Logs:Getting familiar with history
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| RL Date: 15 May, 2012 |
| Who: Brieli, Lujayn |
| Type: [[Concept:{{{type}}}|{{{type}}}]] |
| What: Brieli is researching somewhat-old reports when Lujayn trips in and recruits her to stand for Ysavaeth's clutch. |
| Where: Records Room, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day {{{day}}}, Month {{{month}}}, Turn {{{turn}}} ({{{IP}}} {{{IP2}}}) |
| Despite the lack of rainfall, the records room is busy enough - there's always paperwork to be done, and besides, the weather isn't exactly fabulous compared to the all-too-recent warmer days of summer. Harpers and scribes work diligently at the tables to the fore; to the back, one seamstress has a table to herself, just reading large dusty tomes. Brieli makes no notes or has no hides to consult against - she's just reading, dark brows drawing together into a frown of concentration. She's doing her best to look as if she's not uncomfortable here, but she's a little jumpy, as if she might be turfed out at any moment. Lujayn, by comparison to some of the well-established readers, is just passing through today. To the possible chagrin of the meticulous librarians, the rider has taken it upon herself to return several borrowed volumes to their shelves. It takes some poking around, but after a few moments at the first shelf she moves on in Brieli's general direction, double-checking the title and index of the next book. As she passes her foot scuffs along the edge of the table with a jolt, gray eyes widening as she hastily doubles back that half-step. "Sorry!" A little too loudly. At least there's no spilled ink or strewn papers. Lowering her voice a few notches, she repeats, "Sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt you." If Brieli could leap straight out of her seat, she might as Lujayn jolts the table - she shoots up straight, looking around, dark eyes wide and startled. Finally catching on to the goldrider's presence, her apologies, and the correlation between that and the table suddenly becoming mobile, the tall brunette begins to relax. Lifting a hand to her chest, the other raising a puff of dust as she drops it to the book, "Oh. Oh no, you just startled me. I guess I was just... Concentrating. I didn't notice. Please don't worry." Don't mind her freaking out. Lujayn doesn't seem as ruffled, quick to accept Brieli's dismissal of harm done, a quick smile reassuring. "It gets pretty close in here," Eyeing the nearby shelf, running one hand along spines to find just the right spot in the alphabet for the small tome in her other hand. "Was it something interesting?" She might as well go on with the talking now that the other girl is well and truly interrupted. "It seems to," Brieli agrees, looking around again - this time, with an eye to how much space there is, how people have to edge between the tables and shelves. Her attention shifts to Lujayn and her shelving with interest before she blinks back down to the book; with a slight, odd smile, "Interesting, I think, depends on who you are. I'm finding it so - some reporting from ten, fifteen turns ago? Just trying to get a better read on things here." There's a beat before she asks, "Is it difficult, to learn where the books should go?" "Once you've been taking them in and out long enough, you get the hang of it," Lujayn replies with a shrug, "I usually grab the stacks leftover in the council chambers when I don't have anything else for the day. Section, name, index number if it's labeled that way. I like to think I get most of them right." Brieli's topic of choice makes the rider pause, if someone can find decade-old reports engrossing it's worth asking about. "Yeah? Did you come here recently, then? Sounds like you're brushing up on history." Closing the book with a wrinkle of her nose for the dust, "Nice of you. If you don't get them right, do the scribes issue demerits, or something equally picky?" Brieli grins a touch, but it's perhaps notable that she didn't go saying that loud enough for any scribes to actually hear. With a nod, "I did come here recently. I thought I ought to know more about it, since the past seems rather important here, yes? I'm Brieli, ma'am." She leans forward to offer a hand across the books and table. "I like to think I'm doing them a favor." Lujayn grins, grasping Brieli's hand briefly but firmly. "Lujayn. How are you finding High Reaches after your research? Not everyone is as studious their first time around." A warmer look, something closer to encouraging, impressed with the girl's thorough background check. "I won't be the first to admit there's plenty to read about." "You likely are. I think some people just love to complain, so you might be doing them a favor there, too." Brieli's hand is perhaps a little rougher than the average seamstress, but her grip is firm enough and her smile is easy and friendly - though it shades a bit wry at Lujayn's last. "There's an awful lot to read about, yes. But I have to believe that any Weyr might be similar at some point or another?" She considers the question for a time before, "Complicated. Very eventful. There's been a lot to handle. I don't envy any of you that." Lujayn takes a glance over her remaining books, a wry smile returned: "Now that you're here too, you might have to handle some of it. Or future complications. But you're right, every place has history. Even where you came from?" There's a second question in there, that Lu's not about to pull the 'oh-wait-where-did-you-say-you-were-from-again..' line. "We've had a busy ten turns, if you're really reading back that far. Exiles nonwithstanding." The other books are all from the same period; the same ten to fifteen turns. Brieli is interested in very recent history, it seems. With that same wry little twist of mouth, she agrees, "Complications affect everyone. And I suppose with a clutch, there's that as well - I'd think past and future complications both are something of a dragonrider's responsibility." There's a moment before she'll admit to Lujayn, "I came from Crom. It really does seem that way; even without finding an island..." She gestures over the stack, all thick with history. Something clicks together then, nothing earth-shattering or profound, but enough. "It's been a long time since that," Lujayn begins evenly, "If you're after information about Crom and the Reaches, that was mostly before I got here.." It doesn't seem like so long ago to Lu until she has to think it over, a little rueful. Then there's a chuckle, breaking the serious moment. "It's true. Life wasn't half as complicated before I was a rider. Not all bad, that. Complications make it interesting." With a shrug, "I'm actually not all that interested in Crom. I have no ties there, really - I never liked it all that much. All I know is that the higher-ups apparently like to complain about the Weyr, which has been going on since before I was born, I think." Brieli has the grace to color a touch when she realizes what implication she might be making about Lujayn's age; with a blink, "Er. Not that I'm all that old. And yes, I suppose complications might make things interesting. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks, is the general consensus." "Some places do," One side of Lujayn's mouth twists, as if she has anything to do with holds being upset at her Weyr. "Or at least some people, more than others. More interested in complicated matters?" She presses, catching that last. "If so, I can say you've come to the right place." Politics, dragons, all those good things. "I'm beginning to understand that. This is all a balancing act, isn't it?" Brieli's next gesture could encompass the Weyr, the Area, the world. "Making sure this person isn't happier than that person, these people aren't more offended than those. And it's not as if Holds are without complicated matters - but I've never freely read records in any Hold either." Tilting her head to one side, "I've heard that more than once. That it's a good place to come to, that people come here to start over. Despite any initial suspicion." Lujayn has to smile, when the alternative is just outright exasperation at the thought of a world full of malcontents. Not that High Reaches is any more insulated.. "It gets trying, especially when you've got your own opinion to contend with. But it's satisfying to be able to help." Abandoning the untouched volumes on a nearby cart, she turns her full attention back to Brieli. "Think you'd want to start over here? I mean, I obviously can't promise anything. But if standing for Impression is something you're open to, I think you'd make a good candidate." There's little actual history to Brieli's story, no hint Lu's gathered that the seamstress is looking to leave behind or forget, but she does have a point. It is a good place to make a new life. Looking shocked, Brieli affects an offended tone. "Why, weyrwoman! When did they tell you that you could have an opinion?" With a little laugh, her holder routine dissolves, nodding to Lujayn, "I can only imagine." She's about to fold her arms over her stack of dusty tomes, but Lu's question and vote of confidence both give her pause; a flash of a unguarded expression reveals both surprise and gratitude. The seamstress takes some time to think, as is her custom - then, fingers gripping the spine of a book, "I've never made a habit of turning down opportunity. Thank you, Lujayn. I appreciate that. I'd like to try." One to enjoy the humor of life, Lujayn doesn't let the irritated glances from nearby readers to stifle her laughter. "They didn't, not in so many words." And with Brieli's final admission, the rider positively beams. It's an exchange of unguarded expressions. "That's what I like to hear. I hope you find the opportunity you're looking for. Won't be too hard to get you set up - anything you need for that?" But there are still the books, and Lu doesn't have any particular wish to be prying the newest candidate away from her studies. "Or I could have someone come find you, later." Brieli won't even be apologetic on Lujayn's behalf - the readers can suck it up for now, so there! Returning the smile with a bright one of her own, she glances down to the books thoughtfully. "I imagine I could just move my things after dinner - it's not as if I have much. If you want to get back to shelving. I don't know how much more reading I can do, but I feel as if I should make the attempt. Particularly if it makes me good candidate material." Lightly said, amused. "You wouldn't think being a weyrling means more reading," Lujayn feels compelled to warn Brieli, "But somehow it does. And writing reports, when all the reading is done." Whether that makes reading a strength or if it's a warning to enjoy freedom while one can is hard to say. "That sounds like it'll work fine, no rush. Thanks for taking the time - I'll be seeing you around, Brieli. Best get these back where they belong." Picking up the books again with a slight reluctance, the rider waves a short farewell - being more careful not to kick table legs on her way out. Though if finding candidates were so easy, the records room would be a disaster. Brieli waves farewell to Lu in return, musing over the thought of reports and reading - but cracking that book open even so, dust rising all around her. This time, it makes her roll her eyes and smile. |
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