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* Nacheyla walks into the Hall and smiles contentedly as she waves the candles magically alight. "Ah, that's so much easier... must remember to write Zoya a thank-you note. Hall's open." * Jaret strolls in, wearing a lightweight white ruffled shirt with tiny stylized reddish-gold dragons encircling the cuffs, and black breeches. He removes his plumed hat as he enters, and his rapier hangs at his side. "Nacheyla! How have you been? How's your delightful son?" <Nacheyla> Nice shirt... ::smiles:: And he's fine. Well, no, actually, he's a bit cranky today, but Xarroch says it's normal. Or, as normal as he can guess, given that there's not actually another being like Cheylon anywhere that we can find. * Glossaria approaches the door, a halo of bright orange (with pink spots) standing out around her body and clashing horribly with the pale green dress she wears this evening. She pauses a moment just outside, and then takes a giant step across the threshold. The orange nimbus disappears. * Glossaria claps her hands delightedly and immediately whips out a pad and quill pen to take notes. * Kevil enters, a bulging cloth sack slung over his shoulder. He sets it gingerly on the counter. "Good evening, my friends!" ::he sweeps a bow toward the room at large, with a special flourish for Nacheyla:: * Jaret holds his hands out, straightening the cuffs. "Oh, thank you! I quite like it. I was reminiscing about Ishiko, and Ysara, and... well, adding to the wardrobe may not be the most common reaction to such memories, but it was what struck my fancy." <Jaret> Good evening, Master Bard. What burden do you carry with you tonight? <Nacheyla> Cute girl, I remember... fancied you, I think, didn't she? ::grins:: Can I get you a glass of your favorite? * Michelle enters wearing a form fitting black gown, her hair held up with a series of ebony hair pins, "Good evening everyone." <Nacheyla> Well, don't you look sweet tonight, Michelle? What's the occasion? Drink, Kevil? What's in the bag? <Kevil> Fruit, my lord. Loria has been craving fresh fruit lately - Diya and I must go to market for her at least twice a day. ::smiles fondly:: * Jaret smiles. "She did. I had personal obstacles with pursuing a relationship with someone who was all of perhaps thirteen, at least at first. And a goblet of Arabellan would be exquisite, thank you." <Glossaria> Good evening, Michelle. ::cocks her head:: Was there a special function this evening? People are dressed so elegantly! <Glossaria> ::smiles at Kevil a little wistfully:: She's doing well, then? ::lays a hand against her flat stomach:: I'm almost jealous, but I admit to a bit of... trepidation concerning human pregnancy. * Nacheyla digs around under the bar and pulls out a bottle stamped with the year 1370. "Will this do? I think this has got a nice oak after taste. I've got some '83 as well, if you'd rather." <Jaret> Oh, that will be quite fine, Nacheyla. Do have a glass yourself, too. * Michelle takes a seat at the bar, flipping a fan open to reveal a picture of a silver dragon against a background of shooting stars. "No occasion, I just realized I was playing host to at least seven cats and very much in danger of becoming a crazy old cat woman..." <Michelle> ... So I decided that I'd pull out the fancy dress and spend an evening on the town and see if it didn't improve my spirits." <Glossaria> ::looks surprised:: Oak? I didn't think that humans preferred tree flavors. ::frowns slightly in thought:: Well, with the exception of maple. Or sarsaparilla. Or birch. Or cinnamon. Hmm... never mind. ::blushes faintly:: <Kevil> ::smiles at Glossaria:: Quite well, thank you. Mind you, I am not certain that the sudden passion for fruit is not actually a ploy to get me out from underfoot occasionally, but I think I am being at least *somewhat* less frustrating this time. * Nacheyla pours two glasses of the deep red wine. "Here you are. Anyone else?" <Kevil> I should enjoy a glass, Lady Imp... <Glossaria> ::cocks her head:: I believe I've not had wine since... my first night on the Hall. If I'm not depriving Master Jaret...? <Jaret> Of course not. The more who enjoy it, the better the evening for everyone. <Michelle> I'll have one as well if there's enough left Nachan. <Jaret> We may open up that '83 after all. ::he smiles at the prospect:: * Nacheyla pours Kevil a glass as well. "Here you are." <Kevil> My thanks. ::he picks up the glass and sips appreciatively:: <Nacheyla> ::getting two more glasses:: Here we go... ::she empties the bottle into two glasses, each not quite filled:: * Jaret raises his glass to the room. "To your health, and the health of those you hold dear." He drinks. * Michelle lifts a glass to Jaret's toast, then sips her wine. <Kevil> ::smiles and lifts his glass:: And yours as well, Lord Malkier. ::drinks:: <Glossaria> ::smiles and lifts her glass:: Your health, Lord Malkier. * Nacheyla joins the toast. "Hear, hear." <Jaret> I thank you all for your kind thoughts. How is your wife, Master Bard? <Kevil> Very well, thank you. With child, again. ::he smiles widely:: * Nacheyla smiles over the rim of her goblet. <Jaret> Congratulations! How soon? <Kevil> In spring, it seems, somewhat after the twins' second birthday. <Nacheyla> ::gives Kevil a wink:: Better start preparing another room... <Kevil> ::smiles at Nacheyla:: Oh, we are planning... Would it please you, Lady, to hint whether she carries double, again? <Nacheyla> ::puts her goblet down and looks directly at him:: Do you really want to know? * Glossaria sips from her glass, head cocked to the conversation, looking faintly wistful. <Kevil> Well... ::considers his wine:: ...Perhaps not. Though Loria has expressed certain preferences along those lines, d'va? <Glossaria> ::smiles:: Perhaps you could send her an oracular dream? <Kevil> ::has a thought, then turns to Glossaria:: Are you certain you *would* gestate as a human? You do retain certain... other characteristics, after all... <Glossaria> Well... ::lacing her fingers in her lap and inspecting them carefully:: A midwife inspected me thoroughly... for my own notes, as much as for my heath. She said that-- ::quickly glances up at her mixed audience:: um, everything appeared normal. But I admit, there is room for uncertainty in my mind. <Glossaria> ::chewing on her lip a little:: I admit, learning that I was not entirely human in that respect would have been a bit of a-- a relief to me. ::smaller voice:: My mother's way seems... easier. <Nacheyla> ::raises an eyebrow but says nothing:: <Kevil> How *do* they do it? <Glossaria> ::flushes:: No offense intended, Blessed Mother! <Nacheyla> No, no, Gloss, dear, that's quite all right. I find your observations fascinating. Do go on. <Glossaria> ::blinks:: Why, egg-laying, of course. Although, I admit, the survival rate of human infants is *much* higher than that of larva. Then again, there is minimal care of the young, in my former species. <Kevil> I fear I am unfamiliar with the reproductive habits of worms... But truly, with the Lady Imp's descendant as your husband, I should think you would have little to fear. * Michelle sips her wine, watching the conversation. <Glossaria> ::blinks and cocks her head:: What do you mean, Master Kevil? <Kevil> She is, after all, the Blessed *Mother*, d'va? And has a vested interest in ensuring the continuation of her line... <Kevil> ::glances at Nacheyla:: At least, such is the reasoning Loria offers to soothe my own occasional worries. <Glossaria> Well... ::glances sidelong, a little shyly, at Nacheyla:: true. <Nacheyla> ::gives Kevil a quick grin:: Don't fret, Kevil. I haven't that many priestesses yet as to be wasting one of my better ones needlessly. <Kevil> ::grins back:: You see? The same tone... Very nearly word-for-word... <Glossaria> ::murmurs with a small smile:: I wonder who she got it from...? <Kevil> ::winks at Glossaria:: <Glossaria> Still, I was given to understand by the midwife that... well, that pain and, frequently, death are a natural part of childbirth, as they are of life itself. ::cocks her head musingly:: I suppose the close interaction of death and life gives midwives a certain amount of philosophical insight on the two... <Kevil> Mm. I will not pretend that Loria did not suffer the usual pains of childbirth. ::he grimaces at the memory:: But I think that now I recall it much more clearly than she... <Glossaria> I'm also... ::pauses to smooth invisible wrinkles out of her dress before continuing softly:: I suspect that Vallel is eager to be a father, although he doesn't press, and... ::glances quickly at Nach again and back down to her skirt:: well, there are... certain familial expectations as well, given his heritage. And... I would *like* children. But I'm... not certain that I am properly prepared for motherhood. <Nacheyla> ::shakes her head:: No one ever is... even with lots and lots of practice. <Kevil> Well, that of course is your own decision. ::seriously:: You are young, yet, angel. There is time yet, before you must leave the nest. Do not let Vallel or any other push you from your nest beforetime. ::looks faintly disgusted with himself:: Diya and his bird-analogies... <Glossaria> ::sighs:: Well... I've heard enough mothers *say* that. At the same time, I see few mothers pushing their five-year-old daughters to have children. ::looks wry:: Well... not that they could, developmentally. <Glossaria> ::glances at Nacheyla again:: And you *are.* Very good at it, I mean. ::faintly impish smile:: Which would suggest that practice does, in fact, help. <Kevil> ::eyes Gloss:: What does your foster-mother say? <Nacheyla> I didn't say I wasn't talented. I just said I was never *ready*. <Glossaria> Um... ::avoiding Kevil's eyes and answering in a small voice:: I don't know. <Kevil> ::grins into his wine:: You do not *have* to consult her, angel. But I am given to understand that many mothers do have advice to offer on the subject to their daughters... ::thoughtfully:: Even if Zoya has never borne a child of her own... <Glossaria> Well... ::blushing faintly:: that runs very close to my own reasoning. I feel I should ask her opinion on the matter, but... I'm not certain how to value it. On the one hand, she is my mother and my mentor, and I value her judgement highly. But on the other... she has no practical experience of the matter, to my knowledge. And so I have... ::swallows:: um, delayed asking her while I seek practical advice on the matter. ::sips her wine hurriedly:: * Michelle sips her wine. <Kevil> ::with a small smile:: I can tell you for certain that Zoya would make an extremely poor mother for an infant... She has no patience at all for those with limited communication skills. On the other hand, she can be surprisingly compassionate with small children. Those of limited education, but deep intelligence, say. ::smiles at Gloss warmly:: <Glossaria> ::looks surprised:: On the contrary, Mistress Zoya is most patient with Setta. <Kevil> Sett- ::chuckles:: I should have been more specific. * Glossaria has another sip of wine and cocks her head inquiringly. <Kevil> I might have said... ::ponders, then mutters:: ...well, there was that coyote pup... Maybe it is just that she does not care overmuch for *babies*. <Glossaria> Hm. She's had experience with babies? ::studies Kevil shrewdly for a moment:: Your nieces and nephews, perchance? * Michelle sips her wine. <Kevil> One encounters children fairly often, travelling, as it happens. But yes, she has met some of my nieces and nephews. <Glossaria> Hm. ::blinks:: Oh! What an egregious oversight on my part... ::opens her notebook and checks the level of ink in her pen:: Mistress Nacheyla? May I be so bold as to ask... what is your opinion of childbirth? * Jaret finishes his wine and sets the glass aside. <Kevil> ::chuckles and finishes his own wine:: An excellent vintage, that... But I should be getting home. However much she complains when I am underfoot, Loria frets if I am absent too long. ::grins:: And Diya will be driving her to distraction with his chatter, I have no doubt. * Nacheyla takes a sip of her wine. "Well, obviously, I'm biased. Pregnancy and by extension, childbirth, is... probably the most meaningful relationship a woman can develop with her own body. When you are done with it, you know yourself. The depths of what you are capable of enduring, and the greatest joy you are capable of knowing... but, as I said, I'm biased. And it's not for everyone." <Glossaria> ::blinks rapidly:: Self-knowledge... I never thought of it from that aspect. But... you don't think it's for everyone? Or-- are you humorously referring to the male half of the species? <Kevil> ::hefts his bag of fruit:: Good night, my friends! ::bows, a bit sketchily because of the bag, then heads out into the night, humming:: * Nacheyla waves goodnight to Kevil. <Glossaria> You're leaving? Goodnight, Master Kevil! I'll stop by and visit soon, if Loria is bearing company! Oh-- not *bearing*, but... well... accepting! <Jaret> I should be on my way, as well. This has been a very pleasant evening, thank you all. Good night! * Michelle finishes her wine, "I should get going if I'm going to enjoy the evening. Would anyone care to join me?" * Nacheyla waves. "Good night, Michelle. Have a dance for me, would you? I'd love to go out, but Cheylon is... well, he's *winging* and I don't think I should leave Xarroch alone with him all evening." <Glossaria> ::looks around:: Goodnight Lord Jaret, Michelle. Er... would it be better to continue this conversation at another time, Mistress Nacheyla? <Nacheyla> ::nods to Glossaria:: Feel free to drop by... * Michelle smiles and salutes Nacheyla, "Good luck to you Nachan." <Jaret> I'd be happy to join you, Michelle. <Glossaria> ::nods:: If it would be more convenient. You're staying at Xarroch's? <Nacheyla> ::nods:: Most of the time. You know how to get there, I believe. <Glossaria> ::smiles and nods:: Aye. And I should practice it more, anyway. I'll see you later, then. Thank you. ::smiles and has another sip from her glass before setting it down.:: <Glossaria> Would you mind-- that is, would you be willing to go by the Tower before you go carousing? I'd like to see if Vallel might wish to join. * Nacheyla begins cleaning up, using waves of her hand to summon several unseen servants to do the work for her. "Much, much nicer." * Michelle smiles, "Certainly Glossaria." * Jaret holds the door for Michelle and Glossaria. "After you, ladies." * Glossaria smiles and joins Michelle and Jaret. "After you, kind gentles." * Glossaria giggles and slips out after Michelle, but before Jaret. * Michelle snaps her fan open once more as she exits into the night, fanning herself against the heat still clinging to the night air. * Jaret follows Michelle and Glossaria out of the Hall. * Nacheyla looks after everyone wistfully, then turns to finish cleaning. |
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