Not Child's Play
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Xanadu Weyr - Wanderin' Wherry Tavern
It is often whispered in the crowds that converge here, that a certain Weyrleader was asked what he wanted in the remodeling of the pub that was not so long ago given a refreshing. He muttered back over the rim of his ever-present mug, "I don't care what you do with the place, just so long as there is plenty of ale." With that in mind, cask after cask of ale lines the walls of the tavern, the remodeler's idea of a jest. As they age, the casks bring a real rustic atmosphere to the pub, along with the deeply wooden flavor that seems to be the theme throughout.
The lighting is dim, as it should be in all good pubs, and the tables and chairs are plentiful. A long mahogany bar, intricately carved with runner beasts, stands vigilant duty at the head of the bar, lined with stools for those patrons that seek the bartender's company.


It's early evening on Xanadu. So early, in fact, that the sun's light is still visible upon the horizon. Dinnertime! It's been a long day of Galaxy training. Drills and practices and learning new sky formations. It's been difficult to work with a distracted dragon such as Kanekith, who usually would be all over such things, but lately has been wanting to be around Luraoth all the time. Multiply that difficulty times ten due to an even more distracted rider. Ka'el's messed up a lot today. Out of formation. Slow with drills. He's definitely not on his A-game, but everyone has their days. For dinner, Ka'el has ordered a healthy meal of beer. A dark ale, to be exact, which is halfway drained from his mug. His left eye is still discolored yet less swollen than it was a few days ago. The mark of a pretty good right hook. He sits at a table away from the bar.

Dinnertime would normally find M'kal at the living caverns to grab some grub. After all his own Weyr isn't much for cooking in even if he remembered anything he'd learned in the kitchens before Impression. However evidently something change and thus his former interest in the kitchens is non-exisitant. However this evening isn't quite so normal as he steps into the Tavern with a purpose. His deep green eyes scan the room until the land on his target. Drinking. Sliding into a seat without asking he remarks with little pre-amble. "Trying to drink away the day today?" naturally he noticed the distractions. The formations messed up.

Yup, drinking. Ka’el would be glad that with each new drink he gets his old mug is taken away, thus to any casual observer this could be his first. Or it could be his fourth. But he isn’t stumbling or bumbling (or moving much for that matter) so how much he truly has had is known only to him. He nurses his mug, staring at the wood of the table, but his staring is interrupted with a sudden scowl. He takes another swallow. Two. Make that three. When his mug is thunked back down, M’kal is there. Drinking the day away? Yeah, let’s go with that. “Summat.” .. What? “Tomorrow’ll be better.” Hopefully.

M'kal arches a brow. "Yeah? Not gonna help if you report to morning drills with a head pounding like a harper's drum." he himself orders a drink as well after a moment's thought. The Bluerider looks like he's had some sleepless nights from the bags under his own eyes. "C'mon Ka'el…what's up man? Don't go shutting everyone out again."

Ka'el makes a snorted sound. "I'll make it." With that aforementioned headache and tell tale nausea, but he'll be there! .. Hopefully. He frowns into his drink, peering at what's left to it. Some things need to be shut away. Shut away and locked, never to be spoken or thought of again. The problem with that is.. his brain won't let him! And so, let's shut down the brain, shall we? He drains the rest of the contents of his mug in a swift, shot-like swallow and hurriedly orders something different before the waitress can get too far off. "Nothin'. Wussup with you?" he asks M'kal, maybe noticing those sleepy eyes, or maybe just regurgitating the question that was asked of him.

M'kal's drink comes and he takes a few shallow drinks from it. Ignoring the question posed to him he presses the issue a bit. "Yeah…before you get tossed from the wing?" he murmurs. His gaze slips to the injured eye then to the once more empty glass. "Sometimes just talking helps. To someone who won't judge and will simply listen."

"Pfft. Toss me. I don’ care. They can toss me right now!" retorts Ka’el, suddenly loud. "S’not gonnan .. gonna make no difference anyway," said in a quieter tone, ignoring the hesitant look given by the waitress who is starting to question whether the drink in her hand is a good idea. .. Ah, she’s seen worse! She plunks it down on the table. A shorter glass than his mug, which is carried off. He wraps his hands around it but doesn’t pick it up. "M’kal…" He looks at him, puffy eye and all. "…You should’a said no. You’re jus’ a kid, y’know? S’fucked up that…happens t’kids."

M'kal snorts. "Old enough to be a full rider now." he points out with no malice in tone though at Ka'el's accusation of him being just a kid. Just a kid? Well I never! Well…maybe. "Said no to what?" he asks suddenly, unsure of what Ka'el's even talking about.

"That's not good. S'what I'm talkin' about," replies Ka'el in answer to M'kal's first statement. "That! Said no to that s'what y'should've done," he says, loud again, though it doesn't seem as if he's aware that he is being a little louder than is necessary. But hey. It's a bar. He's not attracting too much attention…yet. He looks at him urgently, then scowls and swallows down a mouthful of whatever it is he's ordered now. Whiskey? Brandy? "Y'got any idea what's gonna 'appen? Y'know.. y'know you know they don't tell us anything. Yeahsure s'all grand and…and-and-and .. ceremoniousical" Not a real word.. "when it's graduatin' time an' they're all happy proud like y've just done somethin' great but then nobody tells you the other part. An' then, it's too late. And then it happens. And…a-a-nd there nothin' you can do an' it's messed up cuz you're jus' a kid, man and nobody..nobody should have to…" He scowls, squeezing the cold surface of his glass.

There's a pause then M'kal simply nods here and there and does just what he offered. He listens. That's it. Oh sure he'll make a sound here or there that may be agreement into some of his words but mostly he merely listens. Finally when the words stop or at least pause he says quietly into the silence. "Too late to change it now. Gotta move forward yo."

Move forward? Ka'el stares at him. A long, unblinking stare that possibly borderlines on awkward the longer it drags on. Then, scoff. "You've no shardin' clue." The rest of his drink is downed in one hard, eye-squinted swallow before he rises, pressing a hand on the tabletop to steady himself. Woah. When did the floor become so unstable? He takes a moment to collect himself with a grimace, and when he does he pulls his hand from the table with a stubborn look. Something that could be "See you in the morning" but sounds more like "Seema n'th mrnh.." is said before he turns to walk out, stumbling just once (nope, make that twice!) in the process.

M'kal simply shrugs, his own restless nights no doubt haunting him. He rises as Ka'el does to…do what? Help him if he falls. A frown touches his expression but he makes no move to stop the bronzerider. "See ya.." sigh. So much left unsaid. Another drink is ordered and he settles into his seat to drink the evening away.


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