Settling In

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 28th April 2009

Characters: Causton, Rikka
Description: Causton catches up with Rikka to see how she feels is fitting in at the Hall
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 2, day 18 of Turn 5
Notes: Mentioned: Geni & Misara

"And how are you settling in?" Causton asked, walking up behind the
familiar figure of Rikka as she stood in line for breakfast in the
dining hall.

"I'm getting there, sir," Rikka said with a smile for the Hallmaster.
There wasn't a lot she could say in the busy dining hall that wouldn't
be overheard. Though, even if the question was asked in a more private
setting there were still things she wouldn't say to the Hallmaster. It
had been different when he'd been more a friend than the Hallmaster -
when she had had a contract with the Hold, not the Hall.

"Just 'getting' there?" he asked, collecting a tray of his own, despite
having already broken his fast at home. Since his illness, he always
seemed ravenous. "No problems, so far?" He couldn't put into words the
real question he was thinking, he wondered just how some of the journey
folk would treat her, not to mention some of the hall folk in general.
It was what he had feared for Geni, and Misara, if anyone found out about
either of them.

"Well, there's a lot to learn about the machinery and the procedures,
but I'm enjoying that. And new people to meet. New rooms. And I've
only been here a sevenday."

"Well I'm glad to see you here," he replied, searching her face for any
signs of something being hidden from him.

"In the dining room, keeping my strength up by eating the wonderful food
the Hall supplies? I'm glad to be here," she said fervently, her
amusement plain in her expression. "Seriously good food - and wine for
the journey-ranked crafters."

"I mean to the Hall as a whole." Causton replied with an amused laugh.
"If you need anything from me, you know my door is always open, and of
course, Geni will get around to having you over for a meal one night
too. Though after that, you may wish you'd eaten here instead," he
said, only half joking.

"Perhaps the kitchens could cater when I visit," Rikka suggested,
looking around to make sure the Hallmaster's wife wasn't around to hear
her teasing. "But thank you for the invitation. I don't have to do as
many night duties here as I did at the Hold so that's another positive
about the move."

"Don't let Geni hear you say that!" Causton shushed her, "she'll know it
came from me." He nodded towards one of the empty tables. "Care to
join me - or would that be seen as wrong by the other journeymen?" he
asked quietly.

"Well ..." Rikka shrugged. "It's more your reputation than mine, isn't
it? And people have talked about us before - before Geni came."

"Yes, but anyone caught saying anything these days, might find a
different reception - besides, there's nothing going on between us so we
have nothing to fear - do we?" he asked, his eyebrows rising in question.

Rikka chuckled. "Certainly _not_, Hallmaster. And I'd be honoured to
sit with you." She nodded toward the head table in the dining room. It
was more daunting than her easy friendship with the Hallmaster. "Over
there?"

"Why not? It's not as if you're pushing yourself where you're not
welcome. And who's going to argue with - me?" he laughed, "Come on,
let's eat before this gets any cooler." he said indicating his tray of food.

"Talked me into it," the technician journeywoman said as she followed
the Hallmaster to the table that was usually reserved for other masters.
One aspect she was enjoying about the move to the Vintner Hall was
that she was both part of the Hall and yet not entirely under their
jurisdiction. It had been different at the Hold for they hadn't really
had the same understanding of craft discipline, not being crafters
themselves. "At least they've all eaten."

"Wouldn't matter to me, even if they hadn't." he said in a loud whisper.
"I would hope you would be more welcome here than in the Hold,
so if
there is _any_ problem, you should come to me. Understand?" he asked.

"Perfectly," she said happily and not entirely truthfully, but she was
sure that he understood that she would always have to pick and choose
among the sorts of issues she faced for those suitable to share with
him. "It's sort of nice here, sitting looking at everybody," she
commented craning her neck to peer into all corners of the dining room.

"And being looked at?" he asked with a grin. It hadn't passed his
notice that they were garnering covert glances from around the room.
"At least up here, we can keep and eye on everyone."

"No wonder you and the other masters sit up here. Do you spend all meal
time discussing the apprentices and journeymen?" She could remember
wondering such things from her own apprentice days at the far away
Technician's Hall.

"Not always..." Causton spoke around a mouthful of bread. "Classes,
homelife, general discussion. It all happens here. And of course, we
keep an eye on what is happening down there," he said, indicating the
general room with his fork.

"Among the 'lower orders'," Rikka said, still smug at her new (and
likely once-in-a-lifetime) view of the dining room.

"Well I don't know about the other Masters, but I don't see the others
as 'lower orders'," he said, a surprised look on his face at her words,
"That sounds a little condescending."

"Some people are," she pointed out, thinking (as she had before) that
Causton might possibly be too nice for his own good.

"You think me a fool?" he countered, amusement in his voice.

"I think you're the nicest Hallmaster I've ever met," Rikka said firmly.

"Well thank you for the compliment, but, I think there would be others
who may not agree with you," he said with a humph of amusement in his voice.

Rikka smiled, suspecting that was probably true even in his own Hall.
Nobody was universally liked, after all. "Too bad for them, then."

"Well, Rikka. Lovely as it has been dining with you this morning, I
must get on to my office. I'm sure there's plenty of things for me to
do. But know this, my door is always open if you should be in need -
even if it's just for a friendly chat."

"I know that - well, I assumed that," Rikka said, correcting herself and
gulping down the last of her breakfast. She wasn't going to be left
sitting alone at the head table in the dining room. "And you know where
our workshop is if you ever want to visit."

"I'll be down to see you before long, no doubt." he nodded briefly,
before stepping down from the elevated platform the masters table rested on.

Last updated on the May 10th 2009

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Settling In