-- Spring 80th, 514 AV --
Altelo was being very cryptic this morning, not quite telling Jenni why they were going here in the Twilight Tower. She’d actually been quite comfortable, reading an excellent essay on Inartan society. She’d only gotten through the first page when the House’s patriarch burst in and asked her to follow, on very important business. When she asked what… she was told that would come later. Later when? She was grumpy for being interrupted, but… she knew that her Uncle meant well. If it was important and serious… it was just that. But what was so important and serious?
She followed him, impatience building, when they finally arrived at a door. It was a door to a sitting room, where they usually brought guests and other important people to talk too. There was an easy passage to the kitchen attached, so someone could bring tea, fruit, snacks and the like. Did this important thing involve talking to people? Why was she supposed to be there? However, her curiosity was note to be sated by walking into the next room, as Altelo stopped in front of it.
She wanted to glare at him, but it would simply be immature. She closed her eyes for half a beat, calming down, and glanced up at him with a more neutral expression. He returned one of utmost… seriousness. There wasn’t really any other way to describe it. There was a moment of them staring at each other, until the younger one sighed and glanced away a bit, to look at the door. She didn’t notice, but the patriarch gave the tiniest of smiles. The Seeker wanted to ask what she was there for, but the question had already been posed… she was simply waiting for her Uncle’s answer. She could be patient… she needed to be patient.
“I can tell you now… or later,” he said oddly, no note of amusement or joking in his voice. Jenni returned to stare at him. Now or later? Later as in after they went into that room and talked to whoever was in it, probably. So… she could be told why they were talking now, or why they were later. That didn’t make any sense. What difference did it make? What did her knowing change? Her view? Her opinion? Would it change her opinion on whoever they were talking about? Or maybe this was all wrong and it was something morbid, depressing. Would Altelo tell her someone had died, or the people in the room? Though that was just an example.
That still left her with a serious answer to work out. Why was she being asked this? How much did it really matter anyways? Apparently a lot. It was nice to know the patriarch trusted her judgement, though. But… why her? She wasn’t much of an important member of the family, after all. So… it had to be pertaining to her, right? Unless he was doing this with everyone. Did she want to know earlier? If someone had died? Or did she want to be told. Or if it was the other option… did she want her view biased? It was… tempting. But the safe way was going for the latter choice.
She sighed, rubbing her forehead and staring at the floor. “Later,” she finally admitted tiredly, wondering if it had been the wrong choice. Looking up, however, Altelo’s expression was surprised, and a tiny bit impressed. She raised an eyebrow, and he smiled a little. “Alright. Let us go in, then. Try to be sociable, please.” She almost stopped at the last statement, but they were already headed through the door. ‘Try to be sociable’? Really? Well… okay… it could be true. If she didn’t like someone or a situation, she would often start contemplating how this time would be much better spent reading, working, petting Crook… She’d have to make an effort today, then.
There were, in fact, people inside the room. One was familiar… in fact, she was of the Dawn family, well dressed for a formal meeting. Other than being one of the main leaders of the house, Yana Dawn was also quite familiar to Jenni, from days spent in the Bharani. The woman seemed to have quite an eye and liking for architecture, and had probably read every book and blueprint in the building. Anything new came in? She would be the first at it, taking in the information. She was also well learned in pre-Valterrian information, a much rarer spectrum… and one that bought even more of the younger woman’s respect. Pre-Valterrian was an uncertain and vague area, with almost all information destroyed or forgotten. Or both. It was hard to study, hard to learn, and even harder to push your knowledge beyond the basic information.
The second was, however, less familiar. In fact, completely alien. Well… maybe not. No… he looked a little familiar, from one party or another. Since he was sitting comfortably next to the older Dawn, possibly suggesting that they were related…. So another Dawn. Which wasn’t unusual. But it brought up a question. Why was she there, and why was there this relatively unknown Dawn here as well? He looked a little confused, but still held the polite expression that could be seen on everyone’s faces. The man was… about her age, with dark hair similar to Yana’s worn at a reasonable length. He wasn’t as fashionably dressed as the older woman as well, but… none of them were in their best, so it didn’t seem to be too important.
While she focused on the newcomer, an odd exchange happened between the older adults. Altelo simply shook his head minutely, catching Yana’s eye. The woman responded in kind, then both nodded… as if they both understood. Jenni, however, didn’t notice any of this, and took a seat in a chair opposite their guests when her Uncle did. Now began the discussion… whatever it would be.
Common - Nari/Crook - NPC - Writing - Reading
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