Difference between revisions of "Logs:Lullabyes"

The dinner hour is finally starting to clear out some, and most of those who are left in the settlement are the people who want to be social. And, those who need the light of the fire to do work of one kind or another. Emmeline falls into the second camp, though as usual she seats herself abut as far away from the flames as she can while still reaining enough warmth not to shiver. And, enough light o be able to read with at least a squint. Whatever she's looking over must have captured her interest somehow, because she's paying little attention to the goings on around her.

Someone has been giving birth today. All day. Evali was woken up at something like four in the morning, and that's obvious in the way she carries herself, looking completely worn out. There's blood on her skirt, though she's washed her hands clean of it and manages to scrounge up food for herself at last. Her hair is in a messy bun and her face is lined with sweat despite the cold. Once she's gotten herself a bowl of soup, she gently but exhaustedly sits down next to Emmeline and asks, quietly, "What are you reading?" It's a distraction from /her/ day.

It's likely only the fact that Evali's voice is so quiet that prevents Emmeline's usual near-jump of startlement when she's surprised out of such a zoned out state. What she's reading looks to be a leather bound bok of some sort; fragile with age at this point, with brittle pages that she's exceptionally careful with. "Evali! I was just browing through my grandmother's songbook. I wanted to find someting new to sing to the children." she explains, her brow furrowing when she looks over at the midwife for a good glance. "Are you alright??" Yep, that sound means she's a little aghast. "I mean.. uh, long day?"

"It's not mine," says Evali in a practiced tone; it's apparent that she says this a lot, though it's also possible Emmeline can't even /see/ the blood, though Evali does tend toward wearing light colors. "And yes, very long. Labor since before sunrise. Finally over. Mother and son are alive and well," she adds, proudly, "and he's trying to eat. I'll have to go back and check in to make sure his latch is all right, since it's her first, but other than exhaustion I'm quite well." Since everything went perfectly, if extremely slowly, she can talk about it. "That sounds really interesting, though. A songbook. I've never seen one."

Relief is dominant in the young harper's expression, and she even moves to squeeze Evali's shoulder in a gesture of comfort. A long day she can understand, even if she's as unfamiliar with the process of childbirth as others are with the process of song. "Latch... right! Latch. Sorry, took me a moment to figure that one out." she admits. "There's nobody else who can look in on them for you? I think you need some sleep, Evali." Emme does keep her voice low when she says it, knowing how she just hates it when suddenly half the settlement knows what you're talking about. "I've had more time to look at all of the notes and books that were given to me, now that I've got Ani to help me with the teaching. I'm learnng a lot. There are so many teaching ballads. I just wish there were a place I could practice singing them."

Evali smiles genuinely, as opposed to her brief Polite Smile so often seen. "There is. You're right, I should probably ask someone else. Normally I try to stay with them, but it's literally been all day, from dark to dark. Not that she's gotten to sleep either, but her husband took a nice long nap. I had to kick him for the actual birth." Evali is never sarcastic and never exaggerates, so this actually happened just as stated. Unforutnately. "And I don't know if I can help you with that, but I would like to hear them if you wanted to, I don't know, sing them to me." She looks a little bit hopeful. "Calm my nerves?"

"And people /wonder/ why there are a few of us who would rather die spinsters then marry some of the cretins that call themselves men around here." Emmeline mutters, taking Evali -completely- at her word about having to kick a husband awake for the birth. In an effort not to get herself started on a rant, the girl just shakes her head. "Figures." And, flips the page to a different song. "You want me to sing right here? Like, now? With no practice?" Her face colors then, and she tries flipping to something a little simpler sing, if that's going to be the case.

"You can warm up first," Evali replies in the same calm, practical voice. "And I -- don't know about that, really. I want to. Have children. I just don't have any potential parents for them; I don't think Devaki's considered it for me yet, either." Maybe she's asking for the rant after all.

"Oh, I wouldn't mind having children. I'd just prefer to pick the father, instead of being stuck with whomever the elders decide on. But..." Emmeline takes a deep breath, then lets it out slowly. "It's been made quite clear to me that my preference doesn't matter. So." Now she shrugs, composing her expression. "Have you asked him whether he's considered any matches for you yet?" It's taken years to cultivate that neutral voice of hers, and she's putting it to use now. Really! "Well, this one is a lullaby. That wouldn't be so bad. For a ballad I'd want a secluded space to practice, and you're dead on your feet. So when you've rested, maybe tomorrow, I'll haul you to one of the small islands and make you listen to me there." That, at least, is accompanied by a grin.

Evali seems to be in favor of that plan at least, as she grins shyly and says, "Okay. If nobody else gives birth. Though no one's scheduled to." She settles more comfortably in her seat, wrapping herself tighter in her coat, trying to find a relaxed position that suits listening to a lullabye, and eventually remembers to say, "Actually no. Haven't asked Grandfather, either, yet."

"You'll have to be honest though, even if it's brutal. It has to sound right, or I'm not giving the song it's due." Emmeline explains, squinting her eyes again as she roams over the words and musical score for the chosen lullabye. "Maybe you should. Ask, that is. At least then they'll know you're interested." she suggests. To each their own right? Clearing her throat a little then, she tests out the first few bars of music, the words that are sung suggesting that it's the sounds of the sea that some can fall to sleep to. Those people obviously never had to be trapped on an island. But still! It's appropriate to location, and it's lucky for her that the notes are well within a range that sounds good with her voice. Appropriately lulled, Evali has finished off her soup and is curling up into a ball, looking -- well, relaxed. "Nothing brutal to say," she murmurs. "It's beautiful, actually." She even yawns, and then giggles. "And effective."

"Here." Emmeline plucks up the empty bowl, and walks it back to the drop-off point so that Evali doesn't have to. She's only gone a moment, though apparently expects to find the midwife fast asleep already. She leans over to check, since she'll have to call someone over much stronger then she is to cart the woman back to her hut. But if awake, her now hushed voice should be welcome to the tired and giggling. "I'll help you back if you want. You've eaten and now it's time for you to sleep." She tucks her songbook under her arm and holds out a hand to see if the other woman is going to take her up on the offer or not.

"Mm," says the very tired, very comfortable Evali, "Or I could sleep here -- no, okay," she tosses her head a little bit, trying to wake herself up just enough. "That would be stupid. You're very sweet," she adds, as if this is something she has only just noticed about Emmeline. "Very kind." It's also sleepy rambling.

"I'm sure you could find a few people that would disagree with you about that." Emmeline murmurs, attempting to be honest. "But I appreciate the sentiment. You're quite kind and sweet as well." It seems only fair to return the compliment, and it's accompanied by a pleased smile as opposed to her trademark smirk. "Come on now, sleepy." If nothing else, she hooks her arm with Evali's so that the other woman can lean on her a bit for the short walk. "Don't you dare get up until breakfast either, unless it's an emergency. I think you can skip helping out in the morning."

Evali is definitely tipping a little, and so she leans right into Emmeline while trying to keep herself upright. "I have no idea," she says lightly, distantly, "why I am so exhausted. It's not that hard to deliver a baby, and I've been eating all day ..." She is so overtired a lot of logic has departed already. "But if you'll vouch for me, I'll give in and sleep in."

Emmeline can't disguise a snort, honestly. "When you've been up all day coaching someone, you've reason to be exhausted." Her tone, just as when she's in a lecturing mood, is stern there. "Of course I'll vouch for you. So stop worrying." Walking such a sleepy woman to her doorstep has the added affect of making her sleepy as well, and since yawns are catching she has to stop one of her own there. "Go in, go to bed. I'll find someone and tell em to look in on the new momma. And then I'm heading for sleep too. 'Night Evali." "Thanks." Evali gives Emmeline a genuine /grin/, at this point, even if it is a deliriously sleepy one. Grins are even rarer than smiles. "I'll pay you back for your kindness someday, somehow, when I'm not asleep on my feet." Pushing hair out of her face, she ducks inside, giving Emme a last wave over her shoulder.