Who

Amani & Taurie

What

Weyrwoman and Assistant wrap up their days and go out for a drink to catch up and check in with each other.

When

-- On Pern --
It is 4:37 PM where you are.
It is afternoon of the nineteenth day of the fifth month of the twenty-first turn of the 12th pass.
In Southern:
It is the forty-ninth day of Autumn and 55 degrees. Partly cloudy, the storm seems to be mostly gone with only the occasional short falls of rain painting the ground.


Where

Southern Weyr, Weyrwoman's Office, Flatlands, Zingari Grounds, The Whiskey Biscuit

OOC Date 20 Oct 2020 06:00

 

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"Aye, Let's Hope."


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Weyrwoman's Office (#22423):

Although Amani has made this space her own, there are lingering touches of previous Weyrwomen. The dark cherry-mahogany of the desk, for instance, remains from one who'd held the knot two goldriders before her. Stacks of hides are kept in neat files behind that desk - mostly. Some are strewn or stacked upon it in evidence of ongoing work. Around the desk are several thickly-cushioned chairs that would easily accommodate even the burliest of riders or Weyrfolk, yet their make is nothing a Lord or Lady would turn up their nose at. Bookshelves line the walls, holding books and folios that are largely Weyr and Craft-related. One corner boasts a standing brazier that holds glowing coals in the colder months. A smaller hanging brazier can be found above it, most often with a tendril of Zingari incense emanating from the chimney of its conical top. Woven rugs and hangings that boast Southern's colors as well as Zingari green and silver and bold hues of red, gold, blue, and indigo warm the floor and walls. A sideboard graces the wall beside the door, offering up klah and finger foods for those with business here. Almost startlingly, a well-tended crossbow and quiver of bolts hang on the wall just behind the Weyrwoman's chair.



Amani's day usually ends with her in her office, though she resents the need on mostly-clear days like this. No sense in risking a breeze carrying sensitive hides into a puddle, however. And it is sensitive hides that she's dealing with at the moment. Clad in wherhide pants and a deep green cable-knit sweater, she sits with quill in hand, jotting down notes as she looks between a handful of hides laid out on the desk before her. Her brazier is warm at the moment, a musky bit of incense in its center sending up a whimsical tendril of smoke that her brown firelizard, Qahua, seems mesmerized by at the moment. Mirroring the smoke is the steam from her mug of klah, recently refreshed and accompanied by a round pastry. No, she is not ruining her dinner, just tiding herself over.

Taurie is also at the end of her day. She looks up at the candle marking the time and stretches, her back making a series of pops that may or may not be heard throughout the offices. She stands from her desk and tidies things, puts them away and gathers her own things. She's walking past the Weyrwoman's offices when she notices that one is in residence still. Amani… from the scent of things. Taurie is going to have to get some of that incense one of these days, she knows someone else who might like the scent of it. She meanders up to Amani's office door and knocks, peeking in if she can. "You're not planning a late night are you? I thought that was my shtick?" She's a little less formal these days, but only when others aren't around. She found a friend in her boss lady and is keen on keeping friends at this point.

Amani lifts her head to see who it is just before Taurie speaks, laughing a bit at her assistant's words. "Not if I can help it," she assures the other woman, gesturing her to come in and then standing up. She stretches her arms overhead and a shoulder gives a soft pop. "I was just consolidating some things from the latest feline reports for my own reference. Nothing that really needs doing, but I figured if I had the time, why not?"

Echoing words she herself has heard all too often, Taurie gives her boss a pointed stare. "Aye, and it will all still be there tomorrow, will it not? It's already past time to go home, if you have time, why not do something fun, like go get a drink… or maybe track down that Weyrmate of yours, hmm?" If the last few turns have taught Taurie anything, it's that free time should be spent wisely and with some fun, not with one's nose buried in hides. Not that she's acusing Amani of burying herself in hides or anything, as previously stated, that's usually Taurie's shtick.

"Oh, he'll be tracked down in due time," Amani says to the matter of F'kan with a saucy smirk. "As for a drink, if you're suggesting it, I'm assuming you'd be up for it yourself?" It's not nearly as much fun alone. And it has been some time since she and Taurie had a drink. "Besides, I've been meaning to chat with you a bit. I'd rather do it off-duty." She picks up her klah and blows into it, taking a long but careful sip.

Taurie dips her head in agreement. "Sure. I could use a drink myself, and I think I might be spending the night alone, didn't know how long I was going to be working, I surprised myself with how early I was done." Just so Amani knows she isn't alone because of bad things. There are nights when she is not curled up in the bed of her lover… sometimes. Amani's last, has her raising a brow though, however, if Amani is wanting to talk off duty, Taurie has a feeling it's not work related. "Were should we head? We could hop over to the Kitten? or Maybe down to The Whiskey Biscuit? Or maybe the…." The last place she was going to suggest, she decides not to. Too many freshly bittersweet memories there for comfort.

Amani lifts a brow at Taurie's first. "By choice or necessity?" She doesn't assume anything bad, not since it seems as though Taurie's personal life has largely gotten straightened out since her…emergency vacation. "Let's go to the Biscuit. Zymuraith doesn't mind taking us since the weather's fine. She likes hanging around the caravan grounds." And at present, having Pern's second largest gold hanging around there might be a comfort, all things considered. She makes quick work of the pastry she'd snagged and washes it down with another quick sip of klah, then grabs her riding jacket from a nearby hook. "Anything you need before we go?"

Taurie chuckles. "A bit of both, but that's ok." She patiently waits for Amani to finish her pastry, in no particular rush. "Ah! Grand! I do love being down on the Caravan Grounds, and it's so much more convenient than hopping North each time I get a craving for curry." Speaking of… THAT is something she might have to treat her sea captain to. As for needing anything, Taurie shakes her head. "Nope, grabbed everything before I even left my desk. I'm good to go if you are."

Amani lets Taurie precede her, locking her door behind them on the way out to the courtyard. Zymuraith is waiting patiently, poised to admit both her rider and guest onto her neck. The flight from there is chilly but brief (thankfully), the atmosphere of the Whiskey Biscuit itself a warm counter to the autumn sunset. She picks a booth, settles in, and awaits the arrival of a server following Taurie taking her own seat. "May as well get a bit to eat here, too," she says, and peers around a bit, particularly at the bar. "They've cleaned up nicely since the quake. I'm glad, not that I ever doubted the Zingari would bounce back just as well as the rest of us."

Taurie enjoys the brief jaunt a'dragonback to the Caravan Grounds and her favorite bar. Once they're both settled, Taurie nods in agreement to the Weyrwoman's last and tucks a blonde lock of hair behind her ear. "Aye, they do seem to be a resiliant lot, don't they? But I didn't doubt they'd bounce back either, Willimina seems to be a keen tradeswoman and seems to get things done. I respect her a good deal and hope to be half the clever tradeswoman she is." Taurie's good, but she's not so sure she's as good. When that waiter does arrive, Taurie will order some curry, and a spiked klah to go with it. "Was there a lot of damage after the quake? I never did see it after, it's been awhile since I've been down here." She was a bit preoccupied with getting her shit together.

Amani nods in agreement, chuckling a bit at Taurie's assessment of Willimina. "Nothing seeming about Willa. I've long looked up to her. In a way, I might not be where I am if not for her," the Weyrwoman says, her expression going a bit thoughtful. It's not a point she's considered very often. She orders the same as Taurie, though specifies rum in her klah and adds some date pudding. Her sweet tooth is out in force this evening, apparently. "I was only in here briefly when I was going around inspecting," she says of the damage, "but just about everything behind the bar was shattered. I'm sure anything loose and breakable in here was. I think it was all structurally fine, but I'd have to double-check with Willa." Sitting back, she laces her fingers upon her stomach to regard the woman across from her. "So. How've you been , Taurie?" Her tone indicates she means beyond the usual chit-chatty sort of way the question is usually meant.

Taurie nods along, aware of Amani's links to the Zingari, happy to see someone who respects the Trader Leader as much as she herself does. It's a fine thing to see, strong leaders, for Taurie has a great deal of respect for Amani too. As for news of known damage post quake, Taurie takes that in keenly. "The place looks pretty nice for even having been smashed up… but, I can understand wanting to be back up and running quickly after a natural disaster. I'm very glad none of my ships were stuck in the weather that caused that rogue wave, another ship going down would half ruin me on that end of things." And really… she doesn't like thinking about losing ships. Amani's last is a good distraction from that topic and Taurie smiles. "I've been good. There's a bittersweet element to it all, a little guilt and mourning, and a few regrets… but all in all, it's been good." She chews her lower lip a little, pondering what to say next. "I am sorry again, for taking off for over a month. It really wasn't fair of me… particularly after the first leave you so gracefully gave me before. I had hard decisions to make. And, if I'm honest, a bit of feeling sorry for myself mixed in with probably far too much drink. But I also think that had I not distanced myself from things, I never would have figured anything out and I'd still be spiraling." Or they would have one or both left her after they got tired of her dancing between them. Taurie does still feel awful for Eryzz. He'd got the short end of the stick. And the whole thing hadn't been fair on him in the end. All she can hope for is that he finds his happiness too someday.

When Taurie emphasizes that she's been doing good, Amani gives a small, glad smile. Sometimes a simple and sincere word speaks volumes beyond any extensive elaboration. The apology for leaving so abruptly is met with a little nod at the start of Taurie's words. "Even thought I would have appreciated a little more detail, I understand. Sometimes…it's not possible to put the details into words. I'm glad you've gotten things figured out, and someone figured out. It's obvious how much happier you are now, so I know the time was well-spent. Except maybe for the too much drink part," she observes with a smirk. "I admit I'm curious as to the someone is, but you don't have to say if you'd rather not." She's just being nosy, considering names were never bandied about.

Taurie gives a little smile at all that, a little of her guilt still hanging around the lines of her emotions. And those emotions are somewhat complicated still, but she's sound in her choice and happy of it, yes. Despite the sorrow she feels over other things. "Aye. I didn't really give anyone much. I'f I'd spent the time writing out a full explination to people, I would have never gone and would have talked myself out of choosing for the hundredth time. I am happy, very much so, but like I said, there's still a bit of a bittersweet edge to it all." Taurie huffs out a sigh, not angry or anything, just still frustrated with herself for how long she allowed things to go on. "Trust me. The drink was needed." It probably wasn't, but it certainly made Taurie feel better about things… despite that being the wrong way to go about things. Though… she probably won't be touching much liquor in the near future, she's sort of lost her taste for imbibing to excess. "It's Edomar. Not that I don't love Eryzz… That love just changed… And he's hurting because of it. Parts of me feel guilty for being happy when I made him so sad."

Amani's smile widens, though there's a small, understanding nod that goes with it. A slight hike of her brows follows the revelation of who Taurie's someone is…and who the other possibility was. "Love…seems like it's messy more often than not," she observes with a sigh. "That's been my own experience, at least. And the guilt seems to go with the territory. But it lessens with time, while the love grows. That much I know."

Taurie gives a bit of a laugh at that. "Yeah, you aren't kidding." About any of it, she adds silently. Taurie's drink arrives right around then, Amani's too, with promises the food would be along shortly. Taurie takes a drink of her own and looks about for a moment. "Other than my messy love life though, business is good, work here isn't bad at all and life has smoothed out a bit… Enough now that I think I can safely send my Father home, and not soon enough, if he and my mother have to co-habitate in the same weyr much longer, I fear we might have another kind of natural disaster to deal with…." She gives a nervous little laugh and sips more on her drink then. SHe'd almost forgotten why her parents had gone their seperate ways in the first place… and then Runie had spent just over a turn in Southern… and they're back to fighting like canines and felines.

The sip Amani takes from her drink elicits a contented sigh. Taurie's words about her parents, however, earn a hike of her brows. "Oh," she says, smirking a bit in the wake of that little laugh. "It's a big Weyr. They still manage to find ways to fight?" Can two people just be doomed to find ways to come into conflict no matter the circumstances?

Taurie snickers almost amusedly. "No place is big enough unless there's a literal ocean between them…Where they don't have to see, hear about or learn of the other's antics. So yes, a big Weyr like this and they still find ways to fight and make each other miserable." There's a roll of the eyes for that before Taurie sips at her drink again. "And it's only been worse since Eryzz left… My mother no longer has her mentee to torture and so she's turned that on me and my father. I honestly didn't ever think I'd WISH for her to disappear into the archives for months and months, but I'm wishing more and more each day." She does seem mildly amused at her mother's predicament however, not ALL bad things had come from her seperation from her ex-lover…. Watching her mother scramble about like an avian with no head had been amusing, now she just wants things to return to normal.

Amani chuckles a bit, giving a little shake of her head at Taurie's first. When she goes on about Tauna, however, her expression settles into one of thoughtfulness. "Well, I've heard we're getting a few more senior apprentices posted here. Maybe one of them will prove agreeable enough for her to turn her torture toward." Not that she wishes actual torture on any of the Crafters, of course, but she'd rather her assistant not have any extra pressure at the moment.

Taurie chuckles. "Aye, lets hope…" She shakes her head a bit and sighs. "On to happier topics then, eh? I'd rather not spend a night out talking about the heavier things…" It just ruins the mood, and well, dwelling only makes things worse sometimes. She looks up and around then, just to see the server emerging from the small bar kitchen with their food. "Oh look! Here comes dinner." She can taste the curry already, and it has her mouth watering. Huzzah for favorite foods!

"Aye, that's enough of the heavier things," Amani agrees, smiling with anticipation as she watches dinner come their way. She's heard enough to be confident that Taurie's personal life has steadied out and she won't be running off again any time soon. "You won't be needing a towel, will you?" she teases when she sees the other woman's eagerness over the Zingari fare. Not that she blames her; it is delicious. Between the good food and lighter topics, it'll shape up to be a pleasant evening indeed!

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