Current location:	Benden Weyr
Entry tags:	felisa, sofika

Meeting Sofika

• Who: Felisa, Sofika
  
• What: Random chit-chat
  
• Where: Benden Weyr
  
• When: Day 16, month 10, day 2
  

Thunder cracks loudly outside the caverns of Benden Weyr; as the latest clap dies down, the spattering sounds of heavy rain takes it's place. From the living caverns, the dull roar of dinner patrons can be heard. Just inside the entrance to the bowl, a thin figure hovers, peering out into the black - Sofika is dry, and judging by the way her arms are wrapped about her waist, probably a bit cold too. The healer coughs a bit, a balled fist containing the spread of any germs.

Felisa is just entering when she hears the cough. She stops up quickly and asks "Are you all right?" without seeing who is actually coughing. She doesn't approach, however.

"Yeah, it's nothing," Sofika assures Felisa, without shifting her gaze from the rain outside. "This kind of weather always makes me a bit yukky." At the latter, she turns her head to greet the other woman with a smile, though her nose is wrinkled - no-one likes a niggling cough, after all.

---

Sofika
Sofika's skin is smooth and creamy and her curly hair a uniform flat brown. A small mole marks her right cheek, and there are the beginnings of wrinkles around her eyes; she looks, for sure, far older than she is. Her straight-set eyebrows shield dark, dark brown eyes that are rimmed by long lashes a shade darker than her mousy brown curls. Her nose is slender, and tapers towards full, pale lips. There is another small mole on her upper right arm, but this is the only other blemish on her. She's not tall, though more often than not very high-heeled shoes boost her to a respectable 5'6" - without them, she barely makes 5'3". She is thin, and devoid of all the curves that make for an attractive woman... in fact, her figure is still girlish, as though she is yet to pass her teen years.

Sofika always wears a simple dress, square neckline with buttons to the waist, and a billowy skirt to below the knee. She must have one for each day of the seven', in different prints and materials. Her shoes vary; sometimes sandals, sometimes pumps, and sometimes boots - but always heeled, around the three- or four-inch mark.

---

Felisa stops up as she notices the knot. "Hello, Journeyman. I'm sorry, I don't know your name. Have you been posted recently? During the trial?"

Sofika nods, turning around and leaning up against the inside wall of the cavern. "I came forward with the other Connellites, then was recalled to Healer Hall, and have just been posted back not long ago. Sofika." The healer sticks her hand out, smile brightening a bit. "And you?"

Felisa smiles in reply. "I'm Felisa." She places her hand on the Healer's. "I'm originally from Distant Whisper, and I've been helping out the Harper during the trial, so I haven't been around a lot. Do you like it here so far?"

"Felisa," Sofika repeats, committing the name to memory with a handshake. "Nice to meet you, Felisa. Are you a harper, then?" She looks a little confused, momentarily, but seems to dismiss that train of thought. "I'm sorry for what's been going on with Benden's Lord - it's just despicable. I was from a small cothold, back in my time. Can't imagine how angry you must all be."

Felisa shakes her head. "Not a Harper, but Journeyman Andoran, who put the case together, figured I could find the information and help out when the prosecutung Harper needed anything." She grimaces at the mention of the Lord. "Furious -- he wasn't going to tell the Distants that thread was coming back."

Sofika nods again, this time a smaller gesture, as she processes the information about Felisa's work on the case. "Right - gotcha. I heard about that, it's simply foul. What a fardling wherrybrained," and a crass, probably more appropriate curse is slotted in here, "Poor excuse for a person, huh?!" Her hands slide back to wrap around her waist, and Sofika lifts one foot up to rest flat against the wall as well. Perfectly dignified journeywoman, isn't she? "'Scuse the language. I just - anyway. I hope he gets what he deserves, and then some."

Felisa nods fervently, not seeming to mind the assessment at all. "I hope he does, and that they can find a decent replacement. I have no idea what his sons think about the whole thing. For all we know, they think he's in the right."

"Well, surely the Conclave will take that into account when they're considering the options for that scum's replacement," the healer returns in a hopeful tone, shaking her head. "And surely he's the only demented one! Really, you'd think he'd be pleading insane, wouldn't you? It's just so unbelievable, it's shocking. I'm so sorry for all your families, Felisa."

Felisa nods. "I'm just glad they're all safe. And I don't think he considers what he's done wrong, so he wouldn't plead insanity. But thank you. Have you eaten yet?"

"That's a good point. I'm glad they're safe too." Her smile surfaces again, and Sofika nods. "I ate earlier, have to work later tonight. But if you're going in... there's some vegetable pastries of some sort tonight, I reckon I could fit another in."

Felisa nods. "That sounds wonderful. I ate before we left the Hold for the day, but I'm feeling peckish. Not to mention klah is always welcome."

Pushing off the wall, Sofika starts towards the living cavern. "Shall we, then? Might be a bit easier to get a seat now anyway, people should be starting to leave soon." As if right on cue, a large group tarts to file out from there, filling the smaller caverns with their loud conversation.

Felisa nods agreeably and follows, seeming content to tag along behins the Healer.

Sofika heads up the tunnel to the living cavern.

---

Living Cavern
Huge, still mostly the natural shape of the bubble cavern that formed it though embellished with intricate columns, the living cavern is large enough to seat over two thousand people at any given time. Gleamingly clean, the space is clearly well-kept by the hard work of the lower caverns staff. High in the eastern walls, narrow windows allow slants of light to dapple the room during the day, a plethora of glowbaskets in well-spaced niches around the cavern provide a warm, ambient glow after sunset. Many long tables are placed around the room, providing plentiful seating, some boasting chairs around them, others sturdy benches that seat ten at a time. The walls are decorated with a set of simple color-block tapestries and one that's more ornate, recently restored, depicting the settling of Benden during Torene's time. The cavern has a welcoming, homey feel to it in spite of its size.

The exits from here are pretty clear-cut: A set of handsomely carved stone steps lead up to the balcony-style kitchen that wraps around the cavern; a tunnel on the eastern wall slopes upward just slightly on its way out to the bowl; the southern tunnel slopes downward steadily as it dips into the Weyr's inner caverns.

---

Alot louder inside, Sofika raises her voice a bit to carry back to Felisa. "Can you see anywhere we can sit?" She asks, dark eyes scanning the cavern. The smell inside here is wonderful - pastry, yes, and a variety of herbs and vegetables mingling with the denser scent of cooked meat.

Felisa sniffs appreciatively, but is drawn inexoriably toward the klah. She appears to hear the question since she begins scanning the room as well. She appears to find something, since she beckons Sofika over.

Sofika clears her throat, just because. She stops for a moment, still scanning... and then, she's following Felisa towards whatever seats the younger woman's found for them. "Good find," she notes as she makes her way over.

Felisa nods and sits down, clearing some dishes left by whomever vacated. "Need to teach someone some manners" she says, heading over to the wash bin. After dumping them off she gets herself some of the veggie pastries, as well as meat and tubers.

Sofika laughs a bit, settling down into a seat as Felisa clears up and dishes herself out some dinner. The healer doesn't look like she's going to hold herself to another pastry, apparently, as she leans forward onto the table, propping her head up in her hands as she waits for Felisa's return. "Sorry, I could have taken those dishes."

Felisa says, "No problem. The former people should have anyway. Want one of my veggie rolls?"

"Actually," the healer says, sitting up straighter again. "I just remembered, I told Master Alastor I'd bring him some extra notes on a strapping technique we used to use, and I haven't organised anything yet - I'd better get to it, sorry." Sofika stands up, fixing Felisa with an apologetic wave as she leaves. "Enjoy your dinner, Felisa - nice to meet you!"