Differing Opinions (Lauralyn)

[Sosicly Magnolia]

71st of Autumn, 513AV

The young woman slipped into the Hunters Gather quietly with no more than a few waves and no one else paid her much mind. There was a low hum within the Gather and nearly all the tables were seating a small group. It was almost strange to see so many people but aside from those finishing up repairs from the vandalism there were those trying to catch the culprit or culprits.

Sosicly scanned the groups, looking for a table that would hopefully have little to no people. Her gazed drifted to the front where Havier looked pleased with the business while others openly judged each other, daring some to day they sided with them.

The Esterians, Sosicly knew of them, it was hard not to know about those who stood against everything their people did. But she didn’t know them, and while her house still held the smudges of paint she was too lazy to remove she wasn’t angry. She was annoyed, curious, and slowly realizing she’d never met one. She had a sneaking suspicion her brother sided with them but she tried to ignore what he did.

She adjusted her knapsack and finally ended up at an unoccupied table near the middle of the room, and raised her hand for a drink. She ordered water, and contented herself to watch the people around her. To her right sat a group she didn’t recognize, young enough to still be in school there were only three. All had the same deep amethyst eyes, and charcoal hair. To her left was another mostly empty table a face she knew to be highly familiar.

Sosicly narrowed her eyes and blatantly watched the young woman. A weaver by trade they worked together though they didn’t speak to each other often. Now if she could remember the girls’ name. It took a few ticks but she finally looked away to pull out her notebook, and set it on the table, idly and lightly tapping her inkstick against it. It left small smudges that she poked at with her nail.

[Lauralyn]

Lyn had been seated at the gather for a while now, silently watching people. She’d faded into the background like a ghost as she tried to hear snippets of conversation. Being an Esterians herself, she felt uncomfortable with the eyes that sometimes drifted over to look at her. Luckily, she wasn’t one of the most vocal Esterians, mostly keeping her opinions to herself unless she was talking with another who sided with her idea’s. She’d noticed the woman she worked with when she walked in. Her distinctive habit of carrying around notepad had given her away. Lyn didn’t speak to her much, even though they’d been working together in the same way. Both knew the other had a different opinion than their own.

Lyn knew she hadn’t vandalised anyone’s home. She thought it was a stupid and childish thing to do. It didn’t benefit anyone in the long run, side giving the Esterians something to giggle about. She didn’t know who exactly had done it either. But she knew people were judging her. She hated this attention, but she knew she had invited it upon herself by making it openly known that she sided with the Esterians. She just wished they hadn’t done such a foolish thing. Stirring up trouble for no reason was just ridiculous. She was curious about who had done such a thing.

Her golden eyes drifted over to Sosicly's again, and she was startled to find that the dumb lady was already looking her way. Lyn held the glance for only a second before taring her eyes away. Sosicly was writing on her notebook, Lyn knew that meant the woman wanted to talk to her. Sighing inwardly, Lyn put on her emotionless mask, so the the young woman couldn’t figure out what she was thinking. She invited a state of calmness to wash over her face, making it seem like she was much more confident than she could ever be. She assumed she was about to be accused. Why else would anyone whose opinion differed from her own bother to converse with her if they didn’t want to argue.

[Sosicly Magnolia]

Sosicly found herself displeased but the other girls lack of attentiveness and attempted to mirror the impassivity. But for all her facade worked she managed to only make herself feel more relaxed, a tiny smile hiding at the corner of her lips. Since the other woman had not moved Sosicly made no move to move either but now she moved her fingers with flourish, forming words instead of smudges. When she finished Sosicly held it in front of her and read the words with a quick eye before facing the book in the other woman's direction. She made sure to hold it a bit to the side so it was not blocking her expression and watched the woman read while she attempted to remember her name. You work at the Weft and Warp. Would you care for a drink, Krova? Or a chat? Her arm felt a tired swiftly from holding the awkward position and when she assumed the other Symenestra finished she set the book down, still struggling to remember a name. The letter L floated in her mind, she vaguely tried to remember introductions or conversations she heard the other girl participate in and almost clapped her hands when she remembered. Lauralyn was the girls name, she had not many friends at the Weft as far as Sosicly knew, not that she had room to judge. With care she pulled herself out of her thoughts then casually pulled out a chair closer to her own and raised an inquiring eyebrow. It was after her offer that she noted the faintly disgusted stares, and something else about Lauralyn she should probably tugged at the back of her mind.

[Lauralyn]

Lauralyn waited for the young lady to finish her scribbling and eventually flash her open notebook in front of her eyes. She noticed how she moved her paper to the side so she could peek at Lauralyn’s face as she answered. Lyn’s eyes drifted over the words on the page, and then locked firmly onto Sosicly’s crimson orbs. Her angular features caused her stare to be a little intense, and Lauralyn had a habit of looking for longer than what was normal in a conversation as she studied the face of the one she talked to.

Begrudgingly, she decided she would accept. It wouldn’t do well on her character if she flat out cut her off. So she gave a curt little nod in agreement, without opening her mouth. Talking to people was not her strong suit and she wanted to give little of herself, and how anxious confrontation made her feel, away. Not speaking out loud until she had to, or saying very little, she had found was a vary good way to be sure.

She moved her chair so it faced Sosicly’s at an angle that allowed for conversation. Somewhat defensively, she would let the krova sitting by her side lead the conversation. Her stare was not yet carrying with it the same disgust as the stares of others. This either meant she hadn’t yet twigged, or she was trying to remain polite. Still not having said a word, the intensity of her stare might be unnerving to some people. She didn’t smile, nor did she frown, she simply waited for Sosicly to get to her point

[Sosicly Magnolia]

When the Lauralyn only moved her chair to face her Sosicly stood and dragged her own closer and signaled for a server. When they approached Sosicly beamed and asked for water then turned to raise a quizzical eyebrow before ordering the other woman a water. They could get something else after if they wished. I'm Sosicly, you are Lauralyn aren't you, Enda? I don't recall seeing you a the Weft today, were you in the morning or afternoon? She wanted to asked more but sje waited. Aware of the buzz around them about the breaks ins and absently twirled her inkstick while she waited for the other woman to answer. It was then that the water was delivered, Lauralyns set down with more force than necessary. Looking at only Sosicly the tavern server spoke. "Will that be all?" wWith a raised eybrow Sosicly shook her head in negative then turned to face Lauralyn with her eyebrow still raised in surprised question. She did not seem to like you. Sosicly commented silently and sipped her water.

[Lauralyn]

Lauralyn watched her as she came closer, then her eyes flashed over the woman’s notebook once more. “Yes,” she answered “I was in, but in the morning.” She replied simply. She must have missed Sosicly that day. It had been a fairly unremarkable work day. She sighed inwardly as the server slammed her water down onto the table to signal her distaste for the woman. Lauralyn Just thanked her normally and told her that would be all for now.

Sosicly commented on the servers reaction rather nonchalantly. She supposed she wanted an explanation, for she must have seen that most people here didn’t seem to like her. Lauralyn, however, would have to be asked much more directly “No.” She replied “She made that obvious” She said, unable to keep a hint of annoyance out of her tone.

After taking a few gulps of water, Lyn’s gaze drifted back to Sosicly, wondering what she was supposed to say. She wasn’t exactly much of a talker, especially when it came to small talk. But, she figured it was her turn to ask a question indirectly “We’ve not talked much before now, have we?” Lauralyn commented, meaning to ask why the sudden invitation to chitchat.

[Sosicly Magnolia]

The young woman nodded as if she expected the answer. I prefer afternoons and late mornings. I enjoy my sleep. Her too bright smile encouraged the other woman to go on but she did not. Sosicly dropped the formalities as soon as Lauralyn pointed out their lack of previous communication. She gave a short little nod. This time she spent a few chimes scatching away a small piece of her mind. There was no rush. Discourteous servers notwithstanding. We have not. To be truthful I wished to know if you too were a victum. I know quite a few Weft workers who were targeted. It seems a silly way to help surrogates if they even wish to do that. That is, if it is the Esterians, I assumed that with their sentimentalities they would be against something such as this. And I wish to find out who knows what. But you are correct, we have not spoken previously but as you can see, conversations with me require more reading than most desire. Moth Queen or not. And writing leaves and incriminating trail. Her smile was still there but it was marred darkly and Sosicly forced it away. When she finally slid over the book her eyes were still bright with curiosity and a guarded friendliness. Kalinor had been a bit tense as of the late and while discussions about the goings on were normal, open questioning was met with rebuke. After a moment she pulled the book away and wrote again, unabashed. I noted the stares mixed with our servers behavior. There is distaste for you and I want to know why. Once more she slid the book over and polished off her water. It had long since occurred to her that most people seemed to use water to fill conversational lulls. Sosicly did it to try and be average. She forced out a bit of tension in her shoulders. Waiting for Lauralyn to be offended by the implications and signaled for a refill. When it came the server entirely ignord Lauralyn this time but Sosicly ignored the behavior in favor of sipping from her cup and assessing the room again. Most had stopped staring and the rest were back in their own hushed, but obvious, conversations.

[Lauralyn]

Her lack of conversational skills had successfully sped both of them past the point of formalities as she watched the woman busily writing a block of text on her notepad. Finally, she finished, and Lauralyn began to read, eyes skimming the text. She felt a stab of nervousness as she read. She’d known this way of conversation was bound to come up, but she still felt unprepared. Not making this obvious, she slowly made eye contact again, and thought her words through carefully. In that time, Sosicly went back to add something to her speech. There it was again. This confrontation made her anxious.

She steadied herself and got straight to the point. “I agree with you. The vandalism is childish, and unhelpful to anyone. It certainly doesn’t help our cause any. In fact it makes us look petty and weak, and I assure you I had no part in it.” She said, a streak of anger, not for the krova in front of her, but for whoever decided it would be a good idea to vandalize peoples homes. “The distaste is due to the fact that I am an Esterian.” She told her matter-of-factly. She smiled at the last part. She had not thought of it that way, but she was right. Half of most every conversation she’d ever had would be on that paper. “I do not mind reading, Sosicly.”

She waited for the change in her expression. The realization, and then the loathing and disgust. She waited, her face blank as the un-used pages in her co-workers notebook. She appeared confident, inside, she was afraid. After all, in such a place she was outnumbered. But for what she believed was right, she couldn’t allow herself to show her fear.

[Sosicly Magnolia]

Sosicly blinked while she processed the information. Her brother took Lauralyns place, and vague shouting echoed in her mind. Then she shook her head slowly, and wrote evenly enough, though she was sure her face was a mixture of rebuke and acknowledgement. Then you are smarter than your fellow foolish silly idealists. Destroying houses will not save Melina or the others. They'd have better luck trying to rob the Nest itself! I do not understand your kind but I suppose each is entitled to their own opinion. Her face clearly spoke without words that she thought the opinion wrong. But she continued writing after adjusting both the book and herself closer to her companion so that Lauralyn could read while she wrote. Hopefully it made the one-sided conversation easier on both of them. They do not mind that you do not work with them? Their acts are stupid but I would have thought you would all band together. Why do you follow them? Do you not appreciate how you were born? The woman was aware she was probably coming off as a tad offensive but Sosicly seen no reason to mince words. She didn't actually dislike Lauralyn, the woman had implied she enjoyed conversing in Sosicly's manner, and lying would gain her no advantage at this point. For the moment she had nothing else to write and leaned back in her chair. A few dirty looks had been cast their way when her companion spoke of the Esterians but otherwise it seemed fine. Sosicly shook with a soundless giggle at how absurd the whole situation really was. The Ochya hadn't caught the person and apparently not everyone participated and nothing, in her eyes, could actually be gained save frustration on both sides.

[Lauralyn]

She was glad to have met someone who could disagree with her ideals without a shouting match. It certainly was that way when she had let her mother and father know, yelling, violence, weeping. Lauralyn felt safer now, though the butterfly’s still bothered her, she wasn’t anxious. Of late, her moods had been fairly fleeting and changeable with the slightest negative or positive action. Still, she did not show much expression on her face. She wore a mask until she was comfortable with someone. “I don’t even know who did it. For all I know, it was one person, or small group of people who were working independantly.” She shook her head “I do not believe the majority would agree with this… lets say tantrum.”

She paused “I was born because my mother was raped, and murdered and then discarded down the pit like waste.” She said quietly, and darkly. “It is hard for me to appreciate that.” She felt a shiver run down her spine at the thought of what she had just said out loud. It had just slipped her tongue, and now the conversation was a lot more real. It hadn’t been meant as an attack on Sosicly, but it sure sounded like one now she thought it through. Sosicly had been born the same way after all. That was the beauty of writing… you had time to think about what you wanted to say.