Logs:Month Three
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| RL Date: 22 April, 2010 |
| Who: B'tal, Madilla |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Madilla has important, exciting news for B'tal. |
| Where: Eastern Bowl, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 8, Month 7, Turn 22 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: W'chek/Mentions |
| Eastern Bowl, High Reaches Weyr Ringed by rough granite walls to all sides but one, this end of the huge bowl narrows from the even broader plain to the west, continuing the ever so slight downward slope toward the blue and green of the Weyr's lake and surrounding foliage. More open to sun and wind than the western bowl, but less frequented when there aren't weyrlings in residence, the bowl's grassy tufts keep the topsoil in place and thicken into a bloodstained meadow within the feeding pens that adjoin the lake. At the base of the surrounding cliffs lie entrances to several caverns, including the dragon infirmary and the weyrling barracks: the former to the northwest near where the spires begin, the latter opposite to the southwest. Both archways are large and dark enough for any dragon to pass through, but it's the infirmary's that is haunted by faint smells of redwort and numbweed, as though over generations they have seeped into the very stone. Towards the south-eastern end of the bowl, a large area has been cordoned off with heavy ropes. The bowl wall has mostly been covered by enormous lengths of oiled cloth, hiding damage left in the wake of the meteor and eye rock, which fell here. The weather today is very pleasant. A few clouds chase each other across the mostly clear skies, and a soft breeze picks up in the afternoon to make for a fine day. It's still not even mid-morning on the 8th day of Month 7, which is an unusual time for Madilla to ask to meet, but the brown who reaches out for Jeibeth is sure that she wants to meet /now/, not later. Just outside the Dragon Infirmary, Madilla hangs off to one side of the large entrance, hugging her middle and watching the sky with the eager anticipation of a child hanging out for his turnday. At least this part of the bowl is mostly deserted, for now - there's no one to watch her squirm with excitement. Jeibeth assures the brown that they will be there as soon as they can be. Which won't be long. Long enough for she and B'tal to get away from whatever they're doing. After a short time, the green is landing near the entrance to the Dragon Infirmary and B'tal is unfastening himself to slide off in almost the same instance. He looks vaguely concerned as he approaches but since Madilla doesn't look particularly upset, he starts looking more quizzical instead. "Madilla," he greets with a wavering smile. "Are you well?" that question is a little more awkward. Madilla, apparently, has no time for awkwardness, nor little wavering smiles. It's not that she launches herself at the greenrider, but it's a close run thing: she reaches out, wrapping arms around him, and squeezes. It's only then, presuming that all goes well, that she manages to tell him anything-- and even so, it's jumbled. "Month three," she says, unable to keep the excitement out of her tone. The greenrider doesn't try to stop her, though he seems a little confused at first, maybe hesitant to be too hopeful about anything. The way Madilla moves and sounds, though, it's hard for B'tal not to smile. "Month three?" he repeats, pulling his head back to look at her though the question in his voice is fading a little as he puts it all together. He's no dummy, after all. "Month three?" he says again, more excited this time. "Really? You mean-- It worked?" Like he doubted that it would and needs to make sure. Madilla draws her own head back to positively /beam/ at the greenrider. "It did," she confirms, giving him another squeeze, then letting go; probably, she's just remembered herself, and that throwing one's self at other people is maybe not the polite thing to do. "I had one of the other healers confirm it for me this morning... there's no doubt about it." If she beams any more brightly, her whole face might split. "It did," B'tal is just repeating what she says, but the way he says it makes it his own. That wavering smile turns into something entirely more firm, mirroring the beaming that Madilla has going on. "No doubt." He looks at the healer, flushing slightly, then he pulls her close again and squeezes him arms around her. "Faranth, Madilla! We're gonna have a baby!" That's probably the most exciting thing he's ever said. Jeibeth is still watching, intently, from where she's settled back on her haunches that short distance away. She warbles now, like some sort of congratulations. Despite having only just drawn back, Madilla's in no way reluctant to be wrapped back in by B'tal's arms. "A /baby/," she repeats, still one part incredulous, and the rest - just joyful. Jeibeth's warble turns her attention, just briefly, towards the green, with more beaming; then, her attention turns back to B'tal. "I can hardly believe it," she admits. "After all this time... I barely know where to start." "I... I don't even know what to say," B'tal admits, still grinning like a fool. Any of his earlier awkwardness is gone. For now. "I don't think I actually thought it'd work," he tells her, almost like he's not really sure he should. "I can't even say how happy I am for you. For /us!/" He loosens his hold on her, at least, his excitement making his eyes a little big. "So... what now? I mean. Is there anything you need? Or want? Or...?" As she's released, Madilla reaches out to squeeze B'tal's arm, just gently, before her arms return to her sides. "I'm fine," she promises, firmly. "I'll tell you, if there's anything. It's just-- we wait, I suppose. I always thought I'd /feel/ pregnant, but-- I don't. Yet." She bites her lip before she adds, "I don't know if I thought it would, either. It's-- we're very lucky. It can take some people a lot of attempts, and--" She doesn't finish that thought. Probably, it's far too exciting a day for dwelling on such things. "I'm so glad." Once there's some little bit of space between them, B'tal can't help the stray of his gaze toward her belly, which doesn't look at all different than what he's used to. But it is different and it makes him smile all over again. "Waiting is hard," he says but that doesn't seem to be an actual problem for him. Not now. "But we're very lucky, yes," he agrees. "And I'll be around in case you need anything, Madilla. I mean it." The smile he offers is for /her/ then, not just this baby business. "Do you... do you mind if I tell anyone?" Madilla can't seem to help but wrap her arms around her middle, looking beatific as she does. "I know you will," she tells him, firmly, obviously well pleased. "And I promise, if there's anything you can do, I /will/ tell you." Beat. "And if there's anything you want from me... you can tell me that, too." Straightening her shoulders, she adds, "You can tell anyone you like, B'tal. The healers know-- most of them, anyway. I didn't tell anyone we were trying, though, so that's all. I'm going to start telling people soon, I suppose." B'tal smiles at that, too. And not just because he's smiling at everything. That's going to be, /is/, his baby, too, after all. "Thanks," is all he can really think to say for now but it seems to encompass all of it. Everything between the two of them. He lifts a hand to the back of his neck and rubs absently. "Not really sure who I'll tell. But it's good to know that I can," he says, grinning then glancing back over his shoulder toward Jeibeth who is still watching the pair curiously. "I don't know /how/ to tell people," admits Madilla. "I think it must be easier when people-- know you're trying? Or know it's a possibility." She sounds fairly placid as she says this, twisting her expression into something more thoughtful, though she can't seem to stop from smiling for long. "I just--" She breaks off. She just /smiles/. Again. "Do you mind what it is? Boy or girl, I mean." It seems to be a separate thought from the interrupted one. There's a steady expression on his face, something more like his usual but clearly more pleased in general. He'll probably have that hint of goofy happiness for awhile. Probably a lot in next few months and then probably quite a lot after that, too. Hopefully. "Oh," he says to the last question like he hadn't really considered that before now, however doubtful that might be. "I don't think I'd mind if it was a boy or a girl. Do you... have a, uh, preference?" "No," says Madilla, solidly, looking pleased with his answer. "I don't mind at all, as long as he or she is healthy. I don't think there's a lot of point wishing for something, really. It's not as though we have control." She twists her fingers in the fullness of her skirt, adding, then, sounding almost surprised, "We'll have to think about names, too. We have months, of course, but... So much to think about." "Healthy, yeah. No reason to," B'tal pauses eyes shifting toward her belly again like he's not really sure where else to look, "to think that it won't be, though, right?" The greenrider's momentary lapse into thoughts he doesn't want to have anyway turns back into a big smile. "Names. I hadn't really thought of that. Bet those months'll go by pretty quickly." For him, anyway. You know, the one that doesn't have to carry a baby around inside of them. Madilla's, "None at all," is determined, even to the point of being forceful. /She/ is not going to let anything be wrong with her baby, plainly. If she can manage it. "I hope it'll go quickly, at least," she adds, though from the looks of her, maybe the pregnancy is just as exciting as what follows. Maybe. For now. "I know it's weyr custom to make a name out of the parents' names... so that's what I want to do. I haven't really thought much about it yet, either." "Out of our names?" B'tal says, just to make sure that's what she's talking about. Of course, he's probably well aware of Weyr custom, being from one and all but it's still a little strange to think of himself as a parent probably. "Sure we'll come up with something. Maybe Jeibeth can help," he adds the last with a vague gesture back in the dragon's direction. If she has thoughts on this matter, it's difficult to tell just by looking at her. Confirming his question with a nod, Madilla's gaze quickly returns to the green; again, she looks pleased. "I'd like that," she tells them both. "I'm sure between us, we can come up with something nice. Something that isn't... Bedilla or something." The implication being that she's not so thrilled with that particular name. "Jeibeth's... pleased? Truly pleased?" This seems important to her. B'tal grins at the suggested name that she offers as an example and despite the grin, he makes a little face at it. "Oh, yeah. Jeibeth thinks it's all kind of exciting. Probably feeding off of me, you know. But she likes kids. People in general. But kids are different." He's babbling a little. He realizes it and he starts looking a little awkward all over again. "Good," is Madilla's assessment, firmly stated. "I like kids, too. I suppose that's pretty obvious by now, but..." More beams. She, at least, doesn't look awkward, though perhaps she's noticed B'tal's awkwardness; if so, she only smiles at him for it. "I'm just... excited. I should... go, though. I'm on shift this afternoon." "Good," B'tal repeats, hooking a thumb in one pocket, smiling all over again. The last makes him take a step back and doesn't help the awkwardness in the least but he's still grinning as he says, "Oh, right. Yeah, of course. Remember to, uh, let me know if you need anything." There's a nod to go along with that and he waits for her to start off before attempting to do the same. If anything, Madilla looks apologetic, despite the fact that she's probably running out of things to say at this point. "I will," she promises. "And I'll keep you updated on... everything. Feel free to drop in, too. Whenever you like." She pauses a moment more, hesitating visibly, then adds, "I hope W'chek is happy. I... hope he takes it well." Rueful smile aside, she bobs her head, about to turn to leave. "I will," B'tal says about dropping in, evidently liking that idea quite a lot. And he has a better excuse now than just being friends. About W'chek, he offers a weaker sort of smile and nods, "Sure he'll take it fine. Bet he'll be happy, too." You know, assuming B'tal tells him and everything. "Have a good day, Madilla. Don't work too hard." The last said with that same smile. The answer to her first remark earns a bright smile from the healer; the second gets a more hesitant nod, but a nod nonetheless. "I won't," she promises. "Look after yourself, B'tal. I'm sure I'll see you soon." Then she actually turns to leave, heading back through the dragon infirmary towards the caverns. Still smiling, B'tal watches her turn to go. After a few moments of that, though, he's turning back toward Jeibeth and heading off to go about the rest of his day, too, much more happy. |
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