Difference between revisions of "Logs:Enigmatic Enigmas"

Dice, Fort Weyr(#900RJs)

    High up above the lake, a small ledge is barely noticeable, and indeed most pass by it unawares. It's small enough that a green can comfortably land, perhaps even a blue, but larger dragons would find it too awkward and small to do so. Just inside, a couple of couple of men are standing with arms crossed and sharp eyes watching the comings and goings.

    The small size of the various rooms that make up the weyr proper has probably made it unappealing for any to claim as their own - however this makes it perfect for its new purpose. In each room there's a table and chairs set up in different configurations - card games here and there, dice in another room, roulette in yet another. The dealers are dressed in plain gray outfits, though the security guards that wanders from room to room (and occasionally come to collect marks) are more casually dressed. The decor and lighting are dark, intended to make identification of other patrons more difficult.

It isn't unusual to find Lilah up in Dice at any hour, though the goldrider's plain grey outfit matches that of the dealers' exactly, making it hard to mark her as what she is especially given that she does not wear her knot, here. Yet, the bright red-gold hair catches in dim light and there is a certain way that those who know watch her--. At the moment, she has settled at the bar, relieving the bartender for a break as she pours a glass of wine for a bluerider who then takes it and leaves for a table.

When you live in a weyr you can usually convince someone to visit some place new. Somewhere along the line the Reachian scribe has managed to barter passage to the famous (or perhaps infamous) Dice. Dark eyes note each of the security guards and patrons before a flash of red-gold indicates what Edyis's after. "Well I admit I'm impressed, though it's nothing like I expected Goldrider." The title carrying all the weight of a word not chosen, the one spoken likely chosen due to location rather than any other reason.

"What were you expecting?" Lilah questions with the curve of a brow upwards, her attention quick to find Edyis as soon as the dark lighting allows identification. She doesn't move to pour her a drink, but instead waits for an order first.

"Something a little friendlier I suppose." Stated while grinning, "Benden white if you please Ma'am." Pulling payment from a pouch in her bag and setting it on the counter. "Instead I feel like I've just traveled to Bitra, incredibly professional this setup. You must make incredible profits to afford the guards."

"We do not have Benden, but we do have a special white," Lilah offers, a hint of a smile playing briefly on her lips before she moves to pour that glass for her and slide it over. At least the price is cheaper than what she'd get for a Benden. Her gaze slides to the guards, though she says quietly, "They are residents that would have other jobs. Sometimes a dragonrider or two working off a debt in their spare time."

Edyis tries so very hard to contain her disappointment by playing up her curiosity about the white. "Really, which hold crafts it?" Just in case she needs to start keeping track of that one as well no doubt. She takes the glass and swirls it sniffing gingerly before taking the smallest of sips. "Interesting choice of work I suppose." The scribe returns in the same quiet tone her hostess uses. "So is this what you do with your spare time? Play barkeep and hostess?" They could sound judgmental, those words, but the scribe's tone is pure curiosity and nothing else.

Lilah shakes her head softly, answering only simply, "I am not at liberty to say, unfortunately. It is a house secret." And if she is looking at the casks, there is no identifying marks to tell her where it possibly came from. "Hostess, barkeep, dealer, when it's needed. Anything to continue to keep Dice running properly." If she takes offense, it doesn't seem to be reflected in the goldrider's expression as she turns away to get her own glass.

House secret, earns a smile from Edyis. "Not even here five minutes and already we've a secret I'd like to get to the bottom of." She chuckles brightly. "Brilliant idea actually, keeps people from claiming you've swapped something of excellent quality for dishwater, and you can rotate your sources as supply and demand allow. Of course I'm sure more cultured tastes than mine could probably put it down to a turn and vineyard."

"If only I were that strategic; no, I simply have promised the owner of the vineyard that I would not share their secret with others," Lilah replies, lifting her own glass to her lips for a slow sip. It isn't the best quality of wine, certainly, so perhaps that is why the vitner wants to remain secret. "You're welcome to buy a flagon to take with you, if you think that you know someone who could pin down the answer."

"Alas I am not that curious." She admits with a small peal of laughter. "Besides it would hardly be worth the effort given the quality. Like so many other things I'm also fairly sure the story I've got imagined is more entertaining than the truth. Still it isn't terrible wine, perfect for something to sip while testing your luck against the house. " Another sip drawn from her glass thoughtfully, "I must admit I rather enjoyed your company the other day, for all that I'm sure mine was unexpected."

Lilah only takes a sip of her wine to cover the hint of what may be a smile at Edyis's words. Whatever the story is, she at least isn't giving away any hint, so her imagination will remain the most entertaining. She adds, however, "Unexpected but pleasant. Though, given how the day started, there wasn't really--." She cuts herself off with a shrug.

"You'd said the flight was unexpected, if I recall correctly." The soft soprano lowered as she speaks. "I thought gold's were known for giving indications that they would be rising, compared to greens that seem to do so on a whim. The whole thing had me pouring through the dragonhealing records but I couldn't find anything to explain it." She studies the redhead curiously in the dim light.

"It seems that Fort has had quite a bit of that, lately. The thought was that perhaps she was trying to right the wrong that should have been Eliyaveith's clutch," Lilah replies slowly, her words holding a thoughtfulness for all that she's simply repeating rumors. "That it was some instinct that there /should/ have been eggs on the sands, so she made it so."

The answer leaves the scribe silent for some time, shaking her head finally. "Too clean an answer, and it's all too strange for the answer to be a clean one. Could be some kind of illness, which would be horrifying in its own implications. If Elaruth fails to clutch it would point to that more prominently. How did Eliyaveith react when she finally realized that no eggs would come?"

"It doesn't seem as if we have to worry about that, at least. Elaruth is already filling out with eggs and showing all the signs of an expectant mother," Lilah says lightly, though that lightness is erased at Edyis's question. Dark eyes slide away towards the entrance of Dice, and she only murmurs, "She mourned."

Something in that answer prompts the scribe to reach out to the older woman, a gesture of comfort cut short just before reaching her. "I am sorry." She offers though the words don't seem to hold all the meaning she would wish them to. Instead she returns to her glass quiet. "Fortunate it must be that dragons do not have long memories."

"If they had longer memories, they couldn't be as-- useful as they are. They would just carry the same weight and issues that we carry," agrees Lilah with a darkness to her words, but she does lift her own glass in a quiet toast of her own in return.

"I envy them that, there are things I wish I could forget." Edyis returns, her voice holding a bitter darkness as another sip is pulled from her glass. "What is it that you regret?" Softly entreating.

Edyis's question only earns the slide of the goldrider's brow upwards, and though she says it simply, her words are firm as she says, "I believe that my regrets are not something to share so casually."

Under the arch of those brows, the scribe simply shrugs. "Nothing is ever casual about regret, but you are probably correct. Some burdens are best left where they can fester." Is she referring to Lilah's or her own, from the way the glass is drained it must be her own, perhaps. "Forgive the question please."

"Of course," Lilah allows, her own smile briefly appearing apologetically before she moves to top off Edyis's glass with more wine. "They are plentiful enough, in any case. You would have been bored to tears."

"Perhaps." The smile returning, at mention of boredom, "I tend to say the wrong thing in the wrong moment regardless. Ask R'hin sometime, it's a terrible, terrible habit." She chirps as the newly topped off glass is sipped gingerly.

"At least you are self-aware. I know plenty of people with the same affliction who never stop to think about it," offers Lilah in assurance, watching the younger woman for a long moment of reserved study.

Edyis laughs, "Don't give me too much credit, there are times when I will say a thing just to see what happens after." She smiles pleasantly under the scrutiny, either completely unbothered by it, or possibly amused by it. "If there is a question on your mind, you may ask it. I promise at least a half way honest answer if not a fully honest one."

"The more you say, the more you sound like R'hin," may be her question, or it may be just an observation that comes from that gaze and from Edyis's own words. Lilah doesn't press for an answer, though, for all that there is a hint of her waiting for one to her non-question.

The observation earns muted laughter, "I don't know if that is a complement or a judgment on my character. What could the answer be I wonder, do I look young enough to be his granddaughter or daughter perhaps? Or are your thoughts going in the direction most tend to think, and that we are clandestine lovers." She almost dissolves into giggles at the last, at the thought of the absurdity of it. "The truth is very simple actually, I am a student of one of the riders in Savannah wing, and so I end up spending quite a bit of time around the Wingleader as a result."

There is a flicker of surprise across Lilah's expression, but it is buried quickly as she instead questions neutrally, "Do most honestly think that? You are certainly young enough to be his daughter." A pause and a slight smile meet Edyis's explanation. "Well, be careful. It seems that if you spend too much more time around him, I may not be able to tell you apart."

She smiles, "I'm sure there are some who do, not that I care much what they think. They probably just do what most people do, invent their own story for the things they see, invent their own truth as it were." There's something simply giddy about the girls expression. "Part of the fun is trying to figure out what the rest of the world is thinking. It's easy to tell us apart though, I'm the one more prone to direct answers for direct questions, where he tends to -" She twirls her fingers mysteriously. "- cultivate the sense of an enigma, must think its attractive or something."

That earns a laugh from the goldrider, though Lilah tips her chin in agreement to Edyis's point. "Yes, I haven't experienced you being quite so /evasive/ about answers than he is. That is, if I asked you what color shirt you were wearing, you wouldn't try to withhold the answer." She lifts her glass for a quick drink, moving out from behind the bar with a nod to the bartender as he returns. But, she doesn't move away entirely, instead taking up a place near Edyis and directing those dark eyes over the gambling instead.

"I think that would about sum it up aptly." She giggles, as they watch the gamblers. "Don't tell him I told you such, of course. Preserve that sense of stately dignity. He really isn't a bad person to have in your corner though, for all his evasiveness." She pauses as the wine is sipped, before asking, "Would it be impertinent to ask why you've been in his company of late? Or is it simply that he's trying to seduce you with his charm and wit?"

"He has made me promise not to tell anyone why," Lilah replies, though there is a hint of humor as she glances over to the younger woman. "Though, if you truly want to know, I would suggest you try to get a truthful answer from him."

Wry humor colors her expression, "Then it cannot be that he is trying to seduce you with charm and wit, since he's fairly open about that sort of thing." She chuckles. "I could try, but it would likely be a great deal of work for an unsatisfying answer, so let's leave the mystery intact hm?" Edyis grins.

"I suppose we shall have to," Lilah replies simply, though her own lips lift into a brief smile for Edyis. "Have you ever played, before?" The question is asked with a tipped nod towards the tables spread out before them.

"Admittedly almost never without cheating, though I would suspect that is highly frowned upon in this establishment." She states candidly, leaning over so that the words are kept a confidence between the two women.

Lilah nods, stating for the record in case it needs to be said (and with a mentor like R'hin, it does), "We do not tolerate cheating here. I would have to throw you out and ban you."

"Naturally. It's more fun to watch anyway. Take for instance that gentlemen over there." She gestures with her glass, "His tell when he has a bad hand is fidgeting with his coins - see?" She grins. "Then again I'm sure you are an avid player and mind all the rules. Or at least ensures that the house does so."

"I worked here as a dealer before I Impressed. Tells, rules, odds--. You do not have to explain them to me," Lilah offers to Edyis with a small smile, lifting her glass back to her lips.

"Naturally, I would not expect anything less of you." She grins, "The interesting part comes when you can connect what those little tells actually say about a person. For example he's in a tight spot so he's going to watch his coinage more closely, he might be an easy individual to persuade with marks outside of the game as well. Or the boisterous bluffers, the ones who all it takes is a stroke of their egos to get them to tell you whatever you wish to know." She grins, probably assuming that Lilah knows all of this anyway.

Whether she knows it or not, Lilah gives no indication other than the fact that she listens attentively enough to the younger woman. She nods, a soft gesture to continue if she wishes.

"We give ourselves away with every utterance and action. You can tell just as much about a person by the things they are willing to say freely, as the things they aren't." The scribe finishes, "Of course you always run into those individuals who seem to have no clear cut sense of direction or motivation. No deeper sense of something driving them onward, but they seem fairly far between in my experience."

"What would you say of me?" asks Lilah of the scribe, plainly.

"You never show you true self. Not completely, you are still an enigmatic unknown to me Goldrider, which admittedly accounts for the fascination." She downs the rest of her wine, setting the empty glass down on the counter. "If you'd prefer to never be known, then this is probably the last time we should meet." A mischievous smile given as Edyis stands.

"There are things about me that--. It isn't that I wish to be unknown, but... it is complicated. I am complicated," murmurs Lilah simply, though she doesn't explain further than that.

"Complication is part and parcel of human experience." The smile softens, as her ride back to Reaches appears in the doorway. "Whatever you are I do enjoy your company genuinely. Thank you for the wine and the conversation. Do visit Reaches sometime soon; we've an excellent hot spring, and even better wine."

"I will," Lilah promises, nodding her head. "If you see Eliyaveith around--, feel free to come and find me." She is the more recognizable figure of the two of them. But, the goldrider gives the young woman the courtesy of walking her to the door, despite the difference of their positions.