Meet me under the willow tree (for bornstrong)

[eumenis]

They didn't really set a time of day to meet, Furiosa realizes after she parts ways with Iphigenia. Maybe it doesn't matter. Time has limited meaning in the Nexus anyway, as far as she can tell. Sometimes she's sure she's been there for hours and comes home to find the sun has barely moved. When she arrives today, she takes a detour to make photocopies of several pieces of sheet music, then goes to settle under the tree to wait for her new friend.

What she's managed to dig up is impressive in its sheer variety. The Song of Seikilos is there, but so are two or three Italian art songs from the 19th century, early 20th century blues, several showtunes, and Madonna's 'Like a Prayer'. Furiosa had started out by picking a half dozen she liked, and then the Sisters all pitched in excitedly, so she has an extensive roster of favorites in her lap. Iphigenia may end up having to sing for the women of the Citadel too, at some point. Furiosa is wary of bringing them to the Nexus, but if they make up their minds to come, she can't--and won't--hold them back.

Comments

[bornstrong]

Some scholars of ancient history might say similar things about Iphigenia's home--that there was much fighting, and fear, and an unforgiving social order. A rough environment for a young woman to grow up in, perhaps.

But Iphigenia is only now starting to realize that. Until recently, she just thought those things were relatively normal.

"I think you can do it," she says, her voice quiet but insistent. "You're a determined sort of person."

She smiles a little then, when Furiosa mentions the Sisters.

"I wish I could meet them. I never really had the chance to make any friends my age back home."

Such is the life of a princess, she supposes.

[eumenis]

Furiosa smiles, then chuckles softly at the compliment. Iphigenia doesn't know the half of it, really, but she appreciates the faith in her. "I've been told that," she admits. "Not always in such nice words. My initiate mother named me for relentlessness."

They almost called her Alecto.

"I'll see what I can do. Don't you have friends in the Nexus?" She seems to sweet and friendly, Furiosa can't imagine people wouldn't be drawn to her.

[bornstrong]

"I do have friends here," she admits, laughing lightly. "But what I meant is female friends my own age. I seem to have a knack for meeting everyone else but that."

Iphigenia has, in fact, never really had those sorts of friends. Back home, she had servants--she couldn't really confide in them--and her little siblings, who were fun to coo and giggle at, but not really for much else.

"It would just be nice, that's all," she continues, smiling.

[eumenis]

"Sorry I'm not a little younger," Furiosa jokes softly. She feels the age difference between her and the Sisters keenly--though she thinks of it more as an experience difference. "But I don't mind spending time while I'm here. Guess I could teach you to drive or fix engines."

She's not going to offer to teach her to shoot a gun. That would be impractical in the Nexus, what with the antiviolence field, and somehow it doesn't seem to suit her, either.

[bornstrong]

"Oh, no! I like you quite a lot, don't worry!" Iphigenia says, suddenly feeling bashful and more than a little apologetic.

"Drive? Like a chariot, or something more modern?" She's a little wary of doing either, frankly. And fixing something? What could she possibly fix that would be mechanical? Iphigenia's mind is a little boggled by the possibility.

Besides, she wonders what she could teach Furiosa in return--somehow, using a weaving loom doesn't seem right for the other woman.

[eumenis]

Furiosa winks, having been half teasing her. It's easy to fall into a sisterly role with a younger woman, and she's growing fond of Iphigenia. "Glad to hear it."

"I mean a machine. A bike, or a car. It's not something to undertake lightly, though." Furiosa shrugs. She's genuinely looking for an excuse to teach something now, but doesn't want to force any ideas on the girl she isn't comfortable with.

[bornstrong]

"Will I have to get dirty?" She wrinkles her nose, but then--

"I meant, how dirty is it? I'm really not used to fixing things. Women don't do that sort of work, where I'm from."

But maybe she could? Iphigenia's not certain, but she doesn't want to refuse outright without learning more.

[eumenis]

What a question! Furiosa looks for a moment like she wants to laugh, but manages not to. She can tell Iphigenia has been terribly sheltered, which is not at all what she's used to. Even the Sisters, as protected as they were, weren't quite so squeamish. Still, she doesn't want to offend or discourage her. Her lips quirk, but then she sobers again.

"The wonderful thing about dirt is it can be washed off," she points out tactfully. "Especially here. There's so much water around."

She shrugs again. "But it depends what parts you're fixing how dirty it gets. Engines are greasy. Guns are a little tidier, and smaller devices like my arm can be much cleaner."

She flexes her metal hand as if to illustrate. Aside from a little lubricant to keep the workings smooth, she keeps it very clean.

[bornstrong]

She glances at Furiosa's arm for a moment.

"I could handle something small, I think," she suggests, shrugging a little. "I shouldn't be so fussy--it's just, well, I was a princess back home. I never really experienced a lot of...dirt, frankly."

Until Aulis, but even then, she was kept hidden away for the most part.

"I want to learn something, though."

Iphigenia hopes she's not coming across as too insistent--that's never becoming for a princess, she thinks.

[eumenis]

Furiosa isn't sure what to suggest at this point, and thinks maybe she'll let the Sisters offer some guidance. They've at least been sheltered and cooped up in a way that sounds a little similar to Iphigenia's history. She herself grew up wild, and it took a lot to make her act tame for even a short while. Dirt is meaningless once you've had motor oil and the blood of your enemies caked on your skin.

In the meantime, she notices the look to her arm. She can tell the girl is curious, and it's really very polite of her not to have asked before now. She decides to take mercy.

"Do you want to know about this?" It's a calm, quiet question. "I'm used to curiosity. You won't offend me."

[bornstrong]

"I--" She begins to speak, but Iphigenia realizes that she's not really certain if she does want to know. Perhaps in this case, ignorance is bliss.

But after a moment, she gathers her courage and nods.

"If you don't mind," she says, her voice soft and shy.