Logs:Hypothetical Babies
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| RL Date: 24 May, 2013 |
| Who: Aishani, Yuliye |
| Type: [[Concept:{{{type}}}|{{{type}}}]] |
| What: Aishani and Yuliye are friends~ |
| Where: Private Orchard, High Reaches Hold |
| When: Day {{{day}}}, Month {{{month}}}, Turn {{{turn}}} ({{{IP}}} {{{IP2}}}) |
| Mentions: Azaylia/Mentions, Braeden/Mentions, Devaki/Mentions, Edeline/Mentions, Ienavi/Mentions, Issedi/Mentions, Tiriana/Mentions |
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| High Reaches Hold Isolated on its westward-jutting peninsula, from the landward side High Reaches Hold appears burrowed deep into the mountain, with only a few shuttered windows overlooking the rows of cotholds that line the river road. Its double courtyards appear designed more for transportation or defense than for welcoming visitors. From the seaward side, the slant of the windows overlooking the fine deep bay attempts to ward off the sea winds, the higher stories evading the less pleasant odors prevalent at low tide. Today, the courtyards are full to overflowing with visitors and locals alike. Most of the stalls have been set up further afield, lining the main road that weaves inwards to the hold, and filling the orchards. The courtyards are bustling too, however, with harpers on call to provide dance music as well as more sedate performances throughout the day and night. However cold and bleak the Hold's setting may be, inside, its colors of dark blue and tan act as neutrals for the warmer, brighter hues of its llama-wool tapestries and rugs. Below the Hold, oval caverns house lengths of seasoned wood for its shipbuilders, and to its outskirts are several minor Crafthalls including a glass-smith's shop. Though the Hold's main access is by sea, the river road leads to its Weyr and the rest of Pern, while minor roads lead to a few outlying Holds and the distant lighthouse. The sky is clear today. The air remains cool and damp, but the weather is overall pleasant today. Though Aishani is not necessarily warmly greeted at any of the major Holds in the Reaches region given her background, Iesaryth is still a common enough sight in the skies above each of them - the Weyrwoman might not be necessarily welcome, but she's there regardless and she's going to build some sort of relationship with them, regardless of the level of formality required. Today, at least there's an excuse with the festival, as she ought to visit for it at least once out of simple etiquette, whatever's going on between the Weyr and Holds. But perhaps even that's a cover for some sort of business, as word comes that Aishani would like to see the Lady of High Reaches, if she has the time amidst the festivities. And that would be Yuliye, still - despite the whispers that persist, especially after Issedi's second child. The Lady of High Reaches Hold no doubt has many duties, even in a provincial kind of gathering such as this one - but Yuliye's interpretation of this seems to be a loose one, because inquiries after her will eventually lead away from the main festivities. Oh, she can still be found in the orchards, but these are the more private ones, part of the ruling families personal gardens, where Yuliye - rugged up in furs against the autumn breeze, and settled in a chair hung from a high branch - holds court over her ladies (and a number of male attendants, too). The Weyrwoman - Acting Weyrwoman, yes - of High Reaches Weyr is dressed warmly yet stylishly against the chill coming on, layers of brightly colored knits and tights reflecting the party atmosphere. As she finds her way into the personal gardens and the private party Yuliye's holding, she pauses only a moment to take the scene in with her sharp, dark gaze before she arranges her smile and starts toward tree and chair and Lady with her usual stride somewhat slowed. Lifting her voice, cultured and smooth, "It's quite a lovely festival. Particularly given there's not a lot you can do with an 'apple' theme." One of those male attendants has been set to the task of swinging Yuliye's chair, keeping it to an even tempo: not too fast, and not too slow. She had been lounging in a relatively coquettish manner, but Aishani's approach has her straighten languidly, dark eyes lifting to consider the weyrwoman - she smiles. "Oh, don't be silly," she says. "It's all terribly dull. Nearly as dull as Crom's festival of fire, though that has some advantages, I suppose. As you would know, one assumes?" Her tone's light, terribly amused. "I remember it," Aishani says wryly, offering Yuliye something near a grin. She doesn't seem to have noticed the Lady's flirting with her attendants - or perhaps it's that it doesn't bother her for some reason. "Fire is better than fruit, I think. Still. I felt I should come to take it all in." Her tone is for something a bit grander than what's actually happening, her dark eyes brightened. "It's all an excuse to drink and dance, yes? I hope things are well." "Well," says Yuliye after a moment, eyes gleaming, tone conspiratorial. "And there are so many things a girl can do in dark corners at a festival, aren't there?" More loudly, as she draws her feet off of the swing to make space beside her, waggling her fingers towards one of the other attendants, she says, "Darden, do be so good as to lift the weyrwoman up alongside me. We'll be far more comfortable that way." Quirking her lips, "I'd be lying if I said that I didn't know what you were talking about." Aishani can admit that at least, even if it might color her cheeks to do so - maybe she's thinking about specifics. And though she might normally protest at needing the help, if Yuliye's offering young men to lift her up into a swing, who is she to argue, really? After that's done, dark gaze eyeing the attendants wistfully, she asides to the other woman, crossing long legs, "Goldriders ought to have more assistants. It's sad, really." Attractive young men, even. There are definitely some advantages to being Lady, that's for sure. Yuliye's all smiles, still, once Aishani is up there beside her, her own legs crossed in a similar way-- well, similar, though deliberately, artfully designed to show off her ankles. "Hire some," is her prompt answer. "Baby T had at least one, and she needed more. If she'd had enough--" Alas, poor Tiriana. "Of course, we don't need to worry about making our holds think they tithe too much! You have it terribly bad in some ways." Well, at least it's something nice to look at - though Aishani, considering a few of them, seems to be rethinking something... but the way Yuliye's crossed her legs has that evaporate into a flash of a smile. "Perhaps an idea. Anyone who'd do it just out of the goodness of their heart might be either stupid or working another angle. And it's not without its problems, the job," she has to admit. "It's sometimes difficult to understand why I wanted to do it in the first place, but we do our duty, yes?" She glances sidelong to the Lady, noting, "The rumors must be terrible, though. I've never enjoyed people being interested in my... business." "We do." Yuliye's not looking at Aishani as she agrees; instead, she's staring out over the orchard clearing, at the attendants who are being unobtrusive and likely discreet, and further towards the more public celebrations, and the Hold buildings beyond. "We pay our dues, and when we come out on top... well." Abruptly, she's glancing back at Aishani, all bubbleheaded smiles. "Oh, but the gossip is such fun. I don't mind it. People will always think what they think, but the key is that they're usually just jealous. And who wouldn't be?" Curious, Aishani listens as Yuliye speaks, head canting slightly to the side as she aims another look toward the Lady, assessing. "Dues," she echoes. "Yes. Things take time. And I suppose there are different ways to the top, different paths." She's quietly reflective, and while she can't manage 'bubbleheaded', she tries for something lighter than her usual, tucking dark curls behind her ear. The goldrider will agree, "Often, they are. Mothers never say they are, of women without children. But I think that's all a lie." "My mother always told me that a Lady never lets anyone know when she's bothered. It's a sign of weakness, and we are not weak." Surely the same goes for a weyrwoman! She waggles her fingers idly at the attendant rocking the chair, as if it remind him to keep up the good work, then adds, "These curves were not designed so perfectly only to be ruined by childbirth. Ugh. Besides - " Are her eyes dancing? She's not looking at Aishani, again, but it does seem like the might be. "People place such emphasis on paternity." "Good advice." Aishani might say that a bit ruefully; such a hard lesson to learn. She seems to think it goes for a weyrwoman. Following the finger-wiggle to the attendant and likewise favoring him with a brilliant smile, she turns back to Yuliye with a bit of a pout, if brief. "That's the issue, yes? I think my children would be perfect little creatures, it's just the having of them..." A shudder. Her feature taking on a knowing cast, "Oh, they do. It's difficult when one isn't inclined to such, isn't it? But things can be arranged." A pause. "As long as a child looks right and comes at the right time, who's to know?" "Oh," says Yuliye, with an expressive wrinkle of her dainty nose, "but then you have a child that you're supposed to coo over, and adore. Certainly, there are staff, but they still expect you to look in once or twice." But there's something knowing in her expression, something in the way she glances at Aishani - something beneath the airiness and the practiced emptyheadedness. "Now what could you possibly be implying with that, Ai-- no, Shani." Not really recommending or condemning, "Not as much at the Weyr. Into the nursery they all go, unless you don't like the idea of that. And they foster and such. So that might be one positive to it." Not that Aishani sounds like she's all excited to go get herself knocked up, not like some women around High Reaches and their prolific reproduction. Her boot swinging idly with the motion of the chair, "My friends call me Shani. And less an implication than a hypothetical, say. If it were necessary for one to secure one's position and there were reasons that the usual ways were out of the question." A little shrug, diffident. Yuliye must be in her mid-thirties by now, though she doesn't look it, and she's still quite the master of the seemingly innocent glance: wide-eyed and open-mouthed. "We are friends," she says, having apparently decided this for herself. "We girls have to stick together, don't we? Issedi's a milksop, and Edeline's a bitch, and Nabol's Ienavi's not much better. Let's say, perhaps, that one's position might need a different kind of security. In the future. Hypothetically. Friends help each other out, don't they?" Shani would never guess a lady's or a Lady's age, but she surely knows and is impressed. In fact, there's much about Yuliye that must be impressive to the much-younger Weyrwoman, still figuring out what the hell she's doing, for all she's pretty good at pretending she's got it sorted. Pleased, "We do." Seeming a little relieved to be somewhat honest, "Issedi is... quite friendly with Azaylia. And I won't disagree on Edeline to be sure, nor Nabol, for all my dealings so far have been fairly formal." As for the Lady's last, she considers and though she looks interested to be sure, she simply agrees, "Of course. That's what they're there for." Yuliye's pleasure is, surely, not feigned, no matter how effusive it seems. "Lovely!" she enthuses. "It's so nice to have someone who understands. Issedi's so wrapped up in her babies and her husband, and it's sweet, but - oh, so tiresome. Blind as a bat in some ways, poor dear. No matter. I'm sure she'll do just fine." Evidently she's done talking about serious things, however heavily coded, because her gaze flutters back down towards her entourage. "Now, I expect there are probably prizewinning ciders to admire, and - oh, who knows. Boring things. Very boring things. But we'll talk again soon?" Wryly, "She does... seem that way." Aishani seems a little sorry for Issedi, but not so much that she'll linger on it. "With the children, I imagine she'll be happy at the very least. And it is nice to have someone to chat with." Chat with about procuring babies and plotting and so on. The usual ladylike pursuits! Following Yuliye's gaze, "Oh, I think I can arrange to be by soon enough. I've been doing my best to get to know the Holds, like it or not." That goes for all involved. Smirking, she offers, "I'll walk back with you at least - on the way to Iesaryth." The goldrider can manage to avoid serious topics or being a buzzkill for at least that long. One hopes.
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