Why does everyone manipulate our poor heroine so!?!
Who: Miniyal and Aida
Where: Records Room, HRW
When: around lunch on day 4, month 7, turn 2 of the 7th Pass
What: Aida comes by because Miniyal was such a tease last time. And because she likes to mess with the poor recordskeeper's head. :( At least there was no Bashie.
9/29/2006
At High Reaches Weyr, it is around lunch on day 4, month 7, turn 2 of the 7th Pass.
Lunchtime is, other than the middle of the night, about when records is at its most empty. Because there is no eating allowed in here. So, caucus students and workers alike take off to stuff their faces and only a few people remain. Today, it seems like pretty much everyone has taken themselves off to lunch. Except for one person, visible near the far wall with a stack of hides in front of her. Miniyal looks annoyed as she goes through them and should someone miss seeing her, far back as she is, there is the sound of a quiet, steady stream of cursing going on as she does whatever it is she is doing. Someone is thrilled.
She really ought to be eating, right now, but Aida hasn't had any particular appetite lately. She brings a hand up to ruffle it through her hair in the back as she slips into the records room, drawing up a few steps in and sweeping the place with her gaze. Wow, empty. There's the start of a frown that's chased away when she hears the cursing, and it's replaced by the upwards curve of her lips into a fond smile. Ah, Miniyal. With a little toss of her head she composes her expression into a polite smile, and then, she is heading for the former head of records, following the sound of cursing. La la la.
Now see, if she'd known the cursing would get her noticed, Miniyal would have done it silently. However, she figures no one is around, off eating and cavorting or whatever it is normal people. She is, indeed, alone. The light where she works is brighter than other places which just casts the nearer places in darker shadows that she doesn't really seem aware of right now. What she is aware of is footsteps so she sets her pen down and looks up to wait and see who it is who might be invading her, former, domain.
"Miniyal?" Aida is smart enough to warn before she comes into immediate sight, either wanting to make sure that she doesn't get something thrown at her...or perhaps ensuring that she will. Whatever the case may be, she does come into sight after a moment, giving a little bow of her head as she draws up. "Is everything alright?" A hint of concern is allowed into her tone, slight but there.
"I swear, you don't watch everything every day and it falls apart," Miniyal says by way of answer. Rubbing at her eyes she shoves the hides aside and then shakes her head. "Hello, Aida. Did you need something? Sorry. Everything is fine. Just, well, I don't know." She blinks and then peers around, perhaps really noticing for the first time it's quiet. "Is it just lunchtime or did I lose track of the day?"
"It's just lunchtime," Aida assures the other woman, offering a smile as she slips up closer. She moves to lean up against a shelf, watching her shoulder as she does to make absolute certain she's not disturbing anything, and then her eyes are going back to the other woman. "I don't need anything; just came to find you and say hullo. I sympathize entirely, though -- you should've seen my office when I got back from being kidnapped. Turn your back on any of it for a moment and oh, the mess." Her tone is touched with wry humor, something sympathetic in her smile.
Miniyal rubs her eyes and pushes a few hides out of the way to be able to fold her hands on the table. "You can sit if you want. We're auditing things, it's a hassle. I don't remember it being a hassle last time, but I was much younger. I shouldn't worry, it's not my job after all. But, well. . .yea. Anyway, hello." A smile is summoned up. Because this seems like the right spot to smile in. "Life should be much more orderly," she decides with a sigh.
"Oh, you have my sympathy," Aida says, giving a little mock-shudder to emphasize her words as she straightens out of her lean, moving around to drop into a chair easily. Kicked back, not getting near the records. "And you can't help but worry about it, your job or not. That's just how it goes." With a little shake of her head, she passes on to that last comment, lips curving up into a grin. "It'd certainly be a lot easier on us all," she agrees. "And a lot more peaceful, too. I could use the quiet that'd come from that."
"I've been told it'll never happen. That people are not logical. And that it's foolish to think they might ever be," Miniyal explains with a sigh and a wry grin. "Although, well, I still think it's possible. Maybe. Well, not so much these days. Still. It's a nice enough dream I think." Shaking her head she brushes back her hair and glances around the room. "I suppose I'm merely frustrated because, well, I'm annoyed. But anyway. How are you?"
"People aren't," Aida laments, smile touching lopsided. "But a girl's allowed her dreams, certainly." One of her shoulders is shrugged lightly, and then she's tilting her head to the side just a bit, lifting an eyebrow. A gesture towards the table. "Annoyed with that?" She asks, tone light enough. Conversational, really. "And I? I am..." She trails off there, seeming to consider. "Mmm. I am holding up. Well enough, given the times. How are you, aside from frustrated and annoyed?"
Head tilting over to one side, Miniyal nearly grins. "Is not frustrated and annoyed enough? It certainly seems like more than enough." Another shake of her head and she gestures around. "Do know what we do in an audit? We go over. . .well, previous ones. To see what was looked at. Someone gets sent running around to people to ask them to check things as well. Usually the person, well. Anyway. Navan's decided I should be running around. Which sort of takes time away from my own work." Shrugging her shoulders she sighs. "He's the one in charge."
Quiet laughter escaping, Aida dips her head in acquiescence, amusement sparkling through her eyes for a moment. "Frustrated and annoyed is enough, I suppose," she agrees, once she's straightening her head back up. "That..." Pause. "Sounds like a veritable nightmare." With those words said, the last of her humor evaporates, something sympathetic touching her smile again. "It must be difficult, not being in charge any longer, having someone else there. Even if he's your father and you didn't want the position. If you feel like taking aggression out on a punching bag sometime, I know where one can be found. With the guards going, it's not even likely to be in use."
"I'm trying very hard. . .well, to not cause trouble for him. I can't imagine it's easy for him either. But I think he's made his point." The faintest trace of annoyance tinges her words, but Miniyal shakes them off. "Oh, no, thanks. I don't hit things. It only leads to violent behavior against others and I don't approve of such actions." Her head nods at this and she taps a finger against the table. "No matter how much I might think it would be good to hit a certain person or two every now and again. It is not right and I will not engage in such behavior."
A sympathetic smile is offered for those first few words and the annoyance threaded through them. Aida shakes her head, but doesn't comment on it. Instead, the words that follow have her lifting both eyebrows and considering for a moment. It doesn't take her long to smooth her expression out and nod her head. "I hit a bag so I /don't/ hit a person," she explains lightly. "But I suppose I would never have had the problem if I'd never hit anything in the first place." Easy enough to be agreeable. "There are a few it'd be nice to pop one to, aren't there? I think we've all got 'em. Temptations."
Subtleties in conversation are still missed on Miniyal for the most part. There is slow improvement, but for the most part she still misses all but the most obvious reactions. So, she doesn't really notice any reaction of Aida's other than what she says. "Well, I don't know if that is exactly the way it works. I've never seen if anyone studied it. It's not something I find really interesting. I just don't condone violence done against others. I don't approve. Even if sometimes I want to hit someone." A toss of her head to get her hair over her shoulders and she smiles faintly. "But I try not to think of that."
Patient, tolerant. Aida is willing to wait it out; she's seen the improvement thus far, and so she's certainly willing to deal with missed cues and all of it. "Understandable," she says lightly, nodding her head. "It's never a particularly pleasant topic. Still, the offer is open if you ever do change your mind." A hand is lifted, waved around vaguely. "Anyway. How is G'thon? I visited, the other day. I think it went fairly well."
It is, one might think, rather sad how someone might smile for no reason other than a particular word be said. In this case a name. Miniyal doesn't seem exactly aware that she does this, but the smile lasts briefly anyway. "He's doing well," she answers, not addressing the trace of concern in her voice. Other than with a quietly mumbled, "Or would be if he'd eat more." Shaking her head at her words she folds her hands on the table. "I'm glad you visited. I'm sure he gets tired of me being there as much as I am so I try not to overburden him and I do have my work. Such as it is."
Momentarily pleased with herself when she sees that smile, Aida's own smile grows in response. Yes. It settles out a moment later, and she brings a hand up to brush an escaped curl back behind her ear. "I intend to make it a habit of stopping by as often as I can, and I've asked a friend or two to do the same," she says. "With strict instructions on what not to talk about. I *doubt* that he gets tired of you, but you do have your work. We'll see that he gets enough company. Should I add a healer to the list of people who decide to stop in? See if over time one of them might be able to convince him to eat more?"
"No healer," Miniyal says with a shake of her head quickly. "No. He'll come around on that part. It's. . .delicate. I'd rather not have anyone else about him like that. I mean, you know? It's a touchy thing and I think too many people trying to speak to him about it no matter how subtle would only-" She pauses, wrinkling her nose. "I hate talking about him like this. It seems unfair. Just, please. He's healthy, right now. I can work with it. And I do appreciate you asking people to stop by. He needs company."
Bringing up both hands in a gesture of surrender, Aida shakes her head quickly. "A 'no' would have been enough, Miniyal," she points out gently. "I only offered; it won't happen. I just worry, that's all -- I'd like to be able to help him, too." Her hands are lowered, and she offers over another warm smile. "It is unfair, in a fashion, but it's also something that we women do in relation to the men that we care about. It's only natural, I assure you. I conspire heavily about Br'ce, at times." No kidding.
"Sorry. Sorry, I just. . .yea. Sorry." Miniyal ducks her head and pulls her hands into her lap and withdraws some. She sits silently for a moment or even three before clearing her throat. "Yes, well. It's not. . .I mean, he doesn't need a, well, someone to do that. He's an adult and he's, you know, plenty old enough to know what is best. Except sometimes. But, well, anyway. Right."
"It's alright," Aida says softly, shaking her head and tilting it to the side again, eyes staying on Miniyal's face. "There's no need to apologize, I promise," she says. "I'm just saying that I respect you enough to abide by your wishes, not trying to chastise you." That's left to sit on its own for a moment, and then she's straightening up and exhaling a soft sigh. "He's a man. Adult or not, they need looking after on occasion."
"Yes, well, still. I don't think. . .I mean, I suppose. I never considered." Miniyal shakes her head and looks at her hands. "It's a mess. It's not logical. It's. . .too complicated." Glancing up she smiles wanly. "But, it's fine. Really. Umm. I'm really not comfortable talking about it though. I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologize, but since it has been given, I accept," Aida offers smoothly, shaking her head again. "I understand. If there is ever anything more I can do, just let me know." And then she's lifting a hand, brushing the topic away lightly. "You said that we would talk again later. You've...suspicions that I would like to hear about." Out of the frying pan, into the fire.
More head tilting, up and away, down and at her hands. Then Miniyal pulls her hands up from her lap to rest them on the table. "Before I say anything I need to know whom you trust around here," she says quietly. "Who do you believe really has had nothing to do with what has been going on. I know, it might seem a little late for that and all, but. . .but I need to know. Before I will talk." And she sits there, quietly, waiting for an answer.
"Mmm." Aida considers this for a long moment, really, turning her head so she can look off to the side. It's made fairly clear that she's weighing the question in her mind, puzzling it over before she gives a light shake of her head and brings her attention back up, eyes setting once more on Miniyal. "There are very few people that I trust absolutely, Miniyal," she explains quietly. "I could not say with absolute certainty, complete surety of *anyone*, that they were not involved. I am reasonably sure that Br'ce, T'ral, the others of that bunch, Tavaly and T'zen..." She trails off, shaking her head and again lifting her hand to wave it around lightly. "I know that Jensen and Ashwin didn't do it. Otherwise...I would not swear that anyone is innocent."
"I understand. It's hard to figure out who to trust around here," Miniyal says with a soft sigh. "My home wasn't always like this. Did you know my father's family has been here since nearly the weyr was started. Not all the way back, but it's home." Shaking her head she sits up straighter. "I am sick of my home being like this, Aida. I am. . .prepared to do everything I can to make things right. The first step is finding out the truth."
"It has changed significantly even in the short time since I have been here," Aida replies softly, her smile touching wan. "And for all that I have not been here long, this is the home that I have, as well. It's the only one I've got; I'm pretty sick of it, too. And I agree, entirely. I'm a healer, by training even if I don't have a knot -- curing the disease requires first a diagnosis."
"It's not so hard I think," Miniyal answers after a moment's silence. She's not really good at dragging silence on, but she's learning that too! Huzzah. And whatnot. "It's a matter of seeing who has the most to gain. Who's the most eager to be helpful. Who wants. . .to be perceived as the good guy." Shaking her head she lets out a sigh. "And I am not good at sneaking around. . this way. I want to confront someone about this. I'm sick of all of this. It's hard to sit by and ignore what people are doing."
"Confronting someone is potentially deadly," Aida points out gently, her tone entirely mild. "Particularly if whoever it is is capable of well covering up their reactions. They believably play off not having any idea what you're talking about, then visit you while you sleep." She pauses for just a moment, and then gives a light shake of her head. "You need to be careful, Miniyal. I hear you say the word confrontation, I get worried. You know something, or you at least suspect it. Will you tell me? I *am* fairly good at sneaking around this way."
"I'm not stupid, Aida," Miniyal says a touch sharply. "I won't confront anyone until I have proof. But there is always proof of misdeeds. The biggest mistake people can make is in thinking /anything/ they do is done without witnesses. I know what goes on around here." A sudden stop here and she assumes a more calm demeanor, shrugging her shoulders. "I am simply running out of patience to watch things unfold. I don't know much. But there is someone. . .E'sere. Is he not so worried? So careful to tell everyone he does what he can? And you can't tell me he's not hoping to be weyrleader."
Tilting her head to the side again, Aida lifts an eyebrow. She studies Miniyal for a long moment, and then she's giving a shake of her head. "You're not stupid, Miniyal," she echoes back at the other woman. "I don't believe you would be actively suspicious for simply those reasons." She straightens back up, shaking her head lightly. "That's the basis of all of the rumors, and there are just as many entirely believable things being said about most others that are major contenders. If not more so. Do you have more of a basis?"
Miniyal smiles briefly, faintly. "I've lived here my entire life, Aida. I know a lot of these people better than they suspect. I told you. I have no proof. It's just. . ." Shaking her head. "Why would he care? Why would he care if I was associating with Gans? And yet he was so careful, so very careful, to tell me he was /not/ telling me I should stay away from him. When he was. You didn't see him. He came by, he shares a turnday with Gans. It's just a feeling. He's not happy with things. And he's lived here too. He knows people, he has to. I just don't trust him. It's all. He's too nice."
Silent again, for a very long moment. Aida regards Miniyal without putting on a face, her expression simply thoughtful and calculating, openly so. Eventually, the young woman gives a slight nod. "Thank you," she states quietly. "I will trust your intuition." She shifts in her chair, sits up a bit. "We'll see. If you find anything out that's definitive, you will let me know? I will do the same for you."
"I will," Miniyal says after thinking of it, tilting her head this way and that. "I don't know if I will ever find anything. He's very sneaky. It's entirely possible, of course, he is not involved. But I will. . .I will eat one of R'vain's shoes if that is the truth." She snorts softly and then frowns, ducking her head over something. "Anyway. I just. . .I just want to protect my home and the people I care about. I will do it one way or the other."
"I feel the same way," Aida says, slipping up to her feet. Her skirt is brushed down lightly, tugged at here and there, and then she's lifting her eyes back to Miniyal. "Whatever it takes. We will find out the truth; he may be sneaky, but I may prove to be sneakier still. I am going to go back to work now, as I expect that people will be filing in shortly. Be safe, my friend. We are not out of troubled waters yet."
"It was nice to see you," Miniyal says as she reaches for her work once more. "Be cautious. If you get into trouble-well. If you get into trouble find me. I can help. Somehow." Shaking her head she smiles faintly. "Better than some others at least. Thank you for coming by. And for, well. Anyway. Right." And down goes her head as she picks up a random hide to stare at it as she pretends she works.
"It was nice to see you, too," Aida says quietly. "I will be as cautious as I can be. I should be fine, and my boys look after me well. And you're welcome, Miniyal. Thank you. If you have need of me in turn, do track me down. You're welcome to visit whenever you care to do so." She hesitates only for a moment, watching the other woman, and then she's turning to slip towards the entrance again on light feet.
Where: Records Room, HRW
When: around lunch on day 4, month 7, turn 2 of the 7th Pass
What: Aida comes by because Miniyal was such a tease last time. And because she likes to mess with the poor recordskeeper's head. :( At least there was no Bashie.
9/29/2006
At High Reaches Weyr, it is around lunch on day 4, month 7, turn 2 of the 7th Pass.
Lunchtime is, other than the middle of the night, about when records is at its most empty. Because there is no eating allowed in here. So, caucus students and workers alike take off to stuff their faces and only a few people remain. Today, it seems like pretty much everyone has taken themselves off to lunch. Except for one person, visible near the far wall with a stack of hides in front of her. Miniyal looks annoyed as she goes through them and should someone miss seeing her, far back as she is, there is the sound of a quiet, steady stream of cursing going on as she does whatever it is she is doing. Someone is thrilled.
She really ought to be eating, right now, but Aida hasn't had any particular appetite lately. She brings a hand up to ruffle it through her hair in the back as she slips into the records room, drawing up a few steps in and sweeping the place with her gaze. Wow, empty. There's the start of a frown that's chased away when she hears the cursing, and it's replaced by the upwards curve of her lips into a fond smile. Ah, Miniyal. With a little toss of her head she composes her expression into a polite smile, and then, she is heading for the former head of records, following the sound of cursing. La la la.
Now see, if she'd known the cursing would get her noticed, Miniyal would have done it silently. However, she figures no one is around, off eating and cavorting or whatever it is normal people. She is, indeed, alone. The light where she works is brighter than other places which just casts the nearer places in darker shadows that she doesn't really seem aware of right now. What she is aware of is footsteps so she sets her pen down and looks up to wait and see who it is who might be invading her, former, domain.
"Miniyal?" Aida is smart enough to warn before she comes into immediate sight, either wanting to make sure that she doesn't get something thrown at her...or perhaps ensuring that she will. Whatever the case may be, she does come into sight after a moment, giving a little bow of her head as she draws up. "Is everything alright?" A hint of concern is allowed into her tone, slight but there.
"I swear, you don't watch everything every day and it falls apart," Miniyal says by way of answer. Rubbing at her eyes she shoves the hides aside and then shakes her head. "Hello, Aida. Did you need something? Sorry. Everything is fine. Just, well, I don't know." She blinks and then peers around, perhaps really noticing for the first time it's quiet. "Is it just lunchtime or did I lose track of the day?"
"It's just lunchtime," Aida assures the other woman, offering a smile as she slips up closer. She moves to lean up against a shelf, watching her shoulder as she does to make absolute certain she's not disturbing anything, and then her eyes are going back to the other woman. "I don't need anything; just came to find you and say hullo. I sympathize entirely, though -- you should've seen my office when I got back from being kidnapped. Turn your back on any of it for a moment and oh, the mess." Her tone is touched with wry humor, something sympathetic in her smile.
Miniyal rubs her eyes and pushes a few hides out of the way to be able to fold her hands on the table. "You can sit if you want. We're auditing things, it's a hassle. I don't remember it being a hassle last time, but I was much younger. I shouldn't worry, it's not my job after all. But, well. . .yea. Anyway, hello." A smile is summoned up. Because this seems like the right spot to smile in. "Life should be much more orderly," she decides with a sigh.
"Oh, you have my sympathy," Aida says, giving a little mock-shudder to emphasize her words as she straightens out of her lean, moving around to drop into a chair easily. Kicked back, not getting near the records. "And you can't help but worry about it, your job or not. That's just how it goes." With a little shake of her head, she passes on to that last comment, lips curving up into a grin. "It'd certainly be a lot easier on us all," she agrees. "And a lot more peaceful, too. I could use the quiet that'd come from that."
"I've been told it'll never happen. That people are not logical. And that it's foolish to think they might ever be," Miniyal explains with a sigh and a wry grin. "Although, well, I still think it's possible. Maybe. Well, not so much these days. Still. It's a nice enough dream I think." Shaking her head she brushes back her hair and glances around the room. "I suppose I'm merely frustrated because, well, I'm annoyed. But anyway. How are you?"
"People aren't," Aida laments, smile touching lopsided. "But a girl's allowed her dreams, certainly." One of her shoulders is shrugged lightly, and then she's tilting her head to the side just a bit, lifting an eyebrow. A gesture towards the table. "Annoyed with that?" She asks, tone light enough. Conversational, really. "And I? I am..." She trails off there, seeming to consider. "Mmm. I am holding up. Well enough, given the times. How are you, aside from frustrated and annoyed?"
Head tilting over to one side, Miniyal nearly grins. "Is not frustrated and annoyed enough? It certainly seems like more than enough." Another shake of her head and she gestures around. "Do know what we do in an audit? We go over. . .well, previous ones. To see what was looked at. Someone gets sent running around to people to ask them to check things as well. Usually the person, well. Anyway. Navan's decided I should be running around. Which sort of takes time away from my own work." Shrugging her shoulders she sighs. "He's the one in charge."
Quiet laughter escaping, Aida dips her head in acquiescence, amusement sparkling through her eyes for a moment. "Frustrated and annoyed is enough, I suppose," she agrees, once she's straightening her head back up. "That..." Pause. "Sounds like a veritable nightmare." With those words said, the last of her humor evaporates, something sympathetic touching her smile again. "It must be difficult, not being in charge any longer, having someone else there. Even if he's your father and you didn't want the position. If you feel like taking aggression out on a punching bag sometime, I know where one can be found. With the guards going, it's not even likely to be in use."
"I'm trying very hard. . .well, to not cause trouble for him. I can't imagine it's easy for him either. But I think he's made his point." The faintest trace of annoyance tinges her words, but Miniyal shakes them off. "Oh, no, thanks. I don't hit things. It only leads to violent behavior against others and I don't approve of such actions." Her head nods at this and she taps a finger against the table. "No matter how much I might think it would be good to hit a certain person or two every now and again. It is not right and I will not engage in such behavior."
A sympathetic smile is offered for those first few words and the annoyance threaded through them. Aida shakes her head, but doesn't comment on it. Instead, the words that follow have her lifting both eyebrows and considering for a moment. It doesn't take her long to smooth her expression out and nod her head. "I hit a bag so I /don't/ hit a person," she explains lightly. "But I suppose I would never have had the problem if I'd never hit anything in the first place." Easy enough to be agreeable. "There are a few it'd be nice to pop one to, aren't there? I think we've all got 'em. Temptations."
Subtleties in conversation are still missed on Miniyal for the most part. There is slow improvement, but for the most part she still misses all but the most obvious reactions. So, she doesn't really notice any reaction of Aida's other than what she says. "Well, I don't know if that is exactly the way it works. I've never seen if anyone studied it. It's not something I find really interesting. I just don't condone violence done against others. I don't approve. Even if sometimes I want to hit someone." A toss of her head to get her hair over her shoulders and she smiles faintly. "But I try not to think of that."
Patient, tolerant. Aida is willing to wait it out; she's seen the improvement thus far, and so she's certainly willing to deal with missed cues and all of it. "Understandable," she says lightly, nodding her head. "It's never a particularly pleasant topic. Still, the offer is open if you ever do change your mind." A hand is lifted, waved around vaguely. "Anyway. How is G'thon? I visited, the other day. I think it went fairly well."
It is, one might think, rather sad how someone might smile for no reason other than a particular word be said. In this case a name. Miniyal doesn't seem exactly aware that she does this, but the smile lasts briefly anyway. "He's doing well," she answers, not addressing the trace of concern in her voice. Other than with a quietly mumbled, "Or would be if he'd eat more." Shaking her head at her words she folds her hands on the table. "I'm glad you visited. I'm sure he gets tired of me being there as much as I am so I try not to overburden him and I do have my work. Such as it is."
Momentarily pleased with herself when she sees that smile, Aida's own smile grows in response. Yes. It settles out a moment later, and she brings a hand up to brush an escaped curl back behind her ear. "I intend to make it a habit of stopping by as often as I can, and I've asked a friend or two to do the same," she says. "With strict instructions on what not to talk about. I *doubt* that he gets tired of you, but you do have your work. We'll see that he gets enough company. Should I add a healer to the list of people who decide to stop in? See if over time one of them might be able to convince him to eat more?"
"No healer," Miniyal says with a shake of her head quickly. "No. He'll come around on that part. It's. . .delicate. I'd rather not have anyone else about him like that. I mean, you know? It's a touchy thing and I think too many people trying to speak to him about it no matter how subtle would only-" She pauses, wrinkling her nose. "I hate talking about him like this. It seems unfair. Just, please. He's healthy, right now. I can work with it. And I do appreciate you asking people to stop by. He needs company."
Bringing up both hands in a gesture of surrender, Aida shakes her head quickly. "A 'no' would have been enough, Miniyal," she points out gently. "I only offered; it won't happen. I just worry, that's all -- I'd like to be able to help him, too." Her hands are lowered, and she offers over another warm smile. "It is unfair, in a fashion, but it's also something that we women do in relation to the men that we care about. It's only natural, I assure you. I conspire heavily about Br'ce, at times." No kidding.
"Sorry. Sorry, I just. . .yea. Sorry." Miniyal ducks her head and pulls her hands into her lap and withdraws some. She sits silently for a moment or even three before clearing her throat. "Yes, well. It's not. . .I mean, he doesn't need a, well, someone to do that. He's an adult and he's, you know, plenty old enough to know what is best. Except sometimes. But, well, anyway. Right."
"It's alright," Aida says softly, shaking her head and tilting it to the side again, eyes staying on Miniyal's face. "There's no need to apologize, I promise," she says. "I'm just saying that I respect you enough to abide by your wishes, not trying to chastise you." That's left to sit on its own for a moment, and then she's straightening up and exhaling a soft sigh. "He's a man. Adult or not, they need looking after on occasion."
"Yes, well, still. I don't think. . .I mean, I suppose. I never considered." Miniyal shakes her head and looks at her hands. "It's a mess. It's not logical. It's. . .too complicated." Glancing up she smiles wanly. "But, it's fine. Really. Umm. I'm really not comfortable talking about it though. I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologize, but since it has been given, I accept," Aida offers smoothly, shaking her head again. "I understand. If there is ever anything more I can do, just let me know." And then she's lifting a hand, brushing the topic away lightly. "You said that we would talk again later. You've...suspicions that I would like to hear about." Out of the frying pan, into the fire.
More head tilting, up and away, down and at her hands. Then Miniyal pulls her hands up from her lap to rest them on the table. "Before I say anything I need to know whom you trust around here," she says quietly. "Who do you believe really has had nothing to do with what has been going on. I know, it might seem a little late for that and all, but. . .but I need to know. Before I will talk." And she sits there, quietly, waiting for an answer.
"Mmm." Aida considers this for a long moment, really, turning her head so she can look off to the side. It's made fairly clear that she's weighing the question in her mind, puzzling it over before she gives a light shake of her head and brings her attention back up, eyes setting once more on Miniyal. "There are very few people that I trust absolutely, Miniyal," she explains quietly. "I could not say with absolute certainty, complete surety of *anyone*, that they were not involved. I am reasonably sure that Br'ce, T'ral, the others of that bunch, Tavaly and T'zen..." She trails off, shaking her head and again lifting her hand to wave it around lightly. "I know that Jensen and Ashwin didn't do it. Otherwise...I would not swear that anyone is innocent."
"I understand. It's hard to figure out who to trust around here," Miniyal says with a soft sigh. "My home wasn't always like this. Did you know my father's family has been here since nearly the weyr was started. Not all the way back, but it's home." Shaking her head she sits up straighter. "I am sick of my home being like this, Aida. I am. . .prepared to do everything I can to make things right. The first step is finding out the truth."
"It has changed significantly even in the short time since I have been here," Aida replies softly, her smile touching wan. "And for all that I have not been here long, this is the home that I have, as well. It's the only one I've got; I'm pretty sick of it, too. And I agree, entirely. I'm a healer, by training even if I don't have a knot -- curing the disease requires first a diagnosis."
"It's not so hard I think," Miniyal answers after a moment's silence. She's not really good at dragging silence on, but she's learning that too! Huzzah. And whatnot. "It's a matter of seeing who has the most to gain. Who's the most eager to be helpful. Who wants. . .to be perceived as the good guy." Shaking her head she lets out a sigh. "And I am not good at sneaking around. . this way. I want to confront someone about this. I'm sick of all of this. It's hard to sit by and ignore what people are doing."
"Confronting someone is potentially deadly," Aida points out gently, her tone entirely mild. "Particularly if whoever it is is capable of well covering up their reactions. They believably play off not having any idea what you're talking about, then visit you while you sleep." She pauses for just a moment, and then gives a light shake of her head. "You need to be careful, Miniyal. I hear you say the word confrontation, I get worried. You know something, or you at least suspect it. Will you tell me? I *am* fairly good at sneaking around this way."
"I'm not stupid, Aida," Miniyal says a touch sharply. "I won't confront anyone until I have proof. But there is always proof of misdeeds. The biggest mistake people can make is in thinking /anything/ they do is done without witnesses. I know what goes on around here." A sudden stop here and she assumes a more calm demeanor, shrugging her shoulders. "I am simply running out of patience to watch things unfold. I don't know much. But there is someone. . .E'sere. Is he not so worried? So careful to tell everyone he does what he can? And you can't tell me he's not hoping to be weyrleader."
Tilting her head to the side again, Aida lifts an eyebrow. She studies Miniyal for a long moment, and then she's giving a shake of her head. "You're not stupid, Miniyal," she echoes back at the other woman. "I don't believe you would be actively suspicious for simply those reasons." She straightens back up, shaking her head lightly. "That's the basis of all of the rumors, and there are just as many entirely believable things being said about most others that are major contenders. If not more so. Do you have more of a basis?"
Miniyal smiles briefly, faintly. "I've lived here my entire life, Aida. I know a lot of these people better than they suspect. I told you. I have no proof. It's just. . ." Shaking her head. "Why would he care? Why would he care if I was associating with Gans? And yet he was so careful, so very careful, to tell me he was /not/ telling me I should stay away from him. When he was. You didn't see him. He came by, he shares a turnday with Gans. It's just a feeling. He's not happy with things. And he's lived here too. He knows people, he has to. I just don't trust him. It's all. He's too nice."
Silent again, for a very long moment. Aida regards Miniyal without putting on a face, her expression simply thoughtful and calculating, openly so. Eventually, the young woman gives a slight nod. "Thank you," she states quietly. "I will trust your intuition." She shifts in her chair, sits up a bit. "We'll see. If you find anything out that's definitive, you will let me know? I will do the same for you."
"I will," Miniyal says after thinking of it, tilting her head this way and that. "I don't know if I will ever find anything. He's very sneaky. It's entirely possible, of course, he is not involved. But I will. . .I will eat one of R'vain's shoes if that is the truth." She snorts softly and then frowns, ducking her head over something. "Anyway. I just. . .I just want to protect my home and the people I care about. I will do it one way or the other."
"I feel the same way," Aida says, slipping up to her feet. Her skirt is brushed down lightly, tugged at here and there, and then she's lifting her eyes back to Miniyal. "Whatever it takes. We will find out the truth; he may be sneaky, but I may prove to be sneakier still. I am going to go back to work now, as I expect that people will be filing in shortly. Be safe, my friend. We are not out of troubled waters yet."
"It was nice to see you," Miniyal says as she reaches for her work once more. "Be cautious. If you get into trouble-well. If you get into trouble find me. I can help. Somehow." Shaking her head she smiles faintly. "Better than some others at least. Thank you for coming by. And for, well. Anyway. Right." And down goes her head as she picks up a random hide to stare at it as she pretends she works.
"It was nice to see you, too," Aida says quietly. "I will be as cautious as I can be. I should be fine, and my boys look after me well. And you're welcome, Miniyal. Thank you. If you have need of me in turn, do track me down. You're welcome to visit whenever you care to do so." She hesitates only for a moment, watching the other woman, and then she's turning to slip towards the entrance again on light feet.