It's not worth it.
Who: Miniyal and S'ol
Where: Weyrling training cavern
When: Middle of the night on day 24, month 11, turn 3 of the 7th Pass.
What: Insomnia strikes a couple of weyrlings. Miniyal offers S'ol a suggestion on how he might find sleep. It is all perfectly innocent and fine and nothing wrong. Other than breaking the curfew thing. That's it.
6/4/2007
Weyrlings should be abed. It's quite past when they should be asleep. Curled up in their cots with dragons dozing on couches. That's what they should be doing. However? It is not what they all are doing. No matter how diligent D'ven is and no matter how often Teraneth keeps watch there are always those who get out. Who wander about in the middle of the night when they should be in their beds. Miniyal has long ago perfected the art of sneakery. Which means no matter how diligent the weyrlingmaster and his bronze are she is going to get out. Tonight she has been. . .somewhere. And is now returning from that unnamed somewhere to the barracks. She doesn't have to bother to take off her boots. For a heavy girl she's quite quiet. When not bumping into things. In her hand is the writing case she used to carry around with her most everywhere. Now it mostly lies tucked away in her things, unused and unwanted.
The fact that Weyrlings ought to be abed is an important one. Nonetheless, if there is something keeping one or two from sleeping they are generally left alone at least for a little while. Afterall, they are old enough now that if they do not falter in their duties they are treated as adults. If they can get out without waking Teraneth..... well, they're likely not going to cause too much trouble. Maybe. S'ol is unable to sleep tonight and has taken a long walk to attempt to exhaust himself. His path has carried him in a long, meandering route around the cooling bowl that has done fairly little to push his stress-caused insomnia aside. Either way, fate has S'ol wandering into the place at the same time as Miniyal. He pauses for a moment, in plain sight. His face is uncomfortable for a few seconds and then he begins to stride towards her; looking across the empty cavern once or twice. Upon reaching her, he doesn't offer a real greeting. "I couldn't sleep either." He says, and doesn't bother asking her if everything is all right. He knows it isn't. "I haven't had a chance to talk to you forever."
"I do not sleep." Miniyal shrugs as she offers this piece of information. As if it is not something easy to figure out considering she is always the last one seen awake at night and the first seen up in the morning. Insomnia. A girl's best friend. And, not perfectly true as she does sleep occasionally every now and again for an hour or so, but still. Much easier to just go with the statement given. "No, things have been busy." And therefore they have not talked. Since she is speaking to someone she bothers to take care to push wayward short locks out of her face. How thoughtful of her.
"No.", comes the reply. Oddly blunt for S'ol, really. "I imagine that you do not." He doesn't beat around the bush with 'sorry' or 'condolences' or anything like that. Why? Who knows. But he just doesn't, tonight. Nor does the conversation seem to flow like it usually does and the silence stretches for a few seconds. It really seems to be a heavy silence too, because of the sheer emptiness of the cavern. "Yeah." He finally says. "Busy." Awkward, for the moment. He attempts to break it as he scratches at his neck uncomfortably. "I'm sorry I'm so quiet." He finally says. "I'm exhausted, and can't sleep." It's a white lie, but half true.
Shifting her case from one hand to the other Miniyal stares absently over S'ol's shoulder to the far wall. "It can be hard to sleep at times. Only ten more months or so until we're freed of this place." As if that is the reason she does not sleep. Being stuck in the barracks. "Have you tried reading? To sleep? I hear it works with some people. I might offer you something to read if you would like to try it." If his silences are too long or awkward she doesn't seem aware. Instead she speaks with the same lack of interest to her tone that has been present for some time now. The world just doesn't seem to matter much. It merely must be endured because there is no alternative.
S'ol nods his head, once or twice. He's looking Miniyal over in a subtle way. As though to see how poorly she's looking after herself. "I used to do that at home, when I was a child." He volunteers, in a quiet voice. "I haven't, since. I suppose that I figured that I had grown old enough to fall asleep when I needed to." A hesitation, in which he glances towards the entry tunnel. "You have a suggestion, however? I would welcome whatever it is that you'd offer." Of her lack of interest, he seems not to notice.
Whatever she is doing that she should not be. Or not doing that she should be, she looks the same. Not even all the physical training in weyrlinghood helped her with the fat problem and no amount of not eating fixes it either. There are dark circles under her eyes, when those eyes are not hidden by hair she never has bothered to get trimmed any better than her initial hacking job. Carefully she lifts her case and opens it on the palm of one hand. From within she takes out a book, a small journal type deal. Closing the case she sets it at her feet and holds out the book. "This." No warning of what it might be or anything. He can learn as he reads. "Are you mad at me?"
S'ol reaches out one of his hands for the book, taking it thoughtfully and tucking it beneath his arm. Apparently, he is more interested and concerned about her, though his face doesn't show it. It's neutral to a degree that she would be proud of now; as opposed to looking uncomfortable. "Thank you." He says. "I will read it over, and get it back to you in a couple of days. Hopefully, it will help." Neutral face frames him in a few more seconds of studying her, this time not quite so unobviously. "I am not the least bit angry with you, or mad at you or anything of the kind. It's more that I don't really know what to say to you. I like to think that you are my friend, and yet, there is nothing that I can say that can even hope to make you feel better in any way. I hate seeing you like this. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said it, but there you go. You have every reason to be, too. I would be so much worse off."
Miniyal's expression doesn't change from its careful neutrality as he speaks. He gets the barest flicker of attention from her but for the most part it is the far wall that earns her gaze. "There is no rush. Read it over and if you wish to discuss it I will be happy to. There is more I might have included, but I was not thinking of loaning it to someone." A pause and a tilt of her head as she focuses on her fellow weyrling once more. "I will be interested in your reaction. I was told I must not hand such things out anonymously as it is harder to prove authenticity or something. Still, if you decide I should not have please do remember to inform the weyrwoman that I did not send it to you in secret." This is, likely, not what Roa had in mind. But, one can only work with what they have. For things one doesn't know how to say she has no response.
S'ol quirks his expression at Miniyal for a moment, looking towards the book now and raising it to waist level. He flips through a few pages with careful fingers, reading small exercepts here and there. Then his gaze lifts back to her as he frowns, ever so slightly. "What is this, Miniyal?" He inquires. His tone has lost a bit of the personal edge again, now sort of asking in the way one might a collegue. "I should imagine that I would very much like to discuss this. Where did you get it?" Of his attempt at explaining himself eearlier? He doesn't say a word.
"It is an account of what happened, well, not all that happened, at the Instigator trials. And related documents." Miniyal doesn't even shrug as she says it as, why? There seems to be no need to add any sort of gesture to this information. "As for where I got it? Harper. In the archives there. When I could go to them." She pauses here a moment and looks back at the far wall after considering S'ol a moment. "Although I doubt. . .well. I don't know if I shall return there. Well, not that any of that matters. If you do not wish to read it you may give it back. I will understand. There are plenty who do not know the truth and do not wish to."
S'ol continues to flip through the pages with a thoughtful expression, studying notes here and there. "I think." He says, after a moment. "That I will retire and read this." The book is closed with a deft clasp, and he gives her a long sort of look. "Please forgive me for not knowing what to say. I feel like less of a friend for it. If there's anything I can ever do, let me know?" He seems to think this won't be answered, for he continues right along. "I would sooner know the truth. I couldn't stand being ignorant." With that, seeming to assume she will say nothing else he backs up a step or two as though to leave.
His steps may take him anywhere, but hers takes her back again. A few paces backwards towards the exit. Not to the barracks. "Don't ever think that." Miniyal offers this advice softly, her normally quiet voice drifting into a near whisper. "Don't ever think you would rather know the truth. It's not worth the cost. I used to think it was. All it brings is pain." More steps backwards, watching him now with a sort of wary expression. "Fuck. I need a drink." Those words are the last said to his face. With them she turns and hurries off.
Where: Weyrling training cavern
When: Middle of the night on day 24, month 11, turn 3 of the 7th Pass.
What: Insomnia strikes a couple of weyrlings. Miniyal offers S'ol a suggestion on how he might find sleep. It is all perfectly innocent and fine and nothing wrong. Other than breaking the curfew thing. That's it.
6/4/2007
Weyrlings should be abed. It's quite past when they should be asleep. Curled up in their cots with dragons dozing on couches. That's what they should be doing. However? It is not what they all are doing. No matter how diligent D'ven is and no matter how often Teraneth keeps watch there are always those who get out. Who wander about in the middle of the night when they should be in their beds. Miniyal has long ago perfected the art of sneakery. Which means no matter how diligent the weyrlingmaster and his bronze are she is going to get out. Tonight she has been. . .somewhere. And is now returning from that unnamed somewhere to the barracks. She doesn't have to bother to take off her boots. For a heavy girl she's quite quiet. When not bumping into things. In her hand is the writing case she used to carry around with her most everywhere. Now it mostly lies tucked away in her things, unused and unwanted.
The fact that Weyrlings ought to be abed is an important one. Nonetheless, if there is something keeping one or two from sleeping they are generally left alone at least for a little while. Afterall, they are old enough now that if they do not falter in their duties they are treated as adults. If they can get out without waking Teraneth..... well, they're likely not going to cause too much trouble. Maybe. S'ol is unable to sleep tonight and has taken a long walk to attempt to exhaust himself. His path has carried him in a long, meandering route around the cooling bowl that has done fairly little to push his stress-caused insomnia aside. Either way, fate has S'ol wandering into the place at the same time as Miniyal. He pauses for a moment, in plain sight. His face is uncomfortable for a few seconds and then he begins to stride towards her; looking across the empty cavern once or twice. Upon reaching her, he doesn't offer a real greeting. "I couldn't sleep either." He says, and doesn't bother asking her if everything is all right. He knows it isn't. "I haven't had a chance to talk to you forever."
"I do not sleep." Miniyal shrugs as she offers this piece of information. As if it is not something easy to figure out considering she is always the last one seen awake at night and the first seen up in the morning. Insomnia. A girl's best friend. And, not perfectly true as she does sleep occasionally every now and again for an hour or so, but still. Much easier to just go with the statement given. "No, things have been busy." And therefore they have not talked. Since she is speaking to someone she bothers to take care to push wayward short locks out of her face. How thoughtful of her.
"No.", comes the reply. Oddly blunt for S'ol, really. "I imagine that you do not." He doesn't beat around the bush with 'sorry' or 'condolences' or anything like that. Why? Who knows. But he just doesn't, tonight. Nor does the conversation seem to flow like it usually does and the silence stretches for a few seconds. It really seems to be a heavy silence too, because of the sheer emptiness of the cavern. "Yeah." He finally says. "Busy." Awkward, for the moment. He attempts to break it as he scratches at his neck uncomfortably. "I'm sorry I'm so quiet." He finally says. "I'm exhausted, and can't sleep." It's a white lie, but half true.
Shifting her case from one hand to the other Miniyal stares absently over S'ol's shoulder to the far wall. "It can be hard to sleep at times. Only ten more months or so until we're freed of this place." As if that is the reason she does not sleep. Being stuck in the barracks. "Have you tried reading? To sleep? I hear it works with some people. I might offer you something to read if you would like to try it." If his silences are too long or awkward she doesn't seem aware. Instead she speaks with the same lack of interest to her tone that has been present for some time now. The world just doesn't seem to matter much. It merely must be endured because there is no alternative.
S'ol nods his head, once or twice. He's looking Miniyal over in a subtle way. As though to see how poorly she's looking after herself. "I used to do that at home, when I was a child." He volunteers, in a quiet voice. "I haven't, since. I suppose that I figured that I had grown old enough to fall asleep when I needed to." A hesitation, in which he glances towards the entry tunnel. "You have a suggestion, however? I would welcome whatever it is that you'd offer." Of her lack of interest, he seems not to notice.
Whatever she is doing that she should not be. Or not doing that she should be, she looks the same. Not even all the physical training in weyrlinghood helped her with the fat problem and no amount of not eating fixes it either. There are dark circles under her eyes, when those eyes are not hidden by hair she never has bothered to get trimmed any better than her initial hacking job. Carefully she lifts her case and opens it on the palm of one hand. From within she takes out a book, a small journal type deal. Closing the case she sets it at her feet and holds out the book. "This." No warning of what it might be or anything. He can learn as he reads. "Are you mad at me?"
S'ol reaches out one of his hands for the book, taking it thoughtfully and tucking it beneath his arm. Apparently, he is more interested and concerned about her, though his face doesn't show it. It's neutral to a degree that she would be proud of now; as opposed to looking uncomfortable. "Thank you." He says. "I will read it over, and get it back to you in a couple of days. Hopefully, it will help." Neutral face frames him in a few more seconds of studying her, this time not quite so unobviously. "I am not the least bit angry with you, or mad at you or anything of the kind. It's more that I don't really know what to say to you. I like to think that you are my friend, and yet, there is nothing that I can say that can even hope to make you feel better in any way. I hate seeing you like this. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said it, but there you go. You have every reason to be, too. I would be so much worse off."
Miniyal's expression doesn't change from its careful neutrality as he speaks. He gets the barest flicker of attention from her but for the most part it is the far wall that earns her gaze. "There is no rush. Read it over and if you wish to discuss it I will be happy to. There is more I might have included, but I was not thinking of loaning it to someone." A pause and a tilt of her head as she focuses on her fellow weyrling once more. "I will be interested in your reaction. I was told I must not hand such things out anonymously as it is harder to prove authenticity or something. Still, if you decide I should not have please do remember to inform the weyrwoman that I did not send it to you in secret." This is, likely, not what Roa had in mind. But, one can only work with what they have. For things one doesn't know how to say she has no response.
S'ol quirks his expression at Miniyal for a moment, looking towards the book now and raising it to waist level. He flips through a few pages with careful fingers, reading small exercepts here and there. Then his gaze lifts back to her as he frowns, ever so slightly. "What is this, Miniyal?" He inquires. His tone has lost a bit of the personal edge again, now sort of asking in the way one might a collegue. "I should imagine that I would very much like to discuss this. Where did you get it?" Of his attempt at explaining himself eearlier? He doesn't say a word.
"It is an account of what happened, well, not all that happened, at the Instigator trials. And related documents." Miniyal doesn't even shrug as she says it as, why? There seems to be no need to add any sort of gesture to this information. "As for where I got it? Harper. In the archives there. When I could go to them." She pauses here a moment and looks back at the far wall after considering S'ol a moment. "Although I doubt. . .well. I don't know if I shall return there. Well, not that any of that matters. If you do not wish to read it you may give it back. I will understand. There are plenty who do not know the truth and do not wish to."
S'ol continues to flip through the pages with a thoughtful expression, studying notes here and there. "I think." He says, after a moment. "That I will retire and read this." The book is closed with a deft clasp, and he gives her a long sort of look. "Please forgive me for not knowing what to say. I feel like less of a friend for it. If there's anything I can ever do, let me know?" He seems to think this won't be answered, for he continues right along. "I would sooner know the truth. I couldn't stand being ignorant." With that, seeming to assume she will say nothing else he backs up a step or two as though to leave.
His steps may take him anywhere, but hers takes her back again. A few paces backwards towards the exit. Not to the barracks. "Don't ever think that." Miniyal offers this advice softly, her normally quiet voice drifting into a near whisper. "Don't ever think you would rather know the truth. It's not worth the cost. I used to think it was. All it brings is pain." More steps backwards, watching him now with a sort of wary expression. "Fuck. I need a drink." Those words are the last said to his face. With them she turns and hurries off.