Xanadu Weyr - Garden
An arch woven from the tendrils of a willow tree stretches overhead lightly creeping with ivy as one steps in from the meadow into this sanctuary of green. Cool gray flagstone carefully spaced enables a soft velvety moss to thrive within the cracks, and creates a single wide pathway that fluidly breaks off into two paths of stone once free of the natural arbor. It is a wonder this place, and meticulously tended from the way it seems not a single leaf is out of place.
On either side of the main path expansive grassy patches are trimmed short and edged behind with natural tan colored stone selectively chosen to stack just right. Beyond these are a line of fine puffed shrubberies in vibrant green intermingled with flowering bushes of brilliant pinks varying in hue from the very light to the very dark, which causes the occasional snowy white blossoms of other scattered here and there without worry to simply pop out of the scenery.
Directly in the center of the garden is another wall of intricately stacked stone, this of muted grays, creating what from the air would prove to be a perfect circle. It's been set high for safety, but not so much as one would not be able to lean over it to admire what lies beyond, either standing or sitting at the smattering of benches whose backs are set every four feet along it. Flush to the ground inside it's protective stone outcropping, is an enormous twenty foot wide fish pond. Within one can glean the metallic glint of playful goldfish, the unhurried cruise of fat koi, and even a frog or three among pale yellow and white flowering water lilies and their thick green pads.
The trees surrounding the entire garden were planted to give the impression that they had always been here, not only lending to a rustic look, but also alluding to the beauty that can be found among the wilds if only one might just look for it. Species vary from the ordinary Birch and Pine, but the flaming red capsules of the Indian Shot to the robust orange spokes of the Firewheel tree suggest the spice of the exotic.
While Fort is under snow, Xanadu is in the throes of summer. Which is perhaps why a certain weaver-lass has been spending so much time out of doors. It did not take long before Sephany acquired a favorite spot; and the benches ringing the fish pond are exactly that. Not a secret by any stretch of the imagination; already the crafters complex knows exactly where to send visitors seeking the blond from Fort if she can't be found in the workshop. And so there she is, curled up on a bench, elbow on the railing with her chin in her hand, gaze cast down to the book in her lap. Reading.
After checking a couple caverns, Lu'ka is pointed toward the garden's. So there he is strolling through the garden's, his coat is opened and his goggles are nudged up on his head, but the hood is still up. He looks as if he's just stepped out of an artic tundra, which isn't far from the truth. The WeyrHarper has a large thermal basket handle clutched in one hand, his gloves in the other. Coming around the stepping stone path, he sees Sephany cozed up with a bok and stops. He watches her a moment, taking a moment to refresh his memory and adjust his mental picture with all the new changes. Like the tan it looks like she is starting to acquire, Leave it to him though, to ruin a perfect moment as he clears his throat.
If by tan, you mean 'slight sunburn' then sure! But in all honesty, Sephany is looking rather well. There's a rosy tint to cheeks and nose that does speak of too much unprotected time in the sun, but otherwise she is healthy and vibrant and has even managed to put on a little (much needed) weight. She's engrossed in her book, and how long she's been here is anyone's guess. But that throat-clearing has her glancing up and, once more, finding a visiting bronzeriderin her midst. A half-second of surprise before recognition draws the corners of her mouth upward in a small smile. "Hello Lu'ka…" and a general sweep of his person; taking in outfit and basket. "What are you doing in Xanadu?"
Lu'ka smiles when Sephany looks his way and continues forward "Good to see you again Sephany. Looks like you've been enjoying the local weather a bit." Head canting at her question, "Weeeellll." He settles the large thermal basket, largest he could find in weyr stores, on the bench next the book engrossed Weaver. "As per your rules, I'm allowed to give you presents on special days. So… Happy Turnover Day Sephany. Brought you a present, fresh from Fort!" He smiles and rest his head on the top, keeping it from being opened quite yet. Gaze drifting to the book in her lap and he flicks fingers towards it. "Get your hands on a new story? Or rereading an old favorite again."
A flicker of a frown, for the reminder of agreements made in a bygone era. But no argument, even if it looks like Sephany may want to make one. She shifts on her bench, marking the page of her book and setting it aside as her feet find the ground and she sits just a little bit stiffer; back straight and shoulders back. "Alright," as if preparing herself. But when baskets are left unopened and gifts left unrevealed, for questions of her reading material… well. That is a cause for brief confusion and hesitation. "It's… an old favorite, "
Lu'ka grins that Sephany is enjoying her story enough to give it another read through and glances around the nicely arranged garden. His eyes pause on the pond, gaze drifting from one fish to another "Looks like you found a nice quiet spot to relax." His fingers drum over the basket lid, but not so random a pattern. A moment of silence passes, breathing in the garden's scents and feeling the warm breeze before he shakes out of his thoughts and starts shrugging out of his heavy longcoat with a grin "So, how's your work going? This new Journeyman working out better?" Yes, he remembers Sephany sniping at him over her Fortian Journeyman. He seems to be stalling on the present for some reason, but his hands /are techniclly off the box now, if she wanted to snatch it up and peek, but be warned, removing the lid starts the countdown!
Sephany is watching him with a measure of apprehension, aware enough that he's got a scheme of some sort, but not quite sure what it might be. That casual question about her reading material is not fooling her in the least, buddy. "Yes, it's quite nice," she agrees for the garden, grey eyes cast around to take in the sights briefly. "Nothing at all like this in Fort." But then back to Lu'ka, a small frown pulling at her mouth. "It's going well…," for her work, still not fooled by stalling questions, though there is a distinct avoidance of discussing her previous Journeyman. Current Journeyman? Technically she is on "loan" to Xanadu. "He is very knowledgeable," but that is all she's going to say on her current situation. There is no snatching of baskets, but a very, very pointed look toward the object in question. Prim. Proper. Pointed. "What's in the basket, Lu'ka?"
Lu'ka tosses his coat over the railing and drops his gloves on top while waiting to hear about Sephany's time here at Xanadu. Settling himself on the bench, legs stretch towards the pond he gives an expectant smile til he realizes no information is coming. "So much for a conversation then." Fingers drums over his knee while the other hand gestures towards the basket, "Go ahead. It's a little taste of Fort's morning." A little grin at that before his attention is caught by splashing over towards the pond. He watches the chubby koi and goldfish enjoying the warm weather before heading off somewhere or another.
"It is hard to carry on a conversation when it seems as though the purpose is to stall the inevitable," notes Sephany, though there's just enough lightness in her tone to suggest she might be teasing. "I would rather just cut to the chase, as it were…" and it seems that is exactly what is going to happen now. There's still a bit of apprehension in her gaze, a tension in her posture, but she shifts her body so that it is angled toward the basket. "Really? Hmm. That's interesting," she decides, for the apparently cryptic hint he tosses out, a bit of a grin given before her fingers find the lid and flip it open. Whatever she was expecting, snowballs were definitely not it. "I… Oh!" and then laughter rings out over the garden, perhaps startling an avian or three, and she dips her hand in to pick up one of the snowballs. Captured in her hand, she quickly closes the basket to preserve the chill of the others. "You brought me snow," and it's half amusement and half disbelief.
Sephany's sudden laughter even startles a few of the chubby fish, who send up more splashes as they bolt for deeper levels of the pond. He shifts on the bench, turning more towards the Weaver, one arm resting on the back of the seat. Smiling at her response, he nods "Yea. Figured you might be missing home some." He snickers at something and adds "Roth helped gather with one swish of his tail." Lu'ka rolls his eyes skyward a moment and replies very tongue in cheek "Which means a near solid ten foot high wall of snow came at me quite fast. So, didn't take me long to find snow for this part of your present." He taps the top of the basket after she closes it and cradles the snowball to herself it seems.
As cold as that snow is, Sephany cannot keep it in her hand for very long; so the compacted ball is transferred sporadically from hand to hand, allowing the other to recover before it must once more take over snowball-holding. "I can imagine," for the ten-foot-wall coming at Lu'ka courtesy of Roth's tail. "Please thank him for him, for his contribution." Another pause, a transfer of snowball from one hand to the other. "I am rather disappointed to be missing yet another season of ice-skating," not that a snowball is the same, but? it was cold. And wet. "What do you mean, 'this' part?" and there it is, that apprehension and suspicion, the flash of grey eyes toward the Harper on her bench.
Lu'ka grins with a little nod "I'll pass that along to him." at mention of thanking Roth for his snow collecting skills. "He'll be glad you like the present." Her mention of skating has him suddenly giddy and excited. He leans a bit closer about to fill her in, but he doesn't miss the wariness in her gaze to him, again. A moment of observing and he retreats til he's leaning back against the bench again. He's still sorta smiling even though he's mentally predicting some outcome in his head while going back to watching the fish. "I was wondering if you wanted to come skating with me."
For a moment, all that Sephany can do is pass that snowball from hand to hand, slightly faster each time as fingers grow numb and do not fully recover in between. There is definitely a stiffening of her shoulders for that closeness, and a pause in the movement of hand-over-ice until he's settled back and she's tossing her 'gift' once again. "I… when?" because the 'how' seems pretty self-explanatory, considering that Lu'ka is a dragonrider now. Able to flit across Pern in the blink of an eye. "And where?" And yes, that is eagerness in her tone, a smile growing across her face because ice skating is definitely one of her passions.
Lu'ka repositions his feet, grinning at one of the bolder black and white koi that comes pecking at the surface again. His finger drumming continues and he gives a glance over to Sephany briefly with a hint of a shrug, "Up to you, we could go a little later today, or whenever your next restday is. The ice will be there for a good while longer." A knowing grin over to the Weaver for the seemingly 'endless' iceover that is half of a Fortian turn.
As delighted as Sephany is at the prospect of ice skating, there's a little falter in her smile. It is not for the subject of skates or ice, but perhaps the timing. "I can… maybe tomorrow? But… Roth would need to stay in contact with Leirith," which is not much of a challenge, considering the Xanaduian queen was quite verbose and free with her love (and her voice). "Risali is very close to her due date, and I can't miss it," she notes. "But… I can probably ask for the afternoon off."
Lu'ka tips his head forward a couple of times, a pleased grin hearing that his fellow JourneyHarper is bout to pop. "Send Scribe to Roth when you know when you can come over.. I don't envy you Risali bouts of temper. Give her my best will you? And tell her to hurry up and push out a genxt genration Harper for me to corrupt. I mean teach and share my knowledge with" He cracks a genuine grin over the scenarios that flash through his mind. "Good. That will work out. Leirith's one of the few dragons that understands that there isn't anything wrong with Roth. He just communicates and expresses himself differantly."
"Hmm. She's never gotten mad at me," notes Sephany with a grin. "A little wild and crazy, especially if there is music or dancing or the prospect of either; though it's markedly more difficult when you're so big…" She would know. As for corrupting that child? The weaver just rolls her eyes and leaves the comment uncontested. "Who thinks there's something wrong with Roth?" she asks quickly, her smile wibbling just a little at the corners. "And what do they think is wrong?" which is more indignant than curious; rising to the defense of the bronze. "He seems perfectly capable to me."
Lu'ka snorts with a quick headshake at who think oddly of his dragonmate "No one that matters in the long run." To him at least. A moment of thought and he flicks his gaze towards the pathway leading to the meadow Roth is sunning himself in before looking back to Sephany. A smile growing that she's defensive of the branchy stump of a bronze. "He thinks differantly than most other dragons. Looking at the exact same thing as other dragons, he sees several steps ahead of the obvious outcome." Lu'ka pauses at that, not sure how to elaborate further so gives a relaxed shrug. "But I help riders translate to thier dragons when needed. And Toskavath and Wiliyeth help tralnsate to other dragons, quite defensively at times." A smile for the bronzes clutch siblings and their riders "So, tell me, what have you been up to. Besides spending time out reading and working on that pink nose." Lu'ka flashes a cheery grin as he catches up with the Weaver and gestures to the basket "Been missing huddling in front of a roaring fire in the cavern with a steaming mug yet?"
Sephany listens, a small wrinkle marring the surface of her forehead. "Don't see what's wrong with that," for thinking several steps ahead of others. But when Lu'ka starts talking of 'translating', her confusion just sort of grows a little bit. "I don't understand what you mean… dragons can talk to each other, right? Why would you… why do Toskavath and Wiliyeth need to translate?" Spoke in confusion, as an individual who has neither a dragon, nor the ability to hear them at all. Confusion abounds. She transfers her snowball from one hand to the other before finally giving up and stuffing it quickly back into the basket from whence it came. Open-shut. As fast as possible to preserve the chill. A reflexive touch of finger to nose when he calls out her sunburn, the cool of fingers perhaps actually feeling nice against it. "Well… of course I am working with the Weavers here. I am undergoing evaluations, but I'll be taking on more responsibility once we have candidates around. That's kept me pretty busy. And then of course… spending time with Risali. And Leirith is the one who rose, too." As for steaming mugs and hearthfires? "Yes, I do… but I am making the most of this beautiful weather while I can."
Lu'ka drums fingers seemingly at random across the basket lid "Well, his statements can seem sorta repetative at first. But, you have to understand his inflections and interpretations when he replies 'I am Roth.' It took Wiliyet and Taskavath a little time to understand and learn how to interpret some of what Roth relays to them. And other times I need to assist." He shares what he can easily, but sometimes even he has trouble explaining how his dragonmate's mind works. Lu'ka listens to Sephany as she shares a little of her time at Xanadu, eyes flash at hearing she's doing well, but cants his head slightly "Think you'll be promoted soon? With all the evaluating and more duties?"
Still puzzled, Sephany asks, "What do you mean, 'when he says I Am Roth'?" Because she doesn't get it. She doesn't understand how dragons speak, or what they do, and this fact seems to resonate in her mind for a moment. Eventually, there is a turn of her shoulders as she seems to accept her fate of confusion and moves on, leaving the topic of dragon-minds to the dragonrider. "Promoted?" and she laughs a bit, jovial and bright. "Oh no. I think I am Turns away from that, Lu'ka. Having Jaspyr really set me back on studies… No, no. Gerazal is evaluating my skills to determine what level of assistance I can provide. So I have been doing simple mending so he can review my stiching. And I will be helping with the candidate robes. It's a simple project," and then a quick, "Well, no. Not simple just… technicality wise it is easy. The quantity and the measurements will be the challenge."
Lu'ka shifts on the bench, taking a moment to pull his legs up some from the stretched out position. Lips tighten from his smile just a little as he rethinks how to explain Roth. "Well, most dragons relate to each other thinking sentances as well as other mental signatures. Just as you and I are sitting here chatting, using differant words as needed. Now, sometimes the same word can have differant meanings. Now imagine having a conversation, using the same couple of words, over and over. Only, your intentions behind each word varies. Well, that's Roth." Lu'ka trails off and looks to Sephany a moment longer before giving a hint of a shrug "I don't know how better to explain it right now." When the conversation slips back to her work, he smiles, and sits back to listen. "I still say you don't give yourself enough credit Sephany. You're a hard worker and can think outside of the box when working a tricky tasky. Like altering the gloves for me. The Journeyman are noticing it." He nods encouragingly and watches the golden haired woman a moment. "I think that's the first time I've heard you say his name. Your son I mean."
"I don't think the fault lies with you," Sephany murmurs, reassuringly. "I don't understand how dragons communicate in the first place. Not really. Not… like you do," since he has one. "But thank you for trying." As for her talents, there is a shake of her head. It's not an argument; at least she doesn't seem to think so. Just a clarification of the truth. "I don't dispute that I work hard. I'm not sure if I agree with the innovative part. But hard work only gets so far, Lu'ka. I still have to demonstrate that I have learned the skills necessary. I had only just started to work on minor alterations before I had to take a break," for that aforementioned son. "And doing so set me back. I am being realistic… How long were you an apprentice before you walked the tables?" And then, oh. The mention of her son, and his name, which still hangs in the air between them. "I know," she admits. "It was hard, at first. For… a lot of reasons. But I'm finding it easier to say his name, to think about him as my son, to… accept the situation for what it is." Whatever that means.
Lu'ka nods about her acceptance to his explanation of how Roth communicates. "It is how it is, as my dad used to say." A little grin for some memory there and he glances towards the pond a few seconds when one of the fish snatch a floating bug from the surface. As the water begins o smooth back out, he peers back to Sephany and concedes to her point with a nod "Oh alright. It /did/ take me more than several turns. But I doubt you had as many backpeddles in your progress as I did." The Harper cracks a full on grin then before working to rein in his amusement. Settling back into the relaxed conversation, he nods agreeably. "Glad you're feeling a bit better. You do seem more at ease. I hope it's not cause you're getting too used to this nice tropical weather. We're all missing you back home. I'am and R'hra send their best and a Happy TurnOver Day as well." Okie, so sue the poor fellow. He was so jazzed about seeing the little Weaver that messeges sorta slipped his mind til now.
"The point," says Sephany, "Is that it took lots of hard work, and practice, and the acquisition of skill to get where you are." A shift, and a glance that lingers when she says, "I have only been an apprentice for… three and a half years. And during part of that, I was taking a break for Jaspyr." All that to say, "I am not in a rush. I want to do well." A snort and a shake of her head. "It's only nice because it's summer. And it's not that tropical. It snows in the winter, same as Fort. They just… have it at a different time of the year," and a roll of her eyes. "Thank you. And tell them both that they are perfectly capable of bringing themselves down here to say hi, now that they are full-fledged dragonriders, too," she teases. "And thank you, Lu'ka. For the snow. And the visit."
Lu'ka lifts his hands as if surrending to Sephany's logic. "Alright, fair enough." A few tips of his head "I'll tell them when I see them. R'hra has been making up on lost time with his Weyrwoman. And I'am…" Lu'ka chuckles and leans forward on the bench now and resting elbows on knees. "Well, you saw him. In his own little bubble with Kravitz. So I've been keeping my distance from them for a bit." Waving it off, he peers around the garden again before a cheeky grin is turned back to Sephany. "You're welcome Seph. Anytime! So, shall we go make use of these snowballs before I head back?" Perhaps they'll let their inner brats out and have a good ole throwdown snowball skirmish. Can't be more than that since there are only so many that Lu'ka could fit in the thermal basket.
"Yes, I did see…" I'am with Kravitz. A smile plays at the edges of Sephany's face, for thoughts unspoken. "Hopefully they will come visit and at least peek at the eggs when Leirith clutches," she offers. "Hmm?" and she looks at the basket doubtfully. "I don't know Lu'ka… a snowball fight? Do you think that's a good idea?" She reaches for the lid, as if to put her hand over it and keep it shut; to protect the chill and preserve her gifts. But with a quick movement, her hand darts in, takes one of the snowballs from the top, and lobs it at his chest as she laughingly declares, "Because I think you're going to LOSE!" and then she's up, running for the foliage of the garden as fast as she can before he can retaliate. GAME ON!