Logs:Everything Will Be Fine
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| RL Date: 8 August, 2015 |
| Who: Hattie, Lilah, Elaruth, Eliyaveith |
| Involves: Fort Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Weyrwomen discuss some of the worries of the present and the future. |
| Where: Weyrleaders' Weyr, Fort Weyr |
| When: Day 25, Month 6, Turn 38 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: E'dre/Mentions, Dee/Mentions, N'muir/Mentions, H'vier/Mentions, Nimarie/Mentions, Nehmet/Mentions |
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| The storm that has settled over the Weyr this morning isn't exactly an inviting prospect for anyone to roam far from weyr or caverns, but, even so, it's been a few days and more since Hattie has been seen making more than brief appearances at mealtimes. Elaruth is usually a presence on her ledge, yet now only a golden nose pokes out of the weyr and into the world beyond, curious in the moments that the thunder and lightning die down to more 'acceptable' levels, but the little queen won't budge from her adopted spot. Inside the weyr, all is neat and tidy, perhaps too tidy, the door from outer quarters to living space open, the glow of light spilling from the latter. Eliyaveith has also taken to remaining inside her weyr this morning, her warmth drawn into a tight spark as she sleeps still. It is Lilah that's dragged herself from the weyr, up and about since dawn for an early morning meeting that leaves her in the council room alone. When she gathers her hides and herself to step out of the room, however, she spies that golden nose. She turns towards it rather than moving away, moving to question of Elaruth, "Is she in?" There is the soft bruise of sleeplessness under her dark eyes, forming dark circles, her hair look less messy in it's hastily made bun, and her dark leathers and the knot on her shoulder do little to make her look any more put together this morning. Elaruth almost immediately makes to shove her nose at Lilah in a gesture that is gentle, yet insistent, seeking hands or shoulder to offer a soft nudge of greeting and a quiet croon. A lick of yellow whirls through her gaze as she regards her, and one paw plants down like she'd adjust her posture to envelop her, though she does, after a moment, manage to keep her concern in check and lift her muzzle in the direction of the soft light spilling from that more distant chamber. Inside, Hattie is sat awkwardly on the floor, an empty wooden cradle in-front of her, her stare distant as she regards the blanketless piece of furniture. Lilah's finger draw up to brush along the line of Elaruth's muzzle even as she nudges at her shoulder, lingering there for a moment as she slides a look past the queen to the direction she gestures. "Thank you," is offered as she finally withdraws, moves in that direction with the heels of her riding boots announcing her presence even if the gold does not. She draws some hides from her pile, extending them to Hattie as a greeting. "Meeting notes. I don't want you to feel behind when you're ready to return to duties." She glances to the crib, briefly. Hattie tilts her head at the sound of footsteps, but she doesn't seem to actually focus until Lilah speaks and she lifts her chin to look up at her, automatically reaching one hand out to accept the hides in a gesture long-learned. "Thank you," she murmurs, drawing them back to her to momentarily press against her ribcage in the absence of proper lap space. Slowly, she folds her legs beneath her and awkwardly gets to her feet, using the cradle for support. After blatant study of the Weyrwoman, she declares, "Elaruth's worried about you." Where her name is interchangeable with her queen's. Hides delivered, Lilah doesn't move away. She dismisses the worry, though, with a soft shake of her head. Instead, she turns the conversation, focusing on the piece of furniture there as she questions, "Is this the same cradle you used for your other children? Do you have everything from them, still, or is there something you need?" The look that Hattie fixes Lilah with does better than words to convey that she's not done with that line of enquiry, though then she turns and moves for the hearth, to put the kettle over the fire and begin retrieving mugs without question of whether tea is wanted. "...For Nimarie and Nehmet," she replies, quiet, a degree of wryness claiming her expression as she admits, "I didn't keep everything-- I thought Nehmet would be the last. Now... I've left it late to sort everything. Maybe it's better that way." "I'll find what I can and have it sent. Nala's Grace has to have outgrown some of her own, and there are others," replies Lilah simply, her fingers falling to the crib as Hattie walks away and lingering there thoughtfully against the wood. Her gaze, though, follows the other goldrider in a study. "Nothing is too late. We have time." It isn't that Hattie is ungrateful, but there's something discomforted in how she hesitates to reply, reluctant even now to count on what hasn't yet happened, with it right around the corner. "It isn't... You don't have to do that," she murmurs, setting the hides aside as she waits for the kettle. "Have a seat?" she invites, gesturing towards the couch. "As soon as I'm back on my feet," neatly bypasses the baby's status, "I'll catch up. Just tell me what you want done, when the time comes." Lilah settles onto the indicated couch, folding herself into one corner. But then the Weyrwoman draws herself inward, making herself smaller as she settles with her legs drawn towards her chest, too tired perhaps to care about what the position conveys. "I'll need you to handle Dee's training. The rest-- The rest is settling out as it should," replies the goldrider simply. "You do not need to rush back to your duties." "I can do that," Hattie agrees without the hesitation of before, more secure in that than the other topic. She remains standing for the moment, hands pressed in at the base of her spine, and tries not to settle too much of the weight of her focus on Lilah and her posture, mindful now not to stare. "And I can look after anything else that needs minding, if your focus needs to be in specific places. You don't need to go easy on me." It's said gently, for all her conviction, as she turns to tip tea leaves into mugs. "How is... working with E'dre going?" There is only a soft dismissal in the light shake of Lilah's head, all that she manages for the sentiment of going easy on her now junior. Instead, she answers that question with an edge of sharp humor, "We haven't killed each other, but then, neither of us has needed to step over our boundaries, yet." More to herself than Hattie, she adds in a murmur, "I don't know if it will be easier or harder when Eliyaveith rises. At least E'dre is aware his position is temporary, tenuous. With a Weyrleader who is secure in it--." "But no less real." For all of temporary and tenuous. "I think he wants to do the right thing. You might not always agree about what that is... but I would use a Weyrleader who wants to do well for the Weyr while he's got the knot." Hattie moves back to the kettle, to pour near-boiling water into mugs, then lets them sit for a few moments. "With any luck, the Weyrleader you get when she rises won't believe it's his Faranth-given right to do as he pleases. And even if he does, you're strong enough to disabuse him of that notion." "I want to do well for the Weyr. I will, and if E'dre can't see that--," holds a sharp moment of annoyance, though that quick temper is tampered down in another moment as Lilah's gaze catches on the crib again. She stares, distracted and thoughtful, for a moment, before she catches herself again to speak. When she speaks, it's only to agree with the statement and add, "And smart enough to seize any slip up to replace him if he can't learn otherwise. I am still working on a way, though-- We will get a good Weyrleader for Fort." "I know that," Hattie answers calmly. "What I'm saying is... not every Weyrleader might, and that could be worse than opposing views of what well might mean." She regards the mugs of tea, thoughtful, then lifts one to carry over to Lilah and holds it out to her. "...I'm going to say this, and I want you to know that it's not with a mind to who your Weyrleader is. It's not about the Weyr." Deep breath. "H'vier. Be careful. Please." As she turns to go and collect her tea, she adds, "For your sake. Not anyone else's." The mug is accepted, fingers curling around it as Lilah stares into it for a moment. But then her gaze lifts in surprise to Hattie, dark eyes finding hers as she speaks so openly about it. But, it's only a simple, dry dismissal that the goldrider gives when she points out, "I am always careful. I'm not stupid enough to not realize the timing, his ambitions, all of it--. But it is nice to have someone, at least for now." "If he hurts you, I'll make him regret it," Hattie swears, not quite able to hide the predatory look in her gaze, despite making the effort by lifting her mug to her lips to test the temperature of her tea. "If you've not got there first," she allows. "Maybe even then." Her journey takes her across the room to fetch up a folded blanket with her free hand. "But yes," she agrees, "it's... nice to have someone." When she makes it back to the couch, she sits at the opposite end, blanket sat beside her. She glances down into what she can see of her lap and murmurs, "Thank you... for understanding that I need to put this first." The baby, her health; all of it. Lilah's lips only lift into the hint of a smile for both that predatory promise and the softer words that come after. And she dismisses thanks with only a simple, "I still want to have children of my own, one day. After Eliyaveith rises and I have settled into my role--." A pause. "I am sure you will be as understanding, then." Her fingers tighten around the mug, gaze finally dropping to older woman's stomach as well. And she adds, quietly, "Everything will be fine, Hattie." "I'll do anything that you need me to do that's within my realm of capability," Hattie promises, no less quietly fierce about that, despite the more solemn ring to her words. "You'll be a good mother," she says more gently. "I'm sure Eliyaveith will dote on your children, if her affection for her dragon family is any indication." She smiles just a little about that, then takes a sip from her mug and gets to her feet, busying herself to try and conceal the lack of confidence she shares when she agrees, "...I know it will." The blanket, so recently settled, she picks up again and offers to Lilah. "Sleep?" she encourages. "For a little while. Elaruth and I can keep watch out there." A nod towards the outer weyr. "It will," Lilah repeats simply, firmly. "I will be there for you like I was for Nala. If anything happens-- It will be fine. I will take care of it." She doesn't seem to care that there's more qualified Healers, actual Healers, to see to the goldrider as she makes that promise. But she shakes her head to the offer of sleep, even as she takes the blanket to wrap around herself. She requests softly, "I don't have time to sleep. Just-- talk to me. How is N'muir, and the children?" And nor does Hattie seem to care that there are those more qualified healers, for she watches Lilah intensely for a moment or more and some measure of the ever-present tension in her features eases as she allows herself to trust in and believe her promise. It's enough that, between promise and request, she slowly sits herself back down and turns to face her fellow goldrider a little more, even if she's not entirely able to erase all traces of her concern for her. "...N'muir does a very good impression of a man not hovering or fussing, but I don't think his acting is harper standard just yet..." she shares with warm affection for her weyrmate. "And Nimarie..." Her exploits are enough to keep her going for a while, and if she attempts to keep her voice nice and quiet and even to try and lull Lilah to sleep, she's somewhat subtle about it. |
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