Xanadu Weyr - Kiddie Playground
A path of colorfully painted slabs of stone cheerfully invites the weyr's youngest residents and their caretakers to partake in the multitude of activities in this elaborate playground. The pathways here are comprised of a thick cushioning layer of dark brown mulch branching off towards distinct sections. Log roll edging with a pale green-brown finish provided an accent to divide wide stretches of well tended grass from long rounded abstract shapes filled with fragrant wild flowers. More edging boarders the back walls made of tall square shaped hedges with the occasional draping of a flowering bush.
Immediately to the left is a enormous teaching garden filled with most of the herbs and the edible plants that can be found on Pern. Each is clearly labeled with their name and use thanks to posts sliced at an angle at their top, the large blocked text easy to read behind square panels of glass screwed directly into the wood. To the right A twelve foot long, seven foot high 'rock' climbing wall with large protrusions and holes designed with young hands and feet in mind. Farther back from here is a section dedicated specifically to a impressive swing set, constructed of heavy pressure treated lumber and includes exactly six swings along each side forming a wide 'vee'. No more than six feet from the swing set is the record setting oak tree discovered when this place was created, and upon it a fixed robe ladder leads up to an amazing tree house. It has a wide porch, and roof build directly into the tree itself. Inside children will delight in the amount of play space, and the range of games to be found. Peg boards, wooden kitchen items, and even a place to sneak away to color or draw with a breathtaking few of the gardens and playground. Just past the tree house is a hedge maze that a small child may lose themselves in, but is short enough to enable an adult to easily guide the little one out again should they get lost.
The center of the playground is likely it's drawing attraction. A huge brightly colored play structure With seven different types of climbing components (including monkey bars), six platforms, two slides and several hand manipulated activities including cranks, large interlocking gears that actually work and a pop flip puzzle with amusing cartoon characters.
The chore for the day happens to be watching kids, and a mild winter day means that some of the kids want to play outside. This is what leads Kiley to be outside with a rather cheerful young lad. The lad looks quite cheerful from his place on the swing set while Kiley is near by the young boy and the pair are talking about something. Her head shakes at the silent conversation they have as she continues rocking on the swing, not quite moving from the ground as the boy begins to pump his legs and moves higher into the sky. "See?! I can go really high!" He cries out and the computer crafter merely nods in response, her eyes on him constantly to make sure that no harm comes to the boy. It is a relatively quiet evening if not for the fact that the pair are creating a ruckus in the area in where the swings reside. And finally, he is as high as his little legs can take him and this is maintained until he drops from the seat with his hands still on the chains so to use his legs to slow him. And when he comes to a stop, he quickly hops from the seat and hurries to settle in front of the woman, looking eager. "Didja see? I went /really/ really high!" Kiley chuckles softly and then shakes her head, "I saw… Why don't you see if you can go that high again, hm?"
Pyriel strolls in with Iessrien from the direction of the garden, he's chatting softly and even smiling at the older boy, though there is several handspans separating them. Something said causes the harper to laugh, but because they aren't yet close enough to Kiley to be within earshot, it's seems silent. There is a halt of conversation after a quick glance around by the harper had reveled people already present, including their fellow female candidate. That's when Py's expression falters and he murmurs low to his companion, jerking his head over towards Kiley. Hands once in constant motion for whatever the two boys were talking about, had stilled, and now are being shoved deep into the pockets of his pants.
Iessrien already has his hands shoved in jacket pockets, the front of the coat left unbuttoned lazily at the collar, his posture relaxed, though he seems to be making an effort not to hunch over too much as he walks, straightening whenever he catches himself slouching. Head canted to the side, he listens to whatever Py is saying with lips twitching up at the corners, lashes lowering now and again at some comment or other, an absent nod here or wry word there. Unlike Pyriel, the presence of people only has Iessrien adjusting his posture again, slight smile for Kiley over there, the holder boy's expression unchanging, though perhaps a little less wry. He continues walking into the playground, sidestepping a sprinting weyrbrat, and nearly getting run over by another, but a twitch of a smile and a hair-ruffle sends the kid on his way, Iess chuckling a, "Hey, slow down," after them before continuing into the playground, offering Kiley a tilt of his head and a, "Hi," once he's within speaking distance.
Kiley isn't instantly drawn to look at the two other arriving candidates right away as the boy holds her attention with his demands that she give him an additional push in his swinging. It is when she turns her attention away from the boy does she spot the pair entering. A brow lifts before her hand pulls away from the chain of the swing to wave a greeting to the pair but with no verbal greeting as quickly. The boy stomps his foot as Iessrien gets within speaking distance, glaring at the older boy. "No! Go away!" Hisshiss. Kiley gives the boy a look before reaching over to tweak an ear. "That is rude. Be nice." The boy pouts and throws himself onto the computer crafter's lap and wibbles softly. The woman shakes her head and gingerly pats the boy. "Just be nice, hm?" And then she looks to Iessrien and smiles widely. "Hey. How are you doing?"
Pyriel falls behind Iessrien when the older boy heads towards Kiley, dodging careening weyrbrats along the way. His grumpiness has returned full force in the walk over, keeping his mouth shut for the most part as he settles to stand offset of the holder boy, interest not on the conversation the two candidates are having but rather somewhere else. Occasionally his golden eyes flick over to the others but then it just wanders off again. The kid in Kiley's lap, he gets the once over but the harper candidate loses interest soon enough, finding yet something else in the vicinity to look at.
Iessrien has to laugh somewhat, brow arching slightly at the little boy's hostility. Attempting not to grin too much, the holder assures, "Relax. I promise I won't steal her away," even giving the kid a quick wink before turning his attention to Kiley. "Alright," his shoulders roll back in an easy shrug, "Think these two are carved from the same stone," half-turning to jerk his head toward Py, smile tugging upward a little more. That's right harper, he noticed the sudden grumpiness. Turning back, he nods his head to indicate the kid, "Looks like you've got your hands full, though. Want to trade?" He's joking, really he is.
Kiley looks over towards Pyriel, nodding a greeting but not pushing more than that to get a reaction from the harper. Instead, she focuses her attention on Iessrien as he assures the boy that he will not be stealing her. She makes a look that is almost pleading while the boy is distracted in hiding his face. The boy peeks up and gives him another look, "you haveta promise." He demands softly but only earns another tweak from Kiley. "Shush, be nice." She scolds softly and attempts to pry the boy from her lap, all while giving Iessrien another look. "It does seem like it.." Pause, "I'll trade. This one has been going like this all day.." The boy whines and fusses as Kiley finally pries him off and it even gets to the the point where she moves out of the swing just so that he does not cling. But around her leg he goes and the woman sighs.
Pyriel's attention is back to the conversation when Iessrien says something to the kid on Kiley's lap about not stealing her. Whatever expression then that ghosts across his features is gone within a second. But at least he's not letting his mind wander anymore, focusing on each in turn as they speak. There isn't much grumbling going on however, even if there is a soft frown in place upon his lips. "Hey!" the harper candidate says, brows lifting and he elbows Iessrien, the smile that wanted to replace the frown is squashed back down and sets itself into a scowl instead. It doesn't last long, not with the comment that Iessrien makes after, turning into a smirk as he murmurs something to the holder and then slides his eyes over towards Kiley. "So not happening."
Iessrien places a hand dramatically over his heart, straightening to his full height as he tells the little boy, "I swear it," face composing into a totally series expression for an instant. And then he has to smile, hands returning to his pockets. Only to raise a hand again over his mouth, in a vain attempt not to start laughing at poor put-upon Kiley when the kid starts leg-clinging. "I take it back-" then he's totally getting elbowed by Py, the holder looking slightly sheepish, though the smile remains, not bothering to nudge the other candidate back in favor of taking a sidestep away. The murmured words do have him suddenly hunching his shoulders, before he mutters with an eyeroll, "Didn't mean it /that/ way, man," maybe a little louder than he'd intended. The holder turns back to Kiley with a, "Think you're just going to have to take him with you," smile thinned somewhat.
Kiley smiles at Pyriel as he rejects the offer of trading, shrugging before she pries the boy from her leg and gives him a firm look. "Stop it." Her tone is finally harsh as the treatment now grows past the point of bearable as the boy attempts to attach himself to her almost permanently. The boy whimpers softly as he comes off her leg once more, arms coming to fold across his chest as he begins to look absolutely /miserable/. "I wasn't even supposed to be watching him this long, but then he started getting fussy.." She waves her hand as to fill in the rest of the story. The boy, however upset he is, does smile at Iessrien as he swears not to take Kiley away from him. However, she is giving him another look as he refrains from laughing at her plight. And it is the talking between both candidates that has her lifting her brows before they drop into a frown and she mumbles. "I am not taking him with me."
Pyriel eyes Iessrien for the the over acted hand to heart swear, and rolls his eyes skyward. They descend a second later, just shaking his head at the boy clinging to Kiley. The holder gets another look, this one guarded for the side step away, chin coming up, and face smoothing out to haughty. "Don't slouch dude." he mutters to him with more volume, until the woman garners his attention with what she says about not supposed to be watching the kid. Both brows raise as Kiley's ward starts to whimper, and then the miserable look which causes a soft 'che' sound to emerge from the harper. "I'd dump in the lake with the dragon poop." he offers hands clasped behind his head and elbows up in the air each on one side of his head as he leans against one of the support beams for the swing set. He gives a side glance to Iessrien after he says this for whatever reason.
"Well, he's not going to let you leave him here," Iessrien points out to Kiley, with a nod toward the little boy, "Don't the nannies round them up after awhile?" There's a glance around, as if looking for one of those, though the holder can't help the lingering amusement behind his eyes, for the girl's predicament. Iess straightens immediately at Py's comment on slouching, though the talk of tossing the kid in the lake gets a brief sidelong look. Eyes flick back to Kiley, Iessrien suggesting instead, "We could go look for a nanny?" before shoulders lift in a slight shrug, "I'd just carry him around till he fell asleep, then take him back to the brat caves."
Kiley doesn't glance between the two again, merely giving them each a separate look and regarding them with an upward lift of a single brow before her gaze settles solely upon Pyriel. The second brow follows the first for his suggestion and it only reattaches the boy to her leg. Cries begin in loud protests, "I don't want to go to the lake!" More cries of protest and then she glares at Pyriel for riling up the boy. Not that she was doing any better in calming him. "They do, and we were in the nursery and he started crying and I thought playing would make him tired… But he only got more active." Finally, she heaves a sigh and lifts the boy and stops all crying as he settles into her. She casts the other two candidates a look, but merely holds the boy and looks completely uncomfortable.
Pyriel shrugs at Kiley's glare and Iessrien's side glance, "What? I won't let him drown, just maybe thrash around a bit." he answers, and it's impossible to tell if he's kidding or not, eyes cast upwards. He probably wasn't making the situation any better, especially if the threat of just being thrown in the lake had gotten such a strong reaction already. With a sigh, the harper reaches into his pocket and pulls out a few crinkly wrapped lollipops. Green, Red, Yellow and Orange. He pushes himself off the swing set and walks over to the wibbling kid held Kiley's arms. "Hey, ya want one of these?" he asks, tilting his head to the side and keeping his voice soft and even. "Ya can have whatever one ya want if ya stop cryin' kay? Cause ya know, big boys dun cry. How ya gunna stand up fer yer girl if yer being like this huh?" he asks, offering the boy one of his smiles.
Iessrien's lips twitch upward at the corners when the little boy is picked up and stops crying, the holder tucking his hands back in his pockets and comments simply, "No one is going in the lake." There's a nod for Kiley, and a slightly sympathetic look, Iess not bothering to answer Pyriel's 'What?' even if his gaze does flick back briefly toward the harper. And then eyebrows arch up toward his hairline at the about-face the other candidate seems to do, the candy and then the blond eyed curiously for a moment before Iessrien is quickly ducking his head to hide the sudden smile on his own face.
Kiley gives Pyriel a rather skeptical look, but relents with that as she bounces the kid to try and soothe his tears away. It is when Pyriel approaches does he look fearful, eying him until he offers those lollipops in his direction. "Yes!" His hand reaches out and takes the red one when he gets the chance, the tears now completely gone once candy is in hand. "I /am/ a big boy. 'm gunna stand up for her." Then he's giving him a look, as if sizing up one's opponent before he opens the lollipop and pops it into his mouth. Silence at last. No more tears and no more clinging and Kiley gives Pyriel a rather thankful look. She looks to Iessrien as if this change is his doing before she shrugs thoughtfully. "Well, now that he's.. Quiet. I should get him back." She smiles and nods her head, making her way back to the nursery with the now sated boy.
There is a twitch when the kid picks the red one, but Pyriel continues smiling, giving the lad a nod. "Ya do that kiddo. Women need to be protected." he says, surprisingly sounding genuine. He takes a step back from Kiley so that she can get by, shoving the extra candy in his pocket before he nods to the woman for her thankful look. "No prob." he says, dropping down onto a swing as the computer crafter candidate wanders off with the boy in the direction of the weyr. Only once they are out of ear shot does the candy get removed and he pouts. "He took the red one." There is a soft sigh, before the orange one is unwrapped and he shoves it in his mouth. Iessrien is peeked at, and he sees the smile. "Oh shut up." he grins, offering the candy to the holder boy. Green and yellow left.
Iessrien is stil attempting to hide that smile, though he does tug his hands out of a pocket, one raised in farewell to Kiley with a, "Will see you later," and a more quietly chuckled, "Good luck." There's even a nod for the little kid, though the holder is moving toward the swings with an all too straight-faced and innocent, "I said nothing." He does reach over to clap Pyriel on the shoulder briefly before plucking the yellow lollipop and dropping down on the other swing, one foot absently pushing at the ground to set him to swaying slightly. As he unwraps the candy, there's another smile, this one for the harper entirely, jerking his head up in a, "Thanks," before he pops the sweet into his mouth. A pause, as he states thoughtfully around the lollipop, "Owe you a red one then," before he thinks about this a little more, "Where do you get these things anyway."