Logs:The Same Page
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| RL Date: 24 January, 2016 |
| Who: Jocelyn, K'del |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Three days after the Nabol visit, K'del checks in with Jocelyn. |
| Where: Sheltered Lakeside Ledge, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 19, Month 11, Turn 39 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Farideh/Mentions, Tevrane/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: Backdated. |
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| Jocelyn has been extraordinarily tight-lipped in the days immediately following her visit to Nabol with Farideh; notably, she's been making a point of avoiding being in the same room as the younger goldrider, save for when they're scheduled to meet - and those meetings pass swiftly and tersely. This evening, at a time when most people are planning - if not heading for their evening meal, the weyrling has tucked herself under one of the trees on the far side of the lake, seated on the ground next to a bench with her knees drawn up to her chest. There's a folder next to her with a terribly precise label dated from the first half of weyrlinghood, but even that's been put aside in favor of watching the way the lake ripples while the skies purple into dusk, her expression openly pensive in her solitude. There has been, at least, no public response to the events of that Nabolese meeting: if it has been talked about, it is only in passing, and only because the wings have been quietly instructed to keep an eye out for trouble in the region. In any case, it may nonetheless be deliberate that K'del, instead of venturing to dinner with most of the rest of the Weyr, seeks out the lake, and, eventually, Jocelyn's clearing at the far side of the lake. "Mind company?" he wonders, presumably having ascertained her presence somehow-- though not via draconic means. Pale eyes lift sharply to regard K'del with not a little surprise before Jocelyn's expression shutters neatly. "Weyrleader." It's a weary greeting that she gives as she gets to her feet, folder in hand, awkwardly brushing earth away from her trousers. "Odd place to corner someone if you intend to yell at her, " she remarks blandly, settling herself on the bench some moments later. It isn't exactly a 'yes' or a 'no', but she's been careful to sit in such a way that there's room enough on that seat to accommodate another. "Not intending to yell at you," is K'del's answer to that, made as he moves to sit on the bench alongside the goldrider, staring out over the chilly water rather than at her directly. "Pretty sure Farideh's done enough of that already... besides, what good would it do?" He lets that hang between them a few moments before adding, "Pretty sure you did what you thought was best. Pretty sure that's all any of us ever do, just with varying results." Jocelyn's exhale is heavy, and she shares his view of the water in silence for some minutes afterward. "I didn't intend to disappoint you, or to embarrass Farideh, " she says at some length. "That woman - that Lady - misses nothing. Farideh's handling was smooth, and I'm sure it would have worked much better if Tevrane were the type to hide behind the usual posturing, blandishments, all of those things we're supposed to employ for such occasions. I didn't expect her to respond so favorably, but since she finally seemed willing to talk, I can't regret finding a way past the attitude she wore when we walked in." Her gaze turns away from the lake. "I was careful with my phrasing, once she was able to be reasoned with. You have my word that I didn't promise her a damn thing. Espionage, " she grits out dryly, "wasn't what I had in mind. If she wants to send spies, she should employ her own." K'del's nod, subtle though it is, firmly acknowledges everything Jocelyn has to say. "Should've warned Farideh before you went," he admits. "Reminded her that-- well. That Tevrane's not the kind of lady she's used to. What I told Farideh, afterwards, and what I'll tell you now, is this: I'm pretty sure she knew what she wanted out of you from the start, and was going to manoeuvre the conversation in that direction regardless of what anyone said. It could've been a lot worse, honestly." "I'd rather deal with her kind, if given my druthers." Jocelyn, decidedly. "She doesn't sit behind simpering expressions and overly done - " She catches herself, then, and clears her throat uncomfortably. "Not to say that Farideh does, of course." And before she can dig that hole any deeper, she settles instead for saying, "I was starting to wonder if she was going to be insulted enough to refuse High Reaches revelers at her gather tomorrow. She did invite us, but Farideh's excused herself and volunteered me to put in an appearance." There's a marked grimace. "Normally, I'd ask for her help in the matter, but she's made it quite plain that she doesn't wish to see or hear me unless she has to, for now." Around the corners of K'del's mouth, there's the faintest twitch of amusement, though he's too polite to do more than that... except, perhaps, for the knowingness about his expression. "At least you know that what you see is what you get, with Tevrane," he agrees, evenly. "Though I'll never understand her reasoning for hiding away during the plague." Rather than dwell on that, however, he focuses back upon the rest of what Jocelyn has said. "You'll be fine. Doesn't have to be a long appearance, just as long as the lady knows you attended." Also? "Farideh'll get over it. She's realising, I think, that not everything is in our control. That things don't always go to plan." "It's certainly easier than wondering if someone's compliment means that they just began planning how best to dispose of you." For Tevrane's seclusion, the redhead shakes her head once, twice. "Nor is she likely to explain it to us, " although that goes without saying. "I'll stay only as long as I must." Spoken almost as an afterthought, "I'll even take someone with me, if he's free, and perhaps that will certainly provide an ample excuse to keep any encounter we might have with her - short." It's a dry pronouncement, delivered in a manner without any particular affection for the 'he' in question. She's still sitting very straight, but some of the tension seems to be leaving her frame as their conversation continues to be, well, just that. "One of the only concrete things that my Impression and lessons have had in common, " she says, then, "is the constant reminder that nothing is guaranteed. Even after trying to analyze where a situation is going to go, the best we can manage to do is prepare ourselves for each calculated outcome as best we can." K'del's gaze turns side-long to study Jocelyn, making no attempt to hide the glance, though there's no obvious indication of what, precisely, has drawn his attention. "An escort," he says, "is always a good idea." His fingers smooth the heavy canvas of his trousers, an idle gesture that seems to require very little of his attention; that is still focused on Jocelyn, if not in a way that is designed, most likely, to feel too over-heavy. "Mm. That's... that's pretty much the best lesson to take away from it all, isn't it? So you make sure you have as much information as you possibly can, and do the best you can from there. If Nabol's holds are intending rebellion, we need to know about it. Doesn't mean we should be spying for the Lady herself." In the wake of K'del's scrutiny, Jocelyn arches an eyebrow, arms folding across her chest. "I do see the usefulness of having one, " she points out unnecessarily. "There's a chance that he won't agree to it, " and for a moment, she permits herself an awkward turn of expression before it smooths once more. Dismissively, "Either way, I won't be there long." There's a pause, then: "No, I agree. We can't deny, however, that it's convenient for both of us to need the same information. It's ridiculous, I suppose, to wonder if those minor holds planned it that way." Tone: light. Paranoia: not so light. A faint pink flush suffuses K'del's cheeks, and he glances away, focusing his attention out over the lake once more. "Of course," he agrees, evenly, letting it hang there in silence for several seconds before following up with anything else. "Planned... planned to see what would happen? Whose side we were on?" His tone is more musing than dismissive, though he does point out, afterwards, "that'd take more organisation than I think they've got. Hard to tell what their objective is, though, isn't it. And it's not like we can ask them outright." Jocelyn studies K'del briefly while his attention is on the lake, mouth turning up into a wry, little curve before she drops her gaze. "If it surprises people, so much the better. I know popular opinion renders me quite incapable of securing an escort. I'll hardly be offended if you agree with them. It's really all too much of a hassle, the - people thing." The people thing. Her lips purse while she considers the other rider's musing, expression sharpening. "Planned to keep us busy, " she suggests. "It might be easier to hide something behind an ongoing rebellion and the resultant fallout. People often don't notice what's right under their noses." But even her conspiracy theory is somewhat grasping at straws; after a moment, she permits herself a small, humorless laugh. "You'll have to forgive me for wanting to be suspicious. It probably has all the makings of an excellent harper's tale, doesn't it." "That's not--" K'del breaks off. "I'm glad you've someone you might ask to be an escort; that's all." Wrong-footed, but not frustrated the way he might be in a conversation with Farideh, the Weyrleader exhales lengthily. Then, "Nothing wrong with being suspicious, Jocelyn, just as long as it never gets in the way of actual facts. The problem with thinking the worst can be that it's hard to then see the best. Whatever's going on, we'll do our best to figure it out, and from there to... figure out our response. Together." Oh. Jocelyn isn't quite able to disguise her surprise; her mouth opens, then closes. "That's - thanks, K'del. It'll probably only be just this once, if he even does go. It's not - " And then it's her turn to look faintly embarrassed, to concentrate instead on the faint pattern of lights visible across the bowl, the way the moons are coming out above. "Facts, " the weyrling says staunchly, "hold water where suspicions don't." Hardly an optimist even on her better days, she simply nods for his last, drawing herself to her feet. "I don't know that Farideh will want to keep me in the loop even once she's decided I'm no longer the invisible colleague, but I'd - like to know what's happening after being involved in that, " her nose wrinkles, "discussion." One of K'del's hands lifts, a gesture evidently intended to indicate that he doesn't mind what Jocelyn's arrangement with her unnamed potential escort is; truly, genuinely, unbothered. "Good," is what he says, instead. "She'll calm down. And if she doesn't, I'll include you myself. We need... well. We'll work it out, all right? Have a good evening, Jocelyn." "We need to stay on the same page, " Jocelyn finishes for him, "so that the next time I go on an official visit as a representative of this weyr, " because unfortunately, there will eventually be a next time, "I'll have a better understanding of what specific outcomes you don't want to come to pass. I think that'll be more informative than simply being told to go forth and keep quiet." There's plenty of room in that statement for her tone to be acerbic, but it's perhaps telling of how unsettled she's been over the Nabol trip that it instead comes out sounding tired. "I appreciate working with you, sir, " and that's genuine. "Good evening." Quiet, but firm: "Understood." For now... for now, K'del will let the goldrider retreat, turning his gaze back to the darkening lake. |
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