Logs:So Long
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| RL Date: 25 April, 2015 |
| Who: Farideh, Lycinea |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Lycinea comes to tell Farideh that she's leaving. |
| Where: Eastern Bowl, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 19, Month 8, Turn 37 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Irianke/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: Back-dated! |
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>---< 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. To the southeast, between the weyrling area and the lake,
there are a handful of structures built into the floor of the bowl,
standing out amidst otherwise an empty space. It's been three sevens since hatching. It's not that Lycinea has been avoiding her celebrity friend, no. There was a quick hug and a heart-felt congrats for Farideh when she want to get her things from the candidate barracks, but things are intense for everyone (or so Lycinea supposes). Farideh has her new lifemate. Lycinea has duties with Irianke and her own quiet preparation for going to stay with the traders. The panic attacks that come on her unexpectedly haven't improved. She still spends most of her free time in the bathes (the public ones, or Irianke's). Three of her roommates have moved out. She still wakes screaming at night. Lya is many things, and stupid is sometimes one of them, but she wasn't cleared by Irianke's mindhealer friend to Stand on hatching day, she must know or suspect that being around baby dragons and their lifemates is probably not for the best. So there's been space between them. Now, though, the time draws near that Lycinea has to bid her home farewell, and that means her friends too, so she lingers outside the barracks, waiting for Farideh to appear, with or without her pale gold. Life as a weyrling, with another entity inside your head even, isn't all roses and champagne. It's even harder to maintain other relationships that don't exist within your immediate vicinity. That must be why Farideh hasn't made an effort to reach out to Lycinea or, assure her friend of her good fortune. But as she comes out of the barracks, sans Roszadyth, she looks distracted, and that's before she's noticed the blonde lurking there. "Lya," she says, surprised, halting in her tracks. "Are you-- hi." Her face transforms under a bright, if tired, smile. The blonde manages a smile for her friend, if perhaps a little fragile. "Hi," Lya greets, stepping toward the brunette to stop a pace or so away. "How are you?" This isn't awkward at all; she looks like she really does want to know, so there's that. "I'm tired, but fine. Everything's fine." It sounds like something someone would repeat over and over to convince others, convince themselves. "How are you? I haven't seen you since--" Well, a while, and Farideh takes a moment to give Lycinea a sweeping glance from head to toe, as if anything had changed, physically, in all this time. Lycinea studies Farideh's face a long, serious moment when she speaks. "I'm not fine," is what she decides on, though it's quiet. "I'm going to try to become fine." It's even quieter, her eyes down to look at Farideh's hands, as if she might like to reach out and take them, though she doesn't. When she does look up, it's to say, "Farideh, I have to go away for a while." Any happiness evident in the weyrling's face slowly disappears after that admission and those words, and it's with a puckered brow that Farideh regards Lycinea. "What do you mean you're going away? Where are you going? With who? For how long?" The younger girl takes a breath, looking up at Farideh. "I'm going to go stay with Irianke's family. The traders. For a while. The season." Maybe more. She doesn't say that, but the resolve is lacking in her tone. Lycinea looks up at Farideh, "But I'll write." This much is firm. That answer doesn't seem to suit. "Is Irianke making you go?" Farideh's hands lightly ball into fists, her mouth setting; she looks annoyed. Lycinea trembles. It's a small movement, but there. She tucks her hands away into her pockets. "No, Farideh. She offered that I could go. To be away for a while." The blonde girl bites her lower lip for a moment, "The mindhealer wouldn't clear me to Stand. I asked to." There's only a half-breath beat before she says, "Three of my horrible roommates moved out because I can't stop waking up screaming, thinking the ceiling is falling. With the traders, I'll be under the sky. And keeping the sky from falling is your job now," dragonriders, there's a touch of humor to that, but warmth too. "Easier with no Thread." Farideh's tension doesn't immediately ease, but through the course of listening to the blonde, her shoulders relax and her fists loosen. "Are you troubled, still? Is that what this is about? From the cave in? You should do what--" She takes a deep breath and moves forward, to loop her arms around the other girl, if she will let her. "I want you to be well. If going away is what they recommend-- then you must. Igen's weather is much more pleasant, less dreary than here. You will find new things to celebrate and a life in the sun that you didn't think you could have." There's a pause, and she smiles, sadly. "And I'll be here, holding up the sky for you, until you return." There's only a nod for the first. Then, of the rest, what response Lya chooses to make comes with a rueful smile, "I know. I made one of the riders take me to Igen so I could see what you and Irianke liked so much about it. To a gather there." She probably would never have admitted this were they still fighting, but so much has changed already since that time in the living cavern not so long ago, "I liked it. I think it will be okay. Time away, without-- any of the pressure here. The pressure to be okay. I really tried." The last comes with a tone of apology, as if she might some how have failed Farideh (or if not Farideh, the other Igenite woman) by not being. "You'll be fine. Everything will be fine. Take the time you need and if you think about it, I would love to hear what you're doing. Just-- don't feel like you have to write letters, but if you-- get bored, and I'll write them back." Farideh pulls back, then, and reaches to brush some invisible hair off Lycinea's forehead. "I'll miss you, but you need to do what is the best for you." Lycinea's hands are less willing to slip from where they wrapped in answer to the hug, but do without fuss. "You'll be too busy to write, Farideh," the blonde tells her in a knowing tone, "But would you do me a favor? A big one?" Her eyes on her friend's face "Even if I have to write it in my sleep or during my baths, I will," is obviously meant to make the other girl laugh, but Farideh's smile falters at the question. "I can try. What is it?" There's no laugh, but there is a smile, a real one, if a small one, so that will have to do. Lycinea takes a breath, "I know that Irianke acts like she has everything under control, and I'm not saying she doesn't," this added hastily, "But everyone needs someone, Farideh. Be her someone when she needs it? When you can? While I'm gone? Especially if Weyrwoman Nimae comes again." Then, quietly, "I don't want her to be alone." Nevermind the Weyr full of people and her frequent bedmates! Farideh's worried expression relaxes somewhat, and she gives Lycinea's arms a squeeze. "We both need each other more than anything else right now. Especially with the--" But she pinches her lips and shakes her head, smiling instead, to reassure the other girl. "You don't need to worry about us. Irianke will be fine. I'll be fine. You'll be fine. Everything will be fine. We'll make High Reaches the best place to be while you're gone, and when you come back-- we can celebrate. Champagne and parties for a straight sevenday." "And we can hang out in your shiny new weyr one day, braiding each other's hair and talk about some bronzerider leaving you potted flowers on your ledge," Lycinea affirms the everything with this addition, though saying it makes her smile wider. "I'll write," she promises, leaning to hug her quickly and kiss her cheek before turning to make a quick escape - it's better than a long tearful goodbye at any rate. |
Comments
Jolie (02:32, 2 May 2015 (EDT)) said...
A Jo quote!! Haha~~ Great scene. :D
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