Varanis — 1626 0902 Woundedfeelings
????, Earth Season
Context
End of Earth Season, on the ship to Prax. [[[s02:session-18|Session 18]]]
Follows after [http://journeyoftheheroes.wikidot.com/xenofos:we-are-sailing We Are Sailing]
Events
After a few hours, Berra has managed to eat most of her bread, although not all of it stayed down. She has nibbled on a crumbled bit of cheese but that did not go well, and she has finished off the pear and ginger slice, using it to make the bread more interesting. She drums her fingers on her knee for a bit, and then stands, folding the blanket and leaving it where it sits, and goes over to Varanis.
Varanis is at the prow of the ship, staring across the waves. She’s attempted to tie her hair back, but strands have already been teased loose by Orlanth and flutter about her face. She doesn’t turn to greet Berra. “Hello,” she murmurs as the Humakti approaches.1Pass on listen.
“Hello.” Berra leans there, not far away. “How are you?”
Varanis shrugs. “I’m fine,” she says after a moment. “What about you? Has the illness passed?”
“Not really. I think. But food was good. The ginger fruit was a really good idea.” Berra turns from watching the waves to watching Varanis. “I am a bit embarrassed because as far as I can work out my Runes are a perfect match for Magasta.”
“It doesn’t always work that way though.” The Vingan finally looks at her friend. “You’re a little less grey, anyway. Still look a bit like a sudden gust will push you overboard. Do you want to sit?”
“No. I think I do better standing up. Feeling I’m free to move helps.” Berra shrugs. “I think I’ll probably be better in a day or two. One of the sailors was saying that’s how it works.”
Varanis nods. “Not that I’m an expert, but one of the women under my…” she stumbles over it and recovers, “…command the last time I came this way was sick for two days, queasy for one, and fine by the fourth.”
“I’m mostly just queasy, I think. I heard some people just can’t move. That would be bad.” Berra shrugs, and it has a bit of shudder in it.
“So,” Varanis says.
“Mhm,” Berra replies.
“Come to make sure I’m not going to blast anyone with lightning in a fit of temper?” She’s staring out over the water again, her expression neutral, but the words are resentful.2Berra passes roll on Insight.
“No. That sounds a bit like you want me to be upset with you so you can feel that you’re feeling bad and that’s alright, though. I think. Are you really alright?” Berra might be unsure of her guess, for she rubs her Truth Rune with her thumb.
Berra’s jumble of words draws the Vingan’s attention. “I want you to be upset with me? Of course not. Why would I want that? I’m fine.”3Passes roll on Truth. She heaves a frustrated sigh. “Maybe I’m not fine. I’m angry because Xenofos said that he believes me capable of cruelty when I’m angry. Wait. No. That’s not quite what he said. He said that when I’m moved by air, he doesn’t know where I’ll end up. But it was a reply to me asking if he thought I was cruel.” She scowls. “It means the same thing.”
“You’re hurt and you’re angry and trying not to be unfair,” says Berra. “But it doesn’t mean the same thing. He’s… a slower sort of person than us and doesn’t understand why we go off in different directions.”
“He suspected me of doing… something. I don’t know what. When I was looking for your ginger pear. He didn’t trust me.”4Sticking with your not quite special… there’s an unspoken bit. Perhaps along the lines of “He picked you.”
“He was confused. He trusts you and doesn’t understand you. I think we both confuse him. But he’s never going to be a man of Air.”
Varanis gives Berra a skeptical look, but doesn’t argue further.
“Well, Movement. But … he doesn’t know what it is to think lots of things all in bits.” Berra shrugs. “Anyhow. Do you want some nuts and stuff?” She untucks one of the pouches on her belt. With her leather armour on, she is back to carrying a lot on her, buckled neatly.
Varanis accepts Berra’s peace offering. “I have water, if you need more. It’s probably too early for wine for you yet.”
“I should. I got myself a water skin, but I miss the hard flask. It’s easier to take small sips from. And it buckles on and I’d forgotten how handy that was.” Berra’s pouch has various nuts and seeds in it.
Varanis unhooks her water flask and passes it over. “Drink as much as you need. I can refill it.”
Berra manages to take a big long glug, although she grimaces afterwards. “Humakt should be friends with Magasta,” she mutters, and tries another sip, and decides against it. “But maybe he just didn’t end up caring he was ill on the way to the Whirlpool.”
“Does anything make Humakt ill?” Varanis wonders.
“Oh, a few things. Poisons and illnesses both. Mallia’s touch, and, um… there’s one time that Eurmal helps prepare his food, although then everyone’s ill. It might have been Mallia who wore him down, or Death-by-venom, when he was dead in Hell.” Berra starts to haul herself up to sit on the rail that goes almost up to the prow, and then thinks better of it.
“What exactly is it that Nala needs to do?” Varanis asks, shifting topics rapidly. Berra always seems to be able to keep pace with her in this, unlike certain scholars.
“She’s going to see the Priests of the Zola Fel, or people who know about the Salt God you found me in. She’s taking home the Priest who found her.” Berra is indeed entirely at home with that change. “I don’t know if she needs to just tell them, or deliver him. I think she said something about him having waited a long time that made me think she was doing something to help him get back.”
Varanis nods, accepting this. “That seems appropriate. I don’t know if I’m annoyed that she doesn’t want help or not. I suppose it isn’t that she doesn’t want help. It’s just that I’m not someone she sees as useful. I think that’s what irks me so much.”
“I don’t think she sees me as that either. She just wanted to be at home and either she asked or I did. I know I can’t help her. But if she needs us, I think she trusts us and knows to ask.” Berra does look slightly irked too, perhaps by that.
Varanis snorts. “She trusts you and Rajar, you mean.”
“Pretty sure if I’d meant that, I’d have said it. But once we get to Prax, it’ll be strange. I’ve never been down the … up the Zola Fel. It’ll be fun.”
“Well, if you didn’t mean to say it, I’ll say it. Nala has no use for me. If I can help her, I will. But my main goal will be to seek out Argrath.”
“Seems fair.” Berra heaves a slow sigh. “I should go try to sleep. Yelm’s slipping down.”
Varanis nods. “Wake me if you need anything. I’m going to sleep once Yelm has gone.”
Berra nods, and rubs at the back of her neck. “We’ll see how lying down with my eyes closed goes. I’ll pretend I have room to move in.”
- 1Pass on listen.
- 2Berra passes roll on Insight.
- 3Passes roll on Truth.
- 4Sticking with your not quite special… there’s an unspoken bit. Perhaps along the lines of “He picked you.”
