Xanadu Weyr - Rustic Treetop Cafe
Perched on the cliff overlooking Xanadu's beach is a gnarled and massive skybroom tree. The bark and outer layers are sturdy enough to support the thriving, brushy top, but the interior, which is hollow, contains a spiral staircase that leads to a cafe built on a high platform amongst the branches. With a panoramic view of lake, sky, Weyr and the mountains beyond, the treetop eatery offers both sheltered seating just inside the trunk and tables on the wide deck that encircles the old tree.
The cafe's decor is comfortable and rustic, but closer inspection shows the smallest embellishments to be artfully combined into one detailed masterpiece. The wood of the doors, floor and walls of the trunk have been stained a dark mahogany that lends the space a sense of intimacy. Tables in various sizes have been carved to mimic driftwood, the chairs and benches padded with oiled sailcloth cushions to provide weather-proof comfort. Each table has an aged brass lantern filled with shells and agates gathered from Xanadu's shores, the sparkling natural mosaics holding tapered candles upright in their embrace. Lamps hang from the ceiling on silver poles, the thick frosted glass carved into intricate pastel shells or swirling white-capped waves. At night the colored glass softens the glowlight to enhance the ambience.
During the day, the retractable doors allow leaf-spattered sunlight to fill both the outer deck and the smaller interior with green and gold light, as well as allowing pleasant breezes to cool the interior. On clear nights, farviewers perch on the elaborately carved railing are free for use to enhance the gorgeous view of the stars over the Caspian Lake, the Sea of Azov beyond and the rock formations of the Weyr.
It's been a peaceful day for Xanadu, as far as the weather is concerned. Clouds have come and gone, rolling over the day's blue skies, and as time goes on, the sky clears as it's hue darkens to that of dusk, and then night. The temperature is a little brisk as the time encroaches on the twilight hours, but it isn't cold, see as how it's still summer. Tazemi can be found sitting on the outside portion of the cafe, considering the main part is pretty much closed up for the evening. There's a person in there, tending to the needs of the person sitting on the deck, staring aimlessly up into a star-filled sky as he sips on that ever-favorite warmed cider.
Idrissa has went wandering, an well, why not? Plenty of things on her mind, and this is what bring her here it seems. A little cheeepp gives her presence away; it is from a few days old brown firelizard hatchling that is perched upon her shoulder as she slowly moves along the deck of the caf to find a place to sit down. There is a pause, a slight glance offered around before she catches sight of Tazemi and tilts her head while watching him a moment before moving on towards where he is seated. A wave is seen and she smiles. "Hey Tazemi." She has on a tunic, pants and boots, her hair down across her shoulders, half covering that little brown firelizard.
Tazemi nearly falls out of his seat with an unmanly squak, startled as Idrissa actually speaks. "Idrissa. Hi." Unfortunately, some of his cider has met the deck floor thanks to his jumpy nature, though fortunately none of it seems to have gotten on him. There's a moment's pause as he adjusts the light jacket he has on over his normal clothing. "Uh. What're you doing here?" Because he soooo has exclusive rights to this deck. His eye twitches for a moment, and he continues to stumble over himself. "I mean… what's up?" And the fact that people are talking brings the woman that was inside, outside. "Is there anything I can get for you tonight, miss?"
Idrissa blinks as she watches Tazemi a moment, a bit of amusement is seen across her face and she smiles a moment before nodding. "Just out for a walk, thought I would wander up here to see what was going on, if anything." She pauses and glances up at the voice. "Well, a mug of hot cider, if that's alright?" Her gaze turns back to Tazemi. "Um, want some company? If not it's alright."
"And a second for me, please." Tazemi tacks on his additional mug, finishing off what might be left of his first. Now he's also adjusting his seat, re-finding that comfortable position as the cafe attendant heads back inside to get their drinks. "Company?" The idea seems almost as startling as Rissa walking up on him. "Sure. That could be nice." At Rissa's reason, Taz offers her one of his half-smiles, that pulls his lips to one side of his face. "Nothing really 'happening'. Just… watching. The stars, that is."
Idrissa is quiet for a moment a glance sent up to the sky. "It's alright if you don't want to. Just thought I'd offer since I was here an all." Her hand lifts and she scratches at her neck a moment, the little brown on her shoulder trils out. Once Tazemi has okayed it so to speak she nods and with a smile settles down upon a seat. "Nothing wrong with just watching the stars. I do it a lot myself."
That little brown gets a look from Tazemi for a moment, before he's reaching behind him to feel in the hood of his jacket. Yup, the lump is still there. "I see you've manage to find another." He observes oh-so-astutely. And his green eyes go back to the sky. "I like it up here. It's calm." And calm definitely seems to fit the bill of Taz, even as the attendant walks back out with two gently steaming mugs of cider. "Thank you." And for a moment, Taz lapses back into silence. "I just… can't maintain a sleeping schedule to save my life. So when I can't sleep at night, I come out here. If the weather is nice enough." And sometimes even if the weather isn't nice.
Idrissa ahs and smiles a moment before nodding. "Actually Weyrwoman Thea gave me the egg the other night, just before he hatched." She seems a bit amused by this. "I still need to thank her." The little brown slides down from his shoulder perch and peers over at Tazemi, a slight squeaky chirp escaping him. "I haven't seen too much time up here. Ment to, thought about it just never did until tonight I suppose." A shrug is seen before she look up to the attendant whom gets a smile and a soft thank you, her hands are wrapped around the mug that was set before her. "I got late night watching a few of the expecting mares in the stables. When Ren came to take over I just went wandering."
"Huh." Is all Tazemi can seem to say about Thea handing her an egg. As the brown slinks down, he holds out a hand towards the brown. "Curious little guy." Or friendly, maybe. We'll see what it does to Taz's hand. His other hand is firmly wrapped around his mug, and he takes a sip. "People watch expecting mares? You need to do that?"
Idrissa watches the brown, hoping he'll behave it seems. She ponders and nods. "I've never gotten anything from Thea before, it's sort of still a surprise to me I suppose." The little brown leans out to snifsniff at that hand before bumping his head against it a few times, a slight croon escaping him even. "Sometimes we do. Especially if it is a mare that is worth a good many marks, of if there could be a problem with the birth."
Tazemi lets his finger do the moving at that point in time, giving the little brown some headscritches. Of course, it's been long enough since dinner and there's enough noises in the once-quiet air, that Trevor stirs in Taz's hood. With a cheep, Trevor's head peeks out, bleerily looking at the scene at hand. "I generally don't question any of the weyrwomen. Junior or Senior." He doesn't get paid to do that. Just to fix things. "I guess that didn't occur to me. I've never seen a runner give birth before. What's it like?" Well, for being a social recluse, at least he has a sense of curiosity.
Idrissa chuckles softly and nods looking a bit amused for a moment. "True, I wouldn't think of questioning them myself." There is a slight pause while she watches as her brown peers up at the sound of another cheep, a soft trill escaping him. "I named him Hidalgo, my uncle had a runner named that before, and they sort of look like one another to some degree thanks to the coloring." This said with an amused tone. A faint smile is seen. "It's different that's for sure. Most of the time it all goes along just fine, no problems every now and then there can be a problem. Which when that happens the senior beastcrafter have to step in and help the mare."
Trevor shakes off the rest of his post-meal nap and climbs out of Tazemi's hood, sinking needle-sharp claws into the jacket, and thankfully missing his human's skin due to the jacket's weight. Down Taz's arm Trevor goes, tail almost acting as an anchor around Taz's arm as the brown gets nose-to-nose with the other. "That's what they're there for, right?" Tazemi asks, not quite sure what else to say. It's not like he's seen anything but a dragon give birth, and that doesn't quite count, as the dragon is laying eggs and not something that's already kicking and breathing. "So I take it your mare didn't go into labor on your watch?"
Idrissa watches as the two firelizards go about meeting one another it sems. Hidalgo hops upwards, front paws scrambling at the edge of the table while he trills out towards Trevor. Hello there! What seems to be being 'said'. "No, not this time at least. Perhaps next time though. It would be rather nice see one on my watch at least."
"Do you ever bring anything with you to pass the time?" Tazemi asks, trying to keep the conversation going, though he's getting amused by the antics of the two browns as well. Trevor finally leaves Taz's arm, and plops his rump down within pawing-distance of Hildago. That tail curls around his hind paws, swishing idly until Trevor finally lifts a paw and plants it on the other's nose without so much as a sound. 'Hi' indeeded. At least the talons aren't in play, and it seems a … innocent-enough gesture.
Hidalgo croons out and peers crosseyed at the paw upon his nose, oh, what is /this/? He tilts his head, and nips, nibbles and even tries to slup his slender tongue around that paw that is 'attacking' his nose. Idrissa chuckles softly and smiles as she watches the two. "Sort of cute, huh?" Her gaze turns back to Tazemi. "Oh sure, books mostly to work on my lessons. I got my beastcrafter knot back so I actually have a good amount to catch up in lesson wise."
Trevor seems to be that quiet, stalk-y type. Each time Hildago goes for a try at his paw, he lifts it and then plops it back down, just like a feline that thinks something is theirs. Or something. The lick actually gets a paw-shake and surprised chirrup, right before the paw goes back on the other's nose. "Amusing, for sure. Trevor, what are you doing to the poor lad?" Tazemi finally takes the time to sip at his cider again, not wanting it to get too cold without being enjoyed first. "Well, it's good to know you won't be bored, waiting for a mare to go into labor." Lessons? Not the end of the world to him. After all, he's still learning about plumbing and electronics and all sorts of fun things that mastercrafters prefer to delegate to other people to fix.
Hidalgo squeaks out faintly and goes about slowly pulling himself up onto the table, his forepaws gripping enough to make his talons scratch into the wood, but he manages to get himself up on the table. He gives his wings a good shake and sprawls out upon the table before peering at the paw that is once more upon his nose? He chitters out; almost bird like in a way. "Ya, sort of what I think about the whole thing. I get to catch up on my lessons, but I lost some time for sleeping and so forth."
It kind of sounds like there's a soft 'whrrrr'ing noise coming from Trevor, as if the minorly older brown is laughing at the just hatched one. And then Tazemi is joining in the games, putting his index finger on Trevor's nose. That makes Trevor pull back, startled, wings snapping open as for a moment he rears… and then falls on his back. "Ooft. Graceful, Trevor." Just like his human-pet, really! Tazemi is then looking back to Idrissa. "You can sleep later. When the mare isn't pregnant." Because even though he's never done it, pretty sure you're not supposed to fall asleep on a watch.
Hidalgo grumfps out, or well a sound that at least sort of sounds like it. His eyes swirl a few times while he slowly creeps over to Trevor, like in a sort of inching way, like a worm might. Once the little brown is close enough he nips out playful like towards the slightly older brown. Idrissa chuckles softly and smiles at the sight. "Well that's true. So I'm not going to worry about missing out on a few hours of sleep all that much that's for sure."
"I nap." Tazemi offers. "Thirty minutes here, an hour there." His shoulders lift in a shrug as he withdraws his hand from the firelizard scene, leaving Trevor to right himself, and try and pretend like that fall never happened. "Especially when I find myself unable to sleep reliably at night." Like tonight. He'll probably be off a 'normal' sleep schedule for the next week. While Trevor takes his time righting himself, occasionally he looks over to Hidalgo, /swearing/ that the other is creeping closer… but no. Or at least no, until Hidalgo lands a nip on an ankle. That prompts another startled squwak, but this reaction is more graceful as he leaps back, wings fanned. Oh, we're /on/. One paw is raised, play-batting at the younger, while he hops around on three legs. Assisted by wings, of course.
Idrissa ahs softly at the idea of napping now and then. "Well that's not at a bad idea actually." She ponders this idea, as if was 'new' to her before chuckling. "I'll have to remember the idea of getting some naps in now and then." She peers at the young firelizard, Hidalgo slowly creepcreeeeeeps forward before pausing as he I looked at. He didn't move really! A soft sqwak is soon escaping him once he is batted upon. His forepaws left (ys both of them!) and he batbatbatbatbats out at Trevor. All is going well and fine until he figures out that he can't keep standing up and soon goes splat upon the table. "Oh dear"
Tazemi can't even seem to find words, though his eyebrows raise upwards as he watches Hidalgo and Trevor just bat at each other. As soon as the younger one goes splat, and Trevor seems ready to pounce on him, Taz grabs the older brown, pinning him down on his lap. "Just… calm down, Trevor. You'll hurt him if you keep playing like that." There's a squwaking and squirming brown on Taz's lap now, making a few rather pitiful noises, which makes the handyman cringe. "Now, I'm not hurting you. Calm down." And after awhile longer, Trevor finally does calm down with a defeated sounding sigh. "Just my luck, he seems to have found another wind for the day." Tazemi muses, looking back up at Idrissa, making sure that Trevor isn't going to try anything else.
Idrissa chuckles softly and smiles while watching the two a few moments."I think he'll be alright. He is a pretty study little thing." Hidalgo was expecting the pounce, oh look at him trying to get himself up and get back to pounce back, but the little guy seems tired and peers over at Trevor with his swirling gaze. Oh What is this funny sound that he is making? The younger brown trills out a few times. Rissa blinks as she watches; looking a bit amused and shakes her head slightly with a smile seen. "There good like get, getting second and third winds out from anyplace they can possible fine it. Sort of amusing if you have time to watch them, not so much when your trying to get work done."
"Or trying to calm yourself down so you might actually sleep." Tazemi offers as an addition to her statement. Trevor is actually behaving himself now, grooming his paws with intent for just a few moments. Then the older brown cheeps to the other, and springs up to Tazemi's shoulder, making his way back into the hood. Apparently it's a comfortable spot for the brown. Not so much for Taz, since he can't lean back in a chair. The flopping hood might be a laughable sight. Tazemi actually finishes off his cider in a few long pulls, without seeming to rush it at all, and then he's giving Rissa that half-smile again. "Of which, it's about time to see if I can sleep tonight or not." The glass is left on the table, and Hidalgo is left with a parting scritch. "Later." And with that, he's heading towards the stairs down, and his bed.
Idrissa reaches over and picks up Hidalgo, hugging the little brown to her after the scritch from Tazemi. She smiles and nos. "Doesn't sound like a bad idea actually. Thanks for letting me keep you company there for a bit. I hope your able to get some sleep tough. Not too much fun when one cannot sleep. "She's done that plenty of time in the last, stare at a wall, pondering if sleep would ever come. Hidalgo curls up and settles in against his person's chest, little happy thing that he is, and even starts to doze off from the looks of it. "I'll be moving off to work on attempting to do that as well ." She waves after Tazemi. "Have a good night."