Difference between revisions of "Logs:Striking a Deal"

For the Weyrwoman, the caverns don't make for a particularly comfortable place to work at the moment, considering the gossip that seems to follow her at every turn and the questions that the more daring risk jabbing at her to try and get a 'good' (story-worthy) reaction. So, this afternoon, she's brought some of her work outside, to one of the benches hidden within the deepest part of the grove, not it looks like she's doing much of that work. Her attention span has absented itself entirely, leaving her to stare blankly at hide after hide, then to the nearest cluster of trees, then /through/ the trees, all without really putting pen to hide, unless it's to scrawl down a single number or word.

It's not the first time Reesa's found Hattie here, and though previously she'd been summoned, this time she's doing the seeking. The greenrider spends a fair bit of time walking through the grove, searching every secluded nook and turn - maybe surprising a couple of weyrfolk seeking somewhere secluded with a laugh - before she finally spots the Weyrwoman. "Hiding out? I don't blame you." It might be a sympathetic tone, except there's a set of the Hematite wingrider's expression that says it's anything but. At least she doesn't sit, instead standing nearby, gaze flicking over the hides without interest before shifting back to Hattie.

Aside from a flick of her dark gaze up to Reesa when she hears the greenrider's voice, Hattie pays no attention to her whatsoever, her hidework suddenly much more interesting than it was before. It seems that she might carry on like that for the foreseeable future, ignoring the younger woman entirely, for a good minute or so passes before there's any sign of the slightest bit of acknowledgement of her continued presence. "What do you want, Reesa?" she asks, with a weariness that could be exaggerated and affected or just all too genuine.

Impatience on the part of the greenrider and weariness on the part of the goldrider or not, Reesa appears to be persisting, even if the rock of her feet from toes to heel is obvious and possibly distracting. "I think- it's a good time time to reconsider Maldoranth's grounding." She's making an effort; it's phrased carefully so it's less a demand and more a request. There's a brief sense of Khiabeth's presense, though not especially directed- just the feel of an impending storm flashing briefly amongst the noise of the Weyr's dragons.

For now and for the most part, Elaruth lets Khiabeth be, but there's a brush of the Senior queen's mind against the young green's that doesn't require words to be a gentle reminder to /not/ impose her mood on the minds of others. There's a flash of something very unkind in Hattie's smile, that or it's simply a mix of incredulousness and cold, dry amusement. "I think it's a good time to consider whether you wish to keep that new knot of yours," she says in answer, not looking up from her work. "The Weyrlingmaster may want to see the good in you, but as far as I'm concerned, all that has kept /you/ from grounding is that you have never admitted to knowing about the attack on my junior." And herself. But she'll leave /that/ alone for now.

"If that's what it takes to get his restriction lifted, then you can take my knot. Take whatever you want." Reesa may not like it, to judge by the wavering expression, but she seems determined nonetheless. With a breath, as if trying to control herself: "I never admitted anything, because I never /knew/ anything. Can't you see how badly it's hurting him?" Hard to tell whether she's talking about Maldoranth or N'rad. Maybe both. While Khiabeth's agitation grows, she keeps it more contained this time after Elaruth's timely reminder.

Hattie's gaze snaps right to Reesa as she keeps pushing at that subject, beginning to bare her teeth, though no words immediately follow. "I will not be instructed in how I should treat others by /you/," she declares lowly, that last word laden with too many potential meanings to even begin to explain. "For your information, I was considering speaking to N'rad within the next sevenday. However, if you choose to keep /on/ and /on/," the exaggeration of which only points to the near breaking point of the goldrider, "about it, then I will reconsider. You are not responsible for N'rad. I am. And if you think you can take advantage of what you believe to be a 'good time', then you are going to do more harm than good."

While Reesa's expression is equally set and stubborn- especially at the emphasis on herself- Hattie's mention of speaking to N'rad has a dramatic effect. She releases a breath, all the tension gone in an instant, drawing arms around herself. After a beat, a murmur: "I'm sorry. He's my friend. More than that, he's family." Her eyes snap up at that latter; she's made no mention of the Weyrleader, and while her gaze darkens at the reminder, she remains oddly silent on that particular score. There's no doubt the revelation is news to her, yet she's distinctly wary, mouth pressed into a line.

That apology does nothing to set Hattie at ease; if anything, it looks to make her /more/ wary of Reesa than before. "...Then you, better than anyone, should know how... /young/ he is," she says slowly, glancing back down at her work. "How earnest and how... easy to manipulate he can be. He's more a danger to himself than to anyone else!" That she almost shouts those last few words startles Hattie back into a long silence during which she stars at her pen, keeping it hovering just enough above hide to prevent an ink blot. "He needs someone to look after him. Does this make /you/ a volunteer?"

A crinkling of Reesa's brow is the greenrider's response to the criticism of N'rad, though it remains non-verbal. There's no hesitation; indeed there's surprise on the greenrider's part that the Weyrwoman even need ask: "I've always looked after him, and I always will."

Only now does Hattie look back up at Reesa and study her for a reasonable length of time, with intent, even. "I mean it," she says, voice held low. "I don't mean in some nebulous 'he's family, so /of course/' way; I mean that he needs someone to stop him getting himself into trouble. By being sensible. Not," and here she pauses, "by going into things with fires blazing and ready to take insult. Not by being blind. Protect him from himself - see things for what they are." She puts her pen down and folds her arms atop the edge of the table. "/Is/ that you?"

Of course, Reesa's expression crinkles up a little when Hattie dismisses her declaration, tension in her posture that she manages mostly to hide with an unfolding of her arms. "I do indeed see things for what they really are. My eyes are- more open than when they were when we first came to the Weyr." She doesn't confirm the latter, like she thinks that's merely a given.

The Weyrwoman watches the greenrider for another few moments, silent and eventually impassive, her dark eyes losing focus. And then she's back, and not only back, but backtracking to the moment Reesa appeared and her not-sympathetic greeting. "You don't hurt my family and I don't hurt yours," she says slowly and weightedly, her focus resting solely upon the blonde.

A smile, the first- appears- kind of surprised and pleased by the honesty of the Weyrwoman's offer. "Deal," Reesa says, simply, before holding out a hand towards Hattie as if to seal the offer.

"Done," Hattie replies, weariness sinking back into her voice, even as she reaches to shake Reesa's hand and clasps it with a strength that belies that tiredness. It goes unspoken that she'll speak to N'rad; she must believe stating so to be unnecessary. "Now... go. Please." She can't manage a smile, and because it looks like whatever she /can/ manage, whether it be frustration or upset, will make her look weak(er), she makes the sacrifice of making that plea instead.

And neither does Reesa seem to expect Hattie to outright state it; they've shaken on it, after all. The Weyrwoman's request is one that the greenrider's happy to grant, for once- the blonde quickly turning on a heel and departing.