Logs:Seeds of Revolution
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| RL Date: 17 July, 2012 |
| Who: Brieli, Iolene |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Brieli seeks out Iolene. Iolene's conducting Headwoman interviews. The two chat over lunch in the lull between and neither of them share their secrets. |
| Where: Council Chambers, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 6, Month 4, Turn 29 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Azaylia/Mentions, Tiriana/Mentions, K'del/Mentions, Devaki/Mentions, Issedi/Mentions |
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| It's not hard to find Iolene these days; most people keep tabs on where she is in the Weyr and the places she haunts tends to be the lower caverns, the council chambers, and her own quarters. Today, scuttlebutt as well as Ysavaeth will let it be known to those who seek the goldrider that she's ensconced in the council chambers, and the tail end of one of the many meetings she's set up is just concluding. Iolene's seated at the head of the table with an elderly woman claiming the seat next to her. "It's very impressive," says Io, "And I'll be sure to get back to you sometime soon with my decision." There's even an encouraging smile that accompanies her rise and the hand that assists the old woman up. Iesaryth isn't usually loathe to bother any dragon, so her reluctance to reach out to Ysavaeth might have something to do with her rider's residual nervousness about that queen; even if her own gold ends up being around the same size, that doesn't seem quite real yet. Even so, ocean reaches out to the summer that usually lights her waters, to find Iolene for Brieli. The weyrling's timing is excellent, perhaps due to draconic conspiracy, or maybe just good luck - as she enters from the bowl, after scraping the mud from her boots, Io is just helping the old woman up. Standing and waiting off to the side, hands folded behind her back, Brieli looks like a model weyrling, at least. Her gaze follows the interviewee, perhaps to see how well she can walk. Ysavaeth, ever magnanimous to those she considers her children (and now, really, the entire Weyr is hers), dances a filigree of sun through dappled leaves across Iesaryth's ocean, imparting news of where her rider is, but lingering long after to peripherally brighten the young gold's thoughts. It's a distracted linger, a sort of petting while a mother tends to other details of her day, but still present and available. The old woman looks like she might push away Iolene's helping hand, but then pauses, utilizing it ever so briefly and gingerly, before walking out past Brieli without a hitch in her stride. Iolene watches, following the woman as far as the arriving weyrling, at which her smile drops into a landscape of tired and she gestures to any chair. "Are you hungry? Do you need a drink? I think I understand why people drink so much in this job now." Though Iesaryth's sulking is related to things that Ysavaeth cannot change, she will not push away the senior queen's mothering, so far from her own and so open to affection in general. The ocean's roar lingers in the back of the older gold's thoughts, far off, soothing. In the chambers, that drop into exhaustion has Brieli's fine brows draw together in concern, looking Iolene over much in the same way she had in the days before - and after - the blonde's pregnancy. Moving to sit, partially so Io will, "I could eat. I don't know if I should have more than a glass of wine; it's so early. Are you getting enough rest? You're still... not completely at full energy, are you?" A pause, then wryly, "Congratulations." "Some days, I think I can tackle the world," Iolene admits. "And then other days... I don't know if I knew what I'd be getting myself in to with this." It's not the voice of someone defeated, just one that longs for something else: something... positive, relaxing, frivolous. "I shouldn't. Ysavaeth doesn't think it'd be good so early, and not until I eat something and lunch won't be here for a little while." The goldrider takes her own seat, falling into it without any of the straight posture presented to the chambers' previous visitor; all lanky-limbed and thin, Iolene looks small in the Weyrleader's seat. "I hope you didn't lose any marks on who would rise first." Sadly, with a thread of frustration that's not entirely her, "I'd offer to go off somewhere with you, but we can't. It's making Iesaryth crazy. She snapped at Hraedhyth last night, poor thing was completely confused." Brieli sits in a nearby chair, crossing long legs, leaning back. With a slight smile, "If you knew what you'd be getting yourself into with? Firing the staff? Changing the Weyr around?" The job itself? But that's crazy, right? She has to laugh at Iolene's last, shaking her head. "No. I don't think they let us bet, do they? I had no particular interest in the result going one way or the other. But if this is what you want to do, I'm glad it's what you're doing." Long lashes slide to either entrance, the one from the weyrleaders' ledges to the one that leads to the records room. Iolene curls her legs up into the large seat and wraps her arms about them like a little girl might as she considers Brieli. "I wish Rielsath had risen first," is her very very very quiet confession. "But since that didn't happen in time, I need to make the best of this position. Do you-," the blonde girl hesitates and looks back at those entrances without looking at the gold weyrling, "Think it was wrong to fire all the staff?" Widening dark eyes, Brieli follows Iolene's gaze, certainly bright enough to pick up on who she might be trying to avoid being overheard by, but she says nothing to the admission. Her expression shading sympathetic - there's barely a turn and a half between them - she considers the question as she looks at the entrances again as well. With a heavy sigh, "I really wish we could go somewhere else." Somewhere without possible spies. Shifting to lean forward, lower her voice, "No, I don't - I don't really know the reasons, but if she hired them, that's reason enough for me. But Azaylia thought it was some horrible rumor people had started about you, to smear you." "No. That, that is true. I'm sorry to disappoint Azaylia." The curled up blonde just-not-a-teen, rests her chin on the tops of her knees. Her dark blue eyes draw back to Brieli as the other woman speaks and continue to remain there, studious. "It's not even that. It's not Tiriana hiring them or promoting them. It's-..." And then, that's where her gaze shifts, searching the ceiling for answers or words to try and explain her actions. "It's- the lower caverns are mine to manage. Even without training I understand that. I've seen it. I need people who will work with me and help me, and not just continue to do their job and hope I can catch up and learn. I need-," releasing an audible exhale, "I need people I trust and who trust me working there. I know- no one expected Ysavaeth to rise again so fast." There's a hesitancy to that; rise again so fast and so suspiciously far away. "I know. I told her." Brieli rests her elbows on the table, puts her chin in hand - her usual thoughtful pose. "I don't know if it disappointed her so much as it confused her. She doesn't know how people can be - and sometimes I feel bad telling her. And that does have something to do with trust, doesn't it? Tiriana hated you, how can you trust the people she promoted not to? Io, you need to... You need to watch your back." She feels badly about telling this truth as well; it's there in dark eyes and her apologetic expression. "But you're right. You need your own people, and you need people who will help you while you figure things out." Certainly, someone as perceptive as the gold weyrling would catch that hesitation; maybe that's why she says firmly, "Iolene? It's done. It doesn't matter what anyone says now. It happened. It's over." "Is it?" The smallness of her curled frame expresses itself in the meekness of her voice; a timbre that's shook off with a literal shake of her head and uncurling of her body. Iolene's eyes close and her hands find the table to press down on and rest against. "Is there anything I can do for you, Brieli? In the mean time? In between firing all my staff and hunting for new people and trying to learn what all it is I need to do while doing it?" See! She'll even crack a smile here. That's when Brieli starts to look worried. Not just concerned, but worried - like there's something going on here that she doesn't know about, but she knows it's not good, and is very uncertain about Iolene handling it. It was likely that tone of voice. But she'll try on a smile for Io's even so, tucking an errant curl behind her ear as she shakes her head. "Not really. I wanted to make sure you were all right, because I knew you weren't sure about... all of this. And I wanted to offer my support. Because the way people have been talking, it sounds like you have some plans. And I know I said they'd call you crazy. But I don't think you're wrong. You know I don't think this--" Tapping the table, the blonde being in this position in the first place, "Is right." "I don't think- my idealism is going to work, but I don't think the way the Weyrs decide leadership is right. It puts into place dictators for life who can't be removed unless someone strong comes in and changes things. People like me. People who don't even know how to lead. At least the crafts seem to pick the most talented or politically able and Lord Holders are groomed since birth. There has to be a better way. Don't you think? I just want to work on ideas to make something better, even if my own idea won't work." Cause apparently? Iolene's come a few steps from the extremist left, with its rose-colored vision of the world, in the last few days. "But I think people just think I'm stupid or don't understand that this is how it's been done and this is how it should stay cause it's worked for so long. I'm so tired of people thinking things can't change!" "Exactly. You would think that the situation that we just went through would show people that, but it's apparently something of a tragedy to some? What happens if... someone with an agenda becomes Weyrwoman, someone set on the deaths of people in the Weyr? Is that all right? What would the council do if the the leadership went about murdering... You know, probably nothing, actually. Bad example." Brieli has no rose-colored glasses; maybe hers are ash. Sincerely, "I want there to be a better way. I keep trying to tell people that a different perspective is a good thing - I think it took someone like you to see that it is broken. And... I don't see why your ideas wouldn't work, necessarily." With a wrinkle of her nose, a grimace, "Tradition is the worst argument in the world. Because. That's what it is, basically. Things should change. It's an Interval, what better time for it." "E'gin was right." Iolene says, the words slow to trudge out of her mouth, as if she loathes to admit it. "It won't work in a Pass, but how do we change things for an Interval and then go back to a more rigid way for a Pass and then back again? Unless there's a way to come up with something that would work both in a Pass and an Interval." Trouble scores Io's forehead, and doesn't clear even when a drudge knocks, bringing in a tray of a lunch of sandwiches and fruit. "You can just set it here, please," is distracted, but a few blinks finds the girl and Io manages a smile, "Thank you. Can you tell Nara that breakfast was wonderful?" But further conversation? It waits for the drudge to exit. Looking immediately dismissive of the brownrider's opinion (because she has so much experience), Brieli does note, "He didn't think that was going to be a good meeting, by the by. And it's entirely possible to run a Weyr by council, but a Fall in a more military..." The tall girl trails off, straightening as the food comes, and by the way she looks at it, she's quite forgotten that it's lunchtime. Smiling politely to the drudge and offering her thank yous and appreciative noises for the food - she's not stupid - she continues after, "In a more military fashion. I'd think, anyway. Vote in a Fall Leader. Something." Details. Quirking a grin, "Iesaryth can come up with something brilliant." "Can you imagine being Weyrwoman and just sending people to their deaths?" These are Iolene's first words once the drudge leaves, after Brieli speaks, after she's reached for a sandwich triangle to rotate about in her hands. It's more a way to expend nervous energy at this point than to actually eat yet. "It's lucky Cadejoth caught Ysavaeth," though even that is a clear bother point for Io as she shifts her eyes back to the ledges, the sad and worry transparent in those blue depths, "Can you imagine if Vysravth had somehow caught her?" Brieli is actually hungry, reaching for a sandwich; for some reason, the question doesn't put her off it. "I can't," she admits, "But if I had to, I would. There's a lot you can do, if you have to." That makes her reflective for some reason, but the hypothetical shakes her out of it, and she looks over to Iolene curiously. "Well, he wouldn't have been in the flight, would he? Theoretically? I'm still not sure how that's supposed to..." She waves her sandwich in a lost sort of way. Watching Io worry as she takes another bite, she asks eventually, "Has K'del said anything about all this yet?" Iolene eyes her sandwich, the struggle not to cry self-evident as she works her features, but it's the ultimate, "No," that sounds a little relieved to have put it out there, as well as uncertain. "He hasn't. I know he doesn't like what I'm doing. I can tell, when..." When he touches her, but not in the normal way. When he shies away from cuddling for too long. When-. "We don't really talk about any of it. But we're not really talking much right now. At least it's not fighting?" Though, it's clear from her half-hearted tone, that even a fight might be welcome relief. "He never liked my idea, before, when I mentioned it." A beat, more jaw working, more face struggling and a tepid, not quite smile. "So Iesaryth is really that smart? Maybe she can solve all my problems for me." Seeming a little sorry to have asked the question, Brieli only really relaxes when Iolene seems at all relieved to have said anything - though whatever is left of her sandwich is put aside. Something in the explanation about K'del has the weyrling's jaw setting, lips pursing - her eyes gone a little flinty, "He could at least say something." It's clear where her loyalties lie. "Even if he doesn't agree, he should--" Stop. Close eyes. Stay out of Io's relationship. With a exhale, "It won't be easy to work together if you can't disagree. I'm sorry he won't say anything." Smiling as well, amused, "She thinks she is, and sometimes she actually is. Who knows. Every once in awhile, she comes up with something pretty astounding." The talk of K'del is set aside, in Io's passive way, by moving onto a different subject. She'll even nibble on her sandwich finally, munching through the crust along the rim first. "Maybe you should put her to my problem and see what she can spin up. Maybe she can talk to other dragons and see how they feel. Though, everyone tells me the dragons will only look to a senior queen once she's risen." There's a long pause there; the type of lull where there's something more coming. Something not yet voiced. But it hangs pregnant in the space between them. "Do you think that's true?" "I'll do that. I'll have her talk to other dragons; she wants to do that anyway. I thought I might even point her at other Weyrs now and then - she's so young and interested in everything, it's not odd for her to want to find out what's going on. How they react to her might say a lot." Brieli has been thinking, at the very least, about how High Reaches might be coming off at the moment, in the midst of change and what must look like chaos. Eyeing her sandwich, unsure about going back to it even as Iolene does, she eventually looks up in that long pause, tilting her head as she regards the blonde. Carefully, "It's probably true. But there are a lot of things that are 'true' that people have made that way just by repeating. I wonder if the dragonhealers would say exactly that. But it's hard for me to say. I don't know a lot about it - but I do know that they all have influence, they can do an awful lot. Who knows." "Mmmm." Noncommittal, but understanding the courtesies of conversation, Iolene makes a guttural noise in response. Her sandwich disappears quicker and a second is picked up and tendered between her hands. "What would you have done if Iesaryth had risen first? I mean, you would probably not have made as much of a mess of things as I have, right?" Another of those, joking but not so joking, smiles. Finally deciding to finish the half a sandwich she'd left, Brieli shrugs. "Who knows," she says again, quirking a little smile Io's way. "Perhaps your ideas are infectious. It's possible I'd make a worse mess of things. I hadn't really thought about that part; it didn't seem to make sense, for all she's always been oddly... affectionate, I suppose. But I might fire the staff - like I said, there's good reason for it, and it's not as if they trust me either." Brushing the crumbs off her hands, she hesitates before taking another sandwich, appetite returned. "Right?" Reassured by Brieli's assessment of the situation, Iolene quits pawing at her sandwich and starts eating her second too. "There are a few promising candidates for Headwoman. It's nice to realize not everyone from the Weyr is completely put off by an exile becoming the Weyrwoman. At least, in that, thank goodness for traditions?" Shaking her head, the blonde sets down her half-finished wedge and reaches for a banana to peel instead. "It's funny how it all works. I've never seen a change in leadership. The last leadership flight to happen was Iovniath and she was already Weyrwoman. It's- boggling that people just accept this as how it works. I know about as much about being Weyrwoman as you do right now. You probably even know more, having lived on the main land all your life." "I could see how there would be. And that's something too, isn't it - how does someone younger get to be Headwoman if the same person is Headwoman forever?" Brieli waits until she's done with her second to continue, pursing her lips, "Well - not all traditionalists will care about how things work if you're breaking down tradition, just bear in mind. But it is... odd." She considers for a moment or two, fine brows drawing together before, "What I found strange was how unsettled people felt when things were undecided. Maybe knowing is better than not, with the way things are. If things were to change, there'd never be a time where the Weyr was without leadership, I suppose." Coming out of her thoughts to flash Iolene a smile, "That and the work they're making us do. But like I said - I doubt there's much that's all that different. Planning a meal, dancing. These are not taxing." Those aren't, at least. "Dancing." There's a glimmer of old Iolene in those dark eyes as she latches onto this word and it sets a spark midst the dark blue. "I imagine there'll be dancing at Devaki and Issedi's wedding. You'll be able to go too, right? Soon? I think they mentioned a spring wedding, but I've heard planning is pushing it into the summer. A summer wedding. I dreamt of my wedding when I was younger, even out there." Those thin shoulders surge forward and a dreamy set reclaims ground on Io's stressed features. "Did you ever dream of your wedding? Or getting married?" The mention of the wedding does bring a bit of a smile to Brieli's lips; she notes lightly, "Apparently, dancing is part of the job. And yes, we should be able to go, especially if it's pushed to summer. We should be able to go where we like by summer." There's anticipation there, as well as a touch of wistfulness; if only. She's only dreamy for the thought of gathers and travel; marriage seems to hold less appeal for the tall girl as she admits, "Not really. I don't think I had those sorts of dreams. I never imagined this either." Iolene has to laugh at that. It's a short sound that lacks bubbles, but is a little less tense and stressed now than earlier in the conversation. "I don't think anyone imagines this for a life other than perhaps Suireh." The mention of the gold hopeful sets Io's head shaking. "In any case, I do have to conduct a few more interviews in a little bit and I'd like a moment to compose myself again?" As in, reset to neutral, not be sad, or happy, or Iolene. "It was good catching up with you." Leaning forward across the table, Brieli pats Iolene's hand, presses quickly with long fingers. "That's probably true. Have Ysavaeth let Iesaryth know if you need anything?" As she withdraws and stands, she'll snag a napkin and a few more little sandwiches, "For the road," as she explains, with a grin. "Good luck." And that's heavy with multiple meanings before she gives the Weyrwoman - but for how long? - the time to put herself together for the rest of the day. |
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