Logs:Make Sure He's Not Gay
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| RL Date: 7 January, 2010 |
| Who: B'tal, Gustav, Madilla |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: An awkward lunch with B'tal is made more awkward by the presence of Gustav. |
| Where: Living Cavern, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 12, Month 9, Turn 21 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: W'chek/Mentions |
| 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 right as the lunch rush is getting into full swing but B'tal has already found himself a seat, one that's probably about as far away from where Glacier might be gathering as possible, and he's working on a plate of various things very slowly. Most of the rest of the time involves staring at said food and pushing it around his plate. It's right as the lunch rush is getting into full swing but B'tal has already found himself a seat, one that's probably about as far away from where Glacier might be gathering as possible, and he's working on a plate of various things very slowly. Most of the rest of the time involves staring at said food and pushing it around his plate. Madilla, her lunch in hand, hesitates as B'tal catches her eye, but after a moment of indecision, she takes a deep breath and heads in his direction. Which isn't to say she just makes herself at home - no, she hovers right next to the table, asking, quietly, "Do you mind if I join you, B'tal?" She's been home from the Hall for only a few days - they probably haven't spoken in some time. Gustav's entrance might go unnoticed in the full swing of lunch, but he is making sort of an entrance. He comes on with a small gaggle of children surrounding him and it appears that he's herding them towards the serving line and making them get food. He's been allowed to supervise the weyr's future generation? Maybe a little scary. With the whole place being quite busy he doesn't notice Madilla or B'tal outright but once all the kids are done getting food, they are heading in their direction. B'tal startles just slightly at the sound of a familiar voice that he hasn't heard in too long. "Madilla," he says uncertainly, a handful of thoughts probably going through his head right then. It takes him a moment but he says, "Uh. Sure," and gestures at the other seats. So far he hasn't noticed any gaggles, of children or otherwise. B'tal's hesitation makes Madilla hesitate, too, even after she's already been given permission. But she sucks in a breath, and begins to sink towards the seat, just in time to notice that gaggle of children-- of course. What else would Madilla notice? Despite her gaze lingering there, then sliding towards Gustav - obviously some surprise, there, eyes wide - she turns her attention back towards the greenrider beside her, hesitantly. "You're--" Beat. "Well? I hope?" Her attention doesn't linger on him for long: her plate is safer. Much safer. Gustav's normal goofball attitude aside he actually does seem to be doing an okay job. None of the kids have gone screaming away from the herd as of yet. They're all seated down at a table with little or no fanfare and only once they're actually eating does he take the time to look around and check the area out for other adults. B'tal isn't a face he knows so he lingers on the greenrider only momentarily before settling onto Madilla. He knows her! A smile breaks across his face and he lifts his hand to begin waving broadly from where he stands. "Hello!" "Well," B'tal repeats with a small, very small, nod of his head sounding vaguely uncertain about. But that's not very usual where he's concerned. Anything else he might say is left unsaid when Gustav's voice draws attention and the greenrider glances back toward the man. "Friend of yours?" Then; "I'm sorry I didn't come to visit you like I said I would. Seemed... best. Maybe." His voice is awkward, as is the way his gaze returns to his own plate. Even while B'tal is talking, Madilla keeps half an eye on those children; she can't seem to stop herself. But it's the greenrider she speaks to, first, still keeping her tone quiet. "I'm not sure I'd say /friend/..." But that doesn't stop her from smiling at Gustav, and calling out, slightly louder, "Good afternoon, Gustav." She's back to quiet, though, as, while piling her fork, "I'm glad you're well. And-- there's no need to apologise. I understand. Things are awkward. It would've been awkward." And she regrets it: that's written plainly in her tone. Even a glance back is enough for Gustav to turn the smile on the greenrider too. He's nothing if not exceedingly friendly. "Afternoon, Madilla! Haven't seen you in awhile! Hope you're well!" He'd have to yell a lot less if he actually went over there. And he even gets two steps forward before the sounds of some of the younger kids catches him. He spins around mid-going-over and heads back, taking care of some minor child fight on the verge of breaking out. "No, no. Okay, uh. You have this half and you can have the other half. Sharing is caring." Or something. Whatever was happening it appears to be extinguished. Of course, not /friend/ could still be two other possibilities and one of those is probably not really one that B'tal would like to consider too carefully. He's not turning to look at the other guy anymore but the continue yelling in their general direction must make the greenrider uncomfortable enough to just go quiet after an acknowledging sound for the healer. He takes a bite of his meal, at least, in the mean time. But this is /Madilla/ we're talking about, so not /friend/ can't really mean too much. Right? After another glance in B'tal's direction, the healer explains to Gustav, "I've been away for most of the summer. At the Healer Hall. But I am well, thank you. And-- you, too, I hope?" Beat. "New job?" She has time to take a bite of food after that, and after that, hesitatingly, glances back at B'tal. "I missed you. Miss you. Being friends." Now that Gustav has the kids settled, again, he hesitates just a moment before taking carefully steps away to go and bother the two innocent bystanders at their own table. "Oh, that would explain it. Studying? Getting a promotion?" He grins before turning to the side, the better to keep an eye on little people. "Sort of. I think I've been at it most of the summer, now that I count back. Starting to get the hang of it maybe." There's an easy roll of his shoulders and suddenly poor B'tal has a hand jutting down somewhere in his vicinity. "Hello!" Again. "I'm Gustav. Nice to meet you guy who's probably Madilla's friend." "You, too," B'tal says quietly to Madilla, a little subdued in general even for him by all appearances. The greenrider glances up at Gustav when he comes closer, then blinks at the hand. Which he only stares at for a few moments before finally lifting his own to shake it and flickering a small smile. "B'tal. Green Jeibeth's. You, uh, too." The last has a doubtful edge to it. Probably not sure it is very nice to meet this guy just yet if only because he's very... there. Madilla, spared of needing to make any introductons of her own, turns her head between one man and the other, forcing a bright smile onto her face - though there's no denying that it's not /entirely/ genuine for some reason. "Studying," she tells Gustav, firmly. "I'm only nineteen; I can't really get a promotion until I turn twenty, next summer." Beat. "You seem good with the children. It's-- nice." She approves, then. Given their company, she can't really respond further to B'tal's earliest remark, but her gaze does sneak back towards him, concern worrying a line into her forehead despite the smile she keeps firmly in place. To Gustav; "Did you... choose this job?" Is that an appraising look in her expression? Gustav appears painfully unaware of just how uncomfortable he's making B'tal, though he takes his hand away after giving a firm shake of it. "Oh, right, right. It's been awhile I seem to have forgotten just how the craft promotion system works." As if maybe he might have known it well at some point in the past? "Thank you! I'm enjoying it. Actually it started off as a shift in jest or bet or something with Milani. I'd never have thought of it on my own. Only a seven though but then I just kept asking to stay on and I guess they're keeping me." There's moment in the corner of his eye and turns away from them, eyeballing the children's table. Since B'tal really doesn't have much other reason to interact with either of them while they talk about things, he only glances at Madilla briefly when she speaks of her healer-y stuff. And then his attention focuses again, mostly, on the meal he's been trying to eat with the occasional glance over toward Gustav's gaggle of children or in the vague direction of the few Glacier riders that have gathered together for lunch. Madilla, even if she is aware of Gustav's hint at craft life previous, is too polite to mention or even visibly react to it. "With Milani, really?" She smiles - an actual, genuine smile finally - at that particular thought, and looks pleased as she adds, "I think it's wonderful. Some of those children don't get enough male role models, in my experience." Her gaze slides on towards the children's table too, and then back again: she won't linger, she won't dwell. Really! "I'm really glad to be home," she continues, with a glance towards B'tal. "I've missed everyone a great deal. I'm sure lots has happened since I've been gone." "I did notice a certain uh, unequal balance of women to men when I began work." Gustav concedes. There's some noise over by the kids, bickering it would seem. It catches his attention and he starts to glance over more and more. Distracted now. "You know, it was very nice talking to you both. Great meeting you B'tal. I hope that you both enjoy your lunch together." That last word is paired with a suddenly curious look to the greenrider. But then he laughs and rolls his eyes, pointing over to his charges. "I should probably go back to doing my job before I don't have one." There's a lopsided apologetic smile and he walks backwards with another wave, turns and returns to his work. "Not so much, really," B'tal admits to the healer with a small shrug. "It's nice that you're back, though." The greenrider glances up at Gustav again for the way his comment is worded and then the laugh. It makes him blush for just a moment and then his eyes drop again, not even glancing at Madilla this time, but he doesn't say anything to the contrary. "Bye," is all he says, lifting his free hand briefly before his other is working on stabbing at something else on his plate with his fork. Madilla's mouth opens, obviously with the intent of saying more to Gustav, but as he hurries off again, she shuts it. Her gaze slides towards B'tal, and she gives him a genuine smile. "No? Well. I suppose no news is better than bad news?" The smile doesn't mean she isn't awkward, though, and her gaze ducks, letting her take a mouthful of her lunch. Then, hesitantly, "How's Whit?" Another bite is taken and B'tal smiles close-lipped at Madilla's comment with a subtle nod. "True enough," he admits after he's swallowed. "Milani hasn't had her baby yet, has she? I'm not even sure when Ebeny's due. Otherwise..." Yeah, not much going on worth talking about, apparently. The question about W'chek makes him think perhaps a little too long considering all he says is, "He's fine." Madilla gives a firm shake of her head to Milani-having-her-baby, and raises brows at mention of Ebeny; evidently that one hasn't been made known to her thus far. It's B'tal's response about W'chek that gives her the most pause, though. "That was a long pause for him being fine," is her quiet response, eventually. And then, slowly, "Should I keep staying away, B'tal? Is this too awkward, too likely to cause problems? I don't want to make things awkward, truly." "Oh." It comes quickly and B'tal shakes his head. "No. I don't think you should stay away. I don't want you to stay away. It's okay. Really." He seems to have lost his appetite for real now, however, and he sets down his fork and pushes his plate a little further away. It ends up with him staring at the table instead of his plate except for the glance he gives toward the healer. "Jeibeth rose the other day and things got kind of... weird, is all. Whit, well-- I don't know." Pause. "So your studying was good?" Relief - genuine, pleased - floods Madilla's expression as she lifts her eyes to watch B'tal. Her smile is less brilliant now, but a quiet, genuine one all the same. "Good," she murmurs, and then, "I'm sorry. That things were weird. Are weird." She doesn't push the W'chek topic, at least, leaving that alone in order to say, after exhaling, "It was good. Intense. I'm glad to be home; it's a... different world. They were all so ambitious, the others. I felt like I didn't entirely belong, even though it was all very interesting." His own smile is very nearly forced but not so much that he looks uncomfortable. B'tal murmurs, "It'll work out." And that's all that needs to be said, really. "I don't know. I think the idea of Madilla, Masterhealer of Pern, is kind of a nice one. And then I can tell people that, yes, I am friends with the Masterhealer and she's very nice." Not entirely teasing actually but at least it has him smiling more openly. Madilla's nod in agreement - yes, it will work out - is a slow, small one, barely noticeable, really. Her laughter at the next comment is rather more earnest, as she shakes her head. "I can't imagine it. I don't think I'd want to, to be honest. I'd rather... help people. Hands on. Besides, can you imagine me telling all the healers what to do?" She, evidently cannot. "No, I'll leave that to others, and just concentrate on actual healing." "Suppose that might be like me being a wingleader some day," B'tal admits even if the analogy isn't exactly equal on both sides. It's near enough for him. "I think I could see you doing it someday though, actually. You've changed a lot even since I met you." And it wasn't all that long ago that he did in the grand scheme of things. "You're good at healing either way, though, so I think whatever you want to do is what you should do." Loyally; "You could!" But Madilla seems to accept, too, that it's not entirely likely, bobbing her head forward gently. "You do?" She shakes her head. "Maybe I have. I suppose..." Her tone is serious as she continues, "The way things went. I think it helped me work some stuff out. I suppose I may have grown up a bit." She bits at her lip as she finishes this, leaving her teeth resting there until, "I should be very happy as a Journeyman, contributing on a general level, with my children and-- that's all I need, really, I think." A small laugh for the first. B'tal doesn't protest it, at least. His smile fades slowly as she continues but mostly because of thinking and not so much reflecting on the bad experiences or feelings. "I think you'll be happy, too. I hope you are. You deserve to be happy." As though maybe he doesn't and feels a little guilty for being so for the most part. "So you and," a vague wave in the general direction where Gustav went, "aren't?" Madilla takes another half-hearted bite of her food, but she doesn't seem terribly focused on it. B'tal earns that: she watches him intently. Softly, very softly, she murmurs, "And so do you." His last question, however, draws her eyebrows up towards her hairline, confusion - and theen surprise - radiating across her expression. "Aren't?" Though maybe she has worked it out, because after that, her head shakes vigorously. "He seems very nice, but that was-- I've only met him a couple of times. He's just fun to talk to. I'm not-- that is, I don't--" It's not easy to say, so in the end she simply shrugs. Only a sideways glance for the sort words and no real response from him otherwise for it. "He seems nice," B'tal says. "And he must like kids. Maybe you should get to know him better." B'tal, the matchmaker. Except so very not. "Or, well, maybe we should make sure that he's not gay first..." Madilla fastens a long, steady look on B'tal, then shakes her head. "I doubt he'd be interested in me, B'tal," she tells him. "And I'm not sure-- Anyway, it doesn't matter." Exactly why it doesn't matter, she doesn't indicate, continuing on, after that, "I should get back to the infirmary. But... it was nice to see you again, B'tal. I hope we can... see more of each other." In a totally not-awkward way, hopefully. "Right," B'tal says, looking at his plate again. "Suppose I should go... try to do something productive anyway." Something that isn't going back to his weyr between now and when he's actually scheduled for duty. "I hope so, too," he agrees, smiling at Madilla then but waiting around for her to actually go before he makes any motion to start moving himself. It's one last beaming smile that Madilla has for B'tal, before she draws herself up to her feet, gathering up her dishes, the remains of her meal, to head out. She turns to glance at him once more before she leaves entirely, watching, in silent contemplation. There's a sharp nod - as though she's just decided something, or confirmed something - and then she goes, leaving no explanations. |
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