Sibling Gossip

Writers: Chelle, Heather
Date Posted: 4th December 2013

Characters: Chupsin, Chaysea
Description: The two of them sit down for midday meal and discuss their family.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 3, day 4 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Genna, Sinla

Chaysea hummed softly to herself as she made her way down to the
infirmary at the Hold. She had locked up her office over at the
Vintner Hall in order to visit with her younger brother. It was odd to
compare the two of them. Not only were they close in name, but now
they found themselves to be a widow and widower. Of course, Chaysea
was sure that Chupsin had taken his wife's death much harder than she
had her old and feeble husband.

Walking into the infirmary, Chaysea smiled when she caught sight of
Chupsin at his desk, "Have time for some lunch?"

His head came up and he visibly relaxed when he saw it was only one of
his sisters. Indeed Chaysea was more the quiet one so she was easier to deal
with than some of the others. "Just let me finish up," he replied before gathering
up the charts he was updating.

Chaysea glanced around the infirmary as she waited, the corners of her mouth
lifting in a polite smile to a journeyman who passed by. Being in the infirmary
still brought a pang to her chest. Growing up, Chaysea had wanted nothing
more in life than to be in the healercraft yet her gender had restricted
her from such.

She still had adequate knowledge of herbs and home remedies, and had been
present for more than one birth. It was as close as she could ever get
to being a healer.

Once he had put up everything, Chupsin grabbed his sweater and then headed
out with his sister. "So how is everything at the Hall?"

"Much too boring," a smirk played around Chaysea's lips, "and what
about the infirmary?"

"The usual. Pregnant women, vomiting kids, and broken legs. Farmers aren't a
very careful lot." He shook his head before noting that his firelizard had appeared
to greet Chaysea as he flew beside them.

The Headwoman looked up at the creature with interest as they entered
the Dining Hall. The firelizard certainly was handsome, and she could
see how it would be useful. Collecting their food and retreating to a
table, Chaysea waited until they were seated before asking Chupsin
what was really on her mind.

"How are you holding up?" She looked across the table at her younger
brother. They made a striking pair, she knew, because they favored
each other so closely.

He gave her a confused look for a moment and then his brows relaxed.
"So who told you about my meltdown?" That was more important than
telling her exactly how he felt.

"Oh, come on, Chup, I'm your sister, and the Headwoman, not to mention
I work around people making really strong drinks. I have ways of
getting my information." She winked teasingly at her brother.

He sighed. That meant it wasn't Keayd. Good. "I don't know...Makarl was
being an idiot and I just couldn't understand why he would be so I guess I
just...lost it. Things are as they always are now, though I don't know if I'll
ever...I can't let myself around another woman yet." He was afraid someone
else would be hurt.

"That is understandable." Chaysea herself was not looking for another
husband, of course, Dothran's death had been natural, whereas
Chupsin's wife...Well, she still wasn't sure about that. She didn't
know if Chupsin had loved his wife or not, although their relationship
had certainly progressed quickly.

"Then again I don't know if another woman would ever want to come around
me anyway. I'm sure half the Hold still thinks I had something to do with
it."

He sighed. The way he felt it wasn't very far from the truth.

"It was so unexpected and strange, her death, so I am sure that is why
people think that way." Chaysea consoled. After all, Chupsin was a
good healer, and there certainly was no questioning his skills in his
craft.

"Did you hear that Genna got Searched?" He was of a few minds about it but
it wasn't his decision anyway, but Sinla's.

Chaysea's eyebrows rose in surprise, "No, I had not heard. Is Sinla
allowing her to go?"

"I doubt it, though on the one hand it would be good to have a rider in the
family." Chupsin understood what it meant to gain advantages from exposure to the
world outside the Hold. He also knew dragonriding was not an easy occupation
and he didn't want his niece to be hurt.

"I think going to the Weyr, and perhaps Impressing, would be great
exposure for Genna. Everyone needs a little adventure in their life."
Chaysea responded, almost wistfully. She had never traveled far from
the Hold. She had been raised traditionally, and married when her
parents had set up her match.

"I think the problem is Sinla doesn't think she will Impress. And she's
worried that if she doesn't, she will come back and won't be able to marry. She'll
go to the Weyr and get in trouble." Chupsin could see where his sister was
coming from. Still, he wondered if Genna didn't deserve her chance. And Sinla had
other children.

Chaysea nodded, "That is a valid point. If she didn't Impress maybe
she would just stay at the Weyr anyway. Not a lot of girls come back
after they go there." Of course, Chaysea wasn't sure what her sister
would think about Genna forgoing marriage altogether and just staying
at the Weyr. She had a feeling that Sinla wouldn't like it.

"That's not an option in Sinla's eyes. She better be married to a dragon or
to a man either way. Genna can't be on her own." Chupsin saw a lot of
himself in his niece.

"Well, I hope that Genna Impresses then." Chaysea did not resent her
parents for the marriage that she had been promised into, her late
husband, while elderly and sick, had never been mean or cruel to her.
Still, the spirit of adventure inside of the Headwoman longed for
something better for her niece.

"She may not ever get the chance," Chupsin said thoughtfully. "Then again,
Chaysea, what if she does? And what if she gets eaten by Thread?"

Chaysea raised her shoulders, "We could play 'what if' all day. People
die young all the time that aren't dragonriders."

"Right but with dragonriders the chance goes up by 90%. Especially in a
Pass." Chupsin knew. He had travelled. He had seen threadscore. It wasn't pretty.

The Headwoman knew that she was probably romanticizing the life of a
dragonrider too much since the only experience she'd had with them had
been the occasional ones who came on Search. Still, she thought being
a dragonrider was too good of an opportunity for Genna to pass up, and
she hoped that Sinla was sensible about her daughter's dream.

"Well, I had better be getting back to my office. It was good having
lunch with you, brother."

Last updated on the January 25th 2014

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