Participants:
| Date: | May 13, 2011 |
|---|---|
| Location: | Eastern Weyr - Eastern Upper Bowl |
| Synopsis: | Kaskan tracks down Nenienne to ask her a favor. |
| Rating: | PG |
| Logger: | Kaskan |
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
Nenienne
In her late teens or early twenties, Neni has a youthful face clear of acne or other teenage maladies. Her eyes are gray and her features rather plain, perhaps slightly on the pretty side. Her brown hair is cut short, not even reaching her shoulders, and curls in the back. She is about 5'7" and her build is average, her propotions indicating that she has finished growing.
Neni is wearing a modestly-cut black short-sleeved blouse and black leggings. Although her clothing is naturally undecorated, glints of dust from the metals she works with are scattered about, especially in the front. Her undyed wherhide boots are not free from the speckles either. On her shoulder is a red knot tied to indicate a journeyman of the Smithcraft. — 23 turns
Kaskan
Thick wisps of ebony fall in half-hazard lengths to shadow rugged features, over-long layers typically in disarray as they feather pale blue eyes, flare about his ears and tickle the nape of his neck. Full lips precede a square-ish jaw, which often bears a dusky shadow of its own. Scars from too many fights mar what would be a handsome visage, most notably one that splices across his left brow stopping just short of his eye. A slight hitch ends his left ear in an oddly curved shape, though it's usually hidden beneath his hair. Darkly intense, his bearing is defensive and watchful, wiry muscles having filled out to create a solid, sturdy frame. Not overly tall, he is a grounded, immovable rock - just as thickly guarded on the inside as he is thickly muscled on the outside - a deceptive impression that suits him well for the panther quick grace that's displayed when he's on the move. – 20 turns
LOG:
The sun has just started to set over the southern horizon, casting long shadows across the bowl and surrounding jungle alike. Kaskan moves amidst those shadows, progress stealthier than usual as he keeps a sharp eye on his surroundings and particularly those he passes. No meandering pace this eve - he has a goal in mind, and her name is Nenienne.
Nenienne is in the eastern upper bowl, just emerging from the Weyrling barracks and looking slightly frustrated. Noticing Eovarijath, she begins moving toward the queen, then apparently thinks better of it, instead changing her heading for the Weyr proper.
Kaskan quickly spies Nenienne as she crosses the bowl and situates himself in her path. The hood of his jacket is up, light blue eyes a stark contrast to the shadows of his dark, rugged features. "Neni!" he calls out, one hand gesturing as she nears.
Nenienne looks up when she hears her name called, and though she doesn't smile, her expression changes to a more neutral frowm. She heads over toward Kaskan as purposefully as she had been heading toward the living cavern and, most likely, her friend the klah pot.
Nenienne
Kaskan takes one look at the woman's expression and changes his planned approach. "Hey kiddo," he teases with a flash of white-toothed smile. "Bad day?" Subtle as ever.
Nenienne nods and sighs. "I was hoping to find Rio. I finally procured some stones for a commission she mentioned, and I wanted to see if she liked any of them. Sadly, all I can find is her dragon."
Kaskan automatically glances over Nenienne's shoulder at mention of Eovarijath, his relationship with the young queen still on shaky ground. "You can't find her?" he echoes, immediately concerned. His smile vanishes as he frowns, one hand rising to absently rub his stubbled jaw. "She can't be too far away if Eo is here. I'll find her - and I'll let her know that you're looking for her." That settled, his gaze focuses on the young smith. "In the meantime, I was wondering if you could do something for me?"
Nenienne notices the frown and assures quickly, "It's just that I keep ending up where she's not. I'm sure she's around, and it's all a comedy of errors." She looks actively curious as he asks her for a favor, though there is no suspicion or other negative implications in her tone as she asks, "What do you need?"
Kaskan's frown crooks upward at the edge as he tilts a pointed look at the woman for her optimism. He'll not feel better till he finds Rio now, but for the moment he sets his attention to the matter at hand. Darting a quick glance to either side he reaches out to tap her shoulder and nod his head to one side, toward a spot along the nearby wall where a pile of crates has been stacked. Turning, he takes a step in that direction. The spacious bowl is a little too open for his liking. "Come here, I'll show you."
Her curiosity piqued, Neni follows the secretive guard.
Kaskan leads her to the pile of crates, perhaps giving the impression that he intends on opening one. But instead he merely turns and hops up on one, giving her another crooked grin as he pats the other half of the crate beside him. The wooden boxes are piled two and three levels high on the other side of where she'd be sitting, a convenient screen from most of the bowl.
Nenienne takes the offered seat, her expression now openly curious. "What's up?" she asks as she gets comfortable.
Kaskan is fairly casual about his movements despite their secretive nature. It's the perfect combination to gain a little privacy in so public a location. Leaning toward her their shoulders nearly touch but then he swings a small satchel around into his lap and sits up straight again. Opening it he pulls out something lumpy wrapped in cloth and hands it over to her. Again, his movements are casual enough but a subtle air of keen awareness intensifies his demeanor, casting the two of them in a bubble all their own. No one is going to approach without him noting it immediately. "I wanted to get your opinion on that."
Nenienne accepts the package and unwraps it carefully but quickly, somewhat straining her eyes in the fading light.
When she opens the cloth she'll see a fist-size carving of a curled dragon in sleeping repose, the stone a pure white that glimmers even in the fading light. Kaskan leans closer as she unwraps it, protectively hovering. After speaking with Jaya about her troubles with nefarious sorts he isn't taking any chances by flashing the piece around.
Nenienne hmmmms, cupping the figurine in her hands. "Very nicely carved," she notes. As she looks at it her expression is appreciative, and she asks casually, "Do you know what it's carved from?"
Kaskan shakes his head, turning a bit more in his seat as the hood hinders his sideway view of her. "No, I was hoping you could tell me." The detail is exquisite in its simplicity, specific aspects often hinted at by the cut and angle, drawing out the natural hues of the stone. The dragon's tail is curled about to encircle the prone shape, light reflecting off the pure white withers with realistic shading.
Nenienne hmmmms, hefting it a few times without letting it go. "It feels like jade," she muses, "but that would be almost impossible. A carving of this size made from white jade would be the prize of any Lord Holder's collection. Do you need it back, or can I take it to Master Jarvys to see what he can ascertain?"
Kaskan draws a quick breath at her question, then immediately smoothes his expression and lifts a hand to his jaw again in habitual gesture. Inwardly he curses at her initial estimation, barely holding the expletive back from leaving his tongue. "You can take it if it'll help, Neni, but.. if you don't mind, I'd prefer you not show anyone. It's…personal. A very special piece." He draws a wan smile for her benefit, blue gaze looking to hold hers and gauge if she's suspicious or simply interested as a crafter.
Nenienne looks down quickly as he meets her eyes and shakes her head. "No one but Master Jarvys." She is, as usual, frowning, but no more than usual, and her voice is nothing but curious. That is, until she asks a question of her own, "By the by, have you run into the friends looking for you at Landing?"
Blast it! Kaskan lifts a hand to feather fingers back through his hair, over-long layers simply falling back into place. He hadn’t counted on her wanting to show someone, especially a Master. Trying to catch her eye he pulls a charming white-toothed smile that contrasts his southern-made tan. “I was hoping to just get /your/ opinion on it, Neni,” he says in a rolling drawl. Leaning a bit toward her he nudges her shoulder with his. “Maybe just what it is.. how valuable it is.. you know.” A slight shrug puts a casual tone to the request, though his intentions are far from it.
Her question draws an immediate frown, blue eyes darkening as brows crease. It sounds innocent enough, but the few people Kaskan would call ‘friend’ here in the south Nenienne knows by name. She said friends – plural. Tension breathes over the tense set of his pose, hunching broad shoulders more toward her and tilting his head within the cowl of his hood. “Uh, no… what did they look like?”
Nenienne hmmmmms, then hefts it a few more times, then runs her hands over the carving again. "It could be soapstone, except usually that feels more… soapy. It could also be quartz, but I'd expect it not to be so smooth due to quartz's crysalline structure. Beyond that I would need equipment to test it, and I'd prefer to confer with a Master just because there are so many possibilities. Off-the-cuff I'd say jade, but that can't be right — and if it was jade, especially a piece carved this beautifully, then I don't know if I could set a value on it.
At his question she gives a rare smile, albeit a grim rather than a happy one. "I had a feeling they were nothing of the sort. They're both tall and strapping, reddish hair, and one has a beard. I think they might be related; there seems to be some sort of resemblance.
Kaskan is torn. He can’t let her show it to a Master. If it’s as valuableas he suspects questions are sure to be asked and word sure to get out. News of visitors asking about him, especially it it’s who he thinks it might be, makes it even more imperative that no one know she has the piece. For a moment he considers keeping it and taking his chances, but no, the sooner he finds out details the sooner he can get rid of it. Observing Nenienne closely for the few seconds it takes to mull over those thoughts he comes to a decision. The woman knows her craft, and has already shown discretion. One hand reaches out to lie on her forearm, earnest appeal laced with casual tone so as not to raise her alarm. “Neni, can you keep a secret?”
Nenienne almost draws away when he touches her, but stops herself in time. "I can," she affirms, her tone puzzled but laced with curiosity. She absently begins turning the piece around in her hands, not looking at it, but more using it like a worry stone.
Kaskan keeps a light touch on her arm despite the sudden tension in her pose. “It’s a surprise… for someone,” he says, shading the lie with truth and a smile. “So absolutely no one can know about it… and, well, those men you mentioned… they aren’t my friends but I do know them and I think you could tell they aren’t nice people. They have a way of… sniffing out stuff like that.” His chin dips toward the item in her hand, fingers flicking in gesture atop her arm. “I wouldn’t want them to know you have it.”
Nenienne's expression is dubious, but she nods and says, "All right. But please note that I can't identify this by myself. At best I can make an educated guess, especially since Master Jarvys haunts all of the jewelry areas at Landing, and they're even busier at the Hall proper." She glances up, meeting his eyes so vey briefly, but somewhat surprisingly given how she avoids doing so with most people. "Are you sure you want me to keep this?" she asks, "Since I can't really do anything with it without letting someone see it?"
Kaskan's smile widens, white teeth flashing against the shadow of day-old stubble. "That's all I need," he assures, relieved more than he shows. His fingers curl to squeeze her arm then lift palm forward in restraining gesture. "That'd be great, Neni." When she briefly meets his eye he tries to convey grateful encouragement as much as possible, though when cast in his dark coloring, rugged features, and given from inside his hood it conveys a mysterious air despite his attempts to the contrary. "I'm positive. I trust you with it. Whatever you can figure out will be helpful. Just… be careful, ok?" And by that he means the Thug Brothers, not that she'd be careless with the carving. As long as she keeps it hidden it's safer with her than with him, especially with the desperate idea stirring in the back of his mind.
Although Neni still seems uncertain, she nods and carefully rewraps the figurine before stowing it in her pouch and noting, "If I'm carrying something people may want to see. I'll leave this in my press in my room — Neythan made me a really good lock when I was still sleeping in the common area." With that she begins to look around and moves around restlessly. "Anything else?" she asks, looking longingly toward the Weyrentrance.
Kaskan nods at her plan and sits up straighter, hitching the hooded jacket across his shoulders before hopping off the crate and turning back. "Thank you, Neni. I really appreciate it," he says, voice warmly sincere. Blue eyes look to hers for a moment, then dart to either side checking to see who might have observed their conversation. Satisfied, he hesitates until she's on her way then strides back the way he came with a deeply thoughtful expression set upon his face.
RELATED LOGS:
Two Thugs and a Computer Geek – The thugs arrive and start asking questions.
Two Thugs and a Gem Girl
Two Thugs and a Little Kid
— (side log) “Walk much, Jaya?” – Kaskan tells Jaya his history with the thugs.
— (side log) “C’mon little man, show me what you got.” – Max gets to know Jhorn.
“Can you keep a secret?” – Kaskan gives Nenienne the carving.
“I like the way you negotiate.” – Kaskan and Max make a plan.
“Where’s Jhorn?” – Jhorn’s disappearance is reported to Max.
“Now, let the lady go.” – The thugs go after Nenienne.
“Kas, you down there?” – Max and Wayne rescue Kaskan.
You are gonna die, little man. – Everyone races to rescue Jhorn.
