Logs:New Divides
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| RL Date: 13 June, 2011 |
| Who: Devaki, Emmeline |
| Type: [[Concept:{{{type}}}|{{{type}}}]] |
| What: Devaki and Emmeline discuss the latter's altercation with Tomaeran. |
| Where: Candidate Quarters, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day {{{day}}}, Month {{{month}}}, Turn {{{turn}}} ({{{IP}}} {{{IP2}}}) |
| Mentions: Tomaeran/Mentions, Evali/Mentions, Riorde/Mentions |
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| With Evali's head pillowed on his lap, Devaki's not going anywhere anytime soon. His grandfather's gnarled walking stick rests against the bunk next to his legs, his hands wrapped around a cooling mug of tea. It's late afternoon, and undoubtedly there'll be visitors soon, bringing the normal staple of broth-and-bread that serves for the exiles' dinner. Devaki's thoughts are, however, quite clearly on other matters, gaze distant. Just on time, as always, the lower caverns staff carts in the bread and broth. And slipping in to the barracks just behind them is Emme, as if she'd been waiting for them out in the hall decided to skip in alongside them. She stealthily grabs one of the cleaning rags attached to the side of a tray and brings it back with her towards her cot so she can set down her writing implements and try to get the ink stains off of her fingers. That's when she allows herself a glance around, spotting the brother and sister pair. One of whom is fast asleep. And being that the sleeping girl is Evali, the harper grabs one of her spare blankets to bring it over and settle it over the midwife loosely. She gives Dev a nod of greeting obviously cause it was be more then a little rude not to, considering. But she didn't want Evali to get cold! Devaki's attention is roused, not by the rattle of the carts, but Emmeline's approach, straightening until he recognizes her. Then, he relaxes back into a slouch. He looks torn between protectiveness and gratitude, as the harper-girl covers his sister with the blanket. In deference to Evali, his voice is low, but it still conveys puzzlement. "I'd have to be a hopeless mindhealer not to recognize /that/ look. Clearly I've done something." He takes a breath, the faint wheeze audible, before he exhales. "Sit, have dinner with us," he coaxes, gesturing towards the bunk opposite the one he's seated on. "I wish she'd let me braid her hair. It's always in her face like that." Emmeline remarks, keeping her voice as low as his. And of course, failing to address his comments about his mindhealing prowess. She considers for a moment, and then nods her agreement to join them for dinner. Looks like it will be a few minutes before anyone brings around the food anyway. So, she folds herself into the opposite bunk and rests her head back against the wall. "You should be sleeping too." she adds, in admonishment. "Too many thoughts to sleep," Devaki is quick to brush away that assessment. "Besides, I promised Ev I'd watch over her." His gaze drops towards his sister, a quiet, fiercely protectivness fondness in the look he gives the sleeping woman. As to the first comment? "She's stubborn. Gets that from her mother." Finally, with a release of breath, he looks up again, voice still soft. "Things that mattered on the island, they're different here, Emme. I don't imagine you'll ever forgive Tomaeran, and I don't think you should, but--" he hesitates, gaze shifting to the harper, expression intent. "--we can't let it split us apart. Not now. There'll be time enough for revenge, if that's what you want. But not now. Please." His tone, despite being soft, conveys pleading note as he gazes at her. "You're not going to get better if you push yourself too hard. She needs you healthy." That's her own last chastisement for the day, however, closing her eyes now as if that will just plain block out what Devaki has to say about Tomaeran. "I told you. I'll do what I'm supposed to, and I do it for everyone. Even Tom. Even though he gives me not even a shred of respect." Emme replies, the bitterness in her voice evident despite how quietly she says it. "All I want, is for someone... just one, to tell him to shove it when he starts in on me. But it's too much to ask." Revenge. That's waved aside with a disappointed expression. "That really what you think of me, and what I want? Come on, you know better then that. I just want what's best for all of us." "Tom is just -- Tom," Devaki says, with an allowance of a grimace in relation to his cousin. "He's the same as he's always been -- that much you can count on." It'd be hard not to be unaware of Emmeline's bitterness, though he does seem surprised by it, and the words that follow. Slowly, he says, "Emme," he hesitates a moment, then just plunges ahead. "I never thought you needed -- or wanted -- defending. You've certainly proven," and now a small smile appears, "More than capable of doing that, on your own." He shakes his head, setting aside his mug. "It's hard to know what anyone wants, these days. Everyone wants different things. It's too--" he makes a vague, frustrated gesture. "My own head is mixed up, so I'm hardly in a position to judge others." "Of course I want defending. Wouldn't anyone?" Surprised by his surprise, Emme just sort of shrugs. "It's hard to have to keep defending myself all the time when he thinks that nobody else cares what he says, and that he can say it with impunity." Her face reddens at the reminder that she's certainly defended herself loudly at times, and she lets go a breath. "Harper's are supposed to have a way with words, right? Not sure the ones I use are the ones I'm supposed to though." Cough. "Yeah, tell me about it. I think everyone is... well, mixed up. It doesn't help anyone to be told we don't know anything about anything. What is it, exactly, that's got you all mixed up?" "No," Devaki disagrees, "Some people -- hate being defended. Ri, for one, would -- I suspect -- punch me if I tried." He chuckles at the thought, then sobers at her latter words. "Emme, /words/ aren't going to change Tom's mind. Tom is Tom. You have to accept him as how he is. There'll always be people that you'll never get along with, and you just have to live with it. Some of those riders we've had to deal with -- they're a thousand times worse than Tom. And there'll be more where that comes from. We'll have to defend ourselves from /everyone/." He lets out a breath, glancing down to make sure that he hasn't woken the snoozing Evali with the intensity of his words and, lowering his voice, says blandly, "Everything. But, it'll sort itself out. I just need to -- to think." "You've a point there. That's why I enjoy her company. She doesn't take shit from anyone." Even Emme has to grin at that, but then shakes her head. "I don't care enough about what he thinks to want to change his mind. It's what his words make others think that I'm more concerned about." She'll just refrain from voicing her opinion on what Tom is and isn't, considering the close quarters here. "As for defending ourlves from everyone else? That's what I'm working on, remember." she prompts, twisting on the ends of her own hair at this point. "I just can't keep defending myself all the time and keep it together enough to defend the rest of us too. It.." she hesitates, paying special attention to what are apparently split ends. ".. hurts. It hurts to have to keep defeding myself against my own people. My friends are all I've got now, and most of the time these days they feel absent." She allows her gaze to settle on Evali then, sorting through her own thoughts. "Then think. I know how to remain quiet for awhile." Pause. "Don't you dare laugh at that." Devaki is silent as the food cart is finally wheeled near them, and the broth and bread passed out. Devaki takes two lots -- one for himself and one for Evali, when she wakes. He doesn't immediately eat the food, however; his thoughts are on other matters, waiting until Emmeline's taken her food, too, and the cart and server have departed before he finally says, "Then don't defend yourself. Shrug it off. People will believe what they want to believe. Actions are sometimes more powerful than words. I know what some of the non Blooded say about me. I used to get into fights about that sort of stuff, but at the end of the day, the things I /do/ prove my beliefs. There may have been a divide between the Blooded and non on the island, but here, we're /all/ outsiders, like it or not." Collecting her food silently, and with a nod of thanks for the people that serve it, her ration is then just settled beside her. Untouched for now, at least until the broth cools off some more. "You obviously have a more favorable view of my temper then I do, but I take the point." Emme decides, not bothering to argue with what Dev has to say. "We are. All outsiders. But, what happens if we get what we're all working for? Then we go back to it, don't we. The blooded, and non-blooded. The same divide. I can't imagine everyone wants to work towards that goal." is pointed out, with a pensive and quiet voice. "I don't think--" Devaki hesitates, "I don't think that matters so much, here. Riders don't have to be Blooded, and they can be in charge." Thankfully he hasn't had that process explicitly detailed to him as yet. Ignorance really is bliss. "I think you'll find it'll matter less and less, to those without, if they stay here. Elsewhere--?" he shrugs. "I guess that's something to ask Van about, next time I see him. Or one of the others." "Yes, things are very different here. Which is why, I think, I would probably stay here rather then go somewhere else. Or maybe the Harper Hall. Lujayn mentioned that to me this morning." There's a moment where Emme considers sharing just what K'del told them of how the Weyrleader is chosen. But, the part of her brain that doesn't want to be broken evidently puts a halt to that idea. "It seems there are a few riders that want to be helpful, then. She also gave me a few children's books to pass around. They explain how things seem to work around here. But in real basic terms." She allows a bit of silence to pass, there. And spends it picking apart her bread. "Think Evali would mind if I moved my things closer. I'm kinda tired of being so isolated over there." "Ev and I have spoken, about her training with the healers," Devaki says, slowly, nodding. "But, even if we all get split up, there'll be something, between us. Bonds tighter than Blood, though some might wish to deny it." His expression tightens briefly at the mention of children's books, though he refrains from commenting on that score. Instead, he pulls the broth closer to him and takes a tentative sip. "Closer yes, but--" he gestures towards the bunk that Emmeline's seated on, managing an even voice as he says, "That's grandfather's bunk, and he'll want to reclaim it." It's, perhaps, more hopeful than truthful, but there's an odd determination in the words all the same. "I know, I know. Children's books. I told her I'd probably note down the important points and pass it around." Emme is quick to assure. And, even though she now feels totally creeped out by sitting in grandpa's bunk... it's amazing what absolute exertion of willpower can do to force one to kep a bland expression. "Of course he will." she adds, sounding quite sincere in that. "When she wakes, would you ask her to come find me? I tried this drink earlier. I bet she'd like it. I want to take her to try it." Small talk is much better then pondering fates, yes. "What'd the healer say about your cough?" If there's a faint flicker of protectiveness in Devaki's expression, well, it's his sister that Emmeline wishes to try new things out on. "She hasn't taken sick yet. I'd like to keep her from that, if I can." And then, in concession a heartbeat later, he exhales. "I'll tell her." He takes another mouthful of the broth. "They're worried about it being persistent, but that I should recover. Should, being the word they stressed the most." He doesn't seem particularly concerned, "Either way, I can still trounce Xoami." Which is probably a little doubtful, since his friend has recovered much more swiftly, but it's all about appearances. There's a low laugh from the harper at the protective expression, but Emme just smirks, apparently not taking exception. "I'd never do anything to hurt her. Or make her sick. It's just a drink, and I've already tried it. She'll be fine with me." is assured. "Mmm. That's probably code for 'as long as you get your rest and don't push yourself'. So..." with most of her food untouched anyway, she grabs it and stands up from that bunk. "I'll head back to the records room. I'll let Xoami know you can still trounce him on my way out, too." Devaki looks vaguely surprised, probably that she intends to take her food with her to the records room, though doesn't seek to stop her. "Feel free. It'll make him laugh -- we could all use a bit of that, after all." His lips twist wryly as he bends over his bowl, dutifully working through the rest of the meal. This is Emme - she'll probably eat it on the way and then make the guard hold her bowl. "Will do." she call out over her shoulder, stopping first to retrieve what she needs for the records room and then by Xoami - she she can nudge his shouler and then lean over to taunt him on Devaki's behalf. Then, with that good deed done for the day, disappears back out into the hall. |
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