Logs:Very Breedable
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| RL Date: 1 July, 2011 |
| Who: Emmeline, Hypatia, Seani |
| Type: [[Concept:{{{type}}}|{{{type}}}]] |
| What: Exiles meet Hypatia. |
| Where: Kitchens, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day {{{day}}}, Month {{{month}}}, Turn {{{turn}}} ({{{IP}}} {{{IP2}}}) |
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| Kitchen, High Reaches Weyr Polished marble and granite surfaces, gleaming metalwork and pale woods characterize the vaulted fastness of the kitchen. Several large hearths gape red-mouthed against the outer wall of the cavern, their fires almost always stoked for the constant cooking the Weyr requires to feed its denizens. Sinks line the wall to one side of the hearths, providing ample space to wash large quantities of dishes, while to the other, cabinetry and a deep pantry provide storage space for items commonly needed on a day-to-day basis. The remaining wall space is taken up by passageways and extra seating: swinging doors that lead variously to the main living cavern, the inner caverns and the storage rooms, a counter-height pass-through for food service to the Snowasis, and a series of nooks equipped with tables and benches for quick, out-of-the-way meals any time of day. Blonde, pretty Seani has been working with the nannies since the first day they were offer the possibility; of all the exiles, perhaps she's one of the happiest, now, somehow 'separate' from both groups. This evening, with yet /another/ winter storm raging outdoors, she's curled up in one of the kitchen alcoves, her apron draped vaguely over the seat next to her. She leans her head back against the chair, her eyes closed; the remains of dinner are laid out in front of her, mostly finished. Seeking something soothing to drink - klah being what's on the offering pot out in the main caverns - Emme found her way into the kitchens to try to poke around and see what was available. But spotting Seani was apparently much more important. "Hey Seani." Her tone, mostly cheerful. "How're you doing?" Something else to drink besides klah is definitely brewing. There's water boiling on a hearth, and standing nearby is Hypatia, grinding up some sort of plants presumably to put them /in/ the boiling water. She's been humming to herself, oblivious to everything else, until Emmeline speaks -- then the exiles have the healer's attention, her head whipping around to look at them. She says nothing, just yet. But she spies. Rhaelyn makes her way from the living cavern with her arms laden with a tray of dishes. She skirts a group of cooks as she makes for the basin and delivers the dirty dishes and quickly makes an escape before she can be put to some other task. Instead she sneaks a pastry from a nearby pan--something day-old and thus rather boring looking. "Hello." Greeting familiar and unfamiliar people near the klah pot. "Emme," greets Seani, without opening her eyes: tone of voice is such a good giveaway. When her eyes do open, a moment later, there's a smile in them that matches the one on her face: openly friendly. "I'm well. How are you-- how's the harpering going?" The elder of the two exiles shifts, straightening her posture and pressing her forearms to the table. Rhaelyn's voice draws her attention, too; she glances towards the hearth, nodding to Rhaelyn and giving Hypatia an even, friendly smile. "I heard you're really enjoying working with the nannies." Emme replies, a broad smile appearing in return. "I'm good. The harpering... goes well enough. I managed to get in, so I'm happy." Her attention winds up drawn to the water pot and grinding herbs, and the woman doing the brewing. "Evening. What is it you have going there, if I could ask?" She's curious! "Hello Rhaelyn." "Tea." Hypatia's response is actually rather nonchalant and emotionless. "Well. It's an herbal infusion, if you say it properly, but 'tea's' the slang." She doesn't seem to be bothered by the fact that she's being asked; rather, uncertain as to whether the exiles will know what tea /is/. "Want some?" Cheerfully, genuinely, Seani says, "I'm so glad for you. I know you'll be a wonderful harper." /Real/ harper. If she doesn't outright answer about her own happiness, it would be hard to read anything else from her expression; it's probably the happiest the islander has ever looked - and she's never been the unhappy type. Her attention follows Emmeline's towards the tea-making; she looks faintly amused for it. "I'd like some, if you've some to spare. It's nothing like what we used to have." And that, somehow, seems to make it automatically better. "I... thanks, Seani. I just hope I can catch up. I know a pitiful amount compared to people even 5 turns younger then me." To anyone else, Emme may not have admitted that. But to Seani? She doesn't seem to have a problem saying so. "I can't tell you how many days I go to sleep feeling like a complete moron." The words are kept quiet, to try to keep her personal humiliation as much between the two as possible. But, the lure of tea brings her voice out again. "I'd like to try it. What sort of plants are you using? Is it anything we might be familiar with?" "Um, I don't know?" Hypatia chirps, eyeing the herbs thoughtfully. "I'm not sure of all you might have seen before. You can come over and smell it if you want -- it's called borage, and there's also some blackberry already in the water. Very strong taste, and it treats coughs." Everything is a lesson around Hypatia, perhaps; then again, she tends to treat the exiles a little bit like they are zoo animals. "Have you had blackberries before? Because we've got some growing in the greenhouse, I could get you some fresh. Everyone should have them." Seani's brow furrows as if it often does these days, when faced with things she doesn't know, but feels like she ought. "Blackberries," she repeats, softly, testing the word out in her mouth. "I shouldn't think so? Berries. So they're fruit? But they go in tea." It's not something she seems completely sanguine about, though she does rise from her seat in order to get a better look at what Hypatia is doing. Sidelong, to Emmeline, "You'll be fine. It just takes some getting used to; in a few months, you'll laugh at how you felt, truly." If anything, when Emme comes up against something she's unfamiliar with, her curiousity grows in leaps and bounds. "We had some kind of berry. But, uhm... I guess I'm not sure either." she admits, taking a few steps forward to breath in the scent of the brewing tea. "It's worth trying though. The cold weather seems to be making some of us cough, so it couldn't hurt." And to Seani the girl nods again, her expression softening some. "I certainly hope you're right. How are the children adjusting?" And another question for Hypatia it seems. "Was this tea used to help some of us who took ill after arrival?" Hypatia is, apparently, back to nonchalantness. The fruit is most of what got her enthusiasm -- although at least they're both curious and friendly. With a little shrug, she says, "I think so. But only in the infirmary; we couldn't possibly have made enough for everyone who had a cold. Some of your elders got it, that I know." The ground up herb is done, but before dumping it in the pot she offers the cutting board out to the two. "Have a sniff, if you like. Doesn't smell how it tastes." Seani declines a sniff with a shake of her head, though she smiles politely about it. "Sometimes," she remarks, quietly, "it seems like there's a tea for everything, here. I suppose tea is important. Is it a big part of healer training?" Her conversation with Emmeline continues, even if she's left it, now, for long enough to talk to Hypatia. "They're doing fine. Children are-- adaptable. They learn so quickly." Emmeline will sniff! No qualms from the harper; she leans right over to get a whiff. And makes a bit of a face for the unfamiliar. "Hmm." It's not much of an endorsement, but neither is she turning her nose up! "It really does seem that way, doesn't it. Or at least a liquid for everything. The broth, the teas..." A nod of thanks and acknowledgement is given to the healer for her information. "I was just curious. I didn't get that sick, really." Which made her one of the lucky ones. "Children are, aren't they. I'm glad they still have you with them." "Somewhat, yes. I wouldn't say it's the biggest, but we do have to know a lot of it. Not by memory, thankfully. Recipe books." Hypatia tips the herb smush into the pot and starts stirring at it -- it makes annoyed boil-y sounds at her. To Emmeline, she says, "You're the harper? I've heard about you. And you," to Seani, "I've seen in here before, I think." "One of the children was telling me about the greenhouse," recalls Seani, a fond smile dimpling her cheeks. "I wasn't sure if such a thing could be real. But I suppose it would be necessary, if you do so many teas." There's a question in that statement, but no question mark: Ani sounds more musing than inquisitive. "I'm Ani. I think I've seen you, too. i think. There are so many people." Her glance at Emmeline is a warm one: /she/ is glad she still has the children. "There are so many amazing things here." Emme is quick to agree, even if her favorite places are where information is stored instead of where plants are grown. There is, it would seem, something for everyone. "You've heard about me?" She exchanges a glance with Seani at that. Her wariness fading a little with the warmth of the others gaze. "Some of the riders," Hypatia relates distantly, stirring still and not making eye contact with the others, "talked about how you addressed them. Story got around. And the greenhouse is wonderful; I don't put too much thought into how it actually /works/, though." It takes her another good long minute before she remembers to say, "My name's Hypatia," still without turning around. She's wearing a Healer's knot and they've all seen her caring for the sick in the candidates' quarters -- she doesn't actually bother formally stating her position. "I don't think it's a bad thing to be known, Emme," murmurs Seani, giving the other woman what is probably intended as an encouraging smile. "You're our harper. That's important." She presses her hands together, fingers sliding between fingers, as she considers Hypatia again - and the work she's doing. "I think I'd like to see this greenhouse, one day. Lily seemed to think it was the most amazing thing ever; perhaps it is. It's a pleasure to meet you, Hypatia." Emmeline decides she doesn't want to ask anything about what it is the riders felt about how she addressed them. Instead, she tries to be encouraged by Seani's words and smile. Just nodding, despite preferring a sudden option to find a hole to crawl into. "It does sound interesting. It must be so much better then the land we tried to cultivate." She's once again all smiles for Hypatia though, and inclines her head. "My name's Emmeline. Very nice to meet you, Hypatia." Stir, stir, stir, as Hypatia says absolutely nothing at all for another moment or two. And then she's stretching to stand on tiptoe to get mugs from the cabinets. "You'd both like some?" she asks. "Good thing -- I thought it was just for me but I made way too much." She also obviously can't reach the mugs too well, and after a moment calls out, "Don't tell anyone," and jumps up on the counter to get to the cabinets properly. "Please," says Seani. Her eyes twinkle with amusement (can eyes actually do that? That kind of thing, anyway) as Hypatia jumps onto the counter, though she promises, "I won't tell a soul. It's a good thing you're not one of my charges, though. Mind you... back on the island, we used to climb all over the cliffs. I suppose the counters are safer than that? What do you think, Emmeline?" Emmeline feigns clutching dramatically at her heart with the combination of Hypatia jumping on the counter and Seani's question. "Are you kidding? That used to make me want to pull my hair out by the roots. When the kids would do that. During an outing." the remembrance even causes a pained expression. "Ah, ... oh, no. We won't tell anyone." she promises belatedly. "And yes, I quite suspect the counter is *much* safer. Just don't tell any of the kids that. They will be all over this kitchen." "And I'd rather not be the cause of that!" A moment later Hypatia is back on the ground with three mugs, and is scooping tea out of the pot with them. She hadn't ever been able to find a proper kettle, after all. Once the mugs are not wet around the top edge she hands them out, acting as if not using a kettle is Totally Normal. "Kids are not really my thing. I like them, but I'm bad with them. They don't listen. But it's not a very far fall." The counter, she means. Seani is evidently thinking out loud, though she manages to accept her mug with a gracious smile while she does so: "I don't think there were too many injuries, even when they were clambering over the cliffs. I suppose they're just resilient. Here-- they seem very into ice skating. And snowballs." Things that turn Seani's cheeks flushed, for some reason. "I don't think I could be a healer. Or a harper. I suppose that makes things fair." "Believe me, Seani. I barely qualify as a "real" Harper." Emme is sure to qualify her status, such as it is, with a fair bit of self-deprecation. And since, to them, a kettle is more of a strange thing, she doesn't give much thought to the dipped cup; just takes it in hand carefully and blows on the liquid to cool it. "Kids aren't for everyone, that's for certain. Seani has the touch with them though." she admits, favoring the other islander with a grin. "I suppose it's not a far fall from the counter. But far enough for some bruises at least." Hypatia purses her lips, unwilling to actually state her opinion as far as the exiles' ability to be considered crafters goes. Largely because she seems to be enjoying the conversation she's having at present. "I've delivered one before," she says lightly, taking a sip of her own tea as she leans back against the counter instead of sitting on it, "but that was for a class." Firmly; "You passed the exam. That makes you a Harper." If Seani notices the way Hypatia purses her lips, she says nothing of it; peace is better. Much more important. Besides - she's flushing, ducking her head under the weight of Emmeline's compliment. "Have you?" That's for Hypatia. "I've not had much to do with the really little babies; I don't know if they trust me enough for that, yet, but I'd /like/ to. I had one of my own, once." Her gaze hurried lowers towards her mug, as though that will make the admission easier, or, at least, less obvious. Hastily; "But no, children aren't for everyone." "Yes ma'am." Emmeline even throws in a wink at Seani for her subtle tease at the woman's firm tone. She rarely uses it, so it's something to pay strict attention to! She too says nothing of Hypatia's pursed lips. She notices though, and it brings a wry smirk to her features for a moment. "The littles require such individual attention. It must really be something to be able to deliver one. I admit I envied Evali's experience with that." Though she gives Seani's arm a supportive squeeze when she mentions her child. "You have another chance now, you know. Here." Hypatia is nodding around her tea at the mention of the exiles' midwife. "Yes -- I was going to say. Your Evali has quite a lot of experience. She knows more than most of my classmates about childbirth, but is at least a turn behind in other things. It's very strange. Hard to get used to. I'm sure it's very strange for you as well -- probably a great deal moreso -- but it's strange to me to have all these people from my home's history appear out of absolutely nowhere." As Hypatia is, despite her current residence, from High Reaches Hold. She's catching on something slightly off about this part of the conversation, and -- well -- pries. "Were you having trouble?" she asks more gently, all Healer and no inquisitive girl. "There's -- teas, actually, that can help." Seani's smile is wan and stretched, but she nods firmly - and gratefully - for Emmeline's squeeze. "I hope so," she puts in, tone very quiet: much more like the Seani of old. Hastily, she explains to Hypatia, "I had a little boy; he died after he was born. It was... a long time ago. Perhaps I'll be able to make a new family, here." No mention of a husband, though. More firmly, she continues, "I'm sure it is strange. For you, too. I hope-- I do hope it gets easier, for all of us. As we get used to each other." "That seems to be my problem as well. I've a lot of experience in some areas, but so far behind in others." But, what are they going to do except deal with it, right? Her shoulders lift in accordance with her nod of agreement. "Both sides are having some trouble adjusting, but it will work out in the end I hope. It was a shock to us, to hear that there is no information about us. No records. No acknowledgement." Nothing. She remains quiet about discussion of Seani's wishes for more children at this point; it's a healery thing, and she knows nothing of healery things. With slightly widened eyes, Hypatia watches Emmeline and nods, biting her lip. "It is. Extremely weird. I asked my parents -- they didn't know anything." She, herself, looks conflicted about the entire thing. "Bizarre beyond belief. Literally. I mean. I didn't believe it. Good luck though, on the family bit -- seems like more children would make you happy. I'm sure it'll go fine." She does seem convinced: she is blaming the dangerous island, not genetics, evidently. "They threw us away and decided to forget us," concludes Seani, not sounding /bitter/, as such, but certainly not entirely pleased. "But here we are. I don't suppose it really matters: I like it here. I'm more than happy to be here; I don't care where my ancestors came from, what they did. Who they were." Peasants, mostly, so good for her. Her free hand drops loosely towards her flat belly; she gives Hypatia a little smile. "Thank you. I hope so. All I need, really, is a man." "Not just forget us. Erase us. Make sure nobody -ever- remembered us." Emmeline adds, incensced at the idea. "That's why you're adjusting so well, Seani. I expect those of us who aren't full Blood are having an easier time accepting the new circumstances. Well, some of us anyway." There's an escaping sigh there. And then an encouraging smile. One that stays fixed in place despite how hard she's biting her own tongue to ensure she says nothing about the other woman finding a man. That's why all she can do is nod firmly at Hypatia. Yes, total agreement! Just not with words. "You can have my brother!" Hypatia says cheerfully. "He's very breedable. Depending on how much involvement you want him to have later it might take some work. Also he's fourteen -- is that a problem?" She does, actually, seem to genuinely be asking this question. "I mean, he is the right age to train to how you want him." Seani's mouth opens, as though she intends to say something more about their distant exilers, but Hypatia's offer rather distracts her from that. Her cheeks go pink, and then, a moment later, she begins to giggle, desperately trying to stop herself by putting one hand over her mouth. The healer seems /serious/. Whoops. "I'll, uh, keep that in mind. I'm sure he'd make lovely babies." Forget giggling! Emmeline near spits out her tea! "I... you're trying to use your own brother for stud services?" she asks, a little incredulous. "The young enough to train him how you want him thing... nice selling point. But he's a little, uhm, under age." the harper points out, as amused as she can possibly be. "Is this a normal thing around here? People trying to encourage using other family members for breeding?" Hey, it's an honest question! They had arranged marriages on the island, after al. "Well my older brother keeps trying to use /me/ for breeding," says Hypatia as if this conversation is completely normal. She is well-practiced at perpetual straight face. "And I'm not really interested in having children. I mean, you /could/ try flirting with /him/ but the younger one's much nicer. And -- maybe? People try to get their family members married for politics, more often. I just had a sibling die and so the rest of my family's a bit nuts about it." Seani's eyes go terribly wide as she contemplates the reality of this. "You had a sibling die? I'm so sorry." That, at least, is fairly normal ground. For the rest? She looks a little awkward. "I-- will see how things go. If you'll both excuse me?" The exit is looking somewhat appealing, right at this moment. "So the older siblings try to breed out the younger ones." Emmeline clarifies, slowly. "I... oh, I am sorry to hear that." she adds, right after Seani expresses the same sentiment. "It was really nice to see you, Seani. Take care of yourself ok?" Odd how the younger woman acts somewhat protective of the elder. But there it is. |
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