Logs:Exchanging For Protection
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| RL Date: 16 August, 2013 |
| Who: Alida, Jo |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Alida and Jo share a drink, and Alida trades a favor for information on the missing Lady Nabol |
| Where: Bar, near Nabol Hold |
| When: Day 15, Month 7, Turn 32 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Z'ian/Mentions, Taikrin/Mentions, D'kan/Mentions, N'ky/Mentions |
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| Some words from Ilicaeth to Tacuseth introduced the elder blue to the younger one's imparting of an offer of sorts: « Alida would like Jo ta' introduce her to a bar 'r two in the Nabol area. When yers has time, how about a drinking night? » Whatever time it is now since that communication, it hopefully finds the pair of blueriders somewhere the blonde wished to be. It does take awhile before Tacuseth answers, the blue pair evidently not in the area where they are but then an image come of a place in the vicinity but not too close to Nabol with the blue sending back in greeting, « She ain' all that keen to be around here, cuz of those she grew up bein' near. » Still, Jo and her dragon lands at a small seedy place that's usually not worth mentioning, the ex-con already downing her first drink as she settles herself at a table in the shadows. Getting that image from Tacuseth, Ilicaeth soon pops into being, then landing his slatey self some distance away from the bar. Dressed in bland clothing that makes her an 'every-women' instead of a rider, Alida putters into said bar not long after Jo's taken her own seat, the blonde soon making her way over towards the dark-haired woman, then settling herself into a chair beside the other bluie. A bob of head and another look all around soon has the green-eyed female murmuring quite quietly to her companion, "So, who're we t'night?" Is there need for at least a name disguise? Jo, easy to spot since she's in her customary black leather, lifts a hand to catch Alida's attention once she's spotted. She nods her greeting to her wingmate as she answers her with a wry, "Just my plain ole' self tonight, darlin'. Sometimes I do like to take the risk of havin' my name leak out. Yer welcome to don one yerself, though. I think I'm seein' a 'Lucille' tonight?" She must be teasing. "Haven' had much time to talk since yer tappin'." Or well, beyond drills and like. "Think I'll stick with my own, too..." Alida murmurs around a soft smirk-smile, soon giving the tavern server her order, and waiting until he's gone to speak to Jo again. "Figured Sarida 'n Bo were better used if 'n when we're more often farther afield." But not here, apparently. "Ever look fer a pretty piece uv' boy-ass?" is inquired with some casual humor, those clear greens of 'lida's passing around again to see if anything likely might be noticed. "Yeah, same 'ere. Givin' F'rint 'n Taikrin their due." Which is to say that, as the newest member (along with D'kan) of Glacier, she's been busting her hump with the crappier assignments. "Try 'n get away now 'n again, though." Puff. "How 'bout you?" "Oh, I'm sure no one's seen the last of Sarida and Bo," Jo says with smug surety as she drinks. "I just...It's Nabol." As if that should mean something. Alida's casual question does draw a brow at her before she echoes, "...Boy-ass?" Dark gaze flicking about them before she snorts, "Funny. Thought ya were above such humor, along with its activities?" Beat. "They're hard-asses, but I'd still rather with them than anyone else," she goes on to say on Taikrin and F'rint, laughing shortly. "As for me, it's been the same. Ya know." As in they're mostly outside the Weyr as usual. "Even though Tac's been homesick lately, which means we'll be stickin' much closer to the Weyr until it passes." The look she gives seems to be saying 'Dragons', the woman draining her glass and looking around to flag down a refill. "Shells no..." Alida comments soundly, grinning softly over at Jo, then quieting as the other speaks of Nabol. "So...that means yer lookin' inta' this whole missin' Lady 'n succession thing, 'r...?" the blonde inquires softly, and with very little lip movement of her companion. "Since when've I ever been above much uv' anything?" Pause. "Well, except fer stealin' ta further myself 'r roughin' up little kids 'n helpless old aunties 'n uncles." Eyeroll. As for Tacuseth, a soft chuckle is given, the guard noting philosophically, "Ilicaeth likes bein' home...but 'e gets this intense wanderlust a few times over some months. Wonder if 'e's substitutin' that for chasin'." Snert. There's no worries about refills, since the wait staff is returning with Alida's whiskey sour, the blonde noting to him, "Refill fer 'er." Frowning, "Into-? Oh, that," and Jo runs a hand through her wild hair, shaking her head. "Ah, not really. I keep tabs on what's goin' on. Nothin' more. Not unless someone makes it worth my while, anyway. We do have a pair of capable Weyrleaders now, right? If they approach me about it, or anyone that needs somethin' off the records..." Then perhaps she's the girl. "You?" She snickers on Alida's next about being above anything, tossing back, "So that blue of yers still hasn' chased tail, huh?" Somehow, the ex-con does find that amusing, even as she says, "Ya must be brimmin' with relief, darlin'." Then she lifts the mug for the man, flashing him a grin. "Sounds like it might be the best tack..." Alida notes with a shrug of the whole Nabol thing. Information's always fer sale, even if it ain't obviously put out there." Shrug. "I hope so..." is all the blonde will note about capable Weyrleaders, then offering Jo a little grin. "*I* like changin' it up even: time home, time out nosin' around, even bein' a vegetable on some beach." A shake of head and a dry, "Nope..." greet the elder bluie's words of Ilicaeth, though her next words are clipped off as the server arrives. Nabbing Jo's proffered mug while setting down Alida's drink, he returns to the bar-proper, thusly allowing the younger woman to continue in quiet tones, "I... took care'a that problem." Shrug, sip. "Still kinda hopin' ta' myself that 'caeth'll either take ferever ta go up, 'r..." Unspoken: never will. "Don' need anymore vigilantes like with those pirates," Jo continues to say with a nod. "But of course. Worth my while'n all, and for now, I'm sittin' back and watchin'. Ya've been all over Pern by now?" She nurses her drink now, falling silent until the man comes with the drinks and moves away. Something Alida confesses draws her eyes towards her, interest coloring her tone. "Did'ja now?" It's an invitation to provide further information without her actually asking, though on Ilicaeth she does comment in continued humor, "I suppose anythin's possible with these beasts. I'm just glad to get it outta the way. It really ain' as much as yer blowin' it up to be, Alida. Were ya around when Hraedhyth went up?" "So that's what'cha' think uv me?" Alida notes a little teasingly to Jo about that pirate incident. "Guess I might fit 'vigilante' decent enough..." A smirk, sip, then a nod are offered to the dark woman at her side, though 'lida again adds in quiet voice, "Guess I gotta admit that a lawful Lady gone missin' bugs the guard part uv' me." As for all of Pern, "Not quite. Soon, though. Gotta see the Wastes way up beyond home, 'n Monaco, interior South yet." If Jo thinks she's going to get further information out of Alida about having taken care of her former virginity problem, she's apparently fishing with the wrong bait, since the younger bluie's not forthcoming at all. Sip. As for rising dragons, "Don't like the idea uv' bein' outta' control," the blonde grumbles a little, then quickly looking away and trying not to color at Jo's words of Hrae's Flight. "Yeah. Even *without* Ilicaeth broadcastin' anything, it was...rough enough." "I didn' mean you, actually, though, now ya got me curious about it," Jo quips with a short chuckle as she leans back with her mug. On current events, though, "Ya think there's more to it than what's bein' said?" she asks, not veiling much of her curiosity. As for traveling, even, there's a smile of that in approval as she adds, "The Wastes aren' bad. I'm still checkin' out all of the south, and I'm thinkin' of mapping out the place on my wall." And then, rising dragons, the bluerider inclining her head on the notion of being out of control as she says, "Ain' much into the losin' control shit, either, but ya do get over it in time. I wasn' in the Weyr when she went up, but I heard the stories. Glad I wasn'." "The boys..." Alida clarifies Jo's words of 'vigilantes' after which she smirks. "Bein' *good* boys fer all appearances, right now. Probably figurin' Z'ian'll have their balls on a spit if they let 'im down." Chuckle, sip. "Not sure, really...but since when've any uv' the Holds in 'Reaches territory ever been known ta' be as stable as bedrock?" Snert. "One thing ya c'n be sure uv, as far as I'm concerned, though: the disappearance uv their Lady is a little too 'fortuitous' ta be random." As for word of the South, "We ever got time off overlappin' - as well as the urge - wouldn' mind accompanyin' ya down there." The blonde listens to her tablemate as Jo speaks of flights, Alida's lips pursing just slightly in thought during that time. After a few moments, "I've heard uv' people seperatin' themselves from the female's rider durin' a Flight...ta' keep from jumpin' them if their own dragon catches. Is that possible?" "Z'ian will," Jo remarks, that fondness touching her tone for a moment. "But yer right. These Holds, I swear... gotta feelin' it's gonna get worse before it gets better. That one death won' be the only one." She gives Alida a significant look for it, too. On the south, the bluerider nods to the possibility before she answers wryly, "Should be fun. Tac likes to hunt down there in the real remote areas. Only place he can really cut loose, ya know?" The flight thing, though, that gets her to frowning and looking dubious at her. "What, lockin' themselves in their weyrs while their dragons go chase?" "Fuckin' nutty as cheese logs..." Alida notes of Hold(ers), a sarcastic little laugh escaping her lungs. "Ya'd think Harper'd respond sooner, rather than later, ta' one uv' its own being shanked." And suddenly, the blonde looks frustrated, slamming back the rest of her drink one gulp, then wincing a little at the burn. "Fuckin' politics be damned right ta' the fuckin' Red Star." It's *her* turn to wave on the air some, looking for a refill. "Ilicaeth, too. We try ta take as little from the Weyr as possible, since we're good at supplementin' his meals outta' the wild. "Caeth enjoys chasin' down the biggest, nastiest wherries. Hones 'is warrior skills." At this point, her frustration is exchanged for a soft grin of pride in her lifemate, then altering into a pensive hint of a frown, and a quick nod. Alida's initial quip has Jo laughing through her beer before she shrugs and states, "Damn right. Bet that guard in ya's seethin', eh?" Jo appears pretty blase about politics - but then, she's always appeared that way. Moving on to their dragons as she downs her beer, "We try to, too, sometimes. Maybe sometime they can hunt together down there." When Alida gives a quick nod on the clarification, "Yeah, I've heard of that. Dunno how effective it can be. Why? Ya think it could work for ya should be decide to chase?" There's a quick, earnest grin for Jo's finding of her comment to be funny, Alida winking, then summoning yet another server to their table. "Want another?" is inquired over of Jo, the blonde then ordering herself another whiskey sour. Once the server's on their way again, it's back to sharing. "That damned old scrap heap uv' duty I just can't seem ta' quite burn outta' me completely..." the woman sighs, shaking her braided head a couple of times. Dragons hunting is a much better subject, and the blonde quickly grins a little, and reports to her tablemate, "He says that'd be awesome... 'n also that 'r wants ta spar with Tac sometime soon, too." Chuckle. "He's already mixed it up with Hrae 'n Cailluneth." And then it's back to more serious subjects, 'lida peering into Jo's dark eyes in measuring fashion. "Not sayin' I'd necessarily do that every time..." If Ilicaeth chased. "But fer those times I'd not want ta bother, fer whatever reason, just havin' some other dragonpair not involved fly my up ta my weyr, leave me stranded up there." Shrug. "Seems a solid way ta avoid it." Jo shakes her head on the refill, stating, "Naw, I've got someplace I need to be later on. Can' show up there like I've been stumblin' through my cups." Beat. "Tac'd love to spar with him," she says now, the pause perhaps from her having sent the request on. "I don't think he has enough sparrin' partners, or, don' have enough scars on his belly." She gives a light snort to that before she catches that measuring gaze being sent her way. She stares right back, slightly dubious, but not saying anything until Alida was done explaining. She drains her beer and sets it down right then, leaning forward as she says, "I suppose that could work. Never tried it myself. Never cared to. Far too many things on my plate than worryin' about somethin' as trivial as flights," at least, to her. "But, I'd say, if it works then have at it. I think I've heard of a few weyrmates tryin' it like that, though, more often than not, the other one is present when the rider's dragon chases." "Fair 'nuff..." Alida murmurs, sending the server away with just another round for herself. Tacuseth's apparent acceptance has the guard grinning softly again and bobbing her pale head. "Ilicaeth's practically a-quiver." Smirk. "There's a shortage uv' dragons willin' ta mix it up, apparently." Puff. "Shells, maybe it's fer the best. Imagine a buncha' warrior dragons risin' up t'gether ta' take over the Weyr." Something in her own words makes the woman both laugh and think three times before settling down to listen to the more experienced female. Somewhere in there, the blonde rather quietly inquires of her companion, "Can ya' tell me about Greenfields..?" then finally nodding to the other's words of wisdom about Flights. "Ain't got any such problem." Smirk. Weyrmate. "Take over the Weyr? Our dragons? Fuckin' shells, woman!" Jo's barking her laughter, causing a few of the patrons to look their way before she quiets. "Yeah, I can see that now...it'll all be about wherry-chasin', tail-chasin' and memory loss. Lather, rinse, repeat! Naw, their riders fuck things up enough to let them add more to it." Still, it was a good laugh for her, one that only lingers as she answers blithely through Greenfields with, "What about there? Just some hold in Crom like the rest of'em, last time I checked." "Thought ya knew some stuff about it, fer some reason..." Alida murmurs of Greenfields, after she chuckles some about the idea of 'warrior dragons.' Her second round soon arrives, their preceding drinks paid for with small coin, the woman then settling back into her chair, and casting her gaze all around for a few moments. "Depends on what ya wanna know," Jo quips back, setting her mug back down. She's not so blase this time about it, regarding her wingmate speculatively. There's a slight pause before she adds, briskly, "Decent Lord'n Lady there. Not too far from the mines. Unassumin' place, but then, a lot of holds in Crom are from what I gathered. Has a bar there that's pretty good. Not too bad eye candy, either." There she pauses, looking at her to see if that information is sufficient enough to quinch Alida's thirst on that particular subject. Alida listens intently, thoughtfully as she sips her drink, the sound of a poker game's riffling cards soon noticable upon the dimmer air. After a few moments of internal debate, the blonde murmurs softly, "Overheard some natterin' talk uv' lineages some days ago when I was out 'n about. Lords 'n Ladies all fuckin' uptight about their precious Blood 'n where it goes. Just made me start thinkin' about High Reaches, Tillek, Nabol, yadda yadda. Even the lesser Holders got'a stake in shit, I figured. Crazy lot'uv 'em all." Eyeroll. Brow lifting, "Ya think Greenfields is involved in all that, too? Well," Jo asks, but ends up somewhat answering her own question with a shrug. "I wouldn' be surprised. Lineages, though. What does that have to do with that Hold?" She's making the assumption that there was a connection, the bluerider looking at her with interest now. "I mean, don' they all? Even in Keogh, Lord Holder Corezon cared about that shit, too. Not that I was payin' all that much attention on Hold politics, the last time I was there." Alida can't help but chuckling softly. "Shit; it's a *hold*, ain't it?" To her, that's like asking if spinners like webs. She lets Jo continue speaking, the blonde remaining quiet until she finds a solid moment for a soft reply...after leaning in. "In yer field uv work, information pretty much trumps everything, yeah? Kinda the same in mine. Some people trade theirs fer money, others fer goods..." Hands lifting, chuckling, "Hey, yer the one askin', darlin'," is all Jo says to the first, dropping her hands to the surface on the table. "And anyway, it's not like they can' find anythin' else to do, bein' all cooped up like the way they are." But then Alida's leaning in about speaking about her field of work as it were, the ex-con leaning a little forward too as she considers the question put to her. Information... "Depends on how good the information is," she says slowly, carefully. "Sometimes the person the information is based on ends up bein' more wanted. Ya can do a lot of damage with the right kind of information in yer hands, though." Her look is significant. There's a small bob of her pale head in definite irony over their previous statements, Alida's mouth quirking up in a tight little smirk at one corner. "Absolutely..." the younger bluie agrees with her contemporary's take on information, then commenting quietly, "Or a lotta' healin'. Depends on the side of the coin yer lookin' at it from." Her greens don't dance as they gaze levelly into browns, but they do flash for a millisecond. "I think favors 'r a good way uv' tradin'. Y'know...cashable in later on, at the holder's discretion. Equal, uv' course." "I'll leave all the healin' to those more suited to it," and Jo lifts a gloved fist before she adds right then, "and I'll stick to what I'm more suited to." Beat. "Ya lookin' for a favor, or, are ya askin' to do one?" she drops now, brows lifting at something she said. "So, ya don't believe in...protecting innocents, even if there's possible profit in it?" Alida inquires straightforwardly after Jo speaks of leaving 'healing' to others. As for the elder bluie's inquiry...the blonde rolls one shoulder, then murmurs quietly, "Kinda depends on yer' answers, 'n the circumstances." "Protectin' if there's somethin' in it for me? Sure," Jo is easy to answer that one. "I ain' a guard, darlin', so it would have to be involvin' profit of some sort. I think yer aware of what 'grey' area I play in, and it's not somethin' I apologize for. So," and now she leans forward, arms folding on the table, "if yer bringin' somethin' to the table, bring it. I mean...this don' have anythin' to do with another one of yer clutchmates decidin' to, I dunno, off an auntie or somethin' next, right?" "No, yer not; I'm not askin' you ta be..." Alida notes factually while she observes Jo." There's somemore cogitating taking place while the elder women talks, though the blonde finds herself blurting out a low roll of dark laughter for word of N'ky, her head shaking. She sobers up very quickly, however, and for a few moments, green eyes cast downward to her glass while fingers gently roll it back and forth. Finally, the guard looks back up into Jo's dark gaze, and notes quite softly - her lips once again barely moving - "I happened across some information via a very reliable source concernin' this...Nabol thing." Lip-twist. "I'll trade it fer an equal-sized favor I c'n call upon at some later time." "How big is this information?" Jo jumps on that piece, staring hard at the younger woman. "Enough to fuck up someone's day or more? In exchange for a favor ya want me to do?" Just so she's getting the facts straight. Keeping to her earlier soft voice and unreadable lips, Alida notes levelly, "I think it has big potential written all the fuck over it. Just depends on how it's pursued, and how intensely. Uv course..." One index finger is raised quickly in the perennial gesture of 'one moment, please.' "...I'd offer this information in the spirit of a 'positive' outcome for the wronged party." Pause. "Call it my small contribution ta society fer some uv the shitty things I've had ta do over the Turns." As for favors, "Either you directly, 'r someone through you who's trustworthy. Dunno what the favor might be, uv course, until I'd need it." "Who's the wronged party?" Jo grows more dubious - and a bit intrigued - the more Alida talks without giving anything away. The latter - the favor - she does seem to be considering in her sudden silence, regarding Alida with a slightly narrowed eyes. It only takes a moment before she finally leans back a bit a gives a bit of a shrug as she says, "The potential depends on what the information is, and if it can be used. Ya got yer favor, whatever it is." She's willing to talk business. "In this case, the missin' Lady of Nabol," Alida murmurs to Jo, the guard careful to keep her expression mellow, neither intense nor too bland. Either of those might draw attention. Her pale head bobs at the other woman's next words, a soft, "I understand..." following the head motion. For the offer of that equitable favor, the blonde first gives a sigh, and then reaches slowly to her waist, soon undoing a small belt pouch there. After another scant passage of seconds, there's a palming of something, then a passage of her hand casually over the tabletop to Jo's, the guard offering her what might seem to others around them to be a lover's touch and then clasping of hands before the touch withdraws. What's left behind within Jo's palm, however, shows method to the younger bluerider's 'madness': a folded up piece of hide. "Use it well, wisely." Jo's face remains impassive as Alida looks around, and when she reaches her hand out to hers, the bluerider meets her halfway with fingers caressing each other's. She doesn't need to look around, or, she's that arrogant to think that no one would be looking in her direction. When the folded hide touches her palm, she immediately closes it up and rolls her fist over before she goes to fold her arms on the table once more. "Unless it's about havin' found her...." She murmurs on the cloak and dagger method, her amusement slight. "I may have someone interested in this, if it proves well worth that favor yer wantin'. They would be pleased, too." "I think nearly everybody want 'er found... though whether it's alive 'r dead's up ta' the mind wishin' such," Alida notes with dry humor to Jo, the woman waggling her pale brows a little. "Gotta be judicious with that..." is noted softly, green eyes flicking to the other's curled up hand. That. Jo maneuvers to unfold the hide in a way where it can't be seen well, casually looking down at it as if she was studying the fingernails on one hand. When she does look back up, it seems the hide has vanished from her hands since she leans back and smoothes fingers up and down the opening of her black jacket. "Two names jump out at me," she gives so casually, she could be trying to read the labels off the bottles over at the bad counter. Nodding, "Thanks for the contribution. I'll see if it amounts to anythin'. Ya'll have yer favor, one way of another in return." "Same here..." Alida notes of those names when Jo's done studying her 'fingernails.' More sipping of her drink occurs, the blonde then murmuring about the lip of her glass, "I'd appreciate my name bein' kept outta' any uv this, unless it's critical." A dip of head for Jo's thanks presage her murmured, "Dunno how far it'll getcha...but I figured nearly anything sound that might offer hope uv not only her bein' found alive, but Nabol goin' back ta' it's rightful Blood was worth the potential risks." Nodding and patting the front of her left jacket only once, "Yer name will be forgotten," Jo states with ease as she slides out of her chair and gets to her feet. "Dunno if it's anythin' I'd be wantin' to get my hands in, but, I might know someone would know what to do with it. Be good to find her alive, I'm sure. Thanks for the exchange, Alida," she gives with a lopsided grin. "Need to head back out to those lookin' for me. Catcha at drills in the mornin'?" for she's fishing out marks for their drinks and setting them down on the table in preparation to depart - though she's lingering in case there was anything else her fellow bluerider wanted to add to the business at hand. "Appreciate it..." Alida murmurs, offering Jo a quiet little smile and a nod. Still softly, "I ain't got nearly the access that *you* do ta' people in the know. Haven't had Turns ta' do such...'r the itch ta' wriggle my fingers inta' politics." Smirk. As for morning drills... a face is offered, then a lift of her drink given to the darker 'rider, Jo's attempt to pay lightly swatted away. "I'll take care uv' it this time. You 'n yers have a good evenin'. Think I'm gonna step inta that game on the next round." The poker game farther out beyond them, that is. "Think I got that itch?" There's laughter at that from Jo, the woman stretching a bit before she adds, "True, I've got some access. Thanks, darlin'." On the drinks. She collects up her marks and pockets them as she passes a look towards the card table before chuckling and stating, "Alright then. Win a few games for me, Sarida." She flashes that wide grin before she's heading out, two fingers to the air in farewell left in her wake. |
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