Difference between revisions of "Logs:Differences and Disagreements"

Elgin nods appreciatively at Lorna, and shakes his head as she changes jobs but while he's watching her clean he answers Sibella, "Oh well. I am sure every group has their odd ones." He takes a moment to glances over at Sibella, even if it just out of the corner of his eyes, "And as far as odd ones go I've never had any particular problem with her myself. She's always seemed rather nice." He takes his hands out of his pockets and crosses them thoughtfully across his chest, "What did she do that was odd?" Elgin looks worried, the move was harder on some than others.

Lorna looks between her rag and Sibella before letting out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Sometimes. When there's nothing more to do...which doesn't usually happen." She glances around at the other tables, which are actually fairly clean as is. "Well, I guess I can officially take one now." She slides into one of the seats at the table, perhaps not coincidentally, the ones furthest from the mysterious (to Lorna, at least) children. The cook lets out a relaxed sigh. "This feels good, actually. I didn't realize my feet were sore."

Sibella delays her answer to Elgin for a moment by fussing over the baby, not that this wee one seems to need fussing over, content as he is. As Lorna decides to take a break - finally - Sibella gives a grin to show her appreciation. "Good girl," Sibella teases, patting Lorna on the head. She takes a seat next to the other woman, settling the baby in her lap while pulling out a few wooden trinkets from the pockets in her skirts to entertain him. Now, she turns to Elgin and says carefully, "She was... very frantic. She was desperate to be returned to the island and would hear no reason. She seemed to believe that you, the islanders, are responsible for the storms in some way?" This last with an inquisitively raised brow.

Devaki is, as normal for him -- and for many of the exiles -- barefoot, his entrance into the caverns easy to miss. He paces past the food tables with a distinct lack of interest, and instead lingers near the drinks, eyeing the various offerings with what can only be termed suspicion. Finally, he settles on a juice, half filling a mug and taking a tentative sip before he's apparently satisfied. The mention of the islanders draws his gaze and, with a raise of brows, he drifts closer to the group near the fire.

Elgin slides easily into a seat after the two women take their's. "Important to take a break now and then, let your body assess where it's at." Elgin says in reply to the woman's sore foot comment. He pauses for a moment, his forehead crinkling in thought, "Well, stress can do some funny things to the body, and the mind. I'm sure some good sleep and she'll be fine." Elgin gives a nod in greeting, "Devaki." Though he shakes his head, "I just can't do barefoot when it snows." He shrugs, "Though I am sure in the summer I will go back to it. I do miss the feeling." He directs his comments at the other male's feet. "How's it going?"

Emmeline heads in from the inner caverns. Emmeline has arrived.

Lorna blinks her large eyes rapidly when Sibella pats her head. But she accepts the gesture with a smile, perhaps wooed by the woman's amiable, motherly nature, just like the young ones around her are. When Devaki's name is mentioned, her face takes on an expression of concentration as she commits it to memory, just as she did with Elgin's. She, too, remarks on the man's barefoot state: "Oh, my. To each their own, but I hope you don't get frostbite. I suppose they have toughened up more than usual though? My feet couldn't handle snow, but I also avoid subjecting them to it." As for the talk of Rilka, Lorna declines comment, not wanting to get caught in something she doesn't know about.

Still occasionally lost, and always losing track of time, it's well past the dinner hour when Emme finally finds her way to the living caverns to find herself something to eat. And, re-fill her klah. Because now that her blood is half-klah, it needs constant replenishment to keep her going. She's a quiet one though, providing not much more then a polite smile while plate and cup are gathered and she glances around the huge room hoping to see familiar faces.

Sibella accepts Elgin's explanation with a shrug, similarly to Lorna not wanting to get involved in sensitive exile affairs. She does not note the entrances of Devaki or Emmeline with more than a cursory glance as any in the large cavern give to newcomers. It is, indeed nearing dinner time, and Sibella attempts to assess whether her help will be needed. The staff certainly aren't behaving shorthanded, taking their sweet time in fetching food and dishware back and forth to and from the kitchens. Unusually lazy today, Sibella instead busies herself further enriching the baby in her lap with play, moving and arranging the wooden trinkets on the table to entertain him. Having never gone barefoot - she was, after all, born and raised in the stony Weyr - she considers offering her opinion, but again decides to... not. She only smiles and nods in agreement with Lora's 'to each their own.'

"You can't do barefoot?" Devaki seems, if anything, bemused by Elgin's comment. "You were barefoot all your life," he says, with a kind of tone as if the other islander needs to be reminded. The focus of the group on his barefoot status, if anything, seems to puzzle the man, given he's hardly the sole islander to do so -- and to him it's normal. He just kind of shrugs at Lorna's comment. At Elgin's mention of the mind, his brows rise. "Who are you talking about?" his gaze drifts from Elgin to Lorna and Sibella, and not recognizing the latter, offers a brief smile as he takes a small sip of his drink, standing near -- but apart from -- the group gathered by the fire.

As the dinner service begins to pickup, Lorna starts to shift nervously in her chair. Her feet begin to twitch eagerly, but she manages to keep herself sitting down, 'relaxing'. "I'm not actually scheduled for tonight's dinner." She explains, her tone slightly desperate and apologetic. "Or else I would be getting up." She glances nervously between Elgin and Devaki and tentatively offers her opinion, "Well, now you both have the luxury of choice. You can be barefoot, but you don't have to be. I suppose it would set you apart from the rest of the Weyr--though that isn't necessarily a negative, I suppose."

"What's that about feet?" With faces sighted, Emme has no problem at all setting down her plate at a nearby table and taking a seat. But, also inserting herself into conversation unwanted and unasked. "I kind of like shoes sometimes. Especially if they match all these new colors. But they're so confining." she admits, as if anyone has asked. "Still, since I stick out like a sore thumb already in a class full of junior apprentices at lest 4 turns my junior... best not to stick out even *more* I suppose." All of that comes before her greeting. "Hello!" And then she turns her attention to her food. At least partially.

"Not in the snow." Elgin offers quietly, "It's deeper here, I can take a quick jog through it, but I've been working outside so I'll take a pair of boots for that." He grins softly, "Miss being able to wiggle my toes though." A quick glance goes to Lorna, he starts to say something but pauses shutting his mouth again, changes his mind and grins, "Options are always good aren't they?" He bids her stay with a wave of his hand, "If you aren't scheduled you should stay, I mean, you wouldn't want to take from someone else feeling useful." Emme's entrance receives a grin and nod, "It's all about give and take right? And when it's warmer I'll go back."

"I don't like them," is all Devaki says, on the topic of shoes, perhaps hoping to head off any further debate on that. He offers a smile to Emmeline as she settles nearby. "You apprenticed, then? Figured you would -- I'm hoping Evali will, too. She seemed interested." If anything, Lorna's comment about not being required earns a slightly puzzled furrow of brow, like he's not sure what that means. As his question goes unanswered, he asks again, "Who were you talking about before?" He fixes his gaze on Elgin, this time, since at least he knows the islander.

"Sure did." Emme replies, glancing up at Devaki when he asks the question, and giving a brief smile in return. "Had to go out to Harper Hall for the exam, too. You should see it. It's just... it's incredible." And she, obviously, was enthralled by her little adventure. "I hope she does too. She's a wonderful healer." A glance over at Elgin earns him a nod of recognition and a raised eyebrow since there was talk of someone going on. And for Lorna and Sibella more a glance of curiousity since she doesn't know them.

Lorna stares at Elgin, wide-eyed. "Wow. I never thought of it that way, actually. But you're right--I would hate to take that away from someone." She leans back in her chair heavily, soaking in this new way of thinking. Once she breaks out of that momentary daze, she smiles in Emmeline's direction. "I'm Lorna. I don't believe we've met?" An almost imperceptible bit of colour drains from her face when the girl talks of apprenticing, but the cook's wide smile remains firmly planted on her face. "Congratulations on apprenticing. I'm glad you were able to." And yet, despite the kind words and genuine tone, Lorna's teeth are slightly clenched.

Elgin grins at Devaki, everyone has gotten good at refusing to talk about anyting that looks like it might be a debate but he doesn't press the issue. Instead he turns to Emme, "They said they were going to try and get the woodcraft to let me join 'em. At least then I'll be doing something..." Besides getting strange looks for reading all the time. His head cocks to one side as he watches Lorna, he doesn't say anything but if one was observant they might notice that they were being intently studied.

"She was, on the island," Devaki says, with a kind of odd expression. "Here? It's all different. They have medicines and practices that we lost, because we didn't have access to any of that stuff. It's like-- starting all over again. It'd be the same for you, I guess?" He tips his head as he looks at Emmeline, kind of smiling at her description of Healer Hall, though he doesn't seem particularly engrossed. "I'm surprised they didn't try to keep you there? Or will you go soon?" He asks, an odd edge in his voice. As Lorna introduces herself to Emmeline, he falls silent and turns his gaze instead on the cook. "I'm Devaki," he adds. "And, I'm beginning to suspect you were talking about someone here-- Emmeline, maybe? Since you're all clammed up now."

"I had to practically beg to be allowed to take the exam because of my age." Emme admits, giving Elgin a sympathetic glance. "So I hope you don't have any problems." She's not entirely unobservant, so it would be strange for the little harper not to take note of the details of Lorna's reaction. But, she doesn't comment on it. "I'm Emmeline. Pleased to meet you." is offered instead. "And no, they'll be teaching me here at the Weyr for the time being." Pause. "Why?" She concentrates on her food for a moment, discomfort starting to show. "I have a lot of the basics, but some things never change. Evali will need to re-learn a lot. But she's /good/ at being a healer. So she'll be able to do it. Don't let her wiggle out of it." And then... her fork kind of clatters against the plate. "Oh, well - I can leave if anyone wants to keep taking about me. I'd hate to suppress conversation."

Lorna's eyebrows raise, as she's a bit taken aback by Devaki's comments. "Me? I wasn't talking about anyone. I've never met Emmeline before, so I'm not sure how I would have been talking about her." Her posture becomes a bit more rigid, though her tone remains neutral enough. As for his introduction, she notes, "I think we met in the storage caverns a while back. With Jaques. Right?" She's no expert on craft matters, but in regards to healing, she contributes to the conversation: "Well, every crafter starts somewhere. I'm sure your friend will have plenty of transferable skills, even if many of the details and techniques are new. Stuff like bedside manner is important everywhere." She tilts her head to the side. "Isn't it?"

Elgin chuckles at Emmeline and waves a hand at her dismissing the idea, "It wasn't you. I would just tell you..." His glance goes to Devaki, whom he now studies. "Sibella asked if I knew Rilka, that's all. I said we all know each other. Not like it was a big place." He takes the conversation back to the harper, "Yah, they said I was a little old but they leadership here said they would talk to them, and that I would stay here at first too." He gaze lingers on Emmeline for a moment after he makes that last commet, looking for an acknowledgement of some bit of information he didn't say out loud.

"Everyone says normally they train apprentices initially at the halls, is all. Just wondering if I should prepare to say good bye," Devaki says with a twitch of shoulders that is the faintest of shrugs, affecting casualness that is likely an act. "I don't need to," he adds, on the subject of Evali. "She wants to do it. And get married, too." Another tip of head as his gaze settles on Lorna. "We haven't met before," he says, definitely, with a flicker of a smile. "I'd remember." Emmeline's reaction earns a worried gaze, but then he looks back to Elgin, expectantly. "Rilka?" He looks, if anything, surprised, when his question is finally answered. "What's wrong with Rilka? The way you were talking about her--?" It doesn't seem like a topic he's about to drop that readily, judging by frowning gaze.

"Exactly. And, it certainly is important no matter where on Pern you're at." Emmeline agrees with Lorna, her tone adamant about the issue. But Elgin's comment, and the lingering gaze makes her frown. "They're keeping us all here deliberately, then. The Harper Journeyman here... they were bothered about my intended choice of study, too. But I didn't intend to let that stop me. I wonder..." Dev just gets a poke in the arm at first, and a bit of a smile. "You're not going to be rid of me *that* easily. Who else would give you a hard time over everything?" Rilka is a whole 'nother ball of wax though. "Rilka's not sick, I hope? The time they spent out in that barn... I hope it didn't make them more ill."

Lorna frowns deeply when her memory gets it wrong. "Shoot. I was in some distress that day, so I suppose my recollection is a bit jumbled. I apologize--I try to retain details, but." Her cheeks are tinged pink, now, and the cook slumps a bit in embarassment. Clearly she's not too happy she confused one islander for another, especially since she's trying so hard to be diplomatic. And so she happily latches onto a new subject: "They want to keep you all here?" She frowns again, but at least it's not self-directed this time. "I mean, logistically, you'd think it'd be easier for them to have to deal with less of you. I don't mean that in an offensive way, of course. It just seems like it's more work for them this way."

Elgin settles into his chair and shakes his head at Devaki, "Nothing. She's just being herself, and sometimes that self is hard to understand." They know and so he just shrugs, "Be we are beign watched so I think people tend to forget they have their own...un-understandable people in their ranks." He looks back and forth between the male exile and the female before his interest is back on Emme. He nods slowly, "Yes, you here on purpose...anyone who crafts will probably still stay here..." The way he lingers off the last one and the raised eyebrow makes it sem like he might go on but as Lorna pipes in he remembers that there are more gatherd than just he and the Harper, "But we can finish that discussion another time."

Devaki chuckles readily at Emmeline's poke, and not-so-subtly takes a step out of further poking range. "Oh, I'm sure Ev would take over pretty quickly, if it came to that." Lorna's comment earns a dark sort of look, though he makes an effort to moderate his expression. "Well, they fixed the problem of too many of us pretty smartly enough." There's a lightness to his tone that belies the thread of something darker beneath. And, with a breath, he apologizes a beat later, "I'm sorry. /That/ is hardly /your/ fault." He steps closer, setting his mug down, but doesn't seem inclined to seat himself, instead rocking back on his heels. "Rilka is Rilka. She is, at least, consistent." There's an odd kind of protectiveness in his tone. "And no-- do go on," he encourages Elgin, "Since you seem to know something the rest of us don't?"

"If they keep me here, it's going to be difficult to find the information I want." And with that thought, the rest of Emmeline's appetite fades away as well. "They just want to make sure th..." she cuts off the beginnings of a rant there with a sharp intake of breath, the result of statements by both Elgin and Devaki it would seem as a glance is cast between them. "Well, I don't care. We'll all just find a way around it and that's that." she decides, regardless of who else might be in hearing distance.

Lorna chews nervously on her lower lip as the conversation delves deeper into unfamiliar, heavy subjects. Conveniently, her stomach lets out an audible growl, giving her a reason to excuse herself before she offends anyone too much. "Well, I suppose I should grab a plate of dinner for myself." As she rises, she catches sight of two young men nearby who bear a family resemblence to her. "And my brothers will be mad if I don't say hello to them, so I should probably eat with them. I'm sure I will see you all around. Good luck with everything." Her tone seems genuine. She nods politely before bustling off, leaving the exiles free to talk about...exile-y things.

Elgin almost sneers at Devaki, he careful to make sure he faces the man at an angle with everyone else behind. "Later." The word is half purred, half growled and hopefully only the other male sees him trying to point at Lorna with his eyes. He lifts an eyebrow before turning to Emmeline, "Actually, the information might be the easy part. I find them rather happy to give information if they think it suits them." He grins lightly, "Actually I have gotten more from the Weyr leadership than our own leaders."

"It'd be easy enough to leave, if you wanted. Just have to find the right, sympathetic ear. It's not like the island, where someone can find you within an hour. This is... huge." Devaki's arms spread as if to indicate just how different the mainland is to their tiny islands. The sneer from Elgin earns a twitch of brows from Devaki, as if the man's bemused by Elgin's actions. "Depends what sort of information you want. Have you even /asked/ the council?"

"To leave, and then continue my studies? I doubt it would be made that easy." Emme points out, blandly enough. "And I doubt the information I'm looking for is going to suit anyone but the us, and the claims of the blooded." she mutters. "As for me, I haven't had much reason to ask the council anything the past few sevendays. Too busy studying. Is there anything new going on?" Maybe she'll try and diffuse this one before it becomes explosive. It doesn't sound like it's going anywhere pleasant.

Devaki, for his part, seems mostly confused by Elgin, and certainly he at least is nowhere near explosive. "Nothing new as far as I'm aware." Though he does look at Elgin as if to see whether the young man has anything further to contribute on that score, now that it is just the exiles gathered at the table.

Elgin grins at Emmeline and shrugs, "Yes, I suppose it would matter what information you are looking for, but at least from the weyr they aren't keeping us here to stop us from getting information." He blinks, "About the blooded? Do you think if you can trace it back they will have some right to claims?" Who has been studying the political structure? "I mean, do you really think there is a chance after all this time?"

"Mmm, no. That's not the angle I'm going for." Emme explains. "I'm looking for gaps. Gaps and... uhm, unproveable filler information that could support the claims of being exiled without a trial. It may be that some wil never be able to claim land or holdings. But, perhaps other reimbursement would apply. And a reinstatement into the history and records." Now she shrugs. "Maybe it will never happen. But it's probably the best /I/ can do to help." And as for matters of the council, she gives an unsure nod towards Devaki. "Didn't think so."

"Of course there's a chance," Devaki, at least, seems certain about that. "They will recognize our claims of Blood, eventually. So long as-- no one gets any stupid ideas and does anything to destroy the reputation of the islanders." He's heard some of the rumblings, and it's clear from his frown he's not too pleased. He tips his head towards Emmeline in agreement, though refrains from comment on that.

"Well, it will probably be a while before they let you or any of us out for an extended time." Elgin frowns thoughtfully, "The other areas are paying the Weyr to keep us here." His shoulders lift high and fall heavily in a shrug, "Seems like an economical choice for them at the moment, and until it isn't it will probably stay that way, or until the other areas see that we might be useful and we aren't all drooling undomesticated beasts."

"Figures that it would be marks that make things happen around here. It's the one thing we don't have. At all." Cynicism is perhaps too quickly becoming a familiar feeling with Emme. And she masks the sudden dark bent of expression behind her cup of klah. "Well, I don't intend on doing anything to destroy our reputation. Such as it is, at least. People have such strange notions of what we're like."

That bit of news has Devaki straightening and staring, wide-eyed, at Elgin. "Paying the Weyr? Who is? And why?"

"I suppose for now it means we stay for free and our group and recover and figure stuff out, but eventually..." Elgin matches Emmeline's cynicism these days. His attention turns to Devaki, "The surrounding areas, holds, any other weyr we might go to. This Weyr makes some marks and the rest of them don't have to use their resources, their man power, or even be exposed to us."

"My guess is because they know our claims are true, and keeping us here means that nobody has to deal with the repercussions of admitting it." Emme supplies, as an add-on to what Elgin says. "Which goes along with exposure to us. Imagine the uproar if it was discovered that riders, crafters, and holders colluded secretly to kidnap and exile a group of people without a trial? It may have been 80 Turns ago. But, if it could happen then..." Then it can happen now.

"/Everyone/ on the mainland is paying the Weyr to keep us here?" Now Devaki is the one to show a trace of cynicism, frowning thoughtfulness on his features. "Who told you that?" His gaze darts towards Emmeline, and his shoulders twitch. "Maybe, but I doubt everyone on Pern was involved with our exile. Why would they /all/ pay the Weyr?"

Elgin nods in the direction of the harper, "That would make sense as to why some area leadership wouldn't want us, others may just not want to have an influx of people they have to teach their ways too, or ... any number of reasons." He raises an eyebrow and grins at Devaki, "The weyrwoman." Is offered with a shrug, "It may be for any number of reasons, every area may have a different one, but if this Weyr is making more marks than it costs to keep us then why wouldn't they keep us?"

"The Weyrwoman doesn't seem like a very pleasant person from what I've heard. So perhaps she exaggrated some." The suggestion is made casually, but is nonetheless an honest assessment from Emmeline. "Makes sense for the Weyr, I guess. They try to keep us in line, and in return they get their coffers filled. Lovely."

"The weyrwoman?" Devaki echoes with a hint of disbelief, especially at Emmeline's description of the woman. "And you believed her? Why would she tell--" he gestures towards Elgin, in silent inference, "That she's accepting bribes to keep us? Unless she's trying to pit us against each other. I'm guessing you didn't tell the council this?"

"A little rough around the edges perhaps, but she's given me no reason to disbelieve her, and it seems like a funny thing to make up." Elgin frowns, "If you were going to make up why you were keeping us here wouldn't it make more sense to say it was out of the kindness of your heart or something?" He shakes his head, "Of course I considered that she was lying, but she had no reason to, should could have just had me leave and it doesn't make sense that they we would be here for any other reason." He lifts an eyebrow, "If they had a reason to split us they could have just dropped us back where we were after the storm passed. Half our people wanted it anyway." Elgin blinks at Devaki slowly, "You don't think they are aware of it?" He furrows his eyebrows, "I suppose that's possible, but why wouldn't they be aware of it? Do you think I should tell them?"

Emmeline lifts her shoulders in a bit of a shrug. "It might. Unless you're the kind of person who prefers to say hurtful things in order to discourage someone from pursuing specific choices. We have some people like that amongst us as well." Hello again cynicism, nice to see you again. "Dropping us back there would have been even more cruel, no matter what some of us want." Well, from her perspective anyway. She stays silent on the matter of the council in this case.

"She had /every/ reason to lie," Devaki disagrees. "And she couldn't say it was out of the kindness of her heart, because she's probably not stupid enough to think anyone would buy that answer." He shrugs, quickly. "/I/ didn't know about it. Why would they be aware of it? If the aim is to plant the seeks with the young people, to try and create a divide -- then you're playing right into their hands. Of -course- you should tell the council," he says, as if he thinks that's a given.

"There was no more reason to lie then any one else has to lie." Elgin turns to Devaki, "If I go by your logic I wouldn't be able to trust anyone, including you." The corners of his lips turn and deep creases outline his mouth, "Why do you think they would try and divide us like that? What gain is it to them whether we like each other or not...They have total control. If they weren't getting something for keeping us here, then they wouldn't. The weyr-folk are just as split about us being here as the islanders are about being here. One of them accidently slid a letter they wrote to the weyrwoman into my stuff. That's how I ended up there in first place."

"There's division everywhere amongst us, it seems. The ones who want to go back to the island, and those who don't. Those who think some of the riders genuinely want to help and those who don't. Those who believe only the council and those who believe only the weyr. Those who still think the blooded are better then everyone else, and those who think it's nonsense." Emme muses, the words half mumbled into her cup. "If they keep us divided, we're not working together. IF we're not working together, then there are fewer working towards the claims of the blooded. And the fewer people working towards that claim, the better." is reasoned.

"But the difference is, you know me. You know the council. You don't know this woman, but you're more willing to take her word and /defend/ her! And you're hiding things from the council." Devaki shakes his head, slowly. "I guess some of us fit more... easily into this place than others." If anything, he seems downhearted rather than upset, picking up his mug as he straightens slightly. He tips his head towards Emmeline, acknowledging her musing. "We're easier to control, if we question our own leadership."

Wrinkles cross Elgin's forehead but in the end he just shrugs, "That might be part of it, Emmeline, but the weyr wouldn't have to pay much for that, would they?" He's only heard rumors but he's been studying the political structures as much as he can, "It would mostly be the holds..." Up to this point he's been fairly calm but he turns in anger to Devaki, "I'm not sure you heard everything I just said, but I said I figured the council knew. Maybe I'm the one trusting them to know what is going on." He lifts an eyebrow as he stands, leaning over the table, "Maybe there are some of us who don't trust the council enough to think they might already know what is going on." He smirks at the male, before turning to the harper and giving her a polite nod, "It is always a pleasure to /discuss/ things with you, even if we don't always see eye to eye." And with that he heads back towards the inner caverns.

"Right. I think control is the..." Oh, listen to Emme's voice trail off there when Elgin speaks again. "... That wasn't very fair, Elgin." Which then leaves her at a loss for words when he gives his parting statement to both of them. "Well. That was fun. Any suggestions? I mean, he can't be the only one who feels that way." she points out, looking down into the cup with a concerned expression.

Devaki, so eloquently, rolls his eyes at the blatant comment from Elgin overlooking him. The young boy leaves to fast for the mindhealer to make any response, so instead, he shifts his shoulders then glances at Emmeline. "How does he expect the council to know, unless someone tells them? I really don't understand him. He complains that the council don't give him information, but then he does the same to them." He rubs at his chin thoughtfully. "Feels what way? That the Weyr's more honest with us than the council? I doubt it. He upset Io the other night, talking about something or other as well. I think he just likes to rile people because he can, is all. Maybe once he finds his place--" he shrugs again, clearly not worried.

"I think he expects them to be as curious as some of us are. To go out and seek the answers. Wheras they expect us to go to them when we find out information, the way we would go to them on the Island. It's so different here." There's still a bit of a smirk in place for the mature and eloquent eyeroll, even if Emme's not going to comment on the reaction. "And, yes. I mean... people thinking they that the Council withholds more information then the Weyr." That someone upset Iolene causes another frown, and she nods. "She left me a shell piece the other day. At least I think it was her. No signature on the note, but it was really sweet. She's the only one I can think of who'd do something cute like that. I hope you were able to cheer her up."

"They're not young. Even on the island they weren't, but now--" Devaki exhales, slowly. "My grandfather can barely get out of bed, and not at all long for that. We're worried that... well, you know." He can't even say it aloud, but instead notes, "I'm not sure Ev can handle another death." At Emmeline's comment about the shell, he smiles a little. "It does sound like her. As for cheering her up? Not really," he frowns at this. "Rhaelyn got her all riled up with some plan--" he shakes his head. "And she took off."

Emmeline rests her hand briefly on Devaki's arm, withdrawing again before he can pull back. "Yeah, I know. If I can help look after him at all, I will. Or anything else you two need done so you can concentrate on keeping him healthy." she offers, without her smile returning when the conversation continues. "Since Rhaelyn's nothing more then a vindictive little bitch, that doesn't surprise me. Even if she didn't rile Iolene up on purpose." That's more then a little blunt, especially for the harper. But it's said in such a bland voice that she may as well have called Rhaelyn just the sweetest little thing ever, and it would have as much inflection to it.

Devaki shakes his head slowly, demurring the offer. "All we can do at this point is wait. But thanks," he takes a low breath, and seems surprised at the vehemence with which the harper voices her opinion. "Geez, Emme. What'd she do to you?"

Emmeline accepts the demurral with a tilt of her head, and then takes a long moment before replying to the question. "For one, she was there when Tom nearly killed me." the harper supplies, speaking slowly. "She insults me, and baits me, every chance she gets. But, thinks she's clever enough to do it in a way that's not obvious to anyone but me. She uses her looks and her blood to get away with near everything." is added, just as blandly. "And, I know she's been trying to get herself apprenticed to Harper. But I have no doubt at all that it's /not/ because she actually *wants* to be a Harper. She just think it will bother me. Fortunately, I could care less. I even hope she convinces them to give her a try and can make it through the exams. She might actually have to use her brain instead of her... other assets, for once."

Devaki is silent for a long beat, then lets out a low, amused chuckle. It takes him a beat to explain though, with a raised hand, "Did it ever occur to you that it's just plain and simple jealousy? She continually puts you down and insults you, but then wants to apprentice to the Harper hall same as you?" he shrugs, "The thought's amusing, anyway. She'll find her own way, I'm sure. She's got some odd... ideas, but then, I guess ideas are what we need right now." He drains the last of his juice, then glances across the cavern. "Starting to get full in here," he comments, which appears to be an islander way of farewell, since he seems set to leave.

"I'm sure she will." Emme replies, dryly, without addressing his amused assessment of the situation. "Seeyou later, then." She wiggles her fingers as a goodbye, since she's at least going to finish her drink before heading back to the classroom for more studying.

A tip of head is all Devaki adds as he threads his way between tables and heads for quieter areas of the Weyr.