Xanadu Weyr - Caverns
A massive cavern in it's own right, this one has been skillfully adapted for human habitation. The high ceilings have been painted a light, soft ivory, as are the walls where numerous tapestries hang to provide brilliant color and insulation from the stone. The floor has been left in its natural state, pale pink granite speckled through with glittering mica and dark flecks of basalt, leveled carefully but kept sufficiently rough to avoid slips.
The cavern itself is loosely divided into areas, each one set up to be suitable for some segment of the Weyr's population. The most frequently occupied area, however, is the one near the Kitchens where tables of varying sizes provide a place to sit down and eat or chat and a buffet of consumables is almost always kept stocked. Its plain that on most days, this area wouldn't accommodate anywhere near the full population of the Weyr and equally plain that on such occasions when a formal meal is laid out, tables are appropriated from all the other areas.
A big fireplace is set into the wall near the Kitchens as well, several comfortable chairs nearby providing haunts for elderly residents or riders who like a good view of all that happens. Rugs cover the floor in strategic spots, all of them abstract or geometric in design and most in the softly neutral colors of undyed wool.
Exits lead off in all directions, a big archway the largest and that leading outside. Shallow stairs to the west lead to the offices and administration area while tunnels to the east lead to the infirmary, kitchen and resident's quarters. Southwards, a sloping tunnel leads down to the hot springs and southwest is a wide tunnel, carefully roped off to avoid accidents.
Kire is sitting at one of the tables and he takes a drink of his klah. He is holding his head as he has his notebook open and he is looking over some pages, "Shards why did I drink so much last night. My notes are horrible." He winces a little bit as he drinks more of his klah. It's in the afternoon towards dinner time and Kire just woke up, as evident by his bed head.
Thea enters the Caverns, humming softly. She's looking… happier than she has in… ever. She makes her way to the Serving tables fills a plate, snags something cold to drink and heads over to sit in one of the chairs by the fire. She's hot, but the fire is small. Cheerful. And not so hot. And she appears to be in the mood to be cheerful. And sit. By the fire.
Kire finishes off his mug of klah and he gets up to get some more. He spots Thea and waves to her, "Hello Thea. How are you doing? Taking a break from the heat of the sands?" He asks as he refill his mug of klah and starts over back towards his table.
Thea turns her head as her name is called, "Hey, Kire. I am." She eyes the fire, amending that, " Sort of." She raises her mug to her kips eyeing the boy over the rim of her drink. "You feeling all right? You look a bit…" She leaves the thought unfinished, but her eyes take in his complexion.
Kire smiles, "Well I'm glad that you are sort of doing all right. It must be really hot on the sand." He rubs his eyes, "Yah just still feeling the effects of a flaming ovine." He sighs as he looks back at his notebook, "I knew I shouldn't have tried to take notes while I was drink. What was I even thinking…"
Thea places her mug on the low table beside her chair, smiling at something she's not voicing. "Hmm? Oh, sorry," Her attention returns to Kire, "I am more than 'sort of' alright, I am just 'sort of' taking a break from the heat." She clarifies for Kire, then digs into her plate, listens to him as she chews, then swallows. Her eyes twinkle, but she manages to keep her face straight, except for the very corners of her mouth, "Do any stargazing as well?"
Kire ohs, "How do you sorta take a break?" He asks as he moves over to sit next to her, "Yes that's what my drunken notes are from…And I think I proposed to Cenlia last night…after the second flaming ovine it sorta gets a bit blurry."
Thea blinks, "How do I..?" She gestures to the fire, "Sands…hot, fire…hot also? Sorta taking a break from the heat of the Sands? Nevermind." She chuckles, "You're still a bit slow from your partyin'last night, I think," she teases the boy. "Could you focus enough to actually see the stars?" She's smiling outright now. Another mouthful of food follows the first, allowing Kire to answer.
Kire ohs a little bit, "I see, well why don't you move away from the fire." He nods, "I must be I feel like my head is all full of cottenballs." He ums a little bit, "I don't know…I remember a bunch of white spots."
Thea shakes her head, managing not to roll her eyes, "I am in the mood to sit by the fire, that's why." See she can answer questions. The answers may not always make sense to some, however. Kire's answer has her tsking. "What a waste of good starlight. I quite enjoyed them last night." She sets her plate down, taking her mug. Cradling it in her hands, she changes the subject, leaning forward as if awaiting the revealing of some prime news, "So, Cenlia? Did she say yes?" That amused smile is still on her lips.
Kire ohs, "Okay. I didn't mean anything by it I just thought that you'd want to be cooler than sitting by the fire, but who am I to say maybe you are cold." He nods, "Indeed it was a very good waste, but I did take notes now if I can just decipher them." He sighs and blinks. He blushes, "I think so…she said she'd marry me if I could drink her brother under the table, well I had one drink and he left so I think that counts."
Thea laughs, waving away his apology. See, not offended. "No chance of that!" Being cold, that is, "I'm just in the mood for a fire. The flames are relaxing." As the boy talks about waste and deciphering drunken notes, she places her mug on the low table by her empty plate, reaches a hand out, indicating his notebook, "May I?"
Kire ahs and he nods a little bit, "Indeed the flames of a fire can be almost hypnotic as you watch them dance across the logs of the fire. They move across the wood with an elegance that almost defies nature." He offers Thea the notebook, "Here you go, good luck with it." It's some doodles and scribbley notes.
Thea takes the notebook, but doesn't look at it right away, for Kire is working magic with the fire. She looks at the lad with a bit of awe. "You really should write some of the things you say down. The Harpers would love it." She lowers her eyes to the page and as she scans it, refers back to Cenlia, "So, ah Elidi left the bar without a drink?"
Kire chuckles and blushes a little bit, "Well I'm sure if I was a harper I could come up much better." He nods, "Yep he left without taking a drink."
Thea tsks and hands the book back to Kire, "I'm afraid it's as much a waste of time today, as stargazing was for you last night. Can't make any sense out of it at all." Her eyes take in the lad's blush, "Well, I wouldn't worry, then Kire. If Elidi didn't have anything, then you didn't drink him under the table. You drank him out the door. Big difference, don't ya think?"
Kire smiles, "Indeed. I probably should just burn the notebook pages from last night and start over fresh tonight." He nods a little bit, "Yah I guess so, although I hope Cenlia's not upset with me."
Thea reaches for her mug once again, tucking her feet up under her on the chair. "And why might Cenlia be upset with you? I'd think she'd be rel-" she clears her throat, "Upset with her brother for not taking on the challenge."
Kire ums, "Well because I like cenlia and everything, but I'm way way way to young to be married to her and I was gonna break it off with her when I saw her next." He ohs, "Well they had words last night…I think."
Thea just shakes her head and smiles wryly, "Good thing you realized that before you tied the knot." She lifts her mug, drains it and stands, "They're always having words. Ask her about the time she broke her brother's ribs." She heads to the door, "See ya, Kire. Write those lovely fire-words down, will you?" And she's out the door and off to the sands.