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 Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:40 am
- Rivka meets Aubrianna...and the necklace -
Having seen flyers around the lounge in the science building, Rivka went to speak with her advisor to see who this Aubrianna was. After attending her guest seminar, Rivka was enthralled by the discoveries Aubrianna had made throughout her young life. Wanting to know more information, she was given the address to Aubrianna's place by the department chairman. Making her way down the street she felt a bit nervous, never having met with an archeologist outside of a fieldwork setting. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door.
"Busy day," she muttered to Abolesce, heading out of the library and to the door. "And we all know that won't be the girl we've been waiting for."
Opening the door, she confirmed her suspicion. "Nope, probably not her," she shouted back into the house. Then she raised a brow. "Yes?"
"Oh, hello...I'm Rivka Harrison from Gaiana University...I heard you speak the other day and was given your address." She clasped her hands together behind her back to hide that they were sweaty from nerves. "I was hoping we could talk a bit more about your discoveries and other such things..."
She blinked, surprised. "Burial chambers usually don't interest people. Let me guess - you saw one of the flyers I put up on campus?" She smiled, tightly, then took a step back. "Come on in."
Rivka chuckled nervously "Well...I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to my major, I suppose..." She shrugged and then stepped inside, "Thanks...Lovely house by the way."
She snorted. "It's big. Which I never thought I'd need, until..." She waved her hand a little.
"Well, sit down," Aubri said, pointing to the couch. "You're an... anthropology major, perhaps? In any case... are you here concerning the flyers or just because you want to bask in the presence of my knowledge?"
Rivka followed Aubri inside and found a place to sit down. "Anthropology and Archeology double major. And yes, I'm here because of what I heard in your lecture, but also from the flyers. My interest was aroused and I just had to come and see what it was all about."
"Good. Because we need another caretaker. Apparently, I'm getting custody of all the orphans in the city..." She rolled her eyes. "Stay put, I'll be right back." Aubri hurried out of the room, and rummaged around in her office.
A few minutes later, she came back and deposited a talismanic necklace on the table. "To tide you over until she makes the crossing from the Southern continent, which should be in a week or two.
"That is, if you think you can take care of a winged cat-like creature with the intelligence of a human, the capacity for speech, a lifespan of over a century or even two, and with a unique culture. Are you up to the challenge, do you think?"
Rivka was silent from shock for a bit, but then nodded, "Yes...yes, I can definately handle this...I'm definately up for the challenge. I'm honored that you think I'm good enough..." She breathed in deeply and then reached out to take the necklace into her hands. "It's...lovely..."
"Actually, it's just because I'm assuming that an archaeology-anthropology double major doesn't go to a lot of frat parties. You guys usually turn out rather well. Take me, for instance - though I didn't double in those two subjects, it's close enough.
"Oh. The other thing to know about the necklace - the color of the beads shows you the basic colors your Dumyrciedel - that's what they're called - will be... and the type of statue tells you the basic personality. Yours will probably be very kind, possibly energetic. Might tear up your dorm room."
Rivka nodded and listened intently to what Aubri said. "I will do my very best to care for the Dumyr-...Uh...Dumyrciedel? I know I don't seem so now because I'm nervous, but I'm quite full of energy and happiness myself...We're a perfect pair." Rivka smiled and examined the necklace.
"Good. Anyway, I'm glad you're taking this well - it was very abrupt. Long day. Needed to get the responsibility for this girl off of my hand." Aubrianna laughed, drily. "Any questions that you have, ask away."
"Abrupt is definately the word..." She rubbed her neck, "I can't really think of anything...But I most likely will come up with millions of them in the next few days. Will I be able to come back here or call you if I have any questions or concerns?"
"Yes, that'll be fine. Or come find me on campus - my lectures continue on for the rest of the week, unfortunately." She rolled her eyes. "Where can I get ahold of you when your Dumyr finally gets here?"
"Oh right..." Rivka nodded, then pulled out a notebook and jotted down a few things, "Here's my dorm phone number, cellphone number, and the number of Professor Erikson's office where I do my workstudy. The best chance of getting ahold of me is using my cellphone." She smiled and ripped the paper out of the notebook, folding it and handing it to Aubri.
Aubrianna took the paper and nodded. "Well, then. Unless you have any further questions...."
Rivka shook her head, then glanced at her watch, "No, no questions...and I best be heading back. I have some quick studying to get done before a quiz in my Trig class. And I bet you have your own stuff to do...so...I'll show myself out?" Rivka stood up and extended her free hand to Aubri.
"Sounds good to me." She shook Rivka's hand. "I'll probably call within a few days."
"I look forward to hearing from you..." She smiled and then let herself out, heading back to the university.
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Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 7:18 am
Ring.
Ring.
Click.
Hello, Rivka? It's Aubrianna. There's a slight... problem. If you can, stop by sometime today in the afternoon. I've got bad news...
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Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 3:41 pm
- Bad News... -
Bad News? I hate bad news. Rivka closed her cellphone and tucked it into her bag, along with the pouch that she stored her necklace in. "But...bad news could mean anything...maybe it's not really bad, maybe I'm just assuming that bad means horrible." She closed and locked her door, then rushed out of LaHaye Hall making her way off Gaiana University property and towards Aubrianna's House.
She walked at a brisk pace, her mind jumbled with all sorts of thoughts as to what that bad news could be and how it would effect her or the necklace. She took a second to calm her breathing before she knocked on the door of Aubri's house, crossing her fingers behind her back.
A young girl in a red dress opened the door. She smiled demurely and curtsied. "You must be here to see Mother," she surmized, stepping back so that Rivka could enter. "She should be out in a-"
"Rivka. Good, you got my message. Take a seat?" Aubrianna was towelling off her hands, hair pulled back in a large... mess by an alligator clip, dressed in loose, ratty clothing. Spring cleaning?
"Rosalie, you can go back to reading, if you want. Or you can go out - I don't care which."
The girl nodded, curtsied, and hurried out of the room obediently.
Rivka politely returned the curtsie to the little girl and then entered the house, finding a place to sit down. "I just got your voicemail and rushed on over...Should I be overly concerned or just mildly worried? I'm really never sure how to feel when people tell me there's bad news."
Aubri stopped drying her hands. She pursed her lips.
"... Unless you somehow find the funds to visit your Dumyrciedel... you might not ever get to see her. She is no longer your direct responsibility."
Rivka frowned a bit and nodded, then shrugged her shoulders and tilted her head. "So...what exactly does that mean?...Why is that? Am I unfit?"
"It's... complicated. Internal politics. One of the leaders of the more traditional... conservative side refused to allow your Dumyr out of the city. The head of the ruling Council negotiated, and in return for letting this woman, Briseatn, keep your Uluen... the conservative side will no longer be permitted, legally, to interfere with the exchange program.
"I had no role in any of this. Akhetnnami sends her deepest apologies.... and so do I."
"Oh...that's a shame...So I'll never even be able to meet the dumyr, unless I some how get to travel there to meet it?" She chewed on her lip and sighed, reaching into her bag and pulling out the pouch. Opening it, she took out the necklace. "Makes watching the necklace seem all in vain, doesn't it? Oh well, It's fine...It was a good experience, none the less."
"It's a girl. Her name's Morcades... I can't guarantee anything, but I'm willing to try and get messages back and forth between the two of you, so she knows who you are. And the next time I go back there... you are welcome to come with me. It can be arranged as a sort of... teaching tool, of some kind, believe."
"That's a lovely name...and I guess it would be best for her to be with her own kind. I would love to go with you sometime, as long as it doesn't interfere with my own studies of course." Rivka began to cheer up, a slight smile coming to her face.
"I'll talk to your professors about the possibility the next chance I get," she assured Rivka, nodding.
"Oh. And I can't remember - did I give you a journal with the addresses and names of the other caretakers? If it's not too painful a reminder, you can always interact with their Dumyr - babysit, maybe, if it's needed? I don't know. I'm no good with figuring out things like this."
"Oh no, you haven't...but that would be just fine. I think I'd be just fine with seeing and interacting with any dumyr at all, whether or not it was Morcades." She looked down at the necklace, then back at Aubri, "Oh...so, what do I do with this necklace now? since Morcades won't be coming."
"Keep it, if you want to. I have no use for it. Now, a minute..." She disappeared down the hall for a moment. Rummaging could be heard, then a crash - probably of books - and a great deal of swearing, before Aubri returned to the living room and tossed a journal to Rivka. "It's a start - more caretakers will obviously come along, but since I'm not psychic..." She shrugged.
"Ah...oh...ok..." She tucked the necklace back into it's pouch and put the pouch in her bag. She rubbed the back of her neck and jumped a bit at the crash. "Thanks...I'll try and contact some of these folks..." She opened the journal up and began to transfer in some of the phone numbers and names into her cell.
"Mm. Well, if that's it.... I'll call you if and when I know more about the trip to Baarikmet, or if something changes. Call me if you need me or have any messages you want to try and send to Morcades.
"Other than that... out. I've got spring cleaning to do. Joy." Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she rolled her eyes, cracking her knuckles.
"Oh, yeah, um ok...Thanks...I have all the numbers i need for now..." Rivka stood up and handed the journal back to Aubri and slipped her cell back into her bag. She was feeling a bit offended at being rushed out, but Aubri obviously did have some work to do, so she let it slide. "Alright...talk to you...um...another time..." Rivka smiled and then showed herself out.
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