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rainbowfic2023-03-07 09:00 pm
thisbluespirit) wrote in rainbowfic2023-03-07 09:00 pm
Twilight #17 [Starfall]
Name: Unwelcome
Story: Starfall
Colors: Twilight #17 (lunate)
Supplies and Styles: Paint-by-numbers frombookblather (the arc of history)
Word Count: 780 words.
Rating: G
Warnings: None.
Notes: 1337, Starfall Manor; Tannis Kellen, Marran Delver, Pen Stolley. Takes place fairly immediately before Say My Name.
Summary: Tannis Kellen is not best pleased to have Governor Delver at Starfall.
“Delver.” Tannis rose as Marran Delver entered her study. She held out a hand to greet him. “I’d say it’s nice to see you again, but if I’m honest, it isn’t – not right here and now.”
His mouth twitched. Nevertheless, he said, with a distinct edge of reproof in his voice, “It’s a pleasure, Imor Kellen.”
Tannis cast a glance at the severe looking women who must be his secretary, and took his point. “Ah. Yes. Governor, I should say. You’ll have to forgive me, Imai –?”
“Stolley.”
“I met Governor Delver once before when he was nothing like so exalted a figure.”
Delver gave Stolley a minute nod. “Imor Kellen assisted me quite some years ago when I was in trouble. I fear I always have had the knack for finding it.”
“That you have not lost, I see,” said Tannis, and then looked to Secretary Stolley again.
The Governor turned his head in the same direction. “Stolley, if you would be so good as to leave us. I believe we are about to be less than discreet.”
Stolley’s impassive face gave little away. She merely said, “Of course, Governor.” Then she inclined her head in respect to Tannis as the Head of Starfall and retreated, closing the stiff old wooden door behind her.
“I beg your pardon, Governor. But I can’t like your being here now. Do you imagine I don’t have enough to contend with as it is?”
Delver stilled and tilted his head fractionally. “Oh? Ylie, I take it? Starfall is an ancient anomaly, Imor Kellen, and our current High Governor doesn’t want to believe you might still have relevance.”
“That’s only one of my concerns,” said Tannis. “And it’s Starfall’s business, not yours. You know that wasn’t what I meant.”
He faced her across the desk. “No. I suppose it wasn’t. But that is my business, not yours. I have work to do – essential work. And, as I told you, that will include using the library. It is my right, as much as anyone else’s. Nothing more.”
“I’m responsible for my staff, and it seems like forcing the issue to me. It isn’t wise when it comes to things like this.”
The humour left Delver’s face. “Believe me, I didn’t come here lightly. I told you this is my business, not yours. You don’t know all of it – you never did.”
“Don’t I?” Tannis said, raising her eyebrows. “I thought you were reckless, then – and I still think so. Is that why you brought up Ylie? Agree to whatever you have in mind, and I’ll have your support against the High Governor? Is that it?”
He turned slightly and, despite the rise in tension, laughed. “No, certainly not! I don’t think an alliance would do either of us any favours. Your institution is about the only thing less popular in Portcallan than I am!”
“It’s not that I don’t like you,” she said, letting out a breath. “But –” She held out her hands. “I suspect you are at the very least a complication I don’t need!”
“I’m reckless,” he said for her. “Perhaps. Although a good deal less so now than that young officer you hauled out of a mess. Grant me that much. Now I’ve something else to ask of you – I’ve an item I need to leave with your librarian – no, don’t glare at me, Imor Kellen. It’s nothing harmful. I’ll explain, if you’ll let me.”
Tannis gestured to the chair opposite and while he seated himself, she crossed to the sideboard. “Would you like a drink?” She touched one of the bottles standing on the tray.
“I don’t at the moment,” he said. “But thank you. I think someone else said something about bringing a hot drink when I arrived. They were rather more welcoming than you.”
“At the moment?” she said. Then she held up a hand. “No, don’t tell me. I can see you want to.”
Delver laughed. “All right. What’s this I hear about the High Governor sending you a visitor of his own?”
“Ah, yes. We have an Imai Merner, here to audit our accounts. It’s been a while since his department’s last visitation.”
The Governor placed his hands on the desk and clasped them together. He shot an enquiring look up at her. “A spy for Ylie or Veldiner, you think?”
Tannis smiled. “Well – he says not.”
“Then it must be true.”
She laughed, and then shrugged. “Still – I’m inclined to believe him. I’m not sure I can say the same of you!”
“That always was our difficulty, wasn’t it?” said Delver.
Tannis shook her head. “That’s not how I’d put it.”
“Precisely!”
Story: Starfall
Colors: Twilight #17 (lunate)
Supplies and Styles: Paint-by-numbers from
bookblather (the arc of history)Word Count: 780 words.
Rating: G
Warnings: None.
Notes: 1337, Starfall Manor; Tannis Kellen, Marran Delver, Pen Stolley. Takes place fairly immediately before Say My Name.
Summary: Tannis Kellen is not best pleased to have Governor Delver at Starfall.
“Delver.” Tannis rose as Marran Delver entered her study. She held out a hand to greet him. “I’d say it’s nice to see you again, but if I’m honest, it isn’t – not right here and now.”
His mouth twitched. Nevertheless, he said, with a distinct edge of reproof in his voice, “It’s a pleasure, Imor Kellen.”
Tannis cast a glance at the severe looking women who must be his secretary, and took his point. “Ah. Yes. Governor, I should say. You’ll have to forgive me, Imai –?”
“Stolley.”
“I met Governor Delver once before when he was nothing like so exalted a figure.”
Delver gave Stolley a minute nod. “Imor Kellen assisted me quite some years ago when I was in trouble. I fear I always have had the knack for finding it.”
“That you have not lost, I see,” said Tannis, and then looked to Secretary Stolley again.
The Governor turned his head in the same direction. “Stolley, if you would be so good as to leave us. I believe we are about to be less than discreet.”
Stolley’s impassive face gave little away. She merely said, “Of course, Governor.” Then she inclined her head in respect to Tannis as the Head of Starfall and retreated, closing the stiff old wooden door behind her.
“I beg your pardon, Governor. But I can’t like your being here now. Do you imagine I don’t have enough to contend with as it is?”
Delver stilled and tilted his head fractionally. “Oh? Ylie, I take it? Starfall is an ancient anomaly, Imor Kellen, and our current High Governor doesn’t want to believe you might still have relevance.”
“That’s only one of my concerns,” said Tannis. “And it’s Starfall’s business, not yours. You know that wasn’t what I meant.”
He faced her across the desk. “No. I suppose it wasn’t. But that is my business, not yours. I have work to do – essential work. And, as I told you, that will include using the library. It is my right, as much as anyone else’s. Nothing more.”
“I’m responsible for my staff, and it seems like forcing the issue to me. It isn’t wise when it comes to things like this.”
The humour left Delver’s face. “Believe me, I didn’t come here lightly. I told you this is my business, not yours. You don’t know all of it – you never did.”
“Don’t I?” Tannis said, raising her eyebrows. “I thought you were reckless, then – and I still think so. Is that why you brought up Ylie? Agree to whatever you have in mind, and I’ll have your support against the High Governor? Is that it?”
He turned slightly and, despite the rise in tension, laughed. “No, certainly not! I don’t think an alliance would do either of us any favours. Your institution is about the only thing less popular in Portcallan than I am!”
“It’s not that I don’t like you,” she said, letting out a breath. “But –” She held out her hands. “I suspect you are at the very least a complication I don’t need!”
“I’m reckless,” he said for her. “Perhaps. Although a good deal less so now than that young officer you hauled out of a mess. Grant me that much. Now I’ve something else to ask of you – I’ve an item I need to leave with your librarian – no, don’t glare at me, Imor Kellen. It’s nothing harmful. I’ll explain, if you’ll let me.”
Tannis gestured to the chair opposite and while he seated himself, she crossed to the sideboard. “Would you like a drink?” She touched one of the bottles standing on the tray.
“I don’t at the moment,” he said. “But thank you. I think someone else said something about bringing a hot drink when I arrived. They were rather more welcoming than you.”
“At the moment?” she said. Then she held up a hand. “No, don’t tell me. I can see you want to.”
Delver laughed. “All right. What’s this I hear about the High Governor sending you a visitor of his own?”
“Ah, yes. We have an Imai Merner, here to audit our accounts. It’s been a while since his department’s last visitation.”
The Governor placed his hands on the desk and clasped them together. He shot an enquiring look up at her. “A spy for Ylie or Veldiner, you think?”
Tannis smiled. “Well – he says not.”
“Then it must be true.”
She laughed, and then shrugged. “Still – I’m inclined to believe him. I’m not sure I can say the same of you!”
“That always was our difficulty, wasn’t it?” said Delver.
Tannis shook her head. “That’s not how I’d put it.”
“Precisely!”