Xanadu Weyr - Wanderin' Wherry Tavern
It is often whispered in the crowds that converge here, that a certain Weyrleader was asked what he wanted in the remodeling of the pub that was not so long ago given a refreshing. He muttered back over the rim of his ever-present mug, "I don't care what you do with the place, just so long as there is plenty of ale." With that in mind, cask after cask of ale lines the walls of the tavern, the remodeler's idea of a jest. As they age, the casks bring a real rustic atmosphere to the pub, along with the deeply wooden flavor that seems to be the theme throughout.
The lighting is dim, as it should be in all good pubs, and the tables and chairs are plentiful. A long mahogany bar, intricately carved with runner beasts, stands vigilant duty at the head of the bar, lined with stools for those patrons that seek the bartender's company.
Its been about a week and a half since D'had's emergency surgery, the last week of which he's likely been driving Thea nuts while she wouldn't let him leave the weyrbarn. Today, today is different. He's managed to get her to let him out of her sight, though the brown firelizard in the rafters just might well be a spy. As for Donn, he's found a seat at the bar and has a stiff glass of liquor on the rocks half finished in front of him. Hand is still bandaged to help keep it clean, but there's not nearly as much padding there as it had when he was in the infirmary.
Darsce has been into the infirmary to see her father, once she'd been made aware of the injury, her visits made when she finally rolled out of bed around noon and wandered into the Infirmary still munching pastries with sleepy-eyed relish. Of course she'd have offered to share with her dad, Infirmary food being what it is. Since he's been home, she hasn't been around - not that she's avoiding him, mind, she's just been busy! To make up for her lack of visitation, sugary-worded 'Get Well' notes on expensive stationary have been regularly, even hourly, arriving via paid delivery to his weyrbarn. There's even been one of those naughty magazine from Ierne's shops included - totally inappropriate from daughter to father but that's Darsce for you! Now though she breezes into the tavern, apparently looking for him. "Daddy, Sweentess!" She heads right for him, hops up on a barstool and gives him a kiss on the cheek. "How are you?" She's all perky and chirpy with the greeting.
Inappropriate, yet thoughtful. Lets just hope no one else in his weyrbarn ever found it. That could be bad for many reasons. "Hey there sweetheart," D'had replies given that greeting, turning on his stool to give the girl his attention and offer that lopsided smirk of a smile of his. "Doin' alright," he assures. As well as can be expected really. "Haven't seen ya for awhile…" In other words, where have you been and what have you been up to?
Darsce settles, shimmying her butt on that stool to get set just so, elbows on the bar as she leans over to flutter lashes at the male tender. Her fingers wriggle, pointing to a couple of bottles and the man begins working on mixing something up for her. She's not terribly interested in watching the drink-making process, but her eyes do linger on the form of the young man behind she bar for a moment. Really she's here to see her father, so her attention returns to where it should be. "Oh, I know, I'm horrible to you," she says with a contrite sort of self-directed pout then turns to accept her cocktail, a pretty multi-colored and layered affair with a red swirl of syrup throughout. "I've made some friends and we've been, ah… hanging out." It's vague but really, he doesn't really want to know, does he? At least that's the unspoken question behind the browlift she does right then.
D'had does know that look, he's given it to plenty of women in his day. "Right," he replies when she mentions making friends and hanging out. He almost believes that's the whole story. Almost. His good hand lifts his drink for a long sip. He's not about the dance around the subject however and after that sip is savored he continues with the conversation. "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say those friends are boys."
What? It is the whole story, just look at this face! Innocent. Darsce really has no idea there's anything not to believe in there, taking her drink with graceful fingers, and upon grasping the straw her nails gleam with her latest manicured pink. She sips, listens to her father's comment, swallows and says easily, "Well of course Daddy, some of them are. Why?" She's got a twinkling smile for the tender just then, as he slides a little dish of nuts on the bartop between them. "Would you like to meet them or something?"
"Oh I'm sure," D'had replies. Of course some of them are boys, he wouldn't expect them not to be. It’s a particular type of relationship he's interested in. "Matter a'fact I would," he says in gruff reply to her last question. He might be a little over protective from time to time. Just blame his rough exterior on his injury for now though.
Darsce frowns slightly at the gruff tone, leaning forward to give him an earnest and wide-eyed searching. "Is there something wrong, Daddy Darling? They're just guys, you know. My age." One hand flips the boys out of significance and boring for him perhaps. "If I can catch one of them around when you are, though that might be the tough part." Do they tend to avoid him? Maybe. She never has given that any thought at all, but then, she has no idea of his reputation here at Xanadu for an over protective father.
D'had snorts, filling a space with drink. He has something more to say about boys, it’s just a matter of how to phrase it. He was trying to think of a tactful way, but that's just not this bluerider. "Which one knocked ya up?"
Darsce has reached casually into that nut dish in the meantime, taken a small handful and leaned back to prop an elbow on the bar behind her. It best shows off her figure to the male behind the bar, you know. She's just tossing a couple of nuts into her mouth when her father speaks and her jaws have only managed one chomp. The pieces are nearly inhaled with her gasp, eyes wide and latched on his face in a stunned sort of way. She's busy coughing for a few minutes then, her face flooded with color. The 'tender suddenly finds something to do at the far end of the bar, very busy, not listening lalala! When Darsce does find her voice she chokes, "What. Did. You. Say?"
D'had raises a brow as she starts coughing, but it would appear she's okay, she's not choking, so he waits for her to get a handle on that and reply. She might be embarrassed, but he's just blunt. "You heard me hussy, which one of 'em?" At least it lets her know he hasn't been keeping tabs on her all the time she's been at the weyr.
Darsce is not only embarrassed, she's hurt by the word hussy. There's a glitter of anger but she's not the type to cry easily. "Daddy, whyyyyyy are you calling me that?" No 'darling' this time and the word ‘why’ is, well, let's face it - she wails that one before beginning to fume. "I am not a hussy, either!" Of course, he doesn't know that she likes boys but she's too picky to have slept with any of them yet.
D'had could well have picked another term, but that's his preference. It's supposed to be endearing, in a way, he has after all called Thea a hussy before too and she certainly isn't. At least she's not crying. That he wouldn't be able to handle. "I haven't heard an answer yet, Doll," he comments, finger tapping the glass in hand. She hasn't denied it yet either.
Oh really? How did that go over when he tried it on her? Because to most girls, being called hussy is akin to calling them a tramp. Darsce is still trying not to gape, but for the moment she's more angry than anything. Give her a moment though. Embarrassment is coming with the talk about to ensue. "No one!" She finally manages to spit out, cheeks bright red still. "I've never- I'm not- sleeping with anyone! Where on Pern did that come from anyway?"
Well, there might have been a more teasing tone taken with Thea, but that's beside the point at this moment. D'had is staring at that drink in his hand while he waits for her to speak. When she does, that smirking smile of his tugs at the corner of his lips. "Good girl," he replies, reaching his good hand out to wrap an arm around her shoulders if she allows. That's the right answer there. "When I was leavin' the infirmary," which means he's been thinking about it for awhile now, "they were talkin' bout me bein' a grandfather." Which is not a word he likes right now. "So gotta be one of ya."
Darsce will have to mention to Thea sometime (in a can-you-believe-it tone), ‘That father of mine called me a hussy!!’ Right now, however, she's looking like she either wants to throw something or sink into her barstool or both. She's stiff under his arm, resisting being pulled in although she doesn't stop his arm from resting on her shoulders, something he's probably never had from her. She's pissed and covering hurt feelings with silence. Right now she's not looking at him, either. He says 'grandfather' and the rest of what he's saying sinks in. She tilts him a look. And then laughs. It's not her usual silvery light laughter either; it's more like total disbelief. "One of… who exactly?"
One of who indeed. "You or one a’ your sisters," D'had clarifies, and given Marella's only eight she never made the list. "Look sweetness," he tries again, hand giving her shoulder a light squeeze of reassurance, "Ain't mad at ya or nothin'." He's just trying to figure out what's going on with it all. "And," since he didn't say it before, or rather doesn't remember saying it before, "Do 'preciate ya stopping by while I was in there." 'There' indicated as the infirmary with a nod of his head in its general direction.
He may not be mad at her, but she's pretty steamed at him! "Don't you have a son old enough to contribute to this whole grandfather-thing? One who's shacking up with a greenrider even?" Darsce wants to know with a toss of silver-blonde hair over a shoulder while giving him a direct look. "You assume it's one of us, without even… checking him out first?" She shrugs his arm off, slides off her stool and the look she gives him is from eyes gone icy blue. "You know, don't even ask Rehsa or Hali. I'll do it and get back to you!" And then she stalks out. Damage control definitely needed!
Matrin, I totally dropped the ball here. I meant to drop your name in here somewhere. Sadness!
Darsce, let's just say him calling Thea 'hussy' did not go over well. And he's never done it since. XD
*ahem*
In this scene, I am grateful you failed to mention me. Thanks for the though though! XD