Treetop Snacks
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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.


Winter is settled in around Xanadu, most are doing whatever they possibly can to stay warm, even the ones that are at the caf. The windows are all closed in to offer some warmth to the ones that have trekked out to get a bite to eat ot a drink. Idrissa is one of those it seems. The greenrider is sitting off on her own, flight jacket resting zipped up to offer her a bit more warmth while her hands rest around a mug of hot cider. She is looking over some papers that is settled before her. A pair of firelizards are sitting upon the chair next to her, one is chewing on a bun that he stole off his owners plate, which so far Rissa hasn't caught sight of.

Mur'dah climbs the steps into the cafe, shrugging out of his jacket and hanging it on a peg by the entrance. Scanning the room he spots his clutchmate and former wingmate and wanders over, pausing behind a chair. "Hey, Idrissa. Mind?"

The Treetop is the place to be today as the opening door reveals several bundled up figures in search of a meal or snack. One figure lags behind as the other two make their way towards a table. With her satchel in hand, Kera shrugs off the lazy brown hitching a ride, sending Minimur winging off to mingle with other lizards. Looking around, she spots Idrissa and Mur'dah…and look, there are still a chair or two open over there, so she heads that way with a polite nod and wave. "Gday Idrissa, sir."

Idrissa glances up curiously at the voice, a soft smile seen and she nods. "Sure Ah go on and have a seat Mur'dah." She shifts a bit setting her mug down while she moves to pull a plate out of his space, and steals back the bun that the firelizard had taken hold of. The brown firelizard is given a slight look. A new voice is cause and she waves to Kera, soft smile seen. "Hello Kera. How are you two doing?"

Mur'dah pulls out a chair and flops his lanky form into it, waving at the bartender to order himself a hot cider. "Hey, Kera," he says, tipping off a salute. "Me? Doing alright but a bit cold. Looking forward to that cider. You both?"

Kera smiles and sends Mur'dah his salute before grinning at the food stealing lizard's antics. Her eyes flicker to the brownrider briefly as he replies to Idrissa's question and she nods to the greenrider. "I'm doin well. Got a few free candlemarks to 'be lazy'." A bit of a amused look over that "So I figured I would give it a lazy try." A brief distraction of ordering what she wants from a the waitress passing the table then a gesture to one of the seats. "Mind if I join you two?"

Idrissa smiles and nods to Kera. "Sok with me, join away." She offers before she glances back to Mur'dah. "Well the cider is really good tonight. Not to sure if it has anything to do with the fact that it is cold out or not."

Mur'dah grins. "I'm sure a lot has to do with it. Warm things always taste better on cold days." For Kera, he nudges a chair out with his foot and smiles. "Not at all, join us. You're going to try to be lazy? Good luck. It's harder than it looks." Smirk.

Kera drapes her satchel over the back of the kicked-out chair and settles down with a smirk. "I think I'm off to a decent start, purposely didn't bring a manual to read." Hearing Idrissa mention cider the greenling perks up "Oh, that sounds good." Looking towards the departing waitress 'Can you switch my tea for hot ider please….thanks.'

Idrissa chuckles and nods as she hears Mur'dah. "Oh I'm rather sure that it does have something to do with that." She picks up her mug to peer into it. "Another hot cider for me too if you don't mind miss." She calls out after the waitress. "So, how have everything been going with you Kera? Been a while since we last spoke." Well it's been a while since she last spoke to anyone honestly.

Mur'dah chuckles as he gets to his feet with a distracted look, and then a sigh. "Looks like I need my cider to go. Enjoy, ladies. I'll see you later." With that, and a wave, he's taking his cider and heading back into the chill.

Kera slouches into the chair, peering upwards to the differant perches. Giving a little whistle, she's quick to use the little brown lizard that flaps down as a hand warmer. Idrissa's question gets a smirk. "Busy, very busy. Almost overwhelmed at times, but I'm probably exaggerating." Peering back to Mur'dah, just in time to see him rising and making his departure. "G'day sir." She sends another salute to the brownrider and brightens as the waitress is spotted, more pointedly, the food piled on the tray she carries.

Idrissa glances after Mur'dah, a slight nod seen before she glances back to kera curiously. "Yeah… I can just imagen how all that is going with you all." She offers a soft smile. "Though I hear you lot are going to be doing manned flights soon. Getting closer to graduation for certain."

Kera leans back as the food is delivered and another cider for Idrissa. Murmuring her thanks to the waitress, she smiles to the greenrider and breathes in her steaming soup with a lazy grin. "Yea, I was worried that Moncerath would hurt herself during her flying hops along the beach or meadow. But her landings are solid enough." Minimur's snout slips forward and met with a couple of fingers barring his way "Let it cool first silly." Assisting the brown to perch on the edge of the table, Kera tears off a peice of her sandwich and gives it to the lizard. With him distracted, she takes a bite herself then goes on after a bit. "I just hope I don't throw off her landings. I'ld swear I eat almost twice as much as I used too."

Idrissa nods slightly as she ponders, a soft smile is sent to the waitress and she nods to her now. "It's alight. I can understand how you feel. I was worried about Tahryth when it was our turn." A soft breath escapes her as she recalls that. "It all worked out though."

Kera nods agreeably across the table while enjoying a few bites of her meal, consisting of soup and sandwich, which she frequently dips in the bowl. "So how've you been? Did you enter that runner of yours into any of those races?" Several small potions of her sandwich are set aside for her brown, who waste no time scarfing each down.

Idrissa smiles at the brown who is busy scarfing down the food. "I've… Been alright." A slight shrug is seen at the idea. "I was thinking about entering him. If not I was going to ride another runner for certain a I'm going for the jumping bit of the race. Feather's isn't the best at jumps so may be good to pick another."

Kera scoops up a little soup and ponders Idrissa's delima. "Maybe if they were to have a beginner coarse, you could let one of the older weyrbrats ride him for you." A little shrug is given after her little thought. Another bit of brothy liquid is sloped into the spoon and she blows on it briefly before holding it out for Minimur to slurp up. "How would ya go about getting another one to ride though? Surely you wouldn't purchase it simply for a race?"

Idrissa blinks and smirks a bit at that. "Nope… I wouldn't buy another, but there are some that don't have riders that the owner wants them in the race. A runner that wins can be worth more money after all."

Kera nods "Hmm, hadn't thought of that. Guess that way." Her spoon is empty and looses the brown's interest so she manages to take a few bites of her own. After a few seconds, she smirks and gives an amused headshake "It would be funny to see people trying to run a jump coarse on those camelids that were shipped in some months ago. But how would the betting go? Bet to who wins? Or who has the most amusing…un-saddling..?" The greenling healer flashes a grin at mental image.

Idrissa chuckles and nods. "I don't think it would be a good idea seeing how they are not use to people and so forth." Rather bad idea! "I think one could use all those ideas as points for betting honestly."

Kera grins and pushes her bowl away, making it fair game for Minimur who dips his head to have at what's left. "Well, maybe if they ever get used to it, I can picture a couple of people getting drunk enough to think it a fine idea." Snickering at that she takes a sip of her cider.


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