Xanadu Weyr - Beach
The unerring range of subdued white rises and falls in a multitude of sandy dunes, creating an endless amount of tiny valleys constantly demolished and rebuilt by the frequent arrival or departure of a dragon. Smoothing out as it slopes gently to the edge of the deep blue water, the sand darkens and a shell here and there stands out for children to collect. The beach itself is set along a low cliff - the height lessoning as one heads eastwards, blocking a portion of the beach from direct access.
The wide wide stretch of water opens up to the east, the far distant shore way beyond the horizon and the beach curves ever so slowly round to east and west, distant arms of land embracing the wind-ruffled Caspian Lake. East leads up to the mouth of the Rubicon River, where the protecting cliff is merely an arms length higher then the sand, and beyond that, a winding road leading out of Xanadu's territory. Westwards, the beach narrows as the cliff swings out, leaving a path wide enough for dragons in single file before cutting in to the sheltered cove designated the Weyrling Beach. However, cut in the cliff face to the north are a variety of rough, wide staircases, providing access to the clearing and to the meadow.
It's just past midday at Xanadu, and while Rukbat is trying its best to shine its weak light though the clouds, there's little warmth to be had. The beach is almost completely devoid of occupants, save a few diligent beachcombers and Esiae. The girl isn't quite alone - indeed, a flock of hungry firelizards are hovering around her and her lunch like a living halo - but she's diligently trying to ignore them and go about her business. Trying being the key word. "Oh, just because your owners spoil you doesn't mean I will! Shoo! Shoo!" One hand swats through the air, sending two blues and a handful of browns /between/, realizing they'd get nothing, while a stubborn and none-too-bright bronze and green stay on. "Ugh. Honestly. I don't know why I like you guys," Esi says much more quietly this time, perhaps realizing she was on the verge of causing a scene on a quiet beach. Whoops.
Quiet beaches are by far the best place to cause scenes. Well, anywhere quiet and deserted is a definite plus. Sadly, we're only at 'almost' there, and one of the nearby beach walkers does come to a standstill at the flailing and tsking of firelizards. The girl is only a turn or two younger than the harper at least, bare toes curling in the sand after she turns to give a little bit of a head tilted stare. "I bet you've fed them in the past…" would explain the flock, and they're a little more intelligent than terran seagulls so it can't just be human association, right?
Esiae glances up when Daoi speaks, brows lifted high for only an instant at being caught yelling. Then they knit stubbornly, jaw jutting out as shoulders rise and fall in a shrug. Daoi got it in one. "Only once, and you can bet they haven't forgotten it since, no matter how hard I've tried to get them used to the idea that I'm not going to do it again." There's a bit of sulkiness behind those words, but Esi tries to hide it, instead straightening her back out of its protective hunch and ignoring the green that flaps to a landing on her shoulder. "Hi, by the way. Aren't your toes cold?" Subject change. Smooth.
And with the admission of guilt, a giggle rings out. "And supposedly their memory isn't that great." Supposedly… except when it comes to who will give them table (or picnic) scraps. Thumbs hook in her front pant's pockets as she tries to suppress the grin, about as successful as avoiding the sulk coming through in Esiae's tone. At the question of cold she drops her head to peer at the toes which wiggle for a moment before she shrugs. "Nah…" At least they're not blue to prove her wrong. "My name's Daoi… you?" Might as well get ahead in greetings.
Esiae snorts, a hard and indelicate sound from such a slight girl, unable to keep from cracking a smile for Daoi's supposition. "Yeah, right. Except when it comes to food, and the place they hide their shiny things." Judging from that sarcastic tone, the girl's family has at least one klepto firelizard. "At least I usually beat them to breakfast. Lazy things." There's fondness there, at least - she doesn't really hate them, she'd just rather she didn't have to compete for her food. Regardless, Esi's eyes also drop to observe the wriggling toes, then shift to her own boots before raising back to Daoi's face with a shrug. "Suit yourself. I can't wait for summer, personally. The cold just doesn't agree with me." Silly Istans and their tropical climes. "Nice to meet you though, Daoi. I'm Esiae."
Daoi positively beams at the snort, apparently she appreciates it. "I bet they lose the shiny things all the time though, that's why they have to keep snagging more." makes sense to her. "Summer will be more fun, what's a beach for if you can't go swimming, right?" There's a pause there for a moment. "But really, it's not /that/ cold… "
Esiae eyerolls, pretty much confirming that one. "Yep. I have to keep all my belongings in a locked trunk or they'd find and hide them. Should see 'em rediscover a lost hoard though - so much /joy/." A sigh. If they weren't so cute, they may have lost their charm by now. "My thoughts exactly, though. Nothing beats hot sands and an a warm ocean breeze." Cue homesick sigh. "But oh well. It will be interesting to see a beach with /snow/ on it as well." There's a somewhat hopeful glance at the cloud-mottled sky before Esi issues a wry chuckle. "I know, been docked at High Reaches Hold just before the winter freezes it over before, but my home's Ista Hold. Any cold is incredible compared to the weather there." Or at least, she seems to think so!
Okay, this is getting slightly awkward so without a word Daoi just flops down to sit crosslegged in front of the other. At least they're about the same height now. "Least it's not quite so bad here. There's seasons, but it's not all hot all the time, or all cold all the time." Happy medium! "Why'd you end up here anyhow?" Rude? Maybe… but curiousity wins.
Esiae smirks when Daoi plops herself down, downing the last few bites of her sandwich while the girl justifies the weyr's weather. A nod ensues, then a swallow, and finally the girl speaks up. "I guess so. I did ever so enjoy actually having a real fall, complete with the leaves changing and crunching on the ground. It's just a major change," she says with a grin. Unbothered by the curiosity, Esi shrugs, pondering over her answer for a moment. "It's… a very long story, but in short I was sent here to live and recover with a friend's family for a while. We somehow managed to get lost in the wilds for… a few months." The girl's rather mobile face tones down a few notches, lips pursing and eyes focusing out across the ocean without seeing it for a moment before shaking her head and coming back to Pern. "Anyways, where are you from? Here?"
Daoi actually brightens at the mention of the few months… or was it the lost that did it? Either way, eyes widen a bit and there might be a little bit of envy in them as well. "Guess not a story you feel like sharing." Dissapointment? Yes, but she moves on. "East of here actually, closer to Eastern Weyr. More Coastal too, so this is a little more seasons than I'm used to, but not a ton."
Esiae eyes that expression, but the disappointed words catch her off guard, mouth opening and closing several times before she gives a sort of self-depricating laugh. "It's just… embarrassing really. With dragons and technology, who gets lost these days?" Well, besides her, obviously. Her head shakes. "And aside from that, just a lot of hard living, when you suddenly have to do it all yourself in the arid middle of nowhere." Honestly, this is probably the most she's talked about it since she got here, so it's little surprise when she clicks her jaws back shut and instead becomes very interested in Daoi's words. "Really? Did you ever visit Eastern? We never quite made it there, but I've heard it's an interesting place. What'd you do there?" Eyes reflexively seek out a knot.
Daoi contemplates that for a moment and shrugs. "Hard… but could be fascinating to hear about… I mean. I think it could be fun too." Maybe a wierd definition of 'fun', but to each their own. "Sorta… freeing, right?" Then that jaw slams shut and she blinks, head tilting and watching the other closely for a moment. Escaped wisps of hair blow in a momentary and somewhat chilling breeze and then finally there's a hint of a shiver. "Yeah, couple times. For supplies and stuff, if the hold didn't have them. Grew up, that counts as doing something, right?" And yes, there is a knot indeed, just an apprentice one but techcraft.
Esiae contemplates this for a moment, and then shrugs. "I suppose. We did find some interesting stuff while we were out there. It's just… weird, talking about it like it was fun, even if it might feel like it in retrospect." She looks as though she's on the verge of saying more when someone calls her name from the other end of the beach. Apparently, the short, dark-haired figure is familiar to Esi, for her lips purse with a sigh and she gets to her feet with a squeak from the green flit on her shoulder. "Tell you what, if we bump into each other again and have the time, I'll gladly spin you a few tales. Wouldn't do my craft proud if I didn't." Pause. "And yeah, growing up totally counts." Earnest words, those. "Anyways, see you around." Waving, the girl then heads off at a trot for the coastal road and her temporary home.