Waxing and Hiding

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.

As normal, no matter what time of day, the cavern is host to more than a few weyrfolk in various stages of enjoying their meals. Not so for one person however. One area of the cavern is blocked off by well placed chair-barriades. Working inside this section, is a certain apprentice. Kera hunches over slightly as she works to wax the floor. Again. So, back and forth she goes, slowly making progress along the floor.

Natalya makes her ways into the cavern slowly sliping though the crowd as he move to collect her meal glancing about to find a seat she frowns slightly as she spots Kera scrubing the floors. Moving back though the crowd she sets her plate on a near by table and says , "Why they got you doing that?"

Kera straightens back up when she hears the nearby voice. Wincing a bit and stetching a little she offers a nearly amused shrug. "Oh, well." She gives a little sigh and makes a few gentle swipes with the waxing mop, touching up some spots here or there. "It seems that I assaulted a Weyrling."

Natalya blinks and says softly, "Assulted a weyrling?" looking really confused at that and looks about, "What? how? um… What happened?"

Kera glances to Natalya a moment before a casual glance around the cavern. Seeing the Headwoman's Henchperson, otherwise known as the Cook, watching her from the kitchen entrance. So, adding more wax to the floor, she goes back to working the mop back and forth as she talks. "The short version, some Weyrling insinuated that I smelled like his grandmother. I dumped a bottle of perfume on his head and here we are. Waxing floors for a seven-day."

Natalya smirks and says, "Pouring perfume on his head? That isn't assulting him, maybe insulting him. He probably smells better now anyways." she looks about and says, "How much more of this do you have for today?"

Kera looks up quickly, a very satisfied grin as she taps the mop sharply on the floor. "That's what I said!" Her voice probably higher than it should be. Looking around quickly, she lowers her head some but goes on im a softer voice. "He did smell much better when he left." Kera flashes an amused wink and giggles. "I think I got his jacket, so he might still be minty fresh."

Natalya giggles at that and says softly, "Well it could be worse the mopping floors, so I guess there were not to made, I mean you aren't out mucking the stables or anything." she nods "It'll blow over fairly quickly.

Kera cringes at the thought of having to muck stables. Her worst nightmare. Shaking her head "That's why I joined the healer Hall. Get away from all the messy animals." The Apprentice continues to mop, working around the area but managing to stay near enough Natalya to keep on chatting. "But anyway, apparently, sprinkling a Weyling with perfume is assault." She pauses her mopping and stretches her back again as she ponders. "Hmm. I wonder what they do when it rains….." Kera chuckles and grins to the young dolphineer.

Natalya chuckels and says softly, "I don't know." she shakes her head and says, "I wouldn't worry to much about it. But I would avoid that weyrling for now if I where you." she looks to the floor and says, "At least i don't think they can complain about the job you are doing there."

Kera considers that a moment and nods agreeably. "Yes, but I doubt I'm likely to have too much interaction with him anyway since I spend most of my time in the infirmary." Pausing in her mopping, she looks back over the area she's finished mopping. Making a few barely touching passes to smooth out the wax. Taking a step back and sighs and glances back at the table. Realizing she's mopped herself into a small circle of area. As she figures out how to proceed, she peers back to Natalya. "How're the dolphins today."

Natalya looks at Kera's situation and giggles softly and says, "oh Echo? He is doing rather well, though I am not getting to go out with him nearly as much as I would like now that the weather has turned cold on us." she frowns, "They think we will get all sick or something."

Kera peers at the floor for a few seconds then back at the mostly cleared table. Reaching over, she slips a few things back, then scooches onto the edge of the table. Taking a couple of minutes to rest, she rolls her ankles a few times. With an agreeable nod to Natalya "Well, Echo's right, it could make a person more prone to getting sick." Since her feet are dangling off the floor, she might as well wax that spot too, which is exactly what she does. /swipeswipe/

Natalya nods and says, "I guess. But I do have a wetsuit to help keep me warm in the water." she glances about and says, "And shouldn't I be tring to get use to having to go in in adverse conditions. you know, in case I end up on a rescue in the cold like this and all?"

Kera dabs a few more gentle swipes so that now the whole area is waxed. Nodding to herself, she turns her attention back the other apprentice "It does keep you warmer than you would be without it, but you still get wet. Which when you add with cold, it equals, sick." After another moments thought and she frowns a little. "Is there more than one dolphin here? I thought they nomrally stayed in groups." The young healer gives a little shrug, unsure of the answer.

Natalya nods and says, "We have an entire pod." she smiles, "they are way out in the bay at this point. "Echo is just my partner." she nods about the cold part, "Yeah I guess you are right, I just get kinda…antsy this time of year. Its not like it is cold like back home where I came from but.."

Kera gives a sympathetic nod. "That's understandable. Back home, you said that was High Reaches?" She pauses for half a second before continuing. "My dad used to say it never stopped snowing there. Of coarse, that was when I was real little and he would make up stories to pass the time."

Natalya giggles and says, "Well they have snow a good part of the year at that altitude." she smiles, 'I can't say I miss that but." she glances about and says, "Looks like you did a good job here."

Kera swings her feet back and forth over the drying floor with a little nod. "Too bad it's only a small portion of the whole." A sweeping gesture towards the rest of the cavern. "I'm working it in sections though, that way I'm mostly out of the way." She gives a carefee little shrug and grin to Natalya "Are you dont with your duties for the day?"

Natalya nods and says, "I had study lessons earlier, they let us out early because it is to cold to go into the water.. Im sorta at a loss of what to do at this point. I figured I would find someone to hang out with."

Kera thinks for a moment and peers back over towards the kitchen, not seeing the headwoman or cook slipping about, she smiles back to the other apprentice. "Well, I've been working at this for the last few candlemarks." Pointing out several other areas where the floor does seem a bit brighter and shiner than the rest of the cavern. "That plus my earlier lessons and duties in the infirmary, should count for enough work for one day." Working around the table, she swings her legs over to the unwaxxed side and slips down. "So, what shall we do? I can't go into that shop again for a while, and I don't suppose there are too many shops around hmm?"

Natalya says, "Not a great deal of them. It is cold but I could show you the gardens. Or the hotsprings are normally fairly empty this time of day. Its too cold to go for a regular swim…' she thinks…

Kera brightens at the mention of the gardens and nods quickly to that idea. "That sounds great. Let me go put away my mess and get bundled up. Meet you back here in a few minutes?" She begins gathering up the items she had scattered around as she works, leaving the chairs blocking the still wet floor.

Natalya nods and smiles, 'I will meet you by the door so we can get you out of here quickly." she smiles and packs up her stuff to move off in that dirrection.

Kera nods to Natalya and disappears into the kitchen, returning a couple minutes later, without mop and bucket, to makes her way quickly towards the infirmary and vanish from sight again, most likely having stored her stuff in there earlier. Reappearing again, she's dressed for the cooler temps and shrugs into a jacket. She makes a detour to the food line, where she grabs a couple of rolls to nibble on. Finally, she's making her way towards the indicated door to meet Natalya while she nibbles.

Natalya smiles as Kera approaches and says, "Alright lets escape before they find more work for us." as she speaks she turns to head outside, hopefully with out those in charge noticing the pair.

Kera grins and offers over the spare meatroll, "Lead the way."

Xanadu Weyr - Garden
An arch woven from the tendrils of a willow tree stretches overhead lightly creeping with ivy as one steps in from the meadow into this sanctuary of green. Cool gray flagstone carefully spaced enables a soft velvety moss to thrive within the cracks, and creates a single wide pathway that fluidly breaks off into two paths of stone once free of the natural arbor. It is a wonder this place, and meticulously tended from the way it seems not a single leaf is out of place. On either side of the main path expansive grassy patches are trimmed short and edged behind with natural tan colored stone selectively chosen to stack just right. Beyond these are a line of fine puffed shrubberies in vibrant green intermingled with flowering bushes of brilliant pinks varying in hue from the very light to the very dark, which causes the occasional snowy white blossoms of other scattered here and there without worry to simply pop out of the scenery.
Directly in the center of the garden is another wall of intricately stacked stone, this of muted grays, creating what from the air would prove to be a perfect circle. It's been set high for safety, but not so much as one would not be able to lean over it to admire what lies beyond, either standing or sitting at the smattering of benches whose backs are set every four feet along it. Flush to the ground inside it's protective stone outcropping, is an enormous twenty foot wide fish pond. Within one can glean the metallic glint of playful goldfish, the unhurried cruise of fat koi, and even a frog or three among pale yellow and white flowering water lilies and their thick green pads.
The trees surrounding the entire garden were planted to give the impression that they had always been here, not only lending to a rustic look, but also eluding to the beauty that can be found among the wilds if only one might just look for it. Species vary from the ordinary Birch and Pine, but the flaming red capsules of the Indian Shot to the robust orange spokes of the Firewheel tree suggest the spice of the exotic. The two paths leading away from the entrance have come full circle, wrapping around to meet each other on the other side, yet still continue on to the far left and right. One path leads off deeper into the surrounding woods, while the other wider; cheerily decorated with brightly colored slabs of painted stones.

Natalya smiles and takes the meatroll as she begins to walk outside, the cool air seeming to energies the young girl as she reaches to try and take Kera's hand to drag her along towards the Meadow at a skipping pace. Natalya smiles and slows as they enter the garden, letting Kera get a bit ahead of her to get her first look at the weyrs expansive gardens.

Kera chuckles as her hand is clasped and she manages to keep step with Natalya even though at first she was caught off guard and off balance. Taking a couple of nibbles from her snack as they move along the path, she seem to be trying to commit the path to a mental map. As they enter the garden she stops with a cheery grin and just takes a minutes to take it all in. She gives her head a shake, dislodging a few snowflakes to drift on down to the ground.

Natalya smile and says, "Beautiful isn't it. IT will be more so in the spring but." she turns slowly, "I spend alot of time in this little alcove over there. Or in the greenhouse when no on is around.

Kera starts wandering haphazardly around the garden, smiling and nodding at one arrangement of plants, or clustering of trees. "Even though the flowering season is past, the place still has a bright and cheery feel. Almost Shiny!" The shiny bit has /nothing/ what so ever to do with the light snow falling.

Natalya smiles as she follows behing Kera and says, "Even with the flowers dormant all this potential." she looks about and smiles.

Kera peers around at all the nooks and crannys. "Looks like quite a few places to have a little break between duties sometimes." She gestures to a few willows and other tree clusters. "Hide from Journeyman and Weyrhealer alike." Kera flashes and amused grin to her fellow apprentice over that.

Natalya grins and nods, "Just over here." she weaves though some of the trees and tries to pull Kera into one of the secluded Alcoves, "They never seem to look for me in here.."

Kera looks around and ducks around the alcove, and then eases back to peer around. Nodding, as she takes the last bite from her roll, the apprentice brushes her hand of crumbs before sticking them in her warm pockets. "Seems like a good place to catch a midday nap when the infirmary is overcrowded."

Xanadu Weyr - Secluded Alcove
A twisting, darkly mulched pathway, leads through a densely wooded area off to a set of wooden beams grown into the landscape to form a set of rustic stairs. Each one covered in a bit of leafy moss here and there. Just beyond the path opens up into a romantic secluded garden cut into the wilds themselves. The aromatic scent of the woods is enhanced by the restful sound of a small waterfall splashing over a natural rock formation down into a mountain spring that feeds other water required points of interest elsewhere. Huge mossy covered boulders surround the scene, sparse flowering trees and bushes darting the background with their pale pink blossoms.
A few benches are set off in private areas here and there for the murmured discussion of lovers. Visitors are encouraged to take a swim in the pond, or lounge on the velvety carpeted mossy rock encasing the body itself. Several large flat stones stand alone just inside, allowing one to sit and refresh themselves by sinking perhaps just their legs into the fresh cool water.

Natalya nod and looks about and smiles, "I just think it is calming and relaxing. I am sure with your work you could use that alot." she smiels back to Kera.

Kera gives an amused snort after another glance around. "No, very doubtful the weyrhealer would be looking for me here." Looking up at the waterfall she nods. "The air is definately fresher. Sometimes I swear even my hair and clothes smell like disinfectant." Canting her head to Natalya. "At least you don't have that problem with your dolphin."

Natalya smiels and says, "oh there are days when I smell like raw fish, so I think I understand that one completely." she giggles and scoots up next to Kera.

Kera can't help but smirk "Raw fish is better than some smells I could list." She doesn't though, thankfully. With another peek around the edge of the alcove, as if just waiting for the Healer to grab her by the ear, she doesn't see him, so shifts back around. "So, where you posted here this part Turnover? Or the last Gather?"

Natalya says, "I have been here alittle while now actually." she sighs, "Though really I don't know many people around here. The few friends I managed to make went and impressed so I don't see them often anymore.."

Kera nods to Natalya "It's disappointing sometimes. Some of my friends at the hall left for one reason or nothing, postings mostly." She frowns a little "And now I don't get to see them at all." She's somber about that but after a few seconds she takes a deep breath and shrugs, turning a little smile to the other apprentice. "Well, at lest you can still see them around the Weyr though right?"

Natalya nods and says, "Sometimes, it has been months since I have seen some of them." she smiels, "I do see Soriana now and then." she leans back and says, "Anyways, I got Echo and my studies, what more do I really need?"

Kera gives Natalya's questions some serious thought, you can tell by that /really/ serious expression on her face. Snapping her fingers suddenly as if she has the perfect answer. "A new pretty outfit?"

Natalya giggles and says, "Well a good friend of mine did recently buy me a really pretty gather dress…He is a rider over at Ierne…"

Kera chuckles and rubs her hands togther, warming them from the snowy cold. "Oh? Well, he must think highly to buy you a pretty new gown. Does he visit Xanadu often?"

Natalya shakes her head, "Not very often no. He had a falling out with the weyrwoman…." she sighs, "I see him once ever 5 or 6 months.." she moves to brush the snow off of a bench and takes a seat. "Really I am ok though.

Kera frowns as her attempt to cheer things up seems to be failing. Her mouth opens to ask another question but it snaps shut quickly. Anything she would ask, would just makes things worse anyway most likely. Finally, she settles on something. "Maybe things will work themselves out before too much longer."

Natalya smiles and says, "I am sure the will." she reaches over to grab for Kera's hands, "I seem to have made a new friend now right!"

Kera nods with a cheery grins. "Yep! Always good to make a new friend." She lets her hand be clasped and offers a light squeeze before giving a quick shake of her head to knock off the snow. "Do you know when the next Gather is? I wanna make sure to save up a few marks for it. Do they have any games and contests here like they did at the Hold?"

Natalya nods and says, "If anything they are bigger here at the weyr." she smiels, 'It shouldn't be to far off until the next one. We will have to go together.?"

Kera smiles wide at that. "Good. We'll have to play some games or enter a couple of contest then." Pondering a moment "Is there some sort of obstacle coarse contest?"

Natalya nods and says, "There ussually is." she looks to Kera and says, "Why?"

Kera grins. "Good, cause I think they are fun to try. The Hold had a few waterpits to jump over, or logs to climb, ropes to swing on.." She shrugs. "Ya know, fun."

Natalya grins and says, "Sounds like it could be fun, I haven't tried to run it yet so I don't now. We would have to do it when no one important is using it."

Kera smiles "Soriana mentioned the obstacle coarse they do in their training. Might be fun to give it a few tries sometime." Lifting her hand, she covers a sudden yawn. "Oh sorry. Been a long day in the infirmary then all the waxxing." Swipping at her eyes. "I should be getting to the dorm. See you tomorrow Natalya? I'll be waxxing after midday meals."

Natalya nods and smiles, "Maybe after we can sneak out and try that cource."

Kera nods and offers a quick wave before sticking her cold hands back in her pocket. "Alright, enjoy the rest of your day." With that, she starts off to the dorms.

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