Xanadu Weyr - Stables
The Stables of Xanadu Weyr are composed of one long building, lined with box and standing stalls that are kept thoroughly clean by the resident grooms and stablehands. Runners nicker and neigh at everyone who enters, save for the obstinate ones that just flicker their ears in indignant curiousity that they dare not make visible. The foremost stalls near the door to the Barn Yard are the grand box stalls which are home to the prized runners of Xanadu, as well as the most pregnant, those which are so far along that they require constant observation by the Herders, so as to ensure easy foaling.
However, the primary design of stall which lines the broad pathway that is covered in saw dust which is the main avenue of the Stables, is that of the Standing Stall. Many runners are in the standing stalls, with ropes strung across the front so as to keep the runners from leaving their designated containers. A few hay bales sit here and there along the avenue, some of which act as seats for the stablehands and grooms on their breaks, others as snacks for those runners who can reach out their necks far enough. Buckets and baskets of grooming supplies, brushes and combs, and the like also sit here and there, occassionally knocked over by a wayward hoof or inquiring muzzle.
Keziah is currently in one of the larger box stalls, working on a young filly and getting her used to groomin while her dam, Innocent Dementia is nibbling at Kez's hair. "Would you quit that?" she says as she nudges the mares muzzle away. The filly doesn't seem to be minding the brushing so much as getting bored and moving away.
Vivian makes her way into the stable, she has her dreaded clipboard and a few disgruntled candidates trailing along behind her carrying packs of things. "Start lining things up against that wall." She orders them, her hand pointing in the right general direction as she steps out of the way to supervise.
At the commotion Kezi is peeking out and her eyes widen at the all the packs. There's a look in her eyes as she notes it's Viv and then there's a smile as she once again looks over things and then down the aisle. Well Yina is busy. "Is that all of your stuff?" Kezi asks with a tip of her head.
Vivian glances round when she hears someone dare speak to her. "No it's not." She replies, breaking into a large smile when she sees Keziah there. "It's for this trip, All of these need to be sorted out and allocated to the runners." She explains, turning to bark an admonishment at one of the candidates. "Don't drop it like that or I'll make sure that one is yours."
Keziah gives a nod "It's good to see you doing something useful." she notes and then there's a yelp and Kezi moves back away from the stall door and then she's slipping out with her brushes and rubbing her hindquarters. She looks over the packs a bit "Certainly looks as if you've got your work cut out for you." she notes as she puts the grooming equipment to one side and then sends one of the stableboys to run and get Yina as she pulls out some hoof picks and other equipment. "Yina has the list of runners that we'll be taking."
A slight sneer curls at the edges of her lips as the candidate in question mutters something then scurries off out the door before Vivian can do or say anything else to him. "Can't get the help these days." She murmurs herself before she turns to concentrate on Keziah. "That's fine, once we have the list, you can help Yina with the saddling and" She waves a hand at the packrolls that have been laid out against the wall. "Attaching that lot?" She adds vaguely.
Keziah chuckles "Help Yina?" Kezi asks and shakes her head "Nah, Yina will be more likely leavin' much of to the 'hands and all. She's got her hands full doin' my job and hers as well." she smiles proudly thinking of her protoge. "She'll make a fine Stablemaster when Tarsin decides it's time to retire." She eyes Vivs hands and looks thoughful "But I'd best do that. I don't think you could manage it, even if you tried." she notes and then smiles brightly as Yina comes down the asile. Taking the list from Yina, Kezi chit-chats for a few moments and lets Yina get back to work as she goes over the list. "Hmms, okay and then starts sending the 'hands off to start bringing them. "You do have those all sorted out." she asks Vivian "And do you have a list of what is in what? It makes it much easier to have a complete manifest."
Vivian shrugs her shoulders with a smile at Keziah's comments. "There's a difference between being able to manage and choosing to let someone else do all the hard work." She explains with that sugary sweet smile. Her efforts during Keziah's rescue from the swamp an indication that she is actually fairly capable. "Either way, everything is prepacked by the riders, there is one packroll for each candidate and if anything is missing then it's one of those three that are to blame." She says pointing one of her hands towards the unlucky candidates she commandeered on her way.
Keziah tsks a little "If you're gonna manage, that means you're also responsible for the actions of those you are managing. It sucks sometimes, but thats how it is. So as you were the one overseeing the things come out…" she leaves it at that and then sets about to checking out the saddles, carefully noting down everything in a log. Course for her, pullin' out the saddle isn't all that hard of work. Each saddle is inspected carefully and then set aside along with the various trappings. Only a few are rejected for the need of oiling. With efficieny the hands get to work saddling up as Kezi hits the packs and goes over them, only a couple needing to be secured just a little better. "Ain't nothin' worse than having yer gear fall out in the muck." she notes as she starts situating out the packs and then assigning them to particular mounts. "Tall or small?" she asks after a moment of Vivian "You ride fairly well, right?"
Vivian shakes her head at the very thought. "I was meaning about the saddling. I'm just supervising the delivery, making sure the packs get here. After that, it's out of my hands." She says with a smile as she wanders off slowly down the stalls while Keziah deals with saddles, checking the runners as she goes until finally she stops in front of Roman Empress. "This one." She says, reaching out to pet the runner. "How are you doing Roman?" She croons gently to the beast who seems to react favourably to her.
Keziah glances over at Viv and then notes the runner "Well, tis a nice little pony and all." she remarks and arches a brow "Not one I would have expected ya to pick." She hmms a little "Course as is stable policy, you'll need yer sisters permission seeing as the runner is listed in her name." she remarks "Though I'd think you'd be a little uncomfortable on a pony considerin' your height."
Vivian is probably a lot taller than the pony. "Well it has been several turns since I last rode her." Probably before she turned into spoiled princess. She turns back with a smile and walks back down the line. "Something taller would be better for me, I don't want to be competing with their hooves on the ground." She replies with a bit of a giggle coming through. "Who would you recommend?" She asks.
Keziah hmms a little as she pauses in front of one of the runners brought out. "How about Mars here. He's good on the trail, certainly taller than the pony, but not so tall as to make it a pain to mount." she notes and then smiles "Least not for you." Course Kezi is quite a but shorter. She runs her hands along his nose. "I think the two of ya would get along well." she notes "Though he does have tendency to be a bit flaky, but he doesn't scare easily."
"Does he respond to the reigns?" Asks Vivian as she looks the runner over. "Could you saddle him up for me to try him out? We've got plenty enough time for a short ride before we need to head off." She reaches a hand out towards the beast, not aggressive, nor timid in her approach to the animal, she knows how to show her confidence to the beast.
Keziah watches Vivian's approach and nods to herself "He responds to reins and to legs. Though he'll turn sharper with a light tug on the reins, and lighter with laying the opposite on his neck." she eyes Vivian a moment and then picks up one of the saddles she's checked up and quickly saddles him up, checking the straps twice making sure the cinch is snug and then checking the slack with her fingers. Next up is the bridle and reins which she loops across the horn when she's done. "He's a pacer" she also notes as she steps back to let Vivian mount up. "The trails through the forest are a good place to try him out since it'll be similar to that which we'll be on."
Vivian steps back and waits, watching, it's been a really long time since she was last on a runner, but it's like riding a bike right, you never forget right?? She steps forward once the runner is ready and takes his reins and leads him out of the stalls to where she can mount up. Thankfully she has done it before and she's still athletic enough to manage it easily. "Well here goes." She murmurs softly as she taps her heels very lightly to the runners flanks to steer him out of the stables.
Keziah watches Vivian head out, noting her mount up and gives another nod and smiles. "She an be rather pleasant when she's not tryingto be unpleasant." she notes to a satblehand who just stares at Kezi as if she's daft. "Come now, these packs won't load themselves up." she states to them and heads back to assigning them to particular runners based upon what she knows of the respective candidates. Morl of course gets a fairly easy going one. No sense in sticking him with one that'd as soon bite him as carry him.
The other conscripted candidates blink at the comment from Keziah and just shake their heads, a muttered, 'swamp water must have addled her head' drifting back as they drop the last of the packs and escape. A short while later Vivian returns on Mars, she dismounts at the door to the stables and walks him back to his stall. "There you go." She greets Keziah. "Thanks, he'll do just fine."
Keziah chuckles at the comments and doesn't seem to mind them. But then she's fostered such things a number of times in the past. She gestures to a 'hand to give the rrunner a rub down. "Glad you like 'em." She cocks her head a little "I'll give ya freebie this once, but after this, you see to your own runner." she notes as she heads over to the books and makes a notation down in one of them "Glad to see the two of you work well together." she notes with a smile, and then checking on the packs on the waiting runners she then heads out the doorway "He likes to be scratched right on his nose." she calls back to Vivian and just leaves. Course, if Vivian were to check the books, she'd fine herself listed as owner.
Vivian stands back to let the stablehands take care of the dirty work. "It's been a too long probably." She replies. "But at least it gave me a bit of practice before we hit the trail for this sharding camp." The last a touch of a growl. "I still have other work to get finished before the hatching." She shakes her head and collects her clipboard, Waving off after Keziah with a rare smile. "Bye." She starts checking that all the packs are accounted for with a quick count before she heads off herself to find a bath and wash off the smell of runner before she heads to pack her own things.