Fort Weyr - Dragon Infirmary
This huge cavern of smooth stone arches upwards to a rounded ceiling, high enough for even the largest of Golds to fit comfortably. Along the walls of the cavern are many carved out and worn smooth couches for injured dragons to rest on, most with a cot alongside for the dragon's rider to sleep.
Tables line the other walls, movable so they can be taken to the dragon instead of making the dragon come to it. Bolts of cloth, thread, needles and cabinet after cabinet of remedies and equipment take up the rest of the space. Two huge double doors lead out to the Center Bowl.
Kanekith has been given a bronze-sized couch in the infirmary to lay upon and recuperate. Of the dragons here, and there are just a few, he's not the worst off. There's a blue who seems to have fractured a neckridge. Another who has a bad rash of some sort, which healers are slabbing a gooey salve on. Kanekith has ingested something to settle his stomach and now just needs rest, and he's doing that. The bronze sleeps and Ka'el sits upon a cot next to the dragon couch, looking better than he did an hour or so ago. He nibbles a cracker, the only thing that's available here to eat unless he wants raw dragon food, and watches as the healers carefully massage that rashy brown dragon.
It's been some time, enough that certainly the bronze has been given something to sooth the stomach. So Angelique comes into the infirmary in search of his rider to see how things are faring. Alas though she doesn't bring any food with her for the bronzling so it's crackers for him. "Hey there." she keeps her tone quiet though it's not certain why! There's no sleeping human patients in here.
It must be an infirmary thing. Kind of like a library. Upon entering, the voice knows it needs to be quiet! Ka'el perks as he spies Angelique's familiar face, and he waves at her, setting his cracker down. "Hey," he whispers back, rising from his cot. "Geeze, I feel awful. You neednt've come check on us. I've taken up so much've your time today already. .. Apparently, I make for a horrible messenger," he says, grinning wryly. "He's alright. Just an upset stomach, but they won't allow us to leave til his eyes are back to content, and.." he glances to the sleeping dragon, "can't rightfully tell what they're looking like at the moment."
Angelique shakes her head. "As Assistant head women I feel it's my duty to be able to ensure the comfort of an out of weyr guest." that sounds good, yes? It helps he's cute. If he had warts or something it may be a different story. "I'm glad he's alright." she peers towards the sleeping dragon. "You need to stay in here or can you head over to the living caverns for a bit of food? That's not berries."
Anything but berries! Ka'el laughs, though he tries to keep the sound quiet. Sorry dragonhealers! "I'll take a bite of anything that isn't cracker," he says, motioning to the pile of crackers he's yet to touch. "They lose their novelty after a while, and my stomach's startin' to hate me for not feedin' it real food. I'd love to get away. I'm not doin' much good sitting around here, anyway, and if I do get to go home tonight, if I have my timing right, all that'll be left in our caverns will be cleaned plates and washed dishes." He moves to stand at her side. "So please, Assistant Headwoman, lead the way."
Angelique smiles brightly. "Then you should certainly take a meal here." it just makes sense after all! She turns to lead the way out of here and into the living caverns.
Fort Weyr - Living Caverns
This cavern, having been created by bubbles in the volcanic flow of this extinct volcano, has a breathtaking ceiling — a vast dome that arches high above the heads of the weyrfolk that scurry around beneath it. A hollow echo can be heard from loud enough noises, and the chatterings of various firelizards are consequently multiplied into a chaotic babble. All in all, the living cavern is a loud place.
Tables are scattered around the room, apparently in no particular order. Over to one side near the kitchens, two medium sized serving tables are constantly spread with snacks, klah, and other goodies. The tables look worn, yet perfectly fitted to the atmosphere of the caverns. In the 'corners' of the cavern, smaller two and four place tables are set up for more private talks or just a less chaotic atmosphere in which to eat.
And to the living caverns they go! Ka'el walks with Angelique, making conversation during their short walk, for if there's one thing the bronzeling has no problem doing, it's talking to people. When they step in, his eyes immediately look up. "Can't get over this ceiling.." he says with a grin, admiring it. "S'probably my favorite part of Fort that I've seen so far. … Much prettier than the infirmary." He grins at her. "You're… sure I'm not imposing? I don't wish to get you in trouble.."
Angelique waves a hand. "I'm sure!" she says again. "There's nothing so pressing that I can't spend a bit of time with a visitor. And should something come up, trust me that they won't hesitate to seek me out!" her glance goes upwards briefly as if never really noticing the ceiling. "I suppose I'm simply used to it now."
"Xanadu's a lot different. You'll see," remarks Ka'el. "We don't have tunnels or a bowl. The entire make up is different. Our lake opens out to the sea. Our weyrs are all … well, you'll see," he says again, grinning. "I don't want to spoil anything." He inhales a deep, satisfied breath. "Mmmm sooomethin' smells good!" he says, looking nosily towards the food tables, his stomach giving an unintentional grumble…and not the same type of grumble that it was making before! "C'mon, let's get some food so I can pick your brain some more. Learn about you."
Angelique's expression is one of surprise. "No bowl? No tunnels?" She can't wait to see the differences now. "Perhaps you'll have time to give me a tour then when I go for graduation." she asks. Food sounds good actually so she accompanies him over to the serving table. Eying the special she immediately ladles out a bowl of the chowder, adding some crackers. Juice is poured and she goes to find a table for the two of them.
Mmm, the choices! Fillets? Salad? Soup? Or … Oh what's that she's getting? Ka'el follows suit and ladles up some of that chowder into a bowl. It smells good! And plus, it has tubers it in, and he adores tubers! He bypasses the crackers though, smirking, and finishes off with a mug of ale before following her to her table. "I'll definitely give you a tour. Best ones are by dragonback so you can see what it looks like from above. You're not afraid've flying, are you?"
Angelique digs happily into the still warm chowder, adding crackers! "Afraid of flying? Naw…not afraid though can't say I'm too comfortable going Between. I've not been on too many dragon rides but I've no problems with heights, thankfully." mm, food. She takes several more bites. "Sounds like it's real different from here then?" she asks of Xanadu.
Ka'el stirs his chowder with a spoon, smirking. "I used to be afraid," he admits, then leans over the table a little, stage-whispering, "Don't tell anyone though. It'll ruin my reputation of bein' a fearless rider." He smirks, leaning back. "But my first dragon ride ever? Couldn't open my eyes. Not for a second. My second one wasn't much better. But I got used to it, eventually. Betweening I still don't like. I hate bein' cold, and I don't like quiet." He pauses to take a bite of his food, making an appreciative face. "Wow… this is good," he says, stiring it again. "And yeah, Xanadu's differences from Fort would probably fill a book. There's a lot've wide open space. And a lot forest. Not too much underground."
"Cold I can tolerate." she muses a bit. "It's…I dunno. I can't even explain why I dislike *between*. Ijust…don't." cue shrug here. Leaning in she offers a whisper. "Promise your secret is safe with me. Wouldn't want to risk ruining your well earned reputation!" a grin surfaces to light up Angelique's pale blue eyes. "Lots of forest. Now that sounds like somewhere I could get used to. I love climbing trees." she too is continuing to take bites as their conversation progresses. "How many weyrlings in your class to be graduating soon then?"
"You're a woman after my own heart," grins Ka'el. "My weyr's in the forest. Even before I got it, Alloy an' I would climb trees and just be. Kanekith's a bit big to really appreciate them." More chowder, followed by a swallow of ale. "Mmm, how many've us are there? Sori, Mur'dah, M'kal…" he counts off on his fingers.. then he runs out of fingers. "Thirteen," he laughs. "Mostly blues and greens, but there's another bronze besides Kanekith, two browns, and a gold. I .. dunno if the other seniors before us are graduating with us. There are two of them. If they are, then make that fifteen. There was a clutch before ours, but..only two eggs made it." He wrinkles his nose a little.
Angelique smirks faintly, perhaps picturing Ka'el and his fire lizard perched up in a tree just hanging out. Could make for some fun pranks to pull on unsuspecting people passing under. "13." she sounds impressed. "Or 15. A good solid number either way." her nose wrinkles a bit at the unspoken implication of the poor unhatched eggs from the clutch before his. "A good selection of colors." she peers a moment across the caverns as tidits of conversation reaches her ears, something about betting and a flight. "Seems perhaps bets are flying when the next gold to rise is to be." she remarks.
"Hopefully it doesn't take forever long to get through," Ka'el says. "Like, long speeches or extra ceremony or whatnot. That sounds … boring. Really, what I'm lookin' forward to is what happens when all the pomp is over. The party part." The drinks and the dancing and the food and the fun part! He moves to take another bite of his dwindling food, but pauses before the spoon can reach his mouth. What did she say? His eyes dart, glancing to the tavern gossipers, trying to listen in on their conversation. "A gold flight? … Here? Now?" Well, obviously not now but he's looking a little paranoid! "Er uh .. I probably shouldn't stay overly long then, huh?" he says with a feeble grin. "I wouldn't want to get…er, caught up in all've that." If bets are starting, that must mean the word is it'll happen soon!
"Well sure, the party afterwards is always best, right? Thought I've not been to a Weyrling graduation so I really have no idea of what it would entail." honest Angelique has no ideas at all. "What..no. huh?" She looks around quickly as if expecting to see a crazed Goldrider entering at any moment. "Oh no…a month is what I have been hearing. Nothing tonight." she strives to settle down the panicky weyrling.
A month? Phew. A month is not…now. In a month, he won't be here! He can relax. Ka'el exhales a breath, takes in a deep one, then exhales another. Pheeeww. "Heh.." He gives her a sheepishly apologetic look. "Sorry. I uh.." He rubs at the back of his neck. "Kanekith hasn't chased before, and I…'m not exactly lookin' forward to it."
Angelique has nothing to compare to really. And she's been here for green flights sure but a gold? That's bound to be different. "Eh..s'alright." she tries to reassure him. "When the time comes at the very least Kanekith will know what to do." or so she assumes. It sounds like a good thing to say though! "My little blue fire lizard…well it's not the same but I would think he'd know what to do if he chased!"
"Trust me, it isn't Kanekith I'm worried about," says Ka'el, lowering his spoon. His chowder's just about done, anyway. "Your blue, Skyler, right? Sure, he'll know. Alloy's first chase was hardly anything at all. He caught a green who belonged a girl. I kissed her, that was all. Firelizards are easy to resist after they've chased a time or two. Now, I don't know if it's because of Kanekith or not, I hardly notice when he does. There are a lot of firelizards on Xanadu." He grins. "I think my best bet is to fly to a remote island when I get word of a gold or green rising. They're more difficult to resist." Says everyone.
Angelique offers a sympathetic look towards Ka'el. "Doesn't seem fair to the bronze though young man!" she can say that, she's about a turn older! The spoon is her hand gets pointed and waggled at him. "I know little about flights though so all I can say is whatever happens you'll be fine. I would imagine you've got a nice girlfriend back home at Xanadu." her own bowl now empty she replaces the spoon back into it now that she's no longer waving it at him.
Ka'el grins and ducks at her waggled spoon. "Well how will he miss what he's never had? He'll be fine! I'm told female dragons are nothin' but trouble, anyway. I'll probably safe him lots of strife!" or something like that. He straightens again once her spoon is lowered. "Goldrider," he says in response to the girlfriend comment. "Not sure if that's helpful or not in this situation. But uh .. golds take a long time to rise. Turns and turns, they say. But will she be alright when I go chasin' after some greenrider?" He shrugs a shoulder. "But…heh, you're not here to talk to me about flights," he says, smirking in an apologetic way. "That's the not so fun part of dragon riding … depending on who you talk to."
Angelique is indeed finished with the waggling spoon. Not that she would have actually hit him with it. "Indeed not." she agrees as the subject of flights simply fades away. "From what I can tell dragon riding encompasses a whole slew of things. More so than my simple tasks I have so I'm certain I'm content doing what I do." a firm nod at that. "And good, seems a bronze rider needs a good Goldrider friend. Keeps him check no doubt." she teases. "However I should finish up some paperwork back in my office. And you should likely check on that bronze of yours as well. I shall see you for graduation then and remember you promised me a tour."
Simple tasks, how Ka'el misses thee! All he wanted to be was a simple smith. What on Pern has he gotten himself in to? He rises from his seat as she speaks of leaving, nodding in response. "Right. I'm still sorry for takin' up so much of your time, but I won't lie and say that I'm sorry you gave it to me," said with a smile. "I can find my way back to the infirmary, thank you. Take care. I'll see you at graduation! And haven't you learned already that I don't forget much?" He grins at her and gives a little bow before she leaves. "Night, Angelique."
