Logs:Rumors
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| RL Date: 12 August, 2012 |
| Who: Brieli, E'ten, N'rov |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr, Fort Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: After going off to do... something, Brieli finds E'ten and N'rov shopping at the Gather. Then, she and N'rov discuss gossip related to the weddings. |
| Where: High Reaches Hold |
| When: Day 25, Month 6, Turn 29 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: K'del/Mentions, Braeden/Mentions, Yuliye/Mentions, Iolene/Mentions |
| High Reaches Hold Isolated on its westward-jutting peninsula, from the landward side High Reaches Hold appears burrowed deep into the mountain, with only a few shuttered windows overlooking the rows of cotholds that line the river road. Its double courtyards appear designed more for transportation or defense than for welcoming visitors. From the seaward side, the slant of the windows overlooking the fine deep bay attempts to ward off the sea winds, the higher stories evading the less pleasant odors prevalent at low tide. Today, the courtyards are full to overflowing with visitors and locals alike. Most of the stalls have been set up further afield, lining the main road that weaves inwards to the hold, and filling the orchards. The courtyards are bustling too, however, with harpers on call to provide dance music as well as more sedate performances throughout the day and night. However cold and bleak the Hold's setting may be, inside, its colors of dark blue and tan act as neutrals for the warmer, brighter hues of its llama-wool tapestries and rugs. Below the Hold, oval caverns house lengths of seasoned wood for its shipbuilders, and to its outskirts are several minor Crafthalls including a glass-smith's shop. Though the Hold's main access is by sea, the river road leads to its Weyr and the rest of Pern, while minor roads lead to a few outlying Holds and the distant lighthouse. Warm sunshine and cloudless skies make for a beautiful day and pleasantly warm evening. A breeze tempers the heat with no humidity lingering in the air. It's not all that much later in the day that Brieli comes meandering back through the crowds of people still mingling and most definitely /gossiping/ after today's announcements and whatever rumors have come along with the folk from all across the area, if not further afield. There's reason enough to be trading them now, and /that's/ reason enough for the weyrling goldrider to take her time in passing by this group or that - though not for too long, not now - she can't quite blend in like she used to. Not expecting to find N'rov or Azaylia or E'ten still waiting where they were, she only pauses long enough to trade an empty fluted glass for a full one, continuing on, dark gaze sharp on the crowd. That's common, but she's a particular focus at the moment. It's a jeweler's booth that one of the Fort bronzeriders is visiting currently, N'rov in the midst of bargaining: a pretty little thing, beads woven into cheerful flower shapes, just right for a teenager. Some teenagers, anyway. His clothes are still more or less pristine, though he's got his hat tucked under one arm for safekeeping, and bargaining doesn't mean that he can't glance over to the neighboring booth that E'ten's looking at: to check up on his friend, or maybe just to help drive the price down. Jeweler's booths are just a prime place for E'ten to get into trouble at. Questions about who and what certain items are for. Is it a significant interest? Yes? No? Why ever not. Perhaps, that's exactly why the other Fortian bronzerider is at the stall beside N'rov with all the interest of a man who is slightly clueless as to what to buy. For who remains a matter of mystery as he glances to one side with a wry twitch to his lips. "Any success?" Once she's made it to the booths and spotted the pair of Fortians, it's likely not a surprise that Brieli angles her steps towards that jeweler's booth and N'rov both - though there's nothing predatory in her gait or gaze, as there might be in other young women noting their date doing that kind of shopping. Once she's close enough to look over at the stall curiously, close enough to raise her voice; "I bet I could be helpful with that sort of thing." Unless she's not supposed to be around? She tilts her glass E'ten's way in silent toast before slipping an arm around her date's waist, glancing up at him with a grin. N'rov's got a quick smile for E'ten, but also a sorrowful voice. "Not yet. Tell the lady, would you, how we're just new-minted riders and have hardly any," but then there's /his/ date, and he leans in to steal a kiss and just maybe a sip. "Excuse me," he then tells the woman in the stall, a blonde not quite old enough to be his mother. "It's just that she's distracting, it makes it hard to remember all my words." In a stage whisper, "Just don't tell her I'm poor. She'll dump me and I'll go wailing down the lane." E'ten chuckles amusedly, looking first to Brieli with a nod of greeting yet again as he turns away from the array of scarves that had captured his attention. But not his pouch of marks. "I have no one in particular that I'm shopping for, admittedly. It's more of browsing while N'rov is.. well..." With a longer glance to the other rider, it's all for naught as it becomes clear that both of them are a couple. Anyone could discern that as he shrugs, with a glance to the shopkeep as he adopts an idle observation, "At least, he's right about us being fairly new. Slightly. Though, I was doing more jobs leading up to the Gather. Not, that it helps entirely." Not bothered in the least by the kiss, Brieli might give N'rov the side-eye for stealing her glass, but bears up admirably under such hardship. With a lovely smile for the older blonde, "Isn't he sweet? As if he's ever been at a loss for words." She'll touch his cheek lightly before taking her drink back and looking over the other items on display, as if she quite missed that stage whisper. So helpful! Arching fine brows at E'ten, amused, "You can't shop for yourself? I admit, I'm not much for things myself, but clothes... Something of a weakness. Anyway, there must be something you'd buy for you, yes?" Generally, and to her credit, without a hint of smugness, "We've had an advance." And she's not buying, sadly. Which means N'rov rolls his eyes back at Brieli, good-humored, and makes a point of taking another sip. To the woman, "You see what I have to put up with?" in that isn't-he-lucky tone of voice. "Anyway, E'ten's right, he was doing the jobs, but there were only so many to go around," and he didn't exactly volunteer to lug criminals around. The woman sniffs, but doesn't quite call him on it, which means even more bargaining to be done. Still, they're close enough in price that it shouldn't take much longer to finish things up, especially with another potential customer dropping in to check out the wares, drawn by all the goings-on. "Oh, I can shop for myself but who said that I was looking for personal wear items?" Noted bemusedly, E'ten is already waving off both gold and bronze rider with a gesture towards the other tents nearby. "I'll see what the shopkeep and I can work out here while the two of you continue wandering around the stalls. N'rov can pay me back later, I'm sure." With so many people coming around, surely they'll want to get him gone with the item in question. Though Brieli does her level best to /not/ listen to the bargaining, /not/ eye that piece they're discussing with something nearer to assessment than to acquisitive interest, /not/ step on N'rov's foot at a particular point in the process - she can't quite succeed. At the very least, she's subtle enough that the woman might not notice, but it's possible people on the other side of the booth might. Blinking over at E'ten after a sip from her glass, "Oh, I didn't... I was more asking, but..." Never mind. She's being waved off, and though that might arch those brows again, she'll just offer a smile and a little wave. "Ow," N'rov asides to Brieli, wounded. "You almost made me spill my drink." Her drink. What's left of it. Still, it doesn't stop him from completing the bargain, and he thanks the shopkeeper elaborately before tucking the little necklace away and turning back to the other rider, elbow offered. "Shall we? I need to refill your glass, after all. E'ten?" And then, "Where did E'ten go?" With a tragic sigh, Brieli points out, "Trying to help." Not N'rov's foot, obviously, but in some less obvious way. She'll offer polite farewells to the shopkeeper, agree to come back to look another time, certainly - then take that offered arm. "Why don't you get your own drink instead of taking mine? That's not very gentlemanly," she complains, though without any real offense behind it - then, blinking; "He was here a minute ago. Is there anyone who might kidnap him?" N'rov's startled away from the whole drinks issue, but then, moments later, "Nice try." He narrows his brows at her, and then employs the shopkeeper's table long enough to get his hat back on without dropping anything. Back to the drink, starting to promenade her down the lane: "Yours was closer. Also, I will get my own drink, and refill yours. It's all a secret plot to get you tipsy, you see." With a little shrug, Brieli takes that moment where N'rov puts on his hat to make sure her sleeves are looking appropriately puffy, looking up at him questioningly - what? As they start along the booths, her eyes move constantly about the crowd and the booths, though her attention is clearly on him; beginning to grin, "You've given away the secret. Get me tipsy to take advantage or pry information out of me? Because... I think you're past using alcohol for either." "I am?" N'rov marvels, only to tease, "All right then, it's water for you." He's paying far less attention to the crowd, secure as someone can be who not only has seen plenty of Gathers before, but also probably isn't likely to get knifed, groped, or maybe even run into. He does drop his voice when he continues, though there's some lightness to it still. "What was going on with everyone whispering, earlier, anyway?" There's only a derisive little laugh for /that/ - not likely. Brieli seems more /interested/ in the people than concerned, but not so much that she won't leave what's left of the drink to N'rov in favor of wrapping both arms around his and moving in close; so much better to look up at him, apparently captivated - not that it's much of a stretch - and speak softly. "Where to start. It wasn't /meant/ to be a double wedding, and there was no announcement of an upcoming wedding between the Lord and the new Lady." Where to start: N'rov drags his gaze away from her only just long enough to escape, if not being run into, running into someone else. Barely. "No? Maybe they're cutting costs." There's a little humor in it, but not much more than the phrasing. "Who is she? She didn't look like a drudge or someone from a rival Weyr or anything." There's a drinks cart every few meters, it seems like, and while this one doesn't have stools, the next one might. "I wonder... It couldn't have anything to do with that rumor, could it? Everything going so fast?" For some reason, Brieli's eyes fairly light up at the idea, even as they widen a touch with disbelief. Careful, "That would be ridiculous, wouldn't it?" She can pay a bit more attention in terms of not running into people, but barely now. They'll annoy people across the Gather, that will be helpful. "She's Lord Crom's niece. I'd heard that she'd spent some time at the Weyr. /And/ that she'd slept with K'del, but I think they say that about everyone." Forgive her shudder. After a moment to dredge his memory, and another for admitting he doesn't know something, "Which rumor?" At least N'rov recognizes the implications of the niece bit, given his low whistle, though it breaks up into more laughter about her Weyrleader. He scans the crowd again, gray gaze slipping away from the stalls with the white roofs, until... there: one of those wine gardens with ivy brought in for the occasion as an arbor. Shade, glorious shade. "At least you should be safe from that, right? Since he's hankering after Ysavaeth?" Still quiet, "Around the time of Azaylia's party, there was some rumor that K'del had been spending all of his time here to spend time with the young Lord, in that same sort of way? Ridiculous, but. Perhaps something was in the works that got pushed forward." Brieli's eyes narrow in thought briefly, and she just shakes her head in vague disbelief. The idea of shade seems to be appreciated; she flashes a quick smile for N'rov before a touch doubtfully, "Let's hope so." It doesn't take long to arrange wine for them both, though that shade turns out to be wholly populated and, well, they're going to have to wait at least a couple more minutes to actually sit. "/Was/ there? I wonder if N'muir heard," N'rov muses, only to add belatedly, "Not that it would be good for us to provoke them, I /suppose/." Belatedly, and disappointedly. He idly watches a trio of men, crafters by their knots, comparing notes via hand gestures on something that's bigger than some other thing. "Maybe the Lord just didn't want his heir to be his sister and that exile." He doesn't say it with distaste, more as identification, but still: exile. It's probably not something Brieli should admit to, nor is it likely something she should share but - once they're standing there, and there's no one close enough to overhear if she's quiet enough, she leans in to offer a whisper in N'rov's ear: "I started them." As she pulls back, a bit more normally, "Not that there's all that much call to provoke them now, no." She'll at least look /very/ apologetic over the rim of her glass. After a sip, a shrug, "That's possible as well." She doesn't correct the term, nor does she sound totally convinced at the reasoning. "It's just interesting that no one had any idea." "/What/?" It's low-voiced for all its emphasis, as N'rov eyes Brieli right back, all not-so-discreet fascination with his brows hiked nearly up to his hairline. And then he's laughing, enough that when their tiny table's ready, he waits to help her into her seat before replying. "It really is, now that you mention it. I wonder if she's with child." That last is quiet too, in her ear too, although a little closer to tickling her earlobe. He'll take the stool /next/ to hers, then, not across the way. Not /too/ pleased by the reaction, or by her potential handiwork, Brieli only offers another of her little shrugs N'rov's way, though there's the touch of a smile on her lips, and dark eyes are bright. It takes a bit of doing to arrange skirt and stool so there's nothing too indecent happening, but she manages gracefully - maybe that's part of the goldrider lessons too. Setting her glass on the table, smiling wider for the feel of lips at her ear, "Is that a suggestion? Or just guessing?" "What's wrong?" N'rov asks for that shrug, and puts his glass down too so he can reach over for her hands. And, yes, play with her sleeve. Less concerned with the Holders, "Just a guess. It's the usual reason for marrying all of a sudden, right? Unless it's really that Lord Crom's trying to pull a Fa... a fast one." He doesn't glance around them, not overtly, but there's a self-aware pull to his mouth as he keeps looking at her: goof, at the very least potentially. "Nothing's wrong. And be careful with it, I don't know how they did that." Not that Brieli minds N'rov's hands in hers, even if he's playing with the mysterious sleeve - it's just her /nice dress/, and it's /new/. Crossing long legs, nodding, "It is, one of them? Though I don't think that Lords and Ladies do a lot of that sort of thing. Though..." She'll lower her voice a touch, "What do I know?" For that near slip, however well-covered, she'll give him the side-eye, but then a kiss; "Don't make me nervous." "I'll try not to." N'rov squeezes her hands a moment, then returns to teasing, "You might need to give me kisses in regular installments. You know, as reminders. If you don't, I might think that I have to make you nervous to get one." Still, he makes no move to take a kiss, as he hadn't to deepen the one she'd given him, but then they are in public. Back to her sleeves: "You could cut these off and make legwarmers, if you ever got bored of it the way it is. But no skirt, please." Returning that squeeze with one of her own, Brieli will lean in for one more kiss, unable to stop herself from smiling at him as she moves back in an attempt at maintaining some sort of public decorum. Though maybe it would help with the tragically romantic image? "One in advance at least. More later. And if you plan on coming back with us even for a little while..." And that's clearly suggestive. Eyeing the ruffles before looking up to eye N'rov skeptically, "No legwarmers either. I /like/ my sleeves." A pause. "And I do have a skirt, thank you." It's just really short! "Yes," N'rov agrees into that pause, though he does also waggle his brows at her and suggest, "If you're sure the back of a Gather stall won't do?" Which might be harder to sell to the tragic romance crowd, particularly when he reaches over to steal her glass /again/... or, no, it's just to hand it to her. "All right. Just really short, it is. Although we could ask around and see who agrees with you." He slides a look about them, to see who's looking /at/ them, or more likely at her. "Convince me," Brieli tells N'rov, with a grin - but that dress of hers /is/ white, despite how persuasive he might be in usual circumstances. And not only harder to sell to the tragic romance crowd, but possibly warranting a reprimand from the powers that be? Taking the glass with a gracious nod, and tipping it towards him before drinking - /despite/ his debate about the existence of her skirt - she has her own glance about. "Do you trust these people on fashion? And I can start lengthening my skirts if you think it proper for my position?" Then, suddenly, "We should dance. Before we go, or end up in the back of the stall, whichever." He mimes disappointment, then has another look around, this time for clothing rather than just attention. "...No." And, "No." And, "Yes. Twice. And then I can owe /you/ a dance," and N'rov has a sunny, sunny grin for Aishani beneath that rakish hat of his: perhaps that much he can convince her of, at least. |
Comments
Iolene (Satiet) left a comment on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:34:00 GMT.
Back and forth flirtation and then the gossip! Oh the gossip. XD
K'del and Braeden, sitting in a tree.
K-I-S-S-I....
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