Logs:A Person Thing
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| RL Date: 9 August, 2009 |
| Who: B'tal, Madilla |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Madilla and B'tal make plans for quilt-making, and then talk families. |
| Where: Nighthearth, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 7, Month 6, Turn 20 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: W'chek/Mentions, Z'yi/Mentions |
| Nighthearth, High Reaches Weyr With its entrance located between the kitchen and the living cavern, this tiny bubble cavern is cozy, always kept warm and is filled with comfortable chairs and a small round table. At the far end, there's a hearth, outlined in ruddy, aging bricks, where a pot of stew simmers in the evening hours. Generally quiet, the nighthearth is the haunt of insomniacs and those seeking quiet from the bustle of daily Weyr life. This kind of beautiful day is usually best spent outdoors, but perhaps that's why Madilla is here: she's otherwise alone, even now that afternoon shades towards night. She's sitting at the table, her books spread out across the table, her head buried within them; as is her usual habit, she mouths the words she's reading, the perfect picture of absolute concentration. Moving around better, B'tal hasn't been much of the mind to stay still. So he's here in the caverns where it's not quite so boring to sit somewhere and at least be around other people. Sort of. The night hearth might not be the greatest place to socialize, but it's a favorite. The greenrider doesn't say anything when he notices Madilla studying, but he does let out a puffed breath when he sits down and tries to get comfortable in a nearby seat. The puffed breath attracts Madilla's attention as well as a few words would have; the healer glances up, and on seeing B'tal, her expression breaks into a smile. "B'tal," she greets, warm. "How are you feeling?" His presence is enough for her to set down the book she's been reading, even push it away (at least for the moment), so that she can consider him directly. A warm smile is returned to the healer and B'tal glances at her book as she sets it aside. "Better," he says, which is different from his usual 'fine' and probably more genuine. "How are you doing? You always seem to be studying when I see you. Or working." Which makes his smile fade for a moment. But only a moment. Madilla seems to take the 'better' as a good thing, because her appraising expression fades into apparently genuine pleasure. "I'm glad to hear it," she tells him, earnestly. There's no way she misses the way his smile fades, but she doesn't remark on it; instead: "I'm well, thank you. I have exams soon, so I've work to read up on, and anyway, I finished W'chek's quilt, so I don't have that to do." "I don't miss being that busy," B'tal says, then amends quickly, "Not that we aren't busy. It's just a different sort. Anyway, even as an apprentice, I didn't do anything near as important as you do." He looks awkward with the words that he says, glances down but back up when he continues, "Yeah? Did you give it to him already?" "I'm looking forward to not having to do exams anymore," Madilla admits, having nodded along to what B'tal says. "Journeymen do, but only when they're looking to walk the tables again. And they don't have to study after their shifts, either. Though-- I'm not sure what I'd do with myself. More quilts, I suppose. Really, though, B'tal, everyone's job is important. We wouldn't be able to mix our medicines without our tools, and the smiths make those." She sounds very content as she adds, "I did. I think he liked it. Likes it. I'm very proud of it." "I wish I had a quilt that someone made for me. They just seem really personal, you know?" the smile he has now is a little distant until he refocuses with an idea, "Maybe you could help me learn how to do them! I could make one for Z'yi, too." B'tal will leave the importance of various jobs well enough alone for now. "I wish I could've seen Whit's after it was finished." As B'tal starts talking, Madilla's mouth opens, as though she's about to jump in with something, but ultimately, she lets him finish, expression fond. "I'm sure W'chek wouldn't mind you seeing it. I didn't think to show it around before giving it. And I'd be more than happy to help you with one. I was going to say, I could make one for you, too, but if you wanted to do one together... I wouldn't mind doing that. And then you could make one for Z'yi, too, yes. They're a lot of work, but I think they're worth it." Expression doubtful at the mention of the bronzerider, B'tal only gives a small, careful shrug of one shoulder. The doubt fades at Madilla's suggestion, back into a smaller smile, more shy. "I wouldn't want you to make one for me by yourself. Not unless I paid and I'm not sure I have enough. Like you said, they're a lot of work. But together... if you really didn't mind. I could still, you know, figure something out to pay." "Or I could ask to borrow it, to show you," puts in Madilla, apparently picking up on something from the greenrider. The shyness of his smile seems only to encourage her own smile, brighter and more determined, now. "I really don't mind. I think it would be fun. I'm not a weaver or anything, so I'm not /really/ good; I'd feel bad asking payment, and anyway, I enjoy it. So. Together, then. You'll have to pick a colour scheme, and gather some fabric scraps from stores to start it off." B'tal gives his head a quick shake at the first. "You don't have to do that. Probably be trouble and he'd want to know why and he's been a little-- well, I don't know. But it's fine." He picks at the arm of the chair he sits in, looking there then up, "Together, then. I'd like that. I'll see what fabric I can find in stores. Teris can probably help me out with that." Madilla is not the type to press for details, so it's no wonder she doesn't do so now, saying, only, "Well, if you say so. Perhaps another time." Hands pressed together in front of her, she doesn't look especially concerned by that, though, perhaps, for just a moment, a faint bit disappointed. "Your sister? I'm sure she can. Whatever size you like, really: big pieces can always be cut down further, small pieces, as long as they're not /too/ small work fine. I think this will be fun. Though I may not have much time until I get back from my exams." The greenrider doesn't go about offering any unnecessary details. He thinks instead, then nods his head slowly as he considers what Madilla is telling him. It's kind of obvious that B'tal and sewing have never really met each other. "Oh, no," he says quickly, almost even worried, "That's okay. I wouldn't want to take a lot of your time even if you didn't have something so important to worry about. Just whenever you have a moment would be good, I'm sure. I learn things pretty quickly. I think Jeibeth would like something red." The last is more of an afterthought. Definitely thoughtful. Madilla, at least, doesn't seem deterred by B'tal's evident lack of experience with this. "As soon as I'm back from the Hall," she promises. "Delifa always makes me stay away from the books for a while then, anyway. Though," and a shadow crosses her face, "She's not been very well. With her pregnancy. But. I'm sure that will be fine." More enthusiastically, she adds, "Red is lovely. One of my favourite colours." B'tal frowns at the mention of Delifa not being well but he knows about as much about pregnancies as he does about sewing. "Usual stuff? A lot of you," girls, "Seem to get sick. That all it is? Anyway, I'll make you stay away from the books for a bit if I can instead." A pause to consider whatever and then B'tal mentions, "It's hers, too. Got a lot of it in my weyr." Madilla hesitates before she says, shrugging, "She's older than most women who have babies. Particularly first ones. So it's a little worse than usual. But. I'm sure she'll be okay." Is it false cheer? Hard to tell. "Good. It'll be nice to have something to work on again. And with someone, this time." Beat. "She has good taste. Do you let her make decorating decisions, too? W'chek couldn't even figure out a paint colour on his own." "Ah," B'tal says like that explains a lot. It probably does, really. "I hope everything's alright with her." Sincere and perhaps a little worried. He looks like he might have more questions but since those can only be awkward, he focuses on the last. A light blush touches his cheeks as he admits, "I do, yeah. She's better at all that than I am. And I like what she chooses, so it all works out. You picked some out for him? What'd you pick? I heard he was nearly done painting or something." "So do I," says Madilla, fervently, meeting B'tal's gaze this time with eyes that can't hide their own concern. "Perhaps it's just a male thing, then, not being comfortable with decorating decisions. I've never done it before, admittedly, but... Cream. I told him to paint it cream, so it feels bigger, and lighter, but isn't quite so sterile as white would be." "Must be that. Male thing," B'tal looks thoughtful over that. "I think some are okay with that sort of thing, though. So many it's just a person thing. Bet some girls aren't all that great at it either." He seems to think that sounds reasonable and he doesn't sound argumentative at all. "Cream sounds good. It was pretty awful before, wasn't it? Maybe when you do have kids, you can give them a section of wall to paint on themselves." That makes the greenrider beam a certain smile. A pause, and then, laughing, "You're probably right. A person thing. I don't have much of a comparison, really: just you two." Madilla nods, making a face, at the awfulness of the weyr. "It really was. Colours are lovely, but... in moderation, I suppose." Her eyes light as she adds, "That's a lovely idea! Painting the walls. I hope we can do that... one day." Her expression turns far away as she considers this, wistful and hopeful, all at the same time. That expression isn't so very different from B'tal's, maybe less beaming, and he seems to like seeing it on Madilla's face. He watches her fondly before he realizes he's staring and glances away. "I hope you can, too," he says but he seems a tiny bit more wistful now, less hopeful. Madilla doesn't seem to notice the staring, so busy is she with her own thoughts, but she has embarrassment of her own, cheeks turning slightly pink as, hurriedly, she says, "A little over two turns, and then, if I work really hard, I'll walk the tables. And after that... If all goes well, it won't take long." Beat. "Do you want children, B'tal?" The timeframe makes the greenrider grin at Madilla. "Can't wait," he chuckles, a gentle sound from his currently careful demeanor. "I do," B'tal says and he draws in a shallow breath to sigh out. "Eventually. Unless Jeibeth decides she likes boys with girl riders, though, probably won't happen for a long time." Madilla returns the grin, cheeks still pink, but perhaps more with pleasure, now, than outright embarrassment. "It feels like an awfully long time, sometimes, but... the wait will be worth it. I think I'll be a good mother, and W'chek will be a good fa--" She breaks off from that, and now she definitely is embarrassed again, watching B'tal carefully. Hurriedly, she adds, "Jeibeth might. I'm sure it'll happen eventually, B'tal, I'm sure of it." "You'll be an amazing mother, Madilla. You will," B'tal says just in case she needs the extra reassurance. "And I bet Whit will be a good father," he's not looking at her when he says it, eyes on the hand that's picking at the arm of the chair again. "Eventually," he agrees, then before it can really go anywhere else he's saying, "I should probably let you get back to your books, huh. I didn't mean to distract you." He's shifting slowly toward the edge of his seat. Madilla is obviously pleased with B'tal's reassurance, but it doesn't last: she's frowning, visibly, as he begins to make his excuses. "I've made you uncomfortable," she says, awkward and uncomfortable. "Oh, B'tal, I honestly didn't mean to. I'm sorry." Her voice raises at that last bit, emotion audible in it. "We could talk about something else. If you wanted to stay. Or... but, of course, if you /want/ to go, that's fine, too..." "No," B'tal says quickly to Madilla. "No, no. That's not it. I'm not-- well, not uncomfortable, at any rate." He pushes himself up to his feet with a wince and moves a little closer to the healer to offer her a careful hug. "I'm fine. I promise. And you shouldn't be worrying about making people uncomfortable. They'll usually let you know. I'm just-- I should probably go eat something." Madilla's gaze is watchful as the greenrider speaks, particularly as he winces, but she returns the hug warmly - carefully, of course, but still warmly - squeezing only very lightly. "If you're sure... I just worry." As she leans back again, she's still watching him, but her expression is less troubled. "Of course. Food is important for recovery. You... will watch out for yourself, won't you? Look after yourself, B'tal. I don't want to see you back in the infirmary." "As much as I enjoy your company, I don't want to be back in the infirmary anytime soon, either," B'tal says and smiles at Madilla with a teasing fondness. "I'll have Teris help me in the stores. Good luck on your exams, too. Have a good evening, Madilla." Madilla's lips draw into a smile. "Good," she tells him, warmly. "And thank you. You, too, B'tal." She waits until he's gone before her head ducks back down towards her books. |
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