Xanadu Weyr - Caverns
// A massive cavern in its own right, this one has been skillfully adapted for human habitation. The high ceilings have been painted a light, soft ivory, as have walls hung with numerous tapestries that 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. The stone is carefully leveled 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 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. It's plain that on most days, this area wouldn't accommodate anywhere near the full population of the Weyr, instead feeding people in shifts as they come off duty. On occasions when a formal meal is laid out, tables are borrowed from all the other areas.
There's also a big fireplace set into the western wall, 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, the largest an archway to the northeast that leads outside. Near it there's an alcove with hooks for coats and shelves for muddy boots. A tunnel to the east goes to the infirmary, and a set of stairs just a little south of that lead up to the offices and administration area. To the south, a long and sloping tunnel leads down to the hot springs. The kitchen is off to the southwest, while the residents' quarters are reached by tunnels going west, deeper into the cliff.
//
Summer in Xanadu is long, and this summer seems particularly long for one reason or another. Possibly due to the large hole in the council chambers that are only a short walk from the living caverns or the heat. Heat makes every day feel endless. Evi's not been out much recently, becoming hard to track down over the last two months and downright elusive in the last couple weeks. No one can stay hidden forever and this evening finds the greenrider emerging from her home to visit the living cavern, she's piling food up on two plates and placing them at an empty corner table. She's dressed in a muted lavender top and skirt, the top sheer but full coverage and the skirt heavier and pleated. After gathering drinks she settles in a seat facing the door, glancing at it every few moments while quietly staring at her food. Patient and contemplative, for her.
Summer might be hot, but its a different hot than that in Igen and with it being winter there the warmth that Xanadu holds finds some pleasantness to one who no longer resides within its territory. Kate has been scarce, if only because she lives elsewhere, but even so since she and Xinieth were cleared to between she has found a few times to visit. There's a sassy, teasing grin flashed towards a rider who recognizes her from before, but green eyes are quick to spot the person that she was really in search of and the blonde slides into the empty seat across from Evi. "You'd thing Igen was half a world away and took months to get to." Which by the way, without a dragon, it does.
Staring at the door for a long moment Evi looks away in time to miss Kate's entry, sipping at a glass of juice and refusing to touch the food she is caught off guard by the voice of her friend. "Kate!" There's a squeal of pleasure, reaching forward to grab her fellow greenrider's hand and squeeze in greeting. The words have her sighing slightly with a headshake and a blush, eyes going to the ceiling. "Nei was proddy, strained a muscle, um, I've been having work done outside my weyr. Uh, that's it. Mostly, well. Sorta." There's more shyness then is ever necessary, tucking down and grinning suddenly as if she may have recently come into a great deal of money. Giddy, though she's always joyful this look comes with a sparkle in brown eyes. "I had been meaning to come see you. I am, so sorry. I just, there's been distraction and did you hear someone tried to blow up R'hyn and Ila'den? Well didn't try they DID blow them up. They're ok." She's babbling now, attempting to move away from looking like a cat that swallowed a canary.
A quick squeeze of hands is returned along with a smile, and though that blush doesn't go completely unnoticed its not the first thing to be commented upon. "She's doing alright now though?" The assumption is yes given there wasn't any more said of it, but just to be sure she's asking. A slight shake of her head and a laugh follows for the work being done and the perfectly happy mood Evi seems to be in. "Its alright, it's not like anyone has either," said nonchalant as if it really doesn't matter all that much. "What?" Kate asks after the oh so casual mention of someone trying to blow up anyone much lest those named. "No. I mean I heard something happened, but…" she didn't get details! "Good." That they're okay. At least she didn't have to ask about that! "So, what aren't you telling me?"
Attention momentarily returns to the food, allowing eyes to glaze over and roll up to the right as she contacts Neifeth. In a moment a gold firelizard pops in from between, landing on the edge of the table and nudging at Evi's hand in a 'lets do this thing lady, I'm busy' fashion. "She's better, today was our first day back with the wing." COnfirming her dragon’s health with a motherly, exhausted, dramatic sigh. "I uh, need to send a note. Sorry." Grimacing she pulls a slip of paper out, rips off a corner, and writes a note. Attaching it to Tulle, she returns to conversation readily. "Yeah, blown up. I uh, don't know more.' Shrugging, as if it's the weather and not people being almost killed. It's Xanadu if you're not almost being killed you're not trying. "Mm, I have a new friend. He's really nice." The way she says this is with an entire body wiggle, nearly melting into the floor and showing all of her teeth.
Kate nods quietly as she listens. "Good," she confirms a second time, this time being for Neifeth's health. A wave of a hand brushes off the apology for note writing. Since when has that ever bothered her. "I can't believe," okay so being Xanadu maybe she can, "I'm just glad everyone is alright." Relatively speaking of course. But oh? What's this Evi? "He?" the blonde teases, a grin spreading just a bit more at the implications. "Does he have a name? How long? Are you sleeping with him?" All important questions these.
All of the questions have her blushing more and more, Evi hiding her face in her hands and shaking her head in mortification. "Oh, yeah. He does." Squeaking out one response to the litany of questions with a squealy intake of air, "Um, his name is Lyubomir. Uh, a bit over six months now." Slitting her fingers to look out at Kate, hands sliding down face in an attempt to pull the embarrassment from herself physically through splayed fingers that drag the skin down with them. "We… are. Yeah. Yep, sleeping. He uh, two sevendays ago he.. moved in." Who knew she could even KEEP such secrets, "It's, new and perfect, and he's so sweet, and he took such good care of me-." Pausing there she leaves the rest of her sentence right there, unwilling to go much further and suddenly distracting herself with nibbling at the food.
Evi's blushing only spurs Kate's laughter. Then again there are things she is okay talking about that the younger rider tends to avoid, like that last question. "Six months? And you're just telling me now?" Sure there are reasons she didn't visit (and Kate is certainly counting the new guy as one of them!) but she still could have said something sooner. Right?!? "And he's just moving in?" that question is more for the teasing factor than a serious question, especially considering the grin. As for that sentence left incomplete, Kate could fill it in with a number of things given recent news. While I was worrying about Nei being injured for example. "I'm happy for you." Did she or did she not say that Evi would find someone sooner or later?
"Six months and he's not stopped and yelled 'just kidding' once." As if Evi is fully expecting that might be the case, "He's working late, or he'd be here." Pointing to the second dinner sitting next to her. "I know it's a Weyr, I liked the slow." In response to him just moving in recently, "All the dragons and the quick feelings, leaves no room for a gentleman to prove he is one." Admitting that with both shoulders going up, head tilting to the side in a 'see my point' way. "I didn't know if it'd work, but it's working." More than working, more than what she's saying but the happy sigh that escapes tells the story well enough. "How is living in your own weyr? Do you have a wing? An assignment? Has Xinieth risen yet?" Oh yeah, lets have a real talk.
"I didn't mean it like that," Kate replies with a bit of sigh. There's a nod for the explanation of him not being there, which certainly explains who she was expecting with that extra plate. "No one's knocking you for taking it slow." If anything she might be a little jealous of that. A brief moment of glazed eyes and lack of attention find her squashing commentary from the green that's most certainly listening in on their conversation. "I didn't like it," the blonde replies to the first of that series. "Bay Wing, sweeps mostly right now and yes."
The first one is the worst, uh, the same brown has won my last two and his rider is an assistant weyrlingmaster at Fort. I wouldn't mind if it was only her from now on, maybe that's the key to it? Finding someone you like and keeping them around." That might be the key to all relationships ever, Evi is still new and young at all of this. The eye glaze gets an eyebrow twerked up in response, "Was the winner at least nice?" Because evi is fully ready to beat up any male dragonrider who isn't, even if it's comical to picture her doing so. Pulling out a leather bound green notebook, she flits through pages before responding, "Sweeps are good though, I liked those. I don't know if you knew but, Glorioth and Inasyth have eggs on the sands." Speaking of it with roll of her eyes that conveys how she feels about it, "At least you don't ride gold, according to Ony, Oddisa has been a right wher face this last seven." Gagging at the idea and grinning, cuz it's not even her problem. "Alright, back to this." Tapping the notebook, "I'm gone, for three days next seven but.. say, the seven after I see if we can um. All get together."
Kate shrugs to that comment of the first being the worst. It is what it is and it's past now. So there's that at least. "She was proddy last time you visited," come to find out, which might explain a bit about how that visit went. She might not go so far as to say he was nice but, "He wasn't a jerk." Thanks Evi, but no, Kate doesn't need you to try and beat up anyone. "Moved in with Z'len after graduation," snuck in the middle of everything there, "I don't mind them," sweeps that is, "drills for search and rescue and yeah," a nod for the mention of eggs on Xanadu's sands. "Seven after next should work fine."
The news that Kate has moved in with someone doesn't shock Evi, but there's a pursed lip glance, eyes softening in understanding and a pinch of pity. "He'd better be nice too. I um, willl say having companionship is.. lovely isn't it? He's good to me." Starry eyed and basking in that new love feeling, it might be lust as well. Either way it's obviously bringing her joy. "Alright, um, I'd say bring my cousin but.. if what Nei just got from Gloomth who heard it from Varequoth is right.. Oriapeth is rising." Widening her eyes in excitement and then smiling, "And, I think I'm going to bring this food to um, well to my new friend. I'll send a 'lizard once I get dates and times all sorted." She's more grown up, but still all Evi. Standing she hugs Kate tightly from the side, before gathering the food and rushing out in a fluff of lavender and more energy then any one person actually deserves to harness.