branch off to the junior queens' ledges. She's several moments rather than just one, but emerges afterward free of study materials, hands linking stiffly behind her back as she resumes her path toward the lower caverns proper. "And you find all of your studies appealing, do you?" she says at some length. When she returns, V'ret is looking longingly off as though he's seriously considering heading on without her. But, still there. "I think all of it would have been more interesting during the Pass," he offers up, not really answering her question as such. And, of course, that presupposes that he would have had the guts to agree to stand if he wasn't largely guaranteed to survive to a ripe old age. Finally, he gets around to, "Of course I don't, but I haven't been trying to convince anyone I'm the perfect student." "And more dangerous, " Jocelyn says immediately, although that goes without saying of Passes. There's a side-glance for him as they continue, lips pursing faintly in a look that's more considering than critical. At some length, "It's impossible for anyone to be. Everyone has to work at something. I'll never be a fantastic dancer, but if I'm fortunate, I'll pass muster enough when we get to attend our first Gather as riders." She's very matter-of-fact, clearly aware of her own shortcomings. "Is Zoth looking forward to flaming?" Change of subject. The subject changed, V'ret doesn't linger on the other. The mention of his dragon has him looking off in the direction of his ledge, but the bronze isn't really visible from here. "Sure," lightly. "I don't expect we'll have any trouble. The notion of some of them--Asaroth, breathing fire? Hoping we don't have to be towards the front too often when we start doing that in formation, anyway." Jocelyn follows the direction of his look and tries not to look too amused in the wake of his commentary. Darkly, "Hopefully whoever's in charge will stick Asaroth and Virisceth in the front and arrange the rest of us away from their - potential trajectories." Her hands stuff into her pockets, and for some minutes, she seems perfectly willing to fall into the awkward sort of silence that follows small-talk. It's easier to handle, particularly as their destination draws nearer. "We might have to work together someday." That comes out of left field, forced out in a single string of words. "We don't have to like each other to be successful at it, but I - " ahem, " - trust that we'll be able to agree to disagree and move on." She's clearly uncomfortable with this topic, but it's something that apparently needs to be said before they get into the caverns proper. No, heaven forbid she be amused; perhaps that's why V'ret doesn't try to continue along that angle. Walking is enough, until she has to go and break that peace. Okay, maybe it wasn't much of a peace. "Funny enough," which is to say, not funny at all, "I thought that's what we'd been doing," V'ret says, but the lightness is slightly forced. "Though I wasn't thinking so far ahead. I just thought it would make sense if we could tolerate each other if we're going to see each other every day, and--well, you're Lys' friend. She and I don't have to have the same friends, but I can at least manage civil." "Right, " says Jocelyn on the tail end of an exhale, then. "In the interests of - civility, I'll say that I know I haven't been doing the best job at being, " not snippy, "tolerable." 'She and I' only briefly gives her pause; there's a short nod, afterward. "You're her friend, too, " at the very least, "and while I'm not sure that I can see why, I have to respect that you are." And perhaps that's why she offers an even, "I'll save you a place in the line if you want to grab some seats." More briskly, "I asked more questions of our guest speaker after class this morning, " as if there's a time when she doesn't, "and he brought up something that made that theory from last seven make more sense. We can talk about it over dinner, if you'd like." "We're..." V'ret seems to think better of the correction as soon as he's started it, and he cuts himself off. "No. Thanks. I appreciate it. The offer, I mean. I'm just grabbing something quick, then headed back up." With a hand gesturing off vaguely in the direction of his weyr. Polite, but it can't escape the implication that this isn't the most attractive proposition he's ever fielded. Jocelyn's, "Fair enough, " is polite enough in return; certainly, she won't be losing any sleep over his refusal. She'll even gesture for him to precede her into the living cavern once they get there, sparing him any further awkwardness once they're in line for food. She stays and eats dinner with their class, even if her own departure isn't long in coming once she's through. |
Comments
Lilah (21:34, 30 December 2015 (PST)) said...
You know, I really like the setup for this scene. I feel like this is a really natural thing, that could occur pretty regularly. 'Came by to offer to walk you over', that is. Anyways! Just commenting that I thought it was really smooth and great as a way to have two characters interact for a while. :)
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