Xanadu Weyr - Observation Level
Dark blue seats form a semi-circle around the sands below, the lowest row separating from the sands themselves by merely a railing. The seats climb upwards, each row a bit higher then the previous, and they are broken up into sections by 3 sets of staircases. Lights are evenly spaced along the outer wall, lighting the seats and the sands easily, though they tend to be dimmed unless a major event is taking place. A large balcony looms overhead, darkening some of the seats, providing a place for observers of the draconic kind to watch without obstructing the view for others.
When one looks over the railing, the oddly hued sand below can be seen easily, the circle-shaped area of the sands spread out to the far walls, the sand itself a unique mixture of red and white grains.
It's a very nice afternoon - the sky is blue and cloudless, the sunlight is bright, and a cool wind blows through the open Weyr itself, bringing with it the scent of green leaves and bushes as they come out from under their late-season covering of snow. Oh, and bring along the first hints of pollen, too. Sneezing above and beyond the usual round of winter ills is now a very common sound around the Caverns. And here, in the hatching area…which is decidedly warmer than outside. The sound of one man sneezing, though, echoes through the big open area with the clap of a thunderbolt. "AaaaCHOO! AAAAACHOO! Shardit. ACHO!" The svelte looking bronze on the red-and-white sands lifts his head and watches with bemusement, curled up near to his sleeping golden mate. Well…finding Xe'ter won't be any trouble…just follow the sounds of hayfever.
Jacket left open to the warming weather D'had finds his way into the galleries above the stands in search of his weyrmate, but instead finds the Weyrleader. Either way he doesn't seem to mind that Thea isn't about and instead offers the second mug of klah in his hands over to the bronzerider. "Sound like ya could use it," he comments taking up a seat beside the younger man.
Xe'ter looks up as he's joined by the senior (as in rank, not age…no old jokes from the young Weyrleader!) bluerider, and then offers his well calloused hands to take the mug, "Aye, a fresh one would be good." Despite the small stack of fresh hankies he's got tucked under his thigh, it seems he's actually trying to work out here, as well. He's got his omnipresent organizer, and plenty of pencils. Romth rumbles from the clutch below, and nestles his big chin down on his forepaws again, keeping drowsy watch over Seryth and eggs alike. "Thea'll be back. She stepped out a bit ago when one of the dragonhealers game in." He shifts, perhaps just the smallest bit uneasy, but then seems to catch his own nervous gesture and stills himself. There's a heartbeat, before he inquires politely, "How's the cut doing?"
D'had nods. "Figured she might be here," he comments, though her being off meeting with someone doesn't seem to phase him much, if at all, as he examines the sands and their contents. "Heard things went well at least," of the clutching that is. As for his hand, as it's mentioned he turns a glance to it before he shrugs, "Doin' fine, healed well enough," though the healers still like him to exercise it. "How bout you?" he questions, turning his attention the to the Weyrleader. "Hear yer a little shorthanded," he comments taking a sip from his own mug of klah.
Xe'ter's gaze had gone out towards the sands at D'had's comment. Apparently, he's not sure if he believes that statement entirely, or not. "Seryth knows her business…and better than the last one." Ahem. Yeah. LAST time, he was stuck in a hole in the ground with Thea and Seryth clutched with just Romth. This last time? Well. "Maybe the third time will be the charm." If there IS a third time! He looks back, at the comment…and looks like he very carefully weighs his response, "Aye, well. That could be said, yeah. It's a good thing we're nae a fighting Weyr, in my estimation…Got a wing with no Leader…STILL, and I'm still flyin' solo with nae weyrsecond…though Romth thinks he could do admirably."
"Suppose so," D'had agrees on this clutching going better than Seryth's last given those details that don't need to be repeated aloud. That singular response also serving as a reply to the bronzerider's following comment. "Sure he'd make a good go of tryin'," he chuckles about Romth. After the words on his lack of leadership the bluerider remains silent for a long moment, content for the time being to drink his klah while its hot. "Look," he begins then after what, to some, might have been an awkward sort of silence between the two men. "Know I told ya I was done, but had enough time ta know a break was nice, but I ain't ready ta be out of it just yet. Ya need a hand, ya let me know."
There is a quiet moment, and then he nods, lifting his chin up so he can try and catch the bluerider's eye, "Seems, really, you're meant for it. Usually the best men for a job are the ones that want it least…but still will do it. So aye…I'll be happy to have ye back. And we might even consider finding another…someone to train up to the position. Should you change yer mind again." Ah. The young bronzerider might not be very…uh…communicative. But at least it sounds like he's THOUGHT about it! "As it is…I've still got a wingleadership to fill, and I think I know who I like…it'll keep Ers'lan on his toes. Or keep 'im a bit humbler. One of the two. Or it won't work out an I'll be looking for another wingleader there."
D'had chuckles lowly, "Seems so," he agrees easily enough on that note around his mug. If Xe'ter isn't very communicative D'had is often enough less so. For now at least he seems to have something to say and so conversation idly continues, "Sure you'll find someone's right for it. Ya do a good job, can be hard goin' it alone like ya've been."
There's a moment of real quiet there, before Xe'ter offers a genuine, "Thank you, D'had…that means a lot. I came up…graduated…sure no one thought a hill of old shoes fer me…I'd like t'think I were provin' em wrong, but who knows." He snorts, and then with a characteristic lack of sentimentality, notes, "Thea…she held on t'yer knot…like it were made o'gold. If yer brave, ye can try and get it back from her…or I'll have ye a new one ordered up from Ierne."
"Been there before," D'had comments, "Learnin' under fire's hard." Sure isn't easy and Xe'ter has done his best with what he had, that much Donn can tell. As for the fate of his old knot he can't help but chuckle, "I'll talk ta her," he replies, "And we'll go from there. I got some other things ta get done yet taday though," he continues, moving to stand.
Xe'ter rises, a gesture of genuine respect…someone taught this young man manners, at least, "Should I tell Thea ye were looking for her?"
D'had shakes his head, "Nah," he replies, "I'll find 'er." Some of those things he has yet to do require completion before he finds her now. "Take it easy," he adds, clapping his free hand on the younger man's shoulder, a reassurance of sorts before he turns to head on his way.