Logs:Sharing Is Caring
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| RL Date: 7 February, 2013 |
| Who: Vienne, Vanalis |
| Type: [[Concept:{{{type}}}|{{{type}}}]] |
| What: Vienne has a visitor from Igen. |
| Where: Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day {{{day}}}, Month {{{month}}}, Turn {{{turn}}} ({{{IP}}} {{{IP2}}}) |
| Mentions: Ezalea/Mentions, Tiriana/Mentions |
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| Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr The Snowasis is rarely quiet, and even then, the high-ceilinged former weyr is kept from echoing by the fantastical booths tucked into its convoluted perimeter. The secluded seating spaces have been shaped from the truncated stalagmites that escaped the smoothing of the main floor, and are both softened and separated by colorful hangings that are thick and opaque enough to make each corner its own private nook. Some of the smaller stalactites still roam the ceiling, their jagged teeth tracing a bumpy, inverted spine to the hearth. There, a thick rug with a low klah table and comfortable armchairs and couches sit, their upholstery and cushions changed sporadically to match the season: bright, light colors in the summer, fresh greens and yellows in the spring, warm autumnals in fall, and clear, rich hues for winter. Small tables litter the rest of the cavern, enough to fit up to four people each, while stools stand along the smooth wooden bar behind which is the passthrough window to the kitchen. Glass-paneled cabinetry behind the bar provides a clear view of the available liquors, the many colors reflecting the soft light of glows tucked into strategic niches around the cavern. Today's combination of snow and thunder-and-lightning may well account for the look of horror on Vanalis' face as she hurries into the protective enclosure of the Snowasis, looking rather like she'd prefer to have fled already. The Igen greenrider - a former Wingmate of Vienne's - strips off her coat with a shudder of distaste, and heads for the bar. Plaintive, and coming across almost as sodden mentally as she must be physically, Javayth seeks out Oswinth. « You must have somewhere warm and dry for a visitor to shelter. We came to visit, but I'm afraid I don't like this much. How do you manage? Poor Oswinth. She went to the bar. Yours should come and say hi, otherwise this whole trip will be a complete waste, and that would be sad. » Hopefully Javayth doesn't really notice, but her initial contact with Oswinth does create a moment of panic in her former wingmate, a sudden mental frenzy that errupts briefly then stills for him to answer, slowly, lest he say the wrong thing. « There are... many... overhangs. That are sheltered. » Because if she's suggesting anything else, he either doesn't recognize it or is too startled to admit it. « Vienne is near there. She will come... » Pause. « I'm sorry about the weather. » It turns out that Vienne must indeed be close because it's not all that long after that she steps into the Snowasis, shaking the winter from clothes and looking around for the familiar face. "Vanalis," she calls, mitten held up to catch the greenrider's attention. She has a smile ready, a little brighter than usual, given this unexpected surprise, and takes up the neighboring stool at the bar. "What brings you here?" Where it's gross and snowy and cold. Luckily for Oswinth, Javayth is disappointed enough at being denied a cozy spot in his (warm, dry) weyr that she fails to even really think about his panic. Sulkily, « I wish I had someone warm to cuddle up to. Igen is better. You should have come and visited us at Igen. » Never mind that it was Vanalis who initiated this visit. Never mind that it's not as though any of them were best buds. Javayth? She lives in her own world. It may not take long for Vienne to arrive, but when she does, the greenrider has procured a mug of something hot which she lifts in greeting. "I'm regretting it, believe me. How do you cope? We wanted to see how you were doing. Catch up on the news. See if everything is as fucked here as it sounds like it is, from Igen." Oswinth stammers, just not in speech but in the shorting of the kinetic buzz that accompanies his words. « You... You could. My ledge. It's... » It might sound like an excuse is forming, but in the end, he shows her an image of his ledge, so low to the ground it's barely a jump to reach it. Sometimes it's hard to be polite without being a pushover. And meanwhile, Vienne gives a dramatic shiver, mostly for show, though perhaps a little honest as she unbuttons her jacket to make herself more comfortable. "With an empty purse. I swear, every mark I had has gone to filling out my wardrobe. They tell you it'll be cold, but they don't tell you just how much stuff you need to deal with it." She puts in her order for klah; the warm mug is just a necessity. "I'm doing all right. Slowly getting to know people," she says, a little more shy with the attention turned on her. "Things are... interesting here?" She lifts a brow. Hopeful? "I doubt I know anything more than anyone else. How is Igen?" « How sweet! » Javayth arrives on Oswinth's ledge a few moments later, a shivering, snow-covered ball of energy, who will make herself quite at home. « It's so lovely to have friends at a time in need. » "Well, you must know more than us. All we know is that Nimae's really troubled, and there's been talk of the weyr council, and everyone keeps saying that it's everyone's business because, after all, didn't all this happen because the weyr council stepped in last time? I heard that Ezalea offered to come back and take over." All those words leave the greenrider quite without breath for a moment, but her expression is winning... and also eager: what can Vienne add to that? Though Oswinth all but shudders to have the green barging in, at least he manages to hold his ground -- if standing stock still and watching Javayth with wary whirling eyes can really be considered holding his ground. « Make yourself comfortable, » he tells her without any real feeling. Some distance away, it's Vienne who takes a deep breath on his behalf, a wry apologetic smile shown to her old wingmate. "She's as friendly as ever," she comments on the dragons, a brief aside for the interaction happening back at her weyr. But the bluerider does listen to all Vanalis has to say, even if she bites her lip when the weyrwomen's names are mentioned. "Well, no, I don't think it can really be pinned on the weyr council," she hazards. "There seem to be plenty of factors that have nothing to do with them." She drinks deeply, buying herself another moment before discounting Ezalea's offer. "I'm sure there are junior weyrwoman all across Pern who would happily offer to 'take over'." The smile she flashes for Vanalis is polite and sweet and empty, but then the supposedly-traitorous outcast would hardly be eager to see any of Igen's goldriders invading her new home. Javayth is undaunted, or perhaps entirely oblivious. « Do you know what would be even nicer? » she says, airily, as she drapes herself across the ledge. « If a handsome male dragon would put his wing over me. Would you mind, terribly much, Oswinth? » Vanalis is not quite as flutter-headed as her green, despite her propensity to run at the mouth, and right now she has an expression of intensity. "Javvy? Well, of course. She's missed dear Oswinth. It really isn't the same without him. Anyway-- I just wanted to make sure you knew. I know it may seem unlikely, but Nimae's really focused on this, and I'd hate to see your new situation here turned-- Well. It would look bad. Everyone knows Ez would love the triumph of coming back, taking Tiriana's Weyr. Everyone's worried, you know. Brownriding 'Weyrleaders' destroy the fabric of our society. Someone will try and fix it." Beat. "I wonder if they'll start wondering, here, if you're a spy for Igen." Oswinth does as he's bid, stiffly extending his wing, gingerly allowing it to barely make contact with Javayth's hide. It is by no means resting on her, and he turns his head away as if something really interesting has caught his eye. Really. And Vienne's jaw becomes just a little more firm. "Well, I'm living here and I can't say that it's a situation worthy of panic, so I sincerely doubt it will have much effect on the fabric of society all the way on the other side of the continent." She's about to roll her eyes at Nimae's excessive concern, at Ezalea's meddlesome tendencies, but by then Vanalis is winging the word 'spy' around and Vienne sighs heavily. "Great. First I'm a spy for the hall and now I'm a spy for Igen." Igen. She might even look a little disgusted by the notion. "Well, I'm sure now that you've visited, someone will come up with the idea. Thank you for that." The bluerider is wearied by the prospect, but at least she doesn't seem surprised. And she doesn't actually seem to hold it against Vanalis, so it's unlikely she thinks that was actually the greenrider's intention. "Wait, what would look bad?" That comment was almost overlooked, but now has her full attention. Both of Vanalis' hands go up, defensively, though she has to set down her mug in order to achieve that. "I'm just a greenrider," she says. "Not a former Harper, or anything. Just here to share the news, and check up on you. I'm not the kind of person anyone would ever think of as a spy." The glance she aims at Vienne seems to suggest she's not convinced of the bluerider's innocence, though she's quick to cover it up with a rueful smile. "Well, I meant - if Ezalea came in and sent you away again. Or told everyone to watch you. I mean, I assume you haven't been telling people what was said about you. Or maybe someone here will recruit you. I'd pass you information. I already have!" Javayth's low mental sigh is not quite as full of pleasure as she'd probably prefer it to be: Oswinth is not terribly obliging, as far as she's concerned. « Perhaps you're just too small, » she says. « Do you have any nice neighbors? A good sized brown? I could invite them over. You wouldn't mind, would you! » Vienne is quick to shake her head in apology, to let her eyes drop to her mug. "I appreciate it. I do." Or at least she'll try to be appreciative that Vanalis is checking up on her. It might be a little harder when she's also dangling the ugly past over the bluerider's head and not mincing her words. "It's not exactly a secret," she points out in regard to whether or not she's mentioned anything to her new acquaintences. "Anyone could ask around and find out the things people have said about me." She doesn't bother to mask the fact that it makes her sad. "I don't need anyone to pass me information," no matter how the greenrider might look at her. "But I am grateful for the heads up. For your concern." And Oswinth is grateful for an excuse to make himself scarse. « Perhaps that... is the problem, » he admits, withdrawing his wing, feeling the sting of Javayth's obvservation. « I'll see if I might find one for you. » A good sized brown. He slips away from her, intending to go on this hunt personally. It might take a while. A long while. "Vienne..." Vanalis is probably attempting to communicate something through the intensity of her stare, and that so-deliberate long-suffering sigh. It may be that she, herself, is not entirely sure what that something is, because she chews at her lip rather than continuing, and takes a long time to actually reply. "Just look after yourself. You and that weird-ass blue of yours. We were wingmates, and to me, that means something. Igen's playing games again, and you're involved, whether you like it or not." It's surprisingly heartfelt. « You're abandoning me, » pouts Javayth, never mind that it was her own complaint that brought this on. « You always were strange. Most dragons would be delighted. What's wrong with you? » The truth is that if Vanalis had been one of those overtly suspicious people who made Vienne's last months at Igen so unpleasant, the bluerider would not have bothered with the friendly greeting. Still, it's not easy for her to set aside her own suspicions and take that stare, that sigh, or those words, at face value. She looks back at the greenrider with her expression calm and her eyes searching. "I don't see what I can do about it. It's not like High Reaches doesn't expect some attention from the council. Of course I don't want Ezalea here..." she says with a quick tight pinch of her mouth to show her frustration. There's a 'but', but then she's already expressed how little power she has over the situation. "Is there something else I should know? Do Nimae and K'yan really intend to put her forth as an option?" Now it's Vienne who does the staring, careful eyes watching the greenrider. « No, I'm not, » Oswinth hedges, even though he's clearly about to take off. « I'm finding you a brown. » He's delighted, really he is, and he even pauses to let his jaw drop in some twisted attempt to display his feigned excitement. As for what's wrong with him... Well nevermind that. He's winging off. And if he sits up on the ridge to look for a good brown, well, that's just an excellent vantage point. Vanalis shrugs, retrieving her mug and blowing at it, though it surely can't still be too warm to drink by now. "I don't know," she says. "Only a greenrider, remember? But that's what the word is - that they're going to try and make a move." She's looking elsewhere, now: staring out over the Snowasis as though she suddenly finds it terribly fascinating. "It'd be a coup for Igen, to win that won. Everyone knows Nimae's had a hankering to be seen more like what's-her-face at Monaco. We're not known for political power, but-- I'm just saying. You're the Harper. You work it out." Javayth's pout is not physical (that would probably be less than attractive, somehow, and that's clearly not acceptable); the mental and emotional lingerings of it follow Oswinth up towards the rim. « A bronze would also be nice, » she adds, not giving up so much as attempting to use the opportunity. « You can tell them how lovely I am. » « I will do exactly that, » Oswinth confirms. And if he seems a little less uncomfortable now that he's escaped from his own weyr, well, that's just because he's so very focused on finding a beau to make Javayth's visit more pleasant. "I'm just a bluerider," Vienne has to remind, even if saying it brings back memories of all the times she felt compelled to defend herself. It leaves a sick taste in her mouth. It's no more pleasant that having to ask, "If you hear anything else, would you..." She can't quite say it, can't quite make the request. Vanalis will just have to figure it out. And then just-a-bluerider lets out a private, dark little laugh, a perverse thought crossing her mind. She shakes it away quickly, choosing instead to check again: "And you're just here to tell me these things for my own good? You wouldn't like to see Igen weilding more influence?" It certainly couldn't have anything to do with Javayth. She's too pretty to be annoying! Even if she's now nudging Oswinth mentally very few minutes, just to check on his progress. Vanalis is biting her lip again, lifting her gaze back towards Vienne in a way that makes her look... concerned. Genuinely so, apparently. "I'll let you know," she promises, sounding a little uneasy, which may well have something to do with Vienne's dark laugh. She lets out her own laugh, though hers is definitely more along the lines of 'uncertain'. "I was hoping you'd have interesting gossip for me to take back home," she says. "Sharing is caring, Vienne. You know that. Frankly, it doesn't matter to me one way or another, who has the power. It'll never be me, and I'm okay with that, really. Why wouldn't I be?" "That," Vienne says, lifting her mug in a toast for Vanalis' comments on power. "Is a stance I can get behind," her smile a bit more wry now. She takes another drink but can only shake her head after that, sorry to disappoint the Igenite. "I really don't have any gossip. There are four of them in charge. They seem intent on working together. People are as confused as expected but trying to make the best of it. No one thinks it's ideal, but no one wants it to be this way forever anyway." And she won't mention anything about that one who made herself wingleader, but it's not like that should be a cause for concern, right? "I guess, if you want gossip, tell them that I'm terribly sick and having a miserable time with the snow. I'm sure that will satisfy at least some people." Vanalis lifts her mug in reply, abruptly grinning, even if it wavers slightly - mostly so that she can look thoughtful - as the bluerider continues talking. "I can tell them that," she agrees, suddenly showing her dimples. "Javayth will probably tell anyone who listens about how infamously Oswinth treated her-- sorry about that. If you do hear anything interesting, though, you'll tell me? We'll trade. Gossip for gossip. Juicy stuff." "Yeah, I'm sorry," Vienne adds in quickly, though perhaps just sorry for Javayth's disappointment rather than Oswinth's behavior. "She's so confident," she says, sounding impressed by the green. "He never quite knows what to do." Which is not the same as Javayth being terribly pushy and Oswinth being rather horrified. That's not the situation at all. That is not why the blue chooses to hang out in the snow and feed Javayth pictures of potential suitors from his sky view. Vienne knows he's up there and she grins, laughing but a bit at her lifemate's method of coping. So it's a warm smile she give Vanalis when she nods, "Sure. I doubt I'll have anything interesting to say. I'm really... I just got here. Who tells a stranger anything?" After drinking again and pushing the empty mug away, she pauses, "Though perhaps next time we'll mee somewhere warmer. It's good to get away from the snow." And for now, she slips down from her stool. Fondly; "She always has been." Vanalis smiles as she talks of her lifemate, though there's a knowingness to her expression: she knows what the green is like. And how picky she is: so far, none of those suitors have been appropriate. It's likely that none ever will. That's why we never give Javayth a choice. "Maybe," allows the greenrider. "But sometimes being an outsider makes you safe, too. Because you don't already have a side. Theoretically. Anyway, it was good to talk to you, Vi. We'll meet and have drinks. Somewhere warm. Like you said. I'm definitely not stepping foot back in this Weyr until spring, and even then..." Beat. "Look after yourself, ok?"
CommentsComments on "Logs:Sharing Is Caring"Azaylia (Dragonshy (talk)) left a comment on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 03:00:16 GMT.
And yay Vienne~ Barnabas (Barnabas (talk)) left a comment on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 03:34:50 GMT.
Ceawlin (Ceawlin (talk)) left a comment on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:49:14 GMT.
Awesome scene. :D |
Comments
Comments on "Logs:Sharing Is Caring"Azaylia (Dragonshy (talk)) left a comment on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 03:00:16 GMT.
Poor Vienne.
Brieli (Brieli (talk)) left a comment on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 03:08:16 GMT.
All these goldriders with ideas can COME GET SOME. They don't know who they're dealing with.
And yay Vienne~
Barnabas (Barnabas (talk)) left a comment on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 03:34:50 GMT.
Oh my god Oswinth makes my heart hurt.
Ceawlin (Ceawlin (talk)) left a comment on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:49:14 GMT.
Poor Oswinth! Poor Vienne!
Awesome scene. :D
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