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 colour 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 colours 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.
Its a rather unremarkable morning at Xanadu Weyr - the blue skies spotted with puffy clouds, cool air drifting through the open doors and windows that welcome it. With Kilaueth content, at least for the time being, to watch her clutch alone, Niva has taken advantage of the situation. Escaping to the Caverns, she's currently in conversation with a middle-aged woman, a boy of almost four tugging hard to be free from the hand that's holding the back of his shirt, the Weyrwoman's attention on him rather than on his caretaker.
Hand securely fastened to a child, no more than seven turns, Adella, whose face is only seen at Xanadu once ever few sevendays, walks in from the clearing. Near the entrance to the caverns, a woman retrieves the girl from Adella's care and Adella pats her on the top of her head lightly. "He was very well today," Adella says to the woman warmly, "We had lots of fun." With a smile, the woman, presumably her mother or a nanny, ushers her further into the caverns. As they pass by the four turn old and the two women holding him back, the little girl stares wide eyed at them until they disappear into the caverns. Adella, sighing a little, rolls up some notes she's holding in one hand and carefully takes a seat a short distance away from the struggling child. As she sits, she smiles at the boy then turns to lay out her notes on the table.
Niva crouches to look at the little boy, ruffling his hair, and giving him a kiss on the forehead. "I know you want to go play on the Sands, Cavin, but you can't, not right now. Maybe when you're older.." Niva slowly straightens with a sigh, nodding a silent thanks, before the boy is let loose, running back towards the kidlet play area, his charge following at a more sedate pace. A shake of her head, and Niva turns, pausing as she spots Adella, tilting her head. "Xanadu's greetings…" There's a touch of exhaustion in her voice as she moves to settle at the table with her.
Fussing absentmindedly with her papers, Adella watches somewhat as the boy is released into the care of his charge but soon returns to fussing. The woman blinks slightly and rubs at her tired eyes before making some additions to her notes. As Niva sits, Adella looks up and gives the woman a small, hesitant smile. Niva looks vaguely familiar to her but she's unsure why. Nodding politely, Adella says, "And Ierne's," and places her notes, for propriety's sake, upside down on the table. "It sounds like you and me both could use a good nights sleep." She says this, noticing the exhaustion in her voice and commiserates.
With the distraction of her youngest gone, Niva's shifting a bit in the chair, shoulders drooping as she leans on one elbow against the table. "Nothing's wrong with that poor girl, is there?" Niva asks after a moment, concerned as things slowly register in her mind, and then, she flicks her gaze back up to Adella. "Alas, I'm not certain I'll have any such luck for… months to come." A bit of a frown passes over her face, as she regards the younger woman. "There's plenty of klah, should you be interested." Brown eyes linger as she seems to ponder.
Studying the woman's face from across the table, Adella looks in the direction that the little girl went off to, as if contemplating the question. She shakes her head after a moment. "Well, there isn't much I can say about it,"says Adella quietly, thumbing her notes. "Her parents have asked me to evaluate her." She leaves it at that because it wouldn't be proper to divulge much more. Her eyes widen a little at Niva's second comment. "Gosh, that's an awful long time to go without sleep. Any particular reason?" At the suggestion of Klah, Adella waves it off. "No, no, I shall be fine." The offer, however, earns Niva a grateful smile.
Niva nods slowly at Adella's response, glancing briefly at the papers, and then once more in the direction the girl headed. "I understand, Healer and all." Though there is a bit of curiosity still lingering, as Niva's likes purse and she contemplates. She's soon distracted, however, by Adella's surprise, and Niva's fingers flick. "I would hazard a bet that the stresses of being a Weyrwoman are surpassed only by having ones lifemate on the Sands." She offers in explanation, a smile in return, albeit a weary one.
Adella moves the papers from the table and into her bag which is resting near her on a chair of its own. "Ah, you're a healer. Are you specializing in anything in particular?" Adella apparently hadn't noticed Niva's knot. As Niva continues, however, recognition seems to dawn on Adella's face. "Ah, and a weyrwoman. I thought you looked a bit familiar. You are Niva then, I can only assume. As stressful as it is you must be very proud and excited, I'm sure." Adella extends a small hand to the other woman, nodding deferentially. "I am Adella, green Yrsavaith's."
"Unfortunately, I never made it far enough to decide. And, unlike a few of the goldriders, I've not found time to continue to study, and run a Weyr." Niva replies with something between humor and distaste, fingers wrapping on the table slowly. At the look of recognition, Niva chuckles softly, inclining her head to the Healer and greenrider with a smile. "I am. Tis a pleasure, Adella.." She returns, shaking her hand firmly, settling back in her chair then. "Not that I think I'd be any less stressed as a Healer instead, for the record."