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.
Of coarse! Another restday crawls its way around and it's sleeting! Not wanting to stay burrowed away in the craft dorms Kera finds herself stationed in front of the fire, a chair moved in front of her so she can prop her cold feet up closer to the fire. Her boots are on the floor as she wiggles her toes near the warmth, in her lap is a small plate with a still warm honeycake and she has her hands wrapped around a steaming mug. The apprentice healer is among the early risers this morning, having staked out a prime position at one of the large hearths.
Restdays? What are restdays? Another early riser is among those rare few who are entering the caverns, though Anoryn would much prefer to be asleep. Several factors keep that at bay however no matter how much the old greenrider may wistfully hope. First and foremost is her duty as Assistant Weyrlingmaster, but that will not bite into her time unless necessary today and that is in due for the second reason. That being the condition of her green, who's hide has steadily been growing brighter despite Rysith's advanced age. Whether the sleet and cold is adding insult to injury, it's hard to say, but Anoryn has come out of her self imposed seclusion to first soak in the hot springs in hope of easing some of the stiffness from joints injured in Turns past. That task done, she steps into the caverns, keen blue eyes surveying the room and finding it adequately populated. First a stop by the serving tables where she finds some hot water for tea and fills a plate with a light, flaky pastry and a generous heaping of fresh fruit. With the fire being a prime spot, the greenrider will take the nearest empty seat but not without a curious glance to the bootless Kera first. "Mornin'," she drawls in a unusually gruff and low tone for a woman. "Careful you don't singe your toes." she adds with a good natured smirk as she eases herself down with as much grace as one can with a stiff knee.
Kera blows gently at her steaming mug, taking careful sips as she stares at the flames, toes still wiggling. At the greeting, she looks up to the older woman, blinking a couple of times to remove the spots in front of her eyes from staring at the fire. "G'mornin." Offering a polite nod and and smile "Oh, I'm being careful." Canting her head a bit "I don't believe I've had the chance to meet you yet. I'm Kera."
Anoryn leans back into her chair with a barely surprised sigh, stretching her offending leg out a bit in front of her. She'll keep her boots on though! Balancing her plate in her lap, she'll keep her mug close at hand but does not indulge quite yet to allow the tea to cool. Chuckling, the greenrider peers curiously back at the young girl, as if trying to place her face to a name and failing utterly. "Seems not. Newly arrived then, are you?" she asks, assuming the most logical reason for such a scenario. "Well met. And what brings you to the Weyr, Kera?" Her gaze will shift then, no doubt trying to spy out a knot if the girl is wearing it before she goes on with the formalities. "I'm Anoryn, green Rysith's rider and assistant Weyrlingmaster. Journeyman Beastcrafter too, when I've the time to dabble in my Craft." Judging from her tone, that is not very often at all.
Kera nods quickly with a cheery smile "Yes, ma'am. I was posted here from the HealerHall about a month ago." Taking another sip from her mug, she then starts nibbling on her honeyroll as she listens. At the tidbit from the older woman being a Jrmn, Beastcrafter. "OH! My father's a Journeyman Beastcrafter at Rubicon River Hold. That's where I am from before going to study at the Hall. His name is Keral Tinen." She takes a huge bite from her honeyroll and looks inquisitivly towards the older rider.
"An apprentice Healer, then? And a belated welcome to the Weyr, it would seem." Anoryn pries gently, though she's assuming much and will politely listen even as the greenrider's gaze drops to the plate in her lap and she selects a few pieces of fruit. A brow quirks up at the girl's sudden interest in her past (and yet still ongoing) rank as a Beastcrafter and then laughs gruffly, short and brief but full of mirth. Washing down the fruit with a small sip of her tea, she takes a slow breath and then frowns thoughtfully. "Keral Tinen? Afraid I've never had the pleasure of meeting the man. I am not originally from Xanadu and was only transferred here for a short time before I was approached with the offer to take on assistant Weyrlingmaster again." Again? "He may have known some of my relations though if he ever studied under the Beastcraft Hall in Keroon. Many of my brothers and sisters are Journeymen Beastcrafters and Farmcrafter." she says, sounding rather proud of that little fact of her life. Shifting comfortably in her chair, she then smiles crooked, "And I the only rider!"
Kera rubs her feet against each other a few times before before crossing one ankle over the other. A couple more bites disappear from her sweetroll and soon she's eyeing an empty plate. Licking her fingers some she's soon nodding agreeably. "Yes'm, apprentice. Though I hope soon it will be a senior apprentice." Washing down the last with a few sips from her mug, Kera leans over to rest her little plate on the floor. And then, as if an afterthought, the girl grabs her boots and tilts then at angles on the chair between her feet. They need warming up too since her feet is gonna go right back into them soon. Grinning as she tries to follow the timeline Anoryn relays. "So you have lots of brothers and sisters?"
Anoryn will take a moment to indulge a little more in her breakfast as well while Kera replies but at a sedate pace. The assistant Weyrlingmaster doesn't seem to mind the company of the young girl or it could be that the lure of the warmth of the hearth fires is too great for the greenrider to feel truly pressed. "Best of luck to you! Do you plan to go further than senior apprentice when the time comes?" she asks, watching with only detached interest as she repositions her boots. At the mention of her family, she snorts, "Too many, if you ask me. Three bothers, three sisters and with me as the seventh and all crammed in a small cothold outside of Katz Field. Though most of us have moved on now." Her expression takes on a distant look for a moment, likely pulled into a few old memories before she shakes herself out of the spell. "And you? Any siblings back at Rubicon River?"
Kera is nodding enthusiastically as she replies "Oh yes! I'm gonna work my way up to a Master one day." The young girl states as if it is already a fact, even though not many achieve the Master rank. She readjust her hands around the mostly warm mug, smiling over the rim at the long lists of siblings, when she needs to reply to the same question though, she merely snorts with an amused shake of her head "Well, that depends on who you were to ask? My mom is find of stating I've a very extensive extended family with some of the pods." The young healer rolls her eyes over that. "She's a Dolphineer an used to tell me they were my brothers and sisters when I was growing up." She chances a quick glance around the cavern before lowering her voice a little "Between you and me, I could never tell any of my 'brothers and sisters' apart from each other." The cheeky apprentice has the nerve to flash an amused wink to the greenrider.
"Not a bad goal to attempt!" Anoryn remarks with another short bark of laughter and a lopsided grin and she'll even go as far as to raise her mug in a genuine toast, even if it's partially in jest. The greenrider knows all too well how hard it is to achieve Mastery as she goes on to explain. "And best of luck to you in that venture as well! Of all my siblings, only one ever attained his Master rank. Not that the others are failures, they're all very accomplished Senior Journeymen and Journeymen alike." Taking a long sip of her tea, she then sinks lower in her chair and with a soft, drawn out sigh to match her curious but thoughtful expression as she glances sidelong to Kera. Cheeky she may be but it's well received by the older rider and she grins in approval. "I can only imagine how it would be difficult to differentiate between your ah… aquatic siblings?" she muses. "So I'll rephrase my question: any human siblings?" Blunt but to the point, right?
Kera chuckles with a quick shake of her head. "Well if you're gonna be that specific, then my answer will be no." The girl drains off the last of her mug before deposting it on her plate and shifting her position so she can reach her feet better. A few quick rubs before she straigtens her socks and lowers her feet to the bottom rung of the chair. Nudging her boots around so they can soak up heat on the other side, she continues. "And being just me, I gotta do my best to make them proud." Her shoulders sag slightly when sighs. "I'm still trying to figure out how to tell them I already got in a little trouble."
Anoryn's grin takes on a slight smug look when she receives a straight answer from the girl but does not comment further on it save to nod her head and end her curiosity concerning family there. Nursing the last of her drink, her blue eyes turn to the fire as she makes a thoughtful sound low in her throat. "A Beastcrafter and Dolphineer for parents. What made you choose the route of Healer? And I am sure they are proud of you…" she begins, words she's likely wishing she had held back before Kera continued on. Glancing sharply at her, the greenrider cants her head and it's clear that she is intrigued. "Oh? And what have you done?"
Kera blinks up from her adjusting of her warming boots on the chair. "What? To get away from all the dang animals of coarse." Reaching back to tug her braid forward across her shoulder, she leans back without the lump poking her back. Eyeing the greenrider, she seems a little embarressed "I uh, sorta doused a Weyrling with perfume." She tries not to, but she can't help it. A little grin cracks her face "He was minty fresh for at least a few days. Depending on how much got on his jacket."
Anoryn chuckles dryly, "I suppose that would be good reason enough to seek pursuits elsewhere. I've always said it's best to follow your true desires rather than what others may think you should be." she points out before taking another sip of her tea. Which may be a mistake, as she's promptly coughing on the beverage as Kera goes on to explain. "Ah, so you're the one I've heard about!" she says and her eyes seem to linger long on the apprentice as if now seeing the girl in a new light. Shaking her head, she snorts and then faces the fire once more and when she speaks there is no chiding tone and only one of barely held back mirth. "You've either got a lot of spunk and nerve to do that or had a lapse in judgement for such a stunt. Why ever did you douse him? I've heard a few tales of it, so I may as well hear the truth, hmm?"
Kera winces when Anoyrn suddenly begins coughing on her tea. She reaches over and tries to offer some assistance to steady the coughing woman if needed. With her still amused expression, she gives a shrug and lifts her chin slightly. "He was being stubbornly insisted that I not buy some perfume I wanted. When I informed him that the scented perfumes were preferable to the odors I endure during my duties, he said I should /not/ smell like his grandmother and shouldn't buy the perfume. His round about way of telling me I smelled like his grandmother, and I didn't appreciate that." She gives a little shrug "We've since appologized, even if he refuses to acknowledge his insult with his 'silly boy' logic. So we're calling it a misunderstanding."
Anoryn will waves off the assistance that Kera offers, though at least gives an appreciative nod to take some of the sting away from the rejection. "I'm fine," she mumbles and it's the truth. The last few coughs dwindle and the greenrider can breath once more or is at least comfortable enough to relax and… resume drinking her tea, of course. Brows lift for the tale that the apprentice weaves and her blue eyes pin the girl under a sharp look as if to sense out any hint of a lie and finding none, only smirks and drains the last of her drink before setting both mug and empty plate aside. "Some misunderstanding!" she drawls with a low chuckle. "And knowing the Weyrling whom you doused in mint… perhaps not entirely unsurprising. I won't nag on you as to how… unwise it was regardless. I'm sure you've already learned that lesson." Another sharp look. Is she right in that assumption too? "If there is one thing I learned about men, particularily boys, is that they're a fickle and odd lot. And they say we women are strange!" She huffs and waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Kera gives a little nod as if she knows the possible speech coming. "I've been lectured by the Weyrhealer and the Steward, with punishments from each." She fiddles with the end of herbraid before sighing and taking a warmed boot in hand and tugging it on her foot. "We've come across each other a couple of times since, once he was loopy on weird smoke fumes and ranting in the infirmary." Settling her foot in the boot, she begins tugging on the other. "And out last meeting, well, let's just say I don't think he thinks much of Healers, person or dragon, at this point." Getting her other foot settled, she stands, gently stomping each foot before grabbing up her dirty dishes. "But I guess those are stories for another time. I should get going and write my friend Natalya." Gesturing towards Anoryn's dishes "Want me to take those up for you ma'am?"
Anoryn only nods her head to the mention of being lectured and punished. The assistant Weyrlingmaster is not at all surprised by that! "You're lucky it did not result in stricter punishments," she points out, only to frown heavily and her eyes take on a darker look as her mouth purses into a thin, disapproving line. "Oh, I know all about that too. I was among those who helped escort them all to the infirmary." From the flat and dryness of her voice, it's clear she was not the least bit amused or thrilled to find the Weyrlings in that state. "So perhaps I pity you a little for having to deal with them in that condition." As for Mur'dah's growing dislike of the Healers thanks to her, Anoryn only chuckles gruffly and shakes her head. Her reply would have been forthcoming but she is distracted by the arrival of two other riders, both men and nearer to her age. The greenrider's expression darkens considerably, even though they are clear across the room and trying not to be too obvious that it is she they are seeking. "Shards and shells. Can't get a moment of peace. Wish she'd just go and get it over with." she mutters under her breath, already pushing slowly and stiffly to her feet. "If you don't mind? Feel a bit odd dumping my dirty dishes on you, but I've… best be going as well. Need to slip away before they decide to monopolize my time. Was a fun chat though! Good day to you, Kera and try to stay out of trouble?" she muses with a wink, good humored at least with the girl. Offering a half-wave, half salute, Anoryn then makes her hasty departure back outside, cold or not.
Kera nods quickly, adding the rider's dishes to her own and wiggles fingers to the departing rider "It was nice meeting you ma'am." The ever chipper apprentice grins "Maybe I'll have more entertaining stories for you next time we meet by the fire." Nodding her head over that agreeable idea, she starts humming to herself as she makes her way towards the dishtub.