Logs:The Training Technicality
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| RL Date: 19 January, 2016 |
| Who: Jocelyn, Lys, Aidavanth, Evyth |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: After Jocelyn learns of her impending trip to Nabol, she asks for Lys' help. Lys acquiesces but asks Jocelyn to face some hard truths in return. |
| Where: Jocelyn's Weyr, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 14, Month 11, Turn 39 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Farideh/Mentions, Tevrane/Mentions |
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>---< Jocelyn's Weyr, High Reaches Weyr >------------------------------------<
Separated from both the weyrleaders' complex and the dragon's ledge by
heavy tapestries, this weyr is easily spacious enough to fit at least
three, large dragons, an enormity that feels rather empty due to the
minimal furnishings. The outermost room of this weyr currently seems to be
designated as a front-facing, public space. Centered between the two
entrances, a large, stone table is surrounded by several sensible,
straight-backed chairs. Nearby, a trap door in the wall covers an old,
elevator-pulley system connected to the kitchens, its mechanism
occasionally finicky despite its polished state. A sizable, glassed-in
bookshelf is built into the wall near the opening that leads into the
inner weyr, containing a handful of books and situated next to a series of
small, empty ceiling hooks which look suitable for hanging plants. Two
cozy-looking armchairs are available for more informal seating, precisely
arranged around a homespun rug in dark blue, but the present paucity of
decor does little to render this outer room as anything but severe.
Curtained off by thick, dark drapery, the entrance immediately beyond
opens to more private chambers, a section of two bubbles in the caldera
wall joined by a short tunnel. The smaller, blue-wash walled room closest
to the outer weyr also connects to a personal bath, largely enclosed off
by a carefully carved strip of rock wall. Heat and cool air mingle in the
space between it and the rider's bedchamber, which is mostly filled by a
large bed kept made up in plain linens and blankets. At the foot of the
bed is a large, ornately carved chest of sweet redwood; against the far
wall is a darkly-stained armoire.
Down the short passage, the larger of the two rooms serves as a private
study. An ornate desk takes up most of the available space with ample
shelves just above it; against the wall is an additional, open bookcase
housing scrolls and folders of varying sizes. There's little yet in the
way of other pieces besides a plainly carved, if sleek chair nudged
against the desk, but the amount of glowbaskets tucked around the room
suggests that this area currently sees more use than perhaps any of the
others.
-----------------------------< Active Players >-----------------------------
Jocelyn F 25 5'5" lean, red hair, blue-gray eyes 0s
Lys F 20 5'5" slender, blonde hair, blue-green eyes 4s To Evyth, Aidavanth reaches out after duties are over with for the day, a request wrapped in her usual, pleasant conversation: Jocelyn's going to need help with her hair in a couple of days, and while she could hunt down a lower caverns girl who might aspire to be promoted to her assistant in a few months, she'd much rather have Lys if she'd be willing to do it. Details aren't terribly forthcoming, but there's a flash of memory pulled from her rider of the harvest, the grumbling holders. « And Roszadyth's says she should look the part if she's going to go with her, » the young queen concludes. « Jocelyn is - » A pause, then: « - willing to discuss it in person, » of course she is, « if Lys is available. » To Aidavanth, Evyth is, as ever, happy to receive conversation and requests from her golden sister. « Of course, » she almost doesn't need to check with Lys to know the answer; of course Lys will come if Jocelyn needs her. She does check, quickly, in the end, but the answer remains the same. It's a short time later that Evyth lands in the bowl and Lys' brisk stride brings her to where she can greet the gold first with a hello and a caress before heading into the weyr, calling, "Joce?" She must have not yet gotten to the point of changing or bathing, but there's her familiar patchwork bag slung over one shoulder, probably now containing a change of clothes in case this is the sort of discussion that could happen in conjunction with a bath. Inside, Jocelyn's still in what she wore for the day, too - aside from when she drills or spends some days doing shadowing as her schedule permits, she's more often now found in the well-tailored blouses and neat, crisp-lined slacks that she favors from the newer items added to her armoire within the past several months. Not-quite curled up in one of the armchairs, reading, she's quick to set down her book and push to her feet when she hears Lys, expression warming. "Lys, " she says with not a little relief, "Good. I didn't want to borrow the use of Farideh's assistant. She doesn't know me." It's perhaps telling of at least some anxiety over what's to come that she delivers that first before making a face in apology, moving to meet the greenrider with the intention of enfolding her into a close, gentle hug. "I'm going with her to Nabol in two days." What could go wrong? Lys doesn't hesitate in moving to the goldrider, bag sliding to the ground in an easy movement before she meets Jocelyn's embrace, wrapping the goldrider in her arms in return, though hers comes with a greeting kiss. "You'll have to find someone, eventually, who does know you, but we can try to find you a good someone." Someone Jocelyn can trust. "But when I can, I'm happy to." Already her hands are coming up to explore Jocelyn's hair, just a little - not that her services are needed now, but because it must be on her mind. "To see Lady Tevrane?" It's an easy first question, one that invites more than just the yes-or-no answer without pressing. Jocelyn has a smile and a return brush of lips for Lys's greeting, nose wrinkling afterward at the concept of obtaining her own, personal assistant. "I don't want to have someone doing all of the things for me that assistants seem to do, " she says predictably, "but I can see where it could save me some time once I've eventually found someone who works out in their role." Her fiery hair is growing steadily past her chin and back down to her shoulders. It isn't quite long enough to do anything enormously elaborate, but there's enough present to curl, or twist and pin up. "To see Lady Tevrane, " she confirms. For a moment, she permits her uncertainty to show, mouth pressing thin. Perhaps unnecessarily: "This will be my first official visit." She might be nervous. "You don't have to want it, Joce, like so many things, you just have to accept it's necessary," that practical statement comes with a quick placating peck before Lys slips from the goldrider's arms and steps halfway around her before her hands find a low grasp on her hips, pressure gently encouraging her to turn so her back is to the blonde. "So something practical and professional but elegant. Something that makes you look formidable but approachable. Are you nervous?" The question is as gentle as the caresses across her back. "Just another necessary arrangement, " sighs Jocelyn resignedly, turning easily enough for Lys even if there's a moment where she has to force the set of her shoulders to relax. Her simple, "Yes, " serves as an answer for all three prompts, fingers curling and uncurling at her sides before she lets herself lean slightly into those touches. "I suppose I'm as ready for a practical application of what I've had to learn as I'll ever be, at this point. I don't want to reflect poorly on my home. Our home." Lys' smile goes unseen, of course, but it's fond in the face of Jocelyn's resignation. She uses a hand to sweep aside the red locks and presses a kiss to the nape of her neck, stepping close as she does. "Joce," is soft, "don't think of it like that. You're a powerfully placed woman going to meet another powerfully placed woman, supporting another powerfully placed woman. This isn't an exercise in practical application. You follow Farideh's lead, you pay attention and you'll know when to speak your mind and when to hold back." There's a tone of belief in the blonde's words. "When in doubt, ask Aidavanth. She's every bit as smart as you are, I think." Of course, her knowledge is secondhand from as biased a source as her own opinions. "One thing you shouldn't ever forget is that you have an advantage over Holders. Aidavanth can confer with Roszadyth and Tevrane will never be the wiser. It's an advantage. Use it when you need." A small shiver courses its way through the redhead's frame. "A future powerfully-placed woman, still in training, " Jocelyn corrects wryly once she can speak again, but the corners of her mouth do lift - even if the wall ends up being the only witness. "Aidavanth might be smarter, sometimes, " she confides, affection for her lifemate quite audible, "and you're right, of course; we do have that advantage when it comes to communication." She exhales then, hands reaching behind her as if to caress what she can reach of the greenrider. It's awkward; she snorts, and carefully turns herself back around so that she's facing Lys. Now it's easier to manage her hands in gentle, sweeping touches, to lean her forehead to the other's between steady breaths. "Nothing too fancy, " she murmurs after a moment. "It would be best if the focus remains on Farideh, not on me. Unless it has to be." "Jocelyn," is serious from Lys as she seeks the catch the goldrider's eyes, pulling back just a little from the touch of forehead to forehead so they needn't be cross-eyed. "'Still in training' is a flimsy truth. It's one you use to fool others, a crutch you once needed to face this future, and yes, you still have things to learn, but just because you're still training doesn't make your position any less clear or real. The months between now and graduation are a formality for you, a shield for a little while longer, but don't you go buying into the safety net; it's not real." It might be a hard truth that Lys delivers, but she seems to think it's an important one if she's encouraging Jocelyn to face it now. Jocelyn's mouth opens, then closes in the wake of her fellow weyrling's insight, lips pursing faintly. "Alright, " she says precisely, "then it's a technicality. For now." A short-lived technicality. There's a moment where it's clear that she surrenders a little bit more to the inevitable, where the stiffness in her posture relents and her hands resume their motions in smaller circles. At some length, "I've had enough talk of preparations." A kiss is pressed to the curve where neck meets shoulder before she carefully withdraws, frowning faintly. "Perhaps a long soak tonight will help with one of those sweet-scented oils, " she muses aloud, hesitating a moment before adding, "and with you, if you're - free." It's composed enough, somewhere between question and supposition. The greenrider's gaze is keen, taking in the goldrider's reaction, but she doesn't rush this finding of acceptance on her own turns. It's with a little light humor that Lys adds, "A useful technicality," before the talk of preparations is done, to end it on a high note. "I brought a change of clothes," comes with a broad smile for the goldrider, shifting just enough that she can lean to snag up the strap of her bag with one hand, slipping her other into Jocelyn's as she straightens, inviting silently for the redhead to lead the way. "You came prepared, " Jocelyn says with a glance to the greenrider's bag, fingers curling pleasedly about Lys's own. "Let's get settled, " as she walks through the second curtain, turning into the bathing room, "and then I want to hear all about your day, or whatever you'd prefer to talk about most." There's a warm look before she reluctantly uncurls her fingers so that she can more easily draw them a bath, content to spend the time after ensconced in warm water and murmurs of conversation. |
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